This is a great list of foods to have on hand published by Weight Watchers. I would say that my house has all of these at any given time except the lean ground beef and chicken...though there is usually chicken in the house once or twice a week.
Also, I have been living on frozen vegetables and chicken sausage this week. Throw a good heap of mixed frozen veggies (I like the Bird's Eye Broccoli Stir-Fry blend) in a pan with a little oil, slice an Al Fresco Chicken Sausage Link up, toss in pan. Season. Cook until done. Easy.
Here is the link if you didn't catch it above: http://www.weightwatchers.com/util/art/index_art.aspx?tabnum=1&art_id=43331
Friday, October 22, 2010
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Bad Yoga
As you are all aware, I am picking up my running mileage in the hopes of racing a solid 10 Miler in February. If you read about running at all - or train - you know a little bit about 'speed work' and 'tempo' runs. Now, as you may have guessed from the title, this is a yoga post NOT a running post, so I am not going to go into the mechanics of speed work or tempo runs, but here is the basic idea...you run faster than normal for set periods of time or distance. Yesterday I did my first tempo run in ... oh ... a year maybe (4.5 miles total, 3 miles at 10K pace). I've also added about 5 miles onto my weekly total the last few weeks.
Now, these additional miles and single fast run may not seem like a lot, but to tired, hardly running at all legs, it is a lot of extra work. Enter the bad yoga.
I am amazed that I can practice yoga as much as I do and still wake up with hamstrings so tight I can't reach my toes. Actually, these added miles and workouts are destroying my hamstrings (I also really, really need new sneakers). Two Fridays ago I went to Victoria's Vinyasa class, then that Sunday I ran 5 miles with Meri and then went immediately to power yoga. The next day I went to a (medium) power class at Revelation....and it was a disaster. My hamstrings and hips were a nightmare and I actually had to pull out of a pigeon pose that I was barely in. The only thing I could come up with was the triple header of power yoga with the 5 Miler in the middle was too much. This past weekend I tried to learn from my mistakes - I went to Victoria's class on Friday, Ran 5.7 with Meri on Saturday then went to power yoga at Revelation on Sunday. The elimination of the Saturday morning long run/yoga double header seemed to work and I had a good run on Monday. All was good. Until yesterday.
Yesterday I did the previously mentioned tempo run at lunch then went to power yoga at night. Wednesday night power yoga is usually medium hard but for some insane reason Kim was killing us last night. And my legs and mind just could not keep up. I must have fallen out of Eagle at least 4 times AND I almost threw up in Revolved Triangle from the combined heat and painful hamstrings.
Now, I am seeing a pattern here - are you? Longer/harder runs and power yoga apparently do not mix. Which is unfortunate because I do not see that combo going away anytime soon. Eventually the Saturday double headers will have to stop because the long runs will get longer...but the Wednesday quality runs combined with Kim's power class...I may be able to tweak the schedule so they are not combined...or I can hope that I get stronger. We shall see.
Now, these additional miles and single fast run may not seem like a lot, but to tired, hardly running at all legs, it is a lot of extra work. Enter the bad yoga.
I am amazed that I can practice yoga as much as I do and still wake up with hamstrings so tight I can't reach my toes. Actually, these added miles and workouts are destroying my hamstrings (I also really, really need new sneakers). Two Fridays ago I went to Victoria's Vinyasa class, then that Sunday I ran 5 miles with Meri and then went immediately to power yoga. The next day I went to a (medium) power class at Revelation....and it was a disaster. My hamstrings and hips were a nightmare and I actually had to pull out of a pigeon pose that I was barely in. The only thing I could come up with was the triple header of power yoga with the 5 Miler in the middle was too much. This past weekend I tried to learn from my mistakes - I went to Victoria's class on Friday, Ran 5.7 with Meri on Saturday then went to power yoga at Revelation on Sunday. The elimination of the Saturday morning long run/yoga double header seemed to work and I had a good run on Monday. All was good. Until yesterday.
Yesterday I did the previously mentioned tempo run at lunch then went to power yoga at night. Wednesday night power yoga is usually medium hard but for some insane reason Kim was killing us last night. And my legs and mind just could not keep up. I must have fallen out of Eagle at least 4 times AND I almost threw up in Revolved Triangle from the combined heat and painful hamstrings.
Now, I am seeing a pattern here - are you? Longer/harder runs and power yoga apparently do not mix. Which is unfortunate because I do not see that combo going away anytime soon. Eventually the Saturday double headers will have to stop because the long runs will get longer...but the Wednesday quality runs combined with Kim's power class...I may be able to tweak the schedule so they are not combined...or I can hope that I get stronger. We shall see.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Training Schedule
I have to tell you, it feels great to be back on a training schedule. For me, running with a focus or a goal is so much more productive. I like to have a plan and, essentially, a training schedule is nothing more than a running plan.
So whats so great about a training schedule?
Well, for one, it tells you that you have to run. Unless I actually have to make a certain amount of miles, I'll just squeeze in a run here and there. A training schedule says "You have to run 3 miles on Monday, 5 Miles on Wednesday, 3 Miles on Thursday and 6 Miles on Saturday." I love that - Here is your plan, go do it!
The more often you run, the better your runs feel. Granted, there will still be bad run days. But in general, your legs, lungs and mind will get used to the miles as you gradually pile them on. Having good runs is way worth the extra miles.
The other thing about being on a training schedule - it forces you to re-prioritize. Now, maybe you think that that is a bad thing...but really, its not. I think a shake up to the schedule is good - it keeps things exciting and forces you to change your routine. The downside here is that, when you re-prioritize, something usually looses its rank on the top of the pile.
So here it is, I have had to re-prioritize my workout schedule to fit in all of the runs. I was contemplating taking spin classes, but that idea is shot. The other thing that is losing its rank is weight lifting. Now, do not freak out. Really, relax. I am still lifting weights. For the time being, I am still following New Rules two days a week. BUT come Christmas time, I am only going to have an hour and a half per week to devote to lifting - an hour Tuesday and a half hour on Thursday. This is necessary in order to fit in a few miles and weight lifting at lunch on Thursdays. Some sacrifices have to be made. I am not overly concerned with this change in schedule as I generally go to Power Yoga 3 times a week, which is 60-90 minutes of supporting your own body weight, which is a weight lifting routine all of its own.
So there you have it. The new schedule will be running 4-5 days a week, lifting 1-2 days a week and yoga 5-7 times a week (schedule permitting).
So whats so great about a training schedule?
Well, for one, it tells you that you have to run. Unless I actually have to make a certain amount of miles, I'll just squeeze in a run here and there. A training schedule says "You have to run 3 miles on Monday, 5 Miles on Wednesday, 3 Miles on Thursday and 6 Miles on Saturday." I love that - Here is your plan, go do it!
The more often you run, the better your runs feel. Granted, there will still be bad run days. But in general, your legs, lungs and mind will get used to the miles as you gradually pile them on. Having good runs is way worth the extra miles.
The other thing about being on a training schedule - it forces you to re-prioritize. Now, maybe you think that that is a bad thing...but really, its not. I think a shake up to the schedule is good - it keeps things exciting and forces you to change your routine. The downside here is that, when you re-prioritize, something usually looses its rank on the top of the pile.
So here it is, I have had to re-prioritize my workout schedule to fit in all of the runs. I was contemplating taking spin classes, but that idea is shot. The other thing that is losing its rank is weight lifting. Now, do not freak out. Really, relax. I am still lifting weights. For the time being, I am still following New Rules two days a week. BUT come Christmas time, I am only going to have an hour and a half per week to devote to lifting - an hour Tuesday and a half hour on Thursday. This is necessary in order to fit in a few miles and weight lifting at lunch on Thursdays. Some sacrifices have to be made. I am not overly concerned with this change in schedule as I generally go to Power Yoga 3 times a week, which is 60-90 minutes of supporting your own body weight, which is a weight lifting routine all of its own.
So there you have it. The new schedule will be running 4-5 days a week, lifting 1-2 days a week and yoga 5-7 times a week (schedule permitting).
Monday, October 18, 2010
Yoga Championships
This Saturday was the New England Yoga Championships. I went into the Championships a little hesitant...I wasn't sure what to expect exactly. I was afraid it would cheapen the art of practice, that it would destroy the art of staying on your mat, of calming your mind. I am happy to report that the Championships in no way hurt yoga and in fact, I am glad I went.
The Championships did not feel competitive at all. Here is the deal - though there are certainly talented yogi/nis in the Championship, there are also competitors who are doing it for themselves. There was one woman who previously had back surgery for three herniated discs and, through yoga, had managed her back pain and had gotten completely off pain killers. She was competing because she could, because she was thankful for yoga. There were numerous competitors that were clearly there for themselves - not to prove that they are better than anyone else, but to challenge themselves. In fact, it is encouraged for yogi/nis of all levels to compete, to get on stage and challenge themselves. There were some super yoginis up there, yes. But there was also an array of body types and personalities. As far as 'sports' and 'chamionships' go, it made me proud to be a yogini.
With that said, some pictures complements of Steven Schwartz Photography: http://stevenschwartz.smugmug.com/event/YOGA-NERYAC
The Championships did not feel competitive at all. Here is the deal - though there are certainly talented yogi/nis in the Championship, there are also competitors who are doing it for themselves. There was one woman who previously had back surgery for three herniated discs and, through yoga, had managed her back pain and had gotten completely off pain killers. She was competing because she could, because she was thankful for yoga. There were numerous competitors that were clearly there for themselves - not to prove that they are better than anyone else, but to challenge themselves. In fact, it is encouraged for yogi/nis of all levels to compete, to get on stage and challenge themselves. There were some super yoginis up there, yes. But there was also an array of body types and personalities. As far as 'sports' and 'chamionships' go, it made me proud to be a yogini.
With that said, some pictures complements of Steven Schwartz Photography: http://stevenschwartz.smugmug.com/event/YOGA-NERYAC
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