Fall Races & Places

To me, there's nothing like the atmosphere at a road race. Friendly faces, runners of all shapes and sizes, and a genuine, sincere feeling of camaraderie amongst both participants and volunteers. I love a good old-fashioned 5K. Mainly because my stress levels are wayyyy lower than a longer distance race. It's just something fun to do on the weekend with a couple friends. Grab lunch and a beer afterwards and you've got the perfect fall day.

I like to look for races with really great causes - it makes the whole experience, even more meaningful. There are a few 5Ks coming up in the Boston area over the next month and a half. Check them out below, grab some friends, and get to it! 

(Also, let me know if you want to join me!) 

 New Balance presents the Brian Honan 5K
Sunday, September 22nd, Noon

Click here for registration information!

What: In 2002, 39 year old Brian Honan, MA City Counselor lost his life unexpectedly. As a way to memorialize him, the West End House Boys & Girls Club in Allston, along with his friends and family, developed a program for young people from across Boston to become more engaged in their community, develop leadership skills, and stimulate an interest in public service.  The Honan Fellowship even provides a paid summer internship in a community agency or government office and ends with a community action project to create change in Boston. 

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Photo courtesy of http://www.brianhonan.org/.

Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure
Sunday, September 29th, 8am

Click here for Registration Information!

What:  Right here in Southie!  I think we are all familiar with the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and the impact it has made in the treatment, education, and research of breast cancer. The Boston race proceeds will benefit more community-based organizations in their help for providing local residents with breast health education, screening, access to treatment, & follow-up care. In the last five years, Komen has received more requests for grant support than they are able to fill.  75% of the net revenue raised through the Boston event will stay right here in Massachusetts and is directed towards the local mission - community health, focused on 100% screening, 100% access to care, and 100% follow-up. Along with my aunts and cousins, I ran this race in 2010 to support my aunt, Kathy D. I'm happy to report that her treatment was successful and she is in remission, looking more beautiful than ever!

Walk to End Lupus Now
Saturday, October 26th, 11am

Click here for registration information!

What: For my walker friends! Lupus is a chronic, autoimmune disease has the ability to damage different parts of the body (skin, joints, and/or organs inside the body). Signs and symptoms can last 6 weeks up to years at a time. There is still so much research that still needs to be done for this terrible disease. Funds from this race will benefit research, education, advocacy, and support programs and services for lupus patients and their health care providers.

Photo courtesy of lupus.org.

Who's joining me!? Have a great week xo.

Why you're bored at the gym...

Walk in. 

Stretch. 

Find your go-to elliptical machine. 

Put it on 25, no 30 minutes today. 

Pedal. Watch a show. Listen to music. 

Get off... maybe go do some bicep curls, crunches, squats, and stretch.

Leave. 

Oh dear. Boring.

Now... I give everyone who steps into a gym, goes for a walk, picks up a weight... credit for working it. Also, I'm not ashamed to say that I've done the above listed workout plenty of times in my life (mainly post-college). That being said, if you are bored, that's why. Time to switch it up! Last Friday, Maddy and I met at the gym in our building before work. We hit up a bunch of different equipment and got a kickass workout in.  

 The Sled - just push it! This one really got our hearts pumping. There was 100 lbs in plates on the sled and I've googled the weight of the sled itself and I think it's somewhere between 50-75lbs... so totaling around 150-175.

Kettle Bell Swings. These are another great calorie burner. Not a huge science to this either... the basic move is to swing the bell down in between your legs, keeping your arms straight, swing it back up parallel to the floor. Watch your knees... try to make a 90 degree angle with your legs and make sure they don't push past your toes (look at the 3rd pic below and the squat position I am in - knees and toes are parallel.  Switch hands if you want to get fancy with it. Do 3 sets of 15 to start and then work your way up.

Finally, you don't have to be a cross fitter to do box jumps!  Swing arms up, jump up and land your feet flat on the box (don't let your heels hang off) and land in squat (90 degree angle).  Do 3 sets of 10 to start and work your way up.

Three new ideas to mix up your workout routine. Give them a whirl and don't be shy about trying these things... everyone who's at the gym should be there to get a workout in... not to be judgy. Get out there and own it.

Have a great week - tomorrow is HUMP DAEEYYYY! 

Grocery Staples

I haven't done a grocery list post in a while. As I've been mentioning more recently, there are certain staples that I buy each week and then "build" meals with them every day.  The goal being to make each meal different and not bore my taste buds.   Yesterday, I picked up a lot of my healthy staples that I never go without so I thought it would be the perfect time to write post on it!

Can't live without:

1. Organic chicken tenderloins 

- Non-organic chicken eat corn, GENETICALLY MODIFIED (GMO) CORN, chickens cannot process corn properly... so what are you stuck with? A fatty chicken loaded with fake chemicals. Go organic as often as possible. It's worth the extra $$. 

2. Organic Sabra hummus

I love this hummus. Most hummus that you'll find at the store has some preservatives in it - this one does not so it's second best from making the real thing. 

3. Teddy's All Natural PB 

A local favorite (Everett, MA). The only ingredients you need in PB is peanuts and salt. None of that high fructose corn syrup bull-ish. 

4. Garlic 

I mean, I'm Italian.  It'd be a sin to not have garlic in my kitchen. On top of that, it's anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, high in c, b6, and selenium. Oh, and it makes everything taste WAY BETTER. 

5. Avocados 

I eat avocados daily. I mean, fiber, potassium, vitamin c, and all of the b's, plus mono-unsaturated fat. Avocados rock and they taste amazingggg. 

6. Blueberries 

You already know they are an antioxidant powerhouse and loaded with vitamins. I like to eat them first thing in the morning with a glass of lemon water. Bfast later. 

7. Arugula 

I love arugula. I prefer it to most lettuce and it lasts way longer in the fridge. I usually bring an arugula salad to work a couple times a week. It's high in antioxidants, and vitamins c, a & potassium.  

8. Frozen yogurt 

I usually have a little fro yo after dinner every night - I have been doing that for years. Look for minimal ingredients, live cultures, no fructose, no fake sugars, etc. I really dig this local brand from Vermont, Sweet Scoops, I pick it up at Foodies in Southie  on a weekly basis. 

9. Chickpeas 

Chickpeas are a good source of protein fiber and a quick and easy topping to salad and the key ingredient in hummus (great to make on a whim when friends come over). 

10. Fage Greek Yogurt

I blogged about greek yogurt so much last year you probably got sick of it. It's just so versatile and full of protein, great for lunch, bfast, dressings, sauces, etc. Remember this? 

11. Fruits & Veggies

I usually pick up whatever is in season and priced right.  

What foods can you not live without?!  

Have a happy hump day! xo