A week without a microwave...

A week without a microwave will really make you re-evaluate your nutrition...

In the hulla-ba-loo of moving we were without a microwave for about a week. Sadly, you don't really realize how much you depend on a microwave until you don't have one.

At first I was frustrated at not having one...then I was just disturbed by how much I felt I needed one.

On most week nights I moonlight as a single gal, while my guy is at work. "Cooking" for one usually consists of heating up some yummy frozen concoction from Trader Joe's, coupled with some salad greens...healthy enough...but requires the microwave.

Deep inside of me there is this girl who wants to beak free of ALL processed food and live this life full of fresh, raw, not chemically mutilated food....but dang, it is hard to do.

(A side note: My "processed" food from Trader Joe's I know is much healthier than say processed food from my old pals Ronald and the Hamburgler or say my college days of Hot Pockets....but it still has added "stuff" that I could probably use less of in my diet...like sodium, sugar, preservatives, food dyes....)

Back to my argument...

Processed food is cheap. Processed food is fast.

The 21st century lifestyle is a lifestyle of convenience....gadgets and gizmo's promising to make our lives easier, but really I feel like they are making us sicker...aka: less healthy....

Enter the microwave.

Now, I will not be throwing away my brand new microwave...don't worry I have not gone all "crazy hippy" on you... but it made me want to re-evaluate the food I put in my mouth and the stuff we call food we put in our bodies. Its nice to take some time and reflect on this, from time to time.

I am striving to eat more fresh foods, more REAL ingredients (minimally processed)...and actually cook ( not "nuke") more...and perhaps share a few delicious recipes along the way...

Happy running...and cooking!
~Lauren

blogcation is over and more general updates

Moving is NO vacation people!

Okay....so I have been REALLY MIA lately...

The past two weeks have brought on some exciting changes in life : new job, new house, new hair-do... :)

Hence the reasons I have been un-able to fully dedicate to the wonderful-ness that is my blog....but, alas, I am back!

So over the past two weeks I have resumed my normal running schedule of 3-4 days a week. I have even squeezed in a few spin classes and some REAL weight lifting (which makes me super happy!). I am still trying to find that happy balance of ALL the activities I like and how to schedule them appropriately.

In typical Lauren-fashion...I jumped back in FULL FORCE...

Blogcation Week 1: During my first week back to the regular running schedule, my legs had that heavy..."not so fresh" feeling. My pace was good (fast almost) but they felt stiff and heavy. I added in a few more rest days based on all the feedback from my other running peeps.

Blogcation Week 2: Last week...I was off work ( interim in between jobs and moving) so I was free to run whenever I wanted and hit the gym at those not so busy hours in the middle of the day (love love love!!!). Despite all the craziness of moving I got in 3 runs and 2 gym days! Woo hoo! I was looking at my gym training journal (a little notebook I carry around at the gym to log all my workouts, which exercise, how many sets, etc.)....and last day I did a REAL weight training workout was in Feb! Holy smokes!

While marathon training I mostly did free weights (upper body) and ball exercises in the comfort of my living room, since the demands of marathon training don't allow for much free time and LORD knows I did not want to be super sore the morning of an 18-miler. My legs were in quite a shock after a REAL leg workout! Hello sleepy hamstrings! :)

So, as I mentioned before, moving forward into my half-marathon training I am looking to find a balance between gym time and running time. Here is my tentative plan for the rest of July...I will see how I do, if I can stick to it, how my body feels, etc... I am hoping some extra cross training and strength training will help strengthen my legs to improve my running.

Mon: Run

Tues: Cross Training@ Gym: Spin Class and Weights

Wed: Run (Short-3 miles/30 min) and core-ball work @ home

Thurs: Run- ARC Run Group

Fri: REST DAY

Sat: Griffith Park Training Group: LONG Run

Sun (depending on how I feel and Sat mileage): REST DAY or Light Cross Train/Weights

Wish me luck! :)

Holla Back: What are your summer fitness goals? How do you keep your training schedule fresh and interesting?

Happy Running!

~Lauren