Out!

No time to post tonight- I'll be too busy running around like a crazy college kid and eating one of these.

Hope you have a fun/relaxing/wonderful evening, too- see you tomorrow!

Strength & Smoothie

Wow. First of all- thank you all so much for your kind tweets and comments on this morning's post. It can be really daunting to open up like that, but once again, this community has blown me away with its support and encouragement. You have no idea how much it means to me!

Late this morning, I headed to the gym to pump some iron, yo. I realized Thursday that many muscle groups weren't sore at all from Wednesday's routine, so I made an effort to increase them a bit and feel the burn! Like the other day, I I did three sets of 12 reps of each of the following circuits: 

   - squats, 20 lbs
   - bent-over row, 12.5 lbs
   - overhead press, 10 lbs

   - upright row, 12.5 lbs
   - tricep kickbacks, 5 lbs
   - bicep curl, 10 lbs

   - leg extensions, 80 lbs
   - leg curls, 60 lbs

   - pushups (on my knees...'cause I'm weak)
   - plank, 30 seconds
   - back extensions

   - traditional crunches
   - medicine ball twists, 10 lbs
   - reverse crunches


Normally I find strength training to be really boring, but these past few workouts I've been enjoying using the free weights. Typically I use the weight machines, and I think that they can be a bit more tedious and annoying to constantly set up!


When I got home, I made myself my favorite pumpkin smoothie for lunch. Yes, I still have cans of the orange stuff stockpiled!

Into the blender went:
   - 1 c canned pumpkin
   - 1 large banana
   - 1 scoop vanilla Sun Warrior
   - large spoonful of almond butter
   - 1 c almond milk
   - lots of cinnamon
   - drizzle of maple syrup

The result was thick, creamy and awesome. I'll probably be making this again in the next few days- I've got a jumbo can of pumpkin to finish up now.


For some solid food action, I also had a sliced fuji and a few peanut butter-chocolate-chip-stuffed dates.

I stopped eating these over Lent because they just weren't as good without the chocolate chips. I'm glad they're back in my life :D


I've got a massive pile of work to get started on before going out tonight. Balancing homework + social life these next few weeks is going to be hectic!

Eating for Two

Good morning, everyone! Yesterday's barbeque ended up being a ton of fun, even if it was rather chilly. We started outside for a few hours, then moved the party indoors eventually. The festivities are continuing tonight, too!

This morning for breakfast, I went to buy a bagel at Zaro's, one of my favorite carb meccas. The line was long, so I found myself small-talking a bit with the middle-aged woman in front of me. All of a sudden she smiled, looked at my stomach and asked if I was pregnant. Um, excuse me? No. She immediately got flustered and covered herself with "Oh, I'm sorry, your belly just looks big for how thin you are..."

Wow. In her defense, I was wearing low-rise yoga pants with a pretty fitted t-shirt and I was standing strangely, so my tummy was sticking out a bit. I've posted before about how my stomach is my least favorite body part, and while I've learned to just live with it, that really stung. I'm positive she didn't mean it maliciously, but I think it would have gotten to any woman a bit.

I'm not posting about this to fish for compliments or to start bashing the lady, but rather to illustrate the point that no woman, no matter how thin or attractive or confident, loves the way she looks 100% of the time. You can train your thoughts to stay positive and learn to embrace your flaws, but that doesn't make you immune to insults. The trick is realizing that getting upset doesn't solve anything; I could cry into my celery sticks for weeks, and it wouldn't undo those words. The only thing that I can change is the power I let them have on me- I felt good about my body before the encounter, so why let a stranger change that? Yeah, it was upsetting, but as the lovely Meg so encouragingly tweeted me, "You're in control of whether you wallow in it or let it pass you by and enjoy the rest of the day." Amen.

When I got home, I dug into my bagel with gusto. After all, apparently I'm eating for two :)

I topped a chewy whole-wheat bagel with almond butter, and had a banana alongside of it. I was going to put the slices on top of the bagel, but I always pick them off anyway!

Hope you're having a wonderful start to your weekend!

How do you overcome negative body-talk? Have you ever had an experience where someone else brought you down? How did you deal with it?

Feature Friday: SnackFace

Happy Friday!! Tonight's Featured Friday blogger is...

Kailey, from Snackface!

SnackFace was one of the very first blogs I ever read, back before I even had a blog of my own! I stumbled across it through several blogrolls, and really related to the content and voice. She was still a college student at the time, as well as a vegetarian, but what really hooked me was her confidence. She never seemed to apologize for who she was and what she stood for, and that self-assuredness has only grown in the past nearly two years. Kailey speaks her mind in a way that encourages others, myself included, to reject the negative influences and thoughts that make us feel bad about ourselves- I frequently find myself emphatically nodding at her posts with a renewed sense of confidence. Her fierceness is truly refreshing!

Other awesome things about SnackFace? Fashion inspiration, hip-hop anecdotes that make me giggle, a good attitude and plenty of SnackFacing- aka, snacking extravaganzas in lieu of your typical three-meals-a-day thing. Kailey reminds me to live my life according to my own rules, whatever they may be.

SnackFacing

So if you're looking for some fabulous blog entertainment this evening, head on over and say hi to SnackFace!

What are your current blog must-reads? Seen any particularly amazing posts recently? As always, feel free to link away!

Tossed Salad

Just popping in for a quick post before heading out for the day. Mike and his friends are hosting a big barbeque this afternoon, which should be a great time!

They're grilling out at the party, but since I'm not really one for hot dogs and hamburgers, I wanted to get something in my stomach before I left!

I made myself a salad similar to yesterday's, with baby spinach, zucchini, tomato, carrots, baked tofu and balsamic vinaigrette dressing. On the side, I had a whole-wheat wrap.

The other day someone asked why I sometimes eat out of plastic containers, and my answer is that it's the best way to eat a salad because you can shake it up!

You know how when you eat a salad off a plate, the dressing is never evenly distributed and there's always way too many greens at the bottom? Well, I make my salads in a tupperware, then shake them up in order to have variety and dressing in every bite.

Whenever I make salads as meals, I try to incorporate at least three servings of veggies, as well as a protein/fat source and a whole grain. What I love most about them is that the possibilities really are endless- there are so many vegetables to choose from, as well as plenty of vegetarian protein options and tons of dressings. My all-time favorite salad is probably my guacamole one- the avocado is incredibly filling and also makes everything else super creamy.

Along with my salad, I also had my usual apple (one a day keeps the doctor away, right?):

I was also craving something chocolatey, so I a bit later I had a chocolate brownie Larabar. I'm thinking it will keep me full for longer than some plain dark chocolate would!

So glad we've got another day of sundress-wearing weather. You all know I'll take any excuse to wear one!

(Same J.Crew Factory sundress I wore here)

Happy Friday to you all- hope you have a wonderful start to the weekend!

What components do you usually try to include in a salad? What are your favorite flavor combinations?

Fairytale Wedding

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Waking up at 5:30 this morning was so, so, so worth it.

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The royal wedding really was like a fairy tale- it was just gorgeous. The dress, the music, the atmosphere...absolutely breathtaking to watch. I'm glad I woke up early to watch it, because it's an event that only happens once every few decades!

I watched the ceremony from an elliptical at the gym, where I actually cried multiple times. No shame. Afterwards, I ran home to catch them making their way to Buckingham Palace. My TV actually gets a few channels, so I'm still watching coverage on ABC!

Since I can't be enjoying champagne and canapes with the 600 guests at the Queen's reception, I made myself the next best thing: cookie dough cereal.

Like yesterday, I combined 1/2 c rolled oats with a scoop of vanilla Sun Warrior, a spoonful of almond butter and a splash of water. Then, I added a sliced banana and almond milk to finish.

Love this combo. Probably better than British food, anyway ;)

Speaking of which, all this hoopla is making me even more excited to go to London in a few weeks. I can't wait!! Hope you all have a wonderful day.

Did you watch/record the royal wedding? What was your favorite part?

Physique 57

Recently, Natasha from Physique 57 got in touch with me about trying a class at one of their New York City studios. I tried a class a few months ago and really enjoyed it, so I was excited to take another!

I signed up for the 2:30 PM "Open" level class with Brigitte at the Spring Street location. I probably should have signed up for the "Beginner" class, but since this fit into my schedule the best I hoped it wouldn't be too difficult!

Though I definitely wasn't as advanced as the other students, the instructor was incredibly helpful and really made sure I had proper form. The class itself is unique but tough! According to the website, "Physique 57^® is a focused and proven cardiovascular program of isometric exercises and orthopedic stretches... Our interval training sets use your own body weight for resistance, and through dynamic exercises your muscles are targeted and overloaded to the point of fatigue, then stretched for relief." 


The ball and barre based movements were really unusual and focused intensely on legs and abs especially. My quads and lower stomach were screaming by the end! I'm interested to see how sore I am tomorrow. Overall, it was a great class- thanks so much to Physique 57 for having me!

* * *

After class, I stopped and bought a gingerade Synergy kombucha to have along with my afternoon snack. 

My tweets about the bacteria strands seemed to attract some disgusted attention, so I made sure to get a close up to gross people out even more.

Mmm, yum. Bacteria. And no, I don't actually drink that part! I sip around it then throw out the last few tablespoons of scoby-infested drink. It takes a lot to phase me, but chunky bacteria isn't exactly appetizing to me, either.

For dinner, I wasn't feeling super hungry or creative, so I threw together something reminiscent of my lunchbox days:

A peanut butter sandwich with PB&Co. Cinnamon Raisin Swirl PB on whole-wheat sourdough bread, served with a side of carrot sticks and frozen red grapes.

Because there were only a few spoonfuls of peanut butter left in the jar, I couldn't resist polishing them off.

A bit later, I also had a big dairy-free chocolate chip cookie that I bought with my kombucha. It was surprisingly soft and chewy!

Gotta go rest up. I've got a wedding tomorrow morning, and a weekend full of fun ahead!

Have you ever tried kombucha? If so, do you like it? If not...would you try it, after seeing that picture?

A Royal Obsession

Okay, I give in. I AM SECRETLY OBSESSED WITH THE ROYAL WEDDING TOO. There, I said it.

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I'm not following it religiously, but I'd be lying if I said a little part of me didn't get all excited whenever coverage comes on the news. I can't help it! As a twenty-something young woman I'm genetically programmed to be obsessed with all things wedding related. I'm kind of debating going to the gym at 6 AM tomorrow, just to simultaneously watch the coverage on multiple channels. I hope her gown is awesomely ridiculous and that Prince Harry is looking fine in his best man attire. Don't judge me. Or pretend like you're not going to watch it, too.

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* * * 

I love making meals the day after a grocery trip- there are so many options! For today's lunch, I had an Italian-inspired salad.

Baby spinach, carrots, a tomato and a zucchini all chopped up, then topped with a serving of Trader Joe's meatless meatballs, a pour of marinara sauce and a dousing of nutritional yeast flakes.

Close up, nooch kind of looks like fungus. I'm glad I realized that after devouring it. For sauce-mopping purposes, I also had a whole-wheat wrap on the side.

As well as an apple, some cashews and almonds.

One thing that really frustrates me about city living is that produce never seems to go on sale, at least in the supermarket I frequent! I love apples, but even I'd like a bit more variety with my fruit. Unlike PA, though, I can never find berries or more exotic fruits for less than $4-5 a serving. Annoying.

I'm off to take a Physique 57 class this afternoon- wish me and my noodle arms luck!

Have you been following the royal wedding hoopla? Do you plan on watching it tomorrow morning? Don't lie. We're all friends here.

Breakfast Weirdo

Though breakfast is often my favorite meal of the day, in many ways I'm a breakfast weirdo.

You see, I've always been picky about my breakfasts. Even when I ate meat, I never liked bacon. OJ in the morning makes my throat sting. I don't know how to make real coffee. I've never had a breakfast sandwich. And as for eggs, I only like them soft-boiled with toast strips for dipping. There is no method to my madness.

Conversely, the traditional things I do like are random, too: scrapple (until I found out what's in it, that is), I Can't Believe It's Not Butter spray atop my pancakes, and bowls of fiber cereal so large that people fear sitting next to me after I eat them.

The thing is, I really don't think I'm a picky eater. I've always been pretty adventurous when it comes to eating new stuff (I've had raw jellyfish tentacles and sea urchin) and I'll try anything except meat, but "regular" foods are what I'm pickiest about. I'm weird, I know.

Another thing I've been loving lately? The Fitnessista's cookie dough cereal!

To make the "cookie dough," I combined 1/2 c rolled oats with a scoop of Sun Warrior vanilla protein (my new bag finally arrived yesterday!), a hefty spoonful of almond butter and a splash of water to thin everything out. I topped it with frozen raspberries and almond milk before digging in.

Sun Warrior, I've missed you- other protein powders just don't compare!!

Doing a strength training workout yesterday morning may not have been a great idea, because I'm taking a Physique 57 class this afternoon and my muscles are sore. This could get interesting.

Hope you have a wonderful day!

What foods or meals are you pickiest about? 

Woof, Woof!

SUPER exciting news....MY PARENTS ADOPTED A DOG!!

Her name is Maggie, and she's a four-year-old yellow rescue lab from a Pennsylvania organization. Technically we have her for a three-week "trial" period, but barring any unlikely major disasters, she's a part of the family now! We've been looking for a dog for awhile now, and I'm thrilled that we've finally found one that works for us.

The only pic I have of her at the moment. I'm aww-ing just looking at the cuteness!

I've literally been skipping around my apartment since I found out. I kind of feel like going out onto the street and hugging the first dog I see. Not creepy, right? Only twelve days until I can go home and meet her...as if the time wasn't going to pass slowly enough already!

* * * 

I finally stopped at the grocery store on the way home from classes today, but by the time I'd lugged all fifty pounds of almond milk and vegetables back to my apartment, all I wanted to do was eat. Dinner, therefore, was another easy one!

I spread a whole-wheat bagel with a thick spread of Maranatha creamy almond butter, then steamed up a pile of frozen veggies to eat alongside it. 

Vegetables, carbs and nut butter. What more does a girl need? Slightly more creative meals to return tomorrow, I promise :)

Dessert was just as unimaginative: the ubiquitous apple with four squares of Lindt chili dark chocolate.

This is another favorite chocolate of mine. I'm a total spice lover, even in my chocolate! The chili flavor isn't too strong, but it's just enough to add a nice kick to the dark chocolate. It contains milkfat and soy lecithin, but overall the ingredient list isn't too bad, and I think it's as good as some higher quality brands for just $2.50 a bar. Overall, I'd give it an 8 out of 10!

Tonight I'm catching up on a ton of blog stuff, homework and other random things. This weekend is going to be a busy one, so I need to get a jump start on my to-dos! Hope you have a great evening :)

Discuss: dogs! Love 'em, hate 'em, have 'em, want 'em?

Lunch Spot

Lunchtime in my sunny little corner!

Rather than buy yet another lunch today, I prepped some overnight (or three-hour) oats from the contents of my pantry. I picked up some bananas and apples last night to hold me over until I went shopping this evening, and just a few pieces of produce means way more possibilities.

In the jar:
   - 1/2 c rolled oats
   - 1 serving peanut flour
   - spoonful of almond butter
   - sliced banana
   - few splashes of almond milk

I didn't succeed in mixing the bottom of the jar very well, so the last few spoonfuls were thick and almost cake-like. Mmmm.

Along with my oats, I also brought along a fuji apple and a blueberry muffin Larabar.

When I eat my lunch on "campus," I rotate between several spots. There's one lounge on a tippy-top floor where you can sometimes snag free bagels, another that's prime people-watching real-estate, and a third that's relatively unknown, with huge windows and modern furniture. I think my favorite is probably the place I'm typing this from, though- it's got plenty of sunlight, easy access to both the bathroom and vending machines, squishy armchairs and big windows to watch the awed tourists on top of double-decker busses. One of the best perks of going to such a big school is the infinite amount of lounges to camp out in!

Two classes left this afternoon, then I'm free for the weekend. Well, as free as you can be at the start of the finals rush! Hope you're having a wonderful hump day :)

Where do you usually eat lunch- at home, at the office, in a restaurant/cafe? Do you focus on eating, or do you multitask during mealtimes? I'm almost always on the computer while I eat, which probably isn't a good thing. Not only am I distracted, but it also means that there's always food in my keyboard!

Let Your Shoulder Lean

Though normally I'm more of a group exercise girl when it comes to strength training, this morning I was feelin' some good old-fashioned iron-pumping!

I did three sets of 12 reps of each of the following circuits:

   - squats, 15 lbs
   - bent-over row, 5 lbs
   - overhead press, 5 lbs

   - upright row, 5 lbs
   - tricep kickbacks, 5lbs
   - bicep curl, 10 lbs

   - leg extensions, 80 lbs
   - leg curls, 60 lbs

   - pushups (on my knees...'cause I'm weak)
   - plank, 30 seconds
   - back extensions

   - traditional crunches
   - medicine ball twists, 10 lbs
   - reverse crunches

Whew! I compiled the exercises from my Women's Health Big Book of Exercises, and going into the gym with a plan definitely helped. Overall, it took me about an hour, including a ten-minute easy warmup on the elliptical and a bit of stretching at the end.

* * *

For breakfast, I made myself another bowl of smoothie cereal!

First, I blended a frozen banana with a cup of almond milk, a scoop of vanilla rice protein and a pinch of xanthan gum. I poured it into a bowl, then added some frozen raspberries and a few handfuls of Kashi GoLean cereal.

All mixed up:

It was a nice, cool breakfast for this already hot morning. I'm loving this heat wave! My outfit is warm-weather appropriate, as well:

Awkward pose. Let me see you bounce right to left and let your shoulder lean!

   - Black tank dress: swiped from my mom's closet

   - Black and gold belt: Bebe, also swiped from my mom's closet

   - Black sandals: Sam Edelman from DSW

   - Headband: Goody, from the drugstore

   - Gold necklace: gifted and vintage charms

Hope you have a wonderful day!

Where do you go for workout plans? Magazines, blogs, books, etc?

Special Dark

Looooong afternoon. I guess it's payback for the short week I'm having!

After a six-hour class block, the last thing I felt like doing was facing the post-work grocery store crowds. Instead, I picked up yet another grab-and-go meal from a deli. Food shopping is a number one priority tomorrow evening!

I got another prepackaged favorite: seitan "turkey," which I mixed with a large portion of frozen veggies. After pita pockets, I think that this is my favorite quick meal option.

Though it was tasty, I really don't want to get into the habit of buying so many pre-made food items, because a) they're expensive, and b) since they have long shelf lives, they're usually not very fresh and full of sodium. It's ironic that I buy a decent amount of these types of items, because in most cities it's impossible to find vegan grab-and-go options!

Afterwards, I enjoyed a big fuji apple and a Hershey's special dark chocolate bar that the man at the deli I frequent threw in for free. Do I have "dark chocolate lover" stamped on my forehead, or something?

Something new I'd like to start doing on Une Vie Saine is chocolate reviews! I love trying out new bars, and while I've had this particular one before, I'd forgotten that it's actually surprisingly tasty. It's very smooth and sweet, which is unsurprising since sugar is the first ingredient and it also contains soy lecithin. The bar also isn't vegan, as it contains milk fat and lactose, but I typically don't mind consuming a small amount of dairy in the form of chocolate. Overall, on a scale of 1 to 10 I'd give this bar a 6. It wins points for the creamy taste, but loses them for the ingredients. There plenty of bars that taste just as good, but with less sugar and preservatives.

Though I intended to catch up on my ZZZs this weekend, that unfortunately didn't happen- I was too distracted by birthday celebrations and airings of Titanic. Tonight I'm getting in bed early!

What's your favorite chocolate bar? I think mine is Lindt, either the 70% stuff or the "Touch of Sea Salt" flavor. Trader Joe's is also good!! Both are incredibly smooth, dark and relatively inexpensive. There are other brands I love, but I try not to spend half my grocery money on chocolate :)