Only the lonely

One of the walls and the bouldering island at Garden State Rocks

I am generally all for solo workouts.  And no crowds.  Crowds make me irrationally angry.  Especially slow-moving crowds.  

Lately, I've been getting annoyed when there are two or three other people at my gym in the morning. It's a small-ish gym in our building, and up until recently, I was often the only person working out, which was completely fine with me. If there's four or five other people there, I'll complain that it's too crowded.

So when I saw that there was a new rock climbing gym, Garden State Rocks, open near my dad's house (and by new, I mean I had never heard of it before - it's possible that it's been there for a while) I was excited to try it out.  Usually when I go climbing, I go to Brooklyn Boulders after work (when I can convince someone to trek to Brooklyn with me on a school night).  The place is huge, but its always jam packed.

I decided to check out Garden State Rocks on a Saturday morning, right after it opened for the day.  I knew that it was pretty small compared to Brooklyn Boulders, but I figured that it would be fairly quiet, which would mean that, being a relative newbie to this whole thing, I wouldn't feel too intimidated. 

Off I went on my first solo outing to the rock climbing gym.

I definitely was right on the being fairly quiet and small fronts.  In fact, it was pretty dead.  It was a nice day out, and apparently there was a bouldering competition at another nearby gym, so all the regulars were either there or climbing outside.  Also, apparently Saturdays aren't a super busy time to begin with.  

Besides myself, there was a group of about 15 kids there for a birthday party, and then two other groups of 2-3 people learning how to top rope (i.e. climb up the higher wall harnessed in with somebody on the ground controlling the ropes so that you don't fall).

While I was excited at first, I quickly realized that this was a fatal mistake.

I went to a rock gym by myself at a time that was pretty dead. That means that I was only going to be able to boulder (i.e. climb up the smaller walls with no harness and pads underneath in case you fall).  It also meant that I didn't have any natural breaks built in, and I didn't think to pace myself. Despite it being a small gym, there were a lot of great routes that I wanted to try.  I went from one route to another, from one attempt at a route, right to the next attempt. 

Which means that I got tired. Quickly.  With nobody else there to share the bouldering wall with, there were no built in breaks as I waited for others to complete their routes.  Or as I made friendly chit chat with the other climbers. And without the assistance of a harness, once I was on the wall, I either had to complete my climb or get off.  There was no hanging around in the air, taking a break or trying to figure out my next move.

It also meant that it was difficult to see my routes.  Routes are marked by colored pieces of tape on the underside of the hold.  Ideally, you should look at the wall before you start climbing and plan your general route. 

But, you know, the best laid plans.  Once you get on the wall, it's sometimes really hard to see the colors of the holds that you want to use for your feet.  When you're with a buddy, or even if there's just a nice bystander watching your climb, they will often help you out by pointing out where your feet should be, or what your next move should be.  You know, things like "you've got that blue hold right by your left knee" and you can proceed to move your foot onto that hold.  This eliminates much of the need to try to contort your body to see if that hold is actually for your route.

When you're the only one climbing, it becomes much more about trying to figure things out on your own.  You really have to plan a path ahead of time and think on your feet to make it work sometimes.

Plus, I was cheap and didn't rent a a chalk bag, which means I started to get blisters. Now, I don't think of my hands as particularly sweaty or anything - I mean, people don't generally jump away when I offer a handshake - but apparently my left pinky and the holds did not get along very well and I got a blister.  It's still not healed.

So, what have we learned today, class?  Sometimes, it pays to have a friend.  Even if you have to pay for them. Your parents were right all along about the buddy system. And, don't be cheap.  Spring for the chalk bag.

Don't get me wrong.  I still had a lot of fun and got in a great workout.  But I was pooped in less than 45 minutes.  Definitely not the crazy long workout activity that I was planning to  get for my $17 day pass and $5 shoe rental fee. 

It's ok though.  I cut my losses and took my tired self to the mall for some new clothes.  I'm pretty sure I had residual chalk all over my black workout capris.  And I probably didn't smell too hot.  The free frappuccino samples were well worth it though.

How not to become stuffed like the Thanksgiving turkey

I'm a big fan of Thanksgiving, and all the food that comes with it. I've definitely had more than one turkey day my life where the jeans needed to come off and the sweats needed to come on in order to sit comfortably after dinner (luckily, we do Thanksgiving at my dad's house, so that's not as awkward as it could be). 

That was a long time ago, and I've since learned how to not feel more stuffed than the turkey after the meal. Mostly. We definitely don't try to healthify any of our favorite dishes in our house. This is a once a year thing, and for the most part, the menu doesn't change. We still eat many of the same dishes that my aunt used to make us when I was five.

I've since learned the best strategy for the meal. I make sure I get a little taste of each of my favorite foods (green bean casserole!  sweet potato casserole! turnips! stuffing!) before moving on to the foods that are just ok (or that I can have any time). I try to eat veggie based dishes first. I've cut way back on the appetizers to save room for the meal. I've learned to stop eating before the jeans need to be unbuttoned (for the most part). And, I try not to munch too much while I'm actually cooking.

But, I've also learned that getting some movement in during the day is incredibly helpful in making sure I don't feel like Violet Beauregarde by the end of the meal. There's a bunch of easy and fun ways to get moving this Thanksgiving.

• Do a turkey trot on Thanksgiving morning. There are tons of local 5K turkey trots - just head to Google to find one near you.  They're generally fun and festive events and a great way to start Thanksgiving day.
• Walk the dog.  If your dog is anything like mine, chances are he'll be eating a bit extra on Thanksgiving too (and helping himself to anything within his reach when you're not watching).  So why not get him a little exercise before the festivities begin?  Take a long walk around the neighborhood or head to a local trail for some nature.
• Play games. Head outside and throw around the football, play a friendly game of hide and seek (loser has to clean the dishes), or chase the kids around the yard for a game of tag.
• Get active in the kitchen. Offer to help mash potatoes or whip the cream (by hand!). Take drink orders and walk the hors d'oeuvres around.
• Join a a parade. I was in the Macy's Thanksgiving day parade three years in a row. As a handler for the Spongebob balloon, then as a handler for the Charlie Brown balloon, and then as a birthday clown. It was a ton of fun and some great exercise on a day when we would have otherwise just hunkered down inside. Now, it's probably not very feasible for most people to be in the Macy's parade, but see if there's a local parade that you can join. It will be tons of fun and get you in the holiday spirit.  
• Root, root, root for the home (football) team. You can always find a local football game on Thanksgiving. Even where I grew up, and our high school football team has been horrendous since the school opened over ten years ago. But the Thanksgiving game with our cross town rivals is still a yearly tradition. Get out there and cheer and scream and jump up and down. Bonus points if you're one of those fans that runs up and down the sidelines following the plays. 
• Get in your regularly scheduled workout.  Just because it's a holiday doesn't mean that you have to get off your workout schedule.  If you usually work out on Thursdays, see if you can arrange your schedule around a sweat session.  It doesn't have to be long - HIIT or cross-fit type workouts are great for a day like this, when time may be tight.  But, if you're anything like me, you'll feel slightly better about gorging yourself on turkey and sides if you've already done something good for yourself that day.  

What are your favorite Thanksgiving day activities?  What about your favorite Thanksgiving foods?

Moody workouts

We all have bad days.  Days when we are definitely not in the best mood.  Days when you're still in bed at ten, and work began at eight, you burned your breakfast, so far, things are going great.  (Who else misses Friends?) Days when you can't seem to focus because there's just too much on your mind.  Days when there's just a black cloud following you around.

On the flip side, we also have days when things are going great and there's so much to look forward to and we just can't sit still. 

Either one of these situations can totally throw your workout plans for a loop.  But, they don't have to.  In fact, they can actually help you get a really good workout.  The key is to work with your mood, and not against it.  Here are some of my favorite workouts for any mood:

• Mad, aggravated, or just feel like you need to hit something?  Take a boxing or kickboxing class (or just hit the heavy bag in your gym a few times). Go to the batting cages or driving range.  These will all give you the satisfaction of physically getting some aggression out without actually hurting someone or getting arrested.
• Need time to think? Ditch the headphones and go for a long run, walk, or bike ride. Yea, I know, going without headphones is scary.  What will you do if you can't listen to your music?  I find it so much easier to think when I'm not listening to music - the lyrics and rhythms distract me too much.  The dull din of everyday life going on around me is the perfect ambient background for my thoughts.  And, getting moving helps to really kick my mind into high gear.
• Stressed out? The standard answer to this would be "take a yoga class", which can definitely be helpful. But, I've also found that sometimes hiking or going for a walk or run on a scenic route does an even better job helping me to de-stress. Going for a swim would also be a good idea (if its at all feasible), as it forces you to really focus on what you're doing and be in-tune with your body.
• Need to get out pent up energy or frustration? Lift.  Lift something that's on the heavy side for you.  It will make you look and feel like a badass. And, in my experience, nothing gets out frustration like lifting until your arms feel like jello. 
• Need energy or motivation? Try a workout that starts out slow and gradually amps up.  A Flywheel or spinning class is a great option.  Or, mix up your treadmill or elliptical workout by increasing the speed or incline slightly every two minutes until you're working at a pace and incline that feels difficult for you. Then, back off for a few minutes, before upping the difficulty again.  Constantly changing it up will keep you engaged and energized.
• Anxious about something? Take a long walk outside and get some deep breaths of fresh air (or,  you know, city air).  The breathing and movement will help to calm your mind and body.
• Need a self-confidence boost? Do a workout that you know you can totally rock. Or one that targets your favorite body part.  Are you a master yogi?  Then take your favorite yoga class.  Does basketball come naturally to you?  Find a pickup game. Are people envious of your shoulders? Hit those hard in your workout. 
• Excited about something? Put that excitement to good use and try a high-energy class like Zumba or Latin dance.  This would also be a good time to try out those P90X, Insanity, of TurboFire videos. 
• Tired? Do something easy.  A walk, a few sun salutations, or a nice stretching session.  At least you'll be moving, and, more often than not, once you get going a bit, you'll find that your energy increases and you'll want to do more.

Obviously, a workout is not going to make whatever caused your bad mood go away (oh, if there was only a workout that could simultaneously make that annoying client agree with everything you say).  But, I know that working out usually improves my outlook on life. So, whenever I'm really in a mood (be it good or bad), it's totally worth it to make to take a few minutes to think about what appeals to me and my mood, and tailor my workout around that.  

Tell me, what workout do you do if you're in a bad mood?  What about if you're in a great mood?

The new and improved knee, now with even more ligaments

Surgeons in Belgium recently discovered a new ligament in the knee.  The anterolateral ligament, or A.L.L. (not the stain lifter).

This baffles me.  And intrigues me to no end. 

I guess it's time to replace those knee models that every orthopedic surgeon has in their office. Someone's about to make a killing selling models of "the new and improved knee".

But, beyond the potential business and marketing ideas, this intrigues me for an entirely different reason. 

The only reason surgeons even thought to look for this ligament is because of "a problem that occurred in some patients who had undergone reconstructive surgery for an injured anterior cruciate ligament, or A.C.L. Despite the repaired knees’ appearing afterward to be healthy, the joint would sometimes give way as people moved." 

They "wondered whether additional, untended knee injuries might be to blame, and if so, whether they were occurring in uncharted knee parts." 

Growing up, I used to play a lot of sports.  I tore the A.C.L. in my right knee playing soccer in eighth grade, and then tore the A.C.L. in my left knee less than a year later. 

When I tore my right A.C.L., it hurt like nothing I've ever felt before or since.  I had to stay in the hospital overnight for antibiotics due to a minor complication with the surgery.  It took a while to heal - a full month or two longer than the normal six month recovery period.  I had so many issues with the brace that I was supposed to wear when I returned to playing sports. 

When I tore my left A.C.L., I wasn't in that much pain. In fact, my doctor was shocked that I actually tore it.  Based on my level of pain and his physical exam, he was certain that I had just torn my meniscus, a much more minor injury.  Until the MRI scans came back and confirmed that I had, indeed, torn my A.C.L. Surgery was an out-patient affair, recovery was much faster, and I had no issues when returning to sports. 

Except that my left knee has continued to plague me with issues, while my right knee has been a joy to live with for these past 17 years. 

For years afterward, my left knee used to frequently "pop out" when I moved it wrong. Usually if I sat cross-legged for too long.  It's hard to describe, but it would pretty much dislocate itself.  It hurt.  I had to move very precisely to get it back to normal.  And then there was the one time that it didn't want to pop back in. That was a fun ER visit. 

My left knee required another A.C.L. surgery about 10 years after the initial one, as it had become unstable.  Running around the bases in a kickball game led it to get unbearably stiff and painful hours later. 

To this day, my left knee is the one that gives me problems.  It hurts sometimes when I run.  It feels unstable sometimes if I step wrong.  Or twist a certain way.  My left hip, and IT band, and plantar fascia all give me problems.  I've always just assumed that they were all connected, because, well, the foot bone's connected to the ankle bone, the ankle bone's connected to the leg bone, the leg bone's connected to the knee bone, the knee bone's connected to the thigh bone, the thigh bone's connected to the hip bone. 

And it's always been my hunch that all of these problems started with the knee. 

Meanwhile, my right knee has been the angel child this whole time. 

Both surgeries were done the same way, by the same doctor, less than a year apart.  Yet, one surgery worked perfectly, while the other has become my Achilles heal. It's always perplexed me as to how this could be.

The Belgian surgeons "think that it’s quite likely many people who tear an A.C.L. also tear an A.L.L...[and] lingering injury or weakness in this overlooked ligament could leave joints unstable."

Aha!  Now, I haven't gone to a doctor to see if this is actually what's happening to me, because I try to go to doctor's as infrequently as possible. And also because I don't really have the time or money to travel to Belgium just to go to a knee surgeon. 

But, I wonder, what if all of the issues I've experienced over the years are because of a torn A.L.L.? The ligament that nobody knew existed but has probably caused so many people so many problems. 

It almost makes me want to fly to Belgium and offer myself up as a test subject for further  research.  I'm sure that they'll find some fascinating things in there (including a Titanium screw and a cadaver Achilles tendon).  Maybe, just maybe, they'll find an A.L.L. that's been torn and not properly repaired. 

Trust me, I know that there are important medical advances that need to be made to cure various chronic and deadly diseases.  And that research into the knee is probably not very high on people's list of uses for medical funding.  People can deal with a little pain and discomfort when they walk.  They can move more slowly and be more careful how and where they step.  They can wear shoes with extra traction when it's wet or icy out and they can take pain medication and ice their joint when it hurts. 

But, even if I didn't think that these findings could potentially be beneficial to me, I'd still find this research fascinating.  I mean, it's a knee.  It seems like a relatively simple body part.  It sits midway down your leg, allowing you bend to easily sit in chairs, get in cars, walk, run, etc.  There have been countless knee surgeries and even full knee replacements done over the years.  So, you'd think surgeons pretty much had the knee down pat. 

It makes me wonder what else there still is to find out about the human body.  What other aspects of the anatomy still haven't been discovered yet.  

It also makes me realize that, while we know so much, there is still so much more to be learned.  About the body.  And nature.  And the world.  And everything that surrounds us.  

Which definitely puts a little knee pain and instability in perspective. 

But hey, science, it would still be great if you could figure that out for me.  I'd love to not have to worry that slipping a little on the wood floors is going to end with me blowing me knee out, yet again. 

Navigating the office munchies

At my office, we get bagels delivered every Thursday for breakfast.  I like to call it bagel Thursday. I'm incredibly creative.

We get pizza every third Friday of the month for lunch. 

And there's the candy bowl in the lobby that's been full a lot more lately.  Not to mention the Girl Scout cookies that have been popping up all over the office.  And the random client and vendor lunches that crop up from time to time. 

In short, there's a pretty regular supply of food around and there's always an opportunity to eat something that's not necessarily the healthiest for you.  

I'm not going to lie and say that I don't eat any of these foods and that you shouldn't either.  And then list things that you should do instead of indulge.

(Go for a walk! That doesn't work when the whole office smells of cheesy, garlicky goodness.

Eat an apple instead!  Come on.  If you really want a candy bar, no amount of apples is going to taste as good as that Milky Way midnight. 

Put the bagel down and eat a piece of whole wheat toast instead! Come on, everyone knows that nothing is better than a good NY bagel.  It's the water.)

No, I'm obviously a proponent of partaking in the office feedings, if you want.  Nobody wants to be that person eating a salad because they have to be "good" while drooling over everyone else's pizza.  

But, there are somethings that I've learned that help me not go too overboard on these occasions, which can leave you feeling sluggish and just generally blah afterwards (that's the technical term).  It's especially important for me to rein myself in with these splurges because they happen fairly often. So, here's what I do:

• I let myself eat whatever I want.  If I want a bagel with butter or two slices of pizza, I go for it.  But, I make sure to listen to my hunger and stop when I'm satiated.  Even if that means leaving a few bites of scrumptious pizza on my plate. 
• If I can, I try to not eat in front of my computer.  Sometimes we'll eat in the conference room, chatting as we take a break from the day.  This forces me to eat slower, since I don't want to be shoving slice after slice of pizza in my mouth in front of my coworkers, and it's rude to talk with my mouth full (or so I've been told). When I eat slower, I give myself time to feel full.  Which is better than the alternative of devouring two pieces of pizza in five minutes, only to feel overly stuffed and totally uncomfortable 10 minutes later.
• Since I know when we're going to have food days at the office, for the most part, I can plan to eat healthfully for the rest of the day, and supplement the not-so-healthy meal with healthy options.  On bagel day, I'll generally bring myself a pear or another piece of fruit, and be sure to eat that before the bagel, so that I don't get too full to eat it later.  On pizza day, we always order a huge salad, so I'll start with a big serving of that.
• I make sure that I get a midday walk, or some extra movement that day.  Our office is only one floor, so the common advice to use a bathroom on another floor doesn't really work that well.  And everyone I work with sits within five feet of me, so walking to another person's office instead of sending an email or shouting doesn't really do much for me. Plus, I work on the 31st floor, so taking the stairs is kind of out of the question, unless I want to shower again once I get to work, and build another hour into my morning.  So, the easiest way for me to get some more movement into my day is to go for a midday walk.  Plus, it's a great way to just clear my head and get a little break from the office.
• I drink more water.  I usually drink a ton of tea and water anyway, but when I know I'm going to be treating myself, I make sure to fill up even more, especially before eating.  This helps me to feel fuller and makes sure that I stay hydrated.  It also makes me have to pee more (TMI?), which means I have to get up and walk to the bathroom more, which means I get in a little more movement.  Winner!
• I allow myself one plate and then stay away from the leftovers.  This is key.  The leftovers usually end up in the kitchen, which I have to walk through to get to the bathroom.  So telling myself that I won't pick on leftovers helps to make sure that I don't accidentally end up eating 4 or 5 pieces of pizza throughout the day (not that that has ever happened...).

Tell me, how do you enjoy treats that pop up in the office without going totally overboard? What do you do to add some more movement into your day?

Soccer actually taught me life lessons

It started in second grade. 

Actually, looking back at old home movies and photos, I think it may have started sooner. 

But, in my mind, it all started in second grade.  We had just moved to a new town. My parents signed me up for soccer for the first time.  I made my first friend in town at our first practice.  She was the coach's daughter. 

Turned out I was pretty good at it.  

The coach also coached the basketball team that his daughter played on.  I signed up for that in the fall.  And softball in the spring.  Although it was probably tee ball at that age.  And, if home movies are any indication, I may have actually played tee ball before. 

But no matter.  My love of sports started on that August (or maybe September) day, at the end of the first summer in what is now my hometown. 

And it stayed with me for a while.  I played soccer and softball and basketball almost year-round through seventh grade.  

I had knee surgery on each knee less than a year apart because of soccer injuries.  This effectively ended my basketball career, because basketball in seventh grade and basketball in ninth grade are entirely different games. 

I was on the varsity soccer and softball teams in high school.  I definitely was not the best player, but I had fun and was never afraid to get dirty in the name of a good play.  Hell, I was even named defensive player of the year of our softball team my senior year.  As centerfielder, I apparently never made an error.  That was news to me.  (I think we won one game that year, so this is definitely not a humble brag.  We were bad.  I definitely wasn't even the best of the bad.)

My last softball game of senior year was in mid-May, right after I turned 18.  I remember because I went to the mall and got my ears pierced for a third and fourth time after the game ended.  On my own.  Without a parent's signature.  

I didn't smoke, so getting something pierced (or getting a tattoo, which probably would have gotten me kicked out of the house) and buying lotto tickets were the only real ways to mark this milestone. 

That softball game was the last time I ever played on an organized sports team.

I would love to play organized sports again. It's so fun and such a great experience.  But, life gets in the way.  Work and a dog and the fact that I'm an old lady and go to bed by 10 p.m. make it difficult to commit the time. 

Sure, I know it's possible to do.  I have friends that play on softball leagues.  I even have a friend that plays in a dodge ball league. 

But, at this point, it's not in the cards for me.  That doesn't mean that I can't dream and I can't reminisce.

I don't look back on all of those years of playing sports as the glory days.  Hopefully I'll accomplish a lot more in my life than almost making it to the state championship a few years in a row (emphasis on almost). Heck, I don't even look back on those days all that often. 

But when I do, I now realize that what I thought were just a fun time growing up actually helped teach me some great life lessons, in a ways that were approachable and understandable to adolescent and teen me. 

I learned to take a hit and keep going, both literally and figuratively.  I learned to want to win.  And that it's not the end of the world when you don't. 

I learned that just because you're on the same team as someone doesn't mean that you'll necessarily be friends or even get along.  But that it makes life a lot easier if you're cordial to each other. 

I learned that rest is just as important as activity.  No matter how much you don't want to use crutches any more or how much you hate having to sit in the library while everyone else is playing no-holds-barred-two-ball-soccer in gym class. 

I won't say that I learned the value of teamwork, because I find that to be incredibly cliche.  And also, I'm not sure that it's entirely true.  Sure, I can work with someone to get the job done, but isn't everyone always looking out for themselves?

You know what I didn't learn?  

I didn't learn the value of exercise.  

I learned the value of moving.  Being active.  Training in a way that allowed you to be the best you could at the sport that you were playing, not just slaving away on an elliptical trainer to meet a certain time or calorie goal.  At the time, that training was for soccer and softball and basketball.  

But now, I suppose that training is for life.  For groceries and little cousins and commutes and dogs that want to be walked.

I also didn't learn to diet.  

I learned that you needed to fuel your body in a way that would help you accomplish your goal.  As a teenager, that meant Gatorade and candy bars and eating a ridiculous amount of snacks in math class (and also sometimes taking naps in that class - don't judge). 

Now, that means eating real foods and cooking for myself as much as possible.  And not depriving myself. I still love a good candy bar once in a while.

And, I didn't learn that you could only exercise in the privacy of your own home, or in a gym that you paid a ludicrous amount of money for.  I learned that you can move your body wherever you are, and use objects in many different ways to help you train.  

And that being outside is better than being inside.  Even if it's freezing in November and you're sitting on the sidelines.  As a kid, practice was only held inside if it was raining or snowing or otherwise too dangerous to be outside for long periods of time.  And even then, practice was fun.  There were drills and sliding pads (I used to loooooove sliding in softball and slide tackling in soccer!) and fun games.

It's this one that I struggle with the most as an adult.  Getting outside of my routine and getting outside of the gym and mixing things up.  

Maybe it's time to rethink my approach to fitness.  Think instead of what young Megan did and recreate that.  

More quick drills and fewer longs slogs on cardio machines.  

More fresh air and less sweaty gym air.  

More fun and less tedium. 

More enjoyment.  Period.

Stocking the freezer

I work in the city.  It takes about an hour for me to get home every night (which is partially my fault, since I like to walk the 20+ blocks and 6+ avenues to the train instead of taking the subway).  By the time I get home, I usually just want a really quick and easy dinner.  Sometimes my husband is interested in eating what I'm eating, and sometimes he's not.  So, I like to keep my freezer stocked with pre-made meals that can feed both of us or just me, and can be heated and enjoyed in five minutes or less. 

I also bring my lunch to work almost every day.  It's healthier and a lot cheaper than buying it.  It's usually a pretty standard lunch. Salad in the summer, quinoa and roasted veggies in the winter.  But, sometimes I like to mix is up a bit. These ready-made meals are great for this purpose as well. 

I usually go on a crazy weekend cooking spree every month or two to restock the freezer, whenever I start to see my stores dwindling. In a few hours, I can make enough food to last me weeks or even months. 

Here are a few of my favorite make-ahead and freeze meals, many of which are in my freezer right now:

• Meatloaf.  This is so versatile.  You can use whatever types of meat you want (ground beef, turkey, or chicken would all work well) and add in a ton of different veggies.  You can season however you'd like.  Then just bake up, cut into single servings, and freeze individually (you could use plastic baggies or tinfoil.  The release-type tinfoil works particularly well). I usually make mine with ground beef, bell peppers, broccoli, mushrooms, caramelized onions and some cheese (because everything's better with cheese).  It keeps well in the freezer for a good while - I've kept mine for as long as six months!  When you're ready to eat, just take a piece out of the freezer and put it straight into the microwave.
• Soup.  Soup is great.  You can make a huge vat and feed yourself for days or weeks at a time.  You can freeze in individual servings, or larger bags if you know you'll want to have a few servings available.  I find that soups that are either blended or creamier (like my Sweet Potato Soup) or soups that are a bit heartier (like a chicken soup or a beef stew) tend to freeze the best.  If you have the foresight to do so, take a serving out of the freezer and let it defrost in the fridge the night before you plan to eat it.  If you forget (which I always do), you can just cut the bag off of the frozen soup and reheat in the microwave or a pan.  If you're microwaving it, just make sure the bowl is big enough to fit the whole block of soup, otherwise you might risk some spillage as it defrosts.
• Pasta bakes.  I like to think of this like meatloaf, but without the meat.  Just cook up some pasta, add some veggies, cheese, maybe a little butter, breadcrumbs and eggs (to hold it all together).  Spread into a casserole dish coated with non-stick spray and bake until everything's set.  Let it cool, cut into pieces and freeze individual servings. Then just microwave whenever you're ready to eat. I like to microwave these to defrost them and then finish off in the toaster to get the top nice and crisp. (This would probably also work really well with quinoa in place of the pasta.)
• Cooked meats.  Grill or bake up some chicken, sausage, beef, pork, or whatever it is that strikes your fancy.  Wrap and freeze.  Then just take out a piece and defrost in the fridge or put it straight in the microwave whenever you're low on dinner inspiration.  Add a side of fresh (or even frozen) veggies and some rice and viola, dinner.  This is also great for adding some protein to a salad, jazzing up a soup, making a quick quesadilla, or putting together a sandwich.
• Chicken nuggets. This might be the kid in me talking, but I love good homemade chicken nuggets (with duck sauce for dipping).  My mom used to make them for us when we were little, and they're a great option to have in the freezer for a quick snack or even as part of a meal.  Just cut boneless, skinless chicken breasts into nugget sized pieces, dip in flour, egg wash, and bread crumbs.  Spray a baking sheet with non-stick spray, lay chicken in a single layer, and bake until cooked through (about 15-20 minutes).  These freeze really well and it's easy to take out just enough to satisfy your hunger anytime.
• Frozen pasta meals.  You know those meals that they sell in the freezer section that have pasta and protein and veggies and sauce all in one bag?  All you have to do is throw in the pan and heat through?  Well, these are ridiculously easy and fairly cheap to make at home (and healthier too!).  Just cook each component separately - so, pasta (or rice), protein, and veggies (if they're fresh.  If you're using frozen, you don't even need to pre-cook).  Let them cool a bit, and then portion them off into individual gallon-sized bags (for a pound of pasta, I usually make four meals out of it, which serves 1-2 people each, depending on how hungry we are).  Add a sauce of your choice (could be something homemade, could be a favorite salad dressing or marinade) and freeze.  Whenever you're ready to eat it, just warm in a skillet until everything is heated through and is thoroughly coated with the sauce. 

Do you ever stock the freezer with pre-cooked meals?  What are a few of your favorites?

The Target trap

I go to our local Target at least three times a month.  Sometimes even more.  

I think I've left without spending more than $100 only a handful of times.  (If you are able to routinely go to Target and spend less than $100, please tell me your tricks.  I swear, that place is rigged so no matter what you buy, it will be at least $100.01.)

I do a lot of my grocery shopping there, because I'm under the delusion that it's cheaper than a regular grocery store.  I've never actually compared prices, so chances are it isn't really any cheaper.  And half the time I end up going to A&P anyway because Target doesn't have something I need.

But I think my downfall at Target is the fitness aisle.  And the workout clothes section.  It's a rare occasion that I can go into the store without checking out at least one of those areas.  And an even rarer occurrence that I don't buy anything from either.  (Also, has anybody noticed that it's really hard to find the exercise and fitness section on Target.com without just searching for it?)

The problem is that it's definitely a crap shoot when you're buying fitness-related stuff from Target, especially if you're doing it on a whim without researching it first. 

Don't get me wrong, I've definitely gotten some things that I love from Target.

There's the Jillian Michaels yoga DVD.  And the Gaiam yoga mat.  And the Camelbak water bottle.  And one of my foam rollers. And almost every sports bra that I own.  And my favorite pair of workout capris.  In fact, most of my workout clothes.

But the things that always stand out are the total misses.  The things that I hesitate to put in my cart but then put in anyway.  Schlep home, use once, and hate.  I either give them away to someone that thinks they might like it better, or just let them gather dust and take up space in my apartment.

The most memorable is the Julianne Hough dance workout DVD.  To be quite honest, I have no idea what possessed me to buy this.  She generally annoys me to begin with.  I don't know why I thought her instructing me through a 30 minute exercise routine would be a fun experience.  It must have been on sale or something.

I got it home and popped it in the DVD player, ready for a great workout.  I think I got about five minutes in before I couldn't take it anymore.  I texted my sister to see if she wanted it.  She did.

She used it once.  I'm not sure if she even made it all the way through a workout.  Apparently, a dislike of Julianne Hough runs in the family.

Then there was the kettlebell DVD workout, which came with a 4lb. kettlebell.  I did that a few times, and while it was a great workout, it only came with a 4lb. kettlebell, which definitely isn't enough for me to get a good workout, no matter how many exercises I do.  I eventually upgraded to a 10lb. kettlebell, but now the 4lb. one is just sitting on the floor in my apartment.  It only moves when I need to Swiffer underneath it.

And then there are the Val Slides.  Which, truth be told, are actually a decent invention.  They are these pads that are designed to slide along the floor, making your movements easier and more fluid.  Although I could totally achieve the same effect by using two plastic frisbees that they give away for free at the county fair.   The funny thing about the Val Slide is that when I brought them home from Target and opened the box, the actual Val Slides were nowhere to be found.  It was the last box that was on the shelf.  I obviously brought it back and Target, and they gave me a refund, and then I complained to the manufacturer, who sent me a pair for free.  Which is a good thing, because I think I've used them once.

I love Target, I really do.  But I think I need to build a whole new category into my monthly budget for Useless Crap that Looks Cool at Target and Will Forever Sit Around My Apartment Gathering Dust.  And I think I need to limit my spending on these items to about $30 per month.  I've got my eye on these next.

Put down the smartphone and go outside

A few weeks ago, my husband and I volunteered to take his cousin's kids to the playground right by his brother's house (and by volunteered, I mean got shanghaied into.  Kids can be very persuasive and have memories like an elephant when it comes to playtime!).  We only lasted on the playground for about 15 minutes before I convinced them that it was time for dessert and we should go back inside. (It wasn't, but oh well.  They went inside.)

It was a gorgeous day out and the kids were having a ton of fun and I even got in on the action by swinging and trying out the monkey bars (which was a total fail) and racing them down (and up) the slide.  But, I was also terrified that they were going to get hurt on my watch - they were fearless!  Flipping upside down on the rings, jumping from the monkey bars, and climbing on things in ways that I'm sure they were not meant to be climbed on.  I'm pretty sure I said the phrases "be careful" and "don't do that" more in those 15 minutes than I have in the last year.  (My dad would probably beg to differ - he claims I tell my dog not to do things way too much.)

But now that I'm thinking about it, I probably shouldn't have been too worried.  The odds of them really hurting themselves were probably pretty slim (and my husband and I were always close enough to prevent any serious falls).

More importantly, they were having a great time getting both exercise and fresh air.  They weren't sitting inside playing video games or staring at a computer all day.  They were running and jumping and sliding and swinging and laughing and smiling.

These are all things that I like.  All things that, when I was a kid, I looked forward to. 

I used to love playing outside, whether it was organized sports or just running around the yard with friends or my siblings. I still love to be outside, and still love to be active, but now they both feel much more like a chore.  Something that I have to do for my physical and mental health. 

Something that needs to be checked off the list (and boy do I love lists). 

Instead of something to look forward to doing at any free moment during the day, whenever you can convince mom and dad (or in this case, my boss) to let you outside for just a few minutes.

At what point in life did outdoor activity turn from fun to just another thing to add to the list? At what point did it turn from playing and laughing and being active to just being exercise? And how do you turn back to before that point? How do you become a kid again at heart and in mind, while still being in an adult in body (and, you know, being responsible and having a job and all that jazz)?

I feel like this is an especially hard thing to accomplish now that the weather is getting cooler, and we're much more apt to want to stay inside and hibernate.  But kids don't hibernate.  They want to get outside. 

So, here's what I've come up with to get outside more as the months get colder.  If you have or can find a kid to accompany you, even better.  If not, just grab some friends, or in some cases, go it alone. 

• Play SPUD or steal the bacon or king of the hill. Or manhunt or tag (any of the numerous varieties) or red rover (this one probably hurts a lot more as an adult). Just think back to whatever you used to love playing in gym class or summer camp, assemble a group of friends, re-explain the rules, and go for it.  You'll get yourself moving and have a ton of fun before you can say "Red rover, red rover, send Megan right over."
• Join a league. Dodgeball, kickball, soccer, softball, tennis.  Whatever it is.  I have a friend that plays in a dodgeball league and she loves it.  You get to throw rubber balls at other adults and not get yelled at or arrested for it.  What's not to love?
• Find a kid and take them to the playground (because you'll get weird looks if you go alone) and actually play with them.  Challenge them to a race across the monkey bars (it's a lot harder than you remember!) or see who can swing the highest or climb up the slide the fastest (I know that's not how you're supposed to use it, but it's fun!). 
• Play a pickup game of soccer or basketball or softball or football.  You don't need to be able to field a full team, and you don't even really need to play by the rules.  Just have fun with it.
• Rake yourself a nice pile of leaves and then run through them. Jump into them. Pick up piles and throw them at your friends.  Then re-rake and repeat. 
• Build a snowman (or a sandcastle in the summer or if you feel like freezing your butt off at the beach). Rolling a pack of snow around the yard to make the snowman body can be tough work.  And, decorating it will get your creativity flowing, giving your brain a little workout as well.  Win-win. 
• Go sledding (when it's snowy out, obviously.  Which hopefully won't be for a few more months).  Walking up the hill is a great leg workout, and sledding down will bring you back to your childhood. 
• Have a snowball fight.  It's a great way to release any aggression you have all under the guise of having a good time.  Just don't aim for the face.  That's not cool.

So, who wants to come over an play with me?  I promise, it will be fun.  And we can have hot chocolate and Dunkaroos for a snack afterward.

What other outdoor activities remind you of your childhood while also helping you sneak in a good dose of healthy movement and activity?

Souper Friday

I'm bookending this week with yummy, easy, healthy soup recipes to celebrate fall.  I love making soups in the fall and winter.  They're relatively quick and easy, and with only two of us in the house, one pot of soup can last all week (or be frozen for easy meals when we're short on time or just don't feel like cooking).

This is a recipe that I adapted from several others that I've seen and made throughout the years.  This would also be great to make in a crock pot.  Just wait until right before serving to add the pasta and spinach.  (You could also easily make this a vegetarian dish by eliminating the bacon and using veggie stock instead of chicken. I just happen to like the background flavor that the bacon provides.)

Beans and Greens Soup

Ingredients: 

• 5 slices bacon 
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 medium yellow onion
• 8 cups chicken stock 
• 2 15 oz. cans of kidney beans
• 2 15 oz. cans of great northern beans
• 1/2 box of small pasta (I use ditalini, but elbows or farfalle or orecchiette would be good too)
• 20 oz. washed baby spinach (I just use the pre-washed, bagged type)
• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions: 

1. Slice bacon and onion and add to a large soup pot with olive oil and garlic. Saute until bacon begins to crisp and onions are translucent (about 10 minutes). 
2. Add stock to pot.  Rinse beans and add to stock, along with salt and pepper.
3. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. 
4. Once soup has come to a boil, add pasta and return to boil for approximately 5 minutes. 
5. Reduce heat, add spinach, and simmer until spinach is wilted, 2-3 minutes. 
6. Serve immediately. 

The longer that this soup sits, the thicker it becomes (the beans and pasta absorb a lot of the broth).  So, if you're not planning to eat all of this right away, you may want to add some more broth before reheating.  Otherwise, it turns into a sort of sloup, which is still super yummy.  

Enjoy!

These are a few of my favorite things, part duex

I will be the first to admit that I sometimes hate technology.  It does stupid things and can just get overwhelming.  And, you know, robots are going to take over the world. 

But, I also think that sometimes technology can totally be your friend.  Especially in the gym.  In addition to using my phone to play tunes to keep me pumped up (and keep me from having to engage in awkward conversations with actual humans), I have a bunch of apps on my phone that help me when I'm working out.  Here are the ones that I rely on all the time:  

• Nike Training Club (Free): This app is great.  It offers more than 100 workouts, each of the 15-45 minutes long.  Workouts fall under four categories: Get Lean, Get Toned, Get Strong, or Get Focused.  And you can choose between beginner, intermediate, and advanced workouts in each category. The workouts give you a great, intense, full body workout (except for the Get Focused category, which let's you pick a specific area to train, with workouts like Cardio Killer, Leaner Legs, and Sculpted Arms). The app counts down the reps, offers videos and descriptions of each exercise in case you're unfamiliar, and offers words of encouragement throughout the workout. You can also save your favorite workouts, track your progress, and earn rewards as you complete workouts (in the form of bonus workouts, badges, and healthy recipes).  The one bad thing about this app is that it is a beast, so it takes a while when you initially download it (and if you need to update it).  But it's totally worth it, and a great way to get a good sweat while keeping your workout interesting.
• Nike+ Running (Free): I love this app for when I want to run without worrying about time or pace or distance, but still want to keep track of all of those things.  When I wear my Garmin watch, I'm constantly looking at it to see how far and how fast I'm going, but when I use Nike+, I put it in my Spibelt and forget about it until it talks to me (which is usually every mile, unless you set it to report sooner).  Also, I think Nike+ is more accurate than my Garmin.  Whenever I use my Garmin and run with someone else who's also using a GPS watch, their watch always says we're at the end of the run a few tenths of a mile before mine does (this is totally not scientifically proven or tested, just an observation on my part).  The only annoying thing that I've found with this app is when my phone is in my Spibelt with the face of it rubbing against against my back, the app sometimes thinks I'm touching the phone and tells me my distance, pace, and time every 3 seconds.  It gets super annoying, super fast (and interrupts my music!).  So, I just make sure that my phone/Spibelt are turned so that the face of the phone isn't in contact with any of my body parts and it's all good.
• WOD Genius (Free): I like my strength training workouts to be fairly short and fairly intense. I've considered doing CrossFit many times, but the price and the fact that it's not really all that convenient for me has kept me from signing up.  But I still love the idea.  So, I use this app when I want to do a CrossFit-esque workout in the comfort of my own gym.  The app lets you select which equipment you have access to (and save it as a gym) and then generates a WOD that you can do with that equipment.  If you don't like the first one it comes up with, you can keep scrolling to the next until you find a workout that tickles your pickle.  Not sure how to do a specific exercise?  No problem - the app has written instructions and video demonstrations. You can also save your favorite workouts to come back to again and again.  If you're feeling really ambitious, you can create your own WOD.  The app also lets you time your workouts, input your results, and track them so you can see what kind of improvement you're making.  The app is very much on the no-frills side of things (and sometimes makes my phone freak out a little when I'm just playing around with it), but it is one of my go-to's when I need some inspiration in the gym. 
• IntervalTimer (Free): This one is definitely no frills.  But it's perfect for HIIT or really any workout where you need to do an exercise for a prescribed amount of time. Just set what you want your intervals to be, set the tone that you want to hear at the start/end of an interval, set how many times you want the interval to repeat, and hit start.  You can save different interval schemes, and there are also some pre-programmed routines that might inspire you to create a workout around them.  It does all the work for you and definitely beats having to look at a clock or the timer on your phone to figure out when to move on to the next exercise.  The only thing better would be a gym teacher with an actual stop watch shouting at you every 30 seconds.
• Map My Run (Free): I love using this when I'm somewhere that I'm not familiar with.  It helps me to very easily find my way back to where I started, while also tracking stats like distance, pace, elevation, etc.  This is third on my list of "ways to track my run" (behind my Garmin and Nike+), but it's still a good resource to have for when I'm on vacation, traveling for business, etc. and want to head outside without getting completely lost.

So, what have we learned today?  Having your credit card linked to your App Store account is dangerous and I now loathe paying for apps.  Ditto with Amazon one-click shopping.  And, technology can be really helpful when you're trying to live a healthy lifestyle.  You don't need to kill yourself inventing workouts and tracking your progress - chances are, there's already an app for that. Use it and make your life that much easier.

Tell me, what other, fitness apps should I have in my life?  I've been looking for a really good yoga app (because sometimes you just want someone to tell you what to do but are tired of the videos that you've done 800 times already), but haven't really found one with lots of customizable options yet.  Any suggestions?

Souper Monday

The weather has been a bit weird around here - cold and rainy one day, warm and gorgeous the next. But, it is definitely fall, so I decided that it was high time to make a nice big batch of soup that I can last me through at least some of the icky, cold weather that will inevitably come. 

I love this sweet potato soup - it's creamy and thick and sweet and hearty.  Just what you want on a fall day.  You can up the spices or add others, like pumpkin pie spice, if that's what floats your boat.  (I, personally, don't really like pumpkin flavor and am not one to need to eat. all. the. pumpkin.  Or drink pumpkin spice lattes.  But, if that's what you're into, go for it.)

I'm clearly not a food photographer.  Bear with me.

Sweet Potato Soup

Ingredients:

• 5 slices bacon
• 1 medium yellow onion
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped
• 6 cups chicken stock
• 6 medium sweet potatoes
• 2 apples
• 10 oz. box of frozen peas
• 2 tbps. olive oil
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 tbps. cinnamon
• 2 tsp. nutmeg
• Croutons (optional)

Directions: 

1. Slice bacon and onion and add to bottom of a large soup pot with olive oil and garlic. Saute until bacon begins to crisp and onions are translucent (about 10 minutes). 
2. In the meantime, peel, wash, and cube sweet potatoes. Peel, core, and cube apples. 
3. Once the bacon and onions are ready, add a bit of stock to the pot and deglaze the bottom.  Add the remaining stock, sweet potatoes and apples, cinnamon, and nutmeg.  Cover, and bring to a boil. 
4. Reduce heat and cook until sweet potatoes are fork tender (10-15 minutes). 
5. Add peas and continue cooking another 2-3 minutes, until peas are warmed through. 
6. Remove from heat and add milk. 
7. Use immersion blender to blend the soup to desired consistency (I like mine smooth, but you can leave it more chunky if you prefer).  If you don't have an immersion blender, you can use a counter top blender and blend in small batches. (If using a counter top blender, let the soup cool a bit before blending, and don't fill the blender all the way, as the soup will expand.)
8. Serve immediately, with croutons (optional). 

(I find that it's a lot easier to slice up the bacon if it's frozen and if you use a really sharp knife.  Also, the whole holding a piece of bread in your mouth while you slice an onion thing totally works.  You look like an idiot, but your eyes don't burn.  Decide which is most important to you.)

I love to make a big batch of this soup on the weekends and freeze individual servings in Ziploc bags.  It makes for a really easy and quick weekday lunch or weeknight meal. 

Tell me, what are you favorite soup recipes?  I'll share another of my favorites on Friday!

We (almost) didn't start the fire

Last weekend, my sister and I decided to haul out the fire pit that someone left at my dad's house a long time ago, get a fire going, roast some marshmallows and make s'mores (You're killing me, Smalls.) while drinking homemade chai lattes and looking at the stars through the telescope that I bought for my husband seven years ago and that has only been used twice.  Obviously, things didn't work out nearly as well as we planned. 

Spoiler alert: We started a fire.

I was tasked with doing the whole fire pit thing.  Having never been a girl scout nor having any particular mountain-man tendencies, I did what anybody would do in this situation.  I went outside to the shed, in the dark, with a Brooklyn Lantern (we have a penchant for buying As Seen on TV things in my family.  The Brooklyn Lantern is great in concept, but is actually kind of bulky and not really all that bright in real life), and hauled the fire pit into the middle of the yard. I grabbed some old tree branches that were piled up years ago, presumably for this very purpose, and which may have still been a little damp from the last time it rained.  I broke them apart, piled them and some newspaper in the pit, and lit it up.  

I figured I'd be saying "Submitted for the Approval of the Midnight Society, I call this story the tale of Zeke the plumber" in no time. (I clearly don't know any scary stories.)

Not so much.  Apparently newspaper burns quick and bright and then nada.  We tried again.  Same thing.  My dad, who grew up in Brooklyn and Staten Island and was a Boy Scout for about two seconds, brought out some dry wood that he randomly had inside the house. We're still not really sure where he pulled that from.  We tried again with the dry wood, but it still didn't light.  I Googled "How to make a fire in a fire pit." We were about to give up when my dad started making fun of us for not being able to light a fire. 

That got me fired up (pun totally intended).  One last shot - this time with actual matches instead of those sissy little lighters (also, both lighters that we had ran out of lighter fluid.  Womp.).  Finally, the fire caught!  We were cooking now.  It was time to make the s'mores. 

(We ran out of milk so couldn't make the chai tea lattes until later.  But they were yummy when we finally did.  And, while we assembled the telescope, we didn't actually feel like reading the instructions on how to use it.  And it was cold outside.  So, that didn't happen.  So really, our grand plan kind of crashed and burned.)

As we were standing over the fire, roasting our marshmallows with too-short shish kabob skewers, burning our knuckles, we started to think of other, healthier, but still yummy things that you could make on a stick over a campfire. 

• Pineapple and watermelon.  People love to grill pineapple and watermelon, so why not roast them over the fire?  Just but sure to chunk up the pieces and put them securely on a skewer.  Maybe drizzle with a little maple syrup or honey once they're nice and toasty. 
• Cinnamon apples.  Cut the apples into pieces and sprinkle with some cinnamon.  Roast over the fire until the apples are nice and soft and smell delicious. Then bust out the vanilla ice cream and enjoy. (Or just eat.  No ice cream required.)
• Banana chunks.  You could roll them in some cinnamon and brown sugar, or use them instead of marshmallows on a s'more. You could also use Nutella or peanut butter instead of a chocolate bar if you want to get all fancy. 
• Bread.  Just chunk up some canned biscuits and put a blob on the end, like you would do with a marshmallow.  Roll in cinnamon and sugar and cook over the fire.  Or cook the bread and then dip in nut butter (or cookie butter)!  It's kind of like a make your own, piece-by-piece monkey bread. 
• Popcorn.  Ok, so you can't do this one on a skewer.  But get yourself some jiffy pop and a grate to put over the fire and you've got freshly popped popcorn in no time (hopefully while avoiding Drew Barrymore's fate in Scream).  You could probably also make this DIY-style with kernels, a pot, and some oil.  Then just season to your fancy.

I'm sure there are tons of other tried and true yummy and healthy options for nights around  the campfire.  Having only been to maybe three campfires in my life, my experience is limited to making s'mores and throwing paper towels on the fire and watching them disintegrate.  So tell me, what other yummy stuff have you made on a campfire (or, you know, a fire pit in your dad's backyard)?

Marshmallow skin. Almost as good as pudding skin.