Tag Archives: immune system

The Air is Crisp

MISSION: 10k PR

Week 2

  • long run (7 miles)
  • 1-2 speed workouts (30-45 minute run with sprint intervals)
  • easy run (4-5 miles)
  • 3 days yoga
  • 2 Pilates workouts

Yesterday Tate and I went on a great 4.26 mile run (my “easy run” for the week).  The air was just a little chilly and smelled straight up like fall, yum!  I was still a little sore from Saturday’s dance class but after the run and a noontime vinyasa class I was feeling much better.

Tate and I headed by bike to Kath and Matt’s mid-afternoon to keep Matt company while he made a batch of homebrew.  They invited us stay for a delicious early dinner and we were home by 7pm and in bed by 9:30!

The chilly weather this week has reminded me that it is naturally time to make some shifts in my schedule.   As it gets darker earlier, dinner comes earlier, bed comes earlier, and waking up comes earlier.  I love fall but a few years ago I recognized that my body has a challenging time during this season.  My eyes are a little puffy when I wake up, I need more sleep, and I usually get a cold or at least feel run down as the weather starts to change.

This fall I am taking precautions to avoid that cold/run-down feeling.  Here are some tips to stay healthy and strong as we transition into the dark slumber of winter

  • go to bed half an hour earlier
  • suppliment vitamin C
  • decrease intake of coffee, alcohol, and sugar
  • eat more fermented foods
  • drink more water
  • pay extra attention to eating dark leafy greens, garlic, and ginger
  • note how your exercise routine is making you feel- energized? rundown? needing more? a change in the seasons is an excellent time to change up your routine!

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Filed under goals, running, workouts, yoga

Happy Fall

Humm, it’s fall and predicted to be 94 degrees today.  Lucky for me I love the heat.

Yesterday morning, right as I was deciding whether it was a running or a Jillian day, Tate asked me to go for a run with him before work.

I must have been inspired by Tuesdays run with Kath and Suzanne because I didn’t let up on the gas once!  Even the hills (and there were plenty) were taken with a good amount of speed.

Map My Run informed me that we had done 3.69 miles in 33 minutes.  O.K, so I ain’t winning any races with those numbers but I could set a PR for next months

Fall Classic 10K. I am really looking forward to this run because C’ville is such a running town!  I am continually impressed that there are runners on the streets no matter the time or temperature!  It’s very motivating.

After our speedy run and a speedy shower it was seriously time for breakfast.

A cup of yogurt topped with Tuesday nights baked apples and chopped walnuts and sprinkled with cinnamon and ginger.  That’s not just any yogurt though, that’s my yogurt!

My second batch of homemade yogurt turned out pretty well.

Next time I am going to use 1 or 2 percent milk instead of fat-free and see if it turns out a little thicker.

The afternoon was spent printing and framing pictures for our house.  It was so much fun to go through all of our travel pictures and relive that AMAZING experience.  Our house looks brighter and more personal!  Here are a few of the highlights I put up

*sigh* that was an UNBELIEVABLE trip…memories for life.

Last night was interesting.

Tate and I attended a free class at Sunrise Herb Shoppe on “natural healing with diet, nutrition, and herbs”.  The class was presented by Herbalist, Nutritional Consultant, Certified Natural Health Professional, and shoppe owner, Terri Saunders.

It was a very nice group of people (Tate and I were the youngest by at least 10 years :)) and a lot of information was given but it went on for too long.  We were there from 7-10:30pm!  Terri was organized but strayed from topic every few minutes so we didn’t get into the food aspect until 10pm, which is what I am most interested in.

She did touch on fermented foods, something that I have been aware of, thanks to my awesome whole foodie parents, for some time but haven’t given a lot of thought too.  That is, until recently.  I have been hearing/reading so many praises of fermented foods lately that I think it’s time to move beyond kombucha, yogurt, and the occasional miso or tempeh, and start experimenting with making sauerkraut and kimchee.

The basic concept behind the health benefits of fermented food is that the process of fermentation breaks down food so that the nutrition is more readily available when eaten.  I am no expert on fermented food so if you are interested in learning more, here is a good start

Top 8 Reasons to Eat Fermented Foods

And of course, I will keep you up to date on my adventures with creating some fermented foods of my own!

I have an exciting afternoon planned but first I must Shred, yoga, garden, and shower!

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Filed under cooking, food, running, travel, workouts, yoga