Posts Tagged by Gym
Puppies and Olympic Excitement!
| July 28, 2012 | Posted by Sweet Tooth Runner under Uncategorized |
For those of you who follow me on Twitter, I apologise for spamming your news feeds with pictures of puppies. But now I am going to put them all over this post.
On Wednesday, I visited my friend and her new puppy! Say hello to Roxie, the West Highland White Terrier puppy!
And then Thursday and Friday I’ve been living at my aunt’s house because she has just gotten a puppy too! But this cutie isn’t just any old puppy…
…this is Questa, and she is going to be a guide dog when she is older! My aunt and uncle are fostering her for a year and training her, and she will hopefully go on to help a blind or partially-sighted person 
How on earth they are going to be able to give up this little cutie is beyond me. I couldn’t even put her down for a second!
She is SO playful, and I spent a good half hour playing with her on the slide. She is adorable!!
That completely exhausted her, and she had to be carried indoor and then fell asleep on me. This is TRUE LOVE and I am currently formulating a plan to steal her.
Okay, puppy time OVER now, I promise 
It has been seriously hot here in London recently, and after a horribly hot run on Thursday…
…I took yesterday’s run to the gym! It’s the new gym that I mentioned before, and this is why it is my new favourite place on Earth:
- I was the only one in the gym for almost the whole time! No waiting for machines or equipment = win!
- The treadmill HAS IT’S OWN FAN. Best thing ever.
- Has a cool “random hill” button on the tread which was fun when I got bored;)
- It is a nice 10 minute walk from my house, and has good opening hours so I can get in early morning or late night sessions! Oh, and their showers are actually nice!
- Young athlete discount means it is CHEAP:)
Just over 7 miles done!
I refuelled with an ice lolly on my walk home, which I’m sure all the elite athletes do too…
I always read running magazines whilst on the treadmill (being able to read and run is one of my many skills;) and I was SO excited to find Running Times in WHSmiths!! You know your life is thrilling when you get excited over a magazine…! It is my favourite running magazine and I stalk the website on a daily basis, but it was only available in America until now!
In the evening, my whole family (including my aunt and uncle who are over from New York) came together and sat down to watch the Olympic Opening Ceremony. What did you guys think? I thought it was great, and SO British! But my aunt and uncle didn’t understand a lot of the connotations, and parts that left me and my family in fits of laughter just left them confused! But we all loved the James Bond bit:
The whole thing left me feeling very proud to be British!
What did you think of the Opening Ceremony? I thought parts of it were great (the young athletes lighting the cauldron, Rowan Atkinson+the LSO, David Beckham and Sir Steve Redgrave, etc.), but was it too domestic, to the extent that parts “baffled foreign viewers”? Certainly did in my uncle Anthony’s case anyway
What Olympic events are you most looking forward to watching? ALL Olympic running events (track and marathon), gymnastics, swimming, rowing, cycling…so pretty much everything! I will be glued to the TV for the next couple of weeks. And next Friday and Sunday I will be seeing the action live! 
Random: Tell me about what run/workout you are doing today! A 9-miler with my BROTHER (I take full credit for his transformation from a couch potato into a runner;) as soon as I can tear myself away from the Olympic coverage!
Have a great day friends!! <3
I love Pancake Sundays.
| September 25, 2011 | Posted by Sweet Tooth Runner under Uncategorized |
Long time no see!! Haha sorry friends, my computer got attacked AGAIN this weekend by a virus, which meant that I lost my planned Running Chat post for Saturday waah!! But I’ll either post it tomorrow or just wait till next Saturday…I’ll see what I’m feeling!
Anyway, I had an AMAZING weekend!! I spent my Saturday chilling with some friends…
Maturity at its finest
We went out for dinner at an Indian restaurant which had the best food in the WORLD!
Chana Masala, Tarka Daal, and Stuffed Vegetable Paratha. I ate every bite and had food triplets afterwards 
We spent the rest of the evening chatting, watching movies and eating Outback Animals:
They are SO FREAKIN GOOD! I’ve gotten my friends addicted to these cookies too 
I started my Sunday in the best way with a great early morning workout:
I KILLED it in this workout, and it was sweat+endorphins city by the end!!
I actually showered after this (and washed my hair!!). Miracles can happen if you believe.
Of course, following that it was PANCAKE TIME!! Man I love Pancake Sunday!!
CCK’s cookie dough pancakes drizzled with maple syrup. Heaven!! I had to eat some on the go cos I was late for church already!
Oh, and I made the most AMAZING (sugar-free!) Cinnamon Raisin PB which I have been having non-stop for the past few days…
My fave PB&J rice cake sandwiches! 
And now I’m off to chow down my midnight snack…
What was the highlight of your weekend? Spending my Saturday with the best people and eating great food!
What is your favourite cuisine? Indian, then Italian and Mexican!
Are you a pancake person? Yes yes yes! Pancake Sunday is one of the highlights of my WEEK!!
Hope y’all have an AMAZING week!! <3
Oh Woe a Broken Toe!
| August 18, 2011 | Posted by Sweet Tooth Runner under Running Talk |
HAHA sorry that title made me crack up!! I was going to make it less cheesy but that’s just too funny!! HEY friends, and sorry for the lack of postage yesterday! I got back late in the evening and then my blog was down, so I just went to bed! I hope you’re all having a good week!!
I broke my toe. My poor middle toe. Do you wanna see it? Nah, I wouldn’t do that to you! But you can see how doctor-esque I am…
Yeah, I wrapped it in tissue. I’m sure that helped…! 
(P.S. That’s a cool sandal tan line stripe right there ha!)
I did it running to the kitchen. Obviously. I heard the microwave timer go, and ran towards it, hitting my toes on a table leg in the process. It was ALMOST worth it for this…
Afternoon snack: protein oats in a not-very-empty PB jar, topped with strawberry preserves! That cheered me up! Food and peanut butter especially fix EVERYTHING 
Because walking was painful, I knew I couldn’t do my planned workout which was something that I was SO excited about (I didn’t tell you guys cos it was gonna be a surprise)!!
MY FIRST EVER (RUNNING) TEAM PRACTISE!! If you are a newer reader or you have a memory like mine, you can read about me being asked to join the club here. Anyway, my first practise was going to be today! But I don’t mind because now I can just look forward to going next week hopefully eeeee!! I can just build up even MORE excitement, and it will be GREAT!! 
I just Googled my toe thing, and apparently I can try taping it to my other toes and then running on it. If there’s no pain, then I can run on it! I’m going to check it with the doctor just in case, but *hopefully* it should be fine! It’s my middle toe, so it’s not as bad!
You know what also cheered me up? Retail therapy!! 
All workout stuff! Workout top with a PROPER built-in bra (most ones are rubbish), a dri-fit zip hoody thingy, a sports bra (I LOVED this design!!), Clif Shot Blocks, and Nuun hydration tablets (they are AWESOME!!).
I also would LOVE these:
Newton’s just sound SO awesome!! Sadly the £130 price tag is a bit much for me!
Also, there’s nothing endorphins can’t fix!
I look cool I know 
I spent an hour and a half switching between the bike and the elliptical (it’s a week off weights), doing various things to keep myself entertained, like hills and HIITs, and People Watching. I’m a creep.
And then guess what I had for dinner? Ultimate Comfort Food/Bone Healing food:
Buried under all the chocolate pudding, the vanilla pudding, and peanut butter, is STEEL CUT oatmeal!! I LOVE the texture of it!! I definitely have to work on different ways of making it though, but I seriously loved it!!
Now I’m off to eat my late night snack…
…so I’ll see you guys tomorrow!!
Have you ever broken a bone? Not till today!!
Have you ever been part of a sports team? No actually! I wasn’t a sporty child at all!! Actually I remember being in a hockey club for a bit and being AWFUL at it!!
What is your fave thing to shop for? Food, and then workout clothes! I love Nike too much, and my bank balance hates me for it!
ALMOST the weekend now!! Hope you all have a great end to the week!! *HUGS!*
P.S. I put a new album up on my Facebook page of some photos of my summer if you wanna check it out! More to come!
What I…Wednesday!!
| July 5, 2011 | Posted by Sweet Tooth Runner under What I...Wednesday |
HEY guys!! It’s time as usual for my What I…Wednesday, which is really my What I…Monday/Tuesday! If you haven’t joined this awesome party yet, well…you should! 
What I Ate!
Peanut Butter Chocolate Chunk pizzert! Made with peanut flour and chunks of this yummy chocolate, both of which the wonderful Jess sent me:
I highly recommend you add chocolate to your breakfasts. Oh, and I also recommend you remember to grease your pan, or you’ll just have to be classy and eat it straight up like I did:
So pretty in the mornings…
Another Best Breakfast Ever:
Oatmeal topped with half chocolate and half vanilla Alpro soya dessert pots and more of Julie’s peanut butter granola. (I’ve made that granola 3 times in 2 weeks. MAKE IT NOW it’s so darn good!!)
I tried this stuff for the first time, thanks to Lauren!
I tried half straight up and half as dippage with an apple:
Ohmygosh it is AMAZING!! I’m actually kinda glad they don’t sell it here though because I am already addicted and at $10 a jar I would definitely become bankrupt!
Of course, there were stuffed dates to be had as well:
Medjool dates with almond butter, microwaved for 20 seconds until perfection 
Dinner!
Vegan shephard’s pie (x2 servings) plus sugar snap peas. I love making big dishes like these and eating the rest as leftovers for lazy lunches later in the week. So easy!
And dessert was AMAZING!!
Soy yoghurt with PB granola and a PB chocolate chip cookie! I made Katie’s AMAZING chocolate chip cookies, but with 1/4 cup peanut flour! You HAVE to make these cookies because they are healthy, make just the right amount of cookies (6-8 cookies) and are seriously the BEST cookies I have ever had!! Just don’t ask me why there are only three left right now 
What I Wore!
I met up with a friend for coffee on Monday, and she complained last time about the fact that I always am wearing workout clothes and never ‘real girl’ clothes! Well I showed her haha!
After coffee, we went shopping! I leave on a music tour in a weeks time, so I had a long list of fun things to get, like adapter plugs and luggage tags. But I ended up not getting ANYTHING I needed to, but loads of even better totally unnecessary stuff! 
Like this romper (never worn one before!!) but in blue, reduced from £57 to £7!!
And this new Nike workout top which was half price.
Goes well with the skirt I know I am SUCH a Nike girl! I think I only have one item of workout clothing that ISN’T Nike!
What I Worked!
Yesterday I did the new release of BodyPump (I found the squat, chest and lunge tracks harder than normal, and everything else easier) and also 35 minutes on the bike. Check out these new bikes my gym has:
It is the X Dream bike: “the first indoor fitness product that accurately simulates the experience of riding outdoors”. I found it kinda like playing a video game whilst exercising…similar to the Wii Fit sort of thing I guess, and in some ways more challenging than using a regular indoor bike! Quite fun
Today was a rest day. I needed it- my legs were achey! So I did 45 mins of yoga to stretch out, and also 7 hours of shoulder/arm workouts. Yeah, I call that viola playing:
Sure I rehearse with bare feet…I promise you it’s totally normal…!
Anyway, I had two hours of rehearsals in the morning followed by a two hour concert…
…and then three hours of rehearsals in the evening for my national competition on Thursday!
Despite the sometimes ridiculous hours like today, it does pay well generally and most importantly I love it! “Do what you love and love what you do”
And talking of doing what I love, I’m hoping that I’ll be able to do this tomorrow:
Running again, maybe even on the track!! I was told last week to stick to the treadmill or grass only, but this week I can experiment with other surfaces, and I can’t wait to get out there again yaaay!!
What was your favourite thing you ate/worked today? Breakfasts which are basically dessert, and PB choc chip cookies!! And I think shopping should be a sport really. If you disagree you’ve clearly never seen me whizzing around a grocery store.
Are you loyal to a certain brand? Clothes-wise I am a Nike person! (Possibly because they sponsor Paula Radcliffe… ) But with shoes I have Brooks, Asics and Sauconys, so I’m not there!
Do you love your job? YES! Ok, so music is a part-time job for me, and I don’t plan on making it my career, but I definitely love it! Also I play at a lot of weddings and they usually throw in free wedding food which is always a bonus!
Have a GREAT day friends!! <3
P.S. I keep forgetting to do one, but I’ve been getting requests for another Q+A post, so if you have any questions, you can ask me on my Formspring.
P.P.S. Giveaway on Thursday! There were some good guesses from you guys but none of you got it! It’s gonna be a big surprise!!
Race Time
| July 2, 2011 | Posted by Sweet Tooth Runner under Uncategorized |
HEY friends!! Thank you for your sweet comments on yesterdays post!! I DEFINITELY missed you all so much!! Just so you know, I’m actually going away again in less than two weeks, but I’ll tell you all nearer the time 
Ok, I’m guilty. I pride myself on vaguely having some diet variation and not having the exact same foods day in and day out. Well, breakfast was a fail in this respect. But in my defence, I definitely honoured my cravings:
Banana oatmeal, Alpro soya caramel pudding, crunchy PB and mango butter. AMAZING combo!! And actually because I’ve never had that combo before that TOTALLY counts as variation, right?! 
I then had hours of music rehearsals to start the day (I have a concert tomorrow, one on Tuesday, and a National competition on Thursday- busy week!!) and then I came home to fuel up before hitting the gym:
Scrambled tofu (with nooch and spices), polenta and fresh tomatoes
I had a NROLFW workout today…
…and again it kicked my butt!! LOVE IT!! I took it easier than normal on the exercises involving the lower body in preparation for tomorrow (you’ll see why in a sec ), and I also did 35 mins easy of elliptical+bike as a warm-up and cooldown. The book says you should refuel straight away with a protein shake, but I read that as banana soymilk apparently:
My head isn’t wonky in real life, but I was whipping my hair back and forth thanks to a certain song that came on the radio! 
The refuelling continued when I got back home. Lifting makes me SO much hungrier than normal, and I think we all know that’s saying something!! 
Tropical Protein Oatmeal! 1/2 cup oats, 1/2 scoop tropical protein powder, soy milk and mango butter! I am addicted to this stuff, and it’s nearly gone already!! SO darn good though!! And this was such a filling and delicious snack! Happy belly
And before my workout, I went shopping! My second favourite form of cardio It was to buy a pink running top!
Now I’m not normally a person who wears pink (I actually have no pink clothes I don’t think!) so why did I buy this?
Because tomorrow I will be running a RACE!! It’s a 10k Race For Life and I’ll be running it with my best friend. She knows how much this race and cause means to me since I ran it last year following my aunt’s diagnosis with breast cancer, and so signed up to do it to help raise money for Cancer Research! She’s such an amazing friend and it means the world to me. 
I know the training for it hasn’t been easy for her, and this will be her first ever race (she started running just for it!!) so we’re just going to run it together and have FUN. And I can’t WAIT! 
What was your breakfast today? Best ever!! Tomorrow I won’t be having my usual pancakes because of the race. Gotta have my usual pre-race ritual foods!
Latest fave foodie obsession? MANGO BUTTER, thanks to Lauren! It’s so almost gone, and there will be tears when that moment comes!
What was your first race like? It was a Cancer Research Run 10k, and it was one of the best days of my life! The crowd support was AMAZING too- it makes such a difference!!
Confession Time
| June 22, 2011 | Posted by Sweet Tooth Runner under Uncategorized |
Howdy guys!! Hope you’re having a good day!! Thank you all so much for the comments on yesterday’s post!! I loved hearing what you are thankful for, and your kind words meant a lot!! It’s taking a lot of patience and self-discipline not to go straight back into in but I know I have to go slow. I’m just going to be thankful for every moment 
A couple of weeks ago (fashionably late?), the beautiful Chelsey tagged me in this award!
YAAAY thank you Chelsey! I’m sposed to give you 7 things about myself, but since I’ve already done that (on my Fave Posts page!), I’ll give you 7 Confessions from today…
1. I had pudding for breakfast. And I probably will now every day until I die.
I seriously cannot thank Amanda enough for introducing me to this amazing idea. Caramel pudding as an oatmeal topping= best idea EVER!! I made more of Julie’s peanut butter granola specially for the occasion 
2. I am addicted to stuffed dates. I had such strong stuffed-date cravings this morning that I went out and bought Medjool dates specially. I had run out and it had been WAY too long (like, 3 days!! 
)
Stuffed with crunchy PB mmmmm….
3. Whenever a killer upbeat TUNE comes on I can’t help but dance. Wherever I am, I just break into it. RAISE YOUR GLASS!
4. I am seriously starting to LOVE the weights!! Even though it can leave me in pain…
…it really kicks my butt and I LOVE seeing results!! I CAN SEE MUSCLES WOOOO! 
My morning date with the weights was AWESOME! And an amazing weight training book that has been raved about recently by everyone (any guesses?!) is winging its way to me as I type…
5. I sweat more than anyone else in the universe. Thank goodness I had my Bondi Band for evening spin is all I can say!
BUT as my spin instructor always says, more sweat is a GOOD thing and means you’re fitter! Thanks, but I’d still take the non-sweaty look any day! 
6. My ‘snacks’ are basically meals. Tropical Protein Oatmeal was one of my afternooon snacks:
1/2 cup oats, soy milk and 1/2 scoop tropical protein powder, topped with the last of my PB&Co Crunch Time! BUT guess what tomorrow’s breakfast will be in…?
7. I sneak into newsagents and read their running magazines without buying them. I DO always buy Runner’s World, but otherwise it just gets too expensive. So I do it my (illegal?) way!
They’ll never see me if I hide behind it…right?
‘Fess up people! Give me a confession please!
What is your favourite bit about strength training? So much!! The results (obviously!), the way it works me REALLY hard when I lift heavy, and the way my appetite increases a TON! And that’s seriously saying something!
Favourite magazine/s? Runner’s World all the way! *Almost* worth the fiver it costs… I also like Running Fitness!
P.S. I’ll tag some commenters in tomorrows post to get this award!
Have an AMAZING rest of the week friends!! <3
WIAW and WIWW!!
| June 14, 2011 | Posted by Sweet Tooth Runner under What I...Wednesday |
Hey friends, and welcome to the usual What I Ate+Worked Tuesday Wednesday, hosted as always by the lovely Jenn at Peas and Crayons!!
So let’s get down to it…
What I Ate!
Shall we start with breakfast?
Chocolate Banana Oatbran Pudding! This is like my go-to breakfast. Keeps me full for hours and satisfies my sweet tooth at the same time- win win 
Lunch was totally random, but I just rolled with what I was feeling. Enjoyed in 3 parts…
A Fitnessista breakfast cookie (made with added 1/2 mashed banana and raisins), a bowl of sweetcorn and a chopped apple with cashew buttah! Totally hit the spot!! It was my first ever time trying a Fitnessista breakfast cookie!! I just made it before I left for the gym and stuck in ma fridge and then it was ready and waiting for me when I got back! 
SO delicious!!
Apparently today was an oaty day. I love me some oats. So I had oats in some form for breakfast and lunch, so why not an afternoon snack as well?
Yes that is a whole bowl of oatmeal as a snack. Have I ever mentioned I have a pretty large appetite? 
Just the usual 1/2 cup oats microwaved this time with raisins. Oatbran, (oaty) Breakfast Cookie and Oatmeal in one day. Can’t beat that! 
I also managed to fit in a banana with apricot-cashew butter….
And then dinner! Which I forgot to photograph (‘twas lentil stew) but really the best part is the dessert anyway and we all know it. Especially when it involves peanut butter frosting, chocolate chips AND sprinkles. Oh yes…
Same as I had a couple of days ago in this post, but with sprinkles which obviously took it to a whole new level I am on SUCH a Single Lady Cupcake kick at the moment, so I’m sorry if you see nothing but these in tomorrow’s post, because I honour my cravings and I might feel like having them for every meal who knows!
What I Worked!
(P.S. If you didn’t see my shin update see the beginning of yesterday’s post!!)
Basically, the bike and me have become best buds the last four weeks of no running. Four weeks, can you believe it?! I can’t!! But soon I’ll ditch the bike again for Betty…
Aaah Betty I miss you. We will be reunited in less than a week, and we will have a serious running PARTY (P.S. If I have just confused you there Betty is my favourite treadmill and yes I do talk to her…)
But really, I’m not going to ditch the bike. It is apparently the BEST form of cross-training (not including ‘elite’ machines like those Nordic ski thingys) you can do if you do good workouts! I used to be glued to the elliptical before my injury because it’s the most like running, but apparently it’s not great cross-training because it still works all the same muscles as running and doesn’t rest your calves. So anyway here’s another tough bike workout for you, from my future running coach. Get ready to SWEAT!!
Hill Sprints Bike Workout
- Warm-up for at least 5 minutes
- 1 minute hill sprint (HIGH resistance, going all out. Extra challenge: after 30 secs turn the resistance up even more)
- 30 seconds spinning (No resistance, fast legs)
- 1 minute easy cycling (medium resistance, RPM 80-90)
- Repeat as many times as desired, then cooldown for 10 minutes.
This one is TOUGH. And you have to sprint all out for that one minute, so no cheating and doing half effort! Your heart rate should get to about 95% during the hill sprints and then come right back down to low aerobic (about 65%) by the end of your 1.5 minute recovery, ready to to sprint up that hill again!
Gotta love those craaaazy endorphins!
And by the way…….
….a little something for YOU tomorrow…
Haha it said what it was on the package so I had to write over it and leave you guessing! Anyway, stay tuned tomorrow for an AWESOME giveaway!!
What is your go-to breakfast? Definitely banana oatbran pudding!
Best thing you ate today or yesterday? Definitely the Single Lady Cupcake with PB frosting+choc chips+ sprinkles
Random Q: Do you have an exercise class you’ve heard about that you want to try? Yes LOADS! I’m actually trying some new things this week, including pilates tomorrow and hot yoga later this week! Can’t WAIT!! I love trying new things!!
LOTS OF LOVE and sending happy wishes to you for a great day!! <3
Wanna see me in a bikini?
| June 9, 2011 | Posted by Sweet Tooth Runner under Uncategorized |
HEY friends!! Happy *allllmost* Friday/weekend!!
Bet you’re wondering about the post title huh? It’s because I got this question on my Formspring today:
Funniest question EVER!! I Tweeted about it, and I think Amanda hit the nail on the head…
Haha! 
LOVED reading your comments on that post yesterday! There were so many different opinions! Some of you weren’t “body confident” enough (which you should be, cos you’re all STUNNING) but most of you were with me that you didn’t want to be creeped on!
Anyway, today was LITERALLY the best breakfast ever. Disregard what I have said in every post before this one where I’ve said the same thing, and just drool with me…
One of Katie’s amazing pizzerts. A Banana Chocolate Chip one to be precise, drizzled slathered in Dark Chocolate Dreams PB and sliced banana.
I ate the whole thing, and it was AMAZING. Plus it takes a total of 15 mins to make from start to finish. WINNER!!
I’m loving my bananas. I’m also loving my Banana Guard (which many of you also love apparently!! ). It doubles as a weapon.
My maturity astounds me.
I also remembered my top at the gym today, wooo!! But I still forgot something (my water bottle- I had to buy one for £2!! 
) but at least it wasn’t my shirt! Someone commented yesterday to say that at least I didn’t forget capris/shorts! Yeah, well that’s happened before! Anyone remember this incident?
![DSC09595_thumb[1]](http://sweettoothrunner.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/DSC09595_thumb1.jpg "DSC09595_thumb[1]")
That time I ended up having to do my workout in the skinny jeans I wore to the gym! Most uncomfortable experience EVER! Now I always keep a spare pair of shorts in my bag just in case! 
Today’s workout was literally the hardest bike workout ever!! I basically spoke to my future coach about being sidelined with injury and what the best cross-training thingy is that I can do, and he said the bike was the best, and gave me a bunch of workouts that will not only prevent loss of fitness but actually increase it! Today I did this one:
Runner’s Bike Workout
- 5 mins hard (90-95% max heart rate) @ ~90 RPM
- 5 mins easy
- Repeat at least 4 times
Ok, it might look easy, but it’s kinda like the longest HIIT EVER!! 5 mins of pretty much all out sprinting OWNED me!! Thank goodness I had my trusty dry shampoo for afterwards!
![DSC00390_thumb1[1]](http://sweettoothrunner.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/DSC00390_thumb11.jpg "DSC00390_thumb1[1]")
Don’t judge-I promise I’ll wash my hair tomorrow with REAL shampoo, ok?!
I used the time I wasn’t washing my hair in the most productive way possible. Watching Gilmore Girls reruns on TV…
…whilst eating my bodyweight in the cookies I made yesterday. There was a serious Cookie Baby afterwards. I think I ate a few too many! 
See? NOT washing your hair gives you more time to eat cookies and watch quality TV, so I highly recommend it. I’m such a bad influence I know, but I guess if we all have greasy hair it’ll become normal and I won’t look so bad in comparison 
And I know what you’re all really waiting to hear is the daily Shin Update. Well today I tried 5 mins very very easy on the elliptical, and NO PAIN!! I am going back to the physio on Monday, and I hope she’ll give me the ok to run again, and I KNOW she will agree with me that eating dates means you magically heal.
![DSC00211_thumb1[1]](http://sweettoothrunner.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/DSC00211_thumb11.jpg "DSC00211_thumb1[1]")
With some quality nutrients and protein on the side of course…
And PB and chocolate help too. Magic healing powers I tell you, MAGIC!!
Where is your go-to place to buy bikinis/suits? H&M or Topshop cos they are CHEAP but still awesome!
What is your ‘best breakfast ever’? Pancake Sundays rule all generally. Ooh that reminds me, nearly Sunday and PANCAKE time!! I’m excited already!!
Random Q: Team Peanut Butter or Team Almond Butter? Stole a question the Fitnessista asked on Twitter today that sparked some serious debate! At the mo, I’m TEAM ALMOND BUTTAH!! UNLESS we’re talking DCD or WCW in which case they win of course
Have an AMAZING end to the week friends!!
P.S. SO sorry about the bad commenting/replying/emailing! The virus is still there! Apart from post-writing which I can nick my bro’s laptop for, I’m having to do everything else on my iPod, which sure ain’t easy! So if you’ve emailed me or something and I haven’t responded yet, I promise I’ll get to it ASAP! LOVE YOU GUYS!! <3
Doing an Emma
| June 8, 2011 | Posted by Sweet Tooth Runner under The Crazy |
HEY friends!! Happy Wednesday!! Hope ya had a good one!
Sorry for the lack of comment replies/blog commenting etc friends! I have spent most of the day battling a computer virus. It sure ain’t pretty.
So I’m currently blogging from my brother’s laptop! I’ve had to install WLW and set things up, and I’m slowly going insane. But it’s all good, because I have some Super Charge-Me cookies that I baked today to keep me happy 
These are my FAVE cookies! I made them this time with all my favourite things: White Chocolate Wonderful PB, chocolate chips and chopped dates. I’m in love! 
That’s called ‘Doing an Emma’. Having a technical meltdown and comforting self with cookies. Well, I’ve already given ya one, and here are a couple more examples of ‘Doing an Emma’…
‘Doing an Emma’ is waking up, and spending 10 minutes lying there mulling over what to have for breakfast…
Hello bedhead.
Decided eventually on Blackberry Oatmeal!
Purple oats!! Found a punnet of blackberries in ma fridge, so just threw a ton in whilst cooking the oats, and topped with more blackberries and Morello Cherry conserve.
‘Doing an Emma’ is being really cool and using a Banana Guard to prevent your banana getting bruised in your bag.
I know I’m cool, you don’t have to tell me.
Creeping on the Banana Guard, as you do…
‘Doing an Emma’ means always forgetting something when you go to the gym. ALWAYS. Like this memorable time when I did a 5 mile speed-endurance run on the tread without socks on…
![DSC07881_thumb[1]](http://sweettoothrunner.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/DSC07881_thumb1.jpg "DSC07881_thumb[1]")
No kidding, that was months ago and I still have the blister scars! 
Anyway, this time it was my top! (From my DailyMile account):
Yes, for the first time ever, I went shirtless. There was no WAY I could wear a long sleeved cotton top in a spin class! I was very freaked out about just wearing a sports bra…
After spin, when I was too sweaty to care any more, I did 30 mins of the Fitnessista’s circuits that I did yesterday. It included a total of 36 incline pushups, and I almost died. ‘Twas awesome!
‘Doing an Emma’ is believing that nut butter can solve all problems. When the virus first hit, I knew exactly what to do. Leave the house and restock on nut butter. That’ll solve it, right?!
Er, wrong. But it DID solve my dilemma that I had run out of PB and AB, which is almost as serious as the virus in my book 
‘Doing an Emma’ is taking a perfectly normal and awesome recipe like Katie’s Single Lady Cupcake and adding lots and lots of nut butter to it. Made with White Chocolate Wonderful PB…
Let’s not forget the WCW frosting and chocolate chips. 2 minutes prep+80 secs microwaving= pure bliss
Do you put a lot of thought into your meals? Breakfast, YES always!! I love breakfast too much to not think about it every morning beforehand!
Are you a forgetful person? Very. I forget everything and am not so good with organisation either…!
(Girls!) What’s your opinion on just wearing a sports bra and no top? I’ve thought about doing it on runs before when it’s really hot, but to be honest I wouldn’t feel comfortable or safe. I get enough honks and catcalls where I live wearing a tank top and shorts! I think I live in a dodgy area haha!
Have a GREAT day you guys!! Eat lots of nut butter and chocolate for me!
What I…Wednesday!!
| June 7, 2011 | Posted by Sweet Tooth Runner under What I...Wednesday |
HAPPY WEDNESDAY FRIENDS!! Ok, yes, half of you are probably reading this on Tuesday, because for the sake of WIAW, I have swapped the two days around. I’ve managed to convince one of my friends that the world has actually swapped the two days. Gullible people are fun! 
Anyway, it’s time for my weekly contribution to Jenn @ Peas and Crayons’ party!!
What I Got So Happy About I Wanted To Cry Wednesday
This (from my Dailymile):
I KNOW you’re probably all thinking “big deal”, but I am obsessed, and last week I couldn’t even take a step without pain, so this is PROGRESS people!! Seeing ma physio on Monday, and I’m really really really hoping for good news!!
What I Ate Wednesday (nut butter edition)
Best. Breakfast Ever. OIAJ. But not just ANY OIAJ. We’re talking DOUBLE OIAJ!!
Involving two not-very-empty nut butter jars 
And I tried Katie’s Voluminous Oatmeal trick (but with 1/2 cup oats) for the first time!! Um, can you say voluminous again?
Filled both jars AND another bowl! LOVE this trick!!
I was definitely digging the volume today. Check out my huuuuge post-workout Chocolate-PB-Banana Recovery Smoothie!
1 large frozen banana, 1 scoop protein powder, 1.25 cups chocolate soy milk, PB, ice cubes, xanthan gum and topped with oats and more crunchy PB.
I also am slightly obsessed with nut butter making. 
Apricot-Cashew Butter
- 1.5 cups (about 200g) roasted unsalted cashew nuts
- 5 large dried apricots, chopped
- Process your nuts until creamy. And I mean creamy. When it looks done, keep processing for another few minutes!
- Soak your dried apricots in boiling water for about 5 mins for easy chopping and softness, then chop into small pieces.
- Add to the blender and give a quick whizz. (I like there to be chunky bits, so I only processed for about 5 more seconds, but it’s up to you). ENJOY!!
Obviously, I eat it straight off the spoon. Mmmmmm…
Or inside a date of course! 
So basically, everything I’ve eaten has involved nut butter. Two more cases in point:
Nanner with Dark Chocolate Dreams
Medjool dates stuffed with PB&Co Crunchy and WCW and chocolate chips.
I really think I need to increase my fat intake, because clearly I don’t get enough.
What I Worked Wednesday
30 mins HITTs+High Cadence Intervals on the bike, and a 45 min circuit workout from the Fitnessista! (found here) It was seriously awesome!! Hello tricep dips and face of pain…
It was such a good workout! Try it you guys!! Oh, and I’ve had a lot of requests to share my High Cadence Interval Workout, so here it is:
Runner’s High Cadence Interval Workout (for indoor bike)
Recommended by my physio (who is a runner and triathlete), this is great cross-training to help increase running turnover/cadence and endurance.
- 3 mins @ moderate resistance, 80-90 rpm
- 1 min @ moderate+1 resistance, 95-100 rpm
- 30 secs @ moderate+2 resistance (should be quite heavy), 100-110 rpm
- 30 secs @ same resistance, 110+ rpm
- Repeat at least 4 times.
It’s so simple, but trust me, it really gets you, especially after a couple of times! The trick is to get the right resistance- not too easy or too hard, and then you’ll get a better turnover and all those craaaazy endorphins after!
What I Read Wednesday
I may have sneaked back into the bookstore to finish reading Run Less Run Faster. I swear the guy behind the counter saw me come in and gave me the evils. He knows me too well. I hid brilliantly behind my book though and blended right in…
I may have to actually use my earnings to buy something other than nut butter and my gym membership and invest in this book. IN LOVE.
I know I’m glowing again. Clearly what eating a lot of nut butter does to you
What was the best thing you ate today/yesterday? I’m just gonna say nut butter for this one cos that encompasses all my eats really.
Are you someone who likes voluminous foods? YES. My bowl/plate has to be brimming always haha! 
Do you have a favourite running/fitness/health/food/recipe book? This is definitely a good’un! My favourite though has to be Paula Radcliffe’s How To Run obviously, purely because I love her.
Have a happy day friends!! Love you guys!!
