nutrition

Aw snap, this is why I don’t eat nachos!

| cheriarmour

I was awakened by the deafening Marimba tone of my iPhone. It was the AT&T guy, calling to install my wireless and crap, like two hours early. So while I’m up, I might as well do that 5-miler I’d narrowly avoided the night before, right? I mean, the Greensboro Marathon isn’t gonna run itself, amirite, amirite?

So I hit the Greenway, and I felt like garbage. All because someone (I) had had the brilliant idea to eat a plate of nachos when I know good and well my practically-vegan behind couldn’t digest it.

I slogged through the first mile. Slogged through the second and part of the third, and it felt like my legs, infused by all the saturated fats of the queso, just wouldn’t turn over as fast as my mind was telling them. Toward the end, my legs caught up, and I even caught sight of a few coworkers putting in some mileage on the Greenway.

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Long story short, I don’t eat nachos (before a run at least) with good reason. With every step I took, I could feel the queso roiling around in my stomach, and I totally regretted my decision as I pounded it out. today is what I would call a bad run. But it’s all good, right? Tomorrow will be a more FloJo type of situation.

What do I eat, and when, when I run?

| cheriarmour

This question was submitted to me by Alexa Terry Wilde.  Now, if you’ll remember, she was the good friend who got married in May in that cool, beautiful barn wedding.

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I love this picture of us. Alexa (Andrew in the middle), and me. One of the most fun nights in history.

Alexa, admittedly, is not a long-distance runner, however, she’s suffering with a pretty common issue, cramps, each time she heads out for a run.

There could a few things going on here, but her specific questions was, what should I be eating before/after a run so I’m not cramping during a run?

Number one, make sure you’re drinking enough water throughout the day.  But strike that balance, if your tummy is sloshing, back off a little bit.

Second, are you a morning runner or an evening runner?  Mornings are easy, if you’re running in the morning, go with something light.  Eat a piece of toast with Nutella on it, or half of an english muffin with a cup of coffee of a glass of water before you run, and the cramps should be banished.

If you’re an evening runner, things can get a little tricky based on the fact that you’ve literally been eating and drinking all day.  And if you’ve been eating heavy, greasy meals, count on a little discomfort, especially through the first four miles or so of your run.  However, if you know you’re an evening runner, stick to small, light, refreshing meals, an egg on an english muffin for breakfast, a salad for lunch, and maybe a piece of toast or dried fruit for snack.  Make sure you’re drinking up, and save the protein bars, eggs, and shakes for after the big run.

Return to Fat Camp

| cheriarmour

I blog to you from the (dis)comfort of my iPhone. I wish I could whip out the ol’ laptop, but I’m at camp, and using the laptop is a little tricky. So let’s go over my return to fat camp.

So fun fact, as a fitness instructor, we’re actually tested on what we know, in order to keep you guys, our participants, safe in our class. So every cheesy, annoying step-touch, every step and pull, and every cat stretch that reminds you of the 80s is necessary. So Saturday, I renewed my AFAA Group Exercise certification, which meant a lot of review, plus a test at the end. Gross. But I got it done, then hit the road to camp.

First stop. I got pulled over for “incorrectly wearing my seatbelt” (I wasn’t, I’m just thin.) Truthfully I think the cop got bored because he pulled me over for like two seconds, then let me go. Thanks sir.

But first stop?

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Lake Anna in VA to sleep and visit family.

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So I continued my trek, and met this lady at the rest stop in Delaware.

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Fun fact. I drink so much water, I have to stop at least every three hours. Preferably, at a Starbucks. Also, that’s a Teacup Yorkie. Where can I adopt one? I’m obsessed with her!

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And finally, I rolled into Camp Pocono Trails this morning. It’s just as beautiful as I left it. The campers were so excited to see me, and literally poured sweat for 3 hours with me at the helm. I’m sweaty, and a little exhausted, but I’m here, and I can’t wait to work them out this week.

Green Smoothie Recipe

| cheriarmour

I’m blogging from the extreme comfort of my smart phone because the interwebs at my parents’ is a little spotty…but the show must go on!

Okay, so selfie time!

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Yous can’t get enough of my selfies, huh?

Anyhoo, I’m gonna tell you what to buy at Harris Teeter to make yourself a bomb-ass green smoothie, choc-full of protein and iron and vitamin c and stuff. You will be energized as HECK!

Go to the sto. Get,

  • Some Trop 50 (cut the sugar and calories, keep the nutrients)
  • A bag of a frozen fruity mix. Strawberries, mango, and pineapple usually come in the mix.
  • A box of organic baby spinach. Or a bag. Whatevs.
  • Plain, fat-free, and unflavored Greek Yogurt.

Borrow your mom’s Vitamix. Or just use your cheap Oster that was all you could afford on your post-grad salary. Either way. Grab two handfuls of spinach, two large spoonfuls of yogurt, and top it off with a bit of the frozen fruit. Pour a little bit of Trop 50 in there and blend.

Does it look like baby poop? Yes. Does it taste awesome? Mmmm-hmm. Are you gonna feel like a billion bucks. Duh. Thank me later!

I’m the worst traitor, and runners are the nicest people in the whole world.

| cheriarmour

So I’m settling in at home.  Still trying to keep up with training, even though I haven’t picked a fall race yet.  And I realized yesterday, as I huffed and puffed through NC humidity, that I’d forgotten any type of hydration back at home in Raleigh.  Dang it.  That won’t work.

So I googled a running place, and slunk in.  Slunk, because I work in running specialty and I felt like such a jerk for being there.  But while I’m there, I may as well check out what they’re working with, right?

I walk in.  Put my Hater Shades on. And…our store looks SO much hotter.  Score.

So I’m trying to find something, anything wrong with this adorable store, none of which is real or true, to make myself feel better about shopping at a competitor.  Truthfully, I went into the store, the Charlotte Running Company, and it was cute, clean, well set-up, and the folks were so nice, even as some of my weird questions about the Hokas they carried revealed to them where, and for whom I worked.   When they found out I’d be in unfamiliar running territory for a few weeks while taking care of my mom, they directed me to where I could run, and groups I could meet up with. Okay, I feel kinda guilty now for being a hater when these guys were so nice.

And no sooner had I walked in the door when I spotted this.

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A 13-race 5k series?! Prizes? Uh, where do I sign up?

So I got my nutrition, chatted with the super duper nice folks at Charlotte Running Company, called my little brother, and signed us BOTH up for a 5k.  So tonight will be sibling bonding time – our first family 5k!

Veg cooking isn’t all boring.

| cheriarmour

So, I’ve been technically pescatarian since my sophomore year of college.  How many years is that?  I’m kinda bad at counting.  Maybe like 6 years is a safe estimate?

Anyhoo, I’m not sure what brought me to that decision, except the food at the Harden Dining Hall tasted like garbage, and the meat was the worst of it all.  And I wasn’t a super meaty girl to begin with.  I never was much of a steak or a burger eater, so it was sort of easy.  I just magically sort of stopped eating it.

At first I think I fell into the trap of eating a lot of french fries and Diet Cokes.  It’s easy to do.  But as I moved further into veggie-land, started living in a more veg-friendly town, started working next to the Whole Foods, and got a few more veg/vegan friends, it became clear that vegetarian meals were very multi-layered.  So many flavors, proteins, and spices.  I started paying The Remedy Cafe, a local veg joint, a few more visits, and I began getting super creative at home with beans, salads, veggie broths, and the crock pot.  It’s been delicious.  I’ll share with you guys a few more recipes if you want!

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The Remedy Diner on Hargett Street.  Photo courtesy of Marty’s Flaying Vegan Review. 

So why am I ranting and raving about why Veg Cooking doesn’t blow?  Well I had an interesting interaction this week, and I’m hoping to convince a few of yous to at least try some veg things before you knock it (How do you get protein?! It just ain’t natural!  I cannot live without meat, it’s just too hard).

Well my mom’s been sick, and I headed home the beginning of last weekend to tend to the house and Mom while everyone was gone for a family event.  I cooked a few meatless wonders for her, and she loved  them.  Actually said some of the stuff (super easy spinach quiche, pan seared fish, nuts), was the best she’d tasted.  So I challenge you guys, even if you love love your meaty meaty steaky meat, to try something called Meatless Mondays.  I’m not trying to convert you so calm down.  (But I will say pescatarianism has helped me to look incredibly fly, so if you want to look whack…okay just joshin’…)   Or if you like love steak on Monday, do it Thursday or whenever.  The original purpose was to reduce folks’ consumption of saturated fats.  But I’m just telling you to do this like to broaden your horizons like Mom did.  Do it.  Commit.  Like get all flavorful with it.  Then tell me what you think.  I know you’re gonna love it, but just humor me.

Tart Bomb Smoothie!

Image | | cheriarmour

Tart Bomb Smoothie!

So my favorite part of the weather warming up? (Sorta, I guess, I heard that some of yous in Colorado are getting snow? Gross.) Smoothie and salad time! Goodbye to heavy soups and gravies, and time for some light, tasty foods. Try this recipe in the morning for a tart, tasty smoothie!

What you’ll need
-Frozen bag of mixed berries (blue, raspberries, black, strawberries)
-Low-sugar orange juice (or you can cut regular orange juice with water)
-Palmful of spinach (optional)
-Scoop of Whey Protein (optional, but creates a wonderfully soft texture in the smoothie)

What you’ll do
-Fill a glass a little more than half way with frozen fruit. Dump it in the blender. Add optional spinach if you’d like.
-Add a little scoop of whey protein to the blender.
-Cover the fruit with the low-cal, low-sugar orange juice. Or add juice about halfway up the fruit, and add water the rest of the way.
-Blend until you get that little tornado in the center of the mix.
-Drink up and enjoy! (And tweet, email, and send me your pics of your sweet spring treat!)

This best $5 you’ll ever spend.

| cheriarmour

If you’re like me, and the sluggish economy has taken its toll on your checking account, and you feel as if you’re being judged every time you have business to attend to at your local Wells (Ms. Armour, please insert your debit. ::lowers glasses, looks sadly at account balance::) buying a fancy high-priced lunch everyday just won’t work. So allow me to introduce you to the best $5 you will ever spend in your continuing quest to stay healthy and wealthy.

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So you could easily spend $10 at Whole Foods on a salad, especially if the spirit moves you to throw some eggs, some carrots, some dressing, and some cabbage on that thang. (They charge by weight). So last shopping trip, I invested in this Pyrex salad bowl Glad thing, some salad accouterments, and a little baby Tupperware for dressing. Enter the best and most economical lunch of life. I went nuts. Boiled some eggs. Threw a few croutons on it. Added some broccoli slaw. And went to town.

So in total you save money. You save the environment. And you’re enjoying a dank salad. My only admonishment? Don’t do what I did. I’ve eaten a salad for every lunch since like last weekend, and my body, in response to fiber overload, is extremely upset with me. Salad at your own risk. But invest in this thing and quit spending half your paycheck on overpriced salads!