How’s it going?
Pretty well here. I planned to post last night but was down and out with a migraine. It was weird…came on super strong when I was driving home and I somehow managed to whip up some dinner before crashing on the couch with an ice pack and some meds. Blah!
That means a two-days-in-one post is coming atcha 
Yesterday morning I headed over to our newest recreation center to evaluate a cycling class. This center is unbelievable! It has a panoramic view of the mountains which all the cardio equipment faces, a big group fitness studio, a cycle studio, a huge section for weights (free and machines), a huge pool and indoor play area for the kiddos, a day care w/ indoor and outdoor equipment, and a giant basketball court. If we lived closer (it’s about 40-minutes away) you’d have to drag me out of there kicking and screaming on a daily basis!
The cycle class was awesome and I was dripping with sweat when it was done. Since I was off for MLK day on Monday (the day I usually teach) it was great to get my fix.
Pre-workout fuel:
So, I had some blackberries that got way soft while I was in California. Since I wasn’t in the mood for a smoothie and wasn’t going to toss them (gasp!), I decided to mash ‘em with a fork and make a sort of jam. This was an awesome combo with almond butter!
***
I headed into work and knocked out a bunch of stuff. It was crazy, I got in and felt completely overwhelmed, made my t0-do list and BAM, a few hours later I looked back over all my crossed off items. I love those days 
Quick lunch break:
Clearly, I didn’t eat all of that! I’ve been packing way more than I have been eating lately because I have not been able to figure out what I’m “in the mood for” in the morning. Of this, I ended up eating the salad, carrots and hummus, and apple over the course of the afternoon. I gave the cuties away to my co-workers and kept the protein for another day.
***
This morning I woke up feeling much better after my migraine, but not quite 100%. I thought maybe I needed some fresh air, so took the dog on a quick 20-minute walk. When I got back I felt so much better…and ready to tackle my long day!
After an oat mess breakfast, I headed to work for speedwork and work-work.
Now, it’s been a long time (weeks? a month?) since I’ve done speedwork of any kind and I knew it was going to be tough. Not sure I knew it would be this tough, but I persevered and felt exhausted great when it was over.
HIIT Treadmill Workout #3
warm-up:
walk @ 4.5 mph for 90-sec.
jog @ 6.0 mph for 90-sec.
run @ 6.7 mph for 120-sec.
HIIT:
sprint @ 7.5 mph for 30-sec.
sprint @ 8.0 mph for 15-sec.
jog @ 6.3 mph for 45-sec
repeat last 90-sec. 20 times [30-minutes total]
cool down:
run @ 6.7 mph for 90-sec.
jog @ 6.0 mph for 90-sec.
walk @ 4.5 mph for 120-sec.
[My speeds are listed for reference. Please take it up or down as dictated by your fitness level.]
I rounded out my workout with 5 sets of 12 pushups and some stretching.
***
Again, I packed a plethora of options for snacks/lunch today, knowing I would be away from the house until late and again, not sure of what I would want to eat. This is my new favorite thing to do!
I ended up eating crackers, 1/2 a serving of tuna salad (1 can albacore + 1 hard boiled egg + 1 tbsp. plain greek yogurt + 1 tbsp. of light mayo + salt/pepper), veggies, hummus, and the apple for lunch. It was delicious!
After working on a few projects, I packed up my stuff and headed over to another rec center to get ready for boot camp. Before it started I ate the banana and almond butter which kept me perfectly full until dinner. I donated the Mojo bar to Colin, who came straight from work and was hungry (hangry!) when he got there.
Boot camp was awesome, and I will post the workout tomorrow. It’s a keeper! I did a majority of the strength portion with the crew and I think my buns and legs will be SORE tomorrow. Stay tuned 
***
So, dinner tonight was leftovers from the last few nights. I made this recipe for butternut squash mac ‘n cheeze and followed it to a T (brown rice pasta, added kale and used canned squash). When I tasted it last night, I did not like it at all, and could only eat a few bites…but this could have been because I didn’t feel well. Colin said he really liked it, but had just gotten back from a hard run, so I assumed he would have thought anything tasted delicious!
Tonight, I reheated it and skeptically tasted my first bite. To my surprise, it was really good (thank goodness, we have a big pot full!). The flavor was fantastic and I would definitely make it again.
A random, but delicious, dinner followed by a few squares of dark chocolate.
***
Okay, I’m off!
Have a fantastic evening.
*TIP TIME*
If you pack lunch/snacks each day and sometimes struggle to figure out what you will feel like eating, try to pack more than you need, knowing you can pick your option when the hunger strikes. So often we plow through in autopilot mode, eating without thinking (or tasting!) and this can help us slow down and stay mindful.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
what a killer workout, I have found the way to survive the treadmill in this weather is by doing intervals. I love it!
That rec center kinda sounds like Westminter or Broomfield. My old stomping grounds.
I did some speedwork on Sunday morning and it felt awesome! Thanks to you, I actually prefer speedwork than any tempo runs when I’m on the treadmill! The time goes so fast, and I feel soooooooo good afterwards!
I make Ellie Krieger’s Macaroni & Four Cheeses, which isn’t vegan but does use butternut squash in the sauce and is super yummy. (I use all cheddar rather than a mix of cheddar and jack, which I guess makes mine only three cheeses. I’m at peace with it.
)
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ellie-krieger/macaroni-and-4-cheeses-recipe/index.html
I think you could easily toss some kale in and use any kind of pasta. I usually use Barilla Plus but I’m intrigued by brown rice pasta!
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