Flip Belt Review

It's been a long time since I've written a product review so you know that I really like this thing. What thing you ask? This thing...the Flip Belt!

I took so much time off from running that when I got back to it again I couldn't find any of my old running paraphernalia which included my old running iFitness belt. It's funny, I had to root around my garage looking for the box of workout clothes I had packed away. I couldn't remember which pair of running shoes were still good. All my supplements and GUs were long expired and I had to sadly throw them out. Then on top of that I couldn't find my fuel belt. I had to go on that run without it. If you know me then you know I have a tendency to tote around a bunch of crap with me on my runs so needless to say I somehow had to get another belt quickly. So I went online and did a quick search and the first thing that popped up was the Flip Belt. I don't like change so I skipped over it and tried to see if I could find the site where I purchased my old running belt. It took a lot of digging around but I did find a vendor but I could not help but notice all the positive reviews that the Flip Belt was getting so I spent a couple of days reading reviews and asking around. The next day I decided to order it. I got it pretty quickly and upon my return from the test run, I could tell that it was worth the purchase. It's spandex-y so it fits snug around your waist and hip. I wear mine somewhere in the middle of my waist/hip. I cram my iPhone in there and there is absolutely no bouncing whatsoever. I can't even tell I have the belt on half the time. There is a key strap so your keys won't fall out. You're supposed to flip the belt inward once you put your stuff in so that nothing falls out but I don't do that since nothing has fallen out yet. So yeah, I love this thing and use it every time I go out on a run. I might even get another one in black. That's how much I love it!

These Are A Few

One week from today, I'm going to be running the Boston Marathon! That's right, the countdown has officially started!

I thought that I would start off this week with a product review post. It's been a really long time since I've done one and you can be sure that I'll be taking all of these items with me to Boston. This is not going to be like one of my regular reviews where I spend an entire post on one item. Instead this is going to be more like a bulletpoint list of  items that I am really loving as of late. Plus, these items have been around and thoroughly reviewed by many others already so no need to beat a dead horse. This list is in no particular order.

1) First up is Nuun's electrolyte tablets. I was introduced to Nuun during my stint as a member of the 2012 So Much Cooler Online Ragnar team in which Nuun was a sponsor. I really like that they are so convenient, portable, easy to use and comes in a lot of flavors. You just pop a tablet into your water bottle and go. You will have to break the tablets in half if you are going to put it in a regular bottle of water. You also want to leave the lid off of your bottle while the tablet dissolves unless you want to be sprayed with Nuun water when you go take your first sip. Obviously, I use these on my runs but I also love having a nice cold bottle of Nuun water with me during spin class or just working out in the gym.

2) Pro Compression socks are another item I was introduced to during the Ragnar stint as they were also a sponsor. Now before you start thinking that I am only writing this post to review sponsor products, you should know that I purchased all these items with my own money. I have just come to really enjoy using them. Anyhow, I am a huge fan of the knee high compression socks. I wear them to run, spin and do crossfit. I also wear them for post race recovery and of course because they come in all sorts of fun colors and are cute as heck. They even have one that matches my neon yellow Hello Kitty shirt. Enough said.

3) I switched over to Asics' Gel Kayano 18 after being a loyal Adidas fan for years. The last update to the Adidas Supernova left something to be desired. It changed so much that it no longer worked for me (read: blisters and other foot issues). After trying a couple of other Adidas models, and getting some nice blisters and foot pains, I realized that I was finally done with them and that it was time to move on. Yeah it's just a shoe but when it's your primary piece of equipment, it's important to get the right one. When is a shoe not just a shoe? When you're at the final last couple of miles and having the right shoes means the difference between running it in and getting a giant blister and having to walk the rest of the way. I am currently using the Gel Kayano 19, an update to the Kayano 18 and I love it even more.

4) Sunscreen! I have to admit that I haven't always been religious about using sunscreen but you live and you learn. If in doubt, just use it. Use it often and daily. If I could go back in time, using more sunscreen would definitely be at the top of my list of things I wish I could have done more of. I love this one from Coppertone. It is a sweat-proof spray with 70+ SPF. This is a must since I run in SoCal, the land of a lot of sunshine. I use this on my body because you can get it on fairly quickly.

5) More sunscreen please! I love this Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Liquid sunblock with 70 SPF. I use this one on my face. I am really particular about facial products. I think that's the primary reason why I wear very little makeup. This sunscreen is more runny than regular sunscreen but it feels really nice when you put it on. Plus, I feel like it doesn't make my face as shiny as some other types of facial suncreen. I love it!

Waterfi

Running in the rain recently (CIM) reminded me to put up this post that has been sitting in my queue for quite a while now.

If you were at CIM this past weekend, I'm sure you probably had the same worries as me about your electronics getting wet during the race. I for one feared for the life of my Garmin. It's still working luckily but who knows for how long. I know many of you probably carried your cameras and phones in plastic bags. I opted to leave my phone back at my hotel room. The one item aside from my Garmin that I did bring with me to the starting line and was not worried about whatsoever was my iPod shuffle that I had ordered from Waterfi. Waterfi is a company that sells waterproof iPod shuffles, nanos and headphones. Plus if you already own these devices and want to waterproof them, Waterfi can do that as well.

I've gone through so many shuffles/iPod in the past couple of years that I should change my job title to 'Professional iPod Killer'. It's not my fault really...I mean it is but for the most part I blame my sweat. Apple's iPod devices are really sensitive to moisture of any kind and I basically use these devices primarily when I am working out. Don't most of us? I mean that's what they're made for, right? That's the reason why they are small, lightweight and has a clip on them, isn't it? Apparently moisture damage isn't covered by Apple's warranty on these devices. I've gone through about 5 shuffles/nanos in the past 2 years.

A while back I was ranting to a running friend of mine about this very issue and he told me to go and check out Waterfi. So I did just that. At first, I was a little surprise by the price for a shuffle or nano on Waterfi's site because it was higher than what I could get at the Apple store/website. What you have to remember is that the devices found on Waterfi's site have all been waterproof...as in you can wear it to swim in a pool.

Let me just tell you that getting a waterproof device was one of the best decisions I've ever made. You know why? Well, I don't need to tell you how suck-y it is to have your device stop working at mile 17 of a marathon or just not turn on at all at the starting line and be without any tunes for a long run. I was also sick of ranting like a crazy person to all my friends all the time about how my devices would only last a couple of months before they would start acting up...or worse...me getting really upset in an Apple store at some poor tech who tells me that my device once again has moisture damage and he/she has to work within warranty policies. All this madness was reason enough to justify spending a little bit more for something that would last longer because quite frankly I don't plan to stop sweating anytime soon.

So if any of what I've said rings true to you then head on over to Waterfi to check out all the products they offer. They even gave me a discount code to pass on to you to save 5% at checkout: Madison22.

***I purchased this product with my own money and was not paid to say any of these things. I'm just a regular person/runner who is sharing my thoughts on a product that I was hesitant to try at first but am glad that I did.

Cultured

This Yoplait yogurt in strawberry is one of my earliest childhood memory. It was the early 80s, I was probably 6 or 7 and my family was living in Boston at the time. We had only been in the US for a couple of weeks. One Saturday morning, my family and I went on a walk near a wharf. I remember it was near a wharf because there a guy there shucking and selling oysters and I remember having one. It was fresh! I was an adventurous eater even at that young young I guess. Anyhow, I also remembered that there was a Yoplait vendor there that day handing out free yogurt. Not just a sample but the whole container. We were very poor at the time so getting a container of yogurt all to myself was a real treat. My mom didn't like it. She said it was sour tasting. She still doesn't really like yogurt to this day. She always says it tastes like old spoiled milk. Yogurt was not eaten very often in Vietnam I guess. From that very first taste, I was in love with this creamy treat. I ate it often, even after I discovered that I was lactose intolerant. I know some people are able to tolerant yogurt but I am not one of them. A couple of years ago, I stopped eating yogurt all together. It was a sad time in my eating life. I felt like I had lost a taste sensation from my childhood. But I practiced discipline and have not had one in a very long time.

Then recently I had that old strawberry yogurt craving. And for a second, I thought about just having one and dealing with the stomach cramps but I think that I've been suffering enough lately so I went to my local health food store and raided the alternative dairy case. There are A LOT of substitutions these days. I think soy may have been an early contender but now there is also coconut, almond and even rice milk yogurt. So that's the good news. The bad news is that they are far from tasting like yogurt. Here let me explain...

Amande Cultured Almond Milk (Strawberry) - had a weird almond taste. I guess I am just not a big almond milk fan. I've had almond milk before so I like almond milk enough but I didn't like this. Weird after taste so I didn't finish this one.

WholeSoy & Co. (Raspberry) - this is the first time I tried a soy yogurt. I am not a fan. I would rather not eat yogurt again than to have to eat this. Thumbs down.

So Delicious Cultured Coconut Milk (Strawberry) - this was the best tasting of the bunch but it was not creamy. It was runny and smoothie like but it tasted the closest to the Yoplait strawberry yogurt if you can overlook the runny texture. This was the only one I actually finished.

Almond Dream (Strawberry) - this one had a really strong almond taste that I could not get over. It was thick in texture but it was not creamy and that heavy almond taste caused to me toss this out after one taste.

Ricera Brown Rice Milk (Strawberry) - I would rate this one better than the Almond Dream one but not by much. It didn't taste like yogurt. I toss this one out as well.

SO DELICIOUS Coconut Milk yogurt was the winner of this bunch. I wish that it was a little bit thicker in texture. I had a feeling that I would like this one best because I feel that coconut milk is the best substitution (taste-wise) in place of milk. I mean So Delicious was the first company that made it possible for me to experience the sensation of eating ice cream again after 10 years. That stands out big in my mind! ;) So that's my little yogurt experiment.

My Favorite Lululemon Piece

I think by now everyone that knows me knows how much I love Lululemon workout wear. I've been working out for quite a few years now and have amassed quite a collect of workout clothes. I have so much workout clothes that I could probably work out for the rest of my life without ever buying another piece of workout wear. Heaven forbid! Except for maybe shoes. I get that there are way less expensive options out there when it comes to something you wear to sweat in. I do, because I probably own at least one piece of workout wear from every single workout apparel company out there. I seriously own more workout clothes than regular clothes. Sometimes I wear my workout clothes as regular clothes. My family always gives me a hard time when I wear workout clothes as regular clothes. They call me a bum.

Now that I'm finish telling you about what a large collection of workout clothes I have, I want to talk about my most favorite piece. Yes, out of everything I own to workout in, the Run: Swiftly Tech Long Sleeve is by far my most favorite Lululemon piece. I didn't even have to think very hard to pick this as my favorite. I know they make some really cute skirts, tops and bras and what have you but this here is...well I've yet to find it's equal. It is form fitting but in all the right places just like everything else they make. The thing that makes this item stand out over everything else for me is the way it feels against my skin. It feels like a second skin. I get cold easily. I know some people can dress in a t-shirt and tempo shorts in 40 degree weather and go for a run in the morning but that is just not me. It takes me many miles to get my body warmed up. This top makes it very comfortable for me to go running during chilly mornings. And unlike a lot of other long sleeve tops that I own, this one breathes (cause it like a second skin) so that once I do warm up, I don't feel suffocated in it or get too warm. And yes, I also wear this as part of my regular wardrobe and sometimes even to sleep! ;) It does it all!

Source

I was not paid or compensated for this post in any way. Every once in a while, I like to sing the praises of stuff I like. I'm not one to be caught up in labels or hype. I do look for items that are well made, can take a lot of wear and tear and will last me a long time.

High Brow

Sometimes I can be very random. Today is one of those times. I feel like I should be writing about running or spinning or even some food I ate the other day but today I feel like talking about one of my secret obsessions. Yeah I have more than one. Today I'm going to talk about my eyebrows. Sometimes I obsess about my eyebrows. Sometimes=Always. I don't know why and it may be an OCD thing but it bothers me when my eyebrow hairs are not in place. Don't look at me like that I'm mostly normal. You may or may not know but I wear makeup like never. Okay, a couple times a year, like recently at my holiday parties. I really want to wear at least some but I'm tomboyish and I would rather devote my time to doing other things than putting makeup on. I pay for this by looking not so good on most days. Some days are worst than others. Anyhow, back to eyebrows. I went into a Sephora on my last trip up to San Francisco and picked up this brow kit by the queen of eyebrows herself Anastasia. She has a fancy shop in Beverly Hills that I probably can't even afford to get near so this is the closest I can get to well-manicured brows.

So the kit looks like this on the inside and comes with a stiff bristled brow brush and some stencils...

...and wax, brow powder to impart color and a brow highlighter for the area just beneath your brow hair. 

So this is what it looks like. I only did my right-eye (left side) for comparison purposes. Man, my eyes are blood shot for some reason. Wish my brows looked like that all the time. This took me a while to do as I am not that skilled at putting on makeup. For those who fill in their eyebrows regularly, this will probably take 1/4 the time it took me. I selected a stencil that was about the size and arch shape of my brows and used the brush to fill it in with the brow powder. There are about 10 stencils so there is one for every shape and size. Then I tweezed all the hairs outside of the stencil area and used the wax to make all the hairs lay flat and in the direction that I wanted them to be in. Then I just touched up with some more brow powder and filled in the area underneath the brow with the matte highlighting powder. I think I may have used a bit of the shimmery highlighting powder as well but not enough to show. 

I really enjoyed playing around with this kit but I'm too lazy to do this everyday but it makes my life easier for when I have to be presentable.

Slightly Less Bad Is Still Not Good

I try hard not to eat packaged food too often. For me, packaged food often means overly processed. I don't have a problem with processed food, I just try not consume too much of it. It's a personal preference as I know lots of people including friends and family that love it. I love it too unfortunately sometimes.

One of my worst food weaknesses is ramen. Yes, ramen! My love for ramen stems from fond childhood memories. Doesn't many of our food obsession start that way? Anyhow, I try really hard not to eat it too often because it is not that good for you. The noodles are deep fried before packaging and the powdered soup base is loaded with sodium. Loaded! There is honestly nothing healthy about ramen. I eat it in the closet! Okay, not really but I do feel bad when I eat it because I feel like I am doing my body a disservice. When I can get my hands on it, I try to find fresh ramen, as in from a restaurant where the noodles are fresh and the soup is not from powder. That in itself isn't a health food either but a little better than the packaged kind.

Recently, while I was shopping at H-mart (a local Korean supermarket) I found packaged fresh ramen made by Pulmuone. I *love* Korean ramen (yes there are different kinds) so I threw one in my basket to try.

The sodium content is still off the charts but the rest looks much better than your average packaged dry ramen. 

Inside the bag was a package of noodles, dried seaweed flakes and a powdered soup base. 

The noodles were soft since they were fresh. 

I boiled some water to make the soup, then I added some water spinach and cracked an egg right into the broth, followed a couple minutes later with the noodles. They don't need to be cooked too long since it is fresh. I have to say that I really liked the final product! The noodles had a nice chewy texture and the soup wasn't half bad. I didn't think I would like this much because I've tried other fresh packaged ramen before but I never repurchased so I'm guessing I didn't like them. I would definitely buy this again.  

Another not-as-bad for you packaged find was this box of WhoNu? That's the name of these nutrient rich cookies that resembles Oreos. I was picking up a couple of things from Albertson's the other day when a lady at a sample table beckoned me over to try one of these cookies. Don't have to ask me twice to sample a cookie. I have to preface my next sentence with this little fact, I am not an avid Oreo cookie eater. Something about crunchy cookies that turns me off. I actually cannot remember the last time I had one. So I tried one of these and it tasted good to me, just like an Oreo. So I purchased a box since she gave me a couple for $1 off. I take the box to share with my loved ones and they tell me that it tastes nothing like Oreos! They said something like, "yes...these do taste like Oreos, if Oreos were healthy." Hmm. I don't know, I think they taste just like Oreos. More for me I guess.

This is impressive for a cookie! It's like the little cookie that could. 

So I started eating bagels again recently since I've been doing so much cardio. I find that I have more energy to work in the early morning hours if I eat a little something. That something has been half an Orowheat cinnamon raisin bagel with peanut butter. I was at Trader Joe's the other day and realized that I was about to run out of bagels so I picked up a bag of Whole Wheat Raisin Cinnamon Rolls. Okay, so these are not technically bagels but the bagel selection at Trader Joe's is slim pickin'. Seriously, they only carry healthy bagels with terms like sprouted and flax seed this and whole grain that. Man, sometimes I don't want all that fiber before I go on a run. These are okay. Obviously not chewy like a bagel because they are not bagels but it was the only cinnamon raisin anything in that section. It tastes good when you toast it up though.

I guess not all packaged food is bad. Yesterday, I forgot to pack lunch and it was already too late in the day to go and eat lunch at my work cafe so I picked up a single serve container of Sabra hummus with pretzels and ate it with 2 hard boiled egg whites. It wasn't much but it was lunch and it was good!

Birds Eye Steamfresh Chef's Favorites

If you are like me and spend most of your waking hours at work day in and day out then I know that you probably appreciate anything that will help make your life easier. Especially when it comes to making dinner after said long day at work. I know I do! Recently, Birds Eye sent me these not-in-store-yet Steamfresh Chef's Favorite side dishes. Although I'm sure you can probably eat this as the main course if you choose. I received 4 different kinds, they were all lightly sauced and vegetarian.

Mushroom and Green Bean Risotto

Roasted Red Potatoes and Green Beans

Primavera Vegetable Risotto. I also received a bag of Creamed Spinach (not pictured)

These are really convenient to prepare. I'm embarrassed to even say how easy it was. Step 1, take out of the freezer. Step 2, put in the microwave for a couple of minutes. Step 3, pour out of bag. Step 4, eat!

You don't even have to do anything to the bag. The bag has built in vents that create a perfect steaming environment. The bag will puff up as it fills with steam and cooks the frozen food inside. It is genius!

I'm smiling because I didn't have to spend too much time slaving away in the kitchen.

For this post, I "prepared" the Mushroom and Green Bean Risotto and Roasted Potatoes and Green Beans.

So what did I think of these sides? Well, turns out that sometimes convenience has it trade-offs and in this case it was taste. For the most part, I was not able to consume too much of this because they were all "lightly sauced" which translate to "made with dairy" and I'm lactose intolerant. Aside from that aspect, these were also not seasoned very well. The risotto had a weird taste that I cannot put my finger on. As I mentioned before, I don't have much time to prep dinner every night so I'm no stranger to frozen meals or sides but I just didn't like these. And to be fair I guess I normally make my side dishes from scratch because it is not that hard and fresh ingredients almost always taste better than something that has been frozen. I wanted to like these because they are so easy to prepare but at the end of the day if it doesn't taste good than I'm probably not going to eat it.

Note: I received these Birds Eye Chef's Favorites as part of the Foodbuzz Tastemaker Program.

Lululemon Astro Wunder Under Crop

I recently purchased a pair of Lululemon Astro Wunder Under Crop, that's a mouthful! I'm sure everyone knows or have heard of Lululemon by now. What you may or may not know is that I am a huge fan of workout capris. I have a couple of pairs from Nike and even a Lululemon pair I purchased last year. I love capris! Over the years I've amassed quite a collection of workout wear so I know a thing or two about workout wear. It's about one third of my wardrobe.

I like capris because you can wear them on cooler days to stay warm but still wear them on regular days to keep everything in place. When it gets too hot, that's when I pull out the tempo shorts but for the most part, capris are my preferred bottom of choice. I wear them running, spinning and especially in the weight room and even while doing HIIT.

Recently, I tried on a pair of Astro Wunder and they are life changing. Okay, maybe not that dramatic but they rocked my world! They are so soft and the waistband is so comfortable. I feel like I could live in these. I think the best part is that they are not see through so you won't be giving the person behind you an eyeful. But the waistband, I cannot emphasis enough how wonderful it is. The waistband is about the only difference between the Astro and the regular Wunder Crop. It cost a little bit more but it is worth it! Plus, it's true what they say about Lululemon pants giving your rear that little extra oomph! And we can all use a little bit of that, am I right?

Earnest Eats (Whole Food Bars)

I haven't blogged since Monday. Yeah this "working" thing really cramps up my blogging lifestyle sometimes. Might as well since I didn't really have anything of interest to write about anyways. I've been eating at home this week but the cooking part has been really boring, i.e. veggie stir-fry. Yeah busy week at work so no time to cook up anything fancy.

I did go to Costco yesterday since I didn't get a chance to go grocery shopping over the weekend. I saw those tank tops that SkinnyRunner was raving about so I tried some on but it looked nothing like this on me. She is way taller than me for one and her torso is longer as well. This top just made me look shorter than I already am. I was sad since it came in so many fun colors and I love colors.

Source

But on a happier note, I did find these Earnest Bars which I ended up buying. You know what they say about never going grocery shopping when you are hungry. Yeah that happened to me. It was after work and I was hungry but needed to go to Costco. Fortunately, these are not so bad. At least I didn't pick up a Red Velvet Cake. It's the small victories.

So what caught my eye is that these are made with whole food/ingredients, not chemicals. The ingredient list is pretty short. Secondly, they are vegan. Plus, since I was hungry while walking around the store, I ended up eating one and they are really good. These particular bars that I picked up at Costco are the perfect snack size. I think they also come in a longer rectangular shape at other retailers. These Costco ones are a 2 3/4 inch square made with almond butter and contains omega 3s and fiber. They have around 210 calories and 9g of fat but they are really filling. These are great for an afternoon snack, or breakfast with a cup of coffee or a quick bite before working out. I actually only eat half of the bar because even though it is moist it does contain oats and almond butter which really makes this stick to your ribs. At least for me. The box at Costco contains only 2 flavors. The Cran Lemon Zest and the Almond Trail Mix.

Supplements

Note: This post is about Supplements. Namely the supplements that I use because of what I demand of my body during training. I am not advocating these supplements, just sharing information based on my usage. I am not a licensed anything and am just sharing my thoughts. Do your research and talk to a health professional before using any sort of supplements. I've been using this stuff for many years and have done my research and talked to lots of people. Through trial and error, I've found what works for me but it isn't for everyone.

I've been taking supplements since I was in college. Back then it was just the essentials, like a multi-vitamin and fish oil. Later on when I became lactose intolerant I started taking calcium as well. When I started running marathons, I added Glucosamine to the mix to help maintain my joint functions. These are pretty basic and most active people probably already use these.

I think I've mentioned this before but I have UC (Ulcerative Colitis). I've had it for many years now and have learned to deal with it while still maintaining an active life. Curcumin (essentially Turmeric) was recommended to me by my GI for it's anti-inflammatory properties but I've discovered that it also helps with any bodily inflammations including those caused by running/sports. Curcumin is a member of the ginger family and if you eat Indian food regularly, you are already ahead of the game.

BioSil - this is essentially collagen. I take this for hair, nail and skin but it also promotes healthy bones and joints and I always worry about that since I cannot consume dairy.

Wellness Formula - this stuff is amazing. Well, I like it! It helps to strengthen your immunity against getting colds and such. If you have already caught something, this can help you get over it more quickly. I work out a lot and use to always get sick because my immune system was weak from training and I shared a gym with a ton of people. It's weird but I can actually feel a difference since taking this. This stuff smells and taste really bad so you need to take it with a big glass of water.

Glutamine - an abundant animo acid produce naturally by the body. However intensive athletic training requires supplementation as it has healing properties that can assist with maintaining lean muscle mass. This is the stuff that enables me to train hard everyday. It also helps speeds the recovery process related to muscle soreness from marathon running, if you know what I mean. This stuff is not vegetarian.

Conjugated Linoleic Acids (CLA) - best know for it's anti-cancer properties but can also reduce the risk for Cardiovascular disease and fights inflammation. I take this stuff because it helps with body weight management, reduces body fat and increases lean muscle mass when taken as a part of a healthy lifestyle. This stuff is not vegetarian.

I take a couple more things on and off but maybe I will save that for another post. I am always reading up on herbs and supplements because they fascinate me. We all need a little help sometimes and this is especially true when you demand a lot of your body. I also supplement because I feel that I am not able to eat all my nutrients in a given day. I try!

Monday Monday

I went to the gym this morning and used the Woodway Curve non-motorized treadmill again. I spent about one hour on it this morning and have come to some conclusions.

1) Running on this thing feels like running uphill, on sand or through sludge.
2) One mile on this thing feels like 1.5 miles on a regular treadmill on an interval pace setting.
3) Running on this thing is so much harder than on a regular treadmill.

I ended up doing 4 miles in about 55 minutes. Normally in that time span I could probably turn out at least 6.5 miles on a regular treadmill at an 0.5% incline. I would likely be tired but on the non-motorized treadmill my heart rate was very high and I was really tired, like I ran 8 miles on rolling hills. It is really hard to sustain a running pace for an entire mile. I had to stop often because my heart rate was high. So from here on out, I am going to quantify my miles on the non-motorized machine as being either hill runs, intervals or 1.5 miles for every mile that I do. I am going to give it a rest on that machine until Wednesday as I plan to run 5 miles on the regular treadmill in the morning and one hour of spin during my lunch break. I am still intrigued by the non-motorized treadmill and will continue to report on my findings.

Today, I am also going to record everything I eat just for the heck of it. I haven't done this in a while so this evening I will post about that.

Also, I know people normally do this on Friday's but here is a list of my 5 favorite things lately.

1) Starbucks Ready Brew VIA in Vanilla - I love this stuff! It comes in these single serving packs so they are really portable. Just add hot water. They are also lightly sweetened so no need to go looking for sugar. I normally can get 2 servings from one packet since I don't like my coffee too strong.

 
2) Silk French Vanilla Creamer - This creamer is the reason I started drinking coffee again. I don't like my coffee black and for years I just stopped drinking coffee because I could not use the creamer and I can't stand non-dairy powdered creamers. I know soy and liquid non-dairy creamers have been around for awhile but I just noticed them recently and they have made my tough mornings a lot easier. I am not a daily coffee drinker, I only drink it before a long run or on race day. It helps to make those ungodly early start times just a little bit more bearable.

3) Ray-Ban aviator glasses - I have a thing with aviator sunglasses lately and this is my current favorite pair. I originally saw these at a Sunglass Hut at an outlet mall but I didn't want to pay full price so I went online and found these much cheaper at Optics Planet.

4) Jif Single Serving Peanut Butter - These are awesome because they are the perfect serving size for on-the-go snacking or to make a PB sandwich. If you are like me and love that freshness that you can only get when you first crack open a fresh jar of PB then this is for you because you get that freshness every time you peel open one of these cups. I love these and carry them around with me everywhere.

5) Vegetas' Sweet Potato Corn Tortilla Chips - I've been snacking on these lately because they have a much better flavor than regular corn chips or even the blue chips. They are amazing with hummus and guacamole but then again what isn't amazing with those two things.