The Art of Reading While Running

One of my favorite things to do is read. It have always loved it and hope that I always will. I love the feeling of becoming completely immersed in a story that you just can't put down. Because of the craziness that goes on during the school year, I have always found it hard to keep up with reading except during breaks or summer vacation. Last year, however, I found a way to continue to read during the year by incorporating it into my workout! It started when I began to read while on the stationary bike, then the elliptical, and eventually I trained my eyes to be able to read from my kindle while running on the treadmill! Pretty soon I couldn't wait to get to the gym because it meant I could take a break from studying and just read for fun. It sounds like it may be hard to do, but I promise your eyes get used to it very fast. It's especially easy if you have a Kindle because it balances on the little ledge that the treadmill has to set ipods and what not. 

Since I started doing this, I have found that I get so distracted by my book, that I forget that I'm even that tired and my mileage started increasing day by day. During the half marathon back in October, I even bought the audio reading of the Davinci Code so I could listen to it on my ipod while running! I can't even describe how glad I was to have such a nice distraction while my legs were dying during those long 13 miles. 

Here is a list of the books I have read during 2012! Take a look and give reading while running (or while on any cardio machine for that matter) a try! 

1. Room- A Novel by Emma Donaghue -

The Room is about a young woman who is abducted at a young age by a man who forces her to live in a one room shed in his backyard with no hope of ever leaving. He rapes her continuously and eventually the woman becomes pregnant with a boy who then grows up to spend his first years of life in this one room shed. He has no idea that there is any world outside of the room. Overall the book is very good, but sad. You may have trouble getting used to the writing at first because the book is written from the viewpoint of the little boy so the language took some getting used to. Definitely worth trying! 

2. Into the Darkest Corner by Elizabeth Haynes 

For anyone who likes gripping thrilling novels. This is a great read. It centers around one character- Catherine-who begins a relationship with a seemingly perfect catch-Lee. Things quickly spiral downward as Lee begins to show an  increasingly violent and abusive side and Catherine plans an escape from the dangerous relationship. You'll see what happens if you read it, but I promise I could not put it down!

3. Gone Girl: A Novel by Gilian Flynn

This is an absolute must read. It was really popular this past summer so I decided to give it a try. I never regretted it for a second. Like the last book, it too is a gripping and fast paced novel. It centers around a man named Flynn whose wife goes missing on their anniversary. As the investigation into her disappearance ensues, all signs point to Flynn as the murderer of his own wife, but there are certainly some surprises and plot twists in store so don't think you have figured out the mystery right away! 

*I also just read that they are making a movie of this book and that Reese Witherspoon is expected to play the lead female character (aka-the wife that goes missing). Interesting...

4. The Sixth Man by David Baldacci

This novel was different than the last couple that I read. It was a thriller/action novel for sure, with plenty of intense moments and murders along the way, but it certainly wasn't my absolute favorite book of the year. If you like David Baldacci, then you will of course like this novel which I am told is similar to his others. It was my first time reading one of his books so it just wasn't really my taste I suppose. If you do read it, you can expect to be engulfed in a world of high tech government security programs, FBI, CIA, guns, chasing, and killing (of course). 

5. Death Comes to Pemberley by P.D. James 

This is a nice change of pace. If you liked Pride and Prejudice (one of my favorite books of all time), then you will love this book. It's set a few years after Elizabeth and Darcey are married and they are now living in their grand estate-Pemberley. A murder occurs in the woods near their property and the mystery unravels from there! I highly recommend this book for anyone who likes Jane Austin or any style of writing similar to hers! 

6. Then Came You by Jennifer Weiner

My reading preference definitely took a turn with the next two books by acclaimed "chick novel" writer-Jennifer Weiner (she also wrote In Her Shoes). This book follows four very different women who we get to know and love for very different reasons. They eventually are all brought together for the sake of modern motherhood. This novel brings a good story and great humor to the table. It's an easy and pretty fast read so if you're looking for something on the light and girly side, give this one a try!

7. Little Earthquakes by Jennifer Weiner 

It may seem that I like to read intense murder/abusive mysteries or girly books about babies and moms...that may be a little bit true. Little Earthquakes again follows four different women who bond and share advice and stories about their pregnancies and first year as a mom. It's pretty funny what these women go through so I promise you will be laughing and loving the characters through every page turn. Again, it's an easy and quick read. Nothing too heavy!

8. The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown

Need I even explain what this book is about? I'm pretty sure everyone and their mother knows the plot line since this novel was so popular and was quickly made into a movie starring the ever impressive Tom Hanks. I decided to read this book because after my two girly reads, I was ready to kick things back up and go for something a little more intense. It's shocking, I know, but I had never read The DaVinci Code or even seen the movie so I decided to finally jump on the band wagon and try it. Now I see what all of the hype was about. I loved all of the art history that was incorporated into the story...it added so much. Also the story wasn't predictable to me, I was constantly on the edge wondering where Robert Langdon (main character) would take me next and who would be revealed as the murderer in the end. If you have not read this...do so right now. Please. 

*Side note- I listened to this book on my ipod during the half marathon back in October!

9. Angels and Demons by Dan Brown

Since I loved The DaVinci Code so much, I decided to give another one of Dan Brown's books a try and reconnect with my favorite Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon. Angels and Demons follows Robert Langdon through the streets of Vatican City trying to save the city from an exploding canister of stolen antimatter while also trying to save the four cardinals who are being brutally murdered every hour. This novel is actually the predecessor of the DaVinci Code so although I read them out of order and had no problem, you may want to read this one first. 

10. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

This is an amazing book. My mom recommended it to me and although I was apprehensive at first because I had just finished two great books, I was not disappointed in the least. The book is narrated by Death which I realize sounds strange and slightly morbid, but it actually is really interesting considering the book takes place in the heart of Nazi Germany. Young Liesel Meminger is living with her foster parents Hans and Rosa because her mother must give her up to save her from what we can assume is the concentration camps. Liesel grows to love her foster parents, especially her Papa Hans who teaches her to read every night. I don't want to go too into the story because I would hate to give anything away, but I promise you will not regret reading this touching novel. 

11. The Bloodletter's Daughter by Linda Lafferty 

Coming off of The Book Thief, I wanted to read another novel set in the past so I chose Bloodletter's Daughter. The story is set in 17th century Europe where the Emperor has a son, Don Julius, who is plagued with "a dark mind" that causes him to be violent, gluttonous, and cruel. The Emperor isolates Don Julius to an old castle in a small town in Bohemia where he is treated by a doctor and preist form court. In those days, bloodletting (draining the blood of "bad humors") was the treatment for most illnesses-including those of the mind. In the small town lives a young bath maid whose father is the town bloodletter and they are both invited to aid in the treatment of the mad prince. Don Julius quickly becomes entranced and obsessed with the bath maid, but no one knows why. I won't go any further into the story, but it's definitely another great story. I was barely able to put it down. 

12. Girls in White Dresses by Jennifer Close

Back to another girly read. I just finished this last week and really liked it. It was easy to read and kept me laughing the whole way through. The story follows a group of best friends from college who are now out in the real world trying to get their lives together while also finding love with some great guys...and some not so great. The chapters rotate in view points between the different girls recounting stories of their lives in the big city of New York as all of their friends around them seem to be getting married every weekend. This is definitely a great beach read for any young girl. 

13. The Time In Between by Maria Duenas (currently in the middle of this one) 

I'm only a few chapters into this one so far, but I'm liking it! It takes place in Spain during the Spanish Revolution and follows a 20 year old girl who breaks off her engagement with a respectable man to run away with a salesman whom she has fallen in love with. Her decision, my mom tells me, changes her life forever. My mom also says that through reading the book, she learned a lot about the Spanish Revolution and all that was going on during that point in history. Sounds like I will like it! 

Okay my fingers hurt from typing up all of these summaries, but I hope that you enjoyed them and that if you were looking for a good book to read on or off the treadmill, that you found one here! 

Talk to you all soon! 

XOXO

Fitness in Philly

I just got back from a trip to visit Joey at his home in the suburbs outside of Philadelphia. It was a fun week filled with a lot of relaxing, but we also made a successful effort to get to the gym every day. It's been a solid two weeks of eating for me which is a totally normal and okay thing to do (in some moderation) over the holidays, but it definitely felt great to get to the gym once a day and work off all of the sugar cookies and birthday cake I've been happily consuming lately :) .

So here is a look at this past week's workouts:

12/26- day off...traveling and christmas with Joey's family prevented time for the gym but a day off was good for me and my body!

12/27- 4.6 mile run + 7 minute uphill speed walk, 5 minute abs + planks (1 minute in a regular plank position, 1 minute right side plank, 1 minute left side plank), stretching = 60 minutes total

12/28- 4 mile run, 7 minute uphill speed walk, 8 minute stationary bike, 5 minute abs + planks (same as day before), 55 girl push-ups, 8 minute cool down on the stair master, stretching = 68 minutes total

12/29-4.5 mile run, 5 minute uphill speed walk, 10 minute stationary bike, 5 minute abs = 60 minutes total

12/30- 35 minute run with sprint intervals every five minutes, 3 minute cool down, 7 minute stationary bike, 5 sets of 10 upper body lifts on the incline bench (great lower ab workout!...i was very sore the next day) = 50 minutes total

12/31- 4 mile run, 10 minute stationary bike, 75 girl push-ups, 1 minute alternating leg lifts (side and back...great butt work!), dumbbell bicep curls (alternating 20 on each arm x 2), stretching = 60 minutes total

1/1- 40 minute sprint interval run (sprinting every 2 minutes), quick 5 minute arm work with resistance bands, stretching =50 minutes total

1/2- Day Off!

All of the above workouts were designed to burn at least 500 calories (according to my height and weight). Definitely give them a try and let me know if you do!

Pictures from my trip were pretty scarce. I hardly took any pictures of food because I didn't have my camera or phone with me much while eating. Every morning for breakfast I made myself I big bowl of hot oatmeal sweetened with almond milk, agave, and blueberries on top! Lunches varied greatly from homemade spinach and goat cheese pizza to a salad and fruit cup at Bryn and Dane's-Healthy Fast Food. Likewise, dinners were pretty much all over the place. I had a few delicious homemade meals that Joey's mom was nice enough to make. She knows that I like to eat healthy so she always makes sure I'm taken care of come meal time. A few highlight dinners from the trip were a big elaborate sushi dinner, baked salmon with spinach and whole wheat angel hair pasta, and grilled shrimp with veggies and hummus!

Also one more quick but important note. I found a way to be healthy at Chipotle. My friends love this place because we have one right on our campus and it's super easy and fast, but I've always been a bit opposed because it's hard to find things for me to eat there. But I braved the Chipotle menu on New Years Eve night and got a veggie salad (not in a taco bowl) with black beans (fiber and protein!), lots of veggies, and little cheese, salsa, and guac! It was a really good and hearty salad so I think the Chipotle at Hopkins will be seeing a lot more of me next semester.

That's all I got for tonight! Again, sorry for the lack of pictures. I'll be back more this week with posts featuring new recipes perfect for any college student, and also some great books to read next time you're running on the treadmill or on the elliptical (I promise it can be done!). So look forward to those coming soon!

XOXO

Happy Holidays!

Good morning and Merry Christmas Eve!

I'm sorry for the two week hiatus that I took in blog posting. In these two weeks there was studying in the library, going to review sessions, exchanging secret santa gifts, and coming back home to Charlotte, North Carolina for a long awaited break. In the midst of all of that, I didn't have much time to do any posting so I figured I would give myself a little break and wait until things settled down for a second.

So here I am on the morning of Christmas Eve day having slept in for the first time in months, sipping tea, and watching a true Hollywood Story on Leanne Rhymes. Just what Christmas break should be!

Here's a look back in pictures of the last 2 weeks!

Like I said, there was plenty of time spent in the library, studying. Sometimes we have to go to extreme levels to keep ourselves sane... hence the intimate fireplace setting.

Lunch one day was a salad with lettuce, tuna and broccoli with some simple italian dressing on top. 

Secret Santa exchange with Sirens! 

The best secret santa gift ever! 

More oatmeal for breakfast with agave, cinnamon, and blackberries!

Lunch at the library...black bean burger on whole wheat! 

 And then just a few days later, the dreaded finals were over! 

To celebrate the start to break, Joey and I went out for dinner and shared a big plate of sushi! 

Workouts during finals week were pretty much fit in whenever I had an extra second. Sometimes it was a quick 30 minute jog in the morning, and sometimes it was an evening workout. Regardless of how hectic things became, I tried my best not to let my workout routine completely crumble. And at times, taking a break from the books in favor of an easy run was really relaxing and beneficial to my mental clarity. 

Now that I'm home, I've had a lot more time and flexibility to workout when I feel like it. Most days I head to the small gym my family belongs to and get a nice workout in that usually includes the usual run on the treadmill, abs on the standing half bosu ball, and arm work with free weights. Today my plan is to head over to the gym around 12:30 and will do a nice long run on the treadmill...but who knows, that's just my thought now as I lay on the couch....still watching E! True Hollywood story...only now it's about Miley Cyrus. 

Empty little gym yesterday when I was there for a quick birthday run

Birthday time!! My birthday was yesterday (December 23rd) and I had a great 20th. The day started the night before when I got to celebrate with great friends from high school. The next morning I was pampered and treated to a mani/pedi, coffee with a great friend on her way out the door to England for the holidays, a quick 5 mile run, and a big dinner at home with family there to celebrate with me. It was really a fun day. 

My friend Maddi made me a cake! Funfetti is always a good idea. 

Dinner cooked by my mom was pork tendorloin, asparagus, pear and strawberry salad, and corn and onion soufflé. Now obviously the pork tenderloin was not for me so I had a nice big bowl of tomato and red pepper soup in place of the meat!

A very special birthday cake was delivered for me! It was a caramel cake from Caroline's Bake Shop in  Annapolis, Maryland. It was a surprise for me that they flew in this cake that they new I would like and wow was it amazing. I also had a few bites with breakfast this morning :) SO delicious!! 

Cute cousin Josh helping me blow out the birthday candles! 

mmmmm!!! 

Okay now I need to actually get up and be somewhat productive for the next few hours. Maybe I'll even be extra motivated and bundle up to take my doggies on a walk once this rain subsides a bit. 

Have an amazing holiday everyone!! Merry Christmas!  

Welcome to Finals Week

This past week was the last week of classes at Hopkins. You would think that teachers would slow things down during this time since it's the end and they want to end on a positive note, and really how much more could they have to teach us?...that is a very wrong assumption to make. I had two exams this week and I consider myself luck since many people I know had a plethora of exams, tests, quizzes, and papers all due this past week. And if that isn't enough, we now have a weekend + 2 reading period days to prepare for finals...Yayyyy. Luckily/ unfortunately my exams are all at the end of the finals period so I have this week to prepare for my finals that start Friday. As usual, the MSE library will be my home for the next 8 days...Good thing I always have friends to keep me company in the lib!

Let's change things up and start with workouts from this past week:
GYM TIME...
Monday (12/3)- 45 minute run outside (it was eerily warm and beautiful outside) a nice long stretch afterwards. Side note- I have been stretching after running almost every day recently and I can't stress enough how much it has helped my legs recover faster. I focus on stretching out my hips, calves, and quads with various stretches and I can definitely tell a difference the next day when I start to run. My stride feels longer and less labored, and my legs don't feel as stiff as they have in years past. Moral of the story-don't underestimate stretching! It can make a WORLD of difference! 
Tuesday (12/4)- 30 minute run on the treadmill focusing on uphill sprint intervals, 15 minute stationary bike, 5 minute abs, stretching
Wednesday (12/5)- 45 minute morning run on the treadmill, 75 girl pushups, stretching
Thursday (12/6)- rest day!
Friday (12/7)- 6.25 mile run (slower pace) on the treadmill, 5 minute abs, 3 sets of 1 minute forearm planks w/ 30 second rest in between, stretching
Saturday (12/8)- 45 minute morning treadmill run, arm work with resistance bands, stretching
Sunday (12/9)- 30 minute treadmill run, 5 minute uphill alternating lunges on the treadmill, 10 minute stationary bike, 5 minute abs, 50 girl pushups

There you have it! That's the most I've spoken of working out in a while, but hopefully it gives you some ideas of ways to change up your own workout routine!

FOOD TIME...

Oatmeal on oatmeal 

A delicious lunch! Carrot ginger soup plus kale and chickpea salad...all vegan too!

Watching friends make a gingerbread house!

Look at that icing-mixing technique 

Oh so much candy...my sweet tooth was thoroughly intrigued

Is that bacon? Why yes it is. I had the unique chance to go to a "bacon" party that a friend of mine threw this weekend. Although I did not partake in the bacon nomming (vegetarian problems), it looked like everyone was really enjoying it!

More oatmeal for a quick breakfast before a Phi Mu seminar on Saturday! Along with a special treat-Skinny pumpkin spice latté..yessss.

Dinner tonight- tomato soup, edamame, and a slice apple (half of which was eaten before this picture was taken) 

Other pics to recap the week: 

Sirens Christmas performance! We sang Carol of the Bells! 

I don't think there's a recording of us singing it but click here to listen to another great and famous acappella group's version of the song-Straight No Chaser!

A little shopping!

An interview! 

Friend time :) 

One last thing before I go to read about schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders (Abnormal Psychology exam on Friday). Here is a link to a treadmill workout I hope to do this week. I found it on FitSugar.com which, if you haven't explored it already, is a great resource to find workouts and healthy eating tips. Check it out!! 

Sick Sunday :\

Happy Sunday from a very sickly girl. I am usually a person who never gets sick, but it looks like I jinxed myself by saying that too often because Friday I started to come down with a bad case of the sniffles. It's now escalated into a bad sore throat, cough, little nausea, and just overall achy-ness.

Luckily this virus thing hadn't gotten the best of me yet on Friday night at the SIRENS CONCERT!!

I was so so proud of us! It was a blast and I think the audience had a great time too. It's always such a great feeling to see our hard work from the semester pay off at the concerts. Congrats guys!! <333 Ps- Check out our videos on YouTube!!

On the food side of my life, here are the eats of the week: 

Dinner with Sirens friends at Carma's Cafe! I had the Greek salad and a cup of the green lentil soup with a piece of "health bread toast" 

Of course I have had my green protein smoothie most mornings for breakfast this week, but since I started to feel sick, the only thing that sounds good to me is warm oatmeal. It's such a comfort to me and my stomach that I can't resist a bowl or two :) 

Soup...lots and lots of soup. Sickness means warm foods are a necessity. 

Joey and I had our one year anniversary dinner tonight at a fun restaurant in Baltimore called Pazzo. It is a mediterranean cuisine inspired restaurant with a really cool atmosphere. We sat in the lounge area on couches and were very comfy. Joey and I mainly ordered from their tapas menu, but my favorite thing of the night was of course the butternut squash and black bean duo soup. It definitely hit the spot for me and my sick self. 

You know you have a great boyfriend when he gets you food as your anniversary present :) Some of my most favorite foods of all time in one bag! So thoughtful. From right-Razzles (I haven't had them in forever but there awesome..First a candy..then gum!), milk chocolate with pretzels in it (enough said), pumpkin butter, hemp ginger granola, oatmeal, multigrain flax crackers, chamomile tea, and popcorn! And of course Mo had to check out all of the food. 

Although I have had to take a day off to let my body rest a bit during this sickness, I have kept up with my standard daily run + strength training for the past week. I hope to post a good workout up here soon so look out for that! 

Alright I'm off to finish my tea and hit the hay early. It's going to be a busy last week of classes, that's for sure. Have a pleasant Monday!