Good Matt Fitzgerald Read...and Pumpkin!

Sports Nutrition Made Easy...for women, but definitely applicable for mens too:

http://www.active.com/women/Articles/Sports_nutrition_made_easy.htm?cmp=16-5398

In other news, Harris Teeter has 2 for $5 canned organic pumpkin! Planning to try on a pumpkin smoothie for size, as well as some pumpkin pancakes. I'm thinking eggs, sunflower seed butter, pumpkin and cinnamon for the 'cakes. P'raps a banana if I feel so inclined. Will report back. Sunflower seed butter, for the record, is the best thing since sliced gluten-free bread.



The move is finally complete. We officially live in the 'burbs now. Shirlington. I like it! And I now shop at Harris Teeter, not Whole Foods. I bought 10 cans of salmon for $10!! That is quite a steal. I am sure it has higher levels of mercury...or something. I will miss you, Whole Foods. But I will like having an extra $500/month in my bank account.

I don't really ride my bike all that often these days. But I am signed up for Winchester. Eek.

My brain is fried. I'm sure that's evident in the disjointed, 3-word sentences in this post.

We actually moved ourselves - as in, no movers. I am unfamiliar with this concept. However, it would appear people move themselves all the time. It is horrible. I do not recommend it. I like movers. We live on the third floor with no elevator. It was harder than any Goon or Contes ride I have ever done. It took 2 full weeks.

P90X starts on Monday. I broke down and ordered it, after researching a bit online. Didn't find much beyond p90x. Those cats know how to market their product, I'll give them that. To start, I'm going to do 2x a week, and build to 3. I am excited to get back into strength training. It's been awhile, and I have to build up some leg strength to get me up and down these three flights of stairs 5 times a day. Whooo-wheee! Workout city here in Shirlington.

Ciao for now.

Coconuts

It has been a minute, has it not? Goodness gracious. I detest the feeling of blog neglection (not a word, according to Blogger). However, I've had a lot on my plate. Here are the excuses for today's entry:

1. I am consulting. I like it. Keeps the brain moving. I go to meetings, tell people what to do, then leave. Glory!

2. We are moving. This weekend! Across the river. Skeery.

3. I am officially wedding planning. And enjoying it. Who would have thought it?

4. I am renting my condo. Also known as the most stressful thing ever invented.

5. Lots of other stuff. Believe me.

Anywho. Today, I'd like to discuss with you...coconuts. Specifically, two products thereof. As you people (person?) know, I am not one to tout processed foods. I shun them, in fact. However, this past Sunday I had a jonesing for something sweet (ice cream ice cream ice cream ice cream) and simply could not stop thinking about fulfilling said jonesing. When I get this sort of feeling, I go to Max's Best ice cream (quite literally, the best), get some form of cinnamon ice cream, and deal with the repercussions post hoc. Unfortunately for me, this past Sunday, they were already closed. DISASTER. Brian, luckily, is a solutions-man, and we headed to the Whole Foods freezer section instead. While he opted for some sort of pistachio thing (protein?), I went for this:

1. Purely Decadent Coconut Milk Non-Dairy Frozen Dessert (quite a mouthful!)

It tasted delicious. I will say, I won't partake in this again most likely, as it did do it's job to destroy my stomach. Most likely the soy ingredients. But I signed up for it. Here are the ingredients:

Servings Size 1/2 Cup (85g) Servings Per Container 4

Amount Per Servings

Calories 210 Calories from Fat 120

INGREDIENTS: ORGANIC COCONUT MILK, ORGANIC AGAVE SYRUP, PEANUT BUTTER (ROASTED PEANUTS, SOYBEAN OIL, SUGAR, SALT), CHOCOLATE FLAKE (BEET SUGAR, COCONUT OIL, COCOA PROCESSED WITH ALKALI, CHOCOLATE LIQUOR, SOYA LECITHIN, VANILLA), CHICORY ROOT EXTRACT, COCOA (PROCESSED WITH ALKALI), CAROB BEAN GUM, GUAR GUM, NATURAL FLAVOR..

The second coconut product I'd like to discuss is Vita-Coco. I am obsessed with it.

2. Vita-Coco

I imagine it's a bit of an acquired taste, and I like to mix mine with 1/2 water to tone it down a bit. But absolutely loving it in my water bottles on longer rides. Loads of electrolytes (naturally) and a high mineral content. For folks who sweat a lot (and lose lots of salt), might not be the best fit - it's primarily potassium, not sodium:

Nutrition Facts Serving Size: 11.2 fl oz Amount per Serving Calories 60Calories from Fat 0 % Daily Value * Total Fat 0g0% Saturated Fat 0g0% Cholesterol 0mg0% Sodium 35mg1% Potassium 660mg19% Total Carbohydrate 15g5% Dietary Fiber 0g0% Sugars 15g Protein 0g0% Calcium5% Magnesium9% Manganese50% Est. Percent of Calories from: Fat 0.0% Carbs 100.0% Protein 0.0%

Time to pack.

Sometimes

I just like to post a link to something. Here is a link to something you should read:

Gluten-Free Athletes from Active.com.

It is a beautiful day.

Ciao!

Iiiit's cross time!

To the tune of Iiiit's Hammer Time. Only...not.

Anywho. This is what was done for fun this evening:

Yes, fun! Some might not believe me. Some might say that this "cross" I speak of is painful. Or brutal. Or, in summation, a total ass-kicker of a sport. They are all, indeed, correct. Cross is the hardest sport I have ever done, hands down. The combination of having to think about jumping off your bike, then running with it, then jumping over something large while still carrying it, then placing it back down gracefully enough to then jump back on said bike...all while totally in the red...is hard. Really hard.

But, as they say, practice makes perfect. In this case...practice is absolutely imperative so that when I arrive at Charm City CX in a few weeks, I don't run straight into a barrier...or endo in front of the podium...or fall on my front wheel and break a spoke. All of which I did last year...at Charm City.

Did I mention I can't wait??