Vanity Sizing

Good Morning! Isn’t my oatmeal beautiful?

In the mix:  1/2 scoop vanilla protein powder, cocoa powder, raspberries, tablespoon of melty peanut butter

It’s rainy and drizzly here in Athens, but who cares?! It’s 59 degrees outside! I seriously couldn’t be happier.

Breakfast was delicious after a sweaty 6:30 AM treadmill run at the gym. I took it easy after being sick all weekend. I ran at a 10 min mile pace for 4 miles. I was sweating, so I feel like I’m back into half marathon training!

Vanity Sizing

On my ride to the gym I caught the middle of a discussion on vanity sizing on the Bert Show. Dr. Oz was talking about how this is really an epidemic in America because women will go into a store thinking they are a size 8, but really they are a size 12. This causes an increase in low self-esteem. I also found it interesting that in the 1950’s a size 12 meant that you had a 26 inch waist! Hello Marilyn Monroe!

 

Now, a size 12 in the U.S. measures up to a 32 inch waist! Big difference!

I have experience vanity sizing many times and I always find it frustrating to fit into a “skinny” size at Ann Taylor Loft, but having to go up a couple pant sizes at Express. I truly wish vanity sizing would no longer exist! Oh well, as this article states, “Your clothing size is not a good way to determine your healthy or how fit you are.”

Have you ever experience vanity sizing?? At which stores do you find this problematic?

I’m off to get ready for class! Hope everyone has a great day!

Why Good Food “Works”

I was absent from blogging yesterday, but I am back! School is finally picking up and my workload gets a little worse everyday. Last night, for instance, I remembered about a Spanish composition that was due at 8AM this morning. I figured this out at 11 pm. Ouch.

Breakfast this morning helped my sleepy disposition.

Protein pancake with raspberries. LOVE this combo. Sugar free syrup on top!

Last night, while I was care-free and homework free I whipped up a recipe from Real Simple magazine that I found while pinning away on Pinterest.

Roasted Tomatoes with Shrimp and Feta

Ingredients

• 3 large tomatoes, cut into eighths (roma)
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons minced garlic
• kosher salt and black pepper
• 1  pounds medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 1/2 cup chopped parsley
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1 cup reduced fat Feta, crumbled

Cut the tomatoes into fourths. Place in a baking dish. Drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with garlic, salt and pepper. Place in the oven on the top rack. Bake at 450 for 20 minutes.

When the tomatoes are done, pull them out and stir in the shrimp, parsley and lemon juice. Top the entire dish with the crumbly feta. Place back in the oven for another good 15 minutes until the shrimp and pink and everything is bubbly and delicious.

I served my shrimp up plain last night, but today at lunch I had it with some rice. I forgot how good plain old rice is…

Some of you..mostly college friends…may think why or how does Morgan make all of these complicated recipes. It’s because I care about food. Why throw a pop tart in my mouth when I can make egg whites or a protein pancake in under 10 minutes?

You see, food is energy and in order to feel my best, I need a lot of quality food sources. Yes, it costs more to eat shrimp instead of lean cuisine for dinner, but at least I feel like I am full and happy instead of unsatisfied and miserably tired.

Take the time to try out a new recipe next week. All of my recipes, especially my entrees are affordable and savvy on time. I challenge you to make an entire meal by yourself. You will be proud of yourself!

Good food just works for me. It’s as simple as that.

Redemption Run and Weekend Recap

This weekend absolutely flew by!

After my unmotivated run on Saturday, I headed home to hang with the fam for the weekend.

As always food was involved, but sadly I wasn’t in the mood to get out the camera much. Blogger fail. I feel like I am still nervous to be looked at and questioned every time I pull out my camera at the table…sorry people, just tryin to share the experience I have readers to tend to…

Last night, before my roommate and I drove back to Athens, my family and I tried a new restaurant in Lilburn called, Three Blind Mice. The place was adorable although, the menu left a lot to be desired. For such a cute trendy place, the menu was limited to what I would call fancy bar food. Where are the salads, people? I ended up settling for a burger with a side salad. At least half of my meal wasn’t greasy. Can’t win them all.

Via Google

Overall, I loved the look of the place, but their Sunday night menu could use a facelift. It’s worth a try to go when they actually offer their normal selections.

In other news: I RAN 6 MILES!!!!!

Before church, Hannah (my aunt) and I set out to get in a solid 6 miles and we did it in a about an hour or so. Her neighborhood runs will now be known as the “hills of death”. A mile and a half in I was already exhausted and still feeling a little unmotivated from Saturday’s attempt. I paced behind her for most of the part and took several walking breaks to regulate my breathing. Just glad I made it through. Seriously, camelback hills are horrid things….

I am happy that I set a new distance! I am almost half-way through the half!

This morning…

Now that recaps are over, let’s talk breakfast.

Tone it up Protein Pancake….Not as good as Fitnessista’s, but I just realized I forgot the half banana. woops. I topped it with a smear of peanut butter. I also had coffee in my CPC mug.

Pre-Breakfast I went to the gym and did some cardio. I warmed up with 20 minutes on the cross-trainer before sweating it out on the treadmill with 15 minutes of sprints. (1 minute sprint at 8.0, 30 sec rest) repeat 15 times. Sprints are so hard…they are fast and dirty. Whew!

I’m off to shower…gotta get ready for the day! Happy Monday!

Smiling on the Outside. Unmotivated on the Inside.

Hey! So happy that it is Saturday!

This morning I had planned on running 6 miles but I cut the run short. I didn’t feel too well. I felt nauseous within the first two miles and it was just plain HOT. I cannot wait for cooler temps! I will even take the 80’s. I ran around campus for about four miles and called it quits. I just wasn’t feeling it today.

 

Smiling on the outside. Unmotivated on the inside.

Tomorrow I plan on mapping out a solid 5-6 mile route and getting up to beat the sunshine and heat. I hate feeling like a quitter, but tomorrow is a new day.

Oh, and just in case some of my friends are reading… Look at where I parked! Memories….so bittersweet.

Michael and I had friends who lived in that apartment  

Once I got home, I made two egg whites with some wheat toast. I also had coffee of course and a plum!

Kobe wanted in on breakfast.

Today is cleaning/laundry day. I may even go to the grocery store just so I don’t have to do it tomorrow! Hope everyone has a beautiful weekend. To my east coast/mid-atlantic friends, stay safe with the hurricane warnings!

Interesting Finds:

Healthy Late Night Snacks…

Etsy Finds for Runners

Top 30 Hydrating Foods

I posted this on my Facebook page yesterday. Pretty amazing!

The Morning Off.

Good Morning? How is everyone’s Thursday?

Mine has been wonderful so far because my second class was cancelled which means I am already home and done with campus for the day. Lucky me…..sort of. I have tons of school work to do today including a paper for an English class and reading (almost an entire book). The first few weeks of school seem so sluggish and hard. I haven’t felt productive yet. I guess that’s the senior in me.

First Breakfast/Snack

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Lara Bar on the way to school. Really good flavor.

Second Breakfast- 2 scrambled egg whites with Cabot 75% reduced fat cheese. DELISH. I love Cabot because they provide the 1 ounce serving size measurements on the package. I’m always guaranteed to eat one serving without having to guesstimate! Very helpful, Cabot.

I also had a Tam-X-Ico’s  Lo-Carb tortilla…only 5 grams of net carbs. And tasty, too.

This is how I typically eat…a plate among stacks of books.

That’s just how students roll.

Plans for the day:

Nap, Homework, Meeting, Gym (cardio day), More Homework, Dinner….maybe a movie with Rachel??

Exercise Mantra of the day:

True, so true! Especially for turtle runners.

Do something active for yourself today. Positivity is contagious!

Rise Above the Negativity

Hi friends!

How is your Tuesday! Mine has flown by…I am already done with class. Woohoo! Now, if I could only muster up some productivity…

Last week, I had posted about a jeans issue I have been experiencing as a result of half marathon training. The muscles in my legs have been working very hard to get me into running shape. I have noticed that my jeans were fitting a lot tighter in my thigh area, leaving me disappointed with myself.After pulling my jeans on, I quickly took them off as I huffed and puffed in anger. Running is supposed to make me thinner…not bigger!

Since I ran an amazing 5 miles on Saturday, I realized running makes me stronger, not thinner. My muscles are there for a reason and I should be proud not angry at them!

It is so easy to get stressed out over things by focusing on everything that is wrong with us instead of what is great! It is a blessing that I am getting strong and I am happy to have legs that will allow me to cross that finish line.

Breakfast

Today was Quaker Oats, made with almond milk and chia seeds. Scoop of peanut butter and strawberries…Love it!!

I’m off to get some work done…see you later. I hope some of you try the Orange Chicken recipe from last night!

Do you have a favorite way of dealing with self negativity?

What is one part of your body that you are grateful for?

School Days…

Happy First Day of School!

UGA officially starts back today!

I have started off the day in my most favorite way, PBJ Oats and two cups of coffee!

This oatmeal will never ever get old….never, ever.

I am still house/babysitting this morning. I felt like a mom yelling getting the kid out of bed, making him a scrambled egg and quickly typing up the paper that he forgot to do which conveniently did  not open in the file  this morning….

I slightly overslept, so no time for a run this morning. It would have been nice though, the air outside is surprisingly crisp and cool almost like an early fall!

It’s BACK TO SCHOOL!!!!

It’s back to UGA buses….

Park Hall’s hotter than Hell classrooms…

Drinking gallons of iced coffee from Jittery Joe’s…

And wasting spending countless hours in the SLC…

I feel slightly excited, just like every first day of school has felt before…I am certainly ready to begin SENIOR year…of Undergrad that is!

Have a great day

What is your favorite/least favorite part about the first day of school?

When a Run Becomes a “Wog”

Good Morning. Today was a pancake kind of morning. Whole wheat banana for me, boxed mixed for the kid I am babysitting…..picky eater, that one.

I also had coffee….one packet of Truvia and a splash of milk.

Now, onto our topic of when a run becomes a wog. Brittany over at A Healthy Slice of Life introduced me to “Wogging” which is a walk-jog combo. An interval if you would rather…I just like “Wog” better because it sounds funny.

Today, I was scheduled for a 4 mile run. Since I started my HMT early, I had to repeat last week instead of moving onto 5 miles this week. I just want to take this nice and slow….I am not going to rush things.

Sometimes, things don’t always go according to plan. Things like airports and eating too many Hershey Kisses can get in the way of things…cough, cough. This week has been slightly off for me…

Yesterday I felt all out of wack. I ate too many pieces of candy, too much French bread and I sat around watching movies. I didn’t work out and felt miserable. When my alarm went off at 8 am, the though of running killed me. My stomach felt sour, but I put on my shoes anyway. I felt like I was running through molasses….thus, the run became a wog.

I alternated running for 2 songs and walking for 1 for a total of 4.5 miles. I felt MUCH better after my wog and no longer felt the guilt of my candy/bread overload from the day before. I realize that I should have ran, but sometimes, a wog is all you need to get back on track.

I am off to take the kid to the pool. Then its back to work.

SCHOOL tomorrow!!!!

xoxo-Morgan

Time Flies…

Time flies when you’re having fun!

I had the best week up in Morgantown with Michael! Long-distance relationships are not easy by any means. It really takes a lot of team work, communication and trust to make it work! In my case, I also feel like you have to be willing to be flexible. The LDR is all about making the most of time! That means having fun and simply enjoying each other’s company!

Even though I was home by myself last week and yesterday, I made the most of my time alone by creating workouts to keep me sane and continuing to focus on my half-marathon training. It was really great to run in a new place like my 4 miles along the river.

In case you missed out on our activities…

We ate a lot of cookies.

We ran in a torrential downpour.

We ate a lot!

The good thing about my relationship is that we are okay with being at home sometimes. The simple act of watching Jersey Shore or cooking together is time well spent.

I am taking advantage of the free Wi-Fi at Pittsburgh airport and just in case you wanted to know…I had a decent piece of quiche and fruit for breakfast. Hit the spot!

I’m sad to be leaving, but a BUSY week awaits. School starts in a week! Eeek.

Rainy River Run

Last night Michael and I had dinner in downtown Morgantown at a cute, local place called The Golden Finch. The restaurant was quaint and had a really cozy atmosphere that we both loved. We wined and dined on a shrimp and grits appetizer alongside a bruschetta burger that was served on the most delicious ciabatta bread. We also shared a tomato and mozzarella salad that was great!

Golden Finch!

Caprese Salad

The alarm rang at 7 and I snoozed until 8 until we finally both got up and headed out for a run along the Monongahela river. I had all my of my gear on including my Garmin, my Spibelt, my ipod and my amphipod water bottle. Each of these items serves a purpose and I felt like I needed them with me today. Michael thought all of my gadgets were overkill and looked at me and said, “Morgan, were not going to the moon.” Just call me space cadet!

Just call me Space Cadet

One minute into the run, it started to rain. The rain came down harder and harder as we pushed on. While I wasn’t hot, I didn’t find this particularly soothing and now I feel like I’m going to have swimmer’s ear. All of my gear tested great for being waterproof, so at least that was a plus!

3 miles later and we were home. Our shoes were now filled with water and I looked like a drowned rat. I made us whole wheat bagel thins with white chocolate wonderful peanut butter. We also shared an apple.

We are relaxing for now watching Shark Week and Man vs. Food….then its off to run some errands! Have a great  day!