Running with the ghetto Garmin

Hi everyone!!

Meet the Ghetto Garmin:

ghettogarmin

I know what youโ€™re thinkingโ€ฆ โ€œThatโ€™s not a Garmin, thatโ€™s a Polar F6!โ€

Youโ€™re right. But itโ€™s my makeshift Garmin until I find one under the Christmas tree ๐Ÿ˜‰

Features and benefits:

– Calculates your heart rate.. unless youโ€™re like me and your chest strap is broken

– Doesnโ€™t tell you your pace, but can be used as a stopwatch, so when youโ€™re running on a track or trail with mile markers, you can calculate how fast youโ€™re going with some mental math

-Itโ€™s pink ๐Ÿ™‚

So I woke up early this morning, had 1/2 Ezekiel muffin with earth balance, maca and cinnmon

ezek

and did 6 miles on the track so I knew my distance ๐Ÿ˜€

I walked for 5 minutes, ran 5 miles in 44:05 then walked 10 minutes to cool down. 6 miles on the TRACK. My mantra: I am not a hamster (because I certainly feel like one, running around and around). According to my training plan, I was supposed to do the 5 miles at 8:39 and my pace was 8:49 โ€“ not too shabby, considering my lack of running technology ๐Ÿ˜‰

When I got back to the casa, I stretched like a maniac, took a hot steamy showa, then got to work on the stuff for tomorrow nightโ€™s dinner party that Iโ€™ve been neglecting.

Marbled Pumpkin Cheesecake

pumpkin cheesecake

(Artisan Kitchen Aid stand mixer = best wedding gift ever. I use it almost every day!)

Mid-morning snack was a glorious smoothie with 1.5 cups almond milk, 1 frozen bananner, 1 T almond butter, 1 T raw cacao powder, cinnamon, sea salt, vanilla, brown rice protein and garnished with some cacao nibs

shaker

I worked on some classic hummus, chopped veggies, seeded a POM, put candied nuts into the dehydrator and made some lonchi.

It was VERY tempting to break into the new container of goat jack cheese the pilot brought home for me, but since itโ€™s VEGAN DAY a la Michelle and Katy, I resisted the temptation and decided to make some raw cheezy rice.

rice

-Cheezy sauce: 1 yellow bell pepper, juice of 1/2 lemon, 1/3 cup soaked cashews, 1 T nutritional yeast, 1 t chili powder, 1 garlic clove, sea salt, pepper

-Mixed in with 1/2 head of organic cauliflower, pulsed in the food processor to resemble โ€œriceโ€

-Dehydrated for 1 hr at 115* and mixed in some roasted brussels, grape tomatoes and garlic

Awesome all vegan, mostly raw lonchi:

riceandveg

Someone got home from work early todayโ€ฆ

sleepypilot

The puppies keep taking turns snoozing with him ๐Ÿ˜‰

The rest of the day, Iโ€™m going to:

-clean up around here

-making training phone calls

-meet Jeni for weights (legs and abs)

-2 training appointments

-coming back and taking a snooze before the midnight showing of New Moon (ahhhhhh!)

See ya tonight <3

xoxo,

G

Todayโ€™s tip: Donโ€™t put too much pressure on yourself when it comes to workouts. Instead of the concept that you *HAVE* to do something (for example: โ€œI HAVE to do the elliptical for โ€˜xโ€™ amount of time, I HAVE to do these arms exercises", etcโ€), have a plan, but also the idea in your mind that if you donโ€™t follow it, itโ€™s ok. If you get to the gym and feel totally inspired to forget the elliptical and hit up the stairmaster instead, go for it, or if you decided you want to do legs instead of upper body. Do whatcha feel ๐Ÿ˜€

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41 Comments

  1. Jessica @ How Sweet It Is on November 19, 2009 at 3:16 pm

    I also love my kitchenaid mixer. I would die without it! I can’t wait to see the cheesecake!

  2. Sarah on November 19, 2009 at 3:24 pm

    What a sweet pictures ๐Ÿ™‚ Enjoy the rest of vegan day! I did a month in October and I’m still at it.

  3. Liz on November 19, 2009 at 3:35 pm

    I’m going to the midnight premiere, too. Except ours is at 12:45 because all the midnight ones sold out….going to be a LONG night, haha. By the way, that cheesecake sounds delicious.

    • Fitnessista on November 19, 2009 at 4:04 pm

      yes, that is a long night!! i’m going to need a nap, or i’ll crash out in the theatre ๐Ÿ˜‰

  4. lindsay on November 19, 2009 at 3:36 pm

    I am totally lusting after your stand mixer… I want one of those under my Christmas tree ๐Ÿ™‚ Good job making due with your ‘ghetto garmin’ haha and of course looking on the bright side, I mean it is PINK after all ๐Ÿ˜‰

    • Fitnessista on November 19, 2009 at 4:04 pm

      seriously, pink is always better ๐Ÿ™‚

  5. legalstyle on November 19, 2009 at 3:36 pm

    Hi gina!

    So glad you had a nice run this morning! I think you’re the one who is obsessed with “cheezy” kale chips? Can you give me a link to the recipe? Pretty pretty please?

    • Fitnessista on November 19, 2009 at 4:03 pm

      yes, that would be me ๐Ÿ™‚
      the recipe is a secret for now…

  6. Leah @ Simply fabulous on November 19, 2009 at 3:39 pm

    I have the same HRM! I love it!

  7. Alison on November 19, 2009 at 3:45 pm

    I have that same ghetto Garmin; my husband has a Forerunner 405, but it confuses me. Technology is not my friend.
    Keetping with the theme, I also have an Artisan Kitchen Aid, but mine is black. It’s the best kitchen gadget EVER.

  8. Betty on November 19, 2009 at 3:50 pm

    I have the black Polar f6. It’s my first HRM. I love it. I named it Millie. =)

  9. katherine on November 19, 2009 at 3:56 pm

    Your ghetto Garmin could be worse – I just have an old Nike watch that supposedly tells me my heart rate (I imagine a working chest strap would help). If I don’t find a Garmin under the tree, I might have to spring for a Tech4o!

  10. Emily on November 19, 2009 at 4:02 pm

    Question: do you think those glass straws are easily hand washed? I want one but don’t have a dishwasher.

    • Fitnessista on November 19, 2009 at 4:05 pm

      maybe if you got one of those baby bottle brushes (the super thin ones)??? that would work perfectly

      • Emily on November 19, 2009 at 5:45 pm

        Thank you for answering. I went and googled glass straws after leaving this question, and one of the first things that popped up was the little brushes. I went, “Ohhhhh….duh!”
        Thanks!

  11. Megan on November 19, 2009 at 4:04 pm

    Speaking of “HAVE” to–I recently read a great blog post by Kristin Armstrong on Runnersworld.com where she said that she’s be trying to “translate” her “have-tos” into “get tos,” as in “I get to go on the elliptical today.” It sounded a little hokey, but when I got up to run this morning before work, I thought to myself “I get to run 800m repeats today.” It actually made me feel thankful to not be injured or out of shape, etc. Nice work, Kristin! ๐Ÿ˜€

  12. Sarah @ The Foodie Diaries on November 19, 2009 at 4:06 pm

    i wish i had the equip to make your almuerzo for my cena. it looks ridic

  13. Dori on November 19, 2009 at 4:07 pm

    You can trade your F6 in for a discount on one that also tracks distance – that’s what I did and got 30 percent off the polar rsx300sd. The smoothie looks great!

  14. Erica on November 19, 2009 at 4:48 pm

    OWWWWWWWW! Let us know how New Moon is- I’m so excited to (eventually) see it!! I <3 my F6- a garmin would totally be nice but as you know, not so useful for group fitness! Your lunch looks fabulous! As you know, I'm all about the brussels! Have so much fun tonight

  15. Kristina on November 19, 2009 at 4:54 pm

    OMG! I call my Garmin “Ghetto Garmin” too!! It measures the distance, time, and pace BUT I can’t see the results until I plug it in to get charged. lol! Hey, it still works AND it makes my runs more fun as I try to predict it ALL before I plug it in to see the official results. =)

  16. Lisa on November 19, 2009 at 6:06 pm

    You might want to nickname your watch GiGi(ghetto garmin) since she’s pink. Have fun @ New Moon; is it a new moon?

    • Fitnessista on November 19, 2009 at 7:53 pm

      that’s an excellent idea. i’m not sure, but that would be so appropriate!

  17. K on November 19, 2009 at 6:20 pm

    That picture of the Pilot cracks me up because of Viesa – haha, too cute! I love the sounds of that cheezy rice!!

    I’ve got mixer jealousy! I need one of those bad boys!

    • Fitnessista on November 19, 2009 at 7:53 pm

      that’s why i put it up- vies looks so funny!

  18. Lauren @ eater not a runner on November 19, 2009 at 6:22 pm

    Good work on the vegan challenge! And thanks for the tip, makes me feel better about missing my planned workout today :-/

  19. Sana on November 19, 2009 at 6:31 pm

    The rice looks yummy! Think I can set my oven to like 150* and put them in there for a bit since I don’t have a dehydrator?!

    • Fitnessista on November 19, 2009 at 7:53 pm

      fo sho ๐Ÿ˜€

  20. Jenna on November 19, 2009 at 6:58 pm

    mmmm marbled pumpkin cheesecake! sounds great!!
    jenna

  21. Jessica on November 19, 2009 at 8:09 pm

    Thank you again for the tip on the maca! I apprehensively opened the bag because I read it was kind of nasty and was pleasantly surprised! Smelled a bit like butterscotch to me ๐Ÿ™‚ I put 1/2 a tsp. in a smoothie this am. I just got a new portable smoothie machine that I can take to the gym with me. I’m good to go now!! LoL!

    • Fitnessista on November 19, 2009 at 8:51 pm

      i’m so glad you like it! i LOVE that stuff ๐Ÿ˜€

  22. ari on November 19, 2009 at 8:38 pm

    hey gina! i’m wondering if you can help me out with something since you’re in such great shape and a personal trainer and all. i have love handles =/ and nothing makes them go away! they’re the only part of my body that i’m really unhappy with. i’m 5’5″, 108 pounds and do cardio 6 days a week, keeping my HR at around 185. i’ve been doing that, along with strength training 3 days a week, for a couple years and the love handles won’t budge. do you have any suggestions or exercises or anything that you think would be helpful? thank you so much!!

    • Fitnessista on November 19, 2009 at 8:49 pm

      please keep in mind that since i haven’t met you and can’t take the measurements i like, here’s what i’m thinking…
      it sounds like you are underweight for your height, causing your body to hold onto excess fat (it’s hard for me to say though, since i don’t know your body fat %)
      my abs/love handles didn’t start to look better until i started eating MORE and varying my cardio (i was underweight for a little while as well, and am also 5’5, and with 10lbs of muscle, i’m the same size and can still wear the same jeans but much more toned)
      i would increase your calorie intake (maybe an extra nutritious snack each day) and shake up your cardio routine. 185 is pretty hardcore and when you get up to that level and don’t alternate intensities, your body gets used to it. maybe try two easy days, two days of intervals, and two days of steady moderate intensity (heart rate around 150-165). this will shake things up a little bit and just make sure your eating is clean and that you’re getting enough food to support your activity levels.
      hope this helps a little!

      • ari on November 20, 2009 at 10:57 am

        it does, thank you so much! i’ve had issues with my weight forever, so while sometimes i know that i need to up my calorie intake, it freaks me out because i don’t want to gain weight. but i’m trying. thanks so much for the suggestion!

        • Fitnessista on November 20, 2009 at 11:07 am

          it freaked me out, too. just make sure to do it slowly, and you’ll be fine ๐Ÿ˜€

  23. Katy on November 19, 2009 at 8:48 pm

    The pilot looks adorable…my husband falls asleep with my puppies all the time, but they’re 85 and 90 pounds!

    I can’t tell you how much I appreciate the support you and other bloggers have given #VeganWeek. I have learned so much — not only about food, but about the power of the Internet. I’m humbled!

  24. Light Delight with TouTou on November 19, 2009 at 9:09 pm

    That is a very cool gadget ๐Ÿ™‚

    Great creation for the vegan day!!! the meal looks fab!

  25. Roro (AmazonChick) on November 19, 2009 at 9:46 pm

    I’M JEALOUS, you get to see New Moon later…. my hubby and friends are not fans =) but i will be dragging my hubby Saturday to see it. lol Being in Valdosta I hope you don’t get caught in long lines. Have fun girl

  26. Karla on November 19, 2009 at 10:33 pm

    We’re switched! I have the chest strap and lost the watch part of my polar f6 ๐Ÿ™ Sad day!

    New Moon is on my agenda for tomorrow! Can’t wait!

    • Fitnessista on November 20, 2009 at 2:46 am

      whoo hoo! enjoy the movie.. it’s incredible

  27. Katie on November 20, 2009 at 3:53 pm

    NEEDED to hear that Workout tip today. Thank you!

  28. katie on November 23, 2009 at 1:48 pm

    Hehe I have a Polar Runner’s watch too (I think it’s basically the same as yours)… I want a Garmin so badly. I had a Eureka moment this weekend when I realized the Garmin Forerunner 305 is about $250 cheaper than the 405! Christmas is a-comin…

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