Oh boy does it feel good to just “be home” and get back to the norm. When I’m out of town, it’s hard to focus on eating healthy and working out. It’s the last thing I want to do when I’m around friends. It’s also hard to find time to study. I’ll be spending this week getting everything organized in my office because it’s all over the place, getting all the new items up in the shop, working out, studying, and creating new recipes for the blog. I’m even thinking about doing a couple new “youtube” recipe series. Oh, and I set my juicer back up, so maybe I can do some of my favorite juice combos. I got lazy and started buying all my juices, but I’m determined to make them at home now.
On Monday night, Nick came over to watch football and hangout while I did packages for the shop. I threw together a makeshift dinner with what was left in the fridge. I still haven’t gone grocery shopping since being back, but my fridge isn’t completely empty. I made a veggie egg scramble, crispy baked bacon, and garlic feta spaghetti squash. I was going to make veggie fries as a side, but I needed to use up the spaghetti squash before it went bad.
Spaghetti Squash:
-I microwave it for two minutes so it’s soft enough to slice. After I slice it in half, I dig out the seeds with a spoon and then slice it into fourths. I coat a pan with olive oil and place the squash insides down onto the pan and bake it for 45 minutes at 375 degrees.
-After the squash is cooked, I scooped it out into a frying pan. I mixed it with a sprinkle of italian seasoning, salt, pepper, feta cheese, and garlic powder. (It sounds like a weird combo, but it’s DELICIOUS)
Eggs:
I sautéed red onion and bell pepper with onion powder, olive oil, and garlic seasoning until lightly brown. In a little bowl, I whisked up six eggs with 1/4 cup of skim milk. I poured the eggs into the vegetable pan and scrambled everything up.
Bacon:
I lined a baking sheet with tin foil and placed the bacon strips on top. I baked the bacon for about 25 minutes until crisp. Once the bacon is out, dab it with paper towels to remove the grease. Removing the grease helps crisp up the bacon.
Someone smelled the bacon…
I headed to my parents early morning to have coffee with my dad and help him grab some timber at the store.
We have had so much rain in the Carolinas and yesterday was finally sunny. It’s going to be sunny all week 🙂 I took my bike out for a twenty mile bike ride and it felt so good. I love my E-bike. Thank you so much Revolution Cycles and Raleigh Bikes for setting me up with this amazing bike.
I was a hot mess when I got back from my bike ride, so I decided to knock out a run before getting cleaned up.
I found a new running route yesterday. I love exploring new areas to run and challenging myself to do harder courses. Yesterday was definitely a running reality check for me. The elevation was crazy! My legs were burning going straight up hill for .3 miles at a time. I’ve always “feared” the hills and it’s mainly because I don’t like doing things I know I’m not good at. I decided to just go for it yesterday and since I completed it, I’m not afraid anymore and I say “bring on the hills.” I’ve also feared the hills because when I was battling runner’s knee, the hills were what brought on the pain. It wasn’t going up the hill, it was going down the hill that brought on that excruciating sting.
A lot of people have been asking how I overcame my runner’s knee and Achilles tendonitis, so I’m going to put together a post about how I recovered and how I am preventing it. There was a point in my life where I thought I’d never return to running and it was so discouraging. I remember one day not being able to even walk down the baseball stadiums stairs because of the pain in my knee. I’m not a competitive runner or a professional runner, but I really do love it.
As you can see, the hills came later in my run and I got more tired after consecutively going up them. The mile four was me walking back. I know if I keep running the hills, I’ll get better and stronger.
After my run, I had some carrots and bell pepper with garlic and roasted red pepper hummus.
My dad sent me home with some of his black bean chicken noodle soup and it was delicious. My dad is pretty awesome at making soups. I had that for dinner with some croutons on top. I’m glad he doesn’t live in Iowa anymore because venison would always appear in my soup.
I plopped on the couch to watch Holes and drink decaf coffee while waiting for the debates to come on. I also had a piece of delicious JoJo’s chocolate bark.
And per usual, I fell asleep during the first twenty minutes of the debates and that’s why I always tape it.
Happy Veterans Day to my family, friends, and everything who have served in the military past and present! Thank you for your service and God bless!
Brynn says
I love your leggings!!
Taralynn McNitt says
Thanks! They’re from Prismsport.
Heather says
I love busy leggings like that. I have a few pair. i feel like when i have cute workout clothes im more motivated haha! glad you’re back!
Taralynn McNitt says
Thanks! Prismsport has really soft ones and TJMAXX IS MY GO TO!! 🙂
Bobbie Lea says
Hey, question, do you still feel like you get a good workout in with the e-bike even though it’s assisting? I mean it’s probably not full force but still good? Thanks.
Taralynn McNitt says
Hi Bobbie! It’s a great workout 🙂 You don’t have to have the assist on at all. I used it a couple times up a giant hill, but turned it off for the rest of the ride. It gives you the same workout as a normal bike. But if you need to get somewhere fast and without a sweat…it’s great too!
Jaclyn says
I experience the same knee-pain going down hills. I end up walking down hills a lot of the time:)
Taralynn McNitt says
I’m definitely careful while running downhill!
Lina says
Wow so you did a 20 mile bike ride and then a 3 mile run? Doesn’t that seen like excessive exercising. Idk how you do it.
Taralynn McNitt says
Not really. The bike ride was a breeze and a three mile run is mild. I make sure to eat enough calories throughout the day:)
Paige says
It looks like you only had coffee, veggies with dip and chicken soup all day. Did you have more than you posted? Because that doesn’t sound like enough fuel for a 20km bike ride immediately followed by a 3 mile run. Just curious to see how you actually have the energy for those workouts, because I wouldn’t if I didn’t eat twice as much as that!!
Taralynn McNitt says
I always eat more than I post. It would be impossible to take a photo of everything I eat and I snack all day long. I’m always eating mixed nuts, fruits, protein bars, juices, and more. I have a little note on my about me page that states that I don’t post everything I eat on the blog. Also riding my bike followed by a run is not a “normal” workout for me, so it was just a one day thing. I make sure to eat tons of calories and I stress that a lot on my blog. Everyone should know what their body needs and be responsible enough to make that decision.
Tori D says
Which app do you use to track your runs?
Taralynn McNitt says
Runkeeper. I find that it’s the most reliable for tracking distance and speed 🙂
jenn says
Scream queens: did you catch last night’s episode yet?
Taralynn McNitt says
NO! I’m baking cookies right now and about to catch up on it! 🙂 i’ll let you know asap!
Jen says
Black bean chicken noodle soup!? That sounds awesome! Would he share the recipe 😉
Taralynn McNitt says
So yummy & I bet he would!
Tara says
You are really motivating me with all of your running! I am trying to get back in a routine after being injured and off from running since April. It’s hard and slow coming back from that! But, you’re posts are really helping me to get out there and try! Thank you!!
Taralynn McNitt says
Thanks Tara! & I know how that feels! xo hang in there.
chiara says
Hi Taralynn, this is my first comment here and let’s start saying how much I love reading your blog. I think you are great and I wish you all the best:-))
Anyway, I don’t know if you already answered this question before but I ask it the same:
how long do you workout each day? and, specifically, how much cardio do you do per week?
Thank you so much for your answer, hugs!
c*
Taralynn McNitt says
Thank you Chiara!
I don’t have a “set time” when it comes to working out or an “exact” schedule. I just try to listen to my body when it’s had enough. I really love walking everyday, but don’t necessarily call that a workout. It’s more of a leisure walk with my dog. I like to run at least 3-4 times a week and fit in strength training on the off days. I rest 1-2 days a week with walks.
xo
Chelsea says
Which bike model did you get? Do you know if they ship to other states? 🙂
Taralynn McNitt says
I’ll ask them!!
Sarah says
There’s no place like home eh! Love those leggings!
Sarah
http://www.sefoster8.blogspot.ca
Taralynn McNitt says
That’s the truth!
Thank you 🙂 PrismSport!
shanna says
I love that you’re just hanging out in the garage drinking coffee with your dad. one of my favorite memories with my dad when I lived at home was hanging out in the garage on Saturday evenings listening to a radio program.
Taralynn McNitt says
Yeah, he is my favorite. He loves to “shoot the shit” and I’m a great listener!
Brooklyn says
That e-bike looks like the best thing! I would love to try one of those out.
Also, do you have any recommendations for people new to juices? I have a feeling that I will love them, yet for some reason I’m nervous to actually try one!
http://www.justbeingbrooklyn.com
Taralynn McNitt says
Juices are so good! Try to ease your way into the veggie ones. Start with ones that are green WITH fruit in them!
Melanie says
Great job on your run! Hills are tough so props to you for sticking with it 🙂
YUM to the spaghetti squash! I have been roasting a lot of squash this fall. Have you ever tried kabocha squash?! It’s a bit sweeter (kind of like sweet potato), but it is delicious!!
Taralynn McNitt says
Thanks Mel!
I’ve never had kabocha squash but i need to! I havnt been on my roasting game, but I’m going to try!
Kams says
I’m looking forward to your runners knee post. I just started running and I LOVE it but my knee was bothering me so bad yesterday 🙁 And I really hope you do the YouTube thing! 🙂
Taralynn McNitt says
Make sure you take that pain seriously and give it a rest! i made that mistake tooooo many times! xo
micka says
INSPIRING!
Taralynn McNitt says
😀
Stella says
Love the bike
Taralynn McNitt says
ThNKS 🙂
Sara says
How did you learn to golf?
Taralynn McNitt says
My dad :
Mia says
Is biking hard?
Taralynn McNitt says
No, I love it!
Jenna says
Do you take any medications?
Taralynn McNitt says
For what? & no I do not.