Runner Girl Swim Time

Today's workout started bright and early (even though its raining out) at 6:00 am at the pool. Pool workouts are great because they torch calories without putting so much pressure and strain on your joints, even though that will never stop me from lacing up! Sometimes its good just to do something different for yourself. If you always tend to do the same type of workout, switch it up! Row instead of bike, jumprope instead of running, take a kickboxing class instead of elliptical. Ultimately, you have options! Something I am excited to try is a cross fit gym nearby. Although it is something much pricier than the monthly fee at your average gym, they do offer a free introductory class. Most gyms offer similar deals, or discounts on a certain amount of sessions. It is essential to change up our workouts because after a while, our muscles will stop getting stronger after we repeat the same movements day in and day out. The great thing about exercising is that it can never get boring because there is always something new to try. Its also a good way to give our bodies a break. If we continue to do the same things over and over, we are more prone to hurting ourselves. Later on I plan to go to the gym for additional cardio.
After I finished up my pool workout, I headed to the grocery store to stock up for the week on all of my favorite healthy foods. Often, I tend to eat the same foods (especially fruit!) instead of having a balanced diet. Similar to exercise, it is important to try new foods and eat different things on a daily basis. There is not a single food that has every nutritional value our bodies need. Since it was relatively early, I had the opportunity to leisurely stroll around the grocery store and look at new things that I generally do not have time for, say, on a Sunday afternoon when hundreds of people are hustling, bustling, and fighting over the last box of cereal. Isn't it crazy to think of how impatient people are? I often feel like asking, where is it that you are in such a hurry to? Regardless, I urge you to try this one day too. I came across a few new foods that I would not have bought on a typical busy day (bad for my wallet, but great for my health!). First is Laughing Cow cream cheese spread. With only 45 calories per wedge and a 1/3 of the fat of regular cream cheese, its hard to feel guilty indulging in the delicious cinnamon spread. I put it on top of a 100 calorie Thomas english muffin, and this was a great post-workout snack/late breakfast. Although I mainly drink water, my sister introduced me to mango peach Crystal Light iced tea. It is a great change up from water for only five calories per serving. I also tried a healthier version of chicken salad, which I found to be even more delicious than the typical high calorie, mayonnaise coated  version. It is going to be great throughout the week wrapped up in lettuce! Later, I am also going to try to make roasted chickpeas as a healthy snack. It is days like today when I am excited to train and be a runner. Feeling happy, healthy, and eager to train is a beautiful thing.

Recipe for Healthy Chicken Salad:

1 1/4 cup plain, nonfat yogurt
1/2 cup grapes (cut in half)
1/2 cup apple (chopped), I used Red Delicious
1/2 cup chopped walnuts or almonds, I used walnuts
I also added a spoonful of spicy brown mustard, but that can be optional
2 cups cooked, chopped chicken, rotisserie all white meat worked great

Mix yogurt, grapes, apples, and nuts. Combine chicken and yogurt mixture and place on top of salad on whole-wheat bread.

Total Servings: 4