Lots of girl time this weekend! After more cleaning, cleaning, cleaning yesterday afternoon, I decided to set out for my final C25K run of the week. Before I left I had a Z Bar:
I had a fantastic, sweaty, invigorating run! In a short 20-25 min, I burned over 500 calories! I can see why people choose to run - it really is the greatest caloric return for the time invested! Lately I’ve been finding myself wanting to run more often than wanting to go to the gym. I can spend 60 min on different machines and burn 400ish calories or 20ish min running and burn over 500! Where’s the question of what to do there? I’m hesitant to go start running everyday because I don’t want to burn myself out - but I really have been wanting to run more and more (I never thought I’d say that!) C25K Run 2.3 = 519 calories burned.
After my run, I got cleaned up and met some girlfriends for dinner. We decided to go to Cowgirl. No girl’s night would be complete without margaritas…we split a pitcher. Here’s my first glass:
For an entree, I got the grilled vegetable salad (filled with zucchini, cucumber, carrots, squash on a bed of romaine and spinach). I also added a side of grilled chicken for protein.
I had a half-glass margarita with dinner:
This is such a weird quirk of mine, but I love food that is shaped like other food, like ‘pizza’ made out of fruit. When I saw Cowgirl’s Ice Cream Baked Potato on the menu - I started to get giddy. I convinced the lovely Eva to split it with me. It’s described as,
vanilla ice cream shaped like a big ol’ spud, dusted in cocoa and topped with loads of hot fudge, chopped pecans, whipped cream and a little pat of butter (frosting)
I was soooo excited!
SO CUTE! The little butter frosting pat was the best part. 
This totally made my night!
After dinner, we did a little bar hopping. I ordered myself a vodka soda, but barely got through a few sips. Vodka soda is usually my party drink of choice because it is the most bang for my caloric buck.
After a great night, we girls parted ways and went back to our respective mens.
I woke up late Sunday morning and was immediately hungry! I was hoping to fit in a morning workout, so I had a banana with a tbsp PB for a snack:
Unfortunately, due to my boyfriend’s innate ability to foil all my plans for productivity, I never made it out. 
So I didn’t have time for a morning workout before my brunch plans at 1 PM. Boo.
I met blog reader and recent NYC transplant, Courtney, at Jane for a ladies brunch. She and her husband just moved to the city last week - so exciting! Courtney and I originally met on Kath’s blog months ago, so it was great to finally meet in person! She’s so sweet and just cute as a button - brunch was so fun!
I started off with an iced coffee (unpictured) and sampled their breads: raisin walnut with some berry butter (?) that was awesome and some sort of chip thing that I just took a bite of and discarded.
For an entree, I got an AMAZING salmon scramble (potatoes on the bottom). It was beautifully presented - not to mention delcious:
That dollop on the top is a really delicious soft cheese. I ate about 4/5ths. I was so full afterwards!
After brunch, I did more cleaning and packing around the house before heading up to my apt to do some clean up and then up to 190-billionth st to Eva’s house to drop off Horseshoe. Eva is kind enough to watch The Shoe while P and I are gone the next two weeks. Sweet friend.
I ended up snacking on a few shredded wheats, some fruit and a small glass of wine while we had a little visit. No pictures - I was charging my camera batteries!
P called to check in right before I got on the subway to head home, and we decided to order in sushi for dinner. About two min after I walked in the door, so did our dinner. P arranged my plate so preciously:
There’s some edamame, 4 salmon rolls, 1 dragon roll, 4 spicy tuna rolls, 7 avocado rolls, and another weird roll. Soo good - love sushi.
A little while later, P suprised me with an Edy’s Slow Churned Ice Cream (only 150 calories):
Phew - long post!
I’m exausted - never got to my workout - just ran out of time! That’s happening to me more often lately. Usually I have tons of time to procrastinate and work out at the last minute. But as my schedule has ramped up (and shows no signs of slowing), I really don’t have that luxury anymore! I need to start commiting to the time that I choose to work out. If I say I’m going to do a morning workout - I need to stick with it. There’s a reason why I wanted to do a morning workout that day (no time later in the day!) I’ve got to stay true to my word! Night guys!
It is really a shame to not have pictures from the fruit, it was beautiful.
Fruit is one of my favorite snacks. It makes you feel good during and after.
sounds like you had a great night out w/ your friends! and that dessert is hilarious! baked potato ice cream dessert!
and your sushi looks so good…man, i’ve been craving it forever and seeing it on blogs..i think i’m just gonna have to go out and get some! or MAKE some…so much cheaper!
500 calorie burn from a run? In 20 minutes?! No way, that’s so awesome!
So is that ice cream baked potato. I know what you mean about the foods shaped like other foods. So much more fun and exciting that way
And now I have a mad sushi craving. I haven’t had sushi in a little while. I’m severaly deprived. Yours looks completely deelish.
Ok I may be a little obsessed with working out, but every morning I make sure I run for around 20 minutes on my tredmill. Then after work if I have time, I go to a class at the gym (I love classes!). This way, if for some reason I cannot make it to the gym, I know that I already worked out a little bit that day. Is this completely strange?!?! If I don’t get a workout in at all I feel terrible!
Hehehe, so adorable… P totally ruining your morning workout plans! GO GETTEM GIRL!
Boys, they can be such bad influences sometimes (or so good
)
And no worries about your workout!
Tracy, I think that a lot of people feel that way about working out… But that’s kind of completely missing the point on exercise… It is meant to rejuvenate your mind, body, and spirit… But not control you, ya know? I can definitely empathize with your feeling that way, but it’s always important to re-evaluate your life and think, what is my working out (or other addiction) replacing here? Like you shouldn’t THINK you’ll feel bad if you don’t workout… I felt like that kinda… And then I fractured my foot and was stuck in a walking cast for 3 months… Couldn’t work out! Of course in the beginning I was like, “Ohhh boy, I’m def gonna be a little porker at the end of this thing” (Just bc I’ve never NOT been active, my whole life!” What happened? I LOST weight bc I was so bummed out without my endorphins! NOW? I exercise, PURELY for my soul’s enjoyment, because I am so thankful that I can now DO something
I feel blessed to have this relationship with my workouts, now though! You’ll def get there, girl! You just need to find the workout that doesn’t STRESS you out to think about it! You need the one that makes you get all excited inside/butterflies when you think about it! Seriously, I’m not kidding, I get all giddy pre-yoga sesh! I <3 it!
That’s really exciting that you’re loving running. I hope that it continues.
I’m curious about your calorie burn. What is your heart rate for those 20 min? I know people are different, but when I run for 20 min I burn about half of what you burn.
that’s so great that you’re really enjoying running, i’m really happy for you! I think that for now though you should stick to the C25K schedule and NOT run every day. This way you won’t burn out and you will CONTINUE to enjoy running. Now it can give you something to look forward to rather than something you dread.
All the food looks so good—I’m really craving some sushi now! I’m totally with you on loving food that looks like other foods. I just think it’s so cute : )
I’m glad you had a great weekend!
I read this post last night but now that I just got back from a morning run I hafta comment. I’m so glad you’re enjoying running! I think not running everyday is best for a new runner so you don’t injure yourself OR get burned out on running.
I’ve been to Jane at least 5 times! It’s one of my favorite neighborhood spots (and a great backup if you try to walk in to Lupa and can’t get a table…I think that’s how it gets a lot of its business
) but it totally stands on its own as a great place!
I’m also curious about your calorie burn. I know that how much one burns depends on weight/age/fitness level, etc., but to burn 500 calories in 20-25 minutes running, I think you’d have to be a 250-pound, 60-yr.-old man… Sounds like your HRM might be a bit wacky.
As your running guru (hahaha) I have to agree with other Jess…I have a feeling something is doing on with your HR monitro. I run about 6 miles a day and I only burn 480 calories. To burn the same amt of calories in 2 miles you would have to weigh 3x as much as me….and I’m prettty sure you aren’t 300+ lbs!!
On a serious note, if your HR is truly going up high enough to burn that many calories I highly recommend seeing a physician to rule out a congenital heart defect or a fibrillation or flutter.
Hope this helps!
You always order to cutest drinks! :0D
oops, I meant “the” not “to”
that baked potato dessert is the greatest thing ever.
Eva - So true.
Melissa S. - I WISH I knew how to make sushi!!
Kristie - Love foods shaped like other foods.
Tracy - Not a bad idea - you’re hedging your bets - I get that!
Julz - Excellent point - we could all enjoy and APPRECIATE exercise a little more!
Claire, Jess and my running guru (UVA Jess) - I addressed my calorie burn in my newest post - but I’ll make sure to check my HRM for any glitches.
Meghan and Sarah - I think you’re right, re: not running every day. It feels so weird though, but I WANT to run. I’ve NEVER felt like that!!!
Evan - You’re right - it was awesome! Although, it was SOOOOO crowded! I had no idea. I made a reservation just on a whim and I’m so glad I did! We would have been waiting FOR-EV-ER.
VeggieGirl - heheh - love that fawn!
Leight - I know, right?!?! Totally mandatory.
- Kate