Archive of ‘Medical’ category

Yesterday: 5 mile walk. Today: Canceled 5k.

I recently wrote about how excited I was that I signed up for my first 5k – the 2009 Wall Street Run and Heart Walk. Missy and I signed up together since we are both new  to outdoor running and figured we could keep each other motivated. The race is today. Because of my knee injury, I decided that there is just no way I can do this. I am trying to get better so I can get back to the gym. As much as I would have loved to run my first 5K, I need to be smart about the healing process. Every time I run outside, I get knee pain. My knee has been doing so much better and I don’t want to ruin my progress. So instead, I will go to Physical Therapy tonight. Not quite as fun.

But I did walk 5 miles yesterday!I felt down about not exercising and decided to walk from Battery Park City to the Upper West Side, along the Hudson River Greenway. This is an ideal route because it is a straight path up the west side of Manhattan. There are no stoplights or people to dodge. There are beautiful views of the water and New Jersey. There are adorable parks with interesting structures to look at. And in most parts, there are separate paths for walkers/runners and bicyclists/skaters. I should have taken a picture but I was holding 2 bags that weren’t the lightest and it would have been a struggle to get my camera out. If I walk home tomorrow I promise to take pictures!

Here is a picture that I found on railstotrails.org:

Hudson River Greenway

I began my walk at 5:20 pm.It felt like I was walking forever and I became very jealous of all the people going by on bikes — especially the girls holding their purses in their bike baskets. It made me really want my own bike so I could ride to work! I’m not sure how that would be for my knee, but I might run it by PT for her thoughts. I walked and walked and walked. Every time I noticed myself hyperextending my left leg I would try to consciously stop that behavior. Of course, I couldn’t always be aware. I got to my destination at 6:45 pm. The 5 mile walk took 1 hour and 25 minutes. Not bad! Next time, I want to wear my HRM so I can guage how hard I am actually working.

My knee doesn’t hurt at all, which leads me to believe walking is an acceptable activity. I wore my knee sleeves the entire way and took Naproxen before I left. I also stretched my calves, but next time I will stretch other muscles in my legs and hips as well. I will ask the PT if she thinks walking long distances is okay for me. If it is, I would like to walk to or from work a few times a week to make up for not having a  gym membership this month. Of course, walking to work would require me to wake up VERY early.  But I would like to walk home again tomorrow! Now I do have bikes on the brain though. Thoughts?

Speaking of bikes, let’s discuss rollerblades. On my walk, I was thrilled to see a woman on rollerblades who is worse than Missy and I! She looked so terrified, was barely moving, her legs were far apart and looked like she was just trying not to topple over. I wanted to say something to her to assure her that she is not the only one who sucks at rollerblading, but I refrained. But it made me want to get Missy so we can try our luck again! This path was extremely flat, so it would be perfect for us. Aside from the speeding bikes zipping past. I do believe we will try again in the near future though!

I Forgot What Non-Greek Yogurt Was Like
Yesterday morning I didn’t have any of my Chobani or Oikos yogurts, so I stopped in a deli to get my breakfast. They didn’t have any greek yogurt so I got Dannon All Natural Vanilla Yogurt. I mixed in my Erin Baker’s Brownie bite (ON SALE AT WHOLE FOOD RIGHT NOW!) and took a bite. It has been a very long time since I had non-greek yogurt.

Dannon All Natural Vanilla Yogurt

I couldn’t believe how watery it was! I am so used to think, creamy deliciousness that this came as a total shock. And the flavor? Sickeningly sweet. Way too sweet. I missed the tartness with just enough touch of sweet of my vanilla greek yogurt.

While I did remain full until lunch, I will not be getting this again. I would rather get eggs next time I don’t have my yogurt on me.

A note about Holey Donuts Low Fat Cinnamon Glazed Donut Holes
I’ve been eating a few of these every day. And I learned, the hard way, not to overcook them! They become very hard. So if you decide to try these, keep that in mind! If part of the donut hole is hard, that means you microwaved them for too long.

But when you microwave them just right … ohhhh the warm, soft, cinnamony sweetness. Mmmmm…
Holey Donuts Cinnamon Glazed Donut  Holes

House
The boy and I love to watch House. We have the DVR set to record every time the show it on. I’ve seen almost all the episodes, but I always forget the details and the illness. The boy never watched the show until I got him into it, and now he loves it. Anyone who watches House knows that in every single episode, someone on House’s team suggests the patient has Lupus. And it never is Lupus. And House never thinks it is Lupus. He will say, “It’s not Lupus” in an annoyed tone. One time I believe he went as far as to say, “It’s never Lupus!” But House is not House without the mention of Lupus.

Well last night the boy and I were watching a repeat and it happened to be one that I had never seen myself. The highlight of the episode came when it was discovered at the end of the episode that the patient did in fact have Lupus. House exclaims, “I finally have a case of Lupus!”

House It's Not Lupus

I laughed. I love how the writers were able to joke about the same thing faithful viewers of the show always joke about. It was like an inside joke to those who really watch the show.

Also, this website actually exists: http://itsnotlup.us/ 

Speaking of House, a lot of people are angry at this season’s finale. The boy and I actually liked it. I loved the scene at the end where House put it all together that Cuddy was angry at something he said, which meant he hallucinated the  rest, including the sex scene. I had to watch that last scene twice to fully understand what happened. Many people feel cheated that Huddy sex never happened, but I think that is exactly the point of this show — to throw at you what you least expect. Sure, there have been hallucination episodes before (when House was shot, after the bus crash to figure out it was Amber on the bus) but I still think this was good and unexpected — and it gives us the real Huddy sex scene to look forward to!

House and Cuddy

Holey Donuts? HOLEY YUM.

I was very excited when I won Melanie’s Holey Donuts giveaway, since I have been wanting these forever! I did get to try some last week, but I wanted my own to eat at my convenience, rather than shoveling a taste of everything down my throat as I did last week.

Holey Donuts

Holey Donuts offers a delicious, healthier alternatives to the doughnuts we’re familiar with. Their website explains:

Did you know the average donut has 15-20 grams of fat and as much as 480 calories?

Our patented cooking process avoids deep frying, creating a light, fluffy donut with as little as 3-4 grams of fat and 150-250 calories. You’d actually have to eat 4 of our full-sized, delicious donuts to get the amount of fat in just one traditional donut. What’s more amazing is that we do not use any artificial sweeteners or fat substitutes to make our great tasting donuts. Unlike other “lite” or low fat foods, nothing about these donuts tastes low fat.

Our donuts are hand-made, flash frozen and delivered via express mail to arrive at your door, picture perfect and delicious! Keep in your freezer for a great low fat and low calorie treat anytime!

As soon as I got home and the doorman gave me the giant box of Holey Donuts, I needed to open this box up and see what I was dealing with! Sure, I was in a rush to get somewhere. But honestly, what could possibly be more important than delicious, low fat doughnuts. Right?

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And look at these beauties (after I took 2 from the box — because how could I possibly wait!):

60 Low Fat Cinnamon Glazed Donut Holes:

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From the site:
Soft, light and just amazing, like the marriage of a glazed donut and a cinnamon bun without all the fat, calories and guilt! http://caloriecount.about.com/calories-compliments-donut-holes-glazed-i90848

We all love those little donut holes but did you know an average serving of only 4 of those delicious, tiny treats has about 10 grams of fat and who can stop at just 4? But don’t take our word for it, look at these belt busting nutrition facts:

In order to get that same 10 grams of fat in 4 store bought donut holes you would have to eat about 10-12 of our full sized Low Fat Cinnamon Glazed Donut Holes!

And look at the comparison chart they sent me — on my coupon for 30 Free Cinnamon Glazed Doughnut Holes with any order!  Uhhh yeah that is very scary about Entenmann’s fat content — I used to LOVE those little munchkins!

These would also be a great option for parents who bring Dunkin Donuts munchkins in for their kids’ birthdays. This way, they can share a lower fat treat!

holey-donuts

I tore into the rest of the boxes to see what we had! They weren’t labeled which made opening all 4 boxes essential. I was happiest of all to see BOSTON CREAM! That just happens to be my favorite doughnut flavor of all time. It’s like they knew! Here we have the Boston Cream Lovers Assortment :

• 3 Fudge Crumb Boston Cream • 3 Vanilla Frosted Boston Cream

holey-donuts-004

After I  got home from the Nalini Method, before dinner, I was starving and heated up one of the Fudge Boston Creams (that’s why there are only 2 left in the box pictured above!)

OMG. It tasted just as good as Dunkin Donuts, I swear! It was heaven. I couldn’t believe I was eating a guilt-free Boston Cream doughnut. Look at the gooey goodness:

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So much cream! So much deliciousness. No guilt.

Here we have one that I  tried last week and can assure you it tastes no different from Cinnabon!

Jumbo Reduced Fat Cinnamon Bun

holey-donuts-003

From the site:

(4) Jumbo Reduced Fat Cinnamon Buns

These sinfully delicious, handmade cinnamon buns blend the flavors of
cinnamon, glaze and vanilla with a bit of apple and spice. Replacing
the butter, fat and hydrog-enated oils found in other cinnamon buns
with our mouth watering apple filling which contains real bits of fresh
apple and cinnamon, fools your taste buds into thinking, “Wow this is
so moist and delicious it must be fattening!”

And in the final box, we have the flavor the boy opted to try. I asked him what flavor it was but he had no idea, as he DIDN’T MICROWAVE IT! He ate it right from the freezer, totally frozen! Silly boys.

Low Fat Original Glazed

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Site says:

(6) Low Fat Original Glazed: This Holey Donuts!® Low Fat Original Glazed donut is not only our best
tasting and most requested, but is also one of our lowest in fat and calories.

Pop one of these in your microwave and you’ll forget the day you ever had a Krispy Kreme! Did you know, you’d have to eat 5 of our full sized glzed donuts to get the fat in just one of those “other” donuts.

 150 calories in a delicious doughnut!

So these doughnuts are amazing and I love them and I am SO happy I won the giveaway! I’ve been wanting them every day. The flavor on the site I’d most like to try is Banana Cream Oreo Cookie! A special order might be in my future.

From the site:

Banana Cream oreo Cookie Holey Donuts

Wow. If you want to learn more about Holey Donuts — including view nutritional stats and comparison to popular doughnut chains, click here.

Guess what? They are putting the finishing touches on a Holey Donuts retail store concept that will allow people to own their own Holey Donuts store! If they pair these stores up with some great coffee, I’d be so happy! I hope they come to NY soon.

Nalini Method
Last night I met Missy and Melissa for another class at the Nalini Method. It was different from the first and even harder if that’s possible. The hardest part of class? Holding myself up in a C position with ankle weights around my ankles and 3 sets of weights on my feet while hugging a SmartBell to my chest. I despise the C position, which is actually my main complaint with Core Fusion as they depended on it for most of abs in the class I took. Maybe they vary it up though. Rupa kept us in that position the entire time and I just couldn’t hold myself up. Yes, it was a major challenge. But I far preferred the ab work we did in her class last week, against the wall gripping on to the band. And I was sorer from that since I was actually able to DO it more.

Rupa was wonderful once again and made sure we were always in the right position. We did a lot of work with the Smart Bell which created an extra challenge. The butt work on the floor, using the resistance band on my thights, burned my butt SO much. It was painful but amazing. I looked over at Melissa at the end, knowing she had never quite experienced anything like this in her other classes. “That was amazing,” she gasped. She was right.

Thighs burned more yesterday, and we even did some moves standing against the mirror, holding the Smart Bell and raising it up and down, or in and out, while staying in a slightly squatted position. Intense. I was very careful with my knee and shoulder throughout the entire class. Then, at the very end, the last stretch we did was to lie on our stomachs and reach our arms back to pick up our legs. I know that putting my arm behind me hurts my shoulder. I know that. But I momentarily forgot. I did the move. Just like that, I was in pain.

Next time I will remember not to do that move with my left arm!

No big deal — the class was still amazing. In fact, I was sweating and pushing myself even harder so I am sure I got an incredible workout! I wish I could take this class all the time. I wish there were a more comprehensive schedule! But now I am more excited to try Core Fusion Open and hopefully join there for a month, where there are classes offered all the time. And I have my 10 class pass that I purchased there, too. 

Weekend
Tomorrow is my Aunt’s 60th birthday party at Henry’s! You heard me right – HENRY!!! Me being me, I already studied the brunch menu and have a pretty good idea of what I want. Mango Mimosa! I hate orange juice, but maybe this means it is made with Mango instead? I  hope! And look at this: Warm Crepes: Ricotta Cheese, Mixed Berries. That sounds good! And they have sweet potato fries. Mmmm…  I think I can definitely like Henry’s! I am excited to see my adorable cousins, who are 2 and 4. So cute!

More YUM
Annie’s Deluxe Mac & Cheese
was on sale at my supermarket for $1.99 a box (normally $3.79)! I bought 4 boxes.

Annie's Deluxe Mac and Cheese

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