See the red splotch on the right? That’s us over here. It’s going to hit 91* F today. Apparently it’s hotter here than anywhere else in the country, even Florida and Texas!
I woke up this morning and knew there was no possible way I could run outside. Not only was it sizzling already, my asthma has been acting up with all the lovely yellow dust in the air. Before I could convince myself to delay my workout, I ate 1/2 a granola bar, changed into my gym clothes and walked out the door.
Workout:
- 3 mile run (treadmill 0.5 incline)
- 15 min. Elliptical
- 20 min. lower body strength training
Oh man oh man oh man. That 3 mile run felt like eternity! I could not distract myself for even 30 seconds at a time. Not even The Price is Right on TV could help me forget how dreadful it was running on that treadmill! I had zero mental strength–it didn’t help that my running playlist is getting booooooring.
My lower body strength training on flip side was fabulous! I increased weights all over and really pushed myself. I even did the difficult exercises I sometimes skip over 
.
What are some new fast-paced songs that you recommend I download? I need them to be fast!
***
Breakfast of [NCAA] Champions (okay, I’ll stop!)
Greek yogurt parfait.
Layers (from the bottom up):
- Greek yogurt
- Kashi Puffs
- Strawberries
- Repeat #1-3
I topped off the parfait with 1/2 a crumbled granola bar. I made another big batch last night .
The parfait wasn’t going to be enough, so I had another granola bar.
With 1/2 an orange.
This was more like lunch since it didn’t happen ’til 1:30 PM!
***
Thank you, Body.
In this month’s issue of Fitness Magazine, there was an article displaying readers’ thank you notes to their bodies. I thought these were incredibly inspirational and almost teared up reading them.
I decided my body deserved a thank you note from me as well.
Dear Body,
Thank you for your unconditional love. I know I haven’t always treated you with the love and respect that you deserve. I’ve been critical of you when looking at your reflection in the mirror. But please know that I am grateful for you sticking with me and not giving up on me throughout all these years, especially when I gave you the cold shoulder or ignored your signs to take it easy.
Thank you for your patience as I learn to find a healthy balance each and every day. I promise I will strive to feed you well and provide you with the nutrients you need to keep me strong and healthy.
Here’s to many many many more years together….after all, we should learn to love each other since we can’t exactly get divorced or anything .
Love,
Allie
***
A couple of my favorites from the magazine:
I’m gonna brave the heat to go to class now. What a trooper I am!
{ 43 comments… read them below or add one }
Awh that breast cancer one is lovely – I’d love to read that whole article!
Cripes, the weather where you are changed so fast!! I swear it was snowy not all that long ago!!? So hot…wow!
Love those notes…and yours too!
Oh, I love that idea of writing a thank you note to your body. That is very touching and really helps you focus on why we should appreciate our bodies instead of degrading them.
YUM on the breakfast. I have that magazine on my desk right now actually. Sorry to hear your asthma is acting up. I totally feel ya on that one. Thankfully my Singulair is keeping mine under control in spite of the coating of yellow-green powder.
Ocean Avenue and Believe – by Yellowcard. . . Those songs get me really pumped up. In the music video for Ocean Avenue the guy is even running! I used to play the song on repeat when I ran 3 miles on the treadmill because it used to be so awful! Britney Spears (Britney and Oops I did it again) cd’s keep me pumped *i admit it!* and Destiny’s Child – Survivor – old school
I hope you have a wonderful day and that your Asthma calms down
I read that issue of Fitness too- such a nice idea. I thought it was hot here today, but you’ve got me beat! Stay cool
I’m currently loving DJ Earworm songs- you can download them for free on his website and they’re super fast and fun!
That breakfast looks delicious
I love the idea of writing a love letter to your body!
yaaaaay for this weather!! it’s 86 today IN NYC. crazy business.
oh, and i love your body note. i’m going outside to lay in the sun and write a mental one to my bod
ooo so jealous!! its thunderstorming here in michigan!!!
and when i read the article, i loved the mixed signals one, too. think we’ve allll been there.
Love the thank you note to your body, I have been encouraging and do a lot of positive self talk to mine recently too!
PS. Have you shared your Alliebars recipe – I NEED it!!
YAY for warm weather!
It´s really terrible when you´re counting minutes until the workout is over… But it´s only one of those days
Delicious breakfast parfait, btw!
Have a great Wednesday, Allie.
Brazilian XOXO´s,
Gabriela
I like these messages of hope. Very important to see!
Can’t believe the crazy hot weather here. It’s 90+ here in DC — cray-zay!
You’re too cute with all your Duke Fandamonium!
You aren’t even kidding about the weather and asthma- the freakin pollen has been OUT OF CONTROL!
~Christie http://rollerkoesterrun.wordpress.com/
isn’t this weather fabulous??!!!
and i love your letter to your body! keep up the self-love dearie-you deserve it!
Oh, what a great article! I should definetely write a Thank you- note to my body, or rather a I’m so sorry for starving you for three years- note.
Thankfully the body can be quite a forgiving creature.
As for tips on songs, perhaps : Nickelback- If today was your last day, Marqueess- Vayamos Companeros or some Rihanna or Beyonce to give you a confidence-boost.
Hmm, thats all I can remember right now :p
Kesha- take it off is a great running song!
That is crazy hot for April!!! Stay cool, girl! Drink lots of water!
I’m always on the lookout for good granola bar recipes. I’m new to your blog so I’m not sure if you have shared your recipe yet. Is it posted somewhere? They look so good and hold up well!
I’ll echo a question some others have asked–have you shared your recipe for your granola bars? They look fantastic! PS-Also a new reader!
i LOVe those little motivational sayings!!
ahh yes it was 86 here in Boston!!! I couldn’t believe it, it was the type of heat that it wasn’t hot at first but then after a few minutes, I just started sweating! haha
love your parfait breakfast! kashi puffs ROCK! love them in smoothies for that extra crunch!
Love the idea of thanking your body – totally cool!
I just read that article today as well! And I loved it! I wrote a note to my body a while ago, and these notes reminded me of it. Such a good thing to do. Remember to thank you body everyday for everything it accomplishes!
I love the letter to your body!! I beat mine up too much whether in exercise, sometimes eating poorly or not sleeping enough, and it’s so important to appreciate my body. Health is wealth!
in other news, NATTY CHAMPS!!!!!!!! so excited
We will cook dinner before the end of April!!!
I love those notes back to our bodies! It’s really important to remember, even though we my not view ourselves as “perfect”, how lucky we really are. In the grand scheme of things we are very lucky to be so healthy. We had no disease we are fighting or disabilities that keep us immobile. Whatever you have that’s got you down, you always have to remember that someone else has it much worse.
I loved those notes in Fitness! I saw it last week! Made me smile!
I love your note, I’ll have to get the latest issue of Fitness to read the rest of the article. Thanks for sharing
Your granola bars looked really good. Do you have a recipe that you share?
I love your parfait glass!!! It’s so cute. I love collecting unique, fancy little dishes to eat yogurt / cereal/ fruit from. Hope it doesn’t get any hotter over there. I’m visiting Duke on the 20th-21st of this month!
I am the exact same way on a treadmill. It feels like eternity is passing before my eyes. Ugh. Funny though, because I learned to run on a treadmill and couldn’t imagine running outside. Now, I can’t imagine it any other way!
And those body love notes are AWESOME! I can sympathize with the first one.
stay hydrated, girlfriend!!!
I am LOVING any new (and newish) Rihanna on my runs lately!
-Run this Town
-Hard (ABSOLUTE LOVE, I could listen to this one on repeat for an hour while running if I let myself! ha)
-Live your Life
Britney Spears, Michael Jackson, and Black Eyed Peas songs are my FAVORITES for runs! “Animals” by Nickelback is great, too.
P.S-Your Parfait looks delicious!
From a fellow college student… Meet me halfway- Black eyed peas, shut it down- pitbull, Like a g6- Far east movement, Dance in the Dark- Lady Gaga, and DJ Earworm’s mashups (united states of pop 2009, etc.) are great running songs. Enjoy!
Hey Allie!
I loved the “Thank you body” notes – so important to recognized that we have to love our bodies NOW. So awesome
Do you have your granola recipe anywhere? I see them all over the food-blog world and I’d love to get in on the action!
I love your breakfast. It looks like an amazing dessert!!! I love your glass as well. I hope your allergies arent too bad as well. Good luck with the heat!
Those are great notes. I don’t thank my body enough for all the work it has done in giving me my beautiful, healthy children. Instead, I gripe over some loose belly skin. I don’t thank my legs enough for all the miles they’ve carried me. Instead, I complain over a little cellulite. Things have got to change!
you could try old school britney songs (sometimes I can’t believe I listen to them, only on the workout playlist though, or songs by cascada are pretty good too, fast-ish(:)
ps: love your greek yoghurt parfait! looks awesomeeee!
ugh graduation. I feel you, I’m in the exact same boat. They look great, and I have seen them in a bunch of blogs! I wish you the best girl!
I love it that your breakfast looks like dessert
that would motivate even me to have some sometimes 
Just gonna tell you some off of my current playlist.
The new Ludacris and Usher cd are on replay like crazy. The beat of their songs are enough to motivate you to push it a bit harder. Off Luda’s album, I would recommend: Sexting (such a funny song), I know you gotta man, My Chick bad, Everybody drunk, and I do it all night. Yeah, some of the songs are kind of raunchy, but I promise you – its all in good fun. OH! and Taio Cruz featuring Ludacris – Break your heart. If you prefer a cleaner vibe, Usher has OMG, So many girls, Lil freak, and Hey Daddy. (Love in this club and spotlight?)
You can’t go bad with anything by Pitbull, I love Toma and Go Girl.
I love the Young Money album too.
Maybe some interesting add ins could be spiced cashews, chili spiced dried mango, or lemongrass and lime for touch of thai flavor?
I am obsessed with savory nut snacks these days.
WOW crazy weather hu!?
I love those letter from fitness mag, and yours. Our bodies deserve kindness, love, exersize and BREAKS! =] Im buying this months issue of fitness! <3