SUPERFOOD SMOOTHIES TO STAY ON TRACK DURING THE HOLIDAYS-November Smoothie Challenge

I love smoothies because of how quickly they can be pulled together with great, healthy ingredients.  I also like to balance smoothies and juices because smoothies hold more of the fiber, which is important too!  I am participating in the “Puritan’s Pride Smoothie” program and over the next few months will be sharing smoothies that I drink, recipes and great product giveaways to create your own super-food smoothies! 

 

October's theme was all things pumpkin!  You can check out my post here. 

 

This month,

November's theme is Cleansing/Belly Soother Smoothies.  The holiday season is upon us and just in time for month two of the Puritan’s Pride Superfood Smoothie challenge. It’s easy to indulge over the holidays, but, as you’ll see from these recipe ideas, it’s just as easy to take care of ourselves when we’ve overdone it. That’s why I’m excited to share November’s Superfood Smoothie recipe ideas with you. The focus is on cleansing and soothing, so we can enjoy every minute of the season ahead.

I made my smoothie using these ingredients:

Half of an avocado
1 tbsp. of chia seeds
1 large chunk of cut pineapple

2 teaspoons of Eclectic Institute Raw Kale Powder (056836)

1 tablespoon of Puritan’s Pride Psyllium Husk Seed 100% Natural: Psyllium Husk (010992):

2 cups of water

 

Blend together and enjoy.  If you like a sweeter morning juice/smoothie add an additional chunk of pineapple. 

Some other great recipe ideas:

Cleanse Smoothie

Focus ingredient:

Capsicum (cayenne pepper) is an herb that contains antioxidant vitamins A, E and C, B6 and K, making it a very healthful spice. Cayenne pepper my help to aid in digestion, which many people may need after that big holiday meal.

Recipe:

• 1 tsp cayenne pepper
• 2 Clementines
• 2 cups of water
• ½ lemon, juiced

Blend all ingredients together and enjoy immediately.

Belly Soother

Focus ingredient:

Mint is an herb that needs more credit. It may help to soothe your digestive system after a few too many bites or sips. Mint also has antioxidants and key nutrients like trace amounts of vitamin A and vitamin C. All the more reason to love this refreshing herb.

Recipe:

• 1 tbsp fresh mint
• ½ cup pineapple (fresh or frozen)
• 1 cup coconut milk

Blend all ingredients together and enjoy immediately.

These recipes were developed by Brooke Alpert, M.S., R.D., C.D.N., of B Nutritious and author of The Sugar Detox, who works as a spokesperson for Puritan’s Pride.

Giveaway (over an $80 value!)

Giveaway Time! Puritan’s Pride will ship directly to you if you are the winner  I am so happy with this month's protein giveaway because the protein source of the powder is quinoa and oats!  So cool!  So if  you are avoiding soy and maybe don't like the taste of hemp, here is an alternative for you! 

• All Natural Vegan Protein Chocolate with Quinoa and Oats
• Eclectic Institute Raw Kale Powder (056836) Kale is one of the most nutritious of all vegetables. This powder is made from fresh, whole, raw Kale and custom freeze-dried. Freeze-drying is the best method for preserving the complex chemistry, active enzymes and entire matrix of a plant in its fresh form.
• Alacer Emergen C Immune + With Vitamin D Blueberry-Acai (073348) Supplement provides key nutrients including vitamin C, vitamin D, zinc and a proprietary immune complex with beta glucans.*
• Puritan’s Pride Psyllium Husk Seed 100% Natural: Psyllium Husk (010992) is rich in soluble fiber, to keep your digestive tract moving smoothly.* Fiber naturally slows down digestion, making it possible for your body to absorb more nutrients. Plus, the fiber in Psyllium Husk Seed Powder helps your body eliminate what it doesn’t use, making for a cleaner colon.*

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Interested in finding out more about Puritan's Pride? 

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What are your favorite smoothie ingredients?  Comment below! 

 

Manitoba Hemp Hearts Review

If you have been following my recipe posts for any length of time, you will know that I love #HempHearts!  These nutty little seeds are packed with protein and Omega 3s, and taste delicious sprinkled on just about everything, from salads to toast, to soup, to smoothies to oatmeal. 

Lunch is served!  Avocado Toast on Ezekial Bread with Hemp Hearts!

 

Want to order your own?  Go to http://manitobaharvest.com/view_category.html Use code HHSweatPink14 for 20% off.  Discount code expires November 30, 2014

I love pumpkin soup with Hemp Hearts!  Recipe here. 

Manitoba Harvest is offering a great giveaway.  Don't miss this (a $50 value!) and it's so easy to enter!

Contest details!

• Manitoba Harvest is also offering a 5 lb bag of Hemp Hearts (yes, 5 LBS) to one lucky winner. 
• To enter to win: get creative in the kitchen, tag @manitobaharvest, #hemphearts, and #sweatpink in your Instagram and/or Twitter post and you'll be automatically entered.
• Anyone is eligible for the contest
• Contest deadline: November 30, 2014

 

Race Report: Women's Health Run 10 Feed 10 NYC

Setting: the beautiful city of New York!

view from our window! 

Wearing my FEED foundation bracelet to breakfast

We arrived in NYC on Fri night from train from DC.  We got up early and had breakfast in Central Park and went for a run.  

Love running in Central Park

We headed over to City Sports at Rockefeller Center for packet pickup.  My bib was at the VIP table...I felt very important!

 

My pic made Women's Health Magazines instagram feed!

 

The Race:  We started at Hudson River Park at Pier 84.  I headed down there with my husband and daughter.  They had registered to run as well, with the stroller.  I went to the bathroom quickly and then headed to the Panasonic Tent to get hooked up with the video camera I would wear for the race to film footage for Panasonic and Women's Health Magazine. 

 

The course was an out and back along the East Highway and we would have had really great views, but it was quite foggy that day. 

 

The Finish Line Festival:  Tents were set up giving away all sorts of free things, yoga mats, towels, hair ties, Women's Health Magazines, etc.  Seiko was there raffling off watches and Lincoln Motor Co. was giving away yoga mats.  There was a stage with music and dancing, and later some yoga/stretching.  I stopped by the Panasonic tent to get a make up refresh...normally I don't look good after finishing a 10k!

Afterwards, I headed over to the VIP tent for some pictures and post-race refreshments. 

Action Heroes meet up post race at the VIP tent!

 

Then we used the afternoon to sightsee and walk the city.  I love New York!  This race really sealed the deal that I wanted to run the New York City Marathon one day!  Thanks Women's Health Magazine for this amazing opportunity.   I would definitely run this one again....great city, great cause!  I love that by running 10k, I provided 10 meals.  Hunger is a solvable problem. 

Race Recap: 39th Marine Corps Marathon

Website: http://www.marinemarathon.com/

Setting: National Mall Washington, DC and Arlington, VA

 

Cost/Registration:  Registration is done by lottery and I was lucky enough to be selected!   

Expo: We decided to go to the expo on Thursday night to avoid the mayhem of last year's Saturday expo visit.  It was a good choice.  A breeze to get in and no lines anywhere! 

Inside, we went to a few booths, took photos, bought my favorite balega socks.  We were given a buy one get one coupon for Chipotle with our bib (dinner!).   I stopped by the Nuun booth and bought two tubes so I could get the free water bottle.  They always do a race specific water bottle at big races and they are one of my collector's items!  I love my NWM DC and NWM SF ones.  I will be getting my hubby the Boston one when he races in April! 

THE RACE:  Got up at 5:00am the next morning in order to have some cereal and coffee.  We got all our stuff in order and headed out to catch the 6:00 metro into downtown.  The metro was full of runners and spectators.  I love that.  Of course who else is crazy enough to ride the Metro that early on a Sunday morning?  My husband and daughter were spectating today.  My little is a trooper coming out to support me even though she had been sick with a fever and threw up the day before.

We arrived in Virginia and got off at our stop.  We had a long walk to get to the starting area, about a half mile.  There were long lines to enter as due to precautions every bag had to be searched.  Luckily since I had nothing on me....no bag check since it was all with my husband, I walked right through the metal detectors with no problem.  I heard the announcement that bag check was closing and realized I wasn't giving myself a lot of extra time.  I started jogging towards the corrals.  Last year, I started too far back and this year I really wanted to find the 4:00 pacer.  I got into a corral and then realized that was with the 4:45 pacer.  I slowly squished myself through the tight crowds until I finally saw the 4:00 pacer.  Whew.  

I ate one of my humagels while I was waiting as some extra fuel.  I had bought arm warmers the night before, but it ended up being a lot warmer than expected that morning.  Last year was freezing and this year was very manageable.  I didn't even wear a throw away because it was so comfortable. 

The race was very crowded almost the entire way.   I felt so claustrophobic and kept bobbing and weaving because I often felt trapped. 

I stopped at every water station along the course due to the warmth.  I had one cup of water and one of Gatorade.  I had gotten a pace bracelet at the expo and of course forgot it on race morning!  D'oh!  My plan was to go sub 4:00, so in my head I knew I had to keep my pace at 9:00 flat.  I saw my family on the National Mall about mile 18 and I was feeling good.  

 I was doing good and was on plan for this up until about mile 19, then the wheels just started to fall off. 

 

The course was really beautiful....monuments, Rock Creek Park, Haines Point...

After last year's experience on Haines Point being so tough emotionally...this year I really tried to hold it together.  I stayed focused and determined through those miles and focused on the survivors (those in blue and high fived every one that was holding out their hand).

The part I didn't enjoy as much was when we headed back into VA.  I know that there is always the phrase, "Beat the Bridge" with MCM and it is mostly referring to the time cut off...you have to cross it before it closes.  But "Beat the Bridge" has new meaning to me after this marathon as well....I think you mentally have to beat it.  It drains you, it wears you out.  There were a lot of us stopping to walk here.  This was where I was starting to hit the "wall".  I stopped to walk and grumbled pretty loudly a few times.   A guy jogged slowly past me and said "I hear ya sister!"

When I saw my husband and daughter at mile 24 I was defeated.  My hubby started taking my picture and I was waving him away.  I was embarrassed, hurting, exhausted and ready to cry at the drop of a hat.  Seeing them made me start to cry because I just wanted to quit.  

About mile 26, I saw the father of one of my former students and another former student yelling "Mrs. Dahlem!" and I perked up enough to have a little bit of extra juice to push the pace up that hill to the finish line. 

Finish Line:  I came across the line at 4:13.  I hobbled over to get my medal from my Marine.  So different from last year where I had a million times more energy!  

You then head over to an area where they get your photo in front of the Iwo Jima memorial.  I was too tired to wait in line to get the photo taken professionally and was just heading to go get food when another runner asked me to take their photo.  So I had her take mine as well.  I am glad I did.

 

I walked the long way down the chute to try and meet up with my husband and daughter.  Finally found them and proceeded into the beer tent.  I wasn't feeling it like I was last year.  I was just exhausted.  Michelob Ultra tasted awful this year, while last year it was amazing.  I guess it's all in how you are feeling.  I still downed mine because I really think it helps with recovery. 

So why didn't I make my 4:00 goal?  I really think that the heat (it was 70 degrees by the time I finished), unrelenting sun and the wind all added up to a slower and more painful experience.  My lips have been chapped/wind burned/sunburned all week!  I'm wearing my long sleeve in this pic not for warmth but for sun protection!  But, it's also about the work you put into it.  I had a lack luster training cycle...I was a weekend warrior getting in my long runs on the weekends, but maybe one during the week.  I would teach my spin class, but that was it.  I've had a rough year physically/emotionally teaching this year and training took a backseat.   I could/should have done more.  When others were complaining of the taper crazies, I thought to myself "You can't really taper, if you didn't really train!". 

  

Grade: A- Overall, I felt this was an AMAZING and well done race.  It is one of the biggest in the country and it is very inspiring to be a part of something like this.  I had no idea how much it would affect me! 
I didn't like how crowded the race was though..  I almost felt it was too many participants on small roads.  Seeded start corrals would have been really nice.  Some races do pace bracelets that you have to submit times before hand for....which would be really nice.  But I realize almost 1/3 of those running MCM, it's their very first marathon. 

At the end of the race, in the immediate exhaustion of it all I said I was breaking up with the marathon distance for a while.  Now with a week of recovery under my belt, I may re-think that.  With all the hoopla around NYC that is happening this weekend...it is sucking me in again!  I know I can go sub 4:00! 

Finishing is.....

 

 Congrats to all who ran Sunday!

MY SUPERFOOD SMOOTHIE, PERFECT FOR PUMPKIN SEASON

Smoothies are a great way to pack in nutrients in one delicious drink; but sometimes you can get into a recipe rut. So over the next three months I’ve partnered with Puritan’s Pride to put pizzazz in my smoothies with protein powders and superfoods-based products that can tuck in more nutrients more efficiently. Each month, I’ll be sharing my superfood-packed smoothie and would love to hear about your best smoothie recipes, too.  Find out more about Puritan's Pride. 

 

PUMPKIN PIE SMOOTHIE:  1 cup pumpkin puree (make sure no other ingredients other than pumpkin), 1 cup soy milk, 1/2 banana, 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice, ¼ tsp vanilla extract, one scoop Puritan’s Pride unflavored soy protein powder . Blend all the ingredients; serve with a sprinkle of cinnamon and nutmeg on top!  

 

The recipe came from Brooke Alpert, M.S., R.D., C.D.N., of B Nutritious and author of The Sugar Detox

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Pumpkin is a superfood because it is high in vitamin A, which supports healthy vision and helps support immunity. Also a good source of potassium, pumpkins can help your heart and muscles. Interesting pumpkin fact- pumpkin seeds are a good source of zinc, a nutrient important for immunity.  

Giveaway Time!  See the Rafflecopter at the bottom of this post. 

Puritan’s Pride will ship directly to you!

• Unflavored Soy Protein Powder
• 56836 Super Greens Powder
• 56758 Carob Powder
• 56913 Barney Almond Butter

 

Food Science of Vermont Superior Greens: Superior Greens™ is a combination of nutrient rich vegetables, fruits, herbs, herbal extracts, Chlorella, Soy Lecithin, Royal jelly, Bee Pollen, enzymes and non-dairy probiotic cultures designed to support your body's ability to cleanse.*

 

Barney Butter Bare Almond Butter Smooth: Barney Butter is peanut free  and made in an almond only facility! It contains no added salt or sugar with a traditional smooth and creamy texture.

 

Puritan's Pride Soy Protein Isolate Powder Natural: Pure Soy Protein Isolate Powder supplies important nutrients which the body requires daily for optimum health. It provides essential amino acids in a versatile powder which is low in fat and free of carbohydrates.

For the giveaway, please:

• Follow @puritanspride on Twitter
• Like Puritan’s Pride on Facebook
• Tweet about the giveaway.
• Post a smoothie on Instagram using #seasonalsmoothie and #puritanspride hashtags (or repost my smoothie)

 

 

Puritan’s Pride information

Please consider including the following information about Puritan’s Pride:

Puritan’s Pride® (http://www.puritan.com) began over 40 years ago, with the mission of making the finest quality nutritional supplements available at the best value to their customers. Today, the company remains true to its original commitment and serves millions of loyal customers. Puritan’s Pride manufactures thousands of vitamins, minerals, herbs and other nutritional supplements in their state-of-the art facilities located throughout the U.S. As part of the company’s commitment to quality, Puritan’s Pride only uses ingredients from suppliers worldwide that meet their Quality Assurance Standards, as well as Good Manufacturing Practices food quality standards.

 

 

 

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*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

This post is sponsored by Puritan’s Pride; opinions expressed are my own.

Race Report: Navy Air Force Half Marathon

I had run Navy Air Force Half Marathon last year and pulled out a big PR.  My husband wanted in on the action this year, so we signed up to both run it.

Packet Pick up this year was at Nationals Stadium which was much more convenient than heading into to base last year.

As we laid out our gear the night before, hubby made me a pace chart to get a PR and to go sub 1:45, which is what I really want to do.  That's love!

We arrived by metro and had plenty of time to use the bathroom (more than once) and seed ourselves in our corrals.  

I felt great most of the race and was on target for my 1:45 finish.  I did pull off to go pee behind a tree which lost me some time.  It was crazy running almost the same route that I had just biked the week before at Nations Tri.  I just kept thinking it felt so slow compared to the 18mph of the bike!  

At mile 10, I started to not feel well.  My pace dropped significantly and I fought to the finish.  

But a PR, was a PR by a few seconds so I had to smile.  

Afterwards, we went to brunch and I didn't feel like eating or drinking anything.  I just told my hubby I wanted to lay down, so I went home and did just that.  That following week I had a horrible cold and went to bed each night at 7:30pm.  It was so strange, as if the sickness hit mid-race :-(. 

Grade A: great course, great cause, great time of year!  

Race Report: Ellen's Run 5k

Ellen's Run is a great local 5k in Chevy Chase, MD (DC suburb) that benefits Bethesda-Chevy Chase HS programs and local mental health programs.

This was my 3rd year racing it and it always seems to bring a 5k PR...this year didn't dissapoint!

This year, my husband worked hard designing the course and drawing up the maps.  He was out early marking the course.  So proud of him and his hard work!

We brought along our babysitter so our daughter could enjoy the playground, snacks, games and face painting!  This race has some of the best post-race food around.  Thank you Honest Tea...we all enjoyed the post race hydration!  

Then they brought around the Georgetown Cupcakes.  Heaven for this kid!  

At the race, it was announced I placed 3rd in my 30-39 AG.

Jim was 1st in 30-39 AG.

About a week later, I received this in the mail- I was actually 2nd in AG!  Wahoo!  Thanks so much Ellen's Run for a fabulous time.  We will all be back next year!  

Grade: A.  Great local race with a small town feel.  Excellent post race food.  Run in Rock Creek Park at Chevy Chase, MD/DC line.