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TOL: Apparently Current Obsessions

Date: January 13, 2016
Author: astottler
Categories: Uncategorized

Hello! Today I’m linking up with Amanda for Thinking Out Loud, for I believe the 2nd time?

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To those who are new, Thinking Out Loud is a fun linkup where everyone shares random thoughts!

So when I was thinking up what to write about today, I realized that the theme seems to be my current obsessions. So we’ll go with it. Sort of.

  1. I’m still obsessed with Raaw Macaw bars. Thanks to nut allergy+gluten restriction, my bar choices are limited to basically Luna bars. Which I was getting dreadfully sick up. Enter Raaw Macaw (note: I am definitely not sponsored, just obsessed). You basically get to design your own energy bar and decide what you want in it, and they’ll make it taste good for you and send them! My first had a date and sunflower seed base, with chia seeds and chocolate chips. I was struck with inspiration last week and designed a second, more sunflower-y bar and immediately ordered it. This has just a sunflower base (it has a less chewy texture), whey protein, cinnamon, sea salt, chocolate chips, and dried tart cherries.                                                               IMG_5576
  2. I’m also obsessed with timehop right now, that app that goes through your phone and shows you memories from that day x years ago. I’ve enjoyed watching my kitties grow up again!                                            IMG_5577
  3. We have a new chef at my dorm/house and I LOVE him. The food is amazing, and he is fantastic about making me and my friend GF options. I missed lunch the other day while I was at class, and came home to a sandwich with my name on it in the fridge. And a delicious one at that—BLT with no B and avocado instead!                   IMG_5557 IMG_5538                                                                      The teriyaki salmon bowls and the Mexican food were insane.
  4. My puppy got her first trim. She is 1000X more adorable. She also seems tiny.IMG_5562 IMG_5558
  5. On Sunday I went home to visit my high school friend. I hadn’t seen her since right before I got Chloe! We took her for a looong walk along the bay. I think it’s so beautiful here in the winter.IMG_5564 IMG_5566
  6. Going home also meant a home cooked meal. The highlight? Persimmon crisp. SO good. My mom used the same recipe that we normally use for blueberry crisp and I probably ate half the pan.IMG_5568 IMG_5569
  7. My roommate currently has some sort of stomach bug. I love her and hope she feels better but I also really, really don’t want to get it to! I’m terrified!
  8. I’m still so obsessed with our new Crossfit sweatshirts. It is the comfiest thing ever. IMG_5551
  9. Speaking of fitness, my spin classes started up again this week! They are seriously a blast. I spent all of the break finding new music, and I think I have about 30 new songs, which adds fresh energy to the class. So far, classes have been filling up, with a wait list! The beginning of the quarter is especially fun because we have a lot of first timers, or people who haven’t done spin in a while. I love watching their progression throughout the quarter! Not so fun? My mic died in class today. It started at 2/3 bars and then was just done. Luckily, I tend to be pretty loud, but I’m definitely losing my voice now!

What are you thinking this week?

TOL-When 200m Runs Are Homework

Date: October 7, 2015
Author: astottler
Categories: Uncategorized

Alternatively titled, “When 200m Runs Feel Like Death.”

After yesterday’s WIAW fun, I thought I’d continue the link-up trend another day for a new to me link up-Thinking Out Loud. This is basically a chance to share random thoughts in a way we can pretend is organized. Yay!

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So here we go-shall we?

  1. The title of this post. For my exercise physiology class, we have to chose an exercise (from a list), do a timed trial, then design a training plan to improve by the end of the quarter. I chose the 400m run-so glad I didn’t choose the mile because the 400m is over so much more quickly! Plus training. Anyways-I did my timed trial yesterday. I ran 9 miles and taught a spin class on Monday, but I’m pretty sure that my legs were aching Tuesday night from that little 400m. It’s amazing how much different sprinting is! I did my first training workout this morning. I expected it to be practically nothing-I was only running a mile!-but it knocked me the heck out. Whew. I did a 400m warm up followed by 6 200m all out sprints with recovery in between. My legs still hurt. I think I should see some improvement!
  2. Since I wasn’t doing a long sweaty workout, I slept in a bit and went straight from the track to class. Zero to presentable in 10 minutes flat.IMG_4274
  3. Lemon Luna bars taste like summer to me. I haven’t had them in a while!IMG_4270
  4. Fun fact-exercise increases the size of your heart, but different exercises do this differently. Resistance training increases the thickness of your heart, while endurance training increases the volume.
  5. When I look at old pictures of myself, I always think my hair looked so much better. Not that my hair is bad, but I feel like it used to be fuller/thicker/straighter. I’m trying to stop sleeping with my hair up in hopes that this will change. IMG_3887_2
  6. I’m at that point of half marathon training where things tend to be a grind, phantom pains pop up, and everything aches. At my softball game, I felt so slow, old, and creaky. Granted, this was after 9 miles+a spin class, but still, I think it’s time I gave my body a little more respect. Especially with my intense 1 mile workout this morning, I’m realizing I need to be putting fewer footsteps into my fitness going forward. I’m sure this won’t be my last half marathon (knocking on wood of course), and I’ll definitely still keep running because I like how it makes me feel, but I need to be more efficient with my footsteps, and with high impact exercise in general. I’m also limiting myself to 3 weight lifting sessions a week (including Crossfit) because while that may not be a lot of footsteps, it can be a lot on the joints, and I had various things pop up over the summer from lifting so heavy. Plus, I need to be kind to my healing shoulder!
  7. I’m one of those people who dwells on the past, and now more than every that I’m a senior! As I do things for the last time, it’s like deja vu. I also miss being a freshman! Honestly I think I view that time now as far better than I did at the time, but I miss a lot of aspects about it, like rowing, the freshman dorm community, freshman experiences, and that freshman eagerness. Then vs now-oh hello baby face!IMG_1293 IMG_4150
  8. I’m also so nostalgic of my freshman fitness level. #rowing Seriously guys, I was so fit. With my new plan to do less high impact exercise, I’m hoping to build my fitness by hopping on the erg again. I always miss my old workouts!
  9. I have been at school for 3 weeks and I still find cat fur on all my clothes.
  10. I can’t believe I’m a senior in college. I know I keep saying that, but where the heck did the time go? I feel like it was yesterday that I was that easier baby-faced freshman. I’m determined to make the most out of the year and out of the future.
  11. I’m so happy I dropped a class. I finally feel like I have time to devote myself fully to my other classes, and with the super full schedules I’ve had in the past, I haven’t always felt I’ve been able to.

What are you thinking today?