Getting SOFT. WTF?!

All right y'all.

Bad things happen in 3s right?  I think my official 3rd just happened.

1. Strained my foot. (out 2 weeks)

2. Threw out my back. (out 1-2 weeks)

and ...

3. Got royally embarrassed and had my ass handed to me running the perimeter of Central Park. (This saturday 7/27/13).


You know what I think of that????  Ooooohhhhhhh HEEEELLLLLLLL NAAAAHHHHHH!!!!! >(


I've been letting myself talk me into taking it easy waaaayyyy too much and this is inexcusable.  I can't keep telling other people to stop making excuses for not being able to SHOW up at the gym when I'm the one doing it.  I'm very disappointed in my personal workouts these days.

So let's talk about this.

Every person who makes working out a LIFESTYLE change, will inevitably come across a day when you lose your motivation.  So the question then is, how do you get it back, right?  It's a good question, and it's in these particular moments that it's easiest to walk away from this lifestyle and there have been many before me and after me that will and have.  So how do you not?  It's hard when you no longer feel the desire, the motivation, the need to get to the gym ... to push yourself, to work harder, to get out of B.E.D.!!!!

Listen, this is when friends are the most important and having a support group at the gym.  While we should be capable of working out individually, I find that it's equally as important to have a group of people who not only SUPPORT you but also hold you ACCOUNTABLE.  There are so many of us (especially New Yorkers) who have the SUPERMAN/SUPERWOMAN mentality.  But we are, inherently, creatures that crave interactions with others, it's dialed into our DNA.  To seek companionship, friendships.  So if you're feeling unmotivated, seek out your friends at the gym, have them hold you accountable for showing up!  It's better if you do something rather than NOTHING.  Most importantly, remember that this is just a phase, a part of the learning process of this particular lifestyle and that like most things in this world, shall too pass.

Me?  I've made some commitments and changes to ensure that I get back on track and I got 2 words for my current lack of motivation, my laziness ... GAME ON!!!

But he said I could do ALL things ....

Philippians 4:13

Now for all of those who know me ... you know I'm NOT religious, rather ... I would consider myself SPIRITUAL.  I am well read in the bible, though I would never confess to being an expert.  All things aside ... He said that I could do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me ... but these days I'm finding that bearing unreasonably, ignorant people ... UNBEARABLE.

Maybe because, I've had to unmercifully withhold my backlash towards this person for the last 5 years and 15 days.  The trouncing I would release upon this person would be ... well...

Anyways, I just want to put it out there, that whatever your motivations in life are ... please in all your getting, get understanding!

Proverbs 3:13
Proverbs 4:5
Proverbs 4:7
Proverbs 19:8

Make sure that you have all the facts and that you understand the topic, before you start mouthing off.  It's not that difficult, take some time to make sure you are properly and correctly informed before you start spewing false accusations and lies.

This concludes my soapbox session.  Thanks for listening =)

Seriously?!

I posted only ONE time in 2012?!  I think i'm going for a record! HAAAAA!!!!

Well, it looks like I was writing about Spartan life ... and guess what?!  Hasn't changed!  So I did 1.5 Spartan Sprints this year ... 1.5?! you say???  Why yes, my sweetie ... 1.5.  How does that happen?

ME!

I was too eager to get going on the NY Tri-State Sprint (June 1) and I ended up getting lost (before you judge me LOL ... hear me out, the early competitive heats ripped down the signs and that's why I got lost!) and I took the wrong path and ended up completing miles 1 & 4 and skipping out on 2 & 3.  Sigh ... such is my life ... all that work and nothing ... do I even deserve that medal?!  Probably not, but that's OK i'm still keeping it HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!

So then I recently completed (no, I didn't get lost this time, thanks to my wonderful and beautiful friend Nelly) the Pennsylvania Sprint (July 13), which according to rumors, is supposed to be the hardest sprint ... they weren't kidding.  I picked up that 25lb sand bag, turned the corner to head up the hill and I think I sprained my neck looking UP!  That's how friggin' steep this bad boy was ... I think I wilted a little seeing it, OK, alot.  That's not the point.  The point is I put my big girl panties on and huffed it up ... I didn't stop though, because I knew if I stopped at any point, I was DONE.  It was do or DIE.

It was an awesome experience, one that I hope to have again in 2014 along with the NY Sprint, already signed up for that one LOL.  I'm finishing that one in 2014, that's for sure!  I'm going for time next year, so let the training begin!  Speaking of training ... the SUPER SPARTAN (September 7) is my next race.  11miles, 30+ obstacles ... no fear, no hesitation, just DO IT!!!!

Met a ton of people as crazy as me HAHA!  We're all gonna suffer together, should be a good time.  I think i'm gonna start blogging about my training ... this blog just keeps changing, LOL.  It is whatever I want it to be.  6.5 weeks until the SUPER.  Started training today (coz I threw my back out on Monday).

AROOOOO!!!!!!!!!!

Oops...

Is it seriously June 5, 2012 already?!  I'm so bad, I haven't blogged in HOW long?  Goodness.  The worst part is Mike keeps telling me I haven't and I keep saying "I know, I'm gonna get to it .... soon." LOL.  Soon turned into OVER a year later.  Time just goes by too fast.

What's new you ask?

Starting January 2012 I picked up my training, started doing a new workout called TRX/Kettlebells.  Best. Workout. EVER.  Love it. (Thanks Alex!) Then I started doing these things called Spartan WODs or Workouts of the Day, then I discovered minimalist running shoes (shout outs to New Balance Minimus Trail Running Shoes!  Thank you for fixing my gait!  I went from lots of knee pain, to running and running with NO knee pain, unbelievable). 

Was supposed to run in a recent Spartan Sprint in Tuxedo Ridge, NY, as a replacement for an injured person on the NYSC team but found out a day before that apparently they don't accept replacements or transfer registrations for insurance reasons.  Boo.  But now, I know what i'm up against and I know what I should be training for (monkey bars here I come, woohoo! lol!). 

I've been to a TON of new places (food-wise) with Mike.  I need to post those ... OMG, i'm just perpetually behind in every aspect of my life.  It is what it is.  Back to the slave post I go for now ... I should be posting something soon, it was just a matter of getting back on the bike, or so they say ...

The Redhead

SATURDAY - MARCH 12, 2011 (DINNER)

The Redhead

349 E. 13th Street (b/w 1st & 2nd Aves)
New York, New York 10003
212-533-6212

website: http://www.theredheadnyc.com/


yelp: 4 stars
menupages: 4 stars
(new feature! I will start putting up yelp and menupages reviews)


Mike and I came here because we had heard so much about the fried chicken and it was definitely time to try it out!


WHAT WE ORDERED:

(The Fried Chicken!)

You didn't really expect us to order anything else when we came here specifically for the fried chicken right??? LOL! But let me tell you, I am a fried chicken fan and I ADORE this fried chicken! The breading on the outside is crispy but not heavy, it's not greasy which I have NO clue how they manage to pull off, but it's perfectly crispy, not too salty (perfectly seasoned) and not greasy... WIN!!!!

The salad beneath the chicken was a pear salad and it was just perfectly tossed with a very light lemon vinaigrette, perfection. This is not to diminish the poor little cornbread in the corner who seems meek in comparison to the rest of the plate, but do not be deceived by its small and demure stature, the taste packs a wollop! Moist, not chewy and not too sweet, very well done! =) Mike and I cleaned our plates, which is obviously an indicator of how much we loved the food!

If you're looking for a really good fried chicken that won't make you feel like heartburn is on the horizon, definitely visit the redhead. Be forewarned, they do not take reservations so if you don't like to wait, get there early or late or get ready to hunker down and wait. If you do decide to wait they have a great beer selection and some great appetizers, the bacon peanut brittle is a very good "to share" starter. Also, though I'm sure this is clear, it's not Popeyes (though I have nothing but LOVE for popeyes!) or KFC priced either, the fried chicken is $18 per plate, but worth every penny. Either way, I would definitely go back for the fried chicken and maybe to even try their other menu items. The staff was very attentive and friendly as well though I don't think I could say the same for the table of roustabouts sitting next to us, obnoxious.

Next on my fried chicken bucket list - Buttermilk Channel and Momofuku =)

Cafe Mike & Sherry - Cran-Apple Roasted Pork Loin

CRAN-APPLE ROASTED PORK LOIN (SLOW COOKER STYLE)

Recipe: http://southernfood.about.com/od/crockpotporkroasts/r/bl57c5.htm

(what it looks like done!)

(can you see the steam comin' off that bad boy? lol.)

(you better see the steam now! ha!)

This was a good recipe ya'll we made it with some rice and spinach on the side. I liked this recipe, it was easy and tasty. I can't say it's the best slow-cooker recipe I've ever come across, coz in a later (and upcoming) entry I made something I gotta say was TO DIE FOR!!!

But if you need something easy and tasty, a crowd pleaser, you'll find it with this recipe, enjoy!

RIVER DELI

SATURDAY - MARCH 5, 2011



River Deli
32 Joralemon Street
Brooklyn, New York 11201
718-254-9200



We came here very specifically to celebrate my sister (March 8) and her husband's (march 6) birthdays. It's in a very unusual place that under the I-278, very well hidden. The food was pretty good and the ambiance in the area was very cute. The staff was very friendly and accommodating (we had a large group, so kudos to them!). This will not be a very comprehensive review of River Deli as we ended up ordering a bunch of appetizers and not everyone got to eat everything and they had some nightly specials that I can't seem to remember. Albeit, it really is my own fault for waiting until the end of April to write a review regarding a restaurant we went to a month and a half, almost 2 months ago. So what I do recall in my gigantic watermelon-like head is what we (Mike and I) had for entrees.


(*Note - I also do NOT have photos, I know, I know .... EPIC FAIL. sorry.)


WHAT WE ORDERED:

Mike: Malloredus Sardi Alla Campidanese (traditional short sardinian pasta with sausage, tomato sauce and pecorino cheese)

I had a little bit of Mike's dish but from what I remember it was quite tasty and delicious, it's a solid choice for those who aren't overly adventurous! =)


Sherry: Orata (whole grilled orata)

If you have NO idea what Orata is ... neither do I. LOL, just kidding! Orata is a white fish also more commonly known as a Dorada. It's a mediterranean fish very similar in taste to the Branzino (mediterranean sea bass). That's about as much as I know. Ha! If you want to know more about the (I was just interested in whether it was going to fill me up or not, coz I was hungry!) fish, click on the link I provided above. Originally I was going to order the eggplant dish, but very unluckily for me, they were OUT. How do you run out of eggplant?! Ha, so I went with the Orata and I was NOT disappointed, it was very tender and delicious, the flesh wasnt' fishy at all and it flaked at the touch of my fork! I was pleasantly surprised with the deliciousness and delicateness of this dish and the portion was great, I didn't feel overstuffed nor hungry. Excellent dish, I definitely recommend.


I think River Deli is an excellent neighborhood haunt, its a little out of the way to make a more frequent patronization if you don't already live in the neighborhood. I certainly would never have wandered into this direction and tried this lovely little resto had it not been at the request of the birthday folk!