Not every week can be stellar in regards to exercise and exciting foods, even for a fit blogger. In lieu of exciting recipes and fitness news, here is what I’m thinking about currently. I welcome your thoughts too!
1. The quantity vs. quality debate. Not about food, that’s old. This is about fitness. When do you place speed (quantity) over distance (quality), or doing a workout fast (quantity) above adding weights (quality)?
For example, is running a fast 3 miles better than a slow 5? Which would you pick? What about doing a whole workout fast but using lower weights vs. a whole workout slow with heavier weights? I don’t know the answer. I’m not sure which is best. Perhaps a mix.
2. Outside vs. Inside. Would you choose to run slow outside in the heat, dripping lots of sweat, or faster inside where you could go longer too? In Houston, I choose inside. But am I setting myself up for a harder training program when it cools down outside since I’m not used to uneven terrain and hard pavement?
3. Here’s an observation that I appreciate: The athletic store where I buy my running shoes has a 30 day return policy. I changed brands a few weeks ago to see if a new shoe would help with leg pain, and now I have new pain. So I’m thinking of going back to the old brand, or trying something else. 30 days is kind, and enough time to really try out a shoe.
4. Push vs. Pull. When do you know when to push on and when to say no? Do you wait for a bad pain to say no? Do you know where your max is? What does it take to make you say no, or to make you say yes?
Pan Seared Tofu with Cous Cous and Vegetables
I made a delicious and filling dinner to make use of leftover cous cous, a block of tofu that I bought this week, and some fresh vegetables. I am getting more confident at experimenting in the kitchen. This time, I used the tofu instructions I read from Emily’s blog (refer to this post where I tried tofu her way for the first time) that I tried a few weeks ago, but cooked them as slices instead of cubes.
Ingredients:
1 block Nasoya Tofu
1 squash
1 zucchini
cous cous
feta
scallions
salt, pepper, garlic powder
Stir Fry sauce (or any marinade sauce–I used garlic ginger)
Instructions:
Cut tofu block into six long slices. Lay on towel and press with something heavy for 10 minutes. Place in hot skillet seasoned with salt, pepper, garlic powder.
Let brown on both sides. I put a garlic ginger sauce on one side with the back of a spoon. Just a little.
In another skillet, brown zucchini, squash, and onion slices seasoned with salt and pepper.
Heat up leftover cous cous, top with vegetables, tofu, scallions, and feta cheese. Enjoy!
This was really filling, the tofu was super tasty–crispy outside, cooked well inside. And feta pulls everything together. It was also a good use of leftovers, fresh ingredients, and odds and ends from the refrigerator.
For question #1, you answered it yourself: a mix is generally best. The whole quality vs. quantity debate is just that: a debate. I don’t know if anyone is right. I like to have as many workouts as a can that walk the middle line: quality and quantity.
Great post… This is my opinion.
During the week, fast short run. (working on speed, training pace and hills).
Weekend, slow long run. (endurance)
Working out-
2 sets of 10-17 reps. your last rep should feel like you can’t go anymore. By rep #8 if you’re doing 10 should be almost impossible to finish. This is where I definitely see prefer quality vs quantity.
Outside vs inside-
Memorial park is definitely my favorite thing about Houston!!! I find it a lot tougher to run there than on the treadmill, but I’ve gotten stronger and faster.
Outside! If you do most of your training on the treadmill and wait until you get into higher mileage & start running outside, it will be a recipe for injury. (experience). I only use the treadmill for speed and hills (twice a week) and the rest I’ll run outside working on my training pace. It’s hot in Houston yes, but that’s why I wake up @ 4am and run @ Memorial 4:30ish. It’s hot, but bareable and today was great because there was a nice breeze! Also running with hundreds of ppl around you just makes it even better, it’s not boring. (yes, ppl are running there @ 4am!!) It’s all dirt so injury is minimal, of course you know that
SHOES! I am about to buy new shoes today! I am thinking of getting the Ghost 3. I’ve only used Brooks because I had a bad experience with Asics. my calves would tighten up too soon and it was just painful. I may try some different Asics on, maybe I just had a wrong type? I have about 4 diff pairs of shoes in mind. I won’t get the same ones I have because I’ve had a knee and a hip injury and think the shoes may be a reason. Who knows.
Did you go to Fleet Feet or Lukes Locker? I used to live in the woodlands so I would go to Lukes locker. They were the rudest, snobbiest people ever! I went to return my running shoes once due to the calf issue and the lady was so mean to me like I was doing something wrong. It’s not my fault they didn’t work out?!?! I wanted to punch her lol, well not really but I was so upset. They also found a small scuff on the bottom of the shoes so they gave me a hard time about it. Really?!?! Where am I supposed to run on clean carpet?!
Fleet Feet have been super nice to me, they all tell me to bring them back in 30 days even if they’re dirty. I may be running at memorial for the test run and it’ll start to rain all of a sudden, of course I’ll have dirty shoes! They are so understanding and I love them!
Anywho- This is all my opinion, hope it helps at all
Wow that is great info too. You run at 430 am??!!! Wow that is committed! I shop at Luke’s Locker. Haven’t been to Fleet Feet. I shopped at Luke’s in Dallas and always liked it, so I continued here. I hope they are nice when I try to return them! Agree that you don’t run on carpet, can’t come back 100% clean.
1) I agree with balancing longer/slower runs/workouts with shorter/faster workouts.
2) In Houston, I definitely go with inside during the summer. It’s way to hot for me to manage outdoors, and there’s no way I could do 4:30 am. Besides, it’s dangerous to run alone at that hour, even at Memorial park. I have no idea what will happen when I take it outside…I imagine I’ll have to be particularly careful in the beginning, but it’s worth it to me.
Question: How fast do you run?
Today I ran 3 miles all between 10-11 minutes. That’s on the treadmill, so outside is slower right now.