So here’s the sitch.
Did I mention I have a triathlon in under 30 days. Problem? Yes.
It gets worse. I got in an accident yesterday while riding my bike, which I was in denial about until I went to work today…and wound up in the ER half way through my shift. I feel like I got hit by a bus. I am so so sore. It’s unbelievable. I have less than 50% range of motion in my neck and my tailbone is badly bruised. I basically feel stiff all over.
Anyway.
I don’t know that much “training” is going to happen now…not that I was on much of a roll before (see above workout count). Whatever. I’ll figure it out. Feel free to shout at me now and tell me I’m crazy and I need to get my butt to the swimming pool asap. Seriously, somebody talk some sense into me!!
Hey hey, look who switched up the salad routine!! I was feeling experimental, so I rummaged through the fridge and came across Sea Tangle kelp noodles.
I also had zucchini nearing it’s death bed, so I figured the two could be married somehow. [Insert brainstorming session here]
- 2 small zucchini, shredded
- 6-8 baby carrots, shredded
- 1/2 avocado
- 1 package kelp noodles (I used the green tea variety, but there was no notable difference between this flavor and the plain one)
- 1/2 tsp powdered ginger
- 1 tbsp soy sauce (or Bragg’s liquid aminos)
- 1 tsp honey mustard
- 1 tbsp nooch
- 2 tbsp water (or more/less to get sauce to desired consistency)
I rinsed, then lightly warmed the noodles. Once they cooled, I drained them and mixed in the rest of the ingredients.
Kelp noodles with veggies and soy ginger sauce. Yum! I ate half this while waiting in the Emergency Room.
My breakfast was a bit of a change up too with whole rolled oats, chia seeds, raisins, cocoa powder and silken tofu.
First I let the oats, chia seeds and raisins plump in warm water. Once the seeds had gelled I stirred them up and added in the cocoa ‘fu.
100% pure love. Try not to sing Crystal Waters when you hear that.
This breakfast had serious staying power thanks to the balanced macronutrient ratio.
Raisins = immediate sugar (in a natural form). These perked me up right away.
Whole grain oats = complex carbs. Their slower release gave me good even energy levels over the morning.
Tofu = protein
Chia seeds = good fats
Both of these ingredients slowed breakfast’s passage through my system.
Cocoa = delicious chocolate flavor. Enough said.
The rest of the goodies are self explanatory.
On account of my aching body, I did some yoga before work (rather than my usual Jillian routine). I only had a single cuppa joe, too.
My car breakfast was a new-to-me bar by Nature’s Path.
The Sunny Hemp Chewy Granola bar is much better than I thought it would be, but not much in terms of a breakfast.
Staying power = nada.
Taste = like a combo of a Quaker’s chewy granola bar but with a more healthy (less sugary) flavor.
The sunflower seeds, flax, and hemp made the bar worth re-purchasing in my opinion. Other reasons for a thumbs up include the organic ingredients and eco-friendly box. Nutritionally, I really think these are pretty decent. Nature’s Path has really never disappointed me. I hadn’t tried many of their products beyond their cereals, but now I’m going to explore more.
Oh, hello Whole Foods hot bar. You really know how to lift a girl’s spirits when she’s down.
There were two standout parts of this particular $30 meal. First, the barley/rice/wheat berry salad with pinenuts. I was iffy because of the parsley, but I looooved it. The pinenuts were soft from being marinated in the dressing, which is another reason I enjoyed them (normally, I’m not a fan).
Second, the tempeh salad (like a tofu salad but better). OMG so good.
Copious amounts of brown rice and veggies had their own place, too. And then everything got all mixed together…
Yes.
And in case you were worried that all my food product taste trials were successes, here are a few recent misses…
Bakery on Main Peanut Butter Chocolate Granola Bar – sounds like it should be nothing short of spectacular, but in reality it was hard, small, and not very good. It was a non-chewy oat bar studded with chocolate chips. But I didn’t like it.
Enjoy Life Double Chocolate Crunchy Cookie – too crunchy. It was hard enough to be a cracker! I like my cookies soft and gooey. FYI, they do make soft baked cookies, so clearly those are where I need to focus my attention.
ProBar HALO Rocky Road – lacking in flavor all around. There were visible chunks of nuts in the bar, but no marshmallow. And the nuts weren’t integrated into the chocolate bar at all. It just wasn’t yummy. And I was surprised because it’s hard to mess up chocolate and nuts. The other HALO flavors are all winners though, in case you were wondering.
Elise! I am so so sorry that you had an accident! 🙁 But on the other hand I am over the moon that you are in one piece – albeit a lot bruised and a lot sore. Sending you lots of heal up soon wishes, and take care of yourself (your yummy food is defnitely giving your body all the nutrition that it needs to fix itself up)
I always find the natures path bars lack staying power too – i need something a bit more dense, not just pure carbs….which is unfortunate because I recently bought a whole crate from costco, lol! Spur of the moment purchase = flawed 😉
Man wholefoods hits you hard with the price, but it is totally worth it and you definitely deserved a treat. Take care, lovely! Sending you love (even though I’ve never met you, and I just read your blog, I still care!) xyx
PS: Silken tofu in oatmeal? So interesting! 🙂
Oh no! Get well soon! Rest, Ice, Ibuprofen, Stretch, Swim, Yoga, Physio? What were they able to do for you at the ER? Painkillers? I don’t know how you sat through writing that entire blog post on a sore neck. You’re a trooper! The food does look tasty though! I hope you’re feeling better soon!!
Omg Elise…I am soooo sorry!!
About 8 weeks ago I tripped, i.e. fell super super hard while running. Just tripped over a crack on the sidewalk. I had gashes everywhere, the ones on my hands were massive and super deep and took 5 weeks! to scab over and I have keloid scars on the palms of my hands now. And my entire body was super super beat up and I could hardly walk for days even tho I tried to tell myself I was “fine”.
So that’s my long winded way of saying I know all too well what you’re probably feeling like. Hang in there, ok!!!! 🙂
ACK! I’m so sorry about the accident! I hope you heal quickly! I, for one, am NOT going to tell you to go swim (unless you do it because it will feel good for your recovery)! I’ve signed up for a zillion races/triathlons. Most times I do them, sometimes I don’t. I need to heed my body’s call. For instance, I’m registered for a triathlon Sunday. I’m not doing it. I did not train appropriately and it’s not worth potential injury. So, my point is…heal! Take good care. There are TONS of races you can do down the road!
Now, those kelp noodles…YUM. I have some in my cupboard and really need to try them. Your recipe looks beautiful.
So much food & I want all of it! Especially your kelp salad and the Whole Foods hot bar… yum. I hope you heal quickly for your triathlon! (Or if you don’t, I hope you don’t try to do it all banged up!) Either way, well wishes sent your way.
I am SO sorry about your crash!
How are you feeling this morning? Can you take today off?
Aww I hope you feel better soon. I hate accidents 🙁 I want to try the silken tofu and cocoa in my oats, that looks amazing!
Yikes, glad you’re okay!
The WF hot bar makes everything better 🙂
I’m so sorry to hear about your accident! I’m sure it was incredibly scary. I hope you feel better soon!
“Feel free to shout at me now and tell me I’m crazy and I need to get my butt to the swimming pool asap.” Hahaha! Actually bobbing around in the pool for a while (nothing too strenuous) could help with the soreness!
Mmmmm that noodle and veggie concoction looks delish! I love ginger and veggies.
So sorry about your accident. As a fellow cyclist, I’m totally wondering what happened! I’m glad you weren’t hurt terribly. Definitely don’t beat yourself up about the tri. Take it easy and let yourself have this break until you’re up for it again! 🙂
Yep. I second that! Don’t do anything you’re not ready for. Give yourself grace to heal.
Um, and I also need to try kelp noodles!
Oh gosh, I’m really sorry to hear about your crash!
I cycle pretty much everywhere and falling off and being hit are my biggest worries on the bike. I hope you’re feeling better! I’ve been reading your blog for ages and I just wanted to say that I always love your photos, your food always looks so tasty and colourful 🙂
so sorry about the crash!!! feel better and recover. and don’t train–heal! In fact, you should use a training program my dad and invented (in preparation for a half marathon): “The Taper Technique.” It involves a lot of tapering. A.k.a. REST. 😉
your kelp noodle lunch looks awesome!
Ha! I have the same Pink Polar and it says the same thing as yours!
So, I’ve been really curious about those kelp noodles. Good to know you like them, I’ll totally try them now. I think it was the “green tea” part that kept turning me off, I mean not that I don’t LOVE green tea, I’m just not sure I love it so much on my noodles.
Ugh, bike accidents are shitty! I’ve had my fair share as well. 🙁 Now you’ll have to excuse me, because I have to wipe the drool of my face from looking at that gorgeous whole foods box. Hope you feel better soon!
OK, while I do feel bad for you, there’s still plenty of time to heal and get in shape. Actually, you already ARE in shape, so the cardio part is a non-issue. You just need to re-acquaint your self to water in order to complete the swim part of the tri. I think this weekend would be perfect – might soothe those achy parts of your body. Good luck dear! No pressure, but I’m really looking forward to doing this with you.
Ouch! Maybe the hot tub BESIDE the pool is where you should hang out for a bit… The warmth may help to ease the soreness.
Don’t worry about the race, if you can go, great! But if not, it’s not worth the risk of re-injuring yourself over (then you’ll need even more down time). Take care of yourself and get better soon!
elisseeeee,
so i caught up on your blog two days ago and then realized i never commented! ugh, shame on me! anyways, your europe stories are hilarious. i am printing out that list of vegan restaurants for when i go in november. not because i am {obvs} vegan but because some of them looked AMAZING!
i love your unique food creations. that couscous, kale, nooch thang is bookmarked to make with leftover quinoa i have at home.
i am soooo sorry about the bike crash! this makes me nervous because i actually bought a bike over the weekend and am deathly afraid i am going to be hit by something. hope you heal well my love 🙂
when i come to visit you in LA, i expect you to bring me to all the AMAZING restaurants you go to AND help me figure out how to spend $30 on a WF hot bar. that shiz is impressive!
as far as the triathlon thing goes, me being competitive as i am, i would still train for it. however, i went through the same thing with a half-marathon earlier this year, and it truly was best that i bowed out and did not compete. the stress of it was getting to me, and sometimes it is just not worth it. there are so many more triathlons you can do in the future.
thanks for the paris hotel rec, and hope you have a LOVELY rest of your week! it’s almost friday, thank the sweet lord.
<3 you
holly
I’ve biffed it on my bike several times, and it always takes a few days to recover. Take it easy and STRETCH!
Bummer about your accident. That totally sucks. The pool would probably help those aches & pains or maybe a nice massage.
Food looks great as usual. Take care.
Ah man, sorry to hear about your fall! I hope you heal up quickly. I know you’ll rock the rest of your training plan!
Random Q: What kind of HRM do you have? Miss Margot recently ATE my heart rate monitor, so I am in the market for a new one!
Eeeek! The ER?! I hope you are okay! Last year I got into a bike accident while riding with the doggie the night before a half marathon…boo for bike crashes.
Also, you should come visit and go to the pool with Adrienne and I. We’ll probably just splash and play – but you can swim laps around us. Win, win situation.
I hope you start feeling better ASAP! Take care of yourself.
Oh no!!! Poor you! And I can’t believe you struggled through half your shift before going to A&E. What happened? Are you ok?
I would just focus on healing rather than the upcoming triathalon, especially as you have a history of back problems. Be kind to yourself and listen to your body (as you know and tell your patients, I’m sure). Just do some gentle exercise for now until you body feels more agreeable to movement.
On a more serious note, nice one on mixing up the salad and breakfast combos! I easily get into food grooves (I’ve been in the same salad and breakfast grooves for almost a month now).
Feel better soon! And make sure you get enough rest 🙂
So sorry about your accident! But I’m gonna be completely unoriginal and tell you to be careful training with an injury. Listen to your body, if something hurts you shouldn’t push it. I’ve always had a high pain tolerance and a stubborn attitude, so I was the girl who danced on an ankle with tendonitis, tried tae kwon do with a back injury and so on… Eventually I always ended up injured and off my feet for far longer than I would have if I had just taken it easier early on. On a lighter note I do hope you feel up to the triathlon, also those kelp noodles look amazing, nice improv.
Huh, so it wasn’t just my Rocky Road Halo bar that lacked marshmallows, and goodness. I had such high hopes after the s’mores bars.
much better thanks 🙂 all the hot tubbing did me well!
silken tofu is my new obsession…it definitely helps with staying power. (if you enjoy the taste of tofu that is). try it in your oats!
im so sorry that costco impulse buy didnt work out. thats SO something i would do! maybe try crumbling it/mixing it into oats?
50 dollar copay for motrin. sweet. at least i know there are no broken bones though.
to be clear, they offered vicodin, which i refused.
they have plain ones that arent stored in green tea…but yeah, they are essentially the same thing as you cant taste the green tea at all.
i love the pink polar watch…its basically a really expensive stop watch for me because i never use the chest strap thing. ever.
tapering means i have to come down from SOME level of activity though!!! haha. dont worry, im being kind to my body though. thanks for your concern. i took a few days off to just rest and i feel much better now. at least swimming is no contact.
hope your trip was awesome averie. i remember your fall. no scabs for me yet…lots of massive bruises though!
thanks for the reminder to treat myself well…im stubborn so its hard for me to “heed my body’s call” as you so perfectly put it. the difference is, i entered this race with my dad and i dont wanna ditch out on our father/daughter activity. anyway. its a good reminder there are many potential races for me to come!
thank you!!
pool time is definitely the best (non-contact) way to keep my fitness up while not doing anything too strenuous. thanks for the well wishes 🙂
i have no clue its a blur. my tire caught a ridge in the sidewalk and i was going so fast i couldnt really tell you what exactly happened…i just went flying off the road and hit a tree, landed on my tailbone mostly but i was just really shaken up.
i am way too fearless i think for riding my bike. i have that invincible mentality…dangerous!!
anyway thanks for reading and saying hi! nice to “meet” you sophie 🙂
yikes, hope yours have all been easy to recover from. accidents are scary!
Nice to “meet” you too 🙂
excellent advice. thanks adara!
when are you visiting meeeeeee!?!? my parents just made the hummus kale and couscous thang and loved it. cant wait to hear about your euro travels. when are you going?
thanks juliette, the pool and spa action was JUST what i needed 🙂
nope. lame. at least the other flavors are good!
it seems thats the theme huh…i promise to take care of myself! you are dead on though…pushing past the limits always leads to a worse recovery than listening to your body from the get-go.
rest, spa time, relaxation…done done and done 🙂 thanks for the well wishes!
omg, i saw a million adorable babies and mommies at the pool this weekend. i thought of you! i would happily crash your pool party and do fake laps around you guys, haha.
i use the polar F6 heart rate monitor. see this post for deets: http://www.hungryhungryhippie.com/turn-that-frown-upside-down/
its basically an expensive stop watch for me because i never use the chest strap. NEVER. haha.
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