We returned home from vacation late Saturday night. The number one indicator that I wasn’t on vacation any longer was the sleep factor. The second I went to bed my thoughts began racing. Until, that moment I didn’t even realize that my thoughts had been quiet while on vacation.

Believe it or not I try using counting to help lure me to sleep. It helps me fall asleep, but I still wake up in the middle of the night with sporadic thoughts regarding work and other things. How do I calm those middle of the night thoughts and dreams?

The Harvard Women’s Health Watch gives us six reasons to get more sleep:

1. People who sleep after learning a task perform better on later tests.
2. Consistent sleep loss may cause weight gain by altering hormones which effect appitite.
3. If you lose sleep, you are more likely to fall asleep during the day time while performing regular tasks such as driving.
4. We are more likely to moody and irritable without sleep.  ( I tend to act like a toddler who missed their nap)
5. Serious lack of sleep has been shown to cause serious health problems such as elevated blood pressure.
6. It can alter immune function.

I’m one of the lucky ones. Running found me early in life.

I have to admit that I’ve somewhat lost that loving feeling towards running. Maybe I should explain.

Running has always been my friend. Just like a good friend it lets me rant, rave and gather my thoughts. It teaches me things I couldn’t learn from anyone else. Ever since moving to NYC some nine years ago, these types of runs have experienced quite a few interruptions. I’ve allowed these interruptions to change my relationship with running.

Sometimes I’m the rude one interrupting my run with negative thoughts and lack of focus (or the wrong focus).

Other times its this city that’s the rude one. I’ve been yelled at numerous times while going about my running business (and I don’t mean cat calls). I’ve been clipped by a bicyclist. I’ve been stepped on, kicked, and even had someone else’s spit on me. I’ve had to stop dead in my tracks numerous times to avoid collision with tourists (okay, so I’ve had a few collisions). Lets just say that running in a park with so much activity often takes away from what I need my run to do for me. BUT…

now the cold weather is on its way!

I use to scoff at the idea of running in the winter. I could barely survive the winter without subjecting myself to running in the cold. These days the cold weather and rainy damp days are my new found friend. They allow me to renew my relationship with running with out interruption. Four miles (and no foot pain) later, my run was complete and my mind was a little more clear.

As I return to work after vacation and a renewed sense of self, I wonder how long can I hold onto this “reset?”

“That’s what alchemists do. They show that, when we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better to.” ~ Paulo Coelho

P.S. There’s one more day to answer last weeks Power Trivia Question (were you could win my favorite headband).

This is a fantastic workout to do when you’re strapped for time or on vacation. The best part??? Its a full body workout that only takes 20 minutes to complete!

There are five sets that consist of two exercises.  Each set should be done twice. You can complete all sets one time and then repeat or perform each set twice before moving on to the next. (Please excuse the ugly hotel carpet and curtain combo)

1st Set:

1. 30 Jumping Jacks to warm up.

2. Do as many push-ups as possible.

2nd Set:

1. 20 Squats

2. Rotating Plank (hold each plank for a count of 5-10, then rotate into a side plank, back to plank, side plank on the other side) Repeat rotation 4 times.

3rd Set:

1. 20 Alternating Forward Lunges

2. 10 Marching Planks

4th Set:

1. 15 Tricep Dips with a kick

2. 20 Single Leg Squats (10 on each leg)

5th Set:

1. 15 Super Womans

2. 15 Back extensions with Rhomboid Squeeze

]]> http://fitchickinthecity.com/2009/10/17/mini-wo/feed/ 6 http://fitchickinthecity.com/2009/10/17/adios-napa/ http://fitchickinthecity.com/2009/10/17/adios-napa/#comments Sat, 17 Oct 2009 16:22:20 +0000 Jess http://fitchickinthecity.com/2009/10/17/adios-napa/ Napa, thank you for being so good to us! We shall return soon!

We’re headed back home today. Have a great Saturday!

]]> http://fitchickinthecity.com/2009/10/17/adios-napa/feed/ 3 http://fitchickinthecity.com/2009/10/17/down-and-dirty/ http://fitchickinthecity.com/2009/10/17/down-and-dirty/#comments Sat, 17 Oct 2009 05:05:13 +0000 Jess http://fitchickinthecity.com/2009/10/17/down-and-dirty/ Is it just me or do mirrors on the back of bathroom doors weird you out? Weird right??

Well I did get the 411 on that scary sign in the fitness center at the hotel. When Hardy informed me that the hotel I’m staying in has a highly active twitter guy, I knew it was time to get the dirt on the signage.

Today, my workout was a failure. We didn’t head to the gym this morning, and I waited until we got back from Healdsburg to workout. I went to the gym and started to do hills on the treadmill but I stopped because I was getting a burning sensation in my arch. I moved on to my mini workout which was a success. Which means, I won’t complete my workout challenge. I still have time to make up for the total amount of time, but won’t reach the goal for 5 individual cardio sessions. Which is a teeny bit of a problem considering lunch currently includes wine.

The highlight of the day was getting to taste wine at Murphy Goode with the one and only Hardy! After sending him a tweet he was kind enough to meet us at the tasting room. What a great guy! I am so impressed with these wines. Yesterday we tasted wines at Caymus and Quintessa (another biodynamic farm) whose wines were amazing, but out of our price range. I seriously couldn’t believe that a wine as affordable as Murphy Goode could taste as good as those unaffordable ones.

We took home a bottle of Snake Eye Zinfandel and Merlot. We loved their wine so much we even signed up for their wine club. Social media works! If it hadn’t been for their contest and Hardy we probably wouldn’t have even stopped by for a tasting. If your heading to the area anytime soon stop by to meet Hardy and try these wines. It’s easy to see why they choose him to represent their wines.

Do you have a favorite affordable wine that’s your “go to” wine? I think mine is now going to be Murphy Goode!

You’ll have to forgive me, for not having the best food photos. Taking pictures of food is totally new to me. Lunch was at Market in St. Helena. I had an amazing veggie burger with garlic spinach. Yes, I had wine with lunch but only 1/2 a glass. Oh, the joys of being on vacation!

Dinner was at ubuntu where the focus is on biodynamic foods grown in their own garden. Needless to say, my meat loving husband was not thrilled, but was kind enough to go with me. The huge amount of food below were actually small plates that we shared.

Olives, lavender salted almonds, and fried chick peas.

There was also an unpictured plate of heirloom tomatoes. Sorry, we ate them before I remembered to take a picture. The only thing I would have changed about this meal is my attire. Should have won pants with an elastic waist.

Napa welcomed us with the biggest rain storm of the year.

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I ended up doing 45 minutes on the elliptical, ran 1 mile on the treadmill and completed mini workout #1 back in my room. I love mini workouts! I’ll post the details soon.

Power Tuesday Trivia: Late Edition

Week after week you’ve answered my silly trivia questions without reward. This week things are changing. If you answer the question correctly, you could be the winner of your very own Luluemon headband, that I recently reviewed. I loved this headband so much, I want to give one of you the opportunity to love it also.

Question: Who won more New York City Marathons than any other runner?

Here’s how the contest works:

• Leave your answer in the comments section.
• One person with the correct answer will be chosen at random to win.
• Answers will be accepted until Monday, October 19th. The winner will be announced Tuesday, October 20th.

Good Luck!! Pictures from my first full day in Napa will be up tomorrow. Have a great night!

I don’t usually workout while on vacation (GASP!). I start out with good intentions but then only end up working out once or twice. Well, this vacation is a little different. I really want to commit to working out since I’ll be consuming copious amounts of food and wine. That inspired me to create a Vacation Workout Commitment Challenge (VWCC) that you too can commit to the next time your on vacation. The best part about the challenge is that you don’t need a gym (although there is one where I’m staying). Each day along with photos from my adventures in Napa Valley, I’ll also be sharing my workouts with you.

VWCC

• Complete 3 Mini strength training workouts (20-30 minutes)
• Complete 2 Mini yoga sessions (20 minutes)
• Complete 5 Cardio Sessions (30 minute minimum)

Start Date: Monday October 12th

End Date: Saturday October 18th

It looks like a lot, but its really just 50 minutes each day. I anticipate that some days I’ll split it up into two short workout sessions.

Upon first glance the fitness center looks great.

What are your workout habits while on vacation?

Remember that tomorrow’s edition of Tuesday Trivia will be a POWER edition featuring three questions and a PRIZE!

Wish me luck on completing the VWCC!