National _______ Day

Yesterday was National Running Day. Some may think that I celebrated this to the fullest and went out, ran my hardest, ran my fastest, smiled, waved, pranced around lovely Winston Salem encouraging the rest of the city to get out, run, and have a great time as the fun colors and exuberance of the website may exert ( National Running Day ). However, I did nothing of the sort. I did run. Go me. I ran a miserable 5 miles. It was more of a run/walk/die. My body recently has not been agreeing with me and its been making running very difficult/not fun. It was hard to put one foot in front of the other. And there was no way I was smiling at any other runners as they passed by. In fact, I am pretty sure I heard one of them run by and say "wow, she looks like shes struggling" ... maybe I am hearing things.

On another note...I am glad that we have a National Running Day. While I am pretty sure I don't know how many people knew about it (admittedly, I did not even until Jerry sent me the link) and I think next year they should plan in more strategically as to not be in the beginning of June when it was 90 degrees and humid as all hell, I am glad someone has taken the initiative to try and get America up and moving. Hm...while on that...who makes those up? National Event maker-uppers? Where do I get a job like that? I have lots of great holiday ideas in mind. National Wednesday off Work Day. National Free Krispy Cream Day. National Free Cheeseburgers Day. National Pigtails Day. National Re-runs Week. National Diamonds for Girlfriends Week. I could go forever.

There have been more of these folks trying to get America healthier...and I am looking at evidence of that currently as I sit at Panera (working on writing my thesis, clearly). Up on the menu board, next to my beloved Asian Chicken Salad there is a little number...410. What does that mean? Why, 410 calories of course. Looking at the rest of the board..there are numbers next to everything on the menu. Horray and Hallelujah. Now we shall have "Burger King Bob" think twice before he goes for the Panera Macaroni and Cheese (delicious) at a whopping 900+ calories (but not so nutritious) over a Fuji Apple Chicken Salad (equally delicious) at ~500 cals (and much more nutritious). I was intrigued by these numbers and looked it up. Seems this was passed at the national level and now (well as of Jan 1, 2011) every chain restaurant has to have calorie counts next to everything on the menu. Bottom Line: McDonald's menu just got a lot bigger in order to make room for all those numbers. And Subway just got a lot more appeasing. And Starbucks just got depressing....just wait til you see how many calories are jammed into a cafe mocha. May be making the switch to Herbal Teas*? So again, I am glad to see that there are other people out there that have taken the initiative to beating this obesity epidemic that has begin to take over....and whats even better...is that today I got an email with an article in it ( Dieting for Dollars) that is about companies actually PAYING their employees to WALK and lose weight. While the end results aren't to impressive yet, it's a start... and one that I am pretty pleased about.


*I recommend these by the way, TraderJoes especially has the BEST teas in all the best flavors...and at about 5 calories a cup and some caffeine, I would think it makes an excellent substitute for that java java some need every morning...and it wont stain your teeth.

My Favorite Foods....in a very particular order

#1: Cheeseburgers. Good ones that weigh half a pound and the grease drips down your arm when you take a bite. Not some silly BigMac. I like to take mustard, ketchup, and a little mayo and swirl it together til it makes a new orange sauce that it rather delicious. I like cheddar cheese. No mozzarella. No pepperjack. Cheddar. I like it cooked medium, I like it pink inside. I like to have it with lettuce and a whole wheat bun (because of course, I am healthy). When OI'm feeling randy I like grilled onions and grilled peppers on it. I like jalapenos on it. I like ranch dressing on it. I think I want a cheeseburger for lunch.

#2: Chocolate Covered Strawberry's. Oh my gosh so delicious. However, I attempted to make these yesterday for Jerry and I's romantic valentines day dinner and they did not taste any better than they looked.

#3: Belgium Waffles: Light and Crispy. This will change your life

#4: Broccoli. Kind of embarrassed to add this to the list but I just couldn't not put it on. (after all, I am supposed to promote health). I like it steamed, stir-fried, in a casserole, raw, baked, with a cheeseburger, or any other way you can prepare broccoli.

#5: Ranch Dressing. I am not lying when I say I could drink this. I enjoy it on everything. Cheeseburgers, french fries, I cant eat pizza without it, chicken nuggets, potato chips, tortilla chips, broccoli, celery, carrots, burritos, tacos, nachos, my fingers......

Hold the bacon, please



I promise I haven't been neglecting this blog, I just have been lazy and busy (if you can do both of those things).......more of Ms. Kenz to come :)

Fish Burps

Getting a Masters in Health and Exercise Science makes me believe I should live the healthiest of lifestyles.

I run 5 days a week because if I didn't then I would be a hypocrite.

I try to steer away from fast food and junk food (not well, but I try) because that's what healthy people do.

I don't smoke because its repulsive (oh, and unhealthy).

I take a multi-vitamin every day because that sounds like it should be healthy.

I feel like I get questions about this kind of stuff frequently. Lots of people will ask me what kind of vitamins they should take, or when is the best time to drink a protein shake?, Whats the magic way to lose weight?, Should I eat more calcium? More Zinc?, My back hurts - what can I take? Stop here. My back really does hurt.

I typically can't answer any of these questions having to do with nutrition - my only answers are what I read online or what nutritionists I work with tell me (which I do understand is more QT than most Americans spend with a nutritionist so I give myself credit on some of my knowledge). I am pretty good at making up answers however, not to brag, so consider yourself warned next time you ask me a nutrition question - I may know it...but I also may be bullshitting you on what I think sounds good.

I asked one of my classmates, a (very fast) runner, a healthy person (like all of us, duh), and also a girl who is up on her nutritional supplements (or could be a good bullshitter like me - but I'm willing to believe her) about this back pain that I'm sure as a 22 year old pain I should be having. She recommended taking fish oil - said helps with joint pain. (not to mention it helps with lots of other things...helping control cholesterol levels and reduced inflammation around the body - not only in the joints...but of course, I knew all that)

I thought I would give it a try...
I started last week.
The pills are large.
And urine-colored.
I ended shortly after.
My burps smell like fish.
It's so rancid it makes me want to throw up.
Don't let the cutesy wootsy design fool you


No joking, they were miserable. Any little big of indigestion you had was awful. I guess I didn't even realize how much you have those little burps that no one else even notices until I was trying will all my might to NOT have them. However, the 3 days I made it through them - I am convinced my back was feeling better - not as stiff and my runs were smoother. I just cant deal with the burps. Anyone take fish oil? Can you handle it? Other suggestions for joint pain? (stop running 40 miles a week is not an option) I've heard flax seed is supposed to be good...but I don't know how I feel about burping up flax. After all, I don't even know what flax is.