Pants Pie!

No more baggy sweat pants or Reeboks with the straps (sorry I couldn't help myself)! There’s something to be said about a rockin’ pair of workout pants. I tend to workout harder when I feel confident in myself and a lot of that has to do with the workout gear I sport.  I used to go to the gym and see girls wearing tight capris and have capri envy because I could never find a pair that fit me juuuuust right.  They would be perfect on the legs but give me muffin top, or they’d be sagging on the waistband and look like I just got the wrong size.  This was all very frustrating until I found, dah da dah daaaaaa, the PERFECT pair of workout capris! I know, you think I’m lying right?  I promise I’m not. 

Introducing…or if you already have a pair of these, re-introducing:

Nike Women's Dri-FIT Cotton Tight Fit Capri

• They feel like cotton but hold you in tight (personally, I think they make my butt look good but that’s just my opinion)
• They have a wider waistband so it holds your tummy in without pushing your fat out (eeek).
• Nike’s Dri-FIT fabric keeps you dry and comfortable. i.e. the places you don't want sweating don't.
• There’s a nifty little pocket at interior left waist to hold your credit card or key.

I have found them at Dicks, Sports Authority and CitySports (all on sale). I got the pair below to support breast cancer month! Just make sure you get the TIGHT fit or they'll be more like yoga capris.

Xo,

zo

p.s. for anyone that got the meaning of the title of this post you get extra special love! anyone?????

R. Thomas Deluxe Grill

I can't believe it's taken me this long to write about one of my most favorite healthy restaurants in Atlanta!   With a philosophy of "You are what you eat." R. Thomas Deluxe Grill serves up some of the most healthy food in this wonderful city.  They've been open 24-hours a day for about 26 years. So whether you are hitting this place up late night or just want to share a healthy meal with some friends, this is the place to go. 

This place has character, you can tell as you are greeted by parrots that are housed outside of the restaurant before you even walk in. Make sure to say hello and then get excited for a wonderful meal.  I took a recent out of town guest there because she likes to eat healthy and it was a HUGE hit.  They have a ton of vegetarian options but also delicious meals for the meat eater as well.

Check them out on Facebook! http://www.facebook.com/rthomasdeluxegrill

I ordered:

Flax Chips (to share) - If you can't tell, the "chips" are really just a ton of flax seeds formed together as chips with some melted cheese on top and a few dipping sauces: raw hummus, black bean, salsa and sour cream.

Breakfast quesadilla - egg whites, soysage, broccoli and green peppers (guac on the side).

Love this place!

xo,

zo

The Out-of-Towners

It's always fun being a host, as long as your house guest is welcomed obviously.  I always love hosting friends when it's their first time in Atlanta because deciding on where to take them is super easy.  Deciding on where to eat can be a little difficult.  One of my oldest (not in years but in the amount of time we have known each other) friends is visiting Atlanta for the first time and I want to make sure she has a blast.  Luckily, she is a health conscious eater and likes to stay active.  However, with places like Fat Matts, Gladys Knights Chicken and Waffles and Mary Macs as southern dining staples, it's hard to find a place that has that Atlanta charm and won't make you feel guilty after.

p.s. great movie if you haven't seen it.

So, in efforts to satisfy the local cuisine fix and not finish the weekend being 5 lbs heavier, I've created a flavors and fun itinerary for a healthy and active Atlanta weekend. Enjoy!

Friday:
- Dinner at R. Thomas.  Most likely your guest will get in later and you don't want a fancy meal. You just wanna enjoy dinner and catch up for hours.  Luckily, they are open 24 hours so chat away!

Saturday:
- Pick up and easy, health breakfast and coffee at Highland Bakery. After breakfast drive out to Stone Mountain for a nice short hike with a pretty cool view (if you want a longer workout run the outer loop) or drive back to Midtown and go on a great walk or rent bikes and take a ride through Piedmont Park.  If you're biking and feelin' super active, take your bikes to the Virginia Highlands and back.  After you're done with the morning activity grab some water and relax in the park.  It's one of my favorite places to sit and reflect.

- Next up, World of Coke, the Georgia Aquarium or the High Museum.  It's kinda a disservice if you don't take someone to one of these places during their first visit to Atlanta. And when you're ready for lunch, grab a quick bite at Souper Jenny or MetroFresh depending on what part of town you're staying in.

- After all this activity you are either ready to do some shopping or ready to sit on the couch for a little.  If you're ready to do some shopping and want to be outside (and love vintage stores) check out Little 5. If you're more of a Saks shopper, head on over to Phipps.

- Finally...dinner.  If you want to show your guest true southern cooking and don't care about the calories (because you ran the entire Stone Mountain loop) you should definitely take them to South City Kitchen. If you want to stay a little more healthy you may have to kiss the southern fried cookin' goodbye and try the culinary delights of Cafe 640 (formerly Cafe di Sol, the Grapefruit Rosewater Martini is my fav) or Top Flr.

Sunday:
- Brunch. Ria's Bluebird.  Nuff said.  This place is legit and vegetarian friendly. Southwest tofu scramble =  yum!

Have fun!

xo,
zo
 

Post-Workout Blues

I finished 13.1. I'm not gonna lie, I'm in pain.  And by pain I mean, couldn't sleep, can't walk, knees feel like they are going to pop off my legs pain.  It ain't pretty.  So unlike me, who immediately went home and soaked in a hot epsom salt bath (bad idea), I'm going to help you with tips on how to recover from a half marathon, really long run or even just a really hard workout...the right way.

1. Eat & Hydrate! Carbs and lean protein within an hour. Example: cereal and milk, eggs and a whole wheat bagel. You need the protein to rebuild muscle tissue damage from whatever you were doing let it be running or just a really tough workout. If you postpone this it can even add time to your recovery process.  To re-hydrate I like to mix water and Powerade Zero.
2. DO NOT sit in a hot bath when you get home.  I learned that the hard way, doh! Fill your tub up with kinda warm water and then add a ton of ice. Sit for 20 minutes.
3. Take 2 Aleve. 
4. Sleep. Your body does most of it's healing during this time.
5. The next day, schedule a massage.  No need for deep tissue, that may actual hurt the healing process.  Go to a massage therapist that knows how to help athletes recover.  I went to Anne at The Art of Touch and she was amazing.  She did a great job stretching my legs (they were unbearably tight) and loosening up the muscles that were sore.  I HIGHLY recommend this place and I feel better already.
6. Congratulate yourself.  I figure I burned about 1,500 calories during my race and deserved a little treat for my accomplishment.  Thank you Grindhouse Burgers for your amazing turkey burger, fries and boozey milkshake.  This burger joint was 1/2 the cost of 5 Napkin and 1000x better (can you tell I'm still bitter about going there).

YUM!

xo, zo