I wanted to do a quick WTDW on sunless tanner.

I’m very pale, maybe slightly darker than porcelain , and I stay that way pretty much year-round because I wear sunscreen almost everyday and I avoid sun-tanning. The only time when I have a little bit of color is at the end of [...]]]>

I wanted to do a quick WTDW on sunless tanner.

I’m very pale, maybe slightly darker than porcelain , and I stay that way pretty much year-round because I wear sunscreen almost everyday and I avoid sun-tanning. The only time when I have a little bit of color is at the end of summer or if I’ve used sunless tanner.

I always wondered if sunless tanner was safe…or at least safer than the sun. So, after several years of using it, it’s about time I found out…

What’s the Deal?

Sunless tanner, commonly sold as creams, gels or sprays work to darken our skin without UV rays. The active ingredient in sunless tanner that “tans” our skin is a chemical called Dihydroxyacetone or DHA. What is it? It’s is a simple sugar derived from the sugar cane plant. It interacts with surface cells in the outer skin (dead skin cells) temporarily staining the skin darker. As the dead cells naturally slough off, the color fades. And DHA is FDA-approved.

It appears that products containing DHA are fairly safe to use. The only thing you have to make sure of is that the product doesn’t get into your eyes, nose or mouth, because the effects of that are unknown. And you should always test it on a small area of skin to see how it affects you personally (allergic reactions/blotchiness). If anything, it is definitely better than tanning, or worse, burning in the sun.

Speaking of, you have to remember that sunless tanners don’t provide you with any protection from actual sun exposure (unless it contains SPF). So, you most definitely still need to be using sunscreen!

Also, I looked on the Cosmetic Safety Database and found 1 sunless tanner that scored a 2 – Caribbean Solutions. Most of the other ones on the list scored pretty high though, which isn’t too reassuring.

However, I think using sunless tanner once in a while (maybe once a month at most) is probably okay. As for me, I think I may try it once or twice this summer now knowing exactly what it is!

Research From: Everyday Health, Mayo Clinic

Running Update

Before I go I just wanted to say that yesterday, I decided to lace up my sneakers and attempt another run. I think before yesterday I’ve gone on very short runs (1-2 miles) only 3 times since finishing physical therapy. But yesterday I felt like I could push myself.

It was hot, I was a bit tired… but I managed to push out 3.5 miles!!!! (Well 3.47 if you want to be picky).

Above are my Garmin stats. I ran 3.47 miles at about a 10min/mile pace. That time included a couple short walking breaks and one longer one. I think I did pretty well! After the run, I walked briskly for about 20 minutes to cool down.

Then I had some of this delicious stuff when I got home.

I was seriously beat afterwards. I am NOT in running shape at all.

I had plans to go to yoga, but I thought I would only be going for a much shorter run. I ended up just going to the gym to foam roll, do some push-ups and abs and stretch. All in all, a great workout!

I’m feeling some hip pain today, and I felt a bit on my run yesterday. But nothing too awful! I’m very proud of myself and I can’t wait to get out there and run again!

Do you use sunless tanner? What do think of it? Ever tried spray tans or airbrush tanning?

I know there are a lot of people who are discouraged about becoming a runner.

Believe me, I never thought I would be training for a half marathon! Yet, here I am, Garmin strapped to my wrist and my face still rosy from having just completed a 4.5 mile training run in the cold. [...]]]>  

I know there are a lot of people who are discouraged about becoming a runner.

Believe me, I never thought I would be training for a half marathon! Yet, here I am, Garmin strapped to my wrist and my face still rosy from having just completed a 4.5 mile training run in the cold.

And 4.5 miles is a “short run”!

I used to be a “sprinter” in high school. I think I was the 3rd fastest girl in my grade. I loved to run fast but I dreaded running for a long time. A couple months after my knee injury and subsequent surgery, I began to run on the treadmill a bit, to get back into shape. At first I could only go for 15 minutes before I had to stop. I worked my way up to 30 minutes before giving it up. 

In university, I remember going for my very first real outside run with JH. (JH has been a “real”  runner for a long time. She was even on the cross-country team in university for a year.) I remember getting outside and realizing that it was cold. We started running and my ears began to burn with pain as the cold wind blew into them. I was out of breath within 10 minutes. I told her to run ahead. And I gave up on running once again.

At some point in my Senior year, I decided I wanted to try running again. I’m not sure why, but this time I was much more motivated. So JH and I went. And this time, I didn’t give up! We went on more runs! I remember the first time I ran for 40 minutes I was SO proud of myself.

I continued my running after graduation. I was up to running for an hour! A co-worker of mine convinced me to train for an 8k race with him. I thought with all the running I was doing, why not channel it into training for a race! So I did! I soon began to understand the love/hate relationship with running. When you’re in training mode, sometimes running just HURTS and some days you just DO NOT want to run anymore. But I persisted. And my persistence paid off and I placed 15th out of 80 in my age category in my very first race!

I definitely developed racing fever after this and immediately signed up for a 10K race a month later. I continued to train hard and ended up placing 56th out of 490! (There were a lot more participants in the 10k).

 
Above is my friend Alli and I showing off our participant medals after we finished the race.

And then after that… I took a break from races. I actually took a break from running altogether for a while.

I think it was a much needed break. I needed to do something unstructured for a little while.

But now, I’m back to training! It feels really good to have something to work towards!

Running isn’t for everyone. Running is HARD. I’ll admit, during today’s run I was FREEZING and out of breath and sore.

Running takes a long time to get “good at”(whatever that means, right?!) and it takes a lot of patience. It’s not something you can DIVE right into, because you might get injured. So you have to take it slooowww. I started out only being able to run for15 minutes. 

You get out of it what you put into it. And, on some days, like today, it HURTS!

So, why do we do it then?

Because finishing a good run makes you feel like a million bucks. Because getting your second wind when a heart-pumping song comes on your ipod is such a rush! Because it’s a CHALLENGE! Because you can do it anywhere, with anyone or with no one. And because running makes you feel STRONG, ACCOMPLISHED and HEALTHY!

Why do you run? Or why don’t you?

Good morning!

So, as much as I wanted it to be, unfortunately running was not in the cards for me yesterday evening. I definitely tried though! I got all bundled up a la Angela’s Project Snow. I grabbed my ipod and slapped on my Garmin and was off into the cold. I turned on my [...]]]>

Good morning!

So, as much as I wanted it to be, unfortunately running was not in the cards for me yesterday evening. I definitely tried though! I got all bundled up a la Angela’s Project Snow. I grabbed my ipod and slapped on my Garmin and was off into the cold. I turned on my ipod, put in my earphones and… nothing. Apparently my earbuds decided that they no longer want to work   Then I turned on my Garmin and it displayed “low battery”. I mean, I could obviously run without a Garmin and without music. But… when it’s dark and cold, I think I’d rather have them. And maybe a part of me wasn’t totally crazy enough to run in the dark and in the cold. I think for me, maybe I should try and do my outside runs in the morning or afternoon; I’m not a big fan of running in the dark.

So, I went back home and saw there was just enough time for me to make it to my usual Wednesday gym ritual – the Brazilian Series at Equinox.  

I am not giving up on this running thing though! 

Dinner and Dessert

I have really been craving salads lately. I think it may be because I have been slacking on my veggie intake. 
After seeing the chopped salad on this lovely lady`s blog, I decided it was exactly what I wanted for dinner last night. 

I tossed together in a bowl:

1/2 small head of washed and chopped red leaf lettuce
1/2 an English cucumber, peeled and diced
About 20 grape tomatoes, halved
1 small avocado diced
1 roasted red pepper sliced (I used a jarred version. But feel free to roast your own)
1 cup of chickpeas
1 cup of sliced hearts of palm (my favorite salad mix-in!)
A few sliced mushrooms that were on their last leg
(You could also throw on some goats cheese or chopped nuts – I didn’t have any on hand)

I then dressed it with a bit of EVOO, balsamic vinegar, a squirt of lemon juice and a small amount of salt and pepper .

Delicious (and nutritious )

I love love love salads with tons of ingredients thrown into them.

What are your favorite salad toppings?  (mine are hearts of palm, chick-peas and strawberries!)

After dinner the bf and I both had a bit of a sweet tooth, so I decided to try my hand at making some vegan chocolate chip cookies!

I followed this recipe, but substituted the regular flour for whole wheat pastry flour. 

The finished product:

They smelled, delicious and they looked delicious… but they tasted, as the bf said “just okay”.

He actually said they tasted a bit bland. Maybe it had to do with the WW flour? Or maybe it was the lack of butter

I thought they were not bad; they definitely hit the spot for me but I agreed that they could have been better.

I will keep searching around for a good recipe. If you know of any please send them my way!

I think a breakfast smoothie is on the menu this morning!

Happy almost weekend! Have a great day!

Janna

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To Vaccinate or Not to Vaccinate

Wondering about whether you should get the H1N1 Vaccine?

Did you know today was “Nutrition Day”?

Eat those fruits and veggies!

On the way out I grabbed a Tropical Fruit Tart Larabar.

After some errands around town I came back for a late lunch.

Hmm it looks sorta gross in [...]]]> So in order to stick with my drink more water plan, I carried around my trusty pink CamelBack (BPA free of course) with me all day!

On the way out I grabbed a Tropical Fruit Tart Larabar.

After some errands around town I came back for a late lunch.

Hmm it looks sorta gross in picture form but I assure you it was delicious!
Lettuce, tomatoes, the sweeeeetest red peppers, strawberries topped with a crumbled amy’s california burger. Dressed with some EVOO and apple cider vinegar. Plus some Food Should Taste Good “The Works” chips and a side of water bottle

So I decided to go for a run today.
Um..it didn’t go so well.
There’s something you should know about me, I have THE WORST sense of direction out of anyone I know. Seriously, I was born without that part of my brain or something. Combined with my lack of memory skills this led to an interesting attempt to run across the Brooklyn Bridge this afternoon.

And what’s hilarious is that, I’ve ran there… SEVERAL times! Never by myself.. but still. Already knowing I wouldn’t remember where to go, I google mapped the route.  Sadly, Google maps led me astray. I totally followed the directions it gave me but needless to say I did not end up at the Brooklyn Bridge.  I wasn’t lost because after realizing I was not getting anywhere near the BB, I just stuck around the area I was already in. Which happened to be the worst.running.area.ever! I think I did more waiting at stop lights then actual running. And there were so many people I had to walk a lot of the time. I guess that’s NYC for ya.

I really have to 1) Figure out the way to that bridge and 2) Get me some decent running routes!

Here are my stats from my garmin for what it’s worth: 

HA! Oh man… well at least I got out there for 43 mins! I feel like my actual running time was probably 20 mins and my waiting at stoplight/walking through huge crowds was the other 20! I haven’t run in while, so something is better than nothing, right?

I came home and made myself a yummy dinner:

Brown rice pasta + roasted veggies (zucchini, red peppers, yellow squash and crimini mushrooms) with San Marzano tomato sauce. 
And an un-pictured side of water bottle.

This is definitely one of my go to dinners, veggie pasta,  it’s just so quick, so easy, so tasty and so healthy! I had 2 bowls of that deliciousness. Sometimes I make it into a baked pasta dish by layering it lasagna-style with a bit of mozarella and parmesan cheese and then bake in a casserole dish for 30 mins. So yum!

I’m off to find something sweet (some dried mangos perhaps?) and then go out for a bit of exploring! The bf is working late tonight. Hopefully we’ll be able to go out for a late night drink or something.

Hope you have a fantastic friday night!