Hello and happy Hump Day! 
I hope the work/school day is flying by for you!
I started my morning with something that I haven’t done in awhile: EXERCISE! I’ve been so frickin’ busy lately, I honestly haven’t had the time to work out. Of course, I tried to fit in exercise where I could (lots of walking, talking the stairs, etc.), but I haven’t had a “real” workout in at least a week, which is probably the longest amount of time I’ve gone without exercising since I was a kid when I started dancing and playing soccer. Crazy, right? Well, I’m back on track now!
Speaking of falling off the wagon, check out my recent Health posts for some tips to get back on track:
Fallen of the Wagon? 4 Ways to Get Back on Track
Jeans Too Snug? Why You Shouldn’t Freak Out
Breakfast
After a quality workout at my new gym, I headed home to make breakfast. (My new gym is 0.04 miles from my apartment and just $35 per month! 
)
For breakfast, I made a peanut butter and banana-stuffed pita with more banana and peanut butter on the side.
I also had a mug of Starbuck’s VIA instant coffee. Check out my review from last March when I got a little sneak preview of the product.
Lunch
Last night, I actually took the time to prepare lunch for today. Sometimes, I have my act together! 
I’ve been on a serious beet kick lately, so when my mom gave me some from her garden, I was psyched! And, to be honest, I never thought I would get so excited about beets!
I also had a sweet potato on hand, so I chopped up the beets and sweet potato, tossed them in olive oil and sugar, and broiled them for about 20 minutes– pretty much the same way I make my Roasted Broccoli.
The sweet potatoes and beets came out wonderfully– firm on the outside, soft on the inside, and slightly sweet. Holy yum!
I cooled the sweet potatoes and beets over night, and then added them to a bed of Romaine lettuce, which I topped with feta cheese. It was an AWESOME lunch! One of the best I’ve eaten in awhile.
Lunch also included some Oatmeal Cherry Raisin Spice cookies from The Lazy Baker.
For some added crunch and protein in my lunch, I also had some cashews, glazed with pomegranate + vanilla, from Sahale Snacks. (I scored them from the BlogHer Food swagbag.)
Doesn’t the flavor sound really interesting?
These were awesome too! Slightly tangy, sweet, and salty all at once.
Snack
My mouth still wanted something sweet to eat after lunch, so I tried to distract it with my last (!!!) tea bag of Sugar Cookie Sleigh Ride tea. This tea is so yummy! Good thing the holidays are almost here! I need to restock.
I wasn’t planning to eat anything else after lunch, but impulsively, I purchased a Caramel Chip cookie from the Cafe Gato Rojo. I guess Cookie Friday will happen twice this week!?
Physical Therapy Update
I haven’t written much on the blog about my physical therapy appointments, but I’ve been going twice a week for the past 3 weeks, and I am happy to report that my hip is better!
We’ve used steroids and ultrasound to lessen the hip’s inflammation, so now I am working on strengthening my hip for the next few weeks.
And the most exciting news from my recent appointment: I CAN RUN THIS WEEKEND!!! 
Of course, I can’t over-do-it, but my physical therapist said a couple of miles would be okay! YAY!
Mal and I are going to Newport for the weekend, which is one of my favorite places to run, so I am totally jazzed to get out there and just do it!
Dealing with Injuries
My new Feel Great Weight post on Health is about how I’ve dealt with my hip injury over the past few months. Of course, it would have been easy to “throw in the towel” and just stopping exercising all together, but I’ve found ways to break a sweat without further injuring my hip.
How to Lose Weight When You Hit an Exercise Hurdle
The Lazy Baker Giveaway Winner
Thank to everyone who entered the giveaway! You guys love your cookies!
Without further ado, here is your random integer: 29
Congrats #29!!! Please email me with your full name and mailing address.
Question of the Day
Has an injury ever prevented you from exercising? How did you deal?
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I’m glad your hip is feeling better and you can run again.
After losing over 60 pounds a few years ago I broke my foot and didn’t deal with it very well. I ended up gaining it all back and have been struggling to start losing again.
I’m definitely trying that sweet potato beet salad! And where can I buy Sugar Cookie Sleigh Ride tea???
I’ve been dealing with hip bursitis since July, and not being able to run has been devastating (I hadn’t realized what an important part of my life it’s become!!) Every couple of weeks pain-free I’ll try to run and it will flare back up. I’ve been racking up the indoor/outdoor bikeage and doing Pilates and weight training like it’s my job. It also helps a LOT to roll out my IT bands on a foam roller and hold stretches for a full 30 seconds!
Thanks so much for posting your therapy exercises! I just got diagnosed with hip bursitis and may have to see a Sport Medicine Doc to get injections (YIKES!). I backed off running for a bit and it seems to have calmed down. I was wondering if I could do some strengthing exercises; think I’ll give that a try too.
I think you just made beets look good! I’m going to try that for the fam
I also wanted to say I really liked your ‘fallen off the wagon’ post and I’m glad your hip is feeling better!
those glazed nuts sound delish! cool great flavor!
jenna
I had to stop running for a few months this winter after injuring my IT band. It was really frustrating, but it definitely helped to throw myself into physical therapy and make sure I did every stretch/exercise the therapist recommended. It made me feel like I was working towards a goal, and now that I’m running again I know all of that effort was worthwhile.
I love your health post! I’m in the same boat right now with a mystery hip injury and it’s so easy to lose motivation… gracias for the great advice, as always
I’m injured right now, and not dealing well! Ha. I hurt my hip flexor probably from overuse, and it’s incredibly painful just to walk around campus. I’m getting it looked at tomorrow morning, but I’m not a happy camper.
I’ve actually never seen beets when they were pulled right out of the garden like that. I had no idea what they were, haha! They look delicious with those sweet potatos!
Yay for pt working!! Hips are tough injury spots.
So excited for you to be able to run this weekend. I am starting another round of PT myself for a new injury but am hopeful that I will be running again soon. It’s so awesome when the treatment actually works! Loving the beets, for some reason I am really intimidated by cooking them but you make it look pretty easy on here.
I love love love love Celestial Seasonings holiday teas. I buy as many boxes as I can during the holiday season.
Oh the Sahale Snacks were at the Natural Foods Expo too! Loved the pomagrante flavored cashews
Congrats on being able to run!! That is awesome news
I’m currently plagued by a knee injury (5 1/2 months and counting) that just will not go away no matter what. I’ve taken time off (from running and all exercises), PT, multiple doctors, cortisone shots, ultrasounds – you name it! So frustrating. I have a pack of those cashews in my cupboard – glad to hear they’re tasty!!
YAY for getting to run again. You probably feel like an animal be re-released into the wild!
wow! great articles you have written!!! thanks. I really enjoyed them and it was very inspirational!
Glad you can run again soon!!!
Good news on your pt. I had the exact same situation happen to me. Runner, running more then 4-5 miles, 3 times a week, and decided it was time to bring to next level. So I got running coach, he set me with kick ass half-marathon program, and started training 5 months prior. DId amazing, and was getting faster, and in amazing shredded shape. 2 weeks prior to the half, my knee, IT band hurt all sudden 10 miles into my last 12 mile run. Took few days off, did short run, and then did last 8 mile, and mile 6.5, BANG..Pain, hip, back, knee. So called coach and he said “DO NOT RUN THE HALF. Is it worth injuring yourself so you can never run again..there will always be a half marathon to run”.
Found myself with patella, IT band tendinosis, and inflammation of the S1 joint (hip). 3 times a week, 3 months PT.
I am now in a rehab running program, hoping for the day I can run 4-5 miles, outside, with no pain, 3 times a week. I miss just going for run, with no thoughts on my injuries or pain, and no worries about my fitness.
Just wanted you to know there are people out there that totally gets what you are going through. WE CAN DO IT!!!
Congrats on the good news. I ran the San Francisco marathon this past July and qualified for Boston while I was there. I didn’t properly rest after the run and in the process of training and not resting I overworked my left foot. I already had tendonitis in my left foot and the training and marathon made it worse. So I had to take time off but I didn’t take enough time. It’s been really hard having to take it easy when all I want to do is run 19 miles. I had two marathons planned this fall and I can’t run them. So I am taking it easy and listening to my body. It’s been hard but if I want to continue to run and run Boston then this is what I have to do.
Wow! It’s great that you can run again, that is awesome! I’m a terrible runner. Bad knees and ankles. However, I’m good at other things.
Sahale makes an amazing pecan nut mix. It is Cracked Pepper and Orange Zest. Thought you might be interested in that one. I’m totally going to look for the Pomegranate and Vanilla one though. Yummy.
This is a very timly post for me! I am suffering from an injury and it has been a total set back for me. Thanks for the tips!
I am dealing with a foot injury now (been sidelined for 6 weeks so far) and not allowed to do anything but upper body lifting. Can’t even walk more than a block or two. Not even yoga. Went from a very active daily life plus 5x/week workouts to virtually nada. Worried about weight gain but I have been careful with my food and haven’t gained 1 lb. It really is all about the food and you have to adjust your intake during periods of less exercise.
What an AMAZING salad, I never knew you could cook beets that way, YUMMY!
I have never had an “injury” yet (knock on wood) so I can not say but thank you for the tips from all the comments everyone left.
=) Laura @ Finding A Healthy Balance
I recently tried the VIA and I was amazed at how much I liked it. I usually turn my nose up at instant coffee but it was so convenient not to have to fix up the coffee maker since I’m the only one in my house who drinks it regularly.
I feel so much hppeair now I understand all this. Thanks!
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