Fitness: Training Run - Progressive 5K Treadmill Workout

Spring is right around the corner and so is my favorite season of all: race season. I've been training for a hilly 10 mile race next month and to keep my body guessing and to prevent injuries I've been mixing up my runs and workouts each week. I have scheduled three runs a week with cross training and weight workouts mixed in. This really helps with recovery time and it makes it so I don't over train. My runs consist of one shorter speed interval run, one shorter hill focused run and one long run (on Saturday or Sunday) that increases by a mile each week. 

So far I have been feeling great and will hopefully stay injury free come race day. I make sure to stretch properly before and after every run and always foam roll my muscles to keep the recovery time low. Last week I did this progressive 5k run on my speed interval day and I loved it. Usually I dread running on the treadmill but this kept me guessing and entertained for the 30 minutes it took to complete.

Make sure to start with at least a 5 minute warm up at level 4.5 (a brisk walk or light jog) to get started. The next 2 minutes increase to level 7 followed by a 30 second recovery at level 5. Then 1 minute at a level 8 followed by a 30 second recovery at level 5. Finish it off with 30 seconds of Level 9 (or whatever level to achieve a full out sprint) followed by a 30 second recovery. Get ready to repeat this process all over again 3 more times followed by a 5 minute cool down.

The 30 second recovery time between each interval doesn't seem like a lot of time, but you'd be surprised on what a difference it makes.

If you try this out you'll have to let us know what you thought! Do you have any speed treadmill workouts you love? Leave them in the comments!

Ways to Avoid Emotional Eating

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Everyone is guilty of it at some point--eating because you're bored or stressed or unhappy. Many times people use food as a way to cope with how they're feeling. Food is never the answer--if you eat to quell an emotion, you really aren't solving anything. The problem will still be there after you've downed that pint of ice cream. 

Next time you're feeling a negative emotion and mysteriously find yourself standing in front of the refrigerator, walk away and try one of the following to get your mind off food:

Exercise: Working out makes you feel great after you've finished. Think about how much greater you will feel knowing that you chose to do something good for your body instead of sitting around eating calories you don't need. Search fitness on our site for some routine ideas.

Read a book: Read blogs. Pick up a novel. Whatever you choose, reading is a great way to help your mind stay active and help you learn new things. It’s one of the most productive things you could do for yourself!

Play with your pets: Seriously, who could resist these sweet little faces?

Call me a cat lady if you will—spending time with my pets is such a feel-good activity. Your pets love you no matter what mood you're in and they're always willing to hang out with you. Various studies have proven that just having a pet boosts health and well being. I believe it—they’re so fun to have around.

Stretch: Along the same lines as exercising, stretching is something good you can do for your body that will help keep it limber and help you de-stress. Click here for a routine you can do before bed. 

Write: Pissed off? Sad? Write about it. So many people find release in writing their feelings down. It's a way to express what's on your mind without having to speak a word.

Get outside: I don't know about you, but I always feel so much better when the sun is shining. 

I feel like I have more energy and it's easier to maintain a positive outlook. Next time you're feeling down, go outside. Go for a walk. Visit a park or garden. You could even just stand outside and let the sun shine down on you for a few minutes. Instant mood booster.

Do you have ways you avoid emotional eating? Share them with us. We’d love to hear!

Fashion: New Spring Ballet Flats We Love

Spring is right around the corner and I can't help but dream about light jackets, shoes without socks or tights, dresses and less layers. Don't get me wrong, I love fall fashion but I'm ready to embrace the warmer weather and the trends that are soon to follow. 

I've been eying flats lately and can't wait to scoop up a pair or two soon to wear this spring. There are so many cute styles and patterns out there already,  I can't imagine what's going to be available once it's officially spring. Some of my current favorites are below: 

1. LC Lauren Conrad for Kohl's Ballet Flats - on sale $34.99

2. Gap Printed pointy flats - $49.95

3. Target Merona® Madge Ballet Flat - $19.99

4. DSW GC Shoes Classy Flat - $34.95

5. DSW Tahari Veronica Color Block Flat $59.95

6. Banana Republic Scotty ballet flat - $98

7. Urban Outfitters Kimchi Blue Fatale Peep-Toe Skimmer- $29

8. J. Crew Collection Cece Liberty floral ballet flats - $198

What do you think of these shoes? Do you have any that you're eying for this spring?

Review: Sultra The Seductress Flat Iron

Today I’ll be reviewing The Seductress Flat Iron by Sultra. Sultra is known for its high-tech hair styling tools that actually keep your hair healthy. Their line of hair dryers, curling and flat irons are energy saving tools that save hair from heat damage.

The Seductress is a one-inch flat iron that is capable of straightening, waving and curling hair. It has three different heat settings to accommodate various hair types. It comes with Kyocera® Ceramic Technology, which is designed to provide even heat from root to tip of the hair. Not only that, the technology helps repair and smooth the hair.

Is it possible to love a hair styling tool? If so, then I am loving The Seductress. There are so many great features to tell you about that I’m not sure where to begin. Here are a few things that make this iron great:

• Immediately heats up: after switching the iron on, you won’t wait more than 30 seconds until it’s completely heated up and ready to use. The iron will even beep to alert you when it’s ready. Gone are the days of plugging in your iron and doing your makeup while you wait. 
• Various heat settings: because I have fine hair, it’s great to have a heat styling tool that can be set at the perfect temperature for me. The three settings are designed for diverse hair types: fine (370°F), normal (380°F) or thick (395°F) hair. This helps prevent hair damage. 
• Swivel cord: there’s nothing more frustrating with hair styling tools than when the cord gets tangled so badly that you can’t undo it. The Seductress has a long cord, which means you’ll have plenty of slack when using the iron on all parts of your hair, and it comes with a swivel cord. The part of the cord that meets the base of the iron is capable of turning 360 degrees, so there’s never any risk of the cord becoming tangled.
• Auto shut off: have you ever accidentally left a heat styling tool on? No need to worry if you do—The Seductress will turn off if left alone for 30 minutes.
• Iron pad: the iron comes with a pad that can help protect your countertop from heat. It can also be used to wrap your iron to throw in your travel bag. 

These are some of the great features that make this flat iron special. But, what about the actual styling results? The iron really is capable of straightening, waving and curling hair. After styling, my hair feels extremely smooth and looks shiny and healthy. All it takes is one pass through each section of my hair to get a good result. I’ve also noticed that my hair holds whichever style I choose to do all day long.

Here are a few looks I’ve done on myself:

This iron comes with a hefty price tag ($210), but the results are spectacular! The Seductress is a versatile and quality product—I’ve been using it every day. Have you tried The Seductress? What’s your favorite heat styling tool? 

Nutrition: How to Pump up Your Oatmeal

I'm a huge believer that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. If I don't eat a huge protein packed meal in the morning I'm hungry within the hour. It keeps me moving and ready to tackle whatever challenges I have to face that day. 

I've recently been adding a ton of protein and healthy fats to my oatmeal and it's made a huge difference. I'm full for way longer and feel more energized and complete. There are so many flavor combinations you can try to keep it interesting. I have been sticking to my normal mixture lately, but it's fun to mix it up every once in a while. 

What you'll need:

1/2 cup oats (I used the gluten-free kind from Trader Joe's)

1/2 cup water 

1/2 cup milk of your choice (I used almond milk)

1 heaping tablespoon of peanut butter or any nut butter of your choice

1 teaspoon flax seeds 

1 teaspoon chia seeds 

1 scoop protein powder (I used vanilla egg white protein)

Any other mix ins you'd like such as bananas, nuts, berries, raisins, etc. 

What to do:

Combine the 1/2 cup oats, 1/2 cup water and 1/2 cup milk in a microwave safe bowl and microwave on high for 2-2 1/2 minutes 

Stir mixture to combine and let sit for a minute 

Add your peanut butter, flax seeds, chia seeds, protein powder and any other fruits or nuts and stir to combine 

Enjoy!

This breakfast has been such a staple for me over these chilly winter months. I look forward to it every morning and love how great I feel after! 

Do you have any breakfast meals you love to eat that keep you full throughout the morning? Share in the comments below!

Adrianne’s February Birchbox

Because February means high profile events like major awards shows are upon us, Birchbox themed this month’s box around “red carpet worthy” products.

1. Lancôme BI-FACIL 

2. Ghirardelli Milk & Caramel SQUARES 

3. twistband™ Headband Collection 

4. Skin&Co Bagnodoccia Body Gel 

5. Color Club Fiesta Collection

1. Lancôme BI-FACIL: This eye makeup remover actually works great. It immediately dissolves and helps wipe away makeup. A full-size bottle of the product is $27—pretty steep for an eye makeup remover. This isn’t something I’d purchase. There are plenty of other makeup removers on the market that you can buy for much cheaper.  

2. Ghirardelli Milk & Caramel SQUARES: Sure, this little square of chocolate and caramel was delicious, but what was it doing in my Birchbox? I’ve received food samples in my Birchbox in the past and I’m not a fan—I think it would be fine if Birchbox included samples like this as an added bonus, but they should keep their focus on beauty products. 

3. twistband™ Headband Collection: This headband is make of a stretchy material and is designed to keep hair off your face. I have received two products from this line in the past (both hair ties). The good thing is that the material comes with no metal, so it won’t pull or tug at your hair. I tried wearing this while working out and found it kept my hair back for a while, but eventually slipped and I had to fix it. This isn’t something I’d purchase. 

4. Skin&Co Bagnodoccia Body Gel: I really didn’t like this body gel. Though the smell wasn’t too intense, it wasn’t pleasant. In addition to that, the gel seemed to make my skin feel dry after I stepped out of the shower. 

5. Color Club Fiesta Collection Nail Polish in Wild Cactus: If you follow the beauty and fashion world, you’ve probably heard that emerald is the 2013 Pantone color of the year. So when I received this Color Club polish in Wild Cactus (emerald), I was excited to try it. However, I have tried this brand of polish before and wasn’t too impressed. The color is very pretty, but not something I would wear all the time. This formula went one nice and smooth (not like the last Color Club product I tried), but it isn’t something I’d buy.  

Unfortunately, I was pretty disappointed with the February Birchbox. I really didn’t see the connection between what I received and getting ready for a special event, let alone a red carpet. I’ve been a Birchbox subscriber for more than a year. During that time I have found a few stellar beauty products. However, the majority of products have been just okay. In addition to that, there have been a lot of products—like chocolate, hair ties, laundry detergent and more—that are considered “lifestyle” samples. That’s not why I signed up for Birchbox. My desire was to find new makeup and skincare products. So, I decided to cancel my subscription. I’ll miss receiving a box full of surprises each month, but I wasn’t getting the return I had hoped for. I’ve always wanted to try Glossybox, so I purchased one for the month of March. I doubt I’ll sign up for an extended subscription because it’s fairly expensive ($20/month), but I’ve wanted to try it. Stay tuned for an update next month!

Beauty: Our BEST Drugstore Find Yet!

So, I feel like a complete fool. I've been paying 3 - 4 times as much as I should have been for under eye concealer. Yes. 3 - 4 TIMES more. I was skeptical that a inexpensive drugstore product would meet if not exceed  expensive designer brands until I tried the e.l.f Studio Under Eye Concealer & Highlighter. This product is AMAZING and ... only $3. Yes, seriously, $3.  

The consistency is very similar to more expensive brands, it doesn't dry me out or settle into my fine lines around my eyes. It blends perfectly into my skin and doesn't make it obvious that I'm trying to conceal major under eye issues.

I first use the highlighter after applying my tinted moisturizer or foundation and dab it in a triangle shape under my eye (read Adrianne's post here about how to apply under eye concealer correctly). Once that is blended I follow the same routine with the concealer. 

I blend both together and am left with a healthy glow and zero dark circles in sight. The highlighter works great on other areas of my face that I want to highlight too such as my nose, eyebrow arch and forehead.

I can't rave enough about this very inexpensive amazing product. Have $3? I urge you to check this out! I purchased mine at Target but you can also buy this brand on their website.

Do you have any inexpensive drugstore finds that you love? Leave them in the comments!