Tag: food

Tuna Salad with Lemon Oregano Dressing

Tuna Salad with Lemon Oregano Dressing

by Ali ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Hi Friends! Spring is here–and that means more meals outside. Of course you wanna take portable/travel-friendly meals with you that are easy to make, tasty, healthy, and fresh. This tuna salad has all that and more. I saw a similar recipe used with green beans, but I didn’t have those, so I improvised with edamame! I keep edamame on me for snacking, so this was a no-brainer. I also happened to have a few other things ready to go so this whole tuna salad idea was meant to be. The best part of this salad is that you literally through everything into a bowl with minimal measurement needed and then pour the dressing over the top. Like I mentioned before, I had most of this on me so I’m sure you do too! Best part is that this DOESN’T require MAYO…can I get a hell yeah?! Finally a tuna salad that isn’t swimming is mayo and is full of flavor instead. Tuna is low in fat and high in protein making this a great post-workout meal too. Aside from the protein, tuna has heart-healthy omega-3s. Edamame makes for a pretty green color and its benefit of added fiber. Pair this with a hardboiled egg, on a piece of toast, on a bed of spinach, in butter lettuce cups, or on a spoon, for an easy spring time lunch. Enjoy!

Tuna Salad with Lemon Oregano Dressing

2 cans of albacore tuna (5-6 oz)

1/2 c of edamame beans

1/2 red onion

1 15oz can of white beans

1 tsp of dried oregano

1/4 olive oil

2 Tbsp of lemon juice + 1 tsp of lemon zest

4 hard-boiled eggs

-First off, drain the tuna and put into large bowl, breaking it up into small bits. Add chopped red onion. I left mine chunky for color, but feel free to dice it finer. Rinse and drain beans and add to bowl. Cook edamame if not already cooked and/or remove edamame beans from pods. I estimated about a half of cup for color. In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice and zest, and oregano. Add salt and pepper. Pour dressing over salad, mix together, and refrigerate. Serves four. Enjoy!

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Monday Motivation: Tired of Starting Over?

Monday Motivation: Tired of Starting Over?

by Ali ♥ 2 Comments

Hellooooo!! Monday Motivation time. Been trying to get more ideas for topics, and this one came to mind! How many times does it seem like you’ve yo-yoed back and forth with a fitness routine or healthy habits? This time of year is notorious for that. Instead of setting the scale back ten pounds, use this time to figure out why you keep restarting. Below are some factors that may help you figure out why!

  • Not sure what you like/don’t like when it comes to exercise
    • Possible ideas: group fitness cardio/strength training classes, working out alone vs. a group/dependable workout buddy, mind-body workouts (yoga, barre, pilates), recreation (biking, running, swimming), social ties (running/biking club),  willing to invest in a  personal trainer? (see personal training tab for more info ;)), etc.
    • Take into your account your personality, interests, schedule etc.
    • Its okay to NOT like something!
    • Make a note of what you like and don’t like…e.g. like spin, but not a fan of the class time or instructor? try another!
  • Location
    • Possible ideas: outside at a local park, big box gym vs. private boutique style gym, female based gym (curves), travel time (close vs. further away), corporate fitness gym. Deciding on location can be a make-it or break-it factor since it is a reflection of how often you will go. 
  • Emotions (this may take more thought)
    • Possible ideas: underlying cause to feeling a certain way towards exercise, nervous, intimidated, open to new things, enthusiastic to making a change etc. If you struggle with investing in a gym because you feel intimidated/excited for change, ask yourself WHY do you feel intimidated/excited for change.
  • Costs/budget
    • Possible ideas: Exercise doesn’t have to be costly!! Gaining happiness and starting a healthy lifestyle doesn’t require hefty price tag, however it may mean a small investment to jump start your routine. Buying workout clothes from Target is more affordable then Nike, running/walking in your neighborhood doesn’t require a gym membership, and healthy recipes can be found on the internet (particularly on pinterest!).
  • FOOD!
    • Sometimes a big culprit is not exercise but food. Yo-yoing because you feel confused over calories, what a fat or carb is, what is good for building muscle, etc. is something that is immensely helpful in achieving our goals. Checking out resourceful sites such as acefitness.org on nutrition basics can make a difference. If its a combination, looking into Weight Watchers or Beachbody can help with both exercise and nutrition! If you are serious about investing your time in to eating well, utilizing a nutritionist or RD is the ultimate way to go!
  • Lifestyle Choices
    • Being on the go, eating out a lot, food choices (e.g alcohol consumption, minimal fruits/veggies), vegetarian, gluten-free, vegan, allergies, picky vs. non-picky eater etc. The little things you might not think of play a role too!

Even if you don’t make the effort now to do this, setting yourself up for success in the new year will still help you in figuring out what works and what doesn’t. Don’t be afraid to jot down thoughts in a notebook, bounce ideas of others, do some research on a topic, heck! try on different styles of workout clothes to see what stuff/brands you like and don’t like! What works for you may not work for someone else, so there is NO RUSH! Exercising and healthy living isn’t going anywhere so focus on you and do it right. Don’t be afraid to DIG DEEP and be HONEST with yourself! You know you the best! 😉

Been There, Done That…Now What?

Been There, Done That…Now What?

by Ali ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Even with the most experienced runners, we all tend to get “stuck in a rut.” It’s a normal part of any fitness routine. It usually means that either we hit a plateau, need fresh workout ideas, a change of scenery, a buddy a to run with, new music, the possibilities are endless. These are just a few things that help me break out of my routine.

As soon as I start getting bored thinking about a run (which doesn’t happen often, but recently with mileage it is becoming more so), I know something needs to change. I take it as an opportunity to learn something new or challenge myself. However, with training for a marathon, it is a whole other beast to say the least. It is a different kind of commitment for sure which takes a lot of time and patience. I find myself always looking for ways to break out of my rut, since I find myself either running alone (not so bad since its my preference) or in the same location most times since its convenient. Aside from location, music, even a new workout top or headband—I must say a new piece of workout clothing is quite motivating! It’s not always enough.

Below are some tips and thoughts that go through my mind that help distract me during a rough patch or get me to look forward to my next workout or run:

  • FOOD- YES! Of course many of us runners or anyone who likes a good sweat are foodies at heart—at least I AM!! 😛 I come up with what I look forward post run or workout that gives me the right fuel, is tasty, or something special that makes doing the workout worth doing in the first place. Dread six miles early morning on Saturday or a workout class you have to drive to? Make homemade pancakes for breakfast with all the fixings and let it be special or go out for breakfast after.
  • Break down the milage or time. Fourteen miles sounds long right? Yeah, that’s what I thought this past weekend. Instead I thought of seven miles out and seven back, plain and simple. I knew I was only doing seven one way, which after resting the day before sounded do-able. My mind was fresh and was more mentally strong knowing I broke it down into managable miles or making my workouts simply thirty minutes.
  • Music that PUMPS YOU UP! Find a song that triggers your inner BEAST and let yourself get excited knowing that song is perfect for speed or tempo day when you need to kick it up or slow and steady for long run. Playing it before your workout, as you’re getting ready and part of your warm-up are great ways to get your mind psyched for your workout ahead.
  • New Route, Same Location. Yes, I mentioned this earlier, but a new place does wonders. Either re-looping the same route or reversing it helps a lot. The night before mapping out on mapmyrun.com is good for keeping nearby as well as checking out other runner’s routes.
  • Find a Race! The excitement and enthusiasm of other runners in a race is great motivation. With that comes a new location in some cases, other people, a little friendly competition, and maybe a PR! 😉
  • Running Groups. These are all over the place now. Its a great way to meet people who already have the same interest as you. They offer socializing and weekly meetups which helps with motivation as well. Not just for running either, but biking, walking, and workout groups too! Best part is that they’re free (or a small fee)! Checkout meetup.com for local groups in your area.
Why: Ali Goes The Distance

Why: Ali Goes The Distance

by Ali ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Thanks for visiting! I’m a University of Tampa graduate living in Tampa Bay; I love good coffee, teaching fitness classes, running, and visiting friends under the sun. I’m currently training for the 2016 Miami Marathon, so you can be sure to find me on the run! 😉

Fitness is my passion! I love helping people achieve their goals towards to be their best. I’m certified as an American Council on Exercise (ACE) Personal Trainer, AFAA Group Fitness Instructor, qualified in the TRX Rip Trainer, and a Barre Above instructor. I teach weekly classes and have personal training clients in the Tampa area; I’m also an ambassador for Fit2Run.

I came up with “Ali Goes The Distance” from a few ideas. Running was my first experience with exercise…EVER (see Starting From Square One) and fortunately it was a positive one because I’m still going strong today and love it more than ever. I also love long runs in general which prompted me to sign up for the 2016 Miami Marathon…yay!, one of the main reasons I started this blog and came up with the title. “Ali Goes The Distance” was created in reference to the 26.2 miles I’ll be running (eek!!), but also refers to the journey from achieving one goal to the next. It all takes the three ‘Ps’: persistence, patience, and positivity that makes the distance along the way rewarding.