You guys! I am so, so excited about today’s Fit Friday! One of my good friends Lauren Pou let me interview her today about her mad running skills. She is truly a champ, the girl killed it at the Boston Marathon last year and she is someone who truly inspires me to be more fit every day. Lauren and I met through mutual friends a few years ago and immediately hit it off. She loves to cook and at our group potluck I would always be like “Ohhhh that looks delicious, who brought that?!” and more often then not it would be Lauren’s! During a road trip last year I talked her ear off about when is the best time to work out and what should I eat to get the most out of it and on and on the questions went. Lauren is not only a wealth of knowledge when it comes that stuff but she is also extremely patient and just the kindest, sweetest person in such a refreshingly genuine way. Literally, cannot say enough great things about this lady. Plus, she spends her days working as a coach at a pre-diabetes clinic, where she helps those who are at-risk for diabetes learn about healthy eating and fitness. Like I said, she’s a real gem. Now I am going to kick it over to Lauren to get the scoop about running!
How did you decide to run the Boston Marathon?
Nearly every morning as toddlers, my mom would push my brother and me through town in a bright red running stroller. I fondly remember the Boston Marathon Finisher Jacket she used to wear, so I guess you could say it started there. Because of her, I grew up running 5Ks and joined the school’s running club (she was the coach). When I crossed “completing a marathon” off of my bucket list in 2012, I thought “qualifying for Boston” should come next. Two years later, my mom and step-mom were proudly cheering me on at the finish on Boylston Street!
What inspires you most about running?
To me, running is a form of meditation. It’s a mood booster and detoxifier. It’s like an old friend, I can go weeks or months without it, but when I return to it, I remember why I love it so much.
What is your favorite splurge restaurant in town?
Uchi. I have never had anything I did not like from that place, and they have a really great happy hour. I always leave full and happy.
How do you stay balanced with so much queso, margaritas, and tacos everywhere?
I am a health coach at a place called the PreDiabetes Centers, so my patients motivate me to practice what I preach. We do have an 80/20 rule. If you eat clean 80% of the time, you can occasionally splurge on things like queso, margaritas, and tacos.
What’s your favorite healthy spot in town?
Whole Foods might as well be my second home. When I was house hunting, one of the criteria was that it had to be located no more that ten minutes from work and Whole Foods.
What is your favorite healthy meal to make at home?
When it comes to cooking, I like to keep it as simple as possible. Usually, I steam, roast, or sauté some vegetables along with chicken or fish. When I’m feeling a bit more ambitious, my most recent favorite dish to make is my own version of Picnik‘s spaghetti squash lasagna with rosemary and cashew cream on top.
The best hangover cure?
Since not all hangovers are created equal, you have a few options. If you are able to, work out and get a good sweat going. If you’re too hungover for that, use your 20% to eat whatever your little heart desires, even if it’s tacos and queso. And if you’re too hungover for that, drink some water and sleep it off.
What are your top three tips for getting back on the fitness saddle?
I have come across many cases of adrenal fatigue and hormonal imbalance due to over-exercising lately. It is so important to listen to your body and implement rest days or else all of your hard work will have the opposite effect that you are aiming for. My top three tips for those who are getting back into exercising or trying to prevent overtraining are:
1) Remind yourself that working out does not have to be a chore or super exhausting.
2) Find an activity that makes you happy and turn that into your form of fitness.
3) Switch it up and try a variety of classes or workout methods. This is a great way to learn something new, keep your body guessing, and meet new friends.
So what did y’all think about Fit Fridays this month? This is the last one for May, but I might keep doing one or two per month for the summer. Tell me what you think!
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