Archive for March, 2012
Vegans Are Crazy
20March 30, 2012
in Vegan
Since this is the first week of my newly focused blog topics I wanted to start at the beginning of my vegan journey. If you are a regular reader of my blog, you already know that I’m vegan (obviously). But do you know why/how I went vegan? It’s pretty simple and straightforward.
That’s it? That’s all it took for me to go to a plant-based diet? Yep. That’s it.
Although something as simple as that lead to a diet change and me to go vegetarian, I then ultimately made the lifestyle choice to go vegan. More on this in the future.
Vegans may be crazy. But I’m one of them!
In the meantime, I’m interested in what you have to say. What questions do you have about veganism? Give me a shoutout below or even better, let’s discuss on my Facebook page.
Keep Smiling and Be Grateful =)
Running Isn’t Fun – Let’s Get Back To Basics
32March 28, 2012
Recently I’ve been looking to add fun in my runs and have succeeded. (Remember my Sparkle Run and my plan to run my half marathon in a tutu?) Prior to seeking out fun it felt like I was dragging on my runs. Today I had an “aha moment” that I wanted to share with you.
I’ve been running for almost 5 years. Within those 5 years I’ve done some “racing” here and there. I say “racing” because really, I don’t race. I just run races to run races. There’s no part of me racing per se…other than maybe myself. And even that could be questioned. Mostly due to my health and medical bills I took a hiatus from racing for a couple years, but I continued running. A good number of runners would probably look at my race history and not be all that impressed as I’m not fast nor do I have a ton o’ races to list. That’s not to say I’m not experienced. Trust me. I’ve been there, done that. Over the past year or so I’ve gotten back into registering for races and have found that I love it just as much as I did in the beginning.
But there’s some negativity that comes along with training for a race and actually racing…at least for me. For some reason when I start to sign up for races and/or surround myself with better-abled athletes I feel like I have to live up to their abilities. I’ve spoken about this before and even made this video a few months ago.
After posting that video I was able to shake the thoughts of comparing myself with others. Enter: training season. Everyone’s logging lots of miles and kicking butt in their training. I’m training too, but on a different level. I don’t do fartleks or tempo runs. I just go out and run. I watch my time and push myself, but I don’t do anything special. I see what everyone else is doing and think to myself, “Oh boy, I should be doing that.” But I don’t do it and then I get down on myself, which transfers into crappy runs. Enter my “aha moment”.
It’s not that the fun has been removed from my runs, it’s that I’m holding this expectation over my head of what I SHOULD be doing based on what everyone else is doing. I run because I can. I run because it makes me feel good. You see, I believe everyone can run, but some come by it more naturally. I myself am not a natural runner. People talk about their challenging runs. I don’t doubt they are challenging. But here I am 5 years after I’ve started running and EVERY run is a challenge for me. Don’t get me wrong, we all know I thrive on challenges, but it’s still a challenge.
So why am I putting these unrealistic expectations on myself to train different than I already am? That would mean taking away the sole reason I run. I get so caught up in it all that I lose sight of my goal: To be happy.
Chances are when you see me at a race I’ll be smiling. Some may say, “If you’re smiling you’re not trying hard enough.” Well, that may be your motto, but not mine. I recently read a quote from Jeff Galloway and although I’m a fast moving Buzzbomb through most of my life, when it comes to running his quote fits me perfectly.
“Enjoy every mile. There’s not a lot of fun getting from point A to point B as fast as you can.”
So here’s the deal: It’s time to get get back to basics. On Wednesdays we’re talking all about running, training, and triathlons. To start, we’re going back to basics, the highs, the lows.
I plan on taking my upcoming half marathon and Half Rev3 training/race serious, but you can bet I’ll have a smile on my face come race day. I earned that smile by logging just as many miles as the next person. I have so many ideas to help myself and you through these rough patches…whether you’re just starting out or have been training for years. Hint: Let’s just say I have a couple fun runs planned to mix in with my race schedule. Stay tuned…
So are you ready to go back to basics with me? Venture over to my Facebook page and give me some of your ideas!
Keep Smiling and Be Grateful =)
Buzz: Does Columbia Make More Than Ski Jackets? Yes!
6
Welcome to my first week of “Buzz”. Today I thought I’d share my thoughts on one of the products I received from Columbia Sportswear.
It has been unseasonably warm here in Ohio over the past few weeks. I’ve been able to run in shorts, tees, and tanks. You’re not hearing any complaints from me. With the gorgeous weather I took advantage of the moment to test out my Columbia Solar Polar Short Sleeve Top. Yep, this is the shirt I received with my welcome package to #OmniTen.
Let’s start with the basics:
-Fabric: 91% polyester/9% elastane Freezer Ice jersey, 100% polyester pointelle mesh, 86% polyester/14% elastane Flex Stretch woven
-Omni-Freeze ICE advanced cooling
-Omni-Shade® UPF 50 sun protection
-Omni-Wick®
-Vented
-Reflective detail
-Antimicrobial
In other words, it wicks the sweat from your body and the fabric helps to keep you cool. On top of that it protects you from UV rays, has extra ventilation, and stays “clean”.
I love the color combination and how it flares just a bit at the bottom. The extra length is always appreciated and the Columbia logo on the back not only looks cool but also serves as ventilation.
Personally I probably would’ve gone down a size to make the fit a bit tighter, since that’s how I like to wear my running gear. With that being said, the fit wasn’t a huge issue by any means.
I put it through the test on a mild low-70s morning of sunshine. Not the hottest or best day to test out the Omni-Freeze ICE technology. It was hard to tell if it “cooled” me but I do have to say I was definitely comfortable and not over-heated as the outdoor temperature or my body temperature rose. I will definitely be wearing it more in the future and testing it in more extreme conditions. Be sure to follow me on Twitter and I’ll let you know how it goes!
Be sure to head over to my Facebook Page and let me know what sort of things you’d like hear me “Buzz” about.
Keep Smiling and Be Grateful =)
Vegan Triathlete – Let’s Get Focused
You’re going to see some exciting changes happening around BananaBuzzbomb.com. No worries. It’s all exciting, GOOD stuff!
It’s time to get better organized and a bit more focused on the content I bring you, so without further ado, here’s my plan:
Mondays will be my “Buzz” day. What exactly does that mean? Maybe it’s a product that I’m excited to show you or something important that’s going on in my life. It could even be something that I’m worked up about and just have to share my opinion. In other words, stuff I just need/want to Buzz about it!
Wednesdays are going to focus on running, training, and triathlons. The point isn’t going to be to share my specific workouts or be a trainer per se. One week I may share my training process while another week I may have some helpful hints on getting started into running. One thing’s for sure, I’m currently re-evaluating my running/training and what it means to me. I’m definitely looking to getting back to the basics and my plan is to share with you how I’m doing so and tips for you to do the same. Whether you’re an experienced runner or someone that’s just getting off the couch and into running, I hope to have something for you.
My plan for Fridays is to focus on veganism. This is a topic that I’m stoked about bringing to you. Since I went to a plant based diet in 2008 I have a couple years of experience under my belt I would like to educate those that are interested in trying out the lifestyle or just curious on what it’s all about. Anything from why I went vegan, recommendations on transitioning yourself ,and topics such as “Why vegans don’t eat honey” will be disccused. I also plan to discuss questions I posed myself or had difficulty deciding on throughout my transitioning process. And I’ll be looking to my readers for input on questions they have on the lifestyle.
There you have it! That’s my plan on getting focused to bring you better content and reading. As with anything, ideas change and evolve. I may post more than 3 times a week…only time will tell. I plan on posting more videos in the future so be sure to subscribe to BananaBuzzbomb on Youtube. In addition, I hope to interact with ya’ll even more on my BananaBuzzbomb Facebook Page. Hope you stick around to see what unfolds!
Keep Smiling and Be Grateful =)
RFF – 3/23/12
6March 23, 2012
in Simply Happy
1. I used to get freaked out when I didn’t have a plan or know where I was going. I’m getting better with that. Actually I have to watch that I don’t go to the opposite end of the spectrum.
2. I have a serious phobia of snakes. I’m talking scream, run, go into fetal position, and cry. I went through a time in my life where no matter where I went I had to verify snakes weren’t hiding…under the toilet, in the shower curtain…it was bad. I no longer do that but my phobia still exists.
3. I still use my TI-83 calculator from high school. I couldn’t imagine doing bills without it. Am I the only one?
4. I collect quote books and read them often. I have them bookmarked and highlighted for referencing.
5. D willingly watches chick flicks with me and he’s been to midnight premieres for the Twilight Saga movies. I’m grateful for that.
What’s your biggest phobia?
Keep Smiling and Be Grateful =)
Rev3 Run Across America
5
If it isn’t obvious enough from my blogs (here, here, or here) or my tweets, I have to tell you I love Rev3. Why do I love Rev3?
Besides their cool visors and shimmer swimsuits?
They are a first-class company that puts on fantastic races with a charismatic group of people. I am not a Rev3 Staff Member or even an Age Group Team Member, but I’ve witnessed their workings first hand and am beyond impressed. I can’t say enough about them or the work they do. I believe in Rev3…what they’re about and what they do. I have since become ”friends” with some of the Staff Members/Team and have signed up to run my first Half Rev3 distance triathlon this summer at Cedar Point, in Ohio, with them. But if you’re familiar with my blog, you already knew that.
Recently Rev3 has kicked it up a notch and announced that it’s staff would be running across America in hopes of raising $100,000 for The Ulman Cancer Fund. The Revolution3 Run Across America consists of 10 people on a core team, doing 15 miles each day, to get from Oceanside, CA to Washington DC (3,080 miles), in 21 days (March 26th to April 16th). Along the way the Rev3 Age Group Team will fill in days where they can. In addition to the main group, there will be many “virtual teams” throughout the United States logging running miles where they can, raising funds towards the cause.
The Ulman Cancer Fund was started by Doug Ulman and his family after his cancer diagnosis while in college. Since its inception in 1997, UCF has worked tirelessly at both the community level and national level to raise awareness of the young adult (ages 20 – 39 years old) cancer issue and ensure all young adults and families impacted by cancer have a voice and the resources necessary to thrive. As Rev3 runs across these great United States of America they will strive to spread their good word and give many children and families inspiration and access to the services provided by the Ulman Cancer Fund.
Where do I come into all of this? I’ve come to the realization that yes, I love to run, but it’s time to do something more with my running. I’d like to raise money and awareness for organizations when and where I can. As you know, I’ve already signed up with Team RWB to raise money for our veterans and I have now signed up to raise money for the Ulman Cancer Fund by helping Rev3 Run Across America. Unfortunately I am unable to take 21 days off of work to run across America, so I’ve joined forces with Harmony Davis and the rest of her virtual team to log miles when and where I can. This will be during the same time period the others will be running across America.
Where do you come in? Donate! Although I’ll be kicking up my Team RWB donation efforts in the future I’m currently looking for my readers to donate to Rev3 Run Across America. I’ve also added a widget to my right side bar. Just click and follow the prompts to donate. When asked, choose to donate in the name of “Team Davis”. No amount is too little. And word on the street is that Rev3 is working on a raffle for those that do donate. So if you donate you could be walking away with something fun. Hot dang!
Thanks everyone!
Keep Smiling and Be Grateful =)
Vegans Can’t Eat Out, Right? WRONG!
13
This is my second post for the Run To The Finish 30 Day Vegan Challenge. You can find my post about what I eat here. I apologize for the lack of fantastic photos. I don’t tend to photograph my food, not to mention I eat pretty basic stuff…nothing fancy. Actually, these are pretty “fancy” dishes for me since I tend to eat mostly raw fruits and veggies 
As a vegan you can’t eat out, right? WRONG! You can have just as much enjoyment eating out than any person that eats a Standard American Diet. You just have to navigate the territory a bit differently. Here are a couple of tips I’ve used and still use to this day.
Number 1 – Google it! Type in the restaurant name along with “vegan” and voila, most times you’ll hit the jackpot. Often people have already written the company and done the research for you. Even without Googling there are some great sites out there that have databases of vegan food options. Vegetarian Restaurants.net is loaded with vegan options. There’s even a site that has vegan fast food options. And if you’re looking for vegan-specific restaurants head over to Happy Cow or VegGuide. Side note: make sure you try to find the most up-to-date sites for information. Restaurants can change their recipes at any time, making them un-vegan.
Number 2 – Check out the restaurant’s menu. With most restaurants having websites on the Internet, they often have their menus listed too. Once you start knowing what you can and can’t eat you’ll find that you can quickly peruse their menu before hand so that you’re prepared when you arrive at the restaurant and it’s time to order. You can also cross-reference the menu and your research from Googling to see what would be best for you.
Number 3 – Call ahead. No menu online? Call up the restaurant or stop by to have a chat with them. Chances are this won’t be required, but it’s an option, especially if you’ll be attending an even that’s a set dish. I prefer to do my research prior to eating at the restaurant because once you’re there you’re relying on the waiter or waitress’ information. You like to hope it’s factual but oftentimes this isn’t the case due to their lack of knowledge or care.
Number 4 – Will you be stuck with a salad every time? No. Chances are there will be at least one option for you. Don’t forget to check out any side dishes that can be made into main entrees too, such as baked potatoes and steamed vegetables. If there aren’t and you’re stuck with a salad, let’s hope it’s a big fancy salad. Not lucky enough with a big fancy salad and only have the small iceberg side salad? Order several side salads and do it up. When prepared, I’ve been known to bring my own additions to top off my salad.
Use these tips and before you know it you’ll be a champ at eating out as a vegan!
Keep Smiling and Be Grateful =)
Clip in, Clip Out
13March 20, 2012
in Triathlon
If you follow me on Facebook or Twitter then you know that yesterday I took my tri bike, Sparky, out for our first official ride on pavement. Since buying Sparky we haven’t had the best weather so I’ve trained on my CycleOps fluid trainer the entire off season. With the gorgeous weather I thought it was time to take him out for a spin. Once again, if you follow me on the other social media platforms you’ll know that I fell not once, but twice on my ride. It was a humbling experience.
The first comment on my YouTube video was something on the lines of, “You’re doing a 70.3 this summer and you’re just now learning to clip in?” Well, technically no. I’ve been clipping in since October. But yes, if you want to look at it that way, I am new. I am new to the sport. Some may say this is a huge undertaking. Some may even say it’s not realistic. But they don’t know me. Remember, I’m not doing this to be the best. I’m doing this to challenge myself. I’m also doing this to become a better athlete and a healthier person.
Here’s my video taken immediately after I got home from my first trip out with Sparky:
I’d love to be able to show you some rad road rash. Thankfully I wasn’t visibly beat up bad. My bum has some bruises and I’ll readily admit the left side of my body is not happy today, but I think I’ll be just fine. I’m grateful I had most of my skin covered by clothing. So this is all I have to show for my falls. Not too exciting.
After trying to fix my chain I had some greased up hands. This is AFTER I washed them. Nice.
Here are my shoes prior to my ride. Let’s just say they aren’t as pretty anymore.
I’m a newbie and I still have a ton of stuff to learn, but I wanted to share with you a few things I’ve taken away from my initial experience.
-I’m grateful I have been able to spend so much time on my trainer initially. I was most concerned about riding in a new position (versus my previous hybrid bike positioning) and that was a non-issue when I headed out, I was comfortable…once I got going. And this time also allowed me to get used to clipping in and out on a stabilized bike.
-Although I’m grateful for my time spent on the trainer, it did not prepare me for clipping in and out on a non-stabilized bike. I remember when I first started getting on my trainer, it seemed so high. I got used to it and trusted that I wouldn’t fall. That uneasiness came back when I attempted to throw my leg over my bike for the first time on pavement. My bike seat is much taller than anything I’ve ridden before. When in the saddle I can just touch the pavement with my toes. After discussing this with Jordan and Jamie they recommended straddling the top tube if stopped for a bit (stoplight).
-My initial thoughts were to drive out to a country road for my first try. I’m glad I didn’t do that but I do wish I would’ve driven to a parking lot for my first attempt. Going splat on the street corner with cars driving by hurts your ego a bit. I am glad I chose to ride around my downtown that required a lot of stops. Although challenging, this forced me to clip in and out repeatedly, forcing me to get used to the process.
-When in doubt, clip out. After the first fall I started clipping out way before the stoplights/stop signs. The second fall was a bit of an unexpected stop. I tried to clip out just one foot and lean to that side…obviously I was unsuccessful. I’m sure others can unclip just one foot and do that. I’m not that skilled…yet.
-I didn’t take a drink from my Profile Design Aqualite for a long time, but finally got too parched that I had to. With the me trying find the straw with just my mouth, so I could keep my eyes on the road, and the bumpiness of the road, I busted up my lip. Now I know to grab hold of that straw with my teeth!
-I really had no issues going into and out of the aero position. But what I did learn was while in aero, if I remove one hand, remove the other too. For instance, if I want to wipe sweat off, don’t use my right hand and leave the left in aero. I’ll swerve and possibly loose control. Once again, maybe something I’ll be able to get used to and compensate for…right now, no.
I’m sure this list will continue to grow as I take more and more rides.
Like I said previously, I thought the bike portion of the triathlon would be the easiest. I have been proven once again, this is totally not the case. But even though I’ve had to overcome some of these challenges, and am continuing to do so, I have no doubt in my mind that I will succeed in this.
When I began to feel defeated yesterday and I was literally saying, “Come on Heidi! You’ve got this! Believe in yourself!!” repeatedly, I kept thinking of this quote and it got me through.
I’ve said it several times and I’m sure I’ll say it thousands more, The sport of triathlon…always humbling.
What unexpected challenges have you encountered in your sport of choice?
Keep Smiling and Be Grateful =)
You Win This Round Mother Nature
4March 20, 2012
in Fitness
Here we are, March and it’s darn near 70 degrees out! I’m not complaining but this is not even close to normal for northern Ohio. Actually, this entire winter has been mild. Once again, not complaining, especially since I’ve held myself to training outside (no treadmill for me this year!)
If you remember back I issued myself a challenge. My challenge was to get back out skiing again. You may also remember that I have a history of breaking my femur in 1995. I have been skiing since my accident but it’s been well over 10 years since I’ve hit the slopes. I had all intentions of conquering that challenge this year, but Mother Nature decided differently.
Alas, I admit defeat…this time around.
I hate to admit any kind of defeat because that’s not how I roll. I see a challenge, I conquer it. But this circumstance was really out of my hands. I was prepared and ready to go. I just didn’t have snow. Yeah, snow is needed to ski. I can probably count on my two hands how many days we actually had snow this year. And when we did it was during the week, while I was working, and didn’t stay around long. Totally crazy and not normal.
So Mother Nature, it looks like you won this round, but I haven’t forgotten. Next year!
Have you had mild weather in your area this winter? If so, has it helped or hindered your winter plans?
Keep Smiling and Be Grateful =)
How I’ve Come To Love Vega One
10
Remember how I’ve been in search for the best fuel for me as I train for my Half Marathon and Half Rev3? I’ve already given you feedback on some of the Vega Sport products and will continue to do so, so stay tuned.
However, I was recently contacted by Vega to try another one of their products, Vega One, and jumped at the chance. I must admit that I think I’m falling in love with some of the Vega Products.
Sample Packets
Vega One isn’t necessarily a new product per se, as it’s basically the Vega Whole Food Optimizer that’s been improved upon. Brendan Brazier is quoted as saying,
“The closest you can get to perfection is constant improvement.“
Many companies would be happy with their product and settle it at that. Not Vega. I appreciate and acknowledge that Brendan is taking an already awesome product/concept and making it that much better.
Vega One is plant-based nutritional supplement made by using complete, whole foods. Plant based = vegan. Yes! I love, love, love that all Vega products are vegan. In addition, all ingredients are natural, soy-free, gluten-free, and contains no added sugar, artificial flavors, colors or sweeteners.
For those that are interested in the breakdown of Vega One, here are the numbers for each serving size:
- 50% daily intake of vitamins and minerals
- 15 g protein
- 6 g fiber
- 1.5 g Omega-3
- Antioxidants
- Probiotics
- Greens
- Between 125-140 calories
In order to use the supplement all you need us to add water, juice, or your choice of liquid option. Simple enough. 
I was sent several packets of each flavor including: chocolate, berry, vanilla chai, and natural. I will say that the taste of the chocolate is quite similar to that of the Vega Sport Performance Protein. I will be straight up, initially I wasn’t a fan of either. I am new to the taste of Stevia and it threw me for a loop. However, I have found a way to not only tolerate it, but love it….mix it with fruit. 
So far I’ve tried different mixtures with the different flavors: Vanilla Chai with frozen raspberries and some water. Also Berry with frozen strawberries, mango, and coconut water (I was pleasantly surprised by this mixture!). The Natural I have found very versatile and can be mixed in with almost anything. But my favorite by far is Chocolate with frozen bananas. It tastes just like a chocolate covered banana! If I make it thick enough it’s almost as though it’s a milkshake. Wow. It seems like the options are endless when it comes to the available concoctions.
So it’s tasty, refreshing, and good for you! Perfect.
I’ve seen others use Vega Whole Food Optimizer in day-to-day recipes. Vega One can also be used this way, so now I’m on the hunt for recipes I can make with it. 
What’s your favorite recipe that includes protein powder?
Keep Smiling and Be Grateful =)
*Vega One provided me with samples, but all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
