Life

It’s Such an Honor…

April 12, 2013 by Asia

…to be Nicole’s Maid of Honor!!!

Asia…

…be my maid of honor?
YES!

From nights on the town…

…to our 90 mile bike rides…

…and ridiculously long runs….

I can’t wait to be a special part of Nicole’s BEST DAY EVER!

And to top it all off, Mike just asked Jeremy to be a groomsman!

Mike & Jeremy. Always very serious.

From marathons to triathlons, this brings the 4 of us together for another VERY imporant milestone: The day Mike & Nicole become husband and wife!

(No these aren’t her wedding colors.)

Team WODS!

We can’t wait to share this special day with you. Thank you for making us a part of it!

Cilantro Lime Quinoa with Black Beans

April 11, 2013 by Asia

I LOVE QUINOA. I try to eat it several times a week since it is a complete protein, and I eat mostly vegan so it is challenging to get complete proteins in my diet. I’ve also had people tell me that they wish they liked quinoa, but it doesn’t have enough flavor. Well, look no further, because this recipe definitely is packed with flavor and should please vegans and meateaters alike.

I found this easy quinoa recipe with a southwestern twist on Pinterest from fitnessmagazine.com and added a little flair of my own (beans, avocado, crunchy chips, and spice) to make this a hearty vegan meal! You can also serve it as a side dish. It’s super quick and easy to make, so I give it 5 stars. (The only thing I had trouble with was the can opener, but that’s not unusual for me.)

Quinoa beauty shot from fitness.com. (Mine didn't look this pretty.)

Quinoa beauty shot from fitnessmagazine.com. (Mine didn’t look this pretty.)

Servings: 6 servings, 2/3 cup each…so it’s really like 3-4 servings in our household.

Prep: 30 mins

Total: 45 mins

Ingredients

1 cup quinoa, toasted then rinsed

1/4 cup pepitas, toasted

2 teaspoons EVOO

1 medium white onion, chopped

1 4-ounce can chopped green chiles

2 cloves garlic, minced (or use 2 tsp from a jar of minced garlic)

1 14-ounce can reduced-sodium vegetable broth or water (you can use 50/50 if you want less sodium or run out of broth)

3/4 cup coarsely chopped fresh cilantro

1/2 cup chopped scallions

Juice of 1 lime

1 can black beans, rinsed

Toppings

1 avocado, diced

Dash of pepper, to taste

Dash of Tabasco, to taste

Handful of crushed tortilla chips (optional)

Directions

1. Toast quinoa in a large dry skillet over medium heat, stirring often, until it crackles and becomes aromatic, 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer to a fine sieve and rinse thoroughly. Set aside.

2. Toast pepitas in the same skilled for 3-5 minutes, then set aside.

3. Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add chopped onion and cook, stirring often, until softened, about 3 minutes. Add chiles and garlic; cook, stirring, for 30 seconds. Add the quinoa and broth; bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to maintain a gentle simmer, cover and cook until the quinoa is tender and most of the liquid has been absorbed, 20 to 25 minutes.

4. Add toasted pepitas, cilantro, scallions, lime juice, and beans, to the quinoa; mix gently and fluff with a fork.

5. Top with 1/2 diced avocado for some extra calories and healthy fat. Add Tabasco, pepper, and tortilla chips to taste.

The Result: A complete, tasty vegan meal and plenty of leftovers! I wonder what this would taste like in a burrito…

My take on this delicious quinoa dish.

Why I Love Being (90%) Vegan

February 18, 2013 by Asia

Native Foods Rockin’ Moroccan Bowl

I had been hearing a lot of buzz about veganism in the endurance community and was very curious if it would work for me as an endurance athlete too. (Scott Jurek’s book “Eat and Run” is a great read if you’re interested.) I was a vegetarian and pescatarian for 15 years before I decided to give it a try. In doing so, I decided I would not go 100% vegan, at least not right away, because I wanted the flexibility to eat something vegetarian when I would go to a dinner party or work outing, or be able to eat the occasional buttery baked good, etc. This has been going on since July, and it has gone really well!

The reasons I decided to try it:

1. I wanted to see if it would make me feel better. (Less tummy aches, increased energy, enhanced endurance performance to name a few.)

2. I knew it could lead to a healthier lifestyle. (Does less cheese mean lower cholesterol and less cancer?)

3. I had been thinking about trying it for a few years; it was time. (The movie “Forks Over Knives” pushed me over the edge.)

The results:

1. Fewer tummy aches, more energy, and an Ironman finisher! (Ok, that last part also took a lot of training, but I did it on a vegan diet!)

2. Less cheese and more veggies! (Did you know you can eat “cheese” made from cashews, and all sorts of other crazy tricks? Thank you, Pinterest!)

3. More cooking at home! (This was one of my goals for 2013.)

Homemade spring rolls

I’ve been eating approx 90% vegan since July and have been very happy with the change. Even Jeremy decided to join the ride with me! Survey says he’s about 75% vegan. I am so proud of him. My family and friends have been incredibly supportive as well. I’ve given them new recipes to try when they have me over for dinner (pad Thai, pasta, chili), and I”ve cooked for them as well. My BFF Nicole and her beau are mostly vegan too, so that has helped tremendously. New vegan restaurant? It’s a date!

Whenever I’m in a bind or am seriously craving a slice of cheese pizza, I know I can still eat vegetarian and be OK with it. There is no going back to fish or meat, but sometimes I’ll eat something that was made with eggs or real milk. I’m not perfect, and I’m also not trying to be too high maintenance…Yet. I might just decide to go all the way with this vegan thing one day because it has impressed me so far.

I’ve really been enjoying my vegan journey and can’t wait to continue down this path! I’ve found tons of new recipes on Pinterest and started following vegans on Twitter and bloggers that share great vegan recipes. I plan to share a few of mine with you too. Overall, I feel amazing and am proud to be a part of this community. If I can encourage 1 person to eat vegan or vegetarian with me once a week, I know I am spreading some hearty healthy love! <3 (Can you say cheesy?)

Vegan feast. No, I don’t eat like this every day!

My 2 Year Fitness Journey

February 4, 2013 by Asia

When I started this blog on Feb 2, 2011, I said “I never want to stop training!” Two years later, I still haven’t stopped. It is my 2 year blog anniversary (happy blogiversary to me!) so I’ve reflected on my posts and included some of my favorite training milestones from the past 2 years. Browse the titles and pictures, or click on a link for a deeper dive into my fitness journey. I’ve come a loooooong way. Thanks for coming with me!

“My 18 Week Fitness Journey” (My very first blog post!)

One day, I basically woke up and went from 0 to 60. I wasn’t always a workout freak, and I HATED my first half marathon (November 2008). I came back around in 2010 when I trained for and completed my second half marathon and found a new love for running…and P90X…and many other things! The possibilities are endless when you shift your mindset.

Day Zero (Aug 2010)

P90X Results

Jeremy and I did P90X together two different times, and saw fantastic results both times. I have never been more muscular than when I did P90X. I could do 50 push-ups and 7 pull-ups. What?! Beast mode.

P90X Masters!

I’m a marathon finisher!

Nicole and I crossed the finish line of Rock n Roll marathon together in 4:01:59. It was a great experience, but I always knew I’d do another one to prove (to myself) I could break 4 hours.

About to get on Highway 163

Celebrating our Finishi with Meb - The Half Marathon Champion

Celebrating our Finish with Meb (June 2011)

Beginner’s Triathlon (My first triathlon EVER!) and My First Sprint Triathlon

The pictures of me from my first practice triathlon are pretty hilarious. I didn’t own any of my own gear, and had barely just learned how to swim and bike again. I couldn’t even swim the 300m without a combination of floating, breastroke, backstroke, and finally, freestyle.

Slowly getting off the Bike

Before my First Sprint Triathlon (July 2011)

Insanity Results & My Half Marathon PR (1:51)

Insanity is one of my favorite at home fitness programs because it doesn’t require any equipment so you can take it with you anywhere. It also got me the closest to a six-pack and crush my half marathon PR!

Insanity “After” & “After” AFC Half Marathon! (Aug 2011)

Surf City Marathon Race Report – a big PR of 3:49!

Nicole and I set the bar for our second marathon at sub 3:50…not sub 4 hours as previously mentioned…and we did it!!

So nervous! (Feb 2012)

My current marathon PR is 3:49, and I need to go sub 3:35.

Mile 10

My First Half Ironman! Oceanside 70.3

I almost cried before we started; I was still so scared of the swim and the bike!

Body Marking

A moment of pure joy (March 2012)

Almost an Ironman: Ironman Coeur d’Alene Race Report

I will never forget my first Ironman attempt and DNF. I learned a lot about myself that day.

At least I conquered the swim! (June 2012)

Ironman Cozumel Race Reports: Swim, Bike, Run

I will also never forget the day that I became an IRONMAN!!! Never give up.

Ironman FINISHER!!! (Nov 2012)

I can’t wait to see what the next year brings!

What’s your biggest fitness milestone?

Fun fact Friday! Random Asia facts.

February 1, 2013 by Asia

Warning: This post has no significant fitness or nutritional content to it whatsoever. It’s just plain old fun fact Friday at work.

1. I recently became obsessed with Golden Doodles. I don’t even know if I really want to take care of a dog…What has gotten into me?!

Golden Doodle in flight! Found on Pinterest.

2. I have a terrible memory, so I can watch the same movie or read the same book over and over again and be surprised with the ending. I personally don’t think this is a bad thing.

3. I earned my MBA 2 years ago, and now I’m going back to audit another MBA class just for fun. Addicted to learning much?

4. I was really into the arts growing up (singing, dancing, acting, piano). Now I just like to workout all the time. Maybe I should pick up some dance lessons again, unless someone wants to give me their piano?

5. I’m waiting for someone to take me/join me on a trip to Antarctica so I can fulfill my journey to all 7 contents. Any takers? Really…Any takers?

Happy Friday!

Gut Check on 2013 Goals

January 20, 2013 by Asia

On January 2, I posted what my goals were for 2013. It has been 19 days, and I’m ready for a gut check. Let’s see how I’ve been doing!

GOAL #1: Focus on running, and qualify for Boston marathon.

I started marathon training in January, and I’ve been diligently sticking to my plan. I’m starting to feel like a runner again! The second part of that statement? Well, I’m still working on it. My pace isn’t there yet, but that’s OK. I can tell I’m getting stronger every day.

GOAL #2: Cook more meals at home.

Fail. I started out with good intentions and made us go to the market to try several new recipes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I think I over planned because only half of those meals got made, while the rest of the ingredients rotted away in the fridge since I never took the time to prep/cook them. I’m not so sure why it’s hard for me to get back in the habit of cooking. I am still addicted to the Whole Foods salad bar!

Wanted: Quick and easy, healthy, vegan recipes like the one below!

1 box noodles, 1 jar pasta sauce, vegan meatballs, fresh basil

GOAL #3: Set a budget, and follow it.

I’m still working through this one. It probably doesn’t include $58 unplanned trips to Whole Foods!

I’m glad I’m only tracking my progress against 3 goals right now because achieving them is harder than I thought it would be! Now, I’m off to make something in the crock pot for lunches this week. Really, I am. 🙂

My Goals for 2013

January 2, 2013 by Asia

Happy New Year!!

“Studies show that about 20% of resolutions are cast aside within a month, and fewer than 50% last the whole year. The high failure rate might be due to the fact that we set the bar too high, vowing to make major changes in short periods of time. Make it a happy new year by choosing realistic, attainable goals and practice until they become part of your daily routine.” (Source: Sonic Boom Wellness)

Ringing in the new year in style

A NYE Wedding

I’m back in San Diego and slowly getting into the swing of things again. I thoroughly enjoyed my 11 day vacation from work, and a month off from Ironman training. I was able to spend more time with family and friends, and sleep in!

Seahawks Game

The downside? There was also poor eating, a lack of exercising, and overspending. Woops! After reflecting on 2012, it has become clear to me what I need to focus on in 2013. Having a tendency to over commit myself to things, I have chosen 3 main goals to focus on.

So, here are my 3 new year’s resolutions/commitments/goals/whatever you’d like to call them!

1. Focus on running, and qualify for Boston marathon.

I am VERY excited about this goal. I love running and can’t wait to do more of it. Last year was the year of the triathlon; this year will be the year of the marathon. I haven’t decided exactly how I’m going to train for a BQ time or when I’m going to go for it. I hope to continue to work w/ Coach Trevor, and I’ve signed up for 1 marathon so far (Eugene)! This will be the primary focus of my training this year, so you can bet I will blogging all about it! Got tips? Please send them my way!

My current marathon PR is 3:49, and I need to go sub 3:35.

2. Cook more meals at home.

This will allow me to:

– eat less processed foods

– eat more of a whole foods, plant-based diet

– eat vegan

– save money

I was a pescatarian and vegetarian for 15 years, and then in July I decided to give veganism a try. I eat about 90% vegan now and feel much better because of it. Eating out, however, does not help me stay vegan or do anything I outlined above. I was really bad at going out to lunch and dinner in 2012 because Ironman training and work consumed my life. The Whole Foods bar became my best friend, and I’m sure we gave them thousands of dollars because of it. Continuing with that habit won’t help me achieve goal #3…

Suzy Homemaker

3. Set a budget, and follow it.

Sounds easy enough, right? Well, in 2012 I was a little reckless and spent way too much money on Ironman training and didn’t reserve money for anything else. Whatever started off as a budget was quickly gone when I realized how expensive triathlon can be. ($700 race entry fees, $X,000 for a new bike, etc. There’s a reason why the average income of Ironman athletes is $160k!) Now that I’m not doing an Ironman this year, and will be eating more meals at home, I should be able to be more financially responsible like a real grownup.

I won’t need to buy another one of these this year.

Achieving these goals will definitely take dedication and work, but they complement each other nicely and are attainable. I could write a laundry list of other things I want to work on and achieve this year, but I don’t want to overcomplicate things. I still need to map out the steps of how I’m going to get there, and I can’t wait to get started. So raise a glass (of something you’re drinking at home), and CHEERS to a great 2013!

What are you committing to in the new year?

Merry Christmas!

December 25, 2012 by Asia

Merry Christmas!!!

I hope everyone had a JOYOUS Christmas. My celebrations started early since my family and I would be in different places for Christmas this year. (Jeremy and I take turns going to each other’s family’s Christmases.) Last Thursday, we opened presents at my parents’ house. I scored some sweet Ironman gear, and an iPad mini from Mom and Dad!

My precious niece got her first rocking horse and didn’t quite know what to make of it, but I think she liked it. 🙂

Baby Kiva

Friday was Jeremy’s birthday (33!), and we spent the day traveling to Washington to spend Christmas with his mom and brothers. After 4 hours of flight delays, we finally made it! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, HIZZY!!! We went out for a celebratory dinner with the fam.

Jeremy’s 33rd Birthday Dinner

A big Osborne family Christmas gift this year was tickets to the Sunday Night Football game – Seahawks vs. 49ers! We had an AMAZING time and stayed dry under covered seats.

Headed to our seats!

I spent a lot of time in the kitchen with Jeremy’s mom on Christmas Eve preparing our dinner and Christmas cookies. I made sure there were plenty of tasty vegan options on the table on Christmas Eve and Christmas day. (Stuffing, salads, field roast, veggies, yum!)

Baking Terri’s famous sugar cookies

It has been raining every day in Washington since we arrived, but I was really hoping for snow…and I woke up to it on Christmas morning!

Peaking out the screen door in Washington

So happy to have a White Christmas! How did I celebrate? By going for my first ever SNOW RUN (after presents of course)!

Santa came!

Our gifts to each other!

Sweet new shades

I used my new gifts of running gear (Lululemon hat w/ ponytail opening, and RunningSkirts compression socks) and bundled up. I ran for about 25 minutes and figured it was a good thing I made it that long without slipping on the slushy roads. I didn’t feel too cold to run. I was just happy to be running again!

Running presents!

Totally running weather

Another cool workout themed gift I got was a medal holder that Jeremy’s mom designed for me! She took the quote from one of my blog entries and personalized it to say “Fatigue Fades. The glory, it lasts forever.” How sweet is that?? I think this gift should become a Christmas tradition. 😉 This is such a cool way to organize my medals! You can even get something similar for bibs.

Medal hanger (just add the hooks)

Happy Holidays! What cool workout gear did you get this Christmas?

Friday Facts – Take 2

October 19, 2012 by Asia

1. I’m the oldest child, so I have a habit of trying to get my way.

2. I played the piano on & off (mostly on) from when I was 5 to 22 years old. If I had a piano in my place, I’d probably still be playing. (hint hint anyone who would like to buy me a piano)

3. I always have to be doing something.

4. I never seem to finish a book.

5. I’m a Beachbody Coach.

My Friday Facts – Take 1!

September 28, 2012 by Asia

I originally got this idea from my BFF Nicole who got the idea from her blogger friend Katie . The point is to post random facts about yourself on Fridays, so I’m going to give it a try myself! Why not? Have fun getting to know a little bit more about me and what makes me…special.

FRIDAY FACTS

1. I can cross my toes. Jeremy thinks my feet are freaky.

2. I became a vegetarian when I was 14. Then I switched to a pescatarian. Now I’m an aspiring vegan. I just don’t like meat!!

3. I’ve been to 6 continents. Now I need an excuse to visit Antarctica…A marathon perhaps?

4. I was on a TV episode of Oh Sit! this summer. (A new reality game show on the CW Network.) My TV name was Aspiring Fiancée. You’ll have to watch to find out why!

Look Ma! I’m on TV!

5. I jumped out of a cake once.

The cake!

Happy Friday!!