My busy day is going well so far! Sometimes it’s nice to have a full schedule that does not include "thinking time" I.E. lots of computer work like my normal days.
After a read Real Food Consultation phone call with a reader, I headed down to my old neighborhood, Ballantyne, to meet Victoria for a workout. I miss my old neighborhood SO MUCH! It’s very modern, new, suburban, landscaped and has grown a TON since we moved away 3 years ago.
This building was not in the skyline when we left!!
And the YMCA has been COMPLETELY remodeled + expanded!!! I consider this YMCA "my Y" because it’s where I first went and lost almost all of my weight. It’s now totally different (and totally awesome!)
Wish I’d gotten a snap of the cardio area. It was awesome. It takes me about 15 minutes to get to this Y, so it’s not exactly convenient (I used to be 1 mile away) but it might just be worth the trip a few times – esp. since Victoria works out there!
We warmed up on the stepmills for about 15 minutes and then headed into Sculpt Interval class. It was supposed to be half cardio / half weights, but it was more like 90% weights. Good for me because I need the push to lift, but bad because I prefer jumping around to pain in the muscles! I didn’t feel that worn out when I left class, but moving around my house, showering and making lunch, I really am starting to shake + quake!
After our class we wanted to be outside, so we went to the track and jogged a mile together while we chatted in the gorgeous fall weather. It was a nice cool down.
After my 15 minute drive back home (not as fun as a 15 minute bike ride 🙁 ) I put together this awesome lunch.
I made one of Matt’s smooshed sandwiches on grainy sourdough baguette. I actually trimmed out some of the interior bread to make it more bite-friendly (and lighten the loaf a bit). It was a super high baguette that I don’t think I could have fit my mouth around! It was great like this with turkey, ketchup, mustard, romaine, and pickles. (I put ketchup + pickles on to see if it would be more burger like and it was pretty good!)
The produce. Sberries + carrots + peppers in a little Naturally Nutty Chocolate Butter Toffee PB.
I used my new Mary Kay products today. My arms smell like Passion Fruit and my face is bronzed and moisturized 🙂
See y’all late tonight after three classes!
Allyson says
I always feel nostalgic when I see the gym where I first started working out and losing weight, too! It’s where my life started 🙂
Sara says
Always nice to go “home”! You always become so acutely aware of what has changed after not seeing a place for a long time. What a fresh and delicious lunch, too.
Angharad (eating for england) says
That sandwich looks seriously amazing! I love crunchy french baguette so much. The mustard and pickle additions make it sky rocket for me! Yum.
Britt says
Yummy looking sandwich.
Its always nice to take a walk down memory road, also helps you appreciate how far you have come! 🙂
megan says
I miss the Y. I put my membership on hold for the summer and I can’t wait to go back. although I don’t want to give up running outside either. fall is tough 🙂
Shannon (The Daily Balance) says
awesome looking sandwich! Always fun to visit places that had a big impact on your life — kind of like listening to an old song 😉
Liz says
Love the sandwich. Good idea to trim out the inside of the bread a bit. That’s what Alton Brown did on his sandwich episode! Have a good day a school.
Mandy A says
I actually prefer weights to cardio… something about making my muscles shake that feels awesome 🙂
YUMMY lunch!! Strawberries look so good!
kay (eating machine) says
i was thinking about the first gym i worked out at while at my gym today! it was at the community college in my hometown, and it was a fairly even mix of senior citizens (who could work out for free there), and college students. i always loved seeing 80 year olds who were still working to be healthy and active!
Kristen @ Simply Savor says
mmm love the smell of passion fruit!! and i really need to get into the carrots+PB thing–looks like a great snack! enjoy class today 🙂
Jenny says
I also have a place I call “my gym,” where I lost a lot of extra weight I’d been carrying.
Even though I’ve moved to Gainesville, every time I think of where I used to live (Deerfield Beach,) I think of “my” LA Fitness.
Glad to know I’m not the only one:)
Your sandwich looks delish!
brandi says
enjoy your classes!
my hometown is crazy big now. it’s so weird going home and seeing all this new stuff.
Brie (The Fit Bride) says
Matt’s bread always looks so good. I wish we had a Great Harvest here!
Eve says
Your weather looks a bit like what we’re having NYC – clear skies, no humidity, fall-like, amazing! I would have never thought to add ketchup to a turkey sandwich, but now that you mention it I could see how it would be “burger like”.
lynn (The Actors Diet) says
i love baguettes!!! i can’t bear to part with the filling but i think that’s a great idea to scoop it out
Chloe (Naturally Frugal) says
That sandwich looks yummy, what a great idea to trim out the bread! It’s always so hard to wrap my mouth around huge baguettes and from now on I’ll use your trick.
Jenna says
yummu loookin sammie!
Jenn Eats Nutritiously Now says
I hope your classes are going well!
Cynthia (It All Changes) says
Isn’t it strange to go back to your old stomping grounds. I did this recently when I went to see my mom. It was crazy to see places I used to go as a teen look so different.
I love those mixed classes of weights and cardio. I’m more likely to give up the lifting if I get tired doing it on my own. I feel like I’m letting someone down if I give up in a class.
Deva (Voracious Vorilee) says
Your sandwich looks delish. I love making sammies on baguettes – especially pb and preserves/jelly/jam. Have you ever tried making french toast out of leftover baguette? it’s divine!
Elsa says
The Y’s you go to sound great. Mine is just ok, I wish it had better classes.
Julia says
That sandwich looks great, I love that crispy crust!
xxx Julia (Taste of Living)
K says
I love taking trips down “memory lane” like that! It always makes me so nostalgic.
Mara @ What's For Dinner? says
I hardly recognize my old neighborhood when I go back; it’s so different now!!
Lizzy says
The bright colors on your plate just make me smile!!!!!
I wish i could try some of matt’s bread! it always looks AMAZING! 🙂
have a good night of classes
Kristi says
You know, I still haven’t tried peanut butter and carrots! I see it all over the place and should really try it out. What type of peanut/almond butter is your favorite?
Marissa says
I love going by old gym. It takes me back, sorta like music 🙂
Courtney says
Yay for quakey, shakey muscles from strength training! I love that feeling!
Courtney
Adventures in Tri-ing
Sandhiya says
the lunch plate looks so very Fall!! Kath, for some reason..I wanted to add a little yogurt to that lunch of yours..I have no idea why …
Erin says
Chewy baguette = heaven.
I dig the new orange plate!
Anne [email protected] New Weigh says
That sandwich looks so yummy!
Evan Thomas says
That butter toffee is one of my favorites
Heather @ Health, Happiness, and Hope says
That lunch sounds fabulous! I love the looks of that bread. And I’m totally jealous of those make-up products! 🙂
The Healthy Apple says
OOOO turkey and ketchup; that’s a new combo…I’ll have to try that..thanks Kath.
Susan says
I went to my old highschool gym for the first time in 5 years this past winter. So weird!! Funny how gyms can feel like a second home of sorts. We do end up spending a lot of time in there!!
Angie says
I’m jealous–my closest gym is 15 minutes away. No way to bike there–you have to go on the expressway! (Can’t bike or walk here at all–bad sidewalks, narrow city traffic lanes). Hope to move someday to make exercise easier!
Brandi says
I love your blog! It has inspired me to start my own. Any tips and advice you can offer would be great!
Jessie says
Ballantyne is a beautiful area of Charlotte, my parents live in Waxhaw, which is also so beautiful. I live in KY, but I was born and raised in NC. I love the pics from “around town”, I miss NC!!!
Jenn (www. j3nn.net ) says
My father used to take the stuffing out of Italian bread, too! It does help save calories and gives you the crusty exterior and a little bit of the soft insides. I made a sandwich that looks almost identical to yours a few months ago on kalamata olive ciabatta bread with Applegate Farms turkey and spinach leaves. Mmm!
Jenn
Courtney Worthington says
I like your trick with catsup and pickles to make it more burger-like!
Pam says
oh pickles and ketchup make everything better. I’ve been known to eat pickles dipped in ketchup…. love me some sodium
zestycook says
Sandwich looks awesome Kath…. I am starving right now!
zest!
Pam (Highway to Health) says
Wow – so jealous of that bread! It looks amazing!!
Meredith (Pursuing Balance) says
Seems like everyone is having a busy day! Your lunch is very pretty.
Kath says
Kristi,
Favorites are Naturally Nutty, Barney Butter, Futter Butter Hazelnut, Trader Joe’s PB, Smucker’s Natural, MaraNatha AB and freshly ground, which I never get but love.
Kath
Luc Alford says
wow — that is a beautiful lunch! And great pictures. I like the way the plate is a perfect balance of abundance (the nice big piles of berries and carrots, and the amazing-looking crusty bread) and moderation (the perfectly portioned sandwich — enough to be satisfying but not huge). This can be a hard balance to strike, so brava! I love the bright colors, and the way your posts make us feel like we’re right there —
keep it up girl, Luc.