Dealing With Depression By Doing Two of My Favorite Things

I’ve been blue the past week and a half. I often get this way after big races, and the One World Trade Center event in Manhattan certainly qualifies as a big race. I’ve been good about exercising since I’ve been back from New York, but other things have suffered. My eating, for one, hasn’t been great, and I haven’t been productive with other things I have going on.

This post isn’t about depression, though. It’s about getting over a depression. I was tired of feeling unmotivated and lethargic. I was tired of being the guest of honor at my own pity party. So I thought about what I could do that would make me feel better. And I came with two activities, neither of which I had done in a long time, that might just goose me out of this funk. Then I decided to do both in one day.

Here’s a hint about the first one:

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Parmesan Zucchini Chips

There’s nothing better than a crispy, crunchy snack. I crave potato chips (and corn chips) (and Cheetos) frequently, so I like having a way to satisfy that craving that’s actually nutritious. Enter zucchini chips. They are exactly what they sound like… and they start with zucchini.

These are

New York City on Foot

I spent four full days in New York City, and excluding getting to and from the airport, I only got in a car once, and that was the morning of my big race. Apart from that, I walked and took subways. I became a subway pro – figuring out

Eating My Way Through New York City (and New Jersey) (and Brooklyn)

I spent four jam-packed days in New York City. While the One World Trade Center stair race was a huge deal, I had many other adventures and took photos chronicling them. There’s a lot to share, so I’m splitting them into two posts. Today’s will be about food; tomorrow’s will be about movement.

Eating healthy while traveling is no easy feat, and I ended up eating a

“Keep Going, I’m Right Behind You.” (One World Trade Center Race Recap)

Imagine that instant when something or someone truly takes your breath away. Everything freezes for a split second, and a flood of emotion saturates you. It may be awe or love, shock or sorrow, compassion or sympathy. Your lungs fill up, your eyes widen, your heart swells, and you’re stuck, nearly drowning in the power of the moment, hearing only your own heart beat.

I can’t tell you how many times I was overcome like that on Sunday, when I competed in the inaugural Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Tower Climb. I knew going in that it would an emotional morning, but I just wasn’t prepared.

The race was up the stairs to the top of One World Trade Center in New York City, an angular, soaring structure.

At 94 stories tall, the World Trade Center is

Popsicle Experiments: Part One

My next post was going to be my New York City race recap… not anymore! I got productive on the plane and wrote a post originally intended for next week.

There was a huge bin of popsicle molds by the registers at the drug store. Stores place cheap, enticing items near registers to encourage impulse purchases, and boy howdy, did I fall for it. I’ve never made popsicles before, but now I could… for the low, low price of TWO DOLLARS! Sold.

My first popsicles, which I made that night, weren’t very pretty.

A College Campus Invasion (Final Preparations for New York!)

Quick Sidebar: How awesome is this photo? It was taken by the event photographer at the Heroes Memorial Climb in Dallas. My pal Scott was the first to show it to me, via Facebook, and I literally did a double-take, because I didn’t think it was me. But it is, just a few steps away from completing a 114-story climb.

There’s one more photo I forgot to include in yesterday’s post:

48 Hours in Dallas

I spent two days in Dallas this weekend, and it was jam-packed. One highlight would have to be the Heroes Memorial Climb, but I already told you all about that. The other highlight was an incredible meal at Fearing’s, one of the most renowned restaurants in the country.

Dean Fearing is a legend in the food world, and is known for

Heroes Memorial Climb, Dallas (Race Recap)

What do Los Angeles, San Diego, Las Vegas, Chicago, Seattle, Portland, Detroit, Phoenix and San Francisco have in common? They’re all cities I’ve done stair races in! And now I can add a tenth city to the list – that’s right, MY TENTH CITY! That’s because this past weekend, I raced…

…in DALLAS!

The event was the inaugural Heroes Memorial Climb, which

May Weigh-In Results and Workout Progress Report

I’ve settled into a routine where I only do weigh-ins once a month. If I do them more frequently, I start to obsess over the numbers and I don’t need that particular obsession in my life. If I do them less frequently, I find myself derailing off my program, due to a lack of accountability.

My weigh-ins are on the first of the month. This one is a few days delayed, because I was up north when April turned to May, but I weighed myself when I got back. Wanna see how I updated my weight loss chart?