Good afternoon, everyone! I could barely wait to post my lunch and fill you all in on the upcoming Athleta contestAthleta is this amazing women’s fitness company with tons of stylish and functional tops, bottoms, sports bras, swim gear, and more. 

 

Athleta was founded in 1998 with the goal to provide female athletes with the best products and services available. As athletes, we push ourselves every day to exceed our goals, hit a personal best, and test our limits. And at Athleta, we subscribe to the same energy. We’re constantly seeking out the very best fabrics to tailor our performance-driven apparel into hip, feminine styles.

 

Athleta will give one VERY lucky See Bride Run reader $200 (YES, TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS!) to outfit herself in the Athleta gear of her choice!  The winner can chose anything she’d like!

 

Here’s my favorite thing from their current line of clothing… this Athleta running top is cuter than most "real" clothes in my closet. Plus — it’s got a built in, true-to-cup-size underwire sports bra!  It might be the most amazing running top I’ve ever seen!

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Contest details are coming on MONDAY! I hope you all are as excited as I am!

 

Mid-Morning Snack and Lunch

 

After I got over the excitement of the Athleta news, I managed to settle down long enough to eat a delish mid-morning snack… 3 lentil cookies

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And for lunch, I was cravvvving a mixture of tastes and textures.

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I had:  black beans + brown rice + melty cheese, a carrot, two pickles, and a tomato.

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My mother always told me rice and beans were a perfect vegetarian entree.  I agree! 🙂

 

And a carrot barrier to prevent pickle juice from seeping all over my rice….

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Back to the grind!!

 

And remember, Athleta contest details to be posted on MONDAY! You guys are going to LOVE it!

{ 40 comments }

 

  • *Andrea* October 24, 2008, 10:07 am

    what an awesome contest! so pumped for it!! love the combination of textures in todays lunch 🙂

  • lauren October 24, 2008, 10:15 am

    very exciting! cant wait!

  • Lacey Nicole October 24, 2008, 10:16 am

    Yay! That’s awesome, I hadn’t heard of Athleta, but I love their premise. Can’t wait to hear about the contest…!

  • ttfn300 October 24, 2008, 10:21 am

    omg i just almost jumped up and down at work!!! lol 🙂 luckily i stopped myself. i love athleta!!! their “all that” fabric–so comfy 🙂

  • Balance, Joy and Delicias! October 24, 2008, 10:39 am

    great outfit and yummy lunch! I also had mix of rice and beans for lunch!

  • Adi October 24, 2008, 10:43 am

    The contest sounds great!! Just wondering if it’s only open to U.S. residents though.
    Thanks!

  • therunningaddict October 24, 2008, 10:47 am

    The rice mix looks great. I will have to give it a try sometime!

  • Anonymous October 24, 2008, 10:48 am

    I’m so excited! That top is too cute

  • Chic Runner October 24, 2008, 10:53 am

    Ahh Monday! I can’t wait, and that top is super cute. I can see myself wearing it out. Yikes…

  • Sharney October 24, 2008, 10:54 am

    Yayyyyy!!! Can't wait to see the contest rules 🙂 Athleta really does have great workout gear!

    Your lunch looks yummy- rice & beans with melted cheese is the best! Gotta love the pickle juice barrier! (you're so funny!)

  • Caitlin (see bride run) October 24, 2008, 10:58 am

    adi – athleta has offered to cover taxes and shipping, but only for people in US and Cananda…. so the contest is only open to people in US/Canada. BUT the contest will be really fun, so maybe you’ll still participate! 🙂

  • D10 October 24, 2008, 11:04 am

    Wow! I can’t wait to hear all the details Monday.

  • VeggieGirl October 24, 2008, 11:04 am

    SUPER EXCITING!!! Can’t wait for the details!! :0)

    Looove the lentil cookies, and the contents of your lunch – yum!!

  • Gina October 24, 2008, 11:14 am

    that is SOOO cool!
    i’ve seen their catalog before and they have a ton of gorgeous athletic wear.
    can’t wait 🙂

  • bitesoflife October 24, 2008, 11:14 am

    Lunch looks yummy! A nice mixture of textures!

    Yay for contests! I was just reaing about Athleta in Fitness yesterday so I’m excited!

  • amanda October 24, 2008, 11:15 am

    ahh i am excited to hear the details!!! i really need more than the 2 running tops i own – my hanes men’s t-shirts just aren’t cutting it anymore 🙂

  • Catherine October 24, 2008, 11:22 am

    Can’t wait for the contest details!! I love your pickle juice barrier by the way 🙂

  • Anonymous October 24, 2008, 11:29 am

    what an exciting contest, I can’t wait!

    Also I wanted to get your input, I believe you said you aim for about 1800 calories a day on your rest days and workout days, what did you use to reach this number and decide how many calories you burn? I know how to calculate my bmr and such but I’m confused as to what number I should be aiming for with activity factored in each day before and after exercise.

  • jenngirl October 24, 2008, 11:36 am

    Omgosh I can’t wait to hear the contest details! Fun fun!!

    haha I love your carrot barrier, smart thinkin!

  • Caitlin (see bride run) October 24, 2008, 11:36 am

    anon –

    you’ve got it half right… i eat 1800 on rest days and anywhere from 1800 to 2500 on workout days.

    i have a heart rate monitor, which is how i calculate calories burned. so to make sure i’m eating enough, i just add calories burned + 1800 and aim for that total on workout days.

    i find exercise calories calculators online and on the machines to be VERY off. here’s an idea of how many cals i typically burn during diff types of exercise (I’m 119 lbs):

    1 Hour Running = 500
    30 to 45 minutes on elliptical= 150 – 220
    1 Hour Spin Class = 420
    Half Marathon (2 hrs) = 1,350 calories. 🙂

    Hope that helps!

  • Caitlin (see bride run) October 24, 2008, 11:37 am

    oh and 1 hour of running = about 6 miles.

  • biz319 October 24, 2008, 11:49 am

    That is so exciting!

    Pickles with any lunch is a winner for me (but only dill!)

    Have a good weekend – looking forward to Monday!

  • angelcubbie October 24, 2008, 12:13 pm

    Hey Caitlin!

    I’m the poster with the calorie question. Thanks so much for your answer! However, I was actually wondering how you came up with 1800 as your base? My bmr is around 1400 and I’m a runner and my concern is whether I’m eating enough so I know 1800 can’t possibily be your bmr as you are around the same weight as me, so I was curious as to how you calculated 1800 to be your goal to aim for, before exercise, if that makes sense. Thanks so much for your input!

  • angelcubbie October 24, 2008, 12:14 pm

    oh and I own a heart rate moniter too, love it!

  • Andrea (Off Her Cork) October 24, 2008, 12:16 pm

    Wooottt! I love their stuff, so nice!

  • Caitlin (see bride run) October 24, 2008, 12:28 pm

    angel cubbie – well, i dont really call 1800 my BMR, because BMR is literally what you would burn laying in bed. 1800 is more like my ‘rest day’ burn, which is normal living.

    i came up with my 1800 rule after calorie counting for 3 months. i discovered that this was the “perfect” about of calories for me to use as a base (+ calories burned on workout days) as i didnt gain or lose any weight in those three months.

    i think the maintenance calorie calculator on calorieking.com is pretty good, but i would add 100 calories to it. it says my maintenance is 1640 or something, which is way too low and i would chew off my arm. 😉

    good luck and happy running!

  • Nicole (anotheronebitesthecrust.wordpress.com) October 24, 2008, 12:31 pm

    Woah! What a great prize. That stuff is too cute!

  • healthy ashley October 24, 2008, 12:40 pm

    I am SOOOOO excited!

    (Your lunch looks beautiful!)

  • just me October 24, 2008, 1:56 pm

    Oh…excited about the contest!

    and i lerrrrrvvveeee your beans and rice! nice!

    happy friday!

  • BOBBI McCORMICK October 24, 2008, 2:00 pm

    what a wonderful site, can’t wait to see the contest details!

  • Justine October 24, 2008, 2:10 pm

    This contest sounds exciting! Can’t wait to hear the details and how to win $200 of athletic apparel…awesome! 🙂

  • Lee (seeleelive) October 24, 2008, 5:32 pm

    That lunch looks So colorful, so pretty definitely worth a picture.

  • Meg October 24, 2008, 6:54 pm

    What a yummy lunch! I can’t wait for the contest details!

  • glidingcalm October 24, 2008, 7:20 pm

    first of all….cheesy black beans and rice is one of the most tasty meals ever. plus the fact you have a carrot in there makes me happy to.

    And secondly?! What an amazing contest! So excited to hear about it Monday!!

    Have a great night Cait!

  • Bridget October 24, 2008, 7:21 pm

    Awesome!! Can’t wait for the details 🙂

  • Meghann October 24, 2008, 8:20 pm

    Woo hoo $200! Too bad I’m disqualified.. damn our friendship. 🙂 lol Are they going to give you anything as well?!?!

    I made it safely to Tallahassee!!

  • Sharney October 24, 2008, 8:52 pm

    Hi Caitlin,
    I just wanted to wish you the best of luck on your bone scan tomorrow! Hope all goes well- you are in my thoughts are prayers 🙂

  • Caitlin (see bride run) October 24, 2008, 8:54 pm

    meghann- isnt my friendship a decent runners up prize?!

    sharon- ohmigod i suck. i canceled my bone scan. i will share the details tomorrow. but i have legit reasons, i swear! you are too sweet. i need to meet you in real life!

  • runningwithfood.com October 25, 2008, 9:53 am

    Can’t wait to hear all the details about the contest!! 🙂

  • Lauren October 26, 2008, 6:23 pm

    I’ve never heard of Athleta’s… till now. WOW! I’m excited!

    The lentil cookies looks yummy!

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