Cook it fit

Leopard Ultratrail Mullerthal Race Report

September 25, 2019 Leave a Comment

finished 2nd in the women’s category – time 4:09:43

The Mullerthal region is one of the most popular hiking regions in Luxembourg. Its landscape is dotted with towering sandstone rock formations and crisscrossed by the rivers that created it. The awe-inspiring rocks have earned the region its nickname “Luxembourg’s Little Switzerland“. The region is above all a unique biotope characterized by sandstone rock formations which are as charming as surprising.

A few days ago, on the 14^th of September, I ran the 4th edition of Leopard UTML Ultratrail in Echternach. An exciting trail with amazing views. A dream for every hiker, runner or outdoor lover. A unique landscape of sandstone cliffs and deep crevasses. In other words, an absolute joy to run the Trail race with its 39 km and over 1100 m of elevation….

Creamy Avocado Spinach Salad with Yogurt Dressing

September 16, 2019 Leave a Comment

I’m fully aware that you hardly need another recipe for salad, however, I’ve got a few ingredients that turn this simple and easy to prepare salad into a rather nutrition-packed meal. This spinach salad filled with avocado, boiled eggs and pecans served with yogurt dressing is so tasty and very light.

Now that I’m back doing more frequent recipe posts again, I’m very much looking forward to sharing with you some healthy, super simple, and most importantly quick to prepare from Monday to Friday type of lunch and dinners into the mix.

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Top 5 Basic Healthy Habits for Business Travelers

September 9, 2019 Leave a Comment

How do I manage to stay fit while traveling for work on a regular basis? I admit eating healthy on a business trip can be tricky. Not to mention, to get in good workouts when traveling is even more challenging.

Selfie RUN from my last business trip in Riga, Latvia last week

However, with a few sustainable healthy habits that you can build over time, keeping in shape – eating healthy and staying active no matter what country you go – will become easier for you, too.

In the end, it has a lot to do with wanting to maintain your health in order to keep traveling, and always being on the go, which requires a lot of movement!…

Coconut Cookies with Dark Chocolate

September 4, 2019 Leave a Comment

That feeling when the recipe turns out to be a success. Priceless! These flour-free coconut cookies filled with dark chocolate and peanut butter will brighten up the cold days ahead. As the days get colder and sadly, a little shorter, it’s time to start thinking of comfort food.

I’m so happy to share with you this simple and easy recipe! The main three ingredients are oats, coconut, and dark chocolate. What I love about these coconut cookies filled with dark chocolate is the fact that they set you up for your morning routine in no time flat along with a cup of coffee, tea or why not a cold glass of milk….

Six Months at a Glance

July 31, 2018 7 Comments

It’s been 6 f*cking long months without a blog post, Cristina! How are you going to tell them everything you have done in the last six months?

Honestly, I have no clue how to summarize all my latest crazy adventures in one blog post, but I’m willing to try it, so please bear with me.

Why don’t you tell them about your latest races? Or better start with the beginning – how you severely injured yourself in February this year?

Gosh, I have days when I almost forget that my right arm has been fixed with a beautiful (that’s how the doc described it) metal plate and screws only five months ago in order for the fracture to be held rigidly in a stable position while the bone healing occurs.

That sounds so bad. Go ahead, tell them how it happened, how you screwed it up big times, how you had to stop training for your biggest challenge – your first Ironman Hamburg planned so nicely with a year in advance, how you couldn’t run Boston marathon the way you always dreamt of – in 3 hours – how you couldn’t work for a long time, how your family and friends were concerned about you?…

Road To My First IRONMAN – Mental Challenges

January 23, 2018 Leave a Comment

Happy Tuesday everyone! It has taken me a long time, but the day has finally come for me to talk about mental challenges behind my first IRONMAN distance preparation – #RoadToMyFirstIRONMAN. So, every once in a while as I progress towards the ultimate fitness for my IRONMAN race, I will be posting about my fears, doubts, and excitements I have about competing in this race.

It’s Monday evening and as always (for the past seven months) I am about to get into the swimming pool. As I look around, there are two girls staring at me. While I get closer to them, I could hear them talking in German: “Look at this one, she must be a pro!”

Pro? No girl. I train for my first IRONMAN full distance – 2.4-mile (3.86 km) swim, a 112-mile (180.25 km) bicycle ride and a marathon 26.22-mile (42.20 km) run, and my fourth triathlon ever….

Swim, Bike & Run – The New Me!

July 19, 2017 2 Comments

It’s absolutely AMAZING what this multi-stage competition involving the completion of three continuous and sequential endurance disciplines called triathlon can lead to… crossing the finish line in Kona – The World Championship of Ironman (Ironman Hawaii) – yeah, that one: the torturefest in the lava fields during which one races a 4k swim, 180k bike, and finish with a marathon for “dessert” (obviously, it will take me a few olympic triathlons and half Ironman races in order to first get to my first Ironman next year… and only then we can talk about Ironman Hawaii)!

Anyway, let me take you from the start line……

Tuna Mango Salad with Pecans

March 31, 2017 Leave a Comment

This fresh salad recipe featuring tuna, sliced mango and pecans comes together in no time! To turn this side dish into a complete meal, serve it with grilled salmon.

Yes, I went there – I took tuna salad and loaded it with a bunch of veggies and mango, drizzled with yogurt dressing and added a big handful of pecans and sunflower seeds. I usually try to outdo myself when it comes to salad, but I kept this one pretty simple. And my tuna salad recipe turned out fantastic.

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My Top 3 Simple Tips to Stay in Shape

March 3, 2017 2 Comments

Hey friends! How are you? Hope you’re enjoying the morning. Btw, Happy Friday! ;-) It’s been a while since I’ve done a stay-in-shape-related post, so I thought I’d share some of the things I’ve learned in keeping myself in shape during the last few hectic weeks.

As you already know, I don’t believe in quick magic diets that promise you to lose weight in a short time, gain energy and fix all of your health problems.

Quality for quantity, get fit for video games — this is how I see it, “no excuses” when it comes to making healthier choices. So, give one, two, or why not even all three of these habits a try for a month, and let me know how it works for you….

10 Proven Signs You Should Get More Sleep

February 17, 2017 4 Comments

Photo source: mental_floss

Hey friends! Haaaaaappy Friday! :-) Hope you are having a wonderful morning and have some fun events ahead. What are you up to this weekend? Sorry for disappearing on you lately. I took up a new professional challenge and the commute takes up a big chunk of the day. For now. Soon to be changed.

Back to today’s blog post, do you sleep enough? I’ve recently decided to focus on the importance of sleep to complement my healthy lifestyle. A good night’s sleep can improve overall health and it’s just as valuable as regular exercise and wholesome nutrition.

Did you know that not getting enough sleep can lead to weight gain, weaken the immune system, and make you feel sluggish the next day?

It’s true. I recently realized that I run much better on a Sunday morning and I am pretty sure that it’s because I have caught up on my sleep. Here are ten proven signs you should be getting better sleep….

Rucola Salad with Roasted Grapes, Blue Cheese and Walnuts

January 26, 2017 1 Comment

This rucola, blue cheese and walnuts salad served with roasted grapes makes for a great dinner – light enough not to knock you down so quickly, but surprisingly delicious from the roasted grapes to awaken your lust… for everything. I promise! ;)

I love everything about today’s salad. Have you guys ever tried roasted grapes? If not, you really need to. Not to mention, they pair perfectly with blue cheese and walnuts. …

That RUN

January 12, 2017 2 Comments

We runners all have one. That RUN. The run that is always with us. It is the run that we can trust ourselves to. It is the run that is waiting to get us back on track after an injury or absence for quite some time. It is where we go in the cool of…

Change Your Mindset & Push Your Limits

January 5, 2017 Leave a Comment

Hey friends! Happy 2017! I have officially and happily survived the holidays – taking up snowboarding was such a fantastic idea. Change your mindset and push your limits in 2017, too. Do you know that the body achieves what the mind believes? It’s true. Beliefs are what we tell ourselves about a given topic and…

Looking back on 2016

December 29, 2016 Leave a Comment

Hey friends! What a year it has been. A year full of adventures, many happy moments, and challenges. A truly active and happy chapter of my life. 2016 was the year of: 1) Running 4 marathons & 1 ultra marathon – with a PB 3’31″13″‘ at the 43rd edition of the Berlin Marathon on 25th…

7 Tips & Tricks to Avoid Holiday Weight Gain

December 22, 2016 3 Comments

Hey friends! I hope you all enjoy the holiday season with its decorating, gift wrapping, holiday movies, and spending quality time with the loved ones. Oh wait, AND backing healthy cookies – maybe my Crispy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies? ;-) It’s that time of the year when extra temptations (FOOD) are endless, making holiday weight gain…

Toasted Hazelnuts & Dark Chocolate Granola

December 15, 2016 1 Comment

Sweet and nutty toasted hazelnuts and dark chocolate granola: Breakfast? Dessert? Delicious Snack? Say Goodbye bags of overpriced, overly sweet, store-bought granola, too. Hey friends! This hazelnut, dark chocolate granola came to life through my never-ending granola experiment. I love homemade granola because is one of the simplest, tastiest – not to mention HEALTHY too…