My Very Own Motivator

on December 29, 2010
in All Posts

(I wrote this post last night but Internet was down. Boo!)

 

Thinking of post titles is so hard sometimes!  I couldn’t think of a winning title so you’re stuck with My Very Own Motivator, which actually beat out:

 

  • Green Room, Green Food
  • A Random Day
  • Lights, Camera, Sunflower Buttah
  • I Have a House Hunters Program

 

Today was a pretty random day!  I spent an hour at the WBTV Channel 3 News studio.

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The Husband came along, which was nice because being on TV is a little scurry.  He brought the giant check because I was talking about the Operation Beautiful Scholarship program for Girls on the Run!

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(Giant checks rule – here’s the story behind it.)

 

Left a slightly (OK, totally) cheesy OB note in the Green Room.  You know what?  I like cheese.  Cheese works on me. 

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In other news, I concocted the most amazing snack of 2010.   Have you tried sunflower butter yet?  It is so deliciously creamy.  And then top it with chocolate chips. 

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Dinner was simple because we’re running low on groceries!  Makin’ do from the pantry.  Brown rice soaked in peanut satay sauce, pinto beans, and roasted Brussel sprouts:

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And then I had my afternoon snack again for dessert.  Because it was that good.  Sunflower buttah is my new nut butter love.

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My Very Own Motivator

 

I am in LOVE with the Motivator, my new indoor trainer!

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Santa (AKA the Husband) bought me a Bell Motivator, and I tried it out for the first time today.  Actually, the Hus tried it with his road bike first.  He road for 40 minutes (about 12 miles or so?) while watching football on television.

 

Then, I popped on my bike (putting the bike on and off of the Motivator was easy and I like how small it is – plus, no assembly required) and rode for about 10 minutes. 

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It’s moderately noisy – it sounds like a vacuum is on.   But it’s not too loud because there isn’t a big fan.

 

In all – I love it and would highly recommend for cyclists who can’t ride outside during the winter.  Can’t wait to cycle indoors and watch reruns of House Hunters while it’s snowing outside!

{ 89 comments }

 

  • Runeatrepeat December 29, 2010, 8:35 am

    I would love that trainer because riding in the winter is extra cold with the wind whipping at you! Luckily, I just remembered I have a stationary bike in my mom’s garage. I’m getting it back!

  • Stacy @ Every Little Thing December 29, 2010, 8:38 am

    That’s an awesome biking tool! I can’t wait to get back on a bike.

    And glad TV went well!

  • Laura December 29, 2010, 8:39 am

    I (ok my husband) has an indoor trainer that hasn’t been used in forever. I should bring that inside and use it!
    It is really loud though. Ours sounds like a shop vac on high!

  • Sarena (The Non Dairy Queen) December 29, 2010, 8:40 am

    I think I would like one of those cyclists. My husband has always loved rowing machines. I don’t think I would be as in to that although I hear it is an incredible workout. I am glad you found something different to do and that you like it! Have a great day Caitlin!

  • Amalfi Girl (EatRunHaveFun.blogspot) December 29, 2010, 8:42 am

    I’ve always wondered about those (the Motivator), I’m glad it’s working out!

  • Carolyn @ Lovin' Losing December 29, 2010, 8:45 am

    After seeing the Motivator on your wish list I added it to mine and received it! I did about 25 minutes day before yesterday and tried to do it again yesterday, but was too sore. Not even TWO pairs of bike shorts and a gel seat could help me. I think I’m going to get a new, comfortable seat. I mean, if people can ride beach cruisers in sprint triathlons, I think I can rock a road bike with a comfy seat.

    • DadHTP December 29, 2010, 8:47 am

      don’t give up on the road seat – it will (honestly) take about two weeks, riding three or four times a week and you’ll never notice it again.
      IF it fits – the wide part of the seat needs to be wider than your sit bones – or it’ll never be comfortable.

    • Caitlin December 29, 2010, 8:48 am

      I agree with my Dad – your butt will get used to it.

    • Carolyn @ Lovin' Losing December 29, 2010, 9:32 am

      yeah…I know..I trained for a triathlon last Spring but I haven’t ridden it much since. I was just so uncomfortable last night. I’ll get on it tonight and evaluate whether the wide part is wide enough. Thanks!

  • DadHTP December 29, 2010, 8:45 am

    OK, now I know that Fringe Division has slid me into an alternate universe – my daughter on a trainer…

  • chelsey @ clean eating chelsey December 29, 2010, 8:50 am

    That indoor trainer is absolutely AWESOME! If I had a road bike, I would totally get one because I hate riding my bike outside in the winter!

  • Baking 'n' Books December 29, 2010, 8:51 am

    Road bikes scare me! They’re so…’flimsy’ an go at lightening speed! 😉

    I have to find this House Hunters show!

  • Liz @ Blog is the New Black December 29, 2010, 8:53 am

    Post titles are hard, agreed. glad you have your very own motivator!

  • Jessica December 29, 2010, 9:01 am

    Prop your front wheel up on a phone book or a block. That way you won’t feel (and look) like you’re riding downhill.

  • Jackie @ Baking Charms December 29, 2010, 9:02 am

    House Hunters = obsessed. It makes me want to run over to HomeGoods and shop my life away on furniture.

    Love the note you left at the studio!!

  • Shari December 29, 2010, 9:03 am

    What a great news studio/set! The design looks so elegant and crisp (I worked at our ABC affiliate for awhile, so I’m always drawn to these things). So glad that the interview went well and you had the chance to spread the word about the scholarship 🙂

  • Krista December 29, 2010, 9:20 am

    Funny you should say that about sunflower butter; my birthday was a couple days ago and I got 6 jars of different Naturally Nutty butters (yeah I know, I’m a huge nerd) and one of them is a cinnamon sunflower butter that I cannot WAIT to try!

    • Caitlin December 29, 2010, 10:19 am

      That is an awesome present!!!

  • chelsea December 29, 2010, 9:21 am

    i am OBSESSED with House Hunters (not too crazy about HH International though) Property Virgins and My First Place. My bedtime routine definately includes like 3 hrs of HGTV before i can fall asleep!

  • MegaNerd December 29, 2010, 9:23 am

    Haha Yay! I have the same bike trainer 🙂

    http://meganerdruns.com/2010/02/motivator/

  • Megan @ AVeryMegGirl December 29, 2010, 9:23 am

    Love the gift from the Hubby! I wish I had more room in my apartment so I could get one!

  • MegaNerd December 29, 2010, 9:24 am

    PS… you need to get the front block, so it doesn’t lean forward!

    • Caitlin December 29, 2010, 10:19 am

      I put a book under it!

  • Anna @ Newlywed, Newly Veg December 29, 2010, 9:24 am

    Wow– that’s a great indoor fitness tool!

    Sunflower butter = LOVE.

  • Sarah December 29, 2010, 9:29 am

    I’ve had that trainer for a couple years now but I’m not a huge fan because it’s so loud! Any tips for quieting it down some?

    • Caitlin December 29, 2010, 10:19 am

      Turn up the tv? LOL

      • Caitlin December 29, 2010, 10:24 am

        Someone else just said that replacing the back tire with a bald tire instead of a ribbed one cuts down on the noise.

        • Sarah December 29, 2010, 7:20 pm

          Thanks! I’ll look into that.

  • Melissa @ Be Not Simply Good December 29, 2010, 9:29 am

    Caitlin, do you use fresh or frozen brussel sprouts? They look good.

    • Caitlin December 29, 2010, 10:20 am

      Fresh! And they are sooo good. Just rinse, drizzle with olive oil and salt, and roast at 400 for 30 minutes.

      • Michelle @ Chasing Ambulances December 29, 2010, 11:24 am

        I have used frozen a few times – sometimes I just don’t get to all my fresh veggies in time so I like buying frozen too. I use the same steps for frozen – they might take 5-10 minutes longer though! The only bummer is I don’t chop them up like I do the fresh ones. (I love the crispy insides when they are cut up)

    • Melissa @ Be Not Simply Good December 29, 2010, 12:58 pm

      I had tried frozen a long time ago and didn’t like them. This year we got fresh ones from our CSA one time, and I loved them. I’ve been considering trying frozen again. Thanks for the info!

  • Angela @ Eat Spin Run Repeat December 29, 2010, 9:34 am

    Hehe I have problems coming up with post titles too! That’s great that you got an indoor trainer. I’ve never tried one but like you said, they’re a great thing for cyclists to have in the winter. Enjoy! 🙂

  • jassy December 29, 2010, 9:36 am

    which butter is the healthiest? 🙂

    • Caitlin December 29, 2010, 10:20 am

      I’m not sure about the health benefits of peanut vs sunflower vs almond. They are all good to me!

  • Victoria (District Chocoholic) December 29, 2010, 9:38 am

    Glad to hear you like the motivator – I’ve never tried it, but if it helps you mix up your workout routine, it sounds most excellent to me.

    And sunflower butter? I’m afraid I would want to mix it with melted milk chocolate and then I would overdose on it.

  • Sara @ OurDogBuffy December 29, 2010, 9:39 am

    Sounds like a good day. Must try sunflower butter!

  • Ashley @ thefitacademic December 29, 2010, 9:43 am

    Cool – thanks for the review of the Motivator! Where I live it never snows, but it’s still nice to be able to have an indoors workout sometimes! Did it seem to freak out/bother the dogs at all?

  • Gabby (Quest for Delicious) December 29, 2010, 9:43 am

    I love that OB note! Sometimes, (mostly all the time for me) the cheesier the better. (:

  • Junia December 29, 2010, 9:54 am

    i am obsessed with maranatha sunbutter! it’s the best one i’ve tried so far!!! i eat sunbutter with my salads too – great as a dressing.

  • Alicia at Poise in Parma December 29, 2010, 9:57 am

    It’s funny to me how much it costs to print one of those HUGE fake checks. When I did it for an event I was working on, it cost us nearly $200!!! Although the “check” was for a donation for over one million dollars…

    • Caitlin December 29, 2010, 10:21 am

      Ooo fun fact.

  • Camille December 29, 2010, 10:01 am

    I have actually been eying the indoor biking stands! It would be so nice to be able to bike without worrying about the cold and rain…

  • Ann @ Day by Day December 29, 2010, 10:10 am

    I love sunflower seed butter too! And House Hunters… biking while inside avoiding the cold and watching TV at the same time sounds pretty ideal to me.

  • Michelle December 29, 2010, 10:18 am

    That motivator sounds really cool 🙂

  • gabriella @ embracement December 29, 2010, 10:21 am

    I LOVE biking at the gym while I watch TV, so much more than I like running at the gym while watching TV. That’ll definitely help you out of your rut.

  • Maren December 29, 2010, 10:22 am

    I think your sticky was cute and very appropriate for the setting 🙂 I bought sunflower seed butter b/c Janetha from Meals and Moves has it on her sweet potato/cottage cheese combo. You’re right, it’s so creamy and smells like heaven!

  • Tracy December 29, 2010, 10:22 am

    I have the Motivator as well! In order to cut down on the noise, I was told to replace my back tire with a bald tire. It has cut the noise by about 90%!

  • Halley (Blunder Construction) December 29, 2010, 10:24 am

    Nice! This is a good idea, I bet my dad would love this (let’s see if I can remember this all the way to next Christmas!)

  • Beth @ DiningAndDishing December 29, 2010, 10:26 am

    I always have a hard time with post titles too! I usually pull out a little phrase from my pre-written post now. Keeps things simple! 🙂

  • Jessica M December 29, 2010, 10:29 am

    That Motivator looks awesome! I may have to get one. It’s dumping snow outside today in my town!

    I like sunflower butter also. I think it’s my favorite nut butter. Tahini is a close second.

  • Lacey @ Lake Life December 29, 2010, 10:33 am

    TV is awesome motivation for using your Motivator 🙂

  • ~Jessica~ December 29, 2010, 10:44 am

    I love the idea of using satay sauce to coat brown rice ~ even in your ‘non-creative’ meals you come up with fantastic ideas in my opinion.

    The bike trainer looks like fun! I suppose it doesn’t provide the same challenges in terms of wind/elevation as an outside ride would, but it must be great for keeping up overall fitness during the winter months.

  • Theodora December 29, 2010, 10:45 am

    I’m allergic to peanuts, so I’ve never been able to have peanut butter 🙁 I thought I was allergic to *all* nuts until a few months ago, so I’d only ever tried sunflower seed butter. When I found out I wasn’t actually allergic to nuts other than peanuts, I tried almond butter, but it wasn’t the same. I think sunflower seed butter is so damn good!

  • Leanne December 29, 2010, 10:50 am

    That bike motivater looks awesome! I hope you had a wonderful Christmas Caitlin!

  • Sarah December 29, 2010, 10:52 am

    A recommendation for your indoor trainer:

    Put an old white pages or notebook under the front wheel to bring the bike up to a similar height.

    Also, if you may want to put a towel down so you don’t sweat on your nice floors 🙂

    I work in a Bicycle Shop and these are the tips the owner (my father) tells people who get trainers—they are great fun when the weather is icky. Hope you two have fun!

    • Sarah December 29, 2010, 10:54 am

      and I just read you put a book under it…my bad 😀

      • Caitlin December 29, 2010, 10:55 am

        Good tips though! I need to put down a towel for sure

  • Liz @ Tip Top Shape December 29, 2010, 10:56 am

    I’ve heard great things about sunflower butter!! Heard it’s addictive, too. But it can’t be more addictive than almond butter for me. I go through that stuff like water!

  • Heather @ Side of Sneakers December 29, 2010, 10:57 am

    I have a trainer but never use it because it’s SO loud and I get bored staring at the wall pretty quickly. Guess I just need to crank up the volume on the tv, huh? 😉

  • Dana December 29, 2010, 10:58 am

    That trainer looks really awesome….can you use any bike with it?

    • Caitlin December 29, 2010, 10:58 am

      Yup!

  • Jenifer December 29, 2010, 11:15 am

    Yum! Love Sunflower Butter! Especially the scrunchy kind to dip apples in.

  • monicanelsonfitness December 29, 2010, 11:16 am

    as a cyclist, I WANT ONE SO BAD! Glad you got one. 🙂

  • Kate December 29, 2010, 11:17 am

    Congrats on the TV spot – so glad it went well and that there was another opportunity to promote Operation Beautiful!

  • Maryann December 29, 2010, 11:17 am

    Sunflower butter is my absolute favorite! The indoor trainer seems so convenient. If I rode bikes I’d consider getting one 🙂

  • Mary Allison December 29, 2010, 11:20 am

    Love the hubs tie! Chic!

  • Kacy December 29, 2010, 11:26 am

    I really want an indoor trainer! But I don’t have a bike, so I’d need one of those too 🙂

    Post titles really can be tricky.

  • Jenna@frombostonwithlove.com December 29, 2010, 11:43 am

    Too funny… check out my latest post at http://www.frombostonwithlove.com . I wrote about the very same thing. It really is a great trainer!

  • U.N. Owen December 29, 2010, 11:46 am

    The hus is a hottie, but get that man a new tie!

  • Heather December 29, 2010, 11:46 am

    Love me some Sunflower Butter! Try it with Plantain Chips (I found some at Trader Joe’s), with the SB as a dip, yum!

  • Amber K December 29, 2010, 1:42 pm

    Sunflower butter is truly delicious. I tried it for the first time on an airplane, and actually haven’t thought to buy any, lol. But I should!

  • Krista @ Can't Survive on Yarn Alone December 29, 2010, 1:55 pm

    The motivator looks really cool.

    Is there a wobble factor to it? That was the first thing that came to mind esp since I have an old Murray bike from I want to say ’94. It’s a heavy beast and I can imagine myself falling over and terrifying some of our pets in the process.

    • Caitlin December 29, 2010, 2:00 pm

      No wobble!

  • Lisa December 29, 2010, 2:24 pm

    We have a bike trainer. I forget the brand but it’s neon green. It works great! And it’s a great set up for the winter. Especially living in the PNW. It rains all the time!

  • Rebecca December 29, 2010, 4:47 pm

    I am LOVING the look of that Motivator. My fiancee has been (naggingly) saying we need to start exercising more (and that I need to bring my bike down from my parents… or bribe dad to). I’m waiting to see what my fiancee says about the trainer though!

  • Clare December 29, 2010, 5:14 pm

    May I recommend putting a towel down beneath the Motivator? When you really get going, you’ll drip sweat everywhere. 🙂

  • Clare December 29, 2010, 5:14 pm

    May I recommend putting a towel down beneath the Motivator? When you really get going, you’ll drip sweat everywhere. 🙂

  • Ellen@FirednFabulous December 29, 2010, 6:01 pm

    Ha, you’re so right…blog titles can be VERY hard to come up with! Catchy ones at least 🙂

  • Heidi - apples under my bed December 29, 2010, 6:26 pm

    I LOVE your cheesy note! cheese is always good. it was clever cheese too, the best kind 😉
    Heidi xo

  • Sana December 29, 2010, 7:30 pm

    I have always wated a big check! Please keep it for your future kiddos!

  • carlee December 29, 2010, 8:28 pm

    My dad has one of those! But its kinda broke:/ and my mom hateess having it inside:/

  • Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin December 29, 2010, 9:36 pm

    I’m obsessed with sunflower seed butter too! Especially in stir fry sauces!

  • Anne December 29, 2010, 9:37 pm

    There is a “You are Beautiful” sticker at the Starbucks drivethrough I go to and I smile everytime I see it and think of operation beautiful : ) Thank you!

  • ashley December 29, 2010, 11:39 pm

    What a great idea! The Motivator would be perfect here in Anchorage, because winter is soo snowy and cold!

  • Julia @ Brides Up North December 30, 2010, 6:21 am

    OMG OMG OMG OMG DID YOU WIN?!?!?!?!?!?!!? I need to back read through some posts!!!!

    WELL DONE!!!

    Julia x

  • Kari December 30, 2010, 9:57 pm

    I just wrote a post about my trainer today! You can find it here… http://karisears.blogspot.com/2010/12/gear-cycleops-fluid-2-trainer.html

    I love my trainer, and would choose riding it inside over running on a treadmill ANY day of the week!

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