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It can be a challenge to juggle the various responsibilities of work and life while maintaining a focus on health, but Katie Tobin and fiancé Elliott Lane have it down to a science. The couple, who live in Southeast DC’s Hillcrest neighborhood, are both athletic coaches: Katie teaches swimming for the DC Triathlon Club; Elliott, a rowing coach for Walt Whitman High School and Thompson Boat Center, teaches in the early mornings, as well as in the afternoons and evenings. They’re also both triathletes, and document their experiences on their blog, 1 Bed, 1 Bath, 6 Bikes.
To accommodate their very active lifestyle, Katie and Elliott are both out of bed before 5 o’clock most mornings. Katie, who holds a desk job in Fairfax County, frequently exercises in the area, but lacking walkable lunch options, habitually plans her meals, snacks, and workouts ahead of time. “People wonder why I carry a backpack instead of a purse,” she says. “It usually contains at least one pair of shoes, clothes, a water bottle, and food—lots of food. I have a standing desk and try to incorporate squats, toe raises, and stretches as I work. I also try to go for a ten-minute walk each day, either alone or with colleagues. It’s a great way to come up with creative ideas.” Elliott is able to return home during the day between rowing practices to cook and train, and often bikes to and from work so his commute doubles as a workout.
Click through the slideshow for a look at this couple’s typical daily meals and snacks—most of which they make at home—plus some time-saving tips for healthy eating on the go.
