The Stretch Jean Incident.

Basil Gnocchi with Mushroom Ragu

2011-11-28T20:10:00.001-07:00

Long time, no post! I know, I know. It's been a combination of adjusting to my new job, studying, spending time with Doug and a certain adorable beagle and primarily, just having zero motivation to post about, well, anything.

But you're not here to read about my excuses and my lack of posting, are you? Didn't think so. Well, to help get me back into the swing of things, I decided to try a new recipe that involved making gnocchi. From scratch. For the first time.

Whilst catching up on my tweets today, I came across a recipe from Fitness Magazine for Basil Gnocchi with Mushroom Ragu, perfect for Meatless Monday. I had all of the ingredients, more or less, so I decided to give it a shot. We have pre-made gnocchi in the pantry, but I had some potatoes that needed to be used up, so I rolled up my sleeves and started preppin'.

Mushrooms, onion and garlic. I used white mushrooms instead of cremini since I already had some on hand. Added garlic for more flavor.

Gnocchi taking over my counter space, waiting to be boiled.

Cooked (and not in a million pieces like I feared!).

Topped with mushroom ragu and parmesan.

Aside from using different mushrooms and adding garlic, I also used dried basil instead of fresh. And for accuracy, I re-calculated the nutritional info for my version:

Although it took longer than 30 minutes to put together (hey, I even microwaved the potatoes instead of baking them), I still really enjoyed it. I had to sprinkle on some more salt and black pepper at the end, but after that, it was pretty damn good. When I put extra time into a dish, I worry that it won't end up being worth the effort, but this one was.

Even though I can buy it pre-made, I wouldn't mind making gnocchi from scratch again; I liked the texture (a bit more rustic, if you will) and being able to add herbs to the dough. Perhaps next time, I'll try sweet potatoes and make it over the weekend. Aside from the higher carb content, I was pleased with the nutrition and how filling it was. No complaints here!

Homemade Surf 'N' Turf.

2011-10-15T08:50:00.001-06:00

Earlier this month, I was offered a new job. Yesterday was the last day at my old job and I start the new one on Monday. To celebrate, Doug surprised me by buying all of the ingredients for a bitchin' surf 'n' turf dinner:

Bone-in NY Strip, grilled lobster tail (with melted butter & lemon slices), fingerling potatoes (with butter & chives), roasted brussels sprouts (!!!) and wheat french bread on the side.

*bites knuckle*

I also busted out some cheap raspberry-flavored fizzy booze. Not the best picture, but I was mostly trying to get a shot of Randal, who has decided he's camera shy these days, apparently.

Not pictured is the special ice cream Doug bought as well: Caramel Hazelnut Chocolate Truffle.

Definitely a bit more than we spend on food in a typical week, but worth it for the occasion and still way more affordable than going to a steakhouse. Oh, and friggin' delicious, of course! Looking forward to leftover steak and potatoes for lunch.

Bob Harper: Ultimate Cardio Body

2011-10-13T11:24:00.000-06:00

Time for another DVD review! Although it was released earlier this year, I just now got around to snagging a copy of this ass-kicker:

I find it kind of twisted that I did this DVD twice in the first week I got it and am looking forward to doing it again this weekend. Yes, it's tough. However, Bob pushes you *just* enough to where you're burning and droppin' f-bombs, but still able to finish the interval (barely, in my case).

I found that this particular DVD is like a hybrid of his Pure Burn Super Strength and Body Rev Cardio Conditioning workouts. I personally liked this, because while I love (and hate) both of those DVDs, I find it hard to motivate myself to take them on separately since they're both a little over an hour.

With Ultimate Cardio Body, Bob does get you sweating with standard cardio moves (jumping jacks, high-knees, skaters, mountain climbers and the like), but what really pushes you closer to OMG-I'm-Gonna-Die territory is his use of weighted strength moves performed at a moderate-to-fast pace with basically no breaks in between. I'm noticing that more "cardio" workouts are doing this these days and I absolutely love it. I think using light/medium weights in circuit-style workouts is a fantastic alternative to separate cardio and lifting workouts. Burning fat and building muscle in the same session? Oh, hell yes.

Some examples of those moves: Squat jumps and split lunges (a.k.a. jumping lunges) WITH dumbbells in each hand. I've probably done thousands of squat jumps in my life, but adding extra weight makes that move incredibly challenging. And it doesn't end there; with both of these plyometric moves, Bob makes you do isometric holds in between (don't ever let his smile and good looks fool you- the man is clearly a sadist).

While the workout is heavy on lower-body training, Bob also incorporates some basic upper-body work as well with push-ups, planks, shoulder presses, bicep curls and lateral raises. While standard moves, Bob increases the intensity and makes you perform more isometric holds to push your muscles almost to the point of failure. Going from push-ups to plank to mountain climbers (all back-to-back with no break, mind you) made my arms and shoulders weep.

Toward the end of the session, Bob pushes you to finish strong by performing more agility-type moves like single-leg hops, jumps (as if you were shooting a basketball) and sprint-runs in place.

U.C.B. also includes a separate Glutes workout, but honestly, I haven't bothered trying it because there seems to be a lot of glute work in the main workout alone. If anyone's tried that, please share your thoughts in the comments!

Overall, this is a top-choice workout for me. Bob really does challenge all of your major muscle groups and the pace of the workout makes that hour fly by. And during the cool down stretch, when you're thinking about how beaten down you are, Bob makes some funny comments about his knee-high black socks. I must say, I appreciated a good chuckle at the end of a workout like that.

Definitely for intermediate/advanced levels only. There are a few modifications here and there, but not to the point where I would advise a beginner to give it a try. Another plus is that the only equipment you need is a couple sets of dumbbells. I used 5's and 8's on my first try.

Bottom line: This is one of the best total-body workouts I've ever done. Bob mastered the balace between cardio and strength training with this routine, so whether you're looking for a new cross-training option or something to break your plateau, U.C.B. has got you covered!

Supreme 90 Day Check-in and Changes.

2011-09-27T10:38:00.002-06:00

After doing about half of the Supreme 90 Day system and trying out all 10 discs, I'm respectfully bowing out... Sort of.

While I've enjoyed the new variety of challenges, there are some specific training goals that I would like to meet which involve going outside of the pre-determined S90Day routines. Those goals include getting back into running and increasing my upper body strength.

Although I was noticing inches lost and biceps starting to bust out of my sleeves, consequently, I also noticed that my overall endurance was, well, pretty shitty. When attempting longer runs (currently 3-4 miles for me since I stopped running regularly a couple of years ago), I just couldn't hack it. I also tried an hour-long Jari Love DVD the other day and quickly noticed how much I struggled to keep up, just 20 minutes in. I still feel the S90Day discs are effective, but they are also quite short, hence not the best daily choice for my endurance training.

I definitely plan on throwing in some of the S90Day discs into my new custom routine though; as much as I hated it, the Ultimate Ball disc proved to be a great core workout and the Tabata Inferno disc is still, to this day, one of the hardest cardio workouts I've ever done.

So what is my routine these days, now that I'm no longer sticking to the S90Day calendar? I'm aiming for 3 days of cardio (primarily running, followed by short/intense intervals of incline walking, stair master-ing and elliptical-ing) mixed with 3 days of strength training. For strength, I'm rotating my Jari Love DVDs. While I liked the idea of working specific muscle groups on separate days with S90Day, I tend to get better results with total-body strength routines and it's really hard to beat Jari in that area (homegirl includes push-ups in all of her workouts, which I need more of). On days where I'm short on time, I'll opt for Jackie Warner, Jillian Michaels, the NTC app or S90Day.

Another reason for my decision to pursue other workouts outside of S90Day was the difference in calorie burn. Between my slower metabolism and my goal to lose about another 8-10 pounds, I really need a higher calorie burn throughout the week which I just wasn't getting with S90Day (exceptions being Cardio Challenge, Tabata Inferno and the longer Back/Biceps disc). After adding gym-cardio and Jari Love back into my routine, I've already broke my weight plateau in just a week.

LASTLY, my exercise A.D.D. got the better of me. I know, "how can a person get bored of 10 different discs, Tam?" It's just the way I roll, I guess. I surprised myself sticking with it for the 40+ days though; I thought I would throw in the towel after 30. So, coming from me, that's actually a good sign.

So that's where I'm at with exercise. I still give S90Day my seal of approval; the price you pay for the number of discs and variety of moves simply cannot be beat. If you're on the fence about trying the program because of the 90 day commitment, consider working the discs into your current routine without following the calendar.

Health/Fitness Truths.

2011-09-23T11:55:00.002-06:00

I came across a new blog today, SweatyGirl and read a post about her top 10 Fitness Truths. I really dug the idea and decided to share some of my health/fitness-related truths.

1. I think every vegetable is amazing when roasted. Seriously. I'm not a picky eater these days to begin with, but if every serving of vegetables I eat could be roasted, that would be a doozy. A doozy of awesomeness. A doozy of awesomeness with a side of ketchup.

2. I still can't do full-fledged push-ups. I'm getting closer, but still need more training in this area, even after more than 4 years of working out regularly. Being able to rock out 10 push-ups without having to be on my knees would be a dream come true.

3. One of my fitness goals is to beat Doug at arm wrestling. I think that's all I have to say on the topic.

4. I subtly play air guitar and air drums at the gym. It's just hard to resist when a kick-ass song comes up on shuffle. And really, 99% of the music I listen to kicks ass, so there ya go.

5. The swimming part is what keeps me from doing a triathlon. It's not that I can't swim, I just don't swim well enough. I know it's just a matter of training, but swimming in a competitive event just doesn't sit well with me at the moment. Hopefully that will change in a few years.

6. I really, really, really love vodka. And tequila. My penchant for cocktails and shots keep the bro-ham in me alive and kickin'. And also keep my abs from looking better. The ultimate compromise. Sigh.

7. I wear sweatbands. But only at home. When doing fast-paced circuit or lifting routines, I rock the sweatband to keep my drippy curls out of the way. Also, I'm the sweatiest person I know.

8. I will never turn down a slice of cake, ever. No matter how much I preach about eating better and avoiding excess sugar, I WILL stop whatever I'm saying mid-sentence and eat cake if it's put in front of me. And I'll even take that extra frosting off your hands because it really is a shame to waste.

9. I prefer to exercise by myself. I've gotten offers from coworkers to meet at the gym and have participated in a few group exercise classes, but I really just prefer to bust out a sweat session on my own. There's less distraction and I can push harder or go slower without having to worry about someone else's pace. I'm sure working out with others could open me up to some different challenges though, so I'm willing to give it a try more often in the future. (Though, it's hard to find people who already wake up at 5 am most days just to exercise. Hello? *tap, tap* Is this thing on? Anyone out there?)

10. I shop for new weight equipment and fitness DVDs like they're porn. Sad, but true. On the rare occasion I have some extra money to burn, my mind doesn't go to clothes, shoes or a new phone (I've had the same sliding Samsung Blast for 5 years now, holla!); I immediately think, "Hmm, I could go for some new dumbbells right about now."

What are some of your fitness/health truths?

Beans, Bacon, Beagles.

2011-09-14T09:31:00.000-06:00

Quick dinner post from last night:

Pasta with Kale, Bacon & Great Northern Beans!

Serves two. You will need:

4 oz pasta (I used Ronzoni Smart Taste thin spaghetti)
4 slices of bacon, diced
1/2 medium onion, sliced or diced
1 clove garlic, minced
2 cups kale, rinsed and chopped (could also use spinach)
1 can Great Northern Beans, drained and rinsed (could use any preferred white bean)
salt & pepper to taste
crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
1-2 tbsp lemon juice (optional)

Get some water boiling for your pasta. While you wait, prep the bacon, onions, garlic and kale.

In a large pan, cook the bacon. Toss it onto a plate with paper towels and set aside. Drain *some* of the grease from the pan, not all of it. If your pasta water is ready, go ahead and drop the pasta at this point.

Add the onions to the bacon pan and if necessary, deglaze with a bit of water. Once the onions are sweating, quickly add the garlic, kale and a bit of salt & pepper. Stir continuously until the kale starts to cook down. You may need to add a more water to move this process along. Once the kale reduces significantly in size, add the beans. Feel free to add more salt, crushed red pepper and lemon juice at this point. Add the bacon bits back into the pan, stir, remove from heat and cover with a lid until the pasta is done.

Drain the pasta, divide into serving dishes and top with the kale/bacon/bean mix. Sprinkle on grated parmesan if you'd like and enjoy!

Lastly, a random Randal pic for the dog lovers:

Sleeping, as usual. I always said I would never own a cat because of the hair, but Randal sheds so much, it doesn't even matter. Ah, well. He's cuter than most babies and a total goofball when he's awake, so I can't complain too much.

Supreme 90 Day: Week Four

2011-09-06T16:48:00.002-06:00

Just a quick check-in regarding my progress with Supreme 90 Day... I'm into week 4 and almost done with month one! Time does indeed fly when you're having fun... And sweating. And burning out your muscles. And cursing at a stability ball.

So what kind of progress have I seen, exactly? Well, I'm down almost a whole dress size! Unfortunately, I'm one of those people who doesn't take formal measurements (gasp!) so I can't post a pretty number for you all, but I'm back to fitting in clothes that haven't seen the outside world in about a year.

In terms of weight, I've only lost about two pounds. And I can tell ya right now that it's all due to my sub-par eating habits. I haven't been eating and drinking like a maniac, but I have been indulging more than I should, so on the plus side, Supreme 90 Day has at least kept me from gaining. Losing the extra inches has been great, but I know I can do better by making better choices and exercising more discipline. I still won't commit 100% to the Tosca Reno meal plan that came with the DVD, but I will definitely refer to it for new ideas. Trying new foods and recipes always boosts my efforts and gives my motivation more endurance.

Notable improvements: Upper body and core, for sure. My push-ups still need work, but I'm a lot better off than I was prior to starting the program. After noticing a difference in less than a month, I'm stoked to see my final results at day 90.

New discs since last update: Total Body and Core Dynamics. Total Body reminded me a bit of Jillian Michaels' 30 Day Shred or Ripped in 30; a steady-paced circuit workout with compound exercises that activate all major muscle groups in a short amount of time. I'm also digging Core Dynamics as a nice change from Ultimate Ball; this disc incorporates dumbbells and bodyweight exercises to work your abs and back, which I found to be a nice break from rolling around on the floor with the ball, feeling like a hamster.

Adjustments: I've been following the program *almost* to a T... I did switch around one of my rest days and on core days (Ultimate Ball or Core Dynamics), I've been adding a cardio session at the gym. I still like to get out of the house every once in a while for some hot cardio machine action and these particular discs are short enough that I can do both.

So far, so good! I'm surprisingly not bored yet and very much looking forward to months two and three. It's been nice not having to figure out what workout to do each day! Just need to clean up my eating a bit and I should be at my ideal weight and body composition. Remember, kids: Weight-loss is 80% diet and 20% fitness; you CAN eat your way through ANY workout.

Larabros and Roasted Randomness.

2011-08-23T10:50:00.000-06:00

Ever since I saw Chocolate-Covered Katie bust out homemade Larabars, the idea struck me as too easy to be true... But, hesitation aside, I picked up some pitted dates in bulk and decided to experiment with some mix-ins we had around the kitchen. The result?

Almond Joy LaraBros.

Yes, I'm completely aware of what these resemble. Har har.

And yes, you read the name right; I can't afford to get sued! I'm known to say "bro" (or, if I'm feeling sassy, "brah") on a regular basis and to be honest, I do have bro-like tendencies, so the name just seemed to fit. No idea what I'm talking about? Do a little more research on these types of guys:

Minus the date-rape, but maintaining the ability to lift weights and throw down some tequila shots.

ANYWHO, here's my version of the recipe, which yielded 10 mini-bros:

1 cup pitted dates, packed
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
1/8 tsp salt
1/4 cup unsweetened shredded coconut (I used the reduced-fat kind by Let's Do Organic)
1/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup raw almonds

Throw everything in a food processor and blend until well-mixed and you can form the mixture into bars or balls. Each bar has about 135 calories.

Not much to look at of course, but hot damn, they tasted good and did indeed mimic an original Larabar almost 100%. Had I known how easy, fast and cheap these were to make at home, I would've tried it months ago. I still have plenty of dates left, so next time, I think I'll experiment with some fruit flavors.

After making my ~~bars~~ bros, I proceeded to make dinner. I knew I had some broccoli and asparagus that needed to be used, as well as one of 3 jumbo zucchini that my grandma brought me, so I started by roasting them all in a little bit of olive oil, salt & pepper. After a few minutes of brainstorming, I settled on Roasted Veggie Pasta:

Whole-wheat linguine topped with the aforementioned roasted veggies, fresh diced tomato and, wait for it, cottage cheese (mixed with grated parmesan, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt & pepper).

Definitely one of the more random dishes I've slapped together, but I found it to taste quite good. I often replace ricotta with cottage cheese, so my idea wasn't totally insane. Plenty of protein, fiber, complex carbs and vitamins, so from a healthy point of view, I think I hit all of those nails on the head. Hooray for leftovers for lunch!

Hope everyone is having a great week.

Supreme 90 Day: Week One

2011-08-19T11:43:00.001-06:00

Well, I survived week one of the Supreme 90 Day workout system. And really, it was much less "trying to survive" and more "kicking ass and feeling strong." If you scroll through my DVDs posts, you'll quickly learn that I'm no stranger to working up a sweat at home and rely on DVDs to give me a good challenge.

Supreme 90 Day has quickly moved up my list of favorites, easily being somewhere in the top 10. Why so much praise, so soon? It meets my criteria for a good (and in this case, great) workout DVD:

Affordable price.
Reasonable completion time (33-47 minutes each, *including* warm-up and cool-down).
Lots of variety to prevent boredom (10 discs, different disc each day).
Strong base of exercises that can be adapted to increase or decrease intensity, therefore acceptable for various fitness levels.
Challenges all major muscle groups.
Well-balanced mix of cardio, strength and core training.
Requires little space and few pieces of equipment.

I talked a little bit about the Chest and Back workout last week, but since then, I've tried a few others:

Ultimate Ball: Using a stability ball, this workout (about 40 minutes total) focuses on core muscles (think abs and back). I wasn't sure what to expect with this one, but I certainly wasn't expecting to sweat and curse as much as I did! Working with a stability ball quickly showed me how weak my core is, and consequently, how I have shit for balance. Lots of moves requiring you to roll the ball around with your legs or arms, but recruiting abdominal and back muscles to properly execute the move. I know my description is probably a little simplified, but believe me when I say that this disc is no joke. And of course, it hurt to laugh, cough or sneeze for a few days afterward; my abs were en fuego! There aren't a ton of alternatives for a stability ball in this workout; you might be able to get by with a chair or making up your own modifications, but my advice? Either buy a stability ball if you don't already have one OR skip this disc and opt for a moderate-to-high intensity Pilates workout.

Tabata Inferno: If memory serves, I think this is the longest workout in the whole set, BUT, thanks to tabata intervals, those 47 minutes flew by! In this workout, you do 20 seconds of a move at high intensity, usually one that's plyometric in nature (jump squats, burpees, high knees, etc.), recover for 10 seconds, then repeat. You repeat the cycle until you've completed about 4 minutes of work, then you get a full one-minute rest and move on to the next set of exercises. LOTS of different moves in this set, including a few with dumbbells to boost your afterburn even more! This workout may come across as intimidating to new exercisers, but go at your own pace and don't get discouraged; you have 90 days (or more) to improve your force and speed.

Shoulders and Arms: Pretty standard mix of moves to work the specified areas: clean & press, shoulder press, bicep curls, tricep extensions, triecp kickbacks, lateral raises, skull crushers and bent-over reverse flies. As with the other discs, the exercises are performed at a pretty quick 'n' steady speed with very little rest in between sets, so your heart rate stays elevated, thus more sweat and more calories burned. I'm loving this disc in particular because my arms have never been as defined or strong as I would like; after I did this workout, my arms were nice and warm for days, haha.

Cardio Challenge: This workout is similar to the Tabata Inferno, but *slightly* less intense and shorter in duration (about 40 minutes total). Instead of 20 seconds of work followed by 20 seconds of rest, you work for 30 seconds and rest for 30. This disc also incorporates more weights for compound moves like squats with an upright row, dumbbell swings with squats (could also use a kettle bell), wood chops, alternating forward lunges with a shoulder press, etc. Non-weighted moves include high knees, pop-squats (could also be defined as a "squat-jack"; kind of a hybrid between a jumping jack and a squat), jumping lunges, straight leg kicks, plank-walks, plank jacks, bear crawls and much, much more!

Legs: This is another shorter workout (about 32 minutes total) and it uses several variations on two key leg exercises, squats and lunges. This disc uses a stability ball as well, for floor moves like hip/pelvic raises and ball roll-outs. There are modifications provided if you don't have a ball and want to use a chair or weight bench. Since this workout was shorter, I got cocky and did a 2 mile run later that same day... Kinda regretting that now as my glutes are pretty damn sore! All in all though, another thorough workout in a reasonable amount of time.

One thing to be aware of is that quite a few of the workouts start out with an ab routine after the warm-up... Tom explains that this helps warm up your core for the exercises that follow and the more I think about it, the more it makes sense. Your abs and back muscles do a lot of work in helping you balance and stabilize in a multitude of moves for other muscle groups, so it's good to ensure that those muscles are warmed up as well. I guess my only criticism is that those types of moves should've just been added to the standard warm-up that's performed on every disc. Oh well.

Overall, I'm really pleased with this system so far. Since I'll be rotating the same discs mentioned in this post for the remainder of month 1, I don't know that I'll post too many more updates. Once I move into month 2, some of the other discs will be incorporated.

Have a great weekend!

Cool as a Cucumber [Sandwich].

2011-08-15T14:35:00.000-06:00

If you're still suffering in the heat and running out of no-oven-needed meal ideas, help is on the way!

When Doug and I first started dating, he told me about these cucumber-black olive-cream cheese sandwiches that his mom made for him, growing up. The combination struck me as a bit odd, but once I tried it for myself, it quickly became a favorite that I like to recreate every once in a while.

Anyway, last week, I picked up a discounted French bread-like loaf from the bakery and some Neufchatel cheese. We had a cucumber and a can of sliced olives on hand, so a fantastically simple (and frugal) dinner was on the way:

Served open-faced, with a black eye pea/tomato/red onion salad on the side. You could use any type of crusty bread, really. It works well with sourdough, French, whole wheat... You choose.

I lightly toasted the bread, spread on the Neufchatel, topped with cucumber slices (peeled off the skin and scooped out the seeds as a personal preference), sprinkled with salt & pepper and then crushed the olive slices on top. The textures of this sandwich are pretty amazing. Light, crisp, delicate and refreshing, and simultaneously filling and savory.

If I ever get around to opening my own restaurant or sandwich shop, I'll be sure to put this one on the menu. My first inclination was to name it "The Doug," but that seems like a better name for something that may or may not include bacon and peanut butter. Since it is, in my opinion, a more sophisticated sandwich, I think I'll go with "The Douglas." Enjoy!

Can I have a Taco Supreme 90 Day instead?

2011-08-12T19:51:00.002-06:00

Why hello there, dear readers! It's finally Friday and the week has slowed down enough for a nice lil' blog update. I have another food post coming up soon, but before I work on that, I wanted to throw some fitness schtuff in between.

Today, I started Day 1 of the Supreme 90 Day Workout System:

(got a better price on Amazon, of course).

I've been hearing about this program for a while, but didn't jump on the bandwagon right away since I'm a bit wary of "As Seen On TV!" labels. I didn't let it fall completely off my radar though, since it's basically a MUCH more affordable option to P90X.

I kept reading good reviews though and for the price, I decided the risk was pretty low; surely out of 10 different discs, there would be something I would enjoy...

Now, before I go into the basics of Supreme 90, I felt I should share my experience with P90X...

First of all, I love Tony Horton. I really do. He's motivational, funny and uh, let's just say that even though he's old enough to be my father, I wouldn't kick the man out of bed for eating crackers. I actually still have, in a box somewhere, his original Power 90 workout system on VHS. So I respect the man and his work. But...

I just wasn't feelin' P90X. Definitely a great variety of workouts that will no doubt deliver results when done consistently, but all in all, I just felt each workout was too long. Sixty minutes or more, nearly everyday, wasn't doing it for me. I have no qualms (most of the time) about getting in a good workout most days of the week, but I also get bored easily and do best with faster-paced workouts in the 30-45 minute range.

Enter Supreme 90.

It could be (and probably has been) labeled as the "poor man's P90X," but I am indeed a semi-poor [wo]man who is still intrigued by the idea of muscle confusion and seeing improvement in all major muscle groups in just a few months. Sign me up!

The program is hosted by Tom Holland (who doesn't sound or look unlike Tony). There's also a 28-Day meal plan included, which was put together by Tosca Reno (author of the Eat Clean Diet books and regular contributor to my favorite, Oxygen Magazine). So all in all, it seems pretty legit.

Anywho, the next biggest selling point to me, after the number of workouts and the price, was the duration of the workouts. Turns out, instead of one grueling hour after another, the Supreme 90 routines fall between 30 and 47 minutes, including the warm-up and cool down stretch.

Next pro that caught my attention? A short list of equipment: Dumbbells and a stability ball. That's it. No extra pull-up bar or anything like that. Simple, simple, simple.

Now, that said, a good variety of dumbbells is what I would recommend. After doing the Chest & Back DVD this morning (which I really dug, by the way), a good mix to have would be light (3-5 lbs) medium (8-10 lbs) and heavy (15-25 lbs). The disc I did this morning included a few moves using a stability ball, but Tom provided alternatives to complete the routine without it. I won't say (yet) that you can do the whole program without a stability ball (there's one disc called "Ultimate Ball," for example), but so far it seems like modifications will be prominent throughout.

SO, how was the Chest & Back workout? Pretty darn good. And fast, too (finished in about 32 minutes, including warm up and cool down). It was a basic circuit routine where you would perform 2-3 different exercises, 8-12 reps each, repeat the set 1-2 times and then move on to the next round. Tom has 3 different people working with him (two guys, one girl) and they all go at different paces so you're encouraged to go at your own pace as well. This was an adjustment for me because I'm used to being in sync with everyone in the video, but it is nice not to feel rushed. Tom encourages you to avoid rushing through the moves because it affects your form.

Today, I did lots of push-ups, deadlifts, chest presses, supermans, bent-over rows, push-ups to plank rows (kill me) and a few other moves that were completely new to me. Definitely felt like my chest and back got a thorough workout in a short amount of time. The pace was steady enough to work up a nice sweat, but there was also just enough time in between sets for Tom to explain each of the moves and show how to perform them.

It's a bit early for me to judge, but I'd say this would probably be better suited for intermediate to advanced fitness levels. Although, with the people in the videos going at their own paces and with the modifications, a beginner looking for a challenge might benefit from this system too. Either way, I'll follow up on that after trying the majority of the discs.

I'm really excited to keep going with this plan. I can't guarantee that I will stick to it 100% for the full 90 days, but I'm sure gonna try. I probably won't do daily blog updates either, but I'll definitely check in every week or so to recap which workouts I tried and how I felt afterward.

Have you tried P90X or Supreme 90 Day? What are your thoughts?

Enjoy the weekend!

Almond Butter Whey Cookies, Part 2.

2011-07-27T16:44:00.000-06:00

So, those Almond Butter Whey Cookies from my last post? Well, I decided to follow up on those and experiment with making them more moist. I think I found the trick... Add a ripe banana!

My revised recipe:

2/3 cup oats
1 tbsp creamy almond butter (could also use peanut butter)
1.5 scoops whey protein powder (I used Designer Whey's vanilla variety)
1 egg white (or 1/4 cup liquid egg whites)
2 packets Stevia (or sweetener of choice; I used 2 tbsp of granulated Splenda)
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/8 cup carob chips (optional; I used semi-sweet chocolate chips)
1 small ripe banana
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
dash of salt

-Pre-heat oven to 350˚F.
-Whisk dry ingredients together.
-Mash the banana and mix well with wet ingredients; add to dry ingredients.
-Use a teaspoon to scoop the batter onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper & sprayed with non-stick spray. The mixture will be a bit runny. Aim for 12 cookies.
-Bake for 10 minutes.

I ended up with 12 this time (2 are missing from the picture after Doug and I did a little quality control).

MUCH better! The mashed banana made a big difference. Plus, it added a nice banana flavor to complement the chocolate and nut butter. What more could I ask for? Moist, fresh chocolate chip cookies ready in well under 20 minutes.

The nutrition changed a bit though; instead of the original 30 cals per cookie, my revised recipe makes these 58 calories per cookie. Still not bad at all, considering how much more satisfying they were than the first batch. Glad I decided to give this recipe another shot!

Treats in the heat.

2011-07-20T10:05:00.001-06:00

Last night's dinner was another specialty a lá Doug. There was brief talk about taking advantage of a special at Domino's Pizza, but remembering how much cake I ate over the weekend and into Monday, I quickly shut that idea down. So back to healthy meal planning we went.

We ended up with a Quinoa salad, topped with grilled chicken and homemade vinaigrette dressing:

For the salad mix, Doug tossed together diced tomatoes, sliced radishes, green onion and cooked quinoa. For the dressing, he whisked together:

Minced garlic
Lemon juice
Olive oil
Dijon mustard
Apple cider vinegar
Cayenne pepper
Ancho chile powder
Dried cilantro flakes
Salt & pepper

The chicken was cooked on the grill and brushed with Famous Dave's Texas Pit BBQ sauce. If you want to go meatless, this salad would go great with black beans and corn.

Fresh, clean flavors and a great summer dish that required minimal use of the stove. Works for me! And apparently it also worked for Randal, who did a great job of cleaning up some quinoa that spilled on the floor:

Before dinner, I already had dessert on the brain, so I decided to try a couple of recipes I had seen in the latest issue of Oxygen Magazine, both of which featured whey protein powder.

The first recipe was a batch of Almond Butter Whey Cookies:

Bite-sized, of course:

For this recipe, you'll need:

1/2 cup Oats
1 tbsp creamy almond butter (I used Barney Butter; it's so smooth!)
1 scoop whey protein powder (I used Designer Whey's chocolate variety)
1 egg white (or 1/4 cup liquid egg whites)
2 packets Stevia (or sweetener of choice; I used a generous tablespoon of granulated Splenda)
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/8 cup carob chips (optional; I used semi-sweet chocolate chips)

(I also added about a tablespoon of cocoa powder for extra flavor, along with a dash of salt.)

Whisk together the dry ingredients in a bowl, then stir in the wet ingredients with a spoon. The dough will be really sticky and kinda difficult to work with, but mix as well as you can.

Use a teaspoon to make the dough into golfball-sized portions. Bake in a 350˚F oven for 10 minutes. I ended up with 10 cookies instead of 12, but whatevs. Each cookie is about 30 calories!

Things to do differently next time: While the chocolate flavor in these cookies was spot-on, Doug and I both agreed that they were DRY. Like really, really, I-need-copious-amounts-of-milk-stat! dry. I'm already planning to make another batch, but I will definitely play around with adding milk and/or unsweetened applesauce to give them some much-needed moisture. A little softer, and these could be a pretty satisfying, guilt-free treat when the chocolate craving hits.

The second recipe I tried was for Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups:

In a blender, add:

4 oz water
1 scoop of chocolate protein powder (I used Designer Whey)
1 tbsp peanut butter (I used Peanut Butter & Co's Dark Chocolate Dreams)
1 tbsp cocoa powder
1-2 packets of preferred sweetener (I used a generous tablespoon of granulated Splenda)

Blend until well mixed, pour into a muffin tray and freeze for 1-2 hours. (I used a mini muffin pan and ended up with 10 cups total.)

Things to do differently next time: As far as the recipe goes, I don't think I'd change much because they tasted pretty darn good. But they're also super-messy to eat because it's basically like eating pieces of a frozen fudge bar without the stick. That said, I think this recipe would work as a really great base for a low-cal ice cream. I'm going to try mixing it with a few cups of almond milk, freezing it and seeing what I end up with. Given the creaminess of the cups, I think the ice cream would turn out pretty good.

Perspective; I has it.

2011-07-15T09:25:00.000-06:00

The summer has been pretty insane and non-stop so far, thanks to various appointments, social gatherings, adopting Randal, making time for family visits, traveling to Vegas, weddings, graduations and of course, making time for the usual workouts and healthy eats.

On top of all that, I also applied for a new position in my department. I've completed the two interviews, but I'm starting to think I won't get an offer. As with any position, I recognized and accepted the possibility that I wouldn't get it, and that's totally ok. No hard feelings. Playing the waiting game has still been a bit stressful though, so when I found myself lying awake at 4 am this morning, wondering if today would be the day I finally get some news, I rolled out of bed and changed into my workout clothes. I made my way to the gym and did something I haven't done in a loooooong time; I ran 4 miles.

I wasn't particularly fast and I took my share of walking breaks, but I felt so damn good, I just kept going. And although my running can be sporadic at times, one thing's for sure; I almost always clear my head in the process and feel pretty damn optimistic about, well, everything.

When life gets busy (see last two months and counting), I tend to lose sight of how good I have it right now.

So, how about a quick recap of the things I'm thankful for, eh?

-Doug
-Randal
-My awesome, smart, hilarious friends
-My family
-My current job (money's tight, I'm a little bored, but bills are still getting paid; others haven't been as lucky in this economy and I need to remind myself of that.)
-Shelter
-Wholesome food
-My strong body
-My confidence and sense of self-worth (didn't have either of these for a good chunk of my life; changing my lifestyle these past few years has made all the difference.)
-My intelligence
-My sense of humor (Doug tends to roll his eyes at most of my jokes, but if I can still make myself laugh every day, that's good enough for me.)
-Peanut butter
-Studying for my PT certification
-Music
-Netflix

I guess I'll stop there, but the point is, I've got a lot going for me already. That's not to say everyday has been smooth sailing; there's been ongoing financial struggles, arguments, tears, crappy eating and terrible workouts. But that's life. You can't control most of the things that happen to you, but you can control how you respond. Choosing a positive attitude is easier on some days than others, but it's always an option with little-to-no risk involved. What have you got to lose by recognizing the good things in life?

This morning's run helped me come to such a conclusion. Since I don't know what the rest of the day will bring, I at least know that for 50 minutes this morning, I was centered and at peace with myself and my body. I'm thankful that my legs carried me though and that those endorphins lifted me up to a new level of optimism.

Alright, enough of the hippie stuff. In short, no matter how the day (or month or year) ends up, life, as it is, is pretty bitchin'. And really, how can I ever be upset when I know I've got this face to come home to?

So, with that said, I suppose I'll close this post with a gentle reminder to pause and reflect on the good in your life. Sure, things could be better, but they could also be much worse. Make the most of what you have. And run! (Or walk.) And eat your veggies. Heh.

Have a great weekend, everyone.

Bro-ing it up in Vegas.

2011-07-13T12:27:00.001-06:00

Um, where the eff did June go? I guess I shouldn't complain about summer going by so fast because I hate the heat, but having time to breathe and y'know, remember what day it is would be kinda nice.

Anywho, Monday, I got back from a long weekend in Vegas to celebrate my sister's 21st birthday. And also kinda celebrating 5 years with Doug:

Ignore the red eye.

It was a great trip, filled with public drunkenness and drag queens, but of course, the main thing I want to talk about is THE FOOD!

My mom treated us all to a buffet at the Paris hotel the first night, but after that, Doug and I quickly decided that we didn't want to do the buffet thing during the whole trip. We stuck to cheaper, non-buffet eats (thank you Panda Express for supplying us with veggies!).

We did however make not one, but two special trips to a new favorite joint, Hash House a Go Go. I originally saw them featured on Man vs. Food and wrote the name in case we got the chance to actually visit. Turns out, they were located in our hotel (stayed at the Imperial Palace), so we made plans to eat there for breakfast. The dish that beckoned? Sage Fried Chicken & Bacon Waffles, topped with fried leeks and a maple reduction:

Ultimate food porn. I wanted to get a better picture, but I was also eager to try my first bite, so I threw down the camera in a hurry, attacking the poor dish like a lion on a gazelle.

Definitely a chorus-of-angels-worthy dish. My only regret is that we didn't think to share one plate; this place serves up H-U-G-E portions. Oh well. We munched on the leftovers during the day, so we could skip snacks and lunch. This method came in handy for balancing my walk-around-vodka munchies.

Since we enjoyed breakfast so much, we decided to go back for dinner. Complimentary buttermilk biscuits, topped with a warm honey glaze:

Sometimes, there just aren't enough calories in day... I would've loved to tried these babies with some sausage gravy!

Next, we ordered an appetizer; Tiger Prawns, fried in cornmeal:

Served with a creamy chipotle sauce and garnished with fried angel hair pasta. I must admit, I haven't been to too many places that focus on presentation, so this made the trip so much more enjoyable!

Next, we decided to SPLIT a burger. We learned our lesson from the Chicken 'n' Waffles incident and knew that one burger would be plenty for the two of us. And it was. This is the #5 burger, stuffed with cheddar, applewood bacon and avocado:

Hot damn. Another winner! So, next time you're in Vegas and looking to splurge, pleasepleaseplease don't pass this place up! Aside from their location in the Imperial Palace, they also have a stand-alone location near the Sahara. Oh, and their original location is in San Diego as well.

Lots of calories consumed, but we also walked everywhere, so everything balanced out pretty well. We had a blast, but it's great to be home. I've had my share of excess for the year, haha. Hope everyone's having a great week!

Great minds think alike.

2011-06-27T10:54:00.000-06:00

Not that I needed more proof that Randal is a great fit for our household, but the places he falls asleep crack me up:

Hope everyone had a great weekend! Got a busy couple of weeks ahead of me, followed by some much-needed R&R in Vegas. How's your summer going? Busy? Cool travel plans? Work?

Hows & Whats.

2011-06-21T11:28:00.001-06:00

Time for another edition of Hows & Whats.

HOW I'm currently eating:
DISCLAIMER: As with any nutritional plan, always seek guidance from a professional first; this way of eating is what currently works for *me* and may not be the best option for you.

Oh, food. You and I always seem to be at odds, depending on the week and where my head is at. For the time being, I'm aiming for higher protein and less sugar, using Jackie Warner's book as a guide:

I actually bought this book shortly after it was released, just never got around to doing a proper review. I know it probably comes across as just another fad, but it's actually a pretty decent read when it comes to food. And nothing is banned; the main goal is to eat less refined sugar and processed foods, which pretty much every one can benefit from. I'm fond of this plan because it works best for my current way of eating (eat clean for 5 days, then allow for some treats on the weekends), but also forces me to improve my meal composition (less sugar, more protein, more veggies and focusing on whole grains & fruits for carb sources). Each day, I aim to eat 4 servings of lean protein, 3 servings of veggies (though I allow myself more if I want), 2 servings of fruit, 2 servings of healthy carbs (oatmeal, brown rice, quinoa, pasta, wheat bread or wraps, etc.) and 1 serving of healthy fat (olive oil, nuts, avocado).

It's not rocket science by any means, but since my fitness goals include improving my sprinting speeds and increasing my lean muscle mass, Jackie's nutrition plan is pretty much spot-on for properly fueling my workouts. Before following her plan, I was eating healthy (for the most part), but had cut back on protein and found myself eating more carbs, in addition to drinking more alcohol and overeating on the weekends. Doing so was starting to affect my athletic performance; I just always seemed sluggish whether I was running or lifting and was taking longer to recover, thus bailing on more workouts. Getting back into my protein groove has already kept me from half-assing a session and has kept debilitating muscle soreness in the backseat.

I'm into my second week of following the plan and have noticed a dive in my junk food cravings and my appetite is starting to subside as well. First week, I dropped 3 pounds, so I can't complain. And because there's no counting calories or tracking involved, it's keeping my anxiety and binges at bay. I'm not hungry either, which is kind of a big deal. As with any healthy eating plan, there is some more prep involved (taking time to cut up veggies for snacks & lunch; boiling eggs and mixing protein shakes the night before, etc.), but nothing I haven't had to do before.

HOW I'm currently sweating:
Right now, my routine is pretty basic: 2 days of cardio, 3 days of strength/weights, 2 days of rest. For cardio, I head to the gym and do some sort of mix of the following, for about 45 minutes or so: sprint intervals, incline walking, stairmaster, elliptical or spinning. I try not to do any single activity for more than 20 minutes because I have a confession to make: I'm officially bored with cardio.

Back when I first started to lose weight, I adored cardio and despised strength training. Anyone who's followed me from my LiveJournal days knows this is true. It seems after getting into Jari Love and Jackie Warner workouts, I finally learned to love lifting and compound strength exercises. They just always seem to give me that edge when trying to meet a goal, be it improved definition or fat loss. I STILL meet women to this day who shy away from weights or believe they shouldn't start lifting until they're closer to their weight goal. For any ladies reading this, please, please, please- don't put off this type of training any longer. You will NOT get big and bulky (unless you're getting testosterone injections, lifting 300+ pounds AND eating a steady diet of chicken & creatine supplements). Study after study has proven time and time again that weight training boosts fat-loss efforts, improves performance in other fitness activities and improves bone density. You can scarf down all the milk and calcium supplements you want (*raises hand*), but adding some extra resistance in your workouts will ward off osteoporosis and fractures even more. Running, yoga and Zumba are all great, but don't be afraid to pick up some dumbbells a couple times a week.

Ok, stepping off of my soapbox now.

WHAT I'm currently reading:
Well, technically, all I should be reading is my ACE Personal Trainer Manual, but I need a break from that every once in a while. Right now, I'm pretty much obsessed with Oxygen Magazine.

I'm letting my subscriptions to Shape, Self and Fitness all expire because I relate to less and less of their content every month. I don't identify with flavor-of-the-month celebs or the numerous underweight models featured on every other page, parading as fitness role models. And when I'm in the mood to read about exercise, I want to read about just that; not flip through dozens of pages featuring beauty products and $500 boots. Can you feel the rage?

Well, Oxygen is not like the others. Forget the anti-aging moisturizers and bring on the butt-kicking workouts! I've gotten 2 issues so far and just reading them makes me feel like a strong, healthy bad-ass. They cover a variety of workout types, share great clean recipes, tell inspiring success stories and feature models who truly do exemplify what eating healthy and working out should look like, without any fluff.

Don't get me wrong; those other women's health mags deserve some credit, but they just seem so shallow to me now. And honestly, if I see another Kardashian being played up to be a source of health/fitness inspiration, I'm gonna need corrective surgery to pull my eyes from the back of my head.

Bonus: You can score a subscription from Magazine Deals Now for a more than reasonable price. (I've used this site tons in the past; it's legit. If you sign up for their mailing list, you get sweet discount codes too.)

What are some of your current Hows & Whats?

Q-Q-Q-Q-Quinoa.

2011-06-14T16:23:00.000-06:00

I'm pretty terrible at post titles. Whatevs...

So, I'm a new fangirl of Oxygen Magazine. I was about to give up on women's health/fitness magazines, but Oxygen seems to know what's up. It's great to see ripped, fit women doing tough workouts as opposed to the usual underweight bikini model pretending to be disappointed by what she sees on the scale in an article about weight-loss. ANYWHO, rant aside, I found a great Spanish-style quinoa recipe on the Oxygen site and decided to give it a try last night.

I opted for the version that used pinto beans instead of peas. I also left out the green onion because we were out.

Turned out great! I sometimes (well, all of the time) find myself stuck when thinking of new ways to jazz up quinoa and this recipe was just what I was looking for. It reminded me of really well-seasoned, hearty Spanish rice.

To boost up my protein intake, I served it with some salmon:

I seasoned the salmon with taco seasoning (we likes to keeps it classy like dat) and topped it with my new obsession:

There are only a billion different jarred salsas out there, so I don't usually buy it, but I'm officially a whore for Frontera. One of my new goals in life is to eat at a Rick Bayless restaurant, based on this salsa alone. There's also a red pepper-garlic variety that's pretty great too.

Turned out to be a tasty meal, no thanks to my lazy sous chef:

Oh well. Being cute does give one a lot of free passes in life.

This dish would also great with grilled chicken, pork, ground beef or turkey. And to keep it meatless, add more beans (black or kidney, perhaps?) and/or tofu. Looking forward to trying the leftovers with cheese & sour cream.

Hope everyone's having a great week!

Catching up with the times...

2011-06-13T16:02:00.000-06:00

Hello, readers! Just a quick post to let you know I finally created a Facebook page for this blog.

My goal is to offer a more interactive, supportive place for readers. I'll also post food/fitness tips that don't always make it to the blog.

Thanks!

A new partner in crime...

2011-05-31T11:03:00.001-06:00

Hope everyone had a safe & fun weekend! Things were a little busy at our house, but for good reason; we finally got a dog!!!

His name is Randal (a nod to the movie "Clerks"), he's one and a half years old and so far, he's the best beagle ever. Sure, he's misbehaved a few times, but I mean, look at that face! We're quick to forgive him once he goes back to being a goofy sweetheart.

I've been looking at dogs for over 3 years now and Randal is proof that patience is a virtue. The local Humane Society was having a really good deal on dogs over the holiday weekend, so I twisted Doug's arm to go look after I left work on Friday. I figured if we didn't see/meet any that we liked, we could leave, but I think I knew better; visiting a shelter is pretty heartbreaking, so leaving empty-handed is a challenge.

I saw Randal on the website earlier in the day and he was definitely one of my top choices. He was a stray who had already been there a week; can't believe he lasted that long! He had just been neutered, had a clean bill of health and no behavioral problems. When we went to a visitation room to meet him, he immediately went to Doug and put his paw's on Doug's knees. It's almost as if Randal planned that move, since Doug was being really resistant to the idea of getting a dog that day and I was already won over from the beginning.

About an hour after the visit, we were new dog parents and taking Randal to his new home. It's been like the Summer of Love ever since, but without the psychoactive drugs and, y'know, hippies. For $100, his adoption included getting neutered, shots, license tags, a free first vet visit, microchip and a free month of pet insurance. He was originally $200, so aside from being the coolest dog ever, his adoption process was a pretty rad value too.

But not everyone was happy about Randal joining our family...

This is my sister's Shih-Tzu, Chato. Chato has stayed at our house a few times in the past and was kind of a "practice" dog for me and Doug. He's usually cheerful and energetic, but when he stayed the night this weekend with Randal, he quickly became super-jealous and would go into our bedroom by himself because he thought he'd been replaced. He's not used to being around other dogs, but hopefully he'll eventually warm up to his new cousin.

So that was this weekend's excitement! Once Randal heals up from his neuter surgery, we're looking forward to taking him hiking and to the dog park. He's already a bit spoiled and I expect that will only get worse as time goes on.

Boot camp, baby!

2011-05-25T09:06:00.001-06:00

It's been a while since I've blabbed about a fitness DVD, but I couldn't seem to go another day without praising my new favorite: Jeanette Jenkins' Bikini Boot Camp!

I first learned about Jeanette through the Nike Training Club App after unlocking her bonus ab workout. After that, I got curious and started to browse her DVD releases. After reading some reviews, I decided to give Bikini Boot Camp a try.

First, I'll cut to the chase and say: This workout is NOT for beginners! In fact, I think even intermediate and advanced exercisers will find this one tough to keep up with.

The basic format of the workout is a warm-up, a cardio camp (about 27 minutes), a strength/toning camp (about 25 minutes), an ab camp (about 10 minutes) and finally, stretching & cool down. You can do each camp individually or all together.

Don't let the girlishness of the word "bikini" fool you- the cardio camp is no joke! It's very athlete-driven, starting with some basic moves (jumping jacks, high knees, etc.), but then quickly transitions ("quickly" being a key word here) to kick boxing, plyometrics and sport drills one might do in volleyball, basketball and football (shuffling, overhead spikes, mixed jump rope routines, etc.)

While the cardio camp is under 30 minutes, Jeanette does not let up for a single second; there are 5 circuits, all of them repeated about 2-3 times with no breaks. While her cuing and pace are both steady, she doesn't really pause to show you how to perform the move, so it's up to the viewer to really pay attention and keep up. None of the moves are terribly complicated, but if you're expecting a lot of explanation beforehand, it simply isn't there.

The strength/toning camp moves at a slightly slower pace with a couple of breaks, but because most of the moves are compound exercises (working more than one muscle group at the same time), your heart rate will stay up and you'll definitely start to feel the burn all over.

This routine starts off with push-ups and plank exercises and then moves on to using dumbbells with lots of variations on lunges, squats, arm curls and extensions. One move that was new to me was plie squats performed while standing on the tips of the toes- hello calf muscles! Many of the moves also involve balancing on one leg, which I found really challenged my core muscles.

Finally, there's the ab camp. Nothing particularly spectacular here; just a lot of crunches (with the added weight from a dumbbell), bicyles and leg raises that will set your stomach on fire for almost 10 minutes. Y'know, the usual.

I've done this DVD twice now and I think I may be addicted, despite how incredibly tough it is. The first time, I did the entire DVD, all of the camps in order. This morning, I skipped the ab camp and changed up the order, doing the strength camp first, then the cardio camp. I'm sure it depends on the person, but I found doing the strength camp first was a little bit easier to get through. The cardio is just so tough that trying to get through resistance training immediately afterward was a little too much of an ass-kicker for me. Plus, I think my form was better in the strength camp since my muscles were still fresh and not completely spent from all of the plyometric work in cardio camp.

This DVD was a little pricier than what I usually spend on fitness DVDs (Collage Video actually has the cheaper price; Amazon wants almost $40- yeah right!), but so far, it's proven to be worth every penny. It's provided the type of muscle confusion I've needed lately and goes by pretty fast. Plus, the only equipment you need is some dumbbells (I used a set of 5's and a set of 8's). If you're looking for a great total body workout, Bikini Boot Camp delivers a solid challenge that will leave you soaked and sore (in a good way, of course). You've got a new fan, Jeanette!

Tae Bo with Billy Blanks!

2011-05-16T10:39:00.000-06:00

As a long-time fan of Tae-Bo, I was pretty damn thrilled to meet and workout with the master himself, Billy Blanks!!!

Last Friday, I found out that Billy had done a workout at a local gym (my old-old former Planet Fitness gym, Westside Fitness) at 10 am. Totally missed it! I was pretty bummed. I started using the Tae Bo tapes back in my early college days, all the way through to my current fitness routine. It's one of those workouts that I can always depend on because it never feels like "work," it's just fun and empowering. And it always leaves me drenched in sweat, as depicted above, heh.

Anyway, as I searched the web for re-caps of the awesome workout I missed, I found out that Billy was doing a SECOND workout at 5 pm! There was hope! I still had a chance to live out one of my fitness dreams and workout with Billy in person!

I called the gym to see if there was any spots left and there were! Granted, the cost to get in was $30, but the workout and meet/greet was open to non-gym members, so I decided to dash home, change and get my kickboxing on.

Working out with Billy was incredible! Definitely one of the biggest challenges I've done to date. Part of what made it so challenging (aside from the non-stop kicking, punching and resistance band routine) was Billy walking around the room, calling us out to correct our form and holding up his padded gloves to make sure we were counting and punching and kicking on the beat.

When we were going through a punching routine, Billy came up to me and held up his gloves- just like in the videos! He yelled at me over the music to "look in the mirror!" so I could see myself and my form, but I was totally starstruck and had a hard time looking in the mirror when a fitness legend was by my side, haha.

He also held the gloves up to me when we were doing front and back kicks. There was so much burning going on in my muscles at that point, but I pushed through it. He said "Good!" after monitoring my kicks for a bit and I was walking on air from that point on.

After the workout, we all sat down and listened to Billy talk and answer questions:

He said that he was dyslexic and didn't read his first book until 20 years ago. I never knew that about him, so it was inspiring to hear how taking up boxing and Tae Kwan Do helped him eventually work through those issues.

I personally couldn't think of anything to ask because I was still in shock over the fact that we just worked out together, so I just listened. He of course got asked about food and diet and I was pleased with his answer. He basically said that diet books and trends probably work well for the people that designed them, but they more than likely won't work for you 100%. He recommended taking bits and pieces from different plans and customizing something that works for you, which I totally agree with. He didn't talk about calories or superfoods, he just advised healthy choices and avoiding extremes. I think some people were disappointed with his answer because they were probably ready to follow "The Billy Blanks Diet," but I think he responded well.

Someone asked if he lifted weights and I surprised to learn that he doesn't. He said the only resistance training he does is in the Tae Bo workouts, like the resistance bands and bars. We did a routine with the bands toward the end of the workout and it was no joke! At one point, we were performing squat jumps with a military press at the top and I was about ready to die right then and there.

All in all, it was a really cool experience! I'm glad I was able to make it, despite limping out of bed the next morning, haha. Billy is a great instructor, a true motivator and one of my all-time favorite fitness idols. Now I just need to hunt down Jillian Michaels, Jackie Warner and Jari Love and I'll be good to go, haha.

Vegetable Curry, New Belgium-Style.

2011-05-10T09:10:00.003-06:00

Yesterday's Meatless Monday dish combined two things that I enjoy: Curry and beer. But last night was the first time I enjoyed the two together. It was quite the tasty experiment.

As part of the Foodbuzz Tastemaker Program, I received a stipend to purchase New Belgium Brewery products and ingredients for a meal made with and/or paired with the beer.

I chose the Trippel Belgian Style Ale.

Since the main spice is coriander, Doug suggested a curry of some sort.

And so, New Belgium Vegetable Curry was born:

Ingredients:

1 bottle of New Belgium Trippel style beer
1 head cauliflower, chopped
1 onion, diced
1 tbsp canola oil
1 can diced tomatoes (14 or 15 oz, I believe)
2 large cloves of garlic, minced
1 tsp grated ginger
1 bag of frozen peas & carrots (12 oz)
1 tsp salt, plus more to taste
2 tbsp curry powder
1-2 tsp of garam masala
dash of cayenne pepper (optional)
1 cup basmati rice, uncooked

Add the oil to a large pot, set to medium heat. Add the onions and allow them to sweat for about 10-15 minutes. You're not trying to caramelize them, but rather slowly sweat and tenderize them. Add curry powder and stir for a minute or two.

Add the garlic and ginger and stir for a couple of minutes. Stir in tomatoes, salt then the beer. Let simmer for about 10 minutes.

While the base is simmering, prepare the basmati rice according to the package instructions (to save some time, we did the microwave option; place rice in a 2 quart microwaveable dish, add 2 cups water, cover and microwave on high for 5 minutes. Remove, stir and microwave for an additional 15 minutes on 50% power. Let sit for 5 minutes.)

Add the cayenne (if using) and additional salt, if necessary to the base. Stir in cauliflower and peas/carrots. Cover and continue to simmer until cauliflower is tender, about another 10 minutes or so. Add garam masala during the last few minutes of cooking. Serve with rice.

Great, flavorful dish. We sipped the beer by itself in between bites and aside from cooling down the effect of the cayenne, it also had a crisp finish and a smooth aftertaste, thanks to the coriander and the complementing spices in the curry.

Living in Colorado, I've been familiar with New Belgium Brewery for quite some time and have had a few of their beers in the past, but never really considered myself a huge fan. It wasn't until this Foodbuzz opportunity that I decided to give New Belgium another shot. I was pleased to discover how much I enjoyed the Tripple variety and even more impressed with how well it worked with our recipe. Warm curry, cold beer… What more could I ask for on a Monday night?

Life Time Fitness Winners!

2011-05-09T09:00:00.000-06:00

Well, the winners for the two 7-day passes are pretty much everyone who entered, haha. Congrats Bre, Amy, Claudia and Joel!

Please send an e-mail to stretchjean@gmail.com with your current mailing address and I'll get your passes mailed out a.s.a.p.!

Thanks for entering and enjoy your visit to Life Time!

Life Time Fitness Grand Opening- and a Giveaway!

2011-05-05T17:47:00.002-06:00

This past Wednesday, I had the pleasure of going to the opening party for a new health center in town, Life Time Fitness. Prior to my invitation last week, I must admit, I had never heard of the place and hence, had no idea what to expect.

As I pulled up to the center and saw the insane amount of people and traffic, it became clear that Life Time Fitness isn't your typical gym.

I thought "This is crazy! What is it about this place that would attract thousands of people?" Well, after meeting up with one of LTF's reps, I went on a full tour and quickly became impressed, overwhelmed and excited. I'm not sure where to start with my photos, so let's just dive in, shall we?

Gorgeous indoor (and outdoor!) pool & sauna facilities:

Full spa and salon (you mean I can get my hair cut AND attend a spin class in the same building?):

The Life Cafe & Shop:

HUGE menu with healthy options for breakfast, lunch, dinner or a quick snack. And of course, everything on the menu is health-conscious and includes nutritional info. Their Kids menu even includes *baked* chicken strips! From the Life Cafe menu: "We're delighted to serve artisan bread made with unbleached flour and dressings and sauces made from scratch with all-natural ingredients... No artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners, preservatives or trans fats."

Meeting all of your supplement needs!

[Multiple!] Tennis Courts:

Pilates (Mat Pilates is also offered):

Indoor Rock Climbing:

Full Basketball Court:

Boxing, Kickboxing and Mixed-Martial Arts (for adults and kids!):

[Insane amount of] Latest Cardio Equipment & Fully-Stocked Weight Room:

(not sure what this is, but I'm dying to try it- looks like a cross between an elliptical and a stair master!)

In addition to offering just about every piece of equipment you can imagine, they also include popular classes (Zumba, Spinning, Vinyasa Yoga, etc.), so your fitness routine will never get stale.

Life Time is also very much family-oriented, so of course there's a children's center with plenty of indoor and outdoor activities to keep them occupied while parents get their workout on.

And as if all of the above wasn't enough, Life Time kicks things up another notch and offers metabolic testing and other fitness assessments at their LifeLab, to help you better reach your health goals:

The cherry on top: Great view of Pikes Peak:

Now back to that whole "Giveaway" bit...

The folks at Life Time Fitness have given me several 7-Day passes to share with my readers, so you can experience the awesomeness for yourself. Four winners will receive two passes each (each pass is good for an individual, a couple or a family living at the same residence). The passes are valid at the new Colorado Springs location only and can be used anytime between now and May 2012.

To enter: Leave a comment on this post telling me what you're most excited to try at Life Time Fitness. Winners will be selected at random next Monday (May 9) at 9 am MST.

NOTE: You must be at least 21 years of age and a first-time visitor of Life Time in order to redeem the trial pass.

Good luck!

===========
Life Time Fitness is located at 4410 Royal Pine Dr, Colorado Springs, CO 80920

At least they're still good for something...

2011-04-28T09:23:00.000-06:00

I must admit, I'm becoming less and less attached to typical women's fitness/health magazines. I suppose I'll save my rant on why for another day and in the meantime, suggest you check out this Hollaback Health post.

Anywho, that said, I still have a few active subscriptions and despite my reservations, I was still a little excited to get the new issue of Shape with Jillian Michaels on the cover. The issue itself was pretty "meh," but there was a hidden gem of a recipe: a Spinach & Egg Pizza.

I can't seem to find a link to the recipe and I don't have the magazine with me right now, but it was a pretty basic ingredient list.

For the pizza:
1 pizza crust (I used pre-made dough from a local market)
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tsp grated ginger
3 cups baby spinach
salt/pepper to taste
1 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
about 3 tbsp grated parmesan*
3 eggs (I used 4)

For the "Hollandaise" sauce:
3 tbsp reduced fat sour cream (I used about 4 tbsp)
juice of 1 lemon
1 tbsp chopped parsley flakes
black pepper
dash of salt*

Misc:
1 tbsp chopped chives (I used one green onion)

*= Not listed in the original recipe; my own personal addition.

Pre-heat your oven to 450˚F.

The original recipe said to blanch the spinach, but I hate taking the time to blanch things, so I just gave my spinach a rough chop, threw it in the microwave for a minute and squeezed out some of the excess moisture with a paper towel (make sure to let the spinach cool before handling. Duh, I know, but I totally didn't and almost scalded my hand).

In a bowl, combine the spinach, garlic, ginger, salt and pepper. Set aside.

Roll out your pizza dough onto a pan and top with mozzarella and parmesan cheese. Next, add the spinach mixture.

Before cracking the eggs onto the pizza, the original recipe says to create little wells in the pizza first so that the eggs don't slide all over the place. HIGHLY recommend this tip; I failed to read it until after I added the eggs and baked the pizza.

Bake pizza for 7-10 minutes until crust is golden brown and eggs have set. (I ended up increasing the baking time to ensure the crust got cooked through. Consequently, some of the eggs got a bit overcooked...)

Meanwhile, combine ingredients for the "Hollandaise" sauce. I ended up having to add more sour cream because there was way too much lemon juice and the sauce was super-thin. I would suggest adding the lemon juice in increments until the sauce reaches the desired consistency. (It's possible the magazine suggested this too and I probably failed to read that as well).

Once the pie has cooled, slice, serve and top with sauce and sprinkle on chives (or green onions).

Busted the yolk to spread the yolk-y goodness all over the pie.

The verdict? Incredible! I wasn't sure how well pizza would go with ginger, eggs and a sauce loaded with lemon juice, but the result was an incredibly clean, refreshing and delicate-tasting dish. Whoever came up with that recipe definitely knew what they were doing! I'm excited to make it again; tastes of spring and summer while still satisfying your craving for pizza. I cut this into 8 medium-sized slices and assigned 2 slices per serving. The original recipe said to slice the pizza into 12 slices and listed one slice as a serving. Whatevs.

Things to do differently next time:
-make the wells for the eggs.
-bake the pizza *without* eggs for a few minutes so the crust has more time to reach [my] desired texture and also so the yolks don't get overcooked.

I'm really pleased with how well this meal turned out. A unique blend of ingredients and simple assembly made this a fast-favorite!

"I'm giving you a no-honk guarantee."

2011-04-12T11:56:00.001-06:00

Warning: You might want to grab some cheese to go with this whine. Man, the past few days have been pretty bogus, lemme tell ya. Plenty of personal drama to go around, topped with anxiety about Saturday's 5K. It's gotten to the point where all I can do is laugh. And one of the things that always makes me laugh is Wayne's World.

Seriously. It's been one of my favorite movies since it came out. Fun Fact About Tam: I wore a Wayne & Garth "Extreme Close-up!" t-shirt to school in like, the 4th grade. Frequently.

Anyway, to help deal with stress and get in some last-minute training for the race, I decided to go for an outdoor run after work yesterday. Pretty much one of the worst runs ever. I wasn't even trying to go fast or long, I was just trying to run and enjoy it. Sigh.

Started running out of breath almost instantly. I thought "How the hell can this be? I've been spinning and hittin' up the weights to challenge my muscles and boost my endurance! Why is this happening?"

Then the wind started to kick in. Then some cyclists came out of nowhere and scared the shit out of me and I barely had enough air to gasp because I had already been panting for several minutes. Decided to take some walking breaks, which helped a little. Then my insides turned into spit and phlegm, apparently. That was fun.

The cherry on top was when my facial moisturizer (applied earlier in the day) started leaking into my eyes along with sweat. It felt like someone sprayed Tilex in my face. Guess I should re-think what kind of beauty products I use, heh.

Came home in a worse mood and with a bigger headache than what I had before I went outside. And apparently I triggered allergies I didn't know I had, because I've been sneezing and coughing ever since.

Pretty sure I've made this face on more than one occasion this week.

BUT, in retrospect, my joke of a run was kinda funny. And I'm already starting to find my current personal drama kinda funny because it's just one thing after another.

I'll just keep rolling with the punches. And I'll probably keep running too, because it's just the nature of the beast that some runs are better than others. But will I still show up at Saturday's race?

Considering how stressed out I've been lately, I think it might be smart to just let this one go. It's one thing to have a bad run when you're by yourself, but to turn into a psycho-hosebeast in public? Well, I think I'll pass. I know I haven't been running outside nearly enough, but I'm confident that will change soon. Who knows?

So there's my "oh, poor me, my life's SO hard" rant. Just needed to get it out and move on. And watch Wayne's World when I get home.

Meatless Monday.

2011-04-04T12:10:00.000-06:00

Last night's dinner was simple, delicious and meat-free, so of course I had to share in case you're still looking for some Meatless Monday ideas.

Last week, I downloaded an awesome Real Simple recipe app for planning meals based on ingredients and time. It came in handy last night, seeing as it had been the ultimate Lazy Sunday with no real desire to cook in sight. Still, I thought it wouldn't hurt to look for some inspiration and a few taps later, I came across Fettuccine with Artichokes and Beans.

My modifications: significantly less oil (less than 1 tbsp for cooking the garlic and about the same for tossing with the pasta at the end), added crushed red pepper flakes, used about 1 tbsp Italian-style breadcrumbs (instead of making my own) and used 9 oz. of Ronzoni Smart Taste spaghetti. Also added my preferred amounts of salt, oregano and black pepper.

I was glad we decided to pick up some canned artichoke hearts at the store the other night! This meal really was a breeze to make and so delicious. Goes great with a little grated parmesan cheese sprinkled on top!

Old Friends.

2011-03-30T10:01:00.000-06:00

Earlier this month, I decided to reunite with an old friend: 24 Hour Fitness. I was just having gym withdrawals, what can I say? I was keeping up with workouts at home just fine, but getting out of the house and sweating elsewhere just keeps me a bit more sane. Plus, I missed the elliptical, stair master, row machine and spin bikes. I was still able to use my employer discount and returned to the 24.99/month rate. It's just too good to pass up!

I think the new fitness variety has helped with my weight goals too; I'm now over 10 pounds down in my 20 pound goal! Prior to returning to the gym, my loss stalled because I was basically gaining and losing the same 3 pounds for w-e-e-k-s. Said stall was primarily due to poor weekend food choices, but I think re-joining 24 boosted my overall motivation. Feeling really great this week.

My new cardio routine has been a 20 min. cross-training program on the elliptical followed by 30-40 minutes of spinning. The result? Serious muscle confusion! The elliptical routine calls for intervals of back-pedaling, which I've never really done. As for the spinning, I've been going to the cycle room when there's not a class and just do my own custom routine, mostly based on whatever songs come up on my playlist. Tough, but really fun! Lots of speed intervals and hill climbs. Spinning seems to paint a better picture of what level of shape I'm in. Let's just say I now know I've got some work to do, haha.

For strength and resistance training, I stay at home and either do a Nike Women NTC workout, some good ol' Jari Love DVDs or Jillian's new Ripped in 30. I've only done the Week 1 workout and can't really do a full review, but I will say that if you loved 30 Day Shred and classic Jillian moves, you NEED to have this in your rotation.

Additional NTC love: I unlocked all of the badges! Now I'm moving on to the Advanced workouts. Did a 30 minute Get Strong routine the other day and it was no joke. Best. Free. Fitness App. Ever!

Still plugging along in my Personal Trainer studies. Some chapters make my eyes glaze over, but others are just so damn fascinating! I'm regularly reminded that I'm definitely pursuing the right career.

Life is pretty peachy right now. No real complaints. Other than running. Buh. Yeah, definitely on a downswing with that. So much so that I'm considering bailing on the 5K I signed up for on April 16th. Obviously my attitude toward running was on an upswing when I registered for the race, but these days? Not so much. But, I still have another couple of weeks, so maybe things will change for the better by then. It just sucks because every time I do practice runs, I instantly start worrying about speed and it just makes for a grueling workout. Oh well.

I suppose that's enough of a fitness update for now. I think I'll leave you with some of the songs that came up while I was spinning today. I really should think about becoming an instructor; my music kicks so much more ass than the usual stuff they play...

Yeah, that would be the best spin class ever.

Relationships and Roasting.

2011-03-21T11:34:00.000-06:00

Ah, love and cooking; with time, patience and the desire to improve (and impress), the collision of these two worlds can be a beautiful thing. When Doug and I first started dating almost 5 years ago, his kitchen skills were far more advanced than mine. I could certainly make more than toast, but didn't shy away from pre-mixed boxed or frozen entrees. Doug on the other hand was already an avid Alton Brown fan who grew up in a family of cooks. I was pretty intimidated by him when it came to cooking meals together because there were a lot of basic skills I lacked and flavors I hadn't experienced.

After years of learning from Doug, watching a shitload Food Network and taking my palate out of its comfort zone, my appreciation for the world of cuisine has changed dramatically. Cooking together has really become a deeply ingrained facet of our relationship; instead of feeling intimidated, I now feel totally comfortable collaborating with Doug on meals and rarely question whether or not the results will taste ok. Last night's dinner was one of those successful collaborations that ended with lots of "Mmmm!"s and a high-five.

We started with a roasted beet & spinach salad:

Topped with orange segments, roasted walnuts, reduced-fat bleu cheese and Doug's orange vinaigrette dressing.

The main course involved some hot foil bag action and yielded tender, delicious results:

(I know, I need to find more appealing plates than these blue ones my grandma gave me years ago. Someday.)

Pork chops and red onions slathered in orange marmalade and BBQ sauce, wrapped in a foil pouch and baked until cooked through; diced potatoes, olive oil and a couple of garlic cloves baked using the same method.

Once the pork and potatoes were cooked through, I opened the foil and cooked them both under the broiler to add some nice crunch along the edges.

Not pictured is a loaf of sourdough bread that was marked down to 59 cents (!!!). Toasted a few slices and rubbed with the roasted garlic cloves from the potatoes. The mix of textures in this meal was spot-on. Great way to end the weekend!

Black Forest Breakfast and Bowls of Buffalo.

2011-03-10T09:55:00.002-07:00

Seems like it's been a while since I posted about food, so how about some tasty catching-up?

My 28th birthday was this past Tuesday and I decided to create a nice lil' treat for myself before starting the day. I present to you, Black Forest Birthday Breakfast:

In a bowl, I combined:

1/2 cup 0% Fage yogurt
Splenda (or sweetener of choice)
1/3 cup No Sugar Added Cherry Pie Filling
1 Deep Chocolate Vitatop, warmed in the microwave
Mash everything together and enjoy.

Dessert for breakfast! So, so good (and under 200 calories). Thanks to the large amount of left over pie filling, I repeated this combo for breakfast this morning and will probably have it again tomorrow. And the next day. And the next day... Why? Because I'm Team Cake.

Side note: I'm really glad Costco started selling Vitatops- MUCH more affordable this way. Another budget-friendly option is to buy the mix on Amazon and make your own!

Now, time to switch gears from sweet to spicy. A few weeks ago, I came across a Ready Set Eat recipe for Buffalo Chicken Chili. Doug made his version, all nice and pur-dy:

Garnished with bleu cheese and celery greens. We used white beans instead of black; the creamier texture of the white beans just seemed to be a better fit. Our version also used chicken breasts (instead of thighs), carrots, onions, extra tomatoes, extra wing sauce, chicken broth and reduced-fat bleu cheese. If you're craving chicken wings, but still want to keep things healthy, you really can't go wrong with this dish! Tofu could be used as well, for a great meatless option.

Plyo Challenge Update.

2011-03-07T16:19:00.000-07:00

So, I stayed true to my word and busted out the Plyo Challenge Workout I posted about last week.

Verdict? GREAT workout!

It was definitely an ass-kicker, but not so hard that I couldn't finish. I actually thought it was really fun! Maybe I was just in a good mood that morning, but I genuinely enjoyed that routine. I think I was starting to get bored with my usual cardio and this combination of exercises woke my body UP!

Including a 5 minute warm-up, I finished the whole workout in about 50 minutes and burned a little over 450 cals! Considering there were quite a few body-resistance moves mixed in throughout, I think that's a pretty good burn for that amount of time. Speaking of time, it went by fast! That definitely motivated me to keep going until the end.

There's still some lingering soreness in my upper body, but nothing debilitating. As for equipment, the main things I didn't use were the barbell, bosu ball and stability ball. I tried to do the stability ball move in the last round, but my core couldn't hack it, haha. It was kind of pathetic. Oh well. Something to work toward!

Completing this workout really reminded me how important variety is when sticking to a regular fitness routine. I'm prone to being a creature of habit, so I'm going to make it a point to try a new workout each week, be it a new DVD, online video or a custom routine of my own.

How do you keep your fitness routine fresh and challenging? What types of resources to you use? Do you often find yourself getting stuck in a workout rut?

While I'm enjoying new workouts, my love for running is currently on a downswing. Kind of regret signing up for the 5K next month, but I'll stick it out, I suppose.

Other than that, I've just been trying to tone up and lose some of last year's regained weight (currently down 8 out of 20 pounds!) and studying for the ACE exam. Moving through the first couple of chapters pretty smoothly, but probably won't schedule my exam for a another few weeks.

Hope everyone's week is off to a good start!

Plyo Challenge, Anyone?

2011-03-02T15:21:00.000-07:00

I came across a good-looking plyometric workout by Candice Keene on the Fitness RX for Women website and thought I would share it with my readers in case any of you were looking for a cardio-toning challenge. Since the key word is "challenge," this workout looks like it would be best for intermediate or advanced fitness levels. Also, avoid if you have joint issues; plyometrics=jump training and is therefore very high impact.

I drafted a text-version of the workout below, but please watch the video (about 11 minutes long) for examples of proper form and equipment:

http://www.fitnessrxmag.com/contests/11-ms-international/617-ifbb-figure-pro-candice-keenes-butt-kicking-plyo-workout.html

Speaking of equipment, Candice uses an aerobic step (both standard and high versions), a bosu ball (don't worry, I don't have one either) and a stability ball. However, this workout can be done without equipment with some smart modifications. I made notes for non-equipment modifications, thanks to moves I've been using during my Nike NTC workouts and Bob Harper's Inside Out DVDs.

Summary: 4 giant sets, 3+ exercises per set, 15-20 reps per exercise (unless otherwise noted). Complete each set 3 times with a 60 sec break between each set. Entire workout could last about an hour.

1st set:
-15 box jumps (*or tuck jumps if you don't have a box)
-10 burpees
-Bear walks across the room and back
-30 mountain climbers

2nd set:
-25 jump squats
-15 (each leg) split jump lunges
-20 deep plie squats
-Walking lunges w/ back leg lifts AND upper body rotation with barbell bar resting on back of neck/shoulders (*if no bar, could hold light weights in each hand or simply no weight at all and just rotate).

3rd set (No rest between sets on this round):
-30 hop overs (*If you don't have a jump box or high step, try using the seat of a sturdy chair to support your hands/arms and pretend you're hopping over an object OR simply stand upright and hop from side to side.)
-15 high knees (*bosu ball used in video, could be done without)
-5 (each side, 10 total) high knees from side to side with added knee lift before jumping to other side. (*also done w/ bosu ball in video, but can be done without).

4th set (Complete this round 2 times only):
-10 (each side, 20 total) side jump-ups and step downs using high step or jump box. (*If no step or box, try 180 jumps or single-leg hops from side to side.)
-15 (each side) regular step-ups with added back leg lift (*If you have a staircase, you could step-up on the steps or replace the step-up with a front lunge and add alternating back leg lifts).
-40 toe taps using a step with added risers; if no step, try high knees and drive the bottoms of your feet up and inward, kinda like you're bouncing an imaginary soccer ball back & forth/side-to-side with your feet.
-6 scorpion push-ups, driving knee up toward elbow on same side. (*No bosu ball necessary.)
-6 squat jack push-ups (*again, no bosu required).
-15 (each side) forward-bending knee crunches (don't drop foot to the floor; rely on core for balance).
-Plank position with feet on stability ball, use abs to roll butt into the air and back down. (*If no ball, get into plank position w/ your forearms & elbows resting on the ground; drive your hips/glutes up & down.)

So, that all said, anyone want to try this workout with me? I'm gonna give it a go sometime between tomorrow and the weekend and will report back with my review next week. If you try it before I do, let me know how you did in the comments!

Get It Together.

2011-02-17T16:43:00.001-07:00

Lots of stuff going on this week! First, I have a coupon to share with you, dear readers:

$1 your next order at RoadID! Use this code: ThanksTamara4198255

I recently ordered one and they were kind enough to send me a discount offer to share. It's good for the next 30 days. Kind of a morbid product, I know, but with outdoor running season around the corner, why not? Plus, I like that you can include a line of motivational text. Neat stuff.

Second, I ordered my ACE Personal Trainer study materials! Yep, after almost 3 years of just thinking about it, I'm finally going for my PT certification. Ever since I placed the order on Tuesday, I've been incredibly stoked. I'm excited to take my love for fitness to the next level. I could go on for several more paragraphs about how dope this is, but I'll save that for when I actually pass the exam, haha.

Third, I signed up for another 5K race in April. And yes, it's the same one I participated in last year, haha. Oh well. I haven't done any other races since then and can't believe it's almost been a year already. Sheesh.

Fourth, to help get me motivated for the race and to add more structure to my training, I've decided to revisit the good ol' C25K plan. Since I've been running more the past month, I'm starting with week 5. My last few runs have felt a little... I don't know... Disorganized? I think it will help to practice some timing patterns and increase my pace. Looking forward to it!

Fifth? Tunes (lyrics totally NSFW):

Busy, exciting week with even more busy-ness and excitement to follow. Hope everyone's week is going well; the weekend's almost here!

Catchin' Up.

2011-02-15T11:07:00.003-07:00

It's been a while since my last post, so on with the catching up, eh?

I've been keeping a separate, for-my-eyes-only journal where I record my meals, activities, set goals and conduct regular reviews of my progress (Yes, all of the types of things that sound like they should be on THIS blog, but I update it multiple times a day and sometimes it's messy and rant-y. You're not missing much, trust me.) I had reached a point where I wasn't happy with how I was feeling (heavy, slow, pudgy and depressed) and the only way to get back to my ol' self was a kick in the pants and some added structure to my eating and exercise habits.

One new goal that I'm hoping will turn into a regular occurrence is planning weekly dinner menus. I guess I previously avoided it because I thought it would take too much time and cause extra grocery trips, but it's actually really friggin' easy and effective. And even if I or Doug change our minds at the last minute, it still works out ok because at the very least, we have a plan to cook at home instead of opting for pizza or trying to wing it with sandwiches (not always bad options by the way, it was just starting to occur more than usual).

Probably the best tool I found to get me started is Ready Set Eat. You pick your main ingredient (chicken, fish, meatless, etc.) and it offers up a bunch of meal suggestions, complete with recipes and nutritional information. I've tried a couple already, including their Black Bean Pasta Bowl!

The original recipe needed to be jazzed up with some flavor, so here are some changes I made to my version:

Used 1 can black beans and 1 can kidney beans
Added one sauteéd onion (chopped) and 2 cloves of minced garlic
Used 2 heaping tablespoons of Famous Dave's Rich & Sassy BBQ sauce
Added one 8 oz. can of tomato sauce
Added about 1 tbsp dried parsley flakes
Used much more cumin
Garnished with diced avocado
Added salt & black pepper

It probably doesn't look or sound like anything special, but this was hands down a delicious, FILLING meal! And full of health too; packed with protein, fiber, antioxidants, healthy fat and even some omega-3s since I used Barilla Plus Pasta.

Subtle heat and sweetness from the BBQ sauce and nice crunch from the corn. Doug was skeptical when I showed him the recipe, but after tasting the finished product, he definitely approved. Great meatless meal that takes well under 30 minutes to get on the table!

While Ready Set Eat is a great resource, I would caution that their meals tend to be on the bland side, so don't be afraid to add your own flavor enhancements.

As for fitness, I've kind of been all over the place. Still rocking the Nike Women NTC app, but have also been mixing in stuff by Jari Love, Jackie Warner, Bob Harper and good ol' Jillian Michaels. It had been ages since I last did her Banish Fat/Boost Metabolism DVD; I forgot how much of an ass-kicker it is, especially in the second half!

I'm also running a anywhere from 3-7 miles a week and throwing in some sprint intervals for "fun." My pace isn't as great as it once was, so I'm slowly trying to work my way back. In terms of overall fitness though, I'm making pretty rad progress. I'm having more of an athlete attitude and being more present during my workouts. Instead of daydreaming about looking good in a bikini, I'm focusing on the mind-muscle connection and how much stronger it's making me.

Also eating up some of my time & thoughts these past couple of weeks is deciding on what to do with my income tax return. The following ideas have come to mind:

Save it.
Buy an incline trainer (which technically I did, but then canceled the order minutes later).
Get a dog.
Buy boxing gear.
Go to Vegas.
Finally go for my personal trainer certification.
Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer.

After many distracted days and a few sleepless nights, I've narrowed my choices down to saving the money, dog or personal training, the latter being the top choice. I've been talking about getting my trainer certification for a few years now and given my current job satisfaction (or lack thereof), I need a more productive outlet for my fascination with fitness and health. I'm not expecting to be the next Jillian Michaels or even train full-time, I just want to help people realize their potential, one session at a time. I also believe that studying the material will help me realize my own potential as well; I've spent several years thinking I couldn't achieve certain things and it's caused a lot of missed opportunities and regret. I'm done questioning what my body is capable of doing and ready to just do it (damn you, Nike!).

For Cho'.

2011-01-27T13:01:00.002-07:00

Last night, Doug was in class late so I started to brainstorm some dinner-for-one ideas. It started with pasta and spinach and just grew from there.

Small butternut squash, cooked in the microwave for about 6 minutes
1 large clove of garlic, minced (I'm really digging the fork method these days for garlic mincing)
1 tbsp olive oil
3 tbsp grated parmesan
about 2 cups frozen spinach
about 1 cup of chicken broth
6 oz of uncooked penne pasta
salt & pepper to taste
dash of ground nutmeg
about 1/4 cup 1% milk
1 individual cup of plain Greek yogurt

Judging by the amounts of my main ingredients, I ended up going for 3 servings instead of just one.

Boiled the pasta and got started on my "sauce." Heated the olive oil and added the frozen spinach. Once the spinach was thawed, I added the garlic, squash, salt and pepper. I started to mash the squash with a spoon and added the chicken broth in 1/4 cup increments (since I was wingin' this, I wasn't sure how much broth I would need at the time). I also stirred in the milk.

Since I wasn't getting the desired creaminess at this point, I searched the fridge and snagged a cup of this:

Stirred it in, along with the parmesan and nutmeg. Desired creaminess achieved! (And added some extra protein too.)

Final result:

The verdict? Success. It's pretty rare that a) I make up a meal on the fly, b) It doesn't take long to prepare and c) Tastes damn good. I'm not sure what happened to the penne; somehow, the shape was annihilated. But it wasn't overcooked, so whatevs.

The sauce ended up turning out exactly how I wanted- a bit chunky, but still thin enough to coat the pasta when stirred together. The dash of nutmeg came through too; not overbearing, but just the right amount of subtle warmth.

I was so excited with how well the dish turned out that I decided to celebrate with a glass of this:

A while back, I got a good Groupon deal for Barclay's Wine and this Riesling was in the mix. Quite good! I tend to opt for drier wines, but the slight sweetness of this variety complemented the slight sweetness of the squash.

Another slam dunk, á la Tam.

Groceries Gone Wild!

2011-01-26T13:02:00.002-07:00

Check out my new Shopping List Page!

Wordless Post.

2011-01-25T10:06:00.001-07:00

Meatless Monday.

2011-01-18T13:39:00.002-07:00

Yesterday's Meatless Monday dish was full of excitement and experimentation. Why was I so excited? Because I won a special, special jar of peanut butter from my favorite folks at Peanut Butter & Co.!

Why was it so special? Because The Heat Is On is the only PB&Co. flavor that I can't seem to find in local stores. The spicy nuttiness demanded a kitchen experiment:

(crappy camera phone shot)

Tofu & Veggie Stir-Fry with Quinoa and Spicy Peanut Sauce.

For the Stir-Fry:

1 block firm tofu
Broccoli
carrots
oyster mushrooms
minced garlic

For the tofu: Marinated in soy sauce, a bit of teriyaki and garlic powder. Drizzled with canola oil and then baked at 400˚F for about 40 minutes, flipping about halfway through.

I sauteéd the veggies together with the garlic, canola oil, some salt & pepper and a bit of soy sauce.

For the sauce:

About 2 or 3 green onions, chopped
3 tbsp. The Heat Is On peanut butter
about 2 tsp. rice wine vinegar
about 2 tbsp. water
1 tsp. minced ginger
1 tbsp soy sauce
about 2 tbsp. pineapple tidbits w/ juice (I would have definitely used more pineapple, but I was finishing off what we had left in the fridge.)
2 tsp. honey

I whisked all of the sauce ingredients together. Added it to the veggies, threw in the baked tofu and stirred until evenly coated. Serve over quinoa (or rice) and you're all set!

This meal yielded 4 servings and was super-filling. I sampled the sauce before adding it to the stir-fry and had mixed feelings, but after tasting it with the the quinoa, tofu & veggies, it really came together quite well. And even though it took longer to bake, I was really pleased with how the tofu turned out; I liked the drier texture and it seemed to hold the flavors from the marinade a lot better.

I LOVE this flavor of PB. It's plenty spicy on its own, so I didn't need to add any other heat to the sauce. It's also pretty good with carrots, celery and even bananas! There's no sweetness in this particular variety, so it lends itself to both savory and sweet/spicy applications.

Cooking With the Stars.

2011-01-11T09:09:00.004-07:00

Yesterday, I came home early to complete Day 1 of the Yoga Journal 21 Day Challenge. I decided it would be good to twist, stretch and relax before taking on dinner, most of which was inspired by Jamie Oliver and Bobby Flay:

Diced pork with Famous Dave's Rich & Sassy BBQ sauce, Jamie Oliver's Perfect Roast Potatoes (I did the olive oil/rosemary option) and Bobby Flay's Sauteéd Kale.

As usual, I used less oil than the recipes called for, but I wouldn't skimp too much on the potatoes because it really boosts the flavor and increases the crunchy edges. I didn't peel the potatoes or cut them into same-size pieces like Jamie instructed, but will be sure to do so next time. Well, I'll cut them into equal sizes anyway; it's really hard for me to take the skin off of potatoes because I love the texture so much. Despite my lack of peeling and uniform chopping, these were still pretty much the best-tasting roasted potatoes I've ever made. Rich flavor, excellent crunch factor, soft interior. Love, love, love. And although they take a while to prepare, I think I prefer them over my usual baked fries now.

Since I already went a bit overboard with garlic cloves in the potatoes, I used only 1 clove for the kale and used the last bit of red onion we had. Still a really great flavor. And adding the splash of red wine vinegar at the end really seemed to cut through any remaining bitterness of the kale, while also adding some brightness.

I haven't bothered to buy kale since my failed attempt at kale chips, but I'm glad I decided to give it another shot. I definitely dig it sauteéd and look forward to adding it to soups as well.

Doug approved, which made me happy. He's kind of my at-home version of an Iron Chef America judge, heh.

Salad and Salutations.

2011-01-10T11:24:00.001-07:00

Sundays tend to be a bit lazy around our household. Yesterday was no exception. Aside from some laundry, I found myself on the couch most of the day, bouncing back and forth between Food Network and Cooking Channel. By some miracle, I managed to slowly change into workout clothes around 5:30 pm and did a quick workout. I told Doug we could just do whatever for dinner (sandwiches, soup, cereal, etc.), but while I was sweatin' it out, he came through with a delightful salad:

On a bed of green leaf lettuce, he poured over a white bean & bacon bit salad (included diced tomatoes, red onion and an orange vinaigrette dressing made with orange zest, orange juice, some of the bacon fat, some oil, salt, pepper, cayenne aaand garlic?). So good! But then it got a little better:

Grilled diced chicken breast on top. He added sage, salt and pepper before grilling.

It was light, refreshing and had a great mix of textures. Perfect recovery meal after my workout!

Aside from great Sunday salads, I'm looking forward to starting the 21 Day Challange from Yoga Journal Magazine.

Join me, if you'd like!

While I've always been able to do various workouts on my own without following a specific plan, yoga has always been one of those areas that I just can't seem to stick with on a regular basis, despite how great I feel afterward. I recently subscribed to Yoga Journal and when they revealed this challenge, I knew I needed to give it a try. Today is Day 1, so I plan on doing the first workout when I get home from work.

I read on Lifehacker recently that it takes 21 days to help build a good habit, so it was hard to turn down a 21 day yoga challenge! Plus, I was looking ahead at the lengths of the daily workouts and most of them are short enough to be combined with my regular exercise schedule (which has still been a mix of Nike Training Club workouts and running).

Anyone else trying new workouts or challenges this year?

Hope everyone's easing back into the work week!

iPadding my way to a better body.

2011-01-03T13:52:00.000-07:00

I must've been a good girl in 2010 because Santa (a.k.a, Mom), got me a friggin' iPad for Christmas. I won't go into details about how great I think it is and how much [more] of an Apple geek I've become in the last week, but I do have to point out pretty much the best [FREE] app of all time: Nike Women's Nike Training Club (NTC).

I came across the app in a Lifehacker post and downloaded it for kicks because it was free. Then, I actually started using it. So. Damn. Awesome.

(NOTE: If you don't use mobile apps, you can still view some of the exercise video clips on Nike Women's YouTube Channel. You could just as easily create your own custom routine, using those videos as a guide. Each move lasts 1 or 2 minutes and there are a few recovery breaks mixed in.)

It's basically loaded with dozens of total body workouts, with different options for beginner, intermediate and advanced users. There are photos & video demos to show you how to perform the moves, but you essentially do the workout on your own; you don't follow along to an instructor the whole time, like you would with a standard workout DVD. There is a woman's voice to give you a few verbal cues and advice, but it's all you, baby. Oh, there's a timer on the screen too so you can decide whether or not you can bust out 10 more seconds of squat jumps.

And the best part? The workouts are effective! I actually started with some of the intermediate routines before jumping into advanced and I'm glad I did- the intermediate routines are pretty damn tough! The moves presented in each workout depend on which "goal" you choose:

Get Lean is mostly cardio (lots of plyometrics), but also includes some resistance and ab training. Get Toned still includes some cardio, but focuses more on resistance with weights, abs and balance. I've yet to actually try Get Strong, but I know that it focuses primarily on weight lifting. Get Focused just allows you to focus on certain areas with shorter workouts.

I wasn't sure how challenging the workouts would be, but it wasn't long before I found out. I was huffing, puffing, dripping and of course, keeping my heart rate steady. I wore my heart rate monitor because I was curious how hard I was working. I must've been keeping up pretty well; my first 45 minute Get Lean workout burned almost 500 calories. The 45 minute Get Toned workout burned 400. Good to know!

As I browsed the different types of workouts, I noticed that a medicine ball makes a regular appearance. I've thought about buying one before, but usually managed to find substitutions. This time around though, I thought it would be good to have one. I browsed Wal-Mart and wasn't impressed with the selection or the prices. Doug recommended just making my own with a cheap basketball, as per the Internet.

Done! It was pretty easy. I cut a hole in the ball, big enough for a funnel to fit and funneled in some kitty litter. We don't have a cat, but the people who lived in our house before us did and left a huge bag of litter in the garage, making the process even more cost effective! Filled it up until I made it to 10 lbs. and then stuffed in a bunch of plastic grocery bags to make it a bit more full without adding more kitty litter. Taped with duct tape and I was good to go! I tried it this morning and it worked pretty well. Cost of the basketball was only $5, which beats a $20-$30 medicine ball any day.

So those have been my recent adventures in fitness. Technology-aided workouts and homemade equipment. Fun stuff! I hope to have some new DVD reviews in the near future, but there may be a delay on those since I'm currently obsessed with NTC. Hope everyone enjoyed the holidays and have a great week!

Holiday Baking!

2010-12-24T17:31:00.000-07:00

Well, after all of my bitchin' and moanin' about my cold, I actually started feeling a lot better yesterday afternoon. On the downside though, I gave Doug my germs. Sigh. Oh well. I think I made a good selection of treats to make up for it.

First, I started out with something basic. I've never made yeast-based bread at home before and caught an episode of Chuck's Day Off where he made a couple of loaves of No Knead Bread. It sounded easy enough, so I gave it a shot:

Dough.

Dough doubled over.

Two loaves.

Done (and brushed with butter).

They didn't turn out super tall like I was hoping for, but I guess that's because of the lack of kneading? The bread itself wasn't dense either though; it had a nice texture relative to its size. I was pleased with the taste too; I skipped sprinkling sugar or steak seasoning like Chuck did and just enjoyed it plain. Great hearty flavor, thanks to the wheat flour!

I also made a batch of the World's Easiest Christmas Candy, thanks to Money Saving Mom. I didn't bother taking any pictures though because my batch looked exactly like the original's. Doug was skeptical at first, but enjoyed it in the end. The salt from the crackers makes for a great salty & sweet fix. Plus, it really was super-easy.

Next, I made Butter Mints with a recipe from Bake It Pretty. I didn't have any cute candy molds though and decided to make plain round shapes by hand.

The dough...

Almost 2 hours later...

Of course, after I was done, Doug suggested a few different ways I could have rolled the dough out and cut it into small pieces instead of doing each one by hand. Well derpy derp DER. Oh well. Not sure I'll be motivated to make these again, but they turned out nice. Sweet, creamy and minty.

Today, it was on to cookies. I made more of the Green Tea Cookies, along with a more festive option:

Chocolate-Chocolate Chip cookies with Hershey's Candy Cane Kisses. These were pretty damn easy since I cut corners and used a box mix for the cookies. I love the combination of peppermint with chocolate, so I'm glad my inner fat kid brought this idea to my attention. Not the prettiest things on earth, but still tasty and fun to make.

Phew! I used to avoid baking like the plague, but I've really come to enjoy it more these days. After busting out all of these recipes in less than 24 hours though, I think I'm done baking for a while.

You had me at "pudding."

2010-12-23T12:21:00.000-07:00

I'm trying really hard to come up with an enticing, witty intro to this post, but my head cold just won't allow it. I must warn that said cold demands strong cold medicine, so I won't be holding myself responsible for any weird, wacky nonsense that makes its way into this post. Just so ya know. Moving right along to the tasty bits, eh?

Let me first say that Real Simple is changing my life. I can't help it. I just started getting their magazine and was sucked in immediately. I've been browsing their recipes online for a while now and had a bit of a food porn moment when their Butternut Squash Bread Pudding recipe landed in my inbox the other day.

I have a special place in my heart for bread pudding. And butternut squash. And cheese. And eggs. In fact, I'd like to think that it's because of all the special things taking up space in my heart that I have trouble shopping for button-up shirts. Yeah, yeah, that's the reason...

Anywho, I had the intention of making this dish myself, but Doug felt it would be better if he made it so I could rest on the couch and continue my battle of the mucus.

He scaled the recipe down a bit so we wouldn't end up with 8 servings. And 1% milk was used instead of whole. Aaaand dried sage instead of fresh. Other than that, no other substitutions were made.

All mixed and ready to be baked.

One (seemingly l-o-n-g) hour later.

Hubba, hubba. This dish was so flavorful that I was still able to taste everything, despite my cold. We both agreed that adding some kind of smokey meat like ham or bacon would have been the cherry on top. In fact, I confirmed this theory by adding bits of ham to my leftovers this morning. And yes, it was even more awesome than the night before. This recipe is great for dinner, but would also make a great holiday side dish or brunch item as well.

That's all for today. I have all sorts of baking plans lined up, but they may/may not come through thanks to these damn germs taking over my upper body. Ah well. Hope everyone has a safe and restful holiday, filled with lots of good food and booze. Seriously. Drink to the Holiday Spirit! Drink to [forget about] the annoying relatives! Drink in my memory! That's all I ask of you, dear readers. That's all I ask. Happy Holidays!

Taste the rainbow.

2010-12-13T09:55:00.001-07:00

This past weekend saw some colorful highlights in the Land of Food. Starting with Friday:

Raw ground beef? Not quite... Beet, Carrot, Onion & Potato Latkes!

I saw this dish on a holiday episode of The Best Thing I Ever Ate and since we had the ingredients on hand, I decided we should give it a shot. I wouldn't say it was the best thing I ever ate, but it was okay.

I liked my latkes with applesauce the most. We also tried sour cream and horseradish. Doug liked a mix of both horseradish and applesauce the best. A fun experiment, but in retrospect, it was a lot of work for not necessarily the best result. We still want to try making traditional potato-only latkes though. I've come to love beets, but I just wasn't feeling them in this particular application.

Saturday ended up being a baking day. We were invited to a holiday party that evening and wanted to share some sweet bites:

I made Green Tea Sweets. I bought some matcha powder a couple of weeks ago and while I love drinking it, I thought it would be fun to try cooking with it too. I didn't have a leaf-shaped cookie cutter, so I improvised with a palm-tree cutter instead.

These turned out pretty good! They weren't overly sweet and there was just enough sugar in the mix to cut through the bitterness of the tea leaves. They seemed to be a hit at the party, so I think a repeat batch is in order.

Doug also did some baking and made some Snowball cookies:

He jazzed up the recipe by adding vanilla extract and orange zest. Great additions, especially the orange flavor!

After partying a little too hardy Saturday night, Sunday morning demanded a good hangover breakfast:

Diner-style, but made at home. Two corn tortillas, Doug's hashbrowns, scrambled egg whites plus one whole egg, one chopped up turkey sausage patty, fat-free shredded cheddar and some green chile sauce that Doug threw together.

!!!!!

So, so delicious. And way healthier and cheaper than going out to breakfast.

That concludes our weekend in food. Hope everyone has a great week!

Fryday Night Lights.

2010-12-04T13:54:00.000-07:00

After non-stop craziness the past couple of weeks due to the holidays and a slew of social outings, last night's dinner demanded no cooking and a little bit of dirty greasiness to help celebrate a weekend of doing mostly nothing. Eating veggies and running sprints is cool and all, but I still value my lazy evenings in front of the TV with salty, cheesy, bacon-y goodness. Wendy's to the rescue!

As part of the Foodbuzz Tastemaker Program, I was given some Wendy's gift cards to try their new Natural-Cut French Fries.

I must admit, prior to being offered to try these new fries, I hadn't been to Wendy's in ages. I do remember always liking their burgers ok, but their fries were never particularly great and the quality was inconsistent.

The new natural-cut fries are quite an improvement! I always leave the skins on the potatoes when I bake fries at home, so it was nice to see that feature at a fast-food joint. As for the sea salt, this was a great touch as well. My experience with fast food fries has been that they are either too salty, not salty enough, undercooked and/or overcooked. That said, I completely realize that all of that is dependent on restaurant locations and the person in charge of french fry duty at that point in time... Anywho.

Perhaps I got lucky, but I couldn't find anything wrong with the batch of fries I had last night! Doug thought they weren't salty enough, but I thought they were just right, so obviously personal preferences came into play. I enjoyed the texture a bit more too because the skin of the potato crisped up nicely.

I haven't had a burger fix in quite some time either, so I went ahead and ordered a Bacon Deluxe Single to top things off.

Tomatoes TOTALLY created a healthy balance, heh heh.

As with most fast food menu items, it certainly didn't look like the advertised picture at all, but it was still pretty darn good. All of the burger components tasted fresh, the bun was soft and the bacon was nice and crunchy.

Excluding Subway, I only hit up fast-food joints for dirty greasiness a few times a year, so I was glad that Wendy's didn't disappoint. Next time you need a french fry fix, give them a try!

Hows and Whats.

2010-12-02T09:09:00.003-07:00

Hello, dear readers! Time for another rendition of my current Hows and Whats.

How I'm Sweating:

I canceled my gym membership last month to save some money. I thought I might regret the decision, but it's actually been a blessing in disguise because it's forced me to change up my routines week-to-week. I've been reconnecting with my old Tae-Bo roots by busting out some of the advanced VHS tapes. I don't care much for most of the recent Tae-Bo DVDs because the routines are too complicated with inconsistent levels of intensity. The old tapes (the first Advanced tape in the series and the advanced 'Get Ripped' tapes) are loaded with the basic kicks and punches I first fell in love with all of those years ago. Great cardio option, obviously.

But I haven't been stuck in the 90s this whole time; I've also fallen in love with this little gem:

Cathe Friedrich's STS Shock Cardio: HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training)
My feedback on this DVD is a little premature because it has 3 different workouts (30/30, 40/20 and Double Wave Pyramid) and so far I've only tried one (the 30/30 routine; 30 seconds on, 30 seconds rest). But oh my goodness, tough, touGH, TOUGH!. Definitely for intermediate/advanced users. There really isn't anything 'beginner' about this DVD. Each routine is around 30 minutes, including the warm-up and cool down.

From what I've gathered on the Amazon reviews, two of the workouts use The Step and The High Step. Only one of the routines is equipment-free. I own both of these types of steps, but if you don't, this is obviously a big downfall. For the moves that do use a step, Cathe doesn't provide any non-step modifications. That's not to suggest that you couldn't try making up your own, but I would imagine it would be a bit tricky and might not be as intense.

LOTS of plyometrics involved. Plyo-jacks, squat thrust jumps (think burpees) and high-knees. There are also some kicking/punching moves and 180 squat jumps using the step. There is little-to-no instruction on the moves, so having prior knowledge of them (by way of Jillian Michaels' 30 Day Shred and Banish Fat/Boost Metabolism DVDs, for example) and being a quick learner is a great help.

My only prior experience with HIIT routines was primarily at the gym, doing sprint intervals on the treadmill, elliptical or stair master. Relying on your own body (and occasionally, The Step) is a different beast entirely. I start sweating instantly, my heart rate is super high (but not omg-I'm-having-a-heart-attack-and-might-die high), I'm out of breath and my nose even starts running. Kinda lame that I have to have some tissues nearby when I do this workout, but that's just the way it is, haha. Although this DVD is ridiculously challenging to get through, I feel incredible afterward. Probably one of the best endorphin rushes I've experienced in my history of exercising!

This is my first Cathe Friedrich video, but it certainly won't be the last. She's motivating, straightforward and experienced, all of which make for a great instructor. Plus, she has a wide selection of DVDs that use The Step, so her workouts will be a nice change from my Jari Love routines (which I still love, by the way).

What I'm Currently Listening To:

I don't always have my finger on the pulse of who's "the next big thing" in music, be it Top 40 or indie, but in any case, Cloud Nothings is one of a few bands rocking my world this month.

How I'm Shopping for Fitness DVDs:

I may be behind the times on this one, but one of my new favorite sites is Collage Video. This is pretty much the best site ever when looking for new fitness DVDs. You can filter results by trainer, level (beginner, intermediate, advanced), and even type of equipment used. It's so, so beautiful, especially now that I'm gym-free and will be working out at home more.

The big selling point for me was being able to search by level of intensity. I was able to see how some of the DVDs I already own are rated, in terms of being beginner, advanced, etc., so picking new challenging DVDs is much easier than just winging it on Amazon. The prices on Collage on higher though, so I simply use their site to search and then buy new choices for much less on Amazon. I love the Internet.

I'm skipping the "What I'm Currently Eating" section today because there's not anything terribly exciting I'm eating everyday. But, I have some pretty cool food-related experiments coming up in the next couple of weeks, so stay tuned for some new recipes! Hope everyone's week is going well!

Carb Lover's Pizza.

2010-11-22T11:49:00.002-07:00

I've had a hankering for homemade pizza these past few weeks and yesterday turned into an opportunity for experimentation... Beet pizza popped into my head for some reason and a quick Google search lead me to this great recipe for Roasted Beet Pizza with Caramelized Onions, Garlic & Feta.

Doug made the dough with a 5-minute pizza dough recipe (scroll to the bottom of the page) and soon the crust was ready for toppings:

Some minor changes we made: skipped the brown sugar, scaled down the number of garlic cloves and amounts of oil, cooked the garlic with the onions instead of the beets and used dried crushed rosemary instead of fresh. The baked result:

The dough was indeed a bit heart shaped and after adding the beets, Doug suggested that it would make a great Valentine's Day pie.

Since the beet pizza was my prime choice, Doug decided to create his own pie with the other half of the dough. Potato with black olives, onions & turkey chorizo:

He roasted some red potatoes in olive oil, added sauteéd onions, leftover turkey chorizo, black olives and a mix of cheddar and mozzarella cheeses.

Both of these pizzas were phenomenal! I think the mix of soft roasted veggies with a crispy crust really made for a lovable texture. Other potato pizzas I've seen use Yukon Gold potatoes, but I love the red variety as well and was pleased with the final result. The saltiness from the chorizo added some life to the blandness of the potatoes.

As for the beet pie, you just can't go wrong when you mix beets and feta. We skipped the brown sugar during the caramelizing of the onions because we knew both the onions and the beets would release their own natural sugars after being cooked. Between the savory garlic and the tang from the feta, we ended up with a ~~near~~ perfect balance of flavors.

Chile=Comfort.

2010-11-19T19:33:00.001-07:00

FANTASTIC dinner tonight! Thanks to Serious Eats, I came across a recipe that made my inner New Mexican sing along with a chorus of angels: Green Chile Hominy Casserole with Chorizo.

I hauled ass on my lunch break to one of the farmer's markets here in town that still had some roasted green chile for sale and stocked up. The recipe calls for 2 poblanos, but I couldn't resist replacing those with several Anaheim-style peppers. We also used turkey chorizo to cut back on the insane amount of grease that tends to accompany the regular pork varieties.

One-pan mix. Hungry Friday nights demand simplicity.

Transferred to baking dish...

Topped with the remaining cheese...

Baked to bubbly, browned perfection.

On my plate (which may or may not be sitting on legs covered in Super Mario pajama pants... Did I mention I'm an 8 year old boy?)

Ultimate southwestern comfort food. I love posole, I love green chile and I love cheese. There was pretty much no way this could turn out bad. We left out the cayenne pepper because there was already enough heat in the chile. And the chorizo had more of a smokey flavor versus spicy, so it went really well with the roasted peppers. Served with a little red wine and we are now spent with delight.

Perfect Friday meal. Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Semi-coherent thoughts on the pursuit of health on a budget.

2010-11-08T12:33:00.002-07:00

I spend, probably more than I should, a great deal of time reading blogs, magazines, books and articles all related to food, fitness and overall health. Alongside those readings, I also follow the work of various nutritionists and personal trainers. Doing so has been a developing side effect of losing a great deal of weight and trying to permanently change the way I approach eating and exercising on a daily basis. Once I caught the health bug, it was kind of hard to shake. And really, it's less of a "bug" and more of a great fascination.

Within these readings (and I'm primarily referring to those centered around health and not so much those that write about food simply as pleasure), there is almost always talk about obesity. The causes, the consequences and of course, the "cure." While many experts have the best of intentions in providing remedies to this growing health problem, I've noticed a regular trend of setting too high of standards in defining a healthy lifestyle to the average person. Logic would dictate that if the average person is overweight, then the solution should also be average and achievable. The solution should be within that person's means.

So what are these high standards I'm referring to? Regarding food: "Go organic." "Go local." Less so, but still prevalent (especially with more high-profile trainers like The Biggest Loser's Bob Haper), "Go Meatless." Are these all great options for improving one's health? Absolutely! Are they the best, most obtainable and desirable options for the typical obese person, currently on a mid-to-low income, likely supporting a family? Probably not. Is there still hope for this person? You bet.

To better "fight" obesity and its associates (diabetes, heart disease, cancer, etc.), I think alternative, more forward-thinking approaches need to be in order. While it's all rainbows and unicorns to go organic, eat local, grow your own garden, etc., it's not the most practical option for most people looking to eat healthier. By implying that the only way to eat healthier is to go organic/local/meatless, a high bar has been set. A bar that may discourage many of those who are more or less eating themselves to death.

Again, I have nothing against organic/local-based nutrition plans. How can I, from a health perspective? There's no argument, really. But from a budget perspective, well, that's where I start to take issue. But instead of surrendering my dollar to a frozen fried chicken entree because it can't pay for the 2.99/pound organic apples, I choose to work with what IS available to me, without sacrificing my health.

So what is available to the overweight person who desires to eat healthier on a budget? Quite a bit, actually. Eggs. Store-brand staples like brown rice, pasta, beans and tuna. Frozen vegetables. Oatmeal. Peanut butter. Milk. Nothing fancy; no specific name brands, not necessarily organic or local, but all a great deal better for me than fast-food and any other highly-processed crap. And for the record, yeah, I buy the staples at Wal-Mart, not Whole Foods. Do I have anything against Whole Foods? Aside from not being able to afford the majority of their products, no, not really. But I don't hold that against them. Whole Foods is a company. Target, Safeway, Kroger/King Soopers and Albertsons are all companies. Wal-Mart, too is a company. All of the aforementioned stores are out to make money. Some have better shopping environments, marketing tactics, business practices, pricing strategies or ethics than others. But they all have options. Let your wallet and desire to eat healthier be your guides when shopping for food, not your personal politics. You'll be doing yourself a favor in the long run. Make *you* and *your health* top priorities (and your family's health as well, if applicable). Be selfish. Your life depends on it.

Yes, I went off on a bit of a tangent there, but because my personal budget is so tight, I take saving money on food quite seriously. And because I have managed to let that level of seriousness become standard with every shopping trip, I have no doubt that others can too. It takes a little extra time and effort, but that's about all. No whining necessary.

So what about fresh meats and produce? Still options available. Of course, organic and free-range/hormone-free would be the ideal way to go. And if you can afford it, please do so. But if not, don't give up so easily. I'm aware of, unfortunately, the health and environmental risks associated with eating meat that contains hormones, was butchered in a batch job and packaged for national distribution. It seems shopping for food these days comes with a lot more loaded ethical questions than it did several decades ago. And while I'm sure it's open to debate, I still personally feel that buying chicken breasts on sale, labeled as "natural" but not necessarily "free-range," is better for me than opting for McDonald's or your average frozen entree, loaded with preservatives, sodium, sugar and a hefty list of unpronounceable chemicals. Call it the lesser of two evils. But instead of referring to guilt when shopping, simply go for what is clearly the better choice. Because there always is one.

Chicken. Shrimp. Lean ground beef. Lean ground turkey. Pork chops. You can eat meat on a budget. But there's a catch- you need to become BFFs with local grocery store ads and register for their savings cards, if applicable. Personally, I don't always buy meat or produce at Wal-Mart. They're great for staples and non-perishiables, but better deals on the fresh stuff are to be found at some of the smaller stores. But you NEED to read those ads. Most stores will e-mail the ads to you or at least let you view them online (on top of sending them to you in the mail for free), so there's really no excuse. View them all and make comparisons. Brush up on those basic math skills. Know the difference between Safeway's Buy One Get One Free deal on a package of chicken breasts priced at 5.99/pound and Albertson's more standard sale of chicken breasts for 1.99/pound. Buy a whole chicken and you'll save even more because it's then up to you to break it down, remove the bones, trim the fat and remove the skin. It's not that much extra work when you consider the extra money in your pocket.

Same goes for produce. You'd be amazed at the variety of fresh fruits and vegetables you can eat week to week without spending a lot. Again, learn to read and compare store ads and also brush up on what's in season. Don't feel like you're letting anyone down if you opt for the dirt-cheap regular carrots over the more expensive organic ones. Feel better (literally) by opting for the carrots over the Cheetos.

And if going meatless is your goal, that's feasible too, as long as you don't rely too much on pre-packaged, heavily processed veggie chicken nuggets. Waste of money and practically no nutrition, as far as I'm concerned. Tofu in its basic block form is cheap (99 cents for a 6-serving container at Sunflower Farmer's Market? Yes please!) and versatile. That, in conjunction with various beans, lentils, grains and produce? You're well on your way. Don't let the idea of going meatless fool you into living off of cereal and grilled cheese. Remember that any dietary change should be about your health first and foremost. Ethical and environmental reasons can follow after.

After learning about food (what's best for you, what's available to you and how much it costs), the final chapter is learning how to cook it all. Seriously. Just learn. If you're in your 20s (or 30s or 40s or 50s for that matter) and all you can "cook" are things like scrambled eggs, toast and cereal, you're only doing yourself a disservice. No need to become the next Iron Chef, but learn some basics. Go online. Go to the library. Watch Food Network. Don't get wrapped up in what Rachel Ray's making, which ingredients she has that you don't have, how much fat and sugar the recipe has- just pay attention to *how* she's making it. Look out for things like basic knife techniques, heat levels and proper storage techniques. Don't sell yourself short in the kitchen. Treat recipes like guidelines, not set-in-stone laws written by some faceless dictator. Create. Eat. Live.

And yes, I realize that this open letter has indeed turned into a basic (and hastily, somewhat poorly written) how-to guide, all done from my soapbox and based on my own personal experience. My apologies.

But do you get where I'm going with all of this? Do you, Jillian Michaels, with your All-Orangic-Or-Bust manifesto (a.k.a. her book, Master Your Metabolism)? Do you, Michelle Obama? Do you, Type II diabetic single mother of 3? We know what the ideals are. We know how much they cost. But what not all of us know is that there are alternatives. There is a better, healthier, tastier longer life around the corner and you don't have to go broke in trying to obtain it. It's not 100% organic, it may not support a local farmer, but ENOUGH WITH THE GUILT. It's unnecessary. It's unhealthy. Put the health of yourself and your family first, consciously, responsibly and feasibly. In a country where we're seemingly getting heavier and sicker by the minute, the messages we send out to the unhealthy masses need to be re-framed. No more all or nothing. More baby-steps. More meet-us-halfway. More DIY, less being fed, literally, by the makers of highly processed refined crap. Break the dependence. Break the addiction. Have that discussion, be it with yourself, your spouse, kids, whomever. Talk about how you feel now, taking those various meds to crawl through the days, eating up (and financially supporting) the convenience food industry. If you can justify it and are satisfied, *truly* satisfied with how you feel right now, by all means, keep things business as usual. It's all about choice. No matter what you choose, know that there are tools out there available to you to support your decision. And the beautiful thing about being an adult is that you can choose whichever tools you like.

Health experts and enthusiasts need to rethink the "Go _____!" approach, for the sake of our country. Sounds a bit dramatic, but it's true. Don't tell people to take on a new lifestyle based on a single idea. Better yet, don't tell people what to do, period! Don't set up an ideal (e.g., a healthier body) and then say that the only way to achieve it is by taking a single concept and applying to all facets of your life. Instead, *suggest* (heavily and frequently, I might add) the most basic, available, enjoyable options and let people run with them. Trust that if their situation improves a great deal, they'll decide on their own to take that next step in going organic, local and/or meatless. Don't make them feel guilty and incapable from the get-go. There's still time to reconstruct the message. And if you're on the receiving end of that message, know that there's always time to change, whether it's your whole approach to living from here on out or simply paying 10 cents for the banana instead of 50 cents for the Snickers bar next Tuesday afternoon.

Hows and Whats.

2010-10-26T09:24:00.002-06:00

I have a lot of stuff I want to talk about today and thought it would be fun to combine the topics into one post, my current Hows and Whats.

HOW I'm currently sweating:

Personal Training With Jackie: Xtreme Timesaver Training
It's been far too long since Ms. Warner has put out a new DVD and her Power Circuit Training DVD left me anxiously waiting for more. Yes, I'm a glutton for punishment.

I must admit- I had this DVD sitting in my living room for about 5 days before I actually tried it. Jackie Warner + "Xtreme" = apprehension. But this morning, I put on my big girl pants and finally gave it a try. The verdict? Love it.

Back-to-back circuits of compound exercises quickly raise your heart rate and constantly challenge your muscles. (Check out this great Amazon review for a detailed list of all the moves!)

Since the pace of the Power Circuit DVD was so fast, I was worried that that was going to be the case with Xtreme. Not so much. While there is a general steady pace to the workout, Jackie seems to be more focused performing the moves properly and with full range of motion. This causes you to work harder because you're recruiting more muscles not only for strength, but for balance as well. The pacing of the reps and the compound moves create a unique cardio effect, without having to do typical cardio moves like jumping jacks or running in place. And of course, you get a good strength training workout as well; some of the moves were so new and challenging for me that I had to brush the dust off of my 3 lb. set!

In short, love this workout (you can't beat 30 minutes), love Jackie and loved how I felt afterward!

WHAT I'm currently reading:

LL Cool J's Platinum 360 Diet and Lifestyle: A Full-Circle Guide to Developing Your Mind, Body, and Soul.

I checked this book out at the library mostly for kicks, but also just out of plain curiosity. LL obviously knows a thing or two about maintaining a great physique, so I wanted to learn a bit more about his approach.

The first part of the book is really just about taking some time to clear your mind and learn to love yourself before picking up a dumbbell or chopping a tomato. LL wants you to cultivate the mental strength necessary for building a better body. He explains why you're worth the effort and how to create more positive vibes within yourself and the people around you. I was caught off guard by how honest and solid his advice was. Some of what he had to say may have been a bit simplified or maybe even a bit preachy, but overall, it made sense and I appreciated what he had to say.

The second part of the book is all about working out. I have to say, I really didn't pay much attention to this part of the book because the majority of the exercises are restricted to machines at the gym. Not a bad thing if you have a gym membership of course, but I was hoping there would have been more at-home routines and there simply weren't any. For what it's worth, this section did emphasize the importance of weight training and proper form. The workout plan also includes cardio, both high-intensity and lower-intensity. For cardio, LL suggests using the treadmill, bike or elliptical. Pretty standard advice, but effective nonetheless.

The final section is about nutrition. LL's diet plan is essentially a carb-cycling plan, something I'm familiar with and have tried in the past. If your ultimate goal is to lose weight within a specific time frame (in the case of the book, 8 weeks), this may be a plan to consider. After looking through his sample meals and recipes, there's nothing dangerous or strange about what he advises you to eat... Lots of lean protein, healthy fat (from nuts, avocado and olive oil), unlimited vegetables, fruits, low-fat dairy, beans and whole grains. He also wants you to stick with 3 meals and 3 snacks (mid morning, afternoon and a pre-bedtime protein snack so you don't go to bed hungry), each day.

The idea behind LL's carb-cycling plan is that you gradually reduce the amount of carbs you eat throughout the week and then replenish with a "cheat" meal (yeah, I kinda hate using that word) Saturday night and have a carb "refuel" day on Sunday. One aspect of his plan that I respected is that even on "low carb" days, you still can eat carbs like oatmeal or brown rice. The main goal, as with most successful nutrition plans, is to eliminate processed foods and refined sugars. I can dig it.

Personally, I haven't followed his plan as it's written because I simply have no interest. However, the recipes and sample meal/snack ideas are right up my alley and that brings me to...

WHAT I'm currently eating:
Protein Pancakes. I can't get enough of them. Perfect breakfast. I got the idea from LL's breakfast recipes. This is the version I've been using:

3 egg whites (or 1/2 cup of liquid egg whites)
1 scoop Designer Whey French Vanilla protein powder
1/2 tsp baking powder
dash of salt
Splenda to taste (or sweetener of choice)
cinnamon

That's the basic mix. Whisk together a cook in a pan as you would a pancake. (I like to pour all the mix into the pan at once so I end up with a giant plate-sized pancake.) I've added different mix-ins like blueberries, pumpkin and bananas & walnuts. I think the banana-walnut combo is my favorite so far. Serve with syrup and enjoy! Definitely packed with protein and relatively low in calories, depending on your choice of protein powder and mix-ins.

That's all for today- hope you enjoyed this edition of Hows and Whats!

New twist on tacos!

2010-10-25T19:21:00.001-06:00

Today, I came across a recipe on the Athenos Facebook Page for Chicken & Feta Salad Tacos! (Well, technically the recipe says "Tostadas," but tostadas always strike me as a lame version of a taco that's way too much of a hassle to eat.) It called for radishes and since I actually had some on hand (a rare occasion), I thought, "Heck yeah! Why not?"

I ended up not following the recipe 100% though (of course).

For the salad mix, I used green cabbage, radishes, red onion, about 1/3 cup chopped cilantro and Kraft Light Balsamic Vinaigrette salad dressing. Just toss everything together and set aside.

Cook the chicken breast in a pan, chop it up and assemble:

We built ours with soft white corn tortillas (which, I have to brag and note that I snagged them fresh from the Rancho Liborio bakery, complete with warm pillow-y goodness), avocado slices and feta cheese.

Awwww yeah.

Definitely a success! I loved the fresh taste of the cilantro, the crunch of the cabbage & radish and the creaminess from the feta and avocado. I'm also glad we went with the balsamic dressing instead of Italian; it seemed to brighten up the chicken quite a bit. Lots of distinct flavors that went well together!

I love experimenting with tacos at home and look forward to making these again (hmm, tomorrow perhaps?). Give 'em a try!

Just Beet It.

2010-10-13T09:19:00.000-06:00

After finishing last night's dinner, I found myself whistling this song:

Why? Because I ate delicious beets. And I'm a huge dork.
I tried my first beets a few months ago and instantly became a fan. So I was super stoked when my grandma brought me some fresh beets from her garden last month.

When I got home after work, I immediately turned on the oven. I wasn't 100% sure what I was going to make at that point, but I knew roasted beets had to make an appearance somehow. I sliced them up, tossed them in olive oil, salt and pepper and stuck them in the oven.

I also had a couple of acorn squash and decided to roast one as well. While the veggies roasted, I started brainstorming and ended up with this:

Roasted beet salad, made with: arugula, red onion, dressing (a simple whisk of lemon juice, olive oil, salt, pepper and garlic powder) and tomato-basil flavored feta cheese.

On the side, mashed acorn squash, mixed with butter, salt, cinnamon and splenda (or your sweetener of choice).

AHHHH! This instantly became one of the best meals I've thrown together. How do I know? Because I was literally giggling with delight after the last bite (seriously? I need to keep track of these rhymes and just start rapping about food).

The salad was perfect in so many ways... The sweetness from the beets complemented the bitterness of the arugula; the red onion added a nice bite; the lemon juice in the dressing provided a fresh, clean taste and the feta cheese added a delightful creaminess. Best. Salad. Ever. The only thing that was missing was some hot walnut action. I think walnuts would have been the cherry on top. Oh well. Next time.

And the mashed acorn squash? Delicious, as always. I never get sick of acorn squash prepared like that. It's a treat every time. And so warm and filling.

Yes, I have leftovers for lunch. And yes, it's going to be just as amazing as it was last night. I can't wait.

I'm sure I'm probably late in the game when it comes to eating beets, but if you still haven't given them a try, roast some! I noticed that some of the smaller slices roasted in beet "chips" and that flavor with an added crunch was amazing. Hello new favorite food!

Meatless Monday, Italian-Style.

2010-10-12T08:33:00.000-06:00

Last night's dinner featured a new (well, new to me) spin on tofu. I always seem to prepare tofu Asian-style and I've gotten kind of bored with it lately. I did a quick recipe search and came across a listing for Tofu Parmigiana.

I made my own sauce with tomato, spinach, mushrooms, 2 garlic cloves, onion powder, basil and oregano. While that simmered, I got started on the tofu:

Fried in olive oil (I used less than what the recipe called for).

Added to the baking dish with sauce...

Topped with grated parmesan and mozzarella...

And baked to bubbly perfection.

Doug ate his serving over pasta. I skipped the pasta for my serving, but still used a picture of Doug's plate because it looked 10x more appealing.

This was a really tasty, satisfying meal! We both noticed that the bread crumb coating kinda disappeared off of the tofu after being baked, but the flavors and textures still held up quite well. And really, it's hard to screw up tomato-y, cheesy goodness. Looking forward to my leftovers for lunch!

Monday Madness.

2010-10-04T11:25:00.006-06:00

I'm sure some, if not most of you have heard about the Marie Claire article on healthy living blogs this morning and perhaps have read and/or contributed to discussions on the topic.

I was a bit surprised after reading the article, but at the same time, I do feel it brought to light some thoughts that myself and other bloggers have had but didn't take the time to discuss openly, for various reasons. I think the article recap on Hollaback Health captures a lot of what I felt after reading MC's view on the healthy living blogosphere.

That said, I'm curious... What are your thoughts on this topic? Below is my two cents...

When I first started journaling about food in a public online format, my primary goal was to track Weight Watchers Points and exercise. As I got further along in my weight-loss efforts, I opened up more and more about the how's and why's that made up specific food and exercise choices.

In the past 1-2 years, I discovered some of the more popular blogs devoted to "healthy living" and slowly began modeling my blog to try and fit the mold designed by "The Big Six" (though really, am I the only one who has never heard of the term "Big Six" until this morning?!). More recently though, I've realized that trying to mimic the efforts of others is a horrible idea and that while I do have readers to take into account with each and every post, I still need to blog for me. I of course would like to feel like I'm offering up new (or at least different) perspectives on food and exercise to my readers since I've gotten such great information and inspiration by reading other blogs, but I need to remember that I am not obligated (or professionally qualified) to disperse such information. Does that mean I can write irresponsible posts, week after week, without abandon or consideration for my readers? Hell no! I'm always revisiting the reasons for why I blog in the first place. Firstly, I like writing about the things that I'm passionate about and/or things that have had significant impact on my life, be they good or bad. I feel that weight, food, fitness, health, body-image and self-esteem all fall somewhere into those categories. Secondly, I'm continuing to blog because I feel I've finally reached a point where I'm starting to find my own voice. I know some readers may disagree, but I think some of the posts I've written the past couple of months (or past year?) have been some of the best. Not in the sense that the grammar, spelling, structure and photos were perfect, but that I felt better after hitting the 'Publish Post' button. I felt like I had strengthened my sense of self and my well-being by taking the time to organize my thoughts and reflect on what being healthy means to me.

That's not to suggest that I think the bloggers mentioned in the article were irresponsible; quite the contrary. But since I've experienced first-hand the process of reading these blogs and trying to, essentially, copy their eating and exercise behaviors based on what they posted, I understand the point MC was trying to make, given the large number of followers these bloggers all have and knowing the countless number of women out there who are constantly looking for "the best kept secrets" in losing weight and maintaining health. It's very easy, whether you're a self-defined "healthy living blogger" or a writer for Marie Claire, to have what you write be taken out of context in order to meet the personal needs of the reader.

While the article came off a bit mean-spirited toward those mentioned, I do think it served as a well-needed wake-up call to the blogging community. Our readers all come in different shapes, sizes, abilities, social and economic backgrounds. Clearly, it's not possible to serve the needs of every individual reader (nor should that be a goal), but it certainly doesn't hurt to do a self-check every once in a while to re-establish not only your goals of the blog but more importantly the goals of yourself. And are those goals and the steps taken to reach them likely to be misinterpreted by your readers?

I'm not claiming that my blog is exempt from the criticisms mentioned in the article, not by a long shot. In fact, I'm actually quite thankful that it was written because it forced me to pause, reflect and think a great deal about some of the issues that can arise from both following and creating food/fitness/health-focused blogs.

Friday a la Forrest Gump.

2010-10-01T14:25:00.000-06:00

Friday is finally here! This morning, I rolled out of bed at 5 am and started prepping for a trip to the gym. Once I got there, I wasn't sure what I wanted to do for my work out, but I headed to the treadmill and figured I'd warm up first and figure the rest out later.

A few minutes into my warm-up jog, this guy showed up:

I soon realized that indeed, I just felt like runnin'. I settled into comfortable pace, about 11 min./mile and stuck with it. A little slower than what I usually aim for, but I didn't see the point in aiming for super-speed if I was just gonna burn out and keep taking walking breaks anyway.

I kept changing my mind about how long I wanted to run. Four miles? 5k? I finally said "fuggit" and just went with how good I was feeling. Five miles later, it was time to cool down and start getting ready for work. I surprised myself because I haven't ran in over a week. I thought I'd top out at 2 miles, but I guess my body was just ready to move for a little longer. A lot of good songs came up on shuffle, but one of my favorites was a fun track from We Are Wolves:

I love music so damn much. Even more so when it makes me want to pick up my speed and keep going!

I suppose that's all for today. Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Uppercuts beat the blues.

2010-09-29T09:40:00.000-06:00

I'm a pretty big Robert De Niro fan. In fact, one of my all-time favorite movies is Raging Bull.

So , it was only natural for me to feel like The Ultimate Bad Ass this morning after completing my first basic boxing workout, from SHAPE magazine.

HIGHLY recommend this routine. It was super fun (even more so, with Wu-Tang Clan playing on my stereo) and a definite stress buster. I repeated round 5 five extra times, skipped the push-ups (my wrists are sore from yoga) and did a few extra minutes of jumping rope. After all was said in done, the whole routine ended up being 45 minutes and I was dripping. It went by so fast! I'm happy to say I've found a new favorite cardio workout. My shoulders and upper back are a bit shot though; I've been stretching all morning to keep the soreness and the stiffness at bay.

Outside of becoming the next Boxing Warrior, I also tried a new cookie recipe this week, courtesy of Coach's Oats: Oatmeal Coconut Cookies! Sooooo good! Doug said they were the best cookies I've made yet. And considering I'm still a novice baker, I was happy to hear that.

I swapped out the 1/2 cup of sugar with Splenda and used reduced-fat coconut by Let's Do Organic, just to lighten things up a bit. I left everything else the same. Doug suggested adding chocolate chips next time. Will do! These were pretty easy to make, so I'm down for making another batch soon.

That's all for today. Until next time, get your box and bake on!

Oatcakes and out the door.

2010-09-23T09:54:00.001-06:00

I've been M.I.A. the past week, but all is well. Just busy with work, life, love and The Sopranos. I never watched it when it actually aired, but between the library and borrowed seasons from my Mom, I'm already into the second season and officially hooked. And craving baked ziti every other day. Ah well.

Back to losing weight again, finally. Yes, I'm calorie-counting with The Daily Plate, but so far, tracking and seeing the numbers isn't freaking me out like it was in the past. I'm trying to apply what I've learned from intuitive/mindful eating guides while still tracking calories and so far, it's working pretty well. In the past, when I counted calories or points, I would be so focused on the numbers and not really being mindful about what I was eating and how I was feeling, in terms of food pleasure, emotional triggers and hunger/satiety cues.

By having a better idea of how many calories my mindful choices have, I think the transition out of calorie-counting and into maintenance will be much easier. Here's to hoping! I'm just experimenting with different things right now instead trying to stick to just one single method. I know what works and what doesn't, so it's been kinda fun and rewarding to take that knowledge and customize it to meet my needs. So far, it's been a guilt-less process, leaving me relaxed, energized and satisfied.

On to breakfast:

Cinnamon-Raisin Oatcakes

In a bowl, I combined:

1/2 cup old-fashioned oats
2 eggs, beaten
1 tbs Splenda (optional)
2 tbs raisins
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp chia seeds (optional)
cinnamon to taste

Cooked and flipped like regular pancakes and served with maple syrup. Mmm! The only thing I would change next time is maybe adding more cinnamon. I'd also like to try adding pumpkin or berries. Tip: Be sure to serve these warm; I couldn't find my camera and spent a while looking for it. By the time I came back, the cakes had cooled and didn't taste as good as they could have, so I had to zap them in the microwave. MUCH better.

Very filling and pretty quick to prepare.

That's all I have to blab about for today. I'm still working my way through the last of the Bob Harper DVDs and hope to have those reviews posted soon. Hope everyone is enjoying their week!

Redefining the 'J' in 'PB & J.'

2010-09-14T08:50:00.000-06:00

Breakfast was quite the adventure this morning. Now that I've recovered, I thought I would share the eye-opening, drippy-nose inducing, coffee-replacing treat with my fellow bloggers:

Peanut Butter, Jalapeño and Banana Sandwich.

After becoming inspired with a Kitchn post about Peanut butter stuffed jalapeños, my curiosity got the better of me and I immediately picked up some peppers.

The verdict: Yeah, I kinda dig it! Probably the most unique breakfast I've slapped together by far. The crunch from the peppers added a fun texture to the sandwich and the heat played well with the sweetness from the banana and the added drizzle of honey. And even though the pepper was pretty damn spicy, the peanut butter kept the heat in check, allowing me to take several bites without perishing.

I'm not sure what possessed me to use an entire pepper in one sandwich though- that was kinda poor planning on my part. Next time (oh yes, there will be a next time!), I'll use less of the pepper and dice it up into smaller bits instead of whole rings, making for a less intimidating, better distribution of heat.

I was starting to feel a bit bummed that I didn't bring my usual iced coffee to work today, but after that sandwich, there simply was no need. Turns out spice is an adequate substitute for caffeine.

Back to the grindage.

2010-09-13T12:26:00.000-06:00

Yes, I made a reference to Pauly Shore slang in the title of this blog. What can I say?

I'm a fan of the Weasel.
Anywho, obviously in a good mood on this Monday morning, for a few reasons:

I actually didn't ditch my morning workout today. Usually I'm pretty diligent about morning workouts, but the past couple of weeks, I've been setting my alarm for 5 am with the intention of working up a sweat, but not always following through, due to occasional bouts of laziness and/or muscle soreness (mostly the former).

Well, today, I stuck to my guns since I had gotten a decent amount of sleep and didn't feel particularly sore. Granted, I laid in bed for about 20 minutes after the alarm went off, but I finally crawled out, put on my workout gear and made some appointments with Jackie Warner and the treadmill. Did Jackie's upper body workout to warm up and then took on a 2 mile run. Felt so much better. Not a big whoop I know, but it just felt like a real accomplishment, given my random lack of dedication lately.

For the first time in ages, I meditated after my workout. Sometimes I hesitate to meditate (ignore the rhyme) so early in the morning because I'm afraid it'll make me just want to go back to sleep, but I felt quite refreshed afterward. It was a great way to cool down after my run and generate some positive vibes, which are very much welcomed on Mondays. Need to make more of an effort to work that in every day, even if it's just for a few minutes.

I read a great post from Dietgirl called "Intuitive Eating- What and Why." Whether or not you're really interested in intuitive eating, I'd still recommend giving it a read; pretty much every thing she talks about is identical to my experience. We're all so different, yet very much the same when it comes to figuring out this whole weight-loss/health schtuff. It's not so black and white after all.

While I feel it's a bit premature to say that I'm fully recovered from disordered eating and poor self-esteem, I can say that I've shown a great deal of progress the past couple of months. I've finally confronted a lot of issues that led me to eat the way I did and look at myself in such a poor light for so many years. It feels good to have those burdens lifted and to truly understand what it means when I say, "I'm damn awesome." Frees up a lot of time to y'know, live.

This is how we do it.

2010-09-12T19:56:00.000-06:00

After eating the dinner Doug and I put together tonight, this song popped into my head:

You're welcome!

I'll start with the quinoa salad I made:

I sauteéd some zucchini with salt, pepper and a clove of minced garlic. I set it aside to cool and then later tossed it with some cooked quinoa, fresh tomato, avocado chunks and a quick dressing (made with 1 tbs olive oil, about 2 tbs of lemon juice and a pinch of kosher salt).

Ahhhh! I was so pleased with how this turned out, especially since this was our first time trying quinoa. I found a simple guide for preparing quinoa on The Kitchn website. Simple and filling. Definitely a new favorite starch!

The other part of the meal featured some good ol' surf & turf:

Lamb chops & shrimp.

We were browsing the meat section at Sunflower Farmer's Market and spotted a couple of small lamb chops from New Zealand, marked down with a coupon. After the mark down, they were less than $2, so it was a pretty irresistible deal! While I was working on the quinoa, Doug took over the meat. He rubbed the lamb in finely minced garlic, salt, pepper, olive oil and rosemary. For the shrimp, he tossed them in oil, butter, garlic, salt, parsley, lemon juice and some dry vermouth (we didn't have any white wine on hand). Both were just cooked in a pan on the stove top.

The meat was so tender and juicy. Granted, there was a good amount of bone and fat, but the meat itself was just great. Add the shrimp and the veggie quinoa and we ended up with a high-five worthy dinner.

Mad Men is coming on soon, so I'm cutting this post short, but I hope everyone had a great weekend (and hope you keep your eyes peeled for some good lamb deals)!

Bob Harper- Pure Burn, Super Strength.

2010-09-09T11:43:00.002-06:00

Alright folks, time for another DVD review from Bob Harper's Inside Out Method. After taking a stab at his intense Cardio Conditioning workout, I must admit, I was a little hesitant to try the full-hour strength workout.

My verdict? Another intense, muscle-challenging session! Because this is a weight and resistance-based workout, it seems to move at a somewhat more manageable pace than the cardio conditioning DVD, but that's not to suggest that it won't get your heart rate up, burn out your muscles and leave you panting. Below are some of the moves ("some" is the keyword here, people):

weighted squats
wide rows
deadlifts
push-ups
bicep curls/shoulder press
shoulder combo (front raise, lateral raise, "pinky-up" raise)
down and outs w/ weights (squat thrusts performed with dumbbells in hands, some with push-ups in between, then an added jump at the top)
plank rows
single arm flies in a squat position
lunges (single side, alternating sides w/ dumbbell in both hands, jumping alternating sides w/ dumbbell)
matrix lunges
tricep work (extensions and skull crushers)
ab work (crunches)
T-stance (in plank with dumbbells, alternate raising each arm while working into a "T" position)
T-stance with push-up in between arm raises
plank with knees to elbows, alternating sides (bring knee up toward elbow of same side, then return to plank, repeating move on other side. eventually increase speed.)

For a more complete list, I'd highly recommend checking out this Amazon review; she does a better job than me of listing all of the moves in order, both for the full hour workout and the shorter beginner's workout.

Probably the two most memorable moves for me were the down & outs and the T-stances, particularly when Bob instructs you to add push-ups in between. Definitely dropped some F-bombs during those intervals. He's also a fan of making you do isometric holds of different moves, usually while in squat position or holding up your dumbbells. Sadist.

Another tricky move that I had never tried before was going into a lunge and passing my dumbbell back and forth between both hands, reaching underneath my front leg. Bob said the point of this move was to ensure proper form and he's right. You pretty much have to perfect your lunge, otherwise the passing of the dumbbell will get messy.

It seemed like Bob provided better instruction throughout this video, compared to the cardio one. Probably because using weights demands proper form. He has different assistants this time, but still has two girls and one guy. Helen, who does not have the typical body of someone who has had four kids, performs all of the advanced moves. The woman is a machine. And my new hero. As with the last DVD, everyone is sweating, panting, groaning and not always smiling. Even the other girl who performs the easier/modified moves looks like she wants to cry or scream from time to time. I must be just as much of a sadist as Bob, because I kind of found joy in seeing that, haha.

Deciding how much weight to use was a little tricky for me... I've gotten spoiled with my Jari Love workouts, where each person's weight amount is usually displayed during each interval. Bob mentions using up to 12 lb. dumbbells, but kind of leaves it at that. It's also assumed that Bob and his assistants use the same weight amount during the whole workout, but that wasn't going to fly for me. I found myself bouncing back and forth between 5 lb. weights and my slightly-more-than-8 lb. metal dumbbells. During the shoulder raise combo, I stuck to my 5 lbs. because the isometric holds were murder. I think even 3 lb. weights would be challenging during that segment.

So, overall, another good DVD. I think I'll always prefer Jari Love for my strength training, but I appreciated the variety of moves Bob offered in this workout. It got my heart rate up a lot higher than I expected, made me sweat tons and provided a lot of moves that challenged my upper body, a current area of weakness for me.

After trying 2 of the 4 DVDs so far, I can say that if you're looking for a "fun" workout, this set probably isn't for you. I've found myself having to get motivated to do these workouts because there's nothing happy and cheerful about them. These workouts are strictly about building and maintaining a high level of fitness. If you're looking for a no-nonsense, let's-get-down-to-business kind of workout, you can't go wrong with Bob and this series. Out of all the fitness DVDs I own (and there are quite a few, trust me), this set has felt most like what I'd imagine a workout with a personal trainer would be like, simply because of the function and variety of moves presented.

And because Bob has both males and females working alongside him, it becomes clear that his workouts aren't about "getting that bikini bod" or "bulking up;" they're simply about getting a fit, healthy, strong body. He recognizes that you have to work hard to get in good shape; no gimmicks, no short cuts and no "10 minute workouts." (He even says at some point that a 10 minute work out is a warm-up, which made me laugh because he's pretty much right.)

Although Bob makes me cuss in frustration and sweat to the point where my sweat band can't absorb another drop, I feel like a bit of a warrior when that cool down rolls around. I'm definitely feeling stronger and more capable of physical challenges. Any serious fitness DVD collection isn't complete without the Inside Out Method.

It was a Chinese food and beer kind of night...

2010-09-08T11:04:00.002-06:00

Last night, I was on my own for dinner and had two basic ideas in mind: Chinese food and beer. It's a slam dunk, am I right? For two [huge] servings of Fried Rice, I used:

1/2 cup uncooked brown rice (boiled in water seasoned with salt, garlic powder & ginger powder)
1 zucchini
1 carrot
2 broccoli stalks, chopped (you could use florets too, of course)
1 onion
1 clove minced garlic
minced ginger to taste
kosher salt/black pepper
1 cup shelled edamame
crushed red pepper flakes
2 tsp. sesame oil
2 eggs
2 tbs. Trader Joe's Soyaki sauce
low-sodium soy sauce to taste

Check...

and...

Mate!

Sparing the recipe procedure details because I'm confident that [most] of my readers are awesome cooks, capable of swinging a bitchin' pan of fried rice without suffering any fatalities. This tasted fabulous, if I may toot my own horn. It probably helped that I hadn't had fried rice in aaaaaages. It's always so oily at restaurants, but at home, I was able to play around with my own spices, cut down the oil significantly and boost the fiber and protein amounts, thanks to brown rice and the use of edamame. Excellent mix of flavors. The leftovers for lunch are going to be amazing. Can't wait!

I was also taken away with another addition to my meal:

My very first Pumpkin Spice Ale, courtesy of Michelob. I'm not a huge beer fan, but I kept hearing about pumpkin ales, so I had to give it a try. So good! I just went with Michelob because it was the cheapest option and I didn't want to spend a lot of money in case I didn't like it, but now, I'm looking forward to trying some other versions. In fact, the guy at the liquor store added me to a waiting list for the Venetucci Pumpkin Ale. The Venetucci Pumpkin Farm is a local farm here in Colorado, as is the Bristol Brewing Company. I'm sure it'll be even better than Michelob's. Again, can't wait!

On a non-food related note, Doug and I are seeing Pavement in concert tomorrow. Now that is a big, fat CAN'T WAIT!!! Need a song for today's phrase of the day:

That's all for today. I'm still working on shelling out some more Bob Harper DVD reviews in the coming days, so stay tuned for those. Hope everyone is having a good week. Later, kids!

Just 'cause.

2010-09-01T12:57:00.006-06:00

Today, I've felt more beautiful (inside AND out), than I have in a really, really long time. And it's even that time of the month- how do ya like them apples?! I look forward to feeling this way more in the future. Since today was the initial moment of clarity though, I felt the need to dedicate a post to it. With a soundtrack courtesy of Yeah Yeah Yeahs, even:

In terms of my everyday life, nothing has changed; still have the same job, same [more awesome than thou] Doug, same rented house with its ridiculous wood paneling on the walls. But in the past 24 hours, I'm just, dare I say it, feelin' the love.

Part of what contributed to this awakening was a well-deserved and much-needed clothes shopping trip. Thrift stores are the bee's knees, as some of you may well know. I basically bought half a wardrobe for a little over 20 bucks. I noticed I was falling into that frumpy phase again where I was dressing as basic and plain as possible. It's a terrible habit from my heavier days and unsurprisingly, eventually makes me feel kinda terrible. Not only did this trip boost my self-esteem, but I think I may be starting a love-affair with the color green (both wearing it and spending hardly any of it; a shirt for 99 cents is love, people).

Also found some cheap lipstick in some fun shades (I tend to rely on neutral colors that basically match my own tones, thus defeating the purpose of buying and wearing lipstick), thanks to New York Color. Now, don't get me wrong- I appreciate the ability to rock the natural look too, but sometimes it's just fun to doll it up a bit a feel like a sexy broad. I've never been overtly feminine, but I still get a kick out of playing around with my girly side from time to time.

Geez, all this talk about clothes and make-up... Guess I'll have to pose for a pic soon, heh.

Anywho, yes, this post had pretty much nothing to do with food or fitness, but I feel all of this still relates to my health. Very much so. I can't help but close with one of my favorite lines from "Kids in the Hall": Life's a pretty sweet fruit!

The rest of the day includes spending time with beloved friends (and possibly beer) at Geeks Who Drink. Again, love. Ok, that's enough with the love. Can't have this blog turnin' into a movie starring Drew Barrymore. I mean, I guess it could, but Mama needs to see the money first.

The joy of figuring out things for yourself.

2010-08-30T15:39:00.004-06:00

It's been pretty routine lately; eat well/exercise regularly Monday through Friday. Sometime between Friday night and Saturday night, my eating and drinking habits more or less go to crap. Monday morning finds me regretful, but also ready to start life anew. I feel focused, motivated and ready to dismiss my poor weekend eating habits for good! ... That is... Until the following weekend. The cycle repeats itself. And while I feel proud of myself every Monday morning for not giving up for good, I can't help but feel like a joke for letting the setbacks continue.

Instead of letting myself go into autopilot like I usually do every week, I've been productive this morning in taking the time to capture the details of my bouts of overeating in a separate journal. I've listed just about every possible reason why I let my healthy-minded guard down on the days of the week that I do.

Such thoughts have taken place in between my usual blog and twitter reading. I don't remember how I came upon it exactly, but I found a great site called Maria's Last Diet, while my self-analysis was taking place.

I've found myself reading post after post because there seems to be a regular, common theme: weight maintenance. There really is, seemingly, a bazillion blogs or articles that break down the ins and outs of losing weight. I'm easily a part of that statistic, if you read back far enough. But for me, finding a similar amount of reliable, practical weight maintenance resources hasn't been as easy. Maria's Last Diet is less about "eat this, do that" and more focused on the psychological side of losing weight and keeping it off. I have a tendency to ignore a lot of important psychological/emotional cues and doing so sets me up to make poor choices, even if my intentions of being healthy are still in place.

I still have more to read and even more questions to ask myself, but so far, I've noticed a few things:

1) While spending over 2 years losing 90 pounds, I devoted little-to-no time thinking about how to keep the weight off. Even after I hit my "goal" weight, my immediate thought was to keep losing. Stupid, stupid, stupid. I didn't even try maintaining for a single week to see if it could even be done. I turned into a machine.

2) The majority of magazines, blogs, articles and celebrity trainers I relied on as my primary resources during my weight-loss journey rarely discussed post-goal weight maintenance strategies. If they did, I took the information with a grain of salt because somehow, I thought I would magically have it all figured out by the time I lost all of the extra weight. Flawless logic, eh?

3) Most tips on weight maintenance include continuing to track calories and/or points as you did while losing the weight. Makes sense, I suppose. But... Seriously? Do "they" really expect me to keep thousands of food logs until I'm on my death bed? Unfortunately, while losing weight, I became dangerously obsessed with numbers in just about every possible way; daily weigh-ins to record X point X pounds, Weight Watcher points eaten, activity points earned, calories burned, calories eaten, protein, fiber, fat, saturated fat, sodium, sugar, cups, teaspoons, tablespoons, ounces, grams, milligrams, miles, minutes, beats per minute, reps, inches, body fat percentage, dress sizes, resting metabolic rate... Buh. Believe it or not, ALL of those things were being captured in my head, throughout the day, just about every damn day.

Not to suggest that such knowledge is useless, but I clearly let it control my life and dictate my happiness for about two years. In all honesty, I've tried about 3 or 4 times in the past month to track my food in some capacity, be it Points, calories or journaling and each time, I've gotten frustrated or anxious once the numbers came back.

4) Each time I give up on tracking my food (usually after a few days), I tell myself it's because I need to learn to eat well and manage my weight naturally, without being a slave to points, calories, charts and spreadsheets. TRUE! Absolutely and completely true. BUT... I also need to be responsible for my food and exercise choices. Lately, I just haven't felt responsible or fully in charge a good chunk of the time.

5) Although some of the posts on this blog may imply otherwise, a lot of what I've been doing lately (re: food and exercise) has been out of fear. Fear of having to buy bigger pants. Fear of not fitting into smaller pants. Fear of gaining. Fear of being judged by others for slipping back into my old ways and "letting myself go." Fear of never becoming a "normal" eater. While I try to eat and exercise with better intentions (just being healthy and fit, regardless of weight or appearance), the fear runs deep and serves as my main source of motivation most of the time. Obviously, doing things out of fear is a horrible way to go. What kind of life am I living if such basic daily activities like eating and exercising are done out of fear?! It's absurd.

Anyway, it's time to face some facts:

I've gained back some of the weight I've lost. (Not specifying the amount, as I don't currently feel it's appropriate or necessary.)
It's not the end of the world.
I can find a happy balance.
Self-sabotage does absolutely nothing for me.
I, once again, need to pace myself and not rush into things or expect change in a week.
As of now, I still don't appreciate myself as much as I should.
Life is waiting.
Honey-nut peanut butter, ice cream, chocolate and chips aren't going to suddenly disappear from the world any time soon (though, some days I wish they would, haha).
The few pounds I've gained back don't cancel out my overall success in losing a shit-ton of weight. How quickly I forget that I was once clinically obese, unable to jog for more than 10 seconds or do more than 2 sit ups.
If I'm free to still watch and enjoy Spongebob, I'm also free to watch what I eat and enjoy being healthy.
I can't live in extremes. Not for long, anyway.
I need to stop rebelling against myself.
I need to stop being so strict with myself.
I need to make a new commitment to weight maintenance. And I need to think it over a lot more than when I committed myself to weight-loss. Things need to be sane and sustainable this time around. No more diving in head-first. No more autopilot. No more running around in the dark.

To help get me started in drafting the ins and outs of my new commitment, I'm using this post from Maria's Last Diet as a guide:

"Does keeping the weight off once you've lost it require more of a commitment from you? It does.

Despite the fact that you lost the weight and you were certainly committed to doing that, you now have another commitment to make.

Keeping the weight off is no easy matter, as the research shows. Most people who lose weight don’t keep it off. They may keep it off for a year or for a few months or for a few weeks. But they gain it back, and it is not unusual to gain back more than you’ve lost.

So if want to keep the weight off, you have to make yet another commitment. Here are some ways to make sure your commitment is solid.

Be specific—tell how, where, and what

Set up a consequence for not following through

Make sure to tell someone what you are doing

Take your past history of commitment into consideration

Anticipate commitment spoilers

Don’t force your commitment; give yourself a choice

Set up a self-monitoring plan

Support your commitment by attributing success to yourself

You’ve come this far. You already have a lot of commitment under your belt. Commit again and be a step closer to permanent weight loss."

I'm also reviewing some highlighted notes from Eat What You Love to remind me that it's possible to have a sane relationship with food. Good resources aside though, I need to be responsible and get serious. Seriously happy. Seriously healthy.

Pancakes and Push-ups

2010-08-27T10:43:00.000-06:00

This morning, I tried the beginner/20 minute workout from Bob Harper's Pure Burn Super Strength DVD. As part of my 10K training schedule, I was supposed to do a 2 mile run plus some strength training, so it seemed like a good opportunity to try the shorter workout.

It really is a beginner's workout. It's super-basic, but still functional. You work your upper body with bicep curls, various dumbbell raises, rows and push-ups. You briefly work your lower body with weighted squats and lunges. The workout ends with some basic ab crunches and then you're done.

While this shorter workout was perfect for complementing my run, it really doesn't seem like it would be much of a workout on its own. You could significantly increase the weight to make some of the moves more challenging, but I still found it to be too short and basic to be effective with increased use (it's only 20 minutes including the warm-up and cool down). But, that said, if someone truly is brand new to working out, this is a great stepping stone into learning proper form for popular strength exercises. Bob does a good job of describing proper form with every move.

I'm planning on trying the full one-hour workout in the next few days, so be on the lookout for another review soon.

Moving on to food, I had such a tasty breakfast this morning! I got my new issue of Health magazine the other day and came across a great recipe for Blueberry Oat Pancakes with Maple Yogurt.

I used the recipe as more of a guideline though and threw together my own version:

1/3 cup oats
1/4 cup fat-free cottage cheese
1/4 egg whites
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/4 tsp. baking powder
1/3 cup blueberries
splenda and cinnamon to taste (optional)

Combine all of the ingredients in a bowl, saving the blueberries for last. Pour batter onto a heated pan, cooking/flipping as needed.

My version yielded 2 mid-size cakes and they were so good! They turned out much better than I thought. I didn't take a picture though because they weren't all that photogenic. Quick, filling pancakes that I look forward to making again this weekend! I just had mine with syrup since I'm out of yogurt.

That's all for now. I took the day off from work and need to take advantage of a cheap berry sale at the grocery store before all the good ones are gone!

Balls out with Bob.

2010-08-25T09:46:00.003-06:00

Probably not the best title for this post, but that's really the only thing coming to mind right now. I finally ordered the complete collection of Bob Harper's Inside Out Method. I had been eying this set for a long time and decided I couldn't wait any longer to try it.

First, let me say, even if you're NOT a fan of "The Biggest Loser," please still consider trying these workouts. The level of intensity blew me away this morning. Literally.

The first DVD I wanted to try was:

Body Rev Cardio Conditioning

This disc has two options: The full, one-hour workout or a condensed 25 minute workout, which is recommended for beginners. I put on my big-girl pants and decided to go for the full hour. I must admit, after watching some of the trailers, I was a little nervous. And looking back, I had every right to be, because this. Was. HARD.

It started out innocently enough, with some dynamic stretching and some basic punching moves. Then, you're instructed to pick up a dumbbell (I grabbed one that's slightly more than 8 lbs) and start moving into deadlifts with rows. Wait, time out! Strength training? I thought this was a cardio workout? Well, be patient. The deadlift rows transition into squats with arm swings, which I later learned is a common move that you come back to as an active recovery between the crazier moves. So what are some of those crazy moves, exactly?

Squat Jumps (still holding the dumbbell, plus some isometric holds)
Walk-outs (walking down into a push-up and back)
Mountain Climbers (instead of taking a break in between sets, he makes you do push-ups AND hold in plank position!)
Jumping Jacks (both with and without dumbbells)
Jump Rope (with dumbbells)
More squats (both at regular and pulsing paces)
Fast Feet (these eventually lead into jump twists a.k.a. 180-jumps)
More Walk-outs with an added jump
Scorpion Push-Ups (this was definitely a "WTF?" moment for me... From a push-up position, you lift one leg up high, shift it toward the opposite side and then do a push-up. Um. Yeah.)
Squats with Knee Raises
Speed Skaters
Tuck Jumps
Various standing ab moves

That's not even a complete list, people. You just keep going. And going. And going some more. As I mentioned before, you regularly come back to the strength moves introduced in the beginning and those are pretty much the closest things you'll get to a break. Technically, there is a "water break," but it doesn't come until the last third of the workout and lasts for only a few seconds. Then, you're back to the grind. You get to see a sadistic side of Bob in this workout, clearly.

As far as the instruction goes, I think Bob could've done a slightly better job in describing form. Although, this workout pretty much dives in at an intermediate-to-advanced level, so if you're still learning proper form on things like squats, deadlifts and push-ups, you may want to train in those areas a little bit more beforehand. Also, it would've been nice to see Bob doing more of the workout himself, instead of just instructing/watching his 3 assistants (two girls, one guy).

I also found myself kind of irritated with how the assistants were regularly out of sync, even with Bob's cues, but then Bob straight up tells you not to focus on their pace and to just pay attention to your own performance. I agree, but it would still be nice to look up and see some consistency.

One thing I loved was seeing the assistants drip with sweat, run out of breath and sometimes, flat out stop because they're just plain tired. It was refereshing to see the people on the screen struggling to get through an interval just as much as me! I get discouraged sometimes when I'm doing a DVD, sweating my ass off and trying to catch my breath, only to see some chick smiling back at me with her make-up still in place. The people in this DVD are definitely working hard and not always smiling and I personally appreciated that.

Overall, I was seriously impressed by this workout. It definitely lived up to my expectations, as far as delivering a high-intensity challenge. In all honesty, I could not keep up for all 60 minutes and really struggled to put forth 100% effort. But I view that as a positive because now I know I not only got my money's worth, but I also have a new level of fitness to work toward. Not that it needs to be said, but I was absolutely drenched after it was over, as if I had just ran 5 or 6 miles. Ridiculous (in a good way).

And that was just one DVD. I still have 3 others to try, haha. Bob hasn't scared me off quite yet, but he has made me a bit anxious. I read some of the reviews on Amazon for this workout and couldn't believe some people had the nerve to say this DVD was "long and boring." Um, seriously? First of all, it says right on the DVD that the first workout is an hour, so there shouldn't be any surprises there. Secondly, I don't know what workout they were doing, but I didn't have time to get bored! Bob keeps you going non-stop, so my heart rate stayed elevated. I dunno about you, but I don't sweat buckets and drop the F-bomb multiple times when I'm bored.

As you can tell, I'm officially a fan and have no qualms telling you to go out and buy this already! The individual DVDs are trickling into Amazon for pre-order, but the best value (if you want all 4 DVDs like I did) is to order the full package available from Bob's store. Plus, you won't have to wait until October!

Meatless Monday.

2010-08-24T15:06:00.002-06:00

Yesterday, I had a plan brewing all day for a nice, summer-y, Meatless Monday dinner.

Chopped yellow squash, lasagna noodles, a can of Navy beans, mushrooms, tomatoes, Mexican squash (? not 100% sure on the proper name) were the main players.

In a pan sprayed with cooking spray, I tossed the remaining quarter of a red onion (you could use more, that's just all I had left), some minced garlic (about 3 cloves), all of the chopped veggies, salt, fresh ground black pepper, crushed red pepper, garlic powder (I like garlic, what can I say?), onion powder, dried basil and dried oregano. I also added the zest and juice of half a lemon and about 2 TBS of white wine (you could use more, I was just worried about it becoming too acidic).

Once the veggies cooked through, I added the beans (rinsed & drained) and removed from the heat. Once the temperature cooled a bit, I stirred in 1/2 cup part skim ricotta cheese, about 1 TBS of olive oil and about 2-3 TBS of grated parmesan.

While all of that was going on, I also cooked and drained my lasagna noodles. Doug had previously mentioned the idea of cutting lasagna noodles into strips as a wider alternative to the usual spaghetti or angelhair. I don't make a full lasagna casserole often and when I do, I end up with an odd number of noodles leftover, so it was a nice way to use them up.

Final result:

Tasty, filling meal that made great leftovers for lunch today!

Best. Pork. Ever.

2010-08-23T09:02:00.001-06:00

Last night for dinner, Doug busted out what was probably some of the best tasting pork I've ever had in my entire life.

We found a good deal on some boneless pork loin roasts at the store, so Doug threw together a bitchin' marinade which later translated into grilled meat euphoria. For the marinade:

Rough chop some green onions and mix with Trader Joe's Soyaki Sauce (or, Soy Vay's Veri Veri Teriyaki, which I've seen at Wal-Mart), Famous Dave's Apricot Bourbon BBQ Sauce, crushed red pepper and POM juice. Now, since this was more of an experiment and not an actual recipe, I can't really provide specific measurements of each ingredient. The roast was about a pound, so use your best judgement and taste preferences when mixing all of this together.

Stab the roast with a few holes, add to marinade and stick in the fridge for at least 30 minutes (we let ours sit for about 2 hours). After you remove the meat, save the excess marinade, strain out the green onions and pour it into a saucepan. Turn up the heat and add brown sugar, a few drops of Liquid Smoke and more BBQ sauce and POM juice, if desired. Cook until thickened and set aside.

Before I move on, let's see another shot of that meat:

The flame? The grill marks? The SMELL?! Heaven. We ended up having to grill this longer than anticipated, so in hindsight, it would've been better (and faster) to cut the roast into 2 or more pieces. (However you go about it, PLEASE use a meat thermometer and aim for an all around internal temperature of at least 160 *F.) On the upside though, the increased grilling time made for a phenomenal charred crust. Doug also threw some broccoli in some foil, with a bit of olive oil, salt and pepper:

This broccoli had been sitting in the fridge for a while and was on its last leg, hence the lack of green color... Still tasted ok though.

Served together with couscous (seasoned with parsley & kosher salt), grilled apples and the sauce prepared from the marinade.

The sauce was so delicious that I had to add a bit more to my couscous. Those little charred bits are the apples, also brushed a bit with that Awesome Sauce. And one last time, for me, that pork:

Honestly, the two of us barely said a word during this meal because we were stunned and enamored with this pork. I'm going to go out on a limb and say that it was almost as good as sex. I tried to eat slowly, but the mix of flavors from the marinade and the texture of the pork (crisp, sweet, charred crust; tender, moist, juicy, flavorful interior) just kept hitting a pleasure center in my brain and I quickly became addicted. The broccoli, couscous and apples were merely supporting acts. The pork was the headliner.

In closing, I love meat, I love my grill-master boyfriend and I REALLY love when my boyfriend grills amazing meat. Definitely a meal to remember, but also to repeat in the near future. Love.

Lunch in a can.

2010-08-22T13:59:00.000-06:00

Ok, finally, some [quick] food pics from today's lunch:

Sardines, packed in spicy tomato sauce.

Pretty maids, all in a row. You're encouraged to eat the soft, tiny bones for added calcium, but the spinal cords still make me a bit squeamish, so I take the extra time to remove them.

Toast with cream cheese.

Toast topped with the sardines, the spicy tomato sauce and a few drops of lemon juice.

Not much to look at, clearly, but so yummy. Full of protein and omega-3s!

Sunday Side Up.

2010-08-22T12:14:00.002-06:00

Thanks to Doug, I came across a new comic blog this morning called Stuff No-One Told Me. I scrolled through all of the posts and decided to share some of my favorites:

I could definitely relate to all of these and just thought they were great and quite poignant at this particular point in my life. Whether I'm seeking motivation to run and eat healthy or need to de-stress over finances, work and relationships, these simple, cute, funny little comics help me break things down into simpler terms and refresh my perspective. The Internet is kinda rad sometimes.

Still plugging along with my 10K training. Finished week 4 today and start week 5 tomorrow. Eight weeks is flying by faster than I thought it would! My pace is definintely getting better each week, although this morning's 4 mile trek was slowed back down, thanks to too much gin and snacks last night. Not sure what possessed me to eat and drink like that the night before a long run, but I'll definitely be more cautious in the future. Although I felt kinda sick and irritated most of the time, I didn't give up and feel better now that I finished. Plus, despite feeling kinda crappy, I was still excited to give my new running shoes a try:

ASICS GEL-Kahana 3
They were already marked down quite a bit and I also had a $15 Amazon gift certificate, so pair that up with free shipping and these were a damn good deal! And the best part: they feel great! I didn't even have to break them in. I also ordered them 1/2 a size larger because I always tend to need a bit more toe room in my running shoes. So comfy. I've also broken up with my custom orthodics, and these still provide great support for my flat feet. I've been wearing orthodics since I was a kid, but lately, I've been experimenting with strengthening my arches naturally, between exercise and shoes with arch support already built in. So far, so good. It probably doesn't sound like a big deal, but being able to run long distances without my orthodics feels like a strange accomplishment, heh. It's also possible that I didn't need to rely on them as much as previous podiatrists said I did. Anywho.

Yes, I'm still slacking on original food pics. May/may not reverse that trend this week. I will share my new favorite treat with you though:

Blue Bunny's Peanut Butter Fudge Chip Ice Cream Sandwiches!
I regularly crave peanut butter, ice cream and chocolate all at once, so I thought this would be a great portion-controlled indulgence. Soooo good! I spotted them at Wal-Mart and there was an instant $1.25 off coupon on the box, so at $2.00, a box of 10 seemed like a reasonably priced splurge. They also have mint chocolate and cake batter flavors. Oh, Blue Bunny. You're a dirty whore.

That's all for today. Need to head out to the store to pick up some various produce for the week. Hope everyone enjoyed the weekend!

Be, don't Get.

2010-08-16T11:05:00.002-06:00

This morning, I came across a quote from a Fit-Bottomed Girls interview with Cat Cora that struck a chord within me:

"Make being an active, healthy person a part of who you are. Don’t look at it as a task or something that has to get checked off everyday. Once it’s ingrained in your daily lifestyle, it’s something you look forward to and you never dread having to get your workout in."

I think allowing "healthy" to become a part of me, rather than just an extension, has always been an internal conflict of mine.

When I first decided to finally lose weight a few years ago, I made the simple claim that I needed to "lose weight and get healthy." Makes sense, right? But I'm starting to realize that there's a difference between "getting healthy" and being healthy. For me, to "get" healthy implies that the healthy state will only last temporarily; being a healthy person implies that the healthy state will be infinite because it's not something that can easily be taken away, just like a sense of humor, or any other internal trait that defines you. (Yes, good health can easily be taken away with daily cheeseburgers and zero exercise, but just humor me and play along, eh?)

As I'm writing this post, it also occurred to me that although levels of health can fluctuate, it never goes away completely (until you die, obviously). Everyone is living in their own unique state of health, some better than others, depending on how well they eat and how much they exercise.

Cat Cora's quote, obviously promoting the ideal/high-quality level of health, felt like a light slap in the face. Even though I've been fairly consistent over the past few years in making better food choices and increasing my physical activity, most days, I treat these acts as tasks; something I have to do. Now, there are exceptions of course, like cooking a particular healthy meal because I think it tastes good and replenishes my body well, not so much because it has a certain number of calories. But still, for the most part (ESPECIALLY with working out), doing the necessary things to be healthy usually feel like chores to me. If I don't do my chores regularly, my body will get "messy." And because of this mindset, there is usually a certain level of dread when I'm chopping onions or alternating squats with lunges.

Most of the time, that level of dread is pretty low; it's certainly not debilitating, but it's still there nonetheless. And it's there because of the way I choose to think about health's role in my life.

Because I haven't taken the time to sit down and really look at what it means to me to be healthy, I tend to struggle more than I should with regular food and fitness funks. When I was overweight, I'd look at healthy people and couldn't see myself ever being "one of them." And even when I daydreamed about being thin and what it would take to get there (e.g., dieting and exercise), I didn't realistically figure health into the equation. I didn't open myself to the possibility that I'd experience a deeper internal change that involved embracing good health as a part of me. I just looked at health as an external benefit, on par with fitting into smaller clothes.

So this week (and the weeks to come), I'm going to put more thought and effort into changing the way I look at being healthy. I know that some days, it's still gonna suck, waking up at 5 am to get in a workout, but if I can at least change my attitude and not look at it as something I have to do, rather something I just DO because it's a [cool] part of who I am, perhaps it'll suck less and less and at least put a smile on my face.

We're still BETA testing that.

2010-08-14T10:36:00.000-06:00

For breakfast this morning, I skipped my usual sweet options and decided to go with something savory. As part of the Foodbuzz Tastemaker Program, I received some Orowheat Sandwich Thins to try. I've actually had them before, but stopped buying them for a while since I go through different phases with bread. ANYWHO, they're pretty great to have around and I love that they have 5g each of fiber and protein. After tossing around some ideas, I settled on a BETA sandwich (Bacon, Egg, Tomato and Avocado).

Pretty quick to throw together. "Fried" the egg in a nonstick pan and microwaved the bacon inside some paper towels. Technically, I used some pre-made guacamole as opposed to whole avocado slices, but BETA is a much cooler acronym than BETG. Obviously.

For "dessert," I enjoyed some iced coffee in my cool new reusable cup that I won in a contest from Trading Up Downtown (a.k.a. Tina, from Carrots 'N' Cake). On the side were a couple of Sweet Potato Oatmeal Raisin Cookies I made, also posted on Trading Up Downtown.

Instead of mashed sweet potatoes, I used some jars of sweet potato baby food I had left over from my baby food phase and in place of oil, I used the last of my apple sauce. Probably not the best substitutions in retrospect because the cookies ended up too moist, even after increasing the baking time and adding a couple extra tablespoons of flour. The flavor was still good though. Doug said they made great "energy balls," but not-so-great cookies. I suppose I can live with that.

Confession Time

Time for some Saturday morning confessions. Confession #1: I'm, for the moment, skipping my 4-mile run today. I'm just way too sore and exhausted. Why? Well, that leads us to Confession #2: I worked out twice yesterday. In the morning, I did an hour long cardio/strength Jari Love DVD. After work, I came home and ran two miles, ignoring the soreness that had already begun to set in my legs from the strength training. Why did I push myself and overdo it? Confession #3: I felt guilty from eating 2 cookies at work earlier that afternoon. I told myself "I want to run because I'm restless!", but really, it was because of 2 buttery cookies.

Yep. For the first time in several weeks, I experienced food guilt and tried to redeem myself (punish myself?) with extra exercise. And really, I've kinda been doing that subconsciously, for the past couple of weeks. I haven't been binging, but there still have been some occasional bouts of overeating and I think instead of acknowledging those behaviors when they happen, I've instead tried to distract myself with the 10K training. And knowing all of this is probably why my runs have been so crappy- because I'm not really running for all of the right reasons. That, and I'm tired from working out 6 days a week. On the upside, I've been losing weight, but I've been making the process a lot harder than it needs to be because I've stopped trusting myself. And really, I should know better.

So I'm taking a break today. I've had this pattern of working out extra long and hard on the weekends which subsequently leads to mindless eating, so I'm going to challenge myself to break that pattern. If I do any activity today, it'll be some walking and/or yoga. I'm also going to re-establish my hunger cues. I listen to my body pretty well during the week, but always have this urge to work against hunger cues on the weekend. So, so silly and unnecessary.

Anyway, I'm feeling pretty good so far, aside from crampy legs. I've realized that instead of training to run 10K at a 9-10 minute/mile pace, my real goal should be to get back to that happy place where I don't fear food and exercise because it makes me feel good, not out of fear of fat. I've been in that balanced place before, so I know it's possible to go back.

Oats and Attitude.

2010-08-13T14:31:00.001-06:00

Another week, another food obsession. This week?

Coach's Oats!
I've been seeing this product in stores lately and grew curious. I visited the product website to read a little bit more info and was definitely intrigued, but still not completely sold that this oatmeal could be that much better than my regular ol' Quaker Oats. This week, I had the chance to try some samples and put my curiosity to rest. The verdict?

Love it!

I gotta admit, it's gonna be hard to finish off my supply of Quaker Oats because the texture and flavor of Coach's Oats is soooo much better! It has a nuttier flavor and texture that lies somewhere between steel cut oats, regular rolled oats and just a really good, hearty whole grain cereal. I added peanut butter and banana to my bowl this morning and it was just great. And the upside? They don't take any longer to cook than my regular rolled oats. Bonus!

I've seen this product in bulk at Costco, so next time we shop there, I'm definitely stocking up. I'm excited to try baking with Coach's too.

Aside from kick-butt oatmeal, I've also been kicking my own butt (mentally, for the most part) regarding my running funk. I still haven't thrown in the towel on my 10K training yet, though I came pretty close earlier this week. I tried running some hill intervals the other day and I definitely enjoyed it more than I thought I would. After running hills, I felt like an unstoppable beast and went on to cover 100 floors of stairs on the stair master (new personal record!). That workout gave me a good boost, so on with the show. And as usual, I've still been cross-training with some Jari Love DVDs as well.

Tomorrow, I'm scheduled for a 4 mile run. I must admit, I'm still not completely stoked about it, but at the same time, I feel like my training this week will [hopefully] improve my performance. We'll see how it goes.

On a more random, unrelated note: Cherry-flavored vodka or rum + Coke Zero makes me a happy girl. Hooray for Friday!

New recipes page.

2010-08-10T11:06:00.000-06:00

Well, I finally organized my favorite recipes/meal ideas into a separate page. Check it out!

http://www.stretchjeanincident.com/p/recipes-ideas.html

Quick update: BodyPump is not being permanently added to my gym's weekend schedule. Booo! It's just another set of one-off weekend preview classes. After this weekend, it goes back to the crappy schedule. Why do they toy with my emotions? Oh well. At least I have my Jari Love DVDs and aerobic barbell at home, which is the next best option.

Anywho, now that I got some of my recipes semi-organized, I think my next project will be organizing a workout DVD page. I still have the DVDs tag, but I suppose it would be helpful (and quicker) to have a central summary page with shorter descriptions... Stay tuned!

+/-

2010-08-09T09:52:00.001-06:00

Quick recap of some pluses and minuses:

Plus: I made my first batch of almond butter this weekend! Vanilla-Honey flavored. I must say, I'm hooked. The process was so simple. Just roasted the almonds in the oven for about 10 minutes and threw them in the food processor for about another 10-12 minutes, adding a little bit of oil, vanilla extract and honey. Now I'm excited to mix up different flavors of peanut, pecan and walnut butters. After trying some of the almond butter, our housemate said he wanted his own jar for Christmas, so now I have a great gift idea!

Minus: I really, really don't like running right now. I know I bitched about it in my last post, but this morning's run didn't change my attitude. It just sucks because if I stop and take a break for a while, my performance won't improve, so when I am in the mood to run in the future, it'll just feel like a struggle all over again. Buh. I'm torn. I miss hitting the Runner's High every week, but I ~~can't seem~~ don't want to focus and push myself to get there. I dunno. Maybe I just need to get the bitching out of my system and move on. Two miles on Wednesday, four-miler on Saturday. It always sounds good in my head, but then I actually do it and everything (my attitude, mostly) goes to crap. Maybe I just need to start watching "the wall" scene from Run Fat Boy, Run every night before a morning run, for motivation.

Plus: BodyPump is being offered on the weekends now! Wheeeee! Saturdays at 8 am and Sundays at 9 am. Perfect. I'm so excited. I haven't been since that first preview class back in June because the schedule sucked. But now, I can get back in the game!

Plus: My new Jari Love Ripped to the Core DVD is a-m-a-z-i-n-g! Seriously, this woman can do no wrong in my eyes. I was worried this workout would be similar to some of the other ones I've done, but I was wrong. The theme of this DVD is compound exercises, so you're working multiple muscle groups simultaneously (i.e., side squats with lateral raises, wide squats with upright rows, bent-leg deadlifts with bicep curls, etc.). Each interval is about 5 minutes and the entire workout is just over an hour, so I got worked over pretty damn hard. New move that killed me? Superman Planks. This was during the ab section toward the end. I've done plank and I've done supermans on my stomach, but combining the two? Tough stuff. You get into plank and lift opposing legs and arms at the same time. Maybe I'm a wuss, but I found it to be a challenge. And as a "hardcore" option, the dude in the back was doing the move while elevating his feet on the aerobic step, so he was at an angle, challenging his upper body strength even more. Crazy.

I may be in a running funk, but I'm definitely not in a strength training funk, thanks to Jari. Between my collection of Jari DVDs (I'm up to 6 now!) and the upcoming BodyPump classes, I just can't seem to stop being stoked about lifting. It's hands-down the hardest training I've ever done, but I love it and look forward to it just about every day. Coming from the same gal who used to avoid strength training like the plague, I think that's quite an accomplishment, heh.

Luckily, I can't think of any more minuses, so I suppose that's all for today. Later, kids!

Is it Fall yet?

2010-08-07T12:15:00.000-06:00

Apparently, it's August already. Yeesh. This summer has flown by, but with the heat lately, that's totally fine by me. I'm over it.

New reads

Although time seems to be passing quickly these days, I still managed to read a new book this week:

My Footprint: Carrying the Weight of the World, by Jeff Garlin.
I'm a big Curb Your Enthusiasm fan, but what really drew me to this book was the fact that Garlin opened up about his eating disorder. I know eating disorders are also prevalent in men, not just women, but I had yet to really read a man's account of what it's like to struggle with a food addiction. And really, after reading this book, the struggle is still the same, regardless of gender.

It wasn't the best written book, but it still tugged at my heart strings occasionally and of course, because he's a comedian, I definitely had my share of chuckles. I also learned a bit about going green too, because the other main theme of book is Garlin's decision to lower his carbon footprint while also tackling his food issues.

It's kind of grueling to read about his binges, lack of support, well-intentioned but misguided "new starts" and seeing the cycle repeat itself. There were so many times I just wanted to hug him, shake him and give him advice because his experience was similar to mine in a lot of ways.

The ending, which I won't give away, was unexpected, but still really inspiring. Because the final message was so full of realism, it really resonated with me. I got my copy from the library and finished in a about a day, so if you're looking for a quick read, you might want to check it out.

10K Training

I'm still plugging along with my training schedule. Just finished week 2 this morning. Running is hard. Since I've started this program, I must admit, I've yet to have a good run. I've got a lot of mental blocks that keep coming up and it's having an effect on my progress. Essentially, I'm comparing my current running self to my old, much faster running self. I keep getting caught up in my speed and think "Shit, I'm going so slow! I was so much faster before! Why can't I go faster?" So instead of just focusing on running and finishing my distance, I'm getting distracted by these types of thoughts. I've wanted to throw in the towel on this training program about 3 or 4 times already, but I need to stick it out. Hopefully once I get into weeks 4 and 5, things will get better.

My days of comparing myself to other people are long gone, but comparing myself to, well, myself is just as bad, if not worse. I need to work on that. It took me a long time to build up my speed last year, so I can't expect to get back to that level in a matter of days. I can be quite impatient at times.

Other than that, life is pretty bitchin'. I've been slacking on food pics again, but hopefully I'll find some inspiration this week. I also got yet another Jari Love DVD which I plan on trying tomorrow, so a review of that will follow as well. Hope everyone is enjoying the weekend!

POM-tastic!

2010-07-30T15:48:00.002-06:00

This week, the wonderful people at POM were generous enough to send me some samples of their juice to try. I had only tried their iced teas before, but not the actual juice, so I was pretty excited when the package arrived yesterday! I'm not a huge juice drinker, but still enjoyed the flavor and became eager to experiment with some recipes. The result? POM Cake!

Pretty easy to make and full of great flavor. For the cake, I used:

1 box white cake mix
1 cup POM juice
1/3 cup water
1/4 cup no-sugar-added applesauce (in place of oil)
3 egg whites
2 TB flour (for those at high altitude)
several drops of red food coloring (optional; just for fun)
powdered sugar (optional; mostly for aesthetics)

Mix all of the ingredients in a bowl with a hand mixer and bake according to the directions on the box. The platter decided to slip out as I was flipping the cake over, so I ended up with a crack in one side. Boo! I hate it when stuff like that happens. Oh well.

I also made a POM-orange glaze to drizzle on top:

For the glaze:

about 1 3/4 cup POM juice
zest and juice from one orange
2 tsp honey

I simmered the juices and the zest and constantly whisked them for almost 30 minutes. During the last 5 minutes of cooking, I added the honey. After I reduced the liquids, I ended up with about 3/4 cup of glaze. I didn't pour it over the entire cake because I didn't want it to get soggy, so I stored it on the side, to pour on individual slices. If you're planning on serving the entire cake all at once though, go ahead and pour all of the glaze on.

Pretty much one of the best cakes I've ever made! I may/may not have had two slices back to back. I think next time I attempt this, I'll just replace all of the water with juice. It didn't seem to affect the texture of the cake and you can't go wrong with extra POM flavor! Between the cake baking and the juices reducing, our house smelled of cakey-orangey-pomegranate-y goodness. So, so good.

Later this evening, I plan on trying some POM cocktails! My mom brought me back a small bottle of champagne from her trip to California, so I'm pretty sure POM-pagne is in my future. Great way to kick off the weekend, eh?

Running back to where I used to be.

2010-07-27T10:13:00.001-06:00

It became evident to me this week that my running has taken the backseat for far too long now. How did I know? Because I felt like this during my 3 mile run yesterday:

I haven't been running much at all the past couple of months and when I do, my attempts have been no more than 1-2 miles at a time, usually as a warm-up to another activity. That's better than nothing I suppose, but last year, I could bust out 4 or 5 miles at a time without feeling like I wanted to pass out and lie on the floor indefinitely (which is more or less what I ended up doing yesterday, post-3 miles).

It got me thinking about how I ran 10K on my birthday in March and how well I did at my first 5K race in April. Since then, my speed and endurance have gone to crap (by my own personal standards), but I'm ready to get back in the game.

I found an 8-week 10K training plan that looks like it'll guide me at just the right pace. I also found a 13-week plan, but I think the 8-week version is a better fit for me and my current fitness routine. I changed the start of the week to Sunday, making my rest day Thursday. I already tend to rest on Thursdays anyway and I figured it was best to make slight customizations where necessary, so I'm more likely to follow through and meet my goal.

Initially, my goal is primarily distance. Yes, down the road, I'd love to get back to running miles in the 9-minute range, but I've noticed that getting too caught up in speed sometimes sabotages my efforts and I give up all together. When I think back to the days when I first started running, distance always led to better speed eventually.

I don't have any specific plans for my cross-training; I'll just do whatever I feel like at the moment. Today, I did the Biggest Loser Last Chance Workout for a good mix of cardio and strength. I also foresee more Jari Love DVDs in the future as well, especially since I broke down and bought a 55 lbs. aerobic weight set:

I don't see myself going to the late-evening BodyPump class any time soon (even though I loved the preview class), but I've found that some of my Jari Love DVDs are the next best thing (particularly, Slim & Lean). She also uses this type of barbell, so it's perfect for taking my strength training to a new level.

Originally, I ordered the set on Friday and canceled it just a few minutes later, thinking I should wait. But after working out over the weekend, I found that my current variety of dumbbell weights are becoming easier to use. And my standard barbell set is too large, heavy and bulky for high-rep workouts, so yesterday, I went back to the site and re-ordered the 55 lbs set. It's a damn good price with cheap shipping and I'll obviously get a lot of use out of it, so no buyer's remorse for me. It's supposed to be delivered on Thursday, just in time for my weekend cross training! Pretty excited to do BodyPump-esque workouts in my living room. I also came across a couple of other Jari Love DVDs on Amazon where people said they make good BP alternatives, so I added them to my wish list. Hope to buy them both over the next few months. My wage decrease goes into effect this month, so I gotta be extra careful with my spending these days!

Weekend eats.

2010-07-25T10:05:00.003-06:00

Friday, we made pizza for dinner. I found a pre-made pizza crust marked down in the bakery department, so we threw on some toppings for a quick, tasty meal:

We spread goat cheese on the bottom and then topped it with fresh spinach, tomatoes, bacon, artichoke hearts, oregano and olive oil.

Sprinkled on some mozzarella...

... And baked to bubbly perfection!

This was such a simple pie, but it turned out great. I'll have to keep my eye out for more of those crusts marked down in the future! Saves a lot of time and holds up well to a good amount of toppings.

For dessert, I decided to try a 3-ingredient ice cream recipe I came across on Serious Eats. Bananas, honey and peanut butter? Yes please!

Of course, I had to drizzle some chocolate syrup on mine. Sooo good. It was a great way to use up the last of my frozen bananas.

Pretty quiet weekend so far. Just hung around the house yesterday, did some chores here and there and then watched Diary of a Wimpy Kid (such a cute movie!) and Kick-Ass (quite the 180 after watching Wimpy Kid, but still recommended if you enjoyed the over-the-top choreographed death scenes in Kill Bill- I did!).

I was going to work out this morning, but slept in and woke up starving. Once my breakfast digests, I think I'll schedule another appointment with Jari Love. I can't get enough of her DVDs these days! Hope everyone's enjoying the weekend (or what's left of it).

P.S. Not food-related, but is anyone else stoked for the return of Mad Men tonight?!

Mmm... Don Draper *drools á la Homer Simpson* Might have to buy some more booze so I can drink along, haha. Love that show!

Not so hot, hot, hot.

2010-07-23T09:21:00.001-06:00

Yesterday, I tried a new recipe: Ancho Honey Chocolate Chip Bran Muffins.

These tasted great and have a really unique flavor because of the ancho chiles, but I must admit, I was a little disappointed because they were not spicy at all. While I was boiling/chopping the chiles, they gave off a strong aroma, so I assumed there would be some heat, but not so much. I'd like to try this recipe again, but maybe add some cayenne? I dunno. I love the combination of sweet and spice and was hoping to get that from these muffins. Oh well. They'll still get eaten, though it will be a challenge; I ended up with 24 muffins PLUS a 9x9 pan that yielded 9 squares. Buh! Yes, I'm complaining about having too many chocolate chip muffins. Kinda like Don Knotts and the ostriches:

That's all of the excitement for today. Glad it's Friday, but I can already tell the day is gonna drag. Ah well. Hope everyone has a good weekend!

Return of the Mack.

2010-07-21T09:09:00.002-06:00

It's been several days since my last post, but I've returned. And since I was singing this song the other night and Doug had no idea what/who I was talking about, here ya go:

Still a pretty smooth jam after all these years, no? Anywho. I'll start with some quick food re-caps:

This morning's breakfast:

Breakfast Banana Split, adapted from the Biggest Loser Family Cookbook. I didn't actually "split" the banana, I just diced it up. Added diced strawberries, Oikos plain yogurt (sweetened with just a tad of Splenda), about 1/3 cup Grape Nuts cereal, drizzle of light Hershey's chocolate syrup and a dab of almond butter.

This was ridiculously good. It really was like having a banana split for breakfast (der!). And of course, filling. The original recipe didn't call for Greek yogurt or almond butter, but they're obviously better sources of protein and healthy fat, both of which I needed after my workout this morning. Picking up more strawberries from the store soon so I can repeat this again later in the week.

Another great breakfast discovery (not pictured): Lemon Oatmeal! Also an idea I picked up from the BL Family Cookbook. It's pretty simple, really... Just add lemon juice and/or lemon zest to taste. I sweetened mine a bit and also added some egg whites and a scoop of vanilla protein powder for extra bulk. The lemon flavor makes the oats taste so clean and light- I love it!

Last night's dinner:

I threw together a chicken-veggie stir fry with peanut butter sauce and served it over spaghetti. In a pan, I cooked up:

diced chicken
onions
minced ginger
minced garlic
broccoli
carrots
salt
pepper

For the sauce:

2 TB creamy peanut butter (you could use crunchy instead)
2 TB Hoisin sauce
about 2 or 3 TB of fresh lime juice
Sriracha to taste (I probably used almost a tablespoon)
about 2 TB fresh chopped cilantro

Whisk ingredients together in a separate bowl. Whisk in water until desired consistency is reached. Once the sauce thinned out, I added it to the stir fry after the meat and veggies were all cooked through.

I was really pleased with this dish! I really am becoming more and more confident in the kitchen with each meal I make. It's a good feeling. I have a much stronger sense of which spices and herbs to use and find myself experimenting more and more, instead of relying on recipes all of the time. I still have a lot to learn, but I've noticed these past few months that something has clicked and I'm a much better cook than I was several years ago.

Last pic I want to share is actually from a while ago (last week? the week before?):

This was an alfredo dish that Doug made. Chicken, broccoli and mushrooms over penne. For the sauce, he used a can of fat-free cream condensed soup; can't remember if it was cream of chicken or cream of mushroom, but either way, it turned out really nice. I can't remember what else he added to the sauce, but if he recalls, perhaps he'll be nice and share in the comments. *Wuh-ink*

Aside from lots of great food, I also finished reading a great book, The Amazing Adventures of Dietgirl. Seriously, read this book now if you haven't already. I've read my share of autobiographies of women who have struggled being overweight and either lost the weight or didn't, but this book far surpasses all of them. I saw so much of myself in Shauna, it was almost hard to read at times. But she's incredibly funny, witty and driven. Whether or not you're trying to lose weight, this will still prove to be an excellent read.

And lastly, I've re-kindled my affair with Jari Love, specifically her first Get Ripped 1000 DVD. I hadn't used it since I first tried it back in March (!!!), but I've been addicted to it for the past 2 weeks, up through this morning. Crazy good workout. The cardio bursts jack my heart rate up and the strength moves make my muscles work hard. I always feel like crapping out at about 40 minutes in, but I keep pushing and finish out the last 20 minutes anyway. When I remind myself how I'm knocking out both high-intensity cardio and high-rep resistance training in one workout, I manage to push through, even though I just want to lay on the floor and die. I think deep down, it's the hot guy in the back row that keeps me going. Man. Super hot.

Seriously though, Jari Love has become my favorite trainer (sorry, Jillian!). Anyone who can get me to actually like strength training is nothing short of a miracle worker. Her workouts always leave me feeling strong and capable. (The physical results aren't too shabby either!) She has a great teaching style and she just seems so darn nice! I know I've talked about her on here before, but I just had to gush once more because I'm really happy I gave her DVDs a try. Totally changed my attitude about fitness.

I suppose that's all for today. Hope everyone has been doing well! Have a great week.

Finally Friday.

2010-07-09T15:14:00.000-06:00

Well, well, well. A whole week since my last post. Which isn't that long of a gap, but just feels that way since life has been non-stop since last Saturday. Doug and I were social butterflies the majority of the week, in between regular life stuffs, so I'm a bit exhausted. Good times though, so I can't complain.

I was at the gym this morning and this song came up while I was getting whooped by the stair master:

It left me feeling too gangsta to blog most of the day, but here I am, finally giving in.

The Food:

I haven't been in a picture-taking mood lately, but I still wanted to share quite possibly the best breakfast I've had this year (well, almost. I have lots of good breakfasts, so it's hard to place one higher than the other): Blueberry Almond Maple Yogurt Oats. Yup. In a bowl, add the following and stir until blended:

sweetener of choice (I like my oatmeal a tad on the sweet side)
1 tbsp almond butter
1 cup cooked oats with blueberries
1/2 cup Greek yogurt (I used Fage 0%)
maple syrup of choice

Hubba, hubba. It was love in a bowl. I made blueberry pancakes for dinner last night (we have a surplus of blueberries going on right now, both fresh and frozen and I'm not sick of them yet), and decided to top them with maple-flavored Greek yogurt. It was so rad that I figured it would work just as well with oatmeal. Totally did. That said, I officially need more maple syrup. I feel a phase coming on.

The Doc:

I went to the doctor the other day for my annual physical. She wasn't happy that my weight was up from last year and I was kinda bummed that she wasn't more understanding about it since she's usually cool, laid back and supportive. But I totally understand her concern; I'm sure she's seen her share of people who lose a lot of weight and eventually gain it all back. I don't intend to be one of those people. But I also don't intend to make myself go crazy by trying to dazzle her with arbitrary numbers every year either. Yes, I intend to drop a few more pounds, but the BMI chart can suck it.

The Miscellaneous:

I bought some used DVDs the other day, one vinayasa yoga and one pilates. I also bought Guitar Hero 3 though, so I haven't quite gotten around to trying them out yet, ha. I'm looking forward to the yoga DVD, as I've been bored with the 3 I already have. And I've been meaning to give pilates another try; I had the whole Mari Winsor set on VHS at one point, ages ago. They may be hiding in a box somewhere, but there's no VCR in the living room anyway, so new DVD it is. Updates on those to follow.

AND, I'm finally reading The Amazing Adventures of Dietgirl. I started following her blog again and reserved a copy of the book at the library. It's great so far. Funny and witty but also quite painful to read at times because her experience is so relatable. It's sad that she, I and countless others have gone through the same exact struggles in being overweight. Knowing that so many people are (or have been) so miserable with the same issues is a bit of a downer. At the same time though, there's always the opportunity to change. Anywho, I can't put it down (picking up where I left off after this post!), so I think I'll be finished with it in a few more days.

That's all I can manage to ramble about today. Have a great weekend!

Oh sweet, delicious, 3 day weekend

2010-07-02T10:28:00.001-06:00

Today is going to drag, I know it. But, I have Monday off, so no real complaints. Moving right along to food:

Threw together a quick veggie & shrimp stir fry. In the mix:

zucchini
carrot
red bell pepper
onion
minced garlic
minced ginger
mushrooms
salt/pepper
drizzle of Famous Dave's Sweet 'n' Zesty BBQ sauce
splash of teriyaki sauce

The BBQ sauce was a great addition; it brought out the sweetness of the carrot, bell pepper and shrimp.

Since I didn't want to wait for rice to cook, I figured it was a good opportunity to finally try the Savory Oats recipe I came across a few days ago on Cheap Healthy Good.

Not bad! I have to admit though, even after using soy sauce, I still found myself sprinkling on a little bit more salt because the flavor just seemed off. This is definitely a dish that I want to experiment with more in the future. I'm thinking a version with garlic, ginger and teriyaki might turn out better. It's so much faster (and more fool-proof) than rice or noodles, so I'd like to keep it in rotation.

As for fitness, I've been mixing things up and went back to an old favorite site of mine, Gym Junkies, for some inspiration. I pulled up a basic beginner's weight lifting program and went from there. Since I'm not quite a beginner anymore, I did add weights to all of the moves immediately. Oh, man. I was feeling it pretty bad this week. I even ended up skipping Zumba yesterday because the soreness was just a bit too much. I'm feeling good though. Hard to complain when my butt's getting tighter and my arms are more defined! I do need to get a pull up bar soon though. It's been on my list for over a year now because I keep finding routines that require pull ups and it's hard to find a suitable substitute. Luckily, there are a few different models out there and none of them are too expensive, so we'll see.

On the off-days of that program, I've been doing 2-3 mile runs with either sprints or incline intervals. Spin class tomorrow, and probably Monday too, since I have the day off.

That's about it. Tomorrow will be busy with spin, house cleaning and a party at my cousin's house. Then on Sunday, we're having a get together at our place. So glad I have Monday to relax and recuperate. Hope everyone enjoys the weekend!

BODYPUMP!

2010-06-26T11:51:00.001-06:00

This morning, I got pumped...

...For BODYPUMP!
I'm a dork, I know this. Am I in love? Totally. Am I already sore and busted less than 2 hours later? Sigh. Unbelievably so. Tomorrow is gonna suck, haha. My arms and shoulders seem to be suffering the most, but I can also feel it in my back, calves and butt as well. Mission accomplished!

So, it's 60 minutes long and the basic breakdown goes like this:

Warm-up
Legs/Squats
Chest
Back/Gluteals/Hamstrings
Triceps and Biceps
Legs/Lunges
Shoulders/Arms
Abs
Cooldown/stretch

Each track is about 5 minutes long and you take regular breaks in between to stretch and change out your weights. My favorites were the squat, back/gluteal/hamstring and bicep tracks. The back track is where we got to do deadlifts, rows and a clean & press. I kinda knew what a clean & press was via Jari Love DVDs, but it's a bit different with a barbell and it took me several tries before I could get the hang of it. Once I did though, it was a pretty fun move.

Triceps weren't my favorite, but they never are because my elbows always flare like a mo' fo'. In fact, there were a bunch of personal trainers walking around to check everyone's form and of course, dude came up to me and told me to bring my elbows in. I said, "Yeah, I know; my elbows flare like crazy." He agreed and said that was one of the hardest muscles to train.

Hands-down toughest track? Lunges. Holy burnout, Batman. I wanted to push hard and not stop (especially since a body-builder chick came by and started praising me on my form), but I had to flat out stop and just stand up straight a few times. I couldn't tell if it was the extra weight from the barbell, the high number of reps or the half-lunge pulsing moves that did me in... I'm gonna guess it was all of the above. The backs of my legs, my quads and butt cheeks were on fire.

The abs track wasn't too bad since it was mostly various crunches, but there was some plank work that I ended up doing on my knees a few times.

I of course was sweating like crazy, but felt pretty bad-ass when it was over. I officially need to start improving my upper body strength and my core. Those were the areas I struggled the most.

So that was BodyPump. The only downside? It's not (as of yet) going to be offered on the weekends. I guess this was just a "preview" session. So, so bummed. And according to the schedule, they're not bringing it back until after July 5th and the only night I'll be able to go is Thursdays at 6:30pm, after the 5:30pm Zumba class I usually go to. BUH! I'm definitely not doing both back-to-back and I loathe the idea of waiting that late in the evening to workout, but that may be my only option if I want to stick with it. I'm sure they'll add more classes later, but in the meantime, it's going to be pretty limited. Oh well. I'm just glad I finally got to experience it and see what all the hype was about. I'm officially a fan!

If you have a chance to check out a class near you, please do! It's pretty much the ultimate strength workout and I can't wait until I start seeing the results. Might just have to look into investing in a small barbell so I can get my fix at home, in between classes, heh.

Ten Steps to a Bigger and Thinner Life.

2010-06-25T12:43:00.003-06:00

Earlier this month, I was given the opportunity to try Michelle Hastie's Ten Steps to a Bigger (and Thinner) Life weight-loss program. I first came across Michelle in an article she wrote for Divine Caroline called, "Tackle Your Food Fears," which piqued my interest, as I was just starting to learn the ropes of intuitive/mindful eating. I also started following her blog, and quickly learned that she's a personal trainer and weight-loss coach who discourages typical forms of dieting, self-hatred and extreme exercise and encourages self-love, balanced eating and appreciating your body's ability to move.

The program I reviewed is an extended version of this Ten Steps post on her blog, complete with audio/video files and homework sheets that provided an opportunity to apply what I learned in each step to my own issues with food and weight.

As for my criticisms of the format of the program, my only suggestion would be to include additional notes (either on the slides or on separate sheets) of the information provided in the audio track. There's a lot of great information that Michelle says that doesn't necessarily make it to the list of key points on the slides. If I heard something I felt was critical, I would pause the presentation and write it down, but it may be more helpful for others to have such information in a more accessible format. Other than that, I enjoyed listening to the step components in detail.

Let me just say, Michelle's program is like therapy in a box! Over the years, I've read my share of diet/weight-loss books, articles and magazines. Very few, if any, have dedicated a decent amount of time on trying to get you to sort out your personal issues and be happy with yourself first, before even trying to take on the task of losing weight. And that's exactly what Michelle's Ten Steps forced me to do. By taking notes on the information presented in the step slides and truthfully answering the questions she asked in the homework sheets, I found there were several issues and realities that I had refused to deal with, in the past and into this month. Because I allowed so many of my negative behaviors to persist and flourish, my issues with food and extra weight continued for years and into the present day.

I've read some self-help guides in the past and usually ignored the author when they assigned homework activities at the end of each chapter. Obviously, I didn't do myself any favors in ignoring those assignments. Why? Because I thought I had myself all figured out and that there wasn't any uncharted territory to discover, in terms of my emotions or self-knowledge. Well, if I had myself so figured out, why was I reading a self-help book in the first place?

Since Michelle's program isn't your typical rule book ("eat x calories/day, only eat foods off of this list, do x types of exercise for x minutes, most days of the week," etc.), I knew I needed to buckle down, focus and dig deep to answer the questions in the homework sheets. The information Michelle provided in the slides set me up (in a good way) to really think about all of the Why's in my life: Why did I gain weight? Why do I sometimes eat so fast? Why do I think negative things about myself when I look in the mirror?

Forming honest answers to these types of questions wasn't easy, but doing so was incredibly rewarding. In terms of food, activity and self-respect, life has seemed a lot more balanced this week than it has in a long time. There are still some issues I'm working on (self-criticism) and others I've happily kicked to the curb (recycling my role as "the victim," not taking the time to breathe, letting food/health/diet/exercise information overshadow other hobbies).

When it comes to food and exercise, Michelle keeps things simple: eat foods that fuel your body and make it (and you!) feel good; learn to appreciate movement by exploring activities you enjoy and won't dread when performed on a regular basis. The past couple of weeks, I've been successful in reminding myself that no food is off limits and any food I ever want will always exist (for the most part). By doing so, my out-of-control cravings have subsided and my urges to overeat have decreased. I've managed to make room in my life for chocolate and Napoleon Cake this week, without going overboard on guilt and extra servings. I also re-discovered my love for spinning and zumba and look forward to challenging myself at BodyPump this weekend. Not because of the calories getting burned, but just because they're fun and I love the way my body feels when it's active. Instead of saying to myself, "I have to workout today," I've been trying to change my tune and instead ask, "How do I want to move around today?" Makes a difference in my attitude and performance.

While the overall goal of the Ten Steps program is to help you to lose weight, there are also several emotional, psychological and physical milestones Michelle wants you to accomplish to ensure that your weight-loss journey is done without the typical tortures of strict dieting, mindless exercise, stress, exhaustion and self-defeating thoughts.

If you've found yourself trapped in the same cycle of fear, stress, self-bashing and guilt when trying to lose weight, I would definitely recommend Ten Steps to help you break down the underlying issues causing such emotions and gain a gentle, healthier perspective on weight-loss (and life!). Many thanks and kudos to Michelle for developing such a fresh and unique program!

Zumba Fuel.

2010-06-24T20:14:00.000-06:00

This afternoon, I decided at the last minute to hit up Zumba after work. Confession: I haven't been in over a month... I knew I wanted to do some kind of activity when I got home because I took the morning off and hence, felt sluggish all damn day. I considered yoga... Thought about walking around outside until I remembered the heat... Contemplated fighting the 5 o'clock gym crowd for a treadmill or stair master... Then, I finally said "Fuck it, I'll just go to Zumba." I hesitated though, since my ulcer has been nagging me off and on lately. But I sucked it up, rushed home to change and made my way to class.

Thank you, Ulcer, for playing nice today. I finished the whole class and left soaked. It gets a little embarrassing at times; I've always been a big sweater and today's routine left me drenched. I have a sweat band, but I prefer to look like a complete tool in the comfort of my own living room and not, y'know, in public.

ANYWHO, definitely going to start going again just about every week, if I can. Plus, she teased us with some NKOTB next week, so how can I not go? Pretty pumped.

Since today's class kicked my ass a little more than expected, I was ready to come home and throw together a good re-fuel meal:

A sweet-potato veggie scramble, of sorts, served with a toasted English muffin on the side. I took a pan, heated up about 1 tsp. of olive oil and added the following:

frozen spinach
diced red onion
1 large chopped mushroom
2 radishes, thinly sliced
diced tomato
about 1/2 clove minced garlic
1 chopped sweet potato (pre-cooked in the microwave for 5 minutes)
1 egg
1/4 cup egg substitute (still found another carton hiding in the freezer this week)
grated parmesan
shredded cheddar
salt
pepper
cayenne
parsley

I was trying to finish off some produce and also wanted to break into the sweet potatoes I bought at the farmer's market a couple of weekends ago. Great flavor! And definitely filling.

This would've made a bitchin' wrap too. Maybe next time. Good night!

Mental Health Day.

2010-06-23T16:08:00.000-06:00

Took the day off from work, primarily to go to an 8:30 am spin class and to bake cake. Yuuup. Priorities. I have 'em.

Spin class was ok... I got a lot of good sprints in, but not a fan of the instructor. She was probably on the bike 50% of the time. Rest of the time, she was walking around. But she played more tolerable music than some of the other instructors, so I cut her some slack.

Came home, showered, ate a big bowl of oats and prepped for the day's next task:

Lemon-Blueberry Pound Cake!

Just in case you forgot where I stand on the whole Cake-vs.-Pie debate... And please note, this is NOT a healthy recipe! Plenty of butter and sugar to go around and I didn't make any substitutions. In fact, I added a few things to the original recipe from Food Network.

I first made the cake on Father's Day for my dad (sans blueberries) because lemon pound cake is one of his favorites. He raved about it so much that I had to make it again (that, and Doug was bummed that he didn't get to try any the first time).

Aside from adding blueberries, the main changes I made were: adding the zest of an entire lemon (creamed in with the butter) and adding an additional 1/4 cup of flour. I added the extra flour with high-altitude baking in mind, but even if you aren't at high-altitude and still want a lighter/fluffier texture, go ahead and add it.

The lemon zest is crucial! If you want a distinct lemon flavor in this cake, you really do need to add the zest, even though the original recipe doesn't call for it.

I poured about half of the batter in the pan and added about 2/3 cup of thawed frozen blueberries.

Poured the remaining batter and topped with the rest of the blueberries (somewhere between 1/4 and a 1/3 cup).

Waiting for this thing to cool before slicing into it was murder. Smelled sooooo good!

I cut it in half and froze the other half. Also, I did NOT include the extra glaze on this version. I did include it when I made my dad's version, but I left it out on this version and I think the cake was just fine on its own.

Delicious. And although I've avoided baking in the past, I'm coming around to it more often these days. I'd rather bake my own treats so I know exactly what's going into the mix and because there's much more effort involved, the final result is that much more satisfying. When I think of the discounted cakes, pastries and doughnuts I always eye at the grocery store bakery (and sometimes buy), they all make me gag now when I look at this cake.

I think bread will be next on my list of baking adventures. The bread selection in most stores doesn't do much for me these days and the good breads at the local/specialty bakeries are too expensive to buy regularly, so I'm going to start making my own. We'll see how it goes!