tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-294948562012-02-12T22:38:14.604-07:00...ramblings about health, fitness and mommy-hood...InstantBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12443480550824249989noreply@blogger.comBlogger891100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29494856.post-82398416109045848572012-02-12T22:38:00.001-07:002012-02-12T22:38:14.637-07:00

Braised Cabbage with Leeks and Maple2 T bacon fat1 leek, white part only, cut into 1/4" slices1/2 head red cabbage1 T maple syrupMelt the bacon fat over medium-high heat and then add the leeks. Stira few times as the leeks cook. When they begin to brown, add thecabbage. Continue to stir occasionally as the cabbage cooks. Cookuntil the cabbage is wilted but still slightly crunchy, about 8minutes.

InstantBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12443480550824249989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29494856.post-87467976900725831002011-10-10T18:43:00.001-06:002011-10-10T18:48:55.141-06:00

I love fall and I love pumpkin. And I love these muffins. I originally got the recipe from a friend of mine at the Primal Kitchen, but after I moved, I lost my copy of the recipe, so I had to improvise. Here's what I did, and they came out delicious. Mmmm. Seriously, they are so yummy. I could eat these muffins every day. Measure and mix the dry ingredients: 300g almond flour (2.5 cups) 1/2 t

InstantBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12443480550824249989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29494856.post-23153910261093164762011-04-05T21:03:00.002-06:002011-04-05T21:10:00.916-06:00

Whole milk latte (x2) Leftover asian-style braised chicken thigh with mushrooms and napa cabbage. Fajita-style steak with cauliflower rice, salsa, and Greek yogurt. Dried cranberries, nuts, and beef jerky Sesame honey almonds.

InstantBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12443480550824249989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29494856.post-9607573079299331172011-04-05T10:10:00.002-06:002011-04-05T11:54:31.424-06:00

It's been such a long time since I've blogged! So many thing have changed, but the good stuff is that I have been doing Crossfit for about 6 months as my only form of exercise and I've been eating a paleo/primal-ish diet as well. I still eat dairy products like whole milk in my coffee and cheese, but I haven't had much yogurt lately. My husband and I also read The 4 Hour Body, by Tim Feriss,

InstantBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12443480550824249989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29494856.post-8350898757694631472010-06-29T11:06:00.000-06:002010-06-29T11:20:34.933-06:00

I've been meaning to try doing a workout using a full deck of cards for a while and today was the lucky day! I used a pull up bar, a 12kg kettlebell, a deck of cards, and a stopwatch. It was simple to follow but really difficult to do. This was the hardest workout I've done in a long time, and I'm just proud of myself for finishing the whole thing! For the chin ups, I'm not going to lie: I jumped

InstantBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12443480550824249989noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29494856.post-11060144255040776872010-06-25T10:08:00.000-06:002010-06-25T10:21:08.572-06:00

I have tons of great workout DVDs, but for some reason, recently I just can't be bothered to pop them in the DVD player and follow along with them. I want to do my own thing! I love Art of Strength workouts and haven't done Providence in a while, but I couldn't force myself do an hour in front of the TV, so I made my own mini circuit that is Providence-inspired. I did 12 rounds of 70 seconds work

InstantBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12443480550824249989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29494856.post-53476057120942511252010-06-17T13:52:00.000-06:002010-06-17T14:01:32.200-06:00

This workout uses only a pull up bar and an interval timer. It is 6 rounds of 4 exercises: one lower body, one upper body, one core, and one cardio. Do each exercise for one minute and do all 4 in the round without rest. Take a 30 second break between rounds. 27 minutes total, or just over 30 with a warm up.Round 1hamstring kickbacks (starting on all fours)tripod plankreverse cruncheshigh knee

InstantBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12443480550824249989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29494856.post-22181945391106759322010-06-12T15:14:00.000-06:002010-06-12T15:32:35.668-06:00

Even though I think red velvet is just the most recent food trend and I'm sure that in a decade everyone will make fun of it like they do about fondue (which I also love!!!), I still really love the craze. I tried red velvet pancakes for the first time at a local restaurant and immediately became obsessed. However, $15 for a stack of brightly dyed pancakes just seems wrong, especially when yummy

InstantBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12443480550824249989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29494856.post-11488190034812192352010-05-19T21:59:00.000-06:002010-06-17T13:50:08.735-06:00

I made up another bodyweight/kettlebell/jump rope circuit. It was fun, but as I was doing it, I was already planning how to make it better for next time. Initially, I planned to do 25 reps of each exercise, but I realized most of them were paired, and needed an even number, so I did 12 on each side instead. Next time, I'll do either 30 or 40 reps instead of "25." I also did 50 jump rope jumps

InstantBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12443480550824249989noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29494856.post-53723417485353040992010-05-07T09:03:00.000-06:002010-06-17T13:50:44.239-06:00

RunKeeper Shared Fitness | Cycling ActivityToday I biked to work! It usually takes me 35 minutes, but I was running late and still wanted to bike, so I made my self go just a bit faster, and I got there in 29 minutes. Woo hoo!

InstantBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12443480550824249989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29494856.post-25579511834574712802010-05-04T23:43:00.001-06:002010-06-17T14:03:32.378-06:00

I've been very into minimal equipment workouts these days, so I'm doing lots of bodyweight and kettlebell stuff and doing biking and running. It's so fun to not have to drag out a bunch of stuff and still get a great workout in. Today I finally decided to try my hand at making up my own workout, and it was awesome. I wish I had timed it, but it ended up being about 30 minutes. Next time, I'll

InstantBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12443480550824249989noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29494856.post-17411185389264115602010-02-09T14:17:00.000-07:002010-06-17T13:51:31.093-06:00

Buffalo wings are one of my favorite things to eat, but they are terrible for you! I found the idea for this recipe in the Best 30 Minute Recipes cookbook from America's Test Kitchen, but they use blue cheese dressing and fried chicken strips. Instead, I used chicken breasts and light ranch dressing. It is so delicious and very simple to make!Buffalo Chicken Salad(2 servings)4 c salad

InstantBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12443480550824249989noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29494856.post-46656385617583160662010-02-04T22:13:00.001-07:002010-02-04T22:26:13.513-07:00

Instead of pouring my curry over rice tonight, I sliced up a zucchiniwith the French fry attachment on my mandoline. Then I steamed it inthe microwave for about a minute, and had an excellent ricereplacement. And it takes much less time to cook than rice, too.

InstantBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12443480550824249989noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29494856.post-54673317042148134302009-09-22T10:41:00.000-06:002009-09-22T11:12:01.314-06:00

I made these this morning with my new supply of gemma pea protein powder. I've mentioned before how I really like this kind of protein powder for baking with, because it's really floury in texture. It's nasty in shakes (chalky and thick!) but great in baked goods. It does absorb more liquid than flour, so if you use it, you'll probably need to increase the liquid ingredients a little, or add some

InstantBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12443480550824249989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29494856.post-77887107459613377732009-09-20T21:14:00.000-06:002010-06-17T13:51:49.115-06:00

To make a burpee even more intense (like it needs it!), try doing a kettlebell snatch as you stand up between reps. :O

InstantBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12443480550824249989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29494856.post-1244167661917916082009-09-15T22:04:00.000-06:002010-06-17T13:52:19.243-06:00

From Ross Enamait, Work Capacity 101:Complete within 2 minutes, and rest during any remaining time during the 2 minutes:Pull-ups x 5Medicine Ball Slams x 10Burpees x 15Jumping Jacks x 20Repeat as many times as possible, with your goal being 10 rounds in 20 minutes.

InstantBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12443480550824249989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29494856.post-82902393721250685302009-09-08T21:19:00.000-06:002009-09-08T21:22:56.871-06:00

As promised, here is one of my crafty summer projects: an iPhone armband for my hubby to use while running. As a bonus, this is fitness related, too!I am very pleased with how it came out. It has a buttonhole at the top for the earphones, and another large buttonhole on the side for the elastic strap the thread through. But the best part is the vinyl window. The phone is very securely in the

InstantBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12443480550824249989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29494856.post-45654742506275920552009-09-08T21:08:00.000-06:002009-09-15T22:09:55.085-06:00

Pike WorkoutI totally have this on my list to do after my baby is born. I can't wait to try it. I'm sure it will take me far longer than 30 minutes, though!Get a Deck of Cards.Shuffle them.Spades: BurpeesClubs: MahlersHearts: PushupsDiamonds: Squats2-9 = Face Value10-K = 10A = 15Go through as quickly as you can and keep time.

InstantBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12443480550824249989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29494856.post-70128871708448382622009-08-30T09:22:00.000-06:002009-08-30T09:23:06.826-06:00

All summer, I haven't blogged at all, mostly because...... I'm pregnant! I haven't been eating/workout obsessed like in the past, so I haven't felt like I should be posting here. But, I have been busy and I want to share. Here is a picture of my new best friend, found for me by my Dad. It's a gorgeous 1950's Japanese sewing machine made entirely of *heavy* metal, and it's the smoothest,

InstantBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12443480550824249989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29494856.post-51799210639690919472009-02-25T23:40:00.000-07:002009-02-24T23:40:16.082-07:00

I had this IM mini conversation with my husband recently. I thought it made an excellent blog prompt, so here it is:J: So does the BFL [Body for Life] mantra still hold true in your eyes - for every carb you eat, you should eat a protein? InstantBlue: Mostly, but not so strictly. If you're going to eat a carb, you should have protein to go with it. But really, it's about averaging it

InstantBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12443480550824249989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29494856.post-54368343485856057152009-02-23T21:52:00.000-07:002009-02-24T08:40:50.171-07:00

Another pasta-less idea, using veggies instead of noddles, this time inspired by the March/April issue of Clean Eating magazine. I changed the recipe a little to make it less soupy. If you like this, you should try spaghetti squash instead of noodles, too.Nutrition: 235 Cal, 6g fat, 17g carb, 29g protein (based on my tomato sauce)1 lb ground beef, browned and rinsed1 clove of garlic, crushed1

InstantBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12443480550824249989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29494856.post-79399600092274399852009-02-21T15:50:00.000-07:002009-02-21T20:38:21.376-07:00

One of my favorite cookies is a bar cookie that my mom made when I was a kid. They are an oatmeal and peanut butter bar, covered with a layer of melted chocolate chips. Mmm! I love love love those cookies!I decided that I should try to healthy them up, since a stick of butter and 2 cups of sugar in the recipe means you can only have one bite if you're trying to be good :( Now, I'm not going to

InstantBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12443480550824249989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29494856.post-16466117795951922082009-02-21T11:18:00.000-07:002010-02-04T23:48:24.124-07:00

I've been trying out a few different fitness-related iPhone apps, and a few are pretty good. I'm giving the food and exercise tracker, Lose it! a try for a few weeks instead of Fitday. It's a really nice program that works well for rough tracking, but is limited in how precise you can be. It is very pretty and easy to use, and has a very comprehensive food and exercise library. But more important

InstantBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12443480550824249989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29494856.post-27902520809475771632009-02-20T20:42:00.000-07:002010-06-17T13:52:40.431-06:00

I've been wondering for a long time just how much fat you get rid of when you drain ground beef. I've also been taking draining it to the next level by rinsing my ground beef in hot water to get as much of that icky melted beef fat out of there as possible. Yes, I realized I'm probably also washing away any special beef flavor along with the fat, but seriously, it's ground beef. Not the choicest

InstantBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12443480550824249989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29494856.post-58676122961364052492009-02-08T00:01:00.001-07:002009-02-08T20:10:41.719-07:00

I have a growing collection of fun lunchboxes to bring my breakfast, lunch, and snacks to work with me. In addition to it being practical, since don't have the option of going out for lunch on my job, it also makes bringing my food with me more fun. If I can pull out a cute or attracive (or both!) container, I actually enjoy my food more. Yes, it is silly, but whatever. My food is pretty and

InstantBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12443480550824249989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29494856.post-27072260605949046022009-02-06T22:04:00.001-07:002009-02-06T22:13:18.136-07:00

I tried this the other day, in place of my Chalean Extreme ab routine I am supposed to do (but honestly...I HATE doing ab workouts, and if they're not built directly into a workout I'm doing, it's more than likely that I'll just skip it entirely....so I have only done the CLX ab workout once in my 4 weeks of the program).It was surprisingly good. It was expecting it to kick my booty, and to be

InstantBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12443480550824249989noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29494856.post-41269129315557690862009-02-06T21:52:00.000-07:002009-02-06T22:03:17.222-07:00

Here's a typical day of what I've been eating recently:breakfast: omelet (4 egg whites, 1c spinach, 20g feta cheese)snack: toasted English muffin with 1/2T natural peanut butterlunch: dinner leftovers, usually ~4oz lean meat and 1-2c steamed veggies or spinachsnack: 1/2c Greek yogurt with 1/2T honey and 1/2c frozen berriesdinner: 5-6oz lean meat with 1-2c steamed veggies (alternates between

InstantBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12443480550824249989noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29494856.post-6818558217738905402009-02-06T21:51:00.001-07:002009-02-06T21:52:19.892-07:00

InstantBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12443480550824249989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29494856.post-40834787433771322952009-02-02T20:45:00.000-07:002009-02-03T10:32:05.720-07:00

I haven't had time to crack them open and play yet, but I'm so excited!!! I think this will definitely kick p90x's butt! I can't wait for a different workout every day of the 90 day rotation. I think I'll have to at least try some of these before I finish the Chalean Extreme rotation. Poor Chalean, it's not you... it's just that I've been waiting over a year for my Cathe STS, and now that it's

InstantBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12443480550824249989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29494856.post-87167956955350090762009-02-01T23:46:00.000-07:002009-02-01T23:49:43.162-07:00

InstantBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12443480550824249989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29494856.post-64062435972816405312009-01-28T11:58:00.001-07:002009-09-01T21:57:05.317-06:00

***Updated on 9/1/09 to fix the link. It should work now!***If you are doing Chalean Extreme and don't have something to track your weights yet, Beachbody has finally made some downloadable PDF worksheets for you. They're nicely done - they have the same formatting as the P90x worksheets. Enjoy!Download here!

InstantBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12443480550824249989noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29494856.post-83354256666567696402009-01-28T11:17:00.000-07:002009-01-28T11:17:00.788-07:00

Woo-hoo! I got the shipping notice that my STS DVDs are on their way to me. I am so excited!!!!! Now, will I finish Chalean Extreme, or will I start STS.... Arg, decisions!

InstantBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12443480550824249989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29494856.post-59193836274086483612009-01-27T22:25:00.000-07:002009-02-24T23:06:11.266-07:00

I hate these things. But I have to give credit to marketers for thinking of a way to make junk seem like it's a smart, healthy decision. Seriously? Just because it's only 100 calories doesn't eliminate the processed flours, refined sugars, preservatives and nasty dyes in it. Sure, it might help you control your munching better than a huge bag of Oreos with no built-in portion control. But a small

InstantBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12443480550824249989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29494856.post-63359602980716544382009-01-24T22:40:00.000-07:002009-01-23T22:42:51.834-07:00

I'm decided to post only my weekly macro averages, since it's really all about the average anyway. This week turned out to be pretty much perfect:

InstantBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12443480550824249989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29494856.post-40145157448746130622009-01-23T14:30:00.000-07:002009-01-23T22:38:41.483-07:00

Powerblocks are absolutely the best piece of fitness equipment that I have. They are a set of dumbbells that adjust in weight, so that you can have several pairs of dumbbells that only take up the space of one pair. I use them almost every time I work out (unless I'm just doing a purely cardio workout). I have two sets: the old sport blocks (3-21lbs in 3lb increments) and the old personal set (5-

InstantBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12443480550824249989noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29494856.post-61501142455015068202009-01-19T09:00:00.000-07:002009-01-19T09:00:02.210-07:00

Just in case you haven't tried this yet, you should: spaghetti squash instead of actual spaghetti. Yep, just put it right under your regular spaghetti sauce or whatever you usually put on your pasta. It's a perfect way to add another serving of veggies to your meal and to eliminate a huge portion of starchy, processed, insulin-spiking carbs from your meal.It's super easy to make. Just cut it in

InstantBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12443480550824249989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29494856.post-25611734393878894602009-01-18T09:00:00.000-07:002009-01-18T09:00:00.469-07:00

Not bad, considering this includes Chick-fil-A breakfast and yellow cake with chocolate icing for dessert.

InstantBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12443480550824249989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29494856.post-28382926591530009922009-01-17T13:49:00.000-07:002009-01-17T14:08:46.358-07:00

Like most of the fitness-video-obsessed, I ordered Chalean Extreme as soon as it was released, in mid-December. Due to shipping snafus and issues with scratched discs and then being sick for almost a month (boo!), I haven't really gotten to try it out until this week. Now that I have tried it somewhat, I can say that I am pretty much happy with the program.For those that don't know, it's a 3-

InstantBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12443480550824249989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29494856.post-48867736759157457412009-01-17T13:38:00.000-07:002009-01-17T13:46:56.556-07:00

This isn't really fitness-related, but I can't hold it in anymore: I have found a new gadget that I honestly cannot believe I lived without for so long: a Tassimo coffee/latte/cappuccino/espresso/hot chocolate/tea machine. It is seriously the coolest toy I've gotten in a long time. (Ok, it's not really MY toy, since I actually gave it to the hubs for Christmas, but whatever..... :) ) Anyway, it

InstantBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12443480550824249989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29494856.post-57111834582195480872009-01-17T13:36:00.000-07:002009-01-17T23:01:04.441-07:00

InstantBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12443480550824249989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29494856.post-37896372949501066772009-01-03T13:42:00.000-07:002009-01-18T11:19:10.341-07:00

Metabolism Advantage (MA) is a book by John Berardi, available in bookstores and libraries. Precision Nutrition (PN) is a more detailed, customizable package of a binder and a cookboook, as well as access to online forums and some mp3 files to support it, also put together by John Berardi. PN is very widely respected among the online fitness forums I visit, and lots of people get great results

InstantBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12443480550824249989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29494856.post-61647891493164608952008-10-06T23:11:00.000-06:002008-10-06T23:15:51.037-06:00

Being efficient is extremely important to me, and I'm always trying to figure out ways to get things done faster and better. So, enter commuting to work and exercising. A perfect combo, right? Except that I kind of hate my bike (yes, all it needs is a little TLC and a tune up, but it's u.g.l.y. and I'm all about the cute....) and its waaaaaay to far to walk. So, basically I had no choice but to

InstantBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12443480550824249989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29494856.post-28211076713135599082008-09-21T18:08:00.001-06:002008-09-21T18:08:55.651-06:00

Long time, no blog :(But, I am still working out and headed towards my goals. I did a test today for the push up challenge, and managed 60! Definite progress from the 35 I started with, but still a ways to go. I am hopeful that I'll be able to do week 6 once and then the hundred right away, but the way this test went, it's probably going to take a few rounds of week 6. Bah!Oh, and according

InstantBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12443480550824249989noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29494856.post-38762800461808460682008-08-31T16:06:00.000-06:002009-01-17T23:17:51.929-07:00

I've tried tons of homemade protein bar recipes, and usually they're kinda dry and weird tasting and definitely not as delicious as a brownie, which is what I'd really prefer to eat. But I recently found a new, magical ingredient that makes protein bars taste more like real, live cookies/brownies/bars, etc, and less like crumbly, weird protein smash: gemma protein! It's new (I think), and is

InstantBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12443480550824249989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29494856.post-80563581946075806052008-08-21T21:47:00.000-06:002008-08-21T21:49:04.581-06:00

Today was week 3, day 3:2722222035I can tell I'm stronger, for sure. I still can't believe I can get so many out on the 5th set, becauase every time I get to the 4th set, I can barely complete them. Maybe it's in my head. Give me a minumum to do, and I will beat it just to prove I can. :)

InstantBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12443480550824249989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29494856.post-74054531715190731732008-08-20T09:14:00.000-06:002008-08-20T09:14:01.013-06:00

Since I started the 100 push ups challenge and am seeing so many people doing it along with me, I started thinking: hey, wouldn't a pull up challenge be fun, too? One of my goals for my current JP Fitness women's challenge is to be able to do 5 pull ups, but now I'm thinking I could probably do better if I worked really hard on it. So I poked around on the internet and found this program, which

InstantBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12443480550824249989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29494856.post-21880998225721780822008-08-19T15:56:00.001-06:002008-08-19T15:58:21.056-06:00

This takes less than 5 minutes to cook and comes out perfectly everytime.Spray a small frying pan with non-stick spray and turn on the heat tomedium low. Add 1-2c of veggies of your choice (I always use spinachand sometimes throw in other stuff too), 1/2c egg substitute, and topoff with some sliced cheese. Now cover the whole thing, set a timerfor 4 min, and come back when it beeps. Fold it in

InstantBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12443480550824249989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29494856.post-22304045981016546792008-08-19T09:52:00.000-06:002009-09-22T11:14:18.728-06:00

I was looking in my cookbook cupboard yesterday, and I saw a whole section dedicated to "healthy" books. I thought I'd share my favorites here.Eating for Life: This was my first healthy cookbook, and is still one of my favs. I love that each recipe isn't just a recipe, it's a whole meal. Bill has already planned out your veggies and carbs along with the main dish. It makes planning dinner really

InstantBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12443480550824249989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29494856.post-50075156353601698552008-08-14T22:15:00.001-06:002008-08-14T22:22:03.918-06:00

I decided to jump on the bandwagon and add in the 100 push up challenge into my training program. I did the initial test, and surprised myself with 35 consecutive, on-my-toes push ups. But that started my conundrum: should I start on week one of the challenge, which starts out with sets of only 10-15 push ups, or should I skip ahead and challenge myself a little more??Well, I was debating where

InstantBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12443480550824249989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29494856.post-59296138531391202472008-08-09T17:41:00.001-06:002008-08-09T17:47:09.647-06:00

I was surprised at how delicious this smoothie I made up was, so I had to write the recipe down. It's actually purple when you make it, but it has spinach in it so....green.1/2c water or green tea (I used water + packet of green tea to go mix)1 scoop strawberry protein powder1/2c cottage cheese1/2c frozen blueberries1c baby spinach leaves (next time, I'll probably use more, you can't taste ANY

InstantBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12443480550824249989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29494856.post-39316105661504359332008-08-08T21:08:00.000-06:002008-08-08T21:18:05.942-06:00

My hubby got me hooked on McDonald's Iced Coffees, which are delicious! ....well, usually delicious, but totally depends on who makes it because I don't think I've ever had two that tasted the same. So, that's annoying. Plus also, if you're trying not to eat lots of crap, then a creamer- and sugar- laden mystery beverage isn't going to work out. So, I decided to make my own. I've tried a few

InstantBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12443480550824249989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29494856.post-59822316278375890552008-08-05T23:03:00.001-06:002008-08-05T23:25:51.965-06:00

I've been waiting very impatiently for my copy of Gourmet Nutrition to arrive in the mail (why is the mail so sloooooooow when you really really really want something??) and today it finally arrived! Even though I'd seen the sample recipes, and knew that every recipe had its own photo, I was still really excited by just how nice it looks. Of course I immediately sat down and read through the

InstantBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12443480550824249989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29494856.post-6844399616119282552008-08-04T21:59:00.000-06:002008-08-04T22:05:43.681-06:00

Today's workout:SloMo Warm up +Chest (3 sets of 8 reps for each, 4-0-4 or 2-2-4 cadence for most)Around the Worlds DB - 2x6Decline Bench Press BB - 45Incline Chest Flyes with Internal Rotation DB - 2x9Staggered Hand Push-Ups - toesPower Hour Abs - crunches, reverse crunches, planksCardio Kicks: first 35 minEats:I'm sad I had to use one of my 4 10% days today on lunch. I had plans to see a family

InstantBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12443480550824249989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29494856.post-83935344057013767322008-08-03T23:26:00.000-06:002008-12-08T15:54:11.185-07:00

Here is my workout schedule for this month. I just got Amy Bento's SloMo 3-day split of heavy weights, and I wanted to use it, but I've also just discovered how great the rotations that Cathe designs are, so I wanted both! I took a rotation that Cathe designed using her Slow and Heavy Series, and replaced those workouts with Amy's SloMo, but kept all the cardio and ab work Cathe. And thus, my Amy

InstantBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12443480550824249989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29494856.post-81275219745898622402008-04-07T10:03:00.001-06:002008-12-08T15:54:11.349-07:00

I recently learned that there are a bunch of rare and exciting Japanese dollar stores in the LA area, and, of course, I should take advantage of them while I live here. Well, one thing they are well- known for is their fun/cute bento supplies. So, naturally, I had to stock up, because you never know when Kylen will need me to pack her a tiny lunch with lots of cute accessories. At least

InstantBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12443480550824249989noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29494856.post-50613662164996458282008-03-14T17:47:00.000-06:002008-12-08T15:54:11.565-07:00

Ok, actually, more than my bodyweight: last night's workout was 3 sets of 8 reps at 130lbs. Woo!

InstantBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12443480550824249989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29494856.post-81933226917202341602008-03-02T22:43:00.000-07:002008-03-02T23:04:25.883-07:00

Since today is a day off from lifting, I thought I'd take some time to plan the week's menus to keep me on track.I don't mind eating the same things over and over again, but my DH does, so I'll be having lots of repeats for breakfast, but varying my dinners.I'm sticking with an approximate 40/30/30 ratio target, with a goal of 150g of protein, 200g of carbs, and 70g of fat per day.I'll be

InstantBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12443480550824249989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29494856.post-85388637826929500832008-02-26T23:31:00.000-07:002008-02-26T23:36:03.405-07:00

Greek yogurt. It's pretty much the most delicious thing ever. Especially the full fat kind with honey. And it has like 15g of protein per cup. Basically, it's like halfway between yogurt and cottage cheese. But so much yummier than non-fat nasty...er, I mean...cottage cheese.Next, I'm going to try my hand at making it myself. The only difference between greek style yogurt and traditional yogurt

InstantBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12443480550824249989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29494856.post-77727142968531286732008-02-25T21:48:00.000-07:002009-01-17T23:18:24.876-07:00

I found this recipe a while ago, and loved it. I have since found the wonderful site where I found it is down, so I wanted to copy it and preserve it for all enternity.Caro’s BBQ Ranch Chopped Chicken salad:For those of you who’ve been to a California Pizza Kitchen restaurant, I was OBSESSED with the CPK Original BBQ Chopped Chicken Salad–the version below is huge, filling and NOT a calorie bomb!

InstantBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12443480550824249989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29494856.post-47012759342816862312008-02-25T21:06:00.000-07:002008-02-25T21:13:55.351-07:00

I've been following the New Rules of Lifting for Women workout for the past month or so. I'm still in the first phase, which seems really wimpy compared to a Cathe or P90x workout. The workouts are finished in under 30 minutes, including a warmup. The difference is that I'm trying to lift as heavy as I possibly can. WAAAAAAAAAY heavier that I've ever done before, even when I *thought* I was going

InstantBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12443480550824249989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29494856.post-67078695009025370032008-02-12T23:09:00.000-07:002008-02-12T23:15:28.021-07:00

So I was thinking something along the lines of a tortilla soup for this, but it came out somewhat less tortilla-soup-y than I had imagined. Still really really yummy, though. And the whole thing took like 5 minutes to make.Saute until translucent:1 T olive oil1 clove garlic1/2 onion, choppedAdd and cook for one more minute:1T cumin (more or less to taste)2t red pepper flakes (more or less - I

InstantBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12443480550824249989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29494856.post-42043523376688027642008-02-12T19:18:00.000-07:002008-02-12T19:19:00.927-07:00

Because it's cool!

InstantBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12443480550824249989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29494856.post-56713774467105631192008-02-09T22:58:00.000-07:002009-09-22T11:15:19.560-06:00

1/2c peanut butter1/2c splenda1 scoop vanilla protein powder1/4c rolled oats1/2t baking powder1/4 cup egg substituteProcess everything in a food processor until smooth and blended. Roll into balls and bake at 350 for about 10 min. Makes 6 good-sized cookies.Per cookie: 162 cal, 11.5g fat, 7g carbs, 10g protein

InstantBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12443480550824249989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29494856.post-58673574412358113392008-02-09T16:37:00.000-07:002008-12-08T15:54:11.744-07:00

Yes, it has been well over a year since I last posted....but I have a good excuse: Kylen. Probably the best reason I have ever had to quit working out. But I'm back. I've started a new program, The New Rules of Lifting for Women, which has been all over all the fitness forums and the blogs I read. And of course, as a bandwagon jumper-on-er, I had to get it and try it. I'm really excited to be

InstantBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12443480550824249989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29494856.post-61452431980719327862007-07-25T20:09:00.000-06:002009-09-22T11:15:31.464-06:00

So easy and yummy...1/2c fat free cottage cheese1/8t vanilla1T splendaMix in blender or food processor until smooth. Eat by itself or with graham crackers and fruit.

InstantBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12443480550824249989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29494856.post-32826097884222201692007-07-25T13:01:00.000-06:002009-01-17T23:17:25.300-07:00

1/2 c fat free cottage cheese1t cocoa powder1/2T peanut butter1T splendaBlend in a food processor or blender. Makes nasty fat-free cottage cheese tasty!

InstantBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12443480550824249989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29494856.post-1157603512316475552006-09-06T22:21:00.000-06:002006-09-12T23:39:01.303-06:00

Since my anniversary trip, I've pretty much been a complete workout slacker. But, to my credit, my DH and I did join a rock climbing gym and have been going for about an hour 3 or more times per week. So that counts, right? Haha. Mixed in with the rock climbing have been a few sessions on the cardio machines at work and one weight session. But today, I've decided to stop making excuses. So what

InstantBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12443480550824249989noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29494856.post-1156699192606846742006-08-27T11:03:00.000-06:002009-09-22T11:15:49.643-06:00

I've been eating this for breakfast a lot. It's a lot yummier than it seems. It looks funny, though, so no pic.Chocolate Almond Protein Cereal301Cal, 8g fat, 30g carbs (4g fiber), 29g protein1/3c dry old fashioned oatmeal1 scoop chocolate protein powder1 T almond meal1/2t cocoa powder (not hot chocolate mix!)1t splenda1/2c milkMix all the dry ingredients together in a cereal bowl. Add the milk,

InstantBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12443480550824249989noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29494856.post-1155057594106443832006-08-08T11:19:00.000-06:002006-08-13T23:26:17.820-06:00

This is my before/after comparison for p90x. It's subtle, but I know there's a difference. You can see tons more ripple in my upper back, and my hips are a lot narrower. And my face us more chiseled. Plus, I know you can't see in the pic, but with more side lighting, I really do have a baby six pack :)So far, after 8 days of August, I've lost 2 points in my challenge. One for only doing half my

InstantBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12443480550824249989noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29494856.post-1154582587521773722006-08-02T23:19:00.000-06:002006-08-02T23:24:24.196-06:00

Today's workout: Firm it Up + 20 minute mall walkFoods: 1636 Cals, 42/35/23b- Special K Low Carb Lifestyle + milkl- leftover turkey meatloaf + 3 everyday chocolate muffins w/ 1tsp pbs2- 1/4c cottage cheese, 3/4c vanilla yogurt, 2T lowfat ganola, 1/2c raspberriess2- 3 more choc muffinsw/ 2/3tsp pbd- TJ's Mahi Mahi, 1 grilled zucchini, 2 small ww rolls, salad w/ Just 2 good honey dijons3- 1/2

InstantBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12443480550824249989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29494856.post-1154495518637591882006-08-01T22:54:00.000-06:002009-09-22T11:16:09.330-06:00

I joined Pink Dumbbells, a fitness community for women who lift weights today. I signed up for the August Challenge/check in to keep me honest. There's something about having to tell other people about what I'm doing that makes me stay more honest.Today was a great day of new recipes. I've been lurking on some Nutrisystem forums and have found some interesting recipes that fit into my eating

InstantBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12443480550824249989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29494856.post-1154375906137329192006-07-31T13:48:00.000-06:002006-07-31T13:58:26.140-06:00

This whole meal came straight from the freezer, and was on the table 10 minutes after I started cooking. Plus, it's yummy, too.I used the frozen hamburger patties available in the bulk section: 93% lean, 7% fat. According the the package, each 4oz patty has 8g of fat, but I read a study that says you reduce the fat content by about a gram if you blot the meat with a paper towel before eating. So,

InstantBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12443480550824249989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29494856.post-1154375263997579212006-07-31T13:39:00.000-06:002006-07-31T13:47:44.006-06:00

This dinner came out really yummy. You could make lots of variations on it by using different salad dressings. I just marinated some chicken breasts in a gallon sized ziploc bag in enough salad dressing to coat them for a few hours. This one was Catalina dressing, which is why it's so orangey-pink. Then I grilled it on medium heat for 5 minutes per side. The chicken comes out really moist and

InstantBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12443480550824249989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29494856.post-1154114023454973592006-07-28T13:10:00.000-06:002009-09-22T11:16:28.445-06:00

This is really yummy, especially when it's like 100 degrees in your house and the A/C only cools the 3 feet directly in front of the unit. You need to plan ahead a little to make the iced coffee, but it's worth it!1c STRONG coffee, pre-brewed and iced (I think instant would also work well here)1/4 c milk1/2 c ice1t Splenda1 scoop vanilla protein powderPour everything into your blender and whirl

InstantBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12443480550824249989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29494856.post-1154113368882420862006-07-28T12:28:00.000-06:002006-07-28T13:02:48.930-06:00

After reading Maggie Wang's Blog again and seeing her take on a new challenge and start posting a lot, it's getting me inspired again.I've finished P90x and now am moving on to basically the complete opposite: Slim Series. This is a very low weight, very high rep weight training system. I'm following the slim training rotation, which means I'm working light weights 6 days a week, mostly total

InstantBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12443480550824249989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29494856.post-1152911586937948232006-07-14T15:02:00.000-06:002006-07-14T15:13:06.946-06:00

I've been a complete blog slacker. It's mostly because I have gotten the buy-a-new-house-bug and spend all my computer time searching the MLS for new listings and driving by homes for sale. We put our house on the market two days ago, so it's really real, now. As far as food and workouts, i've been ok, but not perfect :( I've decided to stop my challenge and save it for another time when I am

InstantBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12443480550824249989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29494856.post-1151399213648722142006-06-27T02:58:00.000-06:002006-06-27T03:06:53.656-06:00

I'm visiting some old friends today and tomorrow, and of course, that means dining out and stuff. For dinner, everyone wanted Chinese food (haha, remember my Panda Express sentiments?). I chose mu shu chicken, thinking it was less bad than most other stuff on the menu, and resisted the egg rolls everyone else ordered. Then, after dinner, we had a little chocolate treat, and I thought to myself,

InstantBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12443480550824249989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29494856.post-1151300247914863012006-06-25T23:28:00.000-06:002006-06-26T00:07:29.976-06:00

I don't mean picky like I was when I was a kid, but picky like particular about what kind of fuel I will give my body. DH and I went shopping today and of course, I didn't bring a snack with and got ravenously hungry while we were out. We were at the mall, and they have a food court, but there was absolutely nothing that I was willing to eat. I couldn't find a single choice that had protein

InstantBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12443480550824249989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29494856.post-1151177272300652162006-06-24T13:16:00.000-06:002006-06-24T13:28:26.266-06:00

Well, I guess I had it coming with all that talk about being perfect. I had my cheat meal yesterday, and it wasn't that bad, but usually I try to keep my meals really good the rest of the day before I cheat. However, yesterday was just okay, not great (before the cheat) and then we went to Pat and Oscars. But it was so worth it! I love those breadsticks and I haven't had real pizza in a long time

InstantBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12443480550824249989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29494856.post-1150993862890978002006-06-22T10:20:00.000-06:002006-06-22T16:43:27.613-06:00

There's something really personally motivating to me to have a challenge to meet. I have had no problems meeting my goals at all for the past 7 days. If I get tempted to skip my workout because it's so freaking hot, I just think about how I don't really want to mess up all the great work I've done so far and I just suck it up and do it. I think it's kind of like grades in school. I always wanted

InstantBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12443480550824249989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29494856.post-1150870597662451472006-06-21T00:05:00.000-06:002006-06-21T00:16:37.676-06:00

So I've been finishing a side table/cabinet that I started building last spring break. It was in the garage for like a year. And it was practically finished. I have no idea why my momentum in working on it tailed off. I think spring break ended. So, I've just about finished it now. I added trim along the bottom edge and made the doors. I put one coat of stain on it and will do the others

InstantBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12443480550824249989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29494856.post-1150696909593183452006-06-18T23:46:00.000-06:002006-06-19T00:05:12.640-06:00

My friends W and E came over for dinner tonight, and we literally had a grilled feast. They brought eggplant, onion, mushrooms, asparagus, and red bell peppers and we had NY strips and zucchinis. We had to grill everything in 3 shifts, even though our grill is a decent size. It as one of the yummiest meals I've had in a while. And really great for me, too. I love our grill. It's so easy to use

InstantBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12443480550824249989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29494856.post-1150522903370601692006-06-16T23:36:00.000-06:002006-06-16T23:51:13.776-06:00

Ok, not really. I still fell within my goals, but I did have a planned cheat meal at my favorite cookie 'n' ice cream place: Diddy Riese. Fresh cinnamon sugar cookies wrapped around butter pecan ice cream. Yum! This was after being extremely good at the Olive Garden, where I had scoped out ahead of time and ordered the Apricot Chicken. I highly recommend this dish. It's low fat/high protein and

InstantBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12443480550824249989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29494856.post-1150437807567407752006-06-15T23:35:00.000-06:002006-06-16T23:35:35.193-06:00

So when DH and I started P90X, we found Maggie Wang's Blog. I've been reading it periodically, and the other day I came across a thread she had started on another fitness board that was a motivational check in. Instead of checking in to list all the things they did wrong, she made it a challenge to list your goals and then rack up as many perfect days of meeting them as possible. I love this idea

InstantBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12443480550824249989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29494856.post-1150246711112761322006-06-13T18:45:00.000-06:002009-09-22T11:17:05.710-06:00

My friend Pablo just got braces, so he can't eat a lot of foods. Since he's coming over for dinner, I had to think of something "soft" to feed him. Here's what we're having:Simple Chili2lbs ground beef, extra lean1 28 oz can crushed tomatoes1 28 oz can kidney beans, drained and rinsed4 cloves garlic, crushed1 medium onion, diced1 c good quality wine (I used white zin from my wedding)1/2 c Heinz

InstantBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12443480550824249989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29494856.post-1150173471667754322006-06-12T22:23:00.000-06:002009-09-22T11:17:16.267-06:00

More like a muffin than a cookie, but still yummy. Makes 6 servings.Chocolate Chip Cookie MuffinsPer Muffin: 251 Cal, 8.8g fat, 27g carbs (3g fiber), 15g protein1/2 c whole wheat flour1/4 c almond meal3 scoops protein powder (I used vanilla)1/2t baking soda1/4c + 2 T splenda brown sugar blend1/2 c applesauce (unsweetened)1/4c egg substitute1t vanilla1/2 c chocolate chipsPreheat the oven to 325F.

InstantBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12443480550824249989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29494856.post-1150146000685513702006-06-12T14:42:00.000-06:002006-06-12T16:00:15.890-06:00

Well, I've already made it through 7 weeks of P90X. That is 49 days of hardcore pull ups, push ups, heavy weight lifting, and crazy jumping around. This week I'm starting my second recovery week, which means I'm almost 2/3 of the way through this program. I'm surprised at how fast it seems to be going. But I'm already itching to do something different: my short attention span is getting to me.

InstantBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12443480550824249989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29494856.post-1150051905441907102006-06-11T12:34:00.000-06:002009-09-22T11:17:31.553-06:00

I adapted this recipe from Carolyn's protein banana bread. The original banana bread has become a staple, but I don't want myself or my DH to get burned out on it, thus, the pumpkin version. Enjoy!!Protein Pumpkin Breadper slice: 168.5 Cals, 2.7g fat (.6g sat), 21.1 g carbs (2.2g fiber), 13.2g protein1/2 c apple sauce1/2 c egg substitute (or 4 egg whites)1 t vanilla1 1/2 c canned pure pumpkin (

InstantBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12443480550824249989noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29494856.post-1149894076164777362006-06-09T16:57:00.000-06:002009-09-22T11:17:43.805-06:00

I'm obsessed with desserts. I'm also obsessed with being healthy. Obviously, the two don't mix well. Here's one attempt:Blondies1/2 c unsweetened applesauce1/2 c splenda brown sugar for baking blend1/4 c egg substitute1t vanilla1/2 whole wheat flour1/4 c almond meal (you can grind your own in a food processor)1 scoop (1/3 cup) vanilla protein powderMix all ingredients until moistened. Spray an

InstantBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12443480550824249989noreply@blogger.com0