This Week in Fitness

Monday 7/25: 4-mile walk with the puppers (had to get her out of the house while the packers did their thang)

Tuesday 7/26: 4-mile walk with the puppers (see above) + POP Pilates: New Body Makeover (A YouTube 30-minute Pilates workout...It was awesome! I can't wait to try more of Cassey's videos.)

Wednesday 7/27: 4-mile walk

Thursday 7/28: 20 minutes on the stairclimber (at the gym) + 1.5 mile jog + some dumbbell arm exercises

Friday 7/29: None -- driving all day!

Saturday 7/30: None -- driving all day!

Sunday 7/31: None -- spending time with family all day! :)

We're staying in a hotel in Little Rock, Arkansas tonight so I'm just popping in to say hi! Tomorrow we make it to the location of our new HOME (!!) but we don't actually close on the house until August 4th (Thursday). I'm sooooo excited and anxious to get our new lives started! And so ready to be done with driving hours on end every day! Have a great week!

This Week in Fitness/Moving Time!

Monday 7/18: None (traveling all day)

Tuesday 7/19: None (recovering all day...who knew a 3 hour time difference could cause jet lag?!)

Wednesday 7/20: Jillian's Best Moves from Exercise OnDemand...I didn't do all of it. It's a KILLER workout and would take about 2 hours. I did about 1 hour worth of it.

Thursday 7/21: 2-mile jog + 1-mile walk

Friday 7/22: 1-mile jog + 2-mile walk

Saturday 7/23: Xtreme Timesaver Training (Jackie Warner) DVD

Sunday 7/24: None (although I was organizing for packers/movers to come all day so I still got in some movement!)

The move has officially begun!! The packers arrived this morning to start putting our life into boxes. Today and tomorrow are packing days, then on Wednesday they pick everything up. Friday we leave Arizona for good and start making the long trek towards Tennessee!

Time for a new chapter in our Army life!!

This Week in Fitness/Boston Trip

Sorry I'm late this week! I don't know if anyone actually cares about these fitness posts, but I feel accountable for sharing my workouts (or lack there of, as the case may be this week)! The reason for my late post this week is because I was traveling back from a fabulous trip to Boston on Monday!

And things are only going to get crazier from here....the big move officially starts next week! Ahhhh! Bear with me through my potential lack of posting over the next few weeks. I'll try to pop in from time to time!

Monday 7/11: 45 minutes walking on the treadmill at alternating inclines between 5.0-10.0

Tuesday 7/12: 30 Day Shred Level 3 + 15 minutes walking on the treadmill (10 min. @ 8.0, 5 min. @ 2.0)

Wednesday 7/13: 25 minutes of intervals (1 min. run & 1 min. walk) plus a 5 minute warm-up and a 10 minute cool-down (40 minutes total)

Thursday-Monday: Rest Days....On vacation in Boston with my friends! We walked (and danced) a TON though so I still got some good movement in. :)

Just for kicks, here are some of my favorite pics from Boston...

Me at the ocean!

The whole group at Cheers....where everybody knows your name!

Connie, Lori & Me dancing the night away!

We're Army wives....but we support all branches of the miltary!! :)

This random guy photo-bombed this picture of Lindsey and it makes me laugh.

Ice cream!! My vacations always revolve around food! (That's me, Lindsey & Lori)


More dancing/singing. (Lindsey, Kate & Emma)

Walking the streets of Beantown. (Me, Emma & Connie)

This Week in Fitness

Another week in fitness, another week of just-okay workouts. I have obviously been less than motivated lately and my workouts have suffered.

I think my lackluster workout regime is a result of:

A) The ridiculous heat. It's like pulling teeth to get me to go run outside these days. Most of my runs are done on the treadmill, or more appropriately the "dreadmill". I hate running on a treadmill BUT at least it can be done in an air conditioned room with a fan blasting. Ah well...I'll get back on my running routine when the Fall arrives. :)

B) The house purchase/the impending move. My mind has obviously been elsewhere lately and I'm okay with that! It's an exciting time for us and there is a lot to get done before and after the move. We're less than 3 weeks away from moving so there are a lot of appointments to set up, calls to make, moving prep to do, etc.

Anyway, after making excuses, now I'll let you look at my workouts for the week. I'm still proud of the fact that I fit in what I did!

Monday 7/4: 2-mile jog

Tuesday 7/5: Jackie Warner's X-treme Timesaver Training DVD

Wednesday 7/6: Rest

Thursday 7/7: Jogged 3 miles + some tricep dips & pushups

Friday 7/8: Sexy & Strong (from Exercise OnDemand) + Butt Bible Lower 1** (from Exercise OnDemand) + 10-minute jog

**Yes, I do realize that "Butt Bible" is quite possibly the most annoying name for a workout video ever. And the host is also extremely annoying. However, I felt the burn in my buns...so I guess there's that.

Saturday 7/9: 2-mile jog

Sunday 7/10: Jackie's Power Circuit Training DVD

How was your week in fitness? Do you notice your workout motivation slipping during certain times of the year or around big events?

We need to all keep this in mind sometimes:
So true!

This Week in Fitness

Monday 6/27: Rest

Tuesday 6/28: Jackie's Power Circuit Training DVD

Wednesday 6/29: The 100 Workout (more details below)

Thursday 6/30: 45 minute power walk on the treamill with alternating incline (between 4.0-6.0)

Friday 7/1: Jillian Michaels' No More Trouble Zones DVD

Saturday 7/2: Rest

Sunday 7/3: Rest


On Wednesday I tried a new workout that I found...
I totally underestimated this workout! I wasn't all that intimidated by it, but it definitely had me sweating and burning like a beast!

My thoughts on it...

-I added a 1-minute warm-up by lightly jogging in place before I began.

-The jumping jacks were easy for me. I was breathing heavier by the end but nothing impossible.

- The crunches were HARD...especially the first set of 90. I had to take mini-breaks after every 20-25 or so because my abs suck. For the second set of crunches I changed it to Bicycle Crunches because I wanted to work a different part of my ab muscles.

-The squats were tough and my legs were feeling the burn. I took a couple min-breaks in this round too.

-I wasn't sure what it meant by "Leg Lifts" since there are many different variations, so I just took it to mean lying side leg lifts. (Where you lay on one side, resting on your elbow, and raise the top leg straight up and down) I did 35 on each side for the first round of leg lifts and then 15 on each side for the second round. They weren't too bad but I did feel the burn in my outer thighs for sure!

-The 10 minute run at the end might have been the hardest part because I was already sweaty and my legs were fatigued. I felt like I was having to drag my legs along just to get them to move! But by the end it wasn't so bad.

-I added a 5 minute cooldown walk at the end.

-I wish this workout incorporated some arm exercises. I think that's the one are it's lacking, but I could always add some in next time.

Overall though, a great workout that I would definitely do again! Let me know if you try it!

This Week in Fitness

Monday 6/6: Rest Day

Tuesday 6/7: 3 hour hike in the Sedona Red Rocks (AMAZING!! See photos below)

Wednesday 6/8: Rest/Travel Day (end of vacation...sad face)

Thursday 6/9: Jackie's X-Treme Timesaver Training + 5-4-3-2-1 Treadmill Workout (5 minute warmup walk--5 min jog/run--2 min walk--4 min jog/run--2 min walk--3 min jog/run--2 min walk--2 min jog/run--2 min walk--1 min jog/run--3 min cooldown walk)

Friday 6/10: 1 mile jog + 4 mile walk

Saturday 6/11: 20 Minute Sweat + Jackie's 1-on-1 Core (both from Exercise OnDemand)

Sunday 6/12: Treadmill Workout that went like this: 5 minute warm-up walk, 8 minute jog, 4 minute walk, 6 minute jog, 3 minute walk, 4 minute jog, 2 minute walk, 2 minute jog, 5 minute cool-down walk

I'm feeling a bit down about my fitness this week because it appears as though my running endurance has suffered a LOT from my 2 week hiatus. Between the sickness and the vacation, I just kind of let things slide for a while and it is totally coming back to bite me.

On Friday, as you can see, I attempted a jog but was seriously suffering after 1 mile. ONE MILE! Are you kidding me?! So I stopped and walked it out the rest of the way, getting angrier with every step.

Needless to say, 10K training has been put on the back burner until I can get my endurance up to 5K standards again. I'm hoping it'll come back quickly, because I feel like I worked way too hard to get to this point for it to all disappear after only 2 weeks.

On a totally different note, my favorite part of this week was definitely the amazing hike we took in Sedona, AZ. Sedona is known for having beautiful red rock formations and mild weather. It is seriously God's Country and there are breathtaking views everywhere you look. We had the BEST time and would definitely recommend Sedona as a vacation spot to anyone. It will be well worth it!

Here are some photos of our hike for your viewing pleasure!

This Week in Fitness

Sorry this is so late this week! We spent the past week in Tucson and Sedona vacationing with family and friends. It was so so so much fun, but I definitely didn't keep up with working out and eating right as much as I normally do. I was really ready to get back home so I could finally get back on my healthy eating and working out routine!

Monday 5/30: Personal Training with Jackie: Power Circuit Training

Tuesday 5/31: Walked 2.4 miles (attempted to run but was still too sick/congested, so I just walked)

Wednesday 6/1: Rest Day

Thursday 6/2: Rest Day (beginning of vacation)

Friday 6/3: Interval Treadmill Workout in the hotel gym that went like this: 5 minute warm-up walk--jog 10 minutes--walk 5 minutes--jog 8 minutes--walk 4 minutes--jog 6 minutes--walk 3 minutes--jog 4 minutes--walk 2 minutes--jog 2 minutes--walk 5 minutes (cool down)

Saturday 6/4: Bootcamp Class at the hotel -- I loved that our hotel offered this class! It was an outdoor class that involved lots of pushups, lunges, squats, and jogging from place to place. It was a great change of pace from my normal routine and the next day my arms were SO SORE.

Sunday 6/5: Rest Day (unless you consider laying by the pool to be a workout)

This Week in Fitness

First, let me say that this week was a little weird because A) I am still recovering from my injury, B) I came down with a cold halfway through the week, and C) Alex's parents and sister came in town on Thursday to visit us for the long weekend. All things considered, I'm happy with my overall accomplishments this week though! It could have been a lot worse. :)

Monday 5/23: 4-Week Fat Blaster Workout (Weeks 1 & 2, Monday) including the cardio interval workout

Tuesday 5/24: Jackie Warner X-treme Timesaver Training (see review below)

Wednesday 5/25: 5.6 mile run/walk. (It went something like this: run 1.5 miles, walk .5 mile, run 1 mile, walk .5 mile, run 1 mile, walk the rest of the way home (about a mile). I really tried to take it easy and stop running as soon as I felt my ankle/foot start hurting. I was also dealing with feeling like I was coming down with a cold, so that was another reason not to push it too hard.)

Thursday 5/26: Sick/Rest Day

Friday 5/27: 4 mile run/walk with my sis-in-law (Hi, Andrea!!) who was visiting (I was sick with a cold and she was adjusting to the high altitude so we just took it easy. We ran the first mile, walked half a mile, ran half a mile, and then walked the rest.)

Saturday 5/28: Sick/Rest Day

Sunday 5/29: Sick/Rest Day

Fitness DVD Review of the Week: Personal Training with Jackie: X-treme Timesaver Training

So I ordered a couple of new workout DVD's from Amazon last week. One of them was the Jackie Warner Power Circuit Training DVD, which I had done via Exercise OnDemand a couple of times and LOVED. Unfortunately, it's no longer available on EOD so I broke down and ordered it because I like it so much. For only $7.99, I figured it was worth it!

I also ended up impulse purchasing another one of Jackie's DVDs, X-treme Timesaver Training. I had never tried this one before, but since I loved Jackie's other DVD so much I was hoping for the best.

X-treme Timesaver Training is only 30 minutes, as opposed to the almost hour-long Power Circuit Training. Jackie has you do compound movements that combine many different muscles for 1 minute each.

It. Was. Tough.

This DVD is definitely not for beginners! I was using 3-pound dumbbells the whole time (for reference, I usually use 5-8 lbs on most DVDs) and still dying. Plus, a lot of the moves are extra challenging since they combine several different things at once. It requires a lot of balance and concentration!

I liked that there were no repeat circuits of moves during this workout. A lot of times I get really discouraged when I'm doing a move that I hate and I know I'm going to have to do another round of it again before I'm done. This workout solves that problem by just having you push your hardest through one solid minute of each move, and then you move on!

That being said, some of the moves do incorporate the same things but in different ways. For example, this workout has a TON of lunges but she incorporates the lunges into different compound movements and combinations. It burrrrrrned! But if it gets me a killer butt, then it's worth it! :)

Overall, I really like this DVD and would recommend to anyone at around an intermediate to advanced fitness level as a great strength training workout!

This Week in Fitness

Monday 5/16: Ran 5 miles

Tuesday 5/17: Walked 3.3 miles (took about an hour) + 21 Day Total Body Makeover Workout (I went through all the exercises only one time)

Wednesday 5/18: Ran 3 miles + Leg Slimmer and Toner (from Exercise OnDemand) + Total Body Pilates (from Exercise OnDemand)

Thursday 5/19: Less is More Cardio (from Exercise OnDemand) + Bikini Body Workout (from Exercise OnDemand)

Friday 5/20: Walked 3.5 miles (in 55 minutes) + 30 Day Shred Level 2

Saturday 5/21: Rest Day

Sunday 5/22: Ran 3 miles

I officially started training for a 10K last week, but forgot to mention it. I created a training plan through Smart Coach. It was super easy to do and very customizable based on your level/goals/etc. You input things like your current race time, goal race distance, race date, and so on and it automatically comes up with a plan for you.

I don't actually have a 10K planned, so I arbitrarily set my training end date for June 26th because I felt like that was enough time. I searched around for 10K's in my area and there are NONE in June/July so it seems I'm out of luck for now. But the self-satisfaction of being able to get out there and run a 10K should be enough for now. :)

Here's a look at my training schedule (sorry it's small print):

Unfortunately, my training plan has already had a bit of a setback due to an injury that flared up this week. After seeing a doctor and doing some research on my own, it appears I'm dealing with Posterior Tibial Tendonitis in my right foot/ankle. It's a tendonitis that flares up whenever I go for runs now and the cause is usually some sort of overpronation (or running on the insides of your feet instead of the middle).

I obviously don't want to stop running completely right now, so I'm trying to treat it as best I can while still staying as close as possible to my training plan. A couple things I'm doing to help treat it are:

-Icing the area a few times a day

-Not pushing myself too hard if it starts to hurt. On the day I ran 5 miles, I actually had to stop and walk for about 3 minutes in the middle because my ankle was flaring up pretty badly.

-Getting professionally fitted for running shoes. I was wearing a minimalist style shoe (Nike Free Runs) and I had a feeling that lack of support could be contributing to my pain. So this weekend I went to Tucson and got fitted for running shoes. The employee suspects I am dealing with several issues that are causing the pain (overpronation, flat feet/fallen arches, one foot a size larger than the other, one leg longer than the other, inverted knees, etc.). It was a little discouraging to to hear all those factors that are working against me, but I'm hoping that by taking the appropriate measures I can still keep up with running. Anyway, I ended up purchasing a pair of Brooks Ravenna 2's and the employee also suggested using orthotic inserts for extra support. I was a little shell-shocked at the price of the shoes + inserts, so I just went with the shoes for now. I may go back and purchase the inserts later if I feel like I need them. I went for my first 3 mile run yesterday with the new shoes, and they felt good BUT the tendonitis still flared up. :(

So that's what I'm up against right now. It's a big bummer for me because I felt like I was finally hitting my running stride, so to speak. We'll see how things unfold over the next couple of weeks.

Have you ever dealt with a fitness-related injury before? I'd love to hear any tips for how you recovered!

This Week in Fitness

Monday 5/9: Ran 4.25 miles

Tuesday 5/10: 45 minutes on elliptical + 10 minute jog + a few weight moves

Wednesday 5/11: Bikini Ready + 20 Minute Sweat (both from Exercise OnDemand) + 20 minute incline walk on treadmill (alternating inclines)

Thursday 5/12: Ran 3 miles

Friday 5/13: Rest Day

Saturday 5/14: Ran in a 5K (!!! - finished in 28:57, so slightly better than my first 5K) + 15 minutes on Stairclimber + 20 minutes on elliptical + a few weight moves (I don't know what got into me this day....I guess I was super motivated!)

Sunday 5/15: Drop 10 Tabbatta Interval Workout + about 3 minutes each of jump rope and jumping jacks at the end

Tune of the Week:
On the Floor by Jennifer Lopez feat. Pitbull

This Week in Fitness

I accidentally posted this on Friday so if you've already seen part of this, I apologize for repeating. I quickly deleted the post after I realized what I did, but I think it may still have shown up on Google Reader.

Monday 5/2: Jogged 4 miles + 60 minute Yoga to the People Podcast

Tuesday 5/3: Banish Fat Boost Metabolism (from Exercise OnDemand -- it's a killer high intensity cardio workout!) + Tone It Up's Lean Arms Pyramid

Wednesday 5/4: 2 hour hike with some friends

Thursday 5/5: Jogged 3 miles

Friday 5/6: 10 lb Slimdown Lower + 20 Min. Fat Burn (both are from Exercise OnDemand) + 40 minute walk with the pup

Saturday 5/7: Jogged 3 miles

Sunday 5/8: I went to the gym with my husband, but I wasn't feeling motivated so I really just messed around while he worked out. I shot some hoops, did some box jumps, a couple of weight moves and that's about it.

I don't have time for a favorite fitness tune or tip of the week, because I've got to get ready to head to Tucson today! We're going out for my early birthday dinner at The Melting Pot! I've never been to a Melting Pot before so I'm SUPER excited!!

How was your week of fitness? Did you try anything new?

This Week in Fitness

Monday 4/25: Self Drop 10 Tabatta Interval Workout (Loved this workout!!) + 20 minute walk

Tuesday 4/26: 45-minute walk -- I was supposed to run today, but I hurt/bruised my knee pretty badly on Monday night by falling out of bed (I know, I know) so I didn't want to push it too hard.

Wednesday 4/27: Self Drop 10 Tabatta Interval Workout

Thursday 4/28: 28-minute jog (about 2.8 miles) -- I'm happy to report that my knee didn't hurt during the run! I just felt some tugging but nothing I can't live with.

Friday 4/29: Rest Day -- I stayed up all night watching the Royal Wedding so I was in no condition to work out!

Saturday 4/30: 5K!!!! + 30 minute walk -- Recap below.

Sunday 5/1: Cleaned the house -- You better believe I'm counting this as exercise! I was breaking a serious sweat by scrubbing toilets, bathtubs, sinks, etc.

FIRST 5K RECAP:

As I mentioned above, I ran in my first 5K race ever on Saturday. I can't even really put into words what this means to me. Just 3 short months ago, I was struggling to run for 5 minutes at a time; now I can run up to 4 miles at a time without much trouble.

I've always hated running and felt an extreme amount of jealousy for the people I knew who could go pound out mile after mile and actually enjoy it. I always wanted to be one of those people, but I don't think I actually ever believed it would happen.

But back in February, after moving to Arizona and adjusting to a stay-at-home wife lifestyle, I started the Couch to 5K program (mostly out of boredom). It was tough, but I stuck to it and completed it.

My friend Kelli and I (both new runners) signed up for our first 5K on April 30th. The morning of the 30th arrived and I actually somehow didn't set my alarm correctly so I awoke in a panic with only 15 minutes to get ready and get out the door. That wasn't exactly the calm pre-race morning I had planned.

I barely made it in time to pick up my race number, get stretched out and take a picture with Kelli before we had to head to the start line.

Pre-Race Photo (me on the left, Kelli on the right)

Kelli and I were both feeling extremely jittery and nervous at this point, as you can clearly tell by the following photo.

Pre-Race Jitters

The start gun went off and we were on our way!

Here we go!

Basically the whole first 2 miles of the race were steadily uphill. That was an unexpected challenge and at one point when I saw a giant hill ahead of me I thought I might die. But I didn't die and I kept on pushing!

At the 2 mile mark there was a water station and my mouth was EXTREMELY dry (darn you, Arizona dry weather!) so I grabbed a cup of water as I passed. Unfortunately, I guess I haven't mastered the art of drinking water while running because most of it ended up running down my face and shirt instead of going in my mouth.

Luckily, the last mile was flat or slightly downhill so that was a nice change from the first 2 miles. The next thing I know, I came around a bend and I saw the finish line! I had grand plans of sprinting through the finish but I think I was kind of out of it because I didn't end up doing that.

Approaching the finish looking haggard!

Crossing the finish line.

I'm actually not completely sure what my finish time was because there was also a 10K going on at the same time and the finish line clock was displaying the 10K time, not the 5K. I was disappointed with this and really kicking myself for not setting the stopwatch on my iPod so I could have seen my time. However, after doing the math and trying to figure out my rough time we figured out that I probably came in at about the 29 minute mark. I couldn't believe it because that was my fastest pace by far to date! Usually I run my miles at around the 10 minute mark, so this was a big improvement for me.

Apparently they are going to be posting the official results in the next couple of days so I'm anxious to see what that says, but until then I'm going with my estimated finish time!

After we both finished, Kelli and I were definitely feeling a bit of a post-race high. We both felt pretty good (except for some tightness in our chests) and we were thrilled that we accomplished such a great goal!

Post-Race. We did it!!

It was so great having a fellow novice runner and friend to achieve this goal by my side. I feel so lucky to have met Kelli since moving here because we really have so much in common! We both commented that our next goal is to complete a 10K and I think we're well on our way to achieving that goal as well. (And special thanks to her husband, Ian, as well for taking all the photos you see!)

Fitness Tip of the Week: Have faith in yourself and your abilities! It may seem impossible to run a 5K now, but you CAN do it! If I can do it, I promise you that YOU can do it! All it takes is proper training and dedication to accomplish your fitness goals. Look for beginner programs that keep you on a structured, steady increase plan to help you reach your goals (like the Couch to 5K program).

Fitness Tune of the Week: Single Ladies by Beyonce

My husband may have put a ring on it, but I still love this song. The beat is perfect for working out (or shaking your ass...what? who said that?). Oh and let's not forget, the video is one of the best music videos ever made (right, Kanye?). :)

Question of the Week: What's your biggest fitness accomplishment to date? It doesn't matter if it's big or small, own it!

This Week in Fitness

Monday 4/18: Bridal Body Burn + Piloxing (both from Exercise OnDemand)

Tuesday 4/19: Best Body Ever Cardio Countdown on the treadmill + Bootcamp Body Makeover Beginner (Exercise OnDemand)

Wednesday 4/20: Bootcamp Body Makeover Advanced (Exercise OnDemand)

Thursday 4/21: 33 minute jog (~3.3 miles) + 10 Minute Total Body + Abs & Back Workout (both from Exercise OnDemand)

Friday 4/22: The Firm Get Chisel'd DVD

Saturday 4/23: 34 minute jog (~3.4 miles)

Sunday 4/24: Rest Day

Fitness Tip of the Week: Keep it exciting and try new things! I obviously practice what I preach when it comes to this because I am so easily bored. I constantly try new workouts that I find online or on Exercise OnDemand. Besides just battling boredom or fitness burnout, this also keeps you from hitting a fitness plateau because you're always challenging your body in new and different ways.

Fitness Tune of the Week: Ain't Goin Down by Garth Brooks

I don't usually put many country songs on my workout playlist, but this song came on during my last run right when I was starting to feel major fatigue and it totally rejuvenated me! It has a quick beat that really got me pumpin' my legs a little faster.

How were your workouts this week? Did you try anything new?

YBBC - Day 3

Ahlo govnahs! (I'm a nerd) Time for another Your Best Body Challenge (YBBC) recap post!

Catching up? Check these out: Intro Post - Day 1 Post - Day 2

Per the usual, here's what was on le schedule:

But here's what actually went down my gullet! :)

BREAKFAST

I wasn't in the mood for a savory eggs & ham breakfast so I subbed in:
Whipped banana oatmeal made with 1/2 banana, 1/3 cup almond milk, 1/2 cup water, 1 tsp chia seeds and 1/3 cup rolled oats (though I wished I had used my fave oat bran instead). Topped with a tablespoon of peanut butter and a sprinkle of coconut (can you tell I'm obsessed with sprinkling coconut on top of things?!?)

I didn't end up finishing this (probably ate about 2/3rds) because my tummy was full.


MORNING SNACK

Skipped because I wasn't hungry (I am basically never hungry between breakfast and lunch....later in the day is a different story)!


LUNCH
Stuck with the plan on this one. Bean & cheese burrito made with 1/2 cup semi-mashed black beans, sprinkle of shredded cheese, salsa, cilantro, & baby spinach all wrapped up in a La Tortilla Factory tortilla.

Plus half a grapefruit that I was supposed to eat with breakfast.


AFTERNOON SNACK
Una manzana (a.k.a. an apple)

y queso! a.k.a. that disgusting-looking blob which is microwaved string cheese. (I've come to the conclusion that string cheese is 5 bajillion times better when it's melted.)

Annnnnd...
...a Nature Valley Granola Thin. Apparently I was in a very snacky mood this afternoon!


DINNER
We had the veggie burgers last night so I made Sunday's dinner instead: Penne (in our case Rigatoni) with Chicken Marengo

Served alongside some roasted brocc (our fave veggie side dish of all time).
The dish was just okay. It was a little weird because it was sweet and very orangey from the orange juice and zest. If we made it again, we both agreed that we could do without the orange elements. At the last minute I added some baby spinach to the dish as a way to add some more greens to the meal, and we really liked that addition!

Penne with Chicken Marengo
Source: adapted from Women's Health Magazine
Serves: 4 Prep: 10min |Cook: 20min |Total: 30min

8 ounces penne
1/2 cup dry-packed sun-dried tomatoes
1/2 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1/2" cubes
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 tablespoon olive oil
3 cups sliced mushrooms
1/2 cup chicken broth
1 can (15 ounces) crushed tomatoes in puree (we used diced tomatoes instead)
1/2 cup orange juice
1 teaspoon grated orange zest
1 teaspoon brown sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
3 big handfuls of baby spinach

Directions
1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain in a colander and transfer to a warmed serving bowl.

2. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, cover the sun-dried tomatoes with boiling water and soak for 5 minutes. When softened, drain and chop coarsely. Set aside.

3. Toss the chicken with the flour, thyme, and pepper. In a large, heavy skillet, heat the oil over high heat until hot but not smoking. Add the chicken and cook, stirring occasionally, for 2 to 3 minutes, or until golden brown. Add the mushrooms and 2 tablespoons of the broth. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 2 to 3 minutes, or until the mushrooms are barely softened and have begun to release their juices.

4. Add the crushed tomatoes (with puree), orange juice, orange zest, sugar, salt, the sun-dried tomatoes, and the remaining broth. Bring to a boil, scraping the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon to release the browned bits. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for 8 minutes, or until the sauce is thickened and the flavors are blended. In the last 2 minutes of cooking toss in the baby spinach and cook until wilted slightly.

5. Pour the mixture over the pasta and toss to coat well.

Nutritional Facts per serving
CALORIES 389.9 CAL
FAT 5.8 G
SATURATED FAT 1 G
CHOLESTEROL 32.9 MG
SODIUM 513.8 MG
CARBOHYDRATES 61.6 G
TOTAL SUGARS 9.5 G
DIETARY FIBER 5.4 G
PROTEIN 25.7 G


DESSERT

I ate a small handful of Junior Mints (the last of the box...sad face).


FITNESS

I did the Best Workout for a Pear-Shaped Body again, only this time I did it "circuit style" by completing all the exercises back to back with no rest between. I did the circuit 3 times.

I finished up my workout with a quick and easy 10 minutes jogging on the treadmill.


That's all she wrote for today, folks! Have a lovely night!

Your Best Body Challenge - Day 2

On to Day 2 of the challenge! If you're catching up, here are the links to the previous posts: Intro Post, Day 1 Post

Here is what was on the plan for today:

And here's how things actually went down!

BREAKFAST
2 slices of whole wheat toast (50 calories each) topped with 2 Tbsp peanut butter, 1 banana (sliced), 1 tsp chia seeds & a sprinkle of coconut. Plus coffee!

I deviated from the plan by having two pieces of toast and adding the chia seeds/coconut but I'm okay with it.


MORNING SNACK

Skipped because I wasn't hungry (and I don't like raisins anyway).


LUNCH
Turkey Taco Salad

The plan called for leftover spicy chicken pasta from last night, but my husband took the leftovers for his lunch, so I was left to improvise. I made the turkey taco salad with (leftover from Sunday's dinner) turkey taco meat & black beans, salsa, a dollop of greek yogurt and about 4 tortilla chips crumbled.


AFTERNOON SNACK
Strawberry greek yogurt


DINNER
Homemade falafel burger on a whole wheat bun with sweet potato fries.

The plan called for us to have Miso Salmon for dinner tonight but we're not big salmon fans in this family so I subbed tomorrow night's dinner instead. The dinner said a "veggie burger" which I assume meant a frozen pre-made veggie burger, but I decided to take it a step further and make my own homemade meatless burger.

I used a falafel burger recipe from one of my favorite blogs, Can You Stay For Dinner?. She has one of the best food blogs EVER, an amazing weight loss story and a killer personality...check her out if you haven't already!

Anyway, these falafel burgers didn't disappoint! They were delish...even my meat-loving husband agreed.
Falafel Burgers
Source: Can You Stay For Dinner?
Yield: 4 Burgers

Ingredients

For the burgers:
2 can garbanzo beans (chickpeas), drained and rinsed
1 small red onion, chopped
2 clove garlic, grated or finely chopped
1 large handful parsley, chopped (I used cilantro instead)
4 tablespoons flour
1 tablespoon cumin
1 tablespoon coriander
1 tablespoon chili powder (we were out so I used smoked paprika)
1 ½ teaspoons turmeric
Salt and pepper, to taste
¼ cup vegetable oil

For the Tahini Sauce:
½ cup tahini paste
3 tablespoons water
Zest and juice of 2 lemons

Preparation
Step 1
Combine the chickpeas, onion, garlic, parsley, flour, spices, and salt in a food processor, and pulse until the mixture is well combined. Form the mixture into 4 large patties.
Step 2
Heat the oil in a large, nonstick skillet set over medium-high heat. Cook burgers for about 3 minutes per side.
Step 3
Make the tahini sauce: Whisk the tahini paste with the water, lemon juice and zest, salt, and freshly ground black pepper in a mixing bowl.
Step 4
Serve the burgers in pita pockets or on a bun. Top them with tahini sauce, lettuce, and tomato.




DESSERT

I haven't gotten the urge for a sweet yet, but if I do I'm planning on grabbing a small handful of Junior Mints for dessert (my favorite candy ever)!


FITNESS

The plan didn't call for any exercise today but I did a 3.35 mile jog/walk. It was supposed to be strictly a jog but I had to stop about 2.25 miles in because my legs are so sore from yesterday's workout and they just weren't wanting to keep going. So I walked the rest and called it a day.


CONCLUSION

I feel a little guilty that I strayed from the plan so much today, but I think I still managed to make good swaps and healthy decisions. You gotta do what you gotta do!

P.S. This whole blogging everything you eat throughout the day thing is EXHAUSTING and takes me forever! I'm so glad I'm only doing this for one week! I have no idea how the healthy living bloggers do it with 3 posts a day, everyday.

Your Best Body Challenge - Day 1

So today was day numero uno of the Best Body Challenge Week! I'd say it was a good first day, although I did find myself with a few obstacles and making a few minor tweaks to the plan to keep me happy. :)

Here is what the plan called for:

And here is how things actually went down:

BREAKFAST

2 scrambled eggs + 1 egg white + whole wheat toast (I can't eat eggs without toast) + coffee

plus half a grapefruit


MORNING SNACK

I skipped snack #1 because I wasn't hungry between breakfast and lunch.


LUNCH
Turkey wrap made with 4 slices of deli-style turkey, a sprinkle of shredded mozarella cheese, dijon mustard & some spring greens all rolled up in a whole wheat tortilla.

On the side I had a sliced apple and a tablespoon of peanut butter (which I justified was okay since I skipped the morning snack).


AFTERNOON SNACK

Sargento Light String Cheese. After I finished the snack I was still hungry and knew I wouldn't make it til dinner without a little more, so I actually ate a 2nd string cheese. This particular brand is only 50 calories per piece so my snack was still only 100 calories.


DINNER

Spicy Chicken Pasta + a side salad with homemade balsamic vinaigrette


I adapted the recipe a bit to increase a lot of the amounts so we would have enough to satisfy my husband's hungry tummy. I also added a few things that I thought would make the flavor better (chili powder in marinara sauce just didn't appeal to me).

Spicy Chicken Pasta
adapted from Women's Health Magazine

serves 3-4

6.5 oz thin spaghetti or angel hair pasta (about half a box)
1 tsp olive oil
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
1 tsp minced garlic
1/2 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized chunks (about 2 breasts)
1 tsp flour
2 Tbsp water
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
1/2 tsp cayenne
1/2 tsp smoked paprika
1/2 tsp Italian seasoning
1.5 cups spaghetti sauce
salt & pepper to taste
1 Tbsp fresh basil, chopped

Cook the pasta according to the package directions; drain.

As pasta is cooking, heat the olive oil in a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the onion and garlic until the onion starts to get tender.

Add the chicken, red pepper flakes, cayenne, paprika & Italian seasoning to the pan. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the chicken is almost completely cooked through.

Mix the flour and the water in a small bowl. Pour the spaghetti sauce and flour mixture into the skillet. Add a little water to the pan if you need to thin out the sauce. Simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes.

Turn off the heat. Pour the cooked pasta into the pan with the sauce and mix well. Add salt & pepper to taste and sprinkle fresh basil on top.


DESSERT

Okay so according to the plan there is no dessert option for tonight, but I have to at least have something sweet at night so I am planning on eating one small square of Lindt Dark Chocolate (unpictured because I haven't eaten it yet).


FITNESS

I did two back-to-back sets of all the strength training exercises in the "best workout for a pear-shaped body".

Then I followed it up with the "Smart Cardio Intervals":
I did my "maximum effort" intervals at 7.0mph on the treadmill and my "recover" intervals walking at 3.6mph. The whole thing took about 30 minutes and I think I burned around 300 calories. I was a schweaty mess when it was all over!


CONCLUSION

I think I did pretty darn good today! Other than the time in the afternoon when I was hungry, I felt satiated most of the day.

I'm already thinking though that this won't last more than a week because I didn't really like being confined to a set plan. I tend to just go with my cravings, so it's hard when I want something but "can't" have it. For example, for breakfast I really wanted my usual peanut butter & banana oatmeal, but the plan called for eggs. I decided to stick to the plan as closely as possible for just a week as an experiment of sorts, but I don't see myself continuing with it after the week is up.

We shall see!