New Loves

So I'm having one of those days where I just need a reminder of all the good things that I have in my life. I've been feeling kind of "off" today and like my cold that rendered me voiceless two weeks ago is coming back, blech. As I was thinking about what to blog about today while simultaneously trying to come up with something for dinner (barbecued chicken and bean salad it was!), I was thinking about how there are many things that I absolutely ADORE now, that I didn't pre-healthy. So here, in completely random (ie: however they pop into my brain) order, are things that I absolutely love right now.

My puppies.... oh wait, I've always loved them

so I suppose that doesn't count :O)

But really, who couldn't use a little more adorable puppy???

And yes, I did buy them Snuggies for Christmas :O)

1. Protein Powder (This is the brand I'm using right now)

Before, I haaaated protein shakes and would never eat them 

Now... I drink at least one a day, and use the powder in

everything imaginable.

 source

2. Fish- Gotta love Costco's jumbo pack!

Before- I said I hated all seafood

Now- I adore fish and try to eat it 1-2 times a week. I enjoy a 

variety of seafood (that I've tried) except...

Shrimp... bleck!! It's a texture thing

source

3. Trying new recipes- even interesting ones like "sweet potato

pancake with strawberries" (pictured) from Healthy Tipping Point

Before- I stuck to the same old boring recipes out of fear

of trying something new in case it wasn't healthy enough

Now- I love trying new recipes! They are all from amazing

blogs on healthy eating, or from cookbooks I love.

I know so much more about what's good for me now, that I'm

more confident in cooking with those yummy nutritious foods

3. Hiking

Before- I wasn't in good enough shape to go on long hikes,

especially not in the heat.

Now- I do it almost every weekend, and it's a breeze.

In fact, I've decided to take up trail running and will hit up

these same hiking trails this summer for running instead

of walking :O)

4. Water- This is my adorable pink waterbottle that I am never without.

Before- I rarely drank water, preferred beverage of choice

was Diet Pepsi

Now- I drink at least 16- 8 oz. glasses a day and haven't had Diet Pepsi 

in months... in fact I think it tastes yucky now.

5. Bread- I am in loooove with Ezekiel bread these days!

Before- Years of low-carbing it had ingrained in my brain

that bread was the devil and to be avoided at all costs

Now- I eat Ezekiel bread as part of my daily amounts of healthy

whole grains. I also eat cream of wheat, oats, and some crackers.

I'm not scared of bread anymore! Welcome back toast :O) I've missed you!

6. My Protein Shaker (From GNC in case you're wondering)

This thing has become a staple in my life now that I workout at 5:30 a.m.

I would be lost without it, perfect for toting protein shakes anywhere.

The blendy-ball (really scientific name!) makes sure there are no nasty

protein chunks (ew) and it's not a HUGE shaker either which I love.

7. Clif Bars- Especially in the carrot cake flavor... YUM!!

Before- I never would have eaten anything with this many calories in it

Now- I use it for a quick snack when I need something to get me through

between meals. I adore them!

8. Super cute workout clothes (sorry no pics... it's laundry day)

Before- I worked out in baggy men's t-shirts and black cap

Now- I love wearing cute t-shirts and tank tops and more form

fitting things. Plus I've found it helps me move better during a workout.

And great motivation too :O)

9. Exercising- It sounds simple, but it's taken me a long time to enjoy

working out. 

Before- I worked out so I could eat more and because I hated my body

Now- I work out because it keeps me sane, and helps me feel at peace with myself.

Plus, I love doing something that's good for me, and I'm addicted

to the endorphins :O)

10. Vegetables- cauliflower and bell peppers are my faves :O)

Before- I didn't mind veggies, but rarely ate them, usually doused in ranch

Now- My favorite way to eat them is raw, sometimes with hummus. 

I eat at least 4 servings a day and really enjoy it. In fact, when

I don't eat enough, I start to crave them!

11. Running- I NEVER EVER thought I would say that I loved to run.

As a child, I haaaated it and avoided it at all costs. About 3 months, I decided to

give it a shot and I can't get enough of it now. It's my favorite way to do 

cardio.

It makes me feel strong, and confident, like I can do anything if I just keep running.

There are many more things that I love now but my stuffy nose is getting the best of me, and I'm just about relaxed enough to fall asleep. This was the perfect way to end a very busy day. Night bloggies :O)

And breathe...

What a week. It's been one of those exhausting weeks and even having Monday off didn't seem to help. I am so exhausted but in such a need of some good happy things that I had to come back to the bloggy. I purposefully stayed away from posting this week because I didn't really have anything positive to say. I was having what my mom calls a "Thumper Moment." Thumper (from Bambi... remember? :O)) said if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all.... So suffice to say:
Hormones: 1
Christina: 0

But I'm baaaaack, and instead of posting about what I like to eat, I've got pictures to share! Much more exciting than talking about the ridiculously boring informative Paleo diet book I'm reading.

 Fresh pesto from the other day.

I used this amazing recipe.

I had it on Ezekiel toast with two scrambled eggs... yum!

I have also been obsessed with overnight oats!

I didn't think I'd like them but I've ate them every day this week... nuff said.

Ps. This version has cinnamon, fresh strawberries, and almond butter

All mixed up... looks a little bit like baby food, but makes

my insides dance and sing :O)

It was pouring down rain here yesterday so of course that means I need to go shopping! I hit up two of our local natural foods stores in search of a couple things that other bloggers have been raving about.

 All thanks to Heather Eats Almond Butter and her yummy sounding 

recipes with these ingredients!

Check out what these are all about here

I am in love with Chia seeds! They are so yummy!

So far I've put them in overnight oats, can't wait to try more!

I also bought some nutritional yeast, I've heard its amazing.

Haven't tried it but will tell ya when I do :O)

Organic blueberry jam.... wow, my tastebuds personally

thanked me after  feeding this to my mouth.

Yup, it was just that good.

I'm ready for more overnight oat making!

Millet & Flax crackers... seriously, one of my best food finds

EVER! I adore these things so much.

In fact, I may or may not have eaten half the bag of cinnamon

chips in one sitting... I'm just saying

Cocounut spread... I tried a little bite and wasn't impressed

which is a bummer since it was a little spendy.

I'm going to try it on a few different things and see how it fares.

Overall not bad finds at all... I am seriously getting addicted to buying all of these healthy obscure items only found in natural foods stores... I just can't help it, they are so yummy!

Once I did the food shopping then it was time for the shoe shopping. I was out in search of a good pair of running shoes (never bought them before) and found some pretty cute ones that also feel like I'm hugging my feet. Sweet sweet lovin for the tootsie :O)

Oooooooh loook!!!

Too bad it looked like this outside: 

I know it's impossible to see, but it was pouring hard when I was taking this picture.

Crazy weather we're having!

Also sucks because it means no outdoor runs :-(

 The puppers don't care that it's raining, they still want 

to go for a walk... silly dogs!

Happy Thursday!!!

Remembering the Fallen

Happy Memorial Day!

I will say that I am extremely excited to have another day of rest and relaxation. In fact, this will be a short one because as soon as I'm done posting I'll be downing my morning protein shake and headed for the gym. Nothing says relaxation like getting to go into the gym at 9 am instead of 5:30 :O)

Plus, it's the unofficial beginning of SUMMER!!!! I have waited for this, since about mid-September of last year :O) I am a summer girl without a doubt. Barbecues, days by the lake, tanning (with sunscreen), shorts, flip flops, margaritas.... you name it, I love it!

But in the midst of all of my relaxation and fun, I am not forgetting why I have this glorious day off. In the midst of it all, I am remember all of our service men and women who are currently serving, have served in the past, or have fallen while on duty. Their sacrifices and those of their families are the reason that I have the rights and privileges that I do. I am eternally grateful for them and all that they do every day.

I am especially grateful because of the service of both my grandfathers. My dad's father served in the Air Force flying planes for many years, and has glorious war stories to tell. My mom's dad served in the Navy and is such an amazing person. I love both my grandfathers to pieces :O) I also have several friends who have fathers, brothers, friends, and significant others serving or who have served and I am remembering them and all of their sacrifices today. Those who serve are amazing, selfless people and their families definitely fall under that category as well. So thank you, for all that you do, all that you have done, and all that you will do for this wonderful country.

Sunday morning kinda feelin

“Sunday is the golden clasp that binds together the volume of the week” -Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Sundays for me are a day of rest. Its the day I spend the morning with my family in church, worshiping God. Its the day we sit down and eat a meal together. Its the day we spend the afternoon doing miscellaneous things around the house or out and about, together. Since I've returned to church, it has become one of my favorite days of the week, made all the more special because the brother is home from college right now. I am one happy girl :O)

 I love my brother :O)

This afternoon we went on a family hike. It was one of those times that I realized how blessed I am to live where I do. Within 10 miles, there are at least 25 (possibly many many more) trails perfect for walking, trail running, trail biking, and hiking of all intensity levels. It's wonderful :O) Over the past couple months, we've tried out quite a few new ones, and now I'm itching to start trying out some trail running.

Got the bladder ready to go! (my nickname for the

Camelback, since mine's a High Sierra)

Other brother being very silly... sister in

the background.

It was the perfect day for hiking, about 65-70F... warm enough to be enjoyable, not so hot you are dying. The trail wasn't very hilly which was nice, plus it was lined with many pretty flowers and weird bush looking things.

The doggies couldn't wait to get a move on... they've gotten used to hiking without being on a leash (shhhh! Don't tell!) but there were too many people out today so they had to stay leashed the whole time.

I used my new Polar F11 HRM today... It was amazing! I didn't worry about hitting the right zones, I just wanted to see how many calories I burned. I hit 628 calories in 1 hour and 20 min. This is exactly why I bought this! I got an amazing workout in on my rest day! Now I don't have to feel guilty at all when I skip the gym this summer in favor of an outdoor workout.

I also grabbed my pedometer to track mileage and we hit almost 4 miles in that time. It was a nice leisurely hike :O)

This is home :O)

This evening was nice and relaxing too. My padre went and got pizza from Papa Murphy's, he even got a deLite pizza for me and my mommy to help us eat healthier :O) I started off with a turkey burger to fill me up and followed it with 2 slices of pizza. Then I made pesto! I just got a fancy schmancy food processor for Christmas and have hardly used it (it's great for shredding cheese, yum!). The other day when I went shopping, I picked up some fresh basil. I followed this recipe @ Girl Heroes except I cut down on the olive oil and cheese by about half. I probably should have made it exactly like the recipe, but it sounded like a calorie bomb so I eased up a little. I'm going to try it on my Ezekiel toast in the future. 

Not tomorrow though because I made another batch of Overnight Oats! (the first were consumed this morning). I loosely followed this recipe from Oh She Glows except that my recipe went like this:

1/3 cup Oats (I used quick cooking because that's all I have at the moment)

1/2 cup milk (this morning I used 1 cup and they were too watery, so I'm cutting it down for round 2)

1/2 scoop when protein powder

I mixed it up and left it in the fridge. In the morning I'll add 1 packet Truvia, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1 tablespoon Almond Butter and enjoy the creamy sweet deliciousness as a post-workout recovery breakfast. I can't wait to dig into it.

I'm off to continue slugging through Jackie Warner's "This is Why You're Fat" and enjoy the last of my Sunday laziness :O)

Total Body Workout #1

So here's the killer workout that I did this morning. I love it because it is tough, but completely different than standard lifting weights, even in the ways that the trainer had me do it.

Disclaimer: This workout was made for me by my trainer. He is an expert on exercise, I am not. You should always consult your doctor before starting an exercise regimen. Be safe, don't be stupid.

Note: All exercises are performed on a pulley machine. Weight amount really depends on the pulley machine itself, there are 2 different pulley contraptions in my gym and my weight varies on them by about 20 pounds (weird I know). It should be hard to complete 10- 12 reps and your muscles should be screaming by round 2.

Note 2: All exercises are performed using a "tricep rope"

Except for #5 which is done using a metal bar of some sort. I usually use one that looks like this:

Image source

#1. Woodchop to knee- 10 reps each side
*I do it this way, but I also start in a lunge position and bring it down to my knee, that way it works a wider range of ab muscles as well as my arms (especially the triceps). Plus by the end my legs are slightly fatigued. Do 10 reps each side here too.

#2. Reverse Nazi Walks- 10 reps
*Seriously horrible name I know, and don't even get me started on what I found when I tried to see if there was a description on Google.
*To do this exercise, lower the weight to a point where you can hold onto the rope handles with your arms straight above your head. Make sure you are standing in a straight line as this will help work the abs as well as the arms. Take 8-10 steps out, with high knees (like up to your belly button high) and then do the reverse without turning around. Then do it again, that's one set.

Repeat #'s 1-2 in a circuit for a total of 3 sets. Cable cord should be set up as high on the bar as it goes (close to or above your head).

#3. Squatted Row- 12-15 reps
*Same motion but use the rope instead and make sure you stay in a squat position for the entire 12 reps, your quads should be burning as much (if not more) than your back/arm muscles!

#4. Reverse Woodchop- 10-12 reps each side
*Make sure your grip on the rope is the reverse of the other exercises. The grips at the end of the rope should be pointing towards your nose (as opposed to pointing to your toes in #'s 1-2)
*Fling the rope over your shoulder, using your abs and legs for momentum.

Repeat #'s 3-4 in a circuit for a total of 3 sets. Cable cord should be set to low (near your feet).

#5. Front Squat- 20 reps
*Remember: use the metal bar for this one!
*Resistance should be tough enough that your legs and abs are hurting by rep 10
*Save your wrists! Roll bar up onto collarbone area and stick elbows out at a 90 degree angle (words of wisdom directly from the trainer)

#6. Cable Oblique Crunch- 12-15 reps each side
*Keep the motion but extend arms and crunch up to one side of the knee. Aiming for the hand to hit the outside of the opposite knee.
*You're back to the rope on this one, use the switching time to recover!
*Yup this one's a doozy, it will cause you severe pain but also leave you with some seriously smokin abs :O)

Repeat #'s 5-6 in a circuit for a total of 3 sets. Cable cord should be set to low (by your feet).

And if you've got anything left after that...
#7: Full Body Thrusts- 3 sets (set 1: 20 reps, set 2: 15 reps, Set 3: 12 reps)
*I couldn't find an accurate description of this one either, boo to that. Grab a moderate sized weight (I use 10 pounds) and stand shoulder width apart with one weight in each hand. Squat down until the weight almost touches the ground and then rapidly fire the legs to propel you up and thrust your arms over your head (into an overhead press) while simultaneously coming up onto your toes. Do each set as rapidly as possible (to get the heart rate up) and then alternate with your favorite ab exercise... I did:

*30 crunches- bringing knees and head together simultaneously
*Leg scissors (That's my term- I don't remember what the trainer called them... torture maybe?) NOTE: I do mine a little slower and do them as a 4 count per rep. So I count in my head (as my legs move...well hopefully!) 1, 2, 3, and then the rep #... 1. And then 1, 2, 3.... 2. And I went until 15, so you do the math there, I'm too tired :O)
*Reverse Crunch- 20 reps... I do it on the bench and keep my legs fully extended the entire time, no bent knees.



And there you have it. By the end you should be a huge sweaty mess. Once I've survived that, I go grab a super amazing foam roller:

Source

And once I'm done rolling and stretching my muscles, I collapse in a sweaty heap on the gym floor head for home for a shower and a recovery meal. Enjoy :O)