Having Evenings Off

Big news: I finally made the decision to join the Y on Sunday!  Okay, it’s not really that big of news, but hey, I’m happy about it! 

I was supposed to be traveling for two weeks this month for work, and that’s what was holding me back from joining right now, but the trip got cancelled yesterday, so now I’m really glad I went for it.  When I was signing up, I found out that they have open gym time in the gymnastics area on the weekends too, so there might even be some tumbling in my future.  Pretty pumped about that!

I set my alarm for 5am Monday morning and headed over there first thing, and it felt great.  I’m absolutely ready for morning gym sessions to be part of my new routine!  I started off with this shoulder + triceps workout and then hopped on the treadmill for a little cardio, where I completed a total of 40 minutes that looked something like this:

• 5 minutes walking at level 4
• 10 minutes running at levels 5.5-7; 2 minutes walking at level 3.5
• 10 minutes running at levels 5.5-7; 3 minutes walking at level 3.5
• 1 minute sprint at level 8; 1 minute walk at level 3.5  (repeat five times)

Once that was done, I did four sets of back extensions, side bends (both on the back extension  machine), and hanging knee lifts.  Let me tell you: it felt so, so good to have all that done before 7am!  It’s difficult to get out of bed but I just remind myself that if I do, I’ll be done with the hardest part of my day before the sun is even up, and that’s motivation enough. 

For breakfast yesterday, I made a quick egg scramble with spinach and green peppers – pretty much my standard breakfast lately.  My stomach was feeling kind of off (I think because I drank a crap ton of cold water followed immediately by a mug of hot tea after my workout), but I also had a banana with breakfast, and I started to feel a little better once I had something in my stomach. 

For lunch yesterday, I packed some roasted butternut squash and asparagus that I made on Sunday night, but I still wasn’t feeling all that great, so I just ended up eating the squash and a few almonds that I’d brought along with me.  Both were nice and bland (yet still yummy), which was perfect for my crummy-feeling stomach.  Thank gosh for back up snacks!

Once the afternoon rolled around, I was feeling a good bit better, so I snacked on a sweet Fuji apple and some crunchy almond butter. 

Remember when I said I was on the fence about almond butter?  Yeah, I don’t know what I was thinking that day.  That stuff is awesome.  Especially the crunchy kind.

After work yesterday, I was still riding the high of already having my workout done for the day, and I couldn’t wait to get home and just… relax.  After a busy (but awesome) weekend followed immediately by a 5am Monday morning workout, I was pretty beat, and the thought of curling up on the couch with my laptop sounded like just what I needed! 

My current Netflix obsession is Prison Break and I seriously cannot get enough.  A coworker basically already told me what happens at the end of the first season, but even knowing, I still can’t pull myself away from it.  It could have just a little something to do with the dreaminess of the main characters, I’m just saying, but it really is a great show. 

For dinner last night, I kept things simple with my go-to meal: chicken with crushed red pepper,  honey, and roasted green beans. 

If you could overdose on green beans, I think I would.  Seriously, I eat these things like candy.  I had them with steak on Sunday evening too… They are just so good!  

After a couple episodes of Prison Break, I continued my relaxing night on the couch with a little bit of The Bachelor action.  I know I claim every single season that this is the last time I’ll ever watch, but what can I say?  That show is a beautiful disaster.  (I’m secretly pulling for Kacie B.)

Questions:

Do you prefer to work out in the morning, afternoon, or at night?

Have you seen Prison Break? What do you think?

Do you watch The Bachelor/Bachelorette?  Who do you like this season?