I’m On A Roll

This week has both dragged on and flown by.  Isn’t it weird how that happens?  I’ve had so much to do – between being busy at work, and trying to get my life back in order at home – and that sort of makes the days seem to stretch on forever.  But then, it’s like I look up, and all of a sudden, it’s Thursday already.  I certainly can’t complain; the weekend is almost here!

I’m definitely feeling a little run down from all of the traveling/working/working out/having fun I’ve been doing lately, and that tiredness reared it’s ugly head when my alarm went off yesterday morning. My bed was feeling particularly comfortable, and I had a battle with myself for a good thirty minutes before the “get out of bed” side won.  Luckily, it ended up being one of those once you get there days at the gym, and I felt like I had a great workout. 

Here’s what it looked like:

1. Warm up: 10 minute walk
2. {12 bent over barbell rows @ 30lbs + 12 Barbell shrugs @ 60lbs} x5
3. Workout – 25 minute cut off: (Took me about 18 minutes with water breaks)
1. Run 3 laps
2. Do this 5 times:
1. 5 Dumbbell swings @ 20lbs
2. 10 Hand-release pushups
3. 15 Air squats
3. Run 3 laps
4. Do this 3 times:
1. 5 Dumbbell swings @ 20lbs
2. 10 Hand-release pushups
3. 15 Air squats
5. Run 3 laps
4. {12 Lateral dumbbell raises @ 10lbs + 12 Bicep dumbbell X’s @ 10lbs} x4
5. {12 bent over front barbell raises @ 20lbs + 12 skull crushers @ 20lbs} x4
6. Core: (4x)
1. 20 Swiss ball crunches
2. 15 Swiss ball back extensions
3. 10 Dumbbell side bends @ 10lbs (each side)
4. 5 Hanging knees to bar
7. Cool down: 10 minute walk

For breakfast, I broke out another thing I haven’t had in quite some time. Two different meals in one week – can you believe it?  I know. I can’t either. 

I made these overnight oats with a package of original Better Oats, some plain Chobani, and a dash of almond milk.  Isn’t that bag of berries just beautiful?  It was made up of strawberries, blueberries, and a kiwi, and it was absolutely delicious atop the oats. 

For lunch, I brought a small salad with lettuce, spinach, carrots, and green peppers, plus my olive oil, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, and Italian spices dressing, and three hard-boiled eggs. I’m reminded how much I don’t really like hard boiled eggs every time I make them, but at least it was something a little different.  (Wait, does that make three different meals this week?!  I’m on a roll.)

For dessert, I had a couple little handfuls of these dark chocolate peanut M&Ms that my coworker gave me.  He is trying out the Paleo diet, so he didn’t want them anymore, and of course I couldn’t just let him throw them out after he offered them to me, right?  I also did some studying at lunch… my test date is coming up quickly!

Last weekend, I went to Trader Joe’s for one thing: their crunchy almond butter.  I even planned on buying several jars to keep me supplied for a while in case I couldn’t get back immediately the next time I ran out.  When I got there, I went directly to the shelf they keep the almond butter on, and much to my delight, it was fully-stocked.  All, that is, except for the middle of the shelf – right where the crunchy variety should be.  On either side, there were countless jars of creamy.  It figures, right?  At least it forces me to use up the four jars of creamy I have open in my fridge right now… 

Last night after work, I got a quick one mile run in on the treadmill and then got to work on dinner.  I’ve been craving pumpkin pancakes all week, but I’ve been disappointed because I haven’t had time in the mornings to make them.  Then I thought: why can they only be eaten in the morning?  So, last night I had them for dinner instead. 

I made a big batch, using a whole can of pumpkin, four eggs, two tablespoons of ground flax + four tablespoons of water, a teaspoon of vanilla, two tablespoons of coconut oil, and a whole bunch of cinnamon.  I added blueberries to the batter as an afterthought, and I’ll tell you: that was a really good move.  On the side, I completed the breakfast-for-dinner meal with bacon and maple syrup.  Seriously, it was perfect. 

And the best part?  Between the maple syrup and all the fresh fruit, it was more than sweet enough to satisfy my hardly-ever-satisfied sweet tooth, and I had no desire to hunt for dessert afterwards.  I’d call that a win-win!

Have a terrific Thursday!