Focused On Work

Posted: May 15, 2013 | Author: | Filed under: cardio, circuits, crossfit, daily, nutrition, paleo, strength, workouts | Tags: , , , , , , , | Leave a comment »

Other than starting my new job (which has been going really well!), not a whole lot of new stuff has been going on around here over the past couple of days.  I’ve been doing the usual eat-sleep-work-workout-repeat routine, and things have been going pretty smoothly, all things considered.  I’m still trying to adjust to my new schedule (I have to be at work a little earlier), and figuring out when the best times to do things are, but I’m sure I’ll get into a groove shortly. 

There are times when I’m more focused on fitness, or on relaxing and enjoying myself, or whatever else the case may be, but right now, I’ve definitely been focused on work the most.  (Nerd Alert: I even ordered this book to brush up on my Excel skills.)  Honestly, I’m liking that fact a lot, and I’m really enjoying learning about my new role and all that I’ll be doing.  I think that this change is exactly what I needed!

There have been a couple new things around here lately, in food form, of course:

I tried jicama for the first time… but I didn’t like it.  Jicama is a type of Mexican yam/turnip that I’ve heard a lot about, so I used my julienne peeler to shred it up in an attempt to make jicama hash browns. 

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I cooked it in a pan with black pepper, but apparently that wasn’t the right choice because it was definitely not very good.  (That’s me sugar coating things.)  I know some of my cookbooks have jicama recipes in them though, so next time I’ll go for more of a structured approach, and hopefully it will taste a lot better. 

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I also tried yams for the first time (I’m behind the curve, I know), with much more positive results.  I cubed up a yam and baked them in the oven, and even reheated in the microwave, I thought they were very good.  (You know something’s good when it’s tolerable right out of the microwave.) 

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Next time, I’m going to cook them just as I need them so that I don’t have to reheat them… I bet they’ll be even better! 

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I’ve also done a couple of fun new workouts this week, just in case anyone’s following along!

Monday:

  1. Warm-up: 5-10 minute walk on treadmill
  2. Back squats:
    1. 15 @ 45#
    2. 12 @ 95#
    3. 10 @ 135#
    4. 8 @ 175#
    5. 5×5 185#
  3. Workout (21-15-9):
    1. Shoulder presses @ 35#
    2. Box jumps
  4. 50 HR push-ups
  5. 100 crunches
  6. Cable circuit (4x @ 35#):
    1. 12 Curls
    2. 12 Upright rows
    3. 12 Push downs
    4. 12 High rows
    5. 12 Hanging knee lifts
  7. Core circuit (4x):
    1. 20 Swiss ball crunches
    2. 15 Back extensions
    3. 10 OH side bends (each side)
    4. 5 Hanging knee lifts
  8. Cool down: 5-10 minute walk

Tuesday:

  1. Warm-up: 5-10 minute walk on treadmill
  2. Strength: Push presses and Back squats
    1. 15 @ 35lbs
    2. 12 @ 55lbs
    3. 9 @ 65lbs
    4. {5 @ 75lbs} x5
  3. Workout (Repeat 5x, running one less lap each time):
    1. Run 5 laps
    2. 10 snatches
    3. 10 Bent over rows
    4. 10 crunches
  4. 100 Box jumps
  5. Cool-down: 10 minute walk

And now, I would like to leave you with this awesome picture I found on Instagram:

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I knew I was onto something with my love of near-death bananas!

Questions:

What are you focused on right now? Work… Family… Fitness… Food… Fun?

What’s new in your life right now?

How do you like your bananas?

Newburgh Waterfront

Posted: April 23, 2013 | Author: | Filed under: cardio, circuits, crossfit, daily, fitness, paleo, strength, traveling, workouts | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment »

Yesterday started off with what would end up being my last hotel workout of the trip… yaaaaahoo!  This hotel gym is very nice and it’s been great that I’ve mostly been able to stick to my normal workout schedule while I was here, but I’m more than ready to get back to my real gym at home!

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(Cute, right? The sweaty, 5am bedhead look is entirely in right now.)

I’ve been getting frustrated with the dumbbells here (I find random bruises all over myself from where they awkwardly hit me), but I actually really liked yesterday’s workout.  It was different, and that kept it interesting and fun.  Here’s what it looked like:

  1. Warm-up: 10 minute walk on treadmill
  2. Dumbbell push presses:
    1. 15 @ 40lbs
    2. 10 @ 50lbs
    3. {8 @ 60lbs + 8 Handstand shrugs} x3
    4. {8 @ 50lbs + 8 Handstand shrugs} x3
  3. Workout (8x):
    1. 5 Right hand dumbbell snatch @ 25lbs
    2. 5 Left hand dumbbell snatch @ 25lbs25 Jump ropes
    3. 5 Right hand dumbbell clean @ 25lbs
    4. 5 Left hand dumbbell clean @ 25lbs
    5. 25 Jump ropes
  4. 100 Air squats
  5. {12 Bent over rows @ 15lbs each + 12 RDLs @ 25lbs each} x4
  6. {10 Kneeling rows (each arm @ 15lbs each + 12 Squats @ 30lbs each} x4
  7. Core (4x):
    1. 15 Dumbbell swings @ 15lbs
    2. 20 Weighted side bends @ 15lbs
    3. 15 Weighted bridges @ 15lbs
    4. 20 Crunches
  8. Cool down: 10 minute walk

I seemed to have lost my picture from breakfast yesterday, and I can’t even remember what I had at this point… so I’ll just skip it. 

Food for the rest of the day consisted of baby carrots, chicken with peppers, snow peas, and spices, a poor little pear that got brutally mutilated in my lunchbox, cantaloupe and TJ’s trail mix, and a banana. 

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But after work is where things got a little more fancy… 

The town I’m staying in this week has a beautiful waterfront along the Hudson River, and last night, my coworkers and I headed down there for dinner.  The cherry blossom trees (I think?) were in full bloom, and even though it was chilly, it was still a beautiful sight.  There are all kinds of restaurants along the water, and it’s a great place to walk around and take in a little fresh air.  One time when I was here in the past, I saw the absolute biggest yacht I have ever seen in real life docked here.  Seriously, it was like a mini cruise ship!

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For dinner, I started with the garden salad with balsamic dressing.  (I resisted all the bread and it felt so good!)

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And for my entrée, I went with the filet mignon (which was cooked perfectly and absolutely delicious) and a double portion of the steamed veggies (carrots, zucchini, yellow squash, and cauliflower). 

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I nixed the potatoes/rice in favor of double vegetables, and in addition to skipping the bread, it was definitely a good choice.  I left feeling full, satisfied, and most importantly, stomach-ache free, and I couldn’t have been more pleased with myself.  Normally, I would’ve said ‘oh, a piece of bread or two on this special occasion won’t hurt,’ but then I’d end up sitting at home with a stomach ache later.  Since making the decision to not do that anymore, it was surprisingly easy to pass on it!

With my last night behind me, I am very excited to be heading home tonight… Sleeping in my own bed, cooking in my own kitchen, and working out in my own gym is going to be absolutely glorious after ten days away!

See you from NH! Smile

Going Gluten Free…

Posted: April 22, 2013 | Author: | Filed under: cardio, circuits, crossfit, daily, fitness, paleo, strength, traveling, workouts | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

Sometimes my workouts go really easy for me and I feel strong and powerful and energetic… and sometimes they don’t. 

Yesterday was one of those days that didn’t go so well.  I usually take Sundays off, so maybe my body somehow knew that it was the day of rest and decided to be stubborn.  Or maybe it was because I’ve had a more-strenuous-than-normal week and had already gotten five good workouts in and I was just tired.  Or maybe it was because I hadn’t eaten anything besides a banana, a few grapes, and a couple ginger snaps in about 17 hours.  (I wasn’t really hungry for dinner after my late lunch, and I rarely eat before morning workouts.  But I got to sleep in a little bit yesterday, so my workout was later than normal, stretching that time out even farther.) 

Whatever it was, things didn’t go great yesterday.  But I still got out of bed, to the gym, and moved around a little bit… and that’s what counts for me. 

Here’s what my workout ended up looking like:

  1. Warm-up: 10 minute walk on treadmill
  2. Squat and twist – low to high (each side):
    1. 15 @ 15lbs
    2. 12 @ 20lbs
  3. Workout (21-15-9-3 each):
    1. Sumo deadlifts @ 45lbs
    2. Burpees
    3. Upright rows @ 20lbs each
  4. {10 Dumbbell snatches (each arm) @ 20lbs each} x5
  5. {12 Reverse flies @ 10lbs each + 10 Lying rows (each arm) @ 10lbs each} x4
  6. 100 crunches
  7. Cool-down: 10 minute walk

After that, I showered up and had breakfast before I headed off to work.  I made a three-egg scramble with tomatoes and spinach, plus bacon on the side, and it was a nice change from my usual green pepper and spinach scramble.  I used to like my eggs very dry, but the tomatoes don’t allow for that and yet I still like it, so maybe I’m coming around. 

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I snacked on some slightly off-looking carrots a little later.  I find it weird when carrots get a little bit white like this, but they still seem to taste fine, so I guess it’s no big deal…?

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For lunch, I brought a batch of chicken, red peppers, and snow peas made with chili powder and cumin.  I made two helpings of this meal and just seasoned them differently, so it really will be like having two different meals, even though the base ingredients are the same. 

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For a snack in the afternoon, I had some purple grapes and cashews.  I never used to like nuts of any kind, but cashews have since become one of my favorite snacks.  I think I’ll have to branch out and try a new type of nuts soon though, because maybe I’ll like them too!

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I was at work longer than expected, so dinner got thrown together in just a few minutes when I got back to my room.  I cooked a porkchop and green beans in a pan on the stovetop (there’s no oven in my room), and microwaved a sliced apple for about a minute and a half.  I’ve never tried “cooking” an apple that way, but it was actually really delicious.  I bet a hot apple topped with a little bit of maple syrup or Greek yogurt would make an awesome dessert!

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After dinner, I spent some time picking up my room and getting organized for the days ahead, and I snacked on some gluten-free, wheat-free ginger snaps as I went.  (It sounds complicated, but they were actually really awesome.  I could identify all of the ingredients on the list and they tasted even better than other snaps I’ve tried.  The grocery store I’ve been going to here has a pretty great all-natural/gluten-free/dairy-free/etc. section, and I’ve found quite a few things that I like there.)

I’ve been feeling so much better this week staying away from gluten/dairy/grains entirely, and I’ve pretty much decided that I’m going to make a solid effort to stick with it.  Straying on Saturday to enjoy a meal out with my friend showed me that it does actually make a difference (in the form of a stomach ache) and I figure that it’s about time I finally commit 100%. 

Since most of what I normally eat is naturally gluten free (fruits, veggies, meats, nuts, seeds, etc.), and I’ve been staying away from dairy and grains lately anyway, it’s really not going to be that big of a change for me.  My daily diet won’t change much at all, but where it will come into play is in the desserts region of my diet.

I’m not saying there won’t be times that I’ll stray again (because there will be), but in the past, I’d eat well 90% of the time and then throw caution to the wind when it came to desserts or treats.  From now on though, I’m going to make a concerted effort to make even those special treats dairy/grain/gluten-free.  (Like these brownies, or these cookies, for example.)

People often think that “gluten-free” means “healthy,” but that’s not always the case, so please don’t be misled.  Many calorie- and fat-laden sweet treats are gluten free, but that certainly doesn’t mean you’re going to lose weight if you eat a whole batch of them.  I am hoping that it will finally allow me to get my stomach aches in check once and for all though… and for that, it’s totally worth it to me.

It’s time to get this week underway… Have a good one, friends! Smile

A Little Perk: BareBurger

Posted: April 21, 2013 | Author: | Filed under: cardio, circuits, crossfit, daily, strength, traveling, workouts | Tags: , , , , , , | Leave a comment »

Admittedly, I don’t always enjoy spending two weeks on the road for work, but one of the cool things about traveling  is that I often end up in places I wouldn’t otherwise be.  In turn, this means that I sometimes get to see people I wouldn’t usually see, and yesterday, that translated into a spontaneous trip into New York City to have lunch with one of my best friends. 

Even though it was Saturday, I wanted to get my workout out of the way first thing so that I wouldn’t have to worry about it later on.  Because I can’t focus as much on heavy lifting or some of my other goals while I’m here, I’ve found myself doing a little bit more running than normal.  This definitely isn’t a bad thing, but it has certainly challenged me!

Here’s what yesterday’s workout looked like:

  1. Warm-up: 10 minute walk on treadmill
  2. Bench presses:
    1. 20 @ 30lbs
    2. 15 @ 40lbs
    3. 10 @ 50lbs
    4. {8 @ 60lbs + 10 Upright rows @ 40lbs} x5
    5. 10 @ 50lbs
    6. 12 @ 40lbs
    7. 15 @ 30lbs
  3. Workout (3x):
    1. Run .4 mile
    2. 15 Goblet squats @ 45lbs
    3. 15 DB swings @ 25lbs
  4. {12 RLDs @ 40lbs + 12 OH plié squats @ 20lbs} x4
  5. 100 Med ball slams
  6. Core (4x):
    1. 20 Swiss ball crunches
    2. 15 Back extensions
    3. 20 OH side bends
    4. 15 Flutter kicks
  7. Cool-down: 10 minute walk on treadmill

After my workout, I didn’t have much time before I had to be at the warehouse for work, so I stopped by the hotel breakfast and grabbed what I could.  I ended up with two hardboiled eggs and two pieces of ham, plus I made a smoothie on the side.  The smoothie was made with strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, a frozen banana, a huge handful of spinach, and almond milk… and it was like summer in a cup. 

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After a morning of work, I headed back to my hotel to freshen up a bit (I got splashed in the face badly with muddy, smelly water… no joke) before I headed out to see Colleen.  I know she loves me just the way I am, but I’m pretty sure no one wants to walk around town with the stinky girl!

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When I got to Queens, I picked her up and we headed to a nearby restaurant for lunch.  Being the thoughtful lady that she is, she made sure to pick a restaurant that she thought I’d like, and she definitely hit the nail on the head with her choice.  BareBurger is an awesome burger place that serves local, organic, fresh burgers, sandwiches, and salads.  They had a ton of different offerings, and all kinds of vegan/gluten free/non-dairy/nut-free options.  To start, we decided to try the crispy zucchini sticks.

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We both concluded that these things were pretty dang good, but then again, what’s battered and fried and isn’t good?  The outside was perfectly flavorful and crunchy, the inside was just slightly soft,  and they definitely got me thinking about how I could make them at home. 

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When it came time to order our entrées, I could’ve gone with a million different things, but I finally settled on the “barest burger.”  I loved all the different customization options they offered, and contemplated going with the gluten-free tapioca rice bun, but eventually decided on the lettuce wrap instead.  Inside, I had jerk chicken (my favorite), with tomatoes, fire roasted red peppers, and pepperjack cheese. 

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I couldn’t resist getting their homemade fries on the side, and they certainly didn’t disappoint.  The lettuce wraps were a little bit hard to eat, but the fact that they were super tasty is really all that mattered!

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For dessert (because there’s always dessert), Colleen picked the chocolate peanut butter milkshake, and I picked the flourless chocolate cake with cherries.  We shared them both, and both were absolutely delicious.  The shake was thick and creamy and had big peanut butter cup chunks at the bottom (OMG), and the cake was super chocolatey and moist (OMG, again). 

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It was an afternoon of indulgence with my bestest friend, and I couldn’t have asked for much more!  Getting a chance to see her when I otherwise wouldn’t have was definitely a perk of this trip, and I’m so glad that I was able to get to the city and spend some time with her – even if it was brief! 

Back home, being that it’s such a rural, farm-friendly area, we do have a few restaurants that serve local, organic food, but the selection is nothing like it is in big cities.  I love where I live and I wouldn’t trade it for anything, but it’s also very cool to be able to get to try new places whenever I can. 

It’s back to work for me today… but I hope the rest of you are enjoying the weekend! Smile

Glued To The News

Posted: April 20, 2013 | Author: | Filed under: cardio, circuits, crossfit, daily, strength, thoughts, traveling, workouts | Tags: , , , , , , , | Leave a comment »

Pretty much my entire workout yesterday morning was consumed by turning around every five seconds to watch the news.  When I woke up, I immediately turned on the TV as I always do, and I was shocked to hear that one of the suspects in the marathon bombing was dead, and the manhunt was on for the other one. 

Everything that’s been going on in Boston is absolutely terrible, but it’s also fascinating to me how it’s all unfolding.  The use of social media to get the suspects’ pictures out there and the speed with which information about their backgrounds has been disseminated is just wild.  I couldn’t take my eyes off of the TV, and I was just hoping that everyone in and around Boston stayed safe. 

Besides all that was going on, my workout itself was a pretty tough one.  The dumbbells were just not working for what I needed to do with them, and I had to adapt as I went along. 

Here’s what it looked like:

  1. Warm-up: 10 minute walk on treadmill
  2. Dumbbell front squats:
    1. 15 @ 50lbs
    2. {12 @ 70lbs} x3
    3. 15 @ 50lbs
  3. 12 Deadlifts @70 x3
  4. Workout:
    1. Run .2 miles
    2. 15 Push presses @ 25lbs each
    3. Run .2 miles
    4. 13 Push presses @ 25lbs each Run .2 miles
    5. Run .2 miles
    6. 11 Push presses @ 25lbs each
    7. Run .2 miles
    8. 9 Push presses @ 25lbs each  
    9. Run .2 miles
    10. 7 Push presses @ 25lbs each
  5. {12 Reverse flies + 12 Skullcrushers} x4
  6. {20 Bends to each side + 1-minute plank} x4
  7. Circuit (4x):
    1. 12 Swiss ball pikes
    2. 12 Back extensions
    3. 12 Hamstring pull-ins
    4. 15 Crunches
    5. 30 second Swiss ball bridge hold
  8. Cool-down: 10 minute walk on treadmill

For breakfast, I decided to keep things simple and go with three fried eggs and some fruit from the hotel breakfast.  I was still glued to the news, and this was quick to make and eat while I watched. 

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While I was at work, I snacked on some carrots…

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And had chicken, peppers, and snow peas with chili powder and cumin for lunch.  I know I’ve said it before, but prepping my lunches ahead of time and grabbing a container to throw in my lunchbox makes my life so easy.  All I have to do is heat them up in the microwave, and I end up with these meals that seem so special for the middle of the day (even if they don’t look special eaten out of a plastic container).

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Yesterday was the very first time ever that my no-fail snack has let me down.  99% of the Fuji apples I have eaten have been perfectly crunchy and sweet, but this one was clearly about to go bad.  I hate when apples get mushy… and this one was definitely mushy.  Besides that, this was the first time I’d used my new Barney Butter for dipping, and although I loved the crunch, I found it hugely salty.  None of the other almond butters I’ve tried have tasted salty, so it was quite the letdown.  

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When I got back to my hotel room after a bit of grocery shopping after work, the TV went back on immediately.  The coverage was still going strong, and I couldn’t seem to pull myself away.  I don’t like the speculative side of the media, where they go on and on about things that are potential, or currently unconfirmed and then get everyone riled up for no reason, but I do like that we live in a world where we can find out about something going on anywhere almost immediately. 

For dinner, I kept things simple (again) because I was too busy watching the news (again), so I went with my old favorite – chicken with honey and green beans.  (Aren’t you surprised, Mom?)

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I did switch up my dessert just a bit, swapping out the strawberries for grapes, but it was still quite tasty. 

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As I ate, I watched the coverage unfold, and they proceeded to lift the ban on going outside, find the suspect, and apprehend him… all basically right before our eyes.  I’m torn on how I really feel about all of the coverage – when bad people do bad things, they often do it for the attention it will bring their “cause,” and we give it to them by covering it so relentlessly.  But at the same time, how else do you warn people and let them know what’s going on? 

In this technologically advanced day, almost everything is instant, with people Tweeting, Facebooking, and Instagramming their every move, so yes, we may give them the satisfaction they want, but it’s often also what helps catch them in the end.  It’s sort of a catch-22, but overall I’m just glad it’s this part of the story is over. 

I hope that the weekend brings better news for everyone, everywhere.  <3

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