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Appetites and Adventures

Back to the Gym + WIAW

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Patience is a virtue.  

 

That’s what I keep trying to tell myself.

Monday I was cleared by my surgeon to begin light exercise.  Good thing because I had already scheduled an appointment with my trainer for that night.  😉

Going back to working out after surgery (or any long break) is humbling.  I started with a leg extension weight 100 lbs lighter than I did 3 weeks ago.

first workout

 

We did a lot of lower body – mostly body weight stuff – and then 2 isolated bicep and 2 isolated tricep exercises.  It was really light, but I realized I’d have to go slow… especially when the twins got hot and swelled up.  It was crazy!

I’m going to do something similar on my own today.  Being careful.  It’s really hard knowing what I could do before, and seeing how much I lost in my arms in such a short time.  BUT it’s not forever.  I got there before, and I can do it again.  *deep breaths*

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This WIAW was fun for me because I was actually hungry from working out!  It’s a totally different feeling than regular hunger, one I didn’t fully appreciate before!

wiaw sensible snacking button

Read on for my eats, and then check out Jenn’s link up for everyone else’s delicious days.

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Breakfast:

My morning cocktail (apple cider vinegar, water, Glutamine, and Fitmixer Aminos) was of course the start to my day.

For my meal I wanted something sweet… but I also wanted a runny egg.  Remembering my favorite Waffle House meal, I decided to try something similar (but much healthier) at home – french toast topped with a runny egg!  I also added some warmed blueberries and toasted coconut.

Who needs syrup when you have #yolkporn?

French toast with runny egg syrup

 

Mid-Morning Snack:

No Salt deli turkey and an orange.  I ate these with my fingers while I bottled my latest batch of kombucha.  I was trying to get out the door for my first run post-surgery… ain’t nobody got time for silverware!

The curry leaves in the background went into a kombucha bottle with some of the orange.

 

I was running to get my race number for Thursday’s Peachtree Road Race.  It’s the world’s largest 10K and I was cleared by the doctor to run/walk it since it’s actually going to be cool outside thanks to the deluge of rain we’re getting.  The expo is only 2.5 miles from my place, so it was an easy jog, followed by a long break to browse the expo and buy new shoes before 2.5 miles back (shoes in hand).

Newton running shoes

New Newtons!

 

Lunch:

It was NOT cool yesterday.  Boob sweat is a whole new thing… whoa.

By the time I got back all I wanted for lunch was a smoothie bowl.  Big, green, and topped with muesli, this hit the spot while I sat on the couch icing the twins.  Almost remembered the pic too late!

Banana-Butterscotch Green Protein Smoothie Bowl

In my bowl:

  • Protein powder
  • Spinach
  • Zucchini
  • Butterscotch extract
  • Banana extract
  • Stevia
  • Ice + Water

 

Mid-Afternoon Snack:

Does anyone else have to think before they type kabocha vs. kombucha?  Kabocha is what I had for snack.  I have pre-roasted it in cubes, but I like to do a second roast to re-heat and crisp it up.  Before the 2nd roast I tossed it in cocoa powder, cinnamon, ginger, and cayenne (my favorite flavor combo).

cocoa-cinnamon roasted kabocha with peanut sauce

 

The sauce is my go-to: peanut flour, unsweetened almond milk, cinnamon, a couple drops of vanilla liquid stevia, and a splash of almond extract.

Note: I order my peanut flour from iHerb – I like it better than PB2 because it is less processed and doesn’t have the added sugar and sodium.  Use my discount code – USO924 – for $5-10 off your order!

 

Dinner:

This is what happens when I get bored.  I made a dinner requiring more thought than usual.  People comment that sometimes my meals seem elaborate or strange… but they typically don’t take very long and I prepare certain foods similarly.  Last night I tried something new-ish and inspired by a treat in the mail from Skinny Noodles (soy-free shirataki):

Skinny Noodle

 

The item I couldn’t wait to try was the rice.  I dislike rice… but non-rice?  That I can get on board with!  I never said I was normal.  The “rice” is really more like Israeli couscous… but that’s a plus in my book.

Tip when using shirataki: make sure you rinse it really, really well and follow the instructions to heat it in the microwave to get rid of the funk (it smells fishy when you open the package).

What I came up with was a herbed rice with veggies, which I topped with salmon.  It was really, really good.  One of those meals you make for yourself and then get a little sad there’s no one else there to taste it!

Salmon and rosemary shirataki noodles

There’s not real recipe – I didn’t measure anything – but here are the ingredients:

Cardamom Salmon

  • Salmon
  • Cardamom (just a little)
  • Cayenne
  • Black pepper
  • Lemon
  • Rice Vinegar
  • Red onion
  • Garlic
  • 1 drop orange liquid stevia
  • Fresh rosemary
  • Baked at 450 for 12 mins
  • Fresh curry leaves

 

Shirataki Rice

  • Red onion
  • Garlic
  • Fresh rosemary
  • Lemon juice
  • Red pepper
  • Zucchini
  • Cayenne
  • Ground ginger
  • Black pepper
  • Ginger
  • 1 serving “rice” (added after veggies sautéed)
  • 2 tsp nutritional yeast (added at end to thicken)

 

Dessert:

This is one of my all-time favorites to end the day – Carrot Cake Protein Batter.  I feel like it’s been forever since I’ve had one of these.  After surgery I couldn’t use the grater for the carrots, so making my favorite batter wasn’t possible!

Carrot Cake Batter with muesli

I was starving so I loaded up on the toppings: muesli, walnuts, and cacao nibs.  There was also a unpictured scoop of PB. 😉

***

Thank you all so much for the supportive comments on my Instagram and Facebook posts about being able to get back in the gym.  The encouragement means a lot as I (patiently) work my way back.

Don’t forget – one more day to enter the Designer Whey Sustained Energy giveaway!

Have you ever made something so good you were sad not to share it?  What was it?

Are you a victim of the kabocha craze? I propose we rename it Crack Squash.

 

Comments

  2. Ha!!!!!!!! I make AMAZING FOOD ALL THE TIME and I never ever ever share! I am known NOT TO SHARE MY FOOD and when I do people think I am sick or something, LMFAO!!!!
    And uh, I am not really looking at your food today, I’m looking at something else. Wow, I am such a pervert!!! But I have always been tempted to enhance my little girls, lol!

  3. Awesome for being back in the gym! I can’t believe three weeks has already past since your surgery! I feel like it hasn’t been that long at all. Craziness. I can totally relate to that feeling of lost strength – after my surgery I definitely took it easy for the first 3 weeks and am still not totally back to where I am. It’s amazing what a lot of time off does – although I have felt pretty darn great about every workout since which says a lot.
    Just take your time, try and be gentle with yourself, and you’ll be back to your strong self soon!

    • That’s grea to hear that you’ve felt good about your workouts! I’m working on being gentle with myself… not as easy as it sounds! 😉

  4. ohmygosh yes! Going back to working out after surgery is the most ridiculously humbling experience ever. While it does seem like forever, you are such a strong woman and will get back to where you were in no time. I know, easier said than to accept but it’s true. You look fantastic by the way.

  6. I cannot cook for less than an Army, so I am always looking to share my food creations!
    Looking good, girls…I mean girl! 😉

  7. I am a victim of the squash craze but here in Ak we only get them seasonally so I guess it’s not too bad! I cube them & microwave them with apple pie spice seasonings & coconut oil 🙂 heavenly!!! I am so guilty of not sharing crazy good new recipe things 🙂 it’s like, yes it’s good – make your own!! I am selfish. Really bad but hey….I admit my faults! My favorite non share item recently was chocolate protein “pudding” with unsweetened coconut flakes & cottage cheese unblended- chunks of meltly goodness! Also a new boob gal, I sympathize/empathize with the boob sweat- never had a problem before- didn’t know what to do! Just good sports bras I guess (good also equals crazy expensive but it’s a good investment right?!) and the shaving made me laugh- no one tells you these things! Bonus is the looks from people- they want to ask but no one does! I just throw it out- yep got those for the 30th- hey its all good. There needs to be a blog about getting new boobs I tell you- I would have read it! (And you should write one…)

    • I love the apple pie seasoning idea! Totally trying that next. 🙂

      A boob blog?! I like it.

  8. YESSSSS for being back at the gym!! So exciting!
    And I second the name Crack Squash. My worst word is Asparagus. Aspargus. Aspragarus. Darn.
    Gotta get my hands on that Carrot Cake Protein Batter!

  13. Glad you are back at the gym, slow and steady wins the race, you will back to your former self before you know it!!!

  16. LMAO
    crack squash it is!!!
    and you shall be back and kicking ass and taking GYMNAMES in no time.

    xo

  18. yay for leg day and for being hungry! best feeling ever! and love those newtons, good call!

    p.s.
    Skinny noodles, like miracle noodles kinda?

  19. haha when you said 100 pounds less I was thinking…can I even do 100 pounds?? You will get there though!

    I’ve also never heard of no salt deli turkey….sounds like an oximoron!!

    I am sorry but I’m so fascinated by the fact that the twins swelled when they got hot?? So weird! Hopefully that is just temporary?

    Glad to see you are feeling well enough to be hungry and run a 10k! Good luck!! <3

    • LOL! I bet you could. Women have strong legs. 🙂

      They swell hard core! I guess it’s like an injury – they are still healing so swelling is like a protection thing when they are stressed. Poor twins…

  20. Congrats on your return to the fitness world!
    I think I’ve never tried kabocha squash. It’s quite hard to find around here. My favorite squash is Hokkaido, maybe it’s related to kabocha?

    • I’ve never heard of Hokkaido! I just googled it -the outside looks different, but it’s the same deep orange flesh. I’ll look for it at the store!

  22. I hear all kinds of differing opinions on the shirataki. Guess I’m going to have to try them myself to decide. Your dish does look tasty, though. Glad you’re feeling good about getting back in the gym, I know how much it means to you. Have a great day, Laura!

  23. I’ve never tried kabocha, but I keep seeing it all over instagram! Intimidated for some reason, but will have to give it a go!

  25. BOOBIES!!! You look great! Not that there was ever any doubt 😉

    Take it a day at a time. You are awesome and you know that you can do it. Patience is a hard thing to manage, but I have faith in you. You are so determined I know that you will get through it. Deeeeep breaths!

  27. In sure running with the twins has to be a whole new feeling, issue to deal with. Your foods all look great! I am SO a victim of the kabocha crazy, in love with the anazingness that is the most perfect squash ever 🙂

  28. Oh yay for being cleared to start lifting again! I didn’t lift for about 6 wks and all I could focus on was my muscles withering away LOL. I was so frustrated at how much strength I had lost but thank goodness for muscle memory! I wish we had more 10Ks around here. And crack squash? Yep, love it!

    • It’s so funny you say that – I was visualizing my muscle withering too! It was crazy. I really did lose some. Ugh.

  32. As non-creepily as possible I would like to tell you that the ladies look nice, your surgeon did a great job. You know we’re all looking at your boobs, right?

    Crack squash. Yep. Pretty much.

    • Finally, my dreams have come true. People are only looking at me for my boobs. 😉

  33. looking good pretty lady!! we are so happy to hear that the recovery is going well and that you were able to do some lower body moves 🙂

    xoxo

  34. bwahaha only food bloggers would have to think before typing those two K words. I DEFINITELY do.
    Also it is so refreshing to know that there is another person who doesn’t like rice. I thought I was the only one! and here I am about to move to a county where that is their staple. oh dear.

  35. Nice to see you back in action! No worries about the weight, you’ll be back there in no time…and the “girls” will be ready for it as well 😉

    And thanks for the Carrot Cake Batter recipe! 🙂

    • It’s on the blog today!!! You’d love it – and the overnight PB soak makes the shirataki funk taste totally disappear.

  40. You look amazing Laura – did before the twins! 🙂 It sucks how hard t is to gain & get fit & how quickly it goes away if we can’t work out… you will BE BACK as Arnold says! 🙂 Just be careful & I know you are – patience sucks at this point! 😉

    • Thank you so much!!! I’m working on it… both the come back and the patience. 🙂

  42. So are the skinny noodles worth buying, I really want to try them!

    • I like them, but definitely give a good rinse and heat them to get rid of the initial smell.

  44. So glad you were cleared to return to the gym!!!
    And every time I see a picture of you it makes me rethink my decision to grow out my hair – I love yours!!!

    • Thank you so much! After cutting it off, I don’t think I could go back… it’s just so easy!

  45. You are looking amazing! And least you’re able to workout now . . . it may not be as hard core as before, but you’ll get there!

    As always, so many fantastic foods. Love that roasted kabocha! And salmon–yum!

  46. My friend recommended your blog to me because we both got new ladies a day apart. I am super surprised that you were cleared to run already! I can’t even imagine doing that just yet. But I have been cleared for lower body but was told I couldn’t lift anything over 10 lbs. Anyway, I’ve been checking out your blog and wanted to say I feel ya on not being at full capacity at the gym. It’s hard to go lightly!

    • Paula, thank you so much for checking it out. Everyone has a different healing process – one of the girls at my gym was miserable for 2 weeks, but I was ready to be unleashed by week 1. LOL! Come back on Tuesday if you think of it – I’m prepping a post on post-aug workouts.

      • I was at the gym for a light workout a week and a half later and walking on the treadmill by day 4. They say, even if you feel really good, you’re still healing. It is major surgery. So don’t hurt yourself!

        Glad to see someone else opening talking about her ladies. 🙂

  48. Um, I think we know where I stand on the Crack Squash! That is my favorite sauce too! I normally order my peanut flour from iherb, but they have been out for weeks. So, I had to order PB2 this time from Amazon…I was bummed.

    Good luck tomorrow. You won’t know if you’re sweating or not with all that rain. Enjoy! See you Sunday!

  49. You’re amazing, lady. You won’t just get to where you’ve been before; you’ll surpass yourself. In every way.

  50. Smoothie bowls for lunch are always good! The ‘rice’ sounds interesting, I still love my cauliflower rice though!

  51. Yay for light exercise! I bet it feels great to get back out there even if you have to gain some strength back. The twins were worth it! xo

  52. Q – what brand of extracts do you use? I bought Frontier Naturals banana extract a few months ago and can’t get myself to use it in anything other than alcoholic drinks because it’s SO strong with alcohol flavor. The butterscotch one you mentioned sounds delicious!

    • It varies… I use Frontier for the basics because that’s what Whole Foods has. I buy really funky vanillas from the farmer’s market. My banana is a special order. Can’t remember the website I got it from but the maker is Mardsen & Bathe. They also make an incredible brown sugar extract!

  54. Welcome back all recovered, take it slow but you look fantastic as always 🙂
    Great WIAW I’m jealous my days are so bland!

    Cheers
    Choc Chip Uru

  55. Since delving into the world of Paleo eats a few weeks ago, I’ve found an awesome sub for white rice – cauliflower rice! I grate it up on my huge box grater then stir fry with coconut aminos, garlic & green onion with an egg scrambled in at the end. It satisfies my need for rice and is very yummy!
    I had some friends out at the race yesterday. I’m glad the rain held off 🙂

    • I have been doing cauliflowr rice for a long time too! Check out my Mexican Rice Bowl – it’s a staple. I also used it to make faux grits. Another one I like is parsnip rice. Raw food is my favorite this time of year. 🙂

  58. I did warn you about boob sweat. Men’s deodorant under the twins will help, and for long workouts, I sometimes stuff a paper towel at the base of my bra to prevent chaffing. That’s a whole ‘nother thing.

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