Sprint 2 the Table

Appetites and Adventures

5Ks, Forks, and Knives

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What’s the best way to get back into running?

Register for a 5K.

I was registered before I left for Italy and was nervous about racing one week after returning.  Rightfully so – this was a HARD 3.14 miles.  I haven’t been running because my knee is iffy and the top of my foot has started hurting.  I’m also just out of the habit.

Sunday at noon I laced up and headed to the park for the AIDS Walk and 5K.  It was a 1p start, but they were having some sort of issues and we didn’t start  until after 1:15p.  Did I mention that it hit 80 degrees yesterday?

We started uphill in the heat.  I was sunburned from the long wait (sunscreen is smart, even if it is October).  Official times aren’t posted yet but I didn’t PR.  I crossed the line at 24:39… so I’m thinking my official time is around 24:30.

That’s not a terrible time.  What is terrible is how hard it was for me to get that time… and the fact that I’m supposed to run 7 miles of a Marathon relay in 2 weeks, followed by a Half on Thanksgiving.  Time to end vacation mode and get  little more disciplined about running!

Post-run I participated in the AIDS Walk portion of the event.  It was really neat to see so many people come together for a great cause.

Adjusting to the cleanse this time has been much easier this time!  When I did it last year, I was tired and had a headache for the first few days.  This year I’m not missing meat at all and am enjoying the challenge of eating vegan on the cleanse.  The hardest part was not being about to enjoy a beer in the sunshine this weekend! 🙂

Saturday night, over-whelmed by disappointing football outcomes, I watched Forks Over Knives.  It definitely has me thinking.  The health benefits of a plant-based diet are undeniable.

While I’m not sure I could go the rest of my life without any animal products, I am going to make more of an effort to limit my intake.  On day 11 of the cleanse I’m supposed to add a serving of chicken or fish each day; however, I have decided to add tofu and tempeh instead.

Eating clean does make a difference.  I feel much better today than I did the last day in Italy after our shared 2 kilos of beef (not to mention the gelato, wine, etc.)!

Don’t get me wrong – I don’t regret it (that steak was incredible).  The trip was amazing and I love delicious food.  That isn’t something I can sustain.

Over the past 10 days my plant-based diet I have been able to keep my energy up while working an insane number of hours, traveling all week, and not getting as much sleep as I should have.  Cheers to plants.

Like I said, I am really struggling to get back into the swing of things workout-wise.  My muscles feel incredibly tight and I’m out of the habit.  A massage is in order!  I need to get back to writing out my weekly workout plan.  Having it in writing makes a big difference for me.

I am making an effort.  The intensity level isn’t where I’d like it and I’m struggling to run… but half the battle is getting out the door.  That, I have done.

Workout Recap (10/10-10/16)

  • Monday – 100 push-ups
  • Tuesday – P90X Ab Ripper X
  • Wednesday – Bike-Elliptical-Treadmill 30 min intervals, Legs, 100 push-ups
  • Thursday – Tris/Chest, 6 min plank sequence
  • Friday – 30 mins elliptical, 10 mins Bike, 100 push-ups
  • Saturday – P90X Kempo, Ab Ripper X, 100 push-ups
  • Sunday – 5K AIDS Run, 5K AIDS Walk, Yoga for Runners

***

Italy recap again tomorrow!  And a recipe – I made some tastiness this weekend. 🙂

Have you seen Forks over Knives?  What did you think?

What was the best part about your weekend?

Reformed Cardio Junkie

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Today I am in Alba in the Piedmont region.  This region produces my second and third favorite wines – Barbaresco and Nebbiolo.  Oh, and did I mention it’s truffle season here?!

Claire is so sweet to say she gets recipe inspiration from me… I get so much from HER!  She has a knack for coming up with dishes that are healthy while still feeling/tasting decadent.  Check out her Plum Apple Crisp, for instance.  I can’t wait to make it!

She is also recently got married and was a stunning bride! 🙂

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Hello Sprint 2 the Table readers!

My name is Claire and I blog over at Live and Love to Eat.  I’m a full time dietitian, but you might not know that with how much I love to bake and dine at different restaurants!  Laura’s blog is my go-to site for good recipes and workout motivation – who wouldn’t want her biceps?  I’m honored to be guest posting while she is enjoying herself overseas.

 

I used to be a cardio junkie, but I want to share my story about how I learned to love changing up my work out routine.

 

I was never a “runner” – at least not the type of runner who loved the treadmill, lived for a good 10-mile jog, or looked forward to lacing up their sneakers.  I started running on the treadmill during college purely for the calorie burn – I knew I was eating too much unhealthy food as part of my new life style, and wanted to avoid that “freshman 15.”  I never struggled with my weight but knew I could be a few pounds lighter and running in my dorm’s gym seemed to be the easiest way to burn calories.

Once I started running a few times a week, I noticed that it also helped to manage my stress.  I finally experienced the “runners high” that I’d heard my more fit friends talk about, even though I never did more than 2 miles at a time.  When I would come home for the summer I didn’t run very often, and later  found that the elliptical was an “easier” workout, so I did that the majority of the time my junior year.  I took a one credit personal fitness class that taught me a basic strength training routine using the Nautilus equipment, and I fell into a workout rut that didn’t challenge me very much.

 

By the time I was a senior, I was dating a guy who was really in to running – he started it for stress relief as well, but got addicted really quickly. We signed up for the Pittsburgh Great Race – a fantastic 5/10K combination course.  My first 5K was a great experience – I loved the atmosphere, the adrenaline, and the challenge of beating a time that you set in your head (again, not impressive enough to share) – and it made me want to do more races.  I started training for the Pittsburgh Half Marathon, but got a stress fracture from upping my distance too quickly and fell off the running wagon again.

During graduate school and my dietetic internship, I joined a local gym for the first time since I was no longer living on campus.  I fell in love with spin classes, which easily took the place of running as my favorite calorie burning option.  As time passed, my younger brother also started to run regularly – and long distances – so I signed us up for a 5K the day before his birthday in April.  The race was on a chilly morning, and I don’t think I spent enough time warming up – and I got injured (after getting my 5K PR – the back of the photo with the gloves on).

 

Long story short, I tore my perioneal tendon (graphic photos, sorry), had to wear a boot for 3 months, and my physical therapist told me that any distance running in the future would cause a flare up of tendonitis or possible re-injury.  I was months away from my wedding and petrified that I wouldn’t be able to exercise at all – which I needed to maintain my weight to feel comfortable in my wedding dress and to manage the incredible stress that planning a wedding can bring.

I owned Jillian Michaels’ 30 day Shred, which I used for quick strength training and toning at home, but wasn’t even able to do that in the walking boot.  For weeks, all I could do was upper body and ab exercises – on demand workouts and exercisetv.tv became great resources! After the boot came off I was still in a lot of pain, and started looking in to other options.  Spin class was too painful (lots of pressure on the ankle joint) and running was out of the question.  I’d read other blogs where people raved over Bikram / Hot Yoga, so I tried hot yoga and really loved it (even though I was nervous to try it at first).  I also experimented with Pilates with kettle bells, as well as at home strength training with hand weights.

 

I had a strapless wedding dress, so I really concentrated on toning my arms – and loved the way I looked and felt!  It’s great to know that I have a healthier body composition (in terms of muscle to fat ratio) even if the weight on the scale doesn’t change much.  I love feeling powerful and strong, and even appreciate the soreness of a great workout the next day.  And I felt beautiful in my wedding dress.

 

I’m still nowhere close to Laura’s figure ( 😉 ) and not able to run (I tried to make it a block while walking my dog and it was too painful right off the bat), but the injury was a blessing in disguise – I now enjoy strength training several times a week, have tried many new work outs, classes, and DVDs, and feel like my fitness routine is much more well rounded as a whole.  I’m not running marathons or triathlons, but I can appreciate working out for more than the calorie burn, and feel healthier overall.

***

As much as I love a good run, weights are my favorite!

Do you make an effort to balance cardio with strength training?

What move have you found to deliver the best results?

 

Getting Started with Strength Training

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Good Morning!  Today I am in the Friuli region of Italy – near the Austrian and  Solvenian border.  It’s most famous for its white wines, such as Pinot Grigio.

Tina from Faith Fitness Fun is my second guest blogger.  Tina is very special to me… she was the first person (other than family/friends) to comment on my blog!  I was so excited I think I squealed.

Tina’s blog is one of my favorites because she is one of the genuine bloggers out there.  Whether she’s sharing a dish or product or the rockstar way she shed baby weight (seriously – this woman could run circles around me), you can believe she’s showing her true self.

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Hello there, Sprint 2 The Table readers! My name is Tina and I’m the gal typing up all sorts of randomness – from super personal topics (binge eating struggles) to silly stories (stuffing my bra) – over at the blog Faith Fitness Fun.

 

Eight years ago I fell in love with fitness – strength training playing a vital role in that love. Eight years ago I picked up my first weight and immediately felt empowered. I started to see changes in my body that amazed me. I increased my physical capabilities. I could turn to weights as an outlet when dealing with my past struggles of depression and binge eating.

Eight years ago I started strength training and I haven’t stopped since. Instead, I have competed in a fitness competition and frequented the gym floor even while 9 months pregnant. Despite a newfound passion for running, I remain determined in my strength workouts as I make progress in my Body After Baby goals. Now, I hope you’ll join me as I share my personal journey into strength training, including ways you can get started too. Thanks for reading!

I Found A Comfortable Place to Get Acquainted with Weights
Although I feel comfortable now at my gym, I used to not have such confidence. In fact, I likely would have never started with strength training if not for beginning in the comfort of my own home. Thanks to the old FitTV programs, I had the chance to try out a few workouts such as The Firm and Cathe Friedrich. Cathe’s workouts quickly became my favorites and I began building a library of her workout DVDs. Side note: You can imagine my excitement to meet her at Fitbloggin’ after years of training “with” her.

 

Over the course of a year, I learned various weight training moves from her workouts and built up a base in my strength training. Eventually, when I joined a gym, I continued to get more comfortable with strength workouts by attending group classes, such as Body Pump.Group classes and workout DVDs can be a great starting point to gain confidence with weights at your own pace. I also highly suggest utilizing the free introductory personal training offer at most gyms to receive a quick run through on the use of equipment and workout safety.

I Did Some Research
When I get into something, I go full out! The more I learned about weight training, the more I wanted to keep learning. It started with figuring out moves in my DVDs, then grew to subscribing to Oxygen magazine, ordering the e-book Burn The Fat Feed The Muscle, and pouring myself into resources such as The New Rules of Lifting For Women. I began feeling excited to branch out from the group classes and try some of the ideas in these resources for my own.

 

Following a pre-set program, like you can find in The New Rules of Lifting For Women, provided a great way to break in to doing my own thing at the gym. From there I continued to research and learn ways to set up my own strength training plans, turning to things like the Women’s Health Big Book of Exercises for ideas.

I Started Basic
So many varieties of exercises exist. Before breaking out the Bosu balls, sliding discs, and other fitness tools – I stuck with the basics. Pretty much every body part is trained with a few standard motions. For back exercises, there are rows and pulling motions. For chest exercises, there are pressing motions and fly motions. For biceps, curls. For shoulders, raises. You get the idea. I learned the standard moves for each body part and perfected those before mixing up my workouts and adding a new challenge.

 

I also began using machines for most exercises until I learned the movement. It helped guide my motion as I gained strength. Then, I progressed to barbells and dumbbells. I would also always start light and slowly add more weight once I knew I could handle each move safely. I didn’t want to end up with an injury!

I Began Adding More Variety and Gained Ideas From Others
Finally, after taking gradual steps into strength training, I hoped to continue making progress and push my training to higher levels. I wanted more challenges and started implementing new training techniques. I will search out new things to try – like TRX bands and kettle bells. Now, I look to others for inspiration and have a solid enough foundation in strength moves that I feel capable implementing them in my training.

In short, strength training provides so many benefits. Don’t let fear hold you back from reaping those rewards. It takes time, but we all have to start somewhere. Find a way to go for it. Then keep learning and you will only get stronger.

I promise you can do it! Feel free to stop by my blog for workout ideas or just another virtual fitness friend.

Tortilla Pizza

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Where do people come up with this stuff?

The search terms that lead my blog crack me up!  *Not that I’m not happy to have new visitors!  I’m just baffled occasionally.*

My Recent Favorites:

  • Rotating deodorants (I do… my body gets immune!)
  • “Love my stylist” short hair cut (go see Karen at Lava)
  • My black coffee and breakfast to go
  • Things that make me go mmm (click here for those)
  • Sweet bikini bellies
  • Pumpkin dumbbells images
  • Herbs that go well with cottage cheese (they all do)
  • PMS salty sweet (I hear you, sister… make these)
  • Schweddy balls (tee hee)

You guys know I’m on an airplane right about now (thank you, wi-fi).  Since the trip has begun, I can officially declare victory over my quest to only use what I have this week.

I haven’t dined out since Sunday – this is no small feat for me!  I’ve probably saved $200 (which I promptly spent on trip stuff).

My fridge is a wasteland of crumbs and stuff that never expires.

Some of the odd creative concoctions I haven’t shared yet:

Use-everything-in-my-fridge pizza(s):

Customize pizzas as you like!  The one above is chronicled at the bottom of this post with instructions.

Tortilla pizzas sound like such a silly thing to eat before getting the “real” thing in Italy.

Working lunch 

Pizza #2 (above) consisted of pressed tofu, sheep’s milk cheese, artichokes, marinara sauce, garlic, thyme, and red pepper flakes.

There was a dinner saute:

Pressed tofu, edamame, jalapeno, garlic, shallot, salsa, and liquid smoke.  Side of sauteed zucchini I’ve been eyeing here on Rufus’ Food and Spirits Blog… it has a twist of something you’d never guess: Peach Schnapps.  I followed the recipe, except I used olive oil instead of butter.  It was awesome.

And my favorite – Overnight Oats in a Jar.  Yep, I even used all the peanut butter.

PB jar with the “dregs” on the bottom, oats, sunflower seed milk (so glad to see this gone!), cinnamon, Biscoff granola, vanilla, and a shake of salt.

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Since I’m gone, the weekly recap is early!  Slacker, I am not.  At least not while in the U.S.

Workout Recap (9/19-9/24)

  • Monday – Biceps/Back, 6 min plank sequence, 100 push-ups
  • Tuesday – 7 miles run, P90X Ab Ripper X, 100 push-ups
  • Wednesday – Kickboxing, 3 mile run, Shoulders
  • Thursday – Tris/Chest (click link for the workout!), Ab Ripper X, 100 push-ups
  • Friday – 5 mile run, 6 min plank sequence, 100 push-ups
  • Saturday – Rest/Travel
  • Sunday – I’ll be biking through Verona 🙂

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Tortilla Pizza

  • 1 tortilla (I used Ezekial)
  • 1/4 C tomato sauce
  • 1 handful fresh spinach
  • 1 T fresh thyme
  • 1 chicken sausage (I’m loving Bilinski’s from Whole Foods!)
  • 1/4 C artichoke hearts
  • 2 T nutritional yeast
  • Red pepper flakes (optional)

Preheat oven to high broil.

Lay tortilla on baking sheet or pizza stone.  Layer ingredients on top of tortilla.

Place in the oven, watching very closely (broil is no joke!).  Cook until just beginning to brown, ~7-8 mins.

***

The next two weeks will be filled with an all-star line up of guest posts!  Please stop by, say hello, and discover some new bloggers.  I’ll also be inserting a little commentary about what Italian region the Wandering Wine-os  are terrorizing touring… and will try to write a few full-length posts as time/wi-fi allows.

What is your favorite pizza base?

Would you have added the schnapps to the zucchini?  I’m glad I did!

Miles to Go Before I Sleep

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6666 Miles.

 

That’s how many miles I earned last month on Delta.  Should I be concerned?!  LOL!

Also, there appears to be a tread of rocking chair in airports.  The above is in St. Louis.  I’ve also spotted them in Charlotte.  Weird – more so for St. Louis than Charlotte, I think.

 

 

No blogging for the weekend.  Saturday was a busy day – I drove up to see my stylist and get a new ‘do for Italia.

 

It’s red.  It’s shorter than I’ve ever had it (I usually keep some length in the front).  I LOVE it.  I love my stylist, Karen.

 

Karen is the owner of Lava Hair Salon.  She used me in a couple of ads than ran recently!

 

The thing about red dye is that it runs if you get your hair wet too soon after getting it done.  Today I took it upon myself to serve as a warning for those of you who are planning to go red.

 

6 mile run post-dye job.  I looked like I just killed someone.  No wonder people were staring as I ran by!  LOL!

 

 

I also spent some QT with my credit card.  While I was at the outlet mall, I HAD to buy a new Coach bag for the trip…

 

Did you celebrate Talk Like a Pirate Day this weekend?

In honor of this very special day I want to profess my love for a new (to me) product:

Pirate’s Booty.  Veggie flavor.

 

How did it take me so long to try this?!

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Not quite as many days on the road, but I did take a rest day.  Those late-night flights make it hard to fit a workout in! Plus my body was feeling a little road-weary.

 

Workout Recap (9/12-9/18)

  • Monday – 3 mile run, Biceps/Back, 6 min plank sequence, 100 push-ups
  • Tuesday – 100 push-ups
  • Wednesday – Kickboxing, Legs
  • Thursday – 5 mile run, Ab Ripper X, 100 push-ups
  • Friday – Tris/Chest (click link for the workout!), 6 min plank sequence, 100 push-ups
  • Saturday – 6 mile run, 100 push-ups
  • Sunday – 6 mile run, Ab Ripper X, 100 push-ups

***

Get ready for some “use everything before I leave” cooking this week!

What was the best part of your weekend?

What’s the craziest color you’ve ever had your hair?

 

Give Yourself the Shakes

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Normally having the shakes is a bad thing.

 

Last week I got them in a good way (as opposed to the “Imma kill Mr. Cuervo” way) from a weight routine.

 

It’s no secret that arms are my love.  Biceps used to be my favorite part to work, but recently I’m really into triceps.

Particularly this workout.  The best part?  You can do it anywhere that has free weights and a bench.  Translation: I can do this in basically any hotel across America.

 

Don’t be afraid to push yourself on the amount of weight you lift.  Don’t hurt yourself, but you do need to challenge your muscles in order to gain.  No, you won’t end up looking like Hulk… people spend YEARS trying.

 

I’ve also been more vigilant about rest time between moves.  I was a skeptic, but I’ve honestly noticed a difference since taking the proper break time between sets – both in form and development.

 

As you do the bench exercises, make sure to keep your back straight and feet firmly planted on the floor.  Also be sure to keep your core tight.  This will keep it engaged, giving you added benefit.

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Chest

1. Plyometric Push-Ups

 

Do a regular push-up (be sure to use proper form), but when you lower to the ground explode back up so that your hands leave the ground.  Bonus points if you can clap in between.

Don’t be afraid to do these from your knees if you need to.

  • Sets: 2
  • Reps: 5-8
  • Rest: 30 seconds

 

2. Bench Press with Dumbbells*

Be sure to bring the dumbbells down low, concentrating on the bottom portion of the movement and then come up hard.

 

 

*I did these as a rest-pause on the last set.  Meaning, I did the max reps I could, rested the weights on my chest for ~20 seconds, then did as many additional reps as I could.

  • Sets: 2
  • Reps: 8-10
  • Rest: 1 minute

 

3. Incline Bench Press with Dumbbells**

Be sure to push the dumbbells straight up until your arms are fully extended (without locking elbows).  Fully lower weights back to the start position to complete each rep.

**You will do these as supersets with the next move.  Superset means you do NOT rest between the two moves.  Yuo rest after completing 1 set of BOTH.

  • Sets: 3
  • Reps: 6-8
  • Rest: Superset

 

**Superset**

 

4. Incline Flye

Keep your elbows bent slightly to avoid stressing your shoulders.  Slowly bring the weights down to your sides to complete a rep.

These are especially good for increasing range of motion and shaping pectorals (which makes your chest look.. ahem… nicer).

  • Sets: 3
  • Reps: 20
  • Rest: 1 minute

 

Triceps

1. Lying Extension with Dumbbells**

When above your head, the dumbbells should be positions such that your palms facing each other. As you bend your elbows to lower the weights, your upper arms should not move.  Lower the dumbbells until they are at either side of your head, pausing for a moment.  Lift weights back to the starting position to complete a rep.

  • Sets: 3
  • Reps: 15
  • Rest: Superset

 

**Superset**

 

2. Tri Pressdown

 

These are  my favorite.  Really focus on keeping your abs contracted here for a little extra core benefit.  Keep your elbows in toward your torso and really press palms down toward your thighs as you squeeze the triceps.

  • Sets: 3
  • Reps: 20
  • Rest: 30 seconds

 

3. One-Arm Dumbbell Overhead Extension***

 

This is one of the best ways to tone arm “flab.”  Be sure to keep your upper arm stabilized as you bend at elbow to lower weight behind head.  As you straighten your arm to bring the weight back up,  squeeze back of arm to really work the muscle.

***These were done as drop sets.  I did the 15 reps, then dropped the weight by 5 lbs and did more rep until failure.  Then dropped the weight by another 5 lbs and completed reps until muscle failure again.

  • Sets: 3
  • Reps: 15
  • Rest: 1 minute

 

Post-arms I finished up with 15 minutes of ab work.  Adding P90X Ab Ripper X and hanging leg lifts gave me a solid hour workout… and left me shaking.  In a good way.

Don’t forget your 20g of protein post-workout!

 

Check out my Fitness page for more workouts and tips. 🙂

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This was Thursday’s workout.  Here’s rest of what I did on the road last week:

 

Workout Recap (9/5-9/11)

  • Monday – 6.5 mile run, Shoulders, 100 push-ups
  • Tuesday – Biceps/Back, 6 min plank sequence, 100 push-ups
  • Wednesday – 4 mile run, 100 push-ups
  • Thursday – Tris/Chest, Ab Ripper X
  • Friday – 4.5 mile run, 100 push-ups
  • Saturday – Kickboxing
  • Sunday – 4 mile run, 3 mile run/walk, 6 min plank sequence, 100 push-ups

***

 2 days after doing this workout, my kickboxing instructor complimented my arms.  It made my day.

What’s your favorite way to exercise?

Do you have a favorite body part to work?  (Keep it clean! 😉 )

 

Creative or Crazy?

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Go Packers!

I’m happen to be in Milwaukee for work while the Packers open again the Saints.  All of this is lost on me – I prefer college ball.

I had quite the view!  People in Milwaukee are incredibly nice.  They also really like Bud Light and Riesling (as evidenced by the patrons at the bar last night).

No, I wasn’t out partying.  But how could I pass up eating dinner at the hotel bar while watching this shenanigans go down?!

Plus, I was in need of a treat after a workout so awesome it left me shaking.  That one will be posted ASAP.  🙂

To entertain myself between work and the NFL, I researched fried foods.  Apparently one can fry anything.

They claim everything is bigger in Texas.  If bigger = fried, then “they” might be right!  The prize for the Most Creative State Fair Food in Texas went to the Fried Bubble Gum.

Source: inquisitr.com

It wasn’t really fried gum – it was fried bubble gum-flavored marshmallows.  That actually doesn’t sound so bad…

Last year’s winner was fried beer ravioli.  Homer Simpson’s favorite dinner.

Click for source

But that’s nothing compared to Iowa’s Fried Butter on a stick.  Seriously.

Who could even take one bite of that?!

Source: Iowa State Fair/ Steve Pope Photography

And we wonder why half of America will be obese by 2030?

Moo-ving on to ice cream, Ben & Jerry have finally outdone themselves.  Coming soon to a store near you…

Schweddy Balls Ice Cream will consist of vanilla ice cream with a hint of rum and is loaded with fudge covered rum balls and milk chocolate malt balls.  Schweddy balls on ice.  

Please tell me Betty White’s muffin is next.

I love crazy, creative non-fried, non-ice cream combos too!

***

I once had a fried Snickers.  Not gonna lie – it was good.

What’s the weirdest fried food you’ve ever seen/tried?

Do you get into the NFL?  College football?  Nothing?

Chilly Weather Eats + WIAW

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Wednesday comes quickly on short weeks!

Short weeks are good and bad.  I love the extra weekend time… but I was at work until 8p last night paying for it.

It’s chilly and drizzling rain here, so I had planned to go to kickboxing for a good, mindless workout.  The last class starts at 730p.

On the bright side, I hit the gym in my building and tried out a new back/bicep workout that I’ll be sharing soon. 🙂

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On such a short week I nearly forgot to take pics for WIAW!

 

I did remember nearly everything in the nick of time.  Mas importante because I had a special treat for breakfast.

 

Breakfast:

I pre-gamed breakfast with some cantaloupe because it was going to take a minute before I picked up the main show.

 

FREE Chick-fil-A!!!  It is free breakfast entrée week (with a reservation).  I was pumped to try out their new oatmeal.

I came prepared with my own peanut butter (I never said I was normal).  They provided brown sugar, nuts, and dried fruit as toppings, but I’m not a dried fruit fan and the nuts were all sugar-coated.  Too much sugar in the morning!

The oatmeal itself was pretty good.  The fact that it’s multi-grain gave it a good texture.  It was cooked well – not watery, which I generally find to be the problem.  Only 120 calories and 5g of sugar, but I liked that it had 3g of fiber and 4g of protein.  That said, the serving was fairly small and I was really glad for the peanut butter!

 

Lunch:

Inspired by the cool, rainy weather I made a delicious Indian Eggplant Lentil Stew Monday night and thoroughly enjoyed the leftovers for lunch today.

Side note: Tech wont their first game against Western Carolina Girl’s School Saturday!!!

 

Lentils have many benefits.  They are:

  • High in protein an fiber = filling
  • Good source of iron and magnesium
  • Take on virtually any flavor from other foods/seasonings
  • Low-cost
  • Good left-over!

 

This recipe will be up tomorrow!!!

 

 

Snacks:

Not pictured, but I am pretty predictable consistent:

  • Chocolate-Toffee Think Thin bar
  • Nuts – I caved and ate the Chick-fil-A sugar-coated.  They were good.  🙂
  • Kombucha Green Tea
  • Broccoli and carrot sticks dipped in my new find: Spinach-Artichoke Hummus

 

This hummus is a new Whole Foods find by Nature’s Healthy Gourmet.  You really get the good artichoke flavor in it!

Nature’s Healthy Gourmet is a small company based out of Florida that specializes in vegetarian and Kosher foods.  Nature’s hummus is also dairy- and gluten-free.  If you can find it, this hummus is worth a try!

 

Dinner:

Since I got home from work so late I opted for a lighter dinner.  A salad with raw french green beans, sprouts, and mission figs.

 

Did you really think that’s all I ate?  Bwhahahaha!

 

That salad was protein’d up with sriracha-marinated tempeh and hummus dressing (the aforementioned hummus mixed with a bit of apple cider vinaigrette).

I finally learned how to spell sriracha!!!  Gotta celebrate the small victories. 😉

 

For a more delicious eats, check out the round up at Peas and Crayons!

***

Please excuse the grainy iPhone pics for the next few days… my camera is broken!

It seems that every fast food place offers oatmeal now – do you ever purchase it in a crunch?

Is is getting cooler where you are?  Bring on the fall weather!

 

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