Personal Training
What Have I Been Up To! (Including 2 recipes!)
Its been hot around here. Like really, really hot. For me? Its WAY too hot to even think about exercising outdoors. The heat and me don’t get along so well. In the extreme heat when body temperature is already high, paired with heavy sweating, this can lead to water intoxication when water is consumed to replace lost fluids. It is SO important if you are exercising in heat or humidity for an extended period of time to drink and fuel properly to maintain electrolyte balance.
How have I been cooling down? Pinkberry. Duh. I have been pretty obsessed with the tart cherry flavor. The cookies n’ Cream is coming in a close second.
I also had the brilliant idea to freeze coffee to make coffee ice cubes! Seriously? Why don’t more coffee shops do this?! Well, I guess they don’t need to when I do! But seriously–I highly recommend you try this and its so freakin’ easy. Take coffee-Pour it in ice cube trays and FREEZE! You can jazz up your cubes by adding in cinnamon or peppermint extract or coconut oil. Whatever your heart desires! Not a coffee person? Try the same thing with iced tea! Or coconut water.
I’ve also been keeping up on my love for Yoga! I have been taking about 2 classes per week right now (I would love to take more but my schedule doesn’t allow for much more than that right now!) I attended a Yoga Charity Event a couple weekends ago at the Lululemon Prudential Store. It was called Chaturungas for Charity Where the money raised went to areas affeted by poverty and long-standing political unrest. The Africa Yoga Project provides more than 300 complimentary classes with a focus on yoga practice, meditation, health education (HIV/AIDS), relationship building, and community activism. All programs are designed to increase physical, emotional and mental wellbeing on the individual level while also building healthy and empowered communities. It was a great event.
I have been LOVING simple makeup with pops of color. I have the Mac “Up the Amp” Lipstick and my all time favorite mascara that withstands ANYTHING! Sweat, heat, tears. You name it–this is the only mascara I have found that withstands everything! Benefit “They’re Real”
I have been enjoying COLD breakfasts in the morning when it gets too hot for oats, pancakes or eggs. I have been doing a spin on oats and eggs and it has been DELICIOUS!
- ¼C oatbran
- 1T coconut flour
- 1 egg, 2 egg whites
- 1T flaxmeal
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- ¼tsp nutmeg
- 2T almond milk or coconut milk
- ⅓C chopped strawberries and blueberries
- 1 packet or few drops of stevia (optional)
- 1T nut butter, 10 chopped almonds, coconut oil (all optional toppings)
- Cook oatbran according to instructions. Add in spices, coconut flour and flaxmeal. Mix well to combine and set aside
- Cook the eggs in a skillet over medium heat. Once they are cooked, add to the oat/flax bowl.
- Add in the milk and give everything a good stir.
- Store in airtight tupperware and enjoy it the next morning!
- Top with berries or any other fruit/fat that you desire!
I still have been cooking up a storm, though! (c’mon–what do you expect?!) Basil, roasted pepper lean beef meatballs sauteed with mushrooms and kale. I think a meatball food truck should be in my future, no?
I had some meatballs that I made earlier in the week. I added some sliced mushrooms and kale into a skillet with a little coconut oil, salt and pepper. I cooked the veggies on a medium heat until they became golden brown and started to smell wonderful! I then added the precooked meatballs into the pan to heat them up. I served this over a bowl of spaghetti squash (also pre cooked) I am telling you-when you take a couple of hours to cook food for the week, throwing together creative and healthy meals is SO EASY!
I have been spending a fair amount of time at the Cape! It is my getaway, my ‘relax’ time. My time to just. Chill.
I tried this new drink in the pomegranate flavor. Over the weekend I also tried the coconut flavor. These Bai drinks are pretty good! I acutally think they are super sweet so I have been diluting them a bit with water (and it lasts longer!) I am not usually a big fan of sweet drinks with added sweetners because they bother my stomach but I like this one and find nothing wrong with having it once in a while.
While in the Cape, I had the BEST salad at the cutest, hippy, dippy restaurant. Everything is written on a chalkboard and random trinkets are hanging everywhere. The owners will basically make you anything you want even if its not on the chalkboard–that kind of place. I ordered a spinach salad with feta, artichoke hearts, tomatoes, organic chicken, 1/2 avocado, kalamata olives and cucumbers.
They also sell all sorts of health foods and hot sauces in the store. I tried these ‘Veggie Crunch’ chips which are similar to the bagged kale chips but with a little more teriyaki flavor. they are SO GOOD! I found them at a market in Boston but they are $7 for a bag! I will certainly have to be frugal with these goodies. I added a bunch on my salad for the flavor and crunch and it was out of this world!
My workouts have been great! Certainly more lax, as they tend to get in the summer time. I love being as active as I can without having to be in the gym. Of course, I work in a gym so its inevitable that most of my workouts take place there, but I also like to complete bodyweight workouts at my apartment or outside if the weather is on my side. I also (as you know) been doing lots and lots of yoga which I have found has had a significant impact on my strength and mobility. Its crazy how the body can completely become accustomed to whatever changes you bring about. I am still lifting, especially a lower body and upper body dominant day but everything in between is yoga, sprint or stair intervals and bodyweight HIIT!
I have been roasting up lots and lots of vegetables in the beginning and middle of each week. I try to vary it up so I am not having the same exact thing all of the time (Boooooring) Recently, I roasted some brussels sprouts with a bit of balsamic vinegar and sesame seeds with a touch of olive oil. They were SO good! I roasted them at a lower temperture for a longer period of time and they became sweet and buttery tasting.
I am still running and LOVING my bootcamp! Every Wednesday at 6:30pm, we meet at Boston Common for a workout. The ladies are awesome and I love every second of it. Teey motivate eachother, work hard, sweat and we all have a great time! This past Wednesday there were the cutest little kids emulating our every move! You can see them in the picture above just getting ready to squat!
I got new Nikes! Since I posted these sneakers, I have gotten more questions as to where I got them and more compliments than any other sneakers I have purchased. I had no idea they would cause such a stir! I do love these colors together and the shoes are super comfortable! I ordered them from RoadRunnerSports. Feel free to go get ’em!
I’ve had a serious case of ‘kitchen sink’ salads in this heat! I come home and all I want are cold vegies and protein…and fat. I always have some roasted veggies, a protein source and some sort of carb source in my fridge so it is fairly easy for me to put together a big salad bowl. This one had lettuce, cucumbers, peppers, smoked salmon, butternut squash, chicken, mushrooms and avocado. I made a delicious salad dressing as well!
- 1T walnut oil
- 1T maple syrup
- 1T dijon mustard
- 2T balsamic vinegar
- ½ lemon juice from a fresh lemon
- A few shakes of salt and pepper
- Combine all ingredients in a small dish and whisk well to combine. Pour over salad and enjoy!
Always enjoying the beautiful Boston evenings.
And always making time to play! I took to the driving range this past weekend and was quite impressed with my swing knowing my lack of skill in this sport! It was fun. I got out of my comfort zone and that is what I am all about these days.
What have you done lately?
