Yummy snack time

Here are the crackers I made. 














1 bag oyster crackers

1 pack low sodium ranch dip

1 tsp. Garlic powder
1 tsp. Onion powder
1/4 cup veggie oil

Combine everything but the crackers then carefully mix thr crackers in.  Bake at 275 degrees farenheit for 15 to 20 minutes on a cookie sheet.

They should smell garlicky and nutty and look dry.  I portioned them out into bags for easy snacking.  So easy, so yummy.

Grimm dinner

No, I didn't spell that wrong.  As I type, I am yet again, watching a movie.  This time it's "Brother's Grimm", the new one.  I already got my work out in for the day...and it kicked my butt.  Or, more accurately, my thighs.  Today was a leg day, so I really worked my inner thighs, calves, hips and front thighs.  I also did some abs work.  Hey, I was feeling it today.

I have made dinner for my sister and I (cheesy quinoa with kielbasa and beans) and am making a low cal snack for this week, some seasoned oyster crackers that I happened to have found when going through my can goods...they weren't stale, so I decided to mix them with some herbs and ground spices and viola!  Snack time.

They're in the oven now, but when they come out and cool a bit, I might munch on them while finishing up this movie before heading to bed to read then eventually fall asleep.

Did I mention that I'm an avid reader?  I am.  I almost refuse to read the new fad trilogy everyone is talking about.  Maybe in two years when it isn't cool anymore.  I just hate reading any trending book.  Call me crazy.

OHHHH, I almost completely forgot!  I am planning to start working in Cardio to my routine.  I'm thinking on some leg days I'll do cardio instead, two days a week should be good for a bit.  That is, until I get better and it doesn't kill me every time.  I happen to also have what the doctor called "activity induced asthma" which is a nice way of saying my lungs are fat and out of shape.  I'm hoping that as I work up my cardio routine, I'll need my inhaler less and less and less........  One day, in the distant future, I'd like to call myself a runner.  Something to work toward and aspire to.

Mulberry cobbler

I spent this weekend at my parent's house in Ohio.  It was a very nice trip.  I kept my food journal up all weekend, but my workout schedule got a little out of wack.

Friday, I didn't work out.

Saturday, I did some serious yard work and carried gallons of water up a huge hill.  It was definitely a work out, albeit, not my usual.

Sunday I did as a day of rest anyways, even though I missed Friday.  Sometimes you just have to take a break.

Today, I will be working my abs and obliques, and might throw in some leg stuff too.

Now for some fun....I found a Mulberry Tree in my parent's yard.  Alright, I thought it was a blackberry tree at first, since they look remarkably like blackberries, but I was informed blackberries don't grow on trees.

After confirming that the berries were, in fact, mulberries, my whole family went out and picked a huge bowl full off of the tree.  After a bit, we got a huge sheet, put it under the tree, and had Dad shake the limbs.  Mulberries everywhere! My legs and hands and feet were stained purple (from kneeling on the ground). 

I cleaned the berries THREE times to get rid of any unwanted things...since they were wild mulberries, and Mom and I made cobbler and mulberry syrup.

 

You pick the black ones, just like blackberries.  They're sweet and have a unique taste AND the seeds are practically nonexistent!  I don't eat blackberries because of seeds, but these are wonderful!

I have never seen a mulberry tree before, but from now until September (when the tree quits producing fruit), I'll be picking mulberries every time I go up to my parents.  We'll be freezing them so we can eat them throughout the year.  

The next time I make a cobbler, which my mom showed me the BEST recipe for yesterday, then I will post the recipe.  You will be thanking my mom for the deliciousness, that's for sure.

Now to workout.  

Weekend away

I'm at my parent's for the weekend.  I shall resume blogging when I get back home.  Hope no one is too destitute without my awesome bloggings.

Weird Science

Yes, I happen to be watching this iconic movie as I blog.  I have already worked out this evening on my belly.  Oh my gosh, I forgot Robert Downey Jr was in this.  He has aged wellllllllllll. 
Anyways, I baked a TON tonight for my trip to my parents this weekend.  Banana bread, banana coconut chocolate cake, yellow cake with chocolate frosting AND chicken quinoa chili for my sister and I for dinner tonight and lunch tomorrow.
Busy, busy bee. 
Now to continue this fantastic movie.   Oh, it's hilarious in a bad 80's way.

When did yesterday happen?

I failed last night.  Well, not in the sense of my exercise regime, but in the fact that I forgot to blog!!!
Sincere apologies, if anyone happens to breathlessly await my blog updates.
In other news, I did my arms last night.  My triceps need some serious work.  I seriously have NO muscles there.  They just don't exist. 
Oh, and I had a GiGi cupcake today.  ONE MILLION CALORIES!!!!  Tried to counter it with a salad for lunch and a small portion of salsa for dinner, but still.  Yummy yikes.
Abs tonight.

Earthquake

Either my legs are extremely out of shape or I push a bit too hard during my workouts.  Today, I decided to work out as soon as I got home, so I put some laundry on, changed into my work out clothes and turned up the music.  20 minutes later, I was trembling and...let's just say "glistening". 

I cooled down a bit, had a bowl of salsa for dinner and went to make some frosting for a yellow cake I made and wrapped up on Sunday...only to realize I have no butter!  Can't make frosting without butter...you.  just.  can't.

So no frosting of the cake today.  I might keep the cake in the freezer and bring it with me to my parent's this weekend along with a coconut banana cake I'm going to try out.  I can frost it up there...easy peasy.

Instead, I did another lady thing and painted my nails with a fast drying ridge filler.  It's barely noticeable, but it helps keep my nails strong and from breaking or splitting.  I'll keep this on until I have time to put some color on, which is a recent new love of my sister and I.

Oh, I almost forgot to mention...I worked out extra hard today because I ate like a hippo at lunch.  I shan't even tell you what I ate...  You know the old saying "fell off the wagon"?  Well, I ate the wagon today in mild taco sauce.  Ok, maybe it wasn't that bad, but still.  One day I will start working in cardio and that will help immensely!  I'm still in the habit forming stage of my new exercise laden life.  Once I'm a pro and don't look like a whale blubbering down the street, then I'll step out and do some cardio...unless someone wants to buy me an elliptical machine?  No one?  Eh, the after-the-whale-stage plan it is then.

^^^^^^^I had to google a fat whale...just for clarity's sake^^^^^^^

I journal

You see that on hipster shirts all the time.  Well, now it's true for me too...well, kind of.  I started my food journal today. 

I realize now that I don't eat very much...my body must horde food like a starving squirrel.

Breakfast was a medium banana, 7 fig newtons and almost a cup of coffee.  Lunch was a normal size salad with ranch (not the best dressing, but hey, it was on lettuce).  I drank a large sports bottle of water, which I have been doing every day for over a week now.  For dinner, I had a bowl of salsa and a handful of chips to eat it with. 

Oh, I snacked on two whole grain no fat brownies throughout the day...yes, the ones I mentioned yesterday; they taste just fine but are very moist and don't hold up well...back to the drawing board on them.

I think I shall oblige myself to a skinny cow ice cream and a huge cup of water, then head upstairs to read a bit before I do my workout.  It's going to be a late work out tonight.

Tabata Mix

I wanted to give an example of the type of music I listen to when working out.  I made a playlist in Grooveshark, which is an awesome web based music site. The ones on there are a bit more blood pumping, but this is a great basic example.

This is a Tabata mix that is pre-set for the 8 rounds of 20 secs on, 10 secs off.  Pick an exercise, oh like squats, for example, and try to do a set of them…the full 8 rounds.

Double dare you.

Done already?

Not entirely.  I am, however, done with my exercises for the day.  I did my full arm workout (until I maxed out on each, of course), then I even threw in some butt and calf work, since I wasn’t feeling the burn enough from yesterday.

Now, I can continue the rest of my day in rest.  I feel like going to the duck pond and feeding them some old hotdog buns and, oh, I don’t know, read a book in the park while working on my ghostly pallor.

I’m also going to go to the store and get some tomatoes and cilantro to make some more salsa.  I think I may try my salsa on some baked chicken breast this week maybe with some quinoa on the side.  Not a bad dinner plan, I think.

I also need to find some dessert type things.  Maybe I can try making brownies with whole wheat flower and stevia?  I’ll let you know how that turns out…maybe the chocolate will mask the “healthy” parts?

No pain, no...oh, no.

So it’s Saturday.  I was supposed to do my legs yesterday.  I did not.  It wasn’t for a lack of effort.  I changed into my work out clothes and turned on my music and tried to squat…and trembled.  Then I tried to do a leg lift, and got two done before crapping out….I slowly turned off my music, struggled up the stairs, and collapsed haphazardly into bed.

I have realized how out of shape I am.  Only four days in, and my body is exhausted.  In a way, that’s a really, really good thing.

So, since my workout was a bust yesterday, I am going to do my legs today, even though they are still tired, and I’m going to do my arms tomorrow on my day of rest.  It’s not the best start to my program, but I understand that it’s a one-day-at-a-time thing and I have to listen to my body until it gets used to what I’m trying to do to it.

On another horrid note, I had Taco Bell for dinner.  Two enchuritos.  They are delicious and saucy and cheesy but now I really, really need to get some work out in to burn off that deliciousness.  Then I’m off to an early bed.  It was a no coffee day, and my brain is rebelling by causing my pain.

C’est la vie.

"It is often merely for an excuse that we say things are impossible."

Francois de La Rochefoucauld

CUPCAKES

No, I will not be eating all of these myself.  I am going to share with you guys…I kind of make amazing cupcakes.  Today I was busy whipping these bad boys up for a little girl’s birthday party.

I rarely eat the cupcakes I bake.  I just love baking them.  I do lick the cake beaters after I’m done cooking them, though.  I love cake batter.  And now I’m off to work out…and shed the cake batter calories!

Heavently Green Stuff

First of all…how delicious does this look?

It’s called Watergate salad and can totally be made fat free and low sugar.  I think I’ll share a recipe today instead of doing the exercise stuff.  I’ll save that for Friday.  I’d rather talk about food right now.  Delicious pistachio-y cloudy creamy nutty food.

Watergate Salad
1 regular can crushed pineapple, drained
1 small bag finely chopped pecans, equals like a 1/4 cup
1 lg. tub free whipped topping
2 pkg sugar free pistachio pudding
1 handfull mini marshmallows (this is optional)
1 jar drained maraschino cherries (this is optional too, and I usually do without)

Mix pineapple, pudding and nuts until combined.  Fold in whipped topping.  Fold in marshmallows or cherries.  Let chill in the fridge for at least an hour.

This should last you a few days if you’re by yourself and love it as much as me.  If you’re sharing, it makes a large bowl.

Yum!

Who needs the "E" word?

I do.  I need lots of *whispers* exercise.  Let’s be honest, we all do.

Here’s my thing…I love food.  I love to love food.  I read food blogs in my spare time and dream of dinner while eating lunch.  I’ve always been this way.  Always.  Ask my mom.  Go on.

So, I decided that for me to suddenly change everything about my diet would be radical and make me miserable!  Thus, I came to conclusion that the only way to start getting my fitness on would be to exercise and then s-l-o-w-l-y change my eating habits.  I don’t think I’ll ever give up potatoe salad at 4th of July, but I might forgo it on a Tuesday night, which is what I’m working towards.

Anywho, I decided to make a 6 day workout routine that focuses on certain areas of the body one day at a time.  I do a combo of moves and workouts, depending on the day, but here’s the thing…they’re all HIIT focused.

What the heck is that?  High Intensity Interval Training.

Sounds crazy serious and daunting, right?  It’s not.  I like it because it’s like a mini-series of goals that I can achieve quickly.

Here’s the thing: After two sets, you’re like “oh, I’ve got this”, by the fifth set, you’re like “When will it end?”!  Then you collapse on the floor for 10 seconds before the next set begins.
I do a form of HIIT called Tabata that will kick your butt every time.  You quickly realize how out of shape you are.

Here’s the gist of it:
8 sets of 20 seconds on, 10 seconds off.  They can be repetitions or help positions.  For example, on some routines I work in some yoga and those are held, of course.

Tomorrow I will give you my specific workout schedule as of now.  Excited for the “E” word yet?

And Then There was Salsa...

So, I’m going to share a secret with everyone…I’m in LOVE with chips and salsa.  I’m a self-announced salsa snob.  It’s true.  Luckily, I live really close by to a little Mexican restaurant that has the absolute best salsa.  The only problem with that, is to get the salsa, I feel the need to also order the Pollo Bandido (chicken smothered in a cheese sauce…yes, yum), and somehow that doesn’t fit in with fitting into skinnier jeans.

Thus, I realized I could make it at home and avoid the cheesy goodness that hates my thighs.

Here’s my recipe:
3 cans diced tomatoes (no salt added is preferred) do not drain
1 jalepeno, stem cut off, seeds included (I keep a frozen bag of them in the freezer)
1 small white onion
1 bunch cilantro, twist the top 3/4 away from the stems, discard stems
heavy pinch of salt (might need more to taste)
1 clove garlic or tsp. garlic powder, more if you love garlicky goodness
1 lime (or 1/4 c. real juice, sometimes I use lemon juice)
In a food processor, or blender, or stick blender in a bowl, whir the onion, 1 can of tomato and jalepeno.  You want these bits finely chopped.  Once they are small enough to your liking, add the remaining cans and whir again.  Then add remaining ingredients, including cilantro and whir until chilantro is chopped and mixed in.

SO EASY and SO GOOD!  I put it in an old juice bottle for easy pouring.  It also helps you shake any settling back together.