Peppermint Fro-Ro Date

Last night Lindsay and I met up for our bi-weeklyish “fro-yo for dinner” date. We emailed throughout the morning dreaming and talking about fro-ro.Catch that slip up? I actually typed that without looking and couldn’t stop laughing when I said it out loud, so for laughs, the typo is totally staying.

I mentioned that I was hoping they’d have several holiday themed flavors, especially peppermint, so I was thrilled when we walked in and they had Candy Cane yogurt! They also had Eggnog, but that just disgusted me, so I stuck with half Candy Cane and half California Tart. A winning combo! I was hoping for graham cracker toppings but had no luck, so I stuck with a few Oreo crumbles, and then played it safe with my fav, rainbow jimmies!

After talking for about 20 minutes, we called it a wrap and each finished up our evenings full of laundry, cleaning, cooking and grocery shopping. We’re fun girls!

I headed next door into the grocery store to pick up a grapefruit since I was so depressed without one yesterday morning, and an avocado for a little healthy fat to include in today and Friday’s meals.

After prepping food I hopped on the treadmill for a quick 1-mile walk while I read my new book, What Happens at Christmas, which unknowingly to me, is set in 1886. Total fail! Not the type of romance I want in a book. I’m giving it a shot, who knows, maybe I’ll like it. In fact, yesterday Jaime and I were just discussing books and how she’s reading a classic, East of Eden. I mentioned I wanted to read a classic too, and I know this one isn’t necessarily a classic, but I should get a little credit since it takes place so damn long ago!

Thursday

This morning I enjoyed THE juiciest grapefruit, along with a peanut butter protein shake, and enjoyed a clean egg scramble later in the morning. Into my scramble went 1 egg and 2 egg whites, half of an avocado, a handful of spinach, and a spoonful of pineapple salsa.

This scramble was so good and the addition of pineapple salsa really added a nice touch. Yum!

Morning Workout

• 4.1 mile run
• 3 sets of 15 stair push-ups
• 1 minute plank hold
• 50 heel touchers
• 50 scissors
• 50 crunches and 50 side-to- side crunches
• 30 toe touches
• Stretching

Not a bad morning workout, although my legs started to feel a little heavy at times, but it might just be overuse.

This afternoon I have a fun workout full of Smith Machine squats, lunges, and arm work. I’m continuing on my goal to eat as clean as possible today. I do so well during the day, but after dinner, all hell breaks loose. I think I might have to save my Chobani bowls for a nighttime dessert.

Do you guys have any tips on eating healthy at night or healthy treats you enjoy after dinner?

This girl needs help!

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Sometimes You Just Need to Have Fro-Yo for Dinner

Last night after work I met up with my girl Lindsay for a fro-yo date and to catch up. We both found it hard to believe that it had been a month since we last saw each other. With traveling for work and being sick, it was difficult to get together, BUT we vowed to not let that much time lapse. Plus, we have plans to drool over John Cusack in Serendipity, watch Christmas movies and go shopping, so I’ll have plenty of best friend time in my future. 🙂

We met up at 5:30 at Yo-Flava, a semi-new frozen yogurt bar in Manchester that we’ve been to once before. We were so excited to see the fall and winter flavors mixed among the regular flavors.

In my bowl I went for apple pie, cheesecake and a pomegranate mix. Typically I would load my fro-yo with unhealthy toppings, including anything covered in chocolate and cookie and candy pieces. Last night, I topped my fro-yo with strawberries and blackberries to play with the cheesecake, finely diced walnuts, and a small scoop of mini chocolate morsels.

I tried my best to match the toppings with the flavors since last time it was a total disaster, and I’m happy to report that I succeeded!

All that cheesecake fro-yo had me craving the REAL cheesecake in my fridge, so when I got home I HAD to have a mini slice.

What? You only live once. 😉 Plus, this morning Lindsay informed me that cheesecake is calorie free so whatevs! Treat yo’ self and live a little.

Several days ago my bestie Lisha was telling me about a new show on MTV called Catfish, and since I had the house to myself and nothing to do, I sprawled out onto the couch and put it on. Holy moly is that show addicting!

One of us was bored and it wasn’t me. I had a load of laundry that had to be switched to the dryer halfway through my first episode but I couldn’t tear myself away from the show. Needless to say, after completing 2 episodes, I finally turned the show off and switched my laundry.

My priorities were very evident last night and I have no shame in the mindless television I watched or the treats I enjoyed.

**

My legs are almost back to normal, which is great, aside from the fact that the workout that murdered my midget legs is scheduled for today. I could complain about my legs not having a day to feel normal again, but I enjoy the pain because I know my body is being positively challenged. Bring it on!

Ever since starting personal training last week, I’ve scaled down my runs a little bit by about a mile or less a day. Nothing too drastic but I like the feeling I get when I wake up and don’t have to worry about trying to get in a 4 mile run. I know that even on a hard morning, I can still get in a quality 3- 3.5 miler in and feel great about myself, especially when I know I have a strength workout to look forward to later in the day that will be even more beneficial to my goals.

So this morning I enjoyed a more relaxed workout atmosphere and with the help of my favorite Good Charlotte album, The Young & the Hopeless, I made it through 3.3 miles. Seriously, that’s one of my favorite albums ever created and my personal fav from the dudes.

Morning Workout

• 3.3 mile run
• 4 sets of 15 stair push-ups
• 50 heel touchers
• 1 minute plank hold
• 50 scissors
• 50 crunches
• 2 sets of 20 plank tucks
• 2 sets of 13 standing dumbbell side crunches

Breakfast

As weird as it’s been not having my overnight oats for breakfast, I’ve been enjoying my breakfast switcheroo, which in order to consume more calories a day, I’ve broken breakfast into 2 mini meals.

Since I workout upon waking, you’ll have noticed that I’ve been eating half a grapefruit and a protein shake before leaving for work around 7:25ish. This not only helps with my muscle recovery from my morning workout, but it also gets my metabolism going again.

Between 9:30 and 10:15 I’ll usually enjoy the 2nd half of my breakfast, which has been a Chobani power bowl, which includes ½ tbsp. of: chia seeds, flax seeds, raw oats and sometimes PB2, depending on the yogurt flavor.

Not only do I have more energy with my new breakfast routine, but I won’t lie when I say that I enjoy having 2 mini breakfasts each morning. Who doesn’t love to eat?

Do you guys switch up your breakfast daily or are you like me and a creature of habit?

Switching up the Morning Workout

Last night I felt like a little rebel child by staying up an hour past my bedtime. Instead of my typical, “be in bed reading by 9 and lights out by 10” gig, I didn’t head up until 10, and didn’t turn the TV off until the winners of Dancing with the Stars All-Stars were revealed at 11.

When Tony and Melissa were crowned the winners, I became so caught up in their happiness that I cried for them. Sounds pathetic, but if you’re a fan of the show, then you know what I’m talking about. It’s great to see 2 deserving individuals win; an overall feel good moment. And please, I didn’t ball my eyes out, it was more like several tears slid down my cheeks. 😛

Getting 1 less hour of sleep took an evident toll on me, and it didn’t help that my legs were still extremely tight and sore. I didn’t think a run would be possible, and while I contemplated crawling back into bed for an additional 30 minutes or so, I knew a walk would be better than nothing.

I grabbed my copy of The Happiness Project and got to walking. After walking half a mile, I wanted to test out my legs, and set off for a half mile run. Once I got moving I realized my legs didn’t hurt AS bad as they originally had. At that point, I knew I could get in several miles but at the same time I wanted to listen to my body, allow it to recover and not overdue it.

It felt nice to switch up my workout, and the remainder of my workout included intervals of walking and running. In the end, I ran 2.5 and walked 1.25. While I ran 1-1.5 miles less than normal, I didn’t feel bad about that because I got a great workout and it honestly didn’t feel like I skimped out on a workout either.

I finished my workout with a handful of core exercises, and plan to run 1.5 miles on my lunch along with hopefully 10 minutes on the elliptical or spin bike.

Morning Workout

• 2.5 mile run & 1.25 mile walk
• 15 stair push-ups
• 50 heel touchers
• 30 toe touchers
• 50 scissors
• 50 crunches
• Stretching & foam rolling

Since I was feeling more tired than usual, I knew that last night’s Muscle Milk freebie would fit perfectly into my breakfast. Along with half of a grapefruit, I enjoyed Muscle Milk Light’s Vanilla Latte that contained caffeine. Not only did it taste like breakfast, but it was very light, didn’t weigh me down, and gave me a boost!

While I enjoyed the shake, I can’t say that I’d buy it on my own as it was just a little too sweet for me.

I also enjoyed a Chobani power bowl, which included Mango Chobani and ½ tbsp. of: chia seeds, flax seed and raw oats to round out my breakfast later in the morning, and enjoyed a banana and almonds before going to the gym on my lunch hour.

Tonight I have a fro-yo date with Lindsay and I couldn’t be any happier. I haven’t seen that gypsy since our last fro-yo date which seemed ages ago. We had fro-yo plans 2 weeks ago, but with her traveling to CT for work the last 2 weeks and me being sick, we had to cancel.

Now it’s time for me to get my big butt to the gym and finish up the work day.

Catch you guys later with a full belly and a fro-yo recap. SO EXCITED!! 🙂

Sticky Granola Bars & Planko X Sweat

You know when you eat something that is deliciously amazing and then realize that it was made with incredibly dirt nasty ingredients and you get sick to your stomach?

I lived that moment today when I snacked on a granola bar before working out. I wasn’t all too hungry but I wanted something small with staying power to get me through my workout before lunch.

I reached for the Cascadian Farm organic Chocolate Chip Chewy Granola Bar that Jen grabbed for me this past weekend and went to town.

The first bite and I was in love! It should be renamed to the Incredible Chewy Granola Bar, since that’s exactly what it was. There were so many chocolate chips jammed into the sample sized bar! Pure heaven.

Then I turned the bar over on accident and was disgusted.

Look at all that dried syrup, oil and sugar just screaming for attention.

Gross!

Now I know why it was stuck in the wrapper and then stuck to my hand.

So I had a little fun in mocking how unhealthy the granola bar is.

 

Before I saw the bottom of the bar, I had convinced myself upon the first bite that I’d be buying a box of these. Now, I don’t think that’ll be happening. Just because a product is labeled “organic” does not by any means consider it healthy.

It was sooooo good though! Almost as good as that fro-yo. 😉

My afternoon run left me feeling amazing. The 2 miles flew by and the only time I had to stop was to wipe the sweat out of my eyes, off my forehead, cheeks, and mouth. Ladies and gentlemen, I sweat pretty.

I finished my run with 15 minutes on the vertical elliptical before heading back to shower and enjoy my garbage scramble. I haven’t enjoyed one of those lovely scrambles in an earth shattering few days so it enjoyed a nice welcome back fiesta!

My weekend has begun! Since I’ll have a busy weekend, I switched today and tomorrows P90X workouts and just completed Plank X.

Check out that P90X sweat. Ya baby!!

Time to go do laundry, hit the mall to grab some suspenders and glasses for this weekend, and pack my little heart away!

Yo-Flava Fro-Yo

Last nights fro-yo date with Linds was perfect! We were both hungry-hungry little hippos and were in dire need of a fro-yo attack to the face.

Our cravings brought us to Yo-Flava, a new Fro-Yo shop located in an odd spot in Manchester. We were the only customers getting our fro-yo on, and that made me happy. I’m not a fan of going to shops where all the seats are taken, so it was a nice relaxing date.

After testing samples of Red Velvet and Sea Salted Caramel Pretzel, I was ready to fill my bowl. I settled on half Cookies & Cream and half Sea Salted Caramel Pretzel, with a dollop of Cinnamon Roll, which was decent. The Sea Salted Caramel Pretzel was easily the yummiest flavor I’ve ever tried. Give me more!!

So many yummy toppings! Although the owners misspelled a word. They’re called Rainbow JIMMIES, not sprinkles. Silly people! 😉

Do you call them Jimmies or Sprinkles?

This topic always ends up as heated debate with me. I won’t stop until I win. They’re Jimmies, don’t even try me!

I always have trouble trying to pair toppings with my fro-yo flavors, and last night I tried to make healthy choices, but I don’t think my toppings paired well. 😦

I went for kiwi, raspberries, shredded coconut, a little granola, and chocolate covered pretzels to eat as an appetizer. Luckily I didn’t have a lot of toppings so I was able to get to the fro-yo quickly.

My dinner disappeared WAY too quickly, but was so worth it. My bowl was nearly $6. What a fat ass!

When I got home, I prepared meals for today and started deciding on which tops I wanted to pack for my long weekend in Harrisburg, PA. I’ll be visiting my brother and future sister-in law, as they’re hosting both sets of parents for a fun-filled family weekend.

I pack my tops on hangers because I’m lazy my theory is that if I don’t wear it, all I have to do is throw it back in my closet. I delete the step of grabbing a hangar and rehanging. So clever. 😉

My two essentials for tops are always a fitted white v-neck t-shirt and a plaid shirt. Holy plaid overload above!

Morning Workout

I crashed extremely early last night after having an awkward conversation on Voxer. I hate that thing! If you don’t know what Voxer is, it’s basically a walkie-talkie that is a morph between a phone call and a text. I always have awkward silences while I try to think of what to say next. That, or whatever I say ends up being so stupid. Next time I need to write down what I’m going to say and read it word for word. Just like during a college presentation.

I awoke feeling energized and ready to tackle my run, plus, I think having a day off from P90X helped my body recover as well.

• 4 mile run
• 3 sets of 15 stair push-ups
• 30 second plank holds, regular and both sides
• 40 mountain climbers
• Stretching

I wish Yo-Flava opened before 11:30, otherwise I saw a big bowl of Sea Salted Caramel Pretzel as my hearty breakfast. I was able to enjoy a breakfast that was almost just as delicious… My Raspberry Mango Overnight Oats! Intervention, please. Now.

Really wish there was fro-yo on that spoon!

Alright guys, since today is my Friday, sorry suckas, I have some work to take care of. Catch ya later!

Thanksgiving Breakfast Sandwiches & Fro-Yo Frenzy

Before my cardio-filled lunch time workout, I grabbed one of the goodies Jen snagged for me at the Head of the Charles on Saturday. I was craving something sweet and small, which led me to choose the Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Larabar.

Can we please take a moment to drool over those chocolate chips that are packed into that tiny bar. Holy heavens my mouth dropped after my first bite. I’ve never tried this bar before but I will be sure to buy it in the future! The snack size was perfect to fuel my workout.

Lunch Time Workout

• 1.5 mile run
• 15 minutes on the vertical elliptical
• 5 minutes regular elliptical

This was a great workout and I felt energized throughout the entire thing. In fact, I was pretty bitter that I had to get back to work. Damn responsibilities, geesh!! I had the energy of this little guy:

Hey Ladies

After a quick shower and feeling much better than I did when I woke up, I flew to the kitchen (hey, I still had all that pent up energy 😉 ) and grabbed my breakfast sandwich.

 

There’s the Jam!

 Thanksgiving Breakfast Sandwich

• Thomas Bagel Thin “Everything”
• 1 Egg cooked over hard
• Shredded Cheese
• 1 Slice of Turkey Deli Meat
• Jam, flava of your choice

Expect to see this winner being stuffed into my mouth quite often! Plus, Thanksgiving is only 29 days away so I HAVE to get pumped for it.

 Oh yeah it’s time!

Cheesin’ Hard for that Fro!

Fro-Yo time! I’m really hoping for a little lot of red velvet action in my mouth tonight, although unfortunately I’ll be choosing more fruits than sweets for toppings since I do have to show a little skin on Saturday for Halloween. Ugh. OREOS. BUTTERFINGERS. TOFFEE. M&Ms. COOKIE DOUGH. I’ll just have to pretend that’s what’s in my fro-yo bowl.

Excuse me while Linds and I go eat fro-yo ’til we fro-up. 😉