Julie Goes Healthy: January 2012

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

February's 1st WIAW

It's already February! I always forget that January has 31 days. I don't know why, but January feels very long.

When my workouts are in the afternoon, I get to make slow breakfasts. I tried Kath Eats' whipped banana oatmeal because I wanted chia seeds but also some b-a-n-a-n-a-s.

1/2 of a Rocky Road Halo bar, which was good, but I think Nutty Marshmallow is my favorite. I don't recall because I shared the bar with my bottomless pit students.

Lunch, unpictured, was chicken and onions with a guacamole spread on a high fiber/low carb tortilla and some hint of jalapeno tortilla chips.

Afternoon snack: gluten-free cinnamon bread and what's that stuff on top? That's the red velvet cake batter cashew butter I made the other day. It's kinda clumpy.

Plus, a pumpkin protein bar after work.

Change of plans: Zumba with Jen tonight and then Pilates. I love that girl and am getting so much Zumba lately. I hyped myself up with a chocolate Shakeology made with extra water.

(source)

I find that the Shakeology is kind of sweet and the extra water doesn't detract from the flavor.

Zumba was fun. My ankles were not cooperating, but it was okay. Pilates, on the other hand, was killer. My hips hurt so bad, in a good way I guess. I always have trouble with Pilates for the small muscle movements but barre doesn't bother me.

I was hungry by the time I was finished and had green beans and salmon.

I'll post a little later with some new February goals. I don't think I did one for January really. I'm thinking of starting some weekly goals as well. *The whole PUSH goal setting I tried is okay, but it seems like we go onto new topics without addressing previous lessons.

Simple things and feelings

Busy day. Got things done and feelin' accomplished.

Sleeping in. Today was my day of rest and I slept in till 8:30 (much needed!) then made some needed calls. I will always love The Rush Fitness Complex. I don't care what everyone says about the intense decor or the fact that it's a corporation (especially the Asheville locavores), but they're clean, offer great classes, and didn't make me pay extra for not telling them I moved... till now. I miss it. They're the reason I started loving fitness!

Slow meals. Angela of Oh She Glows makes some rockin' raw recipes and the best oatmeal recipes! She adds chia seeds to give the oatmeal more volume. I always find myself going back to her blog at some point. I made her pumpkin pie oatmeal for breakfast this morning.

My favorite recipes come from Love Veggies and Yoga. Averie posted a recap of her January recipes, and I love so many of them. I rarely find 4 recipes I want to make much less 4 in just one blog.

Teenagers. We got more boys in our class of boys. We only have 2 girls, but I'm okay with that. I love our guys. They're 16 and 17, but geez, do they act like they're 12! I adore them and everything is okay when I'm with these sillies.

I also have some of the coolest co-workers ever. We have similar foodie/fitness interests.

(Almost) freebies. I love free clothes. I'm not a clothing snob. I got free clothes the other day from my cousin's cousin. They're rich and throw nice, almost new clothes our way.

Then, I got to work and find that our store won a company-wide contest! Big deal: we each get 75% off of 5 items. My co-worker and I shopped our store when we found out. I'm thinking of a jacket, 2 pairs of pants, and a bra. Not sure what my last item will be.

More fat. Can you tell the difference between 2% Greek yogurt and 0% Greek yogurt? I sure can. The taste is so much creamier. I definitely like it more and for an extra 20 calories, I can swing this way. I'm totally drooling over this 2% strawberry banana Chobani in front of me. :)

Uncontrollable laughing. I don't know what it was but the other night, I couldn't stop laughing. My mom and cousins just starred at me. My belly hurt. Its been a long time since I've had that feeling.

I'm also quite excited when I make others laugh. I did a play on words in Chinese and my aunt is still laughing... literally 5 minutes later. Such an accomplishment.

More sleep. Second appearance in this blog. I'm deliriously tired after some caffeine-free peppermint tea. I'm already in my onesie, ready for a bed, and the boob tube. Good night.

What makes for a successful day in your life?

Sunday, January 29, 2012

A week of twins

I need a rest day. TurboKick was super rough, but I pulled through it and I love Mondays for Turbo and PiYo. I powered through PiYo!

I went over to my cousin's for a shower. We came out matching!

He has an interview today. I just have staff development later in the day.

I was hungry after my workouts so I snacked on one pumpkin protein bar and protein chocolate chip cookie dough ball. I'm notorious for taking pictures at stop lights.

It's time for meal plan Monday then 3 hours of first aid training.

Monday, January 30
Shakeology, chicken & cheese quesadilla on low carb/high fiber tortilla, 2 pumpkin protein bars, chicken & onions w/ green beans, 1/2 c. cottage cheese
TurboKick, PiYo
work 1:30-4:30
call T-Mobile

Tuesday, January 31
Shakeology, egg whites w/ green beans, chicken & cheese quesadilla, 2 pumpkin protein bars, sardines w/ tortilla chips
Spartacus workout
work 10:30-2:30, 3:30-7:30

Wednesday, February 1
Oatmeal, chicken & cheese quesadilla, Shakeology, salmon, 2 protein pumpkin bars
Cardio sculpt fusion, Pilates mat fusion
work 10:30-2:30

Thursday, February 2
Shakeology, egg whites w/ green beans, chicken & cheese quesadilla, sardines w/ tortilla chips, 2 pumpkin protein bars
Tabata interval training, yoga
work 10:30-2:30, 3:30-7:30

Friday, February 3
Shakeology, egg whites w/ green beans, chicken & cheese quesadilla, salmon, 2 pumpkin protein bars
Winter Shape Up Week 2
work 10:30-2:30

Saturday, February 4
Shakeology
30 Day Shakedown, Boogie Box

Sunday, February 5
Shakeology
Barre fusion, Zumba

Sunny Sunday and raw recipes

Sunny Sunday

Hangin' with my cousin Catherine

We wore the same cardigan AGAIN!

I made cake batter cashew butter. I roasted the cashews and processed the heck out of them, but the natural oils just wouldn't come out, and I was reluctant to add oil to an already oily nut. So it turned out thicker. I added real, leftover gluten-free red velvet cake from the fridge and Valentine's Day sprinkles.

Since I had the food processor out, I made raw chocolate chip cookie dough. I remember the best ever raw cookie dough was in a "blizzard" from Oh She Glows.

I looked up the basics and altered it to fit my needs.

1/2 c. raw cashews
1/4 c. oat flour
1 scoop vanilla protein powder
1/2 bar of dark chocolate filled with Speculoos butter from Trader Joe's!
salt, Stevia + raw cane sugar
vanilla extract
1-2 tbsp of unsweetened almond milk

At first, it was too grainy. I added milk slowly, but I missed the fine line between still grainy and gooey. I only added a touch too much so it's all gravy.

I'm gonna let it sit for a bit before I make them into balls.

Do you make any raw desserts?
What snacks are you packing this week?

Not so wintery weekend

Work. Blah. Busy day so it went quick at least.

I will never turn down jalapeno and pineapple pizza...

...or fresh strawberries.

Whole Foods finally started carrying Halo bars so I thought I'd try out the other two, hopefully better, flavors.

Weekend weather was ridiculously perfect!

Sitting outside with Mushi & Baron, my cousin and mom's dog. You can tell which one is friendlier.

He got so tired chasing the light from a mirror!

Just finished baking the full recipe of Jamie Eason's pumpkin protein bars.

I just got back from barre and Zumba. I totally zoned out in Zumba though. I'm just tired!

The rest of today involves going out with my family to run errands and nap and watch a movie. I have to meal plan and schedule big time this week since my post-gym showers will no longer be convenient for my schedule. This may involve waking up earlier! :(