Ok, so this accidentally became an awfully word heavy post..

First a Preview

I’d seen the various CSN Store promotions & giveaways on other blogs, but hadn’t really browsed around. I finally did, and wow, I didn’t realize they have over 200 online stores with pretty much any healthy living product (and some not so healthy, I skipped over the deep fryer) you could want, ranging from dining room sets and cookware to fitness equipment (I spent a little too much time browsing around that last one :p). Look for a product review, and subsequent recipe creations (hint hint) coming soon!

And the current going’s on..

FITNESS

Refresher

Sometimes we need little refreshers about what’s really important in life… and perhaps when pursuing such a selfish, egotistic and narcissistic ”sport” such as Physique competitions, you may need them more often (I don’t mean to offend any competitors by saying that, I am one after all.. it’s like making fun of someone with red hair & freckles.. we get teased a lot as children :p).

Nothing dramatic happened, all is wonderful in my world.. but something reminded me recently of how truly silly it is for me to ever get upset about something as meaningless as a number on the scale not going down, or whether or not a caliper measurement went down one or two millimeters this week. I mean really?! This is one of the many things I’ve been contemplating/realizing lately.. and it’s a great thing.. I’m just thankful to be able to train like I do, and it really makes me not stress quite as much about competition-prep. I can be so type-A sometimes, that I am thankful for refreshers.. they come in so many forms: talking to friends, reading blog posts and yoga.. they snap me back into what’s really important.

But with that being said.. today was..

Check-In

As of today the competition is 2.2 weeks away.. all I gotta say is, it’ll be interesting to see what happens when I cut water! Oh and don’t worry, when I “cut” water I’m still drinking more than the average person. I drink well over a gallon on a daily basis, so cutting down to half a gallon or on the last couple days, 1/4 gallon, makes a difference to me, but I’m not exactly dehydrating myself. So specifically, yet again, my weight remains the same, but my body fat % went down. It’s all relative, but for comparison purposes, my trainer had me at around 7.5% the weeks of my two shows last November (I tracked it here), and right now I am right around 8.25%. Am I really exactly 8.25%, no, of course not, but relatively speaking I’m <1% different from what I competed at last time. Weight you wonder..

Well let me say this first, I am completely 100% happy with how I look and feel right now. So this isn’t, at all, a weight complaint post, it’s more of a “what, really” post, haha… So I am actually right around 130 lbs right now.. oh I’m 5’4″. Crazy right?!  That’s up just over 12 lbs over what I was at this far out last time.

As I’ve mentioned, I’ve been going back & forth a bit with regards to whether or not I’d compete August 28th if I didn’t feel ready. Well I think I’ve decided that I will compete no matter what. I always say that I want to get on stage knowing I did everything I could do be my best up there. If my best is good enough to win, then awesome, if it’s not good enough that day, then I won’t be disappointed as long as I know that I did my best. Have a been 100% perfect on my diet the last 6 weeks.. no.. could I potentially fit in more cardio.. yes.. but have I done my best with the situation I’m in, while trying to stay as healthy as possible.. mind & body.. YES!

Over the last week I had wonderful conversations with my Dad, a close friend and my trainer over me competing in physique competitions and my future in it. I am in just such a wonderfully positive place right now, that I want to stay there, and I want to prevent any unhealthy emotions and physical issues after the show. After going to watch NPC USAs a couple weeks ago, a number of things made me think long and hard about why I do this. And I was very pleased with my conclusion.. I know I do this for all the right reasons. I have an amazing support system in the form of family, friends and all of you! I want to win of course, but for me it’s not about getting reassurance about how I look or that I’m “the best.” I truly enjoying working out, challenging myself, and especially meeting amazing people and having fun at shows. Heck I’m a Leo, and an only child at that.. there will always be a part of me that enjoys being the center of attention.. so put me in the micro-suit and give me some heals and I’ll go play on stage.. crap.. I mean that in a very, “I”m not seeking a career as a stripper” sort of way.. though they do make bank! :p I digress.. I do it because it’s fun! .. But I’d be lying like crazy if I didn’t admit that this dieting part is not fun.. no, it’s not fun at all, and I’ve definitely had a few rough moments this last week, where it all of a sudden got A LOT harder, and I seriously questioned “what the hell am I doing?” Basically, I’m hungry about 75% of the day. I’ll eat a meal, and an hour later I’m hungry again. Not “oh I could eat” hungry, but “holly crap, give me food now!” sort of hungry. It’s incredibly distracting when you’re trying to get work done, haha.. We made a couple changes to my diet today that I hope will help. After all, it’s only 2.5 weeks away, and I’m looking forward to having a blast with teammates who have worked so hard to be there!

As for after that show.. I have no idea.. maybe Ironwoman NPC, maybe Fitness American.. we shall see ..  And I’m completely ok with that.. for now..

As far as the rest of today.. I finally made it to Yoga (it’d been over a week) for a noon-time Power Hour class.. it was awesome, and just what I needed. Then there will be Spin tonight!

NUTRITION

I started making one thing, then changed my mind half-way through.. this is what I was really craving..

Savory Oats! This was 1/3 c Coach’s Steel Cut Oats mixed with 1/2 tbsp Nutritional Yeast & 1 tbsp Salsa, topped with 3.5 oz Chicken Breast, 35 g Pinto Beans and another tbsp of Salsa.. totally hit the spot

FUN

A Few Posts

Here are a few posts I’ve dug lately:

1) From Eat, Live, Run, “ELR Food Philosophy.. Again”

My comment on this post:

I think if someone glanced at my blog they would think I would be one of the ones on the other side of the fence on this one.. but that SO isn’t true! I absolutely couldn’t agree more. My biggest struggle is the moderation part. I tend to be an extremist with whatever I do and have trouble finding the off-button with sweets (alcohol, fried food, etc have never been a problem there, just sweets.. who knows why). But perhaps it’s because I do attempt to restrict myself too much. I think life is far far too short not to have a cookie when you really want one!

2) Alison Either’s, “Europa Texas on the Horizon,” talking about Fitness and it’s demands

3) And just because apparently I’m a masochist: How Sweet It Is’ “Better than Crack Brownies“

FITNESS

First an update.. yesterday was weekly Check-In day with my trainer.. and.. finally my weight dropped a couple pounds, and my body fat % when down too It’s so crazy, right now I’m only a little over a percent above what I competed at last time (which I can definitely lose in the next 3.5 weeks), but my weight is so much higher. I’ll really be cutting it close if I’m ready to compete August 28th.. but no stress.. if I don’t feel ready, I’ll just hold off till the October 2nd NPC Show, which is the federation I’m more serious about and it has fitness!

Cardio: Just a whole lot of Steady State :/ .. but it’s all good.. I’ve come peace with it, and we’ve agreed to have a cordial relationship for the time being. Today I split it into two 30 min. sessions.. it’s just so much easier to convince myself of just a quick 30 minutes, then convince myself again later that day. Plus multiple cardio sessions is a great distraction when I otherwise might want to eat things I shouldn’t haha

Weight: Yesterday was Shoulders & Back, today was Arms.. both good workout. Overall I’ve feeling pretty good strength-wise, and have only noticed a bit of a drop of with my endurance.

Beloved Support

Today I met up for coffee (though I never actually ended up getting coffee, whoops), with a friend who also competes in Figure. Having a strong support system of a training team &/or friends who have competed is a must, in my opinion, when pursuing this crazy sport. It’s just one of those experiences, that unless you’ve done it, you really can’t completely understand. I’m super thankful that most of my family & friends have been very supportive, and I value that SO much, but I know they get tired of my training & dieting rants.. or simply complaining about being hungry &/or tired (no matter how much I try to keep it at a minimum, sometimes you just have to vent!). Any who, just having people who can completely understand is so helpful, and therapeutic in getting through prep.. most recently Julie, June and Chrissy deserve a shot out for listening to me … and of course to ALL of you who are so sweet, and motivate me everyday with your encouraging comments. THANK YOU!!

NUTRITION

I love coffee, iced, hot, you name it. Since I live in pretty much the hottest place in the country, lately I’ve favored the iced version, so when I saw this at the store, I had to give it a try..

To be honest, as much as I love Starbucks Lattes and Frappuccinos, I don’t really like their drip coffee, in store or at home. I tried the Natural flavor line recently, and didn’t like that either. But I have to say, this was my favorite so far.. especially with a little Unsweetened Almond Milk, Vanilla Stevia and Sugar-Free Syrup And it will be perfect for one of my Ice Blended Fit-uccinos!

A Few of the Usuals

It’s pretty much been the usuals the last couple days, but here are the pretty highlights..

Snickerdoodle Tofu Pudding with Almonds..

A plain & simple Protein Pancake with Almond Butter and WF 0-cal Maple Syrup..

Lemon Blender Protein Ice Cream with Sugar-Free Strawberry Syrup..

Come to think of it, I’m not sure I’ve ever listed the specific blender protein ice cream recipe.. so for reference purposes

Blender Protein Ice Cream

1 scoop Protein Powder (my favorite is MGN Ice Cream Sandwich Whey Isolate)

1 c Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Breeze

1/4 tsp Xantham Gum

1/2 tsp Guar Gum

Stevia Extract to taste

2 tbsp Sugar-Free Syrup (optional)

10 drops Capella Flavor (optional)

Ice

Toppings: Puffed Millet, High Fiber Natural Cereal, Walden Farms Syrups, Berries, etc (optional)

Mix all ingredients, except Ice, in a blender on low speed. Add a handful of Ice and blend on high/ice crush. Top with favorite ingredients.

And continuing on

Spinach Bar +

Tilapia x 2.. one with Yellow Curry and the other with Salsa..

Shirataki Noodles + Smoked Salmon + Imitation Cheesy Sauce + a dash of Mrs. Dash..

And of course Protein Almond Milk Ice Cream! This was a Caramel version (by adding 2 tbsp Walden Farms o-calorie Caramel Dip), with a Protein Cookie crumbled on top..

FUN

Ok, no lies.. I’m totally jealous of all of the people currently at BlogHer and going to the Healthy Living Summit next week.. jealousy is bad.. but wow, it looks like so much fun! Maybe next year

Before I forget, OpenSky, the host of My Shop, made big changes this last week, and it seems many products I had before have disappeared, while others I never requested have suddenly appeared. hmm, I’ve been so busy I haven’t had a chance to sort it out, so I apologize for that.. but on a positive note, there’s currently free shipping!

Movie Time

Currently watching one of my favorite childhood movies, Labyrinth.. the song ‘Dance Magic Dance’ still always makes me smile..

What were your favorite movies growing up? Besides Labyrinth I also loved ’101 Dalmations’ (the cartoon version) and the first Star Wars movie.

Any fun weekend plans? Saturday I’m planning to do a Boot Camp class, followed by Figure posing practice, then hopefully will make it to a handstand workshop & fundraiser at my Yoga studio!

FITNESS

So today was check-in. Like I mentioned yesterday, I was a little nervous because I really didn’t feel like, and it didn’t look like, I made much progress this week. With the increased Carbs, I noticed that I looked “fuller” and was just feel bloated all well. Well as it turns out, it was a little more of the same.. my body fat % went down (yay), weight didn’t budge (boo). I’m thankful for the positive changes, but gah, it’s frustrating. It’s great for me to be holding onto muscle, but I have to get rid of some of the weight in order for judges to see that muscle when I’m on stage. So more nutrition adjustments are being made..

Weights: Arms & Shoulders & Abs .. Chin-Ups, Tricep Push-Ups, Bench Dips, Bench Plank Toe Touches, Inclined DB Curls, Pulley Curls, Tricep Pressdowns, Lat Raises, Reverse Delts, Front Raises, Incline Crushes

Cardio: 60 min. Spin

NUTRITION

The latest shipment of MGN Cake Batter is back to it’s normal formula.. yay! And it reacted much differently in the waffle maker .. :p

But still tasted great

Protein Waffle topped with 1 single serving packet of Justin’s Natural Almond Butter, and WF 0-cal Maple Syrup..

A Diet Spinach Bar with a Turkey Burger and Fake Queso (1 tbsp WF Onion Dip + 2 tbsp Salsa)..

For an afternoon snack, I went with the usual Slimmed Down PB Protein Ice Cream..

For dinner I ended up going to one of my favorite restaurants, Green, for dinner with a friend. Their vegan pizza are unbelieveable.. and I drooled over the BBQ version my friend got. I stuck with a plain salad with mock chicken. It tasted good and all, but half of it was these crispy chip things, which I wasn’t able to eat, so it wasn’t too filling.. I had ~3 oz of Chicken Breast approximately 45 seconds after walking in my front door :p

Desert was Nutella Protein Almond Milk Ice Cream (used 1 tbsp Unsweetend Special Dark Cocoa and 2 tbsp Sugar-Free Hazelnut Syrup) and a Protein cookie of course..

FUN

Big weekend coming up! I’m heading to Vegas Friday morning to watch NPC USA’s and go to the Muscle & Fitness HERS Camp.

I’m bringing all my food with me, but since I’m staying in a condo with a few friends who are competing, I’ll have a full kitchen too, which rocks! When I was in Vegas for Fitness America last November I had to just keep refilling my cooler with Ice.. not the best system, haha.

I’m really excited for the camp too! I think there will be a lot of girls, and I’m just looking forward to meeting people and getting to learn from such amazing competitors, judges & indjustry experts.

Pheww.. I still have a project to finish up tonight.. so off I go..

Have a wonderful Thursday!

Super quick post.. today ended up being pretty busy and flew by!

FITNESS

Today was my first check-in day for competition prep progress since I made the slightly crazy decision to try to compete August 28th. Both Diet & Workouts were fantastics this last week and a half, so I was really curious to see what, if any, progress had been made, and if it was at a rate that could get me ready to compete in Figure on August 28th. And the verdict.. weight down 2 lbs, waist & legs down, body fat % down a couple caliper measurements which is ~1/2%. Just what I needed!

NUTRITION

Quinoa Protein Pancake (2 tbsp Quinoa mixed into the basic mix)..

1/4 c Coach’s Steel Cut Oats + 2 tbsp Oat Bran + 1/3 c Blueberries topped with plain Greek Yogurt sweetened with Stevia..

Reduced-Carb Quesadilla using boneless, skinless canned Salmon instead of Turkey..

Madras Lentils (these are crazy good, and pretty happy with the nutrition stats too!) with a Turkey Burger (same as this recipe but without tomatoes)..

So we’ve all see Yogurt & Granola (one of my all time favorite combinations).. so why not Frozen Yogurt (literally) and granola?! Or in this case, 1 container frozen plain Chobani blended with a bit of Unsweetened Chocolate Almond Breeze, 1 tbsp Special Dark Hershey’s Cocao & Stevia topped with a single serving on Chia Millet Granola.. cold & rich yogurt with fresh-out-the-oven granola was awesome!

Wow.. quick one.. have a wonderful weekend everyone!

FITNESS

Check-In

Today was Shoulders & Back, Spin and.. check-in! I haven’t made major changes to my diet quite yet (carbs are above 100 g, just keepin everything clean), just increasing cardio. Since my last measurements (about 1.5 weeks ago), weight stayed pretty much the same but body fat went down slightly. What’s crazy is when I started dieting down for my last competition, my body fat % was right around the same as it is now, but I was 10 lbs lighter! Measurement wise, everything is up.. arms, glutes and legs.. My natural inclination is to not be happy about that, but then I have to stop & remind myself.. oh wait.. that was my exact goal, add muscle! So, all in all, even if I’m still adjusting to how I look in the mirror.. I’m pretty happy.. just can’t wait to be able to compete again!

NUTRITION

Pre-workout I snacked on a Protein & Oat Protein Pancake.. but post workout breakfast #2 was fantastic..

Strawberry Ice Cream Oats! I made 1/3 c Coach’s Steel Cut Oats stove top, then topped it with 1/2 of an Ice Cream Protein Shake (1/2 scoop MGN Ice Cream Sandwich Whey Protein Isolate + 1/2 c UVAB + 1/4 tsp Xantham Gum + Ice), and fresh Strawberries!.. perfect

For lunch I went with leftovers.. a slice of Lentil Walnut Loaf, Seitan, a little Artichokamole and fresh Tomatoes..

Perfect on a hot day.. a Matcha Fit-uccinno (1 c UVAB + 1 tsp Matcha Powder + 1/2 tsp Guar Gum + 1/4 tsp Xantham Gum + Ice)..

There was also mid-day snacking on reduced-sodium deli Turkey wrapped with Cottage Cheese & Hummus.. so simple.. so healthy.. so tasty!

Dinner was a new mix. I saw a Vegan Cheesy Hemp Nacho Sauce from Kristen’s Raw, and made a few adaptations to create a single serving version to go with Shirataki Noodles. I blended the follow ingredients in the Magic Bullet using the flat blade: 2 tbsp Hemp Seeds, 1 tbsp Nutritional Yeast, 1 tbsp Hummus, 2 tbsp H20 and dashes of Garlic Powder, Cayenne Pepper, Soy Sauce, Salt & Pepper. I mixed that with the noodles and topped it with 4 oz grilled Chicken, Sundried Tomato pieces and a little bit of fresh Basil..

I am loving this Chocolate Frozen Yogurt (1 c Unsweetened Chocolate Almond Breeze + 6 oz plain Greek Yogurt + 1 tbsp Special Dark Unsweetened Cocoa Powder + Stevia + 1/2 tsp Xantham Gum.. blended, then mixed in the Ice Cream Maker for 20 minutes)..

Yawn.. I’m spent. Have a great night!

Just a super quick post tonight.. I have to work on my portion of a group paper.. 24 days left!

FITNESS

It’s 14.5 weeks to NPC USAs and today was my first check-in and measurements since starting to diet down last week. The verdict.. weight down 2.5 lbs, and waist measurement down. I would like to compete at 7-8% body fat at around 118 lbs. I have a ways to go, but I’m starting early to go slow and health. I’ll get there!

NUTRITION

Today I experimented a bit more with Agar, and I love love what resulted..

PB Cake Low-Carb Pudding

1 c Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Breeze (UVAB)

2 tbsp Agar flakes

1 scoop Cake batter Protein Powder

Stevia to taste

Topping: 1 packet Justin’s Peanut Butter

Heat the UVAB, Agar flakes and Stevia at medium heat until the flakes are dissolved (this will take ~5 min once it’s boiling). Remove from heat, mix in Protein Powder. As you stir, the mixture will thicken. Poor into serving dish and top with something fun (Peanut Butter was for sure a winner).

Oh this was just so delicious and filling!

Stats (without almond butter): 146 calories / 26.1 g P / 4.0 g C / 3.o g F

FUN

So turns out I really am, randomly, in Oxygen Magazine this month. It’s a photo taken at Fitness America while we were learning the opening dance number. I’m just in the background.. but my 1st time in a magazine nonetheless :p

Paper writing time for me. Have a good Thursday

FITNESS

So I was thinking today.. thank goodness I like weight lifting and am not obsessed with becoming a bad ass marathon runner because my body is clearly made to add muscle and not for being lean and conditioned for distance. Now of course I believe you can train and improve at anything, but there are some things that just come more naturally than others. I think my attraction to weight lifting and fitness is related to the fact that it’s something that works well with my history and genetics. Whereas if I suddenly decided my goal in life was to play in the WNBA or run in a marathon next year, I fear my hopes & dreams may be crushed rather quickly. I also wonder if this all would have been the same if I’d never done gymnastics.. I haven’t done gymnastics for 7 years, but I still get asked about it, and the body type never really goes away. But did I do well in gymnastics because of my body type and genetics or did gymnastics influence my body type. I think it certainly helped to establish muscle mass and muscle memory at a young age (I did it for 12 years), that never really goes away.

What are your thoughts? What attracts you to certain sports or athletic activities over others?

Mid-Week Check-In

Today was check-in and leg day with the trainer. I almost asked him not to measure me after last weekend’s “fun,” but I figured I’d use it as  motivation if the news was bad (I think I might have said that last week too, woops). But turns out my body fat % caliper measurement went down again, though I don’t know about weight because I forgot to do that this morning. So at least I wasn’t upset about the whole thing.

USAs x2 ?

And in other good news, it looks like I’ll be at least going to NPC USAs in Vegas the last weekend of July, and there’s a possibility I might compete. I was thinking about going anyway to help out all the STS girls competing, and Vegas is such an easy trip from Arizona. But talking with my trainer today, we discussed the possibility of me starting to diet down a little earlier than originally planned, and see where I’m at come end of July. Unfortunately, this show doesn’t have Fitness, but I really like the idea of getting my jitters out on stage, in Figure, before I’m out at Jr. USAs in Houston for Fitness in August. I’m really excited about the possibility because I’ve made some good gains in muscle mass, and now I’m ready to tone it down and see how it turns out.

NUTRITION

Breakfast was a delightful Berry Protein Shake (1/2 packet Vega Smoothie Infusion, 1/2 scoop Cake Batter Protein Powder, 3/4 c frozen Mixed Berries, 1 tsp Bee Pollen, 1 tsp Glutamine, 1 tsp BCAAs, 3/4 c UVAB, Ice), topped with Goji Berries and Sunflower Seeds..

Late morning I devoured gracefully enjoyed a bowl of Yoats..

Post-workout I went with a Tropical Protein Shake for the quick digesting whey protein and quick carbs (1 scoop Cake Batter Protein Powder, 1 tsp Glutamine, 1 tsp BCAAs, 1/2 c fresh Pineapple, 1 tbsp Shredded Unsweetened Coconut)..

Another snack was Kabocha Protein Custard. I just mixed up fresh out of the oven Kabocha with 1 scoop Protein Powder in the Food Processor. It’s amazing how rich and sweet this comes out to be. Totally nature’s candy!..

Dinner was a repeat of last night’s “Nachos” but with Tilapia instead of Tofu..

FUN

I feel like a liar.. people who have only seen me at fitness competitions or from pictures on my blog, don’t recognize me in “regular” life. For example, last weekend I was meeting (exciting new related to this soon) someone who had only ever seen the blog photos, and they walked right past me. And even Averie mentioned being surprised when we first met. So since I actually had to put on something other than workout clothes today, I thought I’d snap a pic of what I look like most of the time.. and yes, I’m Irish in all my red hair and pale white skin glory.. And it totally didn’t occur to me to smile for some reason :p

Tomorrow I really have to figure out what I’m going to wear to the wedding on Saturday! I need to try on my various dresses to see if any fit in my current mass-added state. If not, an emergency shopping session is in order!

Make it a wonderful Thursday!

FITNESS

Check-In

Wednesday was check-in day with the trainer. Perhaps it wasn’t the best idea to have my massive cheat the night before getting measured :p Turns out my weight went up slightly, but my body fat % went down again by a caliper measurement. After measurements and repeating the old mantra, ‘it’s body fat % that matters, not weight’ a few times, we moved on to the leg workout. Nothing crazy to report there, just lots of Squats, Split Squats, Leg Presses, Step-Ups, etc.

Lovely

They predicted we were going to have crummy rainy weather today, but instead it ended up being gorgeous, and perfect for a hike! So I started my day hiking Camelback. This time went much better than last. I didn’t try to race up the mountain (then hit a wall), instead I kept a good steady pace the whole time, and made it to the top in my best time. The Student Rec Center at my school has a massage therapist. I’d been tentative to try (no idea why), but my friend got a massage their recently and said it was great, so I decided to give it a try.. plus it’s crazy cheap for an hour. And oh my wow, it ended up being one of the best massages I’ve ever had. My back’s been pretty sore from getting back into Yoga, and she worked wonders. I’ll definitely be a regular! Then this evening I did an 80 min Yoga Flow class. I’m really starting to notice myself feeling stronger. My flexibility has a ways to go to get back to my usual, but I’m feeling great, and I’m hoping to be able to incorporate a few things into my fitness routine this year!

NUTRITION

I’d kind of forgotten about Overnight Oats, but I am all about them this week! Last night I mixed together 1 container plain Chobani + 1/3 c Organic Oats + 1/3 c UVAB. This morning I mixed in 1 tsp Bee Pollen and 1/2 tbsp Chia Seeds, and topped all that with fresh Strawberries slices..

Kasha

Have you ever tried Kasha? I hadn’t even heard of it before in a recent IIN lecture, Andrea Breaman, who was on the first season of Top Chef, talked about some of the lesser known whole grains. So when I saw Kasha at Whole Foods, I thought I’d give it a shot! Kasha is just toasted buckwheat groats, which I learned is actually the seeds of a fruit (who knew!). Because of that, it’s gluten-free, and I read one source that said it’s the closest plant source of a complete protein (all 7 essential amino acids), and is a great source of iron, B vitamins, potassium and calcium. And of course the stats: 1 cup cooked has 155 calories, 1 g F, 33.5 g C and 5.7 g P. (source: Kasha Nutritional Information)

Considering I’ve only had buckwheat in pancakes, I really had no idea how it would taste. I cooked 1 part Kasha to 2 parts H20. I actually forgot about it, but it was perfect timing, because the Kasha soaked up all the water, fluffed up a ton, creating this thick, moist grain. At first bite I thought I’d burned it, but really it was just the ‘toasted’ part. It has the strongest flavor of any grain I’ve ever tasted. I’m still deciding how much I like it, but I think it’s growing on me, especially when topped with yummy things like Greek Yogurt and Cottage Cheese..

(Janetha, shield your eyes! :p) .. This was 1/3 c Kasha topped with 1/3 c Cottage Cheese + 1 tbsp Lite Coconut Milk + 1/3 scoop BSN Cinnamon Roll Protein Powder..

Between massage & yoga I didn’t want anything too heavy so I had a simple Protein Shake (1 scoop Nectar Cappuccino + 1/2 c Iced Coffee + 1/2 c UVAB + 1 tbsp ground Flax Seed + Ice). Super boring pic :p

Dinner was Spinach Slim Noodles mixed with the last of a Savory Tofu Pack and 1/2 serving 3 Grain Tempeh. For sauce I made Humnut Sauce (2 tbsp Hummus + 1 tbsp Nutritional Yeast + 2 tbsp H20). After heating, I topped it with a small scoop of fresh Guacamole for a little healthy fat.

I know it’s ugly, but it tasted pretty darn great!

Bad Ass Blender Needed

I was debating what protein-packed dessert to have, when I saw Mae’s latest post featuring Frozen Chocolate Protein Custard. Inspired by her recipe I mixed up: 3 Ice Cubes + 1 c Frozen Spinach + 1 scoop Chocolate Amazing Grass + 1/2 scoop Chocolate Sun Warrior + 1 tsp Glutamine + 1 tbsp ground Flax Seed + 80 g Frozen Kabocha + Unsweetened Chocolate Almond Breeze (enough to get the darn thing to blend).

This took ages to mix up in my modest little Magic Bullet. Funny enough I was actually looking up Blendtecs and Vitamixes today. Any recommendations for which is better? They are just both so darn expensive, but with as much as I use my blender, I know it would be worth it in the long run!

FUN

Are you guys doing anything fun this weekend? Tomorrow I’m looking forward to Yoga & Wine with a girlfriend.. but other than that, specific weekend plans are still up in the air! Have a wonderful Friday

FITNESS

Minor Vent

So this isn’t going to be the nicest thing I’ve ever written.

We all have our slip ups with nutrition and exercise, and I will never pretend like I don’t, but I will never understand people who continually complain about not loosing weight but yet make no changes to their unhealthy diet or lack of exercise habits. Fine, don’t change, but please don’t complain about not having results or judge me for my choices.

I make mistakes with nutrition & fitness all the time, I’m still learning, and figuring out what works best for me. The biggest change I’ve made to my attitude, and I think starting Yoga has played a huge roll in this, is not beating myself up and getting depressed when I miss a workout or eat something that I probably shouldn’t. Instead, I’m trying to make each slip an opportunity to anlayze why it happen, and what I can do better next time to prevent it. The more I do this, the less slip ups I’ve found myself making, and the happier I am because I’m not mopping about because I had a few cookies or missed Spin class.

Last week I had fun.. maybe do much, with regards to beverages and desserts that were enjoyed. Usually when things like that happen I do a little extra cardio in the gym the following week. My schedule this week did not permit that, so instead I’ve made a point to be particularly mindful with my clean eating, and I wasn’t anticipating and progress in my measurements. I know why.. and I deserve the results I get. Turns out, even though my weight stayed about the same, my body fat % went down ever so slightly, as did my waist measurement. I was definitely reassured by this because my moderate carb-cycling has been going great.. I’m full, haven’t been craving starchy carbs (since I’m still getting plenty of carbs from other sources) and don’t feel deprived in the least. I’ll be so curious to see how next week goes after a squeaky clean week! (I totally digress again..)

I guess my point is, if I have a point since this has turned into more of a ramble than anything else, is that you have to own the choices you make and live with them.. it’s your body to take care of or mess up. That doesn’t mean don’t enjoy a happy hour here and there are treat yourself to a dessert (Red Velvet Cupcake anyone? :p), but know that you’ll have to pay the price in some way. Heck, most of the time I’m even more pumped to have a great Cardio session and end up burning even more anyway!

One of my favorite parts about Nutrition & Fitness is that every meal and every workout you have the opportunity to do it better, to turn it around.. so no need to complain or beat yourself up.. own it, learn from it!

NUTRITION

So it’s funny.. I didn’t realize it until I sat down to write this post but I pretty much ate the exact same thing Tuesday & Wednesday! The only difference at all was a mid-day snack..

Breakfast the last two days: ~100g Kabocha heated, sprinkled with Cinnamon and topped with 3/4 c plain Greek Yogurt + 1/2 scoop PB Protein Powder and ~1 tbsp raw Sunflower Seeds..

Lunch was on-the-go Salads: Spinach + Chicken Breast + Artichoke Heart + Walden Farm Calorie Free Ranch Dressing..

Tuesday I made this fantastic new concoction..  a new version of my usually kabocha shake..

Kabocha Double Protein Shake

80 g frozen Kabocha piece

1 scoop Cake Batter (or Vanilla) Protein Powder

2 oz Extra Firm Tofu

1/2 tsp Xanthan Gum

3/4 c Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Breeze

dash Stevia Extract

Blend. Top with something tasty. Enjoy.

Kelp Noodles

Always love a new discovery..

Have you ever had these? I picked them up at Whole Foods last week, curious to try a noodle substitute that only has 6 calories and 1 carb per serving! At first test I was unsure. They don’t really have much of a flavor and are oddly crunchy. But then I mixed them with 1/3 -1/2 c Lactaid Cottage Cheese + 1 tbsp Hummus + 1 tbsp Nutritional Yeast, added Savory tofu, and microwaved for a couple minutes.. fantastic healthy cheesy noodle substitute! I used up the second 1/2 tonight..

Evening snack on Tuesday was just 1/2 c plain Greek Yogurt + 1/2 scoop PB Protein Powder + 2 tbsp Sunflower Seeds..

Dessert tonight was unpictured because I gobbled it down so fast. My intent was to make Protein Fudge, but I ended up mixing in 2 tbsp plain Greek Yogurt for a rich, chocolate-craving satisfying pudding like treat!

I’m loving using various raw Seeds (especially Sunflower, Pumpkin, Flax and Chia) as a method of getting my good fats. I love the texture it adds, and I’m much less likely to eat a cup of Chia seeds than a Peanut Butter :p On a related note, my trainer wants me to increase my fat intake to up to 50-60 g! That seems like a lot to me but I trust him and know it’s what my body needs. So expect to see a whole lotta Flax, Udo’s, Chia and Sunflower Seeds

Thursdays mean it’s almost Friday, which is basically the weekend.. so make it a wonderful one!

FITNESS

Check-in day! I almost asked not to be measured today, because I didn’t want to be discouraged for not seeing any changes after missing weekend workouts and having a cheat. But I decided to suck it up and use whatever the result were as motivation. Turns out, my body fat % went down a little, waist measurement went down and weight went slightly up.. meaning.. added lean muscle! Still repeating over and over, “it’s body fat that matters, not the scale.” If I’m being honest, I feel like a beast these days. It’s not in a bad way, I mean, I feel strong and solid.. but I still feel big. I’m so happy to see how my  body’s responding to my best efforts to build. Each week I’m seeking progress and I’m seeing changes in my Shoulders, Upper Back and Legs.. but I’m certainly still adjusting mentally. I know my size gains now, means I’ll be that much better when I cut down for show. Just have to stay focused on the goal!

Tomorrow’s just a cardio day, but I’m hoping to fit in Yoga too.

NUTRITION

Oh you know there was a lot of green But aiming for eating green foods, just for fun, reminded me of a couple things I haven’t had in a while, and inspired a couple new fantastic treats!

Tropical #1

Breakfast was Cottage Cheese + Cake Batter Protein Powder + 1 tbsp Pumpkin Seeds and a Green Protein Macaroon Chipper..

Post workout I had a Vanilla Chai Vega Protein Shake (1/2 Vega, 1/2 Protein Powder + 3/4 c UVAB + 3/4 tsp Xanthan Gum)..

Then another old favorite, which I think is  a fantastic warm weather drink.. Iced Matcha! This was just 6 oz UVAB + 6 oz H20 + 1 tsp Match Powder.. yum!

Pool-side I had a little Quinoa, Edamame, Sun-dried Tomato, Chicken mix (unpictured).

On the drive home I mentally planned what I’d prepare as soon as I walked through the door, but it all went out the window when I was too impatient to cooked, and remembered an open container of plain Oikos.. In went a spoon-full of Nutzo (finally got my hands on this and love it! No surprise there :p) and a bit of Galaxy Not Sweet Vanilla Granola..

Tropical #2

The desire to come up with something fun & green led to a new delicious snack. It’s super simple, but I’d never thought to do it before..

Fitness Key Lime Cheesecake

1 Graham Cracker crumbled

1/2 c Cottage Cheese

1 tbsp Key Lime Juice

1 tbsp UVAB

1 packet Stevia

a few drops Green Food Coloring (optional but fun)

1/2 tbsp Shredded Coconut (I used reduced-fat unsweetened)

Blend everything but the Graham Cracker & Coconut (though I bet that would be good too!) in a blender. Top the crumbled Crackers with the Key Lime mix and sprinkle with Coconut.

Yum! This was so refreshing & light.. I sense this appearing often as the weather gets warmer & warmer!

Tropical #3

Later on, I had an urge to bake. Inspired by my Key Lime concoaction, I remembered a tasty tropical muffin recipe I’d seen on Oh She Glows. I followed Angela’s recipe with a few, completely unsurprising substitutions. I replaced flour with Protein Powder (I used Cake Batter but Vanilla would be great) and Agave Nectar with Walden Farm’s Calorie-Free Maple Syrup..

They turned out perfect, and you can’t tell at all that the flour was replaced with Protein Powder.. they’re still super light & fluffy!

FUN

In honor of today’s tropical treats, I’m giving away a bottle of Artisana Coconut Butter! Not only is this the key ingredient in Protein Macaroon Chippers and Tropical Protein Muffins, but it’s fantastic on top of oatmeal, sweet potato.. you name it! To enter you can:

• Comment on your favorite Coconut Butter use, or what you would like to try it with
• Follow Me on Twitter
• Subscribe to my blog (& let me know)
• Link back to it on your blog (& let me know)

I’ll do a random number drawing after 10pm Friday and post the winner on Saturday!

Hope you had a wonderful St. Patrick’s Day!

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