Morning Yoga

February 28, 2013

I woke up today, and I felt even a little worse than yesterday, but not too horrible. So again I tried to figure out what would be best for my workout today. (As in what is the best thing for me to do so I don't get any more sick!) I decided on yoga.

I headed to the gym, and I ended up getting there 10 minutes before the class was going to start at 9am. So I jumped on the treadmill and I ran.

• Cardio - 5 minutes - .50 miles (2 min at 6mph, 1min at 6.5mph, 2 min at 6mph)

It felt good. Mostly because it was really cold outside and that warmed my body right up! 

Then I headed into the classroom for yoga. Marie teaches yoga, and it is a great class. Today I happened to be the only person there for it though. (Everyone else was sick or at work.) But it worked out great because I have only taken a few yoga classes before, and I had some questions on if I was doing things correctly. It was a lot of fun, and quite a work out. Yoga really is harder than it looks! And it really helped my mind too! Plus, just getting my blood flowing seemed to really help make my body feel better. Suddenly some of my sick symptoms seemed to go away.

When I finished with the class, I jumped back on the treadmill for a little walk.

• Cardio - 15 minutes - .94 miles (1min at 3.8mph at 3 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 4 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 3 incline, 2min at 3.8mph at 0 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 4 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 5 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 4 incline, 2min at 3.8mph at 0 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 3 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 4 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 3 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 0 incline.)

All and all it was a great workout. I don't feel like I exhausted my body too much - I want to let it be able to fight whatever is ailing me, but I did get my blood moving, and I felt a lot better when I left!

Pasta Night!

February 27, 2013

Amazing home cooked meal!

I saw a recipe about two weeks ago that I have been dying to try! It is not the most healthy recipe in the world, but I did a few things to try to help it. I think it is worth sharing. Especially the side dish, because that was healthy and also incredible! But we will get to that in a minute...

The main dish was a recipe I saw on the Rachael Ray show. It is called Cincinnati Spaghetti. It is a mix between spaghetti and Cincinnati Chili. Now my mom has a famous (around our family) recipe for spaghetti sauce, but I just knew I needed to try this one, because I LOVE Cincinnati Chili! And the weird thing is, it ended up tasting very much like my moms spaghetti. Turns out it has a lot of the same ingredients. This one just has a little extra chili pepper and such in it. (But it isn't too hot- I'm not a big fan of really hot food. But you could make it hotter if that's what you prefer- just load in a few extra chilies!)


Cincinnati Spaghetti - By Rachael Ray -

Sauce Ingredients-

• 2 tablespoons EVOO - Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 2-3 slices smoky bacon, finely chopped (I used 4, gotta love bacon!)
• 1 1/2 pounds ground sirloin
• 1 onion, finely chopped (I used an extra large one!)
• 4-5 large cloves garlic, finely chopped (I probably used 7 though, I love garlic.)
• Salt and pepper
• 3 jalapeño chili peppers, seeded and finely chopped (I used a food processor.)
• 2 tablespoons ancho chili powder or chili powder blend (Gebhardts preferred brand), a couple of palmfuls
• 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder (Might have added a little more than that!)
• 1 tablespoon smoked sweet paprika, a palmful (I used regular paprika.)
• 1 teaspoon allspice, 1/3 palmful
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, eyeball the amount in your palm (I used closer to 1 teaspoon.)
• 1 healthy pinch ground cloves (I used a good amount!)
• 1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano, about 1/2 a palmful, lightly crushed in palm
• 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce – eyeball it 
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 2 cups beef stock
• 1 14-ounce can tomato sauce
• 1 32-ounce can fire-roasted crushed or diced tomatoes 
• 1 14-ounce can red kidney beans, drained
• 1 1/2 pounds bucatini or spaghetti (I used wheat spaghetti - trying to make it a little healthier!)

Toppings-

• Finley chopped raw white, red or green onions (I used white.)
• Shredded cheddar cheese (I used white cheddar. And I used a fresh blog of cheese and used my food processor to shred it for me. So much more moist that way! I highly recommend that!)
• Grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese  (I also used a fresh block of cheese, and I hand grated it over the dish.)
• Pickled jalapeño slices (I only put those on my boyfriend's, I'm not a big jalapeno person!)
• Cilantro or parsley, chopped (I used Cilantro.)

Recipe-

Cincinnati Chili.

• Heat EVOO in large soup pot over medium-high heat, add bacon and crisp, then add beef and brown well. Add onions, garlic, jalapeño peppers, chili powder, cocoa powder, paprika, allspice, cinnamon, cloves, oregano and Worcestershire. 
• Cook until onions are tender, about 10 minutes. Add tomato paste, stir a minute. Add stock, tomato sauce, crushed or diced tomatoes, and beans. Bring to a bubble, reduce heat to a simmer while partially covered for 45 minutes.
• (If you want to make this ahead of time - you could cool and store it now, just reheat when you are ready over medium heat...)
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil for the pasta. Add the pasta once boiling, cook until the pasta is as tender as you would like. Remove one cup of the water from the pasta and add it into the spaghetti sauce. Then drain the pasta. 
• At this point you are "supposed" to put the pasta back in the hot pot, and then pour 2/3 of the sauce in with it and toss it together. Then top with the rest of the sauce and whatever toppings you want. (Onions, cheddar cheese, Parmigiano-Reggiano, Pickled jalapeño slices, Cilantro or parsley.) Instead, I put a little pasta in individual bowls, and then added the sauce, and then topped each bowl how I wanted. (That way the I could store the sauce separate from the pasta, and be able to have lots of leftovers!) By the way, you are supposed to top it more like you would chili than spaghetti... Thats why there are so many toppings.

For Rachael Ray's recipe, and a video of her making this on her show, click here!

It is a great spaghetti recipe! But what is spaghetti without garlic bread, right? Well, I didn't want to eat garlic bread- well, actually I did, but I knew that wouldn't be very good for me! So I made up my own extremely yummy substitute. And I loved it! Now it is going to be house staple for sure! This is quite healthy, and just magical!

Roasted Garlic Cauliflower - By McKenna Medley -

Ingredients-

Roasted Garlic Cauliflower.

• 2 heads of cauliflower
• 1/4 cup of olive oil (maybe slightly over 1/4 cup)
• Salt and pepper (approx 1 1/2 teaspoons of salt, and 1 teaspoon of pepper. But I just eyed it...)
• Garlic! Approx 3-4 garlic cloves, depending on the size. 

Recipe-

• Heat the oven to 400 degrees fahrenheit. 
• Wash the heads of cauliflower, and break it apart into much smaller pieces. You should have quite a big pile of cauliflower when you are done. And you don't want them to be too big of chunks, it will take longer to cook, and won't be as flavorful.
• In a large bowl, pour in the olive oil, then add the salt and pepper. Then I used a garlic press to get the cloves of garlic smashed, and then added them to the oil. Mix it all together.
• Add the cauliflower into the bowl, and mix it around until all the pieces are covered well. 
• Get out a baking sheet and cover it in parchment paper. (I'm sure other options could be used, but I used parchment.) Then spread out the cauliflower on the baking sheet. Put it into the oven.
• I baked it on convection, and my oven usually cooks fast. But I let it cook for 20 minutes, and then I took it out and mixed it up a bit, then I let it cook about another 20 minutes. But just cook until they are kinda crispy and starting to burn in spots. 

They will be like delish little garlic breads, but in a way different, and in my opinion better. (Maybe just better because I don't feel as bad eating them, but still they are awesome!) They should be crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. (Some might be soggy. I had that problem toward the middle of my pan, but even the soggier ones were so yummy!)

I hope you try the recipes! They made for a wonderful meal at home for us tonight. And I am positive I will be making more of the Roasted Garlic Cauliflower in the near future! A lot more of it... 

Tried For An Easy Workout...

February 27, 2013

I woke up today with a sore throat. As far as a singer in concerned, this is NOT good! Especially since I work this coming Saturday.

So I discussed my workout plan with my boyfriend Michael- who is a bit of a fitness guru/personal trainer/health guy. Since I don't want to get sick- I want my body to fight it off, I wasn't sure if it was best to not work out and let my body focus on fighting the sickness, or to go to the gym and go hard so my blood gets moving and maybe that would help. He said there are a lot of different arguments for the situation, and it is hard to say what is right- especially for each person. But that the best thing I could probably do is go to the gym and get my blood moving, but don't go too hard where I might need muscles to repair. Which to me makes sense because if my body is busy repairing muscles, it won't have time to work on fighting the sickness. That's how I see it anyway!

I went to the gym with every intention of going a little easy, but once I was there I might have gotten carried away. I did lessen my weight on one of the things at the beginning, but once I was done with those sets, it seemed a waste to go home and not do at least a little more!

Also, after the cardio I was COVERED in sweat. I don't think I have ever sweat that much while doing what I did. So I think my body is in a weird place and fighting something! Hopefully whatever the sickness is washed out in the sweat! (Maybe wishful thinking, but I might as well be wishful!)

Workout -

• Cardio - 30 minutes - 2.29 miles [All at 0 incline unless otherwise noted] (2min at 6mph, 1min at 3.8mph, 2min at 6.5mph, 1min at 3.8mph, 2min at 6mph, 1min at 3.8mph, 2 min at 6.5mph, 1min at 3.8mph, 2min at 6mph, 2min at 3.8mph, 1min at 3.8mph at 3 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 4 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 3 incline, 2min at 3.8mph at 0 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 4 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 5 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 4 incline, 2min at 3.8mph at 0 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 3 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 4 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 3 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 0 incline.)
• Weights - Circuit - 700 movements total - 25 shoulder presses with two 10lb free weights, 25 sit ups, 10 lateral raises with two 8lb free weights, 15 bicep curls with two 8lb free weights, 25 hip abductions at 140lb, 25 hip adductions at 100lb. Repeat 3 more times. 25 lat pulldowns at 60lb, 25 crunches on the abdominal machine at 50lb. Repeat 1 more time. 25 tricep extensions with a 20lb free weight, 25 sit ups. Repeat 1 more time.

It was a good, hard workout. Didn't mean for that to happen. But hopefully I didn't do any harm... 

When I got home I got myself a half glass of fresh squeezed juice (just made a fresh batch last night with my juicer!), and I put a packet of Emergen-c in it. Hope it helps fight this crud off!

No Pain, No Gain

February 26, 2013

Workout -

Tricep Push Down.

• Cardio - 20 minutes - 1.45 miles [All at 0 incline unless otherwise noted] (3min at 6mph, 1min at 6.5mph, 1min at 6mph, 1min at 3.8mph at 0 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 3 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 4 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 3 incline, 2min at 3.8mph at 0 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 4 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 5 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 4 incline, 2min at 3.8mph at 0 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 3 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 4 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 3 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 0 incline.)
• Weights - Circuit - 700 movements total - 25 bench presses with two 20lb free weights, 25 sit ups, 25 bicep curls at 30lb on the machine, 25 hip abductions at 140lb, 25 hip adductions at 100lb, 25 tricep push downs at 50lb on the machine, 25 crunches on the abdominal machine at 50lb. Repeat 3 more times.
• Cardio - 10 minutes - .63 miles (All at 3.8mph - 1min at 0 incline, 1min at 3 incline, 1min at 4 incline, 1min at 5 incline, 2min at 6 incline, 1min at 5 incline, 1min at 4 incline, 1min at 3 incline, 1min at 0 incline)

I was quite sore from yesterday. And as an added bonus, I know I irked one of my leg muscles while in Zumba. So I chose to not go too hard on my legs today- best to let it rest a little bit. But I did up my weight on the bicep curl, so that was good! I also felt a little pain in my right elbow when I did the tricep push downs, so I am going to need to watch that! But all and all I'd say it was a pretty nice workout. 

Zumba!

February 25, 2013

After Zumba! I am sweaty! And my boyfriend in the
background- hurting from the Zumba! :)

I had already done my normal workout for the day... But I decided to double up and do something else that is a lot of fun. Zumba!

For those of you that are not familiar with Zumba, it is a kind of latin dance and aerobic class. It is too much fun! I highly recommend it to anyone! It is always a blast to get in there and dance to the music. It doesn't hurt that I have an amazing teacher- Sandra. Class was at 7:15pm, and Michael (my boyfriend) and I drove to the gym together, and he ended up doing Zumba with me, which made it extra fun too! It is an hour long class, and it kicks your butt! I was covered in sweat, and muscles sore!

After the Zumba class, we stayed over for a short ab class that Sandra did. That was killer! I even had to sit out on a couple crunches. It is intense when you focus on the abs like that. But I can definitely say I felt the burn when I left the gym today.

But aside from feeling a burn and getting exercise, it was just too much fun! I love it when I can do something that is that much fun- and it is also considered a workout. Such a great thing! Get out there and start dancing people! It is awesome!

Dentist

February 25, 2013

Since this blog is about health...

I went to the dentist today! I have been way overdue! And I feel much better now.

Remember... Keep your teeth healthy too!

Gym Time

February 25, 2013

Workout -

• Cardio - 30 minutes - 2.29 miles [All at 0 incline unless otherwise noted] (2min at 6mph, 1min at 3.8mph, 2min at 6.5mph, 1min at 3.8mph, 2min at 6mph, 1min at 3.8mph, 2 min at 6.5mph, 1min at 3.8mph, 2min at 6mph, 2min at 3.8mph, 1min at 3.8mph at 3 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 4 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 3 incline, 2min at 3.8mph at 0 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 4 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 5 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 4 incline, 2min at 3.8mph at 0 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 3 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 4 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 3 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 0 incline.)
• Weights - Circuit - 600 movements - 25 bench presses but on an exercise ball for added core benefit with two 20lb free weights, 25 sit ups, 25 tricep extensions with a 20lb free weight, 25 hip abductions at 140lb, 25 hip adductions at 100lb. Repeat 3 more times. 10 lateral raises with two 8lb free weights, 10 crunches on the abdominal machine at 70lb. Repeat 4 more times.

So for today, I actually upped my tricep extension weight. It was more difficult! Especially to keep good form while at that weight... But I did it. Also, at the end I upped the abdominal machine to 70lb, (usually I only do 50lb) but I was only doing 10 at a time, and only doing 50 total. So it was quite difficult, but good considering the amount I was going to do. 

It is hard to make yourself up the weight, but it certainly makes you feel like you accomplished something when you are done! 

Celebrations

February 24, 2013

I have been trying my best to keep my food rather healthy since I have been home, and I have done a pretty good job. But the one thing that keeps coming up are different celebrations. I love being there to celebrate with people, but food in those situations can be quite challenging for me.

I have had 2 different peoples birthday celebration dinners this past week. Both were a lot of fun! But I hate having to watch what I eat when other people are just enjoying it. I will say that I did rather good at both dinners. I didn't even have dessert. (Well, at the first one I had one bite of my boyfriends cake...)  So I think I made it through both successfully.

I do believe in celebrating and just enjoying it- there is a definite time to do that! But when you have stuff to celebrate everyday, or even a few times a week, you just can't do it! Well, you can, but that leads to you not feeling good, and gaining weight, and all of those other things that we are all too familiar with. So I have found that I need to pick my battles. When is it time to really celebrate and when do I need to try to stay on my best- or at least good behavior? It is something to think about. I know I am finding my own balance and definitions of those things, and it is different for everyone.

Personally, working out helps a lot for me too. If I do over indulge a bit one night, I don't feel as bad as I do when I am not in a habit of working out. There is something about having that blood moving that makes it not hurt as bad the next morning if you ate too much the night before. I am sure there is some science to all that, and I could find some doctors notes about the topic, but that just doesn't matter to me. I don't care why it happens, I know it happens and that's a good enough reason for me.

Working Out

February 24, 2013

Today I had a little bit harder time with the cardio. I was feeling a bit run down. But I still had a pretty good workout overall! Here is what I did -

• Cardio - 20 minutes - 1.45 miles [All at 0 incline unless otherwise noted] (3min at 6mph, 1min at 6.5mph, 1min at 6mph, 1min at 3.8mph at 0 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 3 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 4 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 3 incline, 2min at 3.8mph at 0 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 4 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 5 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 4 incline, 2min at 3.8mph at 0 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 3 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 4 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 3 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 0 incline.)
• Weights - Circuit - 700 movements total - 25 shoulder presses with two 12lb free weights, 25 sit ups, 25 tricep extensions with a 15lb free weight, 25 hip abductions at 140lb, 25 hip adductions at 100lb, 25 bicep curls on a machine at 20lb, 25 leg presses at 140lb. Repeat 3 more times. 

As an added bonus, I also went to Walmart today and I got 9 bit cases of water. And so I picked up each of them and put them in the cart, then picked them up and put them in the car. Aside from that I also pushed the cart around the store with all the water in it- and trust me that is not as an exceptionally easy feat. 

Now this is not a real "exercise", but it is not a bad thing! Because at the end of the day, that is one of the reasons you go to the gym, so you will be capable of doing such things. 

Protein Bars

February 23, 2013

I know that if you have been following my blog, you noticed that I eat a lot of protein bars/nutrition bars while on the road. I am not saying that I am a big advocate of eating that many protein bars usually, but when I am on the road it seems like the best choice.

I have a hard time choosing the right thing to eat when I have a lot of options, or turning things down that are sitting in front of me... A buffet is a big struggle for me! And a lot of the places we work, that is what they give us for our meals- buffet comp tickets. (Plus lets not even get into the quality of food at a lot of buffets.) Also, I am not a huge fan of getting up and tracking down food first thing in the morning.

So I have found that a protein bar is a better option for me.

Especially when I am constantly in situations where I don't even know when I'll get a meal; never mind a decent or quality meal. When we are on the road and touring, a lot of food options are out of my control. So by carrying protein bars with me, I am putting it back in my control.

While traveling, I highly recommend carrying along some protein bars. It will also help you out as a snack; so when you get hungry you can have a few bites of something, and not let yourself get starving to the point of stuffing your face the next time you see food!

So no, I don't think anyone should live off of protein bars, but I do think they are a great and very helpful option when traveling. And I don't just mean traveling long distances. How many times have you gotten hung up somewhere and been starving so you either let body suffer by not fueling it or you eat some horrible gas station food? It helps to leave a box of protein bars in your car for sure occasions...

Plus, if you try a few different brands, I know you will probably find one you like! I have found multiple ones that I enjoy! (If you look back through the blog you can see the brands I tend to eat.)

Yes, real fresh food is better; but I'd try to choose a protein bar or nutrition bar over a bag of chips or something like that!

Getting Moving

February 23, 2013

Workout -

• Cardio - 30 minutes - 2.29 miles [All at 0 incline unless otherwise noted] (2min at 6mph, 1min at 3.8mph, 2min at 6.5mph, 1min at 3.8mph, 2min at 6mph, 1min at 3.8mph, 2 min at 6.5mph, 1min at 3.8mph, 2min at 6mph, 2min at 3.8mph, 1min at 3.8mph at 3 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 4 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 3 incline, 2min at 3.8mph at 0 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 4 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 5 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 4 incline, 2min at 3.8mph at 0 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 3 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 4 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 3 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 0 incline.)
• Weights - Circuit - 700 movements total - 25 bench presses with two 20lb free weights, 25 sit ups, 25 bicep curls with a machine at 20lb, 25 hip abductions at 140lb, 25 hip adductions at 100lb, 25 crunches with the machine at 50lb, 25 leg presses at 140lb. Repeat 3 more times.

It was a good workout! I feel ready to get moving with my day! Sometimes it helps to just get some blood moving and then you are ready to go. I know that for me it didn't always work that way, but now that I am in the habit, it does. It is a great change!

Extra Mini Workout

February 22, 2013

I ended up having a late lunch and then going to an event that didn't end until after 10pm... So that resulted in me having a late dinner. I ate a salad- but maybe a bit more than I should have, especially considering what time it was.

So I just wanted to get my body moving a little bit before I went to bed. Here is what I did...

• 40 jumping jacks
• 30 crunches
• 20 squats
• 10 push ups

The I repeated it 3 more times. Total of 400 movements.

A friend of mine that is a trainer posted this mini workout a few days ago, and it said it burns 100 calories every time you do the 100 movements... Which I know doesn't mean it actually burns 100 calories in all people. (From all information I've heard, there is no way for anyone to make a general statement like that, or for something to have the same effects on everyone.) But I knew it was good to get some blood moving! 

Sore But Doing It...

February 22, 2013

I woke up and was extremely sore this morning! But I guess that means I am doing something right! The ice has pretty much cleared up here- or at least on the roads, so I headed in to the gym.

Workout -

• Cardio - 20 minutes - 1.45 miles [All at 0 incline unless otherwise noted] (3min at 6mph, 1min at 6.5mph, 1min at 6mph, 1min at 3.8mph at 0 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 3 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 4 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 3 incline, 2min at 3.8mph at 0 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 4 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 5 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 4 incline, 2min at 3.8mph at 0 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 3 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 4 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 3 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 0 incline.)
• Weights - Circuit - 700 movements total - 25 crunches on the ab machine at 50lb, 25 lat pulldowns at 50lb, 25 sit ups, 25 hip abductions at 140lb, 25 hip adductions at 100lb. Repeat 3 more times. 25 overhead tricep extension with a 15lb free weight, 25 leg presses at 140lb.

It was a good workout, and by the end of it I actually felt less sore. (But at the beginning it was a bit painful!) However, I am glad I went and did it. Feeling good now! Ready to attack the day!

Soup's Up!

The soups I used.

February 21, 2013

As all the ice was keeping the outside chilly and gloomy... I figured it was a perfect day for some yummy soup to warm me up!

I had two different soups sitting in my pantry, so I poured them into a pot and started to cook them. (One said add some milk because it was semi-condenced, but I didn't, I just put the two soups in the pot!) The two soups were -

• Pacific, Organic, Roasted Red Pepper & Tomato
• Amy's Organic Soups, Semi Condensed, Crean of Mushroom

Lunch! My fella obviously
got about double the amount
I needed to eat, and he got
some rolls to dip in the soup
too!

In my small food processor, I put some of the chicken I had left over from the other night. (The Simply Great Chicken recipe I posted the other day...) I shredded it up pretty good, and then I added that to the soup.

I sprinkled just a bit of salt, and then I let it cook for a few more minutes until it was all hot. (I didn't warm up the chicken first, it was straight out of the fridge. So it took a couple minutes to let it all heat up, but since it was shredded into such small pieces it didn't take long!)

It was so yummy! It was kinda sweet, but not too sweet. I think the marinade on the chicken being kinda sweet added a great layer to the taste! (I could also see using a spicier chicken like left over chicken fajita. It would be a different kind of soup, but probably great too!) My boyfriend and I both loved it, and it was the PERFECT thing for an iced in Thursday afternoon!

Kenpo

February 21, 2013

Ice!!

Seeing as Branson was covered in ice when I got up, I decided that driving to the gym just wasn't worth it. Instead, I worked out at home.

Most of you are probably familiar with P90X... I have a few of those DVD's hanging around my house. So today, since the gym didn't seem like a good idea, I popped one of them in my TV. I did the Kenpo DVD. It is a type of karate workout. (It is quite a lot of fun!) The DVD is an hour long, and it kicked my butt!

I used to do this workout video a lot, so I figured with as much as I had been working out at the gym, doing this video would be pretty easy. I was totally wrong! There are just different ways to use muscles- and this video is different than the ways I have been using them at the gym! I was out of breath and hurting! But it felt great, and I felt like I accomplished something good by the time I was done!

Working out!

Also, working out at home is hard for me. I think it is easier for me to get amped up for a workout when I am at a gym- a place I am supposed to go hard! So at home it can be a bit more of a mental struggle- not just physical.

But I do like mixing up the workouts; today I noticed a few things that I need to focus on and improve. So I think variety is a great thing. Mix it up!

Change of Heart

February 20, 2013

I know I said I wasn't going to workout anymore today; but alas, I changed my mind...

My day was moving along quite nicely, got a lot done. But after dinner; and as the predicted storm was just starting to show some flurries, I decided I wanted to get off my lazy butt and give it one more round at the gym.

Workout -

• Cardio - 20 minutes - 1.65 miles [All at 0 incline unless otherwise noted] (3min at 6mph, 1min at 6.5mph, 1min at 6mph, 1min at 3.8mph at 0 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 3 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 4 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 3 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 0 incline, 3min at 6mph, 1min at 6.5mph, 1min at 6mph, 1min at 3.8mph at 0 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 3 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 4 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 3 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 0 incline)



Round 2 ... Covered in sweat and loving it!

• Weights - Circuit - 600 movements total - 25 bench presses with two 20lb free weights, 25 sit ups, 25 lat pulldowns at 50lb, 25 leg presses at 140lb. Repeat 3 more times. 25 bicep curls with two 8lb free weights, 25 leg extensions at 60lb. Repeat 3 more times.

It was a great workout. Felt good afterwards- glad I did it! As I was walking out of the gym I noticed that while I was in there the ice on the ground had gotten dramatically worse. So I have a feeling we might be in for a nice storm tonight and tomorrow.

An extra reason I am glad I went to the gym- if I am iced in tomorrow I won't be going very far... Thus, no gym. But we will just have to see what mother nature has in store for us!

Love Affair With Salad

Beautiful and colorful salad!

February 20, 2013

I LOVE salad. I truly do! I have for many years... There have been times when I would eat a salad for every meal. Unfortunately, growing up my salad tastes were toward more unhealthy options- rich and creamy dressings, etc... As I have gotten older, luckily my tastes have expanded. (Still love a good blue cheese salad though!)

I don't often make salad at home because it seems to not work out financially. Seems to usually be cheaper and easier (less chopping) to go grab a salad at Panera or something. But every so often I stock up on salad supplies and make my own at home.

Tonight for dinner my fella and I had left over chicken from last night, and a big ole' salad. Those that know me well, know that I love the salad to be very chopped up! (I am kinda crazy about that!) Tonight, this is what I put in the salad -

The whole meal.

Trader Joe's Dressings.

• Spinach
• Avocado
• Corn
• Black Beans
• Onion
• Tomato

For the dressing I used a mixture of two different Trader Joe's dressings. I have found that they are a bit lower calorie than a lot of other brands, and they are very tasty!

It was a perfect meal for the night. And now that I have all the salad stuff in my kitchen, I will be able to easily make up one for lunch tomorrow and/or the next day. That excites me!

Out of Breath... But Feels Good!

February 20, 2013

I woke up this morning and I was sore! It felt good to be sore again though. Made me feel like I made a difference yesterday. So today I went in and did a pretty good workout. Took about 50 minutes to complete it, and I was very out of breath for most of it! But I think it went pretty well!

Workout -

• Cardio - 30 minutes - 2.29 miles [All at 0 incline unless otherwise noted] (2min at 6mph, 1min at 3.8mph, 2min at 6.5mph, 1min at 3.8mph, 2min at 6mph, 1min at 3.8mph, 2 min at 6.5mph, 1min at 3.8mph, 2min at 6mph, 2min at 3.8mph, 1min at 3.8mph at 3 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 4 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 3 incline, 2min at 3.8mph at 0 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 4 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 5 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 4 incline, 2min at 3.8mph at 0 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 3 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 4 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 3 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 0 incline.)
• Weights - Circuit - 500 movements total - 25 shoulder presses with two 12lb free weights, 25 sit ups, 10 lateral raises with two 8lb free weights, 15 bicep curls with two 8lb free weights, 25 hip abductions at 140lb, 25 hip adductions at 100lb. Repeat 3 more times.

Also, once I got home I unpacked my two gigantic suitcases from my time on the road... I consider that a mini workout too! ;) Lots of bending down to the ground and picking things up and then hanging them up- and repeating a million times... Not a "real" workout, but how I see it - any movement is good movement!

News reports are saying that there is going to be a big winter storm starting this afternoon. So I doubt I'll get any more exercise in today. Probably gonna stay by the fire for the night, and maybe get to watch some snow fall!

My First Juice

February 19, 2013

My fresh out of the box
juicer!

Today is a historical day in the life of me. I juiced for the first time! And I am not talking about steroids... I am talking about actual fresh fruit that I made into juice! First of all I am a big fan of juice in general- I always have been. But I have always tried to keep drinking it to a minimum since there is always so much stuff added to the stuff you get in stores. Plus I love to come up with unique concoctions and see if it works- so making my own juice seemed like a wonderfully fun adventure!

I had a juicer given to me a few years ago, and I had never even opened the box. But I decided that today was the day! I ripped open the box and took the whole contraption apart and washed it; then reassembled it and got ready for the next step.

I took out all the fruit and stuff I was going to juice, and I washed everything; and cut what I needed to. When I turned on the juicer, it made a loud roar- that sucker means business! I ran it all through there, and was so excited to watch the juice come out! And it smelled so fresh and flavorful! Here is what I used -

• 9 carrots
• 2 oranges (peeled)
• 2 apples
• 2 lemons
• About a 1/4 of a pineapple (depending on what your idea of an average size of a pineapple is...)
• Some chunks of ginger (a little seems to go a long way, I didn't use too much.)

Fresh juice!

I mixed it all together in a carafe. It was so yummy! Extremely fresh and just made me feel good! It made probably about 4 cups worth, give or take... It wasn't as bad to clean the juicer as I had heard either. So that was a nice surprise.

I am very excited about my new found juicing abilities, and I know I will be doing more of it in the future. In the mean time, I think I am going to go enjoy a cup of fresh juice right now!

Home Cooked Meal... Finally!

February 19, 2013

Now that I am home, I finally got the chance to cook! I love to cook, and I do very much miss it while I'm on the road... I want to share the recipe I made tonight with you, because it is really easy, and it turned out really good too! It is probably not the healthiest recipe there is, but it is not as bad as it seems either. Here it is -

Simply Great Chicken

• About 3 1/2 pounds of chicken (I used about 4 1/2 - one package of thighs and one of chicken breast tenders)
• 2 packages of dry Italian Dressing Mix
• 1 cup of brown sugar

(This is double the rub/marinade from the original recipe since I used a bit more chicken, and it worked out perfect. Just covered all the chicken! But if you are cutting the recipe back, just use one package of the Italian Dressing Mix, and a 1/2 cup of brown sugar.)

My dinner.

• Heat the oven to 350 degrees fahrenheit.
• Line a pan or two (9 x 13 - the kind of pan I use for brownies) with foil. (How many pans depends on how much chicken you are cooking up!) And also grease the foil a bit. I just used a little butter for that job. 
• In a bowl, mix together the brown sugar and the Italian Dressing Mix. (Mix it together well.) 
• Wash the chicken, and then dip the chicken in the dry mixture of brown sugar and Italian Dressing Mix, flip the chicken so it lightly coats both sides. Then place the chicken into the pan. 
• Once all the chicken is in the pan(s), put them into the oven. The recipe says to let the chicken cook for 50-60 minutes, but I only needed to cook it for about 40 minutes. (So don't over cook it!) I also flipped the chicken over after 10 minutes, and then I flipped it over again after another 10 minutes. (So it would coat them nice and evenly.) Also you will notice that even though the mixture that you dip the chicken in is dry, it will become more of a liquid marinade as it cooks.
• Take it out and enjoy! :)

Yes, I know that because the chicken is baking in brown sugar it doesn't seem like the most healthy recipe out there! But most of the sugar ends up in the liquid at the bottom of the pan! Plus, I made up for it by not having too much chicken, and having a lot of vegetables for my dinner! My boyfriend and I are both BIG fans of green beans. That is our go to veggie! Here is a really simple but surprisingly yummy way to do it. (I was surprised the first time I made green beans this way, they tasted so flavorful, yet they didn't have anything on them!)

Green Beans

• Green Beans (I usually use an entire bag of organic green beans.)
• Salt

• Wash the green beans in a colander/strainer and sprinkle some salt over them and shake them around to spread the salt. 
• Boil some water in a pot on the stove. When it comes to a boil, add the green beans. Let them cook for a few minutes. I like them a bit harder- but yet still flexible. (I can bend them a little.)
• When they are cooked to the way you want them, pour them back out into the colander/strainer. As quickly as you can, sprinkle them with about a teaspoon of salt, and then shake them around. (The trick is to get the salt on them while they are still wet and steaming so that the salt will sink into the green beans; and you won't actually see any salt particles.) Also, the amount of salt is up to you. I know some people would want more and some people would want less. 

And there you have it! I can eat an entire bag of green beans like that!

A side note - I like to make a lot of food for dinner, (that's why I made 4 1/2 pounds of chicken for 2 people) because that way my boyfriend and I both have some chicken in the refrigerator for a few days. So when we need a snack, or lunch, it is easy to munch on some protein! I highly recommend that! If I have it already cooked and sitting in the fridge, I will be way more likely to eat that when I am hungry throughout the day- instead of something else not as good for me!

So there is the meal I made for dinner tonight for my boyfriend and I. My boyfriend ate twice the amount of chicken I did, but I was definitely full from the amount of chicken and green beans that I ate! Plus the great thing about this meal was that it was super simple! Always an added bonus!

Back On The Horse...

February 19, 2013

After taking a day off from the gym yesterday- because it was a long travel day, and I really felt my body needed to recoup from the past couple weeks... I got back with it today! I woke up- late, and I had my bottle of water, and then a nutrition shake (gotta have some fuel before I go to the gym!). After that, I got myself in gear to hit the gym! Here is what I did -

• Cardio - 20 minutes - 1.45 miles [All at 0 incline unless otherwise noted] (3min at 6mph, 1min at 6.5mph, 1min at 6mph, 1min at 3.8mph at 0 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 3 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 4 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 3 incline, 2min at 3.8mph at 0 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 4 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 5 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 4 incline, 2min at 3.8mph at 0 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 3 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 4 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 3 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 0 incline.)
• Weights - Circuit - 700 movements total - 25 bench presses with two 20lb free weights (except I didn't use a bench, I did it while balancing my back on a exercise ball- helps work core that way), 25 sit ups, 25 hip abductions at 140lb, 25 hip adductions at 100lb, 25 crunches on the ab machine at 50lb, 25 overhead tricep extensions with a 15lb free weight, 25 seated leg presses at 140lb. Repeat 3 more times. 
• Cardio - 10 minutes - .81 miles (3min at 6mph, 1min at 6.5mph, 1min at 6mph, 1min at 3.8mph at 0 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 3 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 4 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 3 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 0 incline)

I have to say that it felt great to go that hard on the weights! However, when I got back on the treadmill for the second time, my body was feeling weird... I was kinda dizzy and getting this weird feeling of the chills. When I finished up and got in the car, the feeling didn't go away right quickly. My body seemed to be freaking out. My eyes started tearing up for no reason as well. It was strange. But I just chalked it up to going that hard after such a crazy couple weeks!

But this gym visit really got me going, and inspired me to push harder the next week and a half that I am home- with food and fitness.

While I Am Home

Since I started this blog, it has been all about dealing with food, exercise- and general health while on the road. So while I am home, I am not going to be posting my every movement, or about all the food I put in my mouth. But I will be trying to post everyday- sometimes more than once a day. However, the posts will be more glimpses of what is going on health and fitness wise with me...

I will try to post my daily workout- sometimes this won't be at a gym, but most of the time it probably will be. (While the weather is getting more and more beautiful, I like to take advantage of some trails and stuff around my area!)

I will also be posting some random commentary- some about things that I have mentioned quickly in past posts and I want to elaborate on it now that I have more time, and also some recipes and things I am cooking up in the kitchen.

This is really just a blog to help inspire health. And to let you in on what I am doing to try to be the most healthy version of me that I can be. (As cheesy as that sounds...) Of course I might throw in some unhealthy recipes at times, because sometimes you just have to splurge! But I am hoping that this blog just might inspire you to maybe make a few positive and healthy changes. And not only that, I am hoping that it helps keep me accountable and on track! On and off the road!

I WANT to get more healthy and fit. So join in on my journey, and let's see what happens!

Bus Home

Dropping the guys off at Kansas City Airport!

February 18, 2013

I woke up at 8:30am, and I got dressed and ready to leave the hotel. By the time I got downstairs at 9:15am, the hotel was just finishing up the buffet breakfast, so I grabbed a little plate and headed out to the bus with all of my stuff. I got on board, and comfy, then I enjoyed the food I grabbed. I had half cinnamon raisin bagel, and a mini muffin. It was a yummy snack!

Then we drove down the road a few hours to the Kansas City Airport. At which point we dropped off all the guys. The rest of the band was flying home. So it was just the bus driver and I left on the bus. We started on our way to Branson. I was excited to be on the way home! I need a little home- and normal schedule!

I snacked on some pound cake, a banana, and popcorn that the guys left on the bus; and I watched TV, and looked some stuff up on the internet. I have to admit the bus is a good way to travel! Luxuries of home while moving around! 

On the bus all alone! Driven to my doorstep!

I arrived at my house at 4:30pm. I unloaded my stuff and headed into the house. So nice to be home! As soon as my fella got home we went out to dinner- sushi! So excited! And it was so very good! I ate 2 rolls, and loved every bite of them! Then we just went home to watch a movie. I did also indulge in a Fiber One Brownie for dessert.

It felt great to be home. But once I got here, my body just got weaker and weaker- like it knew it was time for it to finally crash! I know this tour was tough for me- especially with food. It is always a struggle. But I tried my best to put up a good fight. And once I get some good rest at home tonight, I'll be ready to face the fight again tomorrow!

After 14 Hours On a Bus

February 17, 2013

I woke up in my bunk and turned on my map on my phone and saw that we were just driving through Kansas City. So I got up and sat with the band. I enjoyed my water, and eventually had a protein bar and a couple Wheat Thins. We drove for about 3 hours since I got up. We were all starting to get a little loopy. Too much time on the bus and we start to get a bit goofy! But we got to the hotel in Salina, Kansas by 1:30pm.

I got to my room and had pretty much nothing to do until I needed to go to the theater for the show. So I started to watch some TV to pass time.

By 3pm, I went down to the gym. My body is just feeling tired these days, I'm a little wore out. So I just couldn't go quite as hard. But I did ok. Also, their weight selection was horrible! They only had one mutli-purpose weight machine, and it only had one attachment. So my options were minimal anyway. But here is what I did -

• Cardio - 30 minutes - 2.08 miles [All at 0 incline unless otherwise noted] (3min at 6mph, 1min at 6.5mph, 1min at 6mph, 1min at 3.8mph at 0 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 3 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 4 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 3 incline, 2min at 3.8mph at 0 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 4 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 5 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 4 incline, 2min at 3.8mph at 0 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 3 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 4 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 3 incline, 11min at 3.8mph at 0 incline.)
• Weights - 200 movements total - 25 wood chops on the right at 40lb, 25 wood chops on the left at 40lb. Repeat 3 more times. 

Lunch

When I finished, I walked across the parking lot to go to the gas station store. I needed some food and there was no restaurant in walking distance. I went back to my room and I had a Special K pastry crisp, and a cup of Hormel Spaghetti. It was a good and filling lunch- not the best quality of food, but it worked. I also got some pretzels and snacked on them as I got ready for the show.

One of my favorite kinds of cookies!
Couldn't resist indulging!

I met Dad downstairs at the hotel at 6:45pm and we were taken over to the theater. I sat backstage and they had amazing treats! I had a couple bites of pasta that was left over- amazing, but it was cold, so I didn't eat much. Then I had a cookie and a couple handfuls of M&M's.

The show was at 7:30pm, and it went great. It was a really fun show! Then we signed. After that, we headed on the bus. I ate some chips on our drive back to the hotel. Then as I got ready for bed I ate a Fiber One Brownie.

I just could not stop munching today! And sadly the stuff around me was not exactly healthy stuff! I was just uncontrollable! But that just happens sometimes. Every so often I hit a day that I can't stop eating! And oddly enough, I never actually had a "meal" today. Oh well... Tomorrow will be a better day.

All in! Our pre-show ritual.

A City I Can't Pronounce...

February 16, 2013

Well... We got to our hotel at 4:30am. I got up and moved to my hotel room, and then fell back asleep for a few more hours. I got up around 11am- due to the noise from the surrounding rooms. I drank some water, and eventually had one of my mini protein bars. (My favorite flavor too! Cookies & Cream) I stayed pretty mellow for a while; Kinda hoping to fall back asleep for a bit. But it just wasn't in the cards.

Eventually I also had a Fiber One Brownie. I needed a little extra kick! I headed to the gym around 2:45pm. It was not a great gym. Very few options. Especially on weights. There was just a multifunction weight machine. To do my crunches and sit ups I actually had to put some towels on the floor. But I got in a decent workout. (Especially considering how worn out my body is getting by the end of this tour!) Here is what I did -

At the gym.

• Cardio - Treadmill - 15 minutes - 1.33 miles (2min at 6mph, 1min at 3.8mph, 2min at 6.5mph, 1min at 3.8mph, 2min at 6mph, 1min at 3.8mph, 2 min at 6.5mph, 1min at 3.8mph, 2min at 6mph, 1min at 3.8mph)
• Weights - Circuit - 300 movements total - 25 lat pulldowns at 50lb, 25 crunches. Repeat 3 more times. 25 leg extensions at 50lb, 25 sit ups. Repeat 1 more time.
• Cardio - Treadmill - 15 minutes - .94 miles (1min at 3.8mph at 0 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 3 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 4 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 3 incline, 2min at 3.8mph at 0 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 4 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 5 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 4 incline, 2min at 3.8mph at 0 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 3 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 4 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 3 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 0 incline)

It was a nice workout. I look forward to getting home soon and recouping a bit and being able to hit the weights a little more though! (Especially being in my usual gym!) When I got back to my room, I had a few Chime's Ginger Chews as a boost.

Backstage.

 By 5:30pm, I went and picked up some food. I got a chicken ranch wrap, and some cole slaw for the bar and grill at the hotel. It was really yummy! Then it was time to get ready for the show.

On the bus. It was -11 degrees F
outside!

I met Dad at his room at 7:30pm, and we were escorted down to the backstage area. I snacked on some crackers backstage. The show was at 8pm, and it went great! We got done and signed, and that went good too. Then I hustled back to my room and got all my stuff and moved it all to the bus. We started on our 14 hour plus drive at 11pm. (Yep, it's a long haul!) So I ate some peanut M&M's and wheat thins. It is really hard not to munch while on the bus with nothing else to do. It is a big struggle for me. And yeah, I kinda failed that today. But it could have been worse!

Panorama view from my seat on the bus.

Eventually I made my way to my bunk and retired for the night; knowing that I would wake up in- or at least closer to Salina, Kansas.

Post V-Day

February 15, 2013

I woke up and took it easy for a bit- I didn't have too much to do today... So I sipped on my water, and I eventually had a protein bar for my breakfast.

Just after 12pm I went down to the gym. And there was an added bonus- no one was in the gym except me, so the TV was all mine, and I my favorite show to work out to was on! (The one I always watch at home when I go to the gym!) For those interested it is "The Chew". I love watching a cooking show while I'm working out. Reminds me why I am working out! Here is what I did -

• Cardio - Treadmill - 15 minutes - 1.33 miles (2min at 6mph, 1min at 3.8mph, 2min at 6.5mph, 1min at 3.8mph, 2min at 6mph, 1min at 3.8mph, 2 min at 6.5mph, 1min at 3.8mph, 2min at 6mph, 1min at 3.8mph)
• Weights - Circuit - 300 movements total - 25 sit ups, 25 bicep curls at 25lb, 25 tricep extensions at 45lb. Repeat 3 more times.



Workout!

• Cardio - Treadmill - 15 minutes - .94 miles (1min at 3.8mph at 0 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 3 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 4 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 3 incline, 2min at 3.8mph at 0 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 4 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 5 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 4 incline, 2min at 3.8mph at 0 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 3 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 4 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 3 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 0 incline)

After that, I headed back up to my room to get some work done. By 2pm, I had a snack of a Fiber One Brownie. Also a couple Chime's Ginger Chews. It was truly a boring day. Not much to do at all except waste time watching TV. The internet was even on and off, so my options for the day were not  many. Unfortunately, that is also when I love to eat- when I am bored! Food helps pass time so nicely! But I did good keeping extra food out of my mouth!

By 4pm, I ordered some room service for dinner. I got a small side salad, I had a couple bites of a wild rice soup, a roll, and a few chicken wings. It was pretty good. I probably ate a little more than I needed to. But it was good! Then I finished getting ready for the show.

In my bunk and getting ready to sleep.

At 6:15pm I went downstairs to the green room. I snacked on some pineapple again- so yummy! Then we did our show at 7pm. It was a great show! Lots of fun! And we had some more friends in the audience- some that are like family that I haven't seen for years, so that made it extra special! Plus signing went really good, just very long. We signed for as long as we were on stage! But it was amazing. So many great people!

At 11pm I went downstairs with all my bags and hopped on the bus. We started our journey to the next town... Lac du Flambeau, Wisconsin. When I got on the bus, one of the guys brought on a fresh pizza. So I ended up having one piece of that, and then a couple handful of peanut M&M's.

It wasn't going to be a long bus ride- just 4 hours, but I still ended up resting for a bit. Good day all and all. Onward to the next town...

Valentine's

February 14, 2013

Mini Panorama view from my room. Beautiful!

Happy Valentine's Day everybody! I woke up as the bus was pulling into the hotel (Grand Casino) in Hinckley, MN. We got checked in and I headed up to my room. I was there by 9am. I did sleep on the bus- but that is never awesome sleep... So I started sipping on some water and laid down a bit to see if I could fall back asleep. But I never did. I got to rest a little though.

I also put together a little Valentine's Day gift for all the guys. Since everyone is away from their loved ones on V-day, I figured they could all use a little something! I also had an extra heart shaped peanut butter cup, and an extra small box of Jelly Belly's Valentine Mix; I'll be saving those for later as my own personal Valentine!

Valentine's Day treats for the guys!

Eventually I was starving, so I ate a protein bar. I rested a bit longer, then around 12:30pm I got up to go to the gym. I was feeling kinda tired to start with, but gave it my best shot. Unfortunately, the gym was not so good. It really didn't have much weights- only one weight machine that didn't work very well. Plus when I got there all the treadmills were taken, so I was stuck on the elliptical machine. (Which usually I wouldn't mind to have some variety, but it was a weird old machine that was not easy to use.) Eventually I got to use one of the treadmills though, so that helped. Here is what I did -

• Cardio - Elliptical Machine - 5 minutes at a fast pace. About .31miles. 
• Weights - Circuit - 300 movements total - 25 sit ups, 25 bicep curls at 25lb, 25 tricep extensions at 45lb. Repeat 3 more times.
• Cardio - Treadmill - 15 minutes - 1.34 miles (2min at 6mph, 1min at 3.8mph, 2min at 6.5mph, 1min at 3.8mph, 2min at 6mph, 1min at 3.8mph, 2 min at 6.5mph, 1min at 3.8mph, 2min at 6mph, 1min at 3.8mph)
• Cardio - Elliptical Machine - 5 minutes at a fast pace. About .31miles.

I would like to add a note here- when traveling, or just using other gyms in general, you come across different weight machines and different machines in general. Especially with weight machines, I have noticed that some run very differently. At one gym I can do things at a lot higher weight than at another, etc... So if you are using a different machine and it seems really easy, don't just assume that you got totally muscular overnight. AND up the weight if it seems easier than usual. But don't be upset when you get back to your normal gym and maybe you can't do stuff at that higher weight. Just always do your best for THAT day. Even outside of the machines, our bodies are in different places different days. Somedays it will just seem harder, and somedays it will just be easier. Don't get discouraged by the bad days.

I got back to my room- after I stopped by the gift shop to stock up on some water. But I didn't stay there long. I was due down at rehearsal around 2:30pm. I also stopped by their little coffee place downstairs and I got a smoothie. Gave me a little pick me up! I only ate about 2/3 of it though.

V-Day gift!

Heart Bracelet V-Day gift!

After sound check, I got back to my room and started to get ready. I stopped to order some room service for dinner, and I accidently ate too much! I was so hungry by the time the food got there that I just scarfed it down! I ate a side salad, a chicken breast, a roll and I got some fried cheese curds. (Mostly because my boyfriend introduced me to cheese curds in the past year. Had to try them fried!) But I ended up stuffed! Good thing I had some time to let everything settle before the show at 8pm.

When I got backstage I did snack on some pineapple and a few raspberries. (I love when they put good fresh fruit out for us!) Plus I got a wonderful Valentine surprise from my honey. Very special!

The show went great, had some friends in the audience, and it was a wonderful Valentine's Day celebration for a lot of excited couples. So that made it special! After we finished signing, we met with some people and then I indulged in part of a small personal sized chocolate bunt cake. (It was the dessert they were serving the audience, and they saved a few for us!) I only ate about half of one of the desserts though. But it was lovely!

I went back up to my room and caught up on some phone calls. Then I ate the two little treats I reserved for later at the beginning of the day... A heart shaped Reese's Peanut Butter Cup, and a small little box of a Valentine's Mix of Jelly Belly's. Happy Valentine's Day to me! After that, I just got ready for bed, and soon drifted off.

Mini Pastries

Breakfast.

February 13, 2013

Unfortunately, I woke up and I  still am not feeling good! My tummy just appears to be pissed at me! Plus my back has been in pain the last few days when I woke up. So I downed some water, and I ate a protein bar. Then I tried to go to the gym; thinking it might help to get my body going. I didn't go too hard, because I just felt kinda weak. But here is what I did -

• Cardio - 20 minutes total - 1.45 miles [All at 0 incline unless otherwise noted] (3min at 6mph, 1min at 6.mph, 1min at 6mph, 1min at 3.8mph at 0 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 3 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 4 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 3 incline, 2min at 3.8mph at 0 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 4 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 5 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 4 incline, 2min at 3.8mph at 0 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 3 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 4 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 3 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 0 incline.)
• Weights - Circuit - 300 movements total - 25 standing rows with two 15lb free weights, 25 crunches, 25 seated leg presses at 130lb. Repeat 3 more times. 

The view from my hotel room. Beautiful.
And I can walk right out to the snow!

Then I got back to my room and I started to get cleaned up and ready for the day. We actually had an early show today- all the more reason to get my stomach to calm down as quick as possible.

I headed to the theater at 3:30pm, and I had myself a little snack from the catering. I had quite a bit of pineapple- one of my favorites, and then I did indulge in a mini pastry. I love small little pastries, they are so cute and the perfect size!

Backstage. Yummy!

The show went pretty good; as did signing. Then back up to my room. I ordered some room service- a club sandwich (with cole slaw instead of chips or fries), and a crab cake. I basically ordered both because I had extra money that they gave me for food on my account at the hotel, and this way if one of the things wasn't very good I would have a backup plan! I didn't end up eating much of the crab cakes... Not the best. I only had one and a half of them. Of the sandwich, I only had a couple bites of each piece. (The crusts are not my favorite, so especially when it is a club sandwich I tend to just eat the middle couple of bites.) And I really didn't eat more than a bite or two of the cole slaw- not good. But I had hopes that this food would calm my stomach, which was still being iffy.

Club sandwich and crab
cakes.

One way or another though I had to get on the bus at 8pm. We started our trip to Hinckley, MN. I did have a snack while I was hanging on the bus. Larry made some popcorn- one of my favorite treats. So I snacked on that, and then eventually it was time to retire to my bunk for the night.