Sunday 26 August 2012

Sunday Sunday Sunday

It's goals of the week day!

But first, how my week went.

Honestly, I had a week that could really have gone either way.   It started out really good, and on Wednesday I woke up with a gimpy hamstring and a bit of right back pain and that familiar little itch in the back of my throat.  I was terrified I was getting sick right when things were falling into place.

I wasn't wrong.  As Wednesday progressed, I started feeling worse and worse.  Luckily, I was done work stupidly early and caught my coworker between clients to do some acupuncture on my back and hammy, some ART, and apparently put some ribs back in.  I dragged myself home and did some cleaning, and proceeded to prop myself up on the couch for the rest of the night.  Thursday rolled around and this happened:

I didn't move out of bed until 9am and just refused to do anything all morning.  I had a very busy day at work and couldn't risk making my cold worse if I did cardio and I had zero energy to do weights.  I took it easy and perked up a bit that night for a little pub salad and glass of vino.

Luckily, my recent bout of getting healthier seems to have done my immune system good and I've been feeling better since.  Not perfect, but I got back into the exercise swing pretty easily.

*warning, underwear pics coming up*

I also have to say I'm finally seeing some changes over the last week or so.  I haven't decided what this should be credited to.  Taking out gluten?  Upping protein?  Being consistent with my workouts?  All of the above (probably)?



The first picture is about 3 months apart, and the second is 1 month apart.  The crazy thing to me, is that I've stopped using a calorie counter, stopped getting on the scale, and I've seen the most results in the last few weeks. 

Mmmmm breakfast!

I've also been working really hard to make sure I eat things that feel like indulgences to me but are actually really good for me.  Take this Pumpkin Powercake.  So darn good. 

ENOUGH RAMBLING KELLY.  What are your goals this week?

I actually only have one: Keep it up!  I felt really good this week.  Very balanced work, workout, life, etc wise and I need to keep it up.  The next few weeks are going to prove a bit stressful so I just need to keep it going.

Friday 24 August 2012

What's missing?

 
Have you noticed a Friday post missing over the last couple weeks?   Possibly not, there's only 3 of you reading, heh.

BUT, what's missing is my Friday weigh-in.

I decided last week to go Gluten Free again for a month and to give up the scale for that month.  I know roughly what I weighed prior to GF so I'm waiting until September 15th to get back on it.  I'm trying desperately to not beat myself up over every food choice and just let it be for a bit.  Trying my best to be the best me as soon as I can. 

My goal, as always, is to see my abs. 

One day.

It's going to happen.

I'm putting my all in it this time.

Excuse me while I drink my protein frap...

Thursday 23 August 2012

Going Protein Crazy

If you just met me this week, you'd probably think all I consume is protein powder.  I swear that's not true.

Fact is, I have a difficult time getting all the protein I need for the day without also ending up with a lot of carbs and unhealthy fats.  I know that this is partially due to just not planning beforehand and looking at what I'm eating that day, but the cycle is probably not going to break.  I just don't have the energy for it right now.

I went into GNC looking for someone who has actually had all of these powders to give me advice.  My first container of protein powder ended up in the garbage because the chocolate flavour had wayyyyyy too much 'protein funk' going on.  I tried to make protein bars out of it and nothing could mask that taste.  GNC had a buy one get one 1/2 off sale on, so I settled on two containers of Whey Iso Burst in natural and chocolate. 

The first thing I decided to make was protein pancakes.  While they came out looking like perfect little pancakes, and they tasted pretty good, they had the texture of sponge.  And one of my weird things is texture.  The next day I threw some banana slices into the batter and that was better but still not perfect....

The next day (yes, officially looking like a crazy protein person), I tried something that I feared so much.  Just making a shake.  Into my cute little blender cup went 1/2 cup almond milk, 1/2 cup coconut milk, 1 scoop chocolate powder, and a big hunk of frozen espresso (forgot it in the freezer when I was cooling it).  And surprisingly (!) it tasted like those sugar laden milkshake drinks you can get at the convenience store.

So day three is upon us, and you can see I'm going a little crazy with this protein powder thing.  I also tried something that has failed me in the past, baking gluten free and with protein powder.  BUT thanks to the amazing Powercakes I found a recipe that FINALLY works.  These are so good!  Especially when topped with Cream Cheese Protein Frosting a la Truly Jess.  Yep, I went there.



Moving on, I decided to make a protein microwave cake, with protein fudge.  Oh gosh, I'm looking nutty right now aren't I?

Last but not least, the star of the show:


Better Than Starbucks Protein Frapp

I swear on my protein powder that this thing was better than anything Starbucks could offer.  It's got little added sugar (and really, you could take those ingredients out) and has the potential to throw some greens in or customize however you want.
Ingredients
1/2 frozen banana
5-6 frozen coffee cubes (this is the key)
1 scoop chocolate protein powder
1 cup of milk (I chose 1/2  soy and 1/2 coconut)

Add ins: 1 tbsp dark chocolate chips and 1 tbsp shredded coconut and 1 tbsp of just peanuts peanut butter

Directions
Add banana and coffee cubes to blended with a little bit of the milk.  Pulse and/or ice crush until this started to look frap like.  Add the rest of the milk and protein powder and blend.

Add in whatever you want to make it your own.  

I went with the pb just because I love it in smoothies, and the chocolate and coconuts because it's my favourite Starbucks drink!  I think this will quickly become a new staple!




Monday 20 August 2012

This Week's Workouts

This week, my plan is to be accountable.

So let's look at what my brain has planned.

Monday - 50min pbfinger's Beat Boredom Interval Workout (check!)+ Shoulders and Abs

Tuesday - C25k + possible bike ride?

Wednesday - Spin + Chest and Triceps

Thursday - C25k + Back and Biceps

Friday - Leg day

Saturday - C25k + Shoulders and Abs

Sunday - Rest day and or bike ride

I'm foreseeing a hot sweaty mess!


Sunday 19 August 2012

Sunday Goals

  1. Run! 
    • I have some lofty goals for 2013 that I'll post soon, but the big deal for me is to keep running.  I've had a bit of a battle with it in the last 2 years, and I'm determined to keep it up this time.
  2. Stick to my gluten-free resolution... and alcohol...and sugar...
    • I'm on Day 5 of Gluten Free again and doing okay.  I had a tough start by not really planning meals properly and ended up ravenous by the end of the day.  To be fair, it's because I hadn't packed any grains or carbs, which I know was a stupid idea.  I also managed to bomb the alcohol-free by having a crappy sangria (shoulda just went with wine, it was the sweetest syrupy sangria I've ever had, yuck!) and then having some white wine last night.  I may have to resolve this to booze only on weekends and restricting it to a couple glasses of wine for now....
  3. Stop making excuses for rest days
    • I've had 2 rest days in a row this week and really, they shouldn't even be called rest days.  They were more like lazy days.   Sometimes needed, yes, BUT I need to get out of bed on Fridays for a quick little workout and/or try to make sure I'm active both days on the weekend.

Friday 17 August 2012

Remember that time I disapeared...?

I've got some 'splaining to do.


When I started this blog I knew that it was going to be hard for me to make blogging a part of my life again.  Honestly, it's not that hard to take even just 10 minutes to blog, so that's what I'm going to do.

I also went a bit off the rails over the last three weeks.  I spent a weekend in Montreal, one at a cottage, and the next at a cottage and camping.  While I actually managed to stay active, my nutrition wasn't completely on point.  Unfortunately, my body took this as a good sign to start hoarding pounds again.  After a wicked awesome 1.8lb loss after Montreal, my next weigh-in saw a 2.4lb gain.

I felt really defeated going into cottage/camping that I threw my healthy eating ideals to the wind.  And felt like sh*t doing so.

I'm taking a step back and trying to figure out what's going to work for me.

I've started running (again).

I'm weight lifting.

I'm being active.

I've cut back gluten, booze, and unnecessary sugars (basically a Whole30 approach, but trying to use up what's currently in my house).

Let's see what happens.

The last 3 weeks in pictures:

Probably the best Sangria I've ever had!
La Belle Province!

Blueberry Yogurt Pancakes *dies*

Love this kitten <3

May I help you do your laundry?

Alcohol was consumed.
Appropriate beverage for camping at Sandbanks Provincial Park!

Buddha Dog!

Nursing my poor gimpy wrist.