What I Ate Wednesday #72: Refueling and Resetting

Alright, so maybe I’m not totally better yet. I have to say it feels good to get my workouts in though. Tina is really kicking my butt this week. My upper body wasn’t feeling sore at all on Monday after my workout, but yesterday I was definitely feeling it! My NASM book just came in yesterday and I know I’ll be taking some cues from Tina as I’m learning and creating routines.

Last week I found myself eating too many delicious veggies [brussels, broccoli, cauliflower..] and my stomach was not happy about this so I’ve made it a point to eat lighter this week.

Breakfast

The mighty tower o’ pancakes! DEMOLISHED!

As I mentioned before, FlapJacked sent me a sampler of their protein pancakes and the Apple Cinnamon was the last one that I had left to try. One thing I love is that these are only 180 calories per serving which is great on my rest days, but since this was my post-workout meal, I went for the whole thing! Topped, of course, with peanut fluff and coconut.

Even more exciting is that you have a chance to win some protein pancakes for yourself! For the month of February, FlapJacked is celebrating National Pancake Month by giving away FREE PANCAKES! You will simply share a photo of your favorite way to enjoy pancakes for the chance to win. 3 Prizes awarded weekly! For full details, check it out!

I’m not sure I understand the name, but I love the taste!

I’ve also been grabbing coffee from Marshalls lately.. they have some pretty awesome flavors and I’m definitely a fan of this one. Not to mention it was only $4!

Lunch

Not pretty. But darn tasty.

Polished off the last of the mango beef stir fry with a side of brown rice cake. I’d only ever had Quaker rice cakes before but I decided to try Lundberg and I really like them! It’s like actual pieces of puffed rice instead of all ground up. What a novel idea.

Afternoon Snack

More coconut cashew butter and granola? Why not?!

This Marshmallow Chocolate Chip Cake was fabulous! I actually subbed the chocolate chips for cacao nibs and whole wheat flour for buckwheat. And then I couldn’t have a mug cake without topping it with some coconut cashew butter and granola. That just seems wrong!

Dinner

Don’t be fooled. I definitely went back for more asparagus and plantains!

Grilled up some herb mahi mahi, plantains, and roasted asparagus for a nice, light dinner. It really hit the spot! We’ve both always loved plantains but haven’t really bought them much until recently. It’s nice change in starch for dinner from the normal rice or potatoes for Nathan too.

And as always, I finished the night with an apple.. and a little more granola. I figure this, not only is helping my stomach feel better, but helping me get better too. Doesn’t hurt that it’s all delicious.

Food for Thought

What is your favorite post-workout meal?
Have you ever tried a mug cake?

Fitness Friday: 30 Minute Fly-By Cardio

Happy Friday!! I know you’re just as excited for the weekend as I am. We’re planning on heading into San Francisco again tomorrow for the farmers’ market at the Ferry Building. We haven’t been to that market since we were out here in 2012 but I remember it being fabulous. We’re really going because RoliRoti, where we got the rotisserie chicken and potatoes, only serves their porchetta sandwiches at this market and Nathan has been dying to try it. Who am I to say no when there’s so much good stuff there?!

Today I wanted to share a cardio workout that I did this week. Despite the 5Ks that I’ve done in the past [and those coming up too..], I’m not a big fan of running, but sometimes it’s good to switch it up in the gym. Jumping back and forth between the elliptical and treadmill definitely made this workout fly by faster than a regular 30 minute run on the treadmill!

Tweet or Instagram me and hashtag #FlyByCardio

Feel free to set your own resistance, pace, and elevation. On the treadmill, I ran at about 7.5-8 for the first 3 rounds and then 8.5-9 for the last 2 rounds. Really try to push it for the last minute! I finished mine up with a short cool down walk on the treadmill and covered 4.25 miles. Now, maybe I should have thought ahead and saved this workout for another day when I wasn’t doing my Best Body Bootcamp lower body workout right after, but hey, I’m still alive 😉

By the way, this is the last round of bootcamp and I’m really sad. I’ve loved every round I’ve done but I guess now I’ll just have to make sure I get all of my workouts in a binder for future use! Anywho..

Go knock out a few miles and have a great weekend!

Food for Thought

Do you enjoy running?
What are your weekend plans?

Link Love #19

It’s the first Link Love of the new year! And there have been some good ones to share 🙂

Health

New Year New Word New Workout – Cotter Crunch

New Year, New Word, New Workout – Cotter Crunch
10 “New Ways” To Think of Fitness, Nutrition, Weight Loss, Strength In 2014 – Lifting Revolution
What If Every Day Were New Years Day? – Tina Reale
10 Nutrients Scientifically Proven to Make You Feel Awesome – Greatist
50 bite-sized resolutions for better health – NutritionElla

Fitness

A Sweaty Post Holiday Workout – Blonde Ponytail

A Sweaty Post Holiday Workout – Blonde Ponytail
8 Exercises to Help You Say Sayonara to Saddlebags – FitSugar
5 Things to Consider When Starting a New Training Program – Breaking Muscle
Row, Row, Row Workout – Peanut Butter Fingers
Sexy Dancer Arms Workout – Livewell 360

Food

Meyer Lemon Roasted Carrot Strings with Lemon Garlic Sauce – Running to the Kitchen

Meyer Lemon Roasted Carrot Strings with Lemon Garlic Sauce – Running to the Kitchen
Detox Quinoa Salad – Kiss My Broccoli
Spicy Sweet Potato Egg Skillet – Peachy Palate
Miso Mushroom Zucchini “Ramen” Noodles – Inspiralized
Crunchy Quinoa Granola – Iowa Girl Eats

Food for Thought

What’s your favorite post so far this year? 😉

Link Love #17

Looks like we’re getting back into the swing of things around here! So glad I’ve been able to catch up on my blog reading again and share my faves with all of you.

Health

Rebel Dieting – Rebel Dietitian via Kath Eats Real Food

Rebel Dieting – Rebel Dietitian via Kath Eats Real Food
Ditch Elimination Diets. Take the 30 Day Addition Diet Challenge Instead. – Nia Shanks
What Your Junk Food Cravings Are Really Telling You – Organic Authority
Weighty Wednesday – Avocado Athlete
what you can when you can (AKA #wycwyc). – MizFit

Fitness

Why Bodyweight Is Heavy Enough – Lifting Revolution

Why Bodyweight Is Heavy Enough – Lifting Revolution
Bodyweight HIIT Workout You Can Do at Home with No Equipment – Trainer Paige
Fitting Fitness in During the Busiest Time of the Year – Jamie Walker via HuffPost Healthy Living
6 Important Muscles Exercisers Ignore – HuffPost Healthy Living
Wake-Up Workout – Tina Reale

Food

Banana Bread Macaroons – Empowered Sustenance

Banana Bread Macaroons – Empowered Sustenance
Edible Gift: Gingerbread Chocolate Chunk Granola – Fit Foodie Finds
Brussels Sprout + Avocado Winter Rolls with Grapefruit Hoisin Dipping Sauce – Half Baked Harvest
Healthy No-Bake Coconut Bars – Eating Bird Food
All Things Kale – Peachy Palate

Food for Thought

What was your favorite post from the past week?

Link Love #15

Holy cow, life is busy right now! I promise I’m not deserting you and I’ll be popping in from time to time 🙂

Health

Why I quit going nuts for nuts – My Healthy Happy Home

Why I quit going nuts for nuts – My Healthy Happy Home
Why Every Athlete Needs to EMBRACE an Off Season. – Cotter Crunch
Progress – Snack Therapy
The Power of Carbs – Breaking Muscle
10 Ways to Worry Less – Huffington Post

Fitness

8 Steps For Creating A Fit, Fun & Fab Fitness Plan From Scratch – Lifting Revolution

8 Steps For Creating A Fit, Fun & Fab Fitness Plan From Scratch – Lifting Revolution
5 Things to Consider When Using a Personal Trainer – Blonde Ponytail
Glycogen Depletion Training – Mommy Run Fast
Ab Circuit – Bess Be Fit
Move It Monday: Work Those Abs! – Tina Reale

Food

Raw Carrot Cake Bites – The Sweet Life

Raw Carrot Cake Bites – The Sweet Life
Cranberry, Butternut and Brussels Sprout Brie Skillet Nachos – Half Baked Harvest
Shaved Brussels Sprout Slaw with Pink Grapefruit and Maple Cider Vinaigrette – Flourishing Foodie
Pumpkin Pie Rugelach – She Knows
Sweet Potato Pomegranate Salad – Two Peas and Their Pod

Food for Thought

What was your favorite post from the past week?

Link Love #14

Congrats to the giveaway winner, Lauren! Please email me at Brittany@BarrAndTable.com with your mailing address to claim your prize!

Now it’s time for some more link love.. the internet is a wonderful place, yes? 🙂

Health

4 Reasons Your Gluten-Free Diet is Keeping You Miserable – Sarah Kay Hoffman

4 Reasons Your Gluten-Free Diet is Keeping You Miserable – Sarah Kay Hoffman
I Need Five Wake Up Calls Daily – Olive to Run
One Thing at a Time – Wellness Today
I Got Six-Pack Abs in Six Weeks. Here’s How I Feel One Year Later. – Derek Flanzraich via Greatist
10 Reasons Why You’re Not Getting Results in the Gym – FitKnitChick

Fitness

Work It Out: 15 Minutes Is All It Takes – Sprint 2 the Table

Work It Out: 15 Minutes Is All It Takes – Sprint 2 the Table
Swing It WOD – Blonde Ponytail
5 Workouts to Help Increase Speed – Tina Reale
Slow Ascent Workout: Negatives In November – Lifting Revolution

Food

Creamy Eggplant & Caramelized Onion Dip – Minimalist Baker

Creamy Eggplant & Caramelized Onion Dip – Minimalist Baker
Toasted Brazil & Coconut Butter – The Smart Kitchen
Brussels Sprout & Sunchoke Salad – Love & Lemons
Quinoa, Kale, and Bacon Stuffed Butternut Squash – Rachel Cooks
Peanut Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Lentil Blondies – Ambitious Kitchen

Food for Thought

What was your favorite post from the past week?

Five Things Friday

It’s Friday!! We made it! And now all we have to do is make it through today and then it’s time for the weekend. Ahhhhh 🙂

1. Thank you all so much for all your wonderful comments on yesterday’s post. I was a bit nervous to hit publish as I’ve not really had any personal posts on my blog yet, but I do plan on keeping it up after seeing the response.
2. On my walk to work, I pass a breakfast place and can sometimes get a little whiff of some bacon, pancakes, and waffles. Nine times outta ten it doesn’t phase me but man, I could have gone for a plate of bacon this morning!
   

   Thick cut. Only thick cut will do.

   And speaking of bacon, we went over to the Fells Point Farmers’ Market a couple weeks ago so Nathan could try the famous BLT from Peter’s Inn and I’m pretty sure there was at least half of a pig on the sandwich. If you like a good BLT, this is place to get it! But go early because they sell out! Nathan got the very last one!

3. I can’t believe we’re already halfway through another round of Best Body Bootcamp! It always flies by so quickly and this time is no different. And this week has been awesome.. I cut 6 minutes off of my time for Monday’s workout and 5 minutes off of my time for today’s workout! I can’t wait to do the fitness test again on Sunday and see if I’ve improved.
   

   Monday’s workout

   

   Friday’s workout

4. The weather this week has been outrageously beautiful! I can’t believe it’s in the 80s in October! I definitely took advantage of dresses, skirts, and sandals this week.
5. And speaking of the weather, we’re supposed to have a perfect weekend. They’re calling for upper 80s which sounds wonderful to me and just in time for the Fells Point Festival! We’ve never been and I’m hoping to make it over there at some point during the weekend.

Food for Thought

Do you have any big plans for the weekend?

Five Things Friday

It’s Friday!! I’m not sure if I could be any happier that I actually made it out of this week alive [..so far].

1. The past 2 weeks have been absolutely nuts at work but it makes the weekends all that much better.
2. Speaking of weekends, tonight at sundown begins Yom Kippur which means 24 hours of fasting. I’ll be staying off of Pinterest tonight and tomorrow!
3. HOWEVER! Today is National Peanut Day. Quite possibly one of my favorite days ever [after my wedding day and National Peanut Butter Day, of course]. So I’ve rounded up a few of my favorite peanut recipes for you.
   

   Sweet

   

   Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Bark

   

   Hail Merry Peanut Butter Coconut Banana Bites

   

   Healthy Banana Peanut Butter Cups

   

   Peanut Butter Cup Protein Shake

   

   Peanut Butter Wonderful Powerballs

   

   Sweet Potato Dippers

   Savory

   

   Buddha’s Feast with Spicy Thai Peanut Sauce

   

   Peanut Chili Baked Tofu

   

   Tilapia Stir-Fry with Chili Peanut Sauce

   Enjoy 🙂

4. Another round of Best Body Bootcamp started this week. Looking over the workouts I definitely thought they didn’t look so bad and I’d probably breeze through them. Holy cow was I wrong! All of the workouts were deceptively difficult and I left the gym drenched. It was a great feeling!
   

   Cardio and core work

5. I wandered around the food area of Marshall’s last week and found a few fun things. I’d gotten plain ginger chews for Nathan to try once upon a time and he said they were a bit spicy for his liking. When I came across a bag of peanut butter ginger chews [here I go with the peanut butter again!], I couldn’t pass them up. They have more of a peanut butter flavor with a little kick of ginger spice.. seriously addictive! And they’re individually wrapped so you can throw a few in your bag for later!
   

   Peanut Butter Ginger Chews

And on that peanutty note, I hope you have a lovely, restful weekend!

Food for Thought

Do you have a favorite food holiday?

Quick Love

It’s been a few weeks since I’ve done a link love post but I’ve seen so many awesome posts recently that I had to get one up this week!

Health

Is a Calorie Just a Calorie? – Strong Inside Out via The Lean Green Bean
6 Ways to Beat the “Comparison Trap” and Own Your Unique Awesomeness – Live Well 360
Fat, Sick & Miserable. No more “junk” ’round here – Sarah Kay Hoffman
How I Lost 70 Pounds in 30 Days! – Roni’s Weigh
If they ate it, why can’t I? – My Healthy Happy Home

Fitness

20 Minute Pyramid HIIT – Tina Reale

Move It Monday: 20 Minute Pyramid HIIT – Tina Reale
Breaking News: Every Little Bit Helps – Mom’s Little Running Buddies
Leg Workout and S’mores Coffee – Peanut Butter Fingers
Muscle Ropes and a New Workout – Blonde Ponytail
Can CrossFit Improve Running? – Huffington Post

Food

No Bake Oatmeal Breakfast Bars – Pineapple & Coconut

No Bake Oatmeal Breakfast Bars – Two ways – Pineapple & Coconut
Easy Healthier Crockpot Butter Chicken – Half Baked Harvest
Healthy No-Grain Seedy STUFT Bread – STUFT Mama
Sugar-Free Apple Pie Chia Seed Jam + Breakfast Parfait – Oh She Glows
5-Minute Desserts for One – Carrots ‘N’ Cake

Food for Thought

Which posts from the last week or so have caught your eye?

Fitness Friday: Summer Bootcamp

Holy cow, I can’t believe the 8 weeks have already passed for Best Body Bootcamp! I’m certainly not new to the program at this point so I knew what I was getting myself into when I signed up. This time around, however, I had some different goals. For my first two rounds, I was getting ready for the wedding; with this round, I was getting back into shape from the honeymoon! 😉

In all seriousness, I’m a planner; I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I absolutely love having a workout schedule already planned out for me. There is no thinking involved! And if I’m waking up before the clock strikes 6, you can bet I appreciate any and all help in the thinking department. I have, without a doubt, noticed some changes over the past 8 weeks.

Bootcamp makes you stronger.

Bootcamp increases your endurance and speed.

And good gravy, bootcamp gives you a hell of a burn!

Workout burn on the left. After burn on the right. 83%!!

I’ve also learned a few things during during the 8-week program.

• Rest days are important! Your muscles need a break and when you give that to them, they repair and are stronger for future workouts.
• I’m a weights girl. I would 100% rather do a strength training workout with heavy weights than do a body weight workout.
• While it’s nice to have set workouts, it’s equally as nice to be able to swap things around and make the workouts work for you.
• Having a community of people participating in the same program and acting as a support group is really motivating. [Ok, I already knew this, but it’s a great reminder!]
• Upper body workouts are my jam.

If you’re at all considering Best Body Bootcamp, I highly recommend it. Whether you’re a beginner or advanced, there are adjustments to all of the moves to make them easier or harder and you can always get a challenging workout! Registration for the fall session begins August 19th and goes through September 6th. The programs starts September 9th, so mark your calendars and don’t forget to register!

Food for Thought

Do you prefer weights or body weight workouts?

What is your favorite workout program? Do you like classes at the gym or working out on your own?