Steel Cut Oats

I have been loving steel cut oats in the morning.

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mixed with egg whites, banana and peanut butter

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Vanilla Sunwarrior protein, cinnamon and blueberries

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Sunwarrior protein, peanut flour and chopped apple.

When it comes to Oats, there are three main types with three main differences,

Taste, Texture, and Time.

Starting from the least processed…

  • Steel Cut Oats- whole raw oats cut into chunks with a nutty flavor and chewy texture. Take longer to cook (15-20 mins)
  • Old Fashioned Rolled Oats- whole oats rolled flat, steamed slightly for quicker cooking (3-5 mins). Bland in flavor.
  • Quick cooking oats-slightly ground up oats for quick cooking (2-3 mins) Bland in flavor.

If you’re like me, and prefer a chewier bowl of oats, you will love the steel cut version.

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They are more dense that regular oats, and once cooked, have a similar texture to brown rice.

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To cut down on cooking time, mix 1/4 cup oats with 3/4 cups water and heat for 2 minutes in the microwave before placing it in the fridge overnight.

In the morning, heat your oats and add your favorite topping such as fruit, nuts, honey and spices for an all-star breakfast that will keep you feeling full and satisfied.

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Which type of oats do you prefer?

A Spooky Circuit

When my Friday night consists of 3 glasses of Sauvignon Blanc, resulting in that “I’m so not 21 years old anymore” hangover the next morning, I always turn to fruit for instant hydration, vitamins, and energy to help battle through the day.

21 year old Jenna would drink 27 year old Jenna under the table.

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Yup, Matt and I have been together THAT long

As for today’s go-to hangover helper…A Grapefruit!

 juicy, sweet, and oh so satisfying.

Eaten with a tbsp. of ground flax and some cottage cheese, I was fueled and ready for my lower body circuit and date with the stair master.

Evil Legs workout

Spooky stuff…

What do your weekend workouts consist of?

Beachin’

Matt and I arrived at the beach house around 9:30 pm, after stopping for dinner at Chili’s.

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I ordered the Grilled Garlic and Herb Salmon with steamed broccoli, and swapped the loaded mashed potatoes for a side house salad.

Our adorable Beach House

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The attic has been transformed into a loft bedroom, making it a cozy, unique and intimate space.

Breakfast this morning was a bowl of protein pudding with a chopped granny smith apple and a handful of blueberries.

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1 scoop chocolate Sunwarrior with water added slowly to thicken mixture, and 1/2 T raw almond butter

We then took a walk along the beach to grab an organic coffee at McDonald’s (so strange), and to view the Master Sand Sculpting Competition. 

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These artists have some major talent, and it’s so inspiring to watch them at work

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I am amazed at how detailed and stable these sculptures are. It takes a steady hand and a ton of patience to build such a masterpiece.

Give me a sand pail and shovel and that’s about as good as it gets with me.

Well, the sun is starting to show it’s face around here, so I’m off to enjoy the day!

Have a good one! xoxo

{WIAW} Energized, Full and Focused

So I had a bit of a late start with my INSANITY challenge, due to the fact that I couldn’t get my DVD player to cooperate, nor would my laptop.

Many curses were heard throughout  the hallways of my building Smile

However, as always, Matt fixed it and I can finally start!

I know that you are suppose to follow a diet plan and use their recommended supplements, however I’m just looking to change up my routine a bit, so I will be eating pretty much the same as I already do.

OH, by the way, this Saturday I may have the chance to actually working out WITH Shaun T!

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He will be at Boston College this weekend, holding a FREE workout class for anyone who signs up via Facebook. All you have to do is RSVP on the Facebook page, bring a bottle of POWERADE ZERO, and you’re in!

All my fellow Boston Followers, I expect to see you there!

Since my DVD player and I had a fight, I used my WELCOME BACK WORKOUT to keep myself motivated, along with some delicious meals and snacks to keep me energized, full and focused.

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Vanilla Chai Oats

  • 1/3 cup oats
  • 1 scoop vanilla Sunwarrior protein powder
  • 1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
  • nutmeg and cinnamon
  • handful of blueberries

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Egg White Oat bran

  • 1/4 cup oat bran
  • 1 Tbsp ground flax
  • 1/2 thinly sliced banana
  • 1/2 cup + 1 Tbsp All Whites
  • cinnamon and nutmeg
  • handful of blueberries
  • 1/2 T Sun butter

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Green Juice

  • 1 granny smith apple
  • 1/2 cup frozen blueberries
  • 2 cups raw spinach
  • 2 sticks of celery
  • Fresh lemon juice

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PreWorkout Rice Cake

  • 1 unsalted rice cake
  • 1 Tbsp raw almond butter
  • 1/3 cup all whites with 1/2 sliced banana cooked inside
  • cinnamon

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Low sodium Albacore Tuna, mixed with 1/2 a mashed avocado and black pepper.

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Delicious and juicy orange slices

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Chicken and veggie stir fry with coconut oil

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Giambotta with red, green and yellow peppers, zucchini and squash, chopped potato, black beans and onion in a fresh tomato sauce.

And plenty of tea throughout my day Smile

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Eat the rainbow!

Peas and Crayons

Need inspiration for your next dish ? Click the link above for some healthy ideas.

Panic in Produce

Today was National Donut Day, and I was not offered one this morning at Dunks when I bought my coffee.

Even though I would have only had one bite, who doesn’t like a free pastry?

So instead, I ate my breakfast and imagined it was a chocolate glazed donut, with extra glaze Smile

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Looks like a donut right?…

  • 1 container Plain Fage 0%
  • 1/2 cup cooked brown rice
  • 1/4 thinly sliced banana
  • blueberries
  • walnuts
  • cinnamon

With my Black coffee, that I drink with a straw since I’m a spiller.

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coffee stains on your shirt are not cute.

Before I get to my horrendous story from this afternoon, here was today’s workout.

Chest

  • 3 sets of 15: Push Ups
  • 3 sets of 12: Chest Flies
  • 3 sets of 12: V-Flies

Shoulders

  • 3 sets of 12: Front Raise
  • 3 sets of 12: Lateral Raise
  • 3 sets of 12: Overhead Press

Abs

  • 2 sets of 50: Bicycle Crunches
  • 2 sets of 25(per side) Twisting Plank
  • 1 Minute Plank

Cardio

  • 20 minutes: Elliptical
  • 10 minute: Incline Treadmill Walk

Stretch

OK, story time.

Buckle up, it’s gonna get rowdy.

After the gym, I headed over to the supermarket to grab a few things that I was running low on. As I stood in the produce section, scanning the blueberry cartons for any fuzzy berry’s (gross), I overhead a woman talking to her two young son’s about a new apple she’d just found.

I didn’t think anything of it, until I heard her state the following, in an awe struck and proud tone;

“Look guys, grape flavored apples! You want to try them?” “Oh look, there’s bubblegum and watermelon flavored too!” “Which do you want?”

Come again? Did I hear her correctly?

Let me just say that this woman was by no means at a healthy weight, nor were her children, who became way too excited about their mom’s “healthy find”. I on the other hand, wanted to slap some sense into her overly processed brain.

I couldn’t help but stare at her with a disgusted look on my face, which she of course noticed, since I don’t hide my emotions very well.

She proceeded to ask me, “What? Aren’t these cool?”  To which I blurted out; “Are you kidding me right now? Grape flavored apples?” “How about eating an apple that tastes like an apple? Isn’t that the whole point of eating one?”

Too harsh?

She stared blankly at me as I added, “If I wanted grapes I’d eat a grape. If I wanted gum, I’d buy a pack of Trident, no what I mean?”

I think I got my point across since her face turned bright red, but it was too late. Her son’s literally ripped open the package of grape apples and chomped on them like a chocolate bunny at Easter.

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Kids: 1. Mom: 0

Honestly, what kid is going to want a regular apple when they can have a “fun”, different flavored apple? And since when does fruit have to be fun!?

We wonder why America’s percentage of obesity is on the rise.

WE HAVE FRIGGEN GRAPE FLAVORED APPLES!!!

I had to further my research on this product because it literally boggled my mind.

Here is what I found.

There are TWO companies producing these knock off fruits; Grapple and Crazy Apples .

Following in the footsteps of the masterminds behind the Grāpple, the folks at Crazy Apples, Inc. decided that boring, apple-flavored apples were très passé.    So in an attempt to fix something that wasn't necessarily broken to begin with, "fruit entrepreneur" Greg Berndt came up with these individually packaged apples in three new EXCITING flavors: Pomegranate Grape, Tropical Blast, and Bubble Gum. (Ingredients: whole apple, natural flavorings, with no added sugars or preservatives.)

Grapple uses the catchy tagline “Crunches like an apple. Taste’s like a Grape”, and also has the following list of Ingredients: apple, natural and artificial flavor

Since when do apples have artificial anything? Unless it’s a candy apple, which is exactly what this is.

Then we have Crazy Apples, who claim that their flavors are “just as healthy as eating a regular apple”, and are also “vegetarian and all natural”.

That’s great, except for the fact that “All Natural” does not mean a thing.

Any added flavor that is not meant to be there, especially if it’s zero calories, means aspartame, sucralose, dextrose, maltose.  All chemically made ingredients that should never touch a perfectly sweet piece of fruit.

Crazy Apples even goes on to say that their bubble gum flavor comes from “a careful mix of dozens of natural flavors, which seems crazy to us too!”

Um, yea, it’s crazy because it’s Bullshit. Smile

As a personal trainer and advocate for healthy living, I found it was my duty to educate this woman on the outrageous purchase she was about to make.

Think about what you’re about to buy before you buy it.

Of course we all have our guilty pleasures, but when it comes to fruit, stick to the real thing.These apples shouldn’t have even been in the produce section. It’s false advertisement.

Give your kids a REAL apple, REAL grapes, and REAL watermelon. Do not introduce this garbage to their bodies, or to yours.

Check the ingredients list on everything, and if it seems to good to be true, or you can’t pronounce half of the stuff in it, put it back on the shelf.

End of rant.

Back On Track

I decided to do it…

I’m going to read Fifty Shades of Grey

It’s not my usual type of storyline, but I’m one of those people who like to be, “in the loop”, in regards to today’s best sellers list.

I also plan on diving right into Divergent immediately afterwards.

Quite a difference in plots, I know.

I’ll give you my reviews of these trilogy’s as I read them.

So..although I loved my time away, it’s comforting to settle back into my daily routine.

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After a vacation, it always takes me at least a week to get back on track mentally, especially in the workout and eating department.

I’ve been itching for a good sweat, so this morning I hopped on the Arc Trainer for 50 minutes, randomly alternating inclines and resistance. 

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It was just what I needed, even though my legs are still sore from Monday’s workout, which looked a little something like this.

500 Rockin’ Reps

  • 100 squats (broke into 4 sets of 25)
  • 50 static lunges (2 sets of 25) per leg
  • 50 reverse lunges with knee raise (2 sets of 25) per leg
  • 100 plié squats (broke into 4 sets of 25)
  • 50 altering curtsey lunge (2 sets of 25)
  • 50 ice skaters
  • 50 hip bridges (2 sets of 25)
  • 50 mountain climbers

I’ve been stretching all morning to loosen up my hip flexors and quads..ouch

Breakfast was a bowl of Greek yogurt with 2 large strawberries and a handful of blueberries

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loving that berries are starting to drop in price!

I also added a new cereal to the mix, which tasted like a combination of Kix and Special K, with a slight hint of vanilla.

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It’s a good addition to my pantry.

Along with some tea, this rainy morning is off to a good start

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Enjoy your day! xoxo

Vacation Procrastination

Today shall be crazy.

Packing, cleaning, errands…I’m such a procrastinator.

But that’s what super strong coffee is for Smile

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I headed to the gym bright and early, sweated all over the arc trainer, and fit in some back, bi’s and tri’s.

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Arc Trainer- 60 minutes: increasing incline and resistance every 5 minutes for 30 minutes, then decreasing incline and resistance for the next 30 minutes

weights

  • Lat Pull Down- 3 sets of 15; 45 pounds
  • Chest Press- 3 sets of 15; 20 pounds
  • Bicep Curls- 3 sets of 15; 15 pounds
  • Tricep Extension- 3 sets of 15; 15 pounds
  • 100 reps of various AB exercises, broken into 5 sets of 20

Stretch

Due to the rain, and the people who suddenly lose all driving ability when a droplet hits the ground, it took me a good 35 minutes to get home.

If only cars could fly…

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Jenna Jetson. I like it.

When I finally made it home, I quickly ate breakfast, chugged some water, and am now ready to battle the busy day ahead

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  • 1/3 cup oats
  • 1/2 frozen banana
  • 3/4 cup AllWhites
  • cinnamon and nutmeg

Topped with blueberries and Teddies Unsalted Peanut Butter

Crunch time! Ready..Set…Go!

Sunday Morning, Leg’s are Calling

Happy April 1st…April fools…Palm Sunday…Day of laziness…

And the one morning when breakfast always comes out just right.

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  • 1/3 cup Allwhites
  • 1 slice toasted Ezekiel with raw almond butter, sliced banana, blueberries and cinnamon.

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  • Newman’s Own Organic with 1 packet of Stevia

Perfect fuel to battle through a lower body burnout

Workout

Using a weight that is challenging but does not compromise form

  • 12 lunges- right leg (10 lbs in each hand)
  • 12 lunges-left leg
  • 15 squats (20lb EZ bar)
  • 15 jump squats- (body weight)

Rest 45 seconds and repeat 2 more times

  • 15 Plie squats- (25lb dumbbell held vertically)
  • 15 Plie squat jumps-(body weight)

Rest 45 seconds and repeat 2 more times

  • 15 deadlifts- (15lbs in each hand)
  • 30 second butt kicks

Rest 45 seconds and repeat 2 more times

  • 15 Frogger Squat thrusts

Rest 20 seconds and repeat 3 more times

  • Plank leg lifts- 15, right leg
  • Plank leg lift- 15,  left leg
  • Plank jacks- 15

Rest 30 seconds and repeat 2 more times

300 AB Flow

  • 20 bicycles
  • 20 toe touches
  • 20 total body crunch
  • 20 regular crunch
  • 20 butterfly crunch

Rest 1 minute. Repeat in reverse. Rest. Repeat in reverse.

  • Russian Twists: 3 sets, 15 reps, 10lb medicine ball

Stretch!

 Replenish with an ice cold protein shake

  • 1 scoop chocolate Sunwarrior
  • 1 tsp unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1/2 frozen banana
  • 4 frozen strawberries
  • 1/2 cup chopped frozen spinach
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk
  • water and ice.

Although every Sunday at my parent’s resemebles a mini holiday, with today being Palm Sunday, things will be a bit different. 

My dad will pass around palms to everyone in the shape of a cross, and there will be some additions to the usual dinner menu such as escarole soup , eggplant parm, and a few more desserts…if that’s even possible.

palm cross

See last year’s feast here.

I think that my family is one of the few who still actually celebrate Palm Sunday. Next week is already Easter! I can’t believe it.

Well, the sun is shining and the day must begin. Have a wonderful Sunday and first day of April!

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