Throw It Away

SO..How was your Easter weekend?

Did you have to do a lot of Burpees?

I’ll be honest…I’m gonna be Burpeeing all week from eating lots of this..

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Pizzagaina

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Antipasto

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desserts, wine, and lots of sweet and salty snacks in between.

However, every bite was worth every burpee, and I’m back to my usual eating habits of nutrient packed breakfast smoothies, lean proteins, fruits, veggies, and the devil himself…the Stairmaster.

  • 2 handfuls of spinach
  • 1 scoop vanilla sunwarrior protein
  • 1/4 cup oats
  • 1 Tbsp ground flax
  • 1/2 cup frozen strawberries
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened vanilla coconut almond milk
  • ice

  • 1 frozen banana
  • 3/4 cup pasteurized liquid egg whites
  • 1/4 cup oats
  • 1 tbsp. ground flax
  • 1 cup water
  • ice

Oh the Stairmaster. You kick my butt every time.

I am the type of person who enjoys food on the holiday itself, and then it’s back to regular eating.

Knowing that there is leftover pies, cookies, and salty side dishes sitting in my fridge is not something that I recommend, especially if you are the type of person who tends to mindlessly pick at them throughout the day,  which is most likely all of us.

If this is the case, GET RID OF IT!

Yes you may be wasting food, but that is no excuse to eat dessert for 5 days straight because you feel guilty that someone brought it.

The holiday is over…move on.

This is called tough love.

You’ll thank me later.

xoxo

Realistic Resolutions

I have a love/hate relationship with New Years Resolutions.

They start off strong and exciting, until they become boring and old, sending us back to December 31st with a disappointed state of mind and feeling like a failure.

But it doesn’t have to be this way. Get rid of all that pressure!

Most of our resolutions have to do with habits that should have been happening all along, such as exercising, eating better, managing our money, or being a little bit nicer to those around us.

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However, what usually happens, is we end up choosing a specific goal from those options and losing sight of why we chose it in the first place

For example, instead of saying “This year, I will make an effort to live more healthily”, We say “I will lose 10 pounds this year”. Suddenly we are stuck on a number with no idea of how to get to it, or how to keep it off.

It’s a recipe for disaster. It’s a chore. It’s a burden.

Make your resolution REALISTIC. Change what you want to change as a whole, then add mini challenges as you go along.

Start to create a life with more movement by joining a gym, more color by adding fruits and vegetables to your diet, and more love by sharing your healthy path with friends and family.

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Now add your mini challenges

“I will do 10 push ups”, “I will run a mile”, “I will take a cooking class”, “I will drink my 8 glasses of water a day”

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You will still tackle these goals, along with an abundance of others if you keep your focus on the bigger picture.

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Think of the new year as exactly that; A new year.

No pressure, just a clean slate.

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And I’m aware that this post should not involve any tempting foods from the holidays, but I have yet to post what a delicious few weeks it’s been.

Christmas Eve’s Feast the Seven Fishes is the same every year, while Christmas Day and New Years day dinner are almost identical.

Yes, we also have a large family dinner on New Years day.

No, we are not sick of each other yet.

 Enjoy!

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leftover lobster stuffing from xmas eve

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anitpasto

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stuffed mushrooms

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eggplant parm

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cavatellis

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roast beef

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roasted potatoes

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and desserts….

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gelato balls

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desserts…

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desserts.

My mom and aunt are relieved that the next big holiday isn’t until Easter.

Kitchen. is .closed.

Peas and Crayons

Fighting Your Fitness Funk

We all get in “Fitness Funks” from time to time, and working out can start to feel like a chore, a burden on your list of daily activities.

We dread the sound of our alarm clock jolting us out of bed at 5am to get our run in. We sit at our work desk, wishing that spending the night on the sofa was just as beneficial as attending the 6pm Body Pump class.

We want to go to the gym, but just can’t seem to find the motivation or energy to do so.

It happens to all of us.

Sometimes we do need a break, but sometimes we just need a little push to get ourselves going.

Here are a few ways to keep your inner Lazy Jane from taking over.

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Let your alarm be your first motivator: Set your alarm with a positive message, reminding you of why it’s going off at such an ungodly hour.

          a #runners alarm clock; #motivation

Sleep in your gym clothes: If you are already dressed and ready, all you have to do is put on your sneakers! Or, at least lay out your clothes the night before so everything is ready to go.

Have your iPod charged and playlist ready: Nothing gets your body moving, and keeps it moving, like good music…other than coffee!

Coffee: Set that timer so it’s ready for you in the kitchen. But remember, always drink your glass of water first. Hydrate!

Find a reliable workout buddy: You will feel accountable if you are also responsible for another’s results besides your own. Push each other, set a time, a place, and go!

Sign up for a class ahead of time: Spin classes often book up fast. Get your name on the list before it’s full, and hold yourself to it! Someone else wants that spot, but it’s YOURS!

Make your workout become your therapy: Get out any frustration, energy, anger or excitement while you pump iron and climb those stairs. This is your time to think, reflect, or to completely zone out. Blast the music and do what feels good.

Try everything!: What do you love to do and makes you WANT to come back for more? If you love to dance, try Zumba. If you enjoy lifting weights, try Body Pump or another strength training class. Need some Zen in your life? Hot Yoga is amazing!

Play tennis, rock climb, hike and swim!

GO NUTS!

When it comes to fitness, you’ll never know what works for you if you don’t search for the right puzzle piece.

Once you find it, everything will literally FIT together, building a strong base that will carry you through towards a healthy future.

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Start now, and don’t look back.

Let the Sunshine In.

Weekends here!!!

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And it’s gonna be beautiful!!

I decided to run around the lake this afternoon, so I snacked on a rice cake with protein spread, cinnamon and blueberries beforehand.

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  • 1 scoop Sunwarrior vanilla
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • water added slowly until mixture thickens.

Today is no day to be sitting indoors.

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Sunny Friday’s are the best

After my run, I stopped by my favorite country store, Calareso’s, to grab a few things. I came across this drink in the freezer and decided to try it out.

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“Bai” means “pure” in Mandarin, and each bottle is infused with coffeefruit for a boost of antioxidants.

It’s juicy, refreshing, and for 10 calories per bottle, the perfect treat on a hot day.

Along with my free-radical fighting beverage, I also stocked up on fruit, veggies, whole wheat bread, and Reese Cups

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Yes..Reese Cups. I refuse to live without them.

As I began washing and slicing my vegetables, my hunger began to make itself known. I made myself a salad with shredded brussel sprouts, chopped carrots, mushrooms, blueberries and sliced turkey breast with balsamic vinegar.

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Along with 1/2 a large Gala apple, spread with 1/2 Tbsp. of raw almond butter

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such a winning combination.

So…What are your plans for the weekend?

Make sure to hit the beach, take your workout outside, barbecue and enjoy your life!

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and wear your sunscreen!

You work too hard to keep your body fit. Don’t ruin it with sun damage.

xoxo

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.

Every New Beginning, Comes From Some Other Beginning’s End.

I’m a frequent runner of Lake Quannapowit, and today was the first time that I saw swans on the property.

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I’ve seen plenty of geese, dogs, bugs, and elderly men sun bathing shirtless, but I’ve never seen swans.

say that 10x fast.

I guess they’ve been grazing the area for a long time. I would love to know how I’ve missed them…Runner’s peripheral vision I guess.

Glad I parked my car in this lot today Smile.

Pre-Run Snack

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Rice cake topped with 1Tbsp of roasted red pepper hummus, and 1/2 cup AllWhites.

Following my run, I completed a lower body circuit on the grass, checking for poop before getting started Smile

3x through for 1 minute each. 

  • Right Lunge
  • Left Lunge
  • Squat
  • Right Reverse Lunge
  • Left Reverse Lunge
  • Squat.

Hello burning quads! I love it!

After stretching for a while in the sun, I heading home for a snack.

I steamed a chunk of my one pound sweet potato in the microwave, and paired it with plain Greek yogurt, raw almond butter and cinnamon.

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Best combo ever

As you know, tomorrow marks the end of a work week and the beginning of a new month; A month that I want you to make all about you.

It’s a fresh start. Do with it what you will, and do it well.

Begin a 31 day fitness challenge, tackle an obstacle that’s been holding you back, aim to finally start and finish that book, drink more water, neglect junk and processed foods, or finally visit that place you’ve been dying to see.

Let’s start June off on the right foot; reenergized, motivated, and grabbing life by the horns.

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You’re Hot then You’re Cold

Look what came in the mail yesterday Smile

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I still have a bag of Chocolate left, but I had some credits that I needed to use on OpenSky, so I figured I’d buy some Vanilla.

It tastes better in certain recipes such as pina colada smoothies, warm vanilla protein oats, juicing, or protein pancakes.

  • 1/4 cup eggwhites
  • 1 scoop protein powder
  • 2 Tbsp almond milk (or skim)
  • 1 Tbsp ground flax
  • 1/2 mashed banana
  • cinnamon.

Since it’s such a rainy, clammy morning, I craved a smoothie for breakfast.

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  • 1 scoop Sunwarrior Vanilla
  • 1 big handful of raw spinach
  • 1/2 frozen banana
  • 1/2 cup frozen mixed berries
  • 1 Tbsp ground flax
  • water and ice
  • 1/2 cup Kashi sprinkled on top

And of course, some black coffee with Stevia.

Quite the hot and cold breakfast I’ve got going on here.

Today’s Workout

10 minute warm up: Stair Climber

  • 3 sets Bicep Curls: 10 half way up, 10 mid-point to shoulder, 10 complete curls
  • 3 sets of 12 Hammer Curls
  • 3 sets of 8 (per side) Walking Plank
  • 3 sets of 15 Tricep Kickbacks
  • 3 sets 15 Overhead Tricep Extension
  • 3 sets of 10 Diamond Tricep Push ups

Cardio: 20 minute HIIT on the Treadmill

  • 20 second fast jog
  • 40 second sprint
  • 2 min recovery

Abs: Two, 1 minute Planks

Stretch

Post Workout snack

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  • Greek Yogurt
  • 1/2 cup cooked brown rice
  • blueberries and cinnamon

Such a good combo

So..I’ve been feeling very thankful lately; Thankful for my health, my family, my friends, and everyday experiences that I sometimes take for granted.

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When we focus so much on the negatives in our life, we tend to miss all of the positives surrounding us.

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If you find yourself dwelling on a certain situation today, twist it into a positive and try to make it into something good.

Remember that there is always a light at the end of a tunnel, a lesson learned through failure, it could always be worse, and with every bad, comes a good.

Have a good day xoxo

Fully Charged Memorial Day Weekend

I kicked the holiday weekend off right with a cup of Island Coconut coffee, which I have become slightly obsessed with..

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It’s Limited Edition, so go grab yourself a box and stock you pantry with this tropical escape in a cup!

Along with my coffee, I also snacked on a rice cake topped with 1/2 scoop of chocolate Sunwarrior protein powder, 1 tsp unsweetened cocoa powder, and 1/2 Tbsp raw almond butter, mixed all together with a little water to combine and thicken

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Topped with blueberries and 3 slices of frozen banana

Once my battery was fully charged, I headed to the gym to sweat my face off for an hour on the Arc Trainer. 

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You devil.

I finished with this no joke AB routine and some glutes thrown in as well

  • 25 Bicycle crunches
  • 25 Reverse crunch
  • 25 Regular crunch
  • 25 Butterfly crunch

rest and repeat 2 more times

Followed by this little gem that you will surely hate me for Smile

  • 1 minute low plank while pulsing your glutes for 45 seconds, and holding the squeeze for the last 15 seconds. Tight Tight Tight!

rest and repeat 2 more times

I’m not gonna lie, I was screaming and grunting through that one. At least I was in the yoga studio by myself so no one could hear me cursing. It was intense, but definitely effective

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I’ll be feeling that one later.

After some stretching, it was time for breakfast

Banana Walnut Egg white Oats

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  • 1/3 cup rolled oats
  • 1/2 a banana
  • 1/2 cup egg whites
  • 10g walnuts
  • blueberries
  • cinnamon and nutmeg

I toasted the walnuts in the microwave for a minute and a half before adding them to my oatmeal, which was the best idea I’ve ever had.

As for the rest of the weekend, I intend to soak up as much sun as possible, enjoying my time off and being spontaneous. And of course, fitting in a workout or two when I can.

Get outside and do the same! Smile

And as always, have a safe and happy Memorial Day weekend! xoxo

Red, White and Blue Martini

Screaming Shoulders and Thirsty Thursday

My shoulders hurt.

After running the lake this afternoon, I headed over to the gym for a quick Back, Chest, and Shoulder workout that left my muscles shaking and completely burnt out.

Win!

Back

  • Lat Pull Down: 3 sets of 12, 45 pounds
  • Bent Over Row: 3 sets of 12, 15 pounds
  • Back Extension: 3 sets of 15, bodyweight

Chest

  • Push ups: 3 sets of 20
  • Dumbbell Chest Fly: 3 sets of 12, 15 pounds

Shoulders

I held a dumbbell in the opposite hand with my arm almost parallel to the floor as I worked the opposing side for the first 4 sets

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  • Dumbbell Shoulder Press- 3x through, 10 pounds
  1. Horizontal Grip, Right side- 6 reps
  2. Horizontal Grip, Left side- 6 reps
  3. Vertical Grip, Right side- 6 reps
  4. Vertical Grip, Left side- 6 reps
  5. Arnold Press, both sides-  10 reps

Complete each movement in a slow and controlled motion. Breath out as you contract and in as you release. Keep your form in check!

  • Front Raise: 3 sets of 12, 7.5 pounds
  • Lateral Raise: 3 sets of 12, 7.5 pounds

Screaming shoulders…I think so.

I came home and made myself a green protein smoothie with my new Ninja blender, which literally kicks ass.

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In the mix

  • 1 scoop chocolate Sunwarrior protein powder
  • 1 tsp unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1/2 frozen banana
  • 2 large handfuls of spinach
  • 2 Tbsp rolled oats
  • water and ice.

It’s been quite a while since I’ve done a “Thirsty Thursday” post, but since this weekend marks the start of summer, what better time to get festive!

Whether you are attending a BBQ or throwing your own, don’t be shy to prepare some lower calories drinks that tastes just as good, have less sugar and still do the trick Smile

Here are some simple Memorial Day themed ideas.

You know I love my Vodka so I am being a bit biased, but Bacardi and Tequila would also work well.

  • 1.5 oz Vodka
  • 4 oz Sprite Zero
  • 2 frozen strawberries, halved
  • 5 frozen blueberries

  • 1.5 oz Vodka
  • 4 oz Diet Sierra Mist Cranberry Splash
  • 5 Frozen Blackberries

  • 1.5 oz Raspberry Vodka
  • 4 oz Sprite Zero
  • 5 Frozen Raspberries

  • 1.5 oz Blueberry Vodka
  • 4 oz Fresca
  • 5 Frozen blueberries

You can also puree some fruit with your choice of alcohol, pouring it into an ice cube tray to make these mini popsicles, which would be a hit!

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Add fresh lemon juice with water in place of soda, use Agave nectar or Stevia for added sweetness, and even freeze some red and blue berries into ice cubes for a festive flare in your water glass.

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Refreshing drinks without added calories from syrups and sour mix is the perfect option for your guests, and for yourself. Show everyone that there is always a way to make things healthier, without losing flavor.