Monthly Archives: July 2012

Tuesday Time Out Corner

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These are confessions. Or ‘truths’ if you will.

1. My goal for this week was to get all my workouts done in the morning. Technically, it is morning until 12 noon. So, I slept in until 10 this morning then went to the gym.

*Sidenote: I did the day 2 workout from Tina’s Best Body Bootcamp and it was a killer! 40 minutes to get through 3 sets of  3 lower body supersets plus a 20 minute steady-state pace on the bike. Might try to incorporate some of these moves in bootcamp tonight..

2. I ate skittles today.

3. Cleaning my ears with q-tips. Every time I get out of the shower. Is that weird?

4. Sometimes I don’t wash all my dishes with soap and water. If I just used a bowl to hold some grapes, does it really need to get scrubbed? No.

5. I have been creepy on instagram lately. I see people’s pictures on my feed; then I see who has liked their pictures; then I click on those people’s names and check out their pictures. Free country. (Does that apply to Canada? Meh, I’m still an American citizen so I’ll say it anyways.) Oh, and if you want- my instagram name is nutcaseinpoint. You can creep on me. Maybe say hi. Or like one of my pictures.

6. Since we started watching Sons of Anarchy, I have had dreams every night that I am running from bad guys. Or blowing up houses. Or selling guns.

7. I’m not a candle person. But, I am totally obsessed with the Tyler candles I bought about a month ago. Did you hear that, Tyler candles? I LOVE your product. Want to send this unemployed American in Canada some free candles? I will totally promo it for you.

8. When I am doing cardio, I usually count the beat of my music on my fingers. People on the ellipticals or treadmills next to me must think I have a nervous tic.

9. I am OBSESSED with grapefruit this week.

10. I am going to make this soon.

11. And this.

12. 25 days till I see my friends in Boston <3<3<3<3<3

13. Speaking of Boston, I called Canadian customs today to make sure I can come back into the country without a problem. They said yes. Phew.

14. I don’ think anyone loves margaritas more than me. In national tequila day and I have no one to celebrate with. Because it’s Tuesday and people WORK. Now that’s just silly.

15. Every time I have a really good workout, I wonder why I didn’t have this much dedication towards fitness in college. Even though I was on the volleyball team. Oh right, refer to #14.

16. I am looking for anyone who would like to guest post on nutcaseinpoint. I’ll be in the States for 2 1/2 weeks and probably will be loving life too much to post as frequently. Any takers? Email me at jtougas77 at gmail dot com.

Best Body Bootcamp, Day 1

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Today is Day 1 of Tina’s Best Body Bootcamp. And I was done with today’s workout by 7:30 this morning. Hooray! If you’re too lazy to click on the link and read up on the bootcamp, it’s an 8 week program filled with different workouts (Phase 1 has upper and lower body supersets) PLUS there are cash prizes for those who hit their weekly goals- note: it is NOT about weight loss or inches lost- which is why I love this program so much.

PS: Layla wanted to me let you guys know that I completed the workout because she watched me do the whole thing

 

Random other news:

1. I have to make a serious trip to Michael’s this week to get neon puffy paint. Tyler and I are going to an 80’s party on Friday and I need a seriously good outfit. Also, I am crimping my hair, putting it in a side pony, and wearing a scrunchie.

2. I am on a serious egg kick as of late. PROTEIN GET IN MAH BELLY.

3. We started watching Sons of Anarchy this weekend. WE ARE ADDICTED.

Source

4. Tyler and I met up with friends of ours- Justin and Nicole- at the Sun and Salsa Festival yesterday. It was hot, there were lots of people, lots of salsa, and we somehow managed to get a table at Julio Barrio and sip on these bad boys:

5. The fun was over once we got home and I had to finish up some homework. Sit down, because I’m about to vent. I am taking my grad school courses online. Right now, I am currently enrolled in only one class. It’s not too bad- there are discussion posts we need to do throughout the week, and generally have a paper and a blog post to do by the end of the week. WELL. This week, we were assigned that AND two group projects. Group projects in a classroom environment suck, but you put it on the internet and it’s even worse. We all live in different time zones, have different schedules, etc. I worked effortlessly to get these two projects done only to find out one of my group members- who didn’t do ANY of the work- submitted an incomplete project. With my name on it. To make matters worse, this is the first online course I’ve taken where the professor has been completely absent in participation. Aka: you never hear from him. I was firing off emails to him and my advisor last night because I was MAD. I work so hard only to get shit on? Not cool.

6. Thanks to facebook, the finale of The Bachelorette was ruined. I recorded it to watch this morning, but noooooooooooooo this person (who shall remain anonymous) ruined it. I kind of hate her now. But we don’t really talk anyways. You know how that goes with facebook friends- you maybe only really talk to a few of the 204592709.

7. WE HAVE PLANTS! A couple of months ago, Tyler and I bought some onion, tomato and pepper plants- just to see how they’d grow in pots on our patio. And whaddya know, we have tons of tomatoes, one pep, and lotsa onions! Can’t wait to make salsa.

Imma stop at 7 cuz that’s a good number.

Anyone have something random they’d like to share?

 

 

Quinoa Cooking Trick

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Happy Weekend, everyone! I am massively busy with homework this weekend, but I wanted to check in and let you in on my latest discovery.

Yes, it looks like your typical throw together meal. And it is. BUT. The preparation was a liiiiittle bit different this time. And guess what? It’s a time saver!

Typically, directions for quinoa have you put the quinoa and water in a pot, bring to a boil, then put on low heat (covered) for about 15 minutes. Well- here’s what I did. I tossed the quinoa and water in the pot. While I was waiting for it to come to a boil, I diced up some yellow pepper and zucchini. As soon as it was time to cover the pot and bring to low heat- I tossed the veggies in the pot. That way, the veggies would steam while the quinoa was still cooking. 

Seriously, I’m a genius.

About a minute before it was ready, I threw in some pasta sauce my dad made from scratch last week.

 

Meal= delicious.

At some point in the day, I also took Layla for a walk. And in typical fashion, these are the photos I got:

 

 

 

Oh, and this also happened last night:

 

We had a party. A party of 2. I also got obsessed with Sons of Anarchy. Booze and bikers. Good Friday night.

 

 

Frittata-ing and Sweating

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Gah. I am sore this morning. I’m getting old, so I’m sore just about every morning. But this time, it’s from a super sweaty workout I did last night. I was dripping with sweat halfway in, and couldn’t wait to get this thing done. Afterwards (aka: after I caught my breath and could stand upright), I was pumped to get it under my belt. I’ll give you the workout, but first I want to recap yesterday’s eats first(and a recipe!)

Breakfast: Multi-Grain Cheerios with almond milk….in my new bowl!

Lunch: Plain 0% Greek yogurt, salsa and a dash of taco seasoning (eaten with blue corn organic tortilla chips)

 

Oops. I already ate it before I could get the shot.

Dinner: FRITTATA! I searched around the internet for a recipe, and ended up concocting my own (to make do with what was in the fridge)

 

Here’s the recipe:

Ingredients

  • 1 cup diced zucchini
  • 1/4 cup diced onion
  • 1/2 cup quartered tomatoes
  • 1 cup cooked ground beef (I added a touch of taco seasoning to mine)
  • 6 eggs
  • salt
  • pepper
  • basil
  • olive oil
  • 1/3 cream cheese (I used light)

Directions

1. Heat 2 tsp of olive oil on a 10 inch skillet over medium heat. Add the zucchini and onions; stirring for 1 minute. Cover the skillet, stirring occasionally for 3-5 minutes, until zucchini is tender but not mushy. Add the tomatoes, basil and desired amount of salt and pepper, and cook until the moisture is gone- about one minute.

2. In a bowl, whisk eggs. Add the zucchini mixture, ground beef, cream cheese, and additional salt and pepper if desired.

3. Set the broiler to low. Clean 10 inch skillet, then coat with olive oil (about 2 tsp). Put the skillet over medium-low heat. Add the frittata mixture. Allow it to cook for approx 4-5 minutes; until edges are browning. As this is cooking, lift the edges and tilt the pan to allow uncooked egg to cook.

4. Take skillet and place in the broiler for about 3-4 minutes; until top is golden. Slide onto plate and serve

******

Now, the workout you’ve been waiting for. All you need is a set of weights. This should take you about 45 minutes. Each set will be titled with a set of numbers. You will do each exercise through for the first number of reps specified, do another set with the second number, etc. (i.e.: If it reads 1-2-3-2-1 you will do 1 pushup, 1 situp, 1 burpee, 2 pushups, 2 situps, 2 burpees, 3 pushups, 3 situps, 3 burpees, 2 pushups, 2 situps, 2 burpees, 1 pushup, 1 situp, 1 burpee. Get it? For moves requiring work on both sides- like lunges- you will do that number of reps for each side.)

Get ready to sweat!

Pyramid/Cardio Progression Workout

10 minute warm up (dance around, hop on an elliptical, walk the dog)

5-7-9-7-5

  • weighted lunges
  • 180 jump squats
  • jump squats

2 minute cardio blast: 30 sec. jumping jacks, 30 seconds jump rope x2

9-11-13-11-9

  • bicep curl
  • overhead press
  • single leg deadlift

2 minute cardio blast: 30 sec. plank jacks, 30 sec. jog in place x2

13-15-17-15-13

  • crunches
  • leg lifts
  • heel taps

2 minute cardio blast: 30 sec. toe taps, 30 sec. jump rope x2

DONE!

(see what I did there? Progressed those pyramids to increase in reps. I’m so clever. Bwahaha)

Check out those sweaty gams. Ps: I have no idea why there appears to be a dimple in my right knee.

 

And in other news: Prior to my legs getting drenched in sweat, Layla and I hit the pavement for a walk. It was hot, and she has a fur coat on. Not a good combo. Her AC was on high for quite some time post-walk.

 

And now, I get to spend my Friday doing homework. Because apparently this week the professor wanted to bombard us with work. One paper would have been fine. But, I get to do TWO group projects (do you have any idea how hard that is when your group members are scattered all over the world?!!) and some blogs (that should be easy since I am kinda doing something similar -ummmm- now).

What has everyone got in store for the weekend? 

 

Thursday Q&A

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I got 10 requests, so I’ll give 10 answers. Here we go.

What are some tips for throwing together meals?

The simple, and kind of asshole answer would be: find shit and mix it. But to be honest, I just look for a carb/starch, veggie(s), and a protein. Once you’ve got that basic formula, it’s easy peasy lemon squeezy from there on out. Here are my usual suspects:

Carb/Starch

  • Israeli Couscous
  • Quinoa
  • Potatoes (sweet, red, russet)
  • Whole Wheat pasta

Veggies (the usual suspects)

  • zucchini
  • peppers
  • mushrooms
  • onions
  • carrots
  • spinach

Protein

  • Chicken
  • Tofu
  • Tempeh
  • BEANS
  • Bacon (only on Sundays, because it doesn’t count)

There is no rhyme or reason as to how it can be assembled. Sometimes I roast the veggies, sometimes sautee, sometimes raw. The meat is generally on the skillet, or they’re leftovers. And the veggies? It’s really what’s still edible in the crisper. I leave the seasoning pretty simple: EVOO, S&P. That way, if there are leftovers, it’s still pretty basic and you can do whatever you want with it. Tyler usually adds hot sauce or ranch dressing or soy sauce. I like it plain.

What’s the most awkward situation you’ve been in?

I’m awkward in general, so either I write a novel titled: JEN, or tell you about accidental public farts or nip slips.

What are you top workout moves?

I was actually talking about this with one of the girls in my bootcamp yesterday. I think the best overall exercise you should do to work total body is the burpee. If you have no equipment, or you’re stuck in a hotel room, or only have 5 minutes to get your sweat on: choose burpees. True, they are dreaded, but shut up and do them and you’ll be sore all over the next day.

Lately, I have been obsessed with Pikes. Here’s what it is:

 

Source

That’ll get your core working. No joke.

I also love curtsy lunges with a bicep curl, moving into a high knee and lateral raise. (Holding weights in each hand, take your left foot and step diagonally behind your right leg, keeping your torso and hips facing forward. As you drive you left knee to the ground for the lunge, perform a bicep curl. On your way back to the start position, pick up the left foot and raise your right knee to the side of your body, while simultaneously performing a lateral raise with your arms.)

LOVE squats. Any and all variations.

Clean and presses.

Hmm, I love everything? I don’t know. I go in phases. These are my favorites for now. In six months it could be tricep dips and wall sits. I kind of go through phases (but i still make sure to engage in muscle confusion and total body exercises!)

Why is Athena so awesome?

Again, another novel. I met Athena at the gym (shocker, I know). I was taking both her classes every week. I was obsessed. Not with her, but with her classes. I was also taking about 528529 other classes a week. I had turned into a gym junkie. I made her fudge one Christmas. She made me a mixtape (it was love). Once I got certified to teach, we became friends. And drank margaritas on occasion. We share new moves, blogs we love, recipe ideas. Seriously, she’s awesome. Check out her blog. Now.

What are you looking forward to most on your trip back home?

Yay! I’m flying to NY August 6th, heading out to see all my gym friends in Boston for a bit, then back to NY to chill with the fam. What am I most excited for? Seeing my friends. Having a girls night out. No boyfriends. No husbands. No babies. (Kysha, it’s different in your circumstance. The baby is IN your belly, so it doesn’t count)

Better yet, no talk ABOUT boyfriends, OR husbands, OR babies.

Just having fun with the people who ‘get’ me.

Ok, someone will probably have to force me back on the plane to Calgary at the end of the trip.

What were you for Halloween every year?

I don’t remember EVERY year, but I will do my best to remember what I can.

  • A pumpkin
  • Strawberry Shortcake
  • A cat
  • A gypsy (not the ones that are on TLC)
  • Alice in Wonderland
  • A hobo
  • Thing 2
  • A nurse
  • Richard Simmons (that one was awkward because I had a huge boot on my foot. So technically I was Richard Simmons gone wrong)
  • Tom Cruise from Risky Business
  • Lady Gaga
  • Julia Roberts from Pretty Woman

Yup. I got progressively worse. Maybe I should shoot for being a pumpkin again this year.

How did you become a fitness instructor/get your certifications?

I was actually approached by one of the instructors (hi Liz!) at the Y who noticed I was at her class like EVERY DAMN WEEK. (Even when my car broke down and had to get towed, I had the guy just drop me off at the gym so I could make her class). She helped me get signed up for a certification course for Corpbasics Cario Kix and Cardio Cutz.

Soon after, I got certified in First Aid/CPR and I was teaching one class every week. I wanted to do more, though. I became so engrossed in the thought of being able to bring fitness to others, that I practically lived in the gym. (Ok, I did have a life though. I worked a full-time boring-ass office job, AND was taking grad school classes, AND I got a new dog, AND I was driving 4 hours every weekend to go home.)

Liz then approached me with the idea to get certified as a personal trainer through ACSM. The Y was offering a 3-day workshop to help prep for the exam, so I signed up. I knew a lot of the material, but o-m-g was there a ton more that I didn’t know. And the test was HARD. Like, try to memorize every constellation in the universe, then draw them all with a blindfold on. Super hard. But I studied and studied. Took the bajillionty hour test, and I passed. Since the certification is really the gold-standard for training, I really had the golden ticket for whatever I wanted to do at the gym.

I got up to teaching a Core class, Total Body Sculpt, Express Core, Express Lower Body, and Cardio Ball. And subbing for Athena and anyone else when I could.

I finagled my hours at work so that I could accommodate class times at the gym. Because the gym had priority. But the job had the paycheck. (Well, the higher paycheck. Unfortunately)

But.

Then I moved.

To Canada.

And all those certs I had?

Out. The. Window.

I have been starting from scratch since February so I can at least make some money training up here. So far, I have gotten re-certified for CPR/First-Aid, taken a Fundamentals course, and a Group Strength course. I have about 3 billion other courses to go before I’m squared away. (The system here in Canada is way more confusing than the States).

Luckily, the director at the Y has really helped me out and allowed for me to volunteer instruct the outdoor bootcamps. I can continue to do this until all my certs are complete, then I can teach more indoor classes and what not.

We shall see!

What are some of your favorite breakfasts?

Honestly, I go in cycles. I’ll become obsessed with one thing, and have that for breakfast every day until I can’t stand it any longer. My recent faves have been:

  • Cheerios and almond milk (or Panda Puffs! I JUST FOUND THEM HERE AND I AM HAPPY!)
  • Eggs
  • Whole Wheat English Muffin w/almond butter
  • SMOOOOOOOOTHIES (omg there are so many good ones. pb banana, blueberry, strawberry, chocolate mocha. I usually throw in plain 0% greek yogurt and chia seeds for the omega-3s)
  • Protein pancakes (again, with chia seeds, greek yogurt, etc. and I top them with either almond butter or raw honey instead of maple syrup. Even though Canadian maple syrup is probably one of the most divine flavors ever.)
  • On weekends, Tyler makes Eggs Benedict. I devour them.

What are some of your favorite U.S. shops?

…all the others that I like are pretty international (Banana Republic, LULULEMON, Gap, Sephora)

What’s your love story?

Ack. Maybe this is also my answer to the most awkward situation. Let me try to break it down without it being too confusing.

I was living in Boston. I started dating a guy who I went to college with. He was Canadian and had gone back to Ottawa after school. We had a long distance relationship going for over a year. It was going really good. Then, I found out he was dating another girl in Ottawa. At the same time. And they had been together for years. Ack. We both broke up with him and the other girl and I became friends. Last summer, she suggested we go to Calgary for the Stampede. I drank a glass of wine, then booked the flights online. (whoops). Turns out, she was friends with Tyler when he used to live in Ottawa. She had arranged for us to stay at Tyler’s house in Calgary for the duration of the trip. After I left Calgary, Tyler and I began texting (like maniacs). He had some extra vacation time, so he flew out to Boston…literally a week later. And the rest, as they say, is history.

Is that a weird How We Met story?

Have any more questions for me? Send them my way!!