Covering all the bases

Posted on April 16, 2012 by Jen @nutcaseinpoint

Sit down and relax, this is gonna be a long one.

After I spent pretty much ALL morning on the phone with different immigration/customs people, I threw my hands in the air ~~singin’ aaaaaa-yo~~ and called it quits for the day. Moving to Canada has been by far the hardest thing I have ever done. Harder than college or fit tests or solving mathematical equations.

I rewarded myself with a trip to Safeway with Tyler’s credit card. I didn’t go crazy- mostly tons of produce. After I got home, I reheated some leftover tortellini for lunch.

I gave most of the kielbasa to Layla. A) Less calories consumed for me; B) Layla is most likely going to be a gassy mess tonight. Sigh.

I think she felt guilty for having such an indulgent snack that she gave herself timeout.

Funny story: Tyler bought Layla two new toys yesterday, both of them with strategically placed squeakies. Before going to bed last night, I put both of her toys in her bed- where she so conveniently decided to sleep that night. Well, in the middle of the night, she must have readjusted her sleeping position, because the toy squeaked and her, Tyler and I all freaked out. Like, she jumped a foot and Tyler and I instantly sat upright out of a deep sleep. It reminded me of the scene in Home Alone with Kevin’s parents realized they slept through their alarm.

Moving on.

I baked a healthier version of no bake cookies. (Ok, i didn’t bake them, but you know what I mean)

I found the healthier alternative on Eating Bird Food. Really, the only difference is using a mashed banana rather than a stick of butter.

I don’t know if you know this, but bananas are better for you than butter. Unless it’s Sunday, then who cares (I repeat: Calories do not count on Sundays)

These cookies (yes, cookies is plural, I had three because I am the baker and I am allowed) were enjoyed while I read through two new magazines:

Not too many things caught my eye in either of these. Bummer. When I did my prelim flip-through in the store, they looked like they’d be winners.

Hey, remember when I posted about some stuff I bought? Honestly, you should remember because I haven’t been buying anything since I had a job. (Other than health insurance and almond butter from Costco.) Well, it arrived today!

The raspberry ketones and protein powder plus a muscle magazine and two trial packets for free. free. I am really pumped to give these a go tomorrow before an early morning workout!

Speaking of workouts (see how this post just naturally flows?) I thought I’d show you guys my workout from last night:

10 minute HIIT on the elliptical

weighted squat series (x2, make sure to go through on each leg twice with 12 reps)

-split squat

-elevated squat

-reverse split squat

10 minute HIIT on the elliptical

arm series (12 reps of each x2)

-bicep curls

-tricep kickback

-chest press

-dumbbell fly

-shoulder front raise

-lateral raise

-front/lateral combo

-overhead press

10 minute HIIT on the ski-machine thingy. I Googled an image for you if you don’t understand my techincal lingo:

source

ab series (I just did a ton of each until my core was burnt out)

-stability ball crunches

-stability ball weighted russian twists

-stability ball plank

-stability ball side crunches

Overall, decent workout.

This morning, I put my daily fitness goal on facebook

And I did it. And it was hard. And I loved every single burpee. Surprisingly, the burpees got easier the closer I got to 100- my body was in the rhythm to really push through and explode on the jump. That makes me a happy lady. I got so pumped up, I ended up doing a bit of kickboxing as well!

Check out one of my guns

For dinner, I decided to make stuffed peppers. But not our regular ol’ stuffed peps. These were healthy and different and good.

I found the recipe here. I cut it in half so that Tyler could have two, and I would have one. I put some ground beef in Tyler’s because he’s manly and needs meat and protein. Woof.

My lil lone pep. Cute. I decided to dissect it a bit to let you see the innards (Terrible way to describe food, btw)

Last one, just a little bit closer…

Couple of new songs on the iPod for tonight’s workout

Sometimes only adding one or two new songs in the mix really amp up a workout. They helped me get through those burpees!!

On a final note, I am seriously considering buying a Lululemon skirt. Not for running- but for normal everyday summer wear. Yes? No?

Source

Ok, I think that just about covers all the bases. I have run out of things to write about. Hopefully you were entertained? I was…I love blogging this stuff.

I am off to the gym with my 4 new songs and 100 burpee-in guns and I am going to get a serious sweat session on!

The Golden Workout

Posted on April 12, 2012 by Jen @nutcaseinpoint

I had a terrible dream last night that I was being chased by people with guns and knives and bombs and they wanted to kill me. I’ve had the exact same dream before- it took place on a street I used to live on, and I just could seem to ever run fast enough. Then, I have the thought in my dream where I know it’s a dream, but my mind can’t get it to stop. Perhaps that’s why I had a terrible night sleep. That, and the fact that I kept getting tangled in the damn sheets. They’re too big for the bed. And between Tyler and a squirmy dog and me- well, it gets ugly.

Breakfast this morning was chocolate almond butter oats

Nothing super special, but they keep me full for a long while. Doesn’t hurt that it tastes great.

Layla and I went for a walk afterwards. 4miles (6.5ish km)
I tried Skyping my mom while we were walking, but the dog was pulling me too much and Canada’s reception sucks so I kept freezing. But it was a funny try.

Little bit of snots

Great view (my favorite pic from our walk)

Im about to grab a bowl of leftover chili for lunch. This is a pic I took of the chili from last night

Pretty dang delicious, if you ask me.

Once this bowl of yum yum digests, it’s off to the gym for this workout:

The Golden Workout

(because everything is done in sets of 50)

10 minute warmup

50 squats (weighted)

50 jumping jacks

50 lunges (weighted)

50 jumping jacks

50 pushups (take breaks if necessary- as long as you get to 50)

50 jumping jacks

50 leg lifts

50 jumping jacks

50 hip raises (weighted)

50 jumping jacks

50 side crunch pushups (25 each side)

50 jumping jacks

1 min plank

10 min cool down

******

That, plus a long, hilly walk should suffice for physical activity for the day. However, if I still have energy, I might throw in a quick run and/or abwork on the stability ball.. I’m aiming for it!

Anyone have a a favorite workout/move they’ve been loving lately?

Another busy day for the unemployed

Posted on April 10, 2012 by Jen @nutcaseinpoint

Hi there, ho there!

Today started bright and early. I had to first enjoy my breakfast (coconut oats- same as yesterday) the really jump the gun. I put together a lasagna, salad and bread for friends of ours that just had a baby. I wanted to help them out in the only way I know how- with food. I tried to make some no bake cookies, but they hadn’t hardened in time, so I whipped by Crave to pick up a couple of cupcakes with pink frosting 😉

My lunch was a weird combo- 3 hard boiled egg whites and leftover couscous with corn. Super random, I know.

Let’s get to the BEST part of the day: my workout.

Awww, look at that pretty stationary. I felt like a nerdo carrying that around in the gym. So here’s how it breaks down:

10 minute warmup (I did the elliptical with HIIT intervals)

10 pushups
60 second plank
10 pushups
60 second plank

10 deadman burpees (seen here)
Jump rope tabata
10 deadman burpees

20 curtsy lunge w/high knee (each side)
50 second wall sit
20 weighted wide lunges (each side)
50 second wall sit

20 mountain climbers
Jumping jack tabata
20 mountain climbers

30 leg lifts
40 second pilates pulse
30 bicycle crunches
40 weighted hip raises

30 high knees (each side)
heel jump tabata
30 high knees (each side)

one legged bicep curl (resting one leg on a stability ball (3 sets of 12)
tricep extensions (3 sets of 12) option: sitting on stability ball
chest press and fly combo while bridging on he stability ball

8 jackknives
8 pikes
8 jackknives
8 pikes

While bridging on the ball, 10 overhead shoulder extensions, 10 russian twists. repeat 2 times.

10 minute cardio (another HIIT interval on the elliptical)

There ya have it, folks. That was one hell of a workout- especially if you’re go-go-go like me and really limit your breaks or break times.

Tyler was pulling in the driving just as I was walking home from the gym so I really had to act quick to get him dinner. Two words of praise for his meal

1) Thank you to whoever invented leftovers.

2) Another thanks to whoever thought of the defrost button on the microwave.

Since I wasn’ too hungry, I also used the defrost button for my snack:

We ate while watching the LAST Harry Potter movie. EIGHT HP movies in EIGHT days. Woof. Now we will have to find another series to work on….. (I have Mad Men, but that’s my day time TV 😉 )

Once the movie was over, Tyler pulled a good boyfriend card and went to Subway while I showered so that I could have my ‘second’ dinner.

Turkey breast with banana peppers, peppers, tomatoes, olives, and cucumbers. I took half of it out of the to-go container, and saved the rest for tomorrow’s lunch. 10 points for Tyler, everybody. Hip hip….. (this is where you say Hooray).

Oh, and the Easter package from my parents arrived today. I finally got my Girl Scout Cookies!

Too bad I swore off sweets the other day after my dismal weigh in. Just to get myself back on track, though. Into the freezer they go!

In addition to these lovely boxes of minty goodness, came this little bobble bunny

Hmmm, what else have I done today? Oh yeah, registered for one of my Graduate classes. Boo hiss. The optimist’s argument would say it’s one step closer to completion. True, but it’s also a buttload of homework during my first summer in Calgary. Ho hum.

Another random (read: dangerous) note: So, I was putting some dishes away yesterday morning that were left out on the dry rack. You know, the ones where you stack plates and pots and pans to see how many can really balance, and there’s a small little spot in the front to hold alllll those pieces of silverware. Given the logistics of how the utensils and such were placed, and the height of the cupboard door, well, bad things can only happen. I open the door, the door hits the cookie sheet, the cookie sheet hits the utensils, the utensils fall towards me to the floor. In that group of utensils: sharp knives. Me: in pajamas. One sharp knive got me. I won’t say exactly where, but it was below my belly button and above the knee.

I. thought. I. was. going. to. die.

But I didn’t, and now have a strategically placed scar. SWEET. (not sweet).

Last random bit: I miss living close to my parents because I never wash my own bras. That’s something I always left for mom. Ugh, another thing I am going to have to learn.

TMI tonight? Nah. Bet you chuckled though. 😉

44 out of 100

Posted on April 10, 2012 by Jen @nutcaseinpoint

I’ve seen it all over blogs and facebook recently, so I thought I’d post my own results to the food list challenge of 100 things to eat before you die.

1. Abalone- no thanks, it comes from the ocean

2. Absinthe- not yet, but I’m willing!

3. Alligator- came so close to having it in New Orleans, but no.

4. Baba Ghanoush- haha, I just like saying it

5. Bagel and Lox- Bagel: yes; Lox: hell no

6. Baklava- yes, delish!

7. Barbeque Ribs- The best I’ve had were in Memphis

8. Bellini- duh, check.

9. Bird’s Nest Soup- I don’t think so

10. Biscuits and Gravy- mmmhmmm

11. Black Pudding- no thank you

12. Black Truffle- it might have been in something I’ve ordered at a fancy restaurant

13. Borscht- no idea what it is

14. Calamari- NEVER

15. Carp- see: #14

16. Caviar- see: #14 again

17. Cheese Fondue- yes and I’ll have it again, thankyouverymuch

18. Chicken and waffles- not at the same time

19. Chicken Tikka Masala- nope

20. Chile Rellano- mmmm lick my lips good

21. Chitlins- ?

22. Churros- on the reg when I was little. Most often at Disneyland

23. Clam Chowder- grossy

24. Cognac- NOT grossy

25. Crab cakes- Best were on the waterfront in Boston with Tyler. I will never forget that meal. But I DID forget the name of the restaurant.

26. Crickets- Hell no

27. Currywurst- that just put a bad taste in my mouth, whatever it is

28. Dandelion Wine- keep talking..

29. Dulce De Leche- Holy yum yum!

30. Durian- not sure

31. Eel- NOOOOO

32. Eggs Bendict- I could eat them every day of my life. The end.

33. Fish Tacos- No, but Tyler wants me to try

34. Foie Gras- no thank you

35. Fresh Spring Rolls- yes!

36. Fried Catfish- what did I tell you about seafood? No!

37. Fried Freen Tomatoes- yep

38. Fried Plantain- yep yep!

39. Frito Pie- might have at some pot luck type thing…

40. Frogs Legs- not in my lifetime

41. Fugu- no

42. Funnel Cake- too many to count on both hands

43. Gazpacho- yes, and I have wanted to make some of my own for a while now

44. Goat- aww no

45. Goat’s Milk- awww yes

46. Goulash- check

47. Gumbo- Ahhh New Orleans!

48. Haggis- ?

49. Head Cheese- No way Jose

50. Heirloom Tomatoes- yes

51. Honeycomb- sticky good

52. Hostess Fruit Pie- Used to buy them at the Snack Shack at St. Jeanne’s back in the day

53. Huevos Rancheros- yummmmmmmmtastic

54. Jerk Chicken- yup

55. Kangaroo- No–but maybe

56. Key Lime Pie- ahh, yes

57. Kobe Beef- Where’s the Beef?

58. Lassi- ?

59. Lobster- I had it for the first time this past weekend. But only because it was mashed up in a dip and you couldn’t taste it. I would never ever eat it alone.

60. Mimosa- too many

61. MoonPie- hells yes

62. Morel Mushrooms- nope

63. Nettle Tea- how is that different from regular tea?!

64. Octopus- NOOOO

65. Oxtail Soup- not interested

66. Paella- Spanish class

67. Paneer- nope

68. Pastrami on Rye- NYC deli

69. Pavlova- no

70. Phaal- what?

71. Philly Cheese Steak- yessir

72. Pho- no

73. Pineapple and Cottage Cheese- My college staple

74. Pistachio Ice Cream- yes, and yuck

75. Po Boy- no

76. Pocky- ?

77. Polenta- yup!

78. Prickly Pear- does it count if it was mixed in an alcoholic beverage?

79. Rabbit Stew- no, but I have had rabbit!

80. Raw Oysters- no no no

81. Root beer float- UM YES

82. S’mores- SI SENOR!

83. Sauerkraut- yup

84. Sea Urchin- no thanks

85. Shark- no

86. Snail- YES!

87. Snake- never

88. Soft Shell Crab- no

89. Som Tam- ?

90. Spaetzle- no

91. Spam- no

92. Squirrel- no

93. Steak Tartare- no

94. Sweet Potato Fries- all the time!

95. Sweetbreads- nope

96. Tom Yum- ?

97. Umeboshi- ?

98. Venison- no

99. Wasabi Peas- yep

100. Zucchini Flowers- no

In total, I have tried 44 out of the 100–there’s so many damn seafoody creatures on the list!

******

Ok, so yesterday’s run got my legs a-shakin’ and now they are sore as all hell. I am going to have to veto a run today and opt for an interval workout at the gym later on. BUT FIRST, I must finish cooking this meal to bring over to friends that just had a baby! This is my first time making lasagna from scratch by myself, so I am hoping it turns out all right! eek.

Here it is beforehand:

I’ll back back later with a workout recap and other goodies…

Getting the ball rolling

Posted on April 9, 2012 by Jen @nutcaseinpoint

Well, last night ended terribly. I committed a crime, a very bad crime. I weighed myself at the end of the day- at the end of a holiday weekend. The verdict? You don’t want to know. Ugh, I was so mad at myself. Hated myself even.

You’d think after 25 years I’d have learned to enjoy food and fitness in balance. But every once in a while- it takes a mean turn and I cry myself to sleep over a stupid number on a stupid scale.

After a huge sobfest and a good nights sleep, I started today with a clean slate. Breakfast was a bowl of oats w/honey, almond milk, almond butter, raisins and toasted coconut.

Today’s workout included a 3 mile run- the first ever since moving to 3500 ft altitude. I think I did pretty good

Sub-10 min miles. I’ll take it, thankya. And the route I took was hilly. Another high five for me.

I listened to a new playlist for my run- it’s a weird mix of genres and old/new stuff, but it hit the spot for a run today!

Oh, and Nicki Minaj’s new CD? Fantastic. She does a lot of the rap that she’s known for, but here and there she actually sings and she has a great voice. And great lyrics. And great featuring artists. Most of the songs talk about b*tches and d*ck, though. Hell, one song’s even titled Come on A Cone. For serious. But I really like the music- I’ll just have to watch my potty mouth for a bit 😉

My heart was a-thumpin’ by the time I got home. Theeeen, I did a quick at home circuit that consisted of

Oof!

15 minutes of those moves, and I broke my second sweat of the day. Very pleased with my workout on day 1 of post-scale horror.

Lunch was a smoothie with an interesting list of ingredients.

It included: 1 frozen banana, 2 handfuls spinach, orange juice, frozen raspberries, Oikos Greek yogurt, and 2 medjool dates. Totally delicious.

Dinner was quickly and easy- another round of healthy chicken tenders with broccoli and spinach citrus couscous.

Dessert was an orange.

I finally got around to trying out another way to get hard cooked eggs. Rather than boiling them, I baked them!

In the oven they went at 325 for 30 minutes, then I plunged them in ice water to stop them from cooking. They actually turned out! I’ll be eating them over the next few days! Yum.