Workout Wrap Up

Posted on January 21, 2014 by Jen @nutcaseinpoint

Hi friends. Real life + lack of desire to blog has kept me from you. Sorry, but it’s sometimes just no fun to take precious time out of my day to plop in front of the computer- after being in front of one for 9 hours- and recount things I saw, did, or ate. Blech. Perhaps the inkling will work it’s way back to me soon- but for now, mmmmnotosomuch.

Last week’s workouts were pretty OK. Here they are:

Sunday: Made up sone 10-12-15 rep circuits (including UH lat pulls/pushups/OH press; plate pushes/stability ball side lunge/foam roller hip lifts), Spin, and a great finisher of plate push sprints.

Monday: 3 deck of card rounds

Tuesday: 50 min interval run (3/5/1’s)

Wednesday: I was flipping through some of Athena’s posted workouts for some inspiration and came across her Upper Body Tabata workout. I did something super similar followed by a bit of spinning:

Thursday: Given the inspiration from the day before, I completed a lower body tabata workout and some more spinning:

Friday: Celebrated my friend Nicole’s birthday and drank beers (because drinking beers on the weekend BURNS calories, right?)

Saturday: Went to Canmore and did fun things with the hubby (maybe more on that later when/if I feel like it!)

In the comments: Did you have a good workout lately?? WHY was it good? I wanna know!

Apricot Date Chai Muffins

Posted on January 17, 2014 by Jen @nutcaseinpoint

YOU GUYS. THESE MUFFINS.

So, yeahhhhh I decided to wing it in the kitchen last night and whip up a batch of muffins that were somewhat healthy so I could bring them to work for a snack. With it being close to the end of the week, there was practically nothing left in the pantry, so I made do with what I could find. The result? Something actually good!

Heck yes.

Lemme introduce my little batch of Apricot Date Chai Muffins.

Thank you, thank you very much.

Here’s what you’ll need:

1 c unbleached flour
1 c whole wheat flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 c sugar
1 c almond milk + 1 tbsp white vinegar (or you can use buttermilk)
1 egg white
3 Tbsp coconut oil (melted)
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
1 c. dried apricots
1 c. medjool dates
1 tsp chai spice

Here’s what you do:

Preheat oven to 350. Spray or line muffin tin.
Combine flours, baking powder, salt, sugar and chai spice in a large bowl, set aside.
Combine the milk/vinegar, egg, coconut oil, and vanilla. Pour into the dry mixture.
Throw the fruit into a processor (or dice) to desired size. [See photo above- just a few pulses in the processor!] Fold in dried fruit.
Divide batter into muffin cups, bake for 20 min +/- (hard to give a definite time, as I am baking at a higher altitude!)
EAT ALL THE MUFFINS.
MAKE MORE MUFFINS.

Nom nom, little muffin, nom nom.

(Would still totally work without the chai spice, but DANG it gives it that extra little flavor kick that makes a party in your mouth!)

DOC Workout [& giveaway winner!]

Posted on January 15, 2014 by Jen @nutcaseinpoint

Hi friends and happy hump day! Not much new to report from this end- it’s a lot about blasting through the week just to do all the fun things on weekends. So far, this week has consisted of work, workouts, baking, cleaning, tv watching, and sleeping. SO EXCITING.

The work thing has been slightly less fun with Calgary Transit having a butt-ton of issues. PLEASE don’t get me started on that because I will get frustrated enough to declare I’m moving back to the states (and I don’t really want to do that. Cough cough Obamacare cough cough).

The baking this has been a win/fail. The recipes come out healthy and edible, but they ain’t pretty or SUPER outstanding. I’ve found that they’re best when eaten right out of the oven. The day-olds are just a tad sad. Eating them anyway.

Workouts have been pretty great. Monday I did THREE deck of cards workouts that left me sore as a whore (reminder: never use that rhyme again), and Tuesday I managed a really great run. The best part of the DOC workout is that is required ZERO equipment! And it was SUPER effective. Great combo.

Try it.

Ah, last but not least, I have had to select another winner for the Kinnikinnick giveaway, since the first winner never came forward. Congrats to Athena! (send me your mailing address and phone #- even though I’m sure I have both somewhere at home!!)

Weekend/Workout Wrap Up

Posted on January 13, 2014 by Jen @nutcaseinpoint

Oh hi there. It’s Monday and I am still reminiscing over all the fun things I did this weekend. Less the laundry part cuz that’s lame-o.

Friday night I got together with my new Calgary besties (I don’t think this should come as a surprise to either of them that I have already coined them besties) Jen and Susie. We went over to Jen’s place for some ridiculously good mac n cheese and drinks before deciding we needed to dance. There’s only one picture on my phone from our dancing escapades which made it to Instagram, but methinks Susie took over my phone because the caption was in French. I know zero French other that what the townspeople from Beauty and the Beast say.

We danced a LOT. So basically, my Friday workout was cardio in the form of rump shaking. It was so much fun I can’t wait to do it again. Props #1 goes to Jen for convincing the bouncers to let us cut the line. Props #2 goes to Susie for introducing me to Jager Bombs. No props for me. Mmmmm maybe props to me for attempting to twerk? No, no props for that whatsoever.

Saturday, Tyler and I headed over to The Home Vintner to pick up some wine kits. We took a class there last week- basically to pick up tips on things we may have done wrong in the past- and really wanted to get started on some more. We ended up with a Sangria and a Limited Edition Shiraz Cab.

And we went to Five Guys.

And Costco.

And the mall (to see if the purse I really want was there, which is wasn’t) PPS: this stop was on Tyler’s recommendation! The man wants me to get a grown up purse! He’s a total keeper.

We threw together a pasta bake for dinner and had some new-to-us beers while putting together one of the wine kits.

(If you’re not familiar with the process, the above picture might look a bit odd. That’s Tyler dropping in a hop sock of grape skins! Also, the beer pictured is Paddock Wood from Saskatoon, SK. Delish!)

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 and then bed.

And I slept for 12 hours straight. WEIRD. I was pretty much dead until 11:45am when the doggies decided they no longer wanted to lay in bed. I had NO idea what day it was; that Tyler had already got up to feed them; NOTHING. Talk about a good night’s sleep.

Sunday was stupid. Ok, maybe not that stupid. We cleaned, ate yummy Sunday brunch foods, napped, Tyler got groceries and made FABULOUS sandwich bread, and I worked out and painted my nails.

The End.

WORKOUTS FROM THE WEEK—>>

Sunday: 2 mile run. I’m glad I was able to get in at least those 2 miles before I got a killer stomachache!

Monday: Full Body Circuits + Treadmill intervals

Tuesday: 50 min run (max I could get with 5 min on each end to change during my hour lunch!)

Wednesday: Tina Reale’s 5 min circuits (all of them) + Spin

Thursday: 5 Ab Tabata’s + treadmill walk; Traditional Hot Yoga. Tabatas included:

weighted russian twists
plank w/twist
leg lifts
oblique dips
crunches (w/different leg variations)

Friday: DANCED MY BUTT OFF.

Saturday: Meh.

PS: Sarina, where are you? You are the winner of the Kinnikinnick giveaway!!! If I don’t hear from you by tomorrow night (1/14), I’ll have to pick another winner!

Latests

Posted on January 8, 2014 by Jen @nutcaseinpoint

I’m really trying to stop buying things. Really, I am. But sometimes it’s just too hard. I mean, I went to Shoppers on Saturday just to buy $75 worth of stuff so I could earn 2 free movie passes. And half the crap I didn’t even need. Ok, will I sort of did. But it would have been more cost effective if I just bough the movie tickets separately. Oh well. You live and you learn. And then you go shopping.

With that said, I have some stuff to share with you. Stuff I like, stuff in my life, and stuff that’s just….well….stuff.

One of my purchases this weekend was some fancy shampoo/conditioner. I have almost always strictly been a cheap shampo/conditioner purchaser, but with my gradually changing hair color (gross, it is SO dark now) and the stupid ass weather here, I have been forced to venture into the market of more costly beauty products to maintain hair ‘health.’ Or is it all a ploy? Who cares, this stuff smells amazing:

(source)

(source)

Think: creamsicle meets salon meets the good-smelling section of a perfume counter.

Mmmmm

I also got some of these puppies:

neutrogena-oil-free-pink-grapefruit-cleansing-wipes

(source)

I figured it would be a good investment to use after my lunch time workouts so I don’t get body acne from changing back into my work clothes without showering. Turns out, it leaves somewhat of a sticky residue. No worse than my sweat, yet I smell like a grapefruit. Ok, I’ll take it.

I won’t talk anymore about how much I love my new gym at work. Because that would be rude to rub in such a great thing. MOVING ON…

THIS playlist-> it’s weird and random and motivating and fun and I love it! (PS: any song recommendations?)

I had SO much free time the other night that I whipped up a batch of Vegan Carrot Muffins. I’d love to say that I concocted this recipe, but sadly I did not. If, however, you want the recipe- head on over to fANNEtastic food. Don’t get me wrong- I WILL play around with the recipe and share any successes!

Last week, Tyler and I watched the entire series of An Idiot Abroad. Has anyone heard of it? It’s HILARIOUS. In season 1, he guy is sent to each of the seven wonders and is forced to endure whatever embarrassing/idiotic/weird thing that Ricky Gervais puts this through before making it to the wonder. I was dying of laughter through every episode. I highly recommend this for a good laugh- and it’s actually a bit of a learning experience to see some of the behind-the-scenes stuff near the sites! (Provided video of an episode below!)

An Idiot Abroad: Season 1 Episode 4 – Mexico by f100000879525754

BAHhhh I almost forgot! The winner of the Kinnikinnick giveaway isss……..Sarina!