Tag Archives: workout

Thursday Things

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Hey there.

I don’t have much to share today. I have been feeling like crap, so a lot of moping and napping and complaining to the dog.

I DO have a recipe to share, though. Yesterday, I made crock pot turkey pumpkin chili. It was pretty good, but maybe a little on the bland side. I’ll share the recipe anyways.

Turkey Pumpkin Chili

What you’ll need:

  • 1 lb ground turkey
  • 1/2 diced red pepper
  • 1/2 diced green pepper
  • 1/2 diced onion
  • 2 cups pumpkin puree
  • 1 can (16 oz or so) beans- I used a 6 bean blend, but you can choose black, kidney, navy, etc….
  • 1 14 oz can diced tomatoes with chilis
  • 1 1/2 tbsp chili powder
  • 2 tsp cayenne
  • 2 tsp paprika
  • 1 cup stock (I had chicken on hand. I used this because it was a little thick)
  • salt
  • pepper

What to do:

1. Brown the ground turkey in a skillet.

2. Throw everything in the crock pot.

3. Eat.

Honest to God, I don’t think it could get any easier. I topped my bowl with a bit of shredded cheddar- it was a nice compliment once it was stirred into the chili.

 

Since I was feeling super crappy, I decided not to head to the gym. But, being the fitness junkie that I am, I couldn’t NOT do anything (especially since it wasn’t my designated day off- I know, I know “listen to your body” and all that crap, but I wasn’t dying, I just wasn’t feeling like the normal stellar Jen.) I decided to get in some strength at home. In my pajamas. This is what I managed to get done:

  • 2 sets of 12 squat presses
  • 100 pushups
  • 50 leg lifts
  • 3 rounds of an arm series (12 reps of each move: bicep curl, hammer curl, overhead press)
  • 3 rounds of gliding lunge series (10 reverse lunges and 10 side lunges- each side)
  • 3 sets of 10 overhead reach presses on each side (holding weight in right hand , right foot crossed over left, perform an overhead press, reaching the weight directly up and over your head to the left. You’ll feel this in your obliques)
  • 3 sets of 10 deadlifts on each leg
  • 3 mile walk with the dog
  • 100 stability ball sit ups
  • 100 crunches

I actually broke a sweat getting this done because I limited my rest periods (felt that was necessary since I was not doing any cardio)

Ramblings:

-I reintroduced carrots back into my life. Totally forgot about those suckers. They’re pretty good.

-I thought people in the states were rude, but boy, the people here are way worse (at least the ones I have come across). I have been shoved out of the way. People have cut me in line. They do not say ‘excuse me’ to anything. Ever. It sound like an irrational complaint, but dude.

– Except for the cashier at Wal-Mart yesterday (of all places). He was super nice.

– I saw another celebrity look-a-like at the gym Tuesday. This time it was Guiliana Rancic. I have also seen every Canadian twin of my Boston gym friends at the gym here. I think I am just having withdrawals. Haha ok, so my Boston gym friends will get a kick out of this: You know how I don’t go to group ex classes here? Well, a prime example: I walked past the studio on my way to the equipment the other day, and the girl was leading them in heel taps on the 4-count. It was NOT a senior class. Ugh, so sad.

-The lock on your garage door is backwards. I feel like an idiot every time I try to use it.

– I have a recurring dream of going back to the all-girls high school I went to in CA for my freshman and sophomore year. I often wonder how different my life would be if we never moved to NY. My first thought is always about how much fatter I’d probably be.

– Mint M&Ms. Buy them.

– I always dance to the intro music of The Mindy Project. It’s my favorite. Plus, I think Mindy and I would be really good friends.

-Ah, friends. I miss them. And home. And Target.

 

A treadmill workout! And music! And..well just read.

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Here’s the treadmill work I did (2x through!) last night

3 minutes of running, 2 minutes of running, and 5 one-minute sprints with a minute walking between each interval, 2x.

Then, I somewhat followed Workout C from Best Body Bootcamp. I did three sets of 10 reps for each exercise; after each set, I did as many partial reps as I could (going halfway through the contraction). I didn’t move on to the next exercise until all sets (with partials) were completed.

  • Barbell squats on the bosu
  • Barbell side lunges on the bosu
  • Stability ball barbell chest presses
  • Stability ball barbell skull crushers
  • Barbell overhand grip standing row
  • Barbell underhand grip standing row

I also saw a celebrity look-a-like while I was at the gym. Brownie points if you know what this guy’s from:

(Source)

So, all day I have been listening to this song:

And when the base kicks in, I can’t help but dance like this:

In other news, I’m on a medicine to supposedly fights infections (I feel fine, but my doctor gave it to me just in case). Side effect? No booze. For 10 days. I’m going to be a ball of fun this weekend. All homework and no fun makes Jen a dull girl.

Other ramblings:

-I went to Teavana for the first time today to try and find some peppermint tea. The girl working there was such a complete female dog- and I don’t mean this kinda female dog:

I mean THIS kind:

(Source)

Never going back there again. Good thing I saw a DavidsTea place is opening up in the same mall.

-Hello, new best friend:

(Source)

-Extreme Cougar Wives. Seriously? That was 60 minutes of my life I’d like back.

– I am going to invent washers and dryers that do their specified jobs for.the.same.length.of.time. I hate when I do a load of towels, then put them in the dryer, and put another load in the washer. Then, when the washer is done, the wet clothes have to sit and wait for the dang towels to get all fluffy and dry.

[Sidenote: We are covering the Theory of Constraints in one of my courses this week, and they gave that exact ‘problem.’ Smart people of the world, why have you not fixed this yet?!]

– Is it just me, or does anyone else think that Abby from The Amazing Race looks like the actress, Kim Raver? (from Revolution,

(Source)

(Source)

No? Ok, I’ll shut up then.

– I saw a commercial today for a new Words With Friends board game. Last time I checked, it was Scrabble.

-Other songs that have made it into this week’s weekly rotation:

Random, I know.

Now, after having a dinner that has resulted in pesto burps, I must be off to the gym!

Recent Gets

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Lots to show you guys today.

Today started bright and early at the gym with a nice and sweaty spin session.

 

Towards the end of my workout, the alarms went off and it turns out someone got hurt near the treadmills. Kind of scary, but there were tons of people rushing to their side. Hope he’s ok!

Fast forward a bit, and I got myself ready for the day.

 

I first had to drop of some stuff at the Y downtown, then I figured I’d get my ring cleaned while I was in the area.

 

Nice and sparkly!

Next up, the mall. I party fouled and walked into Lululemon first to try on my coveted jacket. Tyler, if you’re reading this, size 8. Thanks

 

Le sigh. It was so comfy and wonderful and delicious.

My only purchases from a 2 hour stint was a thermal shirt and hat. Both on SUPER discount sale.

 

 

Since I’m sharing some material good with you all, I might as well tell ya what came in the mail. First, my Sephora order:

 

 

How to Look the Best at Everything by my favorite makeup brand ever, Benefit

Because I ordered this online, I got a sweet freebie bag along with it:

 

6 perfume samples, some eye shadows, mascara, toner, and some oils. Not too shabby!

And….my Glymm box! Before moving to Calgary, I was OBSESSED with getting my Birchbox every month (they only deliver to the US). After being here for nearly 9 months, I finally came across a similar monthly subscription service for Canadians!!! Woo hoo!! This was what I got in my November box:

 

 

Fancy Schmancy shampoo and conditioner (good timing with my ‘new’ hair!), deep blue polish (appropriately named The New Black), body scrub, and perfume.

Now on to some of my crafting accomplishments:

I actually saved a couple of the boxes from my Birchbox subscription and repurposed them into gift boxes! How smart am I? A coat of paint, glue, and glitter. The end.

 

A yarn wreath:

 

And some Christmassy pots that have been sealed with a pottery spray that has a been of sheen.

 

(Source)

 

No, not that kinda sheen. The shine:

 

Now it’s time for me to get started on dinner. Bacon is involved.

 

(Source) <—almost wrote bacon right there.

Silly picture sign up!

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Pomegranates are majorly delicious. I cut open 3 of them yesterday, so I now have a big ol’ stash of yummy arils to snack on!

 

I had to eat a few spoonfuls right away just so I could get the lid on 😉

 

Tried to capture the mountains in the background while I took Layla for a walk yesterday, but you can’t really see them.

 

Of course, I have like 350923752 of the dog though

 

Dinner was easy: gnocchi with sauteed zucchini and mushrooms with sausage in roasted garlic marinara sauce.

 

Workout was simple: Sprint intervals, bosu weighted squats and lots and LOTS of single leg dead lifts (the last set I combined the deadlifts with a clean and jerk- it really tests your balance and fatigues your calves. In other words: it was awesome)

 

Not too crazy about this shirt. It’s too loose around my waist and too tight and short on my hips. I thought of selling it, but Tyler convinced me to keep it for at-home workouts.

Speaking of Lululemon, I am now COVETING this jacket. It’s not online yet, just in select stores (and it just so happens to be at the store nearest me because I follow them on twitter and friends with them on facebook. )

 

I’m going to extend the sign-up for the cookie swap for another week. If you live in Canada and want to be a part of the swap, send me an email! (jtougas77(at)gmail(dot)com)

Also, if you have any silly pictures you’d like to share with your favorite beverage, send em my way! I’m looking to compile a post of everyone’s submissions! Plus, I’m just really looking for any entertainment I can get. For reals, I stayed in bed until about 20 minutes ago because I just have nothing to do. Well, I could do homework, but no.

There’s a really bad T-Pain joke in this post

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Well I woke up sore today. But I guess I can’t say ‘woke up’ if I never really slept! I tossed and turned all night because of all my aches and pains. And because the dog was rolling all over me.

Must’ve been those stinkin’ (but awesome) burpees from Monday night.

All I did yesterday was run! (40 minutes..woooo!)

I still haven’t changed the time since daylight savings on my Garmin.

I finally ordered an armband online yesterday for my iPod touch! I can’t wait for it to get here because I’ve been using this thing since 2007.

Tyler brought me home a flower that’s hard to kill! How thoughtful. No seriously, I squealed with excitement. And Layla sniffed like crazy.

For dinner, we had kabobs. Steak, zucchini, red peppers and mushrooms. I didn’t do anything to the veggies, but I marinated the steak for a couple hours in 1 part whiskey and 1 part balsamic vinegar. Super tasty!

And some macaroons for dessert:

I was crafting for a bit (still not done) in the afternoon, and Layla took it upon herself to wear my scarf. I think she rocked it.

Now, onto random ramblings. Because I do those best.

1. I have to change which post office I go to now because the girl at my usual stop knows that I sent out wedding stuff, so now every time she sees me (which is OFTEN) she asks me about it. And then relays stamp and package information to me. Like I give a hoot.

2. Ahh, speaking of giving a hoot. I found a great gift for a Christmas swap yesterday, but didn’t buy it. I’m writing it here as i reminder because I always walk around with my blog posts on my phone (it’s a means of PR people)

Totally jk-ing. Or am I? I have been known to shout out my blog name to strangers..

3. I posted a video on my personal facebook page last week about dance moves. Here are further instructions on how to get jiggy with it:

4. I have 3 holiday recipes starred in my google reader that I CANNOT wait to make. Of course, they all have 32059720957209 calories, so that should be interesting.

5. But if I get this spoon (or someone wants to get it for me) then I guess I’ll be ok.

(Source)

6. No class next week because of Thanksgiving. Feel free to come up to me and be all T-Pain like and Buy Me A Drink (get it? hahaha the song?! I crack myself UP)

7. Pretend you didn’t read #6. That was just terrible.

8. Does anyone watch Ben&Kate? In lasts night’s episode she told Will she’ll see him later. With her looking balls. I just about died with laughter. Totally using that one.

Tell me something random. Or something funny. If it’s a random funny thing, then you’re multitasking. So talented.

******UPDATE: If you’re in Canada and interested in signing up for a cookie swap, please e-mail me at jtougas77 (at) gmail (dot) com by Friday, November 16th!******