Amazing Clean Homemade Salad Dressing

Another early morning, another day of Shredding it up and clean eating!  I made it the whole day yesterday clean eating!  I was pretty happy about it, especially considering that I am a diet doctor pepper addict.

At 6 am, I was working it out again at the art museum pier.  The class was very similar to yesterday.  The instructor would do a warm up of three jogging in place like exercises repeated, then we did a series of exercises, three at a time, repeated three times.  With 10 minutes left in the class, we walked off the pier over to the hill leading up to the back of the art museum steps and did some running drills.  I am not a sprinter.  In fact I was consistently the last person to finish.  We would do side steps, knee highs, jumping jacks, etc on the way up the hill then run down.  That was a long 10 minutes on the hill.

The hill - which doesn't look so bad, but I assure you it's pretty beastly

Sweaty beasts

When we got back, we enjoyed a breakfast of two eggs over easy, one piece of whole wheat toast, and half of a grape fruit.  That grapefruit was ridiculously pink!  Loved it!

After Joe went to a review class downtown for an exam he has coming up, I crawled into my bed and refused to leave there.  My muscles got so sore, joints got stiff, etc.  I took a napski then eventually pulled myself up for my lunch time.  I'm making a serious effort to eat five to six times a day and to have a big glass of water at each meal in addition to the water I have during the workout.

granny smith apple and almond butter for a snack

For lunch, I wanted a a chicken salad, but wasn't sure of my dressing options.  I'm not very educated on clean condiments (If anyone knows more please educate me!  What's a no and what's a go?), so I googled clean salad dressing a an enticing one popped up from a Clean Eating Mama's Blog.

Recipe: Makes 2-3 Servings

2 tbsp onions

3 tbsp olive oil

1 garlic clove through a garlic press

1 tbsp balsamic vinegar

1 tbsp ground mustard

1 tbsp dijon mustard

Just combine everything and wisk it up!  It was seriously fantastic!  I loved it, and it was probably one of the best salad dressings that I have ever had.  In fact, I might put some in mini containers and bring them with me when I go out and know I'm going to be enjoying a salad.  This way I can stay clean and know what is in my food.

I even grilled up a fresh chicken breast and chopped it up when I normally used to use the pre-packaged chicken.  It was really fresh and easy!  

Thank goodness that the shred is counting as my strength and stretch day for my half marathon training plan today because my body would not have been able to handle a run. 

Rascal Flatts Stalking

Last night i enjoyed a few too many of these...

one too many of these...

...and I definitely didn't need any of these (although Irish Nachos are the best tasting thing ON THE PLANET)  (these were split 3 ways fyi)

This morning (or should I say afternoon since I didn't get up until 12:20) I wasn't exactly feeling productive.  I sat around watching some tv ignoring dishes that need to be done and clothes that needed to be put away.  I made myself a little lunch of a lean cuisine and side BBQ chicken salad before starting to make excuses as to why I didn't feel like working out today.

I was just about to let myself off the hook for a workout when I saw this tweet from my gym.

Ok...you got me...I love a good celebrity stalk session so if I have to mask it as a workout...I'll just have to do that.  I didn't end up seeing Rascal Flatts even though I did scour the premises, but I did manage to get a get a decent workout in so I'm still a winner.

30 minutes of walking and running intervals at varying inclines and speeds

Ab workout:

1 minute crunches

1 minute scissor kicks vertically

1 minute scissor kicks horizontally

1 minute plank

1 minute toe touches

1 minute russian twists

1 minute reverse crunches

Man those russian twists are hard...especially since I was still feeling the burn from Thursday's TRX class. 

I'm off to hit up a BBQ at a friend's house!  Should be a great time!

Dear Tim Riggins

Dinner was a simple meal made up of stuff I had in my fridge and freezer.  Some green beans sauteed with mushrooms in soy sauce, satueed onions to put on top of the cheddar and potato Mrs. T's perogies.  

the chef

the photographer :-)

random turkey dog...very makeshift dinner

After dinner I did some light cardio on the elliptical in the apartment while watching Friday Night Lights  (the show not the movie).  I had a big smile on my face when it was done.  Not because I accomplished 2 mile on the ellip in 30 minutes, or because I got a nice little workout in...

...but because I got to look at dreamy Tim Riggins for an hour.  Don't tell Joe.  Shh.

I'm looking for something fun to do in Philly tonight.  If anyone knows anything fun going on tweet me :-)

A New Self Challenge

Now that I am back in Philly, I am feeling the effects from the holiday weekend.  Lots of nights out, drinking, and BBQ leftovers.  I spent today unpacking from vacation and organizing some things in the apartment.  Anyone else have a T-shirt collection that is out of control?  I swear that I have well over 100 T-shirts.  I spent a good majority of the night sifting through ones I never wear, favorites, and ones I want to give to good will.  I need to finish the project tomorrow, and then move onto some other projects that have been on my apartment to do list for tomorrow.

Next week I will be embarking on a two week challenge.  I am going to be participating in a two week shred program I recently came across online.  The program starts on July 11th and entails a one hour class Monday-Friday until July 22nd.  The classes are supposed to be intense, I'm expecting boot camp style but not entirely sure.  The program also encourages a clean diet during the week and a normal yet moderate diet on the weekends.  

I think this program will be a great jump start that I need after this holiday weekend.  It will also be my first experience with clean eating, and I'm excited to try that.  I've been researching recipes, and I have some great dinner ideas for next week.  In addition to the shred, I will also be starting my 11 week training plan for my first half marathon tomorrow.  Lot's of things to look forward to!  Very excited!  

Did I mention the classes are at the waterworks?  A pretty beautiful way to start out the morning if you ask me!

If anyone in Philly is interesting in being a buddy during the shred..please leave a comment or email me, and I will give you the info!

Dinner was some processed food since I will not be able to eat it next week.  I had some turkey dogs that I took from the shore house that I didn't want to go bad.  I paired it with Annie's organic white shells and cheddar macaroni and cheese.

Fresh Steam green beans in low sodium soy sauce

Apple with Dark Chocolate Dreams peanut butter

Bed soon and a good sweaty gym workout planned for tomorrow!!!

Free Personal Training

This morning I headed downtown to the gym to use a complimentary personal training session.  I got it when I purchased a month membership to the new gym I've been going to from Living Social.  It was awesome!  My trainer was really knowledgeable and we did a 1/2 hour session of a total body workout.

Squats with 10 lbs weight and under the bar

Lunges (down a hallway and back): 1 lap with weights 1 lap without weight

Squats on the stability ball with 5 pound weights (after each squat I would do a bicep curl and shoulder press)

Chest presses with 17.5 weights (2 sets 12 reps each)

Bent Over Rows 17.5 lbs (2 sets 10 reps each)

Russian Twists (20 with body weight, 10 with 5 pound weights)

Alternating leg crunches (20)

30 second plank

30 second glut bridge

After the session, I hit up the elliptical and did 30 minutes at a resistance of 10/20 for 2.4 miles.

While downtown, I ran a few errands at the shops at liberty plaza.  

Picked up a new strapless bra because mine has recently gone missing...sometimes it's like my apartment eats clothes up!

Got some good clearance items and a 4th of July worthy red dress

After my workout and shopping I was starved.  I really wanted to go to Chick-Fil-A in the food court, but I restrained myself and went the Subway Route.  It was really delicious, and I didn't regret my decision one bit. 

Whole wheat roll, turkey, American cheese, lettuce, onions, tomatoes, fat free honey mustard,

I now have to get my butt in gear!  I am heading down the shore tonight, and I want to pick up my apartment, pack, and get down there before dinner!

See you all from Sea Isle! :-)

Sore Shoulders

This morning when I woke up I was a little surprised that I wasn't more sore from yesterday's TRX workout, but boy am I feeling sore now.  I don't know if it was because some more time has passed or because I did another workout earlier today, but I'm feeling yesterdays burn especially in the arms and shoulders.

Breakfast - Granola and skim milk and a grapefruit

At the gym, I went to a 15 minute ab class that was right before the 12:30 spinning class that I wanted to take.  The ab class was intense!!!  We did 3 sets of 3 different ab exercises, but I thought they were very challenging.  Spinning was OK...I wasn't too impressed with the instructor.  I was sweating like crazy even though I felt like I wasn't working to my maximum potential.  It was still a good workout though.

After the gym, I was hungry for lunch.  I made myself a fresh salad with mixed greens, tomatoes, weight watchers shredded cheese, and some crispies with yogurt ranch dressing.  I also had a lean cuisine which I have not recently been eating much of.  I saw it in the freezer at the CVS and thought that it could be a yummy lunch on a day that groceries are running low.

I also had some red grapes and hummus with pretzels.  Later in the day I was craving something sweet so I made some sugar free jello pudding with skim milk as a snack.  

Tonight I am going to the Phillies game with the family.  We actually got our seats upgraded and we are doing something cool for dinner before the game!  I'm off to go get ready!

Eat, Workout, Eat, Workout, Eat

Today's was a great day on Kelly Drive.  Not too hot, not rainy.

I started off the brick workout with a bike ride around the the Kelly Drive West River Loop which is 8.5 miles.  I finished the bike in about 47 minutes, and I decided that I definitely need to upgrade my pedals to clip ins.  My bike isn't a  state of the art road bike, but I think it switching the pedals would make the ride easier and faster.  

After the bike ride, I enjoyed some water in the car and tried to rub the helmet marks off my forehead before venturing out on my run.  It was more of a run/walk actually...3 miles 40 minutes.  Heavy legs and since I haven't been running a lot the last 6 weeks I didn't want to push it too hard. 

Helmet marks

pooped out

After Kelly, I headed home for some lunch.  Leftover BBQ shredded chicken on an Arnold's multi grain sandwich thin and a granny smith apple.  I love granny smith apples and I always forget how amazing they are until I am eating one.  No wonder Eve told Adam to try that apple....

After lunch, I headed downtown to sweat fitness and had a swimming lesson.  I was pretty spent from the morning workout, but I was glad to get some swimming in since I have an open water swim clinic this Saturday.  

100 meter warm up

200 meter swim (4 minute pace )

(1:30 minute rest)

200 meter swim (4 minute pace )

(1:30 minute rest)

200 meter swim (4 minute pace )

(1:30 minute rest)

200 meter swim (4 minute pace )

(1:30 minute rest)

50 meter cool down

For dinner, Joe and I went to a restaurant we had been waiting to try for a while now called Distrito.  It is only a few blocks from my place, and it has gotten some really good reviews.  It is a small tapas modern Mexican restaurant.  The food was delish...we kind of played it safe with tacos, chips, and an enchilada but I haven't tried that much Mexican food so I wanted to make sure I liked everything.  I am definitely interesting in trying some more authentic Mexican cuisine in the future. 

Spicy Peanuts

Chicken Tacos

Shrimp Tacos

Chicken Enchilada

We checked out the dessert menu but nothing seemed to jump out at us.  After a lot of deliberation...we decided on donuts!  My major sweet tooth took us to Dunkin where we got some great desserts.  

Note the calories under the donut names...way to go dunkin!

So there was my day!  Eat, workout, eat, workout, eat...eat more.  Anyone else have days when it seems like that is all you do?