Let's Talk Chocolate

I am so tired right now. I woke up this morning and went to the gym for a great upper body lift and I had every intention of running 5 miles this evening, but I just don't know if it is going to happen. I am exhausted. I think sitting in a class room learning about Medieval feudalism might have caused this...

On a much happier note, I want to talk about chocolate. Dark chocolate is one of the few things that can make me happy after a long day of school. I don't mean chocolate that is like 55% cocoa, I mean chocolate that is at LEAST 72%. My personal favorite is the 88% from Endangered Species. Lindt's 90% Supreme Dark comes in a close second.

A great way to enjoy cocoa is by using baker's chocolate or cocoa powder that has 100% cocoa content, and therefore is the best for you. I was looking on Chocolate Covered Katie again and I found this recipe for her mint chocolate chip milkshake. I made it a little extra chocolately, and it was divine. A new go-to when I'm craving dessert.

(note: I took these pictures at a time when I made it without the cocoa powder, so when following my instructions below the milkshake should appear darker.)

Here's what I put inside mine:

1 Very Ripe, Frozen Banana

1 c. Unsweet Almond Breeze Almond Milk

1 drop of Peppermint Extract

1 tsp. Cocoa Powder

1 tsp. Guar Gum

1/2 Square Grated Baker's Chocolate

Blend all the ingredients except the baker's chocolate. Pour it into a cup and then add grated chocolate and stir until mixed. Enjoy!

Helpful Notes:

I grated my baker's chocolate with just a regular cheese grater.

The peppermint extract is extremely strong, so I always put a drop in a spoon and then drop that in the blender so that I don't pour more than necessary. You may want to taste it and then decide if you need an additional drop, but definitely err on the lesser side.

The Guar Gum is completely optional, but it acts as a thickening agent and makes it seem more like a milkshake. You can buy it at Whole Foods or here. Although I do think it is significantly cheaper at Whole Foods... 

All gone!! That didn't take long... :)

I think I am going to take a nap... but first, here is my workout from this morning.

Upper Body:

Bench Press 4x5

Flat Bench Dumbbell Fly 3x10

Flat Bench Dumbbell Pullover 3x10

Dumbbell Reverse Fly 3x10

Dumbbell Arnold Press 3x8/arm

Crunches on Decline Bench 3x10

Oblique Twists 3x10/side

Pike Pushups 3x10

Homemade Pizza

Clean eating is so great because it doesn't limit you to specific foods. Almost every "comfort" food can be modified to be "clean." Since I just moved in with my college friends Rachael and Stephanie, we decided to make homemade pizza the first night. Naturally I got the recipe for the Clean Eating Pizza Crust from The Gracious Pantry. It did not disappoint.

Check out a couple pics of this whole-wheat masterpiece. It tasted a lot better than it looked...

If you're noticing weird white blobs that doesn't look like regular cheese, it's because it's not. I thought I had bought goat cheese to go with the parmesan, but it turns out it was bleu cheese. They are not the same thing...

It was still extremely good, but bleu cheese is much stronger than goat cheese and I wish it had been goat cheese. The good news is I still have enough ingredients to make it again soon!

It was so great to lift weights with Rachael after laying on the beach all day. We did chest, shoulders, and back. It was a good one :)

WOD:

Bench Press 10, 8, 6

Dumbbell Row 3x10/arm

Overhead Shoulder Split Press 3x8

Single Arm Incline Dumbbell Chest Press 3x8/arm

Arnold Press 3x7/arm

Lat Pull Down with Cables 3x10

Oblique Crunch on BOSU 3x10/side

Leg Let-Downs 3x20

Rachael and I finished with interval sprints on the treadmill (10 seconds on, 10 seconds off). We did this 20 times at 11mph.

I think I'm going to wake up in serious pain. Soreness mixed with sunburn. This will be interesting...

Oh and please check out this giveaway for Sunwarrior Protein Powder!! Just go here: The Real Food Runner :)

Protein Packed

Chest/Triceps:
Flat Bench Press 3x9
Cable Triceps Press Down 3x10
45 Incline DB Press 3x8
Triceps Rope Extensions 3x10
Cable Cross Overs 3x10
Lying Z Bar Triceps Extensions 3x8
Close Grip Bench press 3x8
Pushup 3x failure

Fabulous workout today with Rachael and Kate. They say they are scared they'll turn into chiseled body builders, but secretly I know that is what they both want.  :)

But seriously, my triceps are so stiff right now I'm pretty sure you could throw a brick at them and I wouldn't feel it. I called this post "protein packed" because I'm guessing I had around 150g of protein today. Between the 2.5 scoops of whey, around 15oz of chicken, almonds, almond butter, and oatmeal I think I'm on a protein high...



Speaking of almond butter, Justin's Maple Almond Butter has become my new obsession to add to my oatmeal. It is pricey, but definitely worth it.

And it's time to finish my homework...