Pure Barre

I went to my first Pure Barre class!

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My friend Christina from lululemon invited me to come to her class on Thursday.

It was completely different than anything I am used to. If you're not familiar with pure barre, it is basically a full body workout using a ballet barre and a couple other props, like 5lb weights and a small red ball. 

It primarily focused on core and legs, which is basically the opposite of what I usually focus on... Needless to say, my core and my hamstrings were particularly sore. My arms on the other hand, not at all.

I would definitely go again sometime because I love to work muscles that aren't worked as much in my weekly workout schedule, but I couldn't see myself doing this on like a weekly basis. It is much more "toning" and high-rep strength training than I prefer.

I can't wait to try another new workout class! I have so many options now that I am not training for a half. Maybe I'll try crossfit?!

My Favorite Dessert in the World

If you know me well enough you would know that my absolute favorite dessert in the world is located in New Hampshire. It is definitely a good thing that I can't have it in North Carolina or else I would be about double the size I currently am.

Homemade Burdick's Chocolate Ice Cream topped with Melted Extra Dark Chocolate.

Yes, my cousin and I asked for a GIANT pitcher of chocolate sauce. Don't worry, we did not finish it...  I would have not been able to walk the mile back home.

I think I am going to allow myself to have this once a week while I am here? Three desserts in three weeks? I think that sounds reasonable :)

I started off my 4th of July with a very slowww 5 mile run. Then, Sarah and I went down to what she tells me is America's first canal... I have no idea how accurate that statement is, but regardless it was a really cool old building.

I feel like a really scary movie needs to be filmed here. I love the view of the bridge from this spot too. 

I am a freak.

My cousin Sarah is precious.

From there we headed to Homestead Farms to do a little blueberry picking. I love fresh blueberries so much!! I could have stood there stuffing my face all day!

MMM!!! So good!

My workout for today was:

4 burpees

10 tuck jumps

4 burpees

10 tuck jumps

4 burpees

10 dumbbell flys

4 burpees

10 dumbbell flys

4 burpees

10 dumbbell flys

4 burpees

10 tricep dips

4 burpees

10 tricep dips

4 burpees

10 tricep dips

4 burpees

15 sumo squat jumps

4 burpees

15 sumo squat jumps

4 burpees 

15 dumbbell lunges per leg

4 burpees 

15 dumbbell lunges per leg

Lemon Basil Pasta

For dinner I made this delicious Lemon Basil Pasta from The Gracious Pantry (without the chicken) and garnished it with a little extra grated parmesan :) It was so yummy! I couldn't get enough. I think I have definitely found a new favorite recipe. Creamy pasta without cream equals a win-win situation.

Instead of using whole wheat pasta, we tried using quinoa pasta. It was really good and with the sauce I honestly couldn't tell a difference! I definitely think I am going be using this more often because it's a good way to get in some extra protein.

You can find this at almost any grocery store. I got this box from Harris Teeter.

MMM... pasta... :)

Today's body weight exercises were pretty rough. I was so sore after lifting legs yesterday.

WOD:

Push Ups 3x15

Leg Lower Hip Lift Abs 3x15

7,7,7 Lateral Raises and Flys with Light Dumbbells x3

Split Jumps Holding Medball 3x30

Ab Plank on Stability Ball 3x15 rollouts

Tricep Dip off Bench 3x15

Russian Twists 3x20/side

Finished it off with sprints on the treadmill: 1 min on, 1 min off for 4 minutes. Then 10 seconds on, 10 seconds off for 3 minutes.

And that's it for today!!

Hopefully I will have internet in my apartment tomorrow and I can post more regularly...

Froyo for Lunch?

Meagan and I had been talking about celebrating the end of exams and the beginning of summer, and the best way we came up with was to eat a huge Local Yogurt parfait for lunch.

It was magically delicious. And left me filling bloated on dairy and sugar for quite sometime, but I have no fear that I'll be ready for more froyo very soon.

My parfait included plain yogurt with fresh strawberries and granola.

Meagan's yogurt was plain with strawberry, kiwi, and granola.

So refreshing. Why can't frozen yogurt be a vegetable??

Yesterday I lifted with Brian from ActivEdge and it was so nice to finally wake up feeling sore.

WOD:

Bench Press 10, 8, 6, 4

Kettle-bell Squats on BOSU 3x10

Walking Lunges with Dumbbells 3x10 yards and back

Narrow Grip Pull Up 3x7/side

Skull Crushers on Stability Ball 3x12

Single Arm Dumbbell Snatch 3x6/arm

Pushups 3x9

Hammer Curls 3x8/arm

Happy Summer :)

Strawberry Picking!

I woke up bright and early this morning to go on a 4 mile run before it got too hot. I felt extremely tired... I think the heat and the stress of exams have really been affecting my exercise.

After my run I went strawberry picking with one of my all-time best friends. It was so fun to hang out with her and gorge ourselves on strawberries :)

I have quite a few pictures, but make sure you make it to the end because I have a delicious little "recipe" you won't want to miss!!

This is me saying, "Wow Meagan! I have like 3x more strawberries than you!"

It obviously made me feel good about myself... hence my proud stance

Me slaving in the hot sun so that I can enjoy some fresh strawberries this week.

Yup, those are all mine. I would include a picture of Meagan's tray, but there was like 3 berries, so it wasn't even worth photographing. Meagan's gift is clearly not strawberry picking (but corn hole on the other hand...)

I look like I'm posing for a strawberry advertisement.

Best Friends :) How cute.

And now for a delicious little treat!!

I got this recipe from Power Cakes, a clean-eating blog. She was featured on Tosca Reno's blog, who is basically the Queen of Clean Eating. Anyways, Kasey calls it her "Strawberry Chia Jam."

I scooped this jam on top of frozen plain yogurt from Local Yogurt. Meagan and I both agreed that it was 1 of the top 3 best desserts we have ever had... now THAT is saying something.

Besides froyo, this jam can be used for tons of things! Try spreading it on toast, or putting it in oatmeal, or topping it on a protein pancake, or mixing it with plain greek yogurt, or just eating it by the spoonful!!

Strawberry Chia Jam

2 C. Fresh Very Ripe Berries

1/4 C. Water

2 Tbsp. Stevia in the Raw (or other sweetener)

3 Tbsp. Chia Seeds

All you do is mash the strawberries with a fork until there are still clumps, but the majority is fluid. Add the water and put the mixture in the microwave for 30 seconds. Then add the stevia and chia seeds. Stir this all together and place in the fridge for at least an hour. It's even better overnight. Then use it as a topping on everything!!!

So simple, right?!?

Not to mention if you use a 0 calorie natural sweetener its only about 250 calories for the entire recipe! That's like 25 calories per serving!

Here is a picture of the mixture before it was put in the fridge, so it hasn't congealed yet.

And after, when it is topped on my froyo!!

I did a wonderful HIIT workout today, tabata style. For those of you who are unfamiliar with this, it means you do an exercise for 20 seconds, then break for 10 seconds. You continue this until you have completed multiple circuits of about 10 exercises.

Todays Circuit:

1. Reverse Pushup

2. Bench Jumps Left

3. Bench Jumps Right

4. Plank with Alternating Toe Touches

5. Pushup

6. Dumbbell Bicep Curl to Shoulder Press

7. Shuffle Jumps

8. Ab Leg Let Downs

9. Dumbbell Hamstring Deadlift

10. Tricep Press off of Bench

We went through this 3 times, then took a small break, and completed it 3 more times. I was completely exhausted afterwards!!

Have a good day and enjoy your Strawberry Chia Jam!!!

Watermelon Mango Salsa

Last night was such a colorful dinner! I wish we had eaten when there was still daylight outside so I could have taken the pictures in natural light. As I said yesterday, our dinner consisted of cooked spinach, a little bit of grilled chicken, raw carrots and guacamole, and watermelon mango salsa.

The guacamole was made up of 2 mashed avocados, some lime juice, chopped cilantro, chopped red onion, and salt and pepper to taste. I love dipping carrots and sugar snap peas in guac instead of chips! It makes it much healthier!

The watermelon mango salsa sounded so gross to me, but my mom insisted that it was amazing. And she was 100% right. I could LIVE off this stuff... although it makes a huge difference that the watermelon and mango we used were super sweet and fresh. It was probably the best watermelon I've ever tasted.

Watermelon Mango Salsa:
2 c. Cubed Watermelon
1 c. Cubed Mango
1/4 c. Red Onion
2 T. Cilantro
1 T. Lime Juice
1/4 tsp. Sugar
1/4 tsp. Salt

It tastes better if you let it sit in the fridge for an hour or so in order for the flavors to combine, but it is not required.

I'm thinking my workout for today will be this. It was posted by Jen from Peanut Butter Runner, and I'm excited to try it. The goal is to warm up with a mile run, repeat her circuit 2-3 times, and then cool down with a mile. Well see how it goes...

Happy exam studying, my college friends!!

3 Bars of Death

I realize many of you are visiting my blog via my cousin Jenni's blog, Dear Lillie. She posted a picture of Lillie and I that I wanted to share. Lillie seems to be going through that phase where smiling doesn't come too naturally, but then again I can't say anything because mine isn't much better... haha!

Ahh I love her!! When I look at her sweet face I just melt inside :)


Anyways, I wanted to recognize my favorite lunch that I have all the time, and to continue showing my love for avocados. So here is one of my all-time favorite lunches: avocado slices on whole wheat toast with a slice of rice cheese (or regular cheese).

Maybe I love avocados because I just love the color green so much! It is so bright and happy. But really I love this lunch because it keeps me full for so long. (I usually have double the amount shown, which ends up being half of a regular-sized avocado.)

For today's workout I completed a circuit that I did in high school and it basically put me out of commission for two days. I wanted to re-create that feeling of total exhaustion, so I did it today! The name says it all...

Three Bars of Death (with added ab exercise):
Squat
Bench Press
Hang Cleans
Ab Leg Let Downs

Go through the entire circuit doing 10 reps of each exercise, then 9 reps of each, then 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1! I timed myself so I can do this again and try to beat my time. I did it in 24:55. Not too bad. I challenge you to beat my time!!!! Go do it now.

Have a wonderful, sweaty evening!!