A Boost to the Immune System

So I woke up yesterday morning and my symptoms from my terrible sickness from the other week were coming back! My tonsils were extremely red and swollen and my energy level was super low. I went to the doctor this morning and told them I NEED to get better because I have a half marathon on Sunday. They gave me some medicine and I am going to pray it works because I am running in this race no matter what. I can't just train for 12 weeks and then not run the race. That would be awful.

I went on my last training run this morning after the doctors appointment, and it was not good. I only had to run 2 miles, and afterwards my body felt like I had just run 20. So I decided that I was going to spend the next two days completely resting and eating lots of dark leafy greens and citrus fruits that are high in Vitamin C.

I got out the blender and made a huge green smoothie. I filled an entire Nalgene bottle (32 oz) and I even had a cup left over that I drank immediately. My plan is to drink this immune boosting drink intermittently throughout today and tomorrow in hopes of restoring my sick little body in time for my race.

"Boost Your Immune System" Smoothie:

1 Frozen Banana

6 Strawberries

3/4 c. Unsweet Almond Milk

2 Huge Handfuls of Baby Kale

1 Handful of Baby Spinach

Juice of 1/2 of a lemon

Juice of 1/2 of a lime

This will make a large smoothie, but don't fear, it won't make as much as I did. I doubled this recipe and was very generous on the portions. This will serve 2 regular people or one extremely hungry, post-workout person. ;)

I need to heal!!!! Only 3 days till race day!

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 :)

My Dream Came True : a PB2 review

I had an extremely long day of studying, but two things happened today that have allowed me to call it a wonderful day :)

Right about the time that I was needing a study break, the door bell rang. I ran to the door and it was the UPS man dropping off a box for me. I've been anxiously waiting for the PB2 that I had ordered earlier in the week to arrive, and I could not wait to try it!!

I have heard so much about this mystery peanut butter miracle... and honestly I have no idea why I haven't tried it sooner! 

It has literally rocked my world.

What is PB2? It is powdered peanut butter, or peanuts that have had all the oil and fat removed. How do you change the pulverized peanuts from powder back to the creamy peanut butter we all know and love? You simply add water :)

PB2 is all natural and only has 3 ingredients: peanuts, salt, and sugar. It has ALL the protein of regular peanut butter, and it only has 45 calories for every 2 tablespoons. 

That means if I want to indulge in 6 tablespoons of peanut butter, it won't be costing me 570 calories, but a mere 135!! That's remarkable. Not to mention ill be getting a lot of protein in that snack!

PB2 can be purchased here.

And yes, I really do love peanut butter enough to eat 6 tablespoons of it plain. And without water. It takes some skill...

My favorite go-to breakfast has always been peanut butter oatmeal, so of course I had to dump some in my oatmeal to try it out. Ahh, so good!! I'm really over joyed by this. It's the little things in life :)

I'm going to be experimenting with PB2 to make the perfect peanut butter banana smoothie, so stay tuned! And naturally I'll be looking to come up with a peanut butter cookie recipe.

I quickly want to mention my breakfast this morning. I smothered some Strawberry Chia Jam that I made yesterday on a Protein Pancake, and it was so delicious! 

(Protein Pancake = 3 egg whites, 1/4 c. of oats, 2 tsp vanilla, 2 tsp agave nectar, dash of salt, and dash of cinnamon. Then just cook on frying pan like a pancake!)

So the second thing that made my day was getting dinner with an amazing friend of mine, who also happened to be my teacher in high school! She is a wonderful woman and she was able to put me in a great mood after a long day of studying. Thank you!!

For dinner I had a mozzarella and tomato salad that included sun-dried tomatoes and delicious greens. I also had a cup of coconut asparagus soup. For dessert we split a vegan chocolate chip oatmeal cookie (it was divine), and I had a mexican chocolate popsicle, while she had a strawberry lime one. It truly hit the spot.

Now that my spirits are lifted, it's back to studying!!

Last night before the freedom of 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!!!