Women's Health On-the-Grill

Happy Monday!

This weekend, my husband and I celebrated our third wedding anniversary.  For our first anniversary, my folks got us a little grill, and what better way to enjoy each other's company than outdoors with some excellent food?

I found a few recipes in Women's Health that inspired our meal: apricot shrimp skewers and the parmesan + parsely + lemon corn on the cob:

We had chicken on hand instead of shrimp, and pecorino romano instead of parmesan, so we decided to make the swaps and see what happened.

First we soaked the corn for a while so that it wouldn't burn on the grill.  We used a 4lb dumbell to keep the corn submerged.

Jared cut the chicken and apricots up at home, and we loaded up our gear to head to a nearby picnic area.  Our table was perfectly situated with a mix of sun and shade!

Grill from my folks, picnic gear from Jared's!

We used 6 large apricots and 2 chicken breasts (along with garlic and other seasonings).  It made 8 skewers...and we could only fit 4 at once!

The chicken turned out absolutely delicious.  We had two apiece, with four leftover.  I'd recommend under-ripe apricots...ours were quite ripe and practically fell off the skewers!

We half-husked the corn and grilled it with a little olive oil.

Once it was finished we added some pepper and the pecorino romano!

It was a perfect summer meal!  Thanks, Women's Health, for the great ideas!

And thanks, Jared, not only for being my chef, but for three amazing years of marriage.  Life has been everything from blissful to incredibly hard, but by the grace of God we always come through as a team.  You're the best, Baby!

You tell me: Any great outdoor dining this weekend?  Yes, sitting on the patio at a restaurant counts!

My Fitness Story/The Inch I was Proud to Gain

Real life = limited posting ops.  So here's a good long one.  Enjoy!


Most people start working out with some sort of goal in mind...I wanna lose 10 pounds, I wanna lose body fat, I wanna lose an inch or more off my waist...


I was no different.  In the summer of 2010, I realized that my first year of marriage, while a very happy one, had included a significant decrease in the intensity and frequency of my workouts...and a significant increase in my consumption of pasta and late night nachos.  We've never owned a scale, and I haven't ever been highly concerned about my weight...so my wakeup call came before a trip to the beach with my mom.  I decided to throw on a pair of boardshorts over my bikini. 


My husband had bought the boardshorts for me on our honeymoon in August of 2009...and here I was in August of 2010, unable to get the waist to fasten.

The fateful board shorts...Maui 2009

I kept calm (big deal for me, folks!), grabbed alternate swim gear, and enjoyed the beach...and then sobbed in Jared's arms when he got home that night.  He was, as always, understanding, supportive, and wise.  As the wailing subsided and I started listed all the changes I was going to start making to get back in shape, he told me, "I think that you are beautiful.  I like how you look right now.  If you want to do [x, y, and z], I think that's fine.  But I want you to know I like how you look now."

This guy is my hero

Jared was not a certified personal trainer at that point...he was still finishing up his undergrad work in biochemistry.  But he knew a ton about nutrition and fitness and often shared his knowledge with others.  It meant the world to me that he supported me...but didn't go all Bob Harper on me and lay out a plan.  In the following months, he offered advice whenever I asked for it.  But he never once asked me, "So...don't you have to get to the gym?" or "Do you think you should be eating that?"


I started eating breakfast within 30-60 minutes of waking up...instead of two hours later when I got to work.  I went from eating every five hours to eating smaller meals/snacks every three hours.  I upped my water, protein, and produce intakes.  I started a google spreadsheet to track workouts and progress (nerd - can't help it).  I started lifting weights 4 times a week and incorporated some cardio as well, like running 5ks with friends!

Pumpkin Push 2010 with Dana and Jessica!

I got a little crazy last March and started this blog to post about my goals, experiments successes, and failures.  I became FitFluential, and I'm even considering attending the Fitness and Health Bloggers Conference in Colorado this summer!  Yep, sponsored by ReFuel with Chocolate Milk.  What's not to love???

I subscribed to magazines like Women's Health, Self, Shape, and Fitness.  I got more and more excited about working out as I started to see changes first in how I felt (even how I felt about how I looked) and later in my body itself.  I trained for and ran a half marathon...and then another.  I've taken up racquetball, hot yoga, and CrossFit.  Sometimes I run or bike to work...where I've gotten a standing workstation.  I plateaued a bit, and so eased up on cardio, while ramping up veggies and sleep.  (Sleep will do WONDERS for your fitness goals.) 


In 19 months, I've lost 12+ pounds, 7% body fat, increased definition...and gained an inch in height.


That's right, folks.  I've been 5' 1" since age 13.  But at this year's official bodymetrics testing for work - where you are measured in your socks - I stood 5' 2".  I had joked with a coworker before taking my test, "Oooh, maybe I'll be taller!"  And from the added strength in my back and core, and consequent improved posture, I am!!!


Being fit and healthy is by no means the be all and end all of a fulfilling life.  Jesus and Jesus alone can bring life and fulfillment.  But He's used this new aspect of my life to help me fight my quitter-at-heart attitude, poor body image, and severe anxiety.  And being an inch taller sure doesn't hurt.


Walking tall in spirit and stature!


-Meghan


You tell me: Why did you start working out?  What achievements are you especially proud of?  Did YOU know you could get taller by getting stronger?

SNOWPOCALYPSE! (Snow Day Fitness)

Last week, Seattle and the greater Eastside withstood snow, ice, power outages, zombies, and other terrors during one of the most signficant area storms in decades.

New England and Mid-West folks mock the way our cities shut down for a few inches of snow.  Yes, we are probably wimps.

But boy was it gorgeous!

The view from our porch

  

Sunday morning the 14th, we started getting the first flakes...we were serving on the parking team at church as usual.  I was doing my happy snow dance and putting my tongue out to eat snow like the tiny kids around me.  (I'm pretty short, so I think I blended in alright.)  Our team lead said he felt like saying, "Merry Christmas!" to the folks driving in and out.

Jared and I made our weekly trip to the grocery store right after we were done at church...I like to put things off, and he likes to get things done ASAP.  Good thing we followed his lead this time, because after we got home with our food, the snow started really coming down.  Usually we take Sundays as a rest day from working out (and from life in general), so it was just an extra-beautiful rest day.  Although I was doing my Calvin & Hobbes dance every few minutes, shouting, "Snow! Snow! Snow! Stick! Stick! Stick!" and praying we'd be snowed in so I wouldn't have to go to work on Monday.  Hopefully Jared found my antics cute instead of annoying?

Well, I got my wish.  Our apartment is at the bottom of a very steep hill, and Monday morning Jared watched a few cars trying to be Dorothy Hamill before deciding we should stay put.  Between Sunday and Monday, we did a ton of chores, and Jared made a ton of food.  (We try to get some cooking and prepwork done at the beginning of the week since things get VERY busy from Monday through Friday.)  Most notably, we went through the "plastic bin of crap" as I fondly call it - which had been sitting in a closet waiting to be organized for almost 11 months. Go team!

Jared made dark chocolate
raisin oatmeal cookies.

Monday evening we made it out for a few hours.  I stopped by work to gather up some things I could do from home, and Jared ran a few errands.  We parked at the top of our hill in hopes of making it to work alive the next day.

Tuesday morning, we walked up to our car in thoroughly safe conditions...it honestly felt like it had simply rained or something.  Roads bare and wet, etc.  But by Tuesday afternoon, the storm was heading in for round two.  They closed Jared's gym and my team at the office started to run for the hills.

We toodled back home and I tried to get motivated to work out. 

Usually, this is not a problem for me...I sort of live for my workouts.  I have plans and spreadsheets and class schedules and racquetball dates and training plans.  Working out keeps my stress and anxiety way down and my happy appetite way up.

But after two rest days in a row that included eating of food, watching of Scrubs, and enjoying of cozy fire...I was not feeling it.  What I recommend to fight the "Gee I'd rather sit on my butt and eat cookies and read"?  A good kick in the pants from a great friend.

Yay for motivational texts!

My friend Meghan is a natural at kicks-in-the-pants, since her workout of choice is karate.  We keep each other posted on workout fails and successes.  Although we rarely get to workout together, I think of her as my workout buddy and accountability partner for getting a good sweat. 

The only sad thing about this is I have realized we have no good photos of the two Meghans.  And by "good photos" I mean existing photos.  Lame.

So, I put on my new workout clothes, dug out my binder of workouts, and turned on a musical-theatre heavy playlist.

10 minutes of physical therapy (band), 5 minute warm-up (jumprope - not mine...I hate mine, so I assume this one must be better), 20 minutes of core work (kettlebell), 35 minutes of WOD-style strength and conditioning (mat - if I bought a new one, this would be it), and 10 minutes of yoga/stretching.

We keep workout magazines on our table.  Just in case.

Tank - lululemon,
sports bra - Victoria's Secret,
running tights - lululemon

I was honestly surprised at how much the no-equipment workout kicked my butt.  It probably helped that I treated it like a WOD.  There were 3 circuits with 3 moves apiece.  So my workout went like this:

Circuit 1: 16-14-12-10-8
Circuit 2: 16-14-12-10-8
Circuit 3: 16-14...and I think I pooped out at this point after 35 minutes.  It's amazing how much harder and faster I work if I just set my little phone timer.  If you are short on time, skip cardio and treat your strength workout like an AMRAP WOD: if you have 20 minutes at the gym, race yourself (safely with good form!!!) to see how many rounds of your workout you can get done in 20 minutes.  And then go shower and feel proud!

After working out, I refueled with clean cookie dough protein bites and black cherry juice mixed with water.  YUM.

No, I didn't eat ALL of this cookie dough.

Wednesday we were totally snowed in.  I made the most of the day by waking up early (morning person...what can I say?) and tackling some chores, having tea, and reading.  Jared and I got some Real Marriage homework done, had a snowball fight, and went for a walk in the snow.

Finally wiped down my hot yoga mat...about time.

This tea is AMAZING!!!

We couldn't make it to Crossfit, even if we could've driven over safely, because the J was still closed.

No barbell snatching in THIS storm!

So with another magazine workout in hand and snowboots on my feet, I walked with Jared up to our complex's "cabana."  We call it the clubhouse since cabana sounds uber-sketchy.  We are blessed to have a mini workout facility with real showers available to residents.

There is also a pool, but for some reason we didn't feel like swimming.

10 minutes of PT, 10 minutes of core work, a 15 minute kettle bell "WOD" (I made it through 4 rounds, plus 2 reps on each side for the 3rd move), and 10 minutes of yoga/stretching. 

Jared did the assigned "snow day" WOD - that man is a beast. 



 This is one of my favorite workout hairstyles.  I call it the German pony.  Technically I know it's sort of a French braid...but my blood is significantly German.  Plus headband style braids make me think of German beer girls...er, milkmaids.  I like it because it's cute, keeps the hair out of your face, and does a great job of hiding the fact that you just worked out and didn't have time to wash your hair afterwards.  Shh, don't tell!

Plus I grew up with only brothers...so I know how to french-braid my own hair.  Fast.

Tank - lululemon, sports bra - Victoria's Secret,
capris - lululemon, socks & shoes - Nike

Refuel?  My favorite "chocolate milk."  Seriously, this stuff is udderly amazing. 

Thursday we made a brief foray into the world with our chains on to beat the ice and snow.  The gym (and Crossfit) were still closed, so back we went that evening to the clubhouse.  10 minutes of PT exercises, and 10 minutes of the shoulder stability work I do once or twice a week...then WOD time!

Jared made up a WOD for us to do with the equipment we had available at the gym.  We had to switch it up after the first round, since he realized we were doing a ton of pushing and not a lot of pulling:

3 rounds for time...5 pike pushups, 10 plyo pushups, 15 rows, 20 lat pull downs (originally overhead press machine), 30 walking lunges holding a weight plate or with raised arms. Jared finished in about 13 minutes...it took me around 21.

After the WOD, I am thrilled to say I ran my first pain-free mile after 3 weeks of no running and a lot of physical therapy!!!  I went very slow and focused on form.  Woohoo!!!

I'm back!!!

Jared was going a little stir crazy from not being able to play basketball, but thanks to the big screen at the clubhouse, he got close.

All in all, even though a lot of folks found the it stressful and inconvenient, I'm really thankful for the snowstorm.  It gave us extra vacation time together, helped us get through a lot of projects at the apartment, and forced me to stay dedicated when my usual routine and resources went out the window.



That being said...I'm also glad it's over.


You tell me:  Did you have snow last week?  Lose power?  Find creative ways to work out?  Did you win or lose your snowball fights?

BEST. SMOOTHIE. EVER.

I am really not a smoothie person.   Or a shake person.  Unless I'm dancing to Elvis with my favorite dance partner. 

Total tangent: Jared and I have been swing dancing since before we started dating.  For a few years, we danced semi-professionally with the amazing Chris and Alison of Eastside Swing Cats. 

If you are looking for a great way to be active with your significant other...TAKE UP DANCING!  Swing is especially great for fitness because a lot of the tunes are really fast, and if you can get good lessons, all of the lifts and "air" moves really work your muscles!

It's also a great idea from a relationship standpoint.  There's a lot of communication and teamwork, plus you get a great exercise in leading and following.  There's my little date night plug.


With Chris and Alison at a recent dance

If you are dancing up a storm or just want a fun, easy breakfast, try the Apple Mojito Light smoothie from Women's Health magazine.  It's amazing! 

Usually I think smoothies are too thick and hard to swallow.  This one is totally not, and the flavor is incredibly refreshing - perfect after a great workout!

Speaking of great workouts...my favorite race of the year is finally upon us!  That's right, the 12ks of Christmas is tomorrow! 

I have to admit, I am kinda nervous.  I had a crappy slow run Friday morning and it had me all in a dither.  Thanks to a pep talk from a great friend, I have calmed down somewhat.  I asked her for ideas for a fun non-time-based goal for my run.  She suggested counting cute butts and ugly butts or trying to finish with a smile on my face.

I'm really hoping I can just relax and enjoy the run.  It's a tradition for Jared and me, and this year we have roped a lot of family members into joining us.  Both my younger brothers are home from college and I'm stoked to see them! 

Me and John

Max and Me

Plus I have a cute outfit all planned...I'm big on cute workout clothes in general, and ESPECIALLY on dressing up for themed runs.  I can't give it all away...but there will be faux fur on my socks.


At the VDay Dash

 You tell me:  What are your fun race goals?  Do you get nervous before runs?  Does dressing up make you feel better? 

Rise and Shine

Good Morning and Happy Weekend!

I'm off for a run and then I'll be picking blueberries with my mom.  After that, probably a farmer's market and grocery shopping...then just enjoying the sunshine!

Here's a great pre- or post-workouts smoothie: the Rise and Shine!  I love it because there's veggies in it...but you can't really tell.

Delish!

30 for 30 for 30: Day 2

Last night I was a super-green-multi-tasker...not only did I use my training run as my commute home from the office, but I snuck in a stop at Lowes to pick up an ethernet cable.  And yes, I recycled the packaging from the cable after I opened it.

I wore my awesome new Nike Frees (seriously if I weren't on a workout spending freeze I would own like two more pairs of these), my Nike Dry-Fit capris, and my Nike Dry-Fit neon "here-I-am-come-and-get-me" high impact top.

This outfit was the perfect choice for my outdoor run, since summer finally decided to show, and because of all the nifty pockets for ID, office badge, Lowes order confirmation, etc.

When I got home, I wanted to do core work and some light strength-training...but figured after an hour of running I'd need some sort of fuel.  I voted for simple:

Cantelope helped me rehydrate, fishies replenished my salt (hey, I sweat a ton), and walnuts served as my protein snack of choice.  The homemade iced tea Jared made this weekend was super refreshing.

Then I moved on to my workout.  Sometimes when I'm at home I find it tough to stay focused, especially when the kitchen is a mess and I have laundry to fold.  I try to do what gyms do to motivate people: think bright lights, big windows, peppy music.  I moved into the living room by our sliding glass door and pumped the film soundtrack from Footloose.

I started with my new favorite core workout from Shape magazine...it's especially awesome because it requires no equipment!

Here's the toughest move - you need to make sure you lift your shoulder blades completely off the ground on part A if you want this to work for you.

Keep your lower abs really tight through Part B:

I do the whole workout as suggested (2 sets total) but I add a fifth move of my own: a variation on oblique side v-ups since nothing in this core workout really targets the obliques.

I add a 4 pound dumbell and hold it between my feet.  I keep my upper body still and focus only on raising my legs (this move will work your inner thighs as well). 

The goal here is to really use your core to stabilize so you don't roll backwards at all.  Because you have the weight, you won't be able to lift your legs as high as the gal in the example.  Shoot for just a few inches with excellent form.  Do 15 reps on each side.

After abs, I did 2 sets of the kettlebell workout from Women's Health.  For some reason, the bright yellow kettlebell makes it really fun.

Then it was on to chores and dinner.  I recently finished reading Tina Haupert's Carrots 'n' Cake, and loved her point about using the food you already have as a way to save money on groceries, so I decided to use a recipe as inspiration and sub in food we had on hand...since it seems on Tuesdays I'm always trying to polish off the last of our veggies before we pickup our CSA box that night.

CSA crazy carrots...

We had bought peaches and goat cheese on Sunday, and I improvised the rest...

I made the balsamic peaches as directed, cooked up 1/2 cup (dry) quinoa, and steamed the green beans sitting in our fridge.  I also threw in the remaining green onions because I misread "shallots" as "scallions" in the recipe.  Whoops.

The final result was pretty fun.  Veggies, protein, fruit, whole grains, dairy, healthy fats, and killer flavor!  Plus it was done just in time for Jared to walk in the door from a long day at work.

Want the official recipe?  I'm sad to say I couldn't find it on their website...so you'll have to pick up a copy of the August edition of Shape magazine to try it out!