Back to the Grind!

It's Back to School Time and Back to the Exercise Grind! 

Time to get back on a schedule since there was none this summer. No better time than the present to start working out and playing catch up since I didn't do a whole lot this summer.  I tried to have a workout schedule this summer but like any other summer we take it easy and have fun.  Now that school is back in session it's time to head to the gym again or run outside when it's cooler out.  The first half week of school it was a little cooler out in the mornings, so I took our dog out for a run/walk in the morning as soon as the kids got on the bus.  

Here's what I did:


These stats are from my runkeeper account, which is fabulous.  It keeps track of all this information along with the route you take and much more if you pay for it, which I don't.   This is plenty of information for me at this point.

Tues 8/12/14 -  Run/walk  2.58 miles, 33:13 time, 12:51 avg. pace & 217 calories burned!

Wed 8/13/14 - Run/walk 2.38 miles, 28:04 time, 11:48 avg. pace & 199 calories burned!

Thurs 8/14/14 - Run/walk 2.59 miles, 30:30 time, 11:46 avg. pace & 208 calories burned!

It's a lot hotter here in KC this week, so I started going back to the gym.  I did go a few times over the summer but nothing to important to share.  It works best for me on my days off if I drop my son off at school and head straight to the gym from there.  If he rides the bus to school I may not leave the house and make it to the gym.  It's best to put on the workout clothes first thing and go as soon as you can. 

Mon 8/18/14 - My first day back to the gym after taking most the summer off, here's what I did.  

Stationary Bike - 20:30 mins., 5 miles, level 6 random & 138 calories burned!

Elliptical - 10 mins., 1 mile, level 5 random & 129 calories burned!

Tricep Press - 3 x 15 @ 70 lbs
Squats - 3 x15 with 15, 20 & 25 lbs weight
Push-ups on knees - 3 x 15

ABS - 25 crunches, 25 bicycle, 25 Russian twist, 25 crunches again & 25 knee ups - totaling 125 crunches! 

Tues 8/19/14  Well I'm feeling sore from my workout yesterday, but like the saying goes "No pain, No gain".  When I was at the gym on Monday I saw that they were doing a power class today at 9 am.  After dropping my son off at school I drove straight to the gym.  I hopped on an elliptical first since I was 15 minutes early and did a warm up.  Although, with this class you really don't need to warm up, you get plenty from the class but I'm making up all my missed workouts now.  Not really but every little bit helps. 

Elliptical - 10 minutes, 1 mile, level 5, random hills & 129 calories burned!


Power class - It's an awesome class that they offer for FREE with the membership.  It's a 1 hour weight class that works all the muscles in your body.  I try to do this on my own but don't push myself as hard most the time.   

If you workout at a gym make sure to try out the different classes that they offer.  They can give you fresh new ideas and really work you hard.  

When I got home I decided to make a shake and get some protein back in me to help repair my muscles after this grueling class.  OK, it wasn't that bad, but it was really GOOD!

Here's what I threw together.  Sorry, no pictures of it this time I wanted to make sure it tasted good, which it does so I want to share it with you.

Healthy Smoothie of the Day ~
1 cup ice
Vanilla Soy milk
1 Tbsp peanut butter (I used Jiff or whatever kind you have, that you like.)
1 Tbsp honey
1/4 cup of oats 

Put all ingredients into my JCP Cooks blender, I love this blender because it's a single serve blender and works great for making smoothies.  Mix up and drink, YUM!!!

Now it's time to get up 

and MOVE!

Smoothie time!

Trying to get back into the swing of things, after being gone for a week for Spring Break with the family = FUN TIMES!  More about that under Many Joys!

Had a great workout today!   Went home to have a healthy smoothie with Greek yogurt, to get protein in me.  They say, to have protein at least 30 minutes after a workout, especially a strength workout to help repair your muscles.  So that's exactly what I do. Today's workout will be under Joys of Exercise.

The other day I was at the store with my kids and my son asked me if we were going to buy any of the green stuff.   The green stuff would be SPINACH.  He is my kid that will try pretty much anything.  It really has no flavor, so when you throw it in with some strawberries, blueberries, banana etc. that's what you taste instead.  Of course the darker colored fruits help with the coloring as well. The shake doesn't turn green, and it looks more appetizing if it's not green.  This is what prompted me to share this on my blog.

Yummy, yummy in the tummy!  Here are a couple of healthy smoothies, that I like to make after going to the gym.  

The first one may not look very good but taste great!   It's actually a pretty color, light green instead of seaweed coloring which doesn't look as appetizing. 

SPINACH PINEAPPLE SHAKE

1/2 cup to 1 cup milk (I use vanilla soy milk or almond milk, as I'm lactose intolerant.)  Sometimes I use less sometimes more depending on the consistency I want for my shake.  I like to drink threw a straw so usually more.

• 1/2 cup or handful of spinach
• single serving of pineapple with the juice - put in the freezer for 1/2 and hour to get it nice and cold, then you don't have to add ice.  I prefer fresh pineapple but the individual containers work just fine.
• Dannon Oikos Greek Pineapple Yogurt

ENJOY!

Another great shake - Strawberry/Banana Shake ~

• 1/2 cup to 1 cup milk
• 1/2 cup or handful of spinach
• 4 or 5 frozen strawberries
• 1 banana
• Not pictured, if I was having it I'd throw in some vanilla or strawberry Greek yogurt.  If I don't have any Greek yogurt to put in the shake my back up is vanilla protein powder, but only in my drinks not my kids.  I do put the yogurt in the kids shakes as well but didn't have any to go with this shake on hand.

ENJOY AGAIN!

It's always amazing how much I can stuff into the single serve blender.  I have a Cooks blender from JCPenny's that was only $25.00 and it works great.  There are many other blenders out there as well, to choose from.