I've been avoiding writing this because I haven't been 100% sure of my goals for this next year. I never set a resolution because I think that word translates to "will fail". But goals, I can get on board with. Short and simple, here are my list of goals for 2015:
1. Spend more time with my family - be engaged in my time with Liam, get off my phone and computer!!!
2. Bench - 90lbs 1 rep max
Squat - 125 1 rep max (I'm not entirely sure what my 1 rep max is for either of these lifts, but I struggle with squats. I will typically do 3 sets of 8 reps @ 100 lbs. So even if I can lift these now, I want to be more consistent)
3. Save more than I spend - put away $100/month for Liam's college, pay off 2 student loans!
4. Read 5-10 books every 6 months (check out my list in an upcoming blog post)
5. Run my 14th and 15th half marathons
6. Take Liam to the zoo, The Children's Museum, and The Magic House and capture every moment
7. Try 1 new workout class at the gym
8. Get 1-2 coaches in my Beach Body business
9. Visit my cousins and grandparents more
10. Be slow to speak, quick to forgive and gentle with my words
I'm excited about finally putting these down. It will hold me more accountable. What are your goals for 2015?!
Monday, December 29, 2014
Tuesday, December 23, 2014
Quest Bar - Product Review
I've heard a lot of athletes and friends who I trust talking about these Quest Bars. I'm not a huge fan of a bar as a meal replacement mostly because I've never found one that I really like taste-wise and had proper nutrition. These were on sale at the grocery story recently so I figured I'd give them a go.
I bough a few different flavors to try and only paid $1 (on sale only because the box was marked wrong and I complained!). Regularly they were over $2.50. I'm sorry but that's ridiculous. I better savor these puppies.
Anyways, I tried the chocolate peanut butter the other day and here's what I thought:
1. Initial bite - a bit chewy (hard to bite off) but very rich in flavor
2. Could definitely taste the chocolate and pb flavoring and did not taste fake in flavor
3. Delicious way to get protein and not many carbs - great for after a hard run, which is what I did!
4. Not extremely filling so I'm wondering if I should eat them as a snack after a tough strength day or eat them as part of a breakfast. I like to eat so 1 bar isn't going to cut it, it seems!
Overall, I feel that as far as bars go, the taste was great and the nutrition stands up to my standards of mostly natural ingredients (no aspartame or fake ingredients) and I feel the protein could help rebuild my muscles after a lifting or running day.
Overall grade (b/c I'm a teacher!) - A-
**minus is only b/c it's not a real meal!
Anybody else have a flavor they can recommend? I'd be interested to try a fruit one.
I bough a few different flavors to try and only paid $1 (on sale only because the box was marked wrong and I complained!). Regularly they were over $2.50. I'm sorry but that's ridiculous. I better savor these puppies.
Anyways, I tried the chocolate peanut butter the other day and here's what I thought:
1. Initial bite - a bit chewy (hard to bite off) but very rich in flavor
2. Could definitely taste the chocolate and pb flavoring and did not taste fake in flavor
3. Delicious way to get protein and not many carbs - great for after a hard run, which is what I did!
4. Not extremely filling so I'm wondering if I should eat them as a snack after a tough strength day or eat them as part of a breakfast. I like to eat so 1 bar isn't going to cut it, it seems!
Overall, I feel that as far as bars go, the taste was great and the nutrition stands up to my standards of mostly natural ingredients (no aspartame or fake ingredients) and I feel the protein could help rebuild my muscles after a lifting or running day.
Overall grade (b/c I'm a teacher!) - A-
**minus is only b/c it's not a real meal!
Anybody else have a flavor they can recommend? I'd be interested to try a fruit one.
Monday, December 15, 2014
Product Review: CogniTea
Ingredients: peppermint, stevia, ginsing, goji berries, and organic guarana seeds, just to name a few. No artificial flavors, sweeteners, or colors.
Nutrients: Contains polyphenols and catechins, antioxidants that detoxify cell-damaging free radicals, vitamins, minerals, ~90 mg of caffeine, and most notably, 100 mg of L-Theanine.
Taste: The taste was actually smooth! Most teas need a little honey (in my opinion) to be palatable. But this tea was refreshing and I didn't even want coffee after. It was smooth and subtle but still flavorful. Good peppermint notes to it and a minty aftertaste that wasn't overbearing. I could taste a little of the black tea in it as well.
Benefits: Energizes, mental clarity and focus and no caffeine crash!
Slogan: I CAN. I WILL. I like that this product has a slogan because that tells me they have a purpose and a goal in mind. They want to convey that to their customers. Love it!
Packaging: I know this shouldn't be the most important part of the review, but it was seriously so cool. My samples came in a cute little box, with a PERSONALIZED NOTE from the Founder. This is BIG in my book. That tells me that no matter what, he stands behind the product and wants each of his customers to have a unique experience tasting it. And he actually cares. Yes, he has a business, but those little extras mean something. Those personal touches do not go over looked by people, and I honestly felt like he had packaged it up and took the time, just for me.
Overall score: A - I'm not off coffee...yet, but this is a great replacement. I felt good, refreshed and still had energy to tackle my day. I think I'm becoming a tea drinker ;)
Check out their website here: CogniTea
Thursday, December 11, 2014
You know you're a runner when....
I ran my 13th half marathon recently, and over the years, I would say I've become quite the observer. Runners are weird, crazy, unique, predictable, and superstitious. Here is my list from experience as a runner. If you're a runner, hopefully something on here makes you laugh...
You know you're a runner/racer if:
1. You lay out your clothes the day before the race and take pictures of it for social media
2. You still struggle with getting the chip on and your bib straight before every race
3. **Girls mostly - you pack extra hair ties and bobby pins for the race
4. Your shoes have 100+ miles on them but you won't replace them because "they work"
5. You will pay $100+ to run 26.2
6. You will pay that more than once in your life
7. You can't wait for the free beer and go to the expo for the free giveaways which still sit around your house.
8. You can easily talk about your pre and post racing bathroom episodes with strangers
9. You have lost a toenail.
10. Your family follows you around the race course
11. You pack an entire extra outfit for the race "depending on the weather"
12. You have a mini shrine of your bibs and medals at home
13. You frantically wave at the cameras
14. You have your playlist ready to go weeks in advance
15. You leave your chip on your shoe for weeks after the race
16. You finish every race wondering why the heck they don't give out Walmart bags for all the food/drinks.
17. You know your splits by heart
18. You still don't get people who sprint the first 1/2 mile then abruptly start walking right in front of you
19. You pig out on race day b/c "it doesn't count"
20. You've already signed up for the next one!
You know you're a runner/racer if:
1. You lay out your clothes the day before the race and take pictures of it for social media
2. You still struggle with getting the chip on and your bib straight before every race
3. **Girls mostly - you pack extra hair ties and bobby pins for the race
4. Your shoes have 100+ miles on them but you won't replace them because "they work"
5. You will pay $100+ to run 26.2
6. You will pay that more than once in your life
7. You can't wait for the free beer and go to the expo for the free giveaways which still sit around your house.
8. You can easily talk about your pre and post racing bathroom episodes with strangers
9. You have lost a toenail.
10. Your family follows you around the race course
11. You pack an entire extra outfit for the race "depending on the weather"
12. You have a mini shrine of your bibs and medals at home
13. You frantically wave at the cameras
14. You have your playlist ready to go weeks in advance
15. You leave your chip on your shoe for weeks after the race
16. You finish every race wondering why the heck they don't give out Walmart bags for all the food/drinks.
17. You know your splits by heart
18. You still don't get people who sprint the first 1/2 mile then abruptly start walking right in front of you
19. You pig out on race day b/c "it doesn't count"
20. You've already signed up for the next one!
Tuesday, December 2, 2014
Paleo Apple Scones - delicious!
I recently checked out this book from our library called Nom Nom Paleo. I would recommend checking out cook books or at least browsing through them in a store before purchasing them and then not being able to use them! This was the case with Nom Nom. It had good recipes, but not worth $35. So I copied the few recipes I wanted to make and returned it. This scone recipe looked daunting but I had all of the ingredients. I sort of stopped when she described how to cut scones. You will see mine are just more or less cookie shapes. I didn't think it really mattered. And they were great!
Here's the recipe:
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F with the rack in the middle position, and line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a large bowl, combine the almond flour, baking soda, and fine sea salt. Use your hands or a pastry cutter to work the pieces of cold butter into the dry ingredients until a crumbly mixture is produced. Then, mix the cinnamon into the almond flour mixture.
3. In a separate bowl, thoroughly whisk together the eggs, apple cider vinegar, and honey.
4. Make a well in the middle of the dry ingredients, and pour the egg mixture into it.
5. Gently mix with a spatula until a wet, chunky dough forms, and then throw in the apple. Combine the ingredients with your hands, and form a ball of dough.
6. On a sheet of parchment paper or a nonstick surface, gently flatten the ball with your hand. The round of dough should be about 3/4 inch thick. Using a pastry cutter or a sharp knife, cut the dough into 6 equal-sized wedges, and arrange them on the parchment-lined baking sheet.(I just scooped them out with a measuring cup and formed them)
7. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, rotating the tray halfway through. The scones are ready when they're golden brown, and an inserted toothpick comes out clean. Transfer the scones onto a wire rack to cool slightly before serving.
This isn't just another subpar substitute for the real thing. It's BETTER than scones made with wheat flour!
BONUS RECIPE!
In the mood for Dark Chocolate Cherry Scones instead? Follow the same recipe, but leave out the cinnamon and apple. Add 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract in step 3. Then, in step 5, add 3 ounces of super dark chocolate, cut into bite-size chunks, and 1/4 cup of dried cherries.
Here's the recipe:
Ingredients
- 3 cups blanched almond flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 4 tablespoons butter, as cold as possible (preferably frozen), cut into small pieces
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 large eggs
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 small Granny Smith or Fuji apple, peeled, cored, and cut into thin tiles
Preparation
DO THIS:1. Preheat the oven to 350°F with the rack in the middle position, and line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a large bowl, combine the almond flour, baking soda, and fine sea salt. Use your hands or a pastry cutter to work the pieces of cold butter into the dry ingredients until a crumbly mixture is produced. Then, mix the cinnamon into the almond flour mixture.
3. In a separate bowl, thoroughly whisk together the eggs, apple cider vinegar, and honey.
4. Make a well in the middle of the dry ingredients, and pour the egg mixture into it.
5. Gently mix with a spatula until a wet, chunky dough forms, and then throw in the apple. Combine the ingredients with your hands, and form a ball of dough.
6. On a sheet of parchment paper or a nonstick surface, gently flatten the ball with your hand. The round of dough should be about 3/4 inch thick. Using a pastry cutter or a sharp knife, cut the dough into 6 equal-sized wedges, and arrange them on the parchment-lined baking sheet.(I just scooped them out with a measuring cup and formed them)
7. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, rotating the tray halfway through. The scones are ready when they're golden brown, and an inserted toothpick comes out clean. Transfer the scones onto a wire rack to cool slightly before serving.
This isn't just another subpar substitute for the real thing. It's BETTER than scones made with wheat flour!
BONUS RECIPE!
In the mood for Dark Chocolate Cherry Scones instead? Follow the same recipe, but leave out the cinnamon and apple. Add 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract in step 3. Then, in step 5, add 3 ounces of super dark chocolate, cut into bite-size chunks, and 1/4 cup of dried cherries.
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