Take a stroll

I have some fitness updates for you, as well as a recipe. And some other things too I think. Depending on where my crazy typing fingers take me. Let's take a little stroll, shall we?

Friday morning, 6 AM: My spin class instructor announced that he's running his first ever marathon tomorrow. He proceeded to have everyone who has ever run a marathon in the class raise their hand. I felt like a cool runner again for 5 seconds until I put my hand back down and remembered that I'm injured and have no purpose in life. JUST KIDDING. But seriously, that happened.

Friday afternoon, 12 PM: I decided that after a long hard week my body deserved something awesome. I settled for a Veggie Burrito Bowl from Chipotle, my favorite on-the-go restaurant in the entire world.

Food Porn.

Friday evening, 5 PM: Attempted to complete the Crossfit Open workout of the week, the 13.2 WOD. I realized my health club didn't really have an adequate space to do so, but still kind of half assedly did it. The dead lifts left my hammies burning, there's no doubt about that.

Friday evening, 6:30 PMish: I got bored and wanted to play in the kitchen. I remembered that I had a bag of Almond Flour that I had compulsively purchased from Trader Joes a couple weeks ago... and decided to bake. I did some chopping:

 Some mixing:

And some baking, and came up with...

Almond Flour Peanut Butter Chocolate Balls:

- 1 cup Almond Flour
-1/4 cup of oats
-1/4 cup coconut
-1/4 cup chopped dark chocolate
-pinch of baking powder
-1/4 cup honey
-1 egg
-3 Tbsp. coconut oil
-2 Tbsp. peanut butter
-1/2 Tsp. vanilla extract

Mix all of the dry ingredients into one bowl. Beat the egg in a separate bowl, add the melted coconut oil and honey, and then beat in the peanut butter and vanilla. Combine all ingredients. Form into little balls, put on greased baking tray, bake at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes.

Voila. Healthy little almond balls. You're welcome.

Saturday morning, 8 AM: Successfully attended my second hot yoga class. Did not throw up, and actually felt fairly good for most of the class. Well, as good as one can feel in 100+ degree heat. I may even go again this week.

Saturday late morning, 11AM: Spent a little too much on new jeans. I love them and they make me happy. I haven't bought a nice new pair of jeans for over three years, so I figured I deserved them. Right?

Saturday afternoon, 1 PM: Failed to get a passport after learning the line was 2.5 hours long. I'll try again later this week. Proceeded to head to the gym and swam for about 30 minutes.

Here we are, Saturday evening. Laying here in all green writing to my favorite readers. 

And tomorrow? Hopefully some green pancakes, if I play my cards right. Happy St. Patrick's Day, hope you are all having a fabulous weekend!

Cheers! (with a green beer)

Fit in the Fall - Guest Post

So when Kait asked me to write a guest post this weekend, I was PUMPED! I read the blog religiously and honestly, we have a ton in common. We are kindred spirits in so many ways.

For example, we both have excellent fashion sense….

We both love THE BEST TEAM IN THE NFL

And we both love to run!

Sadly, I am not built to run, at all. I have to fight my build (daughter of a man who blocks out the sun and looks like The Fridge), crappy joints and rowing background (great way to add bulk, not so much speed). Another difference between my girl Kait and I, is that I do NOT have a natural passion for the healthiest of foods. I enjoy eating healthily and being in shape, but I do so because I love how it makes me feel. There have been weeks where I’ve thought, screw this I am dominating some pizza, oreos and peanut butter.

We also share a obsession with Fall! The cool crisp days that allow me to trapse around in jeans and my favorite MSU hoodie while picking apples and chugging apple cider? Running past trees losing leaves and not in 80% humidity? *sigh* I’m in love.

I’ve also noticed, however, that once the leaves start to change, my healthy diet becomes undoubtedly harder to stick by. Between tailgates and pumpkin spice lattes, I tend to start slipping slowly but surely. I’ve learned to cut myself some slack, and look up “skinny” versions of my favorite recipes!

Let’s be real, I will not give up my buffalo chicken dip or pumpkin flavored everything. I think I would become depressed if I sat down to kale chips and spinach while watching my Spartans blow out everyone else in the Big Ten. It’s just not the same!

So instead of sacrifice my waistline entirely (and only fit into sweatpants my boyfriend owns by November 1^st) I search to the ends of the internet for healthier versions of my favorite treats, or trick myself into eating veggies at half time. Pinterest is a great place to start, and move onto google if necessary. It’s my little attempt at sanity, and not wanting to look like Charlie Weis come Christmas (not so jolly Santa Claus).

I hope this inspired a few people to look for delicious recipes, and I also hope/know that Kait and Andrew will straight whoop butt in the race this weekend!

So I leave you, clearly missing Kait’s witty(er) repartee, with one of my favorite game day noms. Enjoy, Bear Down and Go Green!

Skinny Buffalo Chicken Dip - link: http://www.skinnytaste.com/2010/02/lighter-buffalo-chicken-dip.html