Today I just wasn't feeling "it." It's Monday, I'm tired, and my butt did not feel like leaving the house to go to the gym. What to do?
Well...
Sometimes I cut my losses and take a night off. But today I thought about my options- I have a late night function tomorrow, I have a wedding to go to this weekend for which I'll be wearing a sleeveless dress, and I'm not sure what kind of exercise facilities there will be at the hotel this weekend. Gotta get my exercise in while I can! So I compromised with myself- half hour of exercise and I'd be happy. Here's what I did:
SELF Chest Workout
and
SELF Lower Body Workout
Mixed with some weighted punches and pilates abs exercises. I broke a sweat, I felt more awake, and I moved on.
For dinner I also wasn't feeling it. I decided to whip up an old favorite- the
Chocolate Covered Strawberry Protein Smoothie:
This smoothie does have a secret ingredient- spinach! I did not feel like making a salad for dinner, so sneaking some greens into my smoothie was the best it was going to get.
Ingredients:
1/2 cup chopped spinach (I used frozen)
3/4 cup frozen strawberries
1/2 cup unsweetened soy milk
1/4 cup kefir
1 scoop chocolate whey protein powder
1 packet Amazing Grass chocolate Green Superfood
1 tbsp sugar free maple syrup
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 TBSP natural peanut butter
The color is not delectable- but the taste sure is. I topped it with some homemade..
Choco-Berry Granola:
This is very similar to the recipe I posted last week- I've decided to make a new batch each week to eat for breakfast and snacks. I acquired some blueberry agave nectar at TJ Maxx yesterday, and subbed in amaranth seeds (another protein packed grain) for quinoa. I left out the vanilla cuz I didn't have it, and also omitted peanut flour and jam.
Ingredients:
3 cups thick cut rolled oats
1/2 cup unsalted cashew pieces
1/4 cup unsalted almonds
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1/2 cup unsalted roasted sunflower seeds
1/4 cup amaranth seeds
1/4 cup coconut flakes
1/4 cup wheat germ
2 TBSP cocoa powder
1/4 cup pumpkin
1 TBSP blackstrap molasses
1 t pumpkin pie spice
1/2 t cinnamon
1/4 cup sugar free maple syrup
1/4 cup blueberry agave nectar
1/4 cup strawberry agave nectar
1/4 cup coconut oil
1/4 cup raisins
1/4 cup dark chocolate chips
Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 325°.
- In a large bowl, toss the oats, nuts, seeds, amaranth, coconut, cocoa powder, and wheat germ.
- In a small bowl mix the pumpkin spice, pumpkin, cinnamon, maple syrup, agave, molasses, oil.
- Stir wet into dry and mix through, then spread on a large rimmed baking sheet.
- Bake the granola in the center of the oven for 40 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes, until nearly dry.
- Let the granola cool and mix in raisins and chocolate chips.
Recycled pic- the new granola looks about the same. See, told you I wasn't feeling it :-).
Here's to getting back in the mood (and over a case of the Mondays)-
Allie