TGIF!

I took today off work, and it feels GREAT! It is storming pretty bad in the midwest, which (IMO) are the best days to be off work, lay around, read, catch up on shows and just be a bit lazy. However, instead of being lazy I am trying to get some random things done so I am not scrambling all weekend. I need to hit the grocery store in the worst way. Also, a friend of mine at work sent me some delicious-sounding vegetarian recipes so I think I will try one of them out tonight. I also found a recipe online from a website I just stumbled upon for chickpea chocolate chip cookies...hmmm. I am going to try them out and if they're good I will link the recipes.

Also, I started a new workout program on Sunday! I mentioned in a previous post that I was doing a hybrid of P90X/Insanity. Both are very challenging, but since I had seriously been doing them since January of 2010 I was BORED with the workouts (again, still challenging) I just needed to change things up a bit. I started doing another Beachbody program called ChaLEAN Extreme, which focuses on using the heaviest weights you can handle and only doing 12 reps. Muscle burns fat, so I'm hoping that I can get off of this plateau I've been on for what seems like years. Honestly, I do like the workouts but since my calorie burn isn't as high I'm a bit nervous about weighing myself. I'll report back as I get into the program a bit more.
I hope everyone has a great weekend!

Cool Fitness App Reviews

 Since we are still in January and hopefully most of us are still sticking with our fitness-related resolutions I thought I would share a couple of my favorite and most effective fitness apps for my phone.
In my last post I mentioned that I have been doing some running in addition to the P90X/Insanity workouts. I guess I really like (and need) structure when it comes to working out. I have never been one to have much interest in hopping on a treadmill and running endlessly to nowhere with no time limit to guide me. Ease into 5K has solved this problem for me with voice commands telling me when to walk, and when to run. In addition, you can create playlists from music on your phone of what songs you would like to listen to as your work out. There is also an "Ease into 10K" app too, but for now, baby steps...

Ease into 5K

The other app I am really loving is a calorie and workout tracking app called My Fitness Pal. After putting in some general information such as age, gender, and what your goal weight is it calculates how many calories you should eat in a day. You can type in any food and it's calorie content. Don't know how many calories that meal had? No worries! The My Fitness Pal database is HUGE and contains pretty much any food you'd ever eat. You can also invite friends and check out each other's progress. This has kept me accountable for what I am eating and I am definitely more likely not to snack knowing I have to track it. One of my favorite things about this app is that you can track everything online as well as your phone.

My Fitness Pal

                                                                          

Happy MLK Day!

I am off work today, so I am taking advantage of the time off (and house to myself!) to get some things crossed off my to-do list before going back to work tomorrow. So far, I have cleaned the house and cooked some Veggie Lentil "Meatballs" (yum!). For a midwest January day, it is actually pretty nice outside so I think I am going to take my pooch for a walk. But first.... I need to workout (groan). Don't get me wrong, I actually like working out most days but days like today it is something I just want to keep putting off. In January 2010 the H and I started doing P90X, we really liked it and saw good results so we did 4 (or 5? rounds..I lost count) including the Lean, Classic and even Doubles! I was hooked! I even became a coach with Beachbody because I believe in their products and saw first-hand what they did for my body. I later bought Insanity, did a couple rounds of that craziness and now I am on my 2nd round of an Insanity/P90X hybrid with some good ol' fashion running thrown in the mix. This type of routine is challenging, and at times I feel like I have no social life because I pretty much come home right after work and exercise. However, the workouts have kept me sane and I know it has made me a healthier person overall.
Back to my "meatballs"... I got the recipe from a friend and these are absolutely delicious! I put them on a wheat hoagie, with some marinara and low fat mozzarella cheese...Voila! You have a healthy lunch or dinner!

The mixture - doesn't look too appetizing but trust me..the stuff is good!

The finished product