Insanity - Day 30!

I finally did it! I completed my commitment to do Insanity for 30 days. A part of me wants to keep going just so I could say that I completed the entire program, but I'm honestly not so sure it is good for me. I will explain more later when I sum up my experience. I am too tired tonight to do justice to my thoughts. For now, I will sleep on it and tomorrow I will provide my full thoughts. I am just so happy that I did it! Thanks so much to everyone who supported, encouraged and motivated me along the way. Your words had value more than gold. Until tomorrow...

Easy, Huge Savings on Groceries

It's Super Bowl time my friends, and that means we will all be spending way too much money on junk food that is not good for us...or will we? While I can't help you choose celery sticks over Pizza and wings this Super Bowl, I can help you save money on the snacks you choose to serve. I recently discovered this app, favado, and I am hooked! It basically helps you find the best deals on the groceries you are looking for by comparing prices at the stores of your choice, finding the best coupons for you, and telling you what combination of coupons will get you the best discount. I just pop open the app on the go to make sure I'm not spending too much on an item by purchasing it spontaneously. The item I'm looking for might be on sale at King Soopers, so I'll go there instead of Target. Or, if I'm already at a store and thinking about purchasing a non-urgent item, I may hold off until I can visit the store where it's on sale.

For example, I like to keep a DiGiorno pizza in my freezer for moments when I just want pizza and I want it fast. Yes, I know this is not at all healthy but a little splurge every now and then, I believe to be acceptable. Typically, I find DiGiorno pizza for around $4-$5. However, my handy favado app tells me that if I shop at target this week and use a Target coupon combined with a Cartwheel (another great app) coupon, I can get my pizza for $2.25! Savings like that certainly add up, so you can see why I get excited.

The app allows you to sign up for alerts when items you frequently purchase are on sale, or you can have it alert you when new deals are out for the week. I find it great in a pinch when I just want to know if I should purchase an item now or later, but there is far greater value with planning ahead and printing out the coupons to take with me. A small paper clip will appear next to an item that has additional discounts and will tell you what they are, how to get them and how to stack them to get the best offer. It even calculates the final cost for you which is great.

Once you have added items to your list, you just click the "envelope" icon at the top of the app to email your list to yourself. From there you can print off your coupons before heading out to save some money. The coupon printing process can be a little tedious but that's when you ask yourself how much time you are willing to spend compared to how much you will save. Is $2.50 worth 30 seconds? Is $9.75 worth 5 minutes? You get the point.

So do yourself a favor while you're shopping for snacks for the big game and check out favado. Just sign up online then download the app to your phone and start saving. No matter who wins the Super Bowl, with savings like this, you will feel like a winner for months to come. Enjoy!

Insanity - Day 29

Day 29 complete. I am so ready to be done! It's not even about the program anymore, it's about the time I am losing that I want to get back. Not to mention the fact that Insanity has made my muscles far bigger than I wanted them to be. Tomorrow is my last day. I'm thinking pilates or yoga next on a less stringent time schedule.

Sweet Spinach, Vanilla, Pecan Smoothie

My Amazing Aunt Susan introduced me to a similar recipe just after I had Eden. I was amazed at the flavor and I had never before thought about adding pecans or dates to a smoothie. Since then, I have continued to add a little bit of my own flare and I will go through phases when I drink this for breakfast for weeks at a time. I know it might sound strange, maybe even look it, but the flavor is worth it. Just make sure to blend for a couple of minutes to prevent lingering chunks of pecans and dates.

Ingredients:
1 Cup Almond Milk
1/2 Cup Vanilla Protein Powder
1/2 Cup Greek Vanilla Pudding
5-6 Large Frozen Strawberries
2 T. Pecans
5-6 Dates
1 Cup Fresh Spinach Leaves
1/2 t. Honey
1/2 t. Ground Flax Seed (optional)

Insanity - Day 27

My 30 days of Insanity are wearing down - I have only three days to go - and tomorrow is my day off. While I am excited to get my time back a part of me is a little sad. They say it takes 21 days to make something a habit, which means I surpassed "habit" status last week. However, I don't like how big my muscles have gotten. I did Insanity to tone up not to beef up. I don't have the kind of muscles that become long and lean, so I will need to find another exercise that compliments my body type in the future.

Scalloped Potatoes & Ham

I love this recipe, and I owe my amazing mom for this one. This is a way to make delicious, creamy scalloped potatoes and ham with a fraction of the calories you would get from a restaurant. As an added bonus, you can make it fairly fast. And for a really fast, easy weeknight meal, prepare the potatoes and turkey ham in advance and throw the bag in the freezer. When you are ready to cook, simply pour the contents into a sauce pan and follow the directions below. Voila! A freezer meal that tastes anything but.

In a large skillet, cook sliced potatoes in butter till coated. Add water and bring to a boil. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes or until tender. Meanwhile, mix the flour, salt, milk, ham, and parsley in a small bowl. Pour the mixture over the potatoes in the skillet, stirring until fully coated. Continue cooking for about 2-3 minutes or until the sauce becomes thicker.

Ingredients:
4 large/6 medium Potatoes
2 T. Butter
1/3 Cup Water
2 T. Flour
1/4 t. Salt
1 Cup 1% Milk
1 Cup Diced Turkey Ham
1/2 t. Parsley

Insanity - Day 26

Day 26 of Insanity complete - a mere four days to go before reaching my 30 day goal. This has been a difficult journey, one that I am proud of, but one that I am not sure I will do again. My schedule is what makes it so difficult for me to stick with it. This was my approximate schedule today:

6:00am - Wake up, get myself and Eden ready for the day
7:00am - Leave the house
8:00am - Arrive at work - take no breaks - eat lunch at my desk
4:45pm - Leave work to pick up Eden and go home
6:10pm - Arrive at home
6:30pm - After giving Eden a snack, begin cooking delicious Carne Asada Tacos
7:00pm - Serve dinner, feed Eden, feed self
7:30pm - Begin the process of putting Eden to bed
8:00pm - Go back upstairs to rock Eden to bed again
8:15pm - Laugh with Eden until she is too tired and falls asleep
8:30pm - Clean up dinner dishes
8:45pm - Begin contract graphic design work
10:25pm - Finish contract graphic design work
10:30pm - Start Insanity workout
11:15pm - Hop in the shower
11:30pm - Type out blog post
11:45pm - Blow dry hair and go to bed

Yes, I am definitely looking forward to getting my Insanity time back. Four more days!

Insanity - Day 25

 

Today was Cardio Recovery, day 25 in my Insanity program, and I liked this workout very much, mostly because it allowed me to carry on a conversation while getting my workout in. Most other days are 40 minutes of exhaustion that leaves little room for anything besides focusing on the workout. In comparison, this day is a lot of stretching, squatting and lunging so it definitely works your muscles but doesn't leave you exhausted and out of breath. I think that's what is most difficult for me in this program, the fact that I have to commit 40 minutes of every evening to something that doesn't allow for any interaction with my little family. We have already decided that spending time at the rec center, going on bike rides, skiing and hiking together will be at the top of our list once this program is over. I am looking forward to those days - and they are only a mere 5 days away. That is my new motivation. Bring on the days ahead!

Ricotta Cheese Protein Pancakes

 

I have always enjoyed the flavors of a good pancake. Blueberry, chocolate chip, buttermilk, whole wheat, the list goes on and on. But as I got older and started making them in my own kitchen, I started to cringe with every tablespoon of vegetable oil I added to the batter, thinking of all the crunches I would have to do to eventually work off those delicious silver dollars. So I started avoiding pancakes, indulging only once in a great while.

 

Then I went to Dallas. My husband and I took a weekend trip to Dallas from Tulsa, Oklahoma in 2012 just three weeks before our daughter was born. While we were there we ate breakfast at a lovely little restaurant downtown, the name of which I wish I remembered, and I was introduced to an incredible creation, a Ricotta Cheese Pancake.

 

From that moment on, I was hooked. I got home and soured the Internet for a perfect recipe, and then modified it to suite my own tastes. The result was these fantastic Ricotta Cheese Pancakes that require no oil and instead infuse previously nutrition-weak pancakes with valuable protein.

 

When I make a batch of these pancakes, I love making more than what my family will eat, dividing the leftovers into small sandwich bags and then eating them for breakfast throughout the rest of the week. I just grab a bag from home and pop the pancakes in the microwave for 15 seconds when I get to work for a delicious, fast and protein-packed breakfast.  

 

Ingredients:
1 16oz container of Ricotta Cheese - drained

1 1/2 Cups White Flour

1 t. Baking Powder

3 T. Sugar or 1 1/2 T. Truvia

1/4 t. Salt

1 1/2 Cups 1% Milk

6 Eggs - divided

1 1/4 t. Vanilla

 

Frozen Raspberries

1/2 t. Agave Nectar or Honey

 

Start off by separating the eggs into two bowls, putting the egg whites in an electric mixer. Whip the egg whites until fluffy and stiff. While the egg whites are being whipped, blend the egg yolks, ricotta cheese, flour, baking powder, sugar, salt, milk and vanilla in a bowl.

 

Whisk in approximately 1/4 of the whipped egg whites, then gently fold in the rest of the egg whites.

 

Heat a skillet and spray with cooking spray or coat with butter. I don't put butter on top of my pancakes but I put it on my skillet so I get a little bit of the flavor with less butter overall. 

 

Cook for approximately 5-6 minutes, flipping when you start to see tiny bubbles form around the outside edges of the pancakes.

I enjoy thawing a cup of raspberries, mixing it with 1 t. of honey and pouring over the top of my pancakes instead of using maple syrup. After eating my fill, I put the rest of the pancakes into sandwich bags and put them in the fridge. This makes for an easy, out-the-door breakfast that I take with me to work and microwave for 15 seconds at the office. The have such a great flavor that I eat them plain during the week.

Insanity - Day 24

Because I have an awesome husband, and because he knows I am reaching the end of my patience with this program, Brandon helped me with my workout today. As I have mentioned before, it is so much easier to stay motivated when you have a partner, and today the time just flew by. It is still nearly midnight however so I am going to go to bed but I will fall asleep feeling tired yet happy. I am almost there!

Insanity - Day 23

And Day 23 of Insanity complete! Same old program. Six more days to go and I am so ready to move on...

Insanity - Day 22

Ok, Day 22 complete and I am honestly feeling glad that I only committed to 30 days instead of the entire program. Believe me, it is one hell of a workout which is great, but it takes too much time away from other activities I like to do and doing the same exercises over and over again is just getting old. I think better than doing one program like Insanity, is to vary your workout routine with things you love to do. Personally, I love to run, ride my bike and go to fitness classes with friends. Because I am so committed to doing Insanity everyday I don't have time to do any of the other activities I enjoy. If I sprinkle in some Insanity days here and there when the weather is too poor to go out I think I would enjoy it a lot more. For now however, I am six days away from regaining my freedom. So I raise an extra muscular fist to the air in triumph of yet another day completed and in anticipation of the rest of the week.

Healthy-er Chocolate Chip Cookies

If someone could invent and produce a delicious chocolate chip cookie that is literally considered a health food, they would become an easy billionaire. I know of no cookie that is recommended for greater health in mass consumption that is delicious. Typically cookies that are made to offer nutrients come out tasting like a cardboard box. So I am usually forced to choose between a stale, dry, flavorless lump that has nutritional benefits, or a delicious, melt-in-your-mouth because of all the fat and sugar alternative. But I love cookies so I needed to find a better alternative and I think this is it. 

Now don't be fooled. Like any dessert these chocolate chip cookies need to be consumed in moderation, but if you are going to eat a cookie  why not reach for one of these instead of store brands with extra sugar, fat and ingredients you have never heard of. These cookies are a spin off of my favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe and over the years I have enhanced and refined it little by little, taking out some of the calories and adding in nutrition until I reached this incredible blend between flavor and nutrition. 

So if you are looking for soft, flavorful, melt-in-your mouth chocolate chip cookies with no calories and not fat, these are not for you. But if you are looking for soft, flavorful, melt-in-your-mouth chocolate chip cookies that have some nutritional value and fewer calories that regular cookies, you have come to the right place. So dig in and enjoy with a little less guilt.

Ingredients:
1 t. Baking Soda
1 t. Salt
1 Cup Butter
3/4 Cup Truvia
2 T. Molasses
1 t. Vanilla
2 Eggs
1/4 Cup Wheat Germ
1/4 Cup Ground Flax
3/4 Cup White Flour
1 Cup Whole Wheat Flour
1/2 Cup Dark Chocolate or Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Soften butter and then whip butter, Truvia, molasses, vanilla and eggs in a  blender. Mix in the baking soda, salt, wheat germ, ground flax, white flour and whole wheat flour until combined. Stir in chocolate chips. Scoop with a small cookie baller into 1 inch balls and place 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for 6-7 minutes when barely light brown. Drop cookie sheet on counter to help them flatten out and leave on the cookie sheet for another 3 minutes to continue cooking. Scoop off and place on a wire rack to cool. I love to eat them with a glass of cold 1% milk. Delicious!

Insanity - Day 20

Insanity is a fantastic program, but I'll admit, after the 20th day it can get incredibly boring. At this point, I have done the Plyometric Cardio Circuit three times and the exercises are mostly repeats of exercises in the other videos. So I have done virtually the same exercises for 40 minutes a day, every day for the last 20 days, minus the two days of rest.

So, in an effort to help combat the boredom I have given myself an electronic buffet to hold my attention. I have never been very good at doing one thing at a time and multi-tasking makes the time go faster. So I set up my computer to play Insanity but I kept it on mute so I could just watch the video, next to that I had the baby monitor on so I could watch Eden as she settled down to go to sleep, and next to that I have my iPad playing an episode of Bones. I am working out in my kitchen so during water breaks, stretches and cool downs I load the dishwasher with very exaggerated motions so I can stretch my legs while getting some work done. Sometimes I'll even wash dishes and sweep the floor. However, when the workout gets started, there is no room for dishes, so that's why I have Hulu playing on my iPad.

Thankfully, just about the time I am getting burnt out, I get to have a break. Tomorrow is my off day in the program and more than anything else I am looking forward to getting some time back in my day. Between the workout and getting cleaned up afterwards, Insanity takes up about two of the 4 precious hours I have each evening. Not sure yet what I will do tomorrow with my extra hours but you can be sure I am looking forward to it.

Spicy Asian Kale Chips

I attempted my first Kale chips this past weekend and was amazed at the results! I had never had Kale chips before and was surprised at how much I liked them, and how easy they are to put together. My first batch I tried olive oil, salt and pepper and loved them, though I think I put in too much salt. Feeling confident and inspired I tried a second batch just mixing the kale with Chili Garlic Sauce, it was a hit! 

Try this:
Preheat the oven to 300 degrees. Take 1/2 a bunch of kale and rinse and dry the leaves. Break off the stems and tear the kale into chip-sized pieces. Toss them in a bowl with 1 T. Chili Garlic Sauce. Spread the coated kale in one layer on a cookie sheet and bake for 8-10 minutes. Remove from the oven when the chips are crunchy but not brown. This is a delicious way to get more nutrients and perfect for those who love a little spice. Enjoy!

Insanity - Day 19

 

Today was day 19 of Insanity and one of my favorites, not because of the program, but because of my daughter Eden. Throughout the exercise, she jumped with me, stretched with me and ran in place with me, but the triceps dips are where she gave me my main workout. She sat on my stomach while I dipped down, adding an extra 21 pounds to my already difficult workout. Thank you Eden for making sure I work extra hard to firm up my arms and for making muscle pain seem like so much fun. 

Insanity - Day 18

Remember when I said Insanity is far better with a partner? My 15-month-old daughter, Eden, joined me for Insanity again tonight but for longer this time. Once I can pull together the video I will share it. She did the running, tried to do the jumping and joined me in stretching by lying on the floor and wiggling around. It was so much fun and it passed far quicker than usual. I think I'm going to try to get her to help me exercise every night, which will also help me get to it sooner. Fun times are up ahead.

Insanity - Day 17

Another late night for Insanity. I need to stop waiting until almost midnight before I begin the 40 minute program. But, another day complete, this makes 17. I think after this program, I'm going to go back to running.

Healthy Banana Bread

I have always been a fan of Banana Bread, except when it comes to the calories that go with it. It didn't seem right that something made primarily out of fruit should be so bad for you. There had to be a better way. So I started playing around with my recipe and came up with a Banana Bread that gives you valuable nutrients with fewer calories and fat that tastes even better! It's true, regular Banana Bread tastes dry and bland to me now. I miss the nutty flavor of the wheat germ and I can almost feel my body thanking me for infusing it with whole grains and ground flax.

This bread has been nicknamed Hippie Bread by a former colleague of mine who swore it was the only healthy thing he ever ate that tasted good (I might be paraphrasing a little bit but he did love it). I wouldn't call this diet food, but if you are craving Banana Bread, this is definitely a healthy-er alternative.

Ingredients:
1/2 Cup Butter
2 Eggs
1 Cup Truvia (sugar substitute)
1/4 Cup Sugar
1 1/2 Cups Very Ripe Bananas (about 3)
1/2 Cup Plain Yogurt
1 T. Vanilla
1 Cup Whole Wheat Flour
1/2 Cup Ground Flax
1/2 Cup Wheat Germ
1/2 Cup White Flour
1 t. Baking Soda
1 t. Salt

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Soften the butter and then blend with an electric mixer until blended. Add in Truvia, Sugar, Eggs and Bananas and blend until fully combined. Blend in Yogurt, Vanilla, Salt and Baking Soda. Gradually stir in the Ground Flax, Wheat Germ, Whole Wheat Flour and White Flour until blended. Grease the bottoms only of two 8 1/2 x 4 1/2 x 2 1/2 loaf pans or 1 9 x 5 x 3 loaf pan. Pour batter into greased pan. Bake smaller loaves for approximately 50 minutes, checking the center of each with a knife at 45 minutes. A knife inserted into the center should come back clean not doughy. Larger loaves cook approximately 1 hour and 10 minutes but check the center of the loaf for doneness at 50 minutes.

I stirred up 2oz of cream cheese with 1 t. of honey and 1/2 t. cinnamon to spread on top of the warm bread. Tasty but not necessary. The bread is great by itself.

Insanity Day 16

Day 15 completed and I am now officially halfway through my 30 days of Insanity. I have to be honest, I did not put much effort into today's exercise. Brandon and I went to a wonderful dinner with friends and by the time I was able to do Insanity it was nearly midnight - not my best time of day for exercising. I put in the time, but not the effort I would have liked. I am just thankful to be done for the night. Good night everyone!

Insanity Day 15 - Fit Test

Today I started week 3 of Insanity and I began by taking the Fit Test again. You might think that because I have been doing Insanity for two straight weeks I would easily outdo the numbers I hit on day 1, but that was not completely the case. Yes, I did surpass my previous numbers in almost all categories, but for some reason I couldn't even get close to the number of Switch Kicks I did on day 1.

 

My thought on this is that I was not sore on day 1, but I was sore today. With Switch Kicks, you have to hop from one leg to another while bending your knee and kicking one foot straight out in front of you as close to waist height as you can. This puts a huge strain on your abs as they try to balance you while helping you pull each leg up to a high kick. I even tried the test twice on this exercise to see if I could do better the second time, I did worse.

 

So here are my numbers from today's Fit Test compared to the numbers from the first day. Not too bad really, but I hope to surpass them all next time.

 

Switch Kicks

Day 1: 103

Today: 87

 

Power Jacks

Day 1: 45

Today: 56

 

High Knees

Day 1: 93

Today: 108

 

Power Jumps

Day 1: 37

Today: 50

 

Globe Jumps

Day 1: 11

Today: 11

 

Suicide Jumps

Day 1: 13

Today: 17

 

Power Pushups

Day 1: 10

Today: 14

 

Crunch Plank

Day 1: 48

Today: 70

Insanity Day 13 - Week 2 Complete!

Today was a rough day, as is the end of each week of Insanity. My muscles were sore and I was ready for a break but that break won't come until tomorrow, so I powered through. I am nearly halfway done with my goal of 30 days at this point, but I'm thinking, why stop there? Why not try to complete the entire program? We will see how the next couple weeks go. I don't want to overcommit.

The time is going fast but I wish the progress I could see in myself was quite as swift. I feel stronger and I need to take fewer breaks than I used to, but I can't tell too much of a difference in myself, except that my calves are bigger - not really what I wanted - but I guess that's to be expected.

I realized today that many of you have never seen what the Insanity workout entails, so today I created a short video to help give you an idea of what it is like. They don't call it Insanity for nothing! Enjoy:
http://youtu.be/R0B66GkvnL4

Southwest Bean Stew

We were snowed in recently and I couldn't get to the grocery store to restock after the work week. As a result, I was forced to get a little creative with what I had on hand. The result was a delicious southwestern bean stew that has now made it onto our favorites list. It's easy, delicious and good for you too, and I love that I can keep the ingredients always on hand so I can whip it up whenever I am short on groceries.

Start by heating the oil in a saucepan on medium heat and cooking the onion and garlic for about 5 minutes until the onion is soft. Add all additional ingredients except the brown rice. Mash mixture slightly with the back of a spoon and simmer uncovered for 5 minutes. Serve over brown rice.

Ingredients:
1 T. Canola Oil
1 Cup Chopped Vidalia Onion
1 T. Minced Garlic
1 14oz Can Chicken or Vegetable Broth
2 T. Tomato Paste
1/4 t. Dried Oregano
1 t. Adobo Seasoning
1 15oz Can Black Beans
1 t. Fresh Cilantro (optional)
2 Cups Cooked Brown Rice

Insanity Day 12

Ok, so my plan of getting up at 4am this morning and doing Insanity before I went to work just didn't happen. However, I did get started earlier than usual tonight and Insanity at 8pm is much easier than Insanity at 11pm. And I have the sweat to prove my intensity level!

I have one more day of Insanity this week before my rest day and then I will have completed week two! I'm getting into a routine now and it's getting easier to see the finish line.

The crazy thing is, I'm not losing any weight. Actually, I have gained two pounds since I started the program. My muscles are definitely stronger and I have much more endurance, but this is not a weight loss program. I am eating better too and smaller portions and yet, I gain. This program is proving the reality that muscle weighs more than fat. Once I complete this program, I think I might opt for fitness that does not beef up my muscles so much, but we shall see. I am only two weeks in.

Healthy-er Crockpot Chicken Enchiladas

These easy crockpot chicken enchiladas are one of my favorite weeknight dinners. They are so fast, easy, delicious and so much healthier than regular enchiladas. I can toss everything into the crockpot in 3 minutes before leaving for work in the morning. When I get home, it takes another 3 minutes to shred the chicken with two forks before rolling the meat in corn tortillas and topping with cheese, sour cream and avocados. They are not too spicy nor too bland and have incredible flavor. My daughter even loves them. 

 

Simply mix the chicken, cream of chicken soup, diced tomatoes and green chilis, salsa, chili powder and ground cumin in a crockpot and stir until combined. Cover and cook on low for 4-5 hours. When complete, remove the chicken and shred on a cutting board using two forks. Pour half of the sauce into a bowl with the shredded chicken. Scoop the chicken mixture into corn tortillas and top with a sprinkle of salt and pepper. Roll the tortillas and top with remaining sauce, mozzarella cheese, sour cream and avocado.

Ingredients:

Mix in the Crockpot:
1 lb. Chicken Breasts

1 10.5oz Can Cream of Chicken Soup (I like Campbell's Healthy Request because it doesn't contain MSG)

1 10oz Can Diced Tomatoes & Green Chilis

1/2 Cup Salsa (I use Herdez Hot)

1 t. Chili Powder

1/2 t. Ground Cumin

 

Additional Ingredients:

Corn Tortillas

Mozzarella Cheese

Sour Cream (I use reduced fat or fat free because the flavor is the same)

Avocado

Salt

Pepper

Insanity Day 11

I got just the motivational boost I needed to complete Day 11 of Insanity, my sister-in-law Liz joined me! We could both tell a difference in our energy and endurance levels from the first week we worked out together and that encouraged us to keep up the hard work.

It is amazing how much faster the workout goes when you have a partner. We laughed, talked and motivated each other in between gasps for air and before we knew it the workout was complete. We will get back together in about two weeks and I'm excited to see how much we have both improved.

Thankfully, my knee seems to have made a complete recovery. The two days I spent at a lower intensity were just the break I needed.

I asked Liz how she finds the time and motivation to do it every day and she says she gets up at 4am to get it out of the way before she goes to work. I am exhausted just thinking about it but then again it is exhausting to start Insanity at 11pm when I wake up at 6 every day. I'm going to try it tomorrow morning. Wish me luck!

Insanity Day 10

Day 10 complete! I gave my knee one more day of rest by choosing to do tomorrow's workout today. Today was supposed to be Cardio Circuit but instead I did Cardio Recovery. It is a lot of slow moving squats and lunges but no jumping which will help my knee to get back to it tomorrow.

At halfway through week two I can already see improved definition in my legs - which is really why I do this program - and every workout is so much easier than when I started. However, I find myself getting bored with the long videos at this point. I have see them all before and know what is coming next. I am thankful that tomorrow my sister-in-law will be joining me for Day 11, I could use the extra motivation.

I have started muting the workout and playing it on my computer while I watch something else on my iPad. I am fairly certain the distraction keeps me from getting the full benefits of the workout had I been fully engaged, but for the last two nights it was the only way I could find the motivation to do it. Of course, it doesn't help that lately I have been starting my workout past 10pm, making me tired and even less motivated to do it. Starting tomorrow I'm going to make a point of getting started before 9pm. I know it will help.

Insanity Day 9

Not much to report about today. I kept the intensity level low to keep myself from having a repeat of last night. Thankfully, my knee held up fairly well considering. It was a little sore and I could tell that some of the exercises were too much for it, so I slowed down the pace a little and leaned on my left leg a bit for support. One more day of taking it slow and I should be back to normal. Day 9 down, 21 to go...

Cherry Vanilla Almond Smoothie

Holy smokes! This is the most delicious smoothie I have ever tasted in my life! It tastes far more like a calorie-laden milkshake than a healthy smoothie, but it's actually low-calorie and so good for you.

I was about to make myself the same old strawberry banana smoothie I have been making for years when I decided to try something new, and since I love anything cherry, vanilla, almond, I thought I'd try it in smoothie form. In a word: Success.

Ingredients:

1 Cup Frozen Dark Sweet Cherries

1 Scoop Vanilla Protein Powder
1 Cup Almond Milk

1/2 Cup Vanilla Yogurt

2 T. Slivered Almonds

1 Cup Ice

Insanity Day 8 - Peas to the Knee!

I'm back at it today after my day of rest and while I enjoyed the time off, I almost wish I didn't take a break at all. Don't get me wrong, it was nice to have an extra hour in my day and my muscles sure appreciated the recovery, but it was hard to get back into it today.

 

Eight years ago I hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon - amazing experience - but my knees have never been the same. Tonight I was reminded of my awesome 12 mile downward hike into the Canyon when my right knee gave out on me mid exercise. It sounds worse than it actually was. I am used to my right knee buckling every now and then but it sure did make the last half of Insanity more challenging. My left leg definitely got some extra work in. :)

 

After nursing it with a bag of frozen peas (classic!) for about 10 minutes I felt almost good as new. We will see how things go tomorrow but in the meantime, I'm taking some glucosamine in the hopes it will somehow help rebuild my cartilage before my workout tomorrow night. Wish me luck!

Veggie Tacos

My incredible sister-in-law introduced me to this concept nearly 10 years ago and it is still my go-to dish when I want to feel energized. This is a vegetarian meal with not a single spice but don't be fooled, these tacos have an incredible amount of flavor!

I have introduced these Power Tacos to people that rarely eat a vegetable that isn't fried and they love them. I think the cheese, sour cream and avocados in particular help enhance the flavor.

My favorite thing about this food is how it makes me feel afterwards. I feel full, invigorated and energized, thus the name Power Tacos. I especially loved eating these while I was pregnant because they made me feel good and I know I was giving great nutrients to my growing baby. I know they sound strange, but try them once and I promise you will be surprised at just how good they are.

Ingredients:
Tortillas - I prefer Mission Life Balance Wheat Tortillas
Sweet Potato
Black Beans
Sour Cream
Cheese
Avocado

Pierce the sweet potato with a fork and cook in the microwave for approximately 5 minutes depending on the size of the potato. Spread the sweet potato on a tortilla as if you were spreading refried beans. Top with remaining ingredients.

Protein Packed Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie

Because I have been doing Insanity every day my body's metabolism is skyrocketing and I am starving by lunch. To help keep me from snacking on things I shouldn't all morning I made myself a healthy-er protein packed smoothie for breakfast. This smoothie is not low calorie or low fat, but it has great nutrients and the protein my muscles need to recover from a harsh week of workouts. Oh and as a bonus, it's delicious!

 

Ingredients:

1 Frozen Banana

1 Cup Almond Milk

2 T. Creamy Peanut Butter (I use the natural kind)

1 Scoop of Vanilla Protein Powder

Insanity Week One Completed

BAM! Week one of Insanity is complete! I feel great but the sad thing is, I've actually gained 2 pounds since I started, and I am hungry all the time. Guess I didn't realize just how much my muscles had atrophied. To keep the munchies at bay, I keep a bag of baby carrots at my desk at work. I go through a bag every two days. I supposed there are worse things I could eat.

 

Tomorrow is my day of rest from Insanity and I must say I'm more excited about the extra time in my day than skipping the workout. It didn't take long before my body got used to the program again, even though it's been well over 6 months. However, giving up 45 minutes of my night every evening to Insanity is hard to get used to. One week down!

Pumpkin Pie Smoothie

My mornings are always super busy. Between getting myself and my 1-year-old daughter ready for the day and then commuting an hour to her daycare and to work, I don't have much time for breakfast. 

This pumpkin smoothie turns out to be the perfect thing. I was inspired by a recipe on Pinterest and decided to make it a little differently. All I have to do is throw the ingredients in a blender, pour into a travel cup and I'm out the door! As an added bonus, my daughter Eden loves it too, so we sip on smoothies together on our way to work. It's super easy, delicious and SO good for you.

Ingredients:
1/2 Can of Pumpkin Puree (15oz)
1 Cup Almond Milk
1/2 Cup Vanilla Yogurt
Half of a Banana
1 Cup of Ice
1 t. Cinnamon
1/4 t. Pumpkin Pie Spice
Just a shake of Nutmeg and Ginger
1 Scoop of Vanilla Protein Powder