Designer Whey Protein + WIAW

March 6, 2013 By Laura

I eat a lot of protein.

Oh? You didn’t notice?

My primary source of protein comes from fish and meat, but I do use protein powders. After yesterday’s supplements post, I realized I needed to address protein powder too.

I have started religiously having a serving a whey protein after each workout, and it’s really made a difference in muscle development. My current favorite is Designer Whey. I received an awesome package from Designer Whey through the Fitfluential Ambassador program to review. As always, all opinions are my OWN.

Their whey powders are delicious. I’d never tried a White Chocolate powder before, and this is my new favorite. It’s not too sweet or “fake” tasting. In addition to the fantastic taste, it blends well. In my meal 5 today I used it without anything creamy (like Greek yogurt). It blended in with my carrots without the slightest hint or grit or chalk. Nutritionally, they are awesome as well. Low in sugar, low in sodium, and high in protein. It also contains calcium, vitamin D, and B vitamins.

Next were the bars. I loved the taste – especially the Peanut Butter Crunch. A lot. I do wish they were lower sugar and higher in protein, but appreciate that they don’t use a lot of “mystery” sweeteners that you see in SO many lower sugar bars. I loved it as a quick punch of energy before hitting the gym!

I’ve been experimenting a lot with the Designer Whey powders in recipes. I have one today that I’m in LOVE with (see meal 1), and I’m working on a new microwave cake… I just have to figure out how to prevent the microwave explosion. Tasty, but messy.

As soon as I can quit eating the powders, I’ll review the drink mix. ~~Can I use it with vodka?~~

This WIAW Jenn is going green! I love my veggies. Despite being a protein whore, I make sure to have a fruit or veggie at every meal. The proof is in my eats today!

Check out my 7 veggie-laced, protein-filled meals below, and then click here to head over to Jenn @ Peas and Crayons to get to see how everyone else is green-ing up their food this month!

Meal 1:

As always, I began my day with a cocktail (apple cider vinegar, water, Glutamine, and Aminos).

In addition to White Chocolate protein powder, my other latest addiction is whipped cottage cheese. I’d gotten on the kick a few weeks ago, but forgot about it until I made Monday’s Everything Bagel Schmear. That creation lead me to the solution for the problem I was having with THIS creation.

#fail

The problem with the first experiments was the “cream” was more of a sauce. I had been trying to make it with a mix of protein powder and Greek yogurt, which became too thin when the warm berries were added. By using whipped cottage cheese, the mixture stayed creamy!

If you’ve never had strawberries and balsamic, you are missing out. My balsamic is a thick, aged variety from Italy, but you can reduce a standard balsamic to thicken it and achieve the same syrup-y richness. That tang with the sweet berries is not to be missed!

I also added chia seeds, cinnamon, fresh nutmeg, and a bit of lemon stevia. Nutmeg and lemon stevia aren’t common ingredients, but if you have them on hand I urge you to use them. If not, try a ground nutmeg and a couple drops of lemon juice. It takes the flavors to a whole new level!

Meal 2:

Some call it a rut. I call it delicious. More salmon and fruit has become a meal 2 staple. Last week’s curry salmon was so good I did it again this week. On Sunday night (food prep time) I coat a large piece of salmon with lime juice and curry power, then roast it in the oven for ~12 mins on 375.

Mixed with grapes and raw pepitas (again).

Meal 3:

Lunch is another recipe I cannot wait to share… but I will. Mostly because I really hate editing pictures, so I’ve procrastinated too long to share it today. It’s a new, healthy version of the Spaghetti Pie my mom used to make when I was growing up. I ate it for lunch with a side of cucumber slices.

I took it to Starbucks where I spent the afternoon working. Shameless.

After lunch I drank my green tea with a little dessert surprise. They have a new carrot muffin, and the barista brought around samples for the patrons.

It’s delicious. ~~Probably loaded with sugar.~~

Meal 4:

This snack was also taken in to Starbucks. Tuna salad mixed with celery, cauliflower, red onion, coconut vinegar, and Brown Beer Hummus. No one seemed upset by the tuna smell.

Meal 5:

Another meal on the go. I had a leg appointment with my trainer before dinner, so I took my whey creation with my to the gym. 372 calories later, I inhaled this. It’s a repeat… but I love it. Carrot Cake Overnight (Over-afternoon?) Oats:

Carrot Cake Overnight Oats

1 carrot, grated
1 scoop French Vanilla Designer Whey
1/4 C raw oatmeal
5 g creatine
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp ginger
1/8 tsp freshly grated ginger
Water (just enough to mix the powder… maybe 3 T?)

Mix, let soak for at least an hour to allow oats to soften and flavors to meld. Enjoy!

Meal 6:

After I got home (it’s a 40 min drive), I was hungry again. Leg day leaves me ravenous!

This came together really quickly thanks to my Sunday meal prep. This Mexican-ish bowl had a crumbled turkey burger (pre-cooked with Mexican spices), spinach, parsnip “rice,” salsa, and an eggplant chip on the side.

Meal 7:

My Greek yogurt addiction is still going strong. This bowl was the perfect end to the day. It’s hard to believe it was healthy!

I mixed my Greek with cinnamon and peanut flour (purchased from iHerb – use code USO924 for a discount) and a little stevia. The toppings are banana, cacao nibs, coconut shreds, cocoa powder sauce (cocoa powder + liquid + stevia), and a crumbled Nutty Quinoa Fuel Bar.

Balsamic Strawberries & White Chocolate Cream

1 Ezekial english muffin (or other bread)
1/4 C no-salt cottage cheese
1 tsp chia seeds
1 T unsweetened vanilla almond milk
1/2 scoop White Chocolate Designer Whey
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp butter extract
3-4 drops lemon liquid stevia
1/8 tsp freshly grated nutmeg
1/4 C strawberries, sliced
1/2 tsp aged (or reduced) balsamic vinegar

Toast english muffin and set aside on a plate.

In a small blender, mix cottage cheese, chia seeds, and milk until desired level of “smooth” is reached. Add liquid as needed.

Stir in protein powder, cinnamon, extract, stevia, and nutmeg.

In a small pan, saute strawberries and balsamic until warmed and becoming soft, ~2-3 mins.

Top the toast with protein cream and berries. Enjoy!

***

The protein count for the day: 157.9g. Other good news: I went for my annual at my Dr. (ladies, you know the one), and I’ve gained 7 lbs since last year!!! That’s muscle. Woot!

What is your favorite way to get more greens in your diet?

Do you use protein powder? What is your favorite?

Work It Out with Supplements

March 5, 2013 By Laura

Until I was in high school, I couldn’t swallow a pill.

My dad once threw a pill down my throat. Seriously.

Today I take a massive line up of vitamins and supplements… and I still have to think about it before I swallow them. My method now is to put water in my mouth first so that the pill sort of floats. That way I can trick myself into thinking I’m just swallowing water.

But this post isn’t about working around your gag reflex. It’s about one of the most-asked questions I get: What supplements do you/should I take? Work It Out with supplements!

This post is JUST about non-vitamin supplements. I also take my vitamins, but I think that’s less interesting. Let me know if I’m wrong.

I believe that supplementation plays in important role in athletes/health enthusiasts. The questions I get surround what supplements one can take to help maintain energy, reach fitness goals (i.e. build muscle), and maintain healthier lifestyles. Below is what I’ve learned on my journey as a figure competitor.

NOTE: This is simply what I have learned and experienced through personal research. NOTHING will replace hard work and a good diet.

Each day I take the following supplements:

1. Glutamine

This is part of my morning “cocktail.” I mix a teaspoon with my BCAAs, apple cider vinegar, and 16 oz of water to begin each day.

Why?

Glutamine is an amino acid that is produced in the highest quantity by your body. It is a non-essential amino acid, so it can be produced naturally by the body through other amino acids. Glutamine specifically aids in the development of the glucose that provides the body with energy. It helps maintain muscle mass and aids the recovery from training. Intensive athletic training can deplete glutamine levels when muscles are being worked, so glutamine supplements are effective in replenishing glutamine levels for athletes who train hard.

2. Aminos

Since this pic, I started using Optimum Nutrition’s BCAAs in my morning cocktail. I credit these for eliminating my morning coffee urges. And their orange flavor ROCKS!

Why?

After protein is ingested it breaks down into amino acids. Amino acids are known as the building blocks of proteins and are responsible for the development of your body’s enzymes, including those responsible for digestion. Amino acids also help in the repair and growth of muscles when taken in conjunction with your workout (see BCAAs below for more on that).

3. CLA (with green tea extract)

I also take one of these first thing in the morning, and another mid-afternoon. The directions indicate that you can take up to 4 per day; however, keep in mind that these instructions are often written with the average sized male in mind. A small female probably doesn’t need so much, so I take half.

Why?

CLA stands for conjugated linoleic acid. It is a type of trans fatty acid; however, CLA is not considered a “bad” trans fat. It assists in the metabolism of stored body fat for fuel and preventing the metabolism from slowing down while in the case of decrease calorie intake. Some studies have also found that taking CLA in conjunction with weight training leads to increased lean muscle development. CLA can be obtained through diet; meat and dairy products have the highest concentration of CLA. It has the added benefit of helping to prevent certain cancers and heart disease.

4. BCAAs

I love my Aminos to start the day; however, they do have some unnatural flavors, and it’s not always convenient to take with me to the gym. Instead I take a BCAA pill immediately following a workout, along with 20g of protein in the form of whey protein powder.

Why?

Taken after a workout, Aminos feed and repair muscles. Choosing the right amino acid will depend on your fitness goals. I take BCAAs. BCAAs are metabolized in the muscle, not the liver, like other Amino Acids. They contain isoleucine, leucine, and valine, which are thought to be THE most important amino acids for muscle tissue growth and preservation. The human body can’t manufacture BCAAs on their own, and being active places excess demand on our BCAA needs. This is why supplementing with BCAAs is important.

5. Creatine

Creatine powder can be somewhat controversial. I decided to try it out because I was having trouble gaining. This, combined with some diet adjustments and intensified workouts, has made a HUGE difference for me in the past month. I’m actually visibly GAINING!

Why?

Creatine is used to produce adenosine triphosphate (ATP) – a molecule responsible for providing energy to your muscles. With more energy, you can train harder, producing greater results. It can also help your body to recover faster so that your next workout is fresher. About 2 grams of natural creatine is produced in your liver, kidneys and pancreas everyday. You also get creatine in your diet via meat or fish (which may make it especially beneficial for non-meat eaters). When taking creatine supplements people will typically report gaining a 2-4 pounds of weight immediately; however, the initial gain is water weight. Subsequent gains are muscle due to the increase in the workload you can handle. It can positively affect your cardiovascular exercise as well. Creatine helps increase the amount of aerobic activity you can do before getting winded, so you will be able to exercise longer and more intensely.

Some studies have found creatine enhanced athletic performance and increased strength. There are reports that creatine has caused dehydration, and in some cases there have been reports of side effects like irregular heartbeat and cramping. As with the benefits, these side effects have not specifically been proven to be a direct result of taking creatine. There are a lot of articles on creatine – both promoting and warning against. I strongly advise you to do your own research before deciding to use creatine.

***Disclaimer: This post contain Amazon affiliate links. If you order through them, I get a teensy kickback… it helps me run the blog, so thank you if you order anything! And I do actually order all of this from Amazon.***

[Tweet “Here’s the low down on the supplements to take to support your workout!”]

***

Good news on the lower body/glute front! I put on my jeans today and they were almost uncomfortably tight in the legs. Never thought I’d be so excited about that…

What supplements do you take?

Did anyone try last week’s incline workout for the glutes?

Everything Bagel Schmear

March 4, 2013 By Laura

Breakfasts are often like dessert in my house.

To be honest, many meals are like dessert in my house…

Lately something strange (but good) has happened – I’ve been craving SAVORY breakfasts. I don’t question my body, I just go with it. Savory it is.

I blame Jenn and her preggo bagel talk for this craving (no, I’m not pregnant too – hahaha). I used to love everything bagels… but those aren’t exactly competitor-diet approved.

I have learned that to recreate many unapproved foods, all you need are the right spices. Ezekial bread IS approved, so I used it as the base for an everything schmear.

According to Urban Dictionary, a schmear is:

This is NOT a post about #3.

The addicting trifecta of dried seeds, onion, and garlic tastes just as good in the form of a topping as it does attached to a bagel!

The usual seeds used are sesame and poppy seeds. Poppy seeds aren’t something I keep on hand, but in a particularly inspired moment I added chia seeds instead!

A good schmear must be creamy. I achieved the cream-factor by blending up cottage cheese with my everything flavors, giving this spread a giant protein punch! Out of curiosity I used Two Foods to compare the nutritionals for generic cream cheese and cottage cheese.

I knew cream cheese wasn’t exactly a health food, but whoa… cottage cheese, for the win.

Toast up a slice of your favorite healthy bread and guiltlessly schmear everything on! For sides, I pan-heated some no-salt deli turkey and had a side of blueberries (the craze continues).

Everything Bagel Schmear

1/2 C no-salt cottage cheese
~2 tsp liquid (I used unsweetened almond milk)
1/4 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/4 tsp butter extract
1 tsp chia seeds
1/2 tsp sesame seeds

In a blender, combine cottage cheese, liquid, onion powder, garlic powder, pepper, butter extract, and 1/2 tsp chia seeds. Blend until smooth, adding more liquid if needed.

Add remaining chia seeds and sesame seeds. Stir to combine.

Schmear your bagel or muffin and enjoy!

Makes 2 servings.

***

This everything bagel spice blend has so many possibilities… my mind is churning!!!

What is your favorite bagel schmear?

What was the best part about your weekend? I got a 85 minute sports massage!

Strange But Good Blues

March 1, 2013 By Laura

Blues aren’t always bad.

Unlike pink…

I’ve been going through a blueberry phase. One that has resulted in some Strange But Good creations throughout the day.

Breakfast:

This was a new take on my Maple TVP Oatmeal. I have been craving more savory foods for breakfast lately, and had just purchased fresh rosemary. Why not with blueberries and a lemon twist?

Rosemary-Lemon TVP Oats

1/3 C TVP
3/4 C water (or milk)
1 T fresh rosemary, chopped
5-6 drops lemon liquid Stevia
Juice from 1/4 lemon
1/4 tsp ginger
1/2 C egg whites (optional)
Blueberries

Add first 6 ingredients (everything before the egg), stir, and bring to a boil.

Reduce heat to a simmer and cover. Cook about 10 mins, until mix thickens.

Pour in egg whites. Allow to cook for 2-3 more mins, stirring frequently so that the egg doesn’t form chunks. The mixture should be silky smooth. Swirl in blueberries.

Scoop into bowl and add additional berries to top.

Note: For a vegan option, add a flax egg, protein powder, or simply leave the egg out.

Lunch:

Again, I was feeling the sweet + savory. I had made a bison burger as part of my Sunday food prep. I crumbled it up, mixed in some BBQ sauce and red pepper flakes, and warmed it in the microwave. Then I stirred in the blueberries.

These 3 “Bs” sound strange. The pic isn’t pretty. But I SWEAR its delicious. My BBQ sauce is a sweet & spicy, and the sweet hint complemented the berries perfectly.

Dessert:

I have a thing for sweet potatoes, even at midnight. This midnight snack had me sleeping like a baby. Until I had to get up to pee at 3am because I drink a TON of water. I digress.

Sweet potatoes are also part of my Sunday prep. I roast them in the oven to have on hand for a quick, healthy carb. I heated this one up and topped it with no-salt cottage cheese, cinnamon, bacon “sprinkles” (thank you, Heather for my new favorite term), and blueberries. Sweet, creamy, and a teensy bit of salty bacon goodness.

Strange doesn’t get any more delicious than this!

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So what’s strange but good in YOUR ‘hood?

The link up rules can be found here or by clicking on “Strange But Good” in the menu bar above.

In short, I want to see what concoctions have earned you weird looks from co-workers, family and friends! Post your Strange But Good creations, grab the logo below for your blog, and link up here.

Remember to use #strangebutgood in any Tweets and Instagrams of your creations.

***

All these berries... I just bought strawberries yesterday (on sale for $3 at Whole Foods!). I must be craving spring...

Do you like fruit with traditionally savory foods? I love it with salmon!

Are you a savory or a sweet breakfast person?

Oscar-Worthy Creamy Pesto Dip

February 28, 2013 By Laura

I don’t like movies.

I know, I know… you’re looking at your screen like I said I kill puppies.

They are just SO predictable/disappointing/over-acted/etc. I do make exception for movies based on true stories. Zero Dark 30, for example, was incredible. I also liked Les Miserables… even thought it was a musical and it was long. ~~It could have something to do with the bottle of wine we snuck into the theater…~~

Either way, I DO love the awards shows. I like to ~~judge~~ check out the dresses, and love the performances between awards. How awesome is Adele?!

When Special K contacted me about trying their new Sweet & Salty Popcorn Chips and sharing them with friends at an Oscar party, I jumped at the chance. I love a party!

The awesome party package they sent included the chips, nail polish, a game to guess the winners, and…. a red carpet!!! ***I received this product and party kit at no cost from Special K; however, all opinions are my OWN!***

I invited over some of my favorite movie buffs and prepared a spread of meatballs, Creamy Pesto Dip, Brown Beer Hummus, veggie sticks, cheeses, and Red Wine Chocolate Cookies. And the chips, of course.

The chips were totally addicting. How can it get better than sweet & salty? We inhaled 2 boxes. Which really isn’t bad considering a serving is 28 chips. Only 120 calories AND I can pronounce every ingredient on the (short) list.

Our favorite performances were – of course – Adele and Les Mis. I can’t believe they got the whole cast on stage! I also laughed like a 10-year-old boy at the “We Saw Your Boobs” song. #sorryimnotsorry.

Did I mention it was a pajama party?

Back to the spread. The dips were fantastic with the chips. I shared the Beer Hummus on Monday, but today I have the Creamy Pesto Dip for you. This recipe was inspired by this recipe created by my girl Kierston. She is a Canadian figure competitor and I have LOVED following her journey!

I lightened it up a bit to meet my dietary needs by eliminating the pine nuts and parm and using nutritional yeast. Because nutritional yeast has a cheesy-nutty taste to it, it made a fabulous pesto and packed in the B-12 and protein.

Citrus and spice are a couple of my favorite ways to add depth and a bright punch to recipes. I added lemon juice and red pepper flakes to accomplish that here. After combining the first ingredients in the food processor, I transferred the mix to a bowl to stir in the Greek yogurt (more protein – woot!). I couldn’t believe how light and flavorful the result was!

Vegan or dairy-free? Make your protein-packed pesto creamy by adding tofu to the blender!

Creamy, fluffy and packed with protein. And it got the thumbs up from Carol.

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Creamy Pesto Dip

1 C fresh basil leaves (packed)
2 cloves garlic, minced
Juice from 1/2 lemon
1/4 C nutritional yeast
1/4 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
2 tsp extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 C Greek yogurt

Place basil, garlic, lemon juice, nutritional yeast, and peppers in food processor. Process until combined.

With processor running, slowly add in oil.

Transfer to a bowl. Stir in Greek yogurt.

Enjoy!

Makes ~1 C.

***

I wish I had an excuse to throw a party every weekend! It’s fun… and a great motivator to clean the house.

What is your favorite party dip?

Do you like movies? What was your favorite this season?

Growing from Challenges + WIAW

February 27, 2013 By Laura

Challenges are necessary for growth.

Even though sometimes it hurts.

Katy’s 28 Day Blogger Challenge isn’t too painful. The painful part is find time to make blog improvements. Since reading her post, I’ve begun making some improvements.

Progress thus far:

Going through old posts to make edits and fix any broken links/pics
(Slowly) transferring all of my Recipes to my Recipage
Editing my Google Reader folders for better organization
Increased focus on growing my Facebook page
Visiting/commenting on new blogs

And the big one: I bit the bullet and created a media kit! Katy was kind enough to review it for me and then posted it on her Best Blogger Media Kits page!

Does anyone else find these tasks daunting?!

Now on to the most important business: food! A lot of my WIAW meals this week were eaten in the office. With a little planning and prep on Sunday, I can grab meals to go spending much time in the morning (which is good because I am ALWAYS late).

Check out my 7 prepared meals below, and then click here to head over to Jenn @ Peas and Crayons to get to see how others dined this week!

Meal 1:

Of course, I enjoyed my morning cocktail (apple cider vinegar, water, Glutamine, and Fitmixer Aminos).

Then I took a 30 min incline walk on the treadmill, I devoured a favorite treat – overnight oats in a jar! But this wasn’t just any jar… it was a tahini tin! Strange But Good.

Tahini-Banana Overnight Oats

1/3 C oatmeal
1/2 banana, masked
1 tsp chia seeds
1 scoop vanilla protein powder
2/3 C unsweetened almond milk
1/2 tsp cinnamon
End of a tahini jar (~2 tsp)
Stevia, to taste
Pinch of xanthan gum (to thicken)

Meal 2:

Salmon and fruit has become a typical meal for me. Today I ate it with grapes and raw pepitas (pumpkin seeds). My salmon was pepped on Sunday night, baked in the oven with curry and lime juice

Meal 3:

Lunch was one that made people in the breakroom stare. I guess swordfish isn’t a popular lunch from home?

On Sunday I’d baked my swordfish with mediterranean seasonings and garlic. I quickly chopped up some broccoli and red peppers and mixed it with nutritional yeast and apple cider vinegar. Topped that off with edamame and red pepper flakes just before serving. I keep red pepper flakes in my desk.

The sweet potato was “dessert.” I coated it in cinnamon. Cinnamon is also kept in my desk drawer.

Meal 4:

Nearly every week I buy a “naked” rotisserie chicken from Whole Foods. I de-bone it as soon as I get home, which makes it a really easy meal option throughout the week. I mixed a portion with my Brown Beer Hummus, purple watercress, and celery.

Cheers to sneaky beers at work!

Meal 5:

Something about a cold night makes me want meatballs. Id’ baked a bunch for my Oscar party, so I took a couple of the leftover balls and made an open-faced sandwich with an Ezekial english muffin.

I served my meatball sandwich with a side of parsnip fries and a purple watercress and cucumber salad. The salad dressing was awesome – I mixed nutritional yeast with balsamic vinegar, rosemary, and a splash of apple cider vinegar.

Meal 6:

You know what’s awesome? Eggs and bacon with red pepper, mushrooms, and a little cheddar. I mixed in smoked paprika, freshly gound pepper, and herbs de provence.

Confession: This was going to be an omelette… but I’m not so good at making those. It tasted just as delicious scrambled.

Meal 7:

I’m going through a Greek yogurt and cereal addiction. This bowl was like a creamy, deconstructed PB&J. What’s not to love?

Deconstructed PB&J Yogurt Bowl

3/4 C Greek yogurt
2 T peanut flour
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Stevia, to taste
Brown rice crispies
Blackberries
Cacao nibs

***

The protein count for the day: 159.4g. ~~I hope it goes to my ass…~~

What challenges have you powered through lately?

Is there anything that would enhance your experience on my blog of social media stuff? I love feedback!

Work It Out on the Incline + Saucony Virratas

February 26, 2013 By Laura

I am on a bootylicious mission.

Not to be confused with a Booty Call mission.

A couple of weeks ago I announced my goal of growing my tail end. Then last week I revealed my next competition would be postponed for a couple of months until the muscles in my bottom half can catch up to my top. So I’m extra-motivated to Working It Out hard-core.

Working out your glutes doesn’t have to all be done in the weight room. This weekend the weather was finally pleasant in Atlanta, so I hauled my hiney outside to Stone Mountain.

Work It Out on the Incline

If you’re hoping to get a firmer backside, running is generally NOT thing that you want to be doing (my trainer loves to tell me I literally ran my ass off). This doesn’t mean you can’t do any cardio. Incline walking and sprinting are both really great ways to tone your tush. Uphill walking and short sprints place more stress on the muscles surrounding the glutes, therefore adding muscle definition.

I sprinted this 14x – 2 sets of 7.

Don’t have a mountain?

No problem! Incline walks make for a great treadmill workout. I like to start each day doing one while I catch up on ~~GMA~~ important news.

Begin walking at 3.5 mph at a 2% incline for 1 minute. Increase the incline in each following minute by 1% until you reach a 16% incline. don’t hold on to the treadmill when the walk becomes challenging! Then descend. Decrease the incline by 1% each minute until your back to 2% for a 30 minutes exercise.

Need a bonus round?

Do sprint intervals. Focus on extending your hips and keep your chest lifted and shoulders back to get the most out of your sprints. Roll all the way forward onto your toes with each step, in order to engage more of your glutes.

The step machine is another good alternative. This will also have you working against resistance and will add more tone and definition to your body rather than slimming everything out but leaving you looking rather shapeless.

The most import thing is to find something that you enjoy, and that will hold your interest. The outdoors are ideal for me. If soreness is any indication of success, I nailed the incline workout!

Yes, I asked a total stranger take this pic. #shameless

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One thing to mention before you start running circles around everyone. The proper footwear is KEY. If you’ve never been fitted for running shoes, now is a good time to start. Make sure you don’t over- or under-pronate, have the right amount of cushioning for your body, and have the right fit. Like bras, people run around in ill-fitting shoes ALL the time.

I prefer a lot of variety:

They all serve different purposes! My most recent running shoe love are the Saucony Virratas. Saucony sent me their Virrata Zero drop shoes to try out. They kind of ROCK.

These ultra-light (6 oz!) shoes are flexible, minimalist-style shoes that don’t lack cushioning and support. I don’t find this to be the case with many other minimalist shoes on the market. (I can’t run in my Minimum Vibrams – I lift in them because they are flat.)

I do have to get one thing off my chest. Marketing departments have the impression that women = pink. I hate pink.

If a product is awesome enough, I will make an exception to my “no pink ever” rule. For instance, my Polar FT4 HRM. I love it. It’s pink, but I got over my hatred and wear it every time I workout. I made another exception for these shoes (also, I do love the neon yellow accents).

Just like your mamma told you, looks aren’t everything. At the end of the day, I need a shoe that is comfortable and will support my run.

Fit-wise, these run true to size. Comfort wise… I have to be honest and say at first I didn’t like them. The arch felt like it was hitting me in the wrong spot. However, after just 2 days (~4 miles) on the treadmill “testing” them, they sort of molded to my foot. Now they are my favorite shoe! #findyourstrong

***Disclaimer: Saucony sent me these Virratas as part of the Fitfluential Ambassador Program. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I hope you guys know I’m not a good sugar-coater by now. ;)***

***

One thing to note… inclines are good for your calves too. Holy DOMS, Batman.

Have you ever tried a minimalist/zero drop shoe? Do you like them?

Do you do incline workouts? If not, is it something you’d be willing to try?

Brown Beer Hummus

February 25, 2013 By Laura

I make a lot of strange stuff.

Relatively speaking – I think it’s totally normal!

I must confess that there ARE certain things that intimidate me. Heather’s Meatless Monday A-Z ingredient this week one of them. Yeast. I am inexplicably intimidated by the thought of using yeast to make bread. Bread seems so complex to me! It’s only a few ingredients, I know.

For this week’s recipe I decided to be sneaky with the ingredient and use beer. Beer has yeast. It counts, right?

This was actually created for another reason: I had an Oscar party! I wanted to have food in the theme of the movies this year, and this killed two bird with one stone. Hummus for the Middle Eastern-set Argo and Zero Dark 30, and beer for the tailgate theme of Silver Linings playbook!

What resulted was a funky hummus, with the nutty tahini and cumin flavors we all love, combined with hoppy, brown sweetness from the beer.

The beer I used is a limited release. Laguanitas came out with a seasonal beer – Brown Shugga’ – a few years ago and apparently it was SO good that when they didn’t bring it back the following year due to capacity issues people were outraged. Laguinatas Sucks is their apology.

It’s awesome. It says brown shugga,’ but it has notes of citrus and pine that make for a really interesting marriage of flavors with the more tadtiional lemon and tahini in the hummus.

Brown Beer Hummus

1 can no salt added chickpeas
Juice of 1/2 lemon
2 cloves garlic
2 T fresh rosemary
1 T tahini
1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/4 tsp coriander
1/3 C beer (I used Lagunitas Sucks, a hoppy beer)

Add all ingredients to a food processor and process until smooth. Add additional beer for a thinner dip.

Serve with chips and veggies.

Makes 1 1/4 cups.

***

I wish they wouldn’t do these shows on Sunday nights. I’m SO tired… but how awesome was the Les Mis performance?!

Did you watch the Oscars? What was your favorite performance?

What are your thoughts on yeast? Does bread intimidate you?

Meal 1:

Meal 2:

Meal 3:

Meal 4:

Meal 5:

Carrot Cake Overnight Oats

Meal 6:

Meal 7:

Balsamic Strawberries & White Chocolate Cream

1. Glutamine

2. Aminos

3. CLA (with green tea extract)

4. BCAAs

5. Creatine

Everything Bagel Schmear

Rosemary-Lemon TVP Oats

Creamy Pesto Dip

Meal 1:

Tahini-Banana Overnight Oats

Meal 2:

Meal 3:

Meal 4:

Meal 5:

Meal 6:

Meal 7:

Deconstructed PB&J Yogurt Bowl

Work It Out on the Incline

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Need a bonus round?

Brown Beer Hummus

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