I’m a big dill.
Â
In my head.
Really though. Â I posted the pic below on Instagram heading into leg day on Monday, but there’s a reason other than humor. Â Legs days with my trainer always kick my butt. Â He’s brutal… in a good way though. Â One of the reasons I love training with him is that he pushes me to do more than I even imagine to be possible. Â
When I walk into a session with him, I psych myself UP.  So much of lifting is mental.  If you tell yourself you can and approach the weights with confidence, you’ll be amazed by what you can do.  That’s also a good example of how I #MoveHappy. 😉
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This WIAW I was STARVING from leg day.  I wanted a little bit of everything, so that’s what I had!
Read on for my eats, and then check out Jenn’s blog for everyone else’s delicious creations!
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Breakfast:
My morning cocktail carries on.
Then I had a hodge podge breakfast – a little sweet and a little savory.  Local #yolkporn in a portobello mushroom with a side of mango and a protein chocolate muffin experiment.  The muffin needs work… but top anything with peanut butter and it’s good!Â
Mid-Morning Snack:
Scallops cooked in parchment with zucchini, red bell pepper, carrots, thyme, and orange.
Don’t be too impressed – I bought it ready to cook at Whole Paycheck Foods. 😉
I also enjoyed a cold coffee. Â I just brewed up a bug pit for the week and let it chillin the the fridge. Â I pour out a glass at a time and mix it with cinnamon, almond milk, and the new NuNaturals chocolate syrup.
Iced mocha for a fraction and the price (and calories)!
Lunch:
Chicken salad wraps in locally grown cabbage leaves. I mixed my chicken with hummus, goat milk yogurt, ACV, pepper, and cayenne and tossed it with zucchini and rosemary.  So simple, but so good.
Mid-Afternoon Snack:
I wolfed this down post workout because I needed something small and fast before heading to dinner. Â I’d seen the Ratio bars around a lot and was curious to try them out – I wasn’t disappointed!
Dinner:
I was invited to check out the event space at The Spence, one of my go-to spots in Atlanta, by Gather. Â It’s a really cool event planning app! Â The apps they provided we delicious – crostinis and risotto balls.
We decided to stay for dinner. Â I ordered one of my favorite apps for the table – bone marrow topped with tuna tartare and quail eggs. Â We followed that with some amazing braised shortrib and (upictured) thrice cooked french fries. Â Totally gluttonous, especially with the red wine. Â Worth. Â It.
Dessert:
In rare form… I didn’t have room for dessert. Â Good times.
***
I made sure to get my #MoveHappy on with a check and biceps workout and a walk home for dinner in the muggy summer air.
Are you checking in with the #MoveHappy month?  I wish I could win the prizes…
How do you psych yourself up for a workout?
Khushboo says
I couldn’t agree more about workouts being more mental. As cliche as it sounds, thinking about the end result always gets me pumped to get the workout done…both in terms of how good I feel and how much closer I will be to my goals!
Arman @ thebigmansworld says
Um…..no dessert? Where is my protein laced delight to conclude each night? Who are you?
Laura says
I’m pretty sure I had meat as my dessert. And wine.
Debra says
Love your iced mocha idea! It’s a big dill, too.
Laura says
We started cold brewing for real in the office this week. It’s so good!
Tara @ Sweat like a Pig says
Triple cooked fries are one of my favourite things! I don’t own a coffee maker so expensive coffee is where it’s at.
Heather (Where's the Beach) says
I definitely agree that you have to psych yourself up for lifting and I tend to have to do the same for a long run as well. There are definitely days when I go to lift and I’m so off mentally that the workout suffers big time. I know people always say there’s no such thing as a bad workout or what’s that other one about hating that workout, said no one ever. um, maybe I’m a weirdo b/c there have been times when it was just not happening and I pushed through and it still sucked LOL. Sorry for the ramble
Laura says
I did the same thing finishing my July 4th 10K! I finished the last mile mentally because my knee was killing me.
Deborah says
my trainer also kicks my butt on Wednesdays love it! I need the mental push as well.
RavieNomNoms says
YUM! Your day looks amazingly good!
Sam @ Better With Sprinkles says
I have checked in once this week, I’ll be sure to get too more in in the next couple of days 😉
And triple cooked fries? I’m not a big fry person but I am intrigued by those…
Laura says
You should be intrigued… crispy perfection!
Randi says
oooh I haven’t heard of NuNaturals chocolate syrup! how do you think it compares to Walden Farms chocolate syrup?…The Spence! that is where I went a couple years ago when I was visiting Atlanta after I read about it on your blog, so delish!
oh and I get myself psyched up by thinking about my goals, always gets me going and motivated!
Laura says
It’s 100x better! I actually threw out the Walden stuff when I bought it.
And yes, that is The Spence. 🙂 Still great even thought Blais moved!
Maureen says
I am all about making my own iced coffees right now. Brew one big pot & I am set for a few days!
Laura says
My boss bought a special ice coffee maker this weekend and we’ve been chugging it all week. It’s so good!
Heather @ FITaspire says
That dinner looks AMAZING!!!!
Karey @ Nutty About Health says
I love how you psych yourself up & the big dill. Hilarious, but such a great idea! Delicious looking eats too! 🙂
Laura says
It sounds a little crazy, but so much of a workout (or any task, really) is mental!
Lucie@FitSwissChick says
YES, I checked in twice! Love it.
Risotto balls. Now I really want to try these kind 🙂
Laura says
You just like balls. 😛
Kanoelani says
Must try that chicken salad looks yum! I her psyched up for workouts a lot bc of my trainer too. She pushes me & knows me in ways other ppl don’t. Understands me & knows what motivates me. She always tells me she’ll never have me do anything I can’t do… I love that!! She believes in me & I believe in me. Awesome & motivation for moi hehe 😉
Laura says
My trainer says the same thing! It’s amazing the impact that can have.
Missy says
Your blog lately is making me crave fruit a lot — I love the combinations you are coming up with. Well.. I’ve always loved them. Long live Strange but Good.
And you are right — Peanut Butter on anything and it’s all good.
Laura says
Thanks Missy! <3
lindsay says
i kinda want to come train… with the payne! and i want that bone marrow dish. good call!
Laura says
Dude. That would be so awesome. He already loves your balls.
Jody - Fit at 56 says
Still laughing at that big dill even though I saw on IG! 🙂
Megan @ The Skinny-Life says
Maybe I’m a mental case because I am frustrated with my fitness. My legs are hurting and I can barely get through my workouts. Weight training is the only thing that doesn’t hurt. That wholefoods scallops thingy might need to be recreated in my kitchen soon!
Laura says
That’s a good sign you need to take a rest or change it up. That’s what I love about the Move Happy promo – fitness should be fun, not painful. It doesn’t have to be any one thing as long as you (and your body) are enjoying it.
Kierston says
Lifting is so mental. You have to believe in your strength!
Linda @ Fit Fed and Happy says
Do you have to mentally prep yourself for leg day? You sounded ravenous!
Laura says
Ummmm… yes. 🙂
Christine @ Love, Life, Surf says
Your dinner looks amazing!
ellie @ fit for the soul says
Ahhh yes–workouts in general are soooo related to our thoughts! I feel like the ones that are toughest for me mentally are those workouts that are repetitive and you have to do over and over for like, 50 reps or something. And whoaaaaa I really want to try those risotto balls because they sound interesting. And how are the ratio bars? Can you compare them to any other bars out there? I’ve been curious since I’ve been seeing them around these days.
Laura says
I am SO with you – high reps kill me. I just get so bored!
The Ratio bars are good in a fix. A little artificial, but not as bad a some. Have you had the Pure Protein bars? They remind me of those.
Jen @ Chase the Red Grape says
Bone marrow = major yum!
Also wish the whole foods in Scotland would do that scallop dish – looks amazing!
Laura says
It would be pretty easy to recreate – just scallops, veggies, and a little orange and lime juice!
Allie says
I think it’s awesome that your trainer really pushes you! I know that feeling… I’ve had a professor at school who always, always, always pushes me to do better work–beyond what I thought I could do. It’s definitely a love/hate thing–hate during the process and love after!
Laura says
Love-hate is the perfect description!
Sarah says
I am an avid reader of your blog…just want to say THANKS for your great posts and motivation! Where did you get your ratio bars? I haven’t seen them in any stores yet. Happy 4th!
Laura says
Thank you! I think I got it at GNC. 🙂