Today’s Meals, Moves, and More

Well I’m about ready to faceplant.

But first:

Today’s Meals

  • Breakfast:  Non-fat plain Greek yogurt from Trader Joe’s with pumpkin granola, sliced apple, and blueberries
  • Morning Snack:  Sliced banana with almond butter
  • Lunch:  Leftover eggplant & chickpea salad with a whole wheat pita
  • Afternoon Snack #1:  Apple
  • Afternoon Snack #2:  TLC 7 grain crackers
  • Dinner:  Round 2 of leftover eggplant & chickpea salad.  I’m boring today and had the same meal twice!

Today’s Moves

Unfortunately, I either have to opt completely out of or really modify Kix classes for a few weeks.  Doctor’s orders.  I gotta give my shoulder a break from so much jabbing.  I drove to the gym with the intention of getting on an elliptical for another machine workout (I did one yesterday morning too), but I got grumpy just thinking about it and just went to Kix at the last minute instead.  I was late so I didn’t have my usual spot up front and having to modify just made me grumpy all over again.  Lose lose.  It was a great class, I just hate not being able to do all of it the way I want to do it.

…I start physical therapy next Friday.

Here’s the workout from my Circuit Training class that I taught after Kix.  I didn’t go into the details of how to do each of these in this post, so if there are any questions about any of the moves, please let me know!  Of course if you are just starting a new fitness routine you should consult with your doctor first.

Warmup

Circuit One

  • Cardio:  Tabata Run Ups on Step (same as class last Thursday)
  • Lower Body:  Straddling the step, squats + alternating front kicks
  • Upper Body:  Sitting on step, concentration curls
  • Abs:  Sitting on step, genie twists

Circuit Two

  • Cardio:  Tabata High Knees
  • Lower Body:  Single Leg Squats
  • Upper Body:  Tricep Dips on Step
  • Abs:  V Ups with Twist

Circuit Three

  • Cardio:  Tabata Mountain Climbers
  • Lower Body:  Plie Squat + Lunge Combo
  • Upper Body:  Pushup + Row Combo
  • Abs:  Plank Twists

Circuit Four

  • Cardio:  None because of time + gas smell + the first three really hard sets
  • Lower Body:  Calf Walks around Step
  • Upper Body:  Seated Rear Lateral Raises
  • Abs:  Scissor Kicks + 6 inch hold

Circuit Four

  • Cardio:  None because of time + gas smell + the first three really hard sets
  • Lower Body:  Single Leg Hip Raise
  • Abs:  Hug It Ins
  • Abs:  Pull In + Extensions
  • Abs:  Regular Planks

Bonus – Another new playlist!  It’s a good one.

  1. Ashley Simpson – “You Make Me Wanna La La”
  2. Adam Lambert – “For Your Entertainment”
  3. LMFAO – “Sexy and I Know It”
  4. Allstar Weekend – “Dance Forever”
  5. David Guetta & Akon – “Crank It Up”
  6. Neon Trees – “Girls & Boys In School”
  7. Brooke Hogan – “Ruff Me Up” feat Flo Rida
  8. Kelis – “22nd Century”
  9. Hey Monday – “Homecoming”
  10. Dennis Ferrer – “Hey Hey (Radio Edit)”
  11. Luke Bryan – “Country Girl Shake It For Me”
  12. Phoenix – “Lisztomania”
  13. MGMT – “Kids”
  14. Arcade Fire – “Keep The Car Running”
  15. Jack’s Mannequin – “Bruised”
  16. Imogen Heap – “Hide & Seek”

Have you guys noticed the “On My iPod” page I added to the F&F layout?  For workout song suggestions!  I suggest you check it out if you are bored with your current music selections.  🙂

Today’s More

1.  A funny comic:

2.  A nice quote:

“Exercise and application produce order in our affairs, health of body, cheerfulness of mind, and these make us precious to our friends.”  -Thomas Jefferson

3.  And the exciting things that came in the mail!

Question of the Day:  What were your own meals, moves, or more today?  Ever just eat the same meal twice in the same day?

Goodnight!

Double Layer Pumpkin Cheesecake

Morning, friends!

Yesterday Tim and I celebrated our two-year “non” anniversary.  For those of you who aren’t aware, it took us nine months to admit we were actually boyfriend and girlfriend after we started dating two Octobers ago.  Yes, that’s right, nine whole months.  We had our reasons at the time that most didn’t (still don’t) understand and liked (still like) to judge, but we’re well aware that nine months is a pretty long time!  We think it’s funny and like to celebrate our non-anniversary in October when we started dating, and our real anniversary in July when we made things official.  Except we actually celebrate in October because we think that’s what counts more.  So the non-anniversary is what warrants a dinner or presents and the real anniversary is when we just laugh at how silly we were when we used to be the “plus ones” everywhere we went.

Lost?

We’re weird, but I love us, and we’re happy so… too bad for you!

This year we decided that we would get each other a present but that we wouldn’t go out for dinner.  Instead we decided that we would have a nice night in where Tim makes dinner and I make dessert.

And enjoy some wine of course.

Tim went with his tried and true Bobby Flay grill book I gave him for his birthday.  He chose two Bobby Flay recipes for the main and side dishes:

  1. Grilled Sea Scallops with Green Onion Relish and Warm Bacon Vinaigrette
  2. Grilled Eggplant and Chickpea Salad

He did such a good job!  Dinner was so delicious and had so. much. flavor.  I’m so lucky to have a boyfriend that loves cooking!
Will definitely be posting these recipes later, so stay tuned.

For dessert, I made a double layer pumpkin cheesecake.

Are you drooling yet?

Because you should be.

Ingredients

  • 2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened  –> I substituted Neuchâtel, this has 33% less fat than regular cream cheese does
  • 1/2 cup white sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 pinch ground cloves
  • 1 pinch ground nutmeg
  • 1 (9 inch) prepared graham cracker crust
  • 1/2 cup frozen whipped topping, thawed

I found the recipe on Allrecipes.  I chose this one because it used a prepared graham cracker crust.  I was nervous to try making my own crust for my first go at cheesecake, but now I’m pumped to try it out next time!

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
  2. In a large bowl, combine cream cheese, sugar and vanilla.  Beat until smooth.  Blend in eggs one at a time.  Remove 1 cup of batter and spread into bottom of crust; set aside.
  3. Add pumpkin, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg to the remaining batter and stir gently until well blended.  Carefully spread over the batter in the crust.
  4. Bake in preheated oven for 35 to 40 minutes, or until center is almost set.  Allow to cool, then refrigerate for 3 hours or overnight.  Cover with whipped topping before serving.

Beating the batter:

First layer – traditional cheesecake:

Adding the pumpkin, cinnamon, ground cloves, and nutmeg:

Ready for the oven:

Out of the oven and ready to cool:
(Note Slesh’s delicious apple crisp in the background)

I did this much of the recipe on Sunday night, then stuck the cheesecake in the fridge to let it chill overnight.

When Tim realized I made cheesecake instead of my usual go to brownies, cookies, or cupcakes, he looked like a little kid on Christmas morning.

We indulged with some Cool Whip on top.

It was delish.  Right to the very last bite!

If I do say so myself 🙂

Go make this.  Now.  I promise it won’t disappoint!

Question of the Day:  What’s the best dessert you’ve ever made? 

Bonus points if you share the recipe.

Happy Tuesday!