Workouts for the week

Workout stats for the week of March 16-22, 2009

Monday-

*Turbo Jam Booty Sculpt & Abs
Time: 31 min.
Calories burned: 173

*Elliptical
Time: 21 min.
Miles: 2.01
Calories burned: 229

*Spin class
Time: 50 min.
Calories burned: 515

Tuesday-

*Walk Away the Pounds Express 2 mile
Time: 32 min.
Miles:2
Calories burned: 226

Wednesday-

*Biggest Loser Power Sculpt
Time: 31 min.
Calories burned: 133

*Walk Outside
Time: 30 min.

*Elliptical
Time: 30 min.
Miles: 2.73
Calories burned: 312

*Spin/Core class
Time: 1 hour 4 min.
Calories burned: 556

Thursday-

*Walk Outside
Time: 15 min.

Friday-

*Walk Away the Pounds Fast Firming
Time: 26 min.
Calories burned: 122

*Walk Outside
Time: 30 min.

Saturday-

*Spin class
Time: 1 hour 11 min.
Calories burned: 742

Sunday-Day Off

I decided to take off from spin class today (Sunday) because I’m feeling worn out plus my shoulder hurts.  Hubby and I discussed things and we might start to take a break from spin on Sunday’s because three days in a row seems to be a bit much.  Although Sun. is one of my favorite classes and I don’t care for Saturday class, it’s just best for now.  We’ll see how it goes.  Except next weekend who knows what we’ll do as we prepare for my parent’s to come into town.  Can’t wait!

I just placed my Amazon birthday order (my b-day is April 1st) and I ordered quite a few workout dvd’s.  Jillian Michael’s 30 Day Shred, Walk Away the Pounds/Leslie Sansone 5 mile Fat Burning, 5 Day Slim Down and 5 mile Advanced.  Oh my I know those are going to kick my butt.  Have you tried any of these workouts?

How were your workouts this week?

 

Complex Carbs: What is a complex carb?

It’s Friday!  Time for your fit and healthy lifestyle tip.

Today’s Tip: Complex carbs are important to your health

Complex carbs (carbohydrates) are important to your health and should be a big part of your diet.  Lately I have been asking myself, “What is a complex carb?” because my spin instructors say we should be eating complex carbs after we get home from spin class and it’s been pasta/spaghetti that has been recommended.  I wasn’t exactly sure what they were so I had to do some research.

Complex carbs are broken into glucose more slowly and help provide energy throughout the day because they are slowly digested.  Also important for exercise to help aid in losing more body fat.  It fuels exercise by helping to keep your energy up during exercise.  But I wanted to learn more about why complex carbs are recommended for AFTER exercise.  Complex carbs help with muscle recovery and helps to reduce muscle soreness.  You should have a combo of protein and complex carbs within one hour of exercising.

Some of the best sources of complex carbs are usually found in more healthy foods like whole grain pasta/spaghetti, veggies, nuts, fruit, potatoes, oats, breads, brown rice, etc. and include vitamins, minerals and fiber.  I read that tuna and whole wheat bread would be a good after workout snack/dinner. Yum!  Finally something different than pasta ha ha.  I love my pasta but once a week is good enough for me.  And one of the best advantages I found was that complex carbs help aid in weight management!

Now that I have answered the question, “What is a complex carb?” do you have more to add? I would love to know what you eat after a pretty decent workout like spin (or any cardio) class, other types of cardio, running, etc.

 

Weekly Weigh In: March 18

It’s time for another weigh in and I’m down another 2 lbs.  Yippie!  Could it be due to my cutbacks on dessert?  I sure hope so because it’s a very difficult challenge to choose only 3 nights to have real dessert BUT I am finding myself not eating a lot of ‘naughty’ things when it is dessert night.  I’m also exercising a bit more than I normally have been so I know that contributes too.  I love Spring weather and hope it stays around!

Current weight: 216
Goal weight: 140
Pounds left to go: 76

I have 29 lbs left to get back down to my lowest (187) so that is my goal by the end of 2009.

How did your week go?  Check in, stay accountable!

Be sure to enter to win Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred dvd over at Sarah’s Sweet Lips blog.

 

Favorite Green Foods

In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, I want to give green foods some credit.  There are a lot of healthy and tasty green foods that have many healthy benefits like nutrients and antioxidants.  Green foods have a great source of Vitamin K, Potassium, Omega-3′s and more.  It is only within the last 5 years that I have really started to enjoy these types of food.

Here are some of my favorites:

  • Spinach
  • Peppers
  • Apples
  • Grapes
  • Broccoli
  • Green Beans
  • Brussel Sprouts
  • Kiwi
  • Peas
  • Asparagus
  • Green Tea

I especially love brussel sprouts and asparagus.  As you probably noticed, I linked to my brussel sprouts recipe above and you can also make asparagus in a similar fashion using all the same spices.  We like to bake our asparagus on a stone.  Turns out great!

Here is an Asparagus Couscous Salad recipe for you:

1 cup frozen green peas
12 asparagus spears, cut into 1-inch pieces
2 medium carrots, peeled and cut into matchstick-size strips
2 ounces snow peas, trimmed and cut diagonally in half
1 onion, finely sliced
4 cups uncooked Israeli couscous
2 tomatoes, diced into small pieces
4 tablespoons olive oil
2 cups vegetable stock or canned vegetable broth

Place carrots, frozen peas and asparagus in a pan of boiling water and cook for approximately 4 minutes.  Drain and set aside.

Heat the olive oil and add the onion and cook for approximately 2 to 4 minutes until tender.  Set aside.  Cook couscous according to package instructions but replace the indicated amount of water with the same amount of vegetable broth.  Once the couscous is ready fluff with a fork and transfer to pan with onions and cooked vegetables.

Add a little soy sauce and a tablespoon of lemon juice.  Season with salt and pepper to taste.

What are some of your favorite green foods?

Oh and are you a subscriber to the Hungry Girl daily email?  If not, I would recommend it.  Today they featured a Shamrock Star and it sounds divine!

Happy St. Patrick’s Day


Green Smooth Book

 

Menu Plan Monday: March 16

It’s that time again, Menu Plan Monday but this week it’s hosted at 5 Dollar Dinners.

Monday-
Spaghetti w/turkey sausage and homemade sauce

Tuesday-
Gumbo w/scallops, seafood mix and biscuits

Wednesday-
Penne pasta w/homemade sauce (veggies, crushed tomatoes, edamame, tofu for me, etc.)

Thursday-
BBQ Chicken, potatoes, veggies

Friday-
Tuna & Soup

What do you have on your menu plan this week?


Save Dinner Time with Meal Planning

 

Workouts, Lactate Threshold, Desserts

Just a variety of things to write about today.  This weeks workouts were good.  I did something every day which I’m very happy about and did at least 2 strength/core days.  I had to do a lactate threshold spin ride on Monday which you can read more about below my workouts for the week.  And my goal to only have 3 desserts a week is just about accomplished for this week if I can make it through tonight.

Workout stats for the week of March 9-15, 2009

Monday-

*Walk Away the Pounds Walk Slim 2 mile
Time: 35 minutes
Miles: 2
Calories burned: 275

*Walk Outside
Time: 25 minutes

*Spin class (*Lactate Threshold ride for me only)
Time: 57 minutes
Calories burned: 544

Tuesday-

*Walk Outside
Time: 15 minutes

Wednesday-

*Walk Outside
Time: 30 minutes

*Elliptical
Time: 10:40 minutes
Miles: 1.01
Calories burned: 123

*Spin & Core class (strength training)
Time: 60 minutes
Calories burned: 593

Thursday-

*Walk Away the Pounds Big Burn 2 miles w/hand weights
Time: 31 minutes
Miles: 2
Calories burned: 281

*Walk Outside
Time: 30 minutes

Friday-

*Turbo Jam 3T (strength training)
Time: 33 minutes
Calories burned: 163

*Walk Outside
Time: 30 minutes

Saturday-

*Spin class
Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Calories burned: 663

Sunday-

*Spin class
Time: 52 minutes
Calories burned: 514

For those of you who don’t know the lactate threshold ride basically determines my current cardio age.  This helps me with setting my heart rate monitor to the correct settings.  I was feeling really nautious towards the end of this ride and almost got sick blech.  I had done this once before but definitely didn’t push myself like I did this past Monday.  It was good though because my HR monitor did have to be changed to lower my carido age.  I guess that’s good?  Still trying to learn about all that stuff.

And the winner of my giveaway for the Exercise Anywhere cards is Marie.  Congrats Marie, I have emailed you.

How was your week?