exercise dvd’s

If You Know What’s Good

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Today was one of those day where I needed to do exactly what I wanted to and not anything else.  I know, I am very fortunate that my life is such right now that this is possible but honestly, if I did anything else today it would not have gotten my full attention and focus.  Just one of those days.  So I let studying and exams and insurance research and business card designing go out the window.

I went for a 4.7 mile run.

I started doing a yoga dvd and realized that it wasn’t what I needed.  I turned on Om Mani Padme Hum and did my own practice.

I threw my ideas of green vegetables and lean protein out the window and ate what sounded good.

Leftover Matzo Ball Soup

Second course, a Pink Lady apple (the best apples EVER) and some incredible Sharp White Cheddar

And third course, steamed Butternut Squash

I shopped for furniture at the Salvation Army.

I drank homemade Kombucha from a wineglass

I cleaned the kitchen.

I talked to an old friend on the phone for a long time.

I walked in the sunshine for the sake of walking in the sunshine.

I got a massage.  There was a gift certificate that I bought at a silent auction back in September that needed used up.  Considering I got a deep discount on the massage it was fine.  Had I spent the full $100 plus tip I would be seriously complaining.  Enough said.

I went out for tacos and beer (ummm, Hoppyum IPA) with my husband.  We walked around in the cold because it was too early to go home and debated frozen yogurt.  We opted for home and wine instead.

I had a challenging week but something about changing my attitude and not expecting so much from myself today really helped turn around my outlook.  This is a hard time of year, with the cold, the dark, the holidays, the obligations, and so I encourage you to check in with yourself throughout this month.  Make sure that you are doing a few things each day just because it’s exactly what you want to do.

If you know what’s good for you, DO IT!

Yogurific

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It’s cold out there!

I guess you can forgive a man for wearing a fur headdress when it’s 26 degrees out (and he’s so darn cute!).

After dinner Tate and I bundled up, filled to-go mugs with herbal tea, and went for a 2.5 mile walk around town.  It wasn’t that we necessarily needed/wanted more exercise today, it’s just one of our favorite things to do together.  For some reason walking (especially hiking) facilitates some of our best conversations.

It was cold all day around these parts!  It made me want to hole up and cook!  I spent most of the day in the kitchen.

My first project was making yogurt.  Making yogurt at home is super simple and very rewarding.  Yogurt is one of my favorite foods and I have a bowl of it nearly everyday.  At $3.70 a container for Plain Organic Yogurt it can add up fast.  Not to mention the environmental cost of all of those plastic containers!

I started making my own yogurt a few months ago and now I make 4 quarts every few weeks.  The best part of making yogurt is experimenting with flavors!

Yep, I made a chocolate yogurt!  Into the bottom of a pint jar I put 3 tablespoons of cocoa and three stevia pellets.

I also made vanilla and PEANUT!

The jar on the bottom right has 6 heaping teaspoons of Trader Joe’s Peanut Flour.

This stuff is brand new to my kitchen but I am excited about all of the possibilities!  Peanut cookies in particular but those will have to wait for another day.

My afternoon project involved Peach-Apple-Oat muffins where I replaced a bit of the flour with peanut flour.  Hmmm, I may have to rethink this combo, not bad but…

Tate and I set out on a run jog this afternoon.  We actually planned on jogging, as in taking it easy, but something came over us and we had a great 4.7 mile RUN.  This morning I wrote about how I used to jog, not run, well now it’s hard for me to jog!   I love the feeling of pushing myself and seeing how fast I can go and maintain it.  I attribute this to a.running with friends who are slightly faster than me and b. sprint training.  Adding regular sprint intervals into my runs have made me more comfortable with uncomfortable conditions (being out of breath!).

Before setting out for our run I did these two workouts on Exercise TV.

Active Sculpting with Steve Maresca (strength training with dumbbells)

http://www.exercisetv.tv:80/workout-videos/active-sculpting-0466

This is a great workout.  It’s full-body, fast-paced, and would be challenging except that the 18 minutes seem to fly by.  Steve has some odd mannerisms but he’s oddly charming also.

20-Minute Sweat Workout with Holly Perkins (strength training with dumbbells)

http://www.exercisetv.tv:80/workout-videos/body-sculpting/20-minute-sweat-workout-5065

Eh.  This workout is so-so.  I don’t think I will do it again.  There are some good twists on exercises but she takes her sweet time explaining some of the exercises.

I was planning on some chocolate and peanut yogurt for dessert but I am still satiated from this delicious dinner salad…

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…and the post-dinner muffins. 😉