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Another Early Workout and Grilling

The Furbabies
So, of course I must thank everyone for telling me how cute and adorable my furbabies are. Of course, I won't show them all the comments because they already have big enough egos ;-)

I don't talk about them often, but they are most definitely our children. They have completely different personalities too. Both were rescue dogs, and we adopted them from different breed specific rescue groups. We got Maddie in February of 2006 just after my first Cocker Spaniel passed away from a group in Dallas, TX. Maddie was approximately 4 months old and a total bundle of spastic energy. When we met her, she was playing alone tossing a ping pong ball. We should have know then and there we were in for something big.

After our second Cocker Spaniel (another rescue) passed away after many many months of suffering from kidney failure, we ended up adopting Heath from a group in Oklahoma. He was about 10 months old and the calmest, sweetest little boy you could ever ask for. All he wants is love, love, a lap, and more love.

Madeline rules the roost and is still a total spaz. She goes by many names such as Maddie, Madness the Badness, Maddie Mad Mad, and a few names I won't mention. Heath is Heath Man, Heathy Boy, Bubbers, Bubby Man.

So, that's just a bit of info on the pups. I could write a whole post on Maddie's antics that would have you all shaking your heads, laughing, and praying for me. As for Heath, his post would be all about chasing bubbles.

Another Early Workout
This morning Jason's alarm went off at 5:03 am for him to get up and get to swim. I had already planned on getting up to get my workouts done. Though I must admit I was finally sleeping soundly at that time.

This morning I did legs with hamstring/glute/calf focus. I opted for super sets doing 3 sets of 10 reps unless noted.

SS#1
Step ups with rear leg lift
Deadlifts with dumbbells

SS#2
Plie squats with pulse
Calf raises - 3x25

SS#3
Alternating front lunges
Single leg dead lifts

SS#4
Slide back lunges
Single leg calf raises on step

Weighted plie hops - 3x16
Donkey kicks (with weight) - 2x18
Glute roll-ins/hip lifts - 8 roll-ins, 8 hip lift, 8 roll-in/hip lift combo, 8 roll-ins, 8 hip lifts

I followed up the weights with 3 combos and abs from Kick, Punch, and Crunch. I usually dread weights in the morning as I just don't feel quite awake and strong enough yet. However, this turned out to be a good workout for me.

Do you prefer weights early or later or does it seem to matter?

Dinner
Tonight I ended up using the Chikn' Seitan I made yesterday. I had made some in larger "steaks" or patties not really sure how they were going to turn out. I decided to use those as you might use chicken breasts for a Grilled BBQ Chikn' Seitan Patties with grilled squash, zucchini, and onions and smashed cauliflower.
 
 

These turned out really well. I will definitely make larger patties out of the seitan again.

Comments

  1. Dinner looks delicious! I love rescue stories! Our girl (kitty) Maggie passed away last year and I got her when she was 5 days old. She couldn't even go to the bathroom without help. I bottle fed her, gave her warm bottles of water to lay with...she was one of us. We decided in October to adopt Luke and Leia (brother and sister orange tabbies) because our kids just couldn't seem to get past the emptiness in the house. It is amazing what our animals do for us! In no way could or would they be a replacement (they know they are cats, Maggie thought she was human), but it feels like we did something for her by adopting more homeless babies. I know this is totally not where you were going with this...but you just brought back some memories!

    Oh, I totally do cardio first cause I LOVE muscle toning. Is it weird that strength training is my treat for doing cardio? Oh well. have a great night!

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  2. Such sweet rescue stories! We always had cats growing up and all three that we had/the ones my parents still have are from shelters. I always do my cardio first! My workouts are generally cardio focused, so I like to have fresh legs for that part

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  3. Aww I love hearing pet stories. I hope to rescue my own fur baby soon.

    I like to do weights in the morning, but it has more to do with the gym I go to than anything else. There are less people in the morning and at that time people seem to be more focused on their workouts. In the evenings, you get all the shenanigans that come with the 18-25 crowd. Lol I sound old.

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  4. Ummm wowwww that looks so good!! I've never tried seitan? But I think I would eat my own fingers if they were covered in BBQ sauce lol ;)

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  5. I like doing weights first if I'm doing both in the same session. If I'm doing one very early in the am I prefer doing the cardio then.

    I hate when I finally get back to sleep and the alarm goes off. I know you have the same restless sleep as me so that must have been frustrating. Especially when you know you won't be able to fall back asleep.

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  6. i like to get my lift on in the a.m. it doesnt matter if i do cardio first, followed by weights, but it needs to all happen before say noon or i lose my mo jo :)

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  7. I could feel the furbaby love in this post. You are right about some Maddie stories seeming impossible but I think many pet parents would understand. ;-)

    Weighted plie hops? Ouch!

    Dinner looks great as always especially given this was on the fly. ;-)

    hope you had a good evening,
    Ali

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  8. Your smashed cauliflower looks really good- how do you make yours? The entire dinner looks great! But I'll have to swap in some real chicken ;)

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  9. Wow, your seitan looks great, I thought it was meat at first!

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  10. since i was a kid i always wanted a "cocker spanish girl" (as they said in "lady and the tramp") so cute!

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  11. They sound so lovely! I have a feeling Roxie might grow up to be like Maddie hehe she's so excitable! I've never tried seitan, it's hard to get wheat gluten over here, it looks delicious though.

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  12. Sarena @ The Non-Dairy Queen Thanks for sharing - I'm glad you did!

    Madeline @ Greens and Jeans Yes, you definitely need fresh legs for all the running you're doing!

    Eunice @ Food 4 Fitness Oh yes, an empty gym is an ideal gym in my opinion. That'd certainly be a good reason to get in there and get it done!

    Alycia @ Fit n Fresh LOL, kind of hard to go wrong with BBQ sauce isn't it?!

    Tina @ Faith Fitness and Fun I am totally with you on doing weights first if that's my focus - hug difference. Why is it that we fall asleep soundly just before the alarm, but not the rest of the night?

    Averie @ Loves Veggies and Yoga So you're a morning workout gal huh? If I could lift around 9 or 10, that'd be ideal for me.

    Alicia @ Vegan Epicurean I really need to record her flipping out one day and try to post that. Only pet parents would understand ;-) Oh, you'd love the weighted plie hops!

    Chuck @ Feerless Food Oh I was lazy and should have posted how I made them This time I only had frozen and that's not nearly as good - must make sure it's dried once thawed. I toss it in the food processor with garlic, salt, pepper, parsley, nutritional yeast flakes and soy milk.

    Sarah @ Run Sarah Thanks girl - I still need to try your recipe for baking it.

    Lynn @ The Actors Diet I would say get the male!! I have had 3 females and the 1 males has been the sweetest, most laid back of all of them.

    Laura @ Box Run Eat I wish I could send some your way so you could try it out. I am totally taking it for granted what I have access to. Too bad you aren't close and Roxie could play with my monsters ;-)

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  13. Great stories about your furbabes :-) We have so many nicknames for ours too!

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  14. Haha! Madness the Badness!! Love that nickname the most.

    I am going to try to chicken seitan technique for sure. So you were able to slap those patties right on the grill, eh? You could fool anyone into thinking they were real bbq chicken breasts by the look of it. Now I just need to taste it!

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  15. Yum - I love seitan, and that looks delicious. I've never made it from scratch, but I'll have to try it sometime; it gets awfully pricey to purchase premade, and it always tastes a little too salty.

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  16. No Heath Bar?

    You make me love your babies. I think I could talk about dogs all day, they are just the best.

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  17. its hard for me to do weight too too early unless I have already done a cardio. SOmetimes I teach the 5:45am spin and then do weight after. That works!
    So funny how the chicken seitan looks just like CHICKEN, maybe even better. :)

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  18. Kara @ My Wellnest Isn't it funny how many names they end up with?

    Sarah @ The Ordinary Vegetarian Let me know if you try making it. It's really less complicated than it sounds.

    Lisa @ Lisa's Foods on the Move That's what I am enjoying about making my own - I can control everything about it!

    Nichole @ Live for the Run Crap, a story I should have included. The rescuer named him after the Heath Bar. He's considered a sable parti (hard to see the sable in pics so he just looks caramel and white). So she thought he looked like a Heath Bar ;-) And he's ever bit as sweet!

    Lindsay @ Cotter Crunch I'm with you, if I'm awake enough like having done some cardio, then it's a bit easier.

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  19. OMG your dogs sound so cute!! I have to meet them one day, I've decided :)

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  20. Oh, you know how much I love fur babies! Yours are adorable!! So cute:)

    I usually like to do cardio before weights. That is, when I do weights:( I really need to start doing more weight training. I've actually been meaning to ask you something concerning weight training, but I'll email you!

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  21. Right, so I guess I don't have your email address, and I can't find it! Could you direct me to it?

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  22. It's funny how many nicknames you have for your dogs. I have so many for my cats. Its so silly.Thanks for sharing!
    Smashed cauliflower..that sounds delish!

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  23. Jessica @ EatDrinkBreatheSweat Oh you are soooo going to meet them one day when you make the RT to Little Rock. It'll be so much fun.

    Candice @ ChiaSeedMe I need to remember to post more furbaby pics b/c I always smile when I see Olive!

    Kristen @ Swanky Dietitian Oh you should have told me what the names were!

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