Skip to main content

More Spinning & Kale Loving

Spin In Lieu of Running
I'm going to try to set up the workout in the most positive manner as I can. Today was sunny and mid-60's. It seems that almost everyone is experiencing some incredible late-January weather. It would have been ideal for a run. In fact, I had my running clothes packed. I was determined to get in a run today.

However, my foot and sciatica are really causing me some serious pain. So much so, that I skipped the run and hit up spin instead. This about killed me (ok, a bit dramatic, but you get the picture). Ideal weather for running in January (so rare) and I can't run? It just doesn't seem very fair at all.

While spin was a great workout, it was not at all what I wanted to be doing. All I could do was stare out the windows and dream of what it feels like to be out there running, and running pain-free.

So, I did something I've been putting off...I made a doctor's appointment for Thursday. While I have an idea what's going on, at this point, I think it's safe to say that nothing I'm doing is helping. We have runner's injury/prevention books spread out everywhere. I've been stretching, rolling, stretching (even at my desk). I massage my foot all throughout the day. And still pain.

Maybe they can at least help me find an adequate physical therapist or physical therapy routine. At this point, I'm just desperate and frustrated. But, enough whining.

Tomorrow and Thursday are supposed to be stormy. While I normally wouldn't be happy about that, I am because it definitely ensures that I won't be pining to run outside ;-)

I Love Kale
Since we had fajitas last night, I didn't go with the Taco Tuesday theme. But it really sounded good. I had some kale and butternut squash on hand, and that sounded really good for the evening. Seriously loving kale.

I decided to just roast the butternut squash and add that to sauteed kale. I knew I needed more protein so I added cannellini beans and then brown rice to complete the protein.

Butternut Squash, Kale & White Bean Bowl
Ingredients:
1/2 butternut squash, cubed and roasted
3/4 cup cooked brown rice (more or less depending how much you like rice)
1 can cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
1 bunch kale, de-stemmed and rough chopped
1/2 white onion, thinly sliced
2 tbsp minced garlic
1/2 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
1/2 cup white wine or vegetable broth
To taste: salt, pepper, parsley, basil, oregano, nutmeg

Directions:
Roast your butternut squash and cook your rice (or other grain of choice).

In the meantime, in large skillet, saute the onions, garlic, bell pepper for approximately 3 minutes. Add in the white wine or broth then add in the kale and seasonings. Cover to allow the kale to steam. Cook until the kale is soft (I like mine very well done). As an option, you can add in a drizzle of agave for a sweeter flavor.

Once the kale is done, add in the squash, beans, and barley. Toss and re-season if needed.
 

This turned out just OK, a little flat. It was missing a zing - so next time I'll add red wine vinegar or perhaps apple cider vinegar for some acidity. I did sprinkle mine with some nutritional yeast flakes, so that could be added in during the cooking as well. 


Daily To-Enjoy List:
  • Spin
  • Sunshine
  • Veggie heavy dinner
Oh, and if you're interested in sharing your to-enjoy list, you can use the twitter hashtag #toenjoylist. 

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Love in Photos

In honor of Valentine's Day - Love in Photos Husband Family and Furbabies Friends Even if you're not a fan of Valentine's Day - I hope you have a wonderful day and remember the loves in your life.

Hump Day and More Pineapples

Full-Body Workout  I'll readily admit that getting up this morning was quite painful and almost didn't happen. I forced myself out of bed though not exactly excited about tackling a full-body Pyramid workout. Sort of daunting at 5 am really. I did the warm up from Shock Cardio Cardio Core Circuit (cardio only premix) then hit the weights. It was a pyramid up only so I increased my starting weight. I topped it all off with the first 2 1/2 drills from the cardio workout. I ran short on time and was basically spent. Squats into Plie Squats Step Ups (seriously hate these especially at 5:30 am) Incline Chest Flyes into Chest Press Pullovers into DB Underhand Rows Step Ups (freaking again) Static Lunges Overhead DB Press into Lateral Raises Deadlifts Kickbacks into Overhead Extensions Hammer Curls into Alternating Curls Calf Raises I am so excited to report that my new cross-trainers and running shoes arrived today. Can't wait to test both of them out. I waited way way way too

Hitting the Gym and Lazy Means Creative Tex-Mex Creation

Sunday, Gym Day Why do vacations and min-vacations go by so quickly? Just doesn't seem quite right. Anyway, we left Branson around 9:30 am to head back home. It was a pretty uneventful drive back, which is usually a good thing. We got home and unpacked, then I headed up to the gym. I started with a 10-minute treadmill run to warm up before hitting the weights for back and light legs then abs. I went with a giant set for back then supersets for legs. GS - 4x8 Underhand barbell rows Pullovers Double-arm rows SS#1 Rear-leg elevated lunges (Bulgarian Split Squats) - 3x8 Calf raises - 3x20 SS#2 - 2x8 Walking lunges Plie squats with low-end pulse Single-leg deadlifts - 2x8 I did some ab exercises, stretched, and called it quits. Lazy = Crazy Dinner I may have made it to the gym and washed a few loads of laundry, but I never made it to the grocery store - lounging in the pool trumped grocery shopping. This meant getting creative with dinner. We had another package