I’m trying to get back in my normal routine of working out. I’ve had a few weird things happen in the past month that set me back a bit. About 4 weeks ago, I pulled my quad, sprinting around the bases in the summer softball league Chris + I are playing on. I hobbled around for about a week but was able to swim + walk, pain free. I definitely didn’t want to overwork my quad so I kept my workouts a bit easier. Then, about 2.5 weeks ago I had a weird sinus dizzy/nausea thing that even kept me from doing any exercise for about 1 full week.
While I was home in Ohio, I kept things pretty simple, as far as workouts were concerned. Once my sinus issues cleared up, I walked almost every day. One day I even got to walk with Abby Normally and another with Angela Oh She Glows!! I slacked on lifting weights while home but still managed to bust out a few sets of crunches + push ups here and there. Whenever I travel I try to maintain my balanced lifestyle, which is not always easy.
Here is how I stayed on track:
- avoided eating out too much, but when I did I found restaurants with great veggie options
- cooked a few dinners for my parents and a few for the whole family
- maintained my filling breakfast routine with either cooked oats, overnight oats, or a smoothie
- had a Green Monster buffet with my family one morning
- bought my favorite foods at Whole Foods
- walked almost everyday by myself, with friends, or with my cousins
- sliiightly decreased my food intake [but still eating whenever hungry] because I wasn’t doing my typical intensive daily workouts
- stayed on the go with my mom…I honestly didn’t turn the TV on once in the 12 days I was home
I also ate dessert almost every night, which I don’t typically do at home. Well, I always have some sort of snack because I’m ravenous 2hrs after dinner, but it’s usually not s’mores 
Yesterday I showed you the 4 boxes of couscous that Lundberg sent me. Well, last night I tried the first one out. I cooked up the Mediterranean Curry flavor before I left to babysit for the evening. It was done in a quick 15min. Then I just popped it in tupperware with a little organic white cheddar on top along with a big cup of chickpeas.
YUM. This had great flavor!!
It was nice and fluffy too. I love the texture of couscous. You can check out Lundberg’s site for more info on their couscous. The nutrition facts are great and it’s GF and vegan! You could definitely use this for other things too…like making stuffed veggie peppers.
The only thing I didn’t like was that it was a tad dry. I might have cooked it 2-3min too long, or it may just need 1T of oil added to the boiling water to moisten it up a bit. Overall, I really enjoyed it!
It’s quite warm in our house, even in the morning. We don’t have a/c, so I’m definitely not feeling the hot oats right now. I was craving a Green Monster, SIAB style!!
It was a beautiful muddy green hehehe
Muddy Green SIAB
- 1/2 banana
- 1c strawberries
- 2c spinach
- 1T chia seeds
- 1.5t maca powder
- 1 scoop chocolate Amazing Grass
- 1/4c rolled oats
- ~1c hemp milk
Topped with:
- 1T homemade peanut butter heated + stirred with 1T milk
- ~1T cacao nibs
Deeeeeelicious, filling AND refreshing!! I was stuffed. It kept me full for about 4 hours, which is practically unheard of!
So now I’m trying to get back to it. Back to my normal work out routine that is. My quad is feeling much better, so yesterday, after a 4 week hiatus I hopped back on my road bike. I went for a 12 mile ride at Wash Park. The first loop was terrible. I felt so out of it! However, after the 2nd and 3rd loops I got back into the zone and finished a total of 5 laps = 12 miles in around 45min. I came home and lifted.
- 3 sets bicep curls
- 3 sets pushups
- 3 sets various kinds of crunches
- 3 sets of overhead shoulder press
- 3 sets of front raises
- 3 sets of lateral raises
And then I foam rolled for about 15min. And that felt glorious!!!
Today I hopped in the pool for what seemed like FOR-EV-ER but was really only 40min of swimming. I definitely felt a bit out of shape in the pool, even though it’s only been 2.5 weeks since my last swim.
Then I came home and stuffed my face with lunch! Ann is about to come over to watch So You Think You Can Dance + Sushi + Wine and I couldn’t be more excited.
I also got a phone call from the huz today…woohoo!! It was only about 3min long but so good to hear from him
Adios!
Ashley
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ah, I bet that phone call made your day, especially with you doing wedding recaps..
that Muddy Green looks SO good… I have to try this!
sushi sounds good, I was *JUST* wondering what’s for dinner…
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You do such a great job with all your posts. I admire your hard work/dedication to your blog.
SYTYCD + sushi + wine + girlfriends. Ahh, I may have to catch a flight to CO. Enjoy =)
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Ashley Reply:
June 23rd, 2010 at 11:26 pm
Thank you so much…that means a lot!
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I love the color of that smoothie..it reminds me of the color of my room!!!
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That SIAB looks fantastic! Smoothies never hold me over 4h, I need to try this one!
Isn’t it strange some exercises its really easy to get back into after a hiatus and some (swimming, running) seem like SUCH a task the first few times?
xo
Kris
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Ashley Reply:
June 23rd, 2010 at 11:26 pm
I think it was the chia + oats!
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That’s great that you still maintained a healthy and positive attitude throughout your small workout hiatus. I don’t think we were created to be working out at our hardest 100% of our lives. There are times when our bodies and minds need to rest. I fully believe that rest and recovery play a HUGE part in the overall health aspect.
Good for you Ashley!
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Ashley Reply:
June 23rd, 2010 at 11:26 pm
Agreed!
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hurray, glad you’re back! and way to stick with the healthy mindset…it’s so hard on trips to stay healthy, but it sounds like you did it just right
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I have a theory that the uglier the smoothie, the better!!
You inspire me to lift. Well, to think about lifting. Which is more than I usually do!
I really miss you!!! I think I’m just going to have to hop in the car and drive out to CO!
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Ashley Reply:
June 23rd, 2010 at 11:25 pm
Hahaha, so true! and LOL!!!! Miss you too my dear!
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I love your tips on saying healthy while not at home.
I tend to forget that when i’m away sometimes
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Ashley Reply:
June 23rd, 2010 at 6:50 pm
Thanks!! I know, it can be quite hard!
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That definitely looks like the best SIAB I’ve ever seen!
I am missing you! We need to catch up!
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Ashley Reply:
June 23rd, 2010 at 11:25 pm
Ahhh, yes let’s catch UP!
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Your tips on how to stay on track were great! I also cannot stay full for more than 3 hours.. I’m surprised if I make it to lunch without a mid morning snack. I’m always ravenous! That just means our metabolisms are working, right?
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Ashley Reply:
June 23rd, 2010 at 11:24 pm
hahaha YES!!! Good metabolisms…of course! I love hearing when other people say they can’t stay full for more than 3hrs…I honestly used to think there was something wrong with me!
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I’m trying out a new Sushi restaurant on Friday and I’m super excited! Yummm. I’m curious to hear what you think of the other couscous flavors, I used to love couscous, but I now like quinoa a lot more.
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Ashley Reply:
June 23rd, 2010 at 11:24 pm
I used to be a couscous freak!! Then I was all about quinoa…now I’m really loving millet and couscous!
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Thats so awesome you heard from Chris! You must miss each other like craaaazy. I can only imagine. How much fun are you going to have when he returns!? lol.
I keep forgetting about your nut butter + almond milk trick. I need to try it out on my own at some point. I made it a long time ago and I think I fried the nut butter by microwaving it too long! lol.
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Ashley Reply:
June 23rd, 2010 at 11:23 pm
LOL!! You silly girl…”…when he returns” yessss, nut butter sauce is soooo goooood
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Great post, Ashley. I like to know that others, like me, take it easy from time to time. Life/stuff happens — you get sick, etc. Anyway, sounds like you rocked your workout. And also must have been great to hear from the hubby! Mine’s leaving me all alone this weekend plus some. Boo
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Ashley Reply:
June 24th, 2010 at 12:09 pm
Definitely. At first it was frustrating but I got over it and just did what I could. No fun when the boys leave!
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Your SIAB looks wonderful! I like the idea of mixing PB with milk to make it pour better. I’ll have to try that!
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What a great post about how you stay on track while away…breakfast is something I hate to skimp on while traveling. My family and friends can never believe that but it is just my favorite meal and I will be weak all morning without it. Oh, crazy metabolisms!
How wonderful that you got to talk to Chris! I am sure you were extra excited to talk to your man. Congrats on the bike and lifting too…sounds like a wonderful workout!
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Ashley Reply:
June 24th, 2010 at 12:08 pm
I’m definitely the same way!
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You guys are BOTH great photographers, no fair! I especially love that photo with the light house in the distance, such beautiful lighting. What tripod do you have?? Also, what camera setting would those be? Do you do non-flash auto, or is it all manual?
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Laura @ youngDCliving Reply:
June 24th, 2010 at 12:03 pm
oops, totally just posted this on the wrong blog post! this is what happens what you post more often than usual
(jk, i love it!)
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Ashley Reply:
June 24th, 2010 at 12:06 pm
emailed you!
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