Pug Pout + Hip Strengthing Workout
Hi, guys! Happy Sunday! 
So, look what my sneaky dog tried to do this morning:
The little bugger tried to take a bite of my breakfast!
I’m sure breakfast smelled delicious to Murphy, but after a talkin’ to, he put his infamous pug pout on his face. Look at that pathetic bottom lip!
Breakfast
Breakfast was an egg sandwich with Dubliner cheese on a toasted whole wheat English muffin. I also drank an iced coffee with soy milk and agave nectar. Egg-cellent Sunday breakfast! 
I spent most of the morning setting up giveaways for the 12 Days of Giveaways celebration, which is scheduled to begin on Tuesday, December 1. I hope you guys are getting ready for it! There are a TON of giveaways on the agenda! It’s going to be madness!
Lunch
Lunch came a few hours later. I whipped up an “everything-but-the” salad with all sorts of goodies from the fridge.
In the mix:
- Arugula
- Grape tomatoes
- Cucumbers
- Mushrooms
- Carrots
- Wheatberries
- Pomegranate arils
- Strawberries
- Balsamic vinegar
I finished off lunch with a couple of Christmas cookies. A third cookie may or may not have went undocumented. 
After lunch, I hit the gym to pump some iron and break a sweat. I was really feelin’ it this afternoon!
Workout
I started with a 30-minute hip strengthening workout that Tom of Motivated Fitness created for me to help with my bursitis. A bunch of people requested that I post it on the blog, so here it is!
Strength: Hip Strengthening Workout
- Single leg toe touches: 15 reps, 3 sets (body weight)
- Leg press machine: 15 reps, 2 sets (110 lbs), 1 set (90 lbs)
- Single leg press machine (left leg): 15 reps, 3 sets, 20 lbs
- Single leg press machine (right leg): 15 reps, 2 sets (30 lbs), 1 set (20 lbs)
- Step-ups with dumbbell chop: 15 reps, 3 sets (each leg), 8 lbs
Looking at the above exercises, you probably notice that I’m using different weigh for my left and right legs for the single leg press on the machine. My left hip has bursitis, so it’s much weaker than my right. I was so surprised when I could barely do 20 lbs. on my left leg, but that weight wasn’t a problem at all on my right. I guess I have a lot of work to do.
The key to Tom’s workout is to only rest for 20 seconds between exercises to make sure that you are working your muscles to fatigue. So, for example, on the leg press machine, I dropped to 90 lbs. on the last set because my quads and glutes were burning! Tom suggested doing this routine 2-3 times a week to see results.
Cardio: 40-Minute Treadmill Workout (walk + run)
- Warm up: 5 minutes walking
- Alternate 1/2 mile run with 5 minutes of walking
- Repeat 4 times
- Cool down: 5 minutes walking
After the gym, I ran some errands around my neighborhood (I LOVE living in Southie!) and then headed home for a shower and a snack.
I munched on a piece of multigrain toast with almond butter before heading out for a walk with Mal and Murph.
We just got back from a 45-minute walk around our neighborhood, so now I really need to buckle down and get some work done before our friends come over for dinner. We’re having tacos!
Tags: hip strengthening workout, pug pout
Erin — November 29, 2009 @ 5:06 pm
Aw, Murphy looks so cute! He just wants your attention!
Light Delight with TouTou — November 29, 2009 @ 5:09 pm
Thanks for the detailed workout plan:-) I was alternating running and hill walking too yesterday and it’s really fun work out, time pass by so quickly!
Chloe (Naturally Frugal) — November 29, 2009 @ 5:14 pm
Oh Murphy, what a cute and mischievous puppy! Hip strengthening workouts are definitely important, so I’ll be keeping this one for future reference. Thanks Tina!
Cynthia (It All Changes) — November 29, 2009 @ 5:31 pm
Aww sneaky puppy!
I love those exercises. I need to do more hip strengthening because of my IT bands.
Sam (Merit to the Carrot) — November 29, 2009 @ 5:37 pm
Once, my brother left a sandwich on the ottoman… he went to grab a napkin, and when he got back… it was gone. My shihtzu had eaten it. All of it. In about 5 seconds. Gotta love dogs!
Your salad looks delicious. Have a great taco night!
Estela @ Weekly Bite — November 29, 2009 @ 5:38 pm
My dog was the same way when he was a puppy… I couldn’t leave anything at his level. Once, I even caught him drinking the hot coffee out of my mug
Jessica @ How Sweet It Is — November 29, 2009 @ 5:42 pm
Aw, poor Murph!
Akanksha — November 29, 2009 @ 5:51 pm
First comment!
I’m new to commenting here but have been following your blog for a week now (I’ve reached page 450!) What a cool blog! I really enjoy your restaurant reviews, and you’ve got some great recipes up here! I’m a college student so eating healthy is definitely difficult, but I try to make do with what I can!
I was wondering how the giveaways work? How can I enter?
Keep up the good work and the good eats!
Kristie Lynn — November 29, 2009 @ 5:54 pm
That pug pout is killer – way to stay strong
I love the leg press machine; the weight I can press just makes me feel so powerful 
maria — November 29, 2009 @ 6:10 pm
Ah! The infamous pug pout. I know it too well!
Ameena — November 29, 2009 @ 6:10 pm
Such a cute dog! Our cat used to do the same thing and I once had to redo an entire batch of brownies because I found him nibbling on them!!
Lauren @ eater not a runner — November 29, 2009 @ 6:21 pm
He is too cute!! Jealous of the tacos…..enjoy!
amanda — November 29, 2009 @ 6:31 pm
I am excited for the contests!! Anyway your breakfast looks super yummy, no wonder your pup was trying to steal a bite or two.
Katey — November 29, 2009 @ 6:35 pm
Im having an egg sandwich for dinner! theyre the bestt!!
laura dishes — November 29, 2009 @ 7:01 pm
What a cute little bugger… I love Murphy’s pout!
candice — November 29, 2009 @ 7:05 pm
Sugar cookies for lunch? I approve.
Jessie (Vegan-minded) — November 29, 2009 @ 7:17 pm
That salad is so beautiful and festive looking.
Murphy is the cutest!
Carolyn — November 29, 2009 @ 7:37 pm
There’s a reason they call it puppy face.
Katy @ These Beautiful Feet — November 29, 2009 @ 7:47 pm
That breakfast sammie looks so yummy. I think I say that about everything you eat, but it’s true. That puppy is pretty cute too! I liked your workout, and the treadmill workout. I may try that next time I run.
Lynn (The Actors Diet) — November 29, 2009 @ 7:51 pm
oh murphy! can’t blame him for trying. we never ever have given our dog any human food but sometimes out of the blue he’ll try to grab something. baaad dog!
jenna — November 29, 2009 @ 7:57 pm
salad looks great! Can’t wait for your giveaway. Have a great taco night
Heather — November 29, 2009 @ 8:27 pm
I have 2 maniacs that give that same look! Too funny. Love the salad – I make something similar. Hard to go wrong with strawberries. yum!
Jordan @ Salt Sweat Sugar — November 29, 2009 @ 9:09 pm
OMGOMGOMG I love Dubliner cheese. We sell huge blocks of it at Costco =]
Catie — November 29, 2009 @ 9:31 pm
I love how active you are all day! It motivates me to get up and get going. I love that your husband does it with you also. My boyfriend has now ran 2 5k’s and I’m going to start training with him to run my first next spring.
diana(mymarblerye) — November 29, 2009 @ 10:11 pm
OMG. your pug is uber human like with his facial expressions! AHHH too cute!
Kara — November 29, 2009 @ 10:45 pm
Oh geez. My puppy is just starting to understand the joys of people food.
Lele — November 29, 2009 @ 11:49 pm
I totally work out better after eating cookies. Love those simple sugars! I should write a fitness program