Hello, hello!
I ended up eating an early lunch yesterday because I had a doctor’s appointment at 12:30 PM , which was about an hour’s drive away, so I knew I’d be starving by the time I got home.
On the menu: leftover pizza on a Sweet Potato Crust.
And canned salmon mixed with spicy mustard, salt, and pepper with avocado on top. Fab lunch.
After lunch, I headed out to run some quick errands, which included a stop at Starbucks. I recently heard about a new Vanilla Spice Latte, so I wanted to try it out. Sadly, it wasn’t anything special. (I still drank it.)
Snack
By the time I got home from my doctor’s appointment, I wanted something to eat, so I made myself a Peanut Butter and Banana French Toast Sandwich (recipe on Health next week) and share it with Mal. Unfortunately, the bread did not agree with my digestive system. Blah.
Mal and I both took off a day from CrossFit, so we took Murphy to the dog park for some physical activity and fresh air.
By the time we arrived at the park, it was pretty late in the day, so the sun was starting to set.
It made for some gorgeous scenery.
Dinner
After our trip to the park, Mal and I came home and cooked dinner together. On the menu: Loaded Baked Potato Chicken Salad, which was frickin’ amazing. If you haven’t made this one yet, please do!
Health News & Views
Going to the gym and doing the same workout day after day gets old quick and won’t help you stick to your goals for the new year. An easy way to stay motivated? Try a new workout or sign up for a new class. Here are three workouts that will inspire you and keep you out of an exercise rut!
3 New Workouts to Try in the New Year
Question of the Day
What’s the most unusual/adventurous workout you’ve ever tried? What unusual/adventurous workout would you like to try someday?
Workouts I’ve tried: SurfSET, Rebounding, Zumba, Paddleboarding, Tubura, Ziplining, Pickleball
Workouts I want to try: Rock Climbing, Surfing… I’d pretty much try anything!
{ 66 comments… read them below or add one }
I just read about the surfing workout.
I’d like to try TRX!! Not new for 2013, but new to me.
@Nicole: TRX is awesome! Tough, but awesome!
My gym has rock climbing and I love it! It’s scary but safe. Nice combo.
@Christine: Agreed! Perfect combo!
I tried the vanilla spice latted and LOVED it!!! Maybe yours needed a little more spice!
I agree with you I try to do a rotation of 3 different exercises each week! I also started listening to podcasts which keep me more entertained
I can’t wait to try this sweet potato crust!! I’m thinking a pear, feta & apple/sage vegan sausage topping combo would be awesome!
@Ashlee: Mmm… that sounds amazing! I love the fruit idea!
I think the Barre class I went to would probably be the most unusual workout class I’ve ever done, but clearly that wasn’t too extreme compared to some others! And yes, I need to try your loaded potato salad!!
You should all try Pure Barre. It’s amazing! Gets results too =)
@Emily: I love Barre classes! I should do them more often!
Rock climbing is definitely fun! That’s probably a ‘crazy’ workout I’ve tried. I also love to ski. I also tried Bikram!
I teach Zumba & BP & GRIT & CXWORX<–so I try a bunch every week!
Rock Climbing! I belong to an awesome rock climbing gym in Brooklyn. It’s really tests your strength and you also have to use your mind to figure out “problems” on finishing a route. By the time I’m done my forearms are usually throbbing and swollen. Outdoor rock climbing is even better and scary too. Also you get banged up a lot so you look hardcore with your scars and battle wounds!!
Your hair looks amazing Tina!
Hey, thanks!
That pizza looks amazing! I see you are like me and don’t believe in the “2 slices of avocado” rule for portioning. What a crock of ridiculousness that idea is!
@Christina @ The Beautiful Balance: Ha! What is that rule? I pretty much eat half of an avocado every time I open one up!
I’m just catching up since being in FL and not reading any blogs
I would rather be fast because even if you’re strong if you go hand to hand combat with someone you’ll probably still end up pretty banged up. I’ll just run away fast and go get some fro-yo…
There is nothing prettier than Boston sunsets!
I love taking walks around dusk, the sun setting in the background is just so beautiful!
I’ve always wanted to try rock climbing too! That is the #1 workout that I want to try this year. Have you made any plans to do it yet?
@Eating 4 Balance: I’ve started researching!
I guess there’s an REI not too far from Boston that offers free beginner classes on Saturdays, so I’m going to check it out soon!
@Tina: Cool! I guess it goes without saying that you’ll write up an awesome post about it?
The most unusual workout I’ve ever tried was Bikram a while back, although it’s pretty common now. And I’m planning to try Crossfit sometime this month once we move – I know it’s totally normal for you
but I’ve never given it a shot!
I made your loaded baked potato chicken salad last night as well. YUM! I replaced the brussel sprouts (since I didn’t have any on hand) with broccoli and crimini mushrooms and it turned out fantastic. Definitely trying your sweet potato pizza crust next
@Alana: Yum! Broccoli and mushrooms sound great!
I guess mine would be zumba..not that crazy I guess…
I’d love to try a Barre class! And that surfing one looks fun!
Btw, there’s a great rock climbing gym around the Dartmouth/ New Bedford area… I went there a couple years ago and loved it
@Julie @ Avocado Run: Nice! Thanks for the recommendation!
Too bad about the latte. It looked promising because of the cardamon. Aww..I love spices.
Question about how to make your dandy blend? You were the first to introduce me to dandy blend and I was curious how you make it hot/cold? I want to buy some but I’m not sure what to do with it.
@Shannon B.: I typically make it cold and then store it in the refrigerator. It’s a powder, so you can mix it with hot or cold water. It’s super easy to make!
@Tina:
How do you flavor it?
I usually don’t, just some almond milk. I’ve added flavored extracts (vanilla, coconut, almond) in the past though.
Surfing is an awesome workout. I love doing it on vacation and wish I lived somewhere I could do more of it.
I’d like to try some rock climbing too!
I love rock-climbing, but it’s expensive. The place I used to go to required a certificate to belay (mine expired); if you weren’t certified, you had to pay an additional fee for a staff belayer.
I recently signed up for Kung Fu – it sounded interesting, but we’ll see how it goes.
Kung Fu sounds cool!
Is there any rebounding places around here in Mass?
I’m always into trying new things. Like I always say, I’ll try anything ONCE! If I don’t like it, then I just won’t do it again
I’d love to try rock climbing or surfing too! Right now I am into barre and zumba!
Oh my gosh I totally want to try the trampoline workout! It sounds like SO MUCH FUN!
I’ve never really done anything too crazy workout wise in terms of adventure, but I love taking Boot Camp classes. I want to try Zumba, I’m hoping to this weekend!
after such a success with the cauliflower crust I can’t wait to try the sweet potato–never thought it was possible to enjoy healthy, grain free pizza!
I have always wanted to try AntiGravity® Yoga. It is one of my treats if I stick to my goals for this year!
BTW, I LOVE your blog. It is the reason I started my own.
I felt the same way about the Vanilla Spice latte, I did try and Iced Vanilla Blonde, which is basically the blonde brew w/vanilla, but it was pretty good.
I would love to try rock climbing.
I’ve been wanting to try that Vanilla Spice latte but I’ve definitely heard mediocre reactions to it and so I think I might have to skip it. I’m curious about how your digestive system responds to a (mostly) Paleo diet? Do you think that’s helped?
Limiting grains and gluten has seemed to help!
That picture of Murphy just cracks me up
Canned Salmon? Never heard of it!
I’d love to do a hot yoga class! Leaving a workout sweaty makes me feel extra successful so I’m sure I’d feel so good once I was done!
I’d love to try Zumba and a barre class this year. I’d probably look like an idiot because I can’t dance
I wish there were places near where I live to making hiking a workout I could do…it’d be so fun to have beautiful scenery to venture through, all while getting a workout.
I would never consider to use a potatoes as a crust for my pizza. I guess it would taste like an awesome baked potatoes chip. how does it taste?
I am up for trying anything at least once. If I don’t like it then I just won’t do it again, but you never know unless you try. Surfing is amazing, peaceful, and such a fabulous workout! I used to do 4-5 times a week when I lived in CA. Pure bliss!
Your dinner looks delish! I don’t eat meat however…do you think your recipe for Loaded Baked Potato Chicken Salad would be good with Tempeh or Tofu? Maybe just veggies and no meat?
Sure! Those ideas sound delicious!
Does ziplining count as a workout? It was through the rainforest of Jamaica and we also hiked! So cool yet scary
I really wnt to try trapeze…I think it would be super fun and a good core workout!
I’m ad about the latte, I guess I’ll skip it!
I’m making the sweet potato crust tomorrow! I can’t wait!!
I would love to try kick-boxing! That stinks you didn’t like the latte! I hate when everyone raves about a drink and then you end up not liking it, happened to me with the misto
I want to try Crossfit soon!…and zumba & boot camp
!
I would say rock climbing is the “craziest” workout I have tried. I want to try other ones though! That trampoline workout seems like a great one to try!
I would like to try one of those Barre classes people talk about. I have done things like: running, spinning, biking, hiking, Crossfit, tennis, golf, skiing. I have white water rafted but didn’t do it as a “workout”.
The Kidless Kronicles
Oh how much I would love a trampoline! I’ve never really thought of that as an exercise, I guess because it’s so much fun, haha.
I would like to do more rock climbing. I’ve tried it a few times, and what a rush! I think my new CF muscles would be helpful. I’ve tried TRX (LOVE it), Muay Thai Kickboxing, Zumba, Spinning, Horseback riding, Bootcamp, and Crossfit of course. I would like to try paddleboarding sometime and ziplining.
I’d love to try horseback riding someday. Maybe I should add that to my list for 2013?
I made the loaded baked potatoe chicken salad tonight for my fiancé. Both him and I absolutely loved it! Thanks for the great recipe and blog!!
So glad you guys liked it!
The most unusual workout I’ve every tried was Zumba (unusual for me, normal for others) because dancing around to “booty-shaking” moves alongside my mother and about 20 other 50+ women was quite the experience. I didn’t love it. A workout I would love to try one day would be pole-dancing workouts. They seem like a fun way to get you fitness on and become stronger as well as more aware of your body.
Hi there,
Thanks for the detailed post, and the great recipes. I noted that you mentioned that bread doesn’t go well with your system. Was this wholewheat bread that you used for your sandwich, and do you make this often? I think our bodies take time to get adjusted to new foods, and if a certain food is giving you stomach trouble, it’s just your body’s way of adjusting to something new. I’ve also found that whenever I have my bread with some light yogurt, I’m able to keep it down and not have any digestive issues.
Alana