Yum. I have another delicious recipe for you guys. It’s no Noodles with Peanut Sauce (that meal was epic), but it’s a good one! Introducing: Israeli Couscous with Chickpeas, Brussels Sprouts & Asparagus! Doesn’t that sound delicious? Well, it was!
Israeli Couscous with Chickpeas, Brussels Sprouts & Asparagus
Makes 4-6 servings
Ingredients:
- 3/4 pound Brussels sprouts
- 1 medium bunch of asparagus (~20 spears)
- 1 15-ounce can of chickpeas, rinsed and drained
- 2 cups uncooked Israeli couscous
- 2.5 tbsp lemon juice
- 5-6 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan
- Salt + pepper to taste
Directions:
Preheat oven to 425*F. Cut Brussels sprouts in half, toss with olive oil, salt, and pepper.
Cook for 20-22 minutes or until roasted to your taste preference.
Meanwhile, cook Israeli couscous according to package instructions and then chop up asparagus and steam. (I added the asparagus to a Pyrex dish and nuked it in the microwave for 2 minutes to steam it.)
Once the Brussels sprouts, Israeli couscous, and asparagus are finished cooking, combine them in a large bowl along with the chickpeas, lemon juice, garlic, Parmesan, salt, and pepper. Stir everything together and serve immediately. Eat and enjoy!
This dish was so satisfying, but light at the same time because of theĀ subtleĀ lemon flavor and all of the green veggies. I ate it warm last night, but I think it’d also make a great cold dish in the summertime.Ā
After dinner, I enjoyed a vanilla protein shake made with coconut milk. I guess it was dessert? Who am I?
Workout
Last night’s CrossFit WOD was a ton of funāāall of my favorite exercises in one workout. If there were Thrusters in it, it’d be my perfect workout ever. (I’m a weirdo and love Thrusters.) I also loved the name of last night’s WOD: āPlaytime,āĀ which is how I often refer to CrossFit.
STRENGTH:
Shoulder Press
5 – 3 – 1 (<– at least one set, but as many as possible)
75% – 85% – 95%
WOD:
“Playtime”
3 Rounds for time of:
800m Run
12 Handstand Push-ups
24 Kettlebell Swings
Rx: (53, 35)
L2: (45, 25)
L1: 400m run, (35, 25)
After a warm-up, we worked on some Shoulder Presses. I managed 1 rep at 65 pounds, which, at first, I was kind of bummed about. It didn’t seem like a lot of weight, especially compared to the Push Presses I was doing at 75 pounds for WOD 12.3. But, when I went back to check my previous Shoulder Press weight from two months ago (I keep a little notebook at my box with my weights and times), I realized that I increased my weight by 20 pounds! Twenty pounds!?! Woohoo! That’s some progress!
I finished the WOD in 20:01. The Handstand Push-Ups slowed me down, but I did them without bands!
Question of the Day
Do you keep records of your fitness progress? Does it motivate you to get faster/stronger? Do you reach your goals quicker this way?
63 Comments
My exercise log is on the fridge. It keeps me on track to at least do something for physical activity!
I like to log my workouts to keep myself accountable! I look foward to changing it up every week š
I’m good about documenting my runs … how long I went, how I felt, if I iced before/after, etc. But I’m not as good about documenting progress in other fitness areas. I’m not nearly as motivated, for whatever reason!
I have a workout journal which I fill in during my weight training days! It’s definitely motivating, especially on days where I feel like my workout wasn’t great! Perhaps it wasn’t as stellar as the workout before but chances are it’s a heck of a lot better than day 1 :)!
I started taking measurements and keeping progress when I began NROLFW. I wanted to see if my body actually changed. I ended up stopping the program because I just didn’t look forward to my workouts. I’m not going to do something I don’t enjoy! I’ve kept up measurements to hold myself accountable.. especially with my wedding coming up in August!
I also use Daily Mile to keep track of what I am doing!
@Cait @ Beyond Bananas: I track my runs in DailyMile too! š
LOVE couscous.. this recipe looks awesome!
Way to go! Gettin’ buff. š It’s so great that you find your workouts fun. Love it when that happens!
I’m always down with new ways to use brussels sprouts!! Looks great!
We keep records like what we eat and our weights and occasional measurements. I suppose I should start keeping stamina/endurance type records huh? š
I recently started keeping track of my workouts and it definitely gives me more motivation! If I see that one week I ran 35 miles but another I did 20, it makes me want to up my mileage some more!
Right now for marathon training I am tracking the distance and speed of my runs. Usually though I only plan my exercise ahead, rather than tracking how they went. I definitely can see the benefits of seeing the progress though!
I don’t normally keep a log, but I just started the New Rules of Lifting for Women plan and you do keep a log for that.
I’m finding that it’s really motivating! Love seeing when the weight I can lift goes up.
Nice job with the shoulder presses!
I try to keep a mental exercise log, but I know writing it on paper would be more effective! I love couscous and brussel sprouts, but never thought to mix the too! Good idea š
“There’s an app for that!” I always keep my crossfit PRs in my iPhone; I use a free app called myWOD but there are several. I love being able to see what I’ve done so that I can challenge myself to go further the next time!
@Katrina: I’m all over that! THANK YOU! š
That dinner looks fantastic!! I love interesting salads like that.
that dish sounds great! my husband’s favorite vegetables are asparagus & brussels sprouts, so i think it’d be a winner in his book too. š where did you get your israeli couscous? could i find it at a regular grocery store or does it often times need to be ordered?
@Ashley @ My Food ‘N’ Fitness Diaries: I buy it at my regular grocery store, but I think Whole Foods sells it too?
I keep track of my workouts….because I get paid to teach ’em. Hah š I also make a mental note of how much I am lifting–plus, as my clothes get looser, I know something good is going on-ya know?! š
NICE job on the increase in weights!
I haven’t used a journal to track my workouts in a long time and I feel I was more consistent when I did. So I’m using my blog now to keep me on track. Thanks for sharing the recipe, I’m going to give it a try because it has two things I’ve wanted to try and haven’t – chickpeas & brussel sprouts. BTW, I love Murphy!
Aww, thanks! He’s a pretty cool dog! š
Yum! I love israeli couscous, this definetly would be great hot or cold š
That recipe sounds amazing – a lot of my favorite things in it! Brussels sprouts, asparagus and lemon. I LOVE lemon!
Yep, I keep track of my runs on DailyMile.com. Speaking of which, I’m running the Rock and Roll Half Marathon this weekend and I’ll be keeping an eye out for you! Loving your recipe posts…especially that they’re easy to whip up on a week night and super delicious. š
I keep track of my workouts and some basic measurements in a ridiculous excel spreadsheet. I’m a dork š
Israeli couscous is so much better than the regular stuff – it’s so fun to pop in your mouth in little bites!
Anything with brussel sprouts works for me–so your mix looks yummy!
I keep track using Daily Mile. In the summers, when I’m training training, I use Training Peaks. I wish I was more organized with uploading my Garmin stats from my bike/runs but I’m not! Maybe this year, when I’m all fixed up from my injury, I’ll have a fresh start and get on track with uploading/keeping track of things! I know marking down whether or not I did my physio and/or stretching helps me to actually do it, even if it’s just a YES or NO record!
I recently started a “workout log” page on my blog, and it’s nice to look back and see the last time I took a rest day, how often I’ve done yoga, etc…
hahah love that pic of murphy on the couch. Seriously every time I see apug I think of you!
I keep records on running through Daily Mile. It’s great because I can put notes on how I feel during runs, and also it’s easy to see how many miles I ran that week, each week and each month!
I love that you call it “playtime”! I’ve been working towards making strength training more like playtime for me, by mixing things up and trying new moves. So far it’s been working!
I haven’t started keeping track yet, but now I think I might! Also you’re not odd for liking Thrusters, I did them for the first time last week and I thought “wow, that was super hard but I’m pretty sure I loved it!”
@Krista: That’s exactly how I think about them! š
Yes I keep a notebook with me and bring it to crossfit as well. I never used to do this but its so important at crossfit so you can see progress and know where to start for strength work. I did the exact same thing the other day with the strict press- a little bummed that I could only get 63 but then looked back and realized I PR’d and was psyched haha!
Yummy dinner!!
Yum! I need to go buy some couscous!
I wish there was a cross fit near me, it just seems like so much fun. I am really interested in seeing how it could benefit my distance running. Good luck this weekend at the half and maybe I will see you!
That looks delicious! But wait HOW do you do hand stand pushups??? That looks impossible!
@Nicole: Haha! Practice and a strong core! š
That Israeli Couscous looks AWESOME. I’ve never had couscous with such big pearls! I’m definitely going to pick that up!
More Brussels sprouts, yum! I have to try this recipe. We are having your recipe from last week tonight.
I use daily mile for mostly tracking my runs. I have used a journal in the past to track my strength training workouts. It keeps me honest and on track.
Impressed x 100000
Handstand push up?! That’s intense.
I LOVE Israeli couscous! Especially in the summer time; I just feel like it makes the perfect substitute for pasta in salads. I’ll have to give this a try!
And yes, I guess I do keep track of my fitness progress—at least my running progress. I’ve recently noticed a huge difference in my endurance and speed (thank you, half marathon training!) and it’s motivated me to push even harder, which I love!
You know, I used to love thrusters, too, until I met “Kalsu”. Now I hate them with a passion.
I keep a workout log on Dailymile, and also in written form in a CrossFit specific journal. I got it at WODbook.com. I love being able to look back and see my progress!
FYI I made your peanut noodles last night and made extra so I could bring leftovers for lunch today. And then I ate all of it. So obviously, I’m trying the brussel sprouts soon. I’m not making extra this time because I have no self control.
It’s so delicious, right?!?
it definitely motivates me to see progress of getting stronger, leaner, etc!
My trainer keeps the records btu I always like to go over them wth him after my fit tests and measurements, etc so I know where I stand
HSPU’s are no joke! Hope oyu realize how much progress that is to be able to do those. Im still working on rx ones in wod. I can do a few when working on skills but in a wod I stil have an abmat!
I still use an abmat, too! Those suckers are hard!
I’ve been making progess over the year though – down from 25# plate and abmat to a 15# and abmat to just an abmat@Tina:
@Megs: Nice job!! š
Israeli couscous is one of my favorites! I haven’t made it in so long. I definitely need to fix that š
I absolutely keep track of my workouts and progress! I am in the process of writing my weight loss story for my blog and if I hadn’t been tracking, I would have NO IDEA where to begin because it all started in 2000!! And I have a terrible memory. So I am so thankful that I kept track of workouts, my weight, food journaling, short term goals, etc. Being about to look back at how I started out (doing Denise Austin’s Light and Fit workout that I taped off the tv onto VHS!) and seeing how far I’ve come is SUCH an amazing self-love technique.
i participated in the roller derby workout challenge last winter, and am currently doing it for this year again. it consists of a diet and workout plan for 8 weeks to become a stronger skater. it was the first time i ever heard of burpees or did any circuit training. i have everything printed out from last year, with my circuit times or amount of reps jotted down, and through out the year i’d go through the program again to see how far i’d come fitness wise. seeing your progress like that is a great motivator to keep doing it!
I LOVE MURPHY SO MUCH!
That dinner looks so perfect for spring!
I don’t keep track of my weights workouts, but I keep track of my mileage for running. Seeing how far I ran the previous month motivates me to beat it the next month! š
this is probably going to be an incredibly random question for you, but the baking sheet that you have your brussels sprouts on I noticed wasn’t staying level with the oven rack. I have one that does that too! When it’s cool it stays level but when heated it shoots up with a loud BANG! Does your make a noise that sounds like your oven is about to blow up???? I thought I just had a faulty cookie sheet haha!
I keep track of my workouts, but mostly just what I do, for how long and when. And it’s partly because I share it with others (on my blog) and part because otherwise I forget. Yes, my memory is that bad…
For some reason I was thinking that I didn’t keep track of them and then I realized I totally do on SparkPeople. I mostly use it for my food so I forgot that I track my workouts on there to.