Weight Routine

So  a few of you were impressed by my weight lifting skills, haha, I really have no idea if what I lift is a lot or not but I figured I’d go into more detail.  I started lifting religiously once a week, about a month ago, maybe a little longer, but I’ve always built muscle pretty easily.  I credit starting gymnastics at the ripe old age of 4 years old, and developing them young.

• 15 lb dumbbells for single arm bicep curls
• 30 lb bar for bicep curls
• 30 lb bar for skull crushers
• 30 lb bar for tricep bench press
• 15 lb dumbbells for inclined chest press
• 60 lbs on the lat pull down machine

I typically do 3 sets of 12-14 of each exercise.  When I do squats and lunges I tend to just hold a 10-12 lb medicine ball instead of any free weights or bar.  I like lifting the medicine ball up and above my head when I come up from a squat or lunge to work my shoulders, because I definitely neglect them in my weight circuit.  I like lifting weights, feeling stronger, even if I don’t look any more toned.  What are your guys weight routines?

Last night I was back on the treadmill for an easy 2 miles (my legs were sore from both spin and squats) followed by a mile on the elliptical, and some abs and regular squats.  The entire time I was working out, all I could think about was an iced cold beer, chicken tenders, and french fries.  I knew I had chicken at home, and after a quick stop at the store on the way home from the gym I had some frozen Alexia Sweet Potato Fries, and a six-pack of Shock Top.

For a second I thought about taking some of the fries off my plate just for the picture, but then I remembered that you all come here because I eat a shit ton, drink a lot, and don’t give a crap :).

It should be noted that I went back for the remaining three pieces of chicken.

The chicken tenders were made with Italian Style Breadcrumbs, to which I added Cayenne Pepper, and Mrs. Dash seasoning.  They were delicious.  Craving satisfied.  The sweet potato fries were the ones with chipotle seasoning, amazing, that is all.

So I’m heading home to Peee Ay tomorrow for the first time since Christmas, and called my sister last night after I was hit with a brilliant idea.  Instead of bringing wine to our favorite BYOB establishment for dinner, we are bringing a bottle of Bethenny’s Skinny Girl Margarita.  Perfect.  Tequila goes with Chinese food right?  Well hey, I think tequila goes with anything.

Happy Thursday bitches.

I’m Still Obsessed

Holler ya’ll, I finally have a new recipe for you!  Sunday evening, I was really in the mood to bake, but not it the mood to go to the store and buy any ingredients.  So I pulled out the cookbooks, and got to searching for something I could make with what I had on hand.  I had the staples, sugar, flour, spices, eggs, and canned pumpkin from my days of hoarding in the fall.  Shockingly missing from my pantry was chocolate, or anything that would make a delicious cookie.  Who else would come to the rescue but Betty Crocker herself, and these delicious Pumpkin Spice Bars.

4	eggs
2	cups granulated sugar
1	cup vegetable oil
1	can (15 oz) pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix)
2	cups Gold Medal® all-purpose flour
2	teaspoons baking powder
1	teaspoon baking soda
1/2	teaspoon salt
2	teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2	teaspoon ground ginger
1/4	teaspoon ground cloves
1	cup raisins, if desired (negativo)

Cream Cheese Frosting

1	package (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
1/4	cup butter or margarine, softened
2	to 3 teaspoons milk
1	teaspoon vanilla
4	cups powdered sugar
1/2	cup chopped walnuts, if desired ( I did not desire)

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 15x10x1-inch pan with cooking spray.  Then I got out my beautiful Kitchen Aid mixer and gave it a hug, because I missed it.
2. Mixed together eggs, granulated sugar, oil and pumpkin on a low-speed in the mixer. Gradually added the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger and cloves. Spread in pan.
3. Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean and bars spring back when touched lightly in center. Cool completely, about 2 hours.
4. In medium bowl, beat cream cheese, butter, milk and vanilla with electric mixer on low-speed until smooth. Gradually beat in powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time, on low speed until smooth and spreadable (don’t used granulated, it will not be smooth). Spreading frosting over bars. For bars, cut into 7 rows by 7 rows. Store covered in refrigerator.

Just a note, if you don’t have powdered sugar, regular granulated sugar will not work as a substitute.  Well I mean it will, if you like grainy icing.  Although it hasn’t stopped me or the roommates from eating them, icing and all.  They are delicious, the actual bar is moist like a cake, and the pumpkin flavor really shines through.  Love them.

As I said yesterday, it was National Margarita Day, and Dani and I had every intention of celebrating.  First I hit the gym for a tempo run.  Four miles, 2 at an 8:50 pace.  Nothing special, wasn’t too difficult and I felt good after.  I hurried home to the bottle of Jose and settled on the couch with a marg and dinner just in time for Glee to start. It happened to be Alcohol Awareness week, so the songs were all geared around boozing and partying.  Coincidence?  I think not.  Anyway, I had one Marg on the Rocks, and it was delicious and made me want to be sitting on a beach somewhere.  Not in the house with snow on the ground outside.

I stopped after one, despite how much I wanted a second, because well it’s Tuesday and tequila and I can get ugly together.  Maybe we will reunite again over the weekend.  Alright, well that’s way too much rambling for today.  So happy Wednesday!

Gotta Love the South

I fell asleep last night to the sound of sleet pelting my bedroom windows, so obviously the first thing I did when I woke up at 6:30 this morning was call my works emergency weather hotline.  After hearing “operating on a two-hour delayed opening” I turned off my alarm, rolled over, and went back to sleep.  I’m not sure that delay was completely necessary, but hey I’m not complaining.

Last night I immersed myself in the world of Lifetime, and watched the Amanda Knox movie.  It’s definitely and interesting story, and I’m not sure whether I think she did it or not, but she sure did seem to handle the situation strangely.  I guess we’ll see what happens in her upcoming appeal process.  Anyway, definitely much better than the job they did with The Craigslist Killer.

On my way into work this morning, I heard the exciting news that today is National Margarita Day!  I immediately sent out this text message:

Me: It’s national margarita day, we should celebrate
Dani: Margs and glee tonight?
Me: I like it

Tequila is my nemesis, or best friend, depending on how you view the situation, but I do love it so.  There was a period of time two summers ago where I did multiple shots of Patron every night I went out.  That was fun.  I should start doing that again :).  So happy National Margarita Day! Will you be celebrating?

I ❤ Patron (excuse my hair sticking up)

I do plan on going to the gym after work and getting my tempo run in before margs and Glee take place.  Last weeks training kind of took a big hit, so it’s time to get back on track.  I’m not really concerned about missing my 7 mile long run, I finished my 6 mile one so strongly that I know I can do 7 no problem.  So I’m just going to chalk it up as a loss and move on with my training plan as scheduled.

Can I just say how much I love that this is the last week of February and the first few days of March are in the 10 day forecast?  I am definitely ready for spring, and my trip in 16 days, although I doubt it will feel like spring in Chicago.  Oh well.  Have a good one!