Hey everyone! I hope your Monday was awesome. Mine was pretty good. I can’t complain. It was busy and I was kind of dragging from vacation but I managed. Breakfast this morning was a Svelte cappuccino protein drink (full review to follow) and a large coffee with half and half. By some miracle I only  drank half of my coffee and still managed to function all day.

Lunch (unpictured due to how rushed I was) was a greek salad topped with grilled chicken and fat-free dressing. Since we were out-of-town all last week, I didn’t have any groceries and I had intended on going to the cafeteria salad bar at the school I work at. However, I was saddened to find out that the produce truck broke down this morning when it was supposed to be delivering my salad ingredients. BUMMER! Luckily there is a little restaurant around the corner that I could get a pretty healthy lunch at

Today flew by. I think it had a lot to do with the fact that it was the first day back from vacation and the fact that I have a HUGE to-do list. I headed right from work to the grocery store to stock the FFF fridge. Nothing makes me happier than a house full of food, the possibilities are endless. I knew that I wanted to go to a 6:30 pm spin class tonight, so I prepared dinner beforehand that way it would be waiting for me after my workout. I had a craving for chicken soup and it is one of Adam’s favorites so that is what I made.

ingredients:

• 3 chicken breasts
• 4 ribs of celery sliced
• 5 carrots sliced
• 1 medium onion chopped
• 1 bag of spinach (washed)
• 3-4 sprigs of fresh parsley
• 1 bay leaf
• 8 cups of low sodium and low-fat chicken brother
• 8 oz. of whole wheat noodles or pasta (I used elbows)
• 2 tbls. olive oil
• 4 cups of water

1. Heat the olive oil in a large pan over medium heat and add veggies, parsley and bay leaf. Sauté until the veggies are tender but not browned. (about 5 minutes or so)

3. Add three chicken breasts and reduce to a simmer. Simmer until the chicken in fully cooked (about 15 minutes)

5. Add the chicken back in as well as the bag of washed spinach and the pasta. Bring to a boil and cook until the pasta is soft.

I enjoyed a delicious bowl of chicken soup post-workout tonight!

My workout was entirely what I planned, but still pretty sweet. I learned today that I need to sign up for classes beforehand  at my local YMCA if I was to participate. Good to know! I haven’t been to a “regular” gym in about a year and a half since I had been focused on Crossfit and running outside until I broke my foot almost 8 weeks ago. Since those two activities are high impact, I have to change my workouts. Anyhow, I hadn’t signed up for spinning and the class was full. So instead I did 45 minutes on the elliptical and elliticaled (is that a word?) about 4.8 miles. It felt great and I was a sweaty beast!

I also did an ab workout:

• swiss-ball crunches -3 sets of 15
• Reverse crunches – 3 sets of 12
• Kettlebell side bends – 3 sets of 12 on each side with a 20 pound kettlebell
• wheel rollouts on the ab wheel- 3 sets of 8

The ab wheel looks so harmless doesn’t it?!

 

NOT EVEN CLOSE! It is a deceiving little devil. This little guy is tough and it works out your abs so well. I am pretty sure I will be sore in the ab are tomorrow!

Well, goodnight folks. I am off to read in bed!

What is your favorite kind of soup?