Do It Longer

Hey hey! I had such an amazing workout this morning! I also made an observation – the longer you workout, the easier it becomes. I’m not talking about over a month or so, although that’s true, too. I’m talking about within your workout. I started with 30 minutes on the stair master, and honestly could’ve been done then because I was tired. But I kept going through a bunch of strength training, an elliptical session, and more strength with free weights and a stability ball once I got home. After about the third strength exercise, the endorphins were already kicking in and I could have just kept going and going!

• Stair Master, 30 minutes (level 3, intervals)
• Leg Extension – Quads (50 lbs, 3×10)
• Leg Curl – Hamstrings (50 lbs, 2×10)
• Reverse Crunch (25)
• Lateral Pull Down (60 lbs, 3×10)
• Low Upright Row (50 lbs, 3×10)
• Butterfly (30 lbs, 3×10)
• Vertical Chest Press (60 lbs, 3×10)
• Tricep Press (60 lbs, 3×10)
• Multi Hip [worked hip flexors, extensors, adductors and abductors] (80 lbs, 3×10 per side)
• Shoulder Press (20 lbs, 3×10)
• Arm Curl – Biceps (30 lbs, 3×10)
• Elliptical, 30 minutes (level 7, half forward and half backward motion)
• Standing Oblique Flexion (20 lbs, 4×25 per side)
• Stability Ball Crunches (100)
• Squats (4×15)
• 2, thirty second planks

I feel amazing now. I am absolutely in love with the feeling I get after a really great workout (to the point where I get cranky if I can’t workout or get a good workout in!). Moral of the story: just do it, and do it longer. I was tempted to skip my workout because I didn’t get as much sleep as normal last night, but that’s a lame excuse. So I just did it. I kept at it and now look how great I feel.

Lunch was equally great as I went with my classic warm, convenient lunch standby: stir fry! aka a big bowl of warm veggies. Today’s veggie-rific bowl included a half cup edamame, four ounces of chopped baby bella mushrooms, one small zucchini, spinach and a bit of Whole Foods Organic Soy Ginger glaze. This is why I always tell people it is so easy to make vegan meals. As long as you stock your kitchen and your pantry with lots of vegetables and plant protein (edamame in this case – 13 grams of protein per half cup) you’ll always be able to throw together a quick and easy vegan meal.

Now I’m off to work on a holiday recipe! Thanksgiving is two weeks away from today, so I want to make sure I have a couple recipes worked out for things I am making. This recipe is actually for a dessert that Ryan requested I veganize, so cross your fingers it turns out well! I’m so excited for my first vegan holiday.

Don’t forget to keep contributing ideas for DIY or low-budget Christmas gifts!