Hey everyone! Hope your Monday treated you well 
2 days until Christmas Eve! I’m so excited to spend it with the familia, especially since we spent last Christmas with the pilot’s parents (which I loved, but it will be so nice to be with my family this year)
I started the day the breakfast cookie way:
A la Elf plate
Classic oatmeal raisin (1/3 cup oats, 1 tbs AB, 1/2 pack vanilla brown rice protein, 1/8 cup almond milk, cinnamon, 1/2 mashed banana and raisins)
Followed it up with a medjool cucaracha:
Then hit up the gym:
| V-triceps extension | 50 lbs, 3 sets of 12 |
| Compound row | 35 lbs on each side, 3 sets of 12 |
| Upward row | 17.5 lbs, 3 sets of 12 |
| Straight bar cable curl | 17.5 lbs, 3 sets of 12 |
| Abdominal crunch machine | 35 lbs, 3 sets of 15 |
| Torso rotation | 35 lbs, 3 sets of 15 on each side |
| Frog crunch | body weight, 3 sets of 15 |
| Spin class with my favorite insanely awesome instructor | 1 hr 5 min |
It was an amazing sweat sesh and when I got home, my nana was here waiting for me and said: “wow, I guess you got a good workout”. My shirt was drenched and I looked a little haggard. A shower fixed that right up
We went with my Aunt, Tata and little bro to b-fast, but I only ordered fruit and coffee since I was still full from the b-fast cookie.
We came home, and I sat on the leather recliner with Bella and read New Moon for two hours. It was soooo nice not having anything official to do!!!
I grabbed a Clif bar for lonchi:
And the other half of my b-fast cookie banana with AB:
My brothers and I took Bella to the park, and I walked her around the trail while they played football.
I came home to meet my nana to go to FedEx to send out all of our Christmas packages, and had a little baked apple with honey puffed wheat for a snack:
We took care of shipping all of our holiday packages (which will get to their destinations by Wednesday- whoo hoo!!), then I came home to make some dinner.
Butternut squash fries, since I can’t go two days without them:
A Santa plate:
Covered in SNOBBY JOES!
I had a little more with 1/4 pita:
Oh how I love Snobby Joes. Even the carnivores in my family loved them
After dinner, my madre and I hit up Sunflower market to get some ingredients for all of the baking we’ll be doing the next couple of days!
THANK YOU SO MUCH to those of you who gave me baking suggestions! I appreciate it so much and everything I’m making (3 things) are from the comments I received
Tonight, I made a recipe from the ever-fabulous baking guru, VeggieGirl!!!
I used her recipe for Pumpkin-Caramel-Carob Loaf and the only thing I changed was adding a little more sugar (I used Sucanat) and maple syrup. We like our loaves super sweet (more like cake than bread) in the casa de Gina.
I’m stoked with how well it turned out and can’t wait to try a piece with a cup of coffee tomorrow when I get home from the gym:D THANK YOU SO MUCH for this wonderful recipe, VeggieGirl!!
While I was making this, I realized that I’ve never tried carob chips and proceeded to toss a small palmful into my mouth. I fell in love instantly. How have I lived this long without trying these?!? SOOOO good! I’ll be using carob a little more often in the near future.. maybe in tomorrow’s breakfast cookie 
So I have a question for ya’ll:
I’ve been wanting to make some changes on the blog… Especially since I realized that Fitnessista first started off being a fitness/nutrition blog, but quickly turned into a food blog. I don’t really think the blog classification is an issue, but I feel like I should get back to my ‘roots’ and the true intentions which caused me to start this blog: to provide advice to others on fitness and nutrition. I feel like my weight loss journey was a trial and error process— and while I tried every possible diet and workout combination, I discovered what actually works and how easy it is to accomplish weight loss and/or fitness goals if you’re willing to stick to it.
The question is: what do you want to see? More sample workouts? Nutrition advice? More healthy/fast/easy recipes? A mix of everything? What would make things a little more exciting up in here?
I would love to hear what you think!
I say it all the time, but I hope you all know how much I truly cherish each and every single one of you. Thank you very mucho for continuing to read my blog and for making this deployment fly by
Have a great night!!
Much love,
G$
{ 45 comments… read them below or add one }
Mmmmm that loaf looks and sounds amazing!! I think I may have to make one myself. Also I was wondering do you take rest days between lifting weights or do you just switch up the muscle groups you use and lift everyday? And do you take rest days from exercise?
Hey G! I love the elf-shaped breakfast cookie
) And Snobby Joes! I really have been meaning to make those forever. I have some lentils at my parent’s house that still need to be used, so perhaps I will give it a go before break is over!
Mmm…VeggieGirl’s pumpkin-caramel-carob loaf looks scrumptious! I have a bag of carob chips in my parent’s pantry, too – haha, I really need to start USING what I buy!
As far as your blog goes – I remember back in the day when you did photo posts of your workouts…I’d love to see more of those! But truly, your blog is a joy to read and whatever changes you make, I will keep coming back
) I know that’s one big cliche but I’m just being honest!
Have a great night and Tuesday!
hey kaley! i usually do some kind of workout every day.. i vary the intensity, and the muscle groups. since i’m on vacation it’s a little different right now, but i usually do spin and zumba on monday and wednesdays, teach step tuesdays and thursdays, active recovery on fridays (do yoga, walk the puppies for longer than their usually 30-45 minute walks that i do every day, pilates dvd), and long runs on saturdays (since i’m training for a half marathon). since i’m not teaching right now, because i’m in az, i’m just taking spin 3x a week and alternating running and cross training in between. as far as weights go, i usually do upper, lower, off, upper, lower off… but i change my splits evert 8-12 weeks so my body doesn’t get used to working the same muscles groups in the same order each week.
whew! that was a long response to your little question
hey jenn! i think you would LOVE the snobby joes! thank you so much for your sweet words about the blog
a wonderful way to end my night! you know i love your blog (so much!) and i really appreciate it 
i love your blog! im new to it so i don’t really know your old format, but i would love to know more about mixture of your cardio. Im trying to lose about 6lbs that i’ve put on since losing about 30lbs 2 years ago. I have been running, but it doesnt seem to be doing anything, so im looking for some suggestions!
Thanks
Hey Gina! Whats going on? I am so jealous of all your fun with your family. I cannot wait to be on break! Work is very bleh this week! That little santa plate is wayyyy too cute! Veggie girl’s recipe looks awesome too (shes the best!)
Changes to your blog hmmm- let me think on it
again i love the elf plate!!!
that loaf looks amazing – just the description sounds so good!
Hey Gina. I love how you made your breakfast cookie elf shaped – even the ears. Too funny.
New Moon – ahhhh, I can’t wait to get it. I have to go to the bookstore today. I’ve been without Edward and Bella for 36 hours, I’m dying!
Beware of carob chips…highly addictive.
I love a good mix on your blog. Love all the eats, but I love hearing about your workouts. So, please keep including exercise routines. Have a good Tuesday!
PS – Snobby Joes – my new favorite dinner! But it was delish in the pita.
I am intrigued by the snobby joes since you said that carnivores in your fam like them. I have never tried Carob chips either. Might have to branch out and try these things.
I like your healthy, fast recipes and any workout tips would be great too!
i love all of your holiday plates!! sorry i didn’t get to your last post about the baking, but glad you got good suggestions
i need to try carob chips… it was way long ago before i liked such things that i tried them.
hmm, i do love reading your blog, so whatever you put i will still be here! I like most recipes, quick snack ideas, and maybe your favorite workout tips or videos of certain “moves” hehe lemme know how YOU work it at the gym, lol. ah, guess i need more sleep
o0o0o another plate revealed!! love it.
lots of yummy tasty eats today, especially Veggie Girl’s loaf!
as for your blog, I love mostly everything you write! I think a nice medley of all your insight/advice would be perfecto. As much as I need fitness tips, I would have been breakfast-less many a day without your genius breakfast cookie idea!
Breakfast Cookies, Snobby Joes, AND a Pumpkin Loaf?!?! Sounds like my kind of eats =)
Hey Gina! I loved your sample workouts that you did earlier on, they were really helpeful! Your quick and easy recipes would be a great addition, as well. Keep up the good work:)
I love the new plates and how you molded your cookie to to the shape of the elf!
I love your blog as is, but if there was something I’d like to see I would have to say nutrition advice. I find that sort of info helpful!
I feel like I’d like to see more of your thought process behind it all I guess.. I think maintaining a weight loss, especially at first, is SOOO hard and intimidating and I can’t seem to do it without fluctuations in diet and weight of about 2-3 lbs, and I’d like to see what makes you do what you do to maintain/get fitter. Also, maybe a bit more about when you were losing weight and how, with trial and error, you found your path?
and last, I could definitely use some sample workouts/what your weekly schedule looks like.
annnnd, I still love seeing all of your food because I feel that you have a great balance between choosing the healthy way, trying new things, and LIVING/ENJOYING yourself, which is very admirable.
I really enjoy your blog how it is. I personally like the nutrition advice and find that true with most of the blogs I read. But that’s because I can take care of myself when it comes to fitness…it’s the eating that I need to expand on!
That elf plate is too fun, haha
I’m SO elated that you liked the recipe!! I love how you made it like a cake – holy yum, for sure!! Yaaaay.
Gina, I seriously will continue to love your blog no matter what direction you take it, since you’re so genuine in all of your posts!! No matter what you do with it, know that VeggieGirl supports you 100%
hey gina! i have to say that I LOVE THE FITNESSISTA WORKOUTS. i printed off all of them and took them to the gym with me! i would love to see more!
More sample work outs and nutrition advice!!
i like the blog as is, although probably more fitness posts would be appreciated! your workouts make me feel so lazy and i need the motivation to get back into shape for good!
merry christmas!
Ahh – cute plates, girl!
VeggieGirl’s recipes are winners!! Glad to hear you liked the carobs!
As far as the blog goes, I really like it as is but on the other hand I did like seeing the workouts you posted. Whatever you decide to do I’ll still keep reading
a mix of everything
I like seeing what you eat everyday and I also really like the sample workouts and nutritional advice.
I like the elf plate shaped breakfast cookie and the santa plate is adorable as well! And I don’t think I have honestly tried carob chips as well.
Hi Gina. I’m sure I could read back in the archives as how you lost weight in the beginning, but I think adding specific information about calories, types of food, workouts you did, etc, would be great.
I think your blog should include more pictures of the fitnessista…
A mix of everything!!! I love the picture guide of workout moves (that you've done before) as well as little tips, and of course seeing your wonderful creative meals & recipes!!!
Butternut Squash Fries! VeggieGirl baked good! Snobby Joes! My, oh my, what delicious eats you had!
Enjoy the rest of your day!
Ha! The pilot is too cute.
I love your blog and don’t really think you need to make any major changes unless you want to. Maybe you could start throwing in a fitness tip at the end of each post? That would be a small but meaningful change.
more sample workouts would be fantastic!
i love your butternut squash fries! they look to die for!
I love the recipes! Especially the raw/dehydrated stuff you do and would love to learn more about that.
But, (and this is what I tell everyone), it’s your blog so you can do whatever you want. I’ll still read! 
Carob chips are the best! Especially in yogurt!
I am fairly new to your blog so I do not know how it used to be but I love seeing all your food! I would love to see all of your workout routines each day too though!
http://www.missymaintains.blogspot.com
i would leave to hear more about your weightloss journey! you are definitely knowledgeable in the area of fitness and i’m interested in learning more about that.
Love the elf-shaped cookie! Too cute!
“Drenched in sweat” describes a GREAT workout!
I bought a butternut squash yesterday so I could make your yummy-looking “fries!” I’m excited!
As far as your blog goes, I like to see a little of everything with an emphasis on fitness. But I like it all!
I’d like to hear more about what diets you tried and more of your history! Otherwise, I think it’s perf.
Once you go carob…it’s over.
I’m sorry to be nosey, but where is your husband? You say you miss him a lot…so I just wondered, is he stationed somewhere? And when will you get to see him again? You poor thing!
I LOVE carob chips — but I always eat the whole bag so I rarely buy them! I love getting them as a topping when I go out for frozen yogurt though, they’re perfect!
Your breakfast cookie looks yum AND so does the pumpkin carob loaf, girl!
I would love to see fitness and nutrition advice!!! Maybe some weight routines and different cardio routines? I get so bored at the gym and I have gotten stuck in an awful cardio rut. But, I do LOVE Zumba and I love my yoga. I would love to hear some different routines from you, though. And recipes are always good, too!
Thanks, Gina! Have a wonderful night
Mmmm cucaracha!
I still have yet to give carob chips a try.. with your newfound love though, I feel like I should run out and get some right away!
I’d love to see a mix of everything on here! I want to know all of what you do with your super healthy lifestyle!
i love your elf plates – so spirited!!
that loaf does sound really really good!
i would love to see nutrition advice
I love your Santa plate. So cute. I really need to make these Snobby Joes.
I tried carob chips recently and loved them. The ones i had didn’t melt that well so they add a nice crunch to cookies and stuff. The bread looks wonderful!
As for the blog, I would like to see a mix of everything, including more workouts!
Gina,
First of all I LOVE your blog and all of the efforts you make already. I’m with “Rhodey Girl/Sabrina”–I’d love to hear how you found the path that worked for you in losing weight. I’m currently trying to lose about 15 pounds that I’ve gained after losing 40 5 years ago, and any motivating advice based on your experience would be wonderful.
Thanks again for all that you do!
(Also, the fitnessista workouts are extremely helpful, as others have mentioned)
Amy
Have a VERY Merry Christmas!
Those Snobby Joe’s are awesome!
Your doing a great job! thanks!
I’d love to see a mix of everything
Your seasonal plates are so cute!
I love your blog as it is, but I’d love to hear more about what you have tried in the past that didn’t work for you, as well as what did work. Since I’ve lost weight myself, and still have some to lose, I love getting advice from people who have been successful at maintaining a healthy weight.
yes.
to all of it.
Miz, who never met a carob chip she didnt love.
aww your hubby is so cute with his comment!