Hey! Happy FRIDAY!!!! Hope you all have a wonderful weekend 
I know mine is going to be crazy but a ton of fun.
Yesterday’s lonchi was a fiesta of a salad: 1/2 cup vegetarian refried frijoles, romaine, yellow bell pepper, tomato, salsa and raw tortilla chips (dehydrated yellow bell pepper, corn, water, lemon juice, cumin and salt)
I had one of these little guys: (why can’t all vitamins be in dark chocolate form???)
And took an apple to snack on at work:
When I got to the gym last night to teach step, I honestly wasn’t feeling it. My body was exhausted and sore—I knew I’d really have to push myself to give a good class. An angel decided to smile upon me, because when I walked into the gym, maybe 3 people were in the entire facility. IT WAS TOTALLY EMPTY. There was an exercise going on, which means all of the military service members have to practice what they would do under certain scenarios. Usually this means they shut down the base, close the gates, and if you were just there buying groceries (aka me about a month ago), you have to sit and wait in your car until they let you leave. A GIANT hassle. So I left my non-existent step class, got into my car and heard “EXERCISE! EXERCISE!” blaring over the loudspeakers. I sped off the base before I could get trapped in there!
So what do you do when step class is canceled?!
EAT INDIAN FOOD
Megan and I went to my favorite restaurant in Valdizzle for dinner.
The owner made me something different since I always get the same thing. He suggested the Palak Paneer (cubes of cottage cheese cooked with fresh spinach in spices mild delicacy) but used vegetables instead of cottage cheese since he knows I’m not a huge fan. They used carrots, green beans and peas in the spinach sauce and spices:
Holy paneer. It was glorious
And the always necessary naan for dipping:
Here’s my plate:
(The red blob is some of Megan’s Baigan Bhartha)
It was just what I needed instead of teaching last night.
I also needed a little of this:
I poured myself a hefty glass of red and got to work on what I’m thinking may be the best batch of macaroons yet. I added a little bit of almond extract this time and whoaaaaaaaa. My house smells like macaroon heaven
Beauties:
I also whipped up some raw goji berry bars to put in there for the winning bidders from Meghann’s bake sale. I would post the recipe, but I kinda winged it. The bars include: coconut, almonds, dried goji berries, dried figs, maple syrup, agave, sea salt and vanilla extract.
After it’s fully dehydrated, I’ll cut it into bars. Or heart shapes
I went to bed at 10:30 last night (didn’t read in bed, nada) and wanted stove top oats more than anything this morning. I bought some at Publix yesterday when I was getting party food ingredients, but couldn’t find oat bran. Hopefully I can find some in O-town this weekend because I’m so intrigued and from the info on Heather’s blog, it actually has a better nutritional profile than oatmeal!
Today’s mix contained 1/2 cup multigrain oats, 1/2 scoop chocolate protein, 1/2 coconut cream pie Larabar and one egg white on the side:
I’m off to walk the puppies, go the Wizzle, 5 points (for martini supplies for tomorrow’s partayyy), post office, Sam’s club and Publix with Jeni, then back to clean and start the prep work. Whew!
Hope you all have a very happy Friday!
xoxo,
G
Something to do: Shoulder, Chest, Triceps workout!
| Warm up | Elliptical/Treadmill | 5 minutes, Level 5 |
| Tone | Lateral cable raises | 3 sets of 10-12 with 15-20 seconds rest in between |
| Tone | Stability ball pushup | 3 sets of 10-15 with 15-20 seconds rest |
| Tone | Tricep Dips | 3 sets of 10-15 with 15-20 seconds rest |
| Cardio | Elliptical/Treadmill | 15 minutes: CLIMB; Starting at your level 5 (RPE) for 15 minutes add 1 level of resistance each minute for the first ten minutes, then minutes 10-15 decrease resistance by one level each minute |
| Tone | Dumbbell Triceps Extension | 3 sets of 10-12 with 15-20 seconds rest |
| Tone | Stability ball chest press | Use barbell or dumbbells; 3 sets of 10-12 with 15-20 seconds rest |
| Tone | Dumbbell Shoulder Press | 3 sets of 10-12 with 15-20 seconds rest |
| Cardio | Treadmill/Elliptical | 15 minutes; SPRINT; Stay at your level 5 for 1 minute, then increase the resistance until you’re challenged and PUSH your speed for 1 minute, then slow back down for one minute. Continue sprints for 12 minutes then cool down for 3 |
This entire workout should take about an hour—if you’re crunched for time, just do the weights portion (30 minutes) or the cardio portion (35 minutes).
Happy Training
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Hi, I'm Gina. Welcome to The Fitnessista! I love blogging about my adventures as a new mom, military wife and fitness instructor, as well as sharing new workouts and recipes. Check out the About page for more info - thanks for stopping by!
nice workout! i will be baking my blogger bake sale gift today! yay!
Have a great Friday! Glad you got a break from teaching when your body really needed it.
I want to make your breakfast cookie, but I am allergic to peanut butter and I try to avoid all other nut butters…just in case. What do you think I could sub for the butter? Would agave nectar work?
Holy yum eats, fab workouts – as always
Expect the package to arrive soon!!! xx
Thanks for the workout! I am trying one of your elliptical workouts today! Glad you got a nice break last night!
wow those macaroons look so great! Makes me think I should be putting a dehydrator on my wedding registry
ENJOY!
Holy macaroons! I’m super jealous of whoever’s receiving those.
The Indian food looks fantastic too! Gettin’ to know the owner sounds like one of the best things to do! Have a fabulous weekend
I just posted a really similar workout, but condensed. So weird! Thanks for comment on my blog Gina, have a great weekend!
Sounds like a glorious day, and I love that you are BFF with the Indian restaurant man!!
That’s also a great idea to bust out some red during baking! Thanks for those workout pics- i clicked on all the links and I’ve heard/seen some those but you definitely gave me new ideas, and they had tips for form, thx!!
Gina! So excited about this workout you posted as ALL I am doing over the next two weeks is upper body while I try and nurse a problematic hamstring back to healthy. So thanks so much.
Glad you got in some of your favorite Indian…and please let me know if you can’t find any oat bran. I’d be glad to send you some.
Have a great weekend!
PS – I think heart shape Goji bars are the way to go.
i can’t wait to try this workout !!
Holy dehydration! In a good way.
The goodies look fab as usual. I am getting Indian with my roomie for V-day tomorrow and I am exciiiiited for the bhaigan bhartha! And the girls-only V-day party afterward as well…
your macaroons, indian food, and goji bars all look wonderful!
Im so glad you didn’t get trapped over at the base.
So jealous of those lucky people getting the macaroons and bars!!
indian food…yum.
Yum Yum. The goji berry bars caught my eye. I have a package in the fridge that I usually add to my fruit & soy yogurt. I'll have to give it a try! TGIF….sheesh
ooh gina – what does a dehydrator do? can you put anything in it?
meg- that’s a toughie. the nut butter is what helps the cookie to harden a little, and i don’t think the agave would do the trick. i’ll have to think about that one— sorry i don’t have an answer for you!
pearl- you can make a TON of stuff in the dehydrator… granola, crackers, taco shells, ice cream cones, tarts, dried fruit and fruit leather, veggie chips…the list goes on and on
Woo I wish I was in your kitch! Nothing would be safe though – you might get frustrated with me after I gorged and ate all your goodies.
I want to go to that Indian restaurant!
have a fabulous friday pretty lady!
-rhodey
Definitely try oat bran – I am IN LOVE with it
mmm love the macaroons! HAPPY FRIDAY GINA!!! Have a beautiful and relaxing weekend!
I just had oat bran this morning and it was great! I think I missed the chewiness of oatmeal, but I really liked it.
I am going to my first raw foods restaurant tonight!
Glad you got out of step last night! I hate teaching when I’m not feeling it! Tonight I’m teaching my first two body attack tracks (I know, I know its only two tracks, but they’re the hardest two!) and I am so excited/nervous!
AWWWWWW your macaroons! Heaven :
I think that Indian food is going to have to be in my weekend plans! It always looks so good!
Hope you have a great weekend!!
Love the workout! I’ve got to try it soon.
All of your food looks SO GOOD! I love the raw treats =)
Dehydrating madness! So many lovely mcaroons
All the Indian food looks great too.
Love the workout!
Good thing you got off base quickly sounds like you would have been waiting there a while!
Have a great friday night!
Every time I see Indian food on here I get a little bit more motivated to try it – it looks so yummy!
Have a great Friday
that looks AMAZING. GAH I wish we had a good Indian place near me! I love Indian food but I’m honestly not that familiar w/ it, so I don’t know many of the dishes. I hope you have a fabulous weekend/v-day!
the macaroons look absolutely amazing. i would love one right now!
I love when you go for Indian food. I don’t know why, it just makes me happy.
I wish I could afford one of those gold macaroon nuggets
I love Paleek Paneer- the cheese is my favorite part about it haha.
Hope you are having a wonderful night!!
That’s so cool that the people at the Indian restaurant know you so well! Glad you enjoyed the new meal!
I bet your house smells amazing after making the macaroons!
mmmm macaroons! I don’t think I told you that I made some using your recipe a few weeks ago. They are definitely incredible. Thank you!!
Have a good weekend!
You have the best treats, I like the sound of those Goji bars . I will have to tinker with it myself !
Glad you got a little R&R and Indian!
Those macaroons look AMAZING! MMM, coconut. So I live in the Orlando area and haven’t been able to find oat bran at Publix (strange!) but found a box at Super Target last night and it was only $2.29. Check there!
sarah- it makes me VERY happy, too
kristi- i’m so glad you liked them!
heather- thank you so much for the tip! i’ll definitely check at targizzle next time i’m there!
I need to get a dehydrator! Your macaroons look delicious!
yay for indian food and making maccaroons!!!
oh…. your indian food is back!!! yummy!!!
and nice workout as always!
have a great weekend!
every time i read your blog, i leave it craving indian food, haha. looks delicious!
as usual, i’m mooning over your dehydrator …
Mmmm Indian. NAAN. I’ve tried Palak Paneer once (Amy’s Kitchenified) and I LOVED it. I HAVE to try it the authentic someday.
I really need to try your macaroon recipe soon. I have it saved! They look so so good and I’ve read nothing but great things
Your blog is super fun! I enjoy reading it!
)
So I added you to my blog roll and thought I would let you know!
Happy Valentine’s Day!