Hey guys! How are ya??? I’m still so stoked about your enthusiasm for the Summer Shape Up! Everything you need is on that post and if you’re not doing the Google Doc spreadsheet, please make your own and track your progress (one point for getting 5 servings fruits and veggies, 1 point for 8 glasses of water, 1 point for cardio each day; 3 total points for completing each of the 3 weight workouts for the week)
Please remember that this plan is not set in stone and that it’s just a general plan. Fitness and nutrition are highly customizable areas –they have to be!- and you know your body way better than I ever will. Please do whatever you need to in order to suit your eating requirements, activity levels and so forth, but the info is there for those whom would like to use it.
Before I get onto the food,
I better announce the WINNER of the Ani Phyo brand-spankin’ new Raw Dessert Cookbook:
Entry 295, which was an email sent from Donnelle who doesn’t have a blog but wanted to be entered into the contest.
She said….
I don’t have a blog but would like to be entered into the Ani Phyo cookbook giveaway. I’ve become very interested in raw foods (thanks to you!) and this book would be a great way to help me get started. Thanks!
Congrats Donnelle!! Please send me your info so I can get the cookbook (and other assorted goodies on the way) 
And now, onto the eats!
I had a nanner before walking the puppies:
We had a shorter walk because of the day’s craziness, but I’m glad we went.
When we got back to the casa, I made a seriously awesome bfast:
RAW PARFAIT WITH MEXICAN “RICE” PUDDING
It’s layers of crumbled buckwheat crispies that I made the other day in the dehydrator.
For the Mexican “Rice” pudding (I can’t believe I came up with this one.. it was pretty darn incredible) I combined a small palm full each of raw almonds and raw cashews, a date, a tbs water, lots of cinnamon and a tsp vanilla extra in the mini food processor. I pulsed it until it made a chunky “rice” type mixture.
With strawberries, kiwi, raw buckwheat crumbles and a chocolate peppermint sprig for garnish (thanks, Megan!!).
I rushed off to work, where I spent my time answering the awesome flood of Summer Shape Up emails that came in, and then went home for lonchi.
For lunch, I decided on Ani Phyo’s Mediterranean Dolmas
The mix included soaked sundried tomatoes, raw sunflower seeds (I didn’t have pine nuts), fresh dill (I love our little herb garden), raisins, sea salt and a little EVOO
Wrapped up in collard leaves, it was lunchtime perfection
A little piece of raw organic cheddar:
After lunch, I attempted to do a yoga podast but was just too antsy with everything going on so I turned it off 
Yesterday ended up being an unintentional rest day since I was such a busy bee. Bummer—I love my workouts!
I went to the gym to train the first group of our shape up challenge. I was kind of worried that I scared everyone away between the eating plan and pinching them with the calipers, but everyone was very cool and I’m way excited to be working with them!
When I got home, the pilot made me a juice as I crammed for the final I had tonight.
The final was meh –I’m going to miss an A in the class by 1%…. don’t you love when that happens?!? Grr….) and then I came home to make dinner.
I had an Ezekiel with the last little smear of AB while I cooked:
Made some roasted ratatouille veggies with fresh basil, rosemary and garlic:
I served myself a hefty bowl:
And cooked up some pasta for the pilot with marinara, Italian sausage, fresh herbs, onion and garlic.
Little family meal:
After finishing of his giant bowl of pasta, I had to help the pilot with some of his veggies 
Today is equally as hectic as yesterday: gym –I need a good workout this morning!, work, training at the gym and my organization behavior final. I’m soooo excited for when tonight is over! The rest of the week will (hopefully) be smooth sailing! Also, Orlando this weekend I can almost taste the civilization….
Have a wonderful day!
Love always,
G
Something to do: Make your Wednesdays a little more raw Gena and Jenna are doing a Raw Wednesday Challenge in which you eat one raw meal and one raw snack each Wednesday. Gena has a TON of great meal ideas to choose from – check it out, yo
Also, Dance is having an Annie’s Mac n’ Cheese Giveaway!
CONGRATS to the summer shape-up girls who got all 3 points for yesterday: Amber B., Brenna D., Brittany, Christina M., Elizabeth D., Heather, Heather C, Jennifer C., Jennifer S., Lisa S., Mallory B., Marcia L., Mary C., Michelle T., Nehal A., Sabrina, Samantha S., Sara D., Sarah, Sarah M., Steph, Stephanie F., Margaret C. and Clara L.!
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!
you've been coming up with some really great meals lately!! i like the way your brain works
I'm totally wishing I wouldve "signed up" for this shape up challenge, it's sounding so fab! I may just do it anyway, I need to get some serious tone for before I put that bikini on….gah.
happy tuesday<3
Glad you’re getting such a great response to your challenge! VERY fun. Sorry you had such a busy day- I hope today is better! Yummy parfait! Parfait’s are one of Josh’s favorite breakfasts. Also loving the roasted veggies. You’re so creative with all your meals
love the roasted ratatouille and that breakfast raw parfait!
I have my little notebook all set up!!!!! I haven’t written my workouts down since I helped a friend train for a show 6 years ago! It feels GOOOOOOODDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD
I bought one of the Flogg diary things that Tina from Carrots N Cake posted about the other day. It came in yesterday, what perfect timing!
aah, yum
i wanted to tell you i found some raw goat cheese this weekend and it was pretty amazing!! that parfait looks cook-book quality 
love the parfait!
i hate when I would miss a grade by 1%…so unfair, right! I hope today is a good day and a little less busy!
You definitely had a busy day!
I love the look of your vegetable dish! The colors are wonderful!
Breakfast looks really good too!
It’s great your Shape Up Challenge is going so well!
Take care!
I love your little green wraps!
Your roasted veggies look awesome! I need to pick up eggplant again.
Hi Gina,
I’m wondering that since you’ve been eating a lot more raw foods, aren’t you concerned with your protein intake?? Before you would eat some protein with every meal, but I dont always see that anymore. Do you think you’re getting enough or are you supplementing somehow??
hey amisha-
i used to rely more on animal protein but that was until i learned that you can get plenty of protein through veggies, nuts and seeds. yesterday, i got plenty of protein through all of the veggies i ate (including half the container of spinach that was in my juice), the hunk of raw cheddar had 7 grams and the nuts in the parfait, ezekiel bread and lunch rolls (with the collard) also had sufficient protein. more than what i needed for the day, actually!
Your ratatouille looks YUMMY!
I finally found some raw goat cheddar at WF… LOVING it
Awesome looking parfait!
Hope your schedule isn’t quite so crazy today! At least you have Orlando to look forward to.
the mexican rice pudding parfait looks great!
ugh that really sucks about the 1% though! You should totally email your professor and try to get an A somehow anyways. It doesn’t hurt to try! It worked for me once.
hi gina – do you have a food processor you’d recommend?
pearl, i just use the cuisinart mini food processor– it’s perfect
Hi Gina, I just sent you an email about the challenge
Is it too late to sign up?
I am loving the rice pudding parfait!! It looks fantastico
Your teacher should give you a little boost to get an A. That’s a bummer it’s 1%!
Hope you’re having a great Tuesday!
Hey gina, i hope you don’t mind a double-type, but i was wondering the same question as i saw suzane post on the previous post. about the gaining weight/needing more fat etc? thanks!
oh yeah, and why only 2 TBS of nut butter a day? is that assuming you’re supplementing with other healthy fat? i’m allergic to avocado, hate fish, and don’t really like olive oil, lol, so can i have more nut butter if i’m still cool with the calories? i know i *can* have more, but….you follow? thanks again.
that parfait looks delicious!
I love roasted veggies! Have fun in Orlando. I was just there – I had a great time.
Love your challenge and your blog! Just though I would share, for those making their own spreadsheets, Fitsugar has downloadable fitness & food journal pages for the week. They even include a place to check off fruits/veggies and water (super cute)! There is the link http://www.fitsugar.com/887907
That parfait is so cute!!! Love it!
I finished my workout for day 2 of the challenge and it was great! I like the intervals of strength training and cardio it really kept my heart rate up. What a great workout!
Is there any extra credit you can do for that 1%?
I love your foods–I would love to do the raw Wednesday challenge. It sounds very cool! Have fun at the gym with your workout
<3 jess
xoxo
I’m loving all the raw goodness you’ve been eating lately! It’s really helping me with ideas. I am going to check out Gena’s blog for even more ideas, thanks!