Hey guys! It’s INDIAN FOOD WEDNESDAY! Who’s celebrating? I see a trip to the Indian buffet in the very near future….
So last night, some friends at I met at Bleu Pub for dinner since the guys were working late. (Except for my pilot love, who stayed home sick yesterday)
Jeni and I split the Greek salad (no cheese on my half)
and for my entree, I chose the black bean and bulgar burger (no bun) + sweet potater fries
Awesome note about Blue Pub: they have a separate vegan grill for the black bean burgers! There are VEGANS in Valdosta??!! I’m just being facetious, but it was a lovely surprise 
The fries were foodgasmic…. so salty, so crunchy. I die.
This morning, I woke up with my throat killing me (is the sickness back? Is that even possible?) and made some fresh almond milk to go with my cereal.
Every few days, I make almond milk for bfast cookie and smoothie purposes. It’s super easy and tastes so much better than the stuff in the carton
Raw Almond Milk
-1 C raw almonds (soaked overnight in water)
-4 C water
-pinch sea salt
-1 t vanilla
-1/2 lecithin (optional- you can use soy lecithin or sunflower; it acts as an emulsifier to combine the almond mixture with the water and give it a smooth texture)
-Blend on high in the Vita-mixalicious
-Strain through a fine mesh sieve
I always dehydrate the almond pulp for macaroons and raw cookies, too
B-fast was the usual B-fast cookie dough cereal (I can’t get enough!!)
Plan for the day is:
-Snooze and pray that I feel better before work
-Conference call (with a sore throat. Baller)
-Indian buffet
-Training appointments
-Workout? We’ll see how I’m feelin’
See ya later today! <3
Gina
Something to do: Get thee a copy a Operation Beautiful! As you guys know, the beautiful Caitlin worked her booty off for the past year + on this book. It’s finally THE week — her book was released yesterday and she’s promoting OB on the Today Show tomorrow morning at 8:30 (set your DVRs!).
When I first saw Caitlin’s Operation Beautiful movement, I thought it was a cute idea. I could see how it would brighten someone’s day to find an uplifting note, but always kind of thought that if I saw a note on my car, I’d probably be looking for the creeper who put it there. It wasn’t until I held the actual book in my hands at Border’s past weekend that I truly understood what it’s all about.
Operation Beautiful is SO much more than random acts of kindness via positive post-it messages. It’s about changing the way girls and women view themselves and promoting a healthy body image.
If I would have had the chance to read this book as a youngin’, I would have breathed a HUGE sigh of relief and maybe cut myself some slack. I’m sure you guys have picked up on my Type A personality, but it was about a thousand times worse when I was younger – I put SO much pressure on myself. I didn’t get my first “B’” until college (and cried and cried over it), and it wasn’t just the grades thing- I danced, sang, played the violin and piano… and was convinced that I had to be the *best* at all of them. On top of that, I read a lot of teen magazines and wanted so badly to look like the magazine models, and the girls on TV… even just typing this all out makes me realize how overwhelmed I was.
If I would have read this book when I was younger, it would have helped me to realize that I was ok, just the way I was. And I really was! Looking back on pictures of performances I did, or when my mom embarrasses me and plays CDs for the pilot, I’m proud of myself, even though at the time, it wasn’t good enough for me. It took me a long time, well until I was in college, to become fully confident in myself.
So I guess what I’m saying is, even if you don’t buy the book for yourself (which I highly recommend- it has so many wonderful stories, advice and information- a great warm fuzzy on a blah day), buy it for a younger girl in your life, like a niece, cousin or daughter. It might benefit her way more than you know.
<3
Something *else* to do: Please send some Reader’s Requests ideas my way (fitnessista at gmail dot com) or leave them in the comments section- RR post will be up tomorrow morning 
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!
I feel ya with the teenage pressure. I remember when I got my first A- in college and I FREAKED out. I graduated high school with a 4.0 GPA with all AP courses and couldn’t handle not having the perfect GPA. I’m a lot harder on myself in the looks/body category now than I was as a teenager, which is a blessing and a curse, I suppose. It breaks my heart to see beautiful teenage girls being so hard on themselves!
Gah! Sick again?? I hope you feel better!
Gah, it has been far too long since I’ve had sweet potato fries! We need a reunion! I’m still waiting on my Operation Beautiful book to arrive but I already have the feeling I’m going to be buying it for a number of people this year. It’s just such a great message that needs to be shared. <3
Excellent promo for Caitlin’s book! You have convinced me to buy it for my 14-year-old step daughter. Thank you!
The fries look AMAZING!xx
Hi Gina~
I made almond milk last night and accidentally used 2 cups of almonds with 4 cups of water, yikes. It was tasty though:=
I wondered how many cups you usually get from a batch? I don’t seem to get a whole lot so i was just curious if you measured.
Thanks!
i usually get about 2-3 C depending on how well the almond pulp drains.
Thank you!
Ah! I came looking for Fitnessista inspiration for a slow-cooker recipe and then realized it’s Indian Food Wednesday! Eggplant curry it is. Fate. The extra OB inspiration didn’t hurt either.
whoo hoo! enjoy
quite excited about your agreement of posting a workout/dvd review !!!
can’t wait to use your expert advice to help me choose ! xx
It’s an incredible book filled with such remarkable insight from people worldwide. It’s something like this that makes me feel so good.
Yeah, I hear you on the teenage pressure—I was another of those straight A-musical instrument-theater-sports kids…insane. I mellowed out eventually and even thought I was cured for a while…until grad school. Turns out it takes a lot of work to talk that inner Type A self down from the ledge. I think it’s worth it, though. I’m so much happier when I’m able to avoid buying into all the hype and just do the things that make me happy—those tend to be the things we’re best at, anyway : )
I have been seeing comments about Caitlin’s book on so many websites, but you were the first one to give me the idea to buy it for my nieces. I see them picking themselves apart and they are only 16. I hope the book makes a difference for them (…on my way to pick it up now.) Thanks!
Just wondered if you could let us know what other books you find interesting about health and fitness….
ani phyo ani’s raw kitchen
raw food detox diet
women’s health book of exercises
awesome thank you!
I had that burger/fries the other day: very good. The mgr there will talk your ears off. I need to buy Op.Beautiful for my daughter & a few other girlies.
Yay for vegans in Valdosta that is so cute
This reminds that I need to start making my own almond milk again.
Hi! I love making my own almond milk! I live in Australia and there’s not very much variety here when it comes to almond milk. I was just wondering how long your almond milk usually lasts when you make it? And how do you tell when it has gone bad? Thanks!!!
when i worked at the restaurant, we would throw it out on the 3rd day– i think you’ll be able to tell when it’s bad though… it gets a little tangy
Where can I get soy lecithin? I also make my own raw almond milk, but after settle, the almond extract and the water separates. Thanks
most health food stores will have it by the supplements
Hi Gina, I’m wondering if you know of a substitute for the lecithin in your almond milk recipe? Also, do you think baking the almond pulp at a low temp would do the same as dehydrating it? Thanks!
you can skip it- you’ll just have to shake up the milk before you drink it because there will be a little separation between the water and almond
and yes, you can totally put it in the oven to dry out the almond pulp