Hey guys!
WHOAAAAA- holy insanityturbofiremacaroon! Thank you so much to those of you who entered yesterday’s giveaway <3 I loved reading about your favorite at-home options.
Huge congrats to the winner:
Please send me your info (and macaroon flavor choice) and I’ll get the goods on the way 
Thank you again to everyone for entering- stay tuned for more giveaways in the near future! I hope you all know how much I appreciate all of you- giveaways are a small token of thanks for hanging out with me over here, sharing your positive energy and discussions <3
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Ever since I posted the Marvelous March post the other day, I’ve been so much better about getting in my greens.
Lots of salads in my life: (some beastly, some snack-sized)
Romaine, strawberry, marcona almonds with rosemary and sea salt (from TJs) + red wine vinaigrette
Spicy chicken breast, romaine and Goddess dressing
and remember the boatload of lentils and quinoa I had in the fridge?
Awesome salad topper:
(Spinach, bell pepper, quinoa/lentil mix, lemon juice, olive oil, sundried tomatoes)
+ today’s salmon salad at Pita Jungle (no pic- I tend to take off my blogger hand when I’m with my friends)
I strayed from my beloved salads for a while because of the prep time, but doing that in advance (chopping veggies, pre-cooking grains) has made it so much easier. I’m slowly getting it over here 
Salads at home are my favorite because many restaurants serve wimpy portions, and I have yet to find a place that will give me a heaping plate of butternut squash and ketchup to go with it:
So how are you doing with getting in your one green meal a day? What’s been your favorite so far?
I have a bag of spinach destined for smoothie city, but it spontaneously got cold over here again.
This morning we’re off to an appointment and taking it easy since Liv is getting her first set of shots :/
Hope you have a wonderful day!
xoxo
Gina
Something to do: Add this move into your next strength workout to target the abductors, core and glutes! It’s a lovely burn….
Something to read:
Government buying 7 million pounds of ammonia-treated meat for school lunches (so wrong….)
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 recently had a foodgasmic salad beast inspired by you – it was packed with spinach, broccoli, grape tomatoes, edamame, artichoke hearts, bell peppers (yellow, orange, red), a hard-boiled egg, hummus, balsamic vinegar, and quinoa. So good! I’ve been enjoying quite a few green protein smoothies, too. Yum! Love the workout move – I’ve been looking for something to incorporate into my routine for outer thighs. Thanks! Good luck with the shots :/ I’m sure everything will go really well!
I’ve been doing great! Had a big ol’ glass of green juice with my breakfast and lunch (and a similar bowl of roasted sweet potatoes with ketchup) and planning on a salad beast for dinner. Those Marcona almonds look awesome! Wish we had a TJ’s closer
Hope everything goes well today with Liv and her shots!
I need to work on eating my greens!! I think tonight’s dinner will be a spinach salad!!
I was just thinking this morning that I needed to put a little more effort into toning my “saddle bags”! I’m going to try that move today at the gym.
Tonight’s green meal includes artichokes with some cous-cous… yum!
For me, salads are so much better when I buy them from a restaurant. Maybe because their lettuce is fresher and crisper (mine tends to sit in the fridge for days on end) or maybe it’s because of the exotic range of toppings – either way, promising myself a special salad from Eden Fresh is the best way for me to get my green meal in!
I’m with you on the “wimpy salad portions” at restaurants. I made the biggest salad for lunch yesterday and the girls I work with just stared at my bowl (a huge tupperware container). I told them I was starving and sorry I’m not sorry.
Congrats on winning Amanda!
bought a XXXL bag of already washed, chopped brocolli florets at costco, and have been enjoying them slighty steamed with melted goat cheese on top, so ridiculously easy, cheap + healthy as part of my lunch!
yummmmmmmm!
Love this exercise idea! Definitely trying it today
I hope Olivia makes it through her shots okay today!!
Oooh your salads look delicious especially the one with marcona almonds! I didn’t know TJs sold those! When I worked at a restaurant we would all take little bowls of marconas on breaks to eat as a quick snack but then we were told we couldn’t have them anymore because they were too expensive! Such a bummer but I’ve loved them ever since! And I hope Livi’s shots go well today and that you girls have a nice rest day!
All of the salads look great! I will definitely try that exercise.
I had a snack plate today for lunch..lots of veggies included there
I just had a Hugh Jass Salad of spinach, carrots, peppers, cucumber, tomatoes, sunflower seeds, an egg, Annie’s dressing, and The Edible perspective’s Spicy Smoked Maple Tofu. It.was.awesome. Up for a snack later is some of your Amazeballs. Stalking healthy living blogs has changed my eating so much for the better!!
Can I just say I had a jaw dropper just now seeing you got almost 1800 reactions on your giveaway. Whoa!
it was awesome! definitely need to do more of those
I struggle with my green smoothies in winter, too. I find that if I don’t put any ice or too much frozen fruit, and put in 1/4c. or so of oats, it’s more like just a breakfast drink/shake than a frozen, icy confection. I think the book Cinch! has you put oats in all your smoothies, to make them a balanced meal. It’s better than it sounds.
i totally agree, and it gives it a nice texture!
Congrats to Amanda! And great job on gettin’ your greens Gina! I’ve been loving salads of all sorts lately, mainly ones with plenty of kale and spinach, as well as quinoa and tons of veggie toppings. I’ve also been making my own dressings with lemon juice, olive oil, and herbs in the food processor – so much cheaper and better for you than store-bought!! have a lovely afternoon!
LOVE Maracona almonds…a little too much. Also, butternut squash and ketchup? Never thought about that combo but as a ketchup lover, I think I need to immediately try it.
I never have any problem getting my greens in! I am pretty much veggie obsessed! I literally crave them everyday and I have at least one gigantic salad EVERYDAY! Love those foods!
I just found your blog! I love it!!!!
thank you! nice to meet you
I’ve been getting my green on – by trying my very first Green Monster! I was convinced that the blogosphere was lying by saying you cannot taste the spinach at all. I had further doubts as I was blending the smoothie but low and behold, I now know what the hype is all about
DELISH! I will have no problems getting my greens in March…or any month for that matter.
My new favorite salad is baby spinach topped with fresh made tabbouleh. I followed Ina Garten’s Tabbouleh recipe…..it is to die for. I add a little bit of crumbled feta and viola—> a complete, delicious meal!!
Yay I’m always happy about getting rid of saddle bags! And I go through phases with salads but whenever I find an exciting new flavour combination I’m pretty obsessive with it for a while haha!
sundried tomatoes, butternut squash and ketchup, I am all about the red and orange food in this post!
Have a wonderful day, Gina!
i seriously NEED to win a macaroon contest one day! i have been wanting to try them for years!!
Hi! I was wondering if you have a ‘how to’ make macaroons post… I have a dehydrator now and would like to give it a try! Thanks!
no, but there are a lot of raw recipes using the dehydrator on the food page
Yeah for the greens! Loving the Panera Fugi apple chicken salad as a quick lunch on busy work days! Also loving almonds, greens and dried tart cherries with balsamic.
Those salads look so delish!
I’ve been going salad crazy this week! Typically getting in about two a day, and I’m loving it! Being vegetarian, I have issues with salads that have staying power… Yesterday’s was amazing in that department! Made a almost-cobb salad-like creation of spinach/romaine, cherry tomatoes, hard boiled egg, feta, fake bacon, bell pepper, avocado, and topped off with goddess dressing, of course. (I could drink the stuff.. In fact, I think I did? I swear I just bought a new bottle..) Kindey beans are a life-saver favorite also!
we go through quite a few bottles over here too
I love salads! Yay for greans. One of my favorite add-ins lately is pine nuts and goat cheese….mmmm!
Thanks for the workout!
I went a little nuts with eating big salads last month so I’m trying to switch things up by roasting veggies.
I love the workout. How do you stay so balanced? It seems like you’ve taken the changes to your body in stride. I find myself constantly having to let go of what my body was in the early 20s and embrace what it is today. I’ve had two healthy boys and I feel strong. I just find some discomfort with the extra hip and thigh that my aging body sees to need. I know it’s what’s normal, but I still struggle
even though i’m proud of my body for being able to carry and deliver a baby, there are definitely some, ehhh, souvenirs that i’m not the most stoked about
it was totally worth it, though, and i’ll be posting my 2 month body update later today or tomorrow
Hugs to Liv (and you too mommy) on getting her shots today!
Those look delicious! I recently discovered the chop-ahead method, and it makes it so much easier during the hectic weekdays!
Ooo, all the salads look yummy!! Is that a Keep Calm and Carry On notebook in the butternut squash and ketchup photo??? I absolutely love that quote! I have it hanging in my room and it’s my bookmark!!!
I have been really trying to focus on fresh ingredients and nothing pre-packaged. I am home right now so it definitely makes it easier to do with preparing fresh salads and fruit bowls!
Gina,
I ‘ve followed your blog for a few months now, and really enjoy it. I am in a funk and hope you have some inspirational words. I just had shoulder surgery (not due to sports injury but a congenital situation), and will wear an arm brace for a month. Meanwhile, I cannot exercise, haven’t been to the gym for weeks and have more weeks to go. I am a gym rat and usually exercises 1.5 to 2 hours a day for 6 days a week, so now I am sitting on the couch and climbing the walls. When bored, which is most of the time, I start snacking, so this whole situation is bad for my health and waistline! I know what I should do, stay away from food, but I seem to have lost all my will power. Have you any words of wisdom? Your family seems so great, and congratulations on your Liv. My kids are older, the elder one is graduating from high school this summer, and my aging body feels every one of my 50 years……thanks. Cathy
hi cathy!
i’m so sorry to hear about your surgery- being injured is such a downer when you’re used to being so active. i find that if i want to mindlessly snack -stress or bored eating- i’ll take out a bag of baby carrots. if i’m really hungry, i’ll eat the carrots (and whatever else to go with it), and if i don’t want the carrots, i know i’m not really hungry and do something else. you said you can’t workout, but can you go for walks? a walk is a good distraction, painting my nails, drinking a cup of hot tea, texting/calling a friend, something to occupy myself usually helps
hang in there and i hope your shoulder heals quickly!
lots of love to you<3
Gina,
Thank you so much for your warm words, it is nice to know that you take the time to read thru’ all the comments, how do you find time with Liv and teaching classes and just everyday stuff! I am going to try eating cukes (not a carrot gal) when I wander over to the kitchen….I cannot walk until the doctor gives the OK, so meanwhile I’ll just read your blog. Have a fun weekend.
Cathy
I’ve been busy getting my greens in! I am making salads, eating greens, you name it, its been green!! I love the title of the “see ya, saddlebags”, muy creativo!
Hope the 2 month shots go OK for you and Livi today, I’ll be thinking about you girls!
XO
Claire
Haha I agree about the wimpy portions of salads at restaurants – sometimes I’m tempted to order two of them just to fill me up!
[...] Saddlebag buster, but to cut out some time, make it 20 tiny circles at the top (just Gina’s last step, below), on each leg. Thanks Fitnessista! [...]
Hi Gina, lately i have been eating a salad with spinach and cabbage with chickpeas and what ever protein i have such as chicken or ground turkey. i love eating salads every evening.
Wow…I’m speechless! I can’t wait to start getting my butt kicked via Insanity. Thank you so much Gina! I just emailed you. And my greens are stealing handfuls of green beans at the restaurant every time I walk by the prep cooks who are cleaning them for the side vegetable. It’s weird and random, but when I have no time to cook my own greens I just find them where I can.
I am confused. The winner of the contest didn’t even answer the question you asked…
any comment is an entry- i just give questions as a way to guide the conversation a little and pick the giveaway winners randomly
[...] busters, like this post but just the part with the small leg circles (x10 small circles on each [...]