It’s already starting…

After a night of partying and piñata-smashing, I hit the snooze button a couple [more] times this morning. After making breakfast for the birthday boy and he left for work, I made some pumpkin oats.

oats

(Love that the 1/2 C scoop is a pumpkin!) Since it’s a special occasion –even though I’d do this on any random Monday- breakfast included chocolate:

 oats (2)

-1/2 C oats

-1/2 C pumpkin

-almond milk to thin it out

-cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, stevia

-1/2 T almond butter

-chocolate chips.. which melted beautifully into the oats

oats (3)

It was a gloriously productive Monday over here: catching up on emails and pieces I’ve needed to send out (almost there!), cardio, and verrrrrry last-minute birthday fairy errands.

gifts

We always get each other two cards: one goofy/funny one and one lovey/sappy one <3

cards

Lunch was leftover quinoa –even better the next day- atop salad greens with lots of goat cheese :) 

salad

Bella and I always eat lunch on the patio together. It’s a nice break from the iPhone and computer, so I just sit outside, enjoy my lunch, and Bella finds a sunny spot to lay in.

bell13

The Pilot just got home from work, so he’s going to open his gifts and then we’re off to dinner.

Enjoy your night and I’ll see ya in the morning!

xoxo

Gina

Something to read:

Jack-o-lantern bell peppers! (these look AWESOME)

Yoga and stretching help chronic back pain

Better butt workout

Quick and easy post-workout meals

Something to talk about: Guess what’s already started? Plans for this year’s Winter Shape Up! I really want to have it as organized, effective and amazing as possible, so I’m starting to map things out before the holiday insanity begins. If you’ve done any of my Shape Up plans before, please let me know your likes/dislikes so that the 2012 WSU can be the best one yet!! More recipes, meal planning, videos, at-home workouts, PDF or printable versions, please let me know what you’d like to see. [The plan will launch Monday, January 16]

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38 Comments

  1. Lena @Fit on the Rocks on October 24, 2011 at 10:51 pm

    This will be my first time getting to try one of your shape up plans, so I can’t wait! Oh, and HAPPY BIRTHDAY to the Pilot 🙂

  2. Kristen @ Chocolate Covered Kristen on October 24, 2011 at 10:52 pm

    I always get good ideas from your workouts (ummm – hello frog crunches!). This isn’t really winter shape-up related, but I’d love to see some new/older linked-back posts for your favorite quick calorie blasters or at home quickies for holiday season. Between family, travel, and holiday festivities it gets really hard to get in a good workout.

    • Fitnessista on October 24, 2011 at 10:59 pm

      ohhh maybe i’ll make that a series- quick workouts you can do at home, or at the gym, in between holiday gatherings and events

  3. Ali @ Peaches and Football on October 24, 2011 at 10:54 pm

    Hard to believe it’s already time to think about a Winter Shape-Up? Then again the official “countdown to Christmas” charts are already up in the stores around town. Where DOES the time go?? More importantly, how come Jan, Feb, March don’t fly by as quickly??!!

    • Fitnessista on October 24, 2011 at 10:59 pm

      right? they drag on and on

  4. Erin @ Girl Gone Veggie on October 24, 2011 at 10:56 pm

    Wow really? It feels like you were just posting summer shape up! Time is bookin it these days!

    Love that you and the Pilot give each other two cards! So cute! For my birthday Josh gave me two cards but its because he found one that was super cute (it was a kitten that when you pulled it out of the rest of the card sang happy birthday) but it wasn’t big enough to write all the stuff he wanted to say. We’re big novel writers in our cards!

  5. Liz @ Tip Top Shape on October 24, 2011 at 10:57 pm

    That oatmeal looks so good that I just might do hot oats tomorrow morning. I’ve been going on an overnight binge lately!

  6. Krystina (Organically Me) on October 24, 2011 at 11:14 pm

    Those bell pepper jack-o-lanterns are the cutest little food craft! And that quinoa looks like perfection.

  7. Courtney on October 24, 2011 at 11:19 pm

    how do you make that quinoa salad? or is it as easy as it seems:)

  8. Kris @ spabettie on October 24, 2011 at 11:40 pm

    thank you for the pepper jack love, Gina! <3

  9. Natasha on October 25, 2011 at 12:05 am

    PDF please Miss G…omg your belly is so perfect!!!!

  10. Averie @ Love Veggies and Yoga on October 25, 2011 at 12:05 am

    That’s the prettiest bowl of pumpkin oats I’ve seen in ages….wow, makes me want to dive into that bowl. Love the melty chips, too 🙂

    Hope the Pilot has had a nice bday!

    And good luck writing out the Shape Up.

  11. Ky G on October 25, 2011 at 12:58 am

    30 weeks…yowza wowza! I’m 7 weeks behind you & feel like time is flying!

    Haapy Bday to the Pilot!

    My hubby and I do the same thing with cards for each other for special occasions 🙂

  12. elyse on October 25, 2011 at 1:49 am

    I would love to see a PDF/printable version! I like to reference to the workouts after completed or during the workout but it is hard when it is on the computer screen. Thanks for your dedication to all you do!

  13. Amy M on October 25, 2011 at 3:21 am

    I agree with a pdf. That would be amazing!!

  14. Beki on October 25, 2011 at 4:06 am

    Those oats look delish! I need to get my hands on some Pumpkin ASAP!

    and Happy Birthday Pilot! 🙂

  15. Brittany on October 25, 2011 at 6:40 am

    Yay I absolutely love your workouts!! Excited to see this one!

  16. Heather on October 25, 2011 at 8:05 am

    I love your sappy card / funny card idea! That rules. I might steal it. Don’t worry, I’ll copyright you every time. 😉

  17. RachelG on October 25, 2011 at 8:07 am

    My boyfriend and I do the funny/romantic cards too! In the beginning I think he thought I had a mild case of OCD, but eventually he got the jist that it makes the whole gift giving process more fun.

  18. Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin on October 25, 2011 at 8:09 am

    I’m eating pumpkin oatmeal right now… and I liked your idea to add chocolate so much that I just went to the kitchen and grabbed a handful of chocolate chips to add to my bowl. Good call! 😀

  19. Amanda on October 25, 2011 at 8:25 am

    I love adding a few chocolate chips to my morning oats. Makes it taste so indulgent!

    I really like your card tradition. 🙂

  20. Blake @ Blake Bakes on October 25, 2011 at 8:43 am

    With the meal plans I’d love to see an entirely veg*n option.

  21. Mo on October 25, 2011 at 9:04 am

    A very happy birthday to the Pilot from a wife of another October birthday boy – 10/22. What did you get him? My guy collects vintage bicycles and fixes them up – I think we’re up to 10 now. Can’t even fit my car in the garage! So I got him a nice bike stand so he can work on them a bit easier. My favorite bike – an old 1950’s german tandem we ride together – we get the best smiles from everyone we ride by!

    Take care friends!
    Mo

  22. aj on October 25, 2011 at 9:11 am

    I love the funny and sappy cards. I should really do that with my bf, as I’m always torn between the two! This year, I gave him a card that said on outside: “LOVE IS NOT BLIND”. On inside: “The main reason we are together is because you are hot”. LOL.

  23. Alison on October 25, 2011 at 9:28 am

    I am going to have to try that breaky, looks geat. Love your links at the bottom! Thank you!

  24. Yolie @ Practising Wellness on October 25, 2011 at 9:49 am

    Mmm…that special bowl of oats looks absolutely delicious…it is literally making me stare longingly at the screen, lol! 😛 And ditto for that delicious bowl of quinoa – how scrumptious! <3 HAPPY BIRTHDAY to the Pilot! Have a lovely evening out. And I love ninja kicking to-do lists…well done you! xyx

  25. Kelly @ Laughter, Strength, and Food on October 25, 2011 at 9:53 am

    My bf and I always get each other 2 cards too! Some are just too funny to pass up, but I also always want to let him know how much he means to me! Two cards are the way to go!

  26. Stephanie on October 25, 2011 at 9:56 am

    I love the workouts that can be done at home, sometimes the cold makes me not want to venture out to the gym! PDF also sounds like a great idea…currently I have about 20 post-its where I write down your work outs :o)

  27. Ashley @ Good Taste Healthy Me on October 25, 2011 at 10:04 am

    You and your hubs are just so darn cute!

  28. Lisa@Healthy Diaries on October 25, 2011 at 11:15 am

    Your oats looks so good! Going to make pumpkin oats for breakfast tomorrow! 🙂

  29. Liz @ Southern Charm on October 25, 2011 at 11:20 am

    I too had pumpkin oats for breakfast. I love fall!

  30. Amy on October 25, 2011 at 11:44 am

    PDF/printable versions would be awesome! I would love to print out the whole pack, staple it together and throw it in my gym bag. 🙂

  31. Alycia on October 25, 2011 at 11:57 am

    I agree that printable versions of the workouts would be great! It would be nice to get them all printed and in a notebook, making it easy to carry around!

  32. Katie @ Plates and Paste on October 25, 2011 at 12:38 pm

    Exciting! I’ve never done one of your shape up plans, but would like to this time around 🙂 I love at home workouts especially since the cold weather is an easy excuse to not go outside. Printable is also good. Recipes are good…I don’t tend to follow meal plans since I have a pretty good idea of what to eat and what works for my body.

  33. Bec on October 25, 2011 at 3:33 pm

    what brand of gluten free oats do you use?!

    • Fitnessista on October 25, 2011 at 6:54 pm

      bob’s red mill- they’re exactly like the quaker oats

  34. Tee @ She Writes, Bites, and Window Shops on October 25, 2011 at 6:21 pm

    Oh I definitely have a bfast rotation – oats, smoothie, yogurt bowl, eggs, and cereal with fruit. 95% of the time I wake up hungry for one of those things!

  35. Rhoni on October 26, 2011 at 9:38 am

    I’d love if you had some modifications for beginner/intermediate fitnessistas. I’ve started your workouts before and had trouble sticking with them because they’re so challenging. Maybe it’s my own willpower? But I feel like your workouts are designed more for people who are already working out a lot. :/ Which as I’m writing this, I’m realizing I might be in the minority of your readers – so that could be why.

    Anyway…Happy (belated) Birthday to the Pilot!

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