An Entirely Different Beast
Hey everyone! Finally in jammies and settled down from the day. How was your Wednesday?
Mine started off with protein chia pudding:
-1/4 C chia seeds
-3/4 C almond milk
-1/2 scoop Sun Warrior (off to Amazon to order more.. I’m running low)
-cinnamon
-maca
-Stevia
-vanilla
-small nanner
-small apple
-dib dab of almond butter for my face garnish
and a killerrrrr back and abs weights sesh. T’was heart thumping for sure 🙂 Speaking of weights, thank you so much for keeping me updated with the Winter Shape Up– I’m so glad ya’ll are liking it and feeling the burn so far. New workouts will be posted Monday! Are any of you doing the Intro to Iron plan I designed for Caitlin? Hope that’s going bueno, too!
Some of today’s eats:
Egg white puff and salad for protein after my weights sesh.
Lots o’ nutritional yeast:
Raw croutons:
2 smoothies throughout the day and some millet bread.
And a salmon dinner after Zumba at Longhorn with my pilot, Jeni and her pilot.
Nutritionally-devoid iceberg lettuce with some balsamic drizzled on- otherwise known as the “house salad with no cheese or croutons with balsamic on the side”
(Sorry for the dark pics! I took them with the crackberry)
And salmon with double veggies, no butter sauce, thank you.
It was pretty glorious.
Zumba was outta control tonight. SO. MUCH. FUN. It’s amazing how you can feed energy off of other people, and with a packed house, I was ready to shake my booty. I love teaching Zumba.
Yoga, however, I’m not the biggest fan of teaching. I didn’t write about this too much on the blog yet, but I taught a yoga class at the base gym a couple of weeks ago and it was a disaster. I had two challenging flows planned out that I figured we would do slowly (after warm up and sun salutations) and then repeat a couple of times on the right side and left side. I thought it would take about 45 minutes….then we’d do some cool down stretches and savasana and peace out. Um, we finished the flows and I looked down and it had been 22 minutes. Apparently, I’m a yoga speed demon, so I ended up winging the rest of the class. Disaster. I think it’s just one of those things I’m better at participating in than doing. I can teach spin, step or Zumba all the livelong day, but yoga is an entirely different beast.
Well I’m off to prep my clients’ raw lunches for tomorrow (PIZZA!) and hit the hay.
Hasta pasta, bloggies.
<3
G$
Today’s Zumba playlist:
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Maybe yoga is something you will improve in as far as teaching goes? I’m sure you could be a brilliant yoga teacher with a little practice and patience with yourself 🙂
By the way, I’ve been meaning to ask, how do you make those delicious looking egg puffs?
i hope so. or maybe i’ll keep being selfish by doing my own thang and taking classes instead of teaching 🙂 we shall see…
i just microwave the eggs in a glass bowl sprayed with olive oil
Thanks Gina! I need to get my protein on, I’m upping my running weekly but I’m sleeping terribly and tired ALL the time so I’m trying to refocus on nutrition.. aaaanyway, these puffs seem perfect.
I find that pursuing with something that I’m not terribly good at to begin with is the most rewarding thing in the end. Although you do have to ride that fine line between doing something out of sheer stubborness/determination, and knowing when to cut yourself a break and stick to what you know you love 🙂
I totally wish I could take your Zumba classes… damn distance 🙂 Thanks for the chat today!!
ME TOO, friend. i loved our chat! call me anytime 🙂
Agreed. Your zumba class amazing. the one at my gym is eh…
The salmon dinner looks really good. I now refer to iceberg lettuce as the nutrionally devoid lettuce too thanks to you! 🙂
LOL. i love it
I want to take a Zumba class soo bad! Upstate NY has a serious lack of fun gym activities!
I am with you on the yoga. I taught yoga/pilates mix for 4 years but was just certified in group X. I enjoy doing it, but did not enjoy teaching it. I found that my mind wandered more – I’m guessing since I couldn’t truly get into it since I had to lead the class.
that’s a really good point.
i’m also just certified in group x but don’t want to shell out the dollas or time for a yoga cert if it’s not my thing
I would imagine that teaching yoga would be difficult! I am glad you enjoy teaching Zumba!
I think that it is awesome that you are making meals for your clients!! I want to move to where you live so that I can get your lunches!! 🙂
What sort of camera do you usually use (when at home)? The pics come out really well.
thanks!! it’s a canon powershot… just a point and shoot cam, but i love it
I like when you include playlists- mine is getting boring!
P.S. Would you recommend Sun Warrior rice protein over Jay Robb?? I just ran out
Sorry the yoga class didn’t go well. I’d love to have you teach me, anyway!
And after your last post, I KNOW I need a dehydrator. I mean I’ve always known, but to have macaroons and crackers at my fingertips whenever I wanted? I should be so lucky!
I’m doing the Intro plan!! Its great… i’m not new to weights but i’m just now reintroducing them after having my baby girl.
The first time I decided to take a class on base was a Yoga class… Well, thats what I had read in the paper. So my friend and I went to the class, expecting a calm, relaxing workout. Well, we just kept doing all these moves and I was like “this is the weirdest yoga i’ve ever seen but okaaaaayyyy”… I was sweating, panting, sore… because as it turned out, we had went to KICKBOXING.. not yoga! Lol, but I ended up doing kickboxing twice a week from then on! I love it!
hahahah what an awesome story.
glad you liked kickboxing 🙂
Zumba is on the top of my to to list, but there’s only one place that offers it in Vic– I’m excited for the gong show I’m sure it will be when I get there though!
Recipe for the raw croutons? And what the heck is an egg white puff? Microwaved?
i need to write out the recipe for the raw croutons… i kinda made them on a whim and they came out GOOD 🙂
yup, the egg puff is microwaved in a glass bowl sprayed with cooking spray or olive oil
i’m sure the yoga class wasn’t as bad as you thought it was…there were probably some people out there who thought it rocked! i can totally imagine you doing zumba, like, every day though…just your personality 🙂
Hey Gina 🙂
What’s the yeast you added to your eggs? I’m intrigued 😉
Congrats on teaching a fab Zumba class! I’ve never taken one, but then again I’m not the most coordinated person! I’m hoping to teach spinning in the spring after my marathon.
xx
Lauren
dying to have you teach me Zumba some day.
nooch on egg whites, eh? gotta try that!!
LOVE YOU
Loveeeeeee the Zumba playlist! She Wolf is definitely my song of the moment 🙂
I must try that chia protein pudding! It reminds me a lot of this muesli I used to eat. YUM!
I run to several songs on your play list 🙂
Do you get to pick your own music for Zumba? Awesome!! Bad Romance is one of my FAVES!
yes!!!! i LOVE bad romance too.. as soon as i heard it, i knew it had to be zumba-fied
Hey,
I don’t think you should beat yourself up about the whole yoga thing…I was actually really surprised to hear that you were going to start teaching because yoga certification is completely different than fitness/aerobics and almost always requires at least a 200 hour certification.
And everyone has their calling, right? I’m sure there are a TON of yoga teachers out there that couldn’t teach spin or zumba to save their lives 😉 So you know what i say? It’s not selfish, it’s human, to take your yoga classes and teach zumba 😀
Take care G$
thank you! makes me feel so much better <3
Totally feel you on teaching yoga! I subbed a class once because the instructor teaching after my group exercise class didn’t show up. Its really challenging to teach – make adjustments – tell people when to breathe – and make sure to keep everything balanced for the right and left sides! No wonder most instructors walk around and talk the entire time – there is SO much to think about! Not the most relaxing way to practice yoga but a great way to help others enjoy it 🙂 Still thinking about getting certified though…. the yoga journal conference is in SF next week and Im going to check it out! Have a great night Gina and THANKS again for all the wonderful bloggin!
The raw croutons look awesome!
The yoga thing…well as a new teacher, most teachers teach way faster than they think they are going to be AND in your head, you need to plan about 3-4/x as much content and flow as you think you do. I cannot tell you how many times as a newer teacher I was like WTF, I thought I had an hour’s worth of asana “built in”, but made it to like 22 mins 🙂 So sorry it didn’t pan out, but hey, you’re an amazing Zumba & Spin teacher, so there you have it!
what brand of nutritional yeast do you use? i ate it a lot last year (i’m high raw) but realized over time that it didn’t make me feel my best, though i like all the nutrients it contains. i used KAL.
i use red star and love it 🙂
Hey Gina, I know what it’s like to teach a class and you think you’ve been teaching a while and then you realise not much time has gone by! The raw pizzas for your clients will be great, can’t wait to see the recipe and try it myself. I looked up the ingredients in Sun Warrior ( I managed to find it in a health store here) and I was wondering is the xanthum gum in it okay?
yup, xanthan gum is ok.. it’s a pretty natural thickener
Great thanks for letting me know Gina.
I took zumba once and it was so fun! I LOVED the music! it is so true that energy can feed off people! I love classes whent hey are jam packed, i always try to work harder than teh person next to me!
I would probably order that SAME thing at a restaurant like longhorn steak house. double veggies and make sure they are not coated in butter either!!
almond butter on teh face=totally ok 🙂
That chia pudding looks awesome! My wednesday was TOO long and crazy 😉
I downloaded some of those songs on your playlist…love em. Thanks!
The croutons look delish…your yummy treats inspired me to ask for a dehydrator for my bday until I realized I’d have absolutely nowhere to put it in my tiny apt! A girl can dream, though 🙂
Kind of a silly question, but what exactly do you say to the waiter when placing your order? Whenever I’ve tried to ask for my foods without butter, they still come out with a little bit on them, as if someone just rinsed them off and threw them on the plate…
hey gabriela,
you can make room for it 🙂 one of my friends has hers on her living room floor, haha
i just say “hi! *smile* may i please have the salmon with double veggies and no butter sauce? thank you”
i just try to be extra polite and if they bring it out covered in butter, i just say “hey, i’m really sorry to bother you but i asked for no butter sauce on my food. is there any way i could get another one?? thank you”
great playlist for zumba! i’ve never taken a class but i think i would jump at the chance
I’m new to your blog and love it! I absolutely have to steal that Zumba playlist! Love it! Keep up the great work, I look forward to stopping by lots more!
I love Zumba! I really plan to get into teaching classes and personal training in the future once I leave the stay at home mom world. I won’t be doing yoga though, like you. It’s just not my forte 😉
This is only my second comment but I love your blog! It’s made me want to start my own, but with a yoga spin 🙂 I’m starting a 300-hour yoga certification class this Sunday…and I hope I have better luck with class timing once I start teaching! I totally agree that if it’s not your thing, stick to teaching what you love. I love taking fun aerobic classes, but I could NEVER teach them! Do what works for you 🙂
The same thing happened to me when I taught a body pump class a few years back. On my first day I had it all planned out for an hour long class and I was done with everything I’d planned after 30 min. whoops..
I’m sure you’ll be a great yoga teacher in time!
Hi Gina! This is completely off-subject but I wanted your opinion, if I may? I live far far away from a gym so I do my workouts at home (I am doing the winter shape up and i loveee it!). For this reason, I have gotten myself a Recumbent Bike! I was just wondering how you feel about them? I use it for my cardio session (I do 60 minutes on it on the hill program).
Do you have any recommendations or a cardio workout for them handy? I just want to make sure I am using it correctly! I appreciate your insight and all your workouts!!!! you rock!
hey amy!
i don’t use the recumbant bike very often but one of the other trainers loves it. i’d try making a “spin” type workout on it… sprint for 30 seconds then bring it back to a slower pace for 1 minute, repeat, do some hills (crank up the resistance until you can’t take it anymore, then bring it back down) and steady state.
That chia pudding sounds awesome. I have to get my paws on some chia seeds.
Sorry yoga teaching wasn’t your thang. But you have plenty others are are definitely your thang 😀
Love that playlist! Might be stealing some running songs from it.
Can’t wait to see the raw pizza; hope you make us a picture!
I’ve been dying to try Zumba ever since I started reading your bloggy, but I’m so uncoordinated and have no rhythm whatsoever. I’m nervous I’ll look like a moron, ha.
de-lurking to post a comment 🙂
such a big fan of your blog – thank you for all of the awesome work outs and the meal ideas! i cant believe i still havent tried out the gina breakfast cookie yet- on my to do list!
quick cardio question….for weight loss, do u recommend a minium of one hour cardio on alternting days? or should i split it up to incorporate cardio every day? ( i also do a boot camp, 2 x a week).
thank you!!
whoo hoo for delurking!!! HI 🙂
i’d do less cardio every day. 30-45 minutes of alternating intensities and you should be golden 🙂
I’ve been dying to try one of your famous breakfast cookies so I ordered some Sun Warrior the other day. Just wanted to share, in case you haven’t seen it, there’s a coupon code for the Sun Warrior web site that gives you 20% off and free shipping. Just enter “naturalnewyear” in the coupon code field. I think it’s good thru Feb 1.
Love love love your blog!
YES!!! thank you!!! i hadn’t ordered mine yet.. doing that now!
I began the “Intro to Iron Plan” yesterday (I subbed alternating leg press with 58 lbs, 3 sets of 50 on each leg for the step ups (completely forgot I could use a BOSU ball to do that, doh!)). Anyhow, it was a great leg/cardioesque workout. I’m used to just running running running so it was nice to have a preset exercise routine that was just going from one machine to the next. I have a nice little soreness in my legs (nothing like the inability to move I get from doing P90X legs/back). Which I actually think is better because it means I got a great workout with doing too much damage to my muscles. 🙂 I’m thinking about incorporating “Whittle Your Middle” which I’ve read about on a few blogs. Anyhow just wanted to say thanks for the exercises!
i’m so happy you’re enjoying them 🙂
Side note: I work at a gym and EVERYTIME Zumba is going on and the song “Say Hey (I Love You) – Michael Franti comes on I cannot help but shake it myself.
So I purchased nutritional yeast a while back for a recipe but don’t really know what else to do with it. I’ve heard that it’s sort of like sprinkling on parmesan cheese but it’s got no dairy in it. What all do you use nutritional yeast for other than on your egg puffs?
use it on popcorn!!! spray some plain popcorn with cooking spray (or olive oil) and top with sea salt and nutritional yeast. it’s so delicious!
lol– we just got zumba at my gym, and people are going CRAZY for it– it’s an epidemic, for real! I haven’t tried it yet, because the classes are always crazy packed.
I got a juicer yesterday for my birthday, and can’t wait to try out some of your juice concoctions!!
Hey your clients are sooo lucky to have you make them lunch. I am in the states at the moment for work and I just ordered some raw food through Pure Market Express (as I don’t have a kitchen in my hotel room – one of the cons of my travel lifestyle). Would have been even cooler to have tried yours!! 😀
ahhhh that would be AWESOME. let me know how you like pure market express!
Sorry to hear yoga teaching didn’t go so well! But obviously you’re an amazing zumba teacher so hopefully it hasn’t gotten you down.
Next step: offering your personal cheffery in NYC. 😉
thank you friend <3
um, that would be amazing 🙂
Just wondering what brant of Millet bread you eat…and also, what do you buy for the sun warrior protein? just the plain flavored? I’ve been wanting to try brown rice protein powder, but never know what to buy.
Thanks!
food for life 🙂
and i get the vanilla sun warrior- it’s wonderful
I would love to do zumba, but I just don’t have any rhythm! I would feel like everyone was looking at me and pointing!
they would not!!! it’s totally just for fun 🙂
It would scar me for life!
I’m having salmon tonight !
what is maca?
all about maca: http://www.macaroot.com/benefits/index.html
😀
that protein chia pudding sounds great! I’d like to try maca, do you notice a difference in energy? On the natural medicines comprehensive database, studies have also shown it also increases libido? hmmm lol