around the weekend + meal prep for the week
Hey hey hey friends! <3 Happy Monday.
Hope you’re having a wonderful morning. How was the weekend? Ours was pretty good.
(Lounging and watching Inside Out with these little noodles.)
We had some friends in town from Tucson, so we met up with them for dinner at True Foods. Livi also had ballet and two birthday parties,
(the kiddos chasing the Jedi with pool noodle light sabers)
(vegan dog with sauerkraut)
and Saturday night, we hit up Crack Shack for dinner with our cousins.
I’ve mentioned Crack Shack on the blog before, and it’s a delicious casual spot in downtown SD. I’m not really a fried chicken person -if I’m going to go for something fried/greasy, I want fries instead of chicken- but it’s the BEST FRIED CHICKEN I’ve ever had. I dream about it, and I’m so glad it opened after P was born because pregnant Gina would be washing down her soft pretzels with Crack Shack fried chicken haha. Their kale salad is one of the best I’ve had, and I enjoyed it with smoked chicken, wine, and a piece of the Pilot’s fried chicken.
Livi and I also got to check out the new market at Liberty Station. Only a few vendors were open on Saturday,
(all the cheeses)
but it is going to be incredible when everything is fully up and running, which should be midway through this week. If you’re local, I highly recommend checking it out! There is a huge variety of vendors, from Maine lobster, to empanadas, to fresh juices, plus indoor and outdoor seating areas to hang out and enjoy.
There are also computer outlets everywhere, so maybe I have a new favorite writing spot?? Also Liberty Station is just getting out of control. I already thought they had everything I could wish for within a half mile radius, and they keep adding fantastic restaurants and a LOT is opening soon, too.
I hit the workouts pretty hard this weekend, and am still enjoying my 5-day weight training split. (Right now I’m doing LEGS THREE TIMES A WEEK, a pull day, and a push day. It makes me laugh to think about those “never skip leg day” memes because I can’t. Leg day haunts me multiple times a week haha.)
I also taught a fun and sweaty Zumba class, and we put together our meal plan.
Here’s what’s on the menu:
Chicken tortilla soup
Arugula and veggie salads
Honey Dijon Salmon with asparagus and brown rice
Turkey bacon quiche (I’ll post the recipe!) with sweet potatoes
Prep:
Chicken for lunches
Chop veggies for salads
Make a batch of amazeballs
It’s a pretty easy week, and we only had to plan a handful of dinners because we’re going to Tucson for Easter. We can’t wait to see everyone, and P finally gets to learn that it’s just the four of us; we’re actually part of a huge, loving, boisterous family. 😉 She’s in for a treat. We’re all ready to cover my nana with hugs, too. I’ve missed her like crazy over the past few months. We’re so thankful that friends and family are lending us a majority of the baby essentials, so it dramatically cuts down the things we need to pack. Traveling with a kid + a baby is like moving haha.
(Check out that P Hawk.)
Hope you all have a very happy Monday!
xoxo
Gina
Something to do: This walking workout! You DON’T have to run to burn serious calories and get an awesome sweat. Also, if you usually run on the treadmill, this is a great way to shake things up!
Today’s workout jam: This one has been out for a while, but I still love it for strength or moderate cardio.
Congratulations to the winners of the sneaky giveaway for free copies of PBB + a Skype personal training session with me: Sarah R. and Brittany M.! (Stay tuned for more giveaways of the regular and sneaky variety in the near future. xo)
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Honey dijon salmon! mmm that sounds delish! I have some salmon I need to cook up and would love the recipe–is it in the blog archives?! 🙂
it’s one of the on the fly things. i just whisk dijon with honey and olive oil, season the filets with salt, pepper and garlic powder, pour the sauce on top and bake
Hope you have a great time visiting your family!
thank you!
I want ALL those cheeses! Haha. I need to make my meal plan for this week, thanks for the reminder 🙂
Can’t wait to try that walking workout. I’m always looking for low impact options for cardio. I hope you guys loved Inside Out – I don’t even have kiddos and I thought it was adorable : )
Happy Monday!
we’ve seen it like 4 times already- it’s so good!
happy monday to you too!
I am really interested in your workouts. Will you be doing a recap once you are done or maybe utilizing some of it for you summer shape up?
I also wanted to let you know that I am thankful for your blog
YES! If your trainer will allow it, would love to know more about your plan — and the goals you gave your trainer and timeline. Love to hear the programming behind it. Happy Monday, Gina! 🙂
yes i can definitely post more about it!
xoxo
yes and yes!
thank you so much for reading <3 i will also be using some new ideas and techniques for the advanced PBB plan
xoxo
I thought I was the only one who trained legs three days a week! My legs are my weakness though. After two years of crazy injuries, they are weak and my cardio options are limited but strength training and pilates help big time.
yep! i’m trying to build some muscle since i apparently cardio-ed the heck out of them
After reading this, I’ve gotta say I feel sorry for that Jedi! That’s a lot of kids coming at you lol. Looking forward to hitting the gym when the husband gets home, and crushing a PBB workout. 🙂
Have a good trip this Easter. I hope P does well with the travel!
i felt sorry for him until i found out how much he was paid to be there for an hour haha.
hope you’re loving PBB so far 🙂
thank you! hope you have a great week
Leg day 3x a week? Yous a crazy woman.
right? it’s terrible and awesome at the same time
I keep almost buying PBB but can’t decide if it is right for me. I am 6 months postpartum but have only done walking since baby arrived despite being fit through your my pregnancy. Thoughts? Thanks!
I love the program so far, and I was in no shape at all really, just had an established cardio base. Just a little background: I did a pageant and serious working out in my early twenties. Now, about a decade later, I have three kids all two years a part in age – and I was utterly out of shape before my first pregnancy. I sound like such a cautionary tale! Eh.
My attempts at fitness between kids were largely failures, because I did too much too soon and injured my self. Never seriously injured thankfully, just enough to make me stop for a long time because I was so lost about what to do.
When I went back to the gym this year I just kept running and stayed away from weights, I was too scared to try them without guidance – and a trainer isn’t happening for me anytime soon. I got PBB and I was so thrilled to have a road map to getting back into lifting weights and strength routines.
I’m happy to say that PBB is going well, 3 weeks in. I’m enjoying having workouts mapped out so I don’t have to think about/ or plan them. And I’m not injured, I’m getting stronger, and the deadlifts in the first four weeks unlocked my hamstrings which is helping my back… and so it goes. So I’d recommend it highly. I know the price can give a little bit of sticker shock, but it’s the same price as most comprehensive workout programs and this plan is dedicated to moms and the specific issues we face (there are whole workouts dedicated to balancing Left and Right side muscles!)
Considering the small but annoying issues I’ve suffered over the years, I’d recommend PBB to anyone who has had children and wants to get fit again. This kind of program is really necessary for moms, and encouraging, because it was made for us and made for our success. That matters to me a lot, because all fitness programs are designed for success, but mom issues are real – and things like taking it more slowly, staying hydrated, and eating well matter more than ever for us. I hope this helps. 🙂
thank you so much for chiming in, julia!
i’m so so happy to hear you’re enjoying it already <3
your kind words mean so much to me.
xoxo
hey! if you said that you were already back into lifting weights, i would say that you’re too advanced for it. but since you’ve been walking without any strength training, i think it would be perfect to safely get back into it. let me know what you think or if you have any more questions! i’m happy julia chimed in with her experience, too!
Elizabeth, I won’t get into gross stuff here, but weight lifting can definitely create issues if there are existing ulcers or hernias (or piles… as they’re called) from the birthing process. I got a little freaked out by some side effects of me upping my activity and lifting weights again, so I saw my doc who gave me clearance and said my issues were just related to having given birth, but I had no ulcers or hernias. As moms, anytime we lift or strain heavy items we’re in jeopardy of a slew of weird things. So a gentle start back into it is key, in my non-trainer certified opinion.
Gina, I’m happy to chime in about PBB! And I went to the gym last night at the WORST time ever and was still able to bang out a whole workout without issue, very quickly (in and out in under an hour). Two thumbs up for that.
Ummm Crack Shack sounds amazing!! They need to expand to Omaha!
it’s SO GOOD
Haha I couldn’t do legs that much! But I guess I do work them a few times a week in Body Pump. We had grilled salmon last night with a delicious marinade. Love salmon!!
Looks like a great weekend!
I’m wanting to do more weight training. I teach Pilates and do a fair bit throughout the week, but it’s higher reps vs higher weight less reps work. Are your leg workouts body weight based or using machines?
my leg workouts are everything: bodyweight, machine, TRX, kettlebell, barbells and stability balls. it’s fun to do more of a mix, and a great way to challenge yourself
P totally rocks that hair. Aww have fun with the fam! There’s nothing like it. I’m not able to go home this Easter because I can’t really take any time off of school, but I will be seeing my brother since he is nearby, and will be spending the day with a friend’s family which should be great!
that is awesome!
Love how happy P looks in that last picture. Wondering how you overcame the tummy time troubles mentioned in her 2 month update.
My son – 3 months – also has severe reflux and while we did tummy time when he was a newborn, as he got worse we kind of just stopped since he would shriek and spit up like crazy for hours after being on his stomach. He’s holding his head up really well so clearly all that time holding him upright has done a good job of strengthening his back and neck muscles, I’m nervous about his motor skill development due to the lack of tummy time. Any tips or tricks you can share that worked with P? Happy to see that she’s doing so well and thriving! Gives me hope!
she did it on her own. i decided to stop trying to do tummy time because like your baby, she had awesome head control from being held so much. every time i put her on her tummy, she was a waterfall of spit up. when she could roll onto her tummy on her own, she started doing her own tummy time in the crib before and after nap time. now that we’re heading out of the woods, i can put her on the tummy time blanket and she’ll roll over and start to push up. i think just give it time! it’s not worth it if they’re miserable and spitting.
hope things start to get better for you soon! it will get better. i never believed it but it will actually happen 😉
xoxo
This gives me so much hope – thank you!
seriously i NEVER believed it would happen. hang in there, mama! there is a light at the end of that tunnel
Love the pic of your sweet girls! I’m still trying to make it through WSU because every time I start it (this is my third start) I get really sick after week 2! Hopefully cold season is over for me now so I can finally make it through. Overall, I’m doing my best to amp up my cardio, though, since that’s what I’m really lacking as a Pilates instructor.
oh man! i hope you can do it! getting sick is the worst
LOVe this song! Thank you for sharing!!!
yay, glad you like it! i think it’s so funky and fun
Kale salad in my favorite. When I go home to visit, my mom always takes me to the same restaurant for her favorite kale salad with grapes, apples,nuts and feta cheese. It is amazing
Love Tucson, we go most Saturdays as it’s only an hour away and it has Panera and Costco
loooove tucson 🙂
Hi Gina – please post the turkey bacon sweet potatoe quiche recipe!! I love your meal plan ideas! 🙂 By the way- where do you buy baby clothes for P? They look so adorable. I’m kind of tired of Carter’s & Tarjay’s patterns and prints. Nothing wrong with them but I would like to give some personality to my little girl’s outfits! Thank you! <3
hey girl! i definitely will after i can take some pretty pics 🙂 most of p’s clothes are hand me downs from liv. i get almost everything from baby gap, old navy and hm. i stock up when they have sales!
xoxo