I forgot to mention yesterday, but WOW! You guys eat early! Maybe I should do a New Year’s Resolution to start eating earlier?
Ooh and I had fun reading about your eating styles! Glad to see I’m not the only one who gets skittish when it comes to ordering meat at a restaurant. Unless the restaurant states they source quality meats, I assume it’s factory. Ew.
On to today’s eats…
I had a hard time thinking of something interesting to eat today, but finally came up with a simple yet savvy concoction.
Of course, breakfast wouldn’t be complete without lovely, hot, comforting coffee in a Christmas mug. I love the shape of this mug!
I ended up making french toast with Great Harvest Whole Grain Goodness.
I made a quick apple-maple topping.
Quick Apple Topping Non-Recipe: add 1 small-chopped apple (remove skins if you want, but they have a lot of nutrition), 1/4 cup water, 2 – 4 tbsp maple syrup (depending on how sweet you want), and 1/4 tsp cinnamon. Cook over medium heat to a boil, then simmer till apples are tender and sauce is reduced to your liking. Serve over french toast, pancakes, etc.
Hubby and I had leftover baked ziti and homemade focaccia for lunch.
Mmm…re-baked focaccia. 🙂
I had a simple salad for some veg – organic baby spinach with red quinoa and balsamic vinaigrette. I’ve put grains, like wheat berries, in salad before, but I first saw quinoa in salads at Foodbuzz at the Fresh Express tasting table.
And I had some steamed edamame a little later.
Lookie what I got! The new ZLife, whic is the Zumba magazine.
Speaking of Zumba, I taught a fabulous class tonight. I busted out a new song I choreographed, called Mira.
Once upon a time, I went with some friends to a cool club in Miami called “Mango’s Mambo Bar.”
There, I saw girls in skimpy outfits dancing to hot Latin tunes, from Merengue to Reggaetton. The girls were hot, but to me…the dances were hotter! I used inspiration from that trip to choreograph my new Zumba dance – Mira by Fulanito (featuring Truko). My class loved it, and I had fun teaching it! Woohoo!
I’m still working on my crochet ripple blanket, but I have a few other things in the works.
Any guesses what this is?
Fitness Therapy
I tweeted this earlier today:
I feel like workouts can be so therapeutic. I like getting different therapeutic value from different styles of exercise. I’ve found comfort and a feeling of refreshment from yoga. I’ve found freedom and endurance in running. I’ve found empowerment and excitement in Zumba. I wonder what other people think about how their workouts make them feel. I had a few people tweet back at me with their versions of therapy, but I’d like to hear from you guys, too…
What’s your fitness therapy? How does it make you feel during or after?
Running is definitely my fitness therapy! I may feel like dying in the middle of the run but once it’s over, the sense of accomplishment and the endorphins are KILLER!
a good hot vinyasa class or a good run. 🙂 Nothing like working up a good sweat to make me feel loads better 🙂
I’ve been to mangos…for my bachelorette! there’s a lot of shakin’ goin on there 🙂
I’m jealous! I wish I could have gone to Mangos for mine! 🙂
i LOVE running- hands down… but for strength I really like pilates! its more intense than yoga, which is good for me.. and you feel the burn!
Spinning is my form of workout therapy. Whether I go into class bummed out or pissed off I come out with a smile on my face feeing totally motivated (and exhausted?).
I’ve never had quinoa before – what does it taste like?
Quinoa is sort of like rice or pasta – it doesn’t have much of a flavor itself, so it tends to take on the flavors you cook it with. If I had to pick a flavor, though, I’d say t’s a bit nutty, I suppose. I think it’s a great alternative to grains in case you ever get sick of rice, etc. You could get a small amount from the bulk bin aisle of your local health store if you just want to try a little.
Long distance running and body pump for me! Such a high when you are done 🙂
There’s a Zumba magazine? 😮
Let me guess, you need to be an instructor to subscribe. 🙁
Dancing is definitely my form of therapy. It’s so freeing and enjoyable! 🙂
Hey Dee! I’m pretty sure anyone can get ZLife. Here’s more info on the magazine: http://zlife.zumba.com/
I’m guessing a pickle. I mean, I totally know it’s not. But right now it looks like an adorable crocheted pickle. I love that you crochet, by the way. It seems really relaxing and theraputic, and plus you can get lots of scarves out of the deal. Do you find the yarn is expensive though?
My fitness therapy is, unfortunately, a bit of a splurge – I LOVE Pilates classes studio classes using reformers, etc. Physically AND mentally, it makes me happy. 🙂
bahahaha! Pickle is a good guess for what it looks like now! Yarn can be expensive depending on the type you like to work with. Unfortunately, I have expensive taste so I like expensive yarn like cashmerino and soya cotton. But you can get cheap stuff at Michael’s. 🙂
Running or yoga for sure!
Hehe I always say running is my free therapy – so true!
I love running and yoga!
Cardio, whether it’s dancing, the stationary bike, elliptical or running. I love the calm and relaxed feeling I get afterwards.
I finally got to try Zumba yesterday! Randomly. I was at a local bar where apparently they clear the tables every other Thursday night and have a zumba class. In club clothes. We thought it was a flash mob. I was there with a bunch of my dance friends so we joined in, and soon realized it was Zumba. So much fun and so glad I got to finally try it! And what a great work out. I can see why you love it!
Fun story! That sounds like an awesome way to zumba! 🙂
Oh, and I’m guessing a turtle for what you’re making 🙂
That’s a good guess. It looks like the start of that, but…it’s not a turtle! 😉
My fitness therapy is either a long run or Bikram yoga. Afterwards you forget about anything bad that had happened previously!
Your breakfast looks so yummy!
One thing about your blog that I love so much is that you are a fitness class instructor, but not just any class – Zumba, something unique, fun, but challenging. I love hearing about your experiences teaching class!
Spin class in my mental zen, lifting is my empowering deep breathing ritual, and running is my physical and mental challenge of all challenges. I love working out and love that all the different forms bring a different benefit.
Aww why thank you Monica! I love how you have so many forms of fitness therapy! 🙂
How fun that you teach Zumba! I have only gone to one in person class, but really loved the videos. I want the video game even, but more than that I would love to find an awesome in person class to attend.
I love dance of all kinds, but I agree with you, different kinds of movement do bring different feelings. Tai chi is my go to for relaxing movement, while a good walk always boosts my mood, but dancing is always king of my castle! 🙂
Yay for lots of fun fitness therapies! Hope you find a good zumba class soon. You can try to look up classes at http://www.zumba.com – there’s a link for find an instructor or class or something and you can search for places within a certain radius of your house or work! 🙂
Definitely Zumba! I first heard the phrase “Dance it out” on Grey’s Anatomy and like to live by that mantra whenever I’m stressed.
Love that mantra! 🙂