motivation

My heels are still aching, so I've been spinning, as opposed to running. Going to classes keeps me motivated - I love the feeling of being part of a group. It makes me want to work harder. Although sometimes even when I'm on the treadmill or elliptical I watch other people around me, and get competitve that way. What I really need is a running buddy! Its been in the 40's on some days, which I think is perfect running weather. Plantar facitis be damned!

My gym is rather ghetto, but its cheap and its close. And for the most part, the instructors are awesome! but the other night, I had an awful spin class.  This instructor is notorious for chirping non-stop into her headset, which is pretty annoying, but I can usually tune her out (but even I draw the line at hearing "I go, you go, I go, you go...TWENTY SEVEN TIMES in a row).  On top of that, the class was super boring, with three 8 minute segments of riding in position three. No increase in resistance, nothing, Just plain old riding for 8 minutes in a row. With random chiriping and wooing, and songs without words. I was dying. I don't think I've ever been so bored in the gym in my life.

Ok - I'm done venting, its Wednesday! Happy Hump Day! I'm going to try out a new chicken recipe - wish me luck!

hot like mexico

With healthy eating unfortunately comes healthy cooking. I don't particularly enjoy being in the kitchen, unless its to bake some treats.  One of my specialities is super yummy chicken and black bean quesadillas. I'm going to outline the basic recipe, but you can add in veggies or substitute another protein of choice.

Chicken and Black Bean Quesadillas
makes 5 servings

1 lg chicken breast
1 15 oz can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 tbsp taco seasoning

Cook one large chicken breast and shred into small pieces. I cook mine in a pan with a little spray of non-fat cooking spray. Add the shredded chicken back to the pan, and add 1 tbsp of taco seasoning, 1/4 cup of water and the black beans (drained). Heat over low to medium heat and stir until combined and beans are heated throughout.

Great things to add to the base: 2/3 of a cup of frozen corn or 1 medium red pepper sliced.

The best part of these quesadillas are the AMAZING tortillas I use:

These babies have a whopping 12 grams of fiber, and only 80 calories each. And they're HUGE! And absolutely perfect to keep a ton of beans and chicken in!

In a pan with non-fat cooking spray, I place one tortilla in the pan. I add a thin layer of cheese to half the tortilla, and top it with my chicken/bean mixture. On top I add a bit more cheese. I let it sit for a few minutes on a super low flame. Then I cover the mixture with the other side of the tortilla, and carefully flip it over. I let it sit for a few more minutes until both sides are browned, and the cheese is melted.

I did an approximate calorie and fiber count for these babies - one quesadilla with 1/4 of low fat cheese, and they come in at 345 calories, and 16 grams of fiber! So delish, and so fulfilling. You can easily add more veggies to the mix, and stretch the servings even further. This is not only yummy and low cal, but it makes one large chicken breast last for at least 5 servings!

I especially like this recipe because I can cook the chicken and beans with the seasoning one night, and throw it in the fridge, and just whip up a quesadilla in about 10 minutes on a late night. I'm all about quick and easy during the week (that's what she said).

What are your easy weeknight dinners?

happy valentine's day

in honor of v-day, i made katie's triple chocolate muffins. share one with someone you love :)

jersey shore

it's official, i have a shore house for the summer!  in the north east, the summer season runs from memorial day weekend until labor day weekend.  i live about an hour from the beach, but it is a pain to drive there and back after a long day of beach and booze! so i am especially excited to have a house for the whole season.

this also means swimsuit season is right around the corner. my schedule this semester is all over the place because i am interning and going to school, but i am making exercise a priority! i love spin class, so i am trying to get to as many classes a week as i can (usually three), and getting my butt on the elliptical or treadmill the other days.

my summer home!

i think that having official summer plans will help me stay on track. what keeps you on track in these dreary winter months?!

back in the kitchen

I don't necessarily enjoy cooking. I'm trying to do it more, but it doesn't usually go well. I'm going to start posting some of my more successful semi-homemade-ish recipes here, because your feedback might help me improve. And with improvement maybe I'll enjoy it more!

That being said, I do love to bake. I have a mean sweet tooth.  One of my new favorite blogs is Dashing Dish and I got an amazing recipe from Katie.  Do you like Vita Muffins? They used to be one of my fave healthy sweets.  They're full of fiber but still chocolate-y and delish.  They're also kind of expensive.

Wellllllllll...Katie came up with her own recipe for Triple Chocolate Chunk Muffins and they are Vita Muffins but BETTER! You have to check out her blog, and these amazing muffins. I made them, and man I could just eat muffin after muffin!  That being said, I decided to freeze them (like real Vita Muffins), so that I don't eat 12 at a time (totally do-able). And they're even better warm!


the not-so-pretty, but oh-so-delish muffin!

Why cook when you bake such yummy treats? I could definitely live off these.

What are you favorite, secretly healthy treats?  I'm also a fan of Jessica Seinfeld recipes!

the groundhog says...

The East coast has been pummeled by snow this winter. We have had massive snow at least once a week! Today was an ice storm, pretty, but annoying.  And I missed spin last night because of it. But that's ok, because the infamous groundhog did NOT see his shadow, and that means winter will be over soon.

Sadly for me, this happy day also coincided with the arrival of the Victoria's Secret swim catalogue. But that means it's officially time to stop slacking, and start working hard. Back when I was my slimmest, I had a picture of VS model Marissa Miller on my fridge for inspriration. But my dear cousin told me I should hang a picture of ME for true inspiration, and I think she's right.

An old friend wrote on Facebook that she goes to Bar Method classes at a nearby studio.  She invited me to join her for a free class, so I think I'm going to bite the bullet and finally check it out.

For tonight though, its back to spin! And I'm going to be trying out some new recipes, so I'll be sure to tell you how they go. Wish me luck ;)

What's your best inspiration for swimsuit season??