Hump Day Juice Cleanse and Holiday Workouts

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I'm a day late (but not a dollar short!) with this post. I have been pretty busy lately, for reasons I will share soon, but there are some big changes in the works and some big things brewing! For now, here's a look into some of my crazy habits.

What I Ate Wednesday via Peas & Crayons

This What I Ate Wednesday (and Fitness, too) post includes meals from my impromptu hump day juice cleanse as well as my workouts from the past week. Why do I post this? Because I have gotten questions before about whether I really eat the food I post (sometimes, yes... sometimes, no...) and how often I do the fitness regimens I post (and in what order).

The Food:

I started the day with a green juice, which I had picked up the day before at Loop Juice in the Chicago French Market (LOVE that place). It was a little sweet tasting for my preference, so I added the juice of 1/4 of a lemon. I felt pretty satisfied after this juice, but I probably would have wanted to munch on things if I hadn't been in meetings all morning.

For lunch, I decided to keep things "liquid," but still wanted some protein. I had received this Orgain Chocolate protein shake in a Klutch Box a few months ago, so I drank it for my liquid lunch as I walked to Target. It was pretty good, but definitely tasted like a "healthy" shake. It reminded me of the Ensure drink that Abbot makes.

Around 2:30, I was getting hungry again, and I had a red juice in the fridge from Loop Juice. This. Was. Delicious. It was so tasty and sweet that I was sad when it was gone. As I can remember, it includes pomegranate, beets, apple, carrot, and ginger.

While I started cooking dinner, I was starving. I had planned to do the juice cleanse for most of the day but have solid food for dinner, so I made myself a little appetizer in the microwave of a corn tortilla with some mixed cheese and italian seasoning, topped with sriracha. Great little 100 calorie snack to keep you from going insane while you wait for dinner!

I roasted some shredded brussels sprouts from Meez Meals in olive oil with salt and pepper, and topped it with sriracha.

Meanwhile, I also pan seared some tilapia filets in grapeseed oil and then sprinked them with taco seasoning once the fish was cooked enough that it started breaking apart easily. I heated up some corn tortillas and made some fish tacos for dinner. My husband and I both loved them, and it was a super easy (we're talking <10) minute meal.

The Fitness:

Because last week included Thanksgiving break, my workout schedule was a little wacked.

Wednesday: 45 minute Stairmaster Sprint

Thursday: Skip! Thanksgiving, y'all!

Friday: 45 minute Stairmaster Sprint/2 mile run, 20 minutes weights, 10 minutes abs (I was all over the place trying out a new gym, so I did a little bit of everything)

Saturday: 60 minute run (6 miles)

Sunday: 100 Burpee Challenge, 30 minutes mat work (pilates-ish)

Monday: 45 minute Stairmaster and Treadmill cardio

Tuesday: Body By Science

Wednesday: Skip! I was totally wiped from the past few days of workouts, for some reason!

WHAT ABOUT YOU?

• What's your go-to "I'm starving and can't wait for dinner" appetizer?
• What is your favorite workout from this past week?

What I Ate Wednesday

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My second What-I-Ate-Wednesday post, and looking back on last week's, I am proud to say that this time consists of much less lazy meals! By that, I mean that I have now graduated to making my own lunch (which I typically do but lately these posts are not showing it!). Success! Cue the graduation song. Thanks, Vitamin C.

What I Ate Wednesday via Peas & Crayons

I woke up at 5:30 am to hit the gym, so my first order of business was to get some motivation in me!  I just can't do coffee at 5:30 am, and I have found that if I drink coffee right before working out, it dries me out and I have an awful, dehydrated, shaky workout. So, I had a splash of Mio in a bottle of water, which I chugged before heading to my the gym for a 40 minute run and 20 minute weight session.

Once I got to work, I had a Quest Bar (cookie dough... yes! don't ever leave me!), a packet of vitamins I DIYed (why is it so hard for me to get these down? sorry for the gagging noises, coworkers), and some chinese herbal tea. The Quest Bar is obviously the star of this show.

When lunch rolled around, I had a cup of 3 bean lean beef chili (YUM! Recipe here), a small salad with spinach, onion, red pepper, and feta, and a skin detox tea. The combination of chili and salad really hit the spot and kept me full for quite a while, and the fruity tea was a good flavor to offset the chili.

By the time I got home for dinner, I was starving. I had been running around all day and was in need of some serious fuel. I was hungry enough that I didn't even feel like I had the energy to cook (read: lazy), so I was easily swayed when my husband suggested that we eat out.

I had steak tacos (above) with avocado, black beans, lettuce, and tomatoes, on a corn tortilla. I also had a glass of vodka soda with 3 lemon wedges. Probably not the wisest (or healthiest) decision, but it hit the spot!

WHAT ABOUT YOU?

• What decisions do you sometimes make that are not wise or healthy?
• Do you always have coffee in the morning? How do you perk up for an early workout?

My Hangover Cure

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...the completely unofficial, and only once tested remedy.

Disclaimer: This is not a normal practice and I don't advocate being in the situation to even NEED a hangover remedy. But, we're all human, and sometimes we wake up with a banging headache that is screaming at us for having one too many drinks.

I woke on on Saturday morning feeling like I took a freight train to the face. Between drinking strong drinks, dancing at a concert, and eating octopus at midnight (why?!?!), my body was pretty angry.

Step One: Go to Brunch. 

If you can handle it, and it's relatively close, WALK THERE. As painful as it is, the fresh air and sunlight will help you a lot. When you're there, order something delicious and filling. I encourage eggs, meat, and bread. I ordered Naan with chicken chorizo and two sunny side up eggs. ALSO, DRINK WATER WHILE YOU'RE THERE!

Step Two: Add Nutrients. Another thing to do at brunch, if possible. We decided to hit up Meli Cafe, where they have freshly juiced beverages. I had a delicious beverage with a ton of freshly juiced ingredients, like oranges, carrots, apples, and beets. If you can't get it at brunch, at least add some fruit or take a multi vitamin. ALSO, WATER!

Step Three: Take A Nap

Now that you've stuffed your face, it's time to fall into a fitful coma for 3 hours. Or as long as you need to sleep. I napped while my fiance watched sports (what sport? no idea. didn't care). I am a strong advocate of napping to golf, because it is by far the most boring sport to me, and I can always nap. Other good options are: Friends Season DVDs, Avatar, any movies that are long.

Step Four: Sweat

This is the hardest one for me. Now that you've eaten and rested, you may feel just a little bit better. No, you're not ready to conquer the world. But, you are ready to sweat a little. Get the rest of that booze out of your system. You will probably want to sleep instead, but trust me, it's worth it. DO NOT FORGET TO BRING A WATER BOTTLE!

If you're worried about balance, stick with a bike or elliptical (don't want you hurting yourself!). I, for one, was brave and hit the treadmill. I ran 4 miles, but it took me a full hour. I alternated between walking (4mph), walking on an incline (3,8mph, 5-9 incline), and a light jog (6mph). 

I know what you're thinking... how on earth will I get myself to work out when I feel like death? Well, the answer, my friends, is water and entertainment. I brought my iPad and started catching up on Revenge (awful show, still have to watch it for some reason) and drank a LOT of water.

Step Five: Get Pretty

Now that you've eaten, napped, and sweated (and PLEASE tell me you've been drinking water), it's time to put yourself back together. I had plans for a friend's birthday party that night, and we were meeting at Blow by Blow to get our hair done, so I showered (had to) and did my makeup, then got dressed. I donned a good old arm party and headed over to Blow by Blow. Before and After pics below... it obviously helped.

Step Six: Have A Drink

Notice I did not say "Get drunk" or "Drink a bottle of wine." Having one drink is fine, but over-doing it will put you in the same predicament you are finally easing out of. So, chill out, have one glass of wine, and don't get too excited about the alcohol. I'm a big fan of red wine when I'm not feeling so hot, because it keeps me warm and feels somehow nourishing (again, this only counts if you're only drinking a little bit!).

Step Seven: Eat Again

Eat again, and eat a lot. You're finally in the clear, for the most part. I was at Pump Room and ordered a Kale Salad (read: nourishment, vitamins), a salmon over rice pseudo-sushi (read: healthy fats, light carbs), and some fried polenta (read: carbs and cheese in my belly). 

Step Eight: Learn From Your Mistakes and Just Go To Bed
Don't go out. Don't go drink more. Just go to bed. I cannot even describe how amazing it felt to crawl into a nicely made bed and curl up, knowing that I could drift off into sleep.

Question:

• What's your hangover cure?