Creativity and Lettuce Tacos, With a Little Bit of Kundalini

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How was your weekend? 

Mine was wonderful, with just the right combination of activity and rest. Friday, fiance and I went on a date. Then, Saturday, we did an insanely hard Spinning class, then I went to Blogger Book Club, and then we had dinner with one of our fave couples at a schwanky restaurant in West Town. Yesterday, we relaxed, had a yummy breakfast at The Breakfast Club, and tried our first session of Kundalini Yoga!

Delicious spread at Blogger Book Club, hosted by Kelsey

Yummy dinner at Leopold in West Town

Swirlymon Coffee at The Breakfast Club

Creativity and Kundalini? 
Yesterday, fiance and I decided to take a yoga class at the gym. Neither of us were feeling up for anything highly aerobic, because we were both absolutely wiped and needed a day to rest. So, we saw something called 'Beginner's Yoga' (we are not beginners, mind you) on the schedule, and decided to give it a try.

Totally not what I was expecting. As it turned out, the instructor taught Kundalini Yoga. I know, you thought the "Kundalini" in the title was an Italian dish, didn't you? I don't blame you. Fun fact, though: I don't like Italian dishes. I legitimately dislike pasta (notice there are like zero pasta recipes on my food page).

Anyway, apparently, Kundalini as a yoga practice is meant to "cultivate the creative spiritual potential of a human to uphold values, speak truth, and focus on the compassion and consciousness needed to serve and heal others" (yes, I'm quoting Wikipedia again). Most of what I got out of that explanation was the part about cultivating the creative spiritual potential.

So, what's the deal with Kundalini Yoga? It was just alright. The instructor had us do small repetitive movements for about 2 minutes each, combining it with breathing techniques. I'll admit that I did feel some heat in my arms, and, at one point, in my abs... but, when I'm spending an hour in a class, I expect a bit more than that.

That said, who knows. Maybe my creativity has been increased in its wake. Who knows what kind of magic I'll whip up today?!

Lettuce Tacos? 

Fiance loves himself some Turkey Tacos. They're lean, they're mean, and they're just darn good. It's been our Sunday Night meal for a while now.

But there's one thing I just don't love about it, which is what I call the vehicle. The taco shell, itself (or it-shell-f? ha). Just as your car is a vehicle to get you to Hobby Lobby (loveeeeee), the taco shell is really just a vehicle to get that turkey and cheese goodness into my oh-so-happy mouth. I could eat more of the turkey and less of the taco shell.

Enter large lettuce heads. Bib lettuce, if you will. I grabbed a head of it for $0.99 at the grocer. Now, I can get my fill on that delicious protein, instead of spending on the carby carb carbs.

It's kind of like if skinny fish tacos and turkey lettuce wraps had a baby. You could also do something similar with Swiss Chard, and it would be a bit more hearty, so you could really load those babies up with meat.

Really, though. Check it out. His and hers tacos?

Questions...

• How was your weekend? I want to know!
• What have you done creatively this week - in the kitchen or elsewhere? 

Kanye's... or Carly's Comprehensive Workout Plan (And How To Build Your Own)

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Many of you have written in asking for my workout plan. Since it was part of my New Years Resolution to actually write out my plan and stick to it, I created a spreadsheet document that includes my workouts. Thus, I'm able to finally share with you a consistent plan!

Workout Schedule - Click image to enlarge.

Here are a few notes for those of you who are either trying to understand this plan or just plain copy it!

• Choice Days: These are days that I build into my workout routine for two reasons. First, so that I am able to try new things, challenge my body, and keep things fresh. Second, so that I am able to build in optional skip days (See Next Bullet Point). What is a Choice Day, you might ask? On Choice Days, I can do anything. In this workout plan, I've given myself a few workout "suggestions," so that I don't have to think or plan too much... but if I suddenly have the urge to take a boxing class, go on a run, or do yoga, I will absolutely go for it and change things up.
• Skip Days: During any given week, I can only skip one or two of these Choice Days. I aim to only skip one, but depending on how hard I've been pushing it, sometimes my body needs a bit more time to heal. Thus, out of the three Choice Days I build into my week, I try to skip only one, but sometimes two.

The workouts themselves:

• Full Body Blast: This is a 30-minute exercise class at my gym that combines cardio with a weighted bar. If you're trying to follow this plan, but do not have a similar class at your gym, try this 25 Minute Full Body Workout with Light Weights.
• Spinning: This is a 50-minute exercise class at my gym that uses spinning bikes to challenge your muscles and amp up your heart rate. If you can't find a spinning class near you, try the bike version of this Megan Fox butt workout, and try to go through the entire workout twice within 50 minutes two an hour.
• Bodypump: This is a 60-minute exercise class at my gym that uses moderate weights with high reps, isolating one or two body parts for each song or "track." If you can't find a Bodypump class, I would suggest combining this 25 Minute Full Body Workout, this 10 Minute Full Body Workout, and this 10 Minute Abs Workout.
• CXWORX: This is a 30-minute exercise class at my gym that focuses entirely on your core (not only abs, but also back and upper legs). If you're looking for something to do that can simulate this class, there are a few options. First if you have Ab Ripper X (from P90X Series) or Core Cardio (from Insanity Series), you can substitute with those. Otherwise, try this Ab Workout.
• Body By Science: This is the Holy Grail of workouts. There is no replacement, but it's fairly easy to learn. Read about it here.
• Pilates & Yoga: These are classes at my gym, and I use them almost interchangeably  They are definitely different, but their benefits for me are very similar. They focus on lengthening and strengthening your muscles (whereas a lot of weight lifting will shorten and strengthen). In addition, they help me stretch out and find some mental peace. You can typically find Yoga and Pilates classes online or via your TV provider, but here is a link you can use for free Yoga workouts.
• Stairmaster Workout: On my Stairmaster days, I use this Stairmaster Sprint Workout.
• Cardio Mash Up: On my Cardio Mash Up days, I start with the most difficult cardio machine and work my way down, switching machines every 15 minutes. So, I start on the Treadmill for 15 minutes, alternating as I please between sprints and slow jogs. Then, I switch to the Stairmaster and try to build up my pace steadily on there for 15 minutes. Then, I switch to an Elliptical machine and try to go at a solid but steady pace for 15 minutes. Last, I switch to a bike and move at a fast pace for 15 minutes.

I would encourage those of you who are interested in doing something similar to take this template and adjust it to meet your own needs. Here are my rules of thumb for creating your own workout schedule:

• Give yourself some Choice Days! You need to be able to change it up and surprise your body or you won't continue to see the great results you want!
• Take a skip day! It's good for you - I promise!
• Include the following: At least one pure weights day, at least one pure cardio day (I have two), and at least two days of mixed weights and cardio (I have three). Also, try to add at least one day for heavy stretching per week. I occasionally skip this day (bad Carly!), so try to do better than I do!

Looking for additional resources? Check out my fitness page! And don't forget that no fitness plan is complete without a healthy nutrition plan - you can eat through any workout you do if you're not careful!

TruHarmony

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On Friday night, I went to Vino and Vinyasa at TruHarmony Yoga to support my coworkers and watch my Aunt Betsy (hereon referred to as just Betsy) and Uncle Toby (Toby) get their music on with their made-for-this-event band, 7ATE 9.  <--Check them out on Soudcloud!

Toby and their music mate, Larry, were having so much fun. They were smiling and bobbing their heads like five year olds playing with new toys.

My parents also came down from the 'burbs to meet us. Here are the sisters, watching Toby and Larry play... :)

A little over half way through their set list, two dancers moved into the middle of the room and began what I can only assume was a flash dance.

At first, they were in opposite corners and didn't seem to be doing anything choreographed. They didn't move in unison. They just seemed like a couple of girls who had a glass of wine and got really happy.

That is... until suddenly they merged and everything was choreographed and fabulous.

It was a huge surprise and so exciting!

And there were smiles all around :) Yay for music. Yay for wine. Yay for Yoga.

We Can Work It Out

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Disclaimer:  This is a workout-related post... and, I know, not everyone wants to listen to the Fitness Field Marshall.  If that doesn't pique your interest, don't cry.  I still love you.  Just for you, I'll be back later with some more love.

When I first got really into fitness, I often search the net for other workout schedules to learn from or try.  Actually, I still do that fairly regularly, just to keep it fresh and confuse my body.  Because that's fun.  

Kanye's Carly's Workout Plan:

    (Source)

Breakdown:

Cardio:
5 mile run
15 min Jump Rope
60 min Elliptical
Insanity Pure Cardio

Weights:
Jillian Michaels (No More Trouble Zones)
Weights Class

Abs: 
Jillian Michaels (No More Trouble Zones)
Ab Ripper X
Insanity Abs

Review:


Okay, good things about this schedule: Good mix of cardio and weights.  I've learned that too much cardio without enough weights gives very temporary physical results without adding much actual fitness to your body.  It is also really hard on my body joint-wise and muscle-wise and I end up with sore knees or shin splints.  Let's not grind our bones into the ground, shall we?  Similarly, too much weights without enough cardio might make us physically strong, but without cardio we can't see those muscles as well.

Bad things about this schedule:  No stretch day.  Other than my cool down stretches and the 15 minute post-weights class stretch, I didn't have an opportunity to really stretch my muscles.  No Yoga.  No Stretch X.  The result?  I'm sore.  It's not horrible, no -- and sometimes, to be honest, I like feeling a little sore because it reminds me that I really worked out hard.  But the soreness is not necessary - it just adds the mental comfort of knowing you kicked your own hiney.  I much prefer to stick in one day a week devoted to really stretching my muscles (like P90X Yoga).  I find that I'm able to perform better because my muscles stay feeling fresh.  That means my runs get longer and my weights days are more intense.  So, taking that day to rejuvenate is worth it by the end of the week.

Moving forward:  I'm planning to... (1) add a stretch day next week, (2) get some new workout music, and (3) substitute a long bike ride in place of what would be a run in order to change it up, surprise my muscles, and get a good cardio workout in without pounding the pavement.

Mantra:
Someone busier than you is running right now.

Want to get the workouts I did?