When I get cooking... Stew 2.0

So sometimes I follow recipes... sometimes I don't.
This is one of those moments where I just looked in my cupboard for ingredients and I came up with this:
1 box of chicken stock
2 chicken breasts
1 can black beans
1 cup brown rice
1 cup spinach
1 orange pepper
thyme, oregano, salt and pepper

Crock pot it. = YUM! Its Stew 2.0- thick stew/soup... yes...
I really like the crock pot. I make chili and fajitas quite often in it. What I love is that you turn it on and walk away. No excuses!
I think I will freeze it and eat it when I need a quick dinner in the next few weeks! This is how I am successful at eating healthy- plan ahead and make it easy to make healthy choices! This is why I try to keep a fresh salad in the fridge. I fail when the only option I have is pizza (note: I have an entire veggie pizza in my freeze from the other night... haha)
Hope everyone is having a nice last few days of 2009!

New Workout

Just got back from the gym. I love mid-afternoon workouts, they are my fave!
So I started this new workout and I love it! Its a good change of pace from my last one and I was certainly tired by the end of it.
She has an interesting way of warming up that essentially means you jump around for 10 minutes to warm up. It shocks your body into getting into gear. You do head to toe squats, jumping jacks, 1 leg jumps, lunges... and so on. I think it warms my body up much better than the standard 5-10 minutes on the bike. and its more fun. I'm sure I looked a little funny jumping around at the gym, but whatever.
Also, my favorite part of going to the gym, is coming home and making a protein smoothie. For those of you that don't know, after you workout, especially after resistance training, you need protein.
Go to http://www.proteinreport.com/and www.optimumsmoothie.com for more info and some great recipes!

Mine today:
1 cup skim milk
1 scoop Chocolate protein powder
1 small banana
ice cubes
BLEND!!!!!!!! and enjoy... yum!!!!

Now i'm going to watch more of HBO's Rome... so addicted.

Christmas Goodies

Well this is my first post. I doubt anyone will read it but this is okay! Xmas was great, but extremely filling. My mother and I both made some delicious desserts and while I tried my best to eat as healthy as possible I can't resist nanaimo bars or gingerbread men! yummy!!!! The photo is of fudge my friends and I made. So festive!

My sister and I worked out on the 24th and 26th, which was great! She is going to attempt the New Rules of Lifting for Women, which I did this past spring/summer/fall (its a 6 month program.) I got a new workout by Rachel Cosgrove (check her blog out here: http://rachelcosgrove.blogspot.com/) for Xmas and am going to start it up tomorrow! Can't wait! I'll be posting some of the workouts here so you get the idea of the crazy things you can do at the gym (that don't involve boring cardio...)
Also, today I ate possibly the most delicious oatmeal ever!!
Recipe:
oats, whatever kind and however much you want.
1 small banana
water and skim milk (again depends on the amount of oats and texture desired, i like my oatmeal thick)
2 tbsp ground flax
1/2 cup cottage cheese
1tbsp almond butter
In a sauce pan add oatmeal, sliced up banana, milk and water. Mix and heat up. once mixed and heated add flax. Take out of saucepan and add cottage cheese and almond butter. Enjoy!!!
Check out this blog for more oatmeal inspiration:
http://www.katheats.com