What's Your Number?

First, I must apologize for not posting as much as I would have liked to in the past week, but I have recently become very interested in gaining more muscle, and the gym has become my second home. (Not that I am complaining about it.)

This past weekend, I went to Barnes and Noble (a bookstore, incase anyone was not aware) in order to find new ways to kick my workouts into high gear. Rather than finding a new book on the latest tips and tricks...I found something more useful- a workout tracker/daily journal! It is the best buy that I have made in awhile and I highly suggest it for any of you whom are not only trying to POUND off those extra, stubborn pounds, but for those who want to add on some lean muscle as well. In the journal it tracks: 

- BMI (body mass index- depending on height and weight)

- Blood pressure

-Body fat content (which is measured with a special instrument and not just a chart)

-Weight

-Water intake (IMPORTANT!)

-Body measurements (my favorite)

The reason the measurements are my favorite is because that is where I will see if my workouts and diet are adding and taking away the inches in the proper places. Personally, I like to measure my neck, biceps, chest, hips, waist, and thighs. Below is a diagram on where exactly to measure:

I hope this helps!

Keeping track will motivate you each time that you track your numbers. So...what's your number?

Creamy cravings be gone!

Creamy wheat pasta with lima beans and shrimp

Have you ever craved something but knew that you shouldn't eat it?  For those of you who are shaking your head 'no', you are lying! 

For dinner tonight I wanted something creamy and that meant something with too many calories. So, I threw together this pasta dish and it was DE-LISH! 

GATHER:

1/2 avocado

1 tablespoon of cottage cheese (I use 0%)

2 tablespoons of Greek yogurt (0% once again)

10 frozen shrimp

1/2 cup frozen lima beans 

1 teaspoon of garlic powder 

1/2 cup wheat pasta 

BLEND:

Put the avocado, cottage cheese, and Greek yogurt in a bowl until smooth, and set aside. 

DEFROST:

Toss the shrimp and lima beans into a strainer under hot water until soft. 

HEAT: 

Add the shrimp, lima beans, and garlic powder into a pan at medium heat with cooking spray until the shrimp begin to brown. While the shrimp cook, begin to boil water for the pasta. 

COOK:

After the pasta is just about cooked, toss all ingredients (shrimp, avocado sauce, and pasta) back into the pan until the ingredients are evenly mixed. 

Not only will this recipe knock your cravings for that creamy Alfredo at your favorite Italian restaurant, but it will also keep you full for a long time because of the wheat pasta and good fat in the avocado. 

Tell me what you think!

Pancakes & Pizza? Don't mind if I do!

Vanilla protein pancakes with cooked bananas and sugar-free syrup

Makes 2 pancakes (1 serving).

BLEND: 

1/2 scoop of your choice of protein powder (I use Vanilla whey)

1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon

3 egg whites

1.5 tablespoons of greek yogurt (I use 0% Fage)

POUR:

Pour half of the mix into a pan that is lightly greased with cooking spray and let each side of the pancake cook for about 2 minutes. Then, remove pancake and cook the other one. 

FOR THE BANANAS: 

Cut a whole banana into half inch pieces and sprinkle some cinnamon and a taste of honey on top and place them into the microwave for about 30 seconds. 

Enjoy with a cup of unsweetened vanilla almond milk on the side :)

Flat bread barbecue and margarita pizza 

Makes one serving.

HEAT:
Place your flat bread in a preheated oven at 350 degrees until warm.

TOP:
                 For my toppings I chose the following:
2 tablespoons of Hunt's tomato sauce
1/2 cup of fat free mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup of Trader Joe's canned chicken
1 teaspoon of barbecue sauce
1 tablespoon of Weight Watcher's cream cheese (similar to ricotta cheese)
1/2 of one sliced tomato

COOK:
Place the pizza back in the oven on a baking sheet until the cheese is melted and the bread is browning on the edges.

My inspiration for this was the barbecue pizza at California Pizza Kitchen!