Blueberry-Licious!

 This post was supposed to be up yesterday but I was too busy going all 'Office Space' on my computer. Dang technology sometimes!
This weekend I put together my very first home-made pie...AND CRUST!!! Emphasis on crust as I love making pies but I normally buy frozen crusts. So I finally found a recipe to try & it turned out AMAAAZING!
Originally, I planned on a blackberry one but blueberries were on sale. This was also my first lattice & it looks pretty darn good!

 

Had some major issues w/crust sticking to my rolling pin. So I used my brain & rolled it out between two pieces of parchment paper... Who woulda thought, right!? :)

Oh & this is my rolling pin... a tequila bottle. Hoping for a real one for the wedding.

 

yum yum!

Yes, I know this pie with a scoop of ice cream isn't the ideal healthy dessert but .... oh how I LOVE pie!
Here's some blueberry facts:

• Grown on bushes
• 80 calories per cup
• Packed vitamin C 
• Feeling down, they're high in antioxidants
• Improve memory
• Michigan & Maine are top producers
• More blueberry facts here.

Blueberry Pie Filling Recipe - super easy!
1 1/2 cups White Sugar
4 T Corn Starch  next time I'm adding one more to thicken it up a little more
1/4 t Salt
1/2 t Ground Cinnamon
5 cups Fresh Blueberries
Pie crust
1 T Butter
1 Egg

Preheat Oven 375
Mix sugar, cornstarch, salt, cinnamon & sprinkle over blueberries. Line pie dish with pie crust, then I brushed egg over the bottom to prevent sogginess. Pour berry mixture into the curst & dot with butter. Cut remaining pastry into strips & make lattice top. Crimp & flute the edges. I also brushed with butter & egg & sprinkled sugar on top. Bake for about 50 minutes or until crust is golden.

Basic Flaky Pie Crust
 1 1/2 cups All Purpose Flour
1/2 t Salt
1/2 cup Chilled Shortening
3 T Ice Water

Whisk flour & salt together in medium bowl.  With pastry blender (I used a fork b/c I don't have a 'pastry blender') cut in cold shortening until mixture is coarse crumbs. Drizzle 2-3 T of ice water over flour. Toss mixture with fork to moisten adding more water a few drops at a time until dough come together. Gently gather dough particles together into a ball. Wrap in plastic & chill 30 minutes. Roll out dough & put in pie plate, fill, & bake.

Ab - Packed!

No, I'm not talking about the movie Magic Mike releasing this Friday... Although, I can't wait to get a glimpse of all those 6 & 12 packs on the big screen.
I'm actually talking about a pin that I found, the 300/30day ab challenge. I completed day one! annnndd .... OUCH! My core is feeling it. Along with my lower back. Yes, I know I have been slacking lately but I feel like I have some motivation back since my knee & ankle are feeling better. I have been doing my 6 pages of therapy exercises... yay! Haven't done much else besides swimming at the lake! (Blog later). Reason for choosing this pin: I'm a sucker for before & after photos, like on this blog. Plus, the links to the blog, "2012...My last fat year,"which I don't think this program originated here but her blog is cute & I like the exercise pictures. Supposibly, this is the P90X ab program... I wouldn't know, haven't gone that hardcore... yet ;)

This 15 minute challenge consists of:
NOTE: It took me longer than 15 & before looking at the pictures I had NO clue what some of these even were.

• In-N-Outs - 25 reps Did good with these
• Bicycles - 25 reps  tough but do-able
• Reverse Bicycles - 25 reps
• Crunchy Frogs - 25 reps one I have never done but was kinda fun
• Cross leg/Wide leg Sit-ups - 25 reps scheesh! haven't done a FULL sit-up in ages
• Scissors (hold 3 sec) - 25 reps ouch! these were hard as my flexibility is awful (can't keep legs straight)
• Hip Butt Ups - 25 reps haha! felt a little dirty doing these
• Heels to Heavens - 25 reps started to really feel 'em after 15
• Roll-up V-ups - 25 reps ha! could only do the first part... I have no balance to do the 'V' part
• Leg Climbers - 12 reps each side did but needs more work due to my legs not straightening
• Kayakers - 50 fast or as many as you can... I got in 30, these are also one of my favorite, like to add the medicine ball or any weight.

 

the pin I followed

Oh Joy

This last week was my worst since starting my Get Fit Program. However, my knee & ankle were killing me. As I mentioned last post I did an ab & arm work out on Monday. After that it was down hill, all that the schedule held was icing my ankle & dosing on ibuprofen. Thursday, I weighed in at 202 :( not too happy with that again! I have got to stop slacking. I hate being injured too! Friday, I had my doctor appointment... Ha! Weighed in there at 210. I made sure to inform them their scale is busted. Doc says he doesn't think its too bad of a weight gain with the meds I've been on & the lifestyle changes I've made in the past 5 months. Anywho, turns out I had a sprained ankle the whole week. Then my left knee I have a patella issue. Good news exercising will fix it. I actually left the Doctor feeling good. I mentioned the 5K to him & he told me to go for it. It was nice having that professional push.
Today, I did my first round of therapy exercises. 6 pages worth. Oh yay!

On another seriously joyful note, is my awesome fiancé was able to fix my Betty's stereo. Now I get to cruise with the top down WITH tunes! I'm pretty excited about it!!!

Lower Postponed. Upper Crunch.

UGH!!!
 
I am extremely bummed! Notice the picture. Right ankle. Yep, that would be my Achilles tendinitis flaring up. AHH!

Not only that, but my left knee is killing me too! When it's bent. When I'm sitting. When weight is on it.
Here I have done everything by the book: stretching constantly, taking it slow, drinking more water, & spreading it out. Yet, I still have leg issues! My head is telling me that my body & joints aren't meant for jogging, but my heart just wants to go for that damn 5K... JOG SOMETHING! Well, I have a doctor's appointment Friday (luckily I was already going for a med check - I like to save multiple issues for one trip = one co-pay :). Plus, I've kept off my legs today (had too! It was killing me!) & most of yesterday with ice soaking & stretching. Because if I don't, I walk like a toy soldier... Knee feels like a noodle & ankle doesn't bend = ouch. The sooner this bull heals, the sooner I can get back to C25K'n it & then roller derby!

However, this is no excuse for me to not get in any work outs. Today, I did a Pinterest workout; The Love Handle Blaster pin which originates from flatmytummyworkouts.com site. It didn't include any leg stuff so I was golden.

It consisted of:

• Side Crunches (15 each side)
• Oblique Crunches (10 each side) It says to hold these 20 seconds, at first I thought, 'Ya like that does anything!' but after a few you can really tell.
• Abdominal Bicycles (30 elbow/knee touches)
• Trunk Twists (10 each way)
• I added:
• 20 push ups
• 20 Triceps dips
• 30 second abdominal leg hold (don't know the real name but where you hold your legs off the ground while laying on your back)

All-in-all it took me about 25 minutes (not including stretching). I tried to do them one after another to get my heart rate up. Hopefully I'll feel it tomorrow, because I felt it during... felt exactly where my scar is & the connective tissue (owie!) (note: the scar goes from my sternum to belly button).

Get fit quote of the day:

I'm in pain & I just have to keep this in mind.

Triceps, Biceps, & Deltoids. Oh My!

While hosing at work today, I looked at my arms & decided it's an arm day! Pinterest arm search brought me to this:

It's originally from a Women's Health Magazine article, "Arm Exercises for Women: Get Sleek, Sexy Arms." I especially enjoy workouts with pictures, because who knows what all those laterals, burpees, extensions, kickbacks, & climbers are. This routine called to do each exercise 15 times then start over & do each one 3 times (ie. 3 sets - 15 reps). Do without stopping in between. I also added 10 push ups into the routine (30 total). Then ended with 7 tricep dip things (hold a chair, w/knees bent, & dip your butt & feel the burn in your tri's).
It took me about 15 minutes to complete.
During my arm search, I found a new motivation/tip site, Skinny Ms. It has daily workouts, monthly challenges, slow cooker recipes, nutrition information, tips, and FAQs. I am now following them on FB & bookmarked the site to return to for tips, recipes, & different routines.

Paul & I also completed Week 2 Day 2 of Couch-to-5K.
        Results:  2.16 miles at 14.21 per mile.
The path we took was a slightly different one in our neighborhood. Still has hills - every path around our house has them - & lots of shade. We totally thought we were faster but oh well. Overall, this one I felt great afterwards... my breathing is becoming better during the jogging part & I don't get as exhausted. After Wk 2 Day1 my knee was killing me, hence not doing anything yesterday to give it a rest. So, I was a little hesitant to start today, but after the first jog/walk rotation the pain went away. Although, I can feel it coming back so I'm gonna go drink water & chill with a bag of ice & my book (The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson). 

Today's Get Fit Quote: