Uphill both ways!
I trekked to the gym this morning to meet my friend Mary. We had planned a gym date and decided to keep it given the weather. The “blizzard” was much worse than I thought and I was soaked when I got there, but luckily my coat covered up my underclothes pretty well.
Pump was cancelled, so we did the elliptical for 45 minutes while chatting and then went into the Group Ex room for a mini Pump session ourselves. One thing I love about Pump is it has given me a series of exercises that I can do on my own. Even if I don’t do the full 4-5 minute track for each, I have a nice plan for solo lifting. Mary and I did each of the muscles groups from Pump for about 1 minute each on the clock (a few of them we counted 15 reps x 4 movements instead of using a clock). We got through the circuit (without rest) in about 12 minutes or so and then did everything a second time with 30 seconds or half reps. It was a great mini workout and I can tell my muscles are tired! I’m so proud of myself being an anti-weight-lifter for the great effects Pump has had on me.
Back at home (our snow is now slushy consistency), I made this super green lunch!
First, a pickle, cheese + mustard sandwich on a Honey Whole Wheat roll. Rocking the preggo pickles!! I just love the crunch they have on sandwiches. I’ve always loved pickles on them, and don’t know why I never think to add them.
Grapes on the side. My grocery store has been out of organic grapes for ages. But I have been craving them like crazy, so I got conventional and promised myself I would wash them really well.
Lastly, I made a salad smoothie!
A mix of half a cup of milk, half a banana, 2 cups of spinach, 4 cubes of ice and half a packet of Vega Vanilla Almond smoothie mix. Love the huge punch of flavor it added, plus a nutrient boost.
Great lunch!
That sandwich has me totally intrigued. When I have the sodium planned right, I’m so breaking out the Claussen pickle slices!
Haha love the sandwich. Pickle and Cheese sandwich SCREAMS pregnancy! And now I’m craving the crunch of a pickle…
the color of that smoothie is so appealing! I love pump workouts too!
I’m not pregnant, but I’ve always loved pickles & cheese!
I love pickles too on my sub and I’m not pregnant 🙂
Thanks for your smoothie recipe. It sounds nutritious and delicious!
That lunch looks so good! Especially the smoothie! I meant to make one over the weekend when I had more time and sure enough… it’s now Monday and I never got to make one 🙁
Love that smoothie!
Looks similar to my favorite smoothie which is almond milk, strawberries, spinach, and Sunwarrior protein powder. YUM!
What a beautifully green smoothie…sounds yummy too!
That sandwich looks tasty! Thanks for posting the smoothie recipe. I’ve been trying to incorporate some smoothies into my diet because I’m having a ton of GI problems. I’ll have to try this one 🙂
I love pickles! I too forget to add them to sandwiches… why? They’re such a great addition!
we don’t want the snow to melt! 🙁
My mom showed me a trick where you wash conventional grapes in cornstarch to get them really clean: http://theactorsdiet.wordpress.com/2009/12/21/lynn-mommy-knows-best/
That looks like a perfect lunch to refuel with after the gym! I love the vibrant greens in it! You certainly deserved it after you uphill snow walks too – that’s no easy task!
I had a delicious leftovers lunch, but now I’m wishing I had a green smoothie after seeing yours!! Sorry to hear about Pump being cancelled, but it sounds like you still had a great makeshift workout!
Hi Kath. I am training for a half marathon at the end of April, and our runs are on the Chicago Lakefront. There were lots of people on the path, and I ended up running with a woman who was 7.5 months pregnant for a mile! I couldn’t believe it. She said she was always a runner before, so she’s kept it up. I said KUDOS to you!
So I think it’s great to keep exercising while pregnant :0)
🙂 I haven’t felt up to running, but I’ve been active nearly every day thus far!
I want to snag that pickle right off your plate. Mmmm!
ARGH! I know what you mean about the grapes. I have been desperate for grapes for weeks and weeks and I can’t find them anywhere. I’d buy conventional if they were from the U.S., but I guess it’s just too early in the year for them. I predict I will cave in another week or so if I can’t find organic by then!
I really need to get back on the smoothie boat, thanks for the reminder! =)
I had a vega smoothie this morning for breakfast! I used 1 packet of the new chocolate vega one mix with a banana, 4 ice cubes, and a cup and a half of sunsational sunflower seed milk. I don’t do vega that often (it’s so expensive), but wanted to try the new formula. I’m glad I got the single pack and not the $40 tub. I wasn’t a huge fan. Have you tried other flavors? I’m wondering if I should give it another chance…
Lovin’ the rockin’ green smoothie, especially with all the nutrients! I am sure the baby is lovin’ it, too 🙂
http://faithfulsolutions.blogspot.com/
I really need to up my intake of green smoothies! Mine never look that pretty though I usually get a ugly green color!
Your green smoothie looks fantastic!
I also wanted to thank you and your friend for sharing the cold noodle salad the other day. I made the next day you posted for dinner and we loved it at our house too! Since I didn’t have peanut oil I added about 1 tbsp of peanut butter to the sauce, which was really delicious. My son really enjoyed the noodles!
Oh, and I saw this recipe today and immediately thought of you, so I decided to share:
http://marcussamuelsson.com/recipes/snickerdoodle-biscoff-sandwich-cookies-recipe#utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social-media&utm_campaign=facebook
Ana
Glad you liked it!!
Looks great! Great job not letting the snow keep you in.
Yum! Also, it made me smile seeing you bust out the preggo pickles. 🙂
YES about the grapes! I feel SO guilty not buying organic grapes all the time, but i do find they’re ridiculously expensive. I know it’s one fruit that is best to buy organic, and I should probably avoid them if they’re not organic, but i just can’t help it sometimes. Grape Guilt I guess 😉
Pickles are the best sandwich fix-in EVER!!!!!
My daughter is finally eating pickles, having pickles in your plate made me smile. Have a great afternoon.
Mmmmmm that lunch looks AWESOME!
I love teaching PUMP. Such a good, hard workout to rock the muscles! Good for you for squeezing it in!
You are right… That’s’ an excellent lunch. Send some snow our way 🙂
Yummy!! I’ve been using my juicer a lot but I should really break out the blender once on awhile and make a green smoothie 🙂
Hi Kath–I’ve heard that it’s not good for our digestive systems to mix spinach with milk/yogurt/dairy products. I’ve heard alot about these green smoothies, but they just don’t appeal to me without the creamy dairy products. Do you have any insight? Also, could I sub some peanut butter for the smoothie mix for protein?
What about spinach and ricotta pizza!? Love that stuff.
Good question. The issue with combining spinach and dairy (or any calcium-fortified beverage like soy milk) is that the oxalates in greens reduce the absorption of dairy. I wouldn’t think that this would be extremely significant to the point of not wanting to consume them or I think the medical world would have much stronger food combining recommendations. The only article I could find in a quick Google search on how much of an impact it has mentioned that spinach has the same amount of calcium as milk yet only 10% of it is absorbed. That makes me think that the calcium and oxalate bond is “filled up” with the spinach, leaving the calcium in the milk free for absorption. But I’m honestly not sure what the actual reduction, if any, is. My guess is it’s not a huge amount. But the best liquid to mix with spinach would be orange juice (not calcium fortified) because it helps with the iron absorption in the spinach and then have your milk with a different meal! But I think this would only be a real concern if you were drinking multiple green smoothies a day and relying on that milk as your sole calcium intake.
So if I mix milk with spinach–I just won’t get the calcium? But I’ll still get the iron from the spinach and the protein from the milk? I want to make sure I understand all this food science! Thanks for your reply.
That’s my understanding. Although I think you still get SOME of the calcium, but maybe just a smaller amount. But all the antioxidants, fiber, other nutrients – all yes.
You walked there, pregnant and in the snow…only to find the class cancelled. Oh boy. Nothing like practicing a little Zen breathing techniques 🙂
Glad you still were able to get your workout in, time with a friend, and a great lunch.
What a nutritious lunch you’ve got there!
I am so interested in trying green smoothies like this, but I feel like they will be gross. Can you tell me – how much do you really taste the spinach/kale? Is it subtle or strong? Does the banana take over? I would love to hear, but I should probaby just stop wondering and blend one to see for myself!
Spinach = you absolutely CANNOT taste it!!! I promise!!! The smoothie tastes like a lightly bananaed milkshake.
Kale = you absolutely CAN taste it – so go there when you’re ready!
i don’t taste the organic red kale that I put in my smoothie AT ALL- about 2 cups worth. I guess everyone’s different. Kath does have some interesting food aversions so remember that just because she can taste something (kale in her smoothie) doesn’t mean you will. Try it and see if you like it!
Maggie, I was hesitant like you and finally gave myself permission to throw it out and make a new smoothie if I really hated it. Of course I didn’t throw it out!! You can’t taste it. The banana definitely takes over. It actually makes the smoothie extra creamy. Raw kale, on the other hand, you can definitely taste. I often add FROZEN kale and fresh spinach. The frozen kale is much milder and I do not taste it.
Cheese, pickle and mustard sandwiches are my all-time fave….pregnant or not! (I’m currently 25 weeks with our third…we have 20 month old twins.) If you can stomach the smell, soaking the grapes in ice cold water with a splash of white vinegar for like 10 minutes and then rinsing them really well helps get rid of that “chemical” taste.
Your smoothie looks so vibrant and delicious, it makes me want to make one super soon!
Pickles on a sandwich? LOVE IT! Can’t believe I haven’t done this before.
I am a new follower of your blog and loving it so far! I am a HUGE lover of cheddar and pickle sandwiches. I’ve been eating them since I was a kid and now I love a little slice of red onion on there as well.
Welcome!!
I always eat my pickles (I mean, my olives!) when I have my dirty martini! Ha!
Love the green lunch – I have yet to try a green smoothie, so maybe I’ll do it on the 17th in honor of St. Patrick’s Day 🙂
Have you had a grilled cheese pickle sandwich? Amazing! Love the color of your smoothie. I’ve got a giant box of spinach just waiting to be used for a smoothie tomorrow!
Will have to try the sandwich – sounds interesting . . . The smoothies: I usually do four cubes of ice crushed in the blender and add one whole banana (broken up) with couple handfuls of spinach and about four good size strawberries (sliced) or two handfuls of blueberries, I end this with just a bit of water (maybe a third a cup) and blend – that’s usually it for my smoothies. I have been having them this way since last March when I started training for my marathon (was in October) and still use them. Speaking of exercising while pregnant – my big sis has two kids and she has ran five marathons still.
I’m so glad you posted the ingredients in the green smoothie. I always do the green juice but not a green smoothie! Such an obvious choice! 🙂 Thanks!
Today I came home to the best surprise a Monday can ever bring. The granola has welcomed me at the door steps!! Yes Love it!! Thank you so much to you and the entire team for making it happen.
Yay!
That sandwich looks so simple and good! Now I want pickles… and I’m not even prego!
I’ve long been curious – is body pump hard on the knees? I LOVE weight-lifting classes, but I have knee arthritis so squatting is out…. Do they make adaptations?
I would talk to your instructor about an alternative to squats. He/she might have a suggestion for a good modification that you can do instead. I don’t think many of the other exercises (maybe lunges) would be hard on them.
I love cheese and pickle sandwiches. About to have one for dinner!
Oo love the green color 🙂
Looks pretty and delicious 🙂
I am yet to get myself to drink a green monster but that sure is a pretty shade of green 🙂
The smoothie looks really good — love the pack of nutrients in a glass! 🙂
Nothing better than a cheese and pickle sandwich, although your’s looks like dill, I prefer bread and butter pickle.