A day full of obstacles!!!

Blog warning: Super cheesy flexing photo inserted :o)

What a day I had! It started this morning when Brian and I got up for an early run. Hoping to get about 2 miles in before getting ready for work, I walked outside and was stopped in my tracks. (Insert obstacle number 1 here) I don't know how but over night one of the biggest spiders I had every seen successfully made a web across the width of my entire drive way. This is no exaggeration.

 

The picture does it no justice.

Well for those that know me, they know I HATE SPIDERS!!!! I can deal with roaches, flying insects, anything except spiders. 

Well after Brian found a rake in his truck he was able to successfully rid the drive way of this evil evil arachnid. 

Well by the time the whole ordeal was dead and gone (pun intended tehe) time was not on our side. SO instead of getting in a run we decided to just fit in some sprints and push ups before getting ready for work... Hey its something right? 

Well the original plan for tonight was to go lift weights and get in a good upper body workout in while Brian prepared dinner for us. 

Life would be WAY TO EASY if my day went as planned...

(Insert obstacle number 2 here) I ended up leaving work and hour later than I had planned... So by the time I got home and changed the gym was a distant memory. I however do not give up that easily... 

I decided to hit up an Insanity video which I know is crazy heavy on the arms department. I figured if I cant lift weights I may as well lift myself... about 200 times. 

So as Brian prepared dinner (with some help from me from the living room while working out haha) I got in a pretty good Plyo workout. 

My good looking chef! 

 Shrimp almost done...

Although I did not get either one of my intended workouts in today I still did something... and my arms were burning once I was done. 

 I don't flex often but I figured I would try something new :o)

So my day started off crazy with a creepy workaholic spider stretched across my drive way preventing me from going anywhere. To a wonderfully, perfect quiet dinner at home.

Delicious shrimp pasta and salad! YUMMY

Cheat: Brian also decided to make home made Sangria. Yes I had some. But I had the smallest amount humanly possible just for his sake! 

Look how small the glass is, and it is only half full! Don't Judge me

Did your day go exactly as planned?

Ciao 

Alexis

No excuses: Working out... using what's around

There is nothing that bothers me more than when people come up with excuses to not workout. I HATE excuses!!!

I understand time is an issue and just because I wake up before 5am to fit in a workout on a busy day I dont expect everyone too. But you can always do something. Park further away and walk, do sit ups and push ups at home...

Today I am talking about using what you have around to make up a pretty decent workout. The one thing I hate about traveling the most is not having my gym to go to, or my back up workouts I do at home.

This past weekend I was at my sisters house and desperately needed some kind of workout before another weekend of tailgating. They have a pretty large back yard and a lot of potentials for workout gold.

I wanted to get in some type of leg along with plyo workout in for some quick calorie burning.

The Equipment: Stairs
The Exercise: uneven lunges
The result: working your legs, glutes and core

The more unstable the more core work you get in HAHA JK 

Get in a lunge position (you do not need to be as uneven... always do what you can) 

Use your legs and core to bring the back leg through and all the way up to about 90 degrees. 

20 reps each leg x 2 sets

This is not all I did but just my highlight.

Lets move on to summer road trip home for more ideas.

There is nothing like being back in PA. Family, peace and quiet, and most of all GOOD FOOD!! So if one thing needs to be done everyday when I am back home it is figure out how to workout DAILY!

Traveling with my sister is great motivation: She is a Triathlete, an Iron(Wo)man... none of which I have any ambition of becoming.  More on her another time... 

 

 Renee with her 1st place in age group prize in the Clermont half iron man.

She runs 20miles I Sprint 100yds, she bikes 60miles I leg press 600 lbs LOL. We are two totally different people who look at working out completely differently,  but we agree on one thing... Working out is a must. 

So our latest trip home was no different. We are lucky enough to stay on 20 acres of land where there is plenty of farm equipment around. All you need is motivation and a little imagination. 

We would start off every morning with a crazy hilly run of about 2-3 miles (which is about equal to 10 miles here in Florida LOL) 

Then we would either do lots of plyo, or push ups, lunges, squats... whatever we could fit in. 

Well we were short on time and I got the idea... why not use the farm equipment and the crazy long (200yd)  driveway. We did sprints to the top of the driveway followed by push ups or jumping jacks.. Repeat. 

Then we headed to the field for some one legged squats off the side of the platform. 

Crazy Glute action... I def. felt this work out the next day.

 I also threw in some push ups for good measure...

 Yes we drank coffee while we were working out LOL

Yes I know vacation should be fun but you can't let all your hard work go to waste in just one short week of over indulging... so work out and feel less guilty about that fried dinner and sweet dessert LOL

My friend Carissa recently wrote about her  hotel workout. So check it out for more ideas. 

Don't forget your workouts... 

Ciao 

Alexis

A Yellow Dog Eats Date night!!!

I love cooking!!! But today I have not felt the urge to pull out the pots and pans. I needed a break. A break for me means a night out where someone else cooks.

Tonight's date of choice lay in the hands of Brian.... drum roll... Yellow dog eats!!!

         

If you don't know already Brian and I are huge Yellow Dog Eats Fans! Yellow Dog made an apperance in my first Blog I ever wrote.

Yellow Dog is a local restaurant owned by Culinary Institute of America Graduate Fish Morgan. You can find Fish behind the counter or sitting amongst his guests on a daily basis. With an amazingly outgoing personality Fish has the ability to make every customer feel unique and welcome.

Yellow Dog is known for its creative sandwich's which are made from all fresh ingredients. Many of which Fish has bottled and sells inside the restaurant (apple chutney, different sauces and his famous Hot sauces).

I have never had a bad meal at Yellow Dog and date night was no different.

I am a Fan of Yellow Dog on Facebook so I get the specials of the day sent right to my phone. Friday night was the Johnny Apple Wrap and when Brian said he wanted Yellow Dog I knew the Special was what I was ordering.

We started our dinner with a few drinks. Brian Opted for the Pumpkin Ale and I had the house made sangria.

The Sangria and Wine come in these amzingly hand made glasses which are called "Red-neck Wine glasses"

I seriously want to buy some of these for football parties LOL

Also on the Menu for the night: Tomato Crab Bisque (yes made with real crab) Brian and I decided to share a cup.

Don't let the styrofoam scare you... No fancy dishes needed for this food.It was Delicious!

Next came our meals: I opted for the Johnny Apple Wrap and Brian got his usual the Rufus but decided to have it Frisky (which means everything on it)

Rufus: Pulled Pork with Brie cheese, Cherry ring peppers and drizzled with their house made raspberry Melba. Frisky: Shoestring potatoes, fried onions, and smoked apple wood bacon.

 Johnny Apple Wrap: Spinach Pressed Wrap wish smoked turkey breast, apple chutney, caramelized onions, their house made orange mayo (which I got on the side) and pickles. 

Yellow Dog Eats pleased again and Brian and I had a great night out. We always enjoy our time their, the atmosphere is just as great as the food. If you live anywhere new Orlando and you have not yet visited Yellow Dog I highly recommend it... actually I say it is a MUST!! 

Check out their website  

What is your favorite date night place?

 I hope you try Yellow Dog and love it as much as we do

Ciao 

Alexis