Brie Fit

One of my favorite food bloggers, Branny, is hosting her second ever Souper Bowl to benefit the ASPCA.  I make no claims of being one of those fancy pants, perfectly lit food photo bloggers, but I did, in fact, make soup this weekend, and God knows I love our animals, so here goes..

This post is dedicated to our three sweet shelter pets, without whom our lives would be very, very boring.

Buckley (formerly known as Jacob) was our first acquisition. 

When we went to the shelter to pick out a cat, it came down to Buckley and another white cat with black spots, named Solar.  Buckley promptly bit Tim, to which I said, “Solar sounds great.”  Tim, however, was charmed by his…spunk, and Buckley came home with us on New Year’s Day 2008.  (And he still bites.  I periodically remind Tim that I wanted the non-biting cat, but we admire his old, cantankerous soul, for the most part.  Maybe the shelter named him after a vampire for a reason.)

Our second acquisition was Southpaw, formerly known as Sylvia.

After we got Buckley, we started volunteering at the shelter.  Southie came into the shelter in January, frostbitten and pathetic.  She was missing some hair on her ears and nose.  Someone adopted her, but returned her because she pooped on the floor once.  As time went by, we both couldn’t resist the sweet little cat who jumped in our laps the minute we arrived in the cat room.  And so we brought her home in July.

Our final acquisition was Milhouse, formerly known as Jimeny, in October 2009.

There’s not much to say about Milhouse.  He’s a quintessential beagle—sweet, loving, and loyal.  Nose driven.  Not entirely bright.  You can pick him up and carry him around the house like a baby without a protest.  It breaks my heart that that guy was likely the result of a puppy mill bust.  Now, clearly…he walks all over us.

So.  Soup.

Not the most gorgeous, not the most healthy, but quite delicious!  It’s also an easy meal to make with leftover chicken, and comes together quite quickly.

Creamy Chicken and Wild Rice Soup

• 3 T. butter
• 1 c. chopped carrots
• 1 c. chopped celery
• 1/2 c. chopped onion
• 2 T. flour
• 1/2 lb. cooked shredded chicken
• 1 package microwaveable pre-cooked wild rice
• 6 c. chicken broth
• 1/2 c. half and half
• salt and pepper to taste

Melt the butter in a large pot and add the carrots, celery, and onion.  Cook until the onion is clear.  Stir in the flour, then add the broth.  Bring the broth to a simmer and add the shredded chicken and rice.  Let simmer for about half an hour; stir in half and half.  Do not let the soup boil after this point!   Turn the heat down to low and heat until warm.  Season with salt and pepper as needed.

The leftovers only get better every day.  I promise.

What’s your favorite soup?

Somebody has a case of the Mondays today.  It’s me.

I overslept my alarm and barely made it to CrossFit before the warm-up started.  Since some of you were wondering about the breakdown of the whole workout (to the best of my memory, guys, it’s early)…

Warm up:

• Jogging (up and down the alley, not sure of the distance, smells like garbage)
• Down the length of the building, jog back:
• Walking lunges
• Side lunges (one lap per side)
• Low skipping
• High skipping
• 2X through:
• 20 squats
• 20 push-ups
• 20 medicine ball sit-ups

Skills: Reviewed form on thrusters and modifications for pull-ups

WOD “Fran”:

21-15-9 reps of:

• Thrusters (Rx was 65 lbs, I did 45)
• Pull-ups (still in a green band, boo, but I can feel them getting a bit easier)

I finished in 7:37.  It was one of the slower times in the class, but I was lifting heavier than the rest of the women, too, so…whatever.  I just wasn’t feeling it today.

Extra credit:

With a partner, while one partner did the ab work, the other was running a lap, and then you tagged each other out:

• Planks
• Bicycle Crunches
• V-sit
• Flutter kicks
• Jumping jacks

Then we stretched and cooled down. 

It was just one of those days where it was HARD.  It was fun, but I just didn’t feel strong today.  I suppose you win some, you lose some.

In more exciting news, one of my favorite fall treats has arrived:

Dinner was a mixed bag.

I made some crockpot potato soup, but I really didn’t like it so I won’t share the recipe.  I also made some easy oatmeal wheat quick bread, which WAS quite good so here’s the link for that recipe.  I can’t get enough soup lately!

Tomorrow I go back on the road for a few days (nowhere exciting, don’t worry).  I’ll have time to CrossFit in the morning before I peace out in my tiny mint green Fiat rental car. 

How was your Monday on a scale of 1-10, 1 being awful, 10 being awesome?

One of my favorite things about CrossFit is how simple it can be.

Today’s WOD: do 500 walking lunges.  Every two minutes, do 10 push-ups.  Time yourself.

Deceptively simple, but you’d better believe it was a killer.  I finished in 20:18, good for first in the class, thanks to my ginormous running quads and their stamina.

We also had an extra long “warm-up” today.  3 rounds of:

• 10 pull-ups
• 10 dips
• 10 sit-ups
• 10 good mornings
• 10 overhead squats

And then we took 5 minutes to practice our weaknesses.  I decided mine was push-ups—I really want to be able to do push-ups perfectly on my toes, but right now, I can do them on my knees, or kind of belly-flop on my toes.  I’m pretty close, I think, so it was nice to get a chance to work on it.

Anyway, 500 walking lunges will make your hips ache with the fire of a thousand suns.  FYI.

Soup week continued today with crockpot chicken enchilada soup. 

Just as delicious as I remembered.

What’s your favorite kind of soup?

It’s been a few days since I’ve foodcasted, so to speak, so here goes!

We woke up reasonably early and had breakfast before church.  I’ve been into smoothies lately, so I made one with frozen strawberries, blueberries, peaches, yogurt, and milk, with a Babybel on the side!

After church, I made lunch!

(one egg + one slice bacon + goat cheese on a multi-grain English muff, sliced apple with almond butter + Nutella for dipping)

It’s been chilly and dreary and rainy here today, so we spent most of the afternoon relaxing around the house.  I did several loads of laundry.  Milhouse snoozed.  A lot.

I did manage to make it to Sephora to purchase an eyeliner brush and brush cleaner, and got a 500 point gift filled with skincare samples to try.

And I snacked on some cherries and a square of this Ghirardelli chocolate, which I received from Foodbuzz as part of their Tastemaker program.

This Sea Salt Soiree stuff is off the hook.  Between the two of us, um, this bag is almost gone after just a few days!  I love sweet and savory together and this stuff is delish.

For dinner, I decided to embrace the soup weather:

I found this crockpot creamy chicken with wild rice soup recipe on Pinterest and knew it would be perfect.  I made some homemade whole wheat bread to have on the side, along with a spinach salad.  It hit the spot on such a chilly fall day!

Are you watching the Emmys?  Who are you rooting for?

Oh, today’s WOD was hard.  But also one of my favorites since I started CrossFitting. 

All weights were “as prescribed”, using the 30 lb bar.

• Run 250m
• 10 sumo deadlift high pulls (SDHPs)
• 20 push presses
• 30 thrusters
• Run 250m
• 40 back squats
• 50 overhead walking lunges (w/ 10 lb plates)
• 40 front squats
• Run 250m
• 30 SDHPs
• 20 push presses
• 10 thrusters
• Run 250m

Time: 19:13, good for first female in the class and second overall.  Woo! 

It was deliciously hard and awesome.  I’m sore already.

It’s finally getting a little chilly here (yay!) so we enjoyed grilled cheese (mozzarella, provolone AND goat) and tomato basil soup for dinner.  It was perfect for a crisp fall night.

Anyway, I work from 8-7 tomorrow and no CrossFit in the morning, so I may or may not be around. 

Susan is a big proponent of waffle Wednesday. 

I have to say: I really like waffles.  But they are a pain in the butt to make—it’s impossible to clean the waffle iron, and they always wind up too soggy or burned.   They are definitely not weekday “make breakfast in 0.2 seconds on your way out the door” friendly.

Enter frozen multigrain waffles.  I enjoyed these for breakfast today (and yesterday, so I did, in fact, celebrate Waffle Wednesday) with a little natural peanut butter and a Greek yogurt. 

I’m generally a breakfast creature of habit, but switching it up a little bit lately has been nice too.  Maybe I’ll keep it up.

For lunch, I had fruit, cheese, and what I’m now calling crack soup. 

I think I may make a big batch of this in the crockpot over the weekend to freeze for lunches.  It is so good, guys.  Make it!  You won’t be sorry.  (Note: I subbed olive oil for butter, and made half the roux so it’s a little lighter.)

Snackage:

After work, I hit the gym for an easy shake-out workout—I ran a mile to warm up, and then did not-super-intense intervals on the elliptical for half an hour.  I am sore from CrossFit, but not as bad as last week.  Progress, right?

Dinner was a stir fry mess:

Brown rice, beef, mushrooms, broccoli, carrots, cashews, teriyaki sauce, and garlic.  Nom.

So, tomorrow, I’m engaging in bribery.

Backing up a little: my goal is always to work out five days a week.  But more often than not, I hit four days, and on the fifth day I have to go somewhere after work, or it’s Friday night and I just want to go home, or something. 

Tomorrow morning there is a 5:30 am CrossFit class.  I’ve never ever worked out before work—EVER—because my morning schedule is pretty tight, I’d have to pack a veritable suitcase to take to work to get ready at the gym, and working out at home is just not my favorite.  I have to be out of our house around 7:20 am to be at work at 8 every day as is!

Anyway, I want to start doing Friday CrossFit before work to get it done so I can enjoy the start to my weekend on Friday nights.  But doing something new (and, hello, getting up that early) is always a little scary and God knows I’m a creature of habit.

So.  Internet, you’re my witness.  If I make it to 5:30 am CrossFit tomorrow, I will reward myself thusly:

(Also, Tim and I have a little deal going now about me folding his laundry in exchange for a blind eye on a lulu bag coming in the door once a month.  But that’s neither here nor there.)

Anyway.  Stay tuned to find out if I can do it!   It’s going to be a tight squeeze to make it to work on time, so I may skip out on the cool-down a little early, but I’m excited.

(Related: it feels really good to be excited about something fitness-related for a change!  It’s been awhile since I’ve been looking forward to the gym.  The thought of a half marathon in October is kind of filling me with dread, frankly.)

What are your tips for morning workouts?  And, more importantly, if I do it: what color tank?

My camera is in its case in my work bag and I’m too lazy to go get it.  Also, my nail polish is wet and it might smudge.

I made some chicken enchilada soup last week, and it’s ahhhmazing.  I had the leftovers today for lunch and will be doing so again tomorrow.  I loosely based mine off this recipe.

I did not buy this dress today, but I’m kind of regretting it.  I really like it.  It was $36 at Loft.

I went back to the eye doctor today.  I also got my hairs cut.  They spike my hair up like Anne Burrell when they do it and I immediately flatten it as soon as I walk out of the door.  Just call me Ms. Milquetoast.

I freaking love CrossFit.  Today’s WOD (“Barbara Lite”) was 5 rounds of:

• 10 pull-ups
• 20 push-ups
• 30 sit-ups
• 40 squats
• 2 minute break

I completed 4.5 rounds in 25 minutes.  I skipped the last break because I really wanted to push.

It’s becoming extremely apparent that I have zero core strength and marginal upper body strength, but my lower body is a rockstar.  I have no trouble with squats, lunges, or box jumps—but I’m a weensy bit embarrassed to admit that I still have to do girly knee push-ups, and use a resistance band (and some jumping) to do pull-ups.

Hard work, though, and I’ll fix that.  Rawr.

It’s bedtime and my tummy is rumbling. 

What are your randoms today?

You know, I don’t claim to be a seasonal eater of any kind, but I have to say that having soup for lunch when it’s 96 degrees out is just a stupid idea.  Sorry.

I also lived on the edge and ate expired yogurt!  Of course, I consulted Twitter first, and they said it was okay, so I went for it.  Still good!

Also, I had a big sweet tooth today.  Whoops.  I chowed down on a See’s Chocolate Lollypop after lunch—I picked up three of these at LAX because they are amazing, and clearly, they won’t last long.  I also had a ZBar before I headed to the gym.

I had a good workout today.  I ran for 5 minutes on the treadmill to warm up.  It was dumb, because I started out at my standard 10:00/mile pace, and then went up to a 9:14/mile pace, and was like, “aw, shit, this is actually NOT super hard,” and then went up to an 8:47/mile pace, and I was like, “okay, this is kind of hard, but not awful.”  Part of my problem with running is that my pace varies so wildly—some days, a 10:00 mile feels like a challenge, and other times I feel like I could hit sub-9 miles without much trouble.  Bah.

Anyway, I lifted some weights for awhile, and then did 15 minutes of HIIT on the elliptical.  Good times.

Dinner was leftover Bolognese from Monday.

In other news, my birthday is coming up.  I’m usually a huge birthday fan, but for the first time, this year, I’m kind of not excited about it.

When I was in second grade, I was quoted in the newspaper as saying that I wanted to be an “international gymnast until I was 27, then retire and become a geologist until I’m 46, and then retire and become a talk show host.”    (True story.  My second grade class did a postcard collection and I got interviewed.)

I’m not really sure what’s bothering me, other than that I feel like 27 has always kind of been my mental block between “just out of college, still young and fun!” and “okay…adult time, what are you doing with your life?”

Anyway, I have this theory that even-numbered ages suck, and odd-numbered ages are good.  All major bad events in my life have occurred when I was an even-numbered age:

• Dad died (8 years old)
• Grandpa died (8 years old)
• Bad accident requiring stitches (12 years old)
• Grandma died (16 years old)
• Horrible breakup (22 years old)
• Start of law school/depressed period (22 years old)
• Marathon training shin injuries (26 years old)

And all awesome things have happened when I was an odd-numbered age:

• Win HUGE spelling bee (9 years old)
• Win history fair and state essay contest (13 years old)  (shut up, I was a dork)
• Rose Bowl parade with high school band (15 years old) (I said shut up)
• Graduate high school (17 years old)
• Graduate college (21 years old)
• Meet Tim (23 years old)
• Get Buckley (23 years old)
• Graduate law school (25 years old)
• Pass the bar (25 years old)
• Get Milhouse (25 years old)
• Get a awesome job (25 years old)
• First half marathon (25 years old)
• Get married (25 years old)

Obviously, there are a few outliers, such as “First marathon (26 years old)” and “Get Southpaw (24 years old)”, but by and large, this is a trend.

So maybe I should be happy to turn 27?  I’m working on it.

I’m hoping to put together a blog get-together in DC that will hopefully involve birthday cupcakes and/or dinner.   If you’d be at all interested in celebrating with me, leave a comment!

Uh.  Apparently my body really likes swimming, because I dropped 2.5 pounds overnight. 

I mean, obviously there are probably other factors at play here, but…maybe my workout routine just needed a new challenge?  It’s weird, because I’m not SORE today, but my legs and arms feel fatigued in a new way.

Weird, anyway, and I won’t complain.

Lunch was exactly the same as yesterday because it was so good.  I’m not sick of turkey yet!

This is the last of my trail mix.  I need to get more  creative with the snacks, but this is so good and the sugar really gives me a little boost for my post-work workouts.

I had a half-shitty, half-good workout today.  I planned to run 4-5 miles while watching Lost, but I got to the gym and all the treadmills were full.  I waited about 10 minutes, and one opened up.  I got on, and the thing broke!  The screen froze and wouldn’t work.

So, frustrated, I strapped on my Garmin and went to the outdoor track even though it was chilly and I was underdressed in shorts and a tank.   I ran a speedy 8:50 mile and promptly had an asthma attack.  I walked/inhalered it out, and then headed inside, where I managed to do 20 minutes of HIIT on the elliptical.  It was high intensity and sweaty and felt great.

So.  Half good, half shitty.

I turned turkey leftovers into one of Tim’s favorites: turkey tortilla soup!

Although I’m not really a blogger of recipes, here’s…the recipe.  This is kind of cobbled together out of a few recipes I’ve seen.

• 2 T. butter
• 1/2 c. carrots, chopped
• 1/2 c. onions, chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, chopped (I use the food processor for all these)
• 2 T. flour
• 1 T. cumin
• 1 t. chipotle seasoning
• 6 c. chicken broth
• 8 corn tortillas, chopped into small pieces
• 1 large can crushed tomatoes
• 1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 1/2-2 c. cooked chicken (or turkey), chopped

Sautee the carrots, onions, and garlic in the butter until soft.  Add flour and cumin and stir, then add chicken broth.  Bring it to a low boil and add the tortillas.  They will melt and thicken the soup.  Add the tomatoes and blend smooth in the blender.  Add black beans and chicken, heat until warm.

Makes 6 servings, roughly 290 calories each.

I’m a big fan of this—it freezes well, so we’ve got two dinners ready to go!

Anyway, we ate it with corn muffins and a sprinkle of cheese and it was delish.

What’s your favorite way to mix up your workout routine?  I can’t wait to get back in the pool tomorrow!

So, I got a new lunch bag.

The giant cooler I bought a few weeks ago ripped and was insanely large.  I’m not a big fan of the flower pattern on this one, but it was what they had and it’s the right size. 

Lunch was soup, Greek yogurt, pineapple and strawberries, and a Jell-O pudding cup.  (The pudding was acquired when I made the mistake of going to the grocery store after my half.  Bad, bad idea.)

Trail mix for a snack:

After work, I did something I’ve been totally afraid to do for a long time.

I went swimming!  (Pale is the new tan.)

It was a humbling experience.  It’s been awhile since I’ve felt like a beginner at anything—I’m out of law school, have my job that I’m good at, have been running and lifting for awhile.  But today?  Oh yeah.  100% beginner.

It was exciting, though.  I grinned a little walking down the hallway to the pool.  It’s been awhile since I really challenged myself to go outside my comfort zone and it felt good.

I went in today thinking I’d treat it like an active recovery day  rather than a workout day, and I think that was a good idea.  My body is still a little achy from Saturday’s half, and I didn’t get all defeated about not getting in a good workout.

Anyway.

I got in the pool, specifically the lane labeled “SLOW”, and did 100 yards with a kickboard, practicing my breathing.  Breathing is really hard for me in the pool…I tend to wind up sucking water into my nose and flailing wildly.

Then I did 50 yards freestyle.  The first lap was good, but by the second, my strokes and breathing and kicks were all off and I wound up kind of snorting and gasping for air.

Then I did 50 yards of backstroke.  I’m good at that.

Then I did 100 more yards with the kickboard to review the breathing thing again.

Then 75 more freestyle yards.  Badly.

Then some more kickboarding and backstroke.  And then I tried to stroke and practice breathing with a pull buoy, but it got me all discombobulated and didn’t do well.

And then I got out and relaxed for a bit in the steam room, which I was VERY good at.

Anyway, my ultimate goal is to begin this Zero to One Mile swim program either next week or the week after.  It looks kind of like the Couch to 5K of swimming!  However, I gotta get a few things worked out first:

1. My goggles filled with water literally every lap and I was swimming with my eyes squeezed shut and bumping into walls.  How can you make them seal better?  Do I just need a different pair?  How do you keep them from getting all foggy?
2. You’re supposed to blow bubbles with your nose in the water, right?  And then when you move your head to the side, you breathe in?  How do you get this timing worked out?  Does it get easier?  Am I just hopelessly uncoordinated?
3. Are swim caps supposed to hurt?  I had trouble getting all my hairs in, and then it felt really tight.  Maybe I have a big head.
4. Seriously, the goggle thing has got to stop. 

I am thankful the pool wasn’t crowded and I had a whole lane to myself to splash about in.

I keep reminding myself—for 24 years, I told myself (and everyone else) I was a terrible runner…but it turns out I just had to work at it and practice.  Swimming will get there, too!  I am going to go again on Thursday and my goal is to swim 75 yards of freestyle without stopping.

Anyway.  I don’t know what this tree is, but it’s bloomed and it’s beautiful.

Any ideas?

Dinner was leftover salsa chicken.  It’s good, but it looks like ass.  Sorry.

(The recipe is literally, throw a can each of beans and corn, a couple of boneless skinless chicken breasts, some salsa, and fat free cream cheese in the crockpot and let it ride.)

I also joined Pinterest today.  I’m still working it out, but it’s fun!  Follow me!

See above for the question of the day.  Help me!