Insanity: Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
Happy New Year! I rang mine in with a midnight race and a bagel.
Whoa. What a holiday season! Parties, traveling, family, food, drinks, and more food, and then some more drinks for good measure. Normally, my plan of action during a period of massive consumption, is to become a cardio queen and hit up every spin class possible. Problem solved, right? Wrong. I still end up feeling puffy, bloated, and miserable by January 1st.
So this year, I handled things differently. I cut way down on my cardio, and instead focused on heavy weight-training. Heavy training includes any exercise that you do for eight reps or less. Since November, I’ve been training like this 4-5 days a week, by performing basic lifts like squats, deadlifts, chest presses and back rows. I’ve also been tacking on 10-12 minutes of high intensity intervals at the end of every other session.
And lo and behold: I’m loving the way I look and feel, despite the fact that I ate my way through my birthday, Chanukah, and Christmas. This is not too shocking. I know that serious strength training is the key to fat loss. But sometimes even a know-it-all like me can get sidetracked by eggnog and stuffing.
If your new year’s resolution is to START working out, then you should definitely focus on body weight and moderate weight exercises for the first few weeks, so you that don’t hurt yourself. But if you’ve been a pretty regular exerciser, then pick up some of those big-ass weights and get lifting. It will make all the difference.
Perfect Pear Post Workout Protein Shake
It’s currently pear season and I was lucky enough to get a fruit-of-the-month club gift for the winter.
What to do with all of these luscious pears? Blend ’em with some protein powder of course!
This Protein Shake is perfect for breakfast or post-workout. The protein/carb combo is just what your body needs to fuel up your day.
8 oz unsweetened vanilla almond milk
1 scoop vanilla protein powder
1/2 chopped pear (leave the skin, it’s good for you!)
1/4 cup frozen dark cherries
1/4 cup oatmeal or oat bran (If you’ve never put oats in your shake before, give it a try. It adds a nice thickness to the shake and gives you the extra carbohydrates you need post-workout)
1 tsp Psyllium Husk powder
cinnamon
Ice cubes
Blend it. Drink it. Yum.