December Goals in Review

Can it really be that December is already almost over? Or that 2010 is almost over? With the blur of finals and the anticipation of Christmas, December flew by faster than any other month this year- which means I was kind of a slacker on my goals...

1. Drink more water. I actually did well on this one- I've been making it a point to drink three 20 ounce water bottles before, during and after my workout.
2. Learn to use my DSLR better. Need to do this. It kind of fell through the cracks amidst all the holiday craziness, but I purchased a Canon Rebel book and it's time to get cracking!
3. Experiment with two new non-dessert recipes per week. Fail. Unless you count all the cooking for Christmas, when I prepared six in one day.
4. Try two new fitness classes. Pass!! I've fallen in love with BodyPump and rekindled my interest in spinning- the second isn't exactly new, but it had been awhile since I did it.
5. Be more patient with others. Fifty-fifty. I've been less stressed, which means I'm more patient in general, but that's a goal I'm constantly working on improving.

* * *

This morning, I started my day off with a bowl of Uncle Sam + banana + almond milk.

Then, I headed to a 45 minute spin class at my gym. I've found myself really loving my workouts lately! While I always enjoy exercise, these days I truly look forward to going to the gym. I think I was in a bit of an exercise rut before, and group classes were just what I needed to get myself really pumped up again. It was an awesome class, and I stayed for instructor-led pushups, planks and crunches afterwards. Feel the burn!

Since yesterday's lunch was so delicious, I made a nearly exact replica for today's midday meal.

Salad beast with romaine, tomatoes, cukes, carrots, onions and hummus

Sandwich thin with almond butter

Orange slices

And a small handful of sesame peanuts.

Did you have any December goals? How did they turn out? Do you plan on setting New Year's resolutions?

Foiled

Sometimes, plans just don't work out the way you'd hoped, no matter how hard you try to get things to materialize!

Mike and I were supposed to see a bunch of friends from high school this evening, but our plans fell through and we ended up just hanging out, snacking and watching how cannolis are made on the Food Network. Which, incidentally, is one of my favorite things to do anyway...

For dinner, we went to Wawa, where I got a veggie sub with oil & vinegar, yellow mustard, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, red peppers, banana peppers, sweet peppers, pickles, salt, pepper and oregano.

Along with a cup of watermelon chunks.

For dessert, we shared some holiday treats:

A gingerbread Trader Joe's chocolate covered oreo

A few salted caramels, and a chunk or two of unpictured peppermint bark.

Currently, I'm snacking on my second third bowl of fruit salad and some sesame peanuts.

Bedtime for this old lady- see ya tomorrow!

Pump Head

There are lots of things that blogging has brought into my life: running races, green monsters, nut butter collections large enough to feed a family of four for a year. My all-time favorite introduction, however, might just be BodyPump.

I went to my fourth class this morning (I took classes last Wednesday, Friday and Sunday as well), and I can honestly say that I love it. I even upped the weights a bit today- definitely the fastest I've ever improved with lifting. Coming from someone who has groaned her way through strength routines in the past, that's huge. I wish my gym in NYC offered it!

For breakfast pre-workout, I had a bowl of Uncle Sam, blackberries and almond milk.

Lunch afterwards was simple but delicious. I'm not sure why this very basic meal tasted so good today, but I never wanted it to end!

I had a salad beast with romaine, cucumber, tomatoes, carrots, onion and hummus

As well as a sandwich thin spread with almond butter

A sliced grapefruit

And a cranberry-walnut Super Charge Me cookie.

Happy hump day, everyone!

Has reading blogs encouraged you to try any new forms of exercise?