Exercise/ Fitness/ Lunch

Feel the Burn

Hi everyone!

I had a great grocery shop and workout this morning that I’ve been looking forward to sharing with you! I went to Whole Foods and got some great healthy stuff along with ingredients to make some various meals that I picked out from the new Cooking Light for next week. I talked to the girl in the health section about protein powders and she recommended this one to me:

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She said this was BY FAR the best protein powder she, personally, has ever used. It’s all natural, sweetened with stevia, and provides about 25 grams of protein per scoop. She said it tastes really really great and is very easy to mix just with water. I’m anxious to try it! The ingredients are very simple and everything can easily be pronounced. I will do a full product review of this when I try it so look forward to that.

I also picked up these protein bars…they are brand new from Balance and are just made from fruit and nuts (protein from soynuts). They were EXPENSIVE ($2.19 PER bar) so I don’t know how often I will be able to buy them but I really wanted to give them a try today because I used to looove traditional balance bars but if you read the ingredients there are all sorts of weird things in them I don’t necessarily want in my body. These are very natural and provide 9 grams of protein per bar with about 170-190 calories. Perfect for an afternoon snack! I also will do a product review when I try my first one.

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Here are my groceries. I got plenty of stuff (too much actually) for meals and snacks for the upcoming week. I actually stayed within a budget today and got all this stuff! If you are careful, Whole Foods is no more expensive than anywhere else. You just have to know what to buy (organic bananas are about $2 more than regular bananas and you don’t even need organic because you don’t eat the peel anyway….). Oh yes! and Whole Foods had CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER that you grind yourself!!!!!!! The machine was filled with peanuts AND dark chocolate chips. I just had to try some. 🙂

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After I got back from the store, I headed to the gym for an upper body workout.

Here’s what I did:

2 minutes on treadmill running to warm up

2 sets of 12 pushups (in response to a question this morning, my elbows DO come out a little bit when I do my pushups so they are not full on chatarunga pushups. My biggest concern is keeping my back straight, my core sucked in, and going slow and all the way down and up)

2 sets of 15 reps of lying triceps extension using 2 10 lb weights

2 sets of 15 reps of single-arm dumbbell row using 15 lbs

2 sets of 15 reps of hammer curls using 15 lb weights

2 sets of 12 reps of barbell curls using 15 lbs

2 sets of 15 reps of seated row using 60, then 50 lbs for second set

2 sets of 15 reps of flat bench press using 2 15 lb weights

….I think that’s it. It was a great workout and I upped my weights a little bit (using 15 lbs instead of my usual 10). My arms are sort of jelly right now 🙂

When I got home, I made a taco lunch! I used 1/2 cup spicy fat free refried beans with 2 blue corn taco shells, salsa, spinach and 1/4th of an avocado with 1 string cheese and some cherries. It was very tasty and spicy, just the way I like it!

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I’m headed to Tampa now—see you tonight!

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  • JG
    July 26, 2008 at 4:50 pm

    Mmm, tacos. Those Balance Bars look good. Have you tried the Dr. Weil bars?

    I’ve actually heard that bananas are one of the top foods you should buy organic, even if you don’t eat the peel. http://www.thegreenguide.com/doc/54-55/organic
    http://www.deliciousorganics.com/Controversies/toptobuyorg.htm

    I’ve been buying the Earth bananas from Whole Foods. http://www.earth-brand.org/bananas.php They’re really cool – fair trade and educational. They were only 99 cents a lb at WF last time I looked. Sadly, I think I’m going to stop buying them as I am trying to eat mostly local foods. I wish they could grow them here.

    Love your blog!

  • Amy
    July 26, 2008 at 5:02 pm

    Jenna,

    I know you are not a nutritionist or now my daily eating habits, but you are still so knowledgeable about nutrition that I am interested in your opinion. I am more of a carb girl than protein girl, so I am thinking maybe I too should increase my protein. With that said, I have read most americans actual get too much protein. What has made you decide to start using protein bars and shakes recently? Even with eating meat, do you still feel it is important to supplement? Thanks in advance for the advice!

    Also, I was curious if you read/do you read any books or magazines on yoga ? Or do you just focus on practice? There are all these books explaining yoga poses and there is even a yoga magazine.

    Have fun at snoop dog!

  • Amy
    July 26, 2008 at 5:03 pm

    opps now is supposed to be know!

  • polly
    July 26, 2008 at 5:27 pm

    Hi Amy!
    I know you asked Jenna about yoga magazines and such, and I was going to tell you about my fav yoga website http://www.iyogalife.com and I love yoga journal and even magazine like Health and Cooking Light has sections with yoga in it!

    Jenna,
    I asked about your push-ups because my latest Cooking Light had a page about push-ups and the girl is shown doing “chaturanga style” and I was curious to your style! I try for that kind, but my arms are still a little wimpy! 🙂 Did you see that in the your issue of CL?

  • hk
    July 26, 2008 at 5:59 pm

    yummy, tacos!! I’m interested to hear about the new protein powder. I’ve shied away from using these, but I’m curious to know what you think….benefits, taste…etc.

    have a safe drive home!

  • Every Gym's Nightmare
    July 26, 2008 at 6:34 pm

    hahaha the guy on the canister is hilarious. i want to look just like him when i grow up.

    just curious why you got protein powder to being with. do you not get enough? most people get too much, and its just like anything: if you eat more than you need it gets stored in your body.

    im always curious why people choose powders over healthy foods with other nutrients.

    http://www.groundedfitness.com

  • Maureen
    July 26, 2008 at 6:39 pm

    Oooh, what a yummy selection of food! You sure know how to power a work-out!

  • jenna
    July 26, 2008 at 6:39 pm

    Kelly,

    I got it because after talking to one of my good friends that’s also a personal trainer, she recommended more protein in my diet because, no, I don’t really think I was getting enough when I lift weights and am as active as I am. I want to increase muscle mass and whey protein is a healthy way (in moderation) to do that…I’m not out to consume 150 grams of protein or become a total beefcake or anything like that (although don’t we all want to look like that guy?!!!) but I’d like to lean/tone up a little. I’ve had good results with whey protein in the past and its a good snack for me at night at school. I also think that I chose a lot of ample, healthy foods as well as the powder. It’s not as if I filled my cart with junk then strapped on some protein powder to compensate! haha 😉

  • Victoria
    July 26, 2008 at 6:56 pm

    I’m looking forward to your review of those balance bars… and seeing what meals you making from CL this week. I just got my new issue and I’m tryign to decide what to make!

  • Amy
    July 26, 2008 at 7:00 pm

    Jenna,

    Your answer to kelly answered my first question. In that powder, is xanthan gum. Do you know what that is? Is it safe? Other than that ingredient, your right it looks super natural and hopefully I can find some.

    Also, I still would be curious to hear what you say about the yoga books/mags- you may not read any though?

  • Amy
    July 26, 2008 at 7:02 pm

    Polly,

    What is the name of the push up article? I couldn’t find it on CL online. I would love to check it out. Thanks for the magazine suggestion!

  • sarah
    July 26, 2008 at 8:23 pm

    i completely agree about whole foods being the same price as other stores IF you shop carefully. i think it gets a bad rap sometimes because people fill their carts up with gourmet and/or convenience items, rather than their great produce and 365-brand staples.

    those tacos look great!

  • Heather
    July 26, 2008 at 8:44 pm

    Hi Jenna,

    Starting on Monday, my boyfriend and I are going meatless for thirty days. I know you have dabbled in vegetarianism in the past so if you or any of your readers have any suggestions for us, please check out our new blog and leave us a note.

    Thanks and have a great weekend!

    Heather

  • BethT
    July 26, 2008 at 9:23 pm

    I also agree 100% about Whole Foods being affordable if you’re careful!! Many of the “365 Organic” products are no more than regular grocery items. Yesterday I got a huge (1.5 lb) container of organic, fair trade coffee beans for less than 10 bucks…

  • grace
    July 26, 2008 at 9:55 pm

    I have to agree with Jenna on the protein. I always worried about eating too much protein, but realized I feel so much better if I eat more protein. I really do have more energy. I still stay within my calorie range though. I think everyone is different and by trial and error you can figure out what works for you. Plus, the protein powder is a convenient way to add protein to your diet.

  • Karen
    July 26, 2008 at 10:08 pm

    Jenna,

    My suggestion for your next video idea: record your work out routines. I would love to see you perform the routines you’ve listed. I’ve tried some of the routines you’ve listed, it would be easier to follow your moves if visuals were available.

    I can’t wait to read about your protein shake review.

  • nicole r.
    July 26, 2008 at 11:14 pm

    yeah i actually find whole foods to be CHEAPER than a lot of other stores! especially shaw’s and stop and shop (northeastern stores), 365 brand is far cheaper. as long as you pay attention to your weights when things are priced by the pound and try to buy in bulk, i save a lot of money by buying at whole foods!

  • polly
    July 27, 2008 at 12:11 am

    Amy, the article on push-ups is on page 26 of the August Cooking Light. It’s hard to tell if the girl in the pictures has her elbows in, but that is how I prefer since it’s what I do in yoga.

    Also, some great yoga books are out there. I have a bunch. I like Baron Baptiste’s Journey into Power, and Om Yoga by Cyndi Lee is great… some wonderful yoga flows in that book. I have David Swenson’s book on Ashtanga Yoga I got at one of his trainings (he signed it for me!) and I have Holy Yoga, a book written by a Christian. Very cool.

    Hope this helps!

  • jenna
    July 27, 2008 at 3:06 am

    Karen,

    I was actually considering doing that….but it’s difficult since I’m not actually a personal trainer so the moves I do would just have to be “suggestions” for all you. I would have to include some type of disclaimer I think. It’s actually in my 5 year plan to get my personal training certification though! I was debating making my next video on nougatine OR on certain strength moves that work very well for me as well as some great yoga moves…what do you think?

    Amy,

    I really don’t read any yoga magazines but I have read a little bit of “meditations for the mat” which I bought my mom for a mother’s day present a couple years ago. It was very nice and gave some wonderful “food for thought” for when you practice. I wish I could afford more cool magazines like that but I hear Yoga Journal is wonderful!

    And here’s what I found in regards to Xanthan Gum. It sounds pretty natural. Used for a wheat gluten substitute for people allergic to gluten. Here’s the article I found: http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-xanthan-gum.htm

    I’ve seen in a lot in health food stores where you can buy it in bulk to use in cooking and baking. It sounds safer than other stuff!

  • Whitney
    July 27, 2008 at 7:18 am

    Hey Jenna-
    I’ve been reading your blog for a while and I really love it! I just wanted to drop a line and let you know that eating organic is beneficial to yourself because you are avoiding pesticides and herbicides, however you should always try to eat organic because organic soil actually acts as a carbon sink which is REALLY beneficial to the environment. It’s a positive aspect to eating organic that a lot of people don’t really know about but it makes a huge difference!

  • Chef Erin (Pumpkin)
    July 27, 2008 at 12:54 pm

    Chocolate peanut butter? I am so jealous that there isn’t a Whole Foods near me! (I’m pretty sure it’d be bad for my grocery buget to drive 60 miles to Whole Foods to go shopping… hahaha!)

  • mel
    July 28, 2008 at 3:33 pm

    while I know organic is beneficial, some organic produce is far too much money for a college student like myself! dole bananas are 37 cents a lb compared to 99 or more for organic. until I have a well paying job someday, there is no way i can afford only organic produce, esp fruits where you peel the skin !

  • Kenzie
    August 28, 2010 at 7:48 am

    Those tacos look amazing! I haven’t seen those shells in my local store, but there is a health food store right up the road that probably has them.. I don’t usually shop there because they are expensive, but I think it’s worth it for a turn out like this! YUM.
    -Kenzie
    Deep Fryers