Finished the swim challenge + an outfit?!

After I completed my swim challenge on Monday, I started feeling awful! Really sick. I missed out on some work and spent major time on the couch. In true granny style, my pajamas were pulled sky high...sexy.

To be honest, I'm probably battling a case of adrenal fatigue. Quite a humbling experience I should mention. I think I let my motivation get the best of me and worked too hard for a couple weeks there. I pull long hours and the combination of job stress and exercise was a little much. This swim thing came at just the right time because it wasn't too taxing on my system. For the remainder of this week I'll be doing yoga and giving myself a much deserved break :)

Now, if you still care, here are my highlights of my 7 day swim challenge!

• First of all, I attempted to take a picture of me in my speedo and swim cap just for blog fun and humor, but I decided that was an absolute negative. There's no way in the WORLD I'm going to expose myself like that. I mean, I'm down for a fun picture on the beach and all, but me...in a locker room...with my swim cap and a one piece? Um. No. Just no. I look like a navy condom, so NO.
• Swimming is cold. Like hair grows back on your legs as soon as you put a toe in cold. Shaving becomes so so pointless, but so so required. UGH.
• Swimming is hard but good. For me, it's harder than running, but easier to get better at than running. You know how running is just plain hard most days? Running is awesome but it's never like, "Oh, I'm in such good shape I feel like I'm walking right now!" Swimming is different...it's hard, but then you get better at it the next day. And then it's even easier the day after. Then you're Michael Phelps and can eat 20,000 calories. Ehh, never mind.
• I really like swimming...if I didn't have a job. All of the time getting in, getting changed, getting my hair wet and then dealing with it after is kind of sucky. A Sunday afternoon swim, however, is my cup of tea!
• Swimming makes my bumps look smaller. Bumps as in cellulite. The only body difference I noticed was cellulite was looking a little less noticeable. Are those things ever gonna go away?
  

I'm trying to decide between starting Jamie Eason's Live Fit Trainer or the New Rules of Lifting for Women. I want to start sometime next week but haven't decided which one yet! More on that jazz a little later.

Last weekend one of our friends got married (30 years later...literally!) and I couldn't have been happier for him. He is seriously such a sweet guy and a great friend to me and Charlie and we're so glad that he finally found his other half! Here was my outfit, I bought this top at Old Navy last week, so if you're crushing on it- what the heck are you waiting for? Go buy it!

top: old navy $19 skirt: loft $30 jewelry: forever 21 $5

Another recent purchase of mine were these nine west shoes that I'm SO freaking excited about. If I could marry shoes, I'd marry these leopard wedges and my nude louboutins.

And just for a little shoutout, here's a picture of me and Kevin...a life long friend who introduced me and Charlie in high school! He reads my blog and loves to randomly turn to me and say (in his girliest voice) "THINK PRETTY THOUGHTS." He's such a nerd but I love em! Hey Kev!


PEACE!

easy salmon salad

I wish I was good at food photography. Or any photography. But I'm not. Oh well!

I made this for dinner last night; I'm not one to make a salad at home. Who actually has ALL the ingredients needed for a tolerable salad anyways! This one I made last night was as easy as it gets and one of the most delicious I've ever eaten. I deserve two cookies for that, right? The salmon burger I used for protein was bought fresh from the store. Whole Foods sells different seasoned salmon burgers and this one was a Mexican Herb one. I can't explain it, but it's delicious!

Salmon + Kale Salad

1 handful of spinach

1 handful of kale

cherub tomatoes

purple onion

avocado chunks (I did a couple tablespoons)

fresh cilantro

2 tablespoons dried cranberries

dressing: 1 tbsp olive oil + 1 tbsp fat free balsamic

grilled salmon burger on top

wants but not needs.

Boo.

I went home sick today. Elementary school style. But, I got to take a glorious 2 hour nap!!

Now, I'm browsing pinterest and deciding what is next on my baking list, shopping list, and decorating list. I'm such a girl.

Want #1: The zero scale.

The scale that lets you know if you've lost or gained- and not the in between.

After reading this post on Janetha's blog, I'm totally sold and want one. I never weigh myself anymore (umm, stressful!) and I think this is the perfect fusion between not getting set on what the scale says, but still monitoring your progress. I wish Santa was still here to hook it up.

Want #2: Brooks Pure Connect and Pure Cadence shoes.

I've never owned a pair of Brooks, but these specific shoes seem to be known for helping correct your gait while catering to the new barefoot running trend. The Pure Connect shoes are their lightest and most thin shoes, while the Pure Cadence offer more cushion and have technical additions to help with where you land on your foot. I love the look of the Pure Connect, but know that the Pure Cadence is probably better suited for me!

Want #3: This bathing suit.

For our 2 year anniversary (and my birthday), Charlie got us a trip to Mexico! I'm stoked. In May, we'll be headed out to do the beach thing. I can't hardly wait, especially since I have a serious, serious bathing suit addiction. I'm definitely leaving that turban behind.

source

Anyone else ready for summer?

BYE!

the big questions: grocery basket and organic?

Happy Tuesday?

I mean, Yes! Happy Tuesday.

Swimming yesterday was 100% successful with no obscure interruptions. I even got in a butterfly stroke, which was just for fun...since I'm so brave and adventurous. I like to think I looked as awesome as this guy.

I'm back at it again tonight for day 3 of my swim challenge. I see more butterfly swims in my future, even though I probably looked like a dying baby frog. In case you were wondering, I'm itching to get back in the weight room and on the treadmill. Go do it for me, will you?

Not that I'm cool by any means, but some of the most reoccurring questions I get from you blog readers are these:

What do you always buy at the grocery store, week after week? Do you eat 100% organic? Time to answer these babies, once and for all.

Groceries that I can't leave the store without:

Unsweetened Almond Milk. (Yes, vomit, I'm aware. It's definitely an acquired taste.)

Organic Brown Eggs. (Never leave the store without em!)
Broccoli (boring, I know. I might as well be 80.)
Grapefruit (the forgotten fruit...I love her)
99% Fat Free Ground Turkey
Wild Salmon
Spinach
Stacy's Pita Chips (if I'm feeling naughty.)

Now, when I'm feeling rich...the list looks completely different. I pretty much swipe up anything slightly pretty looking. I'm a shallow one.

Do you eat 100% organic?

HA.

HA.

I love organic living. Like reeeeeally love it, but I don't ever wanna be the girl that's ONLY organic. That's annoying. I don't like annoying! Example:

waiter: would you like a lemon in your water?
me: um, is it organic?

Please leave me with the wolves if I ever say that. Not necessary.

I'd say I feed Charlie and myself 75% organic, on most weeks. It's expensive and I'm probably one of the most secretly cheap people you'll ever encounter, so I definitely don't buy everything organic. But, I do have my beliefs and my standards, so I do aim for a pesticide, genetically modified free diet. Meats and vegetables are pretty important to me, so is my supplements (I'm all about pure vitamins and protein powders). To each his own in my brain though, because if you don't do organic- I don't judge. In fact, I don't even notice.

There you have it ladies and gents! I shop clean and I shop (almost) all organic. So predictable, I tell you.

a few eats + the swim challenge begins.

I continue to laugh at life, as I mentioned before, because when I showed up to my gym with bells and whistles on ready to swim on Saturday... it was closed for a swim meet. A SWIM MEET.

I was like, REALLY? Are you serious. The ONE day in my life I'm excited to swim- you're closed. Dang you, little children and your backstrokes! Swim meets are for summer!

So, since my tennis shoes are on lock down, my 5 minute glare at the swim meet was exercise enough for me that day. I peaced out and didn' t know what to do with myself. I'm confident the front desk clerk didn't know what to do with himself either when he saw me leave after arriving 9 minutes prior.

Saturday was lovely after that. I went home and did a whole lot of productive things! Facebook stalked, pinterest stalked, and thought about how I should maybe use this spare time to clean or blog. I watched Keeping Up With the Kardashians instead, and obviously I'm a better person for it.

My swimming officially began yesterday, even though a bird flew into the gym transformer and blew itself up (both the bird and the transformer). That was lovely, because the pool went black and I had to leave halfway through my swim. Excuses, excuses...I know! Sue me.

Here are some random eats lately; I enjoy creeping on other bloggers eats, so I'm sure I'm no the only one. Welcome to my stomach!

Yesterday's breakfast was Blueberry Protein Pancakes before church. I topped them with a bit of almond butter. I avoid consuming too much nut butter since they tend to back things up in the bowel movement department. Yeah, I said it and I'm not ap0logizing!

Blueberry Protein Pancakes

4 egg whites. Protein Powder. 1 tbsp Pumpkin. 1 tsp cinnamon. 1 (or 2) packets stevia. 1/2 cup of oats. 1/2 tsp baking powder. Blend in a blender, top with blueberries, and pour onto griddle. Top with sugar free syrup and some almond butter. YES.

Sunday's lunch was my favorite chicken salad, made with leftover grilled chicken breast! Mmmm, baby.

Dinner was grilled (and heavily seasoned with garlic) Tilapia, accompanied by broccoli, these sweet potatoes and Angelina Jolie's awwwwwful Golden Globes Dress. Did she really wear that?

Hope you have an awesome Monday. I'm feeling quite energetic since I gulped down an Emergen-C packet in lieu of coffee. There's my wise decision for the day :)

an awkward confession + my 7 day swim challenge

Hiilarious.


Life.

Is.

Hilarious.

Yesterday, I'm just sitting here, "laa dee dah I'm gonna share my workout schedule for a blog post today...sure has been a while! Genius!"

SIKE. My knee is being a hormonal, menopausal, very swollen woman. LOVE IT-LOVE IT- LOVE IT. not.

Over the last month or so, my knee has been acting a fool. After a run, it gets really swollen. It's not like a freaking tumor growing on my knee or anything, but it's uncomfortable, painful and...mushy.

I've taken anti-inflammatory medicine a few times, even slammed down a hefty dosage of glutamine (it helps with muscle soreness and repair). For some reason though, it hasn't gotten better. It blows up after circuit workouts and anything run ish. If you know me beyond this blog, surely you know of my disgustingly outrageous and embarrassing fear of knees.

YES. A fear of knees. Knee caps, specifically. I don't know why, but they are like little monsters to me. I have nightmares about dislocating my kneecap (I've done it before. Traumatic.) and if I see ANYONE with their hand near and/or playing with their kneecap, I go into insane mode. My response to seeing people touching their knees should be written about in a Psychological Textbook. I need help.

this isn't me, but it might as well be.

So, basically what I'm trying to say is I'm the last person who needs a knee injury. In avoidance of 'Oh hey, forget it! I'm going to jack my knee up in order burn calories', I'm going to be smart and say peace out to the gym room. For like a week. I'll be downstairs if you need me.


For the next 7 days I will rehab my gimp knee and swim as my form of exercise. Starting Saturday, I will swim daily, until next Saturday. If need be, I'll go on longer.

Here's an article I found interesting. It will be my routine. I'll blog about it (daily!) and will definitely be sharing any physical results that may come from all that swimming. I loved how I felt from swimming during my triathlon training.

It all begins Saturday!

Weekly Sched.

Curious what my week at the gym looks like?

M - back + triceps strength circuit, HIIT on treadmill and stairs.
T- warm up run (1 mile), legs + abs strength circuit, stairmaster.
W- shoulders strength circuit, HIIT on treadmill
Th- rest day
F- warm up run (1 mile), chest + biceps strength circuit with plyo moves
S- 3 mile run + isolated back workout + 500m swim
Su- HIIT on stairs and treadmill

In case you were wondering, the "strength circuit" workouts are courtesy of The Get in Shape Girl and her online virtual training program. (More details on this soon!) They are workouts that include a circuit of lifting heavy weights followed by higher intensity moves to keep your heart high. I didn't do any yoga this week, but I'll definitely be doing it next week.

Of course, my nightly routine will also consist of eating plenty of this.

ps: you should follow me on instagram! katypbrooks.

Sweet Banana Chocolate Chip Coconut Muffins (gluten free!)

I love muffins.

Corner Bakery, sugar crumbled on top, extra large muffins.

One thousand calorie, fourty grams of fat, pure deliciousness muffins.

Do I ever eat said muffins? No. I don't. Because they are little satan's in a wrapper.

dramatic, I know.

I make my own little wannabe satan's at home and you should too. You should also add 2 scoops of protein in the flour mix so they'll be protein muffins. Voila, a clean, easy, snack with a purpose.

You're welcome.

Clean Banana Coconut (Protein) Muffins

gluten free, oil free

3/4 cup oat flour (or whole wheat flour)

3/4 cup GF all-purpose flour (or regular all purpose)

1/3 cup stevia in the raw

1/2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp (heaping) cinnamon

1/2 tsp salt

1 cup mashed banana

1/2 cup unsweetened apple sauce

1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk

1 large egg (or 1/4 cup egg beaters)

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 cup shredded coconut

optional: 3 tbsp. chocolate chips

Bake at 375 degrees for 20-25. In a large bowl combine the dry ingredients, leaving out the coconut and chocolate chips. Mix together the wet ingredients and add it to the dry. Finally, slowly mix in the coconuts and chocolate and pour into muffin cups, filling about half way.

Enjoy!

Over the weekend

Hope you had a fabulous weekend! Mine was great.

We started out with a night of Sushi on Friday. Totally delicious. I ordered the Vietnamese Summer Roll which is basically Salmon, Tuna, and Crab Meat wrapped with Mango and Arugula. It's the only thing on the menu that wasn't fried or filled and topped with mayonnaise; surprisingly it was really filling, which I never feel full for more than 15 minutes when I eat sushi.

Here was my outfit. I snagged this silk polka dot top from Kohl's for $20 over the Holidays. It's the perfect top for a bright red lipstick (even though you can't tell from the fabulous lighting). We went to see a live band play some oldies after dinner and it was fun! We were the youngest there by a good 20 years.

I also managed to get a manicure and pedicure after 3 months; with the increase in running lately, my feet were atrocious. This is my nail color: OPI Moon Over Mumbai.

I decided to spend my Sunday evening baking (for 4 hours) and I've got a really awesome recipe for tomorrow! Get ready.

Happy Monday!