When I was in junior high I had a science teacher that would assign some really random homework like clean your room or be nice to your parents. Seriously! No wonder I had to take chemistry twice in college.

In his honor, I’d like to give you Fitness & Spicer’s some homework for the weekend. Don’t worry, it won’t be hard and you won’t be graded. Get our your pencils, here’s your…

Memorial Day Weekend Homework Assignment

• Brew some sun tea. For extra credit, toss in some green tea bags. TIP: If you do not love green tea, mix in some black or herbal tea bags that will mask the flavor of the green tea.
• Do at least one activity that you would have done on the playground at recess…and I don’t mean gossip! Jump rope, play catch, skip, climb some monkey bars.
• Turn off the TV and read. Read something that will inspire you…and that can include a cookbook or another great blog.
• Don’t drink and drive. I used to tell the guys at work to “Be safe and call me if  you need a safe ride home.” The same applies to you.
• Enjoy time with your family and friends and take time to reflect on the true meaning of Memorial Day.

Now I really must go skip to the loo, make some more popcorn, and  go clean my room!

I get really bored playing board games. And, honestly I do not love card games although I am really good at them,  after all, I am champion of the world at UNO, right Joey? So when I won the FitDeck prize on Jody’s blog I was not surprised curious.

FitDeck is a set of exercise playing cards…it’s kind of like a game of solitare for any body. Each card contains an illustration and description of an exercise along with the suggested number of reps for each exercise based on your ability level. You shuffle the deck, draw a card, and do the work!

Here’s what I like about FitDeck:

• You can make up your own rules!
  • So if you only have 15 minutes you can randomly select 15 cards and do the exercise on each card for a minute each.
  • If you only want to work lower body or do cardio, for example, you can pull out those cards that are conveniently color coated.
  • Or, you can challenge yourself by shuffling the deck and doing the maximum number of reps on each card.

• My FitDeck is for bodyweight movements so no equipment is required…great for a home workout or when traveling, too.

• The founder of FitDeck is a former Navy SEAL (yum!)

• They have an entire FitDeck product suite including a deck for the easily bored, like me.

In my opinion, anyone who plays FitDeck is a winner and a loser. And speaking of losers…don’t forget to tune into the Biggest Loser tonight for the finale and watch my girl Shay go all the weigh!

Now I really must go grab a bite to eat and then hit the deck!

My dream job is to be a spa critic.

If that position isn’t available then I’d gladly become a gym critic.

Truth be told, I am pretty opinionated especially when it comes to how a gym should be organized.

If I owned a gym…

• Pink dumbbells would be outlawed
• There would be no recumbent bikes with arm rests that look more comfortable than my dad’s Lazy Boy chair
• Everyone would pay the same monthly dues
• There would be nothing but skinny mirrors throughout the club
• All of the trainers would be in better shape than I am
• Any trainer that takes up my a bench while they sit and count their clients reps – FIRED!
• Guys with barb wire bicep tattoos who wear du-rags, carry water in a gallon milk jug, and wear a gallon of Axe cologne need not apply for membership
• There would be a one strike policy on the following items:
  • If members do not put their weights away, they’re out!
  • If members fail to wipe down their sweaty gym equipment, they’re out!
    
  • If members are caught on their cell phones and it’s not an emergency, they’re out!
  • If members are caught wearing a Krispy Kreme t-shirt, they’re out!
  • If members are spotted wearing more makeup than a Kiss concert, they’re out!

Can you tell this is a subject that gets me pretty worked up? Maybe a massage will help.

Now I really must go to the gym and then post my resume on monster-dot-calm.

Congratulations to She-Fit for winning the Eat Cleaner drawing!

Please send an email to fitnessandspice@gmail.com with your mailing address and we’ll ship your prizes right to you!

You know what I love about blogging? The connections you make along the way, the friendships, the laughter, the tears, the celebrations…

Ok, enough about all that sappy stuff. I don’t want you to lose your appetite.

What I also love about blogging is stumbling upon delicious sites where you can’t decide what to eat, er, read first, like Elana’s Pantry, for example. Elana is beauty and so are her no-bake…

Gluten Free Almond Power Bars

• 2 cups almonds (raw)
• ½ cup flax meal
• ½ cup shredded coconut (unsweetened)
• ½ cup unsalted creamy roasted almond butter
• ½ teaspoon celtic sea salt
• ½ cup coconut oil
• 4 drops stevia
• 1 tablespoon agave nectar
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup dark chocolate 73% (optional)

Place almonds, flax meal, shredded coconut, almond butter and salt in a food processor. Pulse briefly, about 10 seconds. In a small sauce pan, melt coconut oil over very low heat. Remove coconut oil from stove, stir stevia, agave and vanilla into oil.

Add coconut oil mixture to food processor and pulse until ingredients form a coarse paste. Press mixture into an 8 x 8 glass baking dish. Chill in refrigerator for 1 hour, until mixture hardens.

In a small saucepan, melt chocolate over very low heat, stirring continuously. Spread melted chocolate over bars; return to refrigerator for 30 minutes, until chocolate hardens. Remove from refrigerator, cut into bars and serve. Makes 20 bars.

I can be wicked hard on myself. So this week I’m going to try a new approach.

My sister sent me this video so I’m going to channel this little girls positive energy…

And, I’m going to borrow my friend Heather’s affirmation in the gym. When the going gets tough, I’m going to chant:

“I am strong, I am lean, I’m a muscle-building-fat-burning machine!”

What do you say to yourself to get your week off on the right foot?

Now I really must go start the day like my blood type and Be Positive!

I have Spring Fever. No, really. I’m sick.

How do I know when I’m sick:

• My first drink of the day is hot tea and not coffee.
• I actually skip the gym.
• I sleep in until 6:00 a.m.
• I forget to add protein powder to my protein shake and wonder why it just doesn’t taste right (huh, Carrie?)
• I complain. A lot.
• I call my mom.

You know that feeling when your body aches and you feel like there are sharp daggers in your throat? That’s me. Right here. Right now.

You know what’s making me feel better? EBOOST popsicles. EBOOST is an effervescent powder packed full of vitamins (like C!), minerals, and green tea extract. I normally drink this stuff even on days I’m feeling well as it gives me a gentle boost of energy, it keeps me hydrated, and it’s like taking a vitamin without having to swallow a pill.

You’re probably wondering how I made these vitamin popsicles. This is tricky…you might want to take notes. I mixed orange EBOOST with water, poured it into popsicle molds, and popped them in the freezer.

I tell you what, these suckers are refreshing and are helping my throat feel so much better. Not only that, I found a great less than 5 calorie treat to spring me into Summer!

Now I really must go boost myself up and get ready for a Spring Fever-free day!

Do you have a vision board? You know, a visual representation of what you want to be or accomplish in the future? A vision board might have motivational quotes, cut outs from magazines, goals, photos–that kind of stuff.

I do not have a vision board because:

A. I am lazy.

B. I’m just not that into crafts.

C. I have the psychic network on speed dial.

D. I have a crystal ball instead.

E. Some of the above.

If you guessed “E” you are correct.

When it comes to fitness or weight loss vision board-kind-of-goals I normally just look at hot cover models with 6 pack abs and say, “I want ‘dem abs!” Only I probably use better grammar. Or, I say, “I want to lose 10 pounds.” Truth be told I have no clue what my body looks like with 10 less pounds or even 20 less pounds…do you?

I found this fun little product that gives your vision board lasik eye surgery. It’s a product that gives you an actual visual of what your body might look like carrying around fewer LB’s, it’s called Empower Me Photo. You upload a photo and they send you back a computer enhanced picture with a trimmer you.

You can get the picture of the new you on a magnet, on a laminated wallet card, or on a sticky back photo. So now you can have a vision of the body you are working for on the fridge, in your purse or man-bag, in your workout journal, or stuck to a mirror.

Empower Me Photo is a clever way to keep you motivated on your figure goals. Plus, it saves you money on glue sticks and palm readers.

Now I really must hit the gym and go tell my medium I want a small.

If you flip the word MOM upside down what do you get?

WOW!

Which is exactly what your mom would say if you made her these award winning pancakes for breakfast on Mother’s Day….

Linda’s Chocolate-Almond Protein Pancakes

• 1 whole egg
• 3 egg whites
• 1 scoop chocolate protein powder
• 1/2 cup quick cook oatmeal
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 to 1/2 tsp almond extract
• dash of Splenda (optional)

Cook as you would a regular pancake–flip when bubbles form on top–DO NOT OVERCOOK, THEY WILL BE DRY IF YOU DO. If you have worked out hard and have been a good girl/boy, add a tablespoon of dark chocolate covered cacoa nibs.

Congratulations Linda for winning the Guitar Hero challenge! You can flip your protein pancakes with your new guitar spatchula because YOU ROCK! And speaking of rockstars…

If my mom lived in the same state I’d whip her up a batch of these pancakes. After all, raising a Fitness & Spice girl could not have been easy. I wonder how many times she had to say…

• Eat your vegetables
• Peas will not kill you
• Rise and shine
• Finish your water
• Sit up straight
• Go take a hike (grin!)

And how many times have I said thank you? Not nearly enough! Thanks, Mom!

Now I really must go clean my room and make sure my Mother’s Day gift arrives on time for once…now that ought to WOW my MOM!

The tag line for Chobani Greek Yogurt is nothing but good! In celebration of Cinco de Mayo I thought we’d go ahead and change that to: Chobani - nothing but bueno!

I clearly don’t know a lick of Spanish, but I have been known to lick the top of Chobani Greek Yogurt lid. I amor this stuff!

Chobani sent me this guacamole recipe just in time for my Cinco de Mayo fiesta, and I have to tell you it is fantastic! Giving guac a shot of protein? Brilliant! Let’s call their recipe…

Nothing But Bueno Guacamole

• 1 cup Chobani® Plain 0% Greek Yogurt
• 2 medium avocados
• ½ tsp cumin
• 2 Tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped
• 1 tsp jalapeno, finely chopped
• 1 Tbsp garlic, minced
• 2 tsp lime juice
• Salt to taste

Preparation

Slice avocado in half lengthwise. Remove pit and discard. Scoop out insides with large spoon and add to bowl. Roughly mash avocado with fork. Add Chobani and remaining ingredients.

Mix until guacamole has desired texture, whether chunky or smooth. Add salt to taste. Kick up the heat by adding extra jalapeños. Serve with Pita chips for a “Greek” twist or use as a tasty spread on sandwiches.

Now I really must go take a dip and a Spanish lesson…it’s all Greek to me!