Time to get movin!

I woke up this morning with one focus: to workout at the apartment's fitness center. I hadn't been to the center in well over three weeks, and my body was craving the exercise. I am oh so fortunate that our little gym has a stationary recumbent bicycle. I get a great cardio workout without having to worry about balancing myself. I have tried the treadmill, and I can go for about 5 min at the lowest setting as I hold on to the handrails with Jack standing behind me for additional support. I LOVE the rec bike because I can do it on my own, and I can go for up to 30 min.

After the invigorating cardio work, I did bicep curls and tricep extensions with free weights. I started with 3 lbs. and ramped up a pound each set, ending with 5 lbs. It was a great workout, and as I rode my scooter back to the apartment, I felt exhilarated. I told Jack that I must remember this feeling when I am tempted to eat cooked, salty/spicy/fatty foods- whew! That's a mouthful- literally ;) When it comes to diet, "Just Say No!" is not enough. I find that instead of focusing on foods I shouldn't eat, it is helpful to focus on the fruits that I love, how sweet I feel after eating them, and the high I am on after a good workout.

Later in the afternoon, Jack and I went to the UPS Store to ship out an eBay sale. While there, the nice lady helping us offered us a cookie. I had noticed the plate of homemade cookies when we entered the store, and because we hadn't had our afternoon smoothie yet, Jack and I both felt tempted. But we politely declined, and she offered again, suggesting we could share one. Jack and I laughed, and he said, "Thank you but we are trying hard to be good and not have one." I added, "I feel and appreciate the love, though." She seemed a bit surprised at this but then smiled. I find that people are more loving and compassionate towards me because of my disability, and I welcome and fully appreciate the warm sentiments. 

We went to HEB, the grocery store, afterwards and bought our usual: organic naners, mangoes, and a watermelon. We were both ravenous when we got home, and Jack was on it, handing me a 32 oz. banana-date smoothie minutes after I sat on the couch. It hit the spot!

Noon: 32 oz blended watermelon

4pm: 32 oz banana-date smoothie

7pm: banana-date-mango salad, 1 hempball (recipe follows)

We made this yesterday and slightly tweaked RawModel's recipe:

Lime/Lemon Hempballs

1 cup raw organic pumpkin seeds (pepitas)

1 cup raw organic shelled hempseeds

2 cups organic golden raisins

juice of a lime or lemon

splash of raw agave

1/4 c. dry shredded coconut

-Process the pumpkin and hemp seeds into a powder in the food processor. 

-Empty the processor bowl and add the raisins, lime or lemon juice, and a touch of agave nectar. Process into a thick paste.

-Slowly add the seed powder and process until a thick batter is formed.

-Make small balls from the batter and roll in the dry coconut to coat.

This recipe yields about 20 balls.