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DAY THIRTY TWO:

garlic thyme roast beef on red leaf lettuce, mushrooms, red peppers, tomatoes, avocado & white onion with balsamic dressing
So tonight I roasted an outside round roast for dinner  – we getting down to the smaller, “tougher” roasts left over from our 1/2 cow we bought (what a GREAT decision we made there!  organic grass-fed beef from a local farmer, it’s been awesome.  The meat is amazing, I love that it’s from a healthy happy cow and that we were able to support a local real live person and their family.  If you’re on the fence about making the investment, it’s been far cheaper too.  And, to seal the deal, lots of great studies out there showing that grass-fed beef is way better for your, beyond the hormone/antibiotic/yucky stuff, but actually nutrient wise, which makes sense, we all are what we eat!  Recommend!!)….so I roasted it using my fav method, to first slather it in a paste of minced garlic, extra virgin olive oil, lots of salt & pepper and dried thyme), then I roast it for 1/2 an hour at 450 degrees, then turn down the oven to 300 degrees and roast for one hour more, until it reaches 145 degrees. I then take it out and let it rest for about 20 minutes (or more) and it’s *perfect*, super tender, so good, and it works with all inexpensive cuts of meat!  So the guys were going to have beef dip & carmalized onions – but plans changed and it wound up being just me for dinner, so I sliced off some beautiful thin slices and had it on my salad.  Very good!  Even better??!!!  Dinner for tomorrow is already done, whoohoo!  LOL!

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DAY THIRTY ONE:

Bolognese (zuch., carrot, celery, mushroom, onion, garlic, tomatoes, ground beef) Sauce on Steamed Green Bean and Spinach Salad….?!….Welllll…yes, stretching the limits on the definition of “salad” with this one….BUT!  There is a reason – made Spaghetti Bolognese for the guys tonight, so I put my sauce atop a bed of spinach (see those little leafies poking out the edges?!) and some steamed green beans….So green beans and spaghetti sauce always makes me a  little nostalgic, lol, because, this was where it all began for me.  My first baby steps into eating better were replacing SOME of my man-sized full plate of spaghetti with a green beans.  I would have half and half, noodles and beans mixed together.  As time went by, less and less pasta on the plate, more and more beans.  Till the day came when I gave up pasta completely, which became easy because I genuinely enjoyed the beans and sauce and didn’t miss the noodles at all.  I know there are other options out there, rice noodles or even the shirataki noodles, but, the shirataki’s are a little too pricey for me (everything I do has to be sustainable financially! lol!), and this time of the day, I don’t need the carbs of rice noodles.  I like my veggies and protein,  it works for me, my body works well this way, so I’m  happy 🙂

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DAY THIRTY:

Curried Ginger Coconut Carrot Soup + Roasted Beet Chickpea Cauliflower Spinach Chicken Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette….very, very good.  The sweet beets, the chewy crunchy salty chickpeas, hearty roasted cauliflower, delicious all together!

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DAY TWENTY NINE:

Home at last!  Hurray, never been so happy to eat oatmeal and fried eggs and salad, good, real salad….  It being Mother’s Day, Richard took over cooking duties tonight and out came a roasted veggie salad, so roasted eggplant, asparagus, red and yellow peppers, red onion, garlic, on crunchy fresh romaine finished with fresh pineapple chunks and cherry tomatoes, with a gigantic chicken breast on the side (which I could only eat about 2/3’s of).  Just sprinkled a titch of balsamic vinegar and some salt and pepper to round it all out.  Hope you all had a lovely Mother’s Day! 🙂

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DAY TWENTY EIGHT:

Oh yeah, it gets worse….at the Zoo…ordered a “Chicken Salad”…out came a breaded deep fried chicken breast slices on top of a caesar salad…so my husband wound up eating two lunches, while I went back and ordered a garden salad and a hamburger, minus the bun.  Actually, pretty satisfying.  But maybe I was just really desperate at this point, after surviving on scoops of peanut butter, beef jerky, and kettle corn for 24 hours.  ;/

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DAY TWENTY SEVEN:

Ohhhhh my…there’s no place like home, there’s no place like home…so eating out is tough for those who are careful about what they consume….and travelling compounds this difficult situation….took the kiddies on a surprise quick trip to Vancouver on friday, so Wendy’s it was for dinner…I ordered a side salad (because I can’t spend $10 on a salad, just can’t, lol!) and a chili….and was so unsatisfied that I wound up eating basically an entire BAG of Heavy D’s kettle corn throughout the next couple of hours on the drive….uhhgggghhhhh….sigh….

pork tenderloin pepper coleslaw

DAY TWENTY SIX:

roasted pork tenderloin + fresh peppers + coleslaw mix + green onions + homemade apple cider vinegar and honey creamy coleslaw dressing

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Agatsu-Image

Mobility*Flexibility*Endurance*Strength

IRON HEART PERSONAL TRAINING

Summer 2013  Workshops/Classes/Lessons available:

Intro. Kettlebell Workshops:
For beginners/all levels:  Want to learn what the buzz is all about???  Come learn for yourself why Kettlebell training is quickly becoming recognized as the best, most efficient and effective way to build strength, burn fat and get an incredible total body workout!  In this 1 hour workshop session, we will learn the swing plus we will learn and solidify the skills and technique of several complementary moves.  You will leave knowing how to swing, you will have had an amazing workout, and you’ll get a take home program to get you started!  Sessions will be limited to a maximum of 6 participants.  This is the best way to get to know the Kettlebell and see why you should be swinging it too!  Already familiar with the Kettlebell?  Come and improve your skills and deepen your knowledge of the sport of Kettlebell Training!
When: dates tba
Where: Fitness Maxx, Vernon BC
How Much:  $15
*pre-registration is required.  Contact front desk at Fitness Maxx or Genny at Iron Heart Personal Training on Facebook or ironheartpersonaltraining@gmail.com for more details!

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Swing Fix
For beginners/all levels:  The classes are progressive and at the end of the 4 week session, you will have learned and perfected the basic skills of Kettlebell Sport, the Swing, Clean, Press, Windmill, Turkish Get Up and more!  NO OTHER workout can compare in efficiency, effectiveness and total body/mind involvement.  For ALL levels, from beginner to advanced, learn to swing, fix your swing or just get your swing fix!   Each 1 hour session will consist of a combination of a total body strength & metabolic conditioning workout, Kettlebell technique training & a stretch/joint mobility work.  Learn how to safely and effectively use the Kettlebell while getting an amazing total body, intense, fun & interesting workout!  Small Group Training – max. 6 participants/class.  Expect the same quality and care that you receive from a 1 on 1 personal training session…but at a fraction of the price and you get to do it with your friends/co-workers which increases the fun factor and support level!
When:  tba
Where: Fitness Maxx, Vernon BC
How Much – Sessions will run for 4 weeks, 2 classes per week, $200

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Swing Fix II – Hiit the Beach!
For advanced Kettlebell-ers, this is taking your Kettlebell skills to the next level….on the beach, in the gloriously beautiful outdoor setting, this class will test your body, deepen your Kettlebell relationship, improve your technique and learn more new skills as well!   Outdoor Bootcamp with a heavy Kettlebell influence, it’s going to be a wicked workout.   Join us!  You must have basic Kettlebell skills or have completed Iron Heart Personal Training’s Swing Fix Kettlebell sessions.  BYOB!  (Bring your own bell – I will provide a selection of Kettlebells, but it’s best to have your own with you as well). Contact me for more details!  Iron Heart Personal Training on Facebook or ironheartpersonaltraining@gmail.com
When: Tues/Thurs nights, 7 pm, start date Thursday July 11th
Where:  outdoor/beach, exact location TBA
How Much:  Sessions will run for 6 weeks, two classes per week, $180

Indoor Kettlebell Bootcamp
For all levels, this indoor Bootcamp class will have solid Kettlebell influence using the basic Kettlebell skills.   Burn fat, build muscle, get strong and feel amazing!  This class will get your metabolism revving with combinations of HIIT, strength training, metabolic conditioning, circuits etc, no two classes will ever be the same!  High intensity, effective, efficient, safe, fun, interesting & enjoyable workouts are guaranteed.  It is recommended that you take a Kettlebell Workshop, have completed the Iron Heart Swing Fix Kettlebell sessions or have had some personal or small group training sessions to learn the basic Kettlebell skills prior to joining.  Contact me for more details, ironheartpersonaltraining@gmail.com or like Iron Heart Personal Training on Facebook and message me!
When:  Mon/Wed 12-1 pm, start date July 15th
Where:  Fitness Maxx, Vernon BC
How Much:  Sessions will run for 6 weeks, two classes per week, $180

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Iron Heart
Outdoor Bootcamp
For all levels, all summer long!  No better way to start the day!  Fresh air, blue skies, sunshine, great company…and an intense one-hour full body workout!  Build muscle, burn bodyfat, increase your cardio endurance and improve your mobility and flexibility in a beautiful outdoor setting. Taking your basic outdoor bootcamp to the next level, this class will include a dynamic warm-up, mobility drills, combinations of HIIT/interval training, circuits, metabolic conditioning, plyometrics, strength training, kettlebells, sled work, trx, body weight exercises, speed training, agility drills, core work, flexibility training and more that will motivate and inspire you to push past your limits…Effective, efficient and interesting programming,  we will never do the same workout twice! For all fitness levels, you will be carefully and safely coached with appropriate modifications/progressions to ensure each participant has a challenging and effective session.
When:  Mon/Thurs 8:50 a.m.
Where:  location TBA.  Like Iron Heart Personal Training on Facebook to keep posted on up to the minute info on this Bootcamp!  We will be utilizing the amazing outdoor amenities that Vernon has to offer.  Parks, beaches, trails, etc, let’s make the most of this gorgeous place we are lucky enough to call home!
How Much:  $10 per session.  Drop in’s welcome!

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chicken fajita salad

DAY TWENTY FIVE:

The Chicken Fajita Salad – the guys had chicken fajita’s tonight (chicken, colored peppers, zucchini, mushroom & onion seasoned with chili powder, garlic powder, oregano, couple tbsp’s salsa and chicken stock), so I put that mixture on a bed of coleslaw mix & the crunchy bunched up parts of iceberg lettuce, topped with chopped tomatoes, avocados and cilantro. Dressing was salsa and a few dollops of guacamole!  Crunchy, filling, really fresh, recommend!

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DAY TWENTY FOUR:

Salmon + Bacon + fresh Mushrooms on a bed of red leaf & radicchio lettuce drizzled with a reduced balsamic & shallot dressing….very good except….always test your lettuce first, this radicchio was extremely, more than usual, crazy bitter!  I wound up picking most of it out, little kid style

UPDATE!  Request for dressing recipe:

Ingredients:

4 slices bacon

2 tbsp minced shallot

1/3 c balsamic vinegar

2 tbsp chicken broth

1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

Method:

Cook the bacon in the oven, 400 degrees, till crisp (or preferred “doneness”).  Drain off oil, saving about 1 tbsp.   Let bacon cool, chop, and set aside.

Warm a pan over medium heat with the reserved 1 tbsp of bacon drippings.  Add the shallot and saute for 1-2 minutes, then raise the the heat to medium/high.  Add the vinegar and deglaze the pan, stirrring to scrape up any browned bits.  Add the chicken broth, reduce heat to low, and simmer for about 5 minutes.  Whisk in the olive oil.  Remove from heat.  Cover to keep warm OR let cool to room temp., your choice.    When the salmon is ready, place it on top of the salad greens and top with chopped bacon and finish with drizzled dressing.