July 21, 2013

Weekend Sunshine_7.21.13

July 21, 2013/ sherri d'alessandro

It's been realllly hot here in the North East this past week. Very tropical. Not sure what all the complaining is about, Summer didn't really start until July 1st this year. It rained most of May & June... I'll take a week in the 90's - bring it! Plus, it's New England... extreme conditions don't last forever. It's b e a u t i f u l out today! Here's how I embraced the heat!

Drinks around Fenway on Friday night. Our famous Citgo sign... I'm such a tourist in my own city.

Running outside didn't happen much this week so I took advantage of the weight room upstairs at Peter Welch's after class to extend my workouts. I love this weight room - everything you need - no frills.

Hot weather is the perfect excuse to order ice cold oysters... both Friday.... & Saturday night. (Oysters are loaded with Zinc - more than any other food. Also high in protein, magnesium, omega-3's and potassium. Low in calories & fat!)

Here's my motivation for the week: Push harder in your workout - you are stronger than you think. Yesterday, at the end of a rather difficult boxing class... we had to hold a seated squat for two minutes straight... no breaks. Something we've done before in class, but, not really something I'd probably do on my own in my living room. What goes through my head during 120 seconds of burning is usually something similar to... "You can do this, half way there, how else can I distract myself, 30 more seconds, you can do this, ow, ow, ow, ow....". Our instructor was great yesterday and kept talking the whole time and said "It's just lactic acid, it's going to burn, you will walk out of here, your legs are not going to fall off, I promise". That pretty much sold it for me. So... my point... you can always push yourself harder. Remember, it's just lactic acid, it's going to burn, your legs are not going to fall off.

Have an awesome week! xo

July 17, 2013

Grilled Lemon/Rosemary Chicken w/ Summer Veg & Honey-Mustard Sauce

July 17, 2013/ sherri d'alessandro

I've been increasing my protein intake for the last couple weeks. A few reasons... one) better recovery after tough workouts and two) I'm looking to lean out a little bit more for Summer/in general. Increasing protein will keep me full longer and also also keep my metabolism churning as it takes more energy to digest protein than it does carbs/fats. Let me be clear, this increase just means that I am making sure that there is protein in each meal. I am NOT giving up carbs or healthy fats. That would just be silly, very silly. As I've mentioned 100 times, it is extremely important to ensure your body has enough carbs and healthy fats to function properly. Balanced meals for bfast, lunch, & dinner should always be the goal.

Moving on, I've been marinating organic chicken tenderloins at the beginning of the week in marinades of choice and then cooking them up so I always have something to "go-to". The meal I made tonight is easssyyyy, summery, and delish.

Overnight, I marinated the chicken with rosemary from my garden, extra virgin o/o, lemon juice, salt, & crushed red pepper. I don't have an outdoor grill so I cooked it on my grill pan, but, go ahead and make this on your outdoor grill if you have one - it is SO good that way.

For the veg, take summer squash, zucchini (can also use eggplant) dip in egg, then panko (I mixed whole wheat & white) mixed with basil, thyme, crushed red pepper, & salt. Place on a parchment lined baking sheet for 12 minutes. They come out like crispy little fry-like veggies!

I like a little honey mustard dipping sauce with this meal. So, I make it the healthy way. Just a couple squeezes of whole grain mustard, a little squeeze of organic mayo, and a little squeeze of organic honey. Mix together and serve.

Happy Hump Day! xo

July 15, 2013

Weekend Sunshine 7.15.13

July 15, 2013/ sherri d'alessandro

I'm back, I'm back! I know fun fit flavor has been on a bit of a hiatus since the 4th. I took some time off from work and really needed some time to step away from all things electronic and relax. I went back to work last week and realized that I needed to catch up on a few 'homeowner' chores so I dedicated time to getting everything in order. Sometimes, we all need to press the reset button. I came back from vacation feeling completely refreshed. I hope you all have some time to enjoy off this summer. Sometimes local travel and a staycation is exactly the break needed :)

I thought "Weekend Sunshine" would be the best way to revive fun fit flavor out of its lull!

I took this photo in the evening of July 5th. There isn't a place I feel more free than out on the ocean. Be grateful for our freedom and Independence.

It's not a vacation in New England without a proper lobster roll.

Is it weird that I never get sick of the view of my city from Castle Island during a run? Maybe because the sky is always different.

My bff's since the 6th grade, Rachael & Kim. We went out on Friday night for Kim's first night out since she had Juliet. We had a blast - love these girls more than words... Now, I know what you are thinking... wait, wasn't that two weeks ago? Yes, yes it was. Her secret? (don't worry, I asked) She continued to exercise almost daily and eat healthy throughout her pregnancy. Swear.