Meal Prep, Ice Cream and A Unique Work-Out
Ice Cream with Beer!
I confess, I have a fetish with boozy ice cream. I have posted a recipe for ice cream made with rum, ice cream made with wine, and I recently discovered ice cream made with beer. If regulating alcohol consumption, it can be made with one serving of beer, but the volume of it makes it seem like more. However, this depends on the amount you make and how much beer you want to put in it. In trying to make it with fewer calories, and because it is not exciting to drink as is, I used Bud Light, but I bet a tastier beer, like Guinness, would be much better. Having had Bud Light in my fridge for weeks, leftover from a party, I figured it had more potential as ice cream than by itself.
Beer Ice Cream
1 Bud Light, or beer of choice
2 cups Almond/Soymilk
1/8 tsp salt
Stevia and cinnamon, to taste
Mix it up then place it in an ice cream maker or freeze it till it’s half frozen, half thawed. It makes a good milkshake-like consistency.
I had to add the John Wayne quote in the photo, as I was thinking of this quote the other day at work during my attempt to comprehend fast-talkers, without slow, Southern accents. I have nothing against varying accents…I like them! I just have difficulty comprehending them sometimes. With that being said, I am guilty of the same. Despite my slow, Southern accent, I catch myself mumbling, as if venting out loud with indecision of whether I really want others to hear. In other words, I may just be crazy but at least I admit it ;) So, in the wise words of John Wayne, “Talk low, talk slow, and don’t talk too much,” I should probably just keep that mumbled venting to myself.
Meal Prep!
I love food, so adhering to a regulated, healthy meal plan is very difficult. However, I may be able to keep a meal plan including chocolate peanut butter ice cream and cookies! In part, I envy the self-control others have to keep and not sway from a healthy meal plan, though I also regard the tendencies for such restrictive behavior to backfire, as eating disorders often result from restrictive behaviors like dieting. So, I suggest finding a meal plan with enjoyable foods, providing sufficient nutrition. This week I meal prepped for approximately 1,500 calories and 106 grams of protein per day (seven days), and it was less than $40! It is low in carbohydrates but high in fats, so it may or may not be the most effective. But, it’s worth a try considering it is affordable and hopefully more filling, as it includes more fat than I usually consume. Personally, my stomach does not handle whey protein very well, and I do not like all the additives and artificial sweeteners they usually contain, so I included natural peanut butter instead. Though it is high in fat, it is a cheap protein source and, because of the high fat content, it should suppress hunger and regulate blood sugar longer than low-fat protein sources. The meal plan is:
Breakfast: Peanut Butter Cookies
2 T Natural Peanut Butter
¼ - ½ Cup Stevia
2 T Cocoa Powder
1 Egg White
¼ tsp Baking Soda
Just mix then bake
Lunch: Chicken (6-7 oz) and ¾ cup Brussels Sprouts
Snack: Peanut Butter Cookies (same as those for breakfast)
Dinner: 2 Eggs with 1 cup Mixed Veggies and 1 cup Spinach
Snack: Peanut Butter Chocolate Ice Cream
2 Cups Unsweetened Almond Milk
1 Cup Plain Nonfat Greek Yogurt
2 T Natural Peanut Butter
1/8 tsp salt
2 T Cocoa Powder
Stevia, to taste
Blend all ingredients then place in an ice cream maker or freeze it till it’s half frozen, half thawed. It makes a good milkshake-like consistency
According to myfitnesspal.com, one day of this meal plan yields:
1,481 calories
107 grams protein
76 grams fat
61 grams carbohydrates
21 grams fiber
13 grams sugar
Again, being so low in carbohydrates, this may not be a good plan. I will aim to report back!
New Work-Out!
In talking to a gym member about getting out of his comfort zone, I felt a bit condemned for not practicing what I preached. For awhile now, I keep having the urge to utilize our gym’s punching bag. This was an easy feat when I had one in the garage where I could use it when no one was around, but having little experience, I felt out of place trying it at our gym. Having the gym to myself after work that night, I had no excuse. Though it was still out of my comfort zone, I created a circuit with about five to 10 combinations of punches, hooks and/or kicks per side, then 20 push-ups and 10 box jumps. Initially thinking I’d be doing good to get through four to five rounds, I decided nine rounds was only fitting, as it was a boxing work-out. So, I managed to beat out nine rounds, huffing and puffing with bruised shins. But, it felt good! It was great feeling the accomplishment of trying something I was not accustomed to.
