Signs of spring!

Gym day today! I am still debating on going back to 3 days a week with Operation Endurance, as I don’t get as fatigued since dropping the weights. Maybe next week 😀
It wasn’t really that dark as I left for the gym. I probably won’t even notice any darkness next week. Spring is on the way! Maybe we will see some ground by next week, too.

Exercise Set/rep/weight Muscle worked
Lying Leg press 3 sets of 12 at 75# Lower Body
Dumbbell Pull Over 3 sets of 12 with 20# DB Back
Incline Barbell Chest Press 3 sets of 12 at 45# Chest
Reverse Crunches 3 sets of 15 Core
Good Mornings 3 sets of 12 at 50# Low back and hammies
Standing 1-leg Calf Raise 3 sets of 10 with 35# bar Calves
YTWL 3 sets of 4 (each letter) with 8# DBs (16# total) Shoulders
Pliet Squat 3 sets of 12 with 30# DB Lower body

This workout took me 40 minutes. I rest about 1 minute between sets, although a couple of these I supersetted (the YTWL and calf raise), which reduces time.

Then it was time for food!

Peanut flour waffles topped with a sauteed banana and coconut butter.
BTW – I found some coconut butter/cream online at Amazon
(Linkie)

This is the box.

This is the ingredient.

If you buy creamed coconut, make sure it is just coconut and not with anything else in there (unless you want that).  I did have to heat this up a bit and remix as the oil separated to the top and the solids to the bottom, but it tastes pretty much like the stuff I made.  Score!  The coconut butter has some natural sweetness from coconut meat and very coconuty tasting (duh).  You can always mix in some sweetener if you want it sweeter.  I have it in a jar and just microwave for a minute and then spoon it out.

Lots of work this morning.  I have to put in my notice for this job.  I wish it could have been full time for me, because I do like the company and the flexibility.  I start my new job at the end of this month.  I was hired a couple weeks ago, but it takes time to get the paperwork done and to set me up for the training on their platform.

Lunch time came by pretty fast.  It was big salad time.  You can tell the weather is getting nicer because I am eating more salads!

This one has cooked chicken breast, feta cheese, and some parmesan peppercorn dressing.

Afternoon snack:

This is half of a chocolate coconut tart (with a bite missing 😳 ).  These taste super rich and delicious!  Not too sweet, but very rich.  Almost like a ganache filled macaroon.

That kept my tummy satisfied until dinner time! 4 oz of cubed steak done medium rare.  I love my beef medium rare.  I think it is the best flavor and tenderness cooked that way.

I topped those blueberries with a dollop of whipped cream.  John whipped some up to put on his berries, and it looked so good I did it to mine!  Good thing he doesn’t jump off a bridge, right?

It was so nice after dinner that we took a stroll.  Look – the ground is starting to show!

My walking companion:

Another sure sign of spring?  This ice cream shop is about 1/3 of a mile from our house.  Opening April 1!

I love John at the bottom pointing up excitedly :mrgreen: Now I know spring is on the way!

No ice cream tonight, but I will be having a pumpkin snack.

Question:  If you eat beef, how do you like it cooked?

30 thoughts on “Signs of spring!

  1. Ron

    Glad to see your snow is melting, luckily ours has been gone for a few weeks here. Your waffles look so good!

  2. Sandy

    I live in Georgia, so it has been spring here for some time now. Still, I can empathize with you, wishing for “full-fledged” warmer weather!! BTW, if it’s a beef STEAK, I like it medium rare. Of course, an eye-of-round roast cooked in the crockpot with wine, onions and mushrooms until it is falling apart is a good choice as well. 🙂 Thanks for your blog…it makes my day!!

  3. Kimberley

    I love beef and I love it medium rare as well.

    The extra light is nice…when we got out of yoga tonight it was still light.

    I am looking forward to ice cream pictures!!!

  4. suzanne

    Our snow is disappearing as well 🙂
    I love a good steak on the bbq once it gets warmer! Oh and I usually eat it medium rare.

  5. Andra Ruscoe

    So happy to see your snow is melting! All our trees are in bloom and it’s all I can do to contain myself waiting for the azaleas to pop. Mmmm Beef! I used to like my beef medium rare and Rob used to like it medium well, but somehow we’ve morphed into the same person over the years(ha ha at your bridge comment) and now we both eat it medium.

  6. cammy@tippytoediet

    Wow! Y’all have some serious meltage going on there! Woo-hoo!

    I meant to tell you I made some homemade coconut cream. Tasty, but a whole lotta work for just a little bit of cream. I think I’ll just buy some if I want it again.

    Well done on beef for me!

    1. Lori Post author

      You know what is really funny is that we don’t go there all that often. The frozen yogurt place is farther from our house and we prefer that, so just bike on by this place. They do make the best ice cream sandwiches, though!

  7. debby

    Wow, the snow meltage is amazing. I was just thinking about how I rarely eat beef any more, even though I still really like it. There’s just not enough calories in the day for all the good food there is to eat LOL! I love my beef medium rare. Even burgers, if I think it might be safe.

  8. Fran

    Finally: Spring is coming! I was in the centre of my village last week where all the shops are and I don’t come there that often but saw they’re opening an ice cream shop too soon.

    I like my beef medium rare, just like you.

    Maybe I’ve missed something but you got a new job? Same as what you’re doing now? Are you also keeping this job or switch to the new one?

    1. Lori Post author

      I am doing the same thing I do now, but will be an employee rather than an independent contractor, so I have a set schedule and all that. I will have to give up this part time job, but it makes me a little nervous to do so in case the new job ends up being terrible!

  9. Jody - Fit at 53

    Sautéed banana – now that sounds amazing!!!!!!!!!!!! 🙂 Too bad this job was not full time for you but I hope the new one works out…..

    Not a beef person but I have always been a well done person for all my meat – even as a kid when I did eat beef.. me & dad, well done! 🙂

  10. kalli

    that coconut looks so good! and healthy 🙂 beef…….i do not really cook it at home but i love a good steak at my sis’s house. her husband can smoke up a mean one!

  11. Helen

    Your streets look like ours did about a week ago. Now all we have left are the bigazz piles that plows pushed and moved so our street wouldn’t be narrow. They’re so dirty when I run past them they actually look like dirt hills, not snow!

    I printed that coconut tart recipe out and fully intend to try them this weekend. Have you ever had a dark chocolate dipped macaroon from Godiva? Too. Die. For.

    Funny, for me St. Patrick’s Day always signals spring, though I know it doesn’t have anything to do with it. BTW, I have Irish in me too, evidently the same kind as you because I have no desire to get wasted by lunch time on St. Paddy’s Day! (Errr, I’d rather just eat the corned beef and cabbage lol!)

  12. Lisa

    WOOHOO! Less snow!

    I love feta–can you believe I’ve never put it on a salad? Must remedy that.

    My mom wasn’t a good cook. Growing up she made the proteins into shoe leather. 🙂 then I spent 12 years as a vegetarian. I eat all meat now and I like my steak medium —tiny bit red but not bloody. Lol

  13. Biz

    We love our meat rare/medium rare. We had neighbors who were moving to Florida a few years back. We invited them over for New York strips and Caesar Salad. The steaks were expensive, so we made sure to cook them to a perfect medium rare. Delicious!

    I look over at one of our guests, and I was like “is your meat okay?” He said – “well, it’s kind of red in the middle.” He politely asked if I could throw it back on the grill – which I did – for 30 MORE MINUTES! It looked like shoe leather when I got done with it – however, he ate ever lick of it and declared it the best steak he ever had!

  14. Joanne

    Great workout Lori. I sometimes make my weight workout an aerobic workout by not taking a lot of time between sets. It works only if you use lighter weights and is a great change up for the muscles.

    The idea of sauteed bananas to top off a good waffle is fantastic. Good thing it’s almost lunch time otherwise … Snack attack, here I come.

  15. Kelly

    Yay! You can see the ground. Glad that snow is melting away. Come on, spring!

    An ice cream shop that close to the house? Now that’s dangerous. I’m afraid my walks would end up being exactly 1/3 of a mile each day. 🙂

  16. jen lau

    I eat beef, but I like it medium well with just a hint of pink. I must say your pics make all your dishes soooo appetizing! I love anything with coconut and look forward to trying that tart. Happy Spring!

  17. Roz

    Hi Lori, SOOO excited for the site of your ground. I know this has been a rough winter, so any signs of spring must feel good. Love that John is pointing in the sign picture!! Have a great day.

  18. Ang

    I love a medium rare steak. I swear cooking it any longer just takes all the flavor out of it! My husband used to be a well done eater but I’ve worked with him and now he likes it medium!

  19. Jen

    Our snow is melting and I couldn’t be happier! I’m so ready for Spring!!!
    Where did you find parmesean peppercorn dressing? Sounds perfect! I have been having salads for lunch again too, I’m going to try the chicken/feta on my next one. Delicious!

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