Pump It

For the last week or so, I've been lifting almost every day in lieu of heavy cardio. I was doing at least 35 sweaty minutes most days, but I haven't done any intense cardio for a couple of weeks!

And I'm not going crazy with anxiety! What's wrong with me? To tell you the truth – it's nice. I like not feeling exhausted every day. I like not having to drive home from the gym in dripping wet clothes. I LOVE feeling strong and sexy!

I've been alternating lower and upper body and lifting for 30 to 60 minutes. I actually started with routines I learned from these cheesy videos.

Don't judge! The music and costumes might be straight out of a soft-core porn, but the moves are legit!

Lifting also makes me much, much hungrier for real foods, not fake ones. You know what I mean.

Fake foods:

• 100 calorie packs of anything
• handfuls of dried fruit
• rice cakes
• lite yogurt
• fat-free "cheese" slices
• sandwich thins

Not that there's anything wrong with many of those! I love me some rice cakes and PB, but for some reason I've been wanting more –

Real Foods:

• Chicken
• Turkey
• Thick, chewy bread
• 2 percent Greek yogurt
• bacon
• hearty green veggies
• Eggs

I don't mean to offend any vegetarians or vegans! This is just me right now! The other day I went to Wal-Mart and somehow ended up buying like five different varieties of protein without meaning to. Does that ever happen to y'all? Inadvertent themed grocery trips?

So, what I need from you girls is advice. What are your favorite weight lifting moves? How often do you lift? How do you fuel for it? I really want to learn more about weight lifting! I've been a cardio-addict for so long, and I think it's definitely time for something a little different.

Also, I want this shirt:

And her abs. I want those too. :)

I'll leave y'all with my lunch and dinner.

Lunch:

Mix a pack of salmon or tuna with a big spoonful of humus and eat with chips, falafel ones (yum...). Also had a bunch of leftover kale cooked with tomatoes, garlic, EVOO, salt, hot sauce.

Dinner:

Saute 4 oz ground turkey in olive oil, add about half a can of tomatoes and a splash of chicken broth. Season with salt, garlic and something spicy. Cook that for a bit, then pile it in a lavash wrap with a big handful of grated cheese (I used raw sharp cheddar). Wrap it up tight and sear it lightly in a nonstick skillet for crunch. Serve with more leftover kale because you bought too much it's clogging up your fridge!

Goodnight lovely ladies! Whether you lift, run, dance, do yoga, rock climb, ski, ride horses or just stretch a lot, you are beautiful and sexy! Live it up!

-Maggie

p.s. Anyone else snowed in? I have about a foot and a half of white stuff all over my house, driveway and yard. What is this crazy weather!!??