Ow!

Every once and a while things that seem bad are actually blessings in disguise.  When I had to back out of the competition late last month I didn't know that it was actually going to turn out to be a good thing.  If I hadn't backed out {I hate the word quit.  I refuse to quit anything!}  then, I'd have to back out now.  I managed to hurt myself the other day at the gym.  

On Tuesday, leg day, I decided to warm up with some squats.  My back had been sore for about a week and I had honestly been ignoring it.  I have a few disk issues from my car accident in 2010.  But when I did my squats on Tuesday I felt a not-so-pleasant rip in my back.  

As much as  hated to have to do it, I put myself on a cardio only plan until Sunday.  And if my workout on Sunday doesn't feel right, I'll be back to cardio on Monday. 

My workout is really simple.  I do an hour a day.  Normally I split it up between the elliptical and the arc trainer.  I've decreased my carbs a bit since I'm not strength training.  

One of the carbs I am really loving right now are apples.  This time of year Walmart has apples for 99 cents a pound.  I always end up making one apple dessert every year.  Normally it's an apple pie.  Apple pie is one of the seasonal pies, isn't it?  You have to eat atleast 1 every year.  My dad used to make the BEST apple pie.  He used granny smith apples in his pie which made it tart.  I really miss that pie.  Hell, I miss every type of pie.  I have a secret though.  I make pie flavored smoothies.  I make an apple pie smoothie and a pumpkin pie smoothie.  

These smoothies are so much easier than making the actual pie!  You just dump all the ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth.  

Pumpkin Pie Smoothie

1 cup unsweetened almond milk
1 serving vanilla protein powder
.5 cup pumpkin
Large dash cinnamon
Dash ginger
Pinch cloves
Sprinkle nutmeg

Apple Pie

1 cup unsweetened almond milk
1 serving vanilla protein powder
1 Granny Smith apple
Large dash cinnamon
Dash allspice
Pinch nutmeg
Pinch ginger


I also make a spice cake smoothie 

Spice Cake

1 cup unsweetened almond milk
1 serving vanilla protein powder
Large dash Cinnamon
Dash Cloves
Dash Allspice


Are you an apple pie person, a pumpkin pie person, both or neither?  Also, how do you deal with injury?  Let me know.