The Gym On A Rest Day

Posted: March 30, 2011 at 6:56 pm

Happy Wednesday, friends! Although I think it should already be Friday. This week just drags on and on and on and on and…you get it. At least I had a nice little break today. I woke up fully relaxed, thanks to a certain little baby sleeping 12 hours straight (!!!) last night for me. Pretend to be excited for me, okay? It’s big news in these parts. After helping M potty, I got to ease myself awake with a nice, long stretch.

I questioned moving my rest day to the middle of the week, but I liked the break. It also allowed me the time to hang out with a friend. Where else to do that than…the gym? On a rest day? Why, yes!

P1140406

My good friend, Danielle, asked me to visit her gym with her and help her set up a couple of weight workouts. I whipped a few goodies together and happily hung out with her at the gym to walk her through all the moves.  Call me crazy, but even when not working out I still like being around fitness. I had a lot of fun playing “trainer” for the day. In fact, personal training is a career I highly consider pursuing when I decide to go back to more traditional forms of work (aka not blogging for a teensy weensy bit of side money) in a few years as the kiddos go to school.

It got me excited to consider that option perhaps playing out in my future. Honestly, I have so many different things I want to pursue and passions that fulfill me, so it will be interesting to see the paths life leads me down. I enjoy helping people achieve fitness goals. I love sharing insight and supporting those struggling with whole wellness. I adore writing and blogging and would love to include those in my life for, well, forever. Only God knows what I’ll be doing 5 years from now and I’m cool with that. I plan to just make the most of each day, follow my gut, and trust it will bring me to the right place. Reminds me of an awesome quote I came across recently – “Focus on achievements and forget about success. The former will bring about the latter.” So true!

Obviously, I had some time to think today. I had to distract myself from the raging hunger beast that attacked me after I got home. I wanted lunch right away but had to get the kiddos fed and down for naps first. I was chained to the rocker feeding baby B and doing all I could to take my mind off the unruly noises my stomach kept making. Once I could finally grab food, I went for fast and easy. Hence, the frozen meal pizza.

pizzalunch

You know what? It sounded good. And it tasted good. I keep things like Amy’s frozen burritos & lasagnas, Lean Cuisine pizzas & paninis, and the occasional Kashi meals on hand for such emergency situations. Ain’t no shame in busting out the frozen meal! Some situations just call for it. Now, I must concern myself with eating some more. A delicious dinner that I cannot wait to share with you tomorrow!

PS - Check out my interview on the Fit Moms Fit Kids Club site!

Question of the Day – Do you ever do frozen meals? What is your favorite?

 
52 Comments to “The Gym On A Rest Day”
  1. That’s so cool that you helped your friend like that! You would make an awesome trainer. I’ve always wanted to try working out with a trainer, but I can’t afford one 🙂

  2. Kelly says:

    12 hours!!! YAY FOR YOU! 🙂

  3. I’ve always been nervous/uneasy around the trainers at my gym. I think you’d be a great personal trainer, you have away of just making people feel comfortable and I like that. I’d hire you! 🙂

  4. Yay! B slept for 12 hours! He’s getting so big! The occasional frozen meal is good in my book. I don’t buy them for me, but I do frozen pizzas for the boys sometimes. It’s too hard with food restrictions trying to find stuff like that for a cheap price for me. I keep my bean burgers in the freezer for us too.

  5. Lisa says:

    That must have been so weird to be in a gym but not working out. I don’t think I’ve ever done that……..!

    I eat Smart Ones or Lean Cusines for lunch on occasion. Usually when I know I won’t have leftovers to take for lunch.

  6. Michelle says:

    Yay on the 12 hours!!! I wish I could say that I know how that feels, but sadly my 1 year old stills gets up once a night. But that really is great!!
    I felt like what you wrote is exactly what I am feeling right now about pursuing different things. It’s like you were reading my mind! I am totally loving your blog because I feel like you share so many of the same beliefs as me! Yay for new blogger friends!

  7. so on yoru next rest day do you want to train me?!

  8. Lauren says:

    It must be so exciting thinking about your next path in life while still enjoying where you are now! I always get excited thinking about what the future holds for me, but sometimes I wish time could just slow down. College is going by so fast for me!

  9. Omg I love frozen pizza. And burritos. Yum. Such special treats!

    Congratulations on all the sleep–that actually sounds huge and amazing!

  10. I usually keep 2-3 frozen meals on hand just in case, and I also keep some TJs meals (the orange chicken, fried rice, etc) for quick and easy meals. They are for “emergency use only” but it is nice to have them in a pinch.

    I think you’d make a great trainer — fitness and health are your passions!

  11. aint no shame!! moderation at its finest! I think there is NOTHING off limits when eaten in moderation 🙂

    training is fun isnt it?! I had no idea of your thoughts to be a trainer! thats so awesome! let me tell ya, you meet some interesting people 🙂 btu it is so rewarding, especially knowing you can help transform someones life. you would be the best trainer!!! And thank you for your comment on my post today…im so glad I am not the only one who is/has felt like this!

  12. I have a feeling you would make for an excellent personal trainer. For real 🙂

  13. I agree, this week does seem to be dragging!
    I bet you would make an awesome trainer 🙂
    Frozen meals are a must for me sometimes and my favorites are the Kashi varieties!

  14. Lee says:

    You can train me if you want to practice!

    I eat frozen stuff on occasion too. I sometimes get Lean Cuisine pizzas and then a bunch of random Trader Joe’s frozen stuff.

  15. I used to liiiive off of frozen meals in college. I don’t really do frozen meals anymore, but well.. I don’t think there’s a frozen meal out there that I can actually eat. haha!

  16. Karen says:

    Yeah for B sleeping 12 hours!!! My kids have been waking up a few times during the night and I’m not sure what to do!

    I used to live off Healthy Choice meals because I thought they were really good for you. Then I started reading labels and we all know what that leads to. I do keep a few frozen meals on hand as back-ups but I’m very careful to read the ingredients and choose meals made with real food : )

  17. Horray for the 12 hours of sleeping for baby B!! Very exciting for you 🙂 Frozen meals save the day sometimes – Trader Joe’s has a fantastic frozen veggie lasagna and frozen burrito.

  18. Sarah says:

    That’s awesome of you to act as a personal trainer for your friend especially on a rest day 🙂 Ain’t no shame in frozen meals. I keep some Lean Cuisines and Healthy Choice meals in the freezer for emergencies!

  19. I don’t eat frozen meals too much since I’m GF.. but I do have a GF fettechini (sp?) waiting for me that I’m nervous to try lol. Someone gave it to me!

  20. i do eat frozen meals sometimes, but only when i’m not prepared to make a meal from scratch, which doesn’t happen very often! my fiance and i just tried a frozen indian dinner from trader joes (i think it was called palek paneer) and it was sooooo tasty! 🙂

  21. Danielle says:

    Thank you Christina! You are an amazing trainer and friend! Thanks for everything today! Danielle 🙂

  22. Jill says:

    How did you get your baby to sleep 12 hours straight?? Any tips on how to get your baby to sleep through the night would be great!!

    • Tina says:

      The only tip I can think is having a good routine and sleep schedule during the day. I read the Babywise book and took principles from there and used them with my kids from the early stages. Both slept really well from the beginning. I will say B woke up once again last night to feed so I don’t expect the 12 hours thing to become regular anytime soon.

      Also, for feeding, I have heard once they go longer a few times in a row you know they can mange not eating at that time of night, so try to soothe them another way. I think that has helped him drop one of his feedings so both of us weren’t doing it out of habit when I realized he just wanted a quick snuggle and then back to bed. It’s a LOT of trial and error, that’s for sure!

  23. Rofomom says:

    I’d admire your positive outlook on waiting to see what path life leads you down. . . I get a little more anxious about it when I think about the future and how quickly time passes. . . It was nice to be reminded to “have faith” and wait and see! Thanks!

    • Tina says:

      Anxiety/anticipation of what the future holds is the hardest thing I have to sit back and trust. It’s a constant reminder to myself too.

  24. I was about to disapprove of going to the gym on your rest day, but then I read more closely.

    I’m also totally unsure of my life 5 years from now.

  25. I’m in college without a stove, so I definitely rely on the micro meals sometimes- amy’s mac n cheese is my fav!

  26. I concur, this is the longest week ever! 😉 XOXO

  27. katie says:

    HEY BEAUTIFUL MAMA!!!!! I am back! yay! I have missed you and your wonderful, insightful posts! You are so awesome and such a blessing in my life, love you sista!

  28. Kara says:

    12 hours is awesome!

    I eat frozen pizza quite often. I used to eat Lean Cuisine meals when I worked, but I don’t now that I’m home.

  29. Heather says:

    Isn’t it a great feeling when you can use your knowledge to help a friend? I’m sure she’s super grateful!
    Who knows where I’ll be 5 years from now. Hopefully doing something I LOVE!

  30. Allie says:

    This week does seem pretttyyy slow haha! Glad you were able to help Danielle 🙂 That is so nice of you and you have such a passion for fitness! I admire that so much!

  31. Heather says:

    oh girl, i do frozen meals a lot! well, not a lot, but probably more than the average food blogger 😉

  32. Angela says:

    I think being a trainer would be a great job for you Tina – you’d be awesome with pregnant women too because you’d certainly be able to speak from experience!

  33. When my husband and I start a family I’ll be a stay-at-home mom but, I’ve always said that once they go back to school I’d love to become a personal trainer or teach some classes!

    I don’t eat frozen meals as much as I used too. I do use frozen veggies when I’m in a hurry tho! I also purchase frozen sweet potato fries on occasion!

  34. I wish we lived closer to each other so that I could hire you as my personal trainer!

  35. Mandy says:

    I definitely have frozen meals on hand. I don’t think there is any shame in them either 😉

  36. I don’t like frozen meals that are microwaved, like Lean Cuisine. However, so many people have raved about Amy’s that I picked two of her meals up at WF last week. Still haven’t tried them. Frozen microwave meals are for when I’m desperate. It will surely happen soon. 🙂

    That said, we eat a lot of pre-prepared fresh then frozen meals via http://www.letsdish.com. I don’t know what we’d do without Let’s Dish. It’s the only way I will eat meat, because I can’t stand preparing meat, it grosses me out so bad. But with Let’s Dish I can eat such a variety of meals, and preparing them usually takes less than 40 minutes. And they are soooo good.

  37. I am totally with ya! Even on my off days I love all things fitness-related — whether that’s learning something new about training or helping someone else get started or designing a diet plan for someone. It all just thrills me!

  38. I always have a few frozen meals in my freezer for emergency situations like those. Currently I have a Vegan Pizza from whole foods and an eggplant parm dish in there. I also make a lot of my own frozen meals with leftovers since I’m trying to eat less processed stuff!

  39. I have always loved those French Bread Pizzas 🙂 But sadly, I really just don’t like frozen meals. They freak me out. I can do frozen pizzas, frozen veggies, frozen Boca burgers, and frozen pasta shells or something without sauce that is just “part” of a meal but an actual “frozen meal” like most people eat in my office building for lunch, really freaks me out. I wish I liked them (sometimes) because it would make packing lunch so easy.

  40. Marg says:

    You’d make a great trainer!

    I haven’t been doing as many frozen meals as I used to, but I really like the Kashi Mayan Harvest one.

  41. I do frozen meals in a pinch. I don’t really have a favorite – I just buy what looks good!

  42. Yep, I do frozen meals now and then and it’s usually veggie burgers. I could eat an entire batch all by myself, that much I like it.

    But then, when I took them from the micro wave and see how greasy is the plate I remind myself that they cause me burps and a bloated belly from the saltiness.

    It’s a love-hate relationship!

  43. I agree that sometimes frozen meals are the way to go. I like to have a few frozen options on hand for when I don’t have time to cook. I look for options with real food ingredients (like the ones you mentioned) or I also try to make double meals and freeze them once in a while. Sometimes I forget about the frozen meals I make though. Duh!

  44. Sarah says:

    I like frozen Amy’s products…or pretty much any frozen vegetarian burrito. I no longer call myself a vegetarian; I just like meat-free versions of burritos better.

    • Tina says:

      Me too! Meat free burritos and things really are better. More flavorful and filling from the beans I think.

  45. I’m very iffy about frozen meals, but Amy’s are the best. Healthy Choice/Lean Cuisine frozen pizzas are super good though!

  46. Frozen Burritos are always my go to if I need something really quick and filling. I have an emergency stash stocked away in my freezer right now.

  47. I totally do the frozen meal thing when the mood strikes! There are a few that I really like actually… Amy’s Vegetable Lasagna is one of my favorites.

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