I think that you should pursue your dream bakery. I especially like the concept of being different not because of extra ingredients, but due to the lack of ingredients. What an innovative idea that holds a ton of promise. I've always wanted to cook professionally, but I have never given it some serious thought. It just seems fun to me. I'm glad I was able to re-ignite that for you. Pat on the back for me! As for a serious kitchen, of course, that's a must! When I buy a house, the main things that I will look for is a nice bedroom setup, spacious and open layouts and above all, a super cray cray kitchen setup. As a matter of fact, I have already chosen some of the appliances in said house. Take a look:

http://www.subzero-wolf.com/oven/gas-range
(check out their other stuff too)

Today was a break from lifting, but as mentioned, I went for a run after a quick spin session. Nothing fancy or crazy. Nice change of pace for me.

I think we should talk more about the cooking/baking thing. I think it is something that we should explore a little more. :)

4th post.... Minh get on this!

It's a rest day... but I have something I want to post about anyway.

Well, I think you kind of know this but I've always wanted to open a bakery. Always. Since as long as I can remember. But lately, I have had this uncontrollable urge to open one.
People say to follow your dreams... I want this so badly, it's weird. I think the desire came raging back when you mentioned the cookbook.
I literally would be so happily content if I could just bake all day long. Messing with ingredients and coming up with amazing recipes. I want it so bad. SO BAD!
It's crazy (cray-cray!), I know.
This is what I want...

Of course, I'd want to make my bakery allergen friendly... I have a lot of ideas for it. Mine would stand out and be different due to what ingredients it DOESN'T use. And I'd do special orders for people with very specific allergies, etc... And the kitchen would be super awesome because it would prevent cross-contamination so people could be sure.

Anyway, I just had to share that with someone.

3rd post...

what I baked… 

a variation on this recipe: http://www.lifeasaplate.com/2011/12/31/flourless-paleo-coconut-lime-muffins/

I didn’t have enough almond butter so I used some almond flour instead (I forgot to add enough though, i just realized, to make up for the deficit in almond butter… oh well they turned out good!)

and i added some coconut flour.

plus i didn’t have coconut extract or honey so I used 1.5 tbs stevia (would be better with the honey or with agave for sure!) and had no applesauce…

They still came out DELICIOUS though! Yum yums, great snack :). They will be undeniable with some coconut butter drizzled on top (oh yeah, didn’t have any raw coconut to sprinkle on top- would be great with that and some cinnamon!)

YOU BEST READ ALL MY OTHER POSTS SINCE YOU'VE BEEN SLACKING! lol

Quick update for today- yesterdays was longer and more exciting:)

60 minute Spin class at the gym this evening.
Super busy day. then ran off to the outdoor club to get info about a backpacking trip they are doing over spring break. Can't decide whether I want to do it or not...

Eating today kinda sucked... super busy so I ended up stuffing my face with nuts throughout the day. haha oh well.
rest day tomorrow!

Great article!
I want to do crossfit so badly, it's just so darn expensive!!! Ugh.
I'm not sure if you know but the paleo diet is pretty much what I am trying to transition into. The author of The Paleo Diet (which isn't exactly the mainstream view anymore...) is a professor at CSU and I'm meeting with him next week! So excited

Anyway, finally got back into the gym! yay- felt so good.
total upper body day

10 minutes amt

3x:
Wide lat pulldown (70lbs, 10x)
Close grip reverse lat pulldown (70lbs, 10x)
Pushups- 10

3x:
SB DB chest press- 15lbers, 12x
SB tricep pushups- 10 (the ball was flat tho so it sucked!)
Lateral and frontal raises- 7.5lbs, 10x

3x:
Bent over row- 45 or 50 lbs (can't remember), 10x
Barbell shoulder press- 30 or 35 lbs (can't remember, lol), 10x (DEAD! oh man these got me)
MB pushups- 10

3x:
Cable rope hammer curls dropset- 20/15/10lbs
Cable rope triceps extensions dropset- 20/15/10
Face pulls to external rotation- 15lbs, 10x

20 minutes on the stair master

My upper body is officially dead. My arms/shoulders are still feeling shaky. Damn it feels good to get it in, though! oh man.

Since i pretty much didn't lift for like 2 months I've gotten a bit frustrated.
I've decided I'm going to work really hard on ignoring where I was and focus on where I am and progressing from what I'm at now.
Thanks for being there for me this week- really appreciate it, dude!

Hmm, new workout plan... You can gain muscle and lose at the same time. Here is an interesting article:

http://crossfitrelentless.com/2011/09/the-power-of-aggressive-weight-training-and-a-clean-diet/

Here is a sample of what we talked about.

Warm up w. KB Swings and 500m row.

TRX Body Saw 45sec
TRX Plank 45 sec.
TRX Pike 30 sec.
TRX Crunch 30 sec.

Row 250m Sprint

KB Bilateral Swings 30 sec.
TRX Jump Squats 30 sec.
Weighted Step Ups 15x ea.
TRX Hamstring runners 30 sec alternating
Countdown Squats from 10

Row 500 (use this as your break and push w. the legs)

TRX Pushup 30 sec
TRX Bilateral Rows 30 sec
TRX Shoulder Press 12x
KB Bilateral bent over row 12x
TRX Bilateral Biceps curl 15x
TRX Kneeling Triceps 15x

Row 250 Sprint

Rest 2-5 mins, Repeat 1x

Something like that.

I hit legs yesterday.

Box Squats
135# x 6
185# x 6
225# x 2 (STUCK! lol)
225# x 5

Deficit Romanian Deadlift
130# x 12 x 3sets

KB Single Leg Deadlift
Light Purple x 10 ea. 3 sets

Hamstring Machine
40# x 10 ea x 3 sets

Step Ups w. Slow Eccentric
15 x ea

Single Leg Bridges
15x ea. 2 sets.

Glute/Ham Raise
3 lol. Way too hard.

Quad Burnout on Knee ext machine (single leg)
40# then drop to 30# ea. 3 sets.

Done.

I hit arms today, but nothing mind blowing and it will be boring to read so I won't write it.

Let me know what you think of the sample I wrote. Sounds fun right?

 Okay Minh-O-Taur... I need a new workout plan!
A PLAN! A full on plan.
Goals:
Lose fat
Build muscle (yes I realize it's technically like impossible to do both at the same time- main goal=fat loss)
Become a beast :)

I'm having a hard time figuring out how much cardio/ balancing lifting and cardio.

Optoins:
Lift 5 days a week with 2 days of HIIT and one longer cardio day
Lift 3 days a week and cardio 3 days a week
    - total body each time?
    -chest and tri's one day, back and bi's another, legs and shoulders the last?
    -upper body one day, lower body one day, total body another day?
Lift 4 days a week and cardio 2-3 days

ahhh, i'm hoping you can help me plan it all out :). I have serious goals but limited time and want to minimize cardio as much as possible and rule out/avoid boredom as much as possible.

We're back... except for the fact that I spent today eating chocolate chips, ice cream, and cookies. Yeah... really got back on that workout train ;)

And we're back....

Update: After taking a LONG hiatus from blogging, we are back and hopefully armed with a refreshed drive. This post will be kind of strange and away from the norm, but it's relavent because Victerror is apparently losing her shit about it. The cause, a cookbook made specifically for the college student (not restricted to however) who likes to cook or attempt to, whether it be for him/herself or to impress the opposite gender :) I've had ideas about this for a long time now and when mentioned to Victerror, she was immediately onboard within a few milliseconds. Stay Tuned.

So, I've  started working out again, if I am going to lose my first triathlon, might as well lose it while looking as good as possible I guess. I jumped in with Angel today for his push workout.

Barbell Bench
Warm up: 135 x 8
185# x 6
205# x 5
205# x 4

DB Chest Press
75# ea. x 8
75# ea. x 8
80# ea x 6

TRX Push Ups w. Med Balls
15x
15x
10x

Horizontal Cable Triceps (Unilateral)
50# x 10
50# x 10
40# x 10

TRX Triceps Press
15 x 3 sets

I noticed that my triceps were not helping me whatsoever. As you can see, they were completely failing at the end of the workout, which was only an hour. Exercises 3-5 were given a 1 minute rest interval. The first two (build for strength and mass) were given a 3 minute rest interval. Pretty basic lift today, nothing cray, but it feels great to be able to press over 200 again. Been a long time since I've seen that kind of weight in my own hands.

Ok, onto some other stuff. Below are some pics of my new toy. Composition isn't the best, I know, but It was just a quick shoot. As you can see, I was not able to control the light as much as I had hoped, but overall, I think they came out decent! The only thing that bugs me is that since I wasn't able to create a lightbox situation, there is a little vignette effect going on. Oh well. I like the last one the best :)

and here is a teaser...

Long post, but starting off strong!


-the minhotaur