Semi Homemade Ice Cream Cake

In an interlude to the exercise month, I decided to make a Semi Homemade Ice Cream Cake for a cookout we are doing with friends on Saturday!  

This all got started because I began making cookie dough and as I went to add in the eggs I realized...I didn't have any eggs.  (fail).  So there I was with sugary butter and I thought, "what the hell" and added the flour to make a faux dough.  That gave me the idea of cookie dough ice cream!  Then I thought, "well, if I'm making semi homemade cookie dough ice cream, I better make it for more that just my husband and me to eat!"...hence the decision to bring it to the BBQ.  THEN I decided that it would be better if I brought it in a prettier form, thus the cake.

Here's what it included:

* Pie tin

* Cinnamon Graham Cracker Crust (Gluten free cinnamon graham crackers from Whole Foods crushed in a mini food processor with melted butter)

* Hazelnut Gelato (....seriously devine)

* Already made gluten free cookie dough, at room temperature

* Mini chocolate chips

To do:

* Create the graham cracker crust in the food processor and press into the pie tin for your crust

* Put in freezer while you combine the other ingredients

* Transfer somewhat softened gelato into a big bowl.  Use a spoon/wooden spoon to mix it up so the colder middle part and the softer outer edges end up at basically one temperature and consistency

* Add in crumbling cookie dough and mix, leaving pieces as chunks so it doesn't all dissolve into the ice cream

* Add in mini chocolate chips

* Pull out pie tin from freezer and line bottom with mini chocolate chips

* Pour ice cream mixture into the pie tin

* Garnish with graham crackers and chocolate chips if desired

* Cover and put back in freezer

And VOILA!  DE-LISH!  Enjoy!!

Exercise Day 30

Welcome to the end of month 1.  Today my calves are tired and sore, and I realize even more than I did before that taking care of my health is going to be an absolute priority in my 30s.  Committed.  Check.  Decided.  Done.

I really enjoyed the push to workout more in the last 30 days.  I subsequently have watched less TV, enjoyed more time outside, walked more when I had the option to hop a bus over a short distance, and, consequently, look better in my cloths.  (I haven't lost any weight, but things are just 'holding together' better).  :)  *perks* :)

We are winding down now and moving into month 2.  I originally thought this would be my 'volunteer' month, but given the schedule July has already presented me, I think we have to switch tactics.  I'm currently debating between 'sex with my husband everyday' and 'create a new teaching doc every day' to supplement the work I already product for fellow teachers on Teachers Pay Teachers.  The reason I'm debating is because on the first option I just have to double check my husband's up for hit (ha.  hahaha.  like he wouldn't be??)  and then I have to be sure I can do the teaching one in August.  I want to get it done before school has, more or less, started again.

Either way, Month 2 and the next set of 30-days to better begins!!

Exercise Day 13 - Tired

I did a quick 15-20 minute faux T-25 workout today.  I say 15-20 because I definitely did the full 20 minute video, but I took lots of ...pauses.  Still, it felt good.  And it's a good thing I did it earlier rather than later, because later I was hit by the strangest thing.  It's happened a few times in the last year or so, and it freaks me out every time.  I looked it up and it seems to be "reactive hypoglycemia" and they don't actually know what causes it. And it's not diabetes.  It's almost like the body blocks the release of gluco-something and it gives you heart palpitations, shakes, and makes you so tired you almost fall instantly asleep.  And so I recently awoke, feel better (which is usually how it goes when it happens), but I still have absolutely no idea what prompts it.  I'll have to keep a closer eye.

Still, in terms of this month's 30-day challenge - still on point!

Exercise Day 10-12: Fail, Fit, Fixed

Day 10 - failed horribly.  I totally forgot to stretch.  Woke up Saturday morning and thought, "Oh my God!  10 days and I already failed."

Day 11 - I worked super hard to fix my mistake from Day 10.  I walked 5 miles that day and stretched.

Day 12 - Back on Track and starting the week well with 2 1-mile walks, both in everyday clothes so it didn't feel like 'work'.

Exercise Day 9 - Gratefulness

I woke up this morning refreshed.  Well, I was tired and secretly wondered if I could make the world turn back 30 minutes so I could keep sleeping, but otherwise I was refreshed.  Since yesterday was one of my 2 'days off' for the week and I did extensive stretching instead - it felt glorious by the way - this morning I could feel my body thanking me for the reprieve.  In fact, when I awoke I felt less achy than I have in a while and just generally 'tighter'.  If you have worked out before you'll know what I mean - things just seem to move less.  Jiggle less.  Be in places they shouldn't be...less.  I felt svelter.

I stepped on the scale, which I do practically every morning out of habit, and I could tell you that the number hasn't changed much.  In fact, I've gone up 1.7 pounds, but who's counting?  However, I looked and felt good.  I put on a skirt and a cute but slim fitting tank and cardigan and headed to work...and I will shamelessly say that I admired the reflection I saw in every mirror.  (and don't lie! You know you always look, too!)

This month has worked out well.  It started on the heels of a 30 day-to-fit plan my husband and I were on which, when you're already removing toxins and allergenic foods from your diet, working out lends it self naturally as the next step.  So, combined, not only did I look really good today but I never felt the need to indulge in anything I shouldn't be eating.

Recently my husband and I went for a walk, as still had 2 days of working out left.  Now I have one.  It was a gorgeous evening and the walk was extremely relaxing.  There aren't many days like this in they city over the course of the year, and if I hadn't 'had to' workout, we may have missed it and done something nonsensical like sitting on the couch watching tv.  So this little kick in the pants helped me enjoy a truly beautiful evening.  If this keeps up, I think this month will go by smoothly!

Exercise Day 8 - First Wall

It's Day 8.  I've had 1 break so far, and that was last week.  This week I get 2 breaks, and I had expected to have one of those 'break' days be Saturday because it's supposed to upwards of 95 degrees in Chicago.  So that left one other day, and I thought, maybe Friday! That way I can just chill with my husband this weekend.  Then client meetings got scheduled Wed (tonight) and Thursday evenings and suddenly I found myself debating with myself all day: What should my 'days off' be?

Part of my body was screaming at me to let today be a break.  I've worked out 4 days in a row so far, which is probably the most in-a-row workouts I've done in a really long time.  It wants a break and a good round of stretching.  Then part of me argued against that side because, "it might rain tomorrow" and, "wouldn't it be better to squeeze it in today?"

I know this is a challenge, so it wouldn't be easy or without its difficulties.  That said, I forgot the internal debates that go on in your head when you set your mind to something and part of your inner-self wants to sabotage you.  I had been great for 7 days.  Day 8: Welcome Mr. Saboteur.

So I'm going to have to figure out, after I get back from my client meeting (depending on the time), if I want to squeeze in 20 minutes or just let it be one of my days.  *sigh* These are not real problems.  They are just temporary challenges.  ...perspective.

Exercise Month - Day 5

Happy Sunday!  It is the start of a new week, and I have 5 days I need to work out.  Today my husband and I went for about a 50 minute 2.5 mile walk, so I have 4 more days of 'workouts' and 2 days of full-round stretching.  Last week was 3 days on, 1 day off, and I'm happy to announce I am moving along successfully!  I worked out Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday, and Friday right before I went to bed I stretched.

Can I mention that the stretching was not only suuuuuuuper needed, but it also felt wonderful.  I can't believe the stretches where I'm still really flexible (since I used to dance), and the stretches were I was like "oh.  wait.  hmmm.  that should be better...."  (because, there were a few, even though I don't want to admit it!)

However, I have noticed that a 2.5-3 mile walk no longer feels like a 'good workout'.  I'm sweaty, for sure, but it's not as intense as it used to be.  That's definitely a good thing, but it's also a reminder that I have to 'up the ante' on my workouts.  In fact, on Thursday, I even threw in a few spurts of running (and from someone cringes when other say 'I went running' this is impressive!).

With 25 more days, I have to remember to take it one at a time and plan out my week, so that I have enough time / days to get in a full workout.  Stay tuned!  And if you're joining in, enjoy your workouts!