Hey y’all! Only 2 days left in this work week and only 3 days left in this year. Bring it.
How have you been spending your last few days of 2011?
In addition to working, I’ve been trying to clean my apartment. This includes cleaning out my closets. Geez, I have A LOT of clothes. Haha.
Before pictures:
This doesn’t include my fourth closet with my work clothes and coats.
See? A LOT of clothing!
I will post my after pictures next week. I’m still working on the floor parts of my closets.
But I can say that I have about 12 WF bags full of clothing to sell or donate. No lies.
These last few days of 2011, I’ve also been trying to get in some more strength training. I loved yesterday’s workout, so I wanted to share it with y’all!
Gotta love working two body parts during one exercise!
{note: I have no certifications, at all. I made this workout up on my own and simply want to share what I’m doing. Please consult a physician before embarking any exercise routine.}
Run: 4 mi
Single leg squat with bicep curls, 12-15
Single leg squat with side raises, 12-15
Squats with overhead press, 12-15
Plank, 1 minute
Hip extensions, 15
Skull crushers while in a bridge, 15
Chest press while in a bridge, 15
Crunch with reverse crunch, 25
Deadlifts, 15
repeat 3x
It felt so GOOD to complete this!
Today’s eats:
Breakfast: 4 egg whites and 1 cup potatoes
Snack: grapes
Lunch: turkey sandwich on gf English muffin and 1 cup cherry tomatoes
Snack: goat yogurt with granola
Dinner: grilled chicken and eggplant
Snack: blueberries
Yum!
Speaking of yum, I have one yummy recipe for y’all.
For Christmas, I wanted to bring a gluten-free snack to my maw maw’s. Thanks to Pinterest, these cookies caught my eye. I just had to make them!
These cookies are freaking ah-mazing. Chocolate-y, chewy, gooey. They are just plain heaven.
Make these for your next party. This is not a suggestions, it’s a demand.
Flourless Fudge Chocolate Chip Cookies
source: The Recipe Girl
prep time: 15 minutes
cook time: 14 minutes
serving size: 24 cookies
Ingredients:
3 cups powdered sugar
2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 to 4 large egg whites, at room temperature
1 Tablespoon pure vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups bittersweet chocolate chips {make sure they are gluten-free and/or vegan if that is an issue for you}
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Line two rimmed baking sheets with silpat mats {or parchment paper}.
3. In a large bowl, whisk together powdered sugar with cocoa powder and salt.
4. Whisk in two egg whites and vanilla extract and beat just until the batter is moistened. {According to the recipe: you’re looking for a brownie-like, thick and fudgy batter consistency. If it seems too thick, add another egg white– then a 4th one if it still seems too thick}.
5. Gently stir in chocolate chips.
6. Spoon batter onto the prepared baking sheets in 12 evenly spaced mounds per cookie sheet. {You want to leave a little room for the cookies to spread, because they do}.
7. Bake about 14 minutes, until the tops are glossy and lightly cracked.
8. Slide the silpat mats onto wire racks. Let cookies cool completely, and store in an airtight container for up to 3 days. {VERY IMPORTANT: you need to let these cookies cool completely before removing them from the silpat mat. They are gentle when they are warm}.
I wish I took some to go, but at the same time I’m glad I didn’t. Y’all know how I tend to go overboard with the sweets! haha. I just can’t help myself!
What are you doing to prepare for 2012?
What do you do with clothing you are getting rid of?
What treats did you bring for Christmas, if any? Are you a fan of flourless desserts?
Tags: Clean Eating, eating for weight loss, fitness routine, flourless chocolate chip recipe, gluten free recipe, Weight Loss
Can’t wait to see the after closet photos! I have to admit–I have a bit of an organization obsession. I love cleaning up cluttery spaces and seeing how people manage their own! My old clothes go to Goodwill if they are still in decent shape. I tend to wear a lot of my stuff until it falls apart though, so those items just get trashed.
I wish I could wear my clothes until they fall apart. I think that has happened to me once. I get bored too easily! haha.
Oh my gosh! I am so glad to see this post. My husband’s boss has like 10 kids and his wife and half of the kids are gluten free and I always struggle with the idea to make them something for this time of year. I think I will bake these this weekend for them. They look great!
These would be perfect, then!
I have a pretty big walk in closet, so I’ve managed to keep the floor relatively free of clothing outside of shoes, but it is definitely packed to the max! I keep going through it every few months and donating more clothes but it never seems to get any better. Guess shopping doesn’t help O:-).
And these cookies may be made this weekend when I am with my gluten-free friend. She would love them.
I think I may make this cleaning out business a regular thing after this. It’s too much at once! haha.
Good for you and your giant clean-out! I bet it feels good to lighten the load.
It does! Now to get the bags of the old stuff out of my house …
I don’t understand how they work without flour???
But they look so yummy!!!
I was iffy at first too, but it works!
Those cookies look so fudgy and delicious! That lack of flour must make them extra fudgy and indulgent. Do you have a pinterest account? I’d love to follow you!
Yes! I just followed you!
They are super fudgy and just plain amazing!
These look good!
A family friend was just told by her doctors that she has Celiac’s Disease and i have been trying to find her some good gluten free recipes for her and her family and I think this recipe is gonna be added to that list.
This recipe is perfect!
WOW! I want those cookies :D
you have a lot of clothes!! haha. good for you for donating them :) I need to go shopping…it’s been awhile since I bought clothes, though I did get a new dress for New Year’s!!
Now that I have moved back from college I really need to go through my clothes. I usually donate them to Goodwill.
I love cleaning out my closet! It feels so good to get rid of stuff! And these cookies look so yummy and chocolately!
Oooh this sounds so very intriguing! I haven’t had flourless cookies, only cake, which I adore, so these sound like they could be to die for!
You want to come clean my closets too? I’m glad I’m not the only one with a heaping pile of clothes (75% of them I don’t wear anymore – I swear, I’m a clothes hoarder!).
Hope you’re having a great New Year so far =)
Thanks!
Haha. No, you are not alone!