Marcy Utility Workout Bench
My husband prefers to work out at home, so we have turned one of the rooms in our house into a home gym. He needed a work out bench and some weights so he could do some additional things that don’t include our machine. We bought the Marcy Utility Workout Bench, but it came unassembled. We were supposed to assemble it together, but I was alone on Saturday and decided to give it a try. I put a couple of pieces on upside down and had to go back and fix it, but even with that it took me about 40 minutes.
I don’t have any wrenches or tools either, so I had to use some random tools that came with other things I have bought over the year. I’m pretty sure real tools would make it much easier to put it together and I could have done it faster.
I really love this bench. I may even have to use it myself if I ever decide I want to work out at home!!
Marcy Utility Workout Bench: https://amzn.to/3a1J5X5
Girls on the Run 5K
The Girls on the Run program is so empowering for young girls. This year I got to take my niece with me. I was amazed at how far she could run without stopping. I was the one who held her back!! We ran about 2.5 miles of it, then I had to take a break and run/walk the rest of the way.
I will have to say that being 30 lbs. lighter, really helped me with my running. I just started back at Orange Theory about two weeks ago, after I hit my goal weight, and really didn’t expect to be able to run as far as I did.
BTW, I got my cute Sherpa Sweater at my favorite boutique in Rowlett! Girlfriends is such a cute store! Definitely stop in if you are ever in Rowlett!! 
Low carb steak fried “rice”
As always, I’m trying to figure out what the best diet is for me to help me lose weight. I’ve always had a pretty good work out ethic, until recent years, so my new obsession with Orange Theory Fitness is really going well. I have gone 3 – 6 times a week since I started in late October. I have to do better with food though!! I think a low carb diet is probably going to work the best for me. I’ve been interested in the Keto diet, but I haven’t been able to get low enough in carbs each day. I’ve kind of decided that my diet will be lower in carbs with the majority of the carbs happening with my breakfast shake, (which has a banana in it).
One of my go-to staples in this diet is the cauliflower fried “rice” plate. It’s super easy to make, especially if you buy the cauliflower fried rice package in the vegetable section. Here is my recipe:
2 bags of cauliflower fried rice packages
5 scrambled eggs
1 carton of sliced mushrooms (optional)
1 pound of stew meat or cubed steak (or chicken)
1 tablespoon of sesame oil
soy sauce to taste
1st step: Scramble an egg then put it to the side.
Step 2: In another pan or wok, put sesame oil then add two packages of Cauliflower Crumbles “Fried Rice” Blend. (If you want to add mushrooms, I’d put the mushrooms in before you put the cauliflower crumbles.)
3rd step: Stir in soy sauce to taste and cook until semi-translucent. 
4th step: Stir in the scrambled eggs and the stew or steak meat. Add more soy sauce if you like it. 
This is seriously the best low carb meal I make. I highly recommend it to everyone doing any kind of diet. You can substitute chicken instead of meat if you like. Or you can add no meat at all and use as a side dish. There are a lot of options with this deliciousness!! This makes anywhere from 6 – 8 servings.
Fabulous at Fifty
I turned Fifty in October. I’ve decided to be Fabulous at Fifty. I began a challenging new workout by starting Orange Theory Fitness. I’m obsessed with this workout. I love being able to monitor my heart rate as I do the hardest workouts I’ve ever done in my life. Since I started at the end of October, I’ve gone 3 – 5 days a week. A lot of people I know have caught the OTF bug, so it’s been fun going with a group and pushing each other.
Unfortunately, though, I haven’t changed any of my bad eating habits, so I may be getting stronger, but I haven’t lost any weight. It’s hard to out-exercise a bad diet, especially at fifty. I seriously think I gained ten pounds the DAY I turned fifty. My metabolism seriously just STOPPED!! I’m just going to have to make some real changes soon.
I’ve been reading about the benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar, Honey and Lemon. So that’s going to be the next thing I add to my lifestyle. Each morning I’m going to drink a little of that on an empty stomach and see if that will help me curb my appetite and bring about some of the other health benefits I’ve been reading about. I’m thinking I’ll commit to it for a month and see how it goes.
Recipe:
Mix together:
1 teaspoon raw honey
1 teaspoon Apple Cider Vinegar
8 oz. warm water (1 glass)
I’m still not sure what diet I’m going to do. I really love how easy 21 Day Fix was, so that may be my next lifestyle change. 
Born To Run
I am not a very good runner, but I kind of enjoy it. I’ve successfully completed Couch to 5K…several times. I usually quit running right after I get to 5K. This happens EVERY time I start running. My friend and I signed up for the Dallas Half Marathon, but about 3 weeks before the marathon, I quit running on a regular basis. I finished the Half Marathon, but it wasn’t pretty. By the 11th mile, I couldn’t even alternate running and walking and had to walk the last two miles. That’s ok. I still finished and I still got a medal. Of course I said I’d never do another one, but within 3 days, I was already planning to try again. This time I’m going to be in better shape!!
My friend found this work out on pinterest. I’m not sure where it originated, but since she did it, I had to, too!! I didn’t think I’d make it through the first time, but I did it!! Now I’ve done it twice!! I’m so proud!! I am hoping mixing it up like this will help me with my training for the Cowtown Half Marathon!! Maybe this will be the year that I actually lose some weight, too!!
I work out!!!!
I’ve been trying to mix up my workouts each week so I don’t get stagnant with exercise, but my motivation has not been very good lately. The proof of my laziness is the lbs. on the scale and the way my clothes are fitting me. I know exercise isn’t the way that you lose weight, but it has what keeps me successful keeping off the weight. I ordered a new series of kettle bell workouts from Amazon this week and it showed up today!!! Kettleworx was a good way to get started with kettle bells, but after six weeks, I am tired of all the bad editing and repetitive work outs. I can’t wait to get started on Kettlebody by Brook, but I think I will be one of those people that starts things on Monday because I’m off to the Katy Trail to get my six miles in today!! Happy exercising!!
Broccoli Chicken Casserole
Last weekend I ran in the Rock and Roll Half Marathon. I guess “ran” may be a bit of an exaggeration. I ran part of it. I ran for the first 2 miles and then I hit a real steep hill and had to walk to the top of it. I ran for another 2 miles and then had to take a bathroom break, (which is kind of gross when all you have is a port-o-let). After that I had to alternate walking and running in much shorter increments for the remaining 9 miles. I got a little added motivation to keep going at miles 5, 9, and 13 when I saw a very good friend cheering me on with a poster made especially for me with my favorite colors on it. Every time I thought I couldn’t go another step, I thought about how I would be seeing her standing there in just a little bit. I appreciated her being there more than she will ever know!! I kept all my miles, (except the bathroom break mile), at under 13 minute miles. I finished at 2:43:02. The last time I attempted a half marathon, I finished in 3:07, so I was pretty proud of myself. I love my medal. I want to start doing more races that give medals so I can start a medal collection. I’ve found lots of cool display frames for them, but it would look pretty silly with just one medal hanging there. This weekend I will be riding in the Tour Dallas, but no medals for that!! 
This week’s recipe turned out really good. It is low carb, so I’m hoping by eating it for dinner this week, I will start to lose some weight. I’ve put on a few pounds and I don’t want to let my weight get out of control!! I’m getting back on track with my food and my exercise!
Ingredients:
Rotisserie chicken (I guess you could cook you’re own chicken, but why?)
1 can of cream of mushroom soup
8 oz of cheddar cheese
1 bag of frozen broccoli
Sliced mushrooms (I bought them pre-sliced)
2 tsp of lemon pepper
Get a Rotisserie Chicken from the grocery store.
Put Pam in a 9 X 9 casserole dish and tear up the chicken for the bottom layer.
Put broccoli over the chicken.
Put mushrooms on top of the broccoli and sprinkle lemon pepper over the mixture.
In a bowl, mix cream of mushroom soup, half a can of water and about 6 ounces of cheese.
Layer the cheese/soup mixture over the chicken, broccoli and mushrooms. Put in the oven at 350 for about 45 minutes.
Pull out of the oven and cover the casserole with more cheese and put back in the oven for another 10 – 15 minutes.
Pull out of the oven and eat. This casserole was even better the next day!!
Fabulous after FIFTY 