Look at me! I'm like healthy and everything now!

I had an early start to the day this morning as I signed up for the next few weeks to teach a 7 AM led Ashtanga. It's a serious RUSH, as we only have 50 minutes to get through as much of primary as we can. I was so surprised to hear that the previous teacher had done full vinyasa, which I was enthused about, and fully support. No better way to build strength than vinyasa-ing until you can't feel your arms. 

After my class went off to their regular jobs like proper adults, I lit some candles and did my own Ashtanga practice. I have very, very much missed doing yoga on a hardwood floor without a bed or bedmate in the way. 

By the time I got home, I got hit with the nap bug again. This time, I was out for about 2 hours before I woke up with the, "WTF happened" feeling. 

Naturally, I went on the internet to read through my blogs and generally waste my time. 

That's when I came across this: 

I've been meaning to make better use of the 180nutrition protein powder I purchased nearly a month ago. I use it in my cereal in the mornings, but I would love to have more of it during the day. 

So I dug around in the kitchen for some sort of blending machine that could grind up some almonds and dates.

I was SO delighted to find this hand-held food processor that I literally pranced out of the house IN MY PAJAMAS (proof above) to get to the store. 

Eleven dollars and a bit more prancing later, I came home to blitz up some protein balls. 

 This photo collage makes it look a lot easier than it really was. 

The hand-held food processor is actually quite small, and I had to shake and shimmy with that bad boy quite a bit to get the dates to blitz up. I also didn't use exact measurements, so I was doing a lot of tasting and guessing. Lastly, because I'm not rolling in the green, I had to swap out some of the more expensive ingredients for cheaper stuff, like Kraft peanut butter instead of almond butter, honey instead of stevia, and instead of coconut flakes.....nothing..... I also didn't have goji, but I imagine it would be fantastic in these. As would all those other ingredients I'm too broke to afford...

They needed to set in the fridge for a few hours, so I sat down to eat this afterwards: 

You're saying leftover roast potatoes and jarred pasta sauce isn't healthy?! Pshaw, it's like 2 servings of vegetables! 

Mmm! A really delicious dessert (even though it looks like mashed up poop). 

Protein pancakes and a run

In my day job, I work at a wellness clinic that just so happens to sell 180nutrition protein powder.

I'm not so big on powdered food, especially not when I can get all my nutrients and essential amino acids from cupcakes and coffee (This is scientifically correct, I know this for a fact, because cupcakes are the bombdiggity and not you nor the institution can tell me otherwise!).

But after hearing where 180nutrition comes from, how clean and unpretentious their product is, I decided I would give it a go.

I tried it first in an almond milk milkshake in the chocolate flavour, and it was...interesting.

The product is not ground smooth, so you're picking bits of sesame seed and flax out of your teeth afterwards.

The great part of this protein mix is the taste. It's actually delicious--nutty, chewy, and hearty in a good way.

Stuff like muffins, pancakes, breads, stir-fries would do great with the addition of this powder.

So I decided to make pancakes this morning.

I read through 180nutrition's pancake recipe, but I'm not nearly paleo enough to have coconut milk in my fridge. I basically added some of this, some of that, and up with this mix:

mostly 180nutrition coconut protein powder
some flour
a scoop of brown sugar
a teeny bit of baking soda
1 egg
whole milk until it's goopy
more butter than you think is adequate

If you don't understand my recipe measurements, then you obviously need to spend more time in the kitchen.

The pancakes cooked up really well.

They came out perfectly. I made a blueberry sauce (frozen blueberries and brown sugar cooked until...well, saucy) and drizzled honey over the entire plate.

They were really tasty, but dry. They sucked up the blueberry sauce like little delicious sponges, which was a good thing.

Next time, I will try less protein powder and maybe another egg to moisten.

After our sugar-protein-calorie-fest, Steven and I went to caffeinate it up at a local Aussie coffee shop, Gloria Jean, which is strangely from America? I say "strangely" because they seem to pride themselves as an Aussie owned and operated franchise.

After some errands, I decided to offend the good taste of the North Sydney running community with my blue/purple/red outfit.

I was so surprised to see that my elevation gain was actually quite modest.

I felt as if I had been climbing mountains (MOUNTAINS!), but Garmin Connect failed to register that.

Post-run glow-in-the-dark socks and a big smile. I'm so glad my knee is better, because I love running!

My stats:
2.47 miles
27:41 minutes
11:14 min/mile av pace
elevation gain 229 ft (wtf?!)