I gained 30lbs during the pregnancy and lost it all in about 4 months.  Wanna know how?  I’ll get to that…. More posts to come, cross my heart and swear to the deity of your choice.

Yours Truly,

Sherry

This burger will blow your mind. It was served to me at a Labor Day BBQ and Wham! Bam! Alakazam!
Out of an orange-colored sky.
In other words: Deliciousness in carne.

Here’s the recipe.

Here’s what I did:

Incline      Speed        Time

13.5%         3.0             15:00

0.0%          3.9             5:00

I was slightly dewy and invigorated, and burned 150 calories.  Not too shabby.

Here’s the class I taught (Body Sculpt):

Warm up:

Lunge Plie Lunge

Squat and Reach

Twist

Do 12 reps of each exercise consecutively and repeat circuit twice.

Circuit #1

Arnold Press

Squat Press

Deadlift + High Row

Circuit #2

Suitcase Squats + Lateral Raise

Alternating Lunges + Bicep Curls

Circuit #3

Tricep Busters

Staggared Push Ups

Circuit #4

Chest Press

Chest Fly

French Press

Floor:

Tabata: Bicycle

Reverse Sit Ups

Russian Twists

Stretch

New research indicates that women eat more in the presence of other women.   More information here.

Needs:

Barbell  (w/ or w/o plates)

12-20 lbs Dumbbells

Total Body Weight Room Workout

Warm up:

Prison Squats 20

alternating lunges 40

push ups                 20

Circuit #1:

A1 Overhead Squats 12

A2 Good Mornings 12

A3 Standing Military Press 12

Rest 30 sec.   Repeat.

Circuit #2:

B1 Barbell High Rows 12

B2 Dead Lift 12

B3 Split Squats 12/leg

Rest 30 sec.   Repeat.

Circuit #3:

C1 Alternating reverse lunges w/ bicep curls 12

C2 squats with tricep kickbacks                       12

Rest 30 sec.   Repeat.

Cool Down:

Push ups          20

plies                   20

walking lunges 20

Bicycle               20

Repeat w/o rest.

Want a delicious no-fuss pasta sauce that’s rich in nutrients and antioxidants? Good.  Here goes nothing:

Extra Easy Healthy Yummy Pasta Sauce

One can stewed tomatoes
2 TBLS Pesto
1/2 sliced onion
1 tsp olive oil

Heat a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add oil. Once heated , add onions and brown. Empty contents of can into pan, stir in pesto. Heat to boil then reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Serve over pasta of choice.

Scrumptious.

My hubby, Jacob, and I just found out that a serving of black beans has 67% of your RDA (recommended daily allowance) of Fiber.  Whaaa?  Totes.

But the black bean’s health benefits don’t stop there.  Black beans are also rich in protein, folate, magnesium, and a  plethora of antioxidants.  In other words, they’re a super-duper superfood, and Jacob and I decided we’re going to eat black beans for every meal for the rest of our lives.

So I went out and bought a bag of black beans and made the whole thing.

I’m a fan of the overnight soak, it helps to, well, de-gas the beans.  Grab a big pot, place your beans in about 6 cups of water, and let it sit for 6-8 hours.  Drain the beans and fill the pot with fresh water and simmer for 1 to 2 hours.  You can add spices and chicken stock at this time, if you so desire.  Before you know it, you’ll have a sh#*-ton of beans to refrigerate or freeze, for many meals to come.  I don’t know how to can (I actually sort of do, but I’m scarred to try because there’s a very small margin for error, and to can improperly means botulism/death.)  But if you know how to can, you could implement your skills and have a pantry full of beans.

So anyway, now I have a ton of black beans and we’re eating them on, in, and around everything.

Tonight I’m gonna make black bean patties.

Black Bean and Tofu Tacos

1 pound extra-firm tofu
1 1/2 teaspoons chili powder
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon olive oil
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
3 green onions, finely chopped
2 cups black beans, drained and rinsed
12 warm corn tortillas
3 cups shredded green leaf lettuce
2 cups chopped tomatoes
1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese

DIRECTIONS

Put tofu, chili powder, oregano, cumin, coriander and salt into a bowl and mash together with a fork. Set aside.

Heat oil over medium heat in a wide heavy-bottomed skillet. Add garlic and two-thirds of the green onions and cook until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add tofu mixture and cook, stirring occasionally, until most of the moisture has evaporated, 10 to 12 minutes. Add black beans and remaining green onions, stir well and cook until beans are heated through, about 2 minutes longer. Serve tofu-black bean mixture in tortillas, topped with lettuce, tomato es and cheese.

Black Bean Patties

2 cups black beans, drained and rinsed

1/2 cup frozen (drained spinach)

1/2 onion, diced

3 cloves garlic, peeled (minced)

1 egg

1 tablespoon chili powder

1 tablespoon cumin

1/2 cup whole wheat flour (or corn meal)

DIRECTIONS

1. If grilling, preheat an outdoor grill for high heat, and lightly oil a sheet of aluminum foil. If baking, preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C), and lightly oil a baking sheet.
2. In a medium bowl, mash black beans with a fork until thick and pasty.
3. Stir in onions and garlic
   
4. In a small bowl, stir together egg, chili powder, and cumin.
5. Stir the egg mixture into the mashed beans. Mix in flour until the mixture is sticky and holds together. Divide mixture into four patties.
6. If grilling, place patties on foil, and grill about 8 minutes on each side. If baking, place patties on baking sheet, and bake about 10 minutes on each side.

More to come.

Is it their talent that we crave?  Is it their eloquence?  Their impeccable sense of stylist?  -Nah, it’s their bods.

We love celebrity bodies.  We want celebrity bodies, to own and to…. you know.

And anyone with a big name and a tight bod will eventually roll out the neoprene mat and spill their fitness beans.

While waiting, with baited breath, for the new Heidi Montag workout video series, I decided to compile a list of all the celebrity workout videos that I could find.

Here they are, in no particular order. Enjoy:

Traci Lords

A woman of many talents, Traci lends her body and her rapping stylies to this non-impact Jazzercise routine.  I broke a sweat and got a great ab workout from laughing.

Cher

I own this on VHS.  It’s a great dance workout.  My only complaint: the routine doesn’t lend itself to tight places, like most of our living rooms.  Clear a big space and dance.

Paula Abdul

I checked this video out from the Oakland Library 4 years ago to help me shed some pregnancy weight, and enjoyed it immensely.  This is one of the best dance workouts I’ve ever done.  Paula Abdul is a fantastic teacher and the video is as stylishly shot as the 90s would allow.

Kim Kardashian

This looks like an alright workout.  I love step aerobics,  so I’ll probably enjoy it.

I have to admit, I find the costumes and set repulsive.

Flourence Henderson

It’s out there, somewhere.

Mary Tyler Moore

I haven’t seen this video yet.  Drats.  I bet it’s awesome.

Video MIA.  Here’s a link.

Jane Fon-duh

It pains me to include Jane Fonda because, well, duh.  She pretty much created aerobics.  Right?  I actually didn’t know she was an actress until about 3 years ago when she made that movie with J-Lo….  Anyway, her videos are OK.  As a workout video scholar its an absolute prerequisite.  As long as you omit the ballistic streatching you’ll be getting a slightly adiquate workout.

Super Models

Super duper videos.  Cindy Crawford’s the best.

Their respective team’s are working hard to keep there videos exclusive.  Couldn’t find anything worth posting.

Elle McPherson

Claudia Schiffer

Kathy Ireland

Cindy Crawford

Fabio

Faboio’s been burned before.  No youtube video.  Here’s a link

Mel B

Eh… Not so good Al.   Soup cans and broomsticks?  Something tells me she’s not relieving her innermost fitness secrets.

Girls Next door

These videos suck.  Just like the girls themselves: Kendra is the best of the worst.

Bridget Marquardt

Holly Maddison

Kendra Wilkinson

Carmen Electra

This video series has a special place in my heart, not only did I use them to help scale down after giving birth, but I also begged for them for about 5 months straight.  Ask and ye shall receive…  The sculpting video is really boring, but a good workout.  The dances are fun, but once you learn it the beginning of the workout (Carmen teaching the moves) is useless, which is a major flaw.

Hip Hop

Lap Dance

Tease

Regis Philbin

Awesomeness.

Alyssa Milano

I watched this video when I was 19, being that I was, and am, in a state of arrested development this video spoke to my soul.  Simply put: it’s fun.

Zsa Zsa Gabor

Wow.

Hether Locklear

Chyna

Fuck yeah.  This is a great workout.  Do this workout enough and you’re balls’ll drop.

David Carradine

Fit TV used to air these.  Trippy.  I don’t like the pacing, but the workout is fierce.

Barbie

Finally.

Meriel Hemingway

Boring workout boring lady.

Sherry Sirof

Well, you know…

• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoons vegetable oil

DIRECTIONS

1. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour and the eggs. Gradually add in the milk and water, stirring to combine. Add the salt and butter; beat until smooth.
2. Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium high heat. Pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle, using approximately 1/4 cup for each crepe. Tilt the pan with a circular motion so that the batter coats the surface evenly.
3. Cook the crepe for about 2 minutes, until the bottom is light brown. Loosen with a spatula, turn and cook the other side. Serve hot.

I filled mine with a medley of sauteed chicken breast, onions, mushrooms, and kale.  All of which I sauteed separately and mixed together upon serving.

I’m super excited to have left over crepes that I’m gonna gobble up for breakfast tomorrow post haste.  I think I’ll fill ‘em with a little flax meal, honey, and yogurt.

Can’t wait.