B is for….

Brrrrrr.

And Bootcamp.

And blueberries.

Brrrr
According to the radio report I listened to in my car with the heater blasting and the seat warmer on, it was 33 degrees F this morning. Icy toes, icy nose.

Bootcamp
Not sure if we’re the toughest, the most stubborn, or both, but it was just Maggie, Crystal, and I at Bootcamp this morning. We went to the running track at Austin High School to shake up the routine a bit. I never knew this little training treasure was righthere. Pullup bars. Parallel bars. Walking logs. And the best part — boxes to help beginning kippers like me actually get up on the bars.

Our workout
Warmup

  • high knees + fast feet + jacks
  • lap around the track
  • 3X squats, pushups, rotations
  • knees, kicks, skip, etc. + run ladder

3 rounds, 30 sec. each station

  • pullups
  • dips on the parallel bars
  • sprawls
  • overhead squats 2/ PVC pipe

2 rounds

  • 5 med ball throws up the field
  • sprint back from final throw
  • walking lunges up the field
  • sprint back w/ ball

40 med ball situps

The good: It feels really great to be moving around again. The fresh, cold air was bracing, and the sunrise over downtown was gorgeous streaks of orange, pink, and gold.

The bad: My Frankenneck is still puffy, and the muscles of my throat are sore. But the doctor said it looks “great,” so I’m just going to keep on going. Extra-strength Tylenol and patience are the key.

Blueberries
I mourned when fresh blueberries disappeared from HEB, but now I think I like the frozen even more. I keep a giant bag in the freezer, and every morning, I do this:

  1. Measure 1/2 cup of frozen berries into a glass bowl
  2. Microwave for 25 seconds to render them frosty but not fully defrosted
  3. Top with 1/4 cup Fiber One for a big fiber boost (7g fiber in 1/4 cup)
  4. Add 1 cup 1% milk
  5. Let it sit for a minute or so
  6. Eat enthusiastically

The frozen blueberries make ice crystals in the milk, and against the tangy berries, the milk tastes creamy and rich. The Fiber One adds a nice, lightly-sweet crunch — and if you have 9 almonds and 2 oz. of protein on the side, you’ve got a perfect Zone breakfast.

When I’m craving something sweet — like that damn Dreyer’s Slow-Churned Light ice cream — I repeat the process above, minus the Fiber One, and have only 1 oz. of protein on the side for a 2 block snack. It’s like a frozen treat, only with kickass nutrition and cancer-fighting properties.

Which brings me to this: Blueberries are a super food!

  • deliver powerful antioxidants
  • improve night vision
  • protect the brain from oxidative stress and may reduce the effects of age-related conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease or dementia
  • improve both learning capacity and motor skills
  • block metabolic pathways that can lead to cancer
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Comments

  • c9 says:

    Blueberries are also one of my favorite things. I eat them nearly every day too! Working upstairs from Whole Foods certainly helps. They have beautiful fresh berries all year.

    You know about the Smoothie trick right? Keep banannas in the freezer (peeled cut in half in a ziploc) add one, some frozen berries, some orange juice, protein powder and a little soy milk to a blender and you a have a yummy frozen treat.

  • Carla Marie says:

    M is for….

    Miss, as in I MISS YOU!!! 🙂

    It sounds like bootcamp was a blast this morning. I’m still setting my sights on doing a kipping pull up.

    Take care and keep us all updated on the status of your “frankenneck.”

  • bernie says:

    That breakfast sounds delicious. I’m gonna try it!

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