Hilly Workout

Posted on February 15th, 2011 by peanutbutterfingers

Another day, another workout!

This morning I headed to the gym for a cardio session split between the treadmill and the elliptical. My 30 minutes on the treadmill was spent completing a hilly interval workout.

Hilly Treadmill Workout

It wasn’t a killer workout like this totally hardcore workout, but it got me sweatin’ and that’s all I was looking for!

I rounded out my workout with 20 minutes on the elliptical.

Breakfast

After my workout and a quick one-mile walk with Sadie, I was ready for breakfast.

Ryan and I have plans to go out of town Thursday night so I wanted to use up some of the produce in our fridge this morning. What better way to use some wilted spinach than in a green monster smoothie!?

Pouring the Good Stuff

In the mix:

  • 1 c. milk
  • 1 scoop chocolate protein powder
  • 1 extra large handful spinach
  • 8 frozen strawberries
  • 2 ice cubes
  • 1/2 packet NesCafe Taster’s Choice instant coffee
  • 2 pinches xanthan gum (for thickening)

Green, Ugly and Delicious

As always, my green monster looked like butthole, but tasted fantastic.

Ta-Da!

This smoothie reminded me a lot of my favorite mocha green monster smoothie, with the addition of strawberries instead of a frozen banana. It’s worth a try!

Of Possible Interest

My mind is all over the place today, so please enjoy a random assortment of links!

Filed under: Breakfast, Recipes, Smoothies, Workouts

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36 Responses to “Hilly Workout”

  1. 1
    Katy (The Singing Runner), on February 15th, 2011 at 11:12 am Said:

    I love Green Monsters. :) Have a great day Julie!

      

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  2. 2
    micki, on February 15th, 2011 at 11:13 am Said:

    LMAO “looked like butthole” – seriously guffawed out loud. That is an insane workout lady. I didn’t know treadmills could go up to 8. :)

      

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  3. 3
    Stefanie @TheNewHealthy, on February 15th, 2011 at 11:17 am Said:

    Sometimes the ugliest foods taste the best! ;)

      

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  4. 4
    kristy @ kristyruns, on February 15th, 2011 at 11:21 am Said:

    Adding instant coffee to a green monster is genius!!!

      

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  5. 5
    Carrie, on February 15th, 2011 at 11:22 am Said:

    nice workout! saving that one!! ahaha GM’s always look like butthole– there’s truly no way around it! i love how your links-thanks!

      

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  6. 6
    Lisa @ I'm an Okie, on February 15th, 2011 at 11:26 am Said:

    AW—thanks for the link love :) Love you :)

      

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  7. 7
    Colleen @ The Lunchbox Diaries, on February 15th, 2011 at 11:34 am Said:

    I wanted to do a hilly workout so badly today! Legs were too sore :( maybe I’ll copy this later in the week! :)

      

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  8. 8
    Gabriela @ Une Vie Saine, on February 15th, 2011 at 11:35 am Said:

    Thank you so much for sharing the link to Lisa’s post- I just read it and it’s amazing. I love that you incorporated a link from a general interest post!

      

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    peanutbutterfingers Reply:
    February 15th, 2011 at 12:26 pm

    i LOVE that post. she did such a great job capturing the emotion that so many people feel… sometimes there’s nothing seriously WRONG with a relationship… but it’s just not RIGHT. loved it.

      

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    Lisa @ I'm an Okie Reply:
    February 15th, 2011 at 1:16 pm

    Thanks to both of you! I’m glad you got something out of it…especially since it was a pretty hard post to write!

      

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  9. 9
    vanessa, on February 15th, 2011 at 11:41 am Said:

    I laughed out loud (and kinda grimaced) at “looked like a butthole” but I know exactly what you mean!

      

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  10. 10
    Angela @ Eat Spin Run Repeat, on February 15th, 2011 at 11:41 am Said:

    My GM was an equally gross looking colour this morning! :) And I second Gabriela’s comment – I loved Lisa’s post! Have a fabulous Tuesday Julie!

      

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    Lisa @ I'm an Okie Reply:
    February 15th, 2011 at 1:16 pm

    Thanks Angela! :)

      

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  11. 11
    Tina @ Faith Fitness Fun, on February 15th, 2011 at 11:42 am Said:

    Always love your links…and that you think green monsters look disgusting too. They really do! At least they don’t taste that way!

      

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  12. 12
    Eliz@The Sweet Life, on February 15th, 2011 at 11:46 am Said:

    Why do things that are so good for you always look like “buttholes”, as you so eloquently described your smoothie? :-)

      

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  13. 13
    Amber K, on February 15th, 2011 at 11:52 am Said:

    My favorite green monster recipe has both banana and strawberries and cocoa powder. Delish!

      

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  14. 14
    Stephanie @ The Cookie Battle, on February 15th, 2011 at 12:11 pm Said:

    I hope Ryan rocks the flip flops with his tux for the wedding ;)

    A banana cookie sammie?? YUM.

    You will like Water for Elephants, I loved it. They are making a movie starring Robert Pattinson (I don’t see him as that character at ALL)

      

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  15. 15
    Amy at TheSceneFromMe, on February 15th, 2011 at 12:11 pm Said:

    I love green smoothies eventhough they sure don’t look appetizing. Same thing goes for guacamole with me. I never would eat that green mushy icky looking stuff. But once, I did, now I love it!

      

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    peanutbutterfingers Reply:
    February 15th, 2011 at 12:26 pm

    oooh i bet avocado would make a smoothie extra creamy!

      

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    Lauren Reply:
    February 15th, 2011 at 3:24 pm

    Avacado shakes are AMAZING. My boyfriend introduced me to it…I was grossed out at first but they are sooo yummy. I use one avacado, about a cup of skim milk, a little splenda, a scoop of vanilla protein powder and ice. i’m sure you could get more creative but even just like that it’s fab!!

      

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  16. 16
    Maryann (The Balanced Bean), on February 15th, 2011 at 12:15 pm Said:

    Green monsters hardly ever look as good as it tastes…looks are definitely deceiving!

      

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  17. 17
    MarzBar, on February 15th, 2011 at 12:24 pm Said:

    Do you just throw all the ingredients in your blender? Bc I love smoothies and I usually get them at the juice bar by my job bc I dont have a juicer. I thought maybe for things like spinach I might need one? Maybe not?

      

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    peanutbutterfingers Reply:
    February 15th, 2011 at 12:27 pm

    yep! i use my blender a lot!

      

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  18. 18
    Courtney @ The Granola Chronicles, on February 15th, 2011 at 12:28 pm Said:

    I really need to start making smoothies for breakfast – yours always look so refreshing. I LOATHE cleaning my blender though – I’m so lazy. Ha!

      

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  19. 19
    Courtney (Pancakes & Postcards), on February 15th, 2011 at 1:17 pm Said:

    nice workout! i have to do hills on the treadmill today :( but this inspired me!

      

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  20. 20
    Amanda- The Nutritionist Reviews, on February 15th, 2011 at 1:31 pm Said:

    I love that you put coffee in there! Great idea.

      

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  21. 21
    Jess (In My Healthy Opinion), on February 15th, 2011 at 1:38 pm Said:

    Green smoothies are the best! And almost always look horrible. :) I usually add romaine, kale, and a scoop of Amazing Grass for extra nutrients, and you can’t even taste them! Just makes it look extra ugly! lol :)

      

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  22. 22
    Heather (Heather's dish), on February 15th, 2011 at 1:47 pm Said:

    I live great GMs! Yours sounds amazing…perfect for lunch!

      

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  23. 23
    Kacy, on February 15th, 2011 at 2:00 pm Said:

    Sounds like a great workout. I love GMs! Lisa’s post was fabulous, definitely a must-read!

      

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  24. 24
    Annette, on February 15th, 2011 at 2:02 pm Said:

    I love good hilly workouts- looks like a good one :)

      

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  25. 25
    jen, on February 15th, 2011 at 2:46 pm Said:

    My green monsters always look like a pool of funk, but they taste amazing :)

      

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  26. 26
    Tweets that mention Peanut Butter Fingers ยป Hilly Workout -- Topsy.com, on February 15th, 2011 at 3:11 pm Said:
  27. 27
    Ashley, on February 15th, 2011 at 4:19 pm Said:

    WOW that is a rediculous shake!!

    Check out the Trainermat to stay loose after those intense workouts, I love mine!

      

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  28. 28
    Kristen @ That Hoosier Girl, on February 15th, 2011 at 5:35 pm Said:

    I always turn to green monsters when my spinach is on its last leg. After you mix it with a few things – you can’t even tell!

      

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  29. 29
    Claire, on February 15th, 2011 at 9:46 pm Said:

    Love the blog – you inspired me to start my own! I’m sorry if you answered this before, but what time do you start work in the morning? To have time for such great workouts AND walks with Sadie and time to make breakfast, you must hit the gym super duper early!

      

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  30. 30
    In Which Sassy is Introduced to the World « dorkavecunespork, on March 21st, 2011 at 8:57 pm Said:

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