I made a strawberry banana smoothie, using the same ingredients from my smoothie on Thursday.
Strawberry + Banana
I think I may have added a little more xanthan gum than before, because this smoothie was extra thick!
Monday's Breakfast
I had to bust out the ol’ spoon to eat the first half.
Mr. Spoon to the Rescue!
Monday's Breakfast
While I was making my smoothie, I also snacked on a small handful of Just Bunches cereal, given to me by my mom because I always pick the “bunches” out of Honey Bunches of Oats cereal. 😀
Just Bunches
Tasty!
Thank you
I am not going to get into it, but to those of you who stuck up for me last night, thank you. You mean the world to me. 🙂 Big kisses your way…
(Oh, and by the way, I am not bulimic, nor do I advocate cursing in the comments section of blog posts. 😉 )
The Abs Question
On Saturday I received several questions about my abs routine following this post, so I wanted to take a minute to address them.
Here’s what I say about my ab routine on my Q & A page:
I naturally gain weight in my lower half first (hips, butt, legs). However, if I do notice that my stomach is getting a little softer, I’ll up cardio and try to incorporate more intense cardio sessions (like interval training) into my routine which my body seems to respond to best. Also, I cannot stress the importance of healthy eating when it comes to carrying weight in my stomach. I will literally be walking around with a food baby belly if I have a weekend full of ice cream, cookies and other indulgent foods.
As far as abdominal workouts, I do not have a set routine when it comes to working out my abs. I typically workout my abs during BodyPump classes three times a week, but find that cardio and healthy eating is really what keeps my stomach the flattest. Eating a lot of fibrous foods (veggies! fruits! whole grains!) keeps me “regular” and I think this helps with the appearance of a flatter belly.
***
To me, a flatter stomach is achieved by healthy eating and more intense cardio sessions more than any amount of crunches or sit ups. I also have a go-to abs routine that I do when I do not take BodyPump classes which I may post about if you guys are interested.
How often do you work out your abs? What is your ab routine?
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Just read what happened in the comment section yesterday – I’m so sorry you had to endure that 🙁 I’m on your side, you know that!!
Yikes, I just read – you so do not deserve that. You are awesome, girl. I love your healthy lifestyle. 🙂
I loveeee your breakfast shakes!! Thank you thank you thank you again for inspiring me every day!! I use to weight train a lot two years ago with a trainer….long story short that became a little pricey and i’m saving for my wedding this coming Feb 😉 SOOOO I took your latest weight training routine and scrounged up enough courage to weight train on my own!! My muscles are sore today so thank you!!
Have a great Monday!!
that’s awesome!!! i’m glad to hear it! 😀
I would love to hear more about your ab routine when you don’t take BodyPump.
Also, where do you find the xanthum gum and why do you put it in your smoothies?
i buy it at my local grocery store (publix) – i found it in a section w/ a lot of gluten-free/ organic products. i use it b/c it thickens my smoothies.
Happy Monday Julie!
I do the Core Fusion abs routine off the Pure Arms & Abs dvd. There are two ten minute routines and I do them both once a week.
I think abs are all about diet.
yessss – i think diet is key.
Hey Julie- I would love to know your go-to ab workout, if you don’t mind sharing!! Also, I know that body pump mainly includes a lot of strength cardio combination..correct? Have you noticed that doing all of the strength training has helped tone up more as well- than just cardio? I’m trying to re-adjust my workouts more lately- I hear it’s WAY better to incorporate more strength training than cardio- b/c I know you burn more calories after your workout as well. I’m thinking I might need to add more strength training to my workouts- rather than just doing tons of cardio & a bit of strength training.
Thanks for any advice 🙂 You are awesome!!!!!!!!!!
to me, strength training is crucial to toning. i can do cardio all day every day, but my arms & legs will not look nearly as tight and toned as when i keep up w/ a regular strength training routine. i make strength training the center of my workout approx. three days every week, and do only light cardio on those days. i hope this helps! i used to be a cardio-only girl, but i actually prefer strength training to cardio now!
Thank you SO much 🙂 Once again, you always have the BEST advice!!! Hope you have a great day- & keep smiling 🙂
(sorry about your comment the other day- I just saw it this morning & that is just awful. I can’t believe someone would say that to you. It’s pure jealousy- you have a great body, and she just wishes she had it too;))
Glad you are feeling okay today and not hurt by that person’s comment yesterday. You are one strong chica!!!!! Love ya!
Mmmmm…thick smoothies are the best 🙂
Ugh– abs are my weakness (literally). I hate that part of my workout!
I didn’t see the comment until today. Wow, unnecessarily cruel. But you handled it with class and grace. Love your blog and you…keep doing what you’re doing! 🙂
Diet is 100% the key to a flat stomach (exercise too) But You could exercise all night long and eat ice cream and NOT have a flat stomach or you can excerise regularyly and not eat a whole lot of junk and have a fine stomach.
I LOVE ice cream….infact I often eat it daily ;(
when I do cut it out for like a week my stomach looks flat as can be!
then I start eating it again….and i have slight ponch(as I call it)
First of all Julie major props to you for how you handled that comment. Your healthy lifestyle is one that I very much admire.
I also had a shake for breakfast this morning, lots of buttah in my dinner last night. haha
I agree with midgetkepper…you handled that comment very well. You are beautiful, healthy and strong and you work hard to maintain it. Great job:)
I don’t have a specific ab routine. I do alot of running like you and kick it up with interavals. I always hold my core strong during weight training which helps build abs as well as core strength.Once in a while I’ll do a circuit of leg drops, crunches to my toes, hip raises, etc.
have an awesome day!!!:)
i REALLY need to figure out a good ab routine. eating well is what works the best, but i really like to do isometric moves (like planks) for abdominal core work!
Hi Julie.
I just wanted to post to tell you that I love your blog! I check in daily for tips on food and exercise, and to google over your puppy! (I don’t have one yet, and it’s killin me!)
I am going to start going to my gyms body pump classes since they seem to be working wonders for you! 🙂
Keep up the awesome blog, and I love the pictures!! 🙂
Don’t let anyone’s negative comments affect you!
kt
My abs are my “problem area”, so I’ve found the thing that keeps them in their best shape is clean eats and lots of crunches, medicine ball twists, and the like! I’ll probably never have a perfect tummy, but hey, you gotta work with what God gave you!
Props on the amazing response to the rude commenter, by the way- I love that you were so classy in your answer!
You know, I keep hearing this whole “abs are made in the kitchen” idea, and I totally plan to put it to the test as soon as I can keep my spoon out of the ice cream tub. 😉
Hey pretty lady…just wanted to say Happy Monday!! 🙂
I definitely think a combo of cardio and weights (not gazillions of crunches) is what will give you the best abs. Plus a clean diet of course, and the luck of good genes 😉 Some people will look ripped and others will look curvy even if they have the exact same diet and exercise regimen, because we’re all built differently! (something for everyone to keep in mind!)
Hello Julie!
I just read what went down yesterday. I am appalled at how horrible that comment was. As a mental health professional, I know that you don’t go throwing around accusations of an eating disorder. Bulimia and anorexia nervosa are very difficult and painful disorders for both the patient and their family. They are not issues to take lightly. That said, I applaud your approach to healthy eating. Many other blogs talk about immense guilt and regret when they indulge. While this may be that writer’s experience, I find your attitude refreshing. I never hear you talking about how you regret or feel guilty about eating “bad” foods. You have a very healthy approach to your diet. It is a rare attribute to have and I think you are a great role model! Keep up the great work!
thanks for taking the time to write this, courtney. i think that’s exactly what bothered me the most about the comment… the accusation of a very serious disorder. i know there are a lot of people out there who struggle w/ eating disorders every day and i don’t want anyone to think that i have an eating disorder just because i eat treats every now and then. it is absolutely possible to maintain a healthy body weight and still indulge.
Hey gorgeous Girlie!!
HAPPY belated Birthday!!! your weekend looks awesome…fabulous time with the family!
~sorry about the icky comment! YOU are beautiful and healthy and share you kind, generous spirit with the bloggy world…you don’t deserve to be “attacked” be rude commenters!
LOVE the bikini pics, they are fun, I like you suit sooooo much! I have a bikini shopping addiction…heck yes for warm weather!
I hope you are having a great monday…smoothies are the best way to jump start a healthy week! (even healthy bloggers need an indulgent night, because that’s what IS healthy…zero deprivation!)
~xoxo!
whoops! sorry major typos! this is coming from my blackberry(can’t see well!) 🙂 …sending LOVE!
You’ve got some great support here Julie, I’m so annoyed someone would be so mean to such a nice person like yourself!
As for abs, I really don’t work mine much, except in a class setting. Like you, I think a flat stomach comes from diet (and genetics I must add), not one kind of ab exercise.
just read the comment in the other post!!! don’t tolerate letting anyone talk to you like that again!!!
Eating healthy 24/7 365 is no fun. It is FUN to indulge a little as long as it isn’t all day every day!!
Never stop showing the bikini pics, it motivates a lot of us hahaha!
that smoothie looks amazing!
haha thank you! 🙂 really i am just too lazy to change, so i’m sure they’ll pop up again.
Hi Julie,
It’s obvious how much love you have here..and it’s well deserved…I must share with you that your blog is truly a great source of inspiration for me…someone who had a very bad eating disorder…when I need healthy meal ideas. I tend to get stuck in a rut. If I’m not careful, I can find myself eating the same foods…over, and over again. Yet…I find that just by logging on, you’ve got plenty of ideas laid out for me! There’s nothing unhealthy about them. They all have adequate nutrition. So, that being said, thank you for the inspiration. Lastly, you handled yourself with grace and charm…it’s no wonder Ryan finds you so lovely!
thank you very much.
Thanks for sharing the abs routine. I love smoothies for breakfast. Especially when it’s hot out!
Hey Julie! I am an avid reader of your bloggie, but not a commentor, because I usually think the same thing everytime I read your blog. I think what an amazing, healthy, fun living girl she must be! The people who know you are very fortunate :)! So I have decided to comment today after reading that horrible comment that was left for you yesterday! You are a very beautiful, intelligent girlie, that just so happens to have a rockin body! So dont let anyone tell you otherwise dear! Keep on smiling dear! (Oh and by the way because of u I am a recent convert to the green monster! Its sooooooo GOOD! 🙂 So thanks!)
thanks for commenting! 🙂 i’m so glad you’re a GM fan!
I am also an avid reader of your blog and wanted to say thank you for keeping me motivated! I feel like I’ve completely changed the way I eat because of the recipes and ideas you’ve given me on here. I am also officially addicted to Carba Nada pasta and Joseph’s products!
Carba Nada rocksssssss! glad you’re a fan, too!
You are so strong and amazing to approach the situation in your previous post. I’m glad to see it isn’t getting you down…you’re truly an inspiration to so many people in our little community!
Have a great day!
May I be honest with you? I’ll begin by saying that I’m in the process of recovering from anorexia. When I saw that photo of you in your bikini, it triggered me and I had a mental breakdown. I’m not making this up. While the image was compounded with other issues I’m dealing with, that doesn’t change the fact that when you (rhetorically) put these images up, people are ultimately going to compare themselves to you. It’s just something to be aware of-that many girls, young and old, have ED’s and read blogs like these. I know, I know, someone will probably attack me and tell me not to read them, but they don’t understand. Food blogs have both positive and negative qualities to them, and I’ve been in a long process of figuring out which ones are healthy for me to read and which ones aren’t. It’s a behavior that cannot be extinguished in a few seconds flat. Again, there are many other bloggers who post pictures of themselves in such a way, not just you! So I’m just offering my two cents and I hope you take the time to read this!
Thank you for sharing your perspective in a constructive, well-thought out way. I really do appreciate your point of view and I apologize for any stress that picture may have caused you. To be completely honest, I have never experienced an eating disorder and didn’t realize my blog could really affect someone like that, especially when, in my mind, there are billions of images of women in swimsuits everywhere… on TV, the internet, other blogs, in magazines, etc. Thank you for pointing this out to me and I will definitely try to be sensitive to women like yourself in the future.
I do want to add that my blog really does follow my life, and since I do live in Florida, I will be in a bathing suit from time to time and do not want to feel like I have to stop what I’m doing and change before a picture is taken. Since one of my favorite activities in the summer is going on my family’s boat, I do want to let you know that I may have more pictures of myself in a swimsuit on this blog, and it is in no way because I do not care about your comment or the serious disorder you are going through. Though I really, really do appreciate you reading my blog (and taking the time to make a comment that is not mean-spirited, but rather constructive), I do want to warn you that as the summer approaches I may have more pictures like that posted and wouldn’t want them to affect you in that way. I just want to be 100% honest with you and give you a head’s up.
Thank you again for posting your point of view in a constructive way.
While I can sympathize with someone who has an eating disorder, there is no way Julie can keep from “triggering” people, nor should she try! That’s like saying she should not put up photos of herself with a glass of wine because she may “trigger” an alcoholic. How can she possibly share her life with her readers if she has to worry about triggering someone in every post?
I don’t mean to sound heartless Julie, but you are not responsible for anyone’s disorders or addictions. Be who you are and live your life. If people don’t like what they see here, they can chose to read another blog. It really is that simple.
You are a wonderful example of a healthy, active and balanced life.
Thank you, Angela. 🙂
I’m just catching up from the weekend and was sad to see such a negative comment yesterday! If someone was truly concerned, they wouldn’t react that way. And anyway, who doesn’t indulge on their birthday weekend?! (Or lots of weekends :-p). Happy birthday and keep doing what you’re doing!
I’m with you about the abs coming from a healthy diet. I had some ripped abs when I ate COMPLETELY clean all the time. Now that I eat a little more “goodies” they’re softer but still I keep up the healthy eats and they’re still there 🙂
I do abs about 3-4 times a week too.