Hopping Bunny Workout (and a super fancy smoothie!)

Since I haven’t worked out since last Tuesday due to sickness, I was like a wriggling puppy this morning; bouncing out of bed bright and early, and filled with excitement to move and play.  While Anthony was less eager (since he had done a kick-butt bike ride over the weekend – you go, honey!) he was a trouper, and came along for the ride.

My this morning. Photo courtesy of my brilliant mom, Terry Berenson.

Since I was feeling playful, and having read Julie Fagan’s blog Peanut Butter Fingers compulsively a few times since getting sick, I decided to do a workout inspired by her, which I have since labeled the Hopping Bunny Workout. Why? Because I like bunnies, that’s why!

WORKOUT TODAY:

• 5 minutes walking uphill on treadmill (max incline, 2.5 – 4.5 mph)
• 10 minutes stairmaster (my first time on this machine, not nearly as awful as I would have thought)
• 10 minutes running (first 5 mins at 6.0 mph, then bouncing back and forth from 5.5 – 7.5 mph)
• 15 minutes elliptical (35 resistance out of 100)

I’m not going to lie, it was far more challenging than my normal 45-60 minutes of pure elliptical, but it went by so quickly, and was a blast.  Things I felt like I would never want to do, I could easily handle for just 10 minutes. (Read: Stairmaster. I hate stairs.  I love swimming, biking, running, hiking, etc., but stairs are just awful to me. I would rather run for two hours than take the stairs for 10 minutes. And yes, in spite of this, most of the time I still take the stairs, simply because if I tell my clients to do something, I better be doing it myself.)  Even Anthony had fun (or so he gallantly said.) It felt so great to move, and once again made me pause and feel grateful for how powerful and strong my body is, after overcoming both injury and major illness. I am truly, truly blessed. As Julie says, “I run for those who can’t.”

After training a client (who did 30 push-ups for the first time ever! What an amazing moment – congratulations, David!) right after my workout, I went over to my mom’s to do anatomy homework (notice how I write that, but am in fact doing a blog post right now. Guess I’m not only a distracted bunny at the gym!)

Mom and I working on our computers. Mom is dedicatedly writing a blog. I am dedicatedly avoiding homework.

I was famished, so made a super fancy smoothie.  What made it super fancy?  The use of mom’s AMAZING vitamix blender, a white tablecloth for the smoothie photo, and not to mention, the fabulous aged balsamic vinegar in the smoothie.

My yummy smoothie with balsamic vinegar with bendy straw. Those lil' statues in the back? Bunnies!

Super Fancy Smoothie Recipe

• 1/2 frozen banana
• 1 scoop designer vanilla whey protein powder
• 4-6 ice cubes
• 1 generous drizzle aged balsamic vinegar
• 1 cup almond milk

I know the vinegar might sound weird, but since I can’t do cocoa powder too much (when I have anything chocolate, it tends to just make me want to have a lot more chocolate, so I have to have cocoa very sparingly) it adds a complexity and a sweetness to an otherwise blah-di-blah smoothie.

Here’s a close up on the glass – my mom (a phenomenal animal photographer, check her photos out!) has two sets. One of dogs sitting, staying, playing dead, etc. and labeled as such, and one of cats doing the same thing…

Cat juice glass. Standing cat is labeled "sit", lying down cat is labeled "fetch." Cute, huh?

Well, must get back to work. Assuming I’m still feeling bouncy, I’ll be taking Jeanmarie’s 2/3 Yoga Flow tonight.  That should certainly take the edge off.

When you’re feeling super energetic, what do you do to burn it off? Please share below!