How to Make Salads in a Jar

Friends, let me reintroduce you to the famous salad in a jar concept. I say "famous" because if you read healthy living blogs or surf Pinterest, you have no doubt seen pictures of this awesome prep-ahead meal.

Seriously, salads in a jar are so easy to put together it's almost ridiculous. All you have to do is chop up a bunch of your favorite fix-ins...

...and gather a few additional essentials, like empty jars, lettuce and your favorite dressing (and maybe some broccoli):

The assembly process takes minutes, although there is a bit of strategy involved.

When you get close to the top, if it starts to look like you might run out of room, just remember that lettuce can be very compact when it needs to be. Shove it in, friends! It'll spring back to life on your plate.

I know, right? A healthy meal in no time flat. Salads in a jar are so easy to pack in a lunch sack, and take just seconds to prep for consumption: Step 1, open the jar. Step 2, shake it out!

And salads themselves are so versatile that, not only does this make for a great prep-ahead meal option—it also makes for a great "use up all the leftover produce" option. Salads for the win, for real.

A few things to consider:

1) Use different jar sizes.  Big jars make entire meals, small jars make great side salads.
2) Be careful with mushrooms. They go bad very quickly
3) Experiment with herbs.  They add a surprising kick of flavor to otherwise mild greens.
4) Don't make more than you can eat. Wasted produce is a sad sight to see.
5) Don't forget your proteins. They make the meal.

Question: What's your best piece of make-ahead advice?

3-Move Abs Circuit

Another weekend behind us. They go by so quickly, but I am trying not to complain about it anymore. Saturday and Sunday are such short days, really, that I am trying to make the best of them no matter what we've got on the agenda. I can't stop Saturday and Sunday from coming and going so quickly, but I can stop thinking of them as gone before they actually are. Go ahead—shift your mentality in this way. You might find that it makes a huge difference.

You might also find that The Gauntlet, despite being horrific and intimidating in size, is actually a wonderful piece of cardio equipment. Seriously, I'm not sure what makes me sweat more: The Gauntlet or a Spinning bike. I snuck away to the gym yesterday for 30 minutes of stair-steppin' fun. You can't really tell in this picture, but I sweat like a beast from start to finish:

Afterwards, I did a short 3-move abs circuit. I'm not even joking, my core is pretty strong, but twice through this short circuit and my abs were toast:

If you don't have access to ab straps, you can always do reverse crunches. Man, I love me some ab-strap action, though! They kill me every time.

Speaking of "killing me," I've been thinking about the half marathon I listed in my goals, plans and resolutions for 2013. I spent some time this weekend mapping out a potential training plan. I have a race in mind, and if all goes as planned, I will sign up for it by the end of this week. More on that later, but I'm excited to get back into a more regular running schedule. It's been sporadic as I've been focusing on Spinning more now that I'm instructing.

Anyway.

Are you on Twitter? I'm slowly getting used to this fast-paced social environment. I spent more time than usual this weekend scrolling through all the updates—man, there's some good information out there! I thought I would end today's post by linking you up to some of the articles I "favorited" recently. Be sure to follow me on Twitter for more of the following and, if I'm being honest, the occasional update about me. I don't promise seriousness in every tweet. I tend to be goofy from time to time.  You'll see.

FAVORITES FROM TWITTER
1) "52 Little Changes for Big Weight Loss Results" —iVillage
2) "Why Race Start Times Keep Getting Earlier" —Runner's World
3) "6 Places to Look Outside Your Business Niche for Creative Inspiration" —Abby Kerr
4) "Your Terrible Tweet Score" —Doghouse Diaries
5) "10 Celebrity Bodies We Need to Stop Talking About" —Shape 

60-Minute Circuit Workout

Sometimes, I hate getting out of bed in the wee hours of the morning. I do this twice a week. At 5:00AM on Mondays for a class, and at 4:30AM on Fridays for a client and a class. When the alarm goes off, I often grumble about it. And then, sometimes I don't hate it. This is why:

Quiet time while the rest of the world (my world) is still sleeping. With a side of oatmeal and my book. I mean, it takes me no time whatsoever to polish off a bowl of oatmeal, but still. I love those first few minutes of my early morning. 

And then it's off to the gym. 

No early client for me this morning, but I did have to teach my 6:00 AM Circuit Sculpt class. "Nice class," they said. Which made me happy. See if you agree:

Question: How early do you wake up during the week? Is it for a workout?

Pinspiration Thursday

I haven't done Pinspiration Thursday in about two weeks. First, it was Workout Week and I was too busy supplying you with an Upper Body Builder. And then it was Valentine's Day. But here we are. Back at it with the inspir—er, Pinspiration. Although, I must admit that I found today's post the old fashioned way. From a notebook full of quotes.

I was never much of a journal-keeper, but I loved this little notebook so much that I absolutely had to use it for something. So it came to college with me, and that's where I turned it into a quote book. 

It's totally full now, and it sits on my bookshelf with Quote Book #2. Which, if I'm being completely honest with you, has a lot of empty pages. (I'm blaming you, Pinterest.) Anyway. Here's a closer look at today's Pinspiration, in all its pen-to-paper glory:

And since it is 2013 and most of us keep a quote book online via Pinterest, I give you this:

So remember, and especially remember this in the gym: The easy way is not always the best way. Take the  path, make the choice that'll challenge you the most. That's how you foster growth, both internally and externally. I promise.

Question: What's your workout of choice when you feel like making it an easy day at the gym? Is it yoga? Light jogging? Tell me.

5 More Popular Posts (#28DBC)

I can't be lazy. Which is totally silly, right? Who can't be lazy? Me, apparently. Back story: I was super tired this afternoon, but I decided that (while Hannah was sleeping) I'd do some yoga. Wednesday is my yoga day and I didn't do any last week, so it needed to happen this week to get me back on track. So I did it, and then I thought I'd be lazy. That I'd rest up until Hannah woke up. Everything else could wait, right? Wrong. I managed to curl up with all of this...

...for like, five seconds before the wheels started churning out motivation to think and act. I soon found myself jotting away in my Daily Dose notebook, planning future posts and writing down potential topics. And then I found myself at the computer.

Seriously, why can't I just be lazy?
Anyway.

I decided to take a semi-lazy approach to today's post. Instead of writing up one of the posts I had planned out, I'm knocking off another item on my 28-Day Blog Challenge list of things to do. Meaning,  behold five more popular posts from A Daily Dose of Fit. They've all been updated for your re-viewing pleasure.

1) Be yourself.

2) Gym Motivation T-Shirts

3) Hot Chocolate 15K Training Plan

4) One Hour Circuit Workout, Weekend Recap

5) Workout Wednesday: Lateral Burpees

Until tomorrow, friends.

@Greatist: 30-Minute No-Gym Bodyweight Workout (#Infographic)

So I work at a gym, right? This means I have all the toys in the world at my disposal, which also means I can craft workout after workout and never get bored. It also means I have no excuses when it comes to NOT working out. Even when I wasn't working at a gym, I still had a gym membership. Forking over money for access made it really easy for me to keep working out. Why waste the cash, right? But I realize that not all of you have gym memberships. And I realize that not all of you have fitness equipment at home.

Don't worry—I won't preach to you how much it's worth it. It's a personal decision, one that must be made according to your individual financials. Or perhaps according to the availability of decent facilities in your area. I am, however, going to preach that you don't need a gym to work out.

There goes that excuse, right?

Here's a handy infographic for those of you that don't have access to a gym. It's a great 30-minute workout that doesn't require any equipment, except maybe a chair or a bench or step which should be readily available to you. If it looks too intense, you can modify as needed (as always).



You can find more bodyweight exercises at Greatist.com...seriously, if you haven't checked out their site yet, you totally should. Such useful (and interesting) info.

Question: What's your favorite bodyweight exercise?

Side Planks with an Exercise Ball

Just popping in today with a plank variation that I think you'll love. If you follow me on Facebook or Instagram, you might have already seen it.

I really wanted to run outside today, but there was just too much winter going on for me. I don't mind running in the snow, but my latest route has me running on some streets that get fairly busy—and I didn't want to run the risk of getting involved with any sliding cars. But I was not in the mood for five miles on the treadmill, so I opted for 30 minutes on the Gauntlet instead. Self torture? Yes. Did I enjoy it? Yes, of course.

I always end my cardio sessions with some core. Today, I did knee-ups on the chin-up bar and check this out:

Side planks with an exercise ball. Otherwise known as my new favorite plank variation. It's a great way to target your inner thigh muscles because you have to squeeze the exercise ball. Well, you don't have to, but that's the point. So squeeze it if you try it. It also challenges your balance a little, which is always nice when you're working core.

I wish I could say that I came up with this on my own, but I actually spied another trainer doing it with one of her clients. Best thing about working in a gym? Learning from your coworkers.

Give it a try.
Let me know how it goes.

...and be sure to enjoy the rest of your weekend. I'll be running errands all day tomorrow. Shopping for furniture, eating at my favorite restaurant, stopping into a health foods store. Sounds great, right? #win

Question: What is your favorite plank variation? What's your plank PR?

Hello, Friday.

How much chocolate did you eat yesterday? Me...believe it or not, I didn't have any. I'm a Catholic and it's Lent, so I gave up sweets. I always do. If you know me, this is a huge sacrifice. I also vowed to sacrifice spending unnecessary time doing unnecessary things. (I'm looking at you, Pinterest and Facebook.) Here's to using the next few weeks to reflect on making positive changes in my life, which obviously extends the whole "resolution" concept from January.

We didn't really celebrate a big Valentine's Day yesterday, choosing instead to cook up a nice shrimp-based pasta with a side of white wine and some playtime with our girl. My husband got me this:

And my parents sent us these:

No, I haven't seen the movie. And yes, I'm a little intimidated by the book. It's been a while since I've read classic literature. I'm used to Oxygen Magazine and whatever is in my Google Reader, plus the occasional fun book (I just read Gone Girl, for example). Needless to say, I'm fairly certain the above will take me some time to get through, but I'm always up for a challenge. 

Like, say, taking and teaching my own TRX class yesterday.

I don't have any pictures because it was a spur-of-the-moment thing, but I was feeling so good from a 4-mile run that I just had to keep the physical activity going. And then I taught Foam Rolling. So today, my core is sore and I'm not sure if it's because of this morning's Circuit Sculpt or yesterday's TRX class. 

Regardless, I love it. 

In case you're wondering, this is what my workout week looked like:

What about Saturday and Sunday? Well, Sunday will be a rest day. But tomorrow...I'm hoping for some cardio. I would really like to bust out five miles of running outside, but that all depends on the weather. And/or whether or not I can handle five miles inside on a treadmill. If I don't feel up for it, I'll forgo the depressing (translation: boring) run for a nice jaunt on the Spinning bike.

But for now, I think I'll publish this post and get some work done around the house. Or maybe I'll just relax and start my book. Of course, I have to announce the tea giveaway winner first:

Congrats!

(Speaking of Yoga, totally did NOT get my yoga on this week. I've still got time, right?)

Question: What kind of workouts will you be doing this weekend?

My 5 Most Popular Posts (#28DBC)

I have been working on a few behind-the-blog things over here at A Daily Dose of Fit. It's all part of Katy Widrick's 28-Day Blog Challenge. I want to make sure that I am putting out the best possible content, and doing so in a way that's relevant and wise. I won't bore you with all of the details (because some of them are, in fact, truly boring), but I'm sure you've noticed the new headshot (—>). And maybe you've read my updated "About" page. So today, I thought it would be fun to re-introduce you to five of the most popular posts from my past. Of course, they've all be updated.

1) What does your plate look like?

2) Official Product Review: Sparkling ICE Water

3) Power Balance Wristbands: Real or Fake?

4) Heart Rate vs. Hard Work

5) A Woman's Week at the Gym

So check 'em out. Fresh content coming your way soon...

Question: Are you a blogger? Leave me a link to your most popular post. I'd love to check it out!

Sore Calf Muscles and a #Kettlebell Workout

I have such a love/hate relationship with being sore. It hurts, but it's an awesome reminder that I worked  out hard. Tonight, my right calf muscle is screaming and I blame it on my 6:00AM Spinning class. My right glute and hamstring were tight all morning, but I think my 10:00AM Kettlebell class worked that out. So right now, I'm doing this to my sore calf muscle.

In my pajamas, and while wearing my slippers.
Safe to say I also have a love/hate relationship with my foam roller.

Here's a tip for you if you like to foam roll: Relax. I know, you can't help but tense up because it hurts...don't. Keep your muscles relaxed. A softer muscle is easier to dig into. You'll get a much deeper roll. Seriously, you'll notice the difference immediately if you take a deep breath and release whatever muscle you're rolling out.

I find this advice the most beneficial when it comes to rolling out the calf muscles.

It's hard to relax because you have to put pressure on the roller since you aren't putting a lot of bodyweight on it. Bearing down like this leads to a tense calf, naturally. But if you can find a way to bear down with a loose calf, it'll feel so much better. And since we're focusing on foam rolling the calf muscle, make sure you rotate your leg to get all sides of the muscle itself. I promise this'll feel so good.

Another tip: I find that a half roller works really well when you roll out the calf muscles. I always feel like the full roller just gets in the way. I like to have my foot near the end so I can play with angles and rotation (see above), so naturally the smaller roller makes this easier.

Anyway. That's my advice for you today. And here's a workout for you. You'll obviously need some kettlebells to get the most out of it, but if you don't have access to a set, a solid dumbbell will do (although you might have to get creative with your grip when it comes to the swings).

Any questions, let me know: dailydose (dot) notes (at) gmail (dot) com.

PS: Don't forget to enter my giveaway. Especially if you like hot tea.

Question: How do you feel about sore muscles? What muscle group do you have a hard time challenging to the point of soreness? (For me, it's my quads.)

5 Easy Ways to Relax (plus, a #giveaway)

I think it's safe to say that most people despise Mondays. Regardless of what you do for a living or how frequently you work from Monday through Friday, we've all started yet another week. Another set of five days until those two golden days arrive: Saturday and Sunday, days of rest and relaxation or non-stop fun and excitement. But, in case you've forgotten somewhere in those last two sentences, today is Monday. Day of stress, perhaps. And yet, it doesn't have to be. There are easy ways, in my opinion, that you can infuse a bit of relaxation in your Monday. Or any day, really. They're quick, they're easy and they hardly cost a thing.

1) USE LOTION. 

I have this little pot of coconut body butter from The Body Shop in my clutch at all times:

It does a wonderful job moisturizing my dry winter hands, but it's the scent that really gets me—It smells like every tropical vacation I've ever taken, which then reminds me of how relaxing those tropical vacations were. So for as long as it takes me to rub the lotion in, and then as long as the scent stays on my hands, I am relaxed. So find and use a lotion that reminds you of something relaxing.

2) LISTEN TO MUSIC.

Music has the power to heal, restore, motivate and (insert word here). So use it. You've no doubt already built up a collection of good tunes, right? Turn to those tunes when you're feeling stressed. There's bound to be something that'll unwind you. For example, right now, I'm mega-obsessed with the Phillip Phillips' CD. He's totally my new favorite running buddy—and he doubles as some nice background, chill-type music. 

(Warning, genius idea here: Put on your coconut lotion and cue up some Bob Marley or Jimmy Buffet. Tell me it doesn't take you right to the beach.)

3) STRETCH.

There's really no excuse for not stretching. It doesn't take long, can be done anywhere and is most-excellent for your body. Especially if you sit at a desk all day, and especially if that desk job is super stressful. That was me back in 2009. But it always felt so good to stand up for a minute, shake things out, bend over and throw my hands over my head. I still do it all the time:

4) GET SOME FRESH AIR.

Sometimes, just opening a window for a few minutes and letting in some air is all it really takes to rejuvenate the room you're in and, consequently, the state of mind that you're in. If you have time to actually get up and go for a walk—do it. Give that to yourself, even if it's just for five minutes. Five minutes spent relaxing outside, perhaps outside of your "toxic" environment, will do you some wonders.

5) DRINK A WARM BEVERAGE.

There's something about a nice, hot cup of coffee, cocoa or tea that I find to be so instantly relaxing. Maybe it's the warmth of it all. I dunno. But I do know that I've been using the heck out of my Keurig. I've also been trying to drink more tea. I got an awesome blend from my sister for Christmas that's citrusy and delicious and wonderful. I find Green tea to be too bitter, so I'm always on the hunt for tea that's totally flavorful, yet still serves a purpose. About a month ago, I got this lovely gift in the mail to help my cause:

It's a selection of herbal teas from Traditional Medicinals, complete with a teacup and a reusable shopping tote. I'm not really up on all that herbs can do for you, nor do I know for certain whether or not they actually work, but hey...I guess they're worth a try for problems like digestion, bloating and sleeplessness, right? I'm pretty sure you can find Traditional Medicinals teas in most grocery stores, but you can also take a shot at winning exactly what you see above if you feel so inclined—so gracious of Traditional Medicinals to offer the goods to you, too! 

To cap off this post about 5 easy ways to relax, I'd love for you to leave a comment with YOUR favorite easy way to relax. I'll choose one winner at random this Friday, so you have until Thursday, February 14, 2013 at midnight EST to enter. (Unfortunately, this giveaway is only open to residents of the United States. Sad face.)

Alright, so tell me—What is one easy thing you do to relax yourself?

Note: I purchased the lotion with my own money...or maybe it was a Christmas gift, I can't remember...but the tea was sent to me to review. All opinions are my own, obvi. And I would have put "drink a warm beverage" on the list regardless of the free tea. So there. Bottoms up!

Workout Week: Love Your Legs Day

I think my most favorite muscle group to work right now is legs. I feel like there are so many awesome leg exercises, sometimes I have a hard time choosing. And I think my legs are stronger than any other muscle group right now...running, spinning, years of gymnastics and cheerleading. Anyway—I've put together this Love Your Legs Day Workout for you:

Some things to consider:

1) Keep your chest up in your goblet squats, and be sure to pick a single dumbbell to hold at your chest...one that's heavy enough to challenge your squats. Feet should be wide, toes pointed out.

2) Jump into a lunge, return to neutral, jump into a lunge on the other side. Keep these going until you hit 20 total, ten per side.

4) Tie a stretch band around your calf muscles and step in one direction, to the side, 15 times. Repeat going in the other direction. Never let that band lose tension!  Hi, hips.

5) Whether you stand on a step or the floor for your calf presses is entire up to you, just make sure you add some weight via one or two dumbbells.

And with that, I leave you to your Friday.

Question: What was your workout schedule this week? Did you do anything that made you feel particularly stronger than usual?

Workout Week: Upper Body Builder

How's it going with the workouts this week, friends? I'm feeling super sore from all the activity, especially in the legs. We did goblet squats in my Kettlebell class on Tuesday—oh, man. Expect them in tomorrow's lower body workout. But today, I've got an upper body workout for you. Yep, it's still workout week.

Make sure you warm up before you hit the weights with this one. Always warm up. ALWAYS! And then cool down when you're done. Some light cardio, perhaps? Followed by some stretching. Do the workout three times through.

Some things to consider:

1) When you do a triceps pushup, your arms are locked into your sides...so your elbows graze your sides as you push up and down.

1) Pyramid curls are just biceps curls, but you should start with the heaviest weight you can lift and lighten up each set thereafter.

If you give this a try, definitely let me know how it goes. I'm always excited to get your feedback. Tomorrow, I'll have a lower body workout for you. And just in case you missed the rest of this week's workouts:

30-Minute Hill and Flat Treadmill Workout

Total Body Toner

Keep It Simple Cardio

Workout Week: Keep It Simple Cardio

Hey! So it's Wednesday of Workout Week. If you missed Monday and Tuesday, no need to worry. We tackled a 30-Minute Hill and Flat Treadmill Workout and a Total Body Toner. And today, I've got a 15-Minute Keep It Simple Cardio workout for you. I like short cardio workouts like this for days when I'm not really focusing on cardio, but still want to feel my heart pumping a little bit. You could, for example, use this as a warm-up. Or a halfway point cardio blast.

However you choose to use it, please make sure the pace at which you jump and run is one that's suitable to your fitness. And if you absolutely hate to jump rope, try jumping jacks or just flip the rope next to you as you jump.

Here:

Speaking of cardio and hearts pumping, did you know that it's American Heart Month? Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States, so all month long, the American Heart Association will be doing what it can to generate awareness. I'll do my part by, once more, reminding you how important it is to lead a healthy and active life. Control your weight, quit smoking, watch your diet...you've heard it all before, right? What better time is there to put it all into practice for real and for good?

Question: How do you keep your heart healthy?

Workout Week: Total Body Toner

Today, I've got a total body workout for you. It's three rounds of eight exercises, so it shouldn't take you horribly long to complete. Please make sure you warm up beforehand. As little as ten minutes of your favorite cardio will do, but you can be an overachiever if you feel so inclined! And if you'd like, do shorts bouts of cardio in between each set of eight exercises. Of course, this isn't necessary but it might up your burn (in a good way, of course).

Some things to consider:

1) Remember, goblet squats take your elbows down to your knees to ultimately create a lower-than-usual squat. Yeah, inner thigh!

2) Go right into your plank after your last pushup—keep those knees off the ground!

3) Squat thrusts are burpees without the the pushup and jump. Instead of standing up after each squat thrust, grab your weights and assume the position for a bent row. If your weights are hexagonal, you may even be able to keep them in your hands the entire time (as long as they don't roll out from underneath you when you squat thrust). Or, just place them on the ground, then move your hands to the ground before you squat thrust.

4) Calf presses, nothing crazy.

5) Pretty self-explanatory here, too.

6) Triple-stop lying triceps extensions are just like skull crushers, only you pause three times on the way down to increase the effort put forth by the triceps muscles. Lie down with your shoulders on an exercise ball, pushing your hips up toward the ceiling for an isolated gluteus exercise. Hold this position as you press the weights up toward the ceiling—this is your official starting position. Lower the weights (stopping three times along the way) toward your shoulders, press back up and repeat. Put the weights down when you're done and finish out the position with some hip presses.

7) Side-steps with an exercise band...tie one around your calf muscles and giant-step to the side 15 times, never letting that band relax. Follow up on the other side.

8) You can also do exercise ball pikes with a disk or ValSlides if balance is an issue.

Have fun! Let me know how it goes!
Tomorrow, another cardio blast.

(Don't forget to check out yesterday's 30-Minute Hill and Flat Treadmill Workout!)

Workout Week: 30-Minute Hill and Flat #Treadmill Workout

Welcome to another edition of Workout Week!  Every day this week, I will provide you with a workout that you can a) File away for later, or b) Do with me. But first, I must remind you you: Please make sure you have the go-ahead from your doctor to exercise. If you haven't done so in a really long time, I urge you to speak with him/her first. Better to be safe than sorry, right? And speaking of "being safe," please remember to work at your own pace. Whatever I provide to you is merely a suggestion, and to get the most benefits, you'll need to be honest with yourself about how much you can really do. Push, but don't hurt yourself.

Up first, a 30-minute treadmill workout that tackles a hill, then a flat. It's great for those days where you just want to get in, get moving and get out. Don't get too hung up on the numbers. Just use them as a guideline or pattern to follow. Where I provide a running speed, just walk if that feels better to you—but try and walk at a faster pace if that's comfortable. Not only are we heading up a hill with this one, we're playing a bit of an interval game and ending with a sprint. Triple whammy.

Have it it:

Up tomorrow, a total-body workout. Woot!

If you try this out, please come back and let me know what you think! (Thanks!)

How to Pick the Right Lettuce (#Infographic)

One of my absolute most favorite things to eat is a premixed nut/berry/greens salad from my local grocery store.  I add cheese, sometimes eggs or lunch meat. And I usually go for a yogurt-based honey mustard dressing. Or some Garlic Expressions. It barely costs me a thing, but it offers up a ton of nutrients. From the fruit and nuts, sure. But also from the greens—at the very base of this salad is an awesome mix of healthy greens. 

I'm pretty sure Romain, Red Leaf and Arugula are all present. Not a single Iceberg leaf in sight, and that's fine by me. You know that Iceberg is low in the nutrient department, right? Right...but it's favored by so many. It has a neutral taste, sure. But it's also super cheap which is probably why it's so popular. It's not like you can't eat it, but learn to use it sparingly in your salads. Maybe add it to a bowl full of other (possibly more expensive but definitely more nutritious) lettuce leaves, for example.

Exactly what kind of lettuce leaves should you pick? I always go for Romain. I like the flavor, it seems to hold up against dressings and juices, and it's chock full of just about everything. Here, take a look:

Source: greatist.com via Tara on Pinterest

Don't shy away from Spinach, either. You can mix it in your salads, but you can also throw it in your smoothies and try cooking it up with some veggies. I know, but it's gross—not really! We hated it as kids, but we've gotta learn to love it as adults! (Lucky for me, my 12MO loves it! Hannah for the win.)

No go, think about the above when you hit the grocery stores this weekend. And while you're at it, have a wonderful Saturday. I'm a little bit snowed in right now. It's a-comin' down. Winter in Michigan, man.

Question: What three things must you always have on your salad?

Let the #28DBC begin.

I've decided that this year is going to be the year that I really dig deep into all things A Daily Dose of Fit. I'll have been doing this for three years in March, and although I never want it to feel like a job, I feel like there are ways that I could definitely improve and grow ADDOF for your benefit as well as my own. So when Katy Widrick proposed a 28-Day Blog Challenge  I thought for a second about whether or not to participate—and then decided to participate, obviously. Check it out for yourself if you're a blogger. It doesn't matter how long you've been blogging or what you blog about, all the suggested actions are great for oldies and newbies alike. I'll be following #28DBC to see what everyone else is up to, and keep an eye on ADDOF. See if you can spot any changes as the month progresses. Some might be obvious, others...not so much.

But enough about that.
I owe you a Sneaky Pete's winner:

1) Mango is my favorite. Hands down, without a doubt.

2) It has been confirmed—Sneaky Pete's is, indeed, gluten-free. Hooray!

COMING UP: Workout Week! I did this in July and it was tons of fun. I'll give you a new workout every day, starting on Monday. You can follow along or file the workouts away...the choice is yours. (I'd love for you to follow along, though!) In the end, I'll post a great relaxing giveaway. So stay tuned for that. And in case you missed it, here's a recap of July's Workout Week:

1) Cardio Core Blast
2) Basic Body Builder
3) Upper Body Blitz
4) Lower Body Burner
5) End-Week Express

With that, I leave you. Time to get started on the #28DBC...and honestly, I'm zonked out from an early client followed by my usual 6:00AM Circuit Sculpt class. We didn't use any weights in class today. Yeah, bodyweight exercises!

Question: Tell me about a time you really challenged yourself at the gym? And if you're following Katy's #28DBC, let me know so I can take a peek at your blog!