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My Reward for Working Out

I love checklists. From grocery lists, shopping lists, daily to-do lists, I make them all. I love checking items off my list so much, that sometimes I add an item that I’ve already completed to a list, just so I can have the satisfaction of checking it off. A little overboard, perhaps, but my checklists help me accomplish my goals.
One list in particular has been on my mind lately, and this is my workout list. Each month I make my new workout list, dividing the month into four weeks. Week One is my warm-up week, the week with the least amount of activities. Weeks Two and Three are the hard weeks, the ones where I really have to push myself to get each workout complete. And the Fourth week is my cool-down week, not quite as simple as Week One, but definitely easier than weeks Two and Three. I alternate between going to the gym, completing workout videos at home, and doing my trusty workouts I tear out of magazines such as SHAPE or WOMENS HEALTH.
I have been doing this workout list for about a year now, and I love it. My neurosis for checklists comes in handy here, because I want to be able to check those workouts off. If I instead had no list and just told myself I’ll work out when I can, I know I wouldn’t be as motivated to get myself to the gym. But lately, I’ve noticed myself slacking off. I make excuses: the cold weather, boyfriend is hogging the TV playing Xbox, Dancing With the Stars is on…whatever it may be. I wasn’t completing my weeks in time, therefore I wasn’t able to check off those workouts. I needed a new plan, a way to motivate myself even further to always have time for my workout routines.
I’ve read in a million different places that rewarding yourself is a great way to keep up with a diet or workout plan. Don’t drink a soda all week- get that hot fudge sundae you’ve been craving. Complete all your workouts on time- get that hot fudge sundae you’ve been craving. My problem with this solution- if I want a hot fudge sundae, I will go out and buy myself one. I’ve never been good at limiting what I eat, especially if it involves ice cream. Or chips. Or candy. Anyways, you get my point. So what would motivate me?
Money! Everyone loves money. This is my new plan: Take $20 out of my checking account at the start of each month. Five dollars represents each week. If I complete a week on time, that five dollars can go back in my wallet. If I fail to complete my week on time, that five dollars will go into my darling pink piggy bank with all my loose change, not to be seen again until the bank is full and I go cash in (usually take around 9-12 months to fill). Now technically, this is a win/win for me. I win, I get my money back. I lose, I put my money into savings, which is a good thing. But I have a difficult time putting my hard earned dough into a savings account, I want to keep it in my greedy wallet. So in order for me not to lose five dollars a week or twenty dollars a month to Miss Pink Piggy, I will have to keep up on my workouts, and keep crossing them off my list. I just started this new plan last week, and I’m happy to say I finished in time and the five bucks went back in my wallet 
Does anyone else have a workout plan? How do you keep yourself motivated to get your sweat on? I would love to hear anyone’s suggestions!

Healthy Recipe: Grilled Chicken & Rice Salad

I have recently started taking baby steps into the cooking world. I don’t cook- I just don’t. I don’t enjoy it: from the grocery shopping, the time it takes to prepare foods, and especially the clean-up. But I came to a realization that I cannot live off of Ramon noodles and turkey sandwiches forever. (Sigh.) So I started with easy meals, like spaghetti and other simple pastas. Then the realization hit that I also cannot live off pasta- it was quickly becoming monotonous- not to mention full of carbs. So what to do? Luckily, this little thing call the internet is full of healthy and simple recipes, so I have decided to take full advantage. I signed up to get daily recipes from Fitness Magazine, and while I won’t try all of them (I’m extremely picky and quite plain when it comes to food) there are good suggestions and tweaks that I can make to my regular meals that will help slash calories but still taste great.

One healthy recipe that I am trying out this week is the Grilled Chicken and Rice Salad. Check out the ingredients and recipe below:

Ingredients

1 recipe Thyme Vinaigrette
12 ounces skinless, boneless chicken breast halves or thighs
1 cup loose-pack frozen French-cut green beans
2 cups cooked brown rice and wild rice blend, chilled
1 14-ounce can artichoke hearts, drained and quartered
1 cup shredded red cabbage
1/2 cup shredded carrot
1 green onion, sliced
Lettuce leaves (optional)
Directions

Prepare Thyme Vinaigrette. Brush chicken with 2 tablespoons of the vinaigrette; set aside the remaining vinaigrette until ready to serve.

Grill chicken on the rack of an uncovered grill directly over medium coals for 12 to 15 minutes or until chicken is tender and no longer pink, turning once halfway through grilling. (Or broil on the unheated rack of a broiler pan 4 to 5 inches from the heat for 12 to 15 minutes, turning once halfway through broiling.) Cut chicken into bite-size strips.

Meanwhile, rinse green beans with cool water for 30 seconds; drain well. In a large bowl toss together beans, cooked rice, artichoke hearts, cabbage, carrot, and green onion. Pour the remaining vinaigrette over rice mixture; toss to gently coat.

If desired, arrange lettuce leaves on 4 dinner plates. Top with the rice mixture and chicken.

Thyme Vinaigrette: In a screw-top jar combine 1/4 cup white wine vinegar; 2 tablespoons olive oil; 2 tablespoons water; 1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese; 2 teaspoons snipped fresh thyme; 1 clove garlic, minced; 1/4 teaspoon salt; and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Cover and shake well.

And check out FitnessMagazine.com for more healthy recipes!