• Chin ups:  2 sets of 3, 1 set of 2.
• Barbell deadlift/row combo:  3 sets of 10 at 55 pounds
• Incline dumbbell bench press:  3 sets of 8 with 25# DBs
• Reverse lunge with dumbbell on shoulder:  3 sets of 10 with 20# DB
• Bent over cable row:  3 sets of 15 at 50#
• Reverse crunches:  3 sets of 15

Ah yes, chin ups much better doing first!  While I am really slow at increasing the number, I have realized that I am actually performing them easier.  My body swings much less, which means I am using more strength rather than momentum to hoist myself up.  That’s a good thing!

Hopped on the treadmill and did a walk/run combo with 2 miles of running.  Felt pretty good!  I stayed on the treadmill for  a little longer before heading out to bagels.  With John sitting on the jury, he wasn’t able to join me, but my folks did!  Yay for family time

Do you ever have those times where you just feel overwhelmed with life stuff?  Not all bad stuff, but just overwhelmed?  I am having that right now.  Seems like there is some intersecting of a lot of things all at once and I feel like I am juggling 20 balls in the air.  Again, most of it is good, but it’s still stressful.

Lunch break was some pseudo-overnight oats.  After I got back from the gym, I mixed some multigrain hot cereal with vanilla greek yogurt and let that sit in the fridge.  Mixed in some pumpkin, cinnamon, and flax seed:

Pretty good.  Very thick and chewy!  This will be made in the summer, I think.

Anyway, regarding 5-HTP, here is a little more about it. 5-HTP is short for 5-hydroxy-tryptophan.  Tryptophan is that amino acid that is supposed to help you release serotonin and get sleepy (turkey dinner, anyone??).  5-HTP is actually a precursor to serotonin and reportedly helps your body make more of it, which can allow for easier sleep.  It is supposedly plant derived, but I can’t seem to find out exactly what without having to weed through a lot of the sales pitches on websites for this stuff.  There is a lot of drivel out there (like with any supplement).  Some clinical trials have shown benefit to 5-HTP, although not as much as some websites would have you believe.  I have been taking this for the past several days (bought from Puritan’s Pride) 100 mg about 20-30 minutes before bedtime.  I have found that I have slept through the night, or if I did wake up, I fell right back asleep (from what I remember anyway).  I don’t know how much of this is due to the placebo effect or if it actually is doing something.

The added benefit to getting a good night’s sleep?  Less snacky during the daytime!    Some people report side effects of nervousness or headaches with 5HTP – so please don’t take anything I say as medical advice!

Speaking of snack…. I had a raspberry Attune bar today with my latte.

Jeez I really like these.  Good thing they are a little on the pricey side or I would eat a lot more of them.  Wonder if I could get them to sponsor me? 

We bought some frozen salmon filets that have a southwestern coating on them to try for dinner.  I was pretty skeptical because most fish tastes… well, fishy to me.  I know that sounds funny, but it’s true!   Tuna tastes the most fishy, but I expect that from tuna.

I actually think I liked this!  It didn’t taste fishy at all to me.  This little filet is packed with 25 grams of protein, too.  Woo Hoo!  Roasted brussels and a pear to compliment.  Had a lot of those superfoods today.

I actually have to do more work tonight.  Vacation can’t come soon enough!

Question:  What is your favorite fish?