by ninaeliseh | Nov 17, 2015 | Blog, Desserts, Health & Fitness, Recipes
After a long day at work this past Tuesday, I came home to a big box sitting on my doorstep. Normally I just order a ton of stuff on amazon for myself, so I was super excited to see something that I didn’t order! Arctic Zero was nice enough to send me a box full of ice cream to try out – low calorie, full of chocolate, GMO free, gluten free… um, YES please! The box came wrapped up in a beautiful bow with a note – I felt like such a princess! Surprise gifts, ice cream, bows, chocolate… men, take note 😉
After opening the package, I found instruction on how to eat the ice cream (wait, there are instructions? don’t you just eat the entire pint as soon as you take it out of the freezer??), as well as 5 different flavors to try: Salted Caramel, Butter Pecan, Key Lime Pie, Chocolate Chip, and Mint Chip.
Normally I would dig in right away, but in order to eat with the best consistency, you need to wait and let it thaw. Ok, that wasn’t happening… Option 2: microwave for 30 seconds. Ok, I can do that.
I decided to try the flavors in the order that I thought would taste the best:
Salted Caramel
Chocolate Chip
Mint Chip
Key Lime Pie
Butter Pecan
After thawing my first pint, I dug right in – and burnt my tongue. On ice cream. Is that even possible?? I must have left the pint in the microwave a bit too long, and the ice cream got a little TOO warm. After it happened, I spent the next 2 minutes laughing at myself, because seriously – only this would happen to me. I guess this is what happens when you live by yourself, are impatient, and love ice cream… it’s like being a child. Even though you are an adult. BTW – who even let me have the title of “Adult?” ANYWAYS. On to the ice cream review, because I know that’s why you are reading this post!
Salted Caramel: creamy, delicious, and exactly what I expected. Not too sweet, and would have been perfect topped with chocolate. Since this is low in calories, I think a little extra chocolate wouldn’t hurt 🙂
Chocolate Chip: Unfortunately, I thought this flavor was a bit bland. The chocolate chips were a nice addition, but the ice cream iteself didn’t have much of a flavor. I only took 2 bites from this.
Cool Mint Chip: Growing up, my grandma would always have mint chocolate chip ice cream in her freezer. So of course, I had high expectations. This flavor was not as sweet, but minty, creamy, and had the perfect amount of chocolate chips in it.
Key Lime Pie: Ok. So, this is not a flavor I would EVER voluntarily choose. Not that I don’t like key lime pie, I just prefer to eat chocolate and peanut butter ice creams. With that being said, this was actually my favorite flavor. The chunks of graham cracker crust, not too sweet, and a hint of tartness from the lime = perfection.
Buttery Pecan: This was my third favorite flavor! Tasted exactly like butter pecan ice cream – and the amount of chopped pecans was perfect!
With delicious treats food, my general rule is always eat first, ask questions later. Ok, probably not the best rule to have if you are trying to eat healthy… but with Arctic Zero, you don’t have to worry. The ice cream is made out of hormone-free whey protein (& lactose free!) + monk fruit, is gluten free, high in protein, low fat, GMO free and low glycemic. Basically, just eat as much as you can after a workout without making yourself sick. The entire pint is only 150-300 calories, so why not? Ice cream for dinner! Again, I don’t know who told me I could adult – I am a child running wild with a credit card, too much freedom and a huge sweet tooth 🙂
After reading all of this, who is hungry for ice cream? Lucky for you, Arctic Zero has VIP Vouchers for 1 free pint OR box of chocolate dipped bars for 5 lucky winners! The VIP vouchers are valid at any retail store that carries Arctic Zero products. There are a few ways to enter (the more you do, the more entries you get!):
- Follow me on Instagram
- Follow me on my blog
- Leave a comment at the bottom of this post telling me what you think your favorite flavor will be
- Repost giveway on instagram and tag @ArcticZero & @FitblondeYogi
Enter the giveaway here
5 winners will be randomly chosen one week from today! If you simply cannot wait and need to go out and buy some right now, you can enter in your zipcode here to find a store near you that carries Arctic Zero (I normally buy mine from Kroger or Whole Foods).
Thanks for reading, and good luck in the giveaway!
11/24 – The contest has ended – congrats to the 5 winners below! Arctic Zero will send an email requesting an address to send you your free ice cream voucher!
- Annamarie V
- Kathy E
- Jordan D
- Evie B
- Elle P
**The product provided for the review was free of charge from the company. The product offered for the giveaway is free of charge, no purchase necessary. My opinions are my own and were not influenced by any form of compensation.
by ninaeliseh | Jun 20, 2014 | ACL, ACL 4+ months, Blog, Health & Fitness
18 Weeks Post-Op Summary
- I can run 1-2 miles every other day or so… on the treadmill, but I can run on smooth pavements (nothing where the terrain changes too much)
- Left IT band is feeling better! No noticeable problems when running! -Seeing an ART specialist to help with IT band/tight back/structural issues
- Still feeling soreness on the front/top of my knee/kneecap – I start to notice this after running for 10+ minutes at a time or trying to run faster
- Saw my surgeon this morning, and he said the above issue was just my strength – I still need to work on my quad strength. Once I have all/most of my strength back, that pain and soreness will go away
- Surgeon also mentioned that if I wanted to get back more intensely into sports where I would be doing a lot of pivoting/cutting, he recommended I get a brace. Since I am not a serious athlete, I am not sure if that is something I will do… but, he also said no one ever really knows how well the ACL has attached to the bone, so going back to more agility-type sports (not running, as its mainly straight forward running) too soon without support would not be a good idea. I have a follow-up in 2 months. If I feel the need to go more full-blown back into sports, he told me to come back in and get a brace. If not, I would be fine without a brace and most likely be able to go back 100% to sports next spring. Has anyone else had experience with a brace post-ACL surgery?
- The numb part of my leg – feeling is starting to come back! I didn’t really notice it at first, but it has gotten better!
- Icing at least 1x a day
- Signed up for a 4-miler in September, so I need to step up my training a little 🙂
- Working on improving my handstands – I love doing these, as they are building up my core & shoulder strength
PT Exercises/Workouts
- Elliptical at the beginning of my workouts, 5 minutes
- Run on treadmill for 10 minutes – starting out at 6 speed, picking up to 6.5 @ 5 minutes and 7-7.5 speed the last 2 minutes
- Agility ladder work on the floor
- High knees across gym/ladders – forwards and sideways – 4x
- Jump over small object and land in a small squat – repeat down the line 4 x
- Long jump – measuring how far i can jump – set a baseline (76″)
- Hopping over lines forwards/side to side/diagonally
- 4 markers set up on the ground: Run fast up to second marker –> squat down and shuffle as fast as I can to the next marker –> run backwards as fast as I can to the next marker –> shuffle back to the first marker as fast as i can. Repeat 4-8 times
- Foot work on aerobics stepper at 20 second intervals
- Stretching after every workout
- Heated Yoga(1-2x a week, if I can find time)
- Running on treadmill for 10-25 minutes 1-2x a week
Things have been slowing down a little, so I have been taking a little more time for myself. Sleeping in, naps, reading (Blink and now on Spirit Junkie), practicing my handstands with a little help from patrick beach and getting ready for my trip to Costa Rica in July. Has anyone traveled to Costa Rica? Any tips for a week-long trip out of the country? I will be mostly on the beach, learning spanish and doing yoga, but I will most likely trek out into the jungle or go on an excursion somewhere. I AM SO EXCITED! 🙂
This e-book was created as a guide to help everyone – Adults, Kids, Athletes, and Non-Athletes – recovering from ACL surgery. After reading this guide, you will have a better understanding of what to expect, surgery options, costs & insurance, and a detailed timeline for recovery.
Improve your range of motion, increase your strength, and feel more confident post-surgery with a 2 month yoga progression plan.
by ninaeliseh | Jun 10, 2014 | ACL, ACL 4+ months, Blog, Health & Fitness
17 weeks!
I only had a few days in between my 2 PT appointments, and I only had time to get 1 run in/do my new exercises… and even that was pushing it. I went to an amusement park on Saturday and walked around for 5-6 hours… my knee was not very happy. I didn’t work out on Sunday, and then ran on Monday morning. Afterwards, my knee was bothering me (IT Band) as well as the top part of my kneecap. I saw my PT on Tuesday morning, and he had me take it easy. He said my patellar tendon needed a rest, and it just needed a little time to recover from the all the new activities I have been adding to my workouts. Because of this, I didn’t run on Tuesday at my PT appointment, and I just worked on hamstring exercises (so as not to work my quad/knee).
I am not upset – honestly, just really tired. I haven’t been getting much sleep, and I won’t until next weekend 🙁 Regardless, I am still extremely happy with my progress so far. The pain I am experiencing is just muscle/tendon pain, which is expected, especially if I am going back into things too fast (or when my body needs to rest more!). Below is a summary of week 17!
17 Weeks Post-Op Summary
- I am allowed to run 1-2 miles every other day or so… only on the treadmill. Took a breather for a few days to give my knee some rest
- Left IT band is a little sore, but stretching & using a foam roller helps! Going to see an ART specialist next week for a little more help with my IT band/tight back/structural issues
- Still some clicking and cracking here and there in my knee – def still some inflammation, but mostly from over-doing it
- Icing at least 1x a day
- Knee a little swollen from my weekend of walking at the park – icing and using oils every day, especially after workouts. My mom sent me a new oil blend that I have been using, and it has been working wonderfully!
- My flexibility is great! Heated yoga has made me even more flexible than i was pre-surgery. I can also go in a very deep squat and sit back on my heels! Not 100% comfortably, but I am getting there.
- My boyfriend took me to Orange Theory Fitness on Thursday for my birthday – I ran for 15-20 minutes on the treadmill and did some circuit work afterwards. This type of workout uses your heart heart to track your workouts, and it shows your stats on a big screen so you can see how much you are pushing yourself the entire time. I really liked it, but I didn’t feel like I could 100% push myself during the workout. I will for sure be back in a few months when my knee is feeling better!
- **Edit – I went for 20 minute run on the treadmill at the gym, about 2.25 miles… My IT band was bothering me at first, but after a few minutes, the pain went away. My leg strength feels fine, it is just my breathing/cardio I have issues with… but that will get better in time 🙂 Hopefully at my next PT appointment I will be given the go-ahead to start running outside again!
How I feel when I run now.
PT Exercises/Workouts
- Elliptical at the beginning of my workouts, 5 minutes
- Calf raises on a step – both legs – 2 sets of 20
- Hamstring curls on machine – both legs – 2 sets of 15-20
- Balance work on steps & on piece of foam
- Hamstring curls – lay on ground – put both feet up on an exercise ball. Bridge hips up & pull feet towards body – 3 sets of 15
- Monster walks
- Stretching after every workout
- Running for 5-20 minutes on treadmill @ a 6-7 pace
- Bikram Yoga/Heated Yoga (1x a week, if I can find time)
I went to heated Baptiste yoga the other night, and I was so incredibly humbled and grateful by my body’s ability to heal so quickly. I was surprised by my flexibility and the ease I was able to get into poses…. I even tried flying pigeon pose, something I have never really tried to do or understood how to get into the pose (especially with the pressure on my knee). It takes a ton of upper body and core strength!
I am going to continue with my yoga when I can get to it, and ease back into running. I am signed up for a half marathon, but not until January… so I have time to prepare 🙂
My birthday was also this past week… So lots of surprises, time spent with family and friends and not much sleep. Between early/extra hours at work, a wedding this past weekend and my birthday, I am pooped! I rested all day this Sunday and felt a little bit better… Now off to go for a run at the gym 🙂
This e-book was created as a guide to help everyone – Adults, Kids, Athletes, and Non-Athletes – recovering from ACL surgery. After reading this guide, you will have a better understanding of what to expect, surgery options, costs & insurance, and a detailed timeline for recovery.
Improve your range of motion, increase your strength, and feel more confident post-surgery with a 2 month yoga progression plan.
by ninaeliseh | May 30, 2014 | ACL, ACL 4+ months, Running
Hi!
So excited for 4 months! Running, lateral movement, jumping.. I feel a lot stronger, and adding on more movements in my workouts is definitely more freeing. I couldn’t wait until my PT appointment this week and RAN last Friday… and Monday. I ran for 5 minutes on Friday, and 10 on Monday on the treadmill. It felt great! I was grinning the whole time I ran I was so happy 🙂 There was a little swelling maybe on Friday, but none on Monday when I ran. My knee honestly feels great! I am wondering if waiting longer for my knee to heal has caused less problems with returning to running.
Pre-Surgery – I can run again!!! Working towards running in races again (and being that tan!)
4 months Post-Op Summary
- Had my quad & hamstring strength measured in the Cybex machine – and good news! My left leg isn’t that much weaker than my right! First, my right leg was tested. The first round, I had to kick up and kick back as hard as I could 10 times while sitting down to test strength. I got a 20 second break, then I had to do the kicks again, with a lighter resistance, to test endurance. This was then repeated on my left side. The report showed that my right quad was stronger/I could kick forward with more force than my left (left leg was about 85% compared to right knee @ 100%). However, my left hamstring was stronger than my right! (right leg was about 90% compared to left @ 100%). Based on the results, I was cleared to run (even though I had already ran the week before :))
- I can run 1-2 miles every other day or so… only on the treadmill (outside the level of terrain changes, so it is more stress on my knee, especially since I haven’t run for 4 months)
- My gait is normal, no favoring of my left leg
- Left IT band is a little sore, but stretching & using a foam roller helps!
- Knee feels great! still not as stable as my right – some clicking and cracking here and there, but the swelling has decreased considerably. My flexion gets better and better everyday.
- Lots of handstands and Yoga going down at my house… Everything gets easier week by week!
- I start cardio workouts at work next week, and I feel more confident to jump around and run now 🙂
- Still using Solomon’s seal salve on my knee – I usually top with peppermint oil to help drive in the salve, sometimes adding in some wintergreen and lemongrass.
- Icing at least 1x a day
PT Exercises/Workouts
- Elliptical at the beginning of my workouts, 5 minutes
- Cybex Test
- Run on treadmill for 5 minutes
- Agility ladder work on the floor
- High knees across gym
- Butt kicks across gym
- Hopping over lines forwards/side to side
- Exercises in previous posts
- Stretching after every workout
- Bikram Yoga/Yoga (1x a week, if I can find time)
- Workout classes
Next week I start my Spanish tutoring again, as well as workout classes at work. It will be hard to fit my yoga classes and running in, but I am excited for so much newness happening! It’s almost June, my birthday month, plus warm weather, my cousin is moving back to Ohio soon and a trip to Costa Rica is planned for July. It’s easy to stay motivated when there are so many things in my life to be grateful for. I can look at my knee surgery/recovery time as something terrible, but so much good has come from it! I have been able to help others and meet new friends all across the world going through the same surgery, learned to slow down and listen to my body, am really focusing on yoga now… There are things I missed out on, but I look back and realize that I was directed towards even better things/situations/people because of my surgery! Truly a blessing 🙂
Dr. Wayne W. Dyer – Amazing opportunities arise from the storms!
Hope everyone is having a great week! Until next time,
Nina
This e-book was created as a guide to help everyone – Adults, Kids, Athletes, and Non-Athletes – recovering from ACL surgery. After reading this guide, you will have a better understanding of what to expect, surgery options, costs & insurance, and a detailed timeline for recovery.
Improve your range of motion, increase your strength, and feel more confident post-surgery with a 2 month yoga progression plan.
by ninaeliseh | May 23, 2014 | ACL, Blog, Health & Fitness
15 weeks Post-Op Summary
- Can run in less than 1week! May 29th, to be exact 🙂
- Still going to PT every other week until I run! I have been doing PT/Yoga/workouts 3-5 times a week, so no need to go in.
- Knee feels about 90%… Seriously. When I say “back to normal,” I mean I am walking without pain, my workouts feel easy and I am able to straighten/lock out my left knee (my right knee is hyper-extended, so this is “normal” for ME).
- When bending up/down my knee still “catches” every once in a while – I assume this is just from the last swelling
- knee usually feels stiff in the morning – its hard to get my heel to my butt, but after some stretching/yoga, I can sit on my heels.
- Lots of handstands and Yoga going down at my house… Everything gets easier week by week!
- I did a hip-hop class at work yesterday.. it was great cardio and a lot of fun! My knee did lock out which was really uncomfortable, but I was fine the next day
PT Exercises/Workouts
- Elliptical at the beginning of my workouts, 15-25 minutes
- Balancing on BOSU ball, ball side up on injured leg – bring other leg as far out in front, to the side, and diagonally behind you. 2-3 x 10
- Lunges w/twist to side – lunging forward on a bosu ball w/ 6 lb ball – 2 sets of 30
- Monster walks to the back/side (stand looking forward with a slight squat, side step left leg & to the back – so stepping not to the side or to the back, but in between) – 10 each side, 2x
- Holding onto bands on wall, squat on one leg then back up – 3×10
- Side-lunges while holding onto TRX band – 3 sets of 10
- On injured (left) knee – holding 10 lb weight in right hand – lean forward, balancing on injured knee w/weight hanging down (think warrior 3 position) – 2 sets of 10 on each side
- Lay on ground – put both feet up on an exercise ball. Bridge hips up & pull feet towards body – 3 sets of 15
- Step up onto a platform (with bad leg) while holding a weighted ball (6 lbs). Bring up, then slowly come down. 1 set of 15
- BOSU ball, ball side down – squats w/ 6lb ball – bring down to one side & swing slowly up across body over shoulder. 1 set of 20
- Crunches on Ball – 3×100
- With 6lb ball, lay on back, with arms over head. Crunch all the way up, keeping ball over head. do 20 times, then immediately after do 100 russian twists. Rest 30 seconds, repeat, but 15 crunch-ups & 75 russian twists. Rest 30 seconds, repeat, but 10 crunch-ups & 50 russian twists.
- Workout at gym 1-2 times a week, doing PT exercises above
- Stretching after every workout
- Bikram Yoga/Yoga (1x a week, if I can find time)
- Workout classes! Did a hip-hop class at work the other day – so much fun! Great to mix up my workouts 🙂
I have been practicing my handstands and doing yoga at home almost every night, sometimes in the morning. I love it! I feel like I am stronger and more flexible than I was before my surgery. With my knee feeling almost 100% back to normal now, I am still being careful. However, my flexion is getting better every time at yoga. I am even doing back bends again!
I am itching to start running again… less than one week! I do a little jogging/running for a few seconds from time to time, and I have no issues. I cant wait! Below is a t-shirt I should probably get to celebrate running next week – my 2 favorite things – sloths and napping.
With delicious 
