Now that the Crock Pot Challenge is in full swing, I find myself feeling more and more motivated in the kitchen. Trying out new recipes is a lot of fun, especially when the recipes involve the crock pot and aren’t overly complicated.
Yesterday I made Lindsay’s slow cooker carnitas.
I followed the recipe on Lindsay’s blog exactly and after eight hours, our house smelled fantastic and we had a delicious no-fuss dinner on our hands.
While I thought the pork was good, Ryan was a huge fan. He said that this pork was “restaurant quality.” It was extremely flavorful (placing the pork back into the sauce is a must) and I think it would be a great dish to make on Super Bowl Sunday to feed a whole gang of hungry people.
We paired the carnitas with steamed veggies and a sweet potato topped with a bit of Earth Balance.
When I went to put the leftovers away, Sadie broke out her best pitiful “please gimme some carnitas” face.
She gets me every time. I’m such a sucker.
Workout
This morning I hopped on the treadmill at the gym for a 40 minute workout. I ran four miles, followed by a .25 mile cool down walk and some stretching.
I’ve been extra mindful of my hips lately and try to take a solid five minutes to go through some of my favorite hip stretches after a run. I’m hoping this will help keep my running injury free since my hips seem to be my “problem area” when it comes to injuries and pain. So far so good! Knock on wood.
Breakfast
Pancakes for breakfast!
I planned to make whole wheat pancakes, but ended up making the pancakes with half white flour/half whole wheat flour because we ran out of wheat flour at the last minute.
I have a feeling I’m going to be digging into my morning snack a bit early since I doubt these pancakes will keep me full for long. I should’ve added some almond butter to the batter for some staying power. Next time!
Question of the Morning
- Do you stretch before and/or after a workout… or not at all?
- Do you take special care to target your stretching based on past injuries?
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I always start a workout with a light warm-up of a few jumping jacks, high knees, arm rotations, jump ropes, etc. I also always always stretch after a workout! It’s just the way that I cool down and end any workout.
i REALLY bad about stretching! i did yoga this past weekend and was super sore – yikes!
OMG Sadie’s carnitas face.. I’m dying!
Your crockpot meals are making me soo hungry!
After having surgery on both knees, I definitely try to make sure my quads and hamstrings get stretched after a workout. That slow cooker meal looks great! It really is fun to try new recipes.
I don’t usually stretch before a run (though I probably should). I try to stretch after a run and use the foam roller, but I’m rather uncoordinated on it. Sometimes I have my boyfriend roll out my calves for me, which he seems to get a sort of evil joy out of. I also try to do yoga when I feel really tight, especially in my hips, because it helps loosen me back up.
I stretch before. When I started running I had pain in my shins and plantar fasciitis, I read online that those can be from tight calfs so I try to stretch them out as much as possible. If I do stretch the shin pain is gone, I still struggle with painful feet though. Nothing seems to help that. I developed it before I started running and it just would not go away. Once I started running I noticed that if I take a break for a few days my feet get better, weird.
I try to do 5-10 minutes of stretching/foam-rolling after a run. And I’m usually pretty good about it… but some mornings I’m so ready for breakfast or a shower that it gets clipped off pretty shortly.
Well played on the carnitas. My Mister would love those. It’s on my must list for this week.
Also thanks for the hip stretches. I have been feeling some pain lately so I will definitely be putting those to good use!
I actually stretch my leg muscles quite a bit and I also do stretches for my feet. I am prone to plantar fasciitis and once it hits, it is a pain {literally} to get rid of!
Those carnitas look amazing!
Yes, stretching is a must for me allllll throughout the day, before and after a workout! Sometimes even a little during a workout. It just makes me feel so good and refreshed, and it’s kind of addicting I must say! I don’t know how one could be injury free without stretching b/c I think I’d be hurting all over then! hah
Oh I love pancakes! And that Sadie face is so cute!
I always forgot about stretching before running. But then it seemed like every long run my shoulders would tense up and hurt me really bad. Now I make sure to stretch my neck and shoulders before every long run.
Check out my blog post today about what other workouts you can do to improve your running: http://runningathousandmiles.blogspot.com/2013/01/workouts-to-improve-your-running.html
I’m trying to get better about stretching after a workout. I hope your hip feels good for your half this weekend. Your dinner looks great. Do you ever eat sweet potatoes with peanut butter? Yum!
I have been in a major pancake mood lately. I love “specialty” and fancy pancakes, but there is just nothing better than a classic pancake. Those look so delicious! 🙂
I loveee stretching after a work out. We always stretched in HS/College and it’s a habit that has stuck with me. It makes a huge difference. I love hip stretches because they just feel amazing, but my problem area is my joints, so I try to do a lot of restorative yoga for them on top of my normal stretching.
I’ve used my pot three times this week already for the challenge, and I love how it takes no time to prep for! My husband is going to be sick of crock meals by the time Feb rolls around!
That pork looks amazing. For years I didn’t stretch before or after I ran and it didn’t affect me at all. Now I do a brief stretch beforehand and a brief on after. The only time I really feel the repercussions of not stretching is if I take a few days off… basically it’s motivation for me to be consistent!
I also have problems with my hips and have started doing the pigeon pose since I saw your post on it. 🙂 I definitely try to stretch after workouts but not before. I remember hearing it was bad for your muscles to stretch them when they are cold.
Sadie’s face made my heart melt! My Vizsla will sit with her head on my lap during dinner. She won’t cry – She just looks at me with the most adorable face. Works like a charm every time. Haha
Stretching is the best. I stretch before and after. After only because I know I’ll pay for it the next day and so on.. It’s made my muscles so much looser!
I want pancakes. Just seeing that pic makes me want them! Hah 😉
I LOVE the slow cooker. Love it.
I don’t stretch before I run at all- I’ve read a lot that it can actually be harmful to stretch while your muscles are “cold”. AND… I know I should stretch when I’m done but I rarely ever do! It’s definitely a habit I need to get into. I think I stretch more often when I’ve run outside vs. running on the treadmill.
I have to work on stretching my hamstrings, calves, and hips because they get so tight and I’ve had injuries in the past because of the tight muscles. It’s really hard for me to make myself stretch and foam roll, though! I’m not sure why, I guess because it doesn’t seem that essential? It’s something I’m making a priority after hurting myself on a New Year’s Eve half-marathon.
I actually don’t stretch before my runs, and although I should stretch after, I don’t 🙁 I found that after my runs, I want to be productive and get on with the day. But I do make sure to walk a little after! My problem area is my knees! I dont know any knee stretches, but if the pain flares up, ill wear my brace for the day 🙂
I am terrible about stretching but ive never had an injury to scare me into stretching. I need to not let it get to that point though. I have started trying to do yoga once a week though as an attempt at getting more stretched out. Better than nothing!
Im making slow cooker crockpot salsa chicken tacos for dinner tonight, so good! This recipe looks great too!
I love when Sadie makes the blog!
I am notorious for not stretching before or after workouts, so I have been making a conscious effort lately to be better. I realize that my body no longer responds to a long run the way it did when I was in high school and college and that I need to stretch.
I was just thinking about how terrible I am at remembering to stretch before and after workouts. I”m usually good about stretching after runs (it’s really helped my shin splints!), but I rarely stretch when doing strength workouts
I really need to be more mindful of my stretching…I’m so bad at making myself do it.
I at least stretch for a good five minutes and do all my stretches 3 times through. It makes a huge difference. My cross country coach was really about making sure we didn’t get injuries. The running stretch is my fave move to stretch the hip flexors really good.
Thanks for posting the hip stretches. I also struggle with hip/lower back pain from running. I see a chiropractor once a week and that seems to really help along with the wonderful foam roller. I notice mine when I run too much in a week or increase my mileage too quickly.
Which pancakes are these???????
I do target my stretches- usually to hips/groin and calves, oh and hammys. I’m a bit slack with stretching- definitely don’t do it as much as I should. All my classes finish with stretching and I never stretch beforehand. I do foam roll daily though after my classes and teaching.
This recipe looks amazing, I’m definitely going to try it out this weekend. Do you think it would work well with some BBQ sauce in tacos? I’m obsessed!
I’ve just blogged a recipe you might like, feel free to take a look: http://feedmenicethings.wordpress.com/2013/01/16/vegetable-hash-with-chorizo-and-poached-eggs-ala-waitrose/
Tina x
I don’t stretch before workouts–I’m all about a nice, easy warmup instead–but I’ve been doing a better job stretching and foam rolling after.
Absolutely love your blog! I found it on Pinterest a few weeks ago and have been following you since 🙂 Tried the carnitas and they were delicious. Served them with tortillas and had cilantro, salsa, fresh mozzarella, limes, black beans and cabbage as toppings… I too am a fitness and health food junkie and you’ve inspired me to start a blog of my own- very excited!
That pork looks delicious. I want to try it but everything I cook in my slow cooker fails. It is newer and I’m wondering if it cooks at higher temperatures then other ones. My beef is always dry. I’ve cooked steel cuts oats and has to be on warm, not even low and I cooked it for half the time it was recommended. I bought a new one because my last one was the same. Any suggestions?
Made the crockpot carnitas today! My husband could smell it in the garage when he got home from work. They were amazing!! Cilantro, sliced avocado and tomato plus a dollop of plain Greek yogurt made this dish heavenly. My husband was so impressed and my parents just loved them! Thanks so much for sharing!!