Live Love Fitness LLC

Cardio doesn’t have to be boring 🐧
18k+ steps & 8+ miles later 😅

This weekend we took John to the zoo for the first time 🥹 He was instantly obsessed with the penguins… then immediately passed out for 4 hours 😂 woke up right as we got to the car 🙃

After grabbing food and recharging , we went back for round 2 before the rain started because I really wanted him to experience the zoo awake this time 😅 and it was SO worth it. The second he saw the penguins again, he started doing his happy little screams watching them shake the water off 🥺 That night before bed he was smiling, laughing, and “telling” us all about his day 🥹

The next morning I called and bought a zoo membership 😂 I already know this is going to become one of our favorite family activities 🥰

A good reminder that movement doesn’t always have to be a workout class or gym session. Sometimes it looks like long walks, fresh air, tired legs, and making memories with the people you love ❤️

Fred’s 😍

Yes this is THE FRED’S! My Ann Arbor peeps know what I’m talking about and if you don’t, no worries! You can stop by in downtown Detroit to see what all the hype is about 😱

I remember going to freshman orientation in 2016, walking down South U and seeing a place called “Fred’s.” It was one of the first times I had an Açaí Bowl and I immediately fell in love with the place. South U then went under construction and I wondered what was going to happen to Fred’s. They ended up moving to E Washington street and became “Wilma’s.” I spent sooo much of my undergrad at Wilma’s. I even did a giveaway with them which I’m forever grateful for as that was so kind of them 🥺

Then, C*vid hit. I was devastated when Wilma’s closed their doors. Andrew’s last year of dental school he ended up living right around the corner of where Wilma’s used to be. I would tell him how he missed out on that place and I hoped they would reopen so I’d be able to take him there one day. Scrolling through socials during the end of pregnancy and “Fred’s Lol” pops up on my feed. I only knew of one “Fred’s lol” and I commented asking if it was them and it was!🥹

Long story short, I’m so happy to see Fred’s is back and if you get the chance please stop by. They use top quality ingredients (some brands include Roos Roast, Zingermans, Purely Elizabeth) and the food is just so good 😩 peep the last few slides for some throwback Wilma’s/Fred’s pics 🥹

“Life coming full circle” 💫

If you asked me 6 years ago at (what should’ve been) graduation where I saw myself in the next 5–10 years, my answer would’ve looked very different than the life that actually unfolded 😂 I’ve always been such a type A planner, but life with Andrew has definitely made me embrace a little more type B.

Before meeting Andrew, I planned on opening my own gym. Technically, it could still happen…but I don’t think so 😂 Although, if the last 6 years have taught me anything, it’s to never say never 🤷🏻‍♀️ One of my biggest hopes in life was to fully live in Vegas, where I partially grew up. Thanks to the military, I got to do that for a year. It was perfect because I had more time with my grandparents.

After Vegas, we were stationed in Montana, which was a huge adjustment. Not the mountain-and-forest Montana everyone imagines either 😅 Traveling home to see family was expensive and usually meant 10+ hours of travel time, sometimes longer with delays.

But the people I met in both Vegas and Montana impacted my life in ways I’ll always carry with me. Some of those friendships are still some of my closest today. My perspective on life and the world is so different than it would’ve been had I stayed in Michigan like I originally planned.

Having most of my first pregnancy apart from my husband, spending half of the newborn stage apart, and missing my first Mother’s Day together has made me cherish every single moment we get as a family so much more.

Ann Arbor was such a defining chapter of my life. There was so much good, but also a lot of pain. Having my last semester end so abruptly (thanks c*vid) left that chapter feeling incomplete in a way I could never fully explain. Even though I went back later for both Andrew and the delayed 2020 graduation, it still felt like there was a missing piece.

Going back now as a family feels like the closure (and healing) I didn’t know I needed. Getting the chance to rewrite a chapter that once felt defined by tragedy into something filled with love, growth, and gratitude is something I’ll forever be thankful for 🤍

Forever go blue 💙〽️

T-24 days until we move back to Ann Arbor 🥹

Wearing all

Getting back with my first love…
They say it’s never the same when you get back with your first love and they were right. It’s so much better the second time. You learn and grow from your mistakes.

Did I forget to mention tapping into my pure strength was my first love 🤭 nothing compares to feeling strong 😤

I haven’t touched pull-ups in a year or barbells in 6 months and boyyyy does it feel so good 😩

My first attempt back at pull-ups was…humbling 😂 I tried again at the end of my workout and got up higher with a little help but still a big struggle 🥲 I think my first attempt I was just nervous. I did a whole workout yet got higher up the second time I tried (last video). Nonetheless it’s time to add them back to my routine since I felt no discomfort (recovery wise) so it’s safe to say I feel cleared to keep going 😍

Yesterday’s focus was just getting comfortable again with the barbell and my form. I did multiple sets of squats and deadlifts focusing only on form not weight. The ones included in the post are the last sets of each exercise besides the pull-ups where I posted both attempts

40g+ Protein Garlic White Wine Shrimp Pasta 😍

🦐8 big shrimp per person (I prefer with shell)
🦐 Noodles of choice
🦐Big handful of garlic chopped
🦐~5 cups of Pinot Grigio (I eyeballed it 😅)
🦐~ 1 tablespoon better than bouillon roasted chicken (from Costco)
🦐Salt
🦐Black Pepper
🦐Garlic powder
🦐Crushed red pepper (optional)
🦐~1/4 cup Extra virgin olive oil (I also eyeballed this)
🦐Avocado oil for cooking or another neutral oil
🦐Optional: few splashes of pasta water
🦐Optional: fresh chopped basil and parsley
🦐 Optional: 1 tablespoon of butter

Directions: Cook pasta with salted water for 1-2 minutes less than box suggestion (you want it slightly under). Heat avocado oil on medium heat. Sauté garlic until fragrant with crushed red pepper. Add in shrimp and season with salt (not too much since more will be added from boullion)black pepper, and garlic powder. Once shrimp is cooked on both sides add in white wine and bouillon and let it simmer for a few minutes. If you’d like to add pasta water do it now. If you don’t want to overcook shrimp remove shrimp while sauce reduces especially if there’s no shell. If you don’t mind the texture of the shrimp, for ease you can just leave it in. Once sauce seems reduced add extra virgin olive oil and butter. Once all mixed together add in pasta and mix. Finally mix back in the shrimp and serve.

High Protein Banana Oat Pancakes
Gluten-free, dairy free, refined sugar free*

Serves 2 or 1 person w/higher caloric needs
*I eat the whole thing in one sitting due to my current goals and include all the optional ingredients*

Pancake 🥞
- 1 cup of organic protein oats blended (this is 3 servings worth of protein oats, could also use less protein oats or blend 1 cup rolled or quick oats)
- ~1/2 cup Egg whites (I pour amount based off consistency of batter and pour it last)
- 1 mashed banana (more ripe = more sweet)
- Organic Ceylon cinnamon or pumpkin spice
- ~1 tsp Vanilla extract
- ~ 1/2 tsp of Baking powder
- Dash of salt
- Optional: ground flaxseed (I use ~2-3 tablespoons)
- Optional: 2 scoops/1 serving of collagen
- Optional: chocolate chips* for refined sugar free use chocolate gems
- Organic virgin coconut oil for cooking
Syrup 🍁
- ~2 tablespoons maple syrup
- ~1.5 tsp cocoa or cacao powder

**I eyeball everything except the amount of oats. This recipe is very ratio forgiving 😬

Directions:
Mash banana. Mix in dry ingredients except chocolate chip. Mix in vanilla extract and egg white then mix in chocolate chips once batter is combined. Heat coconut oil over medium heat and cook until brown on both sides

Chocolate sauce:
- Heat maple syrup in microwave for 30s
- Add desired amount of cocoa powder after syrup is heated and mix until smooth
- I eyeball but I think I use approx 1.5 tsp cocoa powder per 2 tablespoons of syrup

Random Full Day of Eating- Workout Day
*protein and food choice focused, no calorie counting while eating. Calculated calories at end of day*
- Total cals 2729, 167g P

Goal: at least 100g P to support exclusively breastfeeding + exercise/muscle growth + blood sugar stabilization

Note: body process protein best for muscle growth when it’s max 40g per meal, rest gets used elsewhere
- 3 eggs + 1 small avocado
- Protein strawberry matcha: unsweetened soymilk + 1 scoop of unflavored collagen
- Protein yogurt: unsweetened goat yogurt + cookies and crème protein + granola
- Olive Garden pasta fagioli soup + rigatoni w/meat sauce and shrimp + breadsticks (Post-workout meal)

I honestly haven’t counted calories since 2017 and focus solely on macros and food choices. Future posts I may just post the foods I eat unless most want me to post the protein and cal amount. When I’m more active (not on restricted weights) I eat way more which means my calories are a lot higher yet I have less body fat and more muscle. Once I did the switch to macro and food choices, my gains (and mental health) got so much better and I was able to hit my physique goals. Everyone’s body is different and calorie counting isn’t as simple as it’s made out to be on social media. Our body process calories from different foods differently and we each have our own metabolisms. Even the way you combine foods affects the way your body processes it (example eating protein and/or fiber with sugar/simple carbs vs sugar/carbs alone). I encourage you to focus on educating yourself on food choices and balancing macros vs purely calorie counting.

Quick High Protein Low Carb Mug/Bowl Cake 🤤
*easy one bowl/mug*

This recipe is what helped get me through GD with my sweet tooth. It’s not going to taste exactly like cake and purposely not sweet (which you can easily adjust) but it never spiked me and satisfied my craving. The mix of heathy fats, protein and unrefined sugar (besides chocolate chips but can use refined sugar free chocolate like ) is what stabilized my blood sugar while enjoying it. Now postpartum breastfeeding, my sweet tooth is still there so I’m back at it with this recipe. Since I don’t have GD anymore and my blood sugar is back to normal, I’ve been topping my cake with some dairy free Texas sheet cake 😍

Ingredients:
- 1/4 -1/3 cup blanched almond flour (ratio is very forgiving when I’ve accidentally poured too much 😅), I use brand
- 1 egg or egg whites (eyeballed egg whites)*
- 1 tablespoon melted organic cold pressed virgin coconut oil
- 1 tablespoon melted peanut butter/nut butter*
- *could replace with another tablespoon of coconut oil instead if can’t have nut butter or leave out completely and add more egg white or milk)
- ~1/4 tsp Baking powder (I eyeball)
- Dash of Salt
- Splash of Vanilla extract
- Mini chocolate chips
- 2 scoops collagen
- *Splash of milk of choice if not using just egg whites
- 1 tsp maple syrup mixed in or on top OR 2 tsp of coconut sugar OR leave out sugar if topping with ice cream
- Optional: 1 tsp of Cacao or cocoa powder, fruit
- cacao has more caffeine but also more nutrients since it’s less processed

Directions
- microwave coconut oil and peanut butter in bowl/mug for 1 minute and then mix
- Add in remaining ingredients *except sugar if not using or topping with syrup or ice cream* and mix
- Microwave for 1:30 and let cool for a minute. If it’s not done (diff microwave watts cause diff cooking times) do 15 sec intervals. It can be a little under just don’t want it jiggly in the center. top with a 1-2 teaspoons of syrup or ice cream