Summer has officially hit full swing around here. My kids have started their various summer camps, which include a later wake-up time and bedtime, pushing dinner a little later into the evening each day. This transition from our normal school year routine to our summer one is so refreshing after how crazy jam-packed our May calendar was.
This week’s meal plan is all about welcoming summer into our kitchen. Don’t worry — it still includes family friendly fare that’s easy to get on the table and a surprising change to our Pizza Friday ritual.
As sure as there are seven days in the week, I can count on the fact that at least one of those days, I’ll come home from work feeling totally drained. On these nights, I want nothing more than to plop on the couch with Netlfix and takeout. And, I’ll be honest, sometimes that is exactly what I do. But most of the time, the thing that saves me from blowing my budget on egg rolls and Kung Pao chicken is the one-pot dinner.
When dinner comes together in a single pot, it means a low-fuss meal that’s better for my wallet and probably better for me, too. So, when you just don’t feel like cooking, consider these 18 dinners your lifeline. With options like zoodles and meatballs, burrito bowls, and a savory Dutch baby, they’re delicious and totally doable.
If you’re attending a BBQ or picnic in the next few months, then you know that pasta salad will be on the menu. In fact, pasta salad is so ubiquitous in summer that it should probably be added to the summer commandments of cooking. It’s the perfect thing to bring to a potluck because it’s heartier than a salad, but less complicated than a main dish for grilling (let someone else make the grilled chicken).
Looking for a pasta recipe that everyone will love? Pinterest has just the thing. I’ve found the most popular pasta salad recipe on the platform and it’s super easy to make.
Episode 171: Genevieve Howland: Host Elle Russ chats with Genevieve Howland about natural pregnancy, childbirth, and parenting.
Each week, select Mark’s Daily Apple blog posts are prepared as Primal Blueprint Podcasts. Need to catch up on reading, but don’t have the time? Prefer to listen to articles while on the go? Check out the new blog post podcasts below, and subscribe to the Primal Blueprint Podcast here so you never miss an episode.
Overworked doctors can’t keep up with the literature, so it’s up to you.
EVERYTHING ELSE
Fred Kummerow, one of the first researchers to question the sanity of filling our diets with artificial trans-fats (and a major butter lover/vegetable oil hater), just passed away at the ripe old age of 102.
Name: Yessica Martinez Age: 25 Location: Pittsburgh, PA
What does being a Girl Gone Strong mean to you?
It’s more than just being physically strong. It’s about having a strong sense of self. This reminds me of something I read a long time ago, and it resonated with me. I’ll never forget: “Please, be proud of the pieces that make you you. Embrace the oddities and hold on to them with everything you have. These strange little quirks belong to us, and only us, and they are absolutely vital in creating the bigger picture that is who we are. Be proud of yourself, because if you are, it never matters who else is. Because when you are, the inevitability of other people believing in you and being proud too, is such an amazing bonus to the strength you already possess.”
When you know who you are, nothing or no one can really touch you. You become unstoppable. That is what being a Girl Gone Strong means to me.
How long have you been strength training, and how did you get started? I’ve been strength training since I was 18. Competitively lifting since I was 21. I had just graduated high school and my brother was training at a small gym called Idolmaker Physique and Performance in Miami, FL. This was not your typical local gym. They had a monolift, specialty bars, bands, chains, and an atmosphere that was unparalleled. I started training there to maintain athleticism. I played basketball and volleyball since I was young. At first, I was training for aesthetics. I wanted to lean out, look good, feel good. My strength and numbers kept increasing, and my trainer then, Randy Scoates, asked me if I wanted to powerlift. My reply was, “What’s powerlifting?” I started training with the guys, learning about technique and training methods, specifically the conjugate method, and just wanted to get strong. After that, I never looked back.
What does your typical workout look like? I train three to four days per week. My boyfriend, Casey Williams, is currently doing my programming. (He’s part of Elitefts and has the #6 all-time record in the 242-pound weight class with a 2088-pound total.)
Monday – Bench
Wednesday – Deadlifts
Thursday or Friday – Extra Assistance
Saturday – Squats
Each lift varies. I’ll implement accommodating resistance in a two- to three-week wave. I’ll alternate bench with spoto presses or floor presses; conventional, deficits or block pulls with deadlifts; and implement specialty bars off a box with squats. Sounds like a lot of mumbo jumbo, but each week varies depending on how training was the week prior. After the main lifts, I’ll do supplemental work (assistance work that will help with the main movement I’m doing that day). On my extra assistance day, I’ll do bodybuilding-style training. Light-weight, high-volume sets. I guess I could describe this training method as a combination of 5/3/1, conjugate, and anything that I’ve learned along the way that specifically works for me.
Favorite Lift: Whichever is the most challenging and most frustrating. Each meet prep is different. Currently, it’s deadlifts. It’s about breaking that mental barrier. I psych myself out at times because I’m too frustrated. I know what I need to do; I know I’m strong enough. It’s just a matter of executing — connecting mind with body.
Most memorable PR:
When I broke the 200-pound bench club. I believe we had a few of our Elitefts team members come in to train one weekend at the compound. We probably had some event or seminar going on. When I PR, it’s usually on a day when I have no agenda and let training take its own course. If it feels good, I keep going. I attempted 200 and missed. My teammate, Brandon Smitley, gave me a few technical cues, and next thing you know, I benched 205. I’ve been wanting that for years.
Top 5 songs on your training playlist:
Till I Collapse – Eminem
The Man Comes Around – Johnny Cash
Straight Outta Compton – NWA
Are You Gonna Go My Way – Lenny Kravitz
No Good – Kaleo
Top 3 things you must have with you at the gym or in your gym bag:
Elitefts Maverick Wrist wraps
Lifting Belt from Bob’s Belts
Adidas Olympic Shoes
Do you prefer to train alone or with others? Why?
Preferably with others. Having training partners there for support and feedback makes a huge difference for me. It also creates an environment in which everyone has a common goal and everyone is accountable to one another. Seeing yourself improve is great but nothing compares to seeing others improve, too. To witness someone’s celebratory moment, having achieved something, especially when one couldn’t think it was possible, that really puts the icing on the cake for me.
Most embarrassing gym moment:
(I’m laughing just thinking about it) It’s more funny than embarrassing. I was living in Miami and training at The Battleaxe Gym. My brother came to train one day, and he was floor pressing. Mind you, I’ve spotted guys with more than 400 pounds on the bar. While he was floor pressing, something tweaked and I couldn’t tell if he was stapled or wha,t but I panicked. Everyone at the gym was watching. As I grabbed the football bar, I couldn’t lift it and it was moving towards his face. My brother is a jokester, so he’s yelling, “Not my face!” all the while laughing. I vouched to never spot him again. He did not die under the iron, if you were wondering. Mike and Vinnie came to help.
Best compliment you’ve received lately:
My co-workers recently described me as fearless.
Most recent compliment you gave someone else:
That they have the ability to do anything. I try to recruit girls all the time to try out any strength sport. I like to turn hesitation into excitement. This compliment was not the most recent, but a gist of how I try to approach everyone I encounter.
Alaina had a background in lifting but eventually gave up because she didn’t want to put in the time. After five years of not touching a weight, she had the itch to lift again. When I first met her, she seemed hesitant and uncertain. I kept encouraging her that this is a “you vs. you” sport. What was the harm in competing and giving herself a base to work off of? You just need to put yourself out there. I told her to pick a meet and just train for it. Alaina ended up joining the IPA Federation and picked a meet. She went 9/9 on her first competition and PR’d on all her lifts. I reached out to congratulate her, and this is what she had to say: “I had lifters congratulating me on a perfect meet and telling me how amazing I did. To have incredibly experienced lifters compliment you is one of the best feelings in the world. I achieved my first powerlifting goal and that was to compete. Now, I’m going to work on an elite total! I’m definitely looking forward to stepping on the platform again.”
I think we’ve all been there where our mentality has hindered us from reaching our full potential. But once we break that mindset, it really is an invigorating feeling. Sometimes a little support and encouragement can ignite the passion and hunger we have inside us.
Favorite meal:
Breakfast. Anything that involves bacon, avocado, potatoes, and French toast. And, coffee.
Favorite way to treat yourself:
I consider dedicating a day to hanging out by myself a treat. Breakfast, coffee in hand, reflecting on the present moment, and an afternoon nail appointment. The nail salon is conveniently located in a mall, so it’s a two-for-one. But when it comes down to it, it’s the little things. Quality time with my fam bam. That’s a treat I don’t take for granted.
Favorite quote: “Do not let your fire go out, spark by irreplaceable spark, in the hopeless swamps of the approximate, the not-quite, the not-yet, the not-at-all. Do not let the hero in your soul perish, in the lonely frustration for the life you deserved but have never been able to reach. Check your road and the nature of your battle. The world you desired can be won. It exists. It is real, it is possible, it is yours.” — Ayn Rand
Favorite book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
What inspires and motivates you?
My vision. I have these thoughts about my time on this earth. The time I have with the people I love. The small interactions I’ve had with strangers. Questions I ask myself: Did I help someone? Did I make an impact? If I was gone, what did I leave behind? It motivates me to be a better person. To evolve. To grow. To learn. To give.
What do you do?
I currently work for the sister store of Lululemon, Ivivva. I am a key leader which is equivalent to a manager role. It’s a very community-involved company, and that’s what I love about it. Our main focus is to connect with young girls, support, and get involved in their activities and pursuits. We offer dreams and goals workshops and complimentary athletic classes. Through these events girls get to connect and celebrate each other, pushing their boundaries, and knowing that falling and getting back up is all part of the journey.
In my life, outside of work and training, I practice yoga weekly. I’ve grown to really appreciate it and find it challenging on many levels. I’ve also picked up an interest in photography and have a deep desire to design training apparel. I’m planning that in my vision and goals. My hobbies are to love on my dogs and take too many pictures of them. My boyfriend and I have two English mastiffs. They make us better humans — to not sweat the small stuff. For fun, I like to try different coffee shops and restaurants, and plan trips and places to visit.
Describe a typical day in your life:
My work schedule varies each week. I either work at the store or out in the community. I wake up relatively early. Casey wakes up at 5 a.m. every day, so coffee is always made. I make breakfast which usually consists of egg whites and two slices of organic sprouted bread with grass-fed butter. Lunches are already prepped. We crock-pot everything and that gives us enough meals for most of the week. If my schedule permits, I’ll train either in the morning or at night. If I’m at the store, we plan our goals for the week to either make new connections, clientele, or plan events. If I’m in the community, I’ll sweat at a studio, stop in to visit girls who come to our store frequently and build relationships. It’s brand awareness but also partnering up with people in our community who share a common vision and goal. Days usually run long, so I’m home at 8 or 11 p.m. I attend to the wagging tails at the front door, head upstairs to shower, then go to bed. I try to get in six to eight hours of sleep. Days are structured which I love. It’s easier for me to get things done and eat my meals consistently.
Your next training goal: I gave myself two goals last year: Qualify for the Arnold in powerlifting and qualify for the Arnold in strongman. I want to be exceptional in both sports. I have a strong passion for both so why not? To do it simultaneously will be the challenge.
What are you most grateful for?
Experiences.
Which three words that best describe you? Driven, perceptive and sassy.
What’s a risk you’ve taken recently, and how did it turn out? I was raised in Miami. I went to school there. My friends are there. I was working at an outpatient mental health facility. My degree was in psychology and social work, so gaining the experience I needed for my future was great. I was in a relationship. I had a cute, little efficiency. I was comfortable. Then, one year it hit me that I wasn’t happy with being comfortable. I didn’t want to settle. And if I wanted change, change had to happen. I ended a three-year relationship, I put in my notice at work, and I asked my brother to pick a date, and that would be the day I would move. It was sometime in December. I decided on Ohio because there was a support system there. Elitefts was there, and I had a few friends living there. Once I started packing my furniture and moved it into storage, that’s when it sunk in that everything was really happening.
People thought I was crazy because, why would I leave Miami for winter? It’s different living there rather than taking a vacation there. I was scared, anxious, nervous. This was something completely out of my element. I like structure and this was the complete opposite. It’s been over a year now, and I’ve overcome some ups and downs. I defeated self-doubt because I came to terms with failure. That if it didn’t work out, at least I took a chance. Once that happened, I became more open. More understanding. That led to growth and opportunity. As I’m writing this, I can say that I’m in a good place. I share a home with the best person I know. Even though it could have gone the other way, the route that didn’t lead to this point, we took a chance.
What’s the coolest “side effect” you’ve noticed from strength training?
Confidence — and nice delts.
How has lifting weights changed your life? It’s made me value lessons. We dedicate months of preparation for a few hours on the platform. Henry Rollins wrote: “When the Iron doesn’t want to come off the mat, it’s the kindest thing it can do for you. If it flew up and went through the ceiling, it wouldn’t teach you anything. That’s the way the Iron talks to you.” If we didn’t experience failure. If we didn’t experience pain. How could we ever truly appreciate success?
What do you want to say to other women who might be nervous or hesitant about strength training? There’s this misconception that you must be super strong or must know everything about training. I didn’t know what powerlifting was, and I tell people that all the time. If you have an interest in something, pursue it. What people don’t seem to realize is that starting is the easy part. The really hard part is when things don’t go your way. Stay the course. Don’t compare yourself. Don’t envy anyone. It’s about building yourself. Finding out what you’re capable of and where it may lead you. Once you’ve started, you’ll soon realize that it’s about building yourself and helping others. That it’s a privilege to train, not an obligation. You’re meant to have fun with it.
Now that the first really good tomatoes of summer are showing up at farmers markets, I think we should all add a “tomato night” to our meal plans. And to get you started, I recommend this stunning galette because it is the most delicious way to eat tomatoes and cheese for dinner. It partners sweet tomatoes with woodsy thyme and creamy feta, then wraps it up with a buttery, flaky crust for a rustic, free-form pie that’s easy enough to pull together even when you don’t really feel like cooking.
Did you know that the phrase “Pantry Pests” is actually a real term for bugs that like to feed on packaged goods? The technical term includes all sorts of things like Indian meal moths, sawtooth grain beetles, cigarette beetles, and drugstore beetles. The pros know all sorts of things about these pests, but as a homeowner (or renter!), all you really need to know is this: They’re going to eat your food.
A little contamination probably won’t hurt you, but regular infestations can contribute to food waste and cost you money over time. And the same factors that attract pantry pests can also attract mice. While they’re (slightly) cuter, mice pose a serious risk of contaminating your food (because they, to put it delicately, do their business everywhere) and contributing to respiratory issues (because of chemicals in their excrement).
Grossed out yet? Great! Then you’ll love this easy, 13-minute cleaning routine to keep your pantry pest-free.
Few cities are as compulsively photographable as Mexico’s capital. In this sprawling metropolis of 21 million souls, a hodgepodge of architectural styles, bustling street scenes, and the riotous colors of everything from fruit vendors’ displays to the city’s impressive assortment of old-school vans all call out for a moment in front of the lens.
But Mexico City’s most photo-friendly feature is undoubtedly its food. From loaded street tacos to multi-hued aguas frescas, the city’s impressively sophisticated — yet equally accessible — cuisine is almost as fun to document as it is to eat. Just ask Juan de Dios Garza Vela, who chronicles Mexico City’s street food and fine restaurant cuisine under the handle @mexicanfoodporn.
We chatted with Vela about his drool-inducing Instagram account and, importantly, got his best picks for a perfect day of eating in Mexico City.
For now classes are 6pm and 640pm at 2840 Wildwood st in the Boise Cloggers studio.
Book your class NOW!
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Warrior Fit Testimonials
First, I want to say thank you for convincing me to do Tabata! I was struggling to lose weight and Finally I found something that helped! I really appreciate your coaching! - Craig T.
Ever since I was convinced to do Tabata I have seen huge results, I lost 6 pounds and gained energy in the first 3 weeks. I have been working out for 3 months before I decided to do Tabata and I struggled to lose weight.
At first I thought "How am I losing weight by bringing my heart rate up then cooling down then bringing it up again?" I don’t know how it works but it does!
Thank you!! - Theresa F.
The first day of Tabata, I wondered WHAT AM I DOING - I AM 56 !! Five weeks later I knew that it was what I needed. I learned that I could push myself well beyond my comfort zone and feel good later. I have a marked improvement in physical as well as emotional endurance. - Lyn C.
When I was first told about Tabata I was very excited from the word go, however that excitement stemmed from the fact that I had no clue what it meant. I missed the first week of class b/c I was traveling for work so when I came in during the 2nd week I had some making it up to do.
It was hard at first b/c my body wasn't used to working out at such a fast pace, but once I got into a rhythm I started to feel very good. These classes are no joke. If you stick with it you will leave there feeling stronger, healthier and overall better about yourself and what you've accomplished.
I would recommend these classes to anyone. Darrin is a great trainer and he'll keep you going with his energy.
- Jami L.
Warriors Fit Audio
Warrior Fit uses High Intensity Music to get ya Moooovin' So we can all "Get Our Sweat On"
The link below will give ya a freeee shot at Audible plus a couple audio books just to try it out and if you haven't used audio books on your commutes you are missing out. Get pumped up before you get to where you are going and exercise your mind. I use it Everyday. Go get yours now!
RESEARCH OF THE WEEK
Name: Yessica Martinez
How long have you been strength training, and how did you get started?
What does your typical workout look like?
Favorite Lift:
Top 5 songs on your training playlist: 
Most recent compliment you gave someone else: 
Favorite way to treat yourself:
What inspires and motivates you?
Describe a typical day in your life:
Your next training goal:
What’s a risk you’ve taken recently, and how did it turn out?
What’s the coolest “side effect” you’ve noticed from strength training?
For now classes are 6pm and 640pm at 2840 Wildwood st in the Boise Cloggers studio.
Book your class NOW!
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