Today’s Eats
Hi there, hope Monday wasn’t too much a drag for ya, being the first day of the western week I guess. In my part of the world, Monday is the middle of the work week and tomorrow actually is the last day of this week due to the Muslin Eid holiday til Nov 30th. Doesn’t count for me as you all know, I am a shift working flight attendant, and I just work when I am supposed to.
Yesterday I mentioned my new PINK camera. I picked this little waterproof baby up in the airport in Dubai on my way home last week.
I liked it because it doesn’t have a lot of features that push the price up, but it is waterproof to 3 metres and dustproof (a must in the desert). At first I thought it was actually too basic and lacking in good features, but as I am getting to practice with it more, the photos aren’t turning out too badly. A bad tradesman blames his tools right? I guess it wouldn’t hurt if I read the manual too???
So I am still here on a SECRET LOCATION for another week or so then heading back home to Saudi. The nature of my job does make it hard to plan things as sometimes I need to be ready at a moments notice to travel half way around the world, other times I have a weeks notice to just travel within the region, but it keeps things exciting!!!
Yesterday afternoon I was craving something sweet so trying not to raid the Kit Kat out of the mini bar, I opted for this:
Banana & Almond Butter
Thanks so much to Fitnessista for this fantastic idea – she’s always snacking on it. Although I quite like the taste of banana and almond butter, it makes it even better that this snacky is such a great travel treat. I brought the almond butter from home and took the bananas from the complementary fruit bowl I get replenished everyday in my room.
It hit the spot for my sweet craving (usually Green Smoothies do that for me too!).
Last night I did my online Holiday Raw Class. It was cool and totally unlike anything I’ve ever participated in before. I fell asleep around the 3.5 hour mark though as it was only 4pm local time in Texas, but after midnight here. Those of us that were watching the class online were able to interact through the chat room and our questions were answered in real time. It was brilliant and I felt like Elaina Love was giving me my own personal class. We also got sent the recipes the day before the broadcast too and I am able to watch the whole video recording for the next month. I LOVE TECHNOLOGY. I’ll be sure to make some of these goodies and show you in good time too.
For those of you that have asked me how did I find out about it, I signed up ages ago to Elaina Love’s newsletter on her website here and it was advertised a few weeks back in my mailbox. I really felt like I was part of the class!
Today I woke up and went for a 30min jog on the hotel treadmill (the gym is exquisite and even offers group exercise classes! Just not BODY PUMP *pouts*). I really wanted to run for a whole hour but forgot I had booked in for a lovely facial so had to finish up and shower ready for it.
After my pampering session, I headed up to my room to order a garden salad off room service.
Before:
AFTER:
I had some sun dried tommies in my mini bar leftover from my flight last week so I jazzed the salad up a bit. I used one of my lemons I usually travel with (they are another great travel buddy) to dress my salad. I begged room service from some avo’s but today was a public holiday so they claimed they didn’t get a full delivery today…ah well)
I don’t mean to be picky either but I thought I’d order an outdoor setting too, off room service haha, as I had such a beautiful view but nothing to sit on! Anyone would think I was on holiday 
Then it was time to hit up a local gym that for BODY PUMP. Yay. Before I left I munched on one of these pears:
For those of you still unsure what Body Pump is, here is a promo video I found on You Tube. Doesn’t really show you much, but you get the idea!
Tonight I lifted the heaviest weights I have ever lifted and it was sooo much easier than normal. I AM GETTING STRONG. And I did a 20 min warm up jog on the treadmill and after class another 15mins on the elliptical.
Hitting this local gym reminded me of my time at THE LES MILLS gym in New Zealand (home to Body Pump and all the other group exercises they trademark!) and how it is such a great way to get to know the city and the people that live there.
Tonight I met some locals, albeit a little too friendly for me (I had to pretend I was married…I think you get my drift) but it showed me a part of town I may have otherwise overlooked. Following my gym workout I had a walk around the local streets and even found a fruit and veggie vendor to stock up.
If you are interested in giving Body Pump or Body Combat or any of the other Les Mills Group Exercises a go, check out their class locator here – this is where I find clubs that are offering the classes WORLDWIDE. Such a great tool.
When I got home, I had planned to make a green smoothie as I hadn’t had one all day but I was starving, so I ordered some delicious Lebanese fare from room service.
Gotta love some Tabouleh, Mutabal (similar to Baba Ghannouj – eggplant/tahini/garlic dip), Hummus and Fattouch Salad – a mixed seasonal salad seasoned with sumac and garnished with tiny bits of fried pita bread and scooped up with brown arabic bread. Oh yum.
Well time for me to turn in. I have one more day left here before some friends arrive in town to play!! As I am not too far from home, it happens that a group of pals are coming here for their Eid Break as Saudi basically shuts down for 6 days. As we don’t get to celebrate Christmas in this part of the world, I think this is the last lot of vacation for the year for them to go on a mini break.
Speak to you tomorrow
Share on Facebook
Nice salad!
You are so inspiring! The Lebanese food you ordered looks gorgeous
You just keep inspiring me, girl! I'm doing a slow detox (and succeeding so far) and am going to make my first proper green smoothie for lunch today
No doubt this will have a massive impact on my diabetes – I've already had to adjust my insulin and plan to get it down to a minimum. Thank you!
And the more I get to know you Carly, the more you INSPIRE ME! Mutual admiration society haha!!! Have you heard of Simply Raw the documentary? I am going to email you something hopefully you will find interesting!!!
Love your pink camera… that is one of my fav colors!! And love your hotel's view
I bet it is going hard to live that place 
Oh my, the comment you wrote on my blog about the pumpkins cracked me up! That's both hilarious, but also very wonderful, at the same time…. a yard full of pumpkins??? Sounds like heaven, especially now that I fully know what to do with them
That food looks delicious!! Fatoush salad is one of my favorite things ever!! !:)
Soooo glad you enjoyed your Elaina class, that rocks!
Sundried tomatoes…I need a new source. Lately the only ones i can find aren't dried, but rather soaked in a vat of salt & oil
I need to get some like the ones you have! Dried not oiled. Yum!
Girl, You live a crazy little life! This is awesome…I couldn't imagine being over there.
Your food looks soo good, I am actually going to get a ninner and nut butter now!
I hope you have a great night, and your salad looks delish!
XXOO
Kris
Guess what, guess what?!?!?! I found my mom and dad's old juicer! My mom had given it to me when I moved out here to L.A. 5 years ago, and I'VE NEVER USED it, but tonight, I dusted it off and washed it well and tomorrow for breakfast I'm making JUICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm so excited. I know you'd be excited for me too…now that I've gotten the hang of my blender for the green monsters, now I can make juice like you too!
I'm thinking of adding all the fruit/veggies I have leftover before I go home for Thanksgiving, so this will include:
Some Persian Cucumbers
Celery
Pomegranate Seeds
Apples
Spinach
Carrots
What do you think? I'll let you know how it comes out!!!
Thanks for your continued inspiration!!!
XO!
Erin
Your posts are so fun and upbeat. I love them.
Living and Loving LA – would you believe that I was using my mum's old juicer until last year. She got it in the 80's (it's that ugly orange brown colour that was everywhere then!) and I pulled it out of hibernation about 8 years ago and used it ever since. Then last year I splurged and got the Champion but her juicer is still going strong! Go Juice!!!
Thanks to everyone else for such lovely comments
love this post!
enjoy seeing your friends!
its so awesome to read about your day-to-day since its so different from what most people are used to..being able to travel everywhere and such! i love it!
that food you ordered definitely looks amazing as well, taboulleh is soo good.
love this post!
enjoy seeing your friends!
its so awesome to read about your day-to-day since its so different from what most people are used to..being able to travel everywhere and such! i love it!
that food you ordered definitely looks amazing as well, taboulleh is soo good.
I love fattoush! Actually, I love all those foods. I'm getting hungry just thinking about them.
That's great for the classes, keep rocking fabulous, I love reading you:-)
XoXoXo
Just added you to my blogroll so I can keep track of your healthy travels!! Do you work for Emirates? I am so impressed with your dedication and beautiful food!
Your salad look so pretty!
You have such an exciting life!
I do BodyPump at Goodlife, I love it so much!