Showing posts with label Health. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Health. Show all posts

Thursday, August 9, 2012

New Work Out Routine

Even though I haven't been a consistent blogger lately, I have kept up a pretty good work out routine.  Tuesday and Thursdays are still reserved for Barre class, but I have mixed it up a little for the days in between.  I found a circuit routine online a few weeks ago and it's my new obsession.  It's a little mix of cardio, arms, abs, and quads in 30 minutes.  Now that's my kind of work out!


1 Mile Interval Run
0:00-2:00        5.5 pace
2:01-4:00        6.0 pace
4:01-6:00        6.5 pace
6:01-8:00        7.0 pace
8:00-9:20        7.5 pace

10 Push Ups

20 Sit Ups

30 Squats

Repeat

I promise you will leave the gym sweaty and feeling good!  
I'm trying to find the courage now to repeat twice for a total of three times.

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Tasty Tuesday: No Bake Energy Bites

A few weeks ago when my sister and I went to Myrtle Beach, I tried a new Pinterest recipe to take for a snack.  I wanted something tasty, but healthy since it was the same weekend as my half marathon.  
This snack did not disappoint, and my sister and I devoured them in less than 3 days!



1 cup oatmeal
1/2 cup peanut butter (or other nut butter)
1/3 cup honey
1 cup coconut flakes
1/2 cup ground flaxseed
1/2 cup mini chocolate chips
1 tsp vanilla

Mix everything above in a medium bowl until thoroughly incorporated. 
 Let chill in the refrigerator for half an hour. Once chilled, roll into balls and enjoy! 
 Store in an airtight container and keep refrigerated for up to 1 week.

Easy, healthy, and delicious.  Bon Appetit!

Friday, June 1, 2012

30 Day Ab Challenge

A few weeks ago, I read where Christin decided to partake in the 30 day ab challenge.  I thought this would be the perfect challenge for the month of June.  30 days of June...30 days of challenge.  Bring it on!

My stomach is the one part of my body that never seems to tone.  No matter how hard I try, no matter how much bread or chocolate I don't eat, I can never get it to look the way I want.  After researching what the 30 day ab challenge was, I knew it was perfect for me!  It is actually the p90x ab ripper work out, which I have done before a few times.  Below is the workout plan that I will complete every day the month of June.

Complete 25 repetitions of each move.  This website has picture tutorials on how to do each one.

In-N-Outs
Bicycles
Reverse Bicycles
Crunchy Frog
Cross Leg/Wide Leg Sit-Ups
Scissors
Hip Butt-Ups
Heels to Heaven
Roll-Up V-Ups
Leg Climbers (12 on each leg)
Kayakers

As much as I hate taking pictures of myself, I knew it was the only way to make sure I completed this challenge and document my progress.  And I want you to help keep me accountable!

I plan to update at Day 15 and then again on Day 30. Will you join me in this challenge?

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Eat Clean Recipes

I promised a few new recipes from my Eat Clean diet last week, and I had complete blogger fail {sorry about that}.  But, I am here this morning to share with you a couple healthy and delicious ones I have made!  These are so easy to make, and are straight from Tosca Reno's The Eat-Clean Diet Recharged!

Mexican Pinto Beans & Brown Rice


Ingredients
3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp ground coriander
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tbsp chili powder
1 medium onion, peeled and chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped
2 cups cooked brown rice
4 cups canned pinto beans, drained and rinsed well
1 1/2 cups to 2 cups low sodium chicken stock
3 tbsp chipotle peppers, chopped, plus sauce
2 tbsp tomato paste
1 tsp sea salt

Directions
1.  Heat oil in Dutch oven over medium heat.  Add cumin, coriander, cinnamon and chili powder.  Heat until fragrant.
2.  Add chopped onion and cook until soft.  Add garlic and cook a few minutes more.
3.  Add cooked rice and rinsed beans, stock, chipotles, tomato paste and salt.  Reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes.  Serve hot.

Now here's my twist on the recipe:
Instead of pinto beans, I used kidney beans (preference only).
I did not have any tomato paste, but did have a can of low sodium diced tomatoes that I used in it's place.
I also didn't have any chipotle peppers, so I left out that ingredient.
I wanted this to be a complete meal, so I browned a pound of ground turkey and added it to the mix!



Picante Frittata

Ingredients
1 tsp extra virgin olive oil
1 onion, peeled and minced
1/2 red bell pepper, seeded and deveined, cut into thin ribbons
1 cup baby spinach leaves, finely chopped
3 egg whites + 1 whole egg
1/4 cup skim milk
1/4 tsp sea salt
Pinch cumin
1/4 tsp ground black peppers
1/2 cup fresh salsa (homemade or commercial) as garnish

Directions
1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Make sure oven rack is in the center of oven.
2.  In a medium ovenproof skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat.  Add vegetables to skillet and cook until soft, about five minutes.
3.  While vegetables are cooking, combine eggs, milk, salt, cumin, and pepper.  Whisk well.
4.  Pour egg mixture over cooking vegetables.  Cook until edges are set and center is just beginning to set.
5.  Transfer to heated oven and bake another five to eight minutes or until center is firm.
6.  Transfer cooked frittata to heated plate and serve with salsa.

Now here's my twist on the recipe:
I was out of red peppers, so I chopped up a handful of cherry tomatoes.

Both of these recipes were super easy to make, delicious, and was enough for a few meals.  Eating clean can be a task, but when you have great recipes such as these, it makes it so much easier!

Thursday, April 26, 2012

The Eat-Clean Diet

I've never been big on diets.  I've always relied on eating healthy and fitness.  A few weeks ago, my Barre instructor asked if anyone wanted to participate in a 2 week cleanse.  I was interested, as I have never strictly followed a diet or cleanse.  She sent me a link to purchase The Eat-Clean Diet Recharged! by Tosca Reno.

Right away, I was interested to learn more about this cleanse.  I've been stuck in a rut for some time trying to find different ways to maintain my weight while toning up certain areas.  I work out 5-6 times per week and I eat pretty healthy.  Vegetables and fruits have always been a part of my daily meals, yet I am never fully satisfied with my body image.

So what does Tosca recommend?  Her whole book is full of useful tips and tricks, and even includes meal plans and grocery lists.  I've highlighted below a few of the most helpful to me:

  • Eat 6 small meals a day, every two and a half hours is recommended
  • Drink 2-3 liters of water a day, and when you think you're hungry, drink a glass before digging in
  • Eat breakfast within one hour of rising
  • A combination of lean protein and complex carbohydrates at every meal will yield the best results
  • Depend on fresh fruits and vegetables for fiber, vitamins, nutrients and enzymes
  • Adhere to proper portion sizes

I felt like I was already adhering to most of these tips.  It's the "what to avoid" list that really got me:
  • Avoid most processed foods, particularly white flour and sugar
  • Avoid chemically charged foods
  • Avoid food containing preservatives
  • Avoid artificial sugars and foods

Learning what these artificial, chemically charged, preservative foods were an eye opener for me.  So far for this cleanse I have given up bread, all pasta, dairy, and processed foods.  The meals I was preparing before this diet were particularly healthy, but they are now even more.  Because it is Spring, it is a lot easier to add in more fresh fruits and vegetables.  I also find it easier to eat six smaller meals at work than when I am at home.  I have a routine five days a week at work for eating my healthy snacks and lunch.  On the weekends when the routine is off proposes a challenge for me.

Here is a look into my new daily eating and fitness routine Monday-Friday:

  5:50 AM     Wake up
  6:00 AM     Breakfast consisting of 1/2 cup multi-grain cereal and 1/4 cup unsweetened almond milk
  7:00 AM     45 minutes to an hour of exercise-  Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays are Barre;          
                          Tuesdays and Fridays are running
  8:30 AM     Handful of natural, unsalted almonds
10:30 AM     An apple or banana with unsalted peanut butter (I love Trader Joe's)
12:00 PM     Lunch consisting of a handful portion of baked chicken and veggies, or a spinach salad
                           topped with baked chicken, salmon, or tuna full of vegetables and a little balsamic vinegar
  2:00 PM     Mixed bowl of  fresh fruit; grapes, kiwi, strawberries, cantaloupe, and pineapple
  3:30 PM     Handful of fresh veggies; carrots, tomatoes, and cucumbers
  6:30 PM     Dinner consisting of one of the recipes from her book or the same as lunch
  8:00 PM     One small piece of organic 73% dark chocolate
10:00 PM     Bed

I'm on day 10 of this cleanse, and I can already tell a difference in my energy level.  Right away, I stopped having the urge to nap at 3 PM in the afternoon.  I wake up every morning raring to get in a high energy work out, and I don't tire as easy during my long runs.  This could all be in my head, but I feel like it has a lot to do with this cleanse.  All in all I feel like this has been a great experience for a "spring cleaning" (if you will) of my body and increase in natural energy.

If you have any questions, please feel free to ask away!  I will also be posting a few of my new favorite recipes I have tried from Tosca's book tomorrow.

{Disclaimer:  I am not a nutritionist, health guru or anyone certified to give advice.  These opinions were formed on my own, and the facts were referenced from Tosca Reno's "The Eat-Clean Diet Recharged". Tosca's Eat Clean website is also full of useful information.}

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Sweet Tooth Love Affair

I am not ashamed to admit that sometimes I have another love....chocolate.  There are times that I am sitting at my desk and all I can think about is the sweet, dark, smooth piece of candy in the drawer beside me.  The more I try and resist, the more I want it!  And you can never have just one piece.  I try to uphold some since of dignity with the amount, but sometimes the chocolate gets the best of me.  In honor of Valentine's Day next week, and the thousands of pounds of chocolate that will be distributed, I thought it would be fun to share the benefits of dark chocolate and how it loves our bodies too.

Dark chocolate is good for the heart and protects it from disease.
No one wants a broken heart on Valentine's Day, so eat up!  
The antioxidants in dark chocolate prevent and repair damage caused by free radicals.

Chocolate actually helps lower blood pressure.
Chocolate has been shown to decrease blood pressure in individuals who have high blood pressure.
It is also known to decrease LDL cholesterol by up to 10%!

This sweet treat is also makes us feel better.
It stimulates endorphine production which makes us happy.  
It also contains serotonin, which works as a natural anti-depressant.

Simple Tips
Choose pure, dark chocolate (at least 65% cocoa)
Limit fillings such as caramel or creams
Eat in moderation (1 ounce per day)
Take time to really enjoy the taste and feel

Now you can enjoy your favorite treat without the guilt!

{All information was obtained from Self Magazine.}

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Facial Health 101

Let's talk Blackheads.  You know, the small black dots that fill our pores that we all get? Yea, those annoying things.  I have recently started paying a good bit more attention to my face health regimen.  I think I take pretty good care of my skin.  I wash my face twice daily (in the morning with an apricot scrub and at night with my gentle Bare Minerals cleaner), apply moisturizing anti-wrinkle cream in the morning and night (Roc), and occasionally try the latest and greatest samples that I receive from Sephora, Ulta, or Bare Escentuals. 

Now one would think that this would be enough?  Nope, not nearly.  Just the other day I was standing close to the mirror without any makeup on as I was washing my hands.  I gasped in horror at all of the little black specs that I saw as I drew closer to the mirror.  My first thought was "GROSS, how could this be?!"  Over the weekend, I decided to take action and I purchased a box of Biore Pore Strips.  Sunday afternoon I placed the paper mache like strips on my nose and chin.  I was amazed at the amount of dirt that came off after 15 minutes!  But after examining once the redness went away, I realized that it didn't quite get them all.  Not wanting to torture my sensitive skin, I decided it best to wait away before I used the strips again.  In the meantime, I plan to use my apricot scrub wash more along with my microdermabrasion facial brush.

I also did some online research over the weekend to try and find a few other remedies for my problem.  I wasn't pleased with the actions that some were taking to get rid of the dirt and oil clogged up in their pores.  I'm not one to wash my face with boiling water and "squeeze" my face until they come out.  I would rather try a much less invasive approach, even if it does take a little more time.

So my question to you is, what steps do you take to get rid of your blackheads? 
Any tips to help prevent them from occurring in the future?
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