Tuesday’s Tip

So last week I bought and prepared avocados for the first time.   I think I’ve had them before but I have never prepared them myself.  I thought for my first attempt I would just cut them up and add them to our great big salads last Monday.

I didn’t do my research before hand so when I went to pick out my $1.00 avocados I had no idea if avocados should be soft, hard, mushy, etc.  So I just took my best guest.  When I got home I use good old Google to learn a little bit about avocados.

If the avocado yields to firm gentle pressure you know it's ripe and ready-to-eat. If the avocado does not yield to gentle pressure it is considered still "firm" and will be ripe in a couple of days. If the avocado feels mushy or very soft to the touch it may be very ripe to overripe. (Avocado Central)

Did you know….

It's true that avocados have a high oil content, but they are also packed with vitamins A, C, and E--primary vitamins in the antioxidant group that protect the cells in human tissue. A high protein content makes avocados a good meat substitute, and unlike animal fat, the fat is not saturated. The big surprise in avocados is how high they are in dietary fiber--they have one of the highest fiber contents of any fruit or vegetable. (Produce Pete)

My biggest challenge was how to cut these things up.  I figured there was a pit inside but I wasn’t sure and didn’t know how to get it out. So…for anyhow else who doesn’t know how to cut an avocado (or am I the only one?)…here’s what you do:

1.  Hold the avocado lengthwise and carefully slice around the pit.

  

2.  Take your knife and carefully but firmly tap the blade into the pit and it will pull right out (my co-teacher told me this tip after I struggled with trying to scoop out the pit.

3.  Score the avocado half into cubes.

4.  Gently squeeze the avocado and little cubes will just pop out.

So much easier than I thought and it was delicious on my salad.  I think this week I will try to make some guacamole.  I also want to try to prepare kale or attempt to make kale chips.  Any good links for recipes to prepare kale?

Family Fitness Challenge – Week 1 Recap

I know I promised this yesterday, but yesterday got away from me.  I still wanted to share our successful first week of our Family Fitness Challenge.

I felt like I started the challenge off great.  I easily increased my fruits and vegetables to the 5-7 servings a day and a few days even reaching 8 and 9 servings.  Salads at least three times in the week got me several points.  I have become quite fond of the Hunger Runner Girl method of roasting broccoli which we had with dinner at least two nights.

   
source

I also found that dried fruit is delicious especially apricots!  Love them!  They taste just like candy.

As far as the exercise points I had two days in the week where I did two workouts – am and pm.  I made it to the gym three times and did lots of different weight/strength sets.  I like the Jamie Easton’s Live Fit daily exercise plans.  She does a great job of breaking it down into two areas to focus on each day and gives great videos demonstrating the movement.  I also got in two great runs last week and some Pilates and yoga.

My family had a great week as well.  Everyone participated and had anywhere from 250 – 450 points.  All of our teams were really close overall.  My sister and I were first of our four teams by just 50 points.  My little niece (2 years old) was a baby-exercising queen and fruit/veggie monster!

A great start to our five week Fitness Challenge!  Looking forward to another great week although I’ve been slacking a little bit in the exercise department.  Time to step it up!

Monday Motivation

I’ve been a little MIA lately and I apologize.  The weekends are always so busy and I try to not spend as much time on the computer since I am usually strapped to my computer during the week.  This weekend was busy but at the same time relaxing.  I was able to spend a good chunk of Saturday finishing up the last book in the Hunger Game trilogy.  Those books are awesome!  Once you start you don’t want to put them down.

My family had an awesome first week of the Family Fitness Challenge!  I will share more details in a Week 1 recap later.  I’ve found during the first week of the challenge that it can be really easy to get your daily 5-7 servings of fruits to vegetables with just a little effort and planning.  I’ve enjoyed trying some new things too and my body likes the increase of fruits, vegetables and fruit juices.

Now for another week.  It’s going to be a busy one too.  So let’s start the Monday off with some motivating images.

Another Wednesday

Can’t believe it is the last Wednesday of January already!  Time is flying by as usual.  It was the second day of our new semester so I am tuckered out once again.  The start of the semester, getting everything prepared and being extra-on-top-of-my game “ just wears me out.  I always try to start out extra tough in the beginning and then loosen the reins.  Be tough is exhausting….at least for me…I am a softie at heart.

However, I am not letting school craziness mess up my exercising for the week.  I have really been doing pretty good for the month of January with not necessarily a lot of running miles, but quality time at the gym and at home doing cross training, weights, yoga and Pilates.

Today I got things ready for tomorrow and then headed out of school to meet SB down at the gym.  I decided to give my little arms a rest since I can still feel a little soreness from Monday and focused on my lower body.  I tend to not do as much lower body weight workouts because I feel like they are “in shape” however, I know only certain muscles are in shape and there are lots more that need a little extra push.   So I tried a few new machines and hopefully worked my legs out enough that I will feel the good-soreness later on.

Tuesday’s Tip

If you are looking for a good Yoga DVD you should check out the following: 

Christine Felstead’s Yoga for Runners.

I bought this DVD about two weeks ago and have tried it a few times.  I really liked the stretches and poses that she walks you through.  I felt a huge difference as I was doing the poses.  When I started I couldn’t get my heels down during a Downward Dog pose but by the end of the DVD I was having no problems getting the heels down.  I felt two inches taller and my legs just felt so stretched out.  The next day I could tell that I probably pushed the poses to far, but by going through the DVD again I got everything stretched back out again. 

Probably one of my favorite poses from the DVD is the Pigeon or Bird of Paradise pose which is another hip opener pose.  Check out this link for more information on this pose.

This blog site has a lot of great info on the pose as well.

I just did a quick search on Amazon and noticed there is also an intermediate level Yoga for Runners DVD.  That might be on my shopping list for later on in the year.  Right now I got quite a few DVDs in my rotation that I am putting to good use as I try to rack up points for my Fitness Challenge.

QOTD:  Do you have a favorite yoga pose?

Monday Motivation

 

(Source:  motivationintohabit.tumblr.com)

Today is the first day of my school and family Fitness Challenge!!  Off to the gym for an early workout and a run is planned for after school…time to rack up the fitness points!

Fitness Challenge 2012

Each year, my school holds a fitness challenge to help encourage us all to exercise and eat healthy.  Last year I really got into the challenge and kept track of my workouts each week.  Here’s my recaps from last year’s fitness challenge.

This year is bound to be another good year and just the motivation I need to bump up my exercising and running.  This year they are doing things a little different.  Here’s the challenge:

Participants will be divided into teams. Each team member will have the opportunity to earn one point for every minute of exercise (outside of the work day) completed throughout the 5 week challenge. The type of exercise you choose is up to you, but here are some examples: walking, running, biking, exercise classes, swimming, strength training and outdoor winter sports such as skiing and skating.

Additionally, we’re eating our way to wellness! Participants will receive one bonus point for each serving of fruits and vegetables consumed during the challenge. It's simple - one serving of fruits or veggies equals one point. The team with the most points at the end of the 5 week challenge wins! Weekly and Grand Prizes will be distributed!

My sisters have participated in similar challenges at their school but this year they aren’t offering the challenge so I have created our first:

Although they think I am crazy…my dad, mom, sisters, sister in law, brother in law and husband are all participating!  I drew names today and paired us up in teams of two.  I created a fitness log in excel and sent it out to everyone to log their exercise points and fruits/vegetable points.   I know SB already made a trip to the grocery store to stock up on fruits and veggies.  I will be headed to the grocery store tomorrow to do the same.   Amanda (my sister) is excited to count her green monster, fruit smoothies as points every morning.  I even made a log for my little niece, Ella, so Robyn (my other sister) can keep track of her fruits and veggie points and any baby exercise minutes.  Ella’s points will rotate to be added to a different group each week.

So I will be competing in two challenges, one at school and one with the family.  It should be a busy five weeks – but I know that I will love the way I feel and look by the end of it and finally get myself back in shape and ready for the racing season which will be here before I know it.  I think I might even train for my first 15 mile Trail Run race!