Friends and Fitness Enthusiasts,
Do you remember the New Year's Resolutions you made at the beginning of this year? Me neither! If I wrote them down, I have no idea where they are now or what they were even about. This year, I resolve to do something a little different.
Instead, I will make smaller goals to accomplish throughout the year. For example, I could say, I want to decrease my 10K time for the 10K I plan to run in April. My next goal could be decreasing that time again by October. If I have a weight goal, I could set one for March then try to maintain it until September (6 months). I will keep my list of goals visible at all times, like by my mirror or on my dresser.
Something else you can do is write a letter to yourself. Write about where you are in your life and where you hope to be when you read it 1 year from now, 5 years from now, 10 years from now, etc. There is a letter like this waiting for me to open tomorrow that I wrote to myself when I was in 6th grade; I can't wait.
It is important to document our lives for posterity, nostalgia, and our health. Never be satisfied with yourself for too long. If we are satisfied, why bother hoping or dreaming? Always reach for something more of yourself and of others be it your sleep, activity, or diet.
In health,
Lauren
PS: As my mother says, "Don't drink too much tonight."
Friday, December 31, 2010
163/365 Awesome Arugula
Friends and Fitness Enthusiasts,
My former roommate Fabrizio loves making food with arugula. It is a dark, leafy green popular in Italian cuisine. It is low in calories and provides lots of vitamin A and C. It is in the mustard family so it is a little bitter and spicy.
Enjoy arugula in a salad with baby spinach, purple cabbage, tomato, and pine nuts or walnuts. My dad puts it on top of pizza. He also sautes it with mushrooms, onions, and garlic.
Arugula is an easy, tasty addition to your meals. Enjoy!
In health,
Lauren
My former roommate Fabrizio loves making food with arugula. It is a dark, leafy green popular in Italian cuisine. It is low in calories and provides lots of vitamin A and C. It is in the mustard family so it is a little bitter and spicy.
Enjoy arugula in a salad with baby spinach, purple cabbage, tomato, and pine nuts or walnuts. My dad puts it on top of pizza. He also sautes it with mushrooms, onions, and garlic.
Arugula is an easy, tasty addition to your meals. Enjoy!
In health,
Lauren
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
162/365 Yoga is Hot with Bikram
Friends and Fitness Enthusiasts,
My sister called me excitedly to report that her first Bikram yoga class was awesome.
Bikram was invented by Bikram Choudhury and is performed in a room of 104F. It consists of 26 poses that "systematically work every part of the body, to give all the internal organs, all the veins, all the ligaments, and all the muscles everything they need to maintain optimum health and maximum function." You can only practice this kind of yoga under a Bikram Yoga Teacher at a Bikram Yoga studio. Yoga that is performed in a hot room (95-100F) but is not taught by a Bikram Yoga Teacher is simply called Hot Yoga.
Why would you want to do yoga and moreover in a hot room?
Yoga is an awesome way to stretch and strengthen your body. Being in a hot room allows your body to warm up passively. It also makes your body sweat a lot quicker. This is good because you will "sweat out the toxins." By that I mean that you will sweat, which will make you rehydrate (right?), which will make you have to use the bathroom. It is through this process that your body can eliminate those toxins. Hot yoga will also challenge your cardiovascular system as any exercise in a hot environment will do.
Hydrate, wear wicking clothing, bring a towel and a water bottle, and enjoy a Bikram or Hot Yoga class near you!
In health,
Lauren
My sister called me excitedly to report that her first Bikram yoga class was awesome.
Bikram was invented by Bikram Choudhury and is performed in a room of 104F. It consists of 26 poses that "systematically work every part of the body, to give all the internal organs, all the veins, all the ligaments, and all the muscles everything they need to maintain optimum health and maximum function." You can only practice this kind of yoga under a Bikram Yoga Teacher at a Bikram Yoga studio. Yoga that is performed in a hot room (95-100F) but is not taught by a Bikram Yoga Teacher is simply called Hot Yoga.
Why would you want to do yoga and moreover in a hot room?
Yoga is an awesome way to stretch and strengthen your body. Being in a hot room allows your body to warm up passively. It also makes your body sweat a lot quicker. This is good because you will "sweat out the toxins." By that I mean that you will sweat, which will make you rehydrate (right?), which will make you have to use the bathroom. It is through this process that your body can eliminate those toxins. Hot yoga will also challenge your cardiovascular system as any exercise in a hot environment will do.
Hydrate, wear wicking clothing, bring a towel and a water bottle, and enjoy a Bikram or Hot Yoga class near you!
In health,
Lauren
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
161/365 Coconut Granola
Friends and Fitness Enthusiasts,
My yogurt's best friends for breakfast are fruit and granola. I tried making granola once before and ended up burning it. This time, I decided to be inspired by a recipe then do my own thing.
Here is my version of granola:
2T olive oil
5c oats
1T ground cinnamon
1/4c butter
1/4c honey
1/8c molasses
1/4c sugar
1c sweetened coconut flakes
1/2c diced walnuts
1/2c ground flax seed
1. Heat olive oil in large saucepan. Add oats and cinnamon. Stir to coat oats for 3-4min.
2. Pour coated oats to a baking sheet. Melt butter in saucepan. Add honey, molasses, and sugar. Heat until simmering then add the oats back in. Be sure to coat all the oats with the sweet mix.
3. Remove oats from heat. Mix in coconut flakes, walnuts, flax seed, and whatever else you like (raisins, craisins, mini chocolate chips etc.). Spread granola out on baking sheet. Granola will harden as it cools.
Hope you like it!
In health,
Lauren
My yogurt's best friends for breakfast are fruit and granola. I tried making granola once before and ended up burning it. This time, I decided to be inspired by a recipe then do my own thing.
Here is my version of granola:
2T olive oil5c oats
1T ground cinnamon
1/4c butter
1/4c honey
1/8c molasses
1/4c sugar
1c sweetened coconut flakes
1/2c diced walnuts
1/2c ground flax seed
1. Heat olive oil in large saucepan. Add oats and cinnamon. Stir to coat oats for 3-4min.
2. Pour coated oats to a baking sheet. Melt butter in saucepan. Add honey, molasses, and sugar. Heat until simmering then add the oats back in. Be sure to coat all the oats with the sweet mix.
3. Remove oats from heat. Mix in coconut flakes, walnuts, flax seed, and whatever else you like (raisins, craisins, mini chocolate chips etc.). Spread granola out on baking sheet. Granola will harden as it cools.
Hope you like it!
In health,
Lauren
160/365 Applesauce Yogurt for Breakfast
Friends and Fitness Enthusiasts,
I just made an awesome, quick, tasty breakfast! Mix 1/2 c. of vanilla flavored yogurt with 1/2 c. of unsweetened applesauce. The result is a creamy, appley treat that goes down quick but fills you up.
Applesauce only has 50 calories, no fat, 8g of sugar (unsweetened), and 2g of fiber and it counts as a serving of fruit. You already know I'm a huge fan of yogurt. Try it out! If you don't like it, I won't be hurt. I just thought that it's a nice way to start the day if you like breakfast on the go.
In health,
Lauren
I just made an awesome, quick, tasty breakfast! Mix 1/2 c. of vanilla flavored yogurt with 1/2 c. of unsweetened applesauce. The result is a creamy, appley treat that goes down quick but fills you up.
Applesauce only has 50 calories, no fat, 8g of sugar (unsweetened), and 2g of fiber and it counts as a serving of fruit. You already know I'm a huge fan of yogurt. Try it out! If you don't like it, I won't be hurt. I just thought that it's a nice way to start the day if you like breakfast on the go.
In health,
Lauren
159/365 Energy Armor
Friends and Fitness Enthusiasts,
My sister Kathleen gave me an Energy Armor band for Christmas. I had heard about these before and saw one on this woman who has run 70 marathons, many biathalons, and even more 5ks. She said she got it because it was supposed to help with energy and balance but wasn't sure if it was working.
Energy Armor is a silicone band that has negative ions inserted into the holograms that are on the bracelet. Negative ions have been found to "have a positive effect on good health and even aging." Energy Armor says that the bracelet won't instantly make you better at everything. Rather they claim that it will maximize the strengths you already have. They state that negative ions provide positive results such as these:
- higher level of focus
- improved flexibility and balance
- increased feeling of serenity
and more which you can read on their site.
I haven't found many other articles about the Energy Armor bands. I can tell you though that I have been wearing it for a few days now and I feel good. Nothing bad has happened which is good, there's no negative effect from wearing it. I haven't worked out enough times wearing it to really know if it helps with recovery time. I do think my sleep has been quite restful and I have felt calm and relaxed since I got it a couple days before Christmas.
The jury is still out on this Energy Armor. I think it is cool, I like it, and I'd like to think that it is working. Just remember of course that Energy Armor does not claim that their product will help for everyone and there isn't much research on it. Still, I am grateful for the gift and will continue to explore what these negative ions are doing for me.
In health,
Lauren
My sister Kathleen gave me an Energy Armor band for Christmas. I had heard about these before and saw one on this woman who has run 70 marathons, many biathalons, and even more 5ks. She said she got it because it was supposed to help with energy and balance but wasn't sure if it was working.
Energy Armor is a silicone band that has negative ions inserted into the holograms that are on the bracelet. Negative ions have been found to "have a positive effect on good health and even aging." Energy Armor says that the bracelet won't instantly make you better at everything. Rather they claim that it will maximize the strengths you already have. They state that negative ions provide positive results such as these:
- higher level of focus
- improved flexibility and balance
- increased feeling of serenity
and more which you can read on their site.
I haven't found many other articles about the Energy Armor bands. I can tell you though that I have been wearing it for a few days now and I feel good. Nothing bad has happened which is good, there's no negative effect from wearing it. I haven't worked out enough times wearing it to really know if it helps with recovery time. I do think my sleep has been quite restful and I have felt calm and relaxed since I got it a couple days before Christmas.
The jury is still out on this Energy Armor. I think it is cool, I like it, and I'd like to think that it is working. Just remember of course that Energy Armor does not claim that their product will help for everyone and there isn't much research on it. Still, I am grateful for the gift and will continue to explore what these negative ions are doing for me.
In health,
Lauren
Saturday, December 25, 2010
158/365 Merry Christmas
Friends and Fitness Enthusiasts,
Today we celebrate the birth of sweet baby Jesus Christ! We were all babies at one point. Treat each other and yourself like you still are. I don't mean that you should baby talk or only speak in sounds. I mean that you should take care as if everyone is a precious baby. You don't feed babies junk food. You play with babies, keep them active. You make sure babies get their sleep. You are kind and are a good example to them since babies are impressionable.
Merry Christmas!
Lauren
Today we celebrate the birth of sweet baby Jesus Christ! We were all babies at one point. Treat each other and yourself like you still are. I don't mean that you should baby talk or only speak in sounds. I mean that you should take care as if everyone is a precious baby. You don't feed babies junk food. You play with babies, keep them active. You make sure babies get their sleep. You are kind and are a good example to them since babies are impressionable.
Merry Christmas!
Lauren
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)