Exploring Fitness Apps on Blu-ray

I only lost .4 lbs this week.  I knew it wouldn't be that much of a loss because of TOM and lighter workouts.  The DVDs hadn't arrived at the library when I went Saturday so I've been exploring the fitness apps on my Blu-ray player.

Saturday and Sunday I did two sessions each day of Pilates from the All Fitness TV app.  Monday through today I've done different workouts from the Fitness VOD app.  Boy, can I feel these workouts!  Monday's upper body workout I started feeling at bed time.  Tuesday's lower body workout I started feeling shortly after getting to work.  While doing the kicks with today's workout I felt a pull in the back of my right leg.  So I'm hobbling around at work.  I think I look pretty funny!

Well, most are saying to check out Yelp for spa reviews.  What I really want them to do is therapeutic massage on my upper back and neck.  I think that'll be the most beneficial.  I'm hoping they'll find the kink like the physical therapist found in my leg.  Once the trigger points are located then I'll know where to work them out on my own.

Linking up with

March Challenge - Tasty Tuesday #9

This month I decided to try Shakeology again.  I've been told that it doesn't taste well with yogurt so that could've been my problem when I tried the sampler this fall.  Today's Day 4 and so far so good!  I haven't experienced the funky aftertaste at all; it actually sort of tastes more like chocolate almond milk.  I haven't yet experienced the fullness I had last time either.

There are so many recipes that you can make with Shakeology but I don't like or have the ingredients (or don't even know where to find them really).  So far I've tried a different recipe every day.  Using the frozen fruit I'd chop it in my mini chopper and add the dry ingredients.  The mini chopper doesn't do well with liquids so I only add enough to help break everything down.  I then empty the chopper into the cup and use my milkshake maker to blend everything together.  Yes, I know I'm weird using two appliances instead of a blender but it's much easier to clean these two things than it is to mess with the blender every day.

This is the only one I took a picture of the cup.  They all look the same so I didn't bother taking additional pictures.

Ingredients

1 Scoop Shakeology

1 Tbsp Natural Peanut Butter

1/2 Cup Strawberries (ended up using 6)

1 Cup Water

Ice

This one I just did in the milkshake maker not the blender.  The peanut butter didn't mix well and just settled at the bottom of my cup.  I was able to drink it up after the ice melted.

Ingredients

1 Scoop Shakeology

1 Tbsp Natural Peanut Butter (or your favorite nut butter)

1/2 Tsp Almond Extract

1 Cup Almond Milk

Ice

Ingredients

1 Scoop Shakeology

1 Tsp Cinnamon

1/2 Tsp Nutmeg

1 Cup Almond Milk (or your favorite milk)

Ice

Ingredients

1 Scoop Shakeology

1 Tsp Vanilla Extract

1 Cup Water

Ice

The last two I didn't want to mess with chopping anything because I don't have the time for it in the mornings before work.  Perhaps I'll try prepping my shakes in the evening and just adding the liquid in the mornings.  You can also use a shaker cup to mix some of these but I've never had any luck getting all the powder to mix when I don't use an appliance so I'm not trying Shakeology that way.

What are your favorite Chocolate (or Vegan Chocolate) Shakeology recipes?

 Do you want to join me on this challenge or have one of your own?  Click the banner to order your 30 day supply.

Lesser Known Antioxidant Sources

Image courtesy of Aduldej / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

With the constant onslaught of information on health benefits and new innovations in the medical field, it can be exhausting trying to figure out what techniques or products you should use to stay fit and healthy. By having a balanced diet and exercise regimen you have already won half the battle, but what else can be done to maintain the peak of health? Adding more antioxidant rich foods to your diet can keep you healthy for longer as well as filling you up. Some foods that you wouldn't have thought contained so much healthy punch can be the easiest way to supplement your diet and longevity.

The importance of an antioxidant-rich diet is crucial to maintaining health. Whether it is from lifestyle choices or from environmental reasons, free radicals harmful byproducts that cause illness and aging. As free radicals are brought into the body, they piggy-back oxygen into the bloodstream. Too much oxygen within the cells causes them to die and that is what gives the appearance of wrinkles as well as inhibiting healthy cell growth. By eating foods that contain antioxidants, you can help to offset this harmful process.
 

Blueberries Image courtesy of Grant Cochrane / Raspberries Image courtesy of adamr /

Strawberries Image courtesy of rakratchada torsap / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Berries have been shown to contain some of the highest percentages of antioxidants among the produce studied by doctors and health officials. Any fruit ending in the word berry is a good standard to judge. Blueberries have been shown to have the highest amount of antioxidants but other fruits like strawberries and raspberries have shown high percentages as well. Plums and apples are other types of fruit that contain a ton of antioxidants. So make a yummy fruit salad with some yogurt and granola and get all those antioxidants to work.

 

 

Image courtesy of Witthaya Phonsawat / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Beans have also been shown to have the highest percentages of antioxidants per serving. Red, black and kidney beans are some of the best types of beans to ingest for the maximum amount antioxidants. Adding beans to stews, soups or dinner can help you keep you full and healthy.

Veggies like artichokes and carrots can also provide you with the recommended amount of antioxidants for your diet. They may not be your favorite forms of produce on the shelf or you may have picky kids at home that refuse to eat them, but try making them into soups, dips or side items because the nutritional value is crucial to help growing children.

It should be obvious at this point that your mom was right when she told you to eat your fruits and vegetables because they are the best things that you can do for yourself nutritionally. But maybe something your mom didn't know is that red wine has been shown to contain huge amounts of antioxidants like resveratrol that can help combat things like heart disease and diabetes. A glass of red wine every night with your vegetable packed dinner and fruity dessert can be one of the best things you do for yourself. Just remember to drink in moderation. The Pearl Wine Company and Julia Childs always recommend “Everything in moderation, even moderation.”  

This post was written by M.G. Bachemin in association with PearlWine Co. She has an interest in health and wellness, as well as living a fulfilled life.  

Dropping and Looking for a Spa Day

I dropped another 2.4 lbs this week!  I knew it was another loss but I didn't think it was more than a pound.  Sorry, I forgot to weigh myself before going to bed to get the naked weight.  So instead, this morning I tried something different.  (There still was a 2 lb difference between Weight Watchers and my scale.)

I've read so many places that you shouldn't weigh yourself right after a workout.  I did the Rockin' Body Party Express workout this morning (25 minutes, 203 calories).  It wasn't a huge workout for me yet the scale reflected a .2 lb gain.  So I'll have to agree with what I've been reading.

These are the final days for Rockin' Body and I don't have a program lined up since the 21 Day Fix is on backorder.  I know I'd get bored if I continued for another month.  So I'm going to be exploring the library's collection again this week to see what I can come up with.

I've decided that I want to do some kind of spa day to celebrate my first year.  Now to figure out where and when....There are so many places and I don't know anyone that goes regularly to get any recommendations.  What sources do you look at for service referrals such as this?

Best Burn of the Week



Two days in a row with the same calorie burn but Monday was a little shorter timeframe.

 

Linking up with

Broiled Chicken with Clementine Salsa - Tasty Tuesday #8

Time for another recipe that I got from Relish.  This recipe was actually for Grilled chicken but since I don't have a grill and it's winter I broiled it in the oven.

Ingredients
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (The chicken was HUGE from Sam's Club so I only used two.)
1/4 cup olive oil
2 teaspoons garlic, minced
1 teaspoon dried oregano (I also added basil.)
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
2 Roma (or plum) tomatoes , sliced
4 clementines, peeled and chopped
2 green onions , chopped (I subbed half of a regular white onion.)
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar (I subbed with rice wine vinegar.)

TOPPING (If you don't have breadcrumbs)
2 slices white bread
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 tablespoons Italian parsley
coarse salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste

Instructions
1.  Place the chicken between 2 slices of plastic wrap and using a meat mallet, pound thin. (This can be difficult as the chicken likes to explode through the plastic wrap!) Place chicken in a large ziptop bag. In a small bowl, combine the olive oil, garlic, oregano and salt and pepper. Pour over the chicken and refrigerate for 15 minutes.

2.  Preheat broiler. If you're making the topping, pulse the bread in a food processor until fine crumbs form. Place in a medium skillet with olive oil and the parsley. Toast for 3-4 minutes over medium-low heat to a golden brown. Remove to a bowl.

3.  Add the tomatoes, oranges and onions to the skillet with another tablespoon of olive oil. Sauté over medium heat for 3-4 minutes. Add vinegar and season with salt and pepper. 

4.  Broil the chicken for 5 minutes per side or until cooked through.

5.  Serve the chicken on individual plates topped with orange sauce and sprinkled with breadcrumbs.  

Per Serving:  337 calories; 29 grams protein; 19 grams total fat; 1 gram fiber; 3 grams saturated fat; 11 grams carbohydrates; 68 mgs cholesterol; 178 mgs sodium; 9 WW points plus

I never thought I'd like the taste of salsa with clementines.  I just didn't think it would mix well.  This was so delicious!  However, if you don't use all the salsa throw it away.  It doesn't taste good reheated!  This is definitely a recipe I'll make again.

70 lbs Gone!

This week I lost what I gained last week plus the .2 lbs from the previous week (1.4 lbs), reaching a total loss of 70 lbs!  (Naked weight was 2 lbs less than my official weigh in.)  I didn't do anything to celebrate the total loss last night.  I actually fell ill, feeling overheated and lightheaded.  I still felt weak this morning so I only did a 10 minute workout.

Best Burn of the Week

One month from today marks my one year anniversary of hopping on this long and winding road to wellness (the night I signed up for Weight Watchers).  I've been asking on Facebook and G+ what I should do to celebrate.  I've received responses from eating out for a special meal to going to the spa.  I'm leaning towards the spa idea.  What would you do or have you done to celebrate your first year on this type of journey?

Linking Up with
 



Tasty Tuesday #7

Well, these link ups didn't catch on as much as I hoped.  Next week will have a recipe, either mine or a guest recipe.  If you're interested in sharing a recipe here for #TASTYTUESDAY please read the guest post guidelines and submit.

 

Solo Beverage

 

 

What I was expecting to see

 

I thought for sure I'd see beverage recipes like this.

 

 

Desserts

 

Yummy fruit!

 

If only all Raw looked this good!