Give Me a Break!

Today’s post is inspired by two friends that I chatted with yesterday. I was talking to my friend Kristin (remember her? she took the tea picture!) about the importance of rest days when it comes to exercise.  I then talked to my other friend, Emily, who asked me to put up another blog post.  I asked her what she wanted me to write about and she said “exercise!” So, this post is about rest days and how crucial they are for our bodies!

The past couple of days my workouts have been pretty intense.  They’ve been a combination of cardio and strength training (in different formats) and all have left me feeling fantastic (woo!) and sore.

Although exercise is one of my favorite ways to relieve stress, I find that strenuous workouts everyday just don’t work for my body.  I think that sometimes we get so caught up in the idea of looking and feeling great that a rest day seems like we’re being lazy.  Which is ridiculous! Exercise is meant to improve, nourish and develop our bodies.  In order for this to happen, our bodies need time to recuperate and rebuild.  A rest day is not a “bum” day.  It is a day for thanking your body for all it has done and all it will do.

Without proper rest, it’s easy to injure your body (sometimes permanently!) which means you’ll have to take a break from exercise for a while anyways. So, which would you prefer? Pain and no exercise for weeks or voluntary rest days and a strong healthy body? I’ll take the second, please!

With all that being said, today is a rest day for me! I may go to yoga tonight, maybe not. However, for me this isn’t a workout.  One of the reasons I love yoga is it can be adjusted to how each individual is feeling.  Most times, yoga is a way to relax my mind.  It’s comparable to watching a movie or reading a book.  Yoga takes my mind to a different world, allowing (almost) all my worries to melt away for a brief period of time.

Yoga is a way for me to thank the earth and my body for being absolutely fabulous and amazing.

In conclusion, take your rest days, thank yourself and you’ll feel like a million bucks!

Thanks for reading guys!

-Lindsey

“This Post Could Save Your Life!”

Hi everyone!

This post is about a film I recently watched, Forks Over Knives. I plan on watching it again because I feel that there was so much interesting information in the film that a second viewing is necessary! However, I enjoyed the video so much that I just can’t wait to share my thoughts on it. Sooo.. let’s go!

The movie focuses on two doctors, Dr. T. Colin Campbell and Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn. Both have made amazing contributions to the nutrition related research field, and the film basically sums up their findings.  The goal of the film is to promote healthier living through a plant based diet.  It sounds just like Food Inc. or Earthlings, right? Well, it’s not.  Although these films center around the same idea, Forks Over Knives spreads it’s message in an entirely different way.  Instead of being accusatory and sending viewers on a guilt trip, Forks Over Knives presents honest, factual research in a way that is easy to understand and gentle.

I just thought this post could use a baby sheep.

Although I did find a lot of interesting information in Food Inc. and Earthlings, I couldn’t help but feel as if something was off.  If the goal of a film is to teach people to be kinder to animals, the environment and their self, shouldn’t the film first lead by example and be kind itself?  Instead of shocking people into a new lifestyle by showing them pictures of victimized cattle and 600 pound Americans, Forks Over Knives shares believable and inspirational stories about the benefits of a plant based diet.  The film focuses on the positive, not the negative, which is both refreshing and uplifting.

I’m not going to summarize the entire movie, because I believe that everyone should watch this film and draw their own conclusions.  However, there is one story in particular that I would like to discuss.

Meet Joey Aucoin:

Several years ago, Joey was diagnosed with numerous medical issues, including type 2 diabetes and high cholesterol.  Joey is at high risk for heart attack and stroke, therefore he must take seven medications and two injections everyday.  Joey describes himself as being constantly tired, irratable, etc.  He reaches out for help and begins to work with Drs. Matthew Lederman and Alona Pulde. These two doctors treat their patients through nutrition, which leads them to completely reshape and revamp Joey’s diet.  Joey’s new diet revolves around, you guessed it, PLANTS! 

Eat the rainbow!

By the end of the film, Joey has lost weight, feels great and exercises frequently.  He also enjoys all his meals even though they are not ridden with sugar, fat and meat.  Pretty amazing, right? Well, I haven’t even told you the best part yet!

Joey has made astonishing improvements, solving 27 of the 28 complaints he originally had. Joey also reversed his diabetes (reversed! gone! bye bye!) Therefore, Joey no longer has to take any medications!! Joey improved his life by leaps and bounds simply by changing his diet (and exercising!)

Lookin' good, Joey!

I encourage you all to watch Forks Over Knives, especially if you are skeptical of the benefits of a plant based diet.  The research presented in the film is hard to argue with, and could have a profound impact on your quality of life.  One statement I found particularly interesting is that the film crew ended up switching to a plant-based diet! They were so enlightened by the information that they all decided to try it themselves.  Pretty neat!

This was part of the food spread at the Forks Over Knives premiere!

If you’re looking for a movie to watch tonight, please let it be Forks Over Knives! I’d like to end this post with one of my favorite quotes by Thomas Edison:

“The doctor of the future will no longer treat the human frame with drugs, but rather will cure and prevent disease with nutrition.”

You guys are awesome! Thanks for reading!

-Lindsey

A Smoothie a Day

Hey guys!

Hmm… this post may seem a bit redundant but I promise there is an interesting twist! Tonight I enjoyed another green monster… and it was even better than the first! I made a few adjustments by adding a tablespoon of cocoa and using 1 and 1/2 bananas to make a bit more smoothie goodness. I also put in more spinach, can’t go wrong with extra greens!

I used Penzey’s Dutch Process Cocoa, my mom shipped me a bottle so I could still have my cocoa at school! She is the BOMB.

Penzey’s is an awesome spice company and I highly recommend their products. If you are lucky enough to have a store nearby, try and make a stop sometime (the store smells AMAZING.) If not, they have an online store and you can also order a (free!) catalog, which also comes with some mouth watering recipes.

Because of the cocoa, tonight’s smoothie wasn’t a super bright green. But it was still delish!

Okay, so it looks kind of gross. Honestly though it tasted like something from Dairy Queen! Banana chocolate milkshake anyone?

So thick that my spoon floated on top. I think I have to invest in a straw so i can drink my smoothie like a normal person!

Alright, so I told you there would be a twist to this post.. and no, it wasn’t the cocoa. Here it is!

I am challenging you, my dear little readers, to Happy Honeycrisp’s Green Monster Challenge! I want you to set a goal that has to do with green monsters and stick to it for 30 days! For me, I’m going to try and have one smoothie every day. If that’s completely unrealistic for you, make it one smoothie per week! Or even just TRY your first monster within the next 30 days. Seriously, what do you have to lose? They are cheap (spinach and bananas? so inexpensive!), fun, TASTY and magnificently wonderful for your body and health!

aaand a green toast to you!

I’ll let you guys know how I’m doing with my challenge and give you support to stick with yours! Also, I’ll let you know all the new versions I try and I’ll be completely honest about how scrumptious (or not) they are.  Feel free to comment if you want to join in and post your goals! I hope you all challenge yourselves to be even more amazing than you already are!

Talk to you soon! Go green!

-Lindsey

Spin, Spin, Spin as Fast as You Can!

Hi healthy friends!

Today’s workouts were awesome and I feel I must share!

Morning:

This morning I woke up around 8, had my breakfast and headed to the gym. I started with the treadmill, doing an interval workout. I alternated from level 4 for 30 seconds, level 6 for 2 minutes and level 8.5(woah!) for one minute.  I continued this for 15 minutes and hopped off. It was brief but I was working hard! Then I cooled down with the bike for 10 minutes and did a quickie ab workout.

Afternoon:

At 1:30 I went to Express Cycle, a fitness class at my gym.  The gym I go to at school offers so many fitness classes, and I love finding new, fun ways to exercise! Express Cycle is only 45 minutes compared to an hour for the regular spinning classes.  Sounds like a quick, EASY workout, right? WRONG. Apparently, “Express” means you work 10 times as hard for less time. I was sweating buckets, and I hardly ever sweat! For some reason I’ve never been a sweater, even on the hottest summer days. Weird. BUT, this class kicked my boo-tay! You know what that means…. I’m definitely going back!

I love spinning because it can work for anyone. It’s easily adjustable to the spinner’s comfort level, and it’s a great way to challenge yourself! I just started to get into spin classes, and hopefully this trend will continue.

Produce I’m Lovin’:

GRAPEFRUIT!!!

Seriously. They are sooo good right now. Is it grapefruit season or something? I love mine warmed up and sprinkled with a packet of stevia. The ones I have are about the size of my head, excessively pink and deliciously juicy.

That is pure, un-edited, pinkness. Yum in my tum!

Food for thought:

Have you ever tried a spinning class?

What produce are you loving today?

Thanks for reading!

-Lindsey

There’s a Monster in My Tummy

Bonjour mes amis!

I decided to try something new tonight that I’ve been meaning to do for a while.  A green monster smoothie! I’ve read about them on many healthy living blogs such as Angela’s blog over at Oh She Glows. Angela also started the Green Monster Movement! So much Green Monster love on that site.

So, back to my little monster! I kept it simple for my first time… here are my ingredients:

• 1 banana, sliced THEN frozen. (it is much harder to freeze a banana and then slice it!)
• fresh organic baby spinach (probably about 2 cups)
• scoop of Fage greek yogurt
• water to thin

So all that…

was blended together in my baby food processor, and turned into this…

and it was glorious!! I did not taste the spinach at all, all I could taste was creamy banana-y goodness. Seriously, this was the best idea ever! So much nutrition and such good taste. Next time I may add some nut butter (hmm.. almond or peanut?!) or maybe some cocoa or cinnamon! I’m expecting Chia Seeds soon (thanks mama!) so maybe I will incorporate those into my monsters as well.  Honestly though this simple version was so delicious that it didn’t even need anything else! I feel very energized as well, which is another plus that comes with green monsters!

So excited for my monster!

I would recommend green monsters to anyone and everyone. They’re great as a snack or, if you make them filling enough, breakfast or lunch!  I think a lot of people have troubles when it comes to getting their greens in everyday, and this is a way to have them in a delicious way.  I think they are especially great for people who don’t like the taste of leafy veggies, because you do not taste them at all! Even though I love huge salads, it’s awesome to have even more leafy goodness in my diet! Green monster fan for life!

Food for thought:

Have you ever had a green monster?

If so, what’s your favorite recipe?

If not, would you consider trying one?

Thanks for stopping by, sugar plums!

-Lindsey

Tea x2!

Hello readers!

This post is dedicated to hot, steamy cups of…. TEA! In these winter months I often have trouble keeping warm, but a nice cup of tea always seems to help! I would say I have a slight obsession with tea, as shown by this picture taken by my friend Kristin while we were having tea time one day:

Tea time!

I love having a wide variety of tea for myself and to share with others! I enjoy choosing a flavor and look forward to the aromas that arise from my hot cup of tea.  Sometimes I add Unsweetened Almond Milk to my tea or a splash of coconut creamer.  However, I never add any kind of sweetener to my tea! For some reason I just don’t like sweet tea. I find that adding a little bit of a creamy substance to my tea takes down the bitterness that some varieties have without making it too sweet. Perfection in a cup.

Today I brought two tea bags with me for my day around campus, Decaf Spiced Chai and Organic Golden Peach!

I usually go to a cafe, ask for a cup of hot water (it’s free!) and use my own tea bag. Most places charge $1.50 or more for a small cup of hot tea, when all you are paying for is the tea bag! So I just bring my own. Plus, I have a better selection

I enjoyed the Spiced Chai while studying at the library:

So cozy!

..and I’m looking forward to having the Golden Peach lataaaa!

Food for thought:

What’s your favorite hot beverage?

Do you prefer said beverage sweet?

Thanks for reading, I hope you all have a marvelous day!

-Lindsey

Good Afternoon!

Good afternoon pumpkins!

Today I’m going to be talking about my favorite fruit! APPLES. My one true love is the Honeycrisp. I love their ironic tart sweetness and I love how they are always crisp! If there is one thing I can’t stand about apples it is when they are mushy and mealy. However, on my last trip to the grocery store, I discovered the Honeycrisps to be tiny, bruised and sad.

No way was I spending $1.98 a pound on those little buggers, even if they are my favorite.  Alas, I had to find a new apple! I stumbled upon Sonya apples, and become intrigued as I had never heard of/seen them before.  Being the obsessive apple freak that I am, I whipped out my iPhone and googled “Sonya Apples.” This is what I found:

“Sonya’s other distinctive feature is its exceptional sweetness – which is what you would expect from an apple which is related to both Golden Delicious and Red Delicious. The flavour is strongly reminiscent of raw sugar cane, and there is no trace of acidity whatsover.”

Source

Sweet apple reminiscent of raw sugar cane? Bring. It. On.

So, today I tried my first Sonya Apple!

What did I think? My oh my was it tasty!!  I hadn’t eaten for several hours and was ravenous by the time I got my hands on that thing so I was very satisfied with the flava! Honeycrisps are still my favorite but Sonyas may now be my second favorite!

Smeared with some Justin’s Maple Almond Butter, these apples are delicious!

To round out my snackity-snack I had some plain greek yogurt with cinnamon and stevia. If you have never tried this combination, you must! It is too tasty for words!

Thanks for stopping by!

-Lindsey

Food for thought:

What’s your favorite type of apple?

How do you like to eat greek yogurt?