My new favorite lunch I never knew I liked!

However did I live 35 years without having tried collard greens? Oh, the joy I’ve unknowingly missed. It is my new favorite lunch – so simple and so tasty.

I got my inspiration by slightly adapting a few recipes, including one from The Kind Diet:

1. Wash and cut leaves of one bunch of collard greens:
2. Dry roast 1 tbsp pine nuts in a skillet for a few minutes.
3. Add 1tbsp Olive oil
4. Add one handful of still-wet leaves to skillet. Stir, and let wilt for a minute, before adding next handful. Continue this process until all leaves are added.
5. Add a pinch of sea salt,ginger, and a Tbsp of raisins.
6. I put the lid on it so it steams a bit more – depends how “wilted” you prefer the greens.
7. Makes either one big serving, or 2 side servings.


Are there veggies you bypass just because you’ve never eaten them before, or you don’t know how to prepare them? Step out of your cooking comfort zone and try one! Next time you’re in the produce section, find a leafy green that looks shiny and pretty, or a root veggie that scares you. How about that mushroom you've convinced yourself you don’t like, because you tried it when you were 7 and hated it. Tastes change my friends – go for it! There should be no fear about  preparing them - countless recipes are available with just the click of a mouse.  The more wholesome foods we add to our repertoire, the less room we have for junk. Who knows , you may just find your next favorite lunch!

My next challenge: Put on some big-girl pants and learn to love brussel sprouts.  I'll let you know how it goes. 

Gimme a Beat!

I’ve found a fun tool to help me get through my treadmill sessions! Actually, I’ve been using it for some time now, but just realized I should share! I know running/walking is how most of my boot campers spend their off-season workouts, so this may be of interest.

I’m very much driven by musical beats – certain songs get the adrenaline pumping and make me want to move! However, my brain is not wired to allow my body to move off the beat. It’s a curse. Perhaps a result of teaching group fitness and dance classes for many years.

You may not be as particular as me, but if you’re looking for a way to add a bit of interest to your treadmill time, you may want to try out one of these Apps:

 BeatBurn Treadmill/Outdoor Trainer
Compatible with iphone, ipod touch, ipad (who runs with an ipad?)

It claims it “changes the beat of the music to perfectly match your pace.” This really means that you are instructed to change your pace to match the beat of the music. Which is fine, I guess, just not as magical as I had envisioned. It has two settings, one for both treadmill and outdoor training.


Here’s how it works:
1. You select the desired length and intensity of your session
2. You can use either pre-programmed songs, or import your favorites from itunes.
3. It will then both arrange the songs, and adjust the tempo in order to fit your selected workout profile.
4. As you go, your “workout host” will tell you what incline and pace you should set the treadmill in order to keep pace with the beat.
5. If you’re using it outdoors, she’ll tell you to work at a certain intensity on a scale from 1-10.

Here’s what I like about it:
1. Just like any new toy, it kept me occupied, and I was excited to get to the gym to try it out the first time! This kept me from getting bored.
2. As I said before, my body feels best when my pace matches the beat of the music. I’m also inspired, like most people, by my favorite songs. So, when I’m asked to run at a pace above my comfort zone, it’s easier to get through it when my favorite songs are running as fast as I am.
3. It changes the beat of a same song – in mid song – which makes it fun. It’s interesting how the motivational factor of a song changes as it gets faster and slower.

What I didn’t care for:
1. The “workout host,” while lovely, talked an awful lot. She constantly counted down the minutes and seconds until each segment was over. She had a never ending supply of encouraging wisdom, of which I would have been fine with a small percentage. However, if you are the type that thrives on motivational cues, this might be a blessing.


Tempo Magic
Compatible with iphone, ipod touch, ipad (4.0 or later)

This has been a lifesaver for my dance and group fitness classes. It allows you to manually adjust the BPM’s of your songs. No workout profile, no coach in your ear, no frills – just what I like.

Happy Running!

BodyBuggin'

You’ll rarely find me at the gym without my heart rate monitor. I love the instant feedback. In fact, I think I’m addicted. If I can’t look down and see how many calories I’ve burned, it doesn’t feel like an official workout.

Well, as HRM’s do, my battery died and I had to send it back to Polar to get it replaced. However would I fill the empty weeks of training without my most beloved accessory? In the past I’ve rotated with 2 HRM’s so that one would always be available when the other was on the disabled list. But, this time I was caught with my bands down – both were dead!

This was the perfect opportunity to check out the BodyBugg® System. I’ve been curious about it for a while – how does it compare to a good ol’ HRM, and what are the benefits and drawbacks. I’ve read countless reviews, but I wanted to see for myself.

I’ve had mine for a few days now and I’m definitely having fun with it. It came with a subscription until July, and I can already guarantee I will lose interest long before then, BUT, for someone who is serious about losing weight (say, 10 lbs or more) this would be a great tool.

I’ll check it out some more and get back to you with my verdict. Has anyone used one before? What did you think?

Spring session underway!

You wouldn't believe it was the "spring" session, seeing as we spent time scraping ice off of our windshields before and after training! But it was worth it. Good times. Welcome back all.