Cool Tool

I'm always looking for new and interesting ways to get my cardio in.  One thing I like to incorporate is jump roping.  Sometimes I'll jump rope (200 jumps) and then hit the punching bag, repeat as necessary.  Other times, I'll run stairs and jump rope...anything to break it up and get the heart rate up without getting bored.

Thanks to Thomas at FT I was introduced to a new rope style that changes the way I jump.  This jump rope is from Rogue Fitness and is called an Ultra Speed Cable Jump Rope.

 http://www.roguefitness.com/store/product372.html
 
 
 
I you'd like to get a good cardio workout while having a little fun, check it out!  For $15 (free shipping), I think it's a steal!!

You are what you eat -- at least I HOPE so!

I have spent the last 13 months eating the perfect diet:  5-6 small meals each day, good protein and healthy carbs (mostly fruits & veggies) at each meal, plenty of fiber, etc., etc.  The results are pretty impressive and should serve as undeniable testimony to the program.

Even with this powerful example nearby, a co-worker of mine has decided that it is time to lose weight by adopting some pretty crazy eating habits.  I have watched this person gain a good bit of weight by getting out of control with soda, chips, snacks, etc.  Now, to my horror, she has decided that a high protein diet is what will change her course.  The last few days I have watched her make her lunch, which is absolutely disgusting--2 naked hot dogs and several HUGE chunks of Velveeta.  Ick!

I can't believe that ANYbody would think that this kind of eating could be healthy!  Short term it might work, but it will probably get too boring before there is any REAL effect.  If it DOES last, clogged arteries and high cholesterol are certain.

Lesson?  Let's eat food that looks like it did when it came out of the ground:  whole grains, fresh veggies, fresh fruits, etc.  They don't call it "mother nature" for nothing, ya'll!

I ate a WHOLE pizza!!

Shhhh..... don't tell Adam, but I ate a whole pizza for lunch today!

Actually... it shouldn't be a problem, since the whole thing only had about 220 calories.

How did I do it?  I made my own.

Here's the recipe:

• 1 whole wheat tortilla
• 1-1/2 T pizza sauce
• Thinly sliced mushrooms, green peppers & red onions
• 1 oz shredded mozarella (or whatever you like)
• Pam cooking spray

Spray both sides of the tortilla with the cooking spray.  Spread a VERY thin layer of sauce on the tortilla and add your favorite toppings.  (You'll want to have them sliced fairly thin so that they will get cooked in the short time it takes to bake.) Add the cheese on top (this will hold everything together).

Put the "pizza" in the toaster oven directly on the rack and toast until the cheese is bubbly and the edges of the tortilla start to brown.  Remove from the toaster oven and let it cool just a bit so it's easier to cut.  Cut it into 6 wedges and ENJOY!!

Add a good size salad with a low calorie dressing and you have an excellent meal.

Move It!

I work out with Adam every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.  On the days I work out with him, my exercise happens on auto pilot.  I don't have to think about what to do... I just do what I'm told, and the calories get burned.

But... what happens on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday?  I have to figure out for myself what to do for my cardio.  We all know the usual:

             Jogging                                     Treadmill                                                    Elliptical Machine

             Jump Rope                                                          Swimming

ETC.

However, the best workouts seem to happen when I just build activities into my day and have fun!

This weekend, I went to play in the snow with my friends, Adam and Cameron (AKA Flash).  We built a snowman, had several snowball fights, and then went sledding.  Riding the boogie board down the hill was a cinch, but the climb back up (especially if done at a run) was a good little workout.  The walk to and from our sledding spot was a nice little trek, too.

So, when you're tired of the usual cardio, what do you do to get your exercise in?  How do you get YOUR heartrate up?  Whatever it is, make sure it's fun and you will burn calories before you know it!

What's YOUR favorite snack?

People who spend any amount of time with me know that I am constantly eating.  That may seem counterintuitive to weight loss, but it actually is not.  By consuming a small amount of food every 3 or 4 hours, I keep my blood sugar even and my hunger pangs to a minimum.

So... what kind of things do I snack on?  It's not easy to keep my snacks around 250 calories, but I have some favorites that I will share:

-protein shake (frozen strawberries, protein powder, bananas, honey, vanilla, milk)
-mini whole wheat bagel with peanut butter and honey
-2 small apples and 2 light string cheese sticks
-2 rice cakes with peanut butter and raisins
-celery with almond butter
-Greek yogurt with raspberries
-raw almonds with carrot sticks
-cottage cheese and wasa crackers
-2 hardboiled eggs and veggie sticks
-Fiber One cereal with yogurt

Do you have a low calorie snack that keeps you going for a few hours without ruining your diet?  If so, please feel free to share it here.

-Red Tornado