March Makeover, and the Best Raw Food Product EVER!

We’re three months into the new year, but I’m still in “new year resolution” mode. My schedule has been changing around, goals and aspirations. Oh, and also my eating habits.

February was something awful in terms of diet. I had good days when I stuck to my vegan eating habits, but I also had my fair share of junk. Yeah, lots of junk.

I want to get back into piling more healthy things on my plate than not, so this month I’ll be extra vigilante about what goes into my mouth. Did anyone else think of something perverted after reading that last part?

This month I’m trying to “makeover” myself, hence the above title. What does that entail? Oh, super early workouts (like 4 a.m), and cleaner eating.

Me during another makeover season.

Me again, taken back when I use to pull all nighters, workout at 5 a.m., and ate nothing but vegan food.

You know what would be really dope? If all you got on the makeover wagon with me and did something to make yourself even better this month. I bet if you did this I’d even have a prize or two. Think about it.

So, before I move on to the new products, let’s make clear my goals for March.

1) Avoid processed foods- Adios, BBQ Kettle-chips:( WHAH!
2) Workout in the early morning, if I know it’s the only way I can get some exercise in.

Now, onto the best food product EVER!

The product that launched an obsession.

I discovered Hail Merry back in the summer when I was writing for a green-living site. While I didn’t get a chance to “formally” review the products, I did get to take my fair share home and man, did I really enjoy it. The blond macaroons tasted like sugar cookies. No, seriously-I felt like I was eating something from Mrs. Fields.

I literally let out a squeal when I saw the brand in my favorite local health food store (not the horrible one down my block). Hail Merry products are gluten free, vegan, and raw. You can find them in the refrigerated section, and they cost roughly $4 per product.

I’ve tried my fair share of uber-healthy food, but Hail Merry is the best! I hate to throw my vegans, raw foodist, and gluten haters under the bus, but we all have to admit that many products geared towards us taste like ass!!! Hail Mary on the other hand? Pure deliciousness. I bought the following:

(Left) Chocolate Macaroons; (right) Chocolate Almond Butter Miracle Treat.

The Chocolate Macaroons are made from , dark cocoa, organic expeller pressed coconut oil, organic shredded coconut, pure maple syrup, organic Mexican vanilla and sea salt. They taste like mini brownies and really satisfy sweet-tooth cravings.

Tasty and healthy? Who wouldn't want to try this thing?

The Chocolate Almond Butter Miracle-Tart looks like an oversized peanut butter cup, but taste more like its pie equivalent. Don’t be fooled by the size, 1/3 (the serving size) is all you need to feel satisfied. The tart is made with dark cocoa, raw almond butter, organic cold pressed coconut oil, organic maple syrup, almond flour and sea salt. Oh, and it’s super yummy. I know, because I just ate part of one tonight.

I also bought a Lemon Miracle-Tart, which reminded me of lemon meringue minus the meringue.

I ate some for breakfast.

Have you tried anything from Hail Merry? What are your health and fitness goals for March?

Designer Workout by SHAPE

Photo credit: kettlebell-girl.tumblr.com

Gym time is my alone time. I put on my headphone, keep my head down, and pretty much zone out for the entire workout. Exercising allows me to let out all my aggression, gain new perspective on problems, and refocus my energies.

Being able to do all of this is important to me, which is why I avoid getting a trainer. Don’t get me wrong. Trainers serve a purpose, but when I’m at the gym I have an agenda and it doesn’t include other human life.

Now, having said this, trainers are pretty sweet to have. They help you to stay motivated and give you new moves so your body is always challenged. They help a lot of people get fit, and in my book that’s very cool.

When I find myself craving a trainer of my own (or just want some new moves on the quick) I go to SHAPE.com, where I can develop my own workout. The magazine’s site has an incredible Workout Trainer that allows readers to create their own fitness routine.

How To:

-Go to Shape.com, and go to the Fitness section.
-Click on the sub-tag that reads Workout Trainer
-Select the vids that target the areas you want to train and drag them into your playlist.

How cool is that? You have a free virtual trainer!!

Click below to see my new workout. I intermixed calorie burning moves with strength training/toning exercises focused on the back, abs, shoulders and legs.

Now grab some water, a jump rope, a set of dumbbells, and get to sweating!!

I’m off like a dirty pair of Nikes.

Workout Trainer – Shape Magazine.

Fitness Lust: Save Your Do Gymwrap

It’s seldom that I go gaga over a fitness gadget. What more do you really need beside a music playing device and sneakers? Uh, a hair wrap!!!

I have naturally curly hair that likes to announce itself every time I workout. I straighten my hair everyday, but by the time I leave the gym I look like a drenched poodle- until now, that is, because I just got word of this awesome hair wrap made for gym buffs.

Source: saveyourdo.com via Fit on Pinterest

 

The pending patent design has been created to allow heat to leave the head, while also keeping moisture away. Amazing!  Flyaway bangs are a thing of the past, because the wrap forms around the front of the hairline, keeping hair dry and flat.

Source: store.saveyourdo.com via Fit on Pinterest

 

There really are no words to express how excited I am about this product. The gymwraps come in three different sizes, ranging from a bandanna like style to headband; prices range between $24-$29. And did I mention they not only come in black, but pink, green, and light brown? Drooling!!

To purchase your own gymwrap go to Save Your Do.com, and don’t forget to write me and tell me how it works out. As soon as I finish paying off my heinous credit card bill I will be ordering my own.

The Save Your Do gymwrap is really sick, because it provides a no-excuse zone for fitness. Maybe you read some articles claiming women don’t like to workout because they don’t want to mess up their hair? The articles were aimed toward Afro-American women, which I find insulting, but at least now there is a solution to the alleged problem.

Are you going to try the Gymwrap? What do you do to keep your hair looking good when you exercise?

A Different Type of Boot Camp

I use to want to be a ballerina when I was little. On Sundays my dad would put on Mussorgsky and I would prance about in faux ballet flats, pretending I was performing in front of a riveted audience.

Ballet dancers are true athletes. Don’t believe me? Watch Black Swan, and fast forward to the scene where Natalie Portman is working with the physical therapist. Or, watch this clip.

Ballet is no joke, and I love the lean muscle dancers develop.

We all can’t grow up to be ballerinas, but we can still train like them-if we try Ballet Boot Camp. Thanks to the wondrous world of YouTube I found a fantastic program for you to try at home.

Please check with your doc before doing it, and as always have fun.

I’m off to grab my tutu now.

Mexicali Stuffed Pita Pockets

Photo Credit: Veganallure.tumblr.com

I’m always looking for simple and healthy meals to make in less than thirty minutes. I’m a busy girl. I don’t have hours to spend in the kitchen.

This Mexican inspired pita pocket sandwich is loaded with protein, healthy fat, and lots of flavor. Pair it with a cup of soup or salad, and you have a balanced meal!

Recipe

1 can of black beans
1 can of corn
1 ripe avocado chopped up into chunks
1/2 cup of shredded veggie white cheddar (mozzarella is fine too)
1 large tomato diced
1 small diced purple onion
Cilantro
Salt and pepper
2 Pita Pockets cut length-wise

Directions:

1. Rinse black beans and place in pot over a medium-to-high heat for 10 minutes.
2. After beans are warm take them off burner and place into a bowl to cool for 5 minutes.
3. Add corn, avocado, tomato, onion, a few pieces of cilantro, and mix together. Add salt and pepper to taste.
4. Fill pita pocket halves with mixture and top with a sprinkle of cheese.

How simple was that, folks?

Heart Healthy Foods for Valentines Day

On February 14, people like to eat chocolates, sip wine, and indulge in anything that is cliche Valentines Day fare.

For everyone who is sitting at home tonight watching sappy love movies, or who just doesn’t care to eat Godiva, I have compiled a short list of foods that are not only healthy, but Valentines daysey, because they’re good for your heart!

Oats

You don't have to wait till breakfast to enjoy oats. I eat oatmeal all the time for dinner.

High in fiber, oats help lower bad cholesterol (LDL), and stabilize blood glucose levels.
I like to cook mine in water, splash a little almond milk on, a sprinkle raisins, and a dollop of PB.

Avocado
In the fat hating 90′s avocados were often sworn off by people who were afraid of their high fat content. What a mistake!!! Avocados are filled with fiber, and contain monounsaturated fat which lowers LDL! They also help the body absorb lycopene and beta-carotene, which also promotes a healthy heart.

Avaocados are a perfect food.

Add avocados onto sandwiches and salads to boost flavor and the healthy fat factor.

Nuts

My personal favs? Peanuts (well, PB), Almonds, followed by cashews.

Nuts, like Avocados, are often give the thumbs down for their fat content, but it’s good fat people! Walnuts have Omega-3, and almonds have monounsaturated fat.

In the morning I grab a handful of raw almonds and raisins for breakfast on the go. It makes a great pre-workout snack.

Blueberries

Blueberries are great fresh or frozen. Buy in bulk, and freeze what you can use right away.

Blueberries have beta-carotene, flavonoids, fiber, and potassium. Place them in smoothies, protein pancakes, or even yogurt to get your fill of this heart healthy fruit.

Sportswear to Want, and Apps for Fitness & Health Junkies

My boyfriend turned me onto Under Armour sportswear awhile back. It’s practically all he wears when he hits the gym. In fact, Under Armour seems to be the brand most hot guys where to the gym-at least, where I live.

The brand isn’t cheap, but it’s fashionable, functional, and figure flattering. I am currently craving the following:

Source: underarmour.com via Fit on Pinterest

Source: underarmour.com via Fit on Pinterest

I’m also craving these shoes, even though they are Nike, and not Under Armour.

Source: google.com via Fit on Pinterest

I actually just got a new pair of sneakers, which I absolutely love. The GT-2170 gives stability and cushioning, which is pretty important when you’re clocking those miles. They’re also very pretty.

I chose the grey and electric purple ones.

Flossy, huh?

Still, you can’t blame me for drooling over those Nikes. They’re so bright and pink! No one’s going to miss you on the street wearing those.

Now that I’ve given you your fill of sportswear, I kindly direct your attention to other things to spice up your workout life, aka apps!
I’m not really an app person. I don’t have an iPhone, and the life on my Verizon Droid Incredible goes to half after I surf the net for 10 minutes.

I rather read a magazine to get tips and motivation, but as of recently, I’m beginning to see the appeal of downloading these things. They can provide users with a personal trainer or workout buddy, nutrition help, and so much more.

Here are some apps I think are worth checking out:

For iPhone and iPad

DishPal
App Description: Users gain access to a social network of foodies. The app not only gives users a chance to share their fav foods with friends, but users can also create their own foodie magazine, categorizing their favorite ingredients, dishes, and everything else a food lover craves.
Price: Free

Ultimate Fitness
App Description: This app is just sik!!! You’ll have no excuses not to workout once you download it. Made for the iPhone and iPad, Ultimate Fitness has 81 workouts to choose from, including Get Madonna Arms, and Full Body Workout in 1 Move.
Price: Free!!

Fooducate
App Description: You know your annoying friend who works for the diet police? You know, the one who likes to point at the sandwich you are eating and then blurts out its fat grams? Now you can kick that friend to the curb and just download this app because this baby knows the 411 when it comes to food. Fooducate allows users to scan food at the grocery score, then gives the skinny on the item. You’re literally a scan away from knowing if your food is high in fiber, filled with vitamins or loaded with sugar. It’s a definite download for anyone who is clueless in trying to make sounder choices at Trader Joes.
Price: Free

Droid/Blackberry

iFitness
App Description: This app is great for anyone who wants to weight train, but feels clueless in the weight room. iFitness provides 250 exercises for users to try, with pictures!!! Select the area of your bod you want to work and the app will give you a selection of exercises to do.
Price: $3.99 for subscribers; $7.99 one time charge.
Compatible with Samsungs, Motorolas, and pretty much every non-blackberry or Droid.

Calorific
App Description: If you’re not into writing everything you eat down in a book, try typing it into your phone. While everyone thinks you’re texting some mysterious suitor, you’ll be tracking your meals, getting feedback on your food choices, and making simple, but effective, strives to a healthier diet.
Price: Free
Compatible with Droid phones.

HandyLogs Fitness
App Description: Handylogs allows users to clock fitness progress in one easy app. Tailor workouts to your fitness goals, and store records of weight loss and calories burned.
Price: Free
Compatible with blackberries.

And there you have it folks! Some cool gear and apps all worth checking out. Now tell me your favorite fitness brands and apps. Fit minds want to know!

Shake It Up: A Booty-Shaking Workout and A Smoothie for After

Crunches get old, so it’s fun to find workouts that whittle your waist while you’re on your feet.

The Booty Shaking Waist Workout from Tracey Rothe concentrates on toning the obliques. At 10 minutes, the workout is super short, giving you no excuses not to squeeze it into your schedule. I mean, you could even doing it while deep conditioning your hair. It’s that time effective!

Keeping with the whole “shake it” theme, I put together another quick and easy smoothie to nourish your body (and taste buds) after you’ve broken a sweat.

Peach & Pineapple Smoothie

Yum, yum, yum

I hate eating banana oh natural, so I’m always adding them into my tummy via shakes or protein pancakes. Peaches contain flavonoids, and the pineapple juice gives Vitamin A and C.

Ingredients
- 1 cup of 100 percent pineapple juice
- 1 ripe banana
- 1/2 cup of frozen peaches
- 4 ice cubes
* (Optional) vanilla protein powder (I use a vegan one with chia and flax seeds).

Directions

Place ingredients in blender and blend.

Now place in a glass, and drink it-duh!!

This smoothie is a tropical paradise-perfect for curing the winter blues

Pineapple & Blueberry Smoothie

This smoothie packs 4 servings of fruit!

The blender is my most used kitchen tool, and that’s because I’m always making smoothies and protein shakes. Shakes and smoothies provide me with a simple way to get my fruits and veggies in on the go. Clean up is minimal, and the possibility for recipes are endless.

The Pineapple & Blueberry Smoothie is my latest creation. I went to make a shake the other day, only to discover my beloved unsweetened almond milk was finished. Curses! Fortunately, I had individual cans of 100 percent pineapple juice on hand, which served as the liquid for this recipe. I generally eat fruit, rather than drink its juice. However, if I do drink juice I make sure it’s 1) 100 percent, 2) 1 serving and 3)it is counted toward my daily calories and fruit intake.

This shake has 4 servings of fruit, is loaded with antioxidants, fiber (thanks to the blueberries), and potassium (banana). The pineapple brings natural sweetness, as well as vitamins A,C, and E. While you don’t need to add protein powder to the mix, I generally do because I don’t eat meat and am always looking for ways to get my protein intake in. Feel free to substitute the protein powder for Greek yogurt, but keep it plain.

Recipe

1. 1 cup of pineapple juice

2. 1 fresh banana

3. 1 cup of blueberries (frozen or fresh)

4.  1 scoop of vanilla protein powder (here’s the kind I use), or use plain Greek yogurt.

Directions

1. Place juice in blender, followed by blueberries, banana, and ice.

2. Blend.

3. (Turn off blender) Add protein powder or yogurt, then turn blender back on and blend till smooth.

4.  Pour into a glass and enjoy!!!

 

FYI: If you’re looking to purchase a blender, I highly recommend the Vitamixer, which is the mother of all blenders. However, if you’re not able to drop 100 plus on one (I got one as a gift), I just came across a very affordable, ultra compact blender by Cuisinart that’s worth checking out.

 

Source: crateandbarrel.com via Fit on Pinterest

February is Eating Disorder Awareness Month

I was recently reminded that February is National Eating Disorder Awareness month, which serves the purpose of reminding and educating the public about the mental condition(s).

For those of you who have or know someone who is suffering from an eating disorder, I have created a short list of things/events you may find interesting and helpful.

1. The Empire State Building (NYC) will be lit up in blue and green on the 28th, in recognition of National Eating Disorder awareness week.

2. Stop Hating Your Body, is a blog I recently found on TUMBLR. The focus of the site is to encourage body acceptance and love. Bloggers from all around send in personal stories and pictures, declaring why they have decided to stop hating their bodies. It’s rather inspirational, so check it out.

3.

Wasted: A memoir of Anorexia and Bulimia; Marya Hornbacher

Wasted, is the best memoir I’ve ever read concerning eating disorders. Marya Hornbacher is one of my favorite writers of all time, and the book is not only raw, but really gives a lot of the science and psychology behind why eating disorders lead to such madness. * Side note: I was able to meet Hornbacher during my junior year, an experience that left me feeling high for a week. Writers are who I consider celebrities, and I was utterly starstruck by her.

4.
Thin, the HBO documentary from 2006, is also worth checking out. The film does an excellent job in showing how consuming true eating disorders become. I really dislike how the media tends to focus on celebrities when discussing eating disorders, because celebrities have a way of making the most negative things look glamorous. In my experience (and I have much) people with eating disorders don’t lead very glamorous lives. There’s a lot of fear, exhaustion, and frustration. Thin captures this very well. I would also like to note that Polly, one of the main patients featured during this film, is now dead.

5. The National Eating Disorder Association has an amazing directory of links, programs, and other resources for those who are seeking help. I felt a link to that section of their website was necessary in my list.