Let's hit 2009 running!

Is starting a running program part of your New Year's resolution? Maybe you have decided to run a 5k, 10k or Marathon! I know I have a few friends that are planning on running a race this year. One of my best friends and I are tentatively going to pick a half marathon at some point in time this year. Hopefully when travel expenses go down since we live on oppossite sides of the country from each other.
I don't know about you but I haven't gone for a run in quite awhile. It's actually enjoyable when I keep up with it and am able to comfortably keep up a nice pace. Key things that have changed my experience with running: Shoes! Everyone needs good running shoes. I went to a store that specializes in running shoes and I haven't gotten shin splints since then. It's amazing because I always hated running because I always got shin splints and my knees hurt. Also you need great music(optional) you can always listen to nature. I love my ipod and a great song keeps me motivated. Remember to be careful of traffic etc if you have headphones on. Maybe try running with one in and one out. If you want to start a running program check out EXRX and pick the running program of your choice. I'm going to start the half marathon Level 1. I'll keep you posted on my progress. Start slow to decrease your chance of injury and increase your chances of success! Best of luck and keep me posted on your progress.

Super potion juices...really?

Has anyone tried the acai berry? I have been hearing bits and pieces about it lately but I haven't tried it yet. Apparently it's jam packed with antioxidants and other miracle potion like substances. Kind of like the pomegranite. Now I am curious if these fruits are actually that much better than the rest of the bunch or if it's just a marketing ploy to get us to spend $5 on a glass of juice. Acai berry is supposed to taste like a mixture of red wine and chocolate. I am thinking that you can't go wrong with that! So the next time I make it to the store I'll have to pick some up and tell you what I think.

Scoop that belly in and up!

Today I am going to post some helpful tips for really getting into your powerhouse. Everyone is different on how fast they really feel their powerhouse connection while doing Pilates exercises or just getting that scooping feeling your instructor is talking about.

You always want to feel like you are still able to breathe. So sucking it in so much you are holding your breath is not the feeling you are going for. Try lying on your back place your hands on your belly,and take in a nice deep breath expanding your lungs all directions. You should feel like your rib cage is also expanding front to back and side to side. As you start your exhale draw your navel slightly inward toward the floor and slightly upwards towards the crown of your head. Your belly should feel deflated. Even if it's only slightly that's good it will get better I promise. You have to retrain the neuromuscular pathways. So it takes some time. You can also imagine you are putting on a really tight pair of pants and have to suck it in and up so you can zip it up, or you just pulled them out of the dryer and the button is super hot. Which makes you hold it in so that you don't burn your belly. Mindful that you are still breathing;)

You want to practice this multiple times daily until you finally make a habit of engaging your powerhouse all the time. Practice lying down, sitting at your desk, driving your car and standing in line.

Happy 2009!

Happy New Year to you all! I hope you had a fun and safe Christmas. Today is the day we are supposed to make a resolution or start our resolution. Did you set any goals? Please feel free to share in the commments. I am still deciding on mine I guess. I want to do something meaningful, something that will feel really great to accomplish. Maybe write cookbook, learn more about blogging, or expand my career. Maybe it will just be to become more confident, work on my public speaking skills, offer an educational class. Perhaps I'll do a complete overhaul and set lots of goals. Remembering though that working towards these goals is achieving success. I may not get them all accomplished by next year, but as long as I am moving forward I am not failing. Even if I change my mind and do something else I am making progress because I am figuring out what it is I am passionate about. That's it! My resolution will be to find out what I am truly passionate about.

Remember to keep yourself in check....if you want to

Hmm well after a fun weekend of overindulging which didn't make my head feel wonderful Sunday morning, and didn't make my scale squeel with delight this morning. It is time to have a couple good days! Well once I finally lost the weight I wanted to pick a number that if it creeped towards that number(well if it hit or surpassed it) I would get back on the bandwagon. Well this morning I was 1 pound shy of it. I was very proud of myself and didn't freak out about it or tell myself I was fat. I calmly accepted that I needed to behave;) So I ate lots of fruit and more veggies today, and had poached eggs for breakfast. I'm not sure if say I'm just retaining water and the scale will go back to where I would like it too in a day or so. We'll see, but I also feel way better when I eat healthier. I need to up my cardio too. I have actually been avoiding it! It's kind of cold and sometimes I just don't want to look like a dork in front of the neighbors. Whom I haven't met most of them and the ones I have don't seem all that intersted in me anyways. So why do I care? Well I'm not sure. I am looking into buying a spinning bike with my Christmas/bday money that I get this year. That way there is no excuse if I am watching tv I could also be exercising.

I'll take an Extra Large in the Sexy Panties....

Why do victoria secret's sexier underwear versions run so small?!? And the regular cotton ones run so big?!?! Are they saying that if we aren't teeny tiny we don't want to look sexy? I do realize that some cuts are going to fit different bodies differently, maybe I'm curvier and have a little bit of a booty:) Which I do like to be covered by my underwear.
My husband's work Christmas party is next weekend and I was searching for a bra to wear under my dress(as oppossed to on top of, lol) just kidding. Anyways I tried on all the bras I own and none of them worked. You could either see it in the front, see it on the side, or it was too big. Because we all know when you lose weight your boobs go too! I do consider myself blessed that they are still a C cup. So I hit up Victoria Secret without my dress(I'm hitting myself now) and found one that I thought was going to work perfectly. In a lovely silvery bluish gray, and then found some underwear that matched, and of course I had to buy two more pairs because it was 3 for $30:) Well I get home and discover that the bra isn't visible from the side but it is definately visible from the front. WHY?! Also discovered the underwear in a medium is way too small, even though one pair in another cut was a small and was a better fit. So I prob would need a large or extra large in the others for them to not dig in and give me not only a muffin top, but two butts as well. LOL ok so let's take this as a learning experience. Remember it is not your body, it is quite possibly the clothing that is not functioning properly! Sizes are not necessarily very accurate and definately not universal. Well I'm bringing the dress with me today and maybe I'll try those chicken cutlet thingies! I'm sure that's another story in itself:) Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Hmm it smells like cookies in here!

With Christmas just around the corner I am well into my baking frenzy. I won't lie, I love to bake. I do like to make any changes to a recipe that I can to make it healthier. So here are some tips that I have used. Use organic if you can. Wheat flour instead of white flour, if you sift the wheat flour it becomes lighter in texture(however I'm not sure if this removes any or all of the nutrients) I have also read it's good to add more liquid when cooking with wheat, but be careful when baking because some recipes are not forgiving when you mess with them! I replace shortening or margarine with butter to remove any trans fat. Or Pumpkin and applesauce can both be used to substitute the fat(butter or oil) in a recipe. I've only tried this in cakes and breads. Both work but I preferred the results from the pumpkin. It was dense and moist. I also have added ground flaxseed in place of some of the flour. Another tip I use for cookies is that I make them pretty small so that if you want to try more than one kind you aren't blowing your entire calorie budget for the day. This year I am thinking about making some spiced nuts with some dried fruit as a healthier option to the cookies.