Hiking Ensign Peak

Hiking Ensign Peak
My cute exercising family!

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Natural Muscle Magazine Article

I am so excited that my hero, Tosca Reno, was featured in the November issue of
Natural Muscle Magazine!
There is a two page spread on her, you can check it out here....ENJOY! (Pages 56-57)
*There is also a great pumpkin recipe on the next page over from her article...yummmmm!

Monday, October 5, 2009

Two Thanksgivings!

How cool is this....I get 2 Thanksgivings each year. Since I am Canadian, I still celebrate my Thanksgiving. Then in November, as I am a resident of the USA, I celebrate again! Lucky me!
....or unlucky me? Twice I have to figure out how to do this without gaining unwanted pounds or offending excited relatives by not trying their festive culinary holiday delights.
Of course, my exercise hero, Tosca Reno, has once again done some awesome leg work for us! I am posting her amazing Clean Eating recipe for one of the holiday favorites, Sweet Potatoes. I will be making this at my house, try it at yours! Enjoy!

Lemon and Cinnamon Sweet Potatoes
Ingredients:
3 good-sized sweet potatoes, scrubbed and trimmed of fibers
1 1/2 cups / 360 ml apple juice
1/3 cup / 80 ml agave nectar
1 tsp / 5 ml ground nutmeg
1 tsp / 5 ml ground cinnamon
1 tsp / 5 ml freshly grated lemon zest
1/2 tsp / 2.5 ml sea salt
3 Tbsp / 45 ml best-quality olive oil
Juice of one half lemon
Preparation:
1. Preheat oven to 375°F / 190°C.
2. Prepare a large baking dish by spraying with Eat-Clean Cooking Spray or a touch of olive oil. 3. Place sweet potatoes in a saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and let simmer until just tender. Don’t overcook the sweet potatoes – you want them a bit firm. They will finish cooking in the oven.
4. Drain sweet potatoes and set aside to cool. Peel if desired. Cut into rounds 1/4-inch thick and lay them in the baking dish. Don’t overlap the pieces of potato.
5. In a heavy saucepan place apple juice, agave nectar, nutmeg, cinnamon, lemon zest and salt. Simmer over low heat for several minutes. Add olive oil and lemon juice. Stir well. The liquid should now be syrup. If not thick enough, simmer a little longer. Pour the warm syrup over the sweet potatoes.
6. Place the baking dish in the oven and bake the sweet potatoes for 20 minutes or until hot and fragrant.
7. Serve hot.
Nutritional Value for a 5-Slice Serving of Sweet Potatoes: Calories: 148 Calories from Fat: 60 Total Fat: 7 g Saturated Fat: 0 g Total Carbs: 33 g Fibers: 2 g Protein: 1 g Sodium: 233 mg Cholesterol: 0 mg

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Summer is gone....

Fall is once more upon us! I love fall....I love the smells and the colors. I love wrapping up in blankets and sweaters, sipping hot drinks...running through piles and piles of leaves. I love that first morning you wake up and feel that chill in the air. Fall baking is the best! Apples and soups, and stews....hearty beans and chili's...YUM!
The year before I turned 40 I started running in my garage. I would turn on my space heater and jump on my treadmill, wearing two or three jackets and gloves and a big hat. Hilarious! That daily adventure got me started on my current exercise path. Now I have a lovely gym in my basement, cool in the summer, warm in the winter. I get a little nostalgic for my crazy garage run days...hmmmm....
I am going to post a few of my favorite fall recipes for you to try.
They are either ones I have found and loved,
or ones that I have created, and modified to make them healthier.
Go grab that favorite quilt and enjoy the recipes!

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Mommy and Baby Exercise Class
Instructor: Ruthann Sanders - ISSA Cert. Personal Fitness Trainer
When: 8am Summer Saturday’s - July 11, 18, 25, Aug 1st, 8, 15, 22, 29
Where: Daybreak - North Shore
Price: $10 Per class or $75 for all 8!
Working out doesn't mean you have to part with your baby!

4 reasons why you should set aside an "exercise for mom and baby" time everyday:
1. Daily physical activity reduces stress.
2. It can help you sleep better
3. Fitness helps keep you healthy and has been linked to reducing the risk of some diseases and to warding off depression (goodbye to post partum depression or just those days when your baby's turned into a monster!)
4. Exercising like strength training can help prevent osteoporosis
Exercise also improves self-esteem, increases stamina and ultimately helps you be able to do continuous work for longer (remember, motherhood doesn't end at 6pm!)
Now have I told you why it can be good for your baby too?
~Exercising with your baby will help him learn good movement and coordination skills
~Both you and your baby will have fun
~Exercising with your baby can certainly be one of the most fun (and beneficial) activities you and your baby can do together.

OK, so say hello to your new little training buddy and start exercising!
Note: Most doctors and midwives suggest waiting until your six-week postnatal check before beginning to exercise so it is recommended to consult them before doing any activity.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Zonya...one of my fav public tv shows

So, I absolutely love this television show, Zonya's Health Bites...seen it?
It is one of those definate 'must watches' on a Saturday morning.
Check out Zonya's website, watch one of her episodes, and try some of her recipes. She got me onto adding more beans into my diet...she is very cool. Her mantra is simple...go check it out!
I know you will be impressed.
Last weekend I learned that by replacing red meat with beans just 4 times a week, you can lower your cholesterol 100 points in 2 months...too easy to not try!
Here is a simple way to do that!
Make a great salad, lots of green leafy veg's and crisp red tomatoes, diced red and green peppers.
Then warm up a can of S&W Southwestern beans.
Open and drain 1 can of all white meat chicken and shred it.
Assemble:
On a plate, measure a 1/2 a cup of the beans, top with 1/4 cup of shredded chicken.
Add your chopped veggies, and lettuce.
Top with a few diced tomatoes, a dash of sea salt and a squirt of lime juice!
Fantastic!!!!
(I know...that is what I am eating for dinner tonight! )
Enjoy.