Staying Flexible and Another Health Icon

by Paige on February 7, 2012

It’s been a while since I’ve had an official “lunch break” at the BIC (since I now work half days) and I have to say, it’s quite nice to be able to come home and make a lunch mid-day. I typically just pack something and eat it around 1:30 right at my desk.

For today’s at home lunch, I simply reheated last night’s carnitas leftovers:

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In a plate-sized bowl, I layered spinach, carnitas, avocado, and some tortilla chips. This tasted absolutely delicious! Last night we ate them taco-style, but this semi-taco salad proved to be in tastier.

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For those interested, I used this slow-cooker recipe for the carnitas and the flavor was seriously out of the park good. Shane and I both gave it a big thumbs up.

I’ll admit, I wasn’t looking forward to rearranging my schedule for class this week, but being flexible is really important. Really, you never know what life will throw at you, and I like to think of little changes in schedules like this (read: working extra long between BIC and training days temporarily) will keep me flexible and pliable to change in the future Smile

/end PSA and on to an article I read this morning!

Wal-Mart Labels Items as Healthy

I wanted to share with you an article I read on MSNBC this morning about Wal-Mart now labeling its “healthier foods.”

Intrigued by the headline, I quickly learned that the major grocery store chain will be labeling certain foods as “great for you” with a small icon.

Ok, great, but what’s the criteria, right? Wal-Mart came up with its criteria by looking at government and health organizations’ guidelines. However, the guidelines weren’t listed outright – and seemed like the lines were somewhat blurry.

From the article, I gathered that the not-yet-FDA-approved, Michelle Obama-endorsed details include:

  • Reduced prices on healthier items
  • More options for reduced sodium/sugar items
  • Certain store-branded packaged items

Hey, as long as they aren’t calling fried fish or somethinglikechicken nuggest “great for you,” so far, so good. I actually think it sounds like it’s going to be a helpful initiative!

Back to class I go! Have a great day, guys Smile

How structured is your schedule on a day to day basis?

Have you heard about Wal-Mart’s new initiative to promote a healthy diet?

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Homemade Valslides

by Paige on February 7, 2012

Morning! This morning is a little different in the fact that I didn’t work out upon waking up.

Instead, I dove head first into a cup of coffee that’s as big as my head:

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Hm. And now after looking at that photo, my coffee mug is also as white as my head. I needz some sunz. Or at least some bronzer..sheesh. Moving on!

I have to head straight to the BIC today because I’m in class all week. We started yesterday afternoon so today’s day 2.

Now normally, I’d wait a few hours before eating breakfast since I didn’t workout first, but I wasn’t sure what time my tummy would start growling in the middle of class, so I played it safe and ate a full breakfast after coffee-ing.

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Noats! Pumpkin noats, to be specific. I won’t give the recipe because the other kind were way, way yummier. These were tasty, but not that tasty Smile

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I added a big ol’ dollop of cottage cheese at the end and it really paired perfectly once stirred in.

Now we’re going to switch gears and talk about a fitness tool I’ve been using both in my workouts and in my clients’ workouts lately.

Homemade Valslides

What are Valslides? According to valslides.com:

The Valslide® is a piece of foot sized specially formulated plastic and non skid foam that, with your muscle tension, slides in a controlled manner to activate stubborn muscles and body parts.

Basically, using valslides engages certain muscles that would not otherwise be utilized as much. Specifically, it calls our stabilizer muscles into play.

Although Valslides are “specially formulated” to engage these muscles, I have something that works just as well:

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Paper plates?

Yep! Well, the backs of the paper plates, anyway Smile

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Basically, you put your palm, foot, booty, or what have you on the front of the plate, with the bottom of the plate pressed on the ground. Then you can do your sliding movement.

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Here I’m doing mountain climbers with the homemade valslides, but there’s a multitude of ways you can use them.

I also made a little video that I posted on my youtube page here that shows a couple exercises as well as a more in depth explanation. And a bit of goofiness on my part Winking smile  Also, you know what’s coming soon…a Valslide workout. Stay tuned!

Time to grab the rest of my noats and head out the door! Have a lovely Tuesday morning, friends. See ya later Smile

Have you ever used Valslides?

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Control in the Kitchen

by Paige on February 6, 2012

Today’s lunch situation was a little different in the fact that it was eaten in-transit to the office:

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This may be the least-appetizing color smoothie that I’ve ever made, but that’s no indicator of how it tasted – amazing!! Good thing, because I made so much I had to use two cups!

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Green Mango Protein Smoothie

1 c. water

1 scoop Jay Robb vanilla whey protein powder

1 scoop Greek yogurt

handful spinach

1/2 c. frozen mango

1 frozen banana

1 c. ice

Blend ‘n slurp!

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Preferably with a heat sensitive color-changing straw Winking smile

Control in the Kitchen

Remember the pizza we ate during the Super Bowl last night?

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Well, I was gathering the ingredients together when Shane walked in the kitchen and said, “Why don’t you let me make the pizza tonight?”

Now, Shane never cooks. Ever – at least in the months of November-April (aka, non-grilling out season.) The fact that I love to cook and the fact that Shane works 50+ hours a week is reason enough for me to happily be the chef in the house. Needless to say, I was a bit surprised, but went with it.

However, I noticed I couldn’t help myself from casually walking in the kitchen ad piping in with tips or suggestions a couple times. I think he actually said, “babe, I got it!” before I retreated back to the living room to watch the commercials. 

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I had no idea I had such control issues in the kitchen! I guess I’ve just gotten used to being the cook in the house that it felt unnatural to let someone else be the chef! #Ihaveissues

And? The pizza tasted amazing! After the first couple of bites, I quickly offered Shane the opportunity to take over the kitchen once a week every week Open-mouthed smile 

All right. Off to class I go! Then I have a couple clients to train later today. Have a great rest of your Monday!

Who’s the main cook in your house? If it’s you do you like to do it, or wish someone else chimed in to help more often?

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Work it All Kettlebell Workout

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Pin itI tried to watch the Super Bowl yesterday, I really did. I even made guacamole for the occasion! But at the end of the day, I just wasn’t into it. Shane and I ended up just staying home to watch it. And by watch it I mean watch the first half and then becoming [...]

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When Others Leave Me

February 5, 2012

Pin itThe minute Destiny arrived on Thursday night, this weekend has been like one three-day long slumber party, and I’m loving every minute of it! Destiny lives in Chicago, which is really only 2 hours away, but I’m not looking forward to taking her to the train station this morning at all. For some reason, [...]

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Celebrate the One

February 4, 2012

Pin itOut of all my close, close friends from high school, only 1 has made the leap into motherhood. Last night, the rest of us all gathered together to celebrate that 1 – Melissa and her little girls’ birthday: Mel is such an awesome mother to her now 2 and 4 year olds, and I’ve [...]

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Triple Circuit Workout B + Surprise Visitor

February 3, 2012

Pin itLast night around the time I’d usually be winding down and hopping in bed, I headed out to the train station to pick up a special visitor! D$ is staying with us this weekend I’m always happy to see my girl, Destiny, so I had no qualms about pushing my bedtime a couple hours [...]

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