Untill next summer...
Monday, July 30, 2007
- A Lobster and a moose walk into a bar...
Maine was wonderful! Beautiful, fun and relaxing. Plenty of lobster and clam consumption on my part! We managed to hit the beach six out of seven days and enjoyed exceptional hiking while taking in some outstanding views. We all took turns driving so all those hours on the rode were a breeze.
The two-year-old especially enjoyed the beach.
We’d go to the beach all morning, and then also after his afternoon nap. He had a lot of fun knocking over abandoned sand castles. Running to and from the ebb and flow of the tide, and chasing seagulls were his second favorite things to do. He also worked very had to get in on the frisbee and kite action. We decided to hit Concord, MA and Great Barrington, NH on the way home. We got home in just under ten hours, but took our time so the fun and relaxation mode continued.
While on the beach I made it a point to do a lot of walking. If you’ve done a lot of beach walking you know it’s an exceptional workout for your feet and legs! Your legs and feet have to work differently in order to navigate the sand, so you use all those muscles in different ways. It’s a gentle workout that feels great. If you’re hitting the beach a lot this summer, or heading to the beach for vaction be sure to walk, walk, walk!
The two-year-old especially enjoyed the beach.
We’d go to the beach all morning, and then also after his afternoon nap. He had a lot of fun knocking over abandoned sand castles. Running to and from the ebb and flow of the tide, and chasing seagulls were his second favorite things to do. He also worked very had to get in on the frisbee and kite action. We decided to hit Concord, MA and Great Barrington, NH on the way home. We got home in just under ten hours, but took our time so the fun and relaxation mode continued.While on the beach I made it a point to do a lot of walking. If you’ve done a lot of beach walking you know it’s an exceptional workout for your feet and legs! Your legs and feet have to work differently in order to navigate the sand, so you use all those muscles in different ways. It’s a gentle workout that feels great. If you’re hitting the beach a lot this summer, or heading to the beach for vaction be sure to walk, walk, walk!
Friday, July 20, 2007
- Lobsters, Lobsters, Lobsters!
Packing for a trip up to Maine... It takes around eight hours to get there with a two-year-old in tow. Normally it would only take six. I don't really mind the drive, hubby and I chat away and listen to cd's we've not heard in ages. 
Our son takes the long drive amazingly well and actually stays awake unless it's his regular nap time. I can't belive how much stuff I have to pack for Maine... I've put so much thought into packing light, and yet the bags in the hallway keep multiplying! We hope to be on the road by 7am tomorrow morning. It's 10:50pm now, and while I should be asleep instead I'm taking a break to write this between packing navigations. Well, I hope to blog while in Maine but between enjoying fresh lobsters and clams, days at the beach, hiking... I may have to let the laptop stay closed until the 29th. I am, however taking it with me so please stay tuned!
Our son takes the long drive amazingly well and actually stays awake unless it's his regular nap time. I can't belive how much stuff I have to pack for Maine... I've put so much thought into packing light, and yet the bags in the hallway keep multiplying! We hope to be on the road by 7am tomorrow morning. It's 10:50pm now, and while I should be asleep instead I'm taking a break to write this between packing navigations. Well, I hope to blog while in Maine but between enjoying fresh lobsters and clams, days at the beach, hiking... I may have to let the laptop stay closed until the 29th. I am, however taking it with me so please stay tuned!
Thursday, July 19, 2007
- Goodies On The Go
Ayurveda nutrition tip of the day: Rushing through a meal or a mini-meal leads to improper chewing. This gulping, basically, means your stomach has to work extra hard to digest the food that your mouth should have done more work on. Avoid feeling hungry, gas and heartburn by eating slowly and enjoying each bite. Take notice of what you're eating. Appreciate the color, texture and aroma of your food. Eating should be a smelling, touching and visual experience, not gulping.
Seems like our family is constantly on the road this summer, so I’ve learned to plan ahead for just about everything.
When I lived in Hastings-on-Hudson and commuted into the city, I made sure I had a change of shoes, a sweater, a good read, a bottle of water and some wholesome food in my bag in case I got delayed to or from the office. Today, I'm still a planner and our SUV is always well stocked. Plenty of sun block, picnic blankets, toddler books, toys, change of clothing, wet wipes etc… on board. Seems like our family is constantly on the road this summer in particular, and being on the go means bringing along plenty of wholesome foods that travel well. In our car you’ll always find bottled waters, cheese sticks, baby carrots, a few pieces of fruit, flavored rice cakes, almonds, Cheerios, low-salt & whole wheat honey pretzels, raisins, dried apple crisps and ice cream cones… less the ice cream. (My two-year-old thinks the plain cones are a special treat! He’s yet to realize that at home I put ice cream in my cones. I only scoop in enough to fill the actual cone without going over the brim. He can’t see my ice cream so does not ask for ice cream in his cone. It's great.)
With wholesome goodies in tow, we don’t visit Wendy’s too often and we manage to stay on track with eating well.
I don’t think I’ll ever give up those juicy Wendy’s burgers on those oh-so-soft fresh hamburger buns! Add just a hint of ketchup and it's a beautiful thing! How many Wendy's hamburgers do I eat? One per visit and only about eight annually. Seems to me they taste so amazing simply because I consume them so infrequently! I’m all about moderation when it come to less than wholesome foods. Whether you’re driving up to Maine or just down to Wal-Mart, eating well means taking time to plan ahead what goodies you and your family will enjoy on the go!
Once you start, it becomes easy and also pleasure to know you’re striving to provide wholesome foods for you and your family as often as possible. Get Walking!
Seems like our family is constantly on the road this summer, so I’ve learned to plan ahead for just about everything.
When I lived in Hastings-on-Hudson and commuted into the city, I made sure I had a change of shoes, a sweater, a good read, a bottle of water and some wholesome food in my bag in case I got delayed to or from the office. Today, I'm still a planner and our SUV is always well stocked. Plenty of sun block, picnic blankets, toddler books, toys, change of clothing, wet wipes etc… on board. Seems like our family is constantly on the road this summer in particular, and being on the go means bringing along plenty of wholesome foods that travel well. In our car you’ll always find bottled waters, cheese sticks, baby carrots, a few pieces of fruit, flavored rice cakes, almonds, Cheerios, low-salt & whole wheat honey pretzels, raisins, dried apple crisps and ice cream cones… less the ice cream. (My two-year-old thinks the plain cones are a special treat! He’s yet to realize that at home I put ice cream in my cones. I only scoop in enough to fill the actual cone without going over the brim. He can’t see my ice cream so does not ask for ice cream in his cone. It's great.)With wholesome goodies in tow, we don’t visit Wendy’s too often and we manage to stay on track with eating well.
I don’t think I’ll ever give up those juicy Wendy’s burgers on those oh-so-soft fresh hamburger buns! Add just a hint of ketchup and it's a beautiful thing! How many Wendy's hamburgers do I eat? One per visit and only about eight annually. Seems to me they taste so amazing simply because I consume them so infrequently! I’m all about moderation when it come to less than wholesome foods. Whether you’re driving up to Maine or just down to Wal-Mart, eating well means taking time to plan ahead what goodies you and your family will enjoy on the go!Once you start, it becomes easy and also pleasure to know you’re striving to provide wholesome foods for you and your family as often as possible. Get Walking!
- What About You?
- Where do you like to walk? What are some of your favorite places to step, stroll and scoot along? - Also, send me your favorite wholesome snack ideas! The ones that hit the spot and leave you satisfied!
- Along with that, I’d also love to hear what brand and style of sneakers you’ve decided to buy for walking!
You send me the info., and I’ll be happy to share it with other readers!
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
- Potato Chips
What a terrific walk this evening. I had my two-year-old in tow via the stroller, and what a workout it was! 
He relaxed and enjoyed the views while munching on Cheerios, pretzels, raisins, dried apple and strawberries. Near the end of the walk, the little prince refused to stay in the stroller any longer and got to run the last 10 minutes of the walk. This meant that I had to run along side of him, and he was well fed and full of energy! Having to run brought to recollection how much I do not like to run! I’ll walk, hike, ski and roller blade for hours, but man, I do not like to run!
Well, I’m really starting to see results from all this walking I’ve been doing! My clothes are fitting better, and I’m feeling lighter over all.
I’m more motivated than ever to walk as often as possible, and I‘m doing the right thing when it comes to my meals! To loose weight the US Surgeon General recommends being physically active for at least 30 minutes most days of the week. Many popular weight loss programs recommend starting with one day, and then building up to every other day doing moderate physical activity such as walking for an hour. Regardless, to lose weight you must eat less and you must eat well. I say the key is to simply pay attention to the type of food you’re choosing to consume regularly.
The habitual consumption of candy bars, potato chips, cookies etc…will always, in the long run, sabotage your efforts to drop a few pounds regardless of how much you exercise. Can't seem to shake the salty snack monkey off your back? Take heart and keep working at it. In moderations they're fine! In the mean time here's a fun link regarding a few others who are struggling with the monkey: http://www.calorie-count.com/forums/post/28452.html It may inspire you to cut down, or it may inspire you to run out and buy a bag or two... oh well. Get walking!
He relaxed and enjoyed the views while munching on Cheerios, pretzels, raisins, dried apple and strawberries. Near the end of the walk, the little prince refused to stay in the stroller any longer and got to run the last 10 minutes of the walk. This meant that I had to run along side of him, and he was well fed and full of energy! Having to run brought to recollection how much I do not like to run! I’ll walk, hike, ski and roller blade for hours, but man, I do not like to run! Well, I’m really starting to see results from all this walking I’ve been doing! My clothes are fitting better, and I’m feeling lighter over all.
I’m more motivated than ever to walk as often as possible, and I‘m doing the right thing when it comes to my meals! To loose weight the US Surgeon General recommends being physically active for at least 30 minutes most days of the week. Many popular weight loss programs recommend starting with one day, and then building up to every other day doing moderate physical activity such as walking for an hour. Regardless, to lose weight you must eat less and you must eat well. I say the key is to simply pay attention to the type of food you’re choosing to consume regularly. The habitual consumption of candy bars, potato chips, cookies etc…will always, in the long run, sabotage your efforts to drop a few pounds regardless of how much you exercise. Can't seem to shake the salty snack monkey off your back? Take heart and keep working at it. In moderations they're fine! In the mean time here's a fun link regarding a few others who are struggling with the monkey: http://www.calorie-count.com/forums/post/28452.html It may inspire you to cut down, or it may inspire you to run out and buy a bag or two... oh well. Get walking!
- Pedometers
What about a pedometer? Basically pedometers keep track of how many steps you take each day. 
Wearing a pedometer daily is great way to start walking for fitness. Beginners usually try to get in 2000 steps each day and then increase their steps by 2000 each day towards the goal of 10,000 steps per day. A pedometer is a small and worth while investment that will help you achieve your walking goals. It’s actually fun to challenge yourself and see how creative you can be to get in 2000 steps each day!
All basic pedometers provide the distance you’ve walked via steps or miles. Pricier pedometers can calculate and display other interesting stats such as distance, calories burned, speed, elapsed time and steps per minute. Even more expensive pedometers have fancy features such as stopwatch, alarm, am/fm radio, mp3 player, talking, playing music or reading your heart rate.
So, ask around, shop around and think about what features will suite your needs. The average person probably does not need the Porsche of pedometers, but if you walk a lot you may want to investment in the BMW of pedometers.
Listen to someone who has been there, if you buy one that's too inexpensive you may find it stops working after just a few weeks… or days! If you buy one that's to fancy you may not use it because it's too complicated. Here's a link that I hope will help you do a little research and figure it all out: http://www.pedometerdirectory.com/Results.aspx?query=Pedometer&sessionid=c05ert455ggzlp45wkc5a555&cc=us&ns=1&eas=BnUBhylaMkbxz2*B3y7i4g Of course it's always nice to buy from our local area stores after researching online.
Wearing a pedometer daily is great way to start walking for fitness. Beginners usually try to get in 2000 steps each day and then increase their steps by 2000 each day towards the goal of 10,000 steps per day. A pedometer is a small and worth while investment that will help you achieve your walking goals. It’s actually fun to challenge yourself and see how creative you can be to get in 2000 steps each day! All basic pedometers provide the distance you’ve walked via steps or miles. Pricier pedometers can calculate and display other interesting stats such as distance, calories burned, speed, elapsed time and steps per minute. Even more expensive pedometers have fancy features such as stopwatch, alarm, am/fm radio, mp3 player, talking, playing music or reading your heart rate.
So, ask around, shop around and think about what features will suite your needs. The average person probably does not need the Porsche of pedometers, but if you walk a lot you may want to investment in the BMW of pedometers.
Listen to someone who has been there, if you buy one that's too inexpensive you may find it stops working after just a few weeks… or days! If you buy one that's to fancy you may not use it because it's too complicated. Here's a link that I hope will help you do a little research and figure it all out: http://www.pedometerdirectory.com/Results.aspx?query=Pedometer&sessionid=c05ert455ggzlp45wkc5a555&cc=us&ns=1&eas=BnUBhylaMkbxz2*B3y7i4g Of course it's always nice to buy from our local area stores after researching online.
Sunday, July 15, 2007
- Moderation & Portion Control
Ayurveda nutrition tip of the day: Eat with the seasons! Relish in the abundance of fresh berries and 
watermelon in the summer, succulent squashes in the fall etc… It's how our forefathers ate and it’s how nature intended us to eat. Incorporate seasonal fruits and vegetables as much as possible either in your daily three meals, as well as your daily three mini-meals. See more about three daily mini meals on June 22nd blog. If you decide to try this, I’d love to know how it goes.
I hope you enjoyed your weekend. It's almost over, so make today count! My son and I headed to the park eariler this afternoon hoping to get in a couple of hours of fun before the rain came in. What a ball we had! Lots of little ones there his age. Some we knew, some we met for the first time. Since he's gotten used to most of the equipment at this particular playground, I get to step back a little further allowing him to do his thing. He'll start to climb and he'll say, "Be careful!" to himself over and over. He's heard it from mom and dad thousand of times. The playground was buzzing with so much activitly... kids trekking everywhere!
It got me thinking. Compared to our forefathers most of us live a pretty sedentary lifestyle and do little trekking. Many of us are caught up in the over consumption of starchy carbohydrates, saturated fat, refined sugar, refined flour and chemically altered over-processed foods. I would no more consume many food items the FDA allows to be put on the shelves of markets today than I would consume the sludge out of a gutter in New York City. It’s important to understand the nutrition labels on the food we bring into our homes.
That low-fat ice cream you picked up today probably has more sugar per serving than the regular ice cream.
Fat is flavorful, so most low-fat items will have extra sugar (or salt) to make up for the lack of flavor. Do you want to trade off consuming more sugar and salt over more fat? Why not just have the original, more authentic, less processed, less chemically altered food item and exercise a little portion control? Moderation, not deprivation. During the summer I enjoy an ice cream cone almost every day if I can. It’s one scoop after lunch. It hits the spot, and I don’t want more than that amount because I know I can have another tomorrow, the next day and the next. If you have not been exercising moderation and portion control, just what is that one delectable goodie that you can’t seem to get enough of? I’d be interested to know!
watermelon in the summer, succulent squashes in the fall etc… It's how our forefathers ate and it’s how nature intended us to eat. Incorporate seasonal fruits and vegetables as much as possible either in your daily three meals, as well as your daily three mini-meals. See more about three daily mini meals on June 22nd blog. If you decide to try this, I’d love to know how it goes.I hope you enjoyed your weekend. It's almost over, so make today count! My son and I headed to the park eariler this afternoon hoping to get in a couple of hours of fun before the rain came in. What a ball we had! Lots of little ones there his age. Some we knew, some we met for the first time. Since he's gotten used to most of the equipment at this particular playground, I get to step back a little further allowing him to do his thing. He'll start to climb and he'll say, "Be careful!" to himself over and over. He's heard it from mom and dad thousand of times. The playground was buzzing with so much activitly... kids trekking everywhere!
It got me thinking. Compared to our forefathers most of us live a pretty sedentary lifestyle and do little trekking. Many of us are caught up in the over consumption of starchy carbohydrates, saturated fat, refined sugar, refined flour and chemically altered over-processed foods. I would no more consume many food items the FDA allows to be put on the shelves of markets today than I would consume the sludge out of a gutter in New York City. It’s important to understand the nutrition labels on the food we bring into our homes.
That low-fat ice cream you picked up today probably has more sugar per serving than the regular ice cream.
Fat is flavorful, so most low-fat items will have extra sugar (or salt) to make up for the lack of flavor. Do you want to trade off consuming more sugar and salt over more fat? Why not just have the original, more authentic, less processed, less chemically altered food item and exercise a little portion control? Moderation, not deprivation. During the summer I enjoy an ice cream cone almost every day if I can. It’s one scoop after lunch. It hits the spot, and I don’t want more than that amount because I know I can have another tomorrow, the next day and the next. If you have not been exercising moderation and portion control, just what is that one delectable goodie that you can’t seem to get enough of? I’d be interested to know!- Walking with Hand Weights?
If you are going to reap any benefit from hand weights while walking you will need to carry at least three pounds in each hand. 
Is it more of a workout? Not much more at all, actually. If you’re looking to intensify your walk or to make it more challenging check out my July 13th blog about increasing pace and distance. Also consider going up and down a few inclines while you walk. With hand weights comes the charge of having to hold your shoulders, neck and back in perfect form so that they are not pulled on by the extra weight. So, unless you lift weights regularly and have built up your shoulder, neck and back muscles, I’d say skip the hand weights and start trekking up some hills!
Is it more of a workout? Not much more at all, actually. If you’re looking to intensify your walk or to make it more challenging check out my July 13th blog about increasing pace and distance. Also consider going up and down a few inclines while you walk. With hand weights comes the charge of having to hold your shoulders, neck and back in perfect form so that they are not pulled on by the extra weight. So, unless you lift weights regularly and have built up your shoulder, neck and back muscles, I’d say skip the hand weights and start trekking up some hills! Friday, July 13, 2007
- What Do You Think?
This blog has nothing to do with fitness or nutrition, I'd just like your opinion.
Around June 17th or so I was in the kitchen and a squirrel jumped on the window screen.
It was just hanging about and sniffing at the screen as if it was trying to get in. So, I squirted it with some Fantastic cleaner. It jumped off the screen and then leaped back on hissing and screeching at me! I squirted more squirts. It hissed more hisses. I squirted a lot more squirts and yelled at it. It basically yelled back, hissed louder and then leaped out of sight. I was startled, but on went about my business thinking that I had done well in the battle.
On June 23rd, we came home one evening to find three open cereal boxes scattered on the kitchen floor. Flakes, bran and cheerios everywhere.
The chewed edges on the boxes was a sure indication that mammoth New York City subway rats had broken in and were lurking directly behind me about to pounce on my head and chew off my nose! Dispite feeling like a frightened eight-year-old, my mothering instincts kicked in! Without hesitation, in one swift precise move I tossed our two-year-old into my husbands arms and screamed for them to flee outside and save themselves! My husband gave me a condescending smile and leisurely took the baby to watch some ESPN.
I was now alone in the kitchen with the city rats! Where they still there?
As the nanoseconds dragged by, further investigation revealed that a squirrel had gnawed its way through the kitchen window screen for a little breakfast food sampling. There were no rats. Still an immensely disgusting situation in my book. As I floated back down to reality from my 3rd grade city rat fantasy, I went about cleaning up the mess. After tossing the cereals, I got out a bucket, rubber gloves and a large bottle of Mr. Clean. I worked up quite a sweat sterilizing the entire kitchen as if rats had been there indeed. I hit every square inch of that room including the walls as high as I could reach. By now, my husband was going about getting the baby ready for tubby time. They both gave me a condescending smiles as they passed the kitchen.
Later, 90 minutes later, I felt that my once deeply infested kitchen was clean enough for now, but that I should really do a little more scrubbing in the morning prior to breakfast…
or maybe before the sun comes up… or maybe in about an hour… Around midnight, and after a lengthy discussion with my husband, I finally acquiesced and agreed that our family should not move to a new home after all. Are you sitting down? On June 28th the squirrel got in again! The same way as before! I went through my purifying, detoxifying, sanitizing the kitchen ritual once again. My husband gave me condescending looks again. We replaced the screen again.
Well, on July 5th, the squirrel returned for the third time! We brought in a professional. I srubbed the whole kitchen yet again, and “The Screen Guy” suggested we “step up our game”. We now have a heavy thick screen on the window that glares most of the day so I can’t really see outside.
So, what do you think? Did I start a feud of sorts because I squirted the squirrel with Fantastic? With the second and third break ins, was it the same squirrel or was it the father (or gangster cousin) of the one I initially squirted? Have I brought a squirrel vendetta against my family? So far, the rodent or rodents have not returned... maybe they're building up an army?
Around June 17th or so I was in the kitchen and a squirrel jumped on the window screen.
It was just hanging about and sniffing at the screen as if it was trying to get in. So, I squirted it with some Fantastic cleaner. It jumped off the screen and then leaped back on hissing and screeching at me! I squirted more squirts. It hissed more hisses. I squirted a lot more squirts and yelled at it. It basically yelled back, hissed louder and then leaped out of sight. I was startled, but on went about my business thinking that I had done well in the battle.On June 23rd, we came home one evening to find three open cereal boxes scattered on the kitchen floor. Flakes, bran and cheerios everywhere.
The chewed edges on the boxes was a sure indication that mammoth New York City subway rats had broken in and were lurking directly behind me about to pounce on my head and chew off my nose! Dispite feeling like a frightened eight-year-old, my mothering instincts kicked in! Without hesitation, in one swift precise move I tossed our two-year-old into my husbands arms and screamed for them to flee outside and save themselves! My husband gave me a condescending smile and leisurely took the baby to watch some ESPN. I was now alone in the kitchen with the city rats! Where they still there?
As the nanoseconds dragged by, further investigation revealed that a squirrel had gnawed its way through the kitchen window screen for a little breakfast food sampling. There were no rats. Still an immensely disgusting situation in my book. As I floated back down to reality from my 3rd grade city rat fantasy, I went about cleaning up the mess. After tossing the cereals, I got out a bucket, rubber gloves and a large bottle of Mr. Clean. I worked up quite a sweat sterilizing the entire kitchen as if rats had been there indeed. I hit every square inch of that room including the walls as high as I could reach. By now, my husband was going about getting the baby ready for tubby time. They both gave me a condescending smiles as they passed the kitchen.Later, 90 minutes later, I felt that my once deeply infested kitchen was clean enough for now, but that I should really do a little more scrubbing in the morning prior to breakfast…
or maybe before the sun comes up… or maybe in about an hour… Around midnight, and after a lengthy discussion with my husband, I finally acquiesced and agreed that our family should not move to a new home after all. Are you sitting down? On June 28th the squirrel got in again! The same way as before! I went through my purifying, detoxifying, sanitizing the kitchen ritual once again. My husband gave me condescending looks again. We replaced the screen again. Well, on July 5th, the squirrel returned for the third time! We brought in a professional. I srubbed the whole kitchen yet again, and “The Screen Guy” suggested we “step up our game”. We now have a heavy thick screen on the window that glares most of the day so I can’t really see outside. 
So, what do you think? Did I start a feud of sorts because I squirted the squirrel with Fantastic? With the second and third break ins, was it the same squirrel or was it the father (or gangster cousin) of the one I initially squirted? Have I brought a squirrel vendetta against my family? So far, the rodent or rodents have not returned... maybe they're building up an army?
- Increasing Pace & Distance
My son wakes up from his afternoon naps and very loudly proclaims, “All done, mom!” 
Half asleep and wobbling about his crib, he rubs his eyes and repeats this chant until I appear. “Up with mom!” comes next and I dutifully pick him up. This is followed by, “More milk please mom”, and off I go to get his cup. He has me well trained. We go through the exact same after nap routine 95% of the time. He wakes up cheerful and satisfied, so I’m not looking to change a thing.
As you become more accustomed to walking on a regular basis, however, you may wish to change a few things.
Are you ready to increase your pace and/or distance? Moving your arms a little faster will cause your legs to follow automatically. Before you know it you will have increased your stride! Just be sure to take it slow and work your way up to a satisfying pace. Walking just 10 more minutes every two days is a great way to slowly increase your distance. If that’s too easy for you, try 20 minutes every two days. Finally, breathing correctly during walking is important. Work to breath out of your mouth and in through your nose. Take deep full breaths, and maintain proper posture! Have wonderful weekend! The weather is supposed to be super, so get walking!
Half asleep and wobbling about his crib, he rubs his eyes and repeats this chant until I appear. “Up with mom!” comes next and I dutifully pick him up. This is followed by, “More milk please mom”, and off I go to get his cup. He has me well trained. We go through the exact same after nap routine 95% of the time. He wakes up cheerful and satisfied, so I’m not looking to change a thing. As you become more accustomed to walking on a regular basis, however, you may wish to change a few things.
Are you ready to increase your pace and/or distance? Moving your arms a little faster will cause your legs to follow automatically. Before you know it you will have increased your stride! Just be sure to take it slow and work your way up to a satisfying pace. Walking just 10 more minutes every two days is a great way to slowly increase your distance. If that’s too easy for you, try 20 minutes every two days. Finally, breathing correctly during walking is important. Work to breath out of your mouth and in through your nose. Take deep full breaths, and maintain proper posture! Have wonderful weekend! The weather is supposed to be super, so get walking!
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
- Herbs & Spices
While our days have been hot lately, our evenings have been just perfect for walking! The last few nights the walking group has managed to not only dodge 
any rain in the forecast. We’ve encountered an abundance of gentle cool breezes that made leaving the air conditioning down right easy. It’s really a pleasure to be out there walking, talking and getting fit. Last night some of the group got into a pretty passionate discussion about real estate. We all noticed that we see quite a few homes for sale as we walk in various areas. On the nights I walk I eat dinner early, then Dad and the baby eat while I walk. With the cat away, the mice play. Dad gets to stare at ESPN, and our son gets to forgo utensils. Acutally, Dad probably forgoes them to.
At our house we can’t seem to get enough fresh onion and garlic into our meals, but I’m always working on incorporating a variety of herbs and spices into my cooking. I love to marinade.
One of my favorite ways to prepare meat or fish is to marinade it in a plastic bag with either apple juice, onion, lemon and/or garlic for a few hours. Grilled or slow cooked in just a splash of olive oil in a non-stick pan and, oh, the flavor is magnificent. Herbs and spices! What better way to ensure that your meals taste great without having to add a lot of butter, high sodium marinades and table salt? Don’t get me wrong, we enjoy our share of bottled marinades too! The catch is that we only use a small amount along with most of our marinade consisting of the aforementioned apple juice etc… We’ve found a balance and that’s the Ayurveda way.
Here’s a link to http://whatscookingamerica.net/herbs.htm, and here are some easy to use tasty herbs and spices that you may enjoying experimenting with: bay leaf, basil, sea salt, cardamom, cayenne chamomile, cinnamon, coriander, cumin, fennel, ginger, lemongrass, marjoram, mustard seed, oregano, rosemary, sage, tarragon, thyme, mint, nutmeg, parsley, raspberries, sesame and turmeric. I'd love to hear how you end up using some of them!
any rain in the forecast. We’ve encountered an abundance of gentle cool breezes that made leaving the air conditioning down right easy. It’s really a pleasure to be out there walking, talking and getting fit. Last night some of the group got into a pretty passionate discussion about real estate. We all noticed that we see quite a few homes for sale as we walk in various areas. On the nights I walk I eat dinner early, then Dad and the baby eat while I walk. With the cat away, the mice play. Dad gets to stare at ESPN, and our son gets to forgo utensils. Acutally, Dad probably forgoes them to.At our house we can’t seem to get enough fresh onion and garlic into our meals, but I’m always working on incorporating a variety of herbs and spices into my cooking. I love to marinade.
One of my favorite ways to prepare meat or fish is to marinade it in a plastic bag with either apple juice, onion, lemon and/or garlic for a few hours. Grilled or slow cooked in just a splash of olive oil in a non-stick pan and, oh, the flavor is magnificent. Herbs and spices! What better way to ensure that your meals taste great without having to add a lot of butter, high sodium marinades and table salt? Don’t get me wrong, we enjoy our share of bottled marinades too! The catch is that we only use a small amount along with most of our marinade consisting of the aforementioned apple juice etc… We’ve found a balance and that’s the Ayurveda way. Here’s a link to http://whatscookingamerica.net/herbs.htm, and here are some easy to use tasty herbs and spices that you may enjoying experimenting with: bay leaf, basil, sea salt, cardamom, cayenne chamomile, cinnamon, coriander, cumin, fennel, ginger, lemongrass, marjoram, mustard seed, oregano, rosemary, sage, tarragon, thyme, mint, nutmeg, parsley, raspberries, sesame and turmeric. I'd love to hear how you end up using some of them!
Monday, July 9, 2007
- Walking in Hot Weather
As temperature climbs it’s wise to keep drinking! On a day with temperatures hovering around 90 degrees even if you don’t feel thirsty, you should go ahead and have a gulp of fluid about every 20 minutes. 
Traditionally, being properly hydrated means downing six to eight glasses of fluid per day. In the mega heat you’ll need to consume more glasses depending on what your activity level is. Generally, it will mean consuming at least 1 liter of fluid per hour. One adult-size gulp equals one ounce of fluid. (For those 16 years-old and younger, one gulp equals one half-ounce of fluid.) One way to track if you’re getting enough fluids is to check the color of your urine. It should be pretty clear and no darker than pale yellow. If it’s even as dark as white grape juice, you’ll want to drink a lot more fluid on a daily basis.
Speaking of juice, don’t be fooled! Fruit juices, coffee, sugary juices, ice pops, soda, and all alcohol will only serve to dehydrate you, not hydrate you.
A “sports drink” is only a good choice, in my opinion, if you are running, jogging, playing basketball, tennis or some other super active activity out of doors on a mega hot day. Don’t like the taste - or lack thereof - of water? Squeeze in some fresh lemon or lime! How about adding a litte bit of honey too? Toss it all in a blender and yummy! Also, now is the perfect time to delve into the endless flavors and benefits of naturally hydrating herbal teas. Vanilla, mint, berry, chamomile etc… Just add crushed ice and maybe a few drops of honey! Another way to get more fluids in is to consume foods that have a high water content. Think fruits, vegetables and room temperature traditional and fruit based soups!
What to wear while walking in hot weather? Go for cotton, light weight, light colored and breathable clothing. While they are slimming, dark colors don’t reflect the heat, so please save the dark summer outfits for after 6pm! Cotton clothing absorbs perspiration. Drifit, CoolMax and other synthetic fabrics, however, help to keep a body cooler because they dry quickly allowing air to flow through. Now you’re all set for July and August! Get walking!
Traditionally, being properly hydrated means downing six to eight glasses of fluid per day. In the mega heat you’ll need to consume more glasses depending on what your activity level is. Generally, it will mean consuming at least 1 liter of fluid per hour. One adult-size gulp equals one ounce of fluid. (For those 16 years-old and younger, one gulp equals one half-ounce of fluid.) One way to track if you’re getting enough fluids is to check the color of your urine. It should be pretty clear and no darker than pale yellow. If it’s even as dark as white grape juice, you’ll want to drink a lot more fluid on a daily basis. Speaking of juice, don’t be fooled! Fruit juices, coffee, sugary juices, ice pops, soda, and all alcohol will only serve to dehydrate you, not hydrate you.
A “sports drink” is only a good choice, in my opinion, if you are running, jogging, playing basketball, tennis or some other super active activity out of doors on a mega hot day. Don’t like the taste - or lack thereof - of water? Squeeze in some fresh lemon or lime! How about adding a litte bit of honey too? Toss it all in a blender and yummy! Also, now is the perfect time to delve into the endless flavors and benefits of naturally hydrating herbal teas. Vanilla, mint, berry, chamomile etc… Just add crushed ice and maybe a few drops of honey! Another way to get more fluids in is to consume foods that have a high water content. Think fruits, vegetables and room temperature traditional and fruit based soups! 
What to wear while walking in hot weather? Go for cotton, light weight, light colored and breathable clothing. While they are slimming, dark colors don’t reflect the heat, so please save the dark summer outfits for after 6pm! Cotton clothing absorbs perspiration. Drifit, CoolMax and other synthetic fabrics, however, help to keep a body cooler because they dry quickly allowing air to flow through. Now you’re all set for July and August! Get walking!Sunday, July 8, 2007
- Backup Plans for Walking?
Ayurveda tip of the day: According to traditional Ayurveda philosophy there are basically six qualities of food: cold, hot, dry, oily, light and heavy. According to 9th grade science class you’ll remember that there are six distinct tastes of food: sweet, bitter, sour, salty, pungent and astringent. Strive to get all of these tastes and qualities into at least most, if not every meal. Do this, and you’ll find that your interest in poor quality foods will fade until one day it just disappears. Research some authentic Chinese and Japanese recipes for perfect examples of how to incorporate the six qualities and six tastes into your meals by using wholesome foods along with natural herbs and spices.
Do you have a backup plan in case you are not able to get out and do a regular walk? Maybe you’re traveling, maybe it’s just too hot to walk outdoors, maybe it’s supposed to rain for days.
Having a backup plan will keep you on track and motivated regardless of being thrown a curve or two. Here are some ideas: Commit to walking in place for 30 minutes while watching television, maybe your favorite news program. You were going to watch television anyway, right? Walk around the mall for 30 minutes. You wanted to do some window shopping anyway, right? If you can go for an hour all the better.I’ve not walked outside for three days, since Dad has been unavailable to baby sit during the time I usually walk. I thought about letting the baby nap in the stroller and walking then, but that would be during the hottest part of these July afternoons. Neither of us would be very comfortable, so I passed. Instead, I popped in some fitness videos while the baby napped. I watched others workout to a funky beat, felt a shot of motivation from their enthusiasm, and before I knew it at least 30 minutes had just flown by!
By the by, I got a fat lip for the first time ever. POW! I just froze and waited for the throbbing to subside. My 2-year-old did it.
His enthusiasm to take his “tubby” led him to start jumping up and down. I was sitting on the edge of the tub - and smack! His forehead met my bottom lip in one swift motion. At least I think that's what happended... not sure, see photo. Yes, I was struggling to get his socks off and he managed to knock mine off quite effortlessly! The lip is very black and purple on the inside, and only slightly swollen on the outside. Getting better every minute. Get walking.
Do you have a backup plan in case you are not able to get out and do a regular walk? Maybe you’re traveling, maybe it’s just too hot to walk outdoors, maybe it’s supposed to rain for days.
Having a backup plan will keep you on track and motivated regardless of being thrown a curve or two. Here are some ideas: Commit to walking in place for 30 minutes while watching television, maybe your favorite news program. You were going to watch television anyway, right? Walk around the mall for 30 minutes. You wanted to do some window shopping anyway, right? If you can go for an hour all the better.I’ve not walked outside for three days, since Dad has been unavailable to baby sit during the time I usually walk. I thought about letting the baby nap in the stroller and walking then, but that would be during the hottest part of these July afternoons. Neither of us would be very comfortable, so I passed. Instead, I popped in some fitness videos while the baby napped. I watched others workout to a funky beat, felt a shot of motivation from their enthusiasm, and before I knew it at least 30 minutes had just flown by! By the by, I got a fat lip for the first time ever. POW! I just froze and waited for the throbbing to subside. My 2-year-old did it.
His enthusiasm to take his “tubby” led him to start jumping up and down. I was sitting on the edge of the tub - and smack! His forehead met my bottom lip in one swift motion. At least I think that's what happended... not sure, see photo. Yes, I was struggling to get his socks off and he managed to knock mine off quite effortlessly! The lip is very black and purple on the inside, and only slightly swollen on the outside. Getting better every minute. Get walking.Wednesday, July 4, 2007
- Lake Minnewaska for Walking
Ayurveda nutrition tip of the day: Skip inulging in those frosty, soothing and undeniably delicious smoothies, frappachinos, iced cappachino’s etc… Beyond having one per week, you may be consuming more caffeine, sugar and milk fat than you realize. A delectable alternative? Make up your own coolers by combining in a blender: herbal mint tea, fresh lemon and/or lime, berries and/or watermelon, crushed ice and if you like a packet of artificial sweetener or a quarter teaspoon of brown or white sugar per 20 ounces. Go crazy and substitute the tea for club soda sometimes.
To celebrate the fourth of July, our family had decided to pack a picnic and head out to one of our absolute favorite places to walk, Lake Minnewaska!
Here's our two-year-old gather rocks to toss into the lake. Thankfully, we arrived early and were winding up our visit just when the parking lots seemed to be peaking with other picnickers, bikers, walkers, etc… The weather forecast had promised overcast all day with showers starting in the early evening. Rain or no rain I had planned to get in a good amount of walking, and thankfully it worked out perfectly. Dad guided and piggy-backed our two-year-old on the trails, while I pushed around 45 pounds on wheels for an hour and a half. You see, the baby stroller weighs 29.5 pounds empty. In the stroller we carried along an overstuffed cooler, baby gear and a large beach blanket which added at least another 15 pounds. It was definitely a good workout!
There are many carriage trails at Minnewaska, so if your kids are stroller age you don't have to take Minnewaska off your list of places to take them. You'll all enjoy spectacular views, fresh air and endless trails upon which to walk, walk, walk! Here’s a link serving up all you need to know about Lake Minnewaska: http://lakeminnewaska.org/state.html. It will even give you directions. If you’ve never been before, fear not because once you arrive and pay the parking fee you’ll receive a trail map to get you walking in the right direction.
After visiting friends in Red Hook, we ended our festivities by having a sumptuous dinner at Max’s in Red Hook on South Broadway. We experienced attentive service, the entrées arrived very quickly, and the food was great. To balance out the pork ribs and cornbread I enjoyed, my entrée was a huge mixed baby green salad. I filled up on the salad first, so a small portion of ribs and corn bread hit the spot. It's the Ayurveda way, loads of flavor not loads of cornbread and ribs. Theresa J. Marquez recently did a review on Max’s for The Poughkeepsie Journal. Posted on June 21st, here’s a link to what Theresa had to say about Max’s: http://poughkeepsiejournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070621/ENT02/706220301/1038. I hope you and yours had a wonderful 4th of July no matter what you were doing. Get walking.
To celebrate the fourth of July, our family had decided to pack a picnic and head out to one of our absolute favorite places to walk, Lake Minnewaska!
Here's our two-year-old gather rocks to toss into the lake. Thankfully, we arrived early and were winding up our visit just when the parking lots seemed to be peaking with other picnickers, bikers, walkers, etc… The weather forecast had promised overcast all day with showers starting in the early evening. Rain or no rain I had planned to get in a good amount of walking, and thankfully it worked out perfectly. Dad guided and piggy-backed our two-year-old on the trails, while I pushed around 45 pounds on wheels for an hour and a half. You see, the baby stroller weighs 29.5 pounds empty. In the stroller we carried along an overstuffed cooler, baby gear and a large beach blanket which added at least another 15 pounds. It was definitely a good workout! There are many carriage trails at Minnewaska, so if your kids are stroller age you don't have to take Minnewaska off your list of places to take them. You'll all enjoy spectacular views, fresh air and endless trails upon which to walk, walk, walk! Here’s a link serving up all you need to know about Lake Minnewaska: http://lakeminnewaska.org/state.html. It will even give you directions. If you’ve never been before, fear not because once you arrive and pay the parking fee you’ll receive a trail map to get you walking in the right direction.
After visiting friends in Red Hook, we ended our festivities by having a sumptuous dinner at Max’s in Red Hook on South Broadway. We experienced attentive service, the entrées arrived very quickly, and the food was great. To balance out the pork ribs and cornbread I enjoyed, my entrée was a huge mixed baby green salad. I filled up on the salad first, so a small portion of ribs and corn bread hit the spot. It's the Ayurveda way, loads of flavor not loads of cornbread and ribs. Theresa J. Marquez recently did a review on Max’s for The Poughkeepsie Journal. Posted on June 21st, here’s a link to what Theresa had to say about Max’s: http://poughkeepsiejournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070621/ENT02/706220301/1038. I hope you and yours had a wonderful 4th of July no matter what you were doing. Get walking.
- Happy 4th of July!
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
- Your Walking Log
Nutrition tip of the day: When you’re working to modify your eating habits, eating less is not necessarily the right idea. With Ayurveda one does not diet, one learns to eat a good portion of wholesome foods and fewer poor quality foods. If you often desire a good portion of sweets and various carbohydrates, you may want to try eating more protein and “good” fat within your six daily mini-meals. See more about mini-meals and some ideas on what to eat from my June 22nd blog.
I had some friends over this afternoon so our kids could play together. I was going about earlier getting the house freshened up.
After golfing all morning, Dad was around so I put him up to vacuuming. As I went to work on other things, I realized that I had never heard our vacuum from another room. The sound of someone else running the vacuum was completely foreign o me. My first thought was how nice it was that it‘s a relatively quiet vacuum since when one is running a vacuum it sure sounds loud, right? My second thought was: Wait just a cotton picking minute! This is the FIRST time Dad had used our five-month-old vacuum! How had he managed to get away with that? My final thought on the vacuum was that I’ll be sure to have him make up for lost time.
Another first? I’d like to share with you a link for the first time, and certainly not the last time. It’s a link whereby you may print out your very own weekly walking log! Just click on this link: http://walking.about.com/library/cal/weeklycal.pdf and print out a few. While you’re at it, you may want to jot down some fitness and walking goals. How many miles would you like to walk each day this week? By the end of this month? What article of clothing would you like to fit in at the end of this month? What would you like to weight by then? What food item would you like to eliminate or significantly cut down on by then? Having simple fitness goals in writing will serve as a source of motivation when you just don’t feel like eating well or exercising. Post your walking log along with our fitness goals somewhere where you’ll see them every day! If you've not tried having a walking log before, jump in! It'll be yet another first! Get walking.
I had some friends over this afternoon so our kids could play together. I was going about earlier getting the house freshened up.
After golfing all morning, Dad was around so I put him up to vacuuming. As I went to work on other things, I realized that I had never heard our vacuum from another room. The sound of someone else running the vacuum was completely foreign o me. My first thought was how nice it was that it‘s a relatively quiet vacuum since when one is running a vacuum it sure sounds loud, right? My second thought was: Wait just a cotton picking minute! This is the FIRST time Dad had used our five-month-old vacuum! How had he managed to get away with that? My final thought on the vacuum was that I’ll be sure to have him make up for lost time.Another first? I’d like to share with you a link for the first time, and certainly not the last time. It’s a link whereby you may print out your very own weekly walking log! Just click on this link: http://walking.about.com/library/cal/weeklycal.pdf and print out a few. While you’re at it, you may want to jot down some fitness and walking goals. How many miles would you like to walk each day this week? By the end of this month? What article of clothing would you like to fit in at the end of this month? What would you like to weight by then? What food item would you like to eliminate or significantly cut down on by then? Having simple fitness goals in writing will serve as a source of motivation when you just don’t feel like eating well or exercising. Post your walking log along with our fitness goals somewhere where you’ll see them every day! If you've not tried having a walking log before, jump in! It'll be yet another first! Get walking.
Sunday, July 1, 2007
- My Three Sneakers
At our house, we don’t usually get to have homemade corn muffins in July since the oven rarely gets turned on this time of the year. But this evening the weather was so cool and delightful I was inspired bake! Corn muffins and chocolate chip cookies. My husband loves the cookies! When he and the baby came inside to wash up for dinner and he smelled the cookies, he broke into his, “Yippee, fresh baked chocolate chip cookies!” happy dance. Amusing.
The cool weather also inspired me to take a walk along the trail at Spratt Park. I just love that walk. While walking I couldn’t help by notice how comfortable my feet were.
I generally own three pairs of sneakers at a time. My “play” sneakers get super dirty playing with my son at parks and playgrounds, my “everyday” pair I try to keep relatively clean looking for summer activities other than parks and playgrounds. Then, I have one pair exclusively for walking. My “walking” sneakers are always the pair that costs the most and fits the best! They are always extremely comfortable, and well worth the price. Because I wear them so frequently, I check them monthly for wear and tear. A sneaker can look new on top, but the sole and insides tell the tale as to if they need to be replaced. Go grab your walking sneakers. Look inside and see if there are areas that your foot has worn down. Look at the soles. Are they worn down on one side? If so you’re not getting the proper structural support you need and deserve in a walking sneaker. Bottom line, get ready to shell out some bucks - your walking sneakers probably need to be replaced.
The average well made walking sneaker costs around $90, but shop around and also search online for lower prices. If you can‘t find a lower price it‘s certainly worth it to invest in a pair of supportive, breathable walking sneakers that fit well. While you’re out buying sneakers, be sure to pick up well made socks. Skip the cotton and go crazy with socks made from synthetic fibers. They work much better at keeping your feet dry, free of blisters and they wick away perspiration and odor! Ultimately, with the proper foot wear your feet will be comfortable, and you’ll be more inspired to walk on a regular basis! Get walking!
The cool weather also inspired me to take a walk along the trail at Spratt Park. I just love that walk. While walking I couldn’t help by notice how comfortable my feet were.
I generally own three pairs of sneakers at a time. My “play” sneakers get super dirty playing with my son at parks and playgrounds, my “everyday” pair I try to keep relatively clean looking for summer activities other than parks and playgrounds. Then, I have one pair exclusively for walking. My “walking” sneakers are always the pair that costs the most and fits the best! They are always extremely comfortable, and well worth the price. Because I wear them so frequently, I check them monthly for wear and tear. A sneaker can look new on top, but the sole and insides tell the tale as to if they need to be replaced. Go grab your walking sneakers. Look inside and see if there are areas that your foot has worn down. Look at the soles. Are they worn down on one side? If so you’re not getting the proper structural support you need and deserve in a walking sneaker. Bottom line, get ready to shell out some bucks - your walking sneakers probably need to be replaced.The average well made walking sneaker costs around $90, but shop around and also search online for lower prices. If you can‘t find a lower price it‘s certainly worth it to invest in a pair of supportive, breathable walking sneakers that fit well. While you’re out buying sneakers, be sure to pick up well made socks. Skip the cotton and go crazy with socks made from synthetic fibers. They work much better at keeping your feet dry, free of blisters and they wick away perspiration and odor! Ultimately, with the proper foot wear your feet will be comfortable, and you’ll be more inspired to walk on a regular basis! Get walking!
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