Being Healthier

Hey everyone, I decided I needed to change things up a bit. I hope you enjoy my new format of mostly minor changes to make it more reader-friendly.

1. I am starting “Bhealthier Today” tips. I think this will be fun for me to find facts or use subsititutions that I already make habits as part of a healthy lifestyle.
2. I am also going to start, Gasp! Dare I say! …. Calorie Counting! I think it is a very useful tool to see just exactly how things add up. Healthy eating is important but sane eating is also just as important. We aren’t always going to make our own meals or have a scale nearby, that is not practical (sane). Knowing what a portion of chicken looks like is great, but I feel that balancing ALL of the things you need in your diet is key to keeping a healthy diet for life. Making choices for what you want is much easier when you know what you need.  Enjoy, Happy Easter!

   Body
   
   Goodbye Planet Fitness. I have been a member since shortly after meeting Jeff. So for three years now! I need more, I need more classes, more options, a new scene.

   Neighborhood Run with Jack, 3.5 miles. Yoga (Detox)

   Mind

   Endurance Project:
   The Shackleton Expedition was comprised of a group of explorers setting out for the Antartic. They started out fantastic only to shipwreck. Fortunately, almost all survived. They ran out of food after the first year and had to survive off of seaweed, seal, penguin, and their dogs. Without fruits, grains, vegetables etc., How did they not develop a disease such as Scurvy from Vitamin C deficiency ?

   Soul
   Meet Jeff’s brother’s new girlfriend this evening. Excited.
   Friday. I love fridays.
   Sunshine.

Breakfast:

Blueberry Soy Smoothie and Oatmeal Squares Cereal
Provides:
290 kcal
27 g protein
2 servings of fruit, 1 dairy, 1 whole grain

Mini- Lunch:

1 Banana Walnut VitaMuffin with Smart Balance Peanut Butter and Vanilla yogurt
Provides:
150 kcal
6 g protein
50% of daily Iron, Vitamin A, C, E, D, K, B
 
Post-Run Lunch:

Egg White Veggie Burrito, Apple ( Organic Fuji), Raw Almonds

Provides:
260 kcal
26 g protein
4 servings of veggies, 1 serving of fruit

Dinner:
Beer and Wine, 300 kcal 

 
 
Sam Adams Blackberry Witbier ( delicious!) Restless Soul Wine

Entree:
Chicken Lombardi, Chive Biscuit, Lemon Parmesean Vermicilli (whole grain and so delicious), Succozinni ( I made that name up with Jeff- it was like a succotash with zuchinni)

I would estimate:
480- 600 kcal +
35 g protein  
2 servings of veggies
 
Dessert:

Oh goodness! Jeff’s mom made individual strawberry shortcakes with cream cheese frosting and fresh strawberries! Jeff and I split one..

1/2 approx. 260 calories, about 1 serving of fruit.

Overall, approximately 1880 calories.  I’m not concerned with getting a certain number in everyday, but more so getting in a variety of all food groups. I may pay more attention to it once I start getting closer to race time.  I also think this will be a useful training tool for me as I run, it will help me gauge how I felt during a run based on my pre-run fuel ( too much too little etc.). 
Today, I think is an example of getting in your fruits and vegetables but also enjoying yourself and the social aspect of eating without going overboard!
 
Hope you guys enjoy the counts and estimations! Feel free to voice your thoughts!

Be-Healthier Today :
Starting this feature simple: Instead of using loads of butter in recipes, try substituting healthier fat sources!

I love using nonfat greek yogurt or applesauce as a subsititute for butter in baking.

Make Extra Virgin Olive Oil a habit instead of butter. Olive oil contains phytosterols and heart healthy fat which helps protect cell membranes from oxidation, meaning it has antioxidant properties.

Check out more information on Olive Oil’s antioxidant properties : http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15830923