February 2012
4 posts
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The "Time Flies When You're On a Run" Treadmill...
Happy Valentine’s Day! I hope you’re all able to enjoy some quality time with loved ones and a few bites of dark chocolate. :)
Last Wednesday, 8 p.m. rolled around and I hadn’t done anything about the 3.5 miles on my training plan for the day and was feeling a little less-than-motivated. I was a bit tight from the run the day before, but had a restorative yoga session in the...
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My Top 5 Non-Food Treats
When you finish a week’s-worth of hard workouts or make it through a particularly busy day successfully, you deserve a reward, right? All too often, however, we think of that reward as spoon + pint of ice cream or burger + fries (or your food splurge of choice which may cancel out all of your efforts in the gym). Since you do deserve to give yourself props for a job well done—and show some...
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Go-To Blogs For Running Inspiration!
Besides a doable training plan, a solid pair of sneakers and a motivating playlist, I’ve found that gathering inspiration and tips from those who have run before me has been helpful. One of the most abundant sources for “runspiration?” Fellow bloggers!
There are plenty of half-marathoners among the amazing individuals I previously featured in my blogroll posts (shout-out to...
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Two Must-Try Light Chocolate Recipes
With all of the running I’ve been doing (OK, it hasn’t been that much yet, but go with me here!), it’s time for a treat. But as many experts tell you, exercising isn’t a free pass to go off the deep end. With that in mind, I tried out two different desserts that taste decadent but won’t blow your calorie budget. Bonus: They would both be a sweet way to please your...
January 2012
5 posts
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Confidence-Boosting Half-Marathon Training...
As you know, I’m very new to the endurance event training world—beginning this week in fact!—so I can use any advantage I can get. :) So I recently picked out several songs that not only pack motivating beats, but also inspiring lyrics (which complement my weekly “quotes to consider” well!). This 38-minute playlist, which should be about ideal to power me through a four-miler...
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Perfect Popcorn for Awards and Super Bowl Season
Some may consider prime popcorn season to be summer—what with the vendors at fairs, baseball games and the tall, green stalks of corn popping up in the fields. But I think that now is primetime for the tasty whole-grain treat, since the Superbowl is just days away (although I’d rather just skim over this topic after the tragic end to the Packers season). Plus, movie and awards show season is...
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Plotting Out My Half-Marathon Training Plan
As I mentioned last week, my half-marathon training starts soon! I’ve consulted several seasoned racers and training programs, and believe I’ve found a schedule that will work well and will have me feeling fairly prepared by race day. (At least as much as possible as someone can be who has never run more than 10 miles in one session before!)
Right now, here’s the general game...
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Crockpot Salsa Chicken: The Perfect Weeknight...
In an effort to be more domestic for 2012, I added a mini-crockpot to my Amazon wishlist for Christmas. Since I left my parent’s home, I realized hadn’t used a slow cooker and that needed to change! What’s not to love about something that will prepare your dinner for you while you’re running errands, in class or at work? Plus your kitchen is filled with fantastic aromas...
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My Latest Fitness Experiment: Running a...
My apologies for the longer than planned blogging hiatus. Time ran away with me! But I’m back and here to tell you that something else is running: Me. Eek! As of last Monday, I am signed up to participate in the MORE/FITNESS Half-Marathon on April 15.
Since retiring my high school cross country spikes, I’ve been a very inconsistent runner. I discovered that I preferred to do almost...
December 2011
6 posts
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Healthful Bites Top 11 Workout Songs of 2011
The holidays are upon us and another year is drawing to a close. It’s a time for celebration and reflection! I sifted through the tunes on my iPod and several “best of” lists to compile my 11 favorite workout songs from 2011. Included are some awesome options for your warm-up, cardio and cooldown—all full of motivating beats and lyrics (“This time I’ve got nothing...
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Three Two-Ingredient "Recipes" for One Busy...
With shopping, baking, parties and more, it’s easy to just grab one of those all-too-convenient cookies tempting us all at every turn. But if you have an arsenal of simple, satisfying and nutritious options at-the-ready, it will be much easier to make smart choices and save the baked goods for treats!
Here are three options that are as easy as A, B…well, that’s it! Two...
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Giving Tofu a Try (Plus a Giveaway!)
Confession: Until the very recent past, I had never cooked with tofu. I had prepared dishes with soy products of other forms—from soy crumbles in taco salads to turning soy beans into milk during an astronaut cuisine class in college (that’s a tale for another time!). But I had left the tofu prep to the restaurant pros until the kind folks at Nasoya approached me with an opportunity to try a...
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The Home Workout That Improves Your ABCs
On a frigid day, it’s not very pleasant to head outside for a walk or jog or even scamper to and from the car on the way to the gym! That’s why this home workout is awesome—you can stay warm and since it’s so compact, you can also fit it in nearly any time. And since the holiday season is so busy, it’s a good time to go back to basics—like with your ABCs! I call this my...
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Lighter Holiday Side: (Almost) Couldn't Be Easier...
Around the holidays, traditional green bean casserole is the norm—cream of mushroom soup, fried onions, butter, you name it. But my Mom and I were discussing possible ways to (slightly) lighten up our Thanksgiving table and make another nutritious options available, and we decided to make over the green beans! These veggies are high in antioxidants and vitamins (C, K and A) and low in calories....
November 2011
7 posts
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Timesaving Treadmill Workout (Just in Time for the...
This time of year more than ever, many of us are searching for ways to carve out a few extra minutes in each day. One way to do so? Condensing your workouts by ramping up the intensity so you can get the same sweat in less time. This week’s treadmill workout requires you to pick up the speed a bit more than past plans, but that means you’ll be done sooner—more time for shopping,...
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Trim Your Table: Thanksgiving Sides Mega Recipe...
Let the countdown begin: Thanksgiving is less than one week away! While it seems like most people have their protein of choice set (be it turkey, a vegetarian option or even a turducken!), sides are generally more flexible territory. Thanksgiving is a special day and it’s more than OK to indulge on occasion, but you can also still make some nutritious choices with all of the same flavors...
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Nosh on Five November Magazine Bites
The chillier temps (including some snow!) inspired me to spend a bit more time indoors early this November scouring my favorite magazines for the newsiest bits. So here are five wellness-related facts that caught my eye that will hopefully inspire you to stay healthy all November and beyond!
You might see signs for “yam” and “sweet potato” used interchangeably while...
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Five-Minute Gym-Free Workout
After weeks of gym cardio workouts, I thought it was time to offer an option for those who prefer to exercise at home, outside—really anywhere that isn’t full of fitness equipment! So here is a fun routine to sneak in on even the busiest of days to get your blood pumping. You could even try it during a couple commercial breaks during your favorite TV show! Or if you have a bit of extra...
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Workin' It Out at Work
Back in college when I was taking classes for my kinesiology degree, workplace health promotion was one of my favorites. Why? It just seemed to make so much practical sense. Studies have found that for every one dollar invested by the company in health promotion, they get back three to six dollars, attributable to factors such as lower health care costs and increased productivity. Talk about a...
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October 2011
8 posts
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A Veggie-Filled Chicken Nugget Swap
True story: From age five to age 12, I’d estimate that I ate some variation of chicken fingers/strips/nuggets at least two times a week. It was my go-to order nearly every time my family dined out. In fact, I can still list the ranking of the fast food nuggets that would determine my restaurant of choice if Mom was nice enough to give me the option. (Wendy’s, Burger King,...
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60-Minute Double Pyramid Treadmill Workout
Sixty minutes is a long time to spend on the treadmill. But if you’re looking for a serious cardio session, I have the fix that will help make time fly! Try my double pyramid workout, named for the time segments and speed variations. You’ll start with a five-minute, slower interval, and work your way up to a one-minute, swift one. Then for a breather, you’ll jog back down the...
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Brief Book Club Chat: Fed Up With Lunch
Just in time for National School Lunch Week last week, Mrs. Q (aka Chicago elementary school speech pathologist Sarah Wu) released a book spinoff of her popular blog Fed Up With Lunch. School lunch is a captivating topic, in my opinion, since it’s something that nearly everyone can relate to and the issues at play have so much more going on than meets the eye.
Soon after Fed Up With Lunch...
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Five Fantastic Fall Health Magazine Bites
October traditionally kicks off the holiday season—Halloween rolls around at the end of the month, holiday decorations roll out in stores (if you can believe it!) and Thanksgiving isn’t too far behind. But the healthy habits you’ve been working so hard on since last January don’t have to be put on the back burner.
That’s why I corralled these fantastic tips from October...
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The "Why Didn't I Think of That?" Treadmill...
The title refers to what your fellow gym-goers will be saying when they see you completing this unique, fun routine! Alternating side shuffles with walking intervals is a fantastic way to bust boredom and target your leg muscles from different angles. We all spend so much time moving on a forward plane that we sometimes forget to go side-to-side—like back in grade school when we would gallop!...
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Four Tailgating Recipes for "Vegetarian Awareness...
Tailgating usually means a few things to people: Meaty chili, beer, maybe some nachos or burgers. But if you surround your fellow fans with nutritious eats, they’ll be able to enjoy the food while focusing on the plays (or pregame fun) rather than worrying about their waistlines. And if you offer some hearty meat-free dishes, you’ll be sure that no guest gets stranded with just chips...
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September 2011
9 posts
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You'll Fall For This Playlist
For this playlist I thought instead of sharing my favorite songs from fall (find my summer favorites here), I could share my favorite songs including fall or about the seasonal changes! Since there aren’t nearly as many fast-paced, cardio-ready tunes talking about or written by “falls” of some sort, this playlist is slower tempo and perfect for a yoga session or a relaxed walk to...
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Treadmill Interval Training Routine
This Saturday, I joined some co-workers to take part in the Fifth Avenue Mile event. It’s exactly what it sounds like—Fifth Avenue is shut down from the Upper East Side to Midtown for runners to make their way from about 80th to 60th Street. Considering I’m not a consistent jogger these days (I’m more often found in a spinning studio or my apartment trying a new workout DVD) I...
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Soup's On! Five New Ways to Try It
Not only is soup a great vehicle for tasty veggies, but it’s also soul-warming and comforting on even the coldest of days. How can you not feel cozy with your hands cupped around with a big mug of steaming goodness?
Since fall is here, there’s no better time to put a pot of soup on and grab a spoon! I recently tried Dr. McDougall’s Light Sodium Garden Vegetable (seen below at...
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Four September Magazine Bites for a Healthier You
When I stepped outside early this morning to head to the park for the FITNESS Mind, Body, Spirit Games, the crisp air made it very evident that summer is over and the cooler, less outdoorsy and more indulgent months are on the way! So while it may be time to retire your swimsuit for the season in most parts of the country, it doesn’t mean that it’s time to put your healthy habits on...
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Hike It Up!
I was lucky enough to spend this past weekend in Colorado—prime hiking territory! In fact, I think it’s safe to say I did my longest-ever trail trek. (We did this path with a little extra tacked on to the end. It was six miles of fantastic views, chatting and exercising!) That event inspired today’s Good for You Moves post, which involves a quick indoor hiking routine!
You’ll...
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Healthy Restaurant Review: Ripe Juice Bar & Grill
As much as I try to not be partial to my New York City boroughs, Manhattan is the place to be for healthy eats. (Case in point: On my two block walk home from the subway to my apartment in Queens, I pass a donut shop, two fried chicken joints, a pizza parlor and a Chinese takeout stop.) So I often grab dinner in Manhattan before heading home after work if I’m not cooking for myself.
So I...
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Get to Know: Trainer and DVD Star Jessica Smith
We’re forging a new path today on Healthful Bites! Rather than just sharing videos during Good for You Moves posts, we’ll now switch it up between videos, cardio routines (something to look forward to next week!) and fun fitness-related interviews and helpful hints. Please let me know what you think of this new angle or share any suggestions in the comments.
To start off the new...
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August 2011
9 posts
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Take a Grill Pill
Longtime readers may have seen this coming…First I shared some delicious grilled recipes for Memorial Day, then bemoaned the fact that I had no equipment to cook this way after enjoying a grilled meal at a restaurant that specialized in the method. So I decided to invest in a pan so I could treat my meat (and fruits, veggies, bread, etc.) to some grate cooking too! (Puns make me almost as...
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Five August Magazine Bites: The Wonders of Walking...
When the summer heat is blasting, nothing feels better than cozying up to a shiny, new magazine by the pool (with sunscreen, of course) or in the A.C. So I’ve enjoyed scouring my favorite magazines once again this month for the most useful tips and tricks as well as the most interesting new research findings. Away we go!
Besides being a fun way to get from point A to point B, walking is...
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Just Peachy! Recipes To Try For National Peach...
Whether it’s fuzzy or skinless, dripping with juices or still slightly crisp, there’s a peach out there for any palate—especially with the plentiful crop available during August, National Peach Month! I recently stocked up during a sale at Whole Foods, and headed to my computer as soon as I got home to research fun recipes…after slicing one up A.S.A.P. and eating it unadorned!
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July 2011
7 posts
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"Cool It" With a Summer Flashback Playlist!
Last week on one of the warmest days of a wicked heat wave, I stepped into a 60-minute SoulCycle class. With the warm air sneaking in the front door, radiating off the pedaling people and stuck in the air thanks to a struggling dehumidifier, I didn’t feel like I was bringing my “A game.” But that all changed when the amazing instructor, Jenny, flipped on “Ice Ice...
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