Healthful Bites

    11 Oct 2011

    The “Why Didn’t I Think of That?” Treadmill Workout

    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! Plus, shaking up your routine may be just what you’re looking for if you’re struggling with a plateau.

    This description is based on a treadmill workout, but you can also try this outdoors. (Note: Alter the speed and interval length to suit your fitness level.)

    You may get a few extra looks, but it’s well worth it! What’s the strangest workout you’ve seen someone do at the gym? Have you ever stolen those ideas after the fact?

    19 Dec 2010

    As evidenced by the packed New York City streets—well, even more packed than usual—the city that never sleeps also never stops being a great tourist destination! In case you can’t make it this season, I took an active walking day around town (that’s my fitness-y angle ;) ) to capture snapshots of the festive decorations. So even if you’re not fighting the crowds near the Rockefeller Center tree, or its equally lovely, but overshadowed cousin at Bryant Park, you can experience the lights and a bit of the atmosphere of NYC at Christmastime.

    What screams “holidays” to you? For me, it’s the lovely sparkling lights!

    23 Oct 2010

    Playing Tourist in NYC

    As mentioned in my last post, my sisters and a couple of their pals were in town this past weekend! Between walking all around town and chatting up a storm, we had a few little adventures. I finally remembered to tote my camera along with me, so I chronicled some of the fun via pictures!

    One of the evenings, we went to the musical/rock opera American Idiot, based off of the Green Day album by the same name. Very different from the majority of other Broadway shows I have seen, but pretty enjoyable! I’m already jamming to the soundtrack on my iPod ;)

    The next day for brunch, I took my guests to a new (to me) restaurant in the East Village called The Organic Grill. You could probably guess what I ordered if you took a peek at the menu—the Vegan Blueberry “Slamcakes!” Mmm…And look at all that was hiding underneath:

    (Please disregard the blur.) Chock-full-o-berries. Delicious, hearty whole grains and antioxidant-packed fruit!

    My sister Sarah opted for the frittata, which includes (besides eggs of course) potatoes, soy sausage, onions, red peppers and cheese.

    As you can see, we were also quite thirsty after walking around the city quite a bit. Water refills please! 

    Sarah and her buddies Lynn and Meghan showing some love!

    Later, we moved along to one of the biggest tourist-y things to do when in NYC: A Double Decker bus tour. Just don’t tell my fellow New Yorkers! Still, I thought it would be informative for this semi-new city dweller. We saw some neat things along the way that we may not have come across on our own…

    This display in the West Village, called Tiles for America, pays tribute to the victims of 9/11. School children decorated and displayed one tile for each person lost that day.

    Our unique vantage point from under the Manhattan Bridge. Poor guy, always overshadowed by it’s Brooklyn brother! 

    And a quick snapshot of the lesser-seen part of the Empire State Building. Brings to mind a little Jay-Z, no?

    Later, we grabbed dinner at Pulino’s, a wood-fired pizza place with a local sourcing focus. The chef calls his work “pizza for the people.” Pulino’s decor was so rustic and fun!

    A glimpse of the distressed picnic tables and the menu.

    I‘m no big drinker, but the bottles are a cool, colorful touch!

    I shared the marinara pizza (tomato, garlic, oregano) with Meghan. So tasty—and the crispy crust was done to perfection!

    Here’s a tip for dining at wood-fire or coal oven pizza restaurants: The chefs often top your pie off with a generous pour of olive oil. If you prefer to skip it, just ask! They’re generally very accommodating.

    The family group shot with Sarah (left) and Amy. Thanks for coming ladies! Hope you had a good time.

    Now the question is, who’s coming to visit next? :D

    8 Oct 2009

    Walk Wisely

    The Grass is Always Greener…

    On the other side of the street! It’s wise to be conscious of the side of the street you walk or run on when working out around your town. Why you ask? Pollution apparently congregates on one side of the street (at least in areas with buildings around), according to research done at the University of Leeds, UK. Steer clear of the side that is downwind.

    Streets that are very close together can have drastically different amounts of carbon monoxide, this also study found. Save your lungs by simply switching to a side road off of a main thoroughfare. Even though these streets are relatively close together, this small “step” will give you air that has four times less pollution.

    I’ve never considered the pollution much when planning an outdoor route; I usually focus more on making turns with the least traffic and missing the lights. How about you? Do you plan your route to breathe cleaner air? Do you find your workout is harmed by breathing in too much dirty O2?

    (courtesy of The Williamsburg Nerd)


    Stand (or Sit) Up for Yourself

    Did you know that simply adjusting your posture can increase your confidence?Researchers at Ohio State University found that sitting with your shoulders back and chest open makes you feel more assured of your answers to questions than those who slouch.

    I find myself with rounded shoulders all the time after spending hours (sadly) in front of the computer. This poor posture usually manifests itself in neck and shoulder tension, but I never knew that it could make me less confident! In the past, it seemed as if poor posture was an effect of a lack of confidence, not a cause. This study found that participants weren’t aware that they were more confident than usual. Interesting!

    My freshman high school English teacher kept a sticky note on his computer monitor that simply said “POSTURE!” I might need to do something similar, both for my mental and physical health.

    How’s your posture?

    Peanuts posture1 2601.jpg

    (courtesy of Noel Kingsley London)

    Water cooler conversation starter: daily caloric consumption in America has obviously gone up since the 1970s, but by how much you ask? Here’s a multiple choice question for you: Calories from what food group have increased the most in the past 40 years?

    A. Added sugars
    B. Dairy products
    C. Protein
    D. Added fats
    E. Flour and cereal grains

    I don’t want to spoil the guesses, so leave your comment then check this out for the answer! (The food group with the greatest caloric increase is listed first in the chart.)