Breast Cancer Awareness
November 2, 2009
I can’t believe it’s November already and its dark sooo early! I also can’t believe that I didn’t get a post up about Breast Cancer Awareness in October. Every year, I’m amazed at the amount of participation in stores, products, walks/runs and promotion that Breast Cancer gets in October. Congratulations to everyone who supported, donated or participated in any of these. We all know someone who has been diagnosed, and hopefully recovered, from breast cancer. It is so important to take care of your health and have those yearly exams. To those who are fighting, or have lost someone to any type of cancer, I offer my sympathies. Just because October has ended, doesn’t mean the fight and awareness should, so keep your eyes peeled for events coming to your city in the coming months.
Susan G. Komen for the Cure
National Breast Cancer Foundation
Control Your Candy Cravings
October 28, 2009
Almost all of the holidays are accompanied by decorated cookies, cupcakes and candy, but the entire purpose of Halloween is sugar-laden goodness. How are you suppose to be healthy and fit when everywhere you look there are piles of tiny versions of your favorite candies? And the sizes are so tiny that you think, “Oh, I can have a couple and it won’t hurt a thing!” Then, 8 miniatures later, you’ve consumed so much sugar that your head is pounding and you can’t sit still or think straight. Want to avoid this scenario?
My theory has always been that if I’m going to eat junk food, it has to be worth it. I don’t want candy corn or a store-bought iced cookie. I want something that I will enjoy eating and not even feel guilty after the fact. But! I will also savor that 1 brownie, cookie, candy treat and not reach for a second because that would just be greedy and lessen the enjoyment of the first.
Problem:
I hate that sometimes I get tricked because they pull all the candy out into the open, decorate it and make it seem like such a ‘limited time’ offer. I can get peanut butter cups any day of the year, but put them in the middle of the store and its so much more appealing. Pure trickery.
Solution:
Keep reminding yourself that candy is always around and there is no reason to indulge.
Want to participate in Halloween without getting tricked into eating all that junk food? Here are some articles, suggestions, a recipe and even a Halloween costume discount.
- 11 Halloween Treats Under 100 Calories – Sparkpeople.com
- Surprisingly High-Calorie Halloween Tricks – Sparkpeople.com
- Amy Mac’s Devil’s Food Halloween Cupcake Recipe
- Halloween Costume Discount
Fitness tips and healthy living advice – WithAmyMac.com
Tea Time 101
October 27, 2009
Every cafe and coffee shop in America seems to know extensive knowledge about coffee. But when it comes to tea, there seems to be a huge lack of knowledge and that makes me sad and frustrated because I am an avid tea drinker and a coffee avoider. To make my life easier, I’ve decided to post a summary version of tea knowledge in hopes that the knowledge will spread and I will no longer be uncaffeinated, over-caffeinated or served tea that tastes like dirt ever again.
Summary:
Tea all comes from the same plant. The time that it is picked and its processing determines if the tea is green, black, white or oolong. Herbal tea is actually not a tea but an infusion with other herbs, fruits, … and is called tisane.
Caffeine Content
Tea comes in caffeinated (~40mg/ cup) and decaffeinated, just like coffee. You would never switch it on a coffee drinker, tea drinkers expect the same respect.
Herbal tea is always (I’m sure there is an exception somewhere) caffeine free.
Taste
Now you aren’t going to please everyone and although you may not notice it, there is a difference in taste. Offering a couple of choices, aside from generic and iced tea bags, is much appreciated.
Temperature
I enjoy a nice hot cup of tea but when the water is near boiling, not only do I have to wait 45 minutes to sip it, but this also scorches the tea. You don’t like burnt coffee, do you? If the water MUST be that hot, please give the tea bag separately and maybe even offer to top the cup off with cold water or a couple of ice cubes.
Benefits
Tea contains polyphenols (antioxidants), which help to rid the body of free radicals and therefore may help to fight or prevent disease. These properties are present in all caffeinated teas, are not present in herbal teas and are their level of presence is undetermined in decaf teas.
More info:
Dr. Tea is a great source for tea tips.
How healthy are decaf green teas… – CNN
Gym Germs – Wipe Those Machines Down!
October 19, 2009
I love that everyone at the gym is being very diligent on wiping down their cardio and weight equipment. This will definitely help prevent the spread of the flu. However, I see lots of people just cleaning the areas that you lean or sit on so I want to remind you of a couple of areas that need attention.
When you wipe down a machine, make sure you clean:
1) Many weight machines have handles. Wipe these down!
2) If you use a weight machine, make sure you clean the stick, lever, knob that adjusts the resistance.
3) The handles of dumbbells and barbells.
4) Lay a towel on any shared yoga mat or similar item.
Always wash your hands after a workout! These precautions will help to keep us all healthy this winter!
When did salads become unhealthy?
October 15, 2009
We’ve been taught to think of salads as diet food and therefore, good for us. All of those leafy greens and colorful vegetables can be healthy and delicious. But when you start adding bacon, cheeses, meats, dressings, croutons… well, the term ‘healthy’ flies right out the window. It never hurts to double check the ingredient list of a salad on a menu, before ordering it. You might be surprised to find that you would be better off with grilled chicken than a salad!
Here are a list of the Top 10 Worst Restaurant Salads according to Sparkpeople.
Amy Mac’s Tips to Ordering a Healthy Salad:
- If the salad comes with fried chicken, ask for grilled instead.
- Always get dressing on the side and either add as needed or dip your fork in the dressing before each bite.
- Watch your portions. I have mixing bowls that are smaller than some of the salads I’ve been served. As long as you order your dressing on the side, a salad will usually hold a day as a leftover.
- Read the ingredients carefully, if there are too many high calorie items, skip it.
Make your own healthy salads at home with these recipes!
Amy Mac: SuperGirl
October 13, 2009
Not my typical Amy Mac video, but this one was so fun to shoot that I had to share it with you!
Plus – Halloween is near so if you are looking for a costume, you can use the BuyCostumes.com Discount Code: FitPod and save 12% on your costume! -more details-
Fall Weather Workouts!
October 7, 2009
I don’t know about the rest of the country, but it is definitely fall in the south. The temperatures are dropping, the daylight is getting shorter and its only a matter of time before the leaves change color and then fall. Now that the weather is a bit milder, its a great opportunity to get outside and enjoy the last few weeks before the cold sets in.
FitSugar.com had some great ideas on How to Burn Calories in the Fall!
My favorite is raking leaves and I’d like to add to the list – picking a pumpkin and carving it!
Running in FiveFingers
October 6, 2009
I started running in my Vibram FiveFingers last week in SF (note the Bridge & Alcatraz in the background). I did two 20 minute runs and my calves were sore for DAYS! I ran again today and did 3 miles on the treadmill. It was rough, my calves were a bit sore, but mostly I was just out of air. It is amazing to think that exactly a year ago, I ran a marathon! I haven’t had any knee pain so far, which I think is a combination of the Vibrams and the physical therapy. I’m not sure I’ll make the 1/2 marathon in mid- November, but I hope I’m finally on the road to being back in shape.
Avoid Gaining the Freshman 15!
October 5, 2009
Going to college usually means a complete change in your life routine. A change in your schedule, your eating habits, your responsibilities, no more high school athletics, squeezing in studying, a bit of partying and the fine art of laundry. It also usually means that you gain some weight, commonly known as the ‘freshman 15′.
Here are some tips on how to prevent it:
1) Fruits and Vegetables. Dorm food isn’t healthy but you don’t have to pig out either. Watching your portions and filling up on the salad bar is a great alternative, as long as you leave the bacon, cheese, croutons and loads of dressing out of the equation.
2) Rec Center. When you get out of college, you’ll have to pay lots of money for a gym membership that is half the facility that you have just a few steps away. Take advantage of all they have to offer and make some new friends while doing it.
3) Cut down on drinking. Liquor can help to pile the pounds on – especially when combined with late night eating.
4) Walk everywhere. Think of all the calories you will burn if you spend half of everyday walking to class, friends, meetings and the rec center!
5) College grilled cheese. I grew up in a healthy house and I just couldn’t stomach some of the greasy food days in the dorm but didn’t always want salad either. I made a college grilled cheese and although not the best alternative, I’m sure I came out ahead of those who ate the cafeteria food.
- Toast 2 pieces of bread.
- Put in microwave with a piece of cheese in the middle – 13 seconds later, you have a (greasy-free, butter-free) grilled cheese sandwich!
These are just a few examples of how you can battle the ‘Freshman 15′! Good Luck!
Gadget Review: Brookstone Heart Rate Monitor Ring
October 4, 2009
I’ve been wearing a heart rate monitor for probably the last 4 years. Of course, I’m using the watch with chest strap setup. I have great success with this equipment and I’m not sure I could have trained for the marathon without it. Now, that chest strap isn’t the most comfortable, so when I saw that there was a heart rate monitor ring out there – I had to give it a try!
Here is my review on the Brookstone Heart Rate Monitor Ring
Pros:
- Device Size
- It is lightweight and great for walking or running.
- Sizer Ring
- Adapted to my smaller fingers with the sizer ring
- Price
- At only $40, this would be a steal (if it worked).
Cons:
- Not Multi-Functional
- Either timer or heart rate, not both.
- No Calorie Counter
- A feature I wasn’t sure I’d miss, I did.
- No Light
- Another trivial feature that I apparently use often.
Put to the Test:
My usual jogging bpm (beats per minute) is around 170- 174. On this particular jog, my watch/ strap read my heart rate at 170 bpm. At the same time, the ring was reading between 98-140 bpm.
Conclusion:
I didn’t have any success with this product.
Watch Full Gadget Review: Fit Life
Brookstone Heart Rate Monitor Ring
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