I'm going to write about something else besides food, fitness, or fashion, right now, because I am about to experience my first ever hurricane. Granted I've evacuated for two others, but I'm about to deal with Isaac, and it's a pretty eerie feeling. Maybe it's the extra gallons of water I have lined up in my dining room or the extra Styrofoam coolers that are also in the house, but this is strange.I just walked out of my front door onto our front porch, and the wind is blowing, houses are calm, it's Monday night, and even though I know that there are some people still home, I realize that the ones who are home are either preparing to leave soon or preparing to hunker down into their houses until this thing hits and passes. I know that there are houses which are empty, yet have a porch light on,  and their residents will only return when things are safe and calm. Their porch light may or may not be on to greet them when they return. I have food in the house, don't have to work, and am weirdly waiting for something unexpected. I look to the sky to see something, but it seems like a normal night; clouds in the sky, some stars, etc. I'm a Mid-Westerner, not a Southerner, yet I am starting to understand this whole hurricane thing. Some people call it a hurrication since we get off from work/school and can go wherever or stay curled up in or beds. I call it an anxiehurrication, because I am not just partly enjoying some time off, but am super nervous at the unknown. I do have my elliptical and my weights, which I plan to use tomorrow morning before things get worse. So, okay, I'm still incorporating some fitness in this blog. Because in order to keep my sanity, I have to move somewhat, feel physically fit, so I can mentally take on the day of not knowing if we will have power, if my pets will freak out at the change in barometric pressure, and if I will have clean water. As for our dinner tonight, we grilled some flounder. Who knows what tomorrow night or Wednesday's night's meal will bring. I'm hoping we will have electricity and will be able to sleep soundly.

Alright, it's been a while, but I haven't forgotten about healthy eating and fitness. Oh, and I recently bought a new pair of shoes, so I haven't forgotten the fashion part either. ;-) 

Today, I tried a new work-out, which I thought would be pretty easy. Ha! I laugh at myself, because some of these moves had me out of breath. I did a work-out created by Self Magazine which uses plyometrics. For those who do not know what plyometrics is, it's a type of exercise that incorporates explosive moves to help increase speed and make your muscles powerful. The great thing about the workout in Self, is that it uses different moves and you pick 12 out of 16 exercise to do three times a week. It's kind of like a little game where you can pick randomly which exercises you'll do.  All you need are some good work-out shoes and some hand weights. I, also, found that a timer helps to have, because you're supposed to do each move for 1 minute and then rest for 90 seconds.

You're probably thinking, "Only 12 exercises? That's not bad." Haha! I forgot to tell you that you do each exercise twice, so it ends up working all of your muscles in a pretty short amount of time. You will have your heart pumping in no time.  Don't forget to have water nearby, so that you can replenish in between moves.  If you feel tired before the minute is over, don't quit. Just lower the weight or shorten the movement, and keep going! You can do it! 
Here's the link and enjoy!
Strength-Plyometrics

Tuna recipe from Self Magazine

http://www.self.com/fooddiet/recipes/2005/06/sesame-seared-tuna

I just made this recipe this last week and it turned out really well. I couldn't find black sesame seeds, so I just used more white sesame seeds. I, also, don't have a large food processor, so I cut the vegetables all by hand. I would suggest using a food processor to save on time.  If you don't want to spend a lot of money on this recipe, you can use a tiny dash of vanilla extract instead of the vanilla bean. I, also, cut back on the sugar and used 2 tbsp. instead of 3. Enjoy!

 

Vegetable slaw

• 2 carrots, peeled
• 2 parsnips, peeled
• 2 each green and red bell peppers, cored and seeded
• 1 small sweet onion
• 1 jalapeño pepper, cored (and seeded if less heat is desired)
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

Dressing

• 3 tablespoons sugar
• Seeds from 1/2 vanilla bean
• 1/2 cup rice vinegar
• 1/2 cup nonfat sour cream
• Sea salt and white pepper

 

Tuna

• 1/4 cup white sesame seeds
• 1/4 cup black sesame seeds
• 1 tablespoon wasabi powder (found at Asian grocery stores)
• Vegetable-oil cooking spray
• 1 tablespoon sesame oil
• 2 pieces tuna loin (about 8 oz each), cut in half

1. For the dressing and slaw
   Attach grating blade to food processor. Julienne each vegetable and set aside. In another bowl, mix all dressing ingredients and add vegetables. Add cilantro and combine gently. Let rest for at least 30 minutes.
2.  For the tuna
   
   Place a large nonstick pan over high heat until hot. Combine sesame seeds and wasabi in a bowl; season with salt and pepper. Coat pan with cooking spray; drizzle oil in pan. Lightly salt tuna; dredge in sesame-wasabi mixture. Reduce heat to medium and place tuna in pan. Sear until lightly browned, about 2 minutes. Flip; cook 2 minutes more. Remove from heat and let rest for a few minutes. Divide slaw among 4 plates and top with tuna.
3. Source: The Lincoln, Santa Monica, CA

458 calories per serving, 14.8 g fat (2.3 g saturated), 50.6 g carbs, 7.7 g fiber, 33.5 g protein

Shrimp Risotto

So, I realize this isn't a vegetarian recipe, but I'm a pescetarian and eat seafood.  You can omit the shrimp and use mushrooms.
This was taken from the book, Eat Smart Lose Weight Watch Your Weight the Delicious Way

Shrimp Risotto
prep 10--minutes cook 25--minutes serves 2

1 tsp. butter (I just use PAM Spray)
2 shallots, peeled and finely chopped
1 celery stalk, trimmed and finely chopped
scant 1/2 cup, dry weight, risotto rice
freshly ground black pepper, to taste
generous 1/2 cup hot vegetable or fish stock
scant 1/2 cup hot water
scant 1/2 cup white wine
5 1/2 oz. (150g) frozen cooked, shelled shrimp, thawed
4 tsp. fresh chopped Italian parsley
1 tbsp light sour cream
dash of lemon juice
1 tsp fresh Parmesan shavings, to serve

1.  Heat the butter in a medium-size nonstick skillet over medium heat.  When the butter is hot, add the shallots and celery and cook, stirring continuously for 3-4 minutes, or until soft.
2.  Add the rice and pepper to taste to the skillet and stir well to coat the rice.  Mix the stock and water together.  Add just enough of the stock and water mixture to cover the rice and continue to cook, stirring frequently, until it is almost completely absorbed.  Continue adding the stock and water in this way until it is almost completely absorbed.  Add the wine and continue cooking until that is absorbed.
3.  Stir the shrimp and half the parsley into the risotto and heat through.
4.  Add the sour cream and lemon juice, then stir and serve immediately with the cheese and the remaining parsley sprinkled over/  Accompany with a large mixed side salad with an oil-free French dressing.

This summer all sorts of colors are in style.  Vibrant brights in stripes and floral prints will make any outfit pop http://www.self.com/beauty/2011/04/spring-colors-and-prints-slideshow.  Whether you prefer mini skirts or long floor length dresses, you can wear either one this season.  Long maxi dresses are great for lounging around the house on a summer day or they work well if you're going out on the town. Accessorize with bangles and long necklaces.

Neutral colors and white are also popular colors for summer.  Don't be afraid to wear white regardless of your figure.  You just have to find the right combination and style.  Just like blue jeans, you can wear white with almost anything. This is a great article that features different body types and ways to wear white  http://www.oprah.com/style/How-to-Look-Good-in-White-Clothes-Adam-Glassmans-Advice/1#slideshow.  I always thought that I was too pale to wear white. I still wore white, but I would be self-conscious on whether or not it wasn't as attractive on me as other colors. White clothes make me feel crisp and clean. 
Lately, it's been pretty hot outside, so dress cool, comfortable, and continue to be fashionable!

You Are What You Eat

I've never liked the phrase, "You are what you eat," because when I was younger I just didn't understand how if you ate a cucumber you would be a cucumber. A person can't just morph into a vegetable or a piece of cheese.  Now, I realize that you might not physically become that food that you just devoured, chewed, or slurped, but that food has now traveled through your body either giving you nutrients that you need or adding life threatening poisons to your body and mind.  So, in a way, part of that food has become you. Maybe it added a little extra energy or protein to your muscles to run that extra mile or finish vacuuming the house, or maybe it's given you a little muffin top. No  matter what you decide to put in your mouth and chew, it's important to be mindful. I'm not saying that you have to eat healthy food everyday, because I certainly do not, but I am mindful of what I'm eating and I watch my portions. I will admit I crave chocolate, ice cream, Baked Cheetos, and crackers, which are processed foods. However, I also don't eat them everyday or eat a lot of them.  I love how vegetables, seafood, and fruit make me feel when I'm done eating them. Maybe a glass of wine or gin and tonic helps me unwind at the end of a hard day at work, but I try to recognize my limits and are pretty health conscious.  I also exercise 6-7 days a week for at least 45-60 minutes, so I know that having a scoop or two of ice cream is not going to be counterproductive.  

Even though we shouldn't be obsessive about food, Americans need to make better choices. Americans eat way too much and we eat fast, hence the fast-food chains.  (Plus, studies are finding a chemical in fast food wrappers that seeps into the food. EW! (http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/health/fast-food-wrappers-are-more-dangerous-than-the-food-they-hold-2421881)) We do everything fast, actually, which doesn't help our bodies (unless we're in a physical race ;-)  ), our relationships, or our overall well-being.  Why can't we slow down? I'm not talking about being lazy, and not completing a job well and on-time. I am all about getting things done and moving. Having grown-up just outside a major city and now that I'm living in a smaller city,  I realize that I am impatient with drivers, some co-workers, things being fixed, etc., but I also value other cultures how they eat slowly and enjoy it. They eat healthy foods, but tasty foods, and seem to enjoy life more. 

So, eat what you want within reason, watch your portions, read the labels, don't eat anything that has refined grains or trans fats (http://www.rd.com/health/4-most-harmful-ingredients-in-packaged-foods/), or at least don't eat much of that (it's processed and an unnatural chemical for your body), and exercise. Try some of these "superfoods" that Self Magazine recommends http://www.self.com/fooddiet/2010/08/a-week-of-superfoods.  Move and eat well. Your body will thank you in the long run.

Squats and Lunges

I used to despise squats and lunges. Even now, I still don't love them, but they make me feel strong during and after finishing my routine.  There are a couple of different types of squats.  Here is how to do one squat:

1.  Place your fee hip width apart and parallel to each other, toes pointed forward (Some people overestimate how wide their hips are so if you need to, check your position in a floor length mirror before you begin).

2. Keep your weight pressed into your heels as you lower your body, as if you were seated in a chair.

3.  As you lower your body slowly, make sure that your hips don't sit below your knees. 

4.  Slowly, raise your body up to start position.

Do 2-3 sets of 12. 

As your body gets used to lowering its own weight, you can add two hand-held weights in each hand.  Start with 3-5lb. weights (one in each hand).  Hold your hands next to your side with the end of the weight facing forward and backwards. 

The other type of squat is done the same way, but instead of pointing your toes forward, you place them on a 45 degree angle and lower down into a squat. 

*If doing sets is too tedious/annoying to count, time yourself for one minute for a set and then switch to a different exercise.  Then come back to doing another minute of this, if desired.

Lunges

1.  Start with your feet parallel, hip width apart, toes pointed straight ahead.

2.  Step forward with your right leg and lower down slowly.

3.  Bend both legs at the knee.  Your back heel, left foot, should come off the ground as you lower down.  Keep your weight balanced in between your legs.

4.  Make sure that you stop lowering once your thigh is parallel with your knee. Make sure your hips do not lower past your knee.Your left shin should also be parallel or almost parallel to the ground in the lunge position.

5.  Raise yourself up and return your right leg to start position. 

6.  Switch legs and repeat for one minute alternating legs.

7.  You can also pulse on the last 2 lunges.  On your last lunge with your right leg forward, raise up and lower and raise yourself slightly for 16 counts.  Switch and do the same on your left leg. 

8.  If you feel like you want to add weights, go ahead and do so, but start off with 3-5lb. weights.  Hold the hand weights so that the weights are at your side with the ends facing forwards and backwards.

*I will talk about other ways you can incorporate weights to get the maximum benefit in your work-out in some later blogs.

Squat with Curtsy Lunge 

1.  Stand with your feet hip width apart, toes pointed on a 45 degree angle.   

2.  Lower down into a squat position.  

3.  As you come up take your left leg back and cross it behind your right leg as you lower straight down.

4.  Come up and return your left leg to first position.

5.  Squat down, come back up.  As you come up, take your right leg, cross it behind your left leg, and lower straight down. Rise up and repeat the other leg again.  

6.  Do this for one minute without stopping.  Remember not to let your hips go below your knees.  

*You can alternate all of these exercises and repeat each exercise 2-3 times.  Do 1 minute for each exercise.

*Remember to stretch before and after you work-out.