21.2.12

Happy Fat Tuesday

Happy Fat Tuesday or just plain Tuesday (depending how you're spending today)! 

Lent has once again crept up on me and I have yet to decided what I am going to give up or do more of. Many people give up sweets, pizza or chocolate: Well, (1) I love sweets but only have them on occasion so  giving them up would only be a Lenten cop-out, (2) I don't eat pizza (cheese) and (3) if I gave up chocolate I would be a miserable human being.

So what to do, what to do. As of now, my leading Lenten contender is diet soda (pop, soda pop, what have you) -- my weakness, my kryptonite. So knowing this, this would be a huge challenge which fits the criteria for a Lent give-up. I also want to do more of something... this has yet to be determined. Ideas?



I recently found this article on FitSugar <--- check it out! It shows the benefits of giving up a single item (like fast food) over a period of 40 days. By seeing the big picture, it makes the desire to give up something you really enjoy (and how many calories you'd save by choosing a regular coffee over a latte) a little easier.

Or do more of something or something new! 

What are you doing this Lent?


20.2.12

The Early Bird gets the StairMaster

I always say: the early bird gets the french fry (who wants a worm?), but I have adjusted my mantra this morning. Today I have done the unthinkable... a day I thought would never come: I was at the gym before 8 am. Crazy? Yes, but life forced me againsted my will. I've have gotten to the point in my hectic college schedule that if I don't exercise in the morning then I won't have time the rest of the day. I feel like like a woman who works 8-5, goes home to make dinner for her cooking-illiterate husband, and then takes care of her 5 crying and pooping children. Maybe not exactly, but this is what a lot of people call life. And life is messy in which we have to adjust.

My way to adjust is going to the gym at 7:45 BUT there are positives to an early workout:

  1. I got the good StairMaster, the one that has the working television. Score.
  2. I was able to do my NIKE training ab work-out in the aerobics room without receiving strange looks because my phone is talking to me. 
  3. and finally, I was able to attend my 9:30 class and know I didn't have to go to the gym afterwards... though I was probably that one "smelly kid" in class (and I apologize to anyone in a 3 ft radius of me this morning).
But to get to the main concern of this post, let me give some background. This morning I was oddly hyper and needed to let it out via StairMaster... below is the result of my energy burst, but let me remind you this is not a commonality for me (though it'd be nice).



Now, this raised a question... how accurate are the calorie counters on cardio machines? Did I really just burn an exponential amount of calories or is Life Fitness lying to me? Well, I've done some research and this is what I found:

According to FitSugar (follow them on Twitter @fitsugar, they always have great fitness and health tips):

The calories burned readout on cardio machines are not known for their accuracy. Some machines are even known to bump up the calorie readout by almost 25% (apparently the feel good factor keeps us using their machines). Furthermore, machines do not always take into consideration all the factors in individual fitness levels and the specificity of the exercise and they're not often re-calibrated after hitting the gym floor, so things can get off set with time. Basically you can (and should) use the calorie readout only as a guideline but not as the end-all-be-all of how many calories you've burned.

Sigh. I feel I've just been told that there's no Santa Clause. Though depressing, this makes us rethink those feel good donuts for a job well done at the gym.

There are ways to help increase the accuracy of your cardio workout: Enter your weight.
Want even more accuracy? Use a heart-rate monitor which will give generate atop notch calorie reading.

But as the take away from this post, don't define your workout by a number. It's like your when you weigh yourself. Sure, it's a number that can fluctuate but it does not control how you feel about yourself. A number can't define a person's being; focus on being healthy and reaching your own personal goals.







14.2.12

Valentine's Day

So many people get lose site of what Valentine's Day really means...and with PDA-stricken couples throwing themselves at each other, it's hard not to. Today is not a day to pity yourself if you're single or the only day to recognize the love in your relationship. Yes, it is a day of love but that love is not limited to a significant other. Hug a friend. Your parents. Your dog. Yourself... today it's okay to narcissistic! 

I woke up today...
looked in the mirror with my hair a mess and eyes half-opened.. 
and said Hello you gorgeous thing. 
I also told Siri to call me Sexy... 
(I don't know what you mean by that, Sexy).

Love love today in all its forms. 

and with that.... I leave you with this video. From me, to you

Happy Love-yourself-and-those-around-you Day, you great people


9.2.12

Stonyfield Survey

Hi all! 
 I am conducting research for my marketing graduate capstone. 
 I am using Stonyfield Farm as the topic of my campaign. 
 It would mean the world and more if you'd take 5 minutes to fill out the survey (Even if you're not familiar with Stonyfield, that's what I'm measuring!)
I'm trying to get as many responses as possible. 

 You all rock, thank you!

4.2.12

Valentine's Day Giveaway

Valentine's Day is right around the corner. Depending on people's relationship statuses, it's a love/hate holiday; however, I think we all should celebrate because the day after candy and chocolate are on major clearance! My M&Ms may be pink and red but they're still delicious, I never discriminate especially when it comes to chocolate.

We should always tell our loved ones how much they mean to us, but Valentine's Day is a good reminder on how lucky we all are in love. Hug your mom, dad, friend, dog and even yourself--- it's the one day where it's okay to be narcissistic!



Well, my lovely friends at Fair Trade just published their Fair Trade Valentine's Day Gift Guide. The guide is filled with beautiful gifts that will not only bring happiness to your Valentine but each gift supports a great cause. These gifts gives a whole new meaning to sharing the love. My favorite gifts are the "Helping Haiti" and "Honoring Japan" rose bouquets. You can also buy Fair-Trade chocolate that helps give better lives to cocoa farmers. Valentine's Day has become very commercialized and it's humbling to see an organization bring this holiday back to it's original purpose. To get a better visual of how buying Fair-Trade can make a big difference.... look at the chart below. Want to win some of these goodies? Keep reading!




























































































Fair-Trade Giveaway

Now, you're probably thinking Okay, now how can I win some freebies!? ---Hey, I thought we just discussed not being materialistic! *Sigh* Well, since were talking Fair-Trade, I'll let it slide. So my wonderful Fair-Trade friends want to give you the chance to win a beautiful Fair-Trade rose bouquet and some yummy chocolate (I've heard that chocolate that gives back tastes better.... just sayin').

Here's what to do. Go to the Fair-Trade Facebook page and write "Eat Simply. Live Healthy sent me" on their wall! Or you can tweet to @FairTradeUSA using the #SharetheLove hash tag!

Don't have a Valentine?--- it's completely acceptable to win these goodies for yourself.... there's no shame in self-love this holiday!

Get going and buy Fair-Trade!













 

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