Tomatoes are in season and now is the time to be making all those amazing tomato recipes we have been hoarding the whole year through! Bring on the fresh bruschetta, let's have that family secret salsa recipe, love pasta? make marinara! And, while you are making all those tomato staples, you can try a few of these :)
This Week in Workouts: What a Week!
Man, people told me how painful getting my wisdom teeth removed would be but I really had no idea they were right. Unfortunately, this week's This Week in Workouts is not too eventful because I have not been able to really workout since last Tuesday. The side of my mouth that had the simple extraction have been fine the whole time and hardly swelled, the other side, however, has become the bane of my existence. First off, did you know your cheek can swell so big that it impairs your vision? Well, it can!?! Also, that whole "you'll be able to eat anything normal two days after surgery" thing is a lie- at least for me. Getting my mouth to open more than a centimeter is, possibly, the hardest thing I have ever done.
This whole oral surgery was worse than I thought it would be thing is just a big way of me excusing and apologizing for the radio silence all last week... and the fact that this post is a day late. I am sorry. Let's be super good friends again :)
Hopefully, today will be my first day back to working out. I am thinking something simple with no hard impact or inversions that will hurt my giant cheek. Maybe even making a working that can be posted in the coming weeks? I will probably also go back to a liquid diet for a few more days so if you have any great juicing or smoothie recipes, send them my way :)
Even though I did not get my two Orange Theory classes or one Hot Yoga class in last week, I did get to go on some pretty great walks! The hubs took me to the beach at sunset on Friday to cheer up my mood. Seeing the sunset and being outside was wonderful! All the beach walking was also great for my joints and stamina considering that the only walking I had done was from the couch to the bed for three days.
Saturday we were able to go to the nearby HUGE park and rowing facility for a walk during sunset. The walk ended up being about 3-miles and saw some pretty beautiful birds. Both of us have made a goal to go running there this week! And, now to the actual workouts...
Sunday: Simple 2-mile run
Monday: Arms and Back Yoga Flow
Tuesday: Morning ab workout and evening Orange Theory class- it was my first one in a while and I have so missed it!
Well, that is it for the workouts. My plan was to hit-up Orange Theory again on Friday and the Advanced Hot Power Yoga class I love on Saturday; neither happen. This weeks goal is simple, run/walk the 3-mile park walk we did the other day. I am hoping to also get in 5+ workouts this week, but make no guarantees... Taking things easy and letting this face heal is my number one priority!
Happy Monday!!!
Shape Magazine Workout Review: Brooke Burke-Charvet's Abs
Man, it is a bit crazy to be talking about the September issue of Shape magazine- can 2014 be that close to ending already?! Apparently so.
This issue of Shape magazine has uber caught my interest. Not just because of the usual great workouts, or the fact that they have a workout by a celebrity and trainer, but also because of the recipes. I am so happy that my first look at this month's (or should I say next month's) issue was after a hearty lunch. There are some incredible recipes in this issue, like the seafood paella, that I am simply dying to try! There are also some fantastic articles that will probably go against those preconceived notions of the breakfast pastry.
But, what we are really here to talk about is Brooke Burke-Charvet's abs. Most of us ladies, and a few men, would kill for Brooke's incredible abs of steal. At 43, her super toned physique is not minor accomplishment and one that I admire her for. Brooke is a mother of four, TV host, and fitness instructor twice a week. In her interview she talks about being let go from DWTS, family, and how her workout has changed over the years. It is a very humble, very informative article that I was happy to read- especially since I really knew very little about her before reading it.
In the interview, Brooke said that she focuses a lot of her attention on abs. This made me super excited since the whole workout is some of her favorite (and most grueling) ab exercises. Whether you love ab workouts or could drop them like a sack of potatoes, we all know how important they are and how tough, long, and unsuccessful they can be. This ab workout is only about 4-minutes and includes one set of each exercise geared to work the upper, lower, and oblique abdominal muscles.
The Workout
This workout is pretty straight forward with 6 moves, two of which uses a weight. I completed mine in the morning just after waking up and before having my breakfast. It was a great way to start the day and ended up taking me 4 1/2 minutes to complete! I am not sure how this would be as a workout on it's own, but together with another workout or as something you do as a quick heart rate raiser during the day, it is pretty great!
Since the whole thing took 4-minutes and was mainly floor work, I decided not to wear my HRM. Not sure about how your HRM works, but mine never seems to get it right when I am horizontal... Because of this, I do not know the calories burned, but I can say that it definitely raised my heart rate in the first 30-seconds!
The workout did not leave my abs quaking or my muscles sore, but it is something I would love to do with another workout or as part of my wake-up regimen :)
TBT: The Benefits of Aloe
When I was little I remember my Mom going outside, cutting some aloe leaves off our plant, and rubbing the juice on my sun-burnt skin. Fresh aloe was the best things to have over the summer when everyday was a beach day and everyday I came home a bit more red than brown. When we used fresh aloe, the sunburn and pain would be gone before bed that night.
This memory of aloe has always made it one of my favorite plants. Now that I have learned that the benefits of aloe go much further than sun-burnt skin, it is my favorite all over again!
It is no wonder we are still finding uses for aloe vera 5,000 years after Egyptians added it to their daily life. The plant has over 75 nutrients, 12 vitamins, 18 amino acids, 200 enzymes, and 20 minerals- enough to place it in the super food category. Going a little further, aloe is one of the only vegetarian places to find vitamin B12, a natural energizer that also helps with neurological functions.
Since aloe works on the membranes of our skin, it reduces pain from ulcers and aids in healing due to the many nutrients and enzymes. Aloe can also help with heartburn for this same reason. The mucus found in aloe gel can help increase the pH level in our stomachs (making them less acidic), and help repair damaged areas of the esophagus.There has also been new research performed that show aloe to reduce colitis when consumed twice per day and calm psoriasis when applied to the skin.
If you have ever had issues with digestions, aloe could help with that too! The enzymes in aloe kill bad bacteria in places like our gums and our intestinal tract. This makes it easier for our digestion to carry on, unhindered and with a boost. Aloe helps in releasing pepsin, a gastric enzyme used in digestion and also has a high amount of aloin, a naturally occurring laxative.
To get the full effects from aloe, it is best to eat the gel fresh from the plant without cooking. Aloe can be grown indoors in a well lit area with watering once per week. The leaves can also be stored in the fridge for multiple uses.
If having the plant is not possible, there are quite a few aloe products available at health food stores like Whole Foods Market. Be sure to read the label before you buy, not all aloe products are equal. The more whole aloe is used, the better. Drinks like aloe energy drinks or aloe infused water will do far less than an aloe vera gel. My go-to brand is quickly becoming alo Exposed. They use the juice and the pulp plus a few extra flavors to make it yummy!
This article was originally posted on February 6th, 2013.