new fav obsession

is....... Spaghetti Squash!!! I read about it on another blog and decided that at the farmer's market we'd buy one and try it out. DELISH. I immediately fell in love with this awesome vegetable.  When you pull out the insides after baking the veggie, the strands look like spaghetti. SO fun!

We made a seafood mushroom dish and paired it with the delish spaghetti squash- Yum!

It is super easy to eat.
-cut the spaghetti squash lengthwise
-scoop out the seeds and center portion
-place the two halves face down in a baking dish/pan with a bit of Pam spray/water
-bake for about 30 mins on 350
-Scoop out the strands and you have got yourself a delish veggie

Some ideas to use it in are: in place of actual spaghetti noodles, other noodles, and to use to top off salads.

ENJOY!

doterra

Ever heard of essential oils? I sure have. They can do amazing things for your body, health, face, skin, hair, and pretty much all of you, because we're made up of cells. Essential oils are extracted from plants and can be used topically, in capsule form, or ingested via placing drops in water. I have been using these oils for muscle pain, skin, tiredness, etc. and they're amazing.

So last night my husband and I went to a meeting (a REALLY long one at that!) on essential oils by a company called doterra. Really fascinating stuff. I am excited to learn more- and hopefully have some more at our fingertips soon. Stay tuned for more- but if you're dying to know more, go to http://doterra.com/

Have a safe, healthy weekend!

a healthy lunch

Just wanted to post a pic of a healthy lunch option:

notice the delish cucumbers from our garden!

The lunch was yummy, filling, and healthy! Just top a whole wheat toasted bagel thin with reduced fat cream cheese, turkey slices, and spinach. Load the plate up with some cukes, chug some water, and you got yourself somethin' quite delish! Enjoy :)

Zumba love

Zumba is one of the most fantastic workouts because it combines latin music, fun dance moves, a great cardio workout, belly-dancing moves, and easy-to-follow steps. In a Zumba workout, you are encouraged to listen to the music and just dance! Forget about life, stresses, self-esteem, problems at work, your kid's attitude issues, etc, and just DANCE! The mantra for Zumba goers is : Ditch the workout, Join the PARTY!

I challenge you to do just that. Ditch YOUR workout and come join the PARTY at a Zumba class near you! Leave a comment and tell us how it went?? What did you love about it??

Enjoy the ZUMBA glow as you dance the time away :)

(go to zumba.com for any more information)

if you want more energy, burn some off

Who doesn't want more energy? I sure do! The secret, you ask? Make your workouts a priority in your day and you'll have even more energy. It is a weird paradox, but completely true (both psychologically and physically). If you have doubts, I challenge you to try it. Go for a morning run, pop in an exercise DVD, or strike some Yoga poses. Promise you'll feel better during and after your workout!

And the diet/fitness industry keeps saying there is a 'magical pill'.....want to know what the REAL 'magical pill' is? Here is the answer: daily workouts and proper nutrition.

If you have personal questions, leave a comment and I'll get back to you via a post on the blog. (yes, your comment could become a cool post as an answer!) Enjoy your workout today and tomorrow and see the changes in your body and energy level stat!

green lean machine

Just wanted to post about an incredible concoction called the green, lean, machine.  This is the. best. drink. EVER. 

What is it you ask?

-handful of spinach (or two)
-4 ice cubes
-1/2-1 scoop protein powder
-1/4 cup water
-dash of fruit/veggie juice
(blend it all in a blender on high for 1-2 mins)

it may not look pretty but it sure is TASTY

It is so cold, so frothy, and so good for muscle building an repair after a fabulous workout. Remember to get in some good protein and carbs after a hard workout, it'll help build those muscle fibers you just broke down (during the workout) and build stronger ones to replace it. Hello fat-burning machine! That's right, get some muscle-building workouts in and you'll turn your metabolism up a MAJOR notch. Look for more to come on the topic.... as for me, I'm going to enjoy a great Saturday with the husband.

A delightful place for a [healthy] meal

Where to go when the hunger hits?! Try a place with soups, sandwiches, and salads all boasting fiber, whole grains, veggies, fruits, lean protein, and light dairy.  The best in my area, you ask???
JASON'S DELI.

This place is DELISH. It serves up a mean sandwich, incredible soups, and a VERY delectable salad bar. The bar includes boiled (peeled) eggs, assortments of veggies (broccoli, cauliflower, peppers, oh my!), fruit salad, cottage cheese, whole grain crackers, nuts, dried fruit, hummus, and mUCH much MUCH more.  Not to mention the sandwiches can come on whole-grain bread with tons of veggies and lean meats to top it off.  Go ahead and indulge in an incredible, healthy, and beautiful (it can be colorful and very pretty!) meal!  By the way, you can get soft-serve at the end of the meal for free, too! Just fill a small cone up and enjoy the sweet and smooth flavah! :)

I got it!

I got the job at 24 Hour Fitness Club!  I am SO excited to begin teaching there. However, I have NO idea what and when I'll be teaching.... STay tuned for those pieces of info (I bet you're on the edge of your seat, cause I sure am!) :) 

On another note, have you ever noticed how exercising in the morning makes your day go THAT much better?? If not, I challenge you to get up tomorrow and throw on some fitness clothes and DO something. Take a walk, go for a jog, do a fitness DVD, strike some Yoga poses. ANYthing. Promise, it'll make your day go THAT much better! ENjoy your morning workout, because I sure will! 

Welcome to a blog about fitness, health, nutrition, and staying slim!

How exciting that you happened upon this blog! I am dedicated to sharing tips, ideas, workouts, and recipes to help YOU stay (or get) fit, healthy, and slim for FOREVER! Yep, that is right. This will stick because these tips and ideas come from research, science, and my personal experience.

A bit of background: I have a B.S. in Exercise Science and Nutritional Science (my minor). I am currently working on my M.S. in Exercise Science (emphasis in Health Promotion) and will graduate in December 2010.  I am a dancer, runner, avid exerciser, Pilates lover, Zumba instructor, swimmer, a University fitness class instructor, and health promoter. I also love my husband, spinach in everything and anything (say YES to green drinks!), almond butter, the stair stepper, weight training classes, sunny days, crunchy and crisp apples, cuddling, and carrots.  I have competed in 2 full marathons, 2 half-marathons, and 1 sprint Triathlon. I look forward to doing more Triathlons and other races. 

Well, if you have any questions, leave a comment and I will answer them. As for now, go take a walk, enjoy a short nap, do some pushups, pop in an exercise DVD, or crunch on some baby carrots. Take care of your health TODAY and it will be yours forever! I'm off to do some Zumba!

Me (on the left) and my sister after completing the St. George Marathon, Oct. 2009

Annette P~