I Won't Leave Home Without THIS...

Before I became an RD I was doing the same thing everyone else is: trying to balance work, school, family and a social life with taking care of my body and mind. Heck, I'm still trying to do all those things! I used to load up on all the free health and fitness magazines that I got from my media jobs and I'd tear out pages about 15-minute workouts and fast healthy snacks.

My friends and co-workers saw my passion and would always ask me to share my secrets. As a dietitian, I still get that question: "What do YOU do?" People always want to know what I eat, where I work out and how I fit cooking and exercise into my own busy schedule. 

Today, I'm taking another page from my favorite magazines to show you what I do to stay healthy & fit even when things get hectic. 

Before I became an RD I was doing the same thing everyone else is: trying to balance work, school, family and a social life with taking care of my body and mind. Heck, I'm still trying to do all those things! I used to load up on all the free health and fitness magazines that I got from my media jobs and I'd tear out pages about 15-minute workouts and fast healthy snacks.

My friends and co-workers saw my passion and would always ask me to share my secrets. As a dietitian, I still get that question: "What do YOU do?" People always want to know what I eat, where I work out and how I fit cooking and exercise into my own busy schedule. 

Today, I'm taking another page from my favorite magazines to show you what I do to stay healthy & fit even when things get hectic. 

Gratitude.

Since yesterday's attacks at the Boston Marathon I have been procrastinating on writing a next blog post. No topic seemed appropriate. Then today, I read an email newsletter from BCL Fitness founder Melissa Carter. Melissa has asked her readers to share what they are grateful for. This resonated with me.

This morning I started my day with my regular yoga class. The class seemed more crowded than usual and I took a spot in a back corner of the room. I don't know if it was yesterday's explosions or the packed room but I found myself distracted. I couldn't help but think how lucky I was, right there in that moment. Lucky to have the freedom to be in that room doing something that makes me happy: physical and financial freedom, as well as the freedom to decide how to spend my own time. 

Remembering to count our blessings and honor those things we are grateful for can refuel us with the strength we need to achieve our goals or get through a difficult time.

Since yesterday's attacks at the Boston Marathon I have been procrastinating on writing a next blog post. No topic seemed appropriate. Then today, I read an email newsletter from BCL Fitness founder Melissa Carter. Melissa has asked her readers to share what they are grateful for. This resonated with me.

This morning I started my day with my regular yoga class. The class seemed more crowded than usual and I took a spot in a back corner of the room. I don't know if it was yesterday's explosions or the packed room but I found myself distracted. I couldn't help but think how lucky I was, right there in that moment. Lucky to have the freedom to be in that room doing something that makes me happy: physical and financial freedom, as well as the freedom to decide how to spend my own time. 

Remembering to count our blessings and honor those things we are grateful for can refuel us with the strength we need to achieve our goals or get through a difficult time.

Are You Back-Loading Your Protein?

I recently read that while most of us Americans get plenty of protein in our diets, we tend to back-load our days with protein so that we eat the largest amount at dinner, a little less at lunch and a lot less at breakfast. The problem with this is that our bodies can only use a limited amount of protein at a given time, so it's important to spread out our protein throughout the day, getting plenty at each meal and snack.

The article, from the March 2013 Today's Dietitian, Milk Proteins: Packing a Powerful Nutritional Punch by Karen Giles-Smith, MS, RD,  focuses on the idea that:

"evidence shows high-quality proteins, such as milk proteins, promote satiety, weight maintenance, muscle synthesis, and blood glucose control"

I recently read that while most of us Americans get plenty of protein in our diets, we tend to back-load our days with protein so that we eat the largest amount at dinner, a little less at lunch and a lot less at breakfast. The problem with this is that our bodies can only use a limited amount of protein at a given time, so it's important to spread out our protein throughout the day, getting plenty at each meal and snack.

The article, from the March 2013 Today's Dietitian, Milk Proteins: Packing a Powerful Nutritional Punch by Karen Giles-Smith, MS, RD,  focuses on the idea that:

"evidence shows high-quality proteins, such as milk proteins, promote satiety, weight maintenance, muscle synthesis, and blood glucose control"

Stop Saying "I Can't"

It's over. I would say it's finally over but actually, it wasn't so bad! We just spent the past month and a half following a vegan diet. I know what you're thinking: Why?! But those 6-ish weeks taught us so much more than just how to survive eating nothing but plants. The biggest lesson? 

Stop saying I Can't!

The biggest surprise I got from going vegan for Lent was that, if you pay attention, major life lessons can be found everywhere. In this case, veganism reminded us that sometimes the biggest obstacle to achieving a goal is yourself. Don't get in your own way!

I can't remember where I saw this quote but I recently read something like (I'm paraphrasing here): 

The biggest obstacle to achieving something is believing that change is possible. 

It's over. I would say it's finally over but actually, it wasn't so bad! We just spent the past month and a half following a vegan diet. I know what you're thinking: Why?! But those 6-ish weeks taught us so much more than just how to survive eating nothing but plants. The biggest lesson? 

Stop saying I Can't!

The biggest surprise I got from going vegan for Lent was that, if you pay attention, major life lessons can be found everywhere. In this case, veganism reminded us that sometimes the biggest obstacle to achieving a goal is yourself. Don't get in your own way!

I can't remember where I saw this quote but I recently read something like (I'm paraphrasing here): 

The biggest obstacle to achieving something is believing that change is possible.