A Few of My Favorite Things
Hello!
I hope this Monday finds you healthy, happy and energized!
Wanted to share some of my favorite things that I use on a daily/weekly basis that helps me stay focused and committed to my lifestyle.
Nutrition:
The right tools make all the difference when executing your daily nutrition plan.
- Glass Storage Containers - Similar to these: http://www.amazon.com/Snapware-Glasslock-Storage-Containers-Set/dp/B003Y9AJB4/ref=sr_1_1?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1316633003&sr=1-1
These containers make it easy to store and reheat foods that I’ve pre-made on the weekend, or for leftovers. They fit nicely into my cooler that I bring with me daily to work. - Cooking Tools: Make sure you have your basic pots, pans and knives for preparing your foods. An 8-12” skillet, medium saucepan, and a large pot are what I use most. Other essentials for me are baking sheet for the oven, and a simple gas grill.
- Food scale: Some of my clients comment that weighing and measuring my food is too extreme, but I’m a numbers gal and I like to be exact! If you don’t know your numbers, then you could be hundreds of calories too high or too low, which can derail your entire fitness plan. It can also be a great learning tool to see what certain portion sizes look like. Our society’s portion sizes have gotten out of control, so this may be a wake up call to see exactly what a 4oz chicken breast looks like! If a scale isn’t your cup of tea, check out this interactive website to get proper portions for food: http://www.webmd.com/diet/healthtool-portion-size-plate
Gym:
Same as the kitchen, it’s nice to have a few key things for the gym that can make your workout experience better:
- Weight Training Gloves: They’ll help protect your hands and prevent calluses from forming. You can get these gloves at any sporting goods store.
- Water bottle: Are you drinking enough water? I carry my water bottle with me every where I go, especially when I’m training. I love the Camelbak bottles with a straw: http://www.amazon.com/CamelBak-BPA-Free-Better-Bottle-Valve/dp/B0019DCD7U/ref=pd_sim_sg2
- Music: I love anything with a good beat, but having your favorite music mix will help fuel your fire, and pump up your workouts!
Recipes:
Here are a couple of my favorite recipes that we make all the time. Even my 2 ½ year old loves to eat them!
Turkey Zucchini Burgers: I got this recipe from my inspiration/motivator Jamie Eason
2 packages of lean ground turkey
4 medium zucchini, grated
½ tsp salt
1 tsp garlic powder
2 tsp onion powder
2 tsp dried basil
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp black pepper
1. In a large bowl, combine grated zucchini, turkey and all the remaining spices. Mix well and scoop out to form medium-sized burger patties.
2. We grill these on low/medium heat so they don’t burn or get dry.
Spanish Style Quinoa – this recipe came from my favorite fitness magazine –Oxygen. – If you have never cooked or eaten quinoa – it is gluten free and cholesterol free whole grain. It provides all 9 essential amino acids which also make it a complete protein. I would call this a super food with lots of nutrients.
1 tbsp olive oil
2 cups onion, chopped
½ red bell pepper, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup uncooked Quinoa
1 14.5oz can diced tomatoes with green chilies, undrained
1 cup water or vegetable broth
2 tsp chili powder
1 tsp cumin
½ tsp sea salt
1. Heat oil in a deep skillet over medium heat. Add onion, bell pepper, garlic and uncooked quinoa. Saute, stirring occasionally, until the onions are soft and the quinoa is golden, about 7-9 minutes.
2. Add canned tomatoes, water or broth, chili powder, cumin powder and sea salt. Cover and simmer for about 20 minutes, or until the quinoa is cooked and the liquid is absorbed.
I hope some of my favorite things become your favorites. And if you have some things that work well for you, I’d love to hear about them! Send them to dynamicfitness@gmail.com
Have a fabulous week!
Chandra Young
Wellness Coach & Fitness Model
“Don’t just dream it, live it!”
September 27th, 2011 - 02:45
LOVE LOVE LOVE the weight-lifting gloves. They make the workout so much easier, not to mention less painful on the hands.
I also love the foam roller to loosen up my IT bands. My hips and lower back used to hurt quite often, and since I started using the foam roller regularly to loosen up all that muscle and tissue, not only does it lessen the look of saddlebags, but it also relieves the hip and lower back pain.
Thank you so much for both those tips!
September 27th, 2011 - 06:35
“One is loved because one is loved. No reason is needed for loving.” ~ Paulo Coelho
September 29th, 2011 - 04:05
Great post, thanks for sharing. One thing to keep in mind when working out, hiking, or just working outside is to stay hydrated. A good water bottle is the best way keep a nice cold drink near by.
October 3rd, 2011 - 18:02
I’m so glad you included some recipes! I’d love to see more examples of what a typical weeknight family dinner looks like at your house! We’re trying to revamp our dinners a bit to make them healthier so any recipes or a typical weekly mealplan would be much appreciated! Thanks Chandra!
October 4th, 2011 - 17:55
Thanks Melanie – I hope you like the recipes and yes I plan to share some meal planning in future blogs but Casey and I like to keep it simple when it comes to our dinners in the evenings – grilled protein – fish (salmon, tilapia, shrimp, etc.), chicken, turkey or steak (flank is our favorite cut). We usually grill some type of vegetable too – broccoli, zucchini, mushrooms, peppers or have a nice big salad with lots of fresh cut veggies. Sometimes we’ll add in steamed brown rice/quinoa or fresh cut fruit.