Do I Even HAVE a Blog?

What, really?

I'm supposed to be keeping a blog updated?

When? How? Why?

Well, I have an answer to the "Why?" question for a change. Because I like writing in my blog.  Because I like what you have to say when you read it.

But the "When?" and "How?" questions have become incredibly challenging given how busy we have been over the past 2 or 3 weeks.

And now I'm sick, and absolutely had to take the day off work because I knew if I didn't rest today things would just get worse.

Haven't been working out, and have been traveling a lot, so eating out a lot. Not a good combination at all.

Did I mention I'm sick? Well, that means I'm not working out today again.

And tomorrow, my family comes to visit for an extended period of time. So much to do around the house? When am I going to do all that? I don't really know.

But I can't get disheartened, so I'm doing what I can. First order of the day was to try and make myself feel better. Went to work for a short time this morning, then came home and slept. Then, my genius husband, who himself was dragging his feet to work today, poor thing, called and reminded me that I need to hydrate, and perhaps I could make some chicken soup. So I got out of bed, and made some awesome chicken soup.

Onions, garlic, celery, carrots, a ton of paprika, black beans, dried parsley and dried basil, chicken broth. Cooked some small pieces of chicken separately, then added to the soup. Broke up some fettuccine pasta, and into the boiling pot it went. Finished off with a tiny bit of ketchup (hehe), spinach and sea weed. Done.

Cured?

Not yet.

But almost there.

A few more cups of tea, and maybe some more sleep, and I'm hoping that I can be ready to work tomorrow, and ready for my parents' visit.

Wish me luck!

Why I Don't Write About Tragedies

Over the last little while, the building collapse in Savar, Bangladesh, the Boston bombings, and other random disasters or acts of violence have been plaguing the news.

I don't write about them.

On purpose.

Doesn't mean I am not thinking about them.

Doesn't mean I don't have an opinion.

There are just so many opinions and so many emotions out there.

It's very hard to contain.

It's very hard to keep things to myself.

But I just remain quiet about it. Doesn't mean I'm ignoring it. Doesn't mean I don't understand the seriousness of it.

It just means I am praying silently for the emancipation, kindness, and the mercy of the Almighty on what has become the Earth.

Your 20s, 30s, 40s and Beyond

Women's Health Magazine posted an article on a lifetime of eating healthy - by decade! It was a very informative article, and I won't go into details, but will provide a link to the article on the magazine's website: Healthy Eating Plan For The Rest Of Your Life.

It got me thinking about what I did right in my 20s, what I'm doing right now, in my 30s, and informed me of things I will need to do in the future. So, exclusively for you, we have a past-present-future post.

Twenties

Oh, my lovely 20s, how I miss you! Actually, I really only miss my early 20s...so innocent, so spry, so happy about living...and then everything went to hell in my mid to late 20s. However, there are things I did right.

* I regularly drank milk. I still drink a glass of milk a day. And I really don't even like milk that much - so I add a bit of chocolate sauce or Ovaltine.

* Started exercising in my mid twenties, sporadically, and then in my late 20s, I got hooked.

* I think I finally found myself in my late 20s.

* I got married at 29...yee haw!

Thirties

My 32nd birthday is in about 2 months. I feel like I have been in my 30s for a long time, though. What is it about your 30s that makes you feel wiser, more comfortable in your own skin, and just better equipped to tackle all of life's challenges? I don't know, but I like it.

* I became a home owner for the first time.

* I acquired very loveable pets, Linus and Carmen.

* I am eating a ton of fish - 3 to 4 servings or more a week. The article linked above says that's a good thing. Score! I love fish, so it's easy.

*My diet includes more vegetables and fruit than ever in my life, even when I was living in Bangladesh, with its abundance of vegetables and a thousand different kinds of spinach.

* I am happier, healthier, and just generally more sane.

Forties

The article and conventional wisdom says I have to look forward to doing the following things - remember, only the things that I will hopefully do right are what I'm highlighting!

* My brain will need some protection, so I will need to eat more berries, more anti-oxidants. Berries aren't a staple in my 30s diet...wonder if they will be in another decade?

* They say beta-carotene in sweet potatoes will help my 40s skin from the damaging effects of the sun - I eat tons of sweet potatoes, and my love of them will surely continue in my 40s.

* My shrinking muscles will need more protein, more strength training, more toning. Onwards!

Let's leave our past behind, enjoy our present and look forward to the future.

What have you done right by yourself in the past, present and look forward to doing in the future?

Ab Circuit

Here's a mega super set/ab circuit. I just tried this out Sunday. It was a killer and I only went through 4 sets. I find the first exercise the hardest, and you have to be careful with that one if you have back problems. Go through a full round of the exercises below, rest 60 seconds, then do them again, for a total of 5 rounds, 60 seconds rest in between rounds.  I have also linked to the video R showed me for this circuit. Thanks, hubby dearest, for killing my abs! :D

Exercises:

1. Exercise Ball Arms and Leg Raises - 10 reps
2. Alternating Leg Ups - 1 set of 20 reps, 10 each leg.
3. Running Plank - 1 set of 20 reps, 10 each leg.
4. Torso Twist (I know this as a Russian Twist) - 1 set of 20 reps, 10 each side.
5. Leg Kicks - 1 set of 20 reps, 10 each leg.
6. Alternating Toe Touches - 1 set of 20, 10 each leg.

Check out the video on +Bodybuilding.com: http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/get-ripped-stay-big-with-julien-greaux-episode-4.htm

Supersets = Super Efficient

Sample supersets

 For the last 3 weeks, I have incorporated many supersets into my work outs. Like High-Interval Intensity Training (HIIT), which I don't think I have talked about much in this blog, supersets pack a punch into your workout. I have been doing supersets for a long time, but for some reason haven't mentioned it until now on the blog. That might be because it has been top of mind over the past few weeks.

What Are Supersets?

When you do two exercises, back to back, without any rest, it's considered a superset. In between supersets, you rest 30 to 60 seconds. These exercises can target opposing muscles in one superset - biceps/triceps, deltoids/latissimus dorsi (the muscle that covers sort of over the top of your ribs), quadriceps/hamstrings - or you can make them up as you go. In the image above, you see examples of a day of supersets for me last week.

What Kind of Exercises Can Be Included?

Anything goes, but most of the time, I do weight lifting exercises when doing supersets. I have paired mountain climbers and crunches, bicep curls and tricep extensions, squats and jumping jacks, shoulder presses and bent over rows, high knees and low rows - the possibilities are endless.

The things you want to keep in mind is what you're targeting on a given day. If you want to target back and triceps, combine exercises that target those muscle groups. On another day, you can do quads and glutes. On yet another day, you can do biceps and shoulders. You can do an entire ab day circuit (what I'm going to call a mega superset in my next post!). Vary it up, decide what you want to do, and just do it! I promise it will pay off and you'll have fun in the process.

Why Should You Do Supersets?

• They are superfun!
• You have more of a sense of accomplishment after your strength trainng is done for the day.
• You work more than one muscle group in less time.
• Less rest means more intensity. 
• You look forward to your next superset day and what you're going to work out. Looking forward to your workout is always a great thing!
• You can vary your workout as much as you want not only by changing muscle groups you work, but also adding power packed plyometrics. 
• You are out of breath faster, and you feel the work in your muscles quickly.
• Last, but not least, you see results more quickly. 

Google "supersets" and I am sure you will find tons of different workout pairs. Or try the ones in my list above today! If you do, let me know how it works out.

Photo Post: The Bunnies

We found out that Carl is actually Carmen and Linette is actually Linus. Enough said.

That's not going to stop me from reiterating how cute my rabbits are. They are the cutest I've seen, that's for sure. I'm not biased or anything (ok, maybe a little).

So, for the animal lovers, here are a few more shots of the crazies.

I. Like. Dandelion. 

We. Like. Cuddles. 

Grandpa's Tunnel = Awesome

I. Am. Cute. (Favourite Shot)

I. Am. Done. For. The Day. 

Thanks for dropping by. :)

The End of The Beginning

It's Sunday, and the end of a couple of successful workout weeks. I will more about the specific types of workouts in a separate post, but if you haven't read my All You Need Is Two Weeks post, then you should click on the link provided for some more context.

I just started getting serious about working out again, given that I have a couple of beach trips coming up this year.  I have been working out regularly over the past few months, but not particularly hard, you know? How long I can remain this motivated, I don't know, but the last two weeks have been the beginning of feeling fantastic again and I'm starting to feel good again. The harder I work out, the better I feel - and yes, the more sore I feel...!

This week was particularly hard, and although I worked out 4 days last week and 5 days this week, I'm more sore today because of all the plyometrics I did yesterday. Boy, plyos are tough! But they can be a lot of fun.

Today was supposed to be a rest day, but it was such a gorgeous day, that R & I decided to take advantage of the sunshine and go for a walk in Trinity Park in Fort Worth. It's lush green right now, and lots of people were out and about, on bicycles, running, walking, or just hanging out on a bench having a hearty laugh. We saw some blue jays, ducks, and even baby ducks as you see above.

I tried out a new pair of New Balance Minimus trail runners I got yesterday. You might ask why I got trail runners when I don't run anymore! Well, I've had a pair of Skechers that I loved and loved, but now their soles have worn out, nearly 4 years later, and because I pronate (yeah, it sucks...I think I'm bow-legged, too), the sides of the shoes have become kind of uneven and now hurt my feet. So I got these fun colorful trail runners to go on those hikes, and around town, when I don't want to look pretty in pretty shoes. So far so good! We walked around for about 40 minutes or so, I took a bunch of pictures, and while my calves were sore from yesterday's plyos, my feet felt great!

There were a few not so great food days, and more on that later this week, but all in all, I would say the last two weeks have started me off on a good journey, and I have now stopped feeling like I have started over again, given all the crazy exercises I did this week.

15,000!

I ❤ 2 Eat hit 15,000 views today! Thank you all for reading - you encourage me to write, and writing keeps me sane! :) 

 

 I also started a new Google+ Page today to start posting blog posts, and share tidbits of information that have to do with health, nutrition, food, photos, anything that I find interesting. Feel free to add the page to your Google+ circles. 

+I ❤ 2 Eat  

Photo Post: The Tops of Trees

Aim as high as the sky.

Gain energy from the sunshine.

Hope and pray only for the best.

Never let ambition get old.

I ❤ ...

...squats. Preferably weighted. Or jumping.

...ab exercises. The harder, the better.

...outdoor workouts. Don't get enough. Working on it, though.

...burpees. Can't do a lot of them, but SO effective.


...jumping jacks. I can't do these without smiling.

...dance workouts. Best to have fun while working out. 

...mountain climbers. Amazing exercise!

...lat pull downs. My back feels it every time. 

...learning new exercises. And sharing what I learn.

... +ZuzkaLight's YouTube channel. She's hardcore! 

...helping others with exercise. Only if they ask for it! 

...seeing visible results. Don't we all?

And you ❤...?