Health and Fitness Highlight Reel #1

I’m always thinking about health articles I just read, a great new food I’ve tried or seen in the store, or a cool new exercise gadget I’ve used.  However, when I’m out running, at the store or busy with work and other everyday life things, I don’t have time to blog right at that moment. :)  I need a tape recorder or something so that I can remember to share the “best things” I’ve learned.  I’d also like to spend hours writing about just one topic so that I’m able to give the most thorough and best information available, but since that’s a challenge all unto itself, I’ll stick with the highlight reel.  Here’s a recap of recent things I’ve seen, read, heard, or tried.

1. Cancer to 5k Program
I recently learned about a program that you should check out.  The Cancer to 5k program is focused on helping cancer survivors train for and run a 5k race.  Exercise is an essential part of living a healthy lifestyle but it also plays a positive role in recovery for someone who has had cancer.  You can learn more about its impact and how you can become involved in this program as a volunteer by going to the Cancer to 5k program website. Pass it along to a cancer survivor and support them through their journey to living a healthy lifestyle.  And if you are a cancer survivor, then let me know if I can help you start a cancer to 5k program or any other program!

2. Minestrone Soup

A tasty, healthy winter meal!

Jason and I love making soup in the winter.  It’s a standard meal at least a few times during the week (we make plenty for leftovers!) in our house.  We like making chicken and vegetable soup but we know that slight variations will keep the food interesting and unique to us.  We tried a simple, healthy minestrone soup recently and it was great (here’s the recipe link)!  Broth based soups can be a very healthy meal option or appetizer to help take the edge off of hunger so you don’t overeat at your meal.  During our dinner, we also enjoyed tomato and mozzarella crostinis.  We sliced pieces of whole grain Panera bread, slightly brushed them with olive oil and broiled them for a few minutes.  We sliced fresh sweet tomatoes and mozzarella and placed on top of the bread and sprinkled with balsamic vinegar, pepper and a dash of salt.  Enjoy!

3.  Saucony DryLete Ponytail Headband

Stays in place and so comfortable!

I love running.  I don’t love the cold.  So to make sure I can run comfortably during an Iowa winter, I bundle up.  I have to carefully coordinate the layers of clothes I wear so that I don’t overheat but also stay warm enough.  When the weather is below 30 degrees, I definitely have to wear a hat.  When the weather is above 30 degrees but still cold, I need something to cover my ears.  This year I found the Saucony DryLete Ponytail Headband.  It has ear covers and an opening for a ponytail!  This is a major plus because pulling my hair through the opening helps keep the band in place during the entire workout.  I have run many times when my hair is flat against my skin, it gets wet and then becomes an ice cube stuck to my neck.  I bought my headband at Scheel’s and they are also available online.  I think it’d make a great stocking stuffer for the woman runner in your family :)

4. Eat Your Veggies
You know vegetables should be a core part of your diet.  Vegetables provide essential nutrients that help your body function at its best!  According to the USDA’s new food breakout, vegetables and fruits should comprise half of your plate.  Somehow, vegetables get a bad rap and people skip them or drown them in high calorie dressings.  I like this WebMD article that gives you tips on incorporating veggies into your meal even if you’re not fond of them.

5.  Iowa Winter Games
One topic you’ll hear me talk about repeatedly is participating in an athletic event.  There is a unique aura to participating in a race.  The competitive side of you (whether you knew it existed or not) comes shining through :)  The atmosphere is amazing!  Everyone is excited to be a part of the event.  No one cares how fast or slow you are, whether you have the “right” shoes or not; everyone has their own goals, whether it’s to set a personal record or just finish the race.  From a health standpoint, competing in a race often drives you to push yourself harder than you would in a normal workout.  In a future posting, I’ll talk about my experiences competing in races.  In the meantime, consider challenging yourself to compete in a race or work towards a personal best.  The Iowa Games, brought to you by the Iowa Sports Foundation, start at the end of January in Dubuque.  Check out their website for a list of all the events they offer!  In addition, you can check out sites like Fitness Sports, Live Healthy Iowa, and Bike Iowa for events in central Iowa and around the state.

Have a very happy Thanksgiving!

Miss FitGab