Peace & blessings,
I've moved my blog to Wordpress. Please visit me at www.fitesteem.wordpress.com
Thank You.
Chesna
Posts
The Law of Saving
3 years ago
26 August 2008
24 August 2008
I'm under construction
Peace & blessings,
This blog is under construction so sit tight and look for my new and improved blog powered by wordpress. I'll keep you posted. In the meantime, keep it moving!
Chesna
This blog is under construction so sit tight and look for my new and improved blog powered by wordpress. I'll keep you posted. In the meantime, keep it moving!
Chesna
17 August 2008
What Chesna Does In The Shower
Peace & Blessings,
Now you know that this is a PG-13 blog (smile) so if you came here expecting something raunchy and crass, all I can say to you is get your mind out of the gutter! I love to STRETCH in the shower, especially after a strenuous workout.
Think about it for a moment. The best time to stretch is when your muscles and joints are warm so why not use your shower or bath time to help relieve tight muscles? When showering, I like to stretch my hamstrings by turning away from the shower head, crossing one foot over the other, bending the knee of the forward foot and hinging forward (bending from the hips, not curling the back) while using my front thigh as support. Sometimes, I stand with my ankles together, turn my head to the side (so as to avoid getting water in my nose) and touch the floor of the tub with my palms. I did these this morning after my workout and it made a big difference.
Reach out to me if you'd like to try the stretch(es) but suffer from back pain. And yes, you can stretch immediately after your shower if you prefer.
keep it moving y'all
Now you know that this is a PG-13 blog (smile) so if you came here expecting something raunchy and crass, all I can say to you is get your mind out of the gutter! I love to STRETCH in the shower, especially after a strenuous workout.
Think about it for a moment. The best time to stretch is when your muscles and joints are warm so why not use your shower or bath time to help relieve tight muscles? When showering, I like to stretch my hamstrings by turning away from the shower head, crossing one foot over the other, bending the knee of the forward foot and hinging forward (bending from the hips, not curling the back) while using my front thigh as support. Sometimes, I stand with my ankles together, turn my head to the side (so as to avoid getting water in my nose) and touch the floor of the tub with my palms. I did these this morning after my workout and it made a big difference.
Reach out to me if you'd like to try the stretch(es) but suffer from back pain. And yes, you can stretch immediately after your shower if you prefer.
keep it moving y'all
10 August 2008
Dara Torres Flaunts It in Beijing
Learning how to swim is on my To do list. I took a private lesson once but never followed through. If you're wondering why, my instructor's nickname for me was Rock Girl ("Who you calling Rock Girl?!....."). I had a hard time floating and his teaching style left much to be desired.
So you can imagine how excited I am over Dara Torres. At 41, she's the oldest Olympic swimmer to win a medal. Yesterday, she won silver in the 400-meter freestyle relay. It was her 10th career Olympic medal. How's that for inspiration?
Let me tell you, I'm feeling inspired and will enroll in swimming lessons in September.
Is there something you've been wanting to do but have not? Carpe diem my friend, Carpe diem!
Today is the last day of my Breakfast of Champions journal. My goal was to give you ideas on how to add some variety to your morning meals. I hope that I've succeeded. Well, I started off this morning's meal with 2 glasses of water and fresh blueberries, followed by a bowl of oatmeal and egg whites. I added cinnamon, raisins and a drizzle of honey. I found it filling and satifying.
Oatmeal is high in fiber but low in fat and it helps to lower cholesterol. There are many varieties to choose from and I suggest steel cut because they're whole oat groats which means they're less refined.
Regular, old-fashioned oatmeal will do if you cannot find the steel cut variety. What I don't want you to do is buy instant oatmeal because that variety tends to be full of crap, um hmmm, I said it.
So there you have it... a week's worth of breakfast meals. Mangiare!
So you can imagine how excited I am over Dara Torres. At 41, she's the oldest Olympic swimmer to win a medal. Yesterday, she won silver in the 400-meter freestyle relay. It was her 10th career Olympic medal. How's that for inspiration?
Let me tell you, I'm feeling inspired and will enroll in swimming lessons in September.
Is there something you've been wanting to do but have not? Carpe diem my friend, Carpe diem!
Today is the last day of my Breakfast of Champions journal. My goal was to give you ideas on how to add some variety to your morning meals. I hope that I've succeeded. Well, I started off this morning's meal with 2 glasses of water and fresh blueberries, followed by a bowl of oatmeal and egg whites. I added cinnamon, raisins and a drizzle of honey. I found it filling and satifying.
Oatmeal is high in fiber but low in fat and it helps to lower cholesterol. There are many varieties to choose from and I suggest steel cut because they're whole oat groats which means they're less refined.
Regular, old-fashioned oatmeal will do if you cannot find the steel cut variety. What I don't want you to do is buy instant oatmeal because that variety tends to be full of crap, um hmmm, I said it.
So there you have it... a week's worth of breakfast meals. Mangiare!
2008 Olympics Video Coverage at NBC Olympics.com!
09 August 2008
Breakfast of Champions: Saturday
It's Saturday and I'm feeling particuarly lazy today. By the time I got it together this morning, I did not have time to fix breakfast. My solution: Whole Paycheck. I stopped there in the hopes of finding fresh chicken and vegetable soup. Well, my timing was right on because there was a full crock of it waiting just for me. I helped myself to 16 oz and ordered a few slices of turkey breast. I did not have my usual cup of green tea until lunch time today.
A few weeks ago, I mentioned that I would begin to experiement with the all-natural sweetener Stevia. Today, I realized that I never shared my experiences with you. I found Stevia Extract in vanilla flavor at Whole Paycheck. It's extremely sweet so I caution you to use it sparingly. So far, I've tried it in oatmeal and herbal tea. The vanilla flavor enhanced the taste of both. Give it a try and let us know what you think. Please note, diabetics and people with blood sugar problems should consult a physician before using it.
A few weeks ago, I mentioned that I would begin to experiement with the all-natural sweetener Stevia. Today, I realized that I never shared my experiences with you. I found Stevia Extract in vanilla flavor at Whole Paycheck. It's extremely sweet so I caution you to use it sparingly. So far, I've tried it in oatmeal and herbal tea. The vanilla flavor enhanced the taste of both. Give it a try and let us know what you think. Please note, diabetics and people with blood sugar problems should consult a physician before using it.
08 August 2008
Breakfast of Champions: Friday
Hello and Happy Friday,
Today marks the 5th day of my breakfast journal. To be honest, I wanted a hot, fluffy stack of pancakes this morning but I stuck with my original and healthier plan to finish my leftovers. So, rather than gratify my indulgence for the flapjacks, I ate a grilled chicken breast with the remainder of my kale medley (see below) and green tea. In case you're wondering about those pancakes; I do allow myself to eat a healthier version but not too often because they simply don't agree with me.
If you find it difficult to make the right food choices, ask yourself the following questions before you indulge:
How does that food make you feel after eating it? If you notice gastrointestinal discomfort or a change in your mood or energy level, your body is trying to tell you something.
How is the food prepared? If it is fried, smothered in cream, gravy, etc., or prepared with lots of additives, sugar and preservatives, you should limit the amount you eat.
What is it derived from? For instance, if it comes from white flour or a "chemistry lab," leave it alone!
There are many factors that influence the choices we make when it comes to food. I think most of you will agree that those choices and eating habits tend to be ingrained deeply and thus, hard to break. My advice is to identify the most dangerous foods you eat and to eliminate them one at a time. But before doing so, create your own little contingency plan by figuring out a healthier version or substitute and always plan your meals so that you don't find yourself feeling ravenous and unprepared. As for the other, not-so-dangerous foods, allow yourself to enjoy them in moderation. "Moderation is the key."
Today marks the 5th day of my breakfast journal. To be honest, I wanted a hot, fluffy stack of pancakes this morning but I stuck with my original and healthier plan to finish my leftovers. So, rather than gratify my indulgence for the flapjacks, I ate a grilled chicken breast with the remainder of my kale medley (see below) and green tea. In case you're wondering about those pancakes; I do allow myself to eat a healthier version but not too often because they simply don't agree with me.
If you find it difficult to make the right food choices, ask yourself the following questions before you indulge:
How does that food make you feel after eating it? If you notice gastrointestinal discomfort or a change in your mood or energy level, your body is trying to tell you something.
How is the food prepared? If it is fried, smothered in cream, gravy, etc., or prepared with lots of additives, sugar and preservatives, you should limit the amount you eat.
What is it derived from? For instance, if it comes from white flour or a "chemistry lab," leave it alone!
There are many factors that influence the choices we make when it comes to food. I think most of you will agree that those choices and eating habits tend to be ingrained deeply and thus, hard to break. My advice is to identify the most dangerous foods you eat and to eliminate them one at a time. But before doing so, create your own little contingency plan by figuring out a healthier version or substitute and always plan your meals so that you don't find yourself feeling ravenous and unprepared. As for the other, not-so-dangerous foods, allow yourself to enjoy them in moderation. "Moderation is the key."
07 August 2008
The Incredible Edible Egg
Peace and Blessings,
I love eggs and decided to have some for breakfast today. As usual, I sipped on a cup of green tea first thing this am. I ate a roasted apple and a handful of pumpkin seeds (you can check them out below) before my meal. The actual breakfast consisted of 4 egg whites and 1 yolk cooked with Pam cooking spray. I wrapped the eggs in a whole wheat, spinach tortilla...the rest is history.
Often, I am asked how many eggs one should eat in a week. Eggs have gotten a bum wrap because of the cholesterol content found in the yolk. According to Dr. Gerald Gau, a cardiologist at the Mayo Clinic, one large yolk has approximately 213 milligrams (mg) of cholesterol. He advises healthy individuals to limit their daily intake to less than 300 mg. Individuals suffering from cardiovascular disease, diabetes or high "LDL" cholesterol - also referred to as "lousy" cholesterol- should limit their intake to less than 200 mg.
So how many should you eat? Well that depends on your health status, as mentioned above, and your overall eating habits. And don't forget, it's the yolk that is harmful, not the white of the egg. The egg white is an excellent source of protein. Back to the question. If you're going to blow your daily limit of cholesterol at breakfast by scoffing down the egg special at the local diner, then you should limit the amount of cholesterol you consume for the remainder of the day.
OK, I stumbled accross these at Whole Foods the other day. They're pretty tasty and low in saturated fat but high in the omegas. Look for them at your local "whole paycheck" or health food store, or go to www.Gerbspumpkinseeds.com. I'm just an email away if you'd like more info on cholesterol or the omegas.
Keep it moving!
I love eggs and decided to have some for breakfast today. As usual, I sipped on a cup of green tea first thing this am. I ate a roasted apple and a handful of pumpkin seeds (you can check them out below) before my meal. The actual breakfast consisted of 4 egg whites and 1 yolk cooked with Pam cooking spray. I wrapped the eggs in a whole wheat, spinach tortilla...the rest is history.
Often, I am asked how many eggs one should eat in a week. Eggs have gotten a bum wrap because of the cholesterol content found in the yolk. According to Dr. Gerald Gau, a cardiologist at the Mayo Clinic, one large yolk has approximately 213 milligrams (mg) of cholesterol. He advises healthy individuals to limit their daily intake to less than 300 mg. Individuals suffering from cardiovascular disease, diabetes or high "LDL" cholesterol - also referred to as "lousy" cholesterol- should limit their intake to less than 200 mg.
So how many should you eat? Well that depends on your health status, as mentioned above, and your overall eating habits. And don't forget, it's the yolk that is harmful, not the white of the egg. The egg white is an excellent source of protein. Back to the question. If you're going to blow your daily limit of cholesterol at breakfast by scoffing down the egg special at the local diner, then you should limit the amount of cholesterol you consume for the remainder of the day.
OK, I stumbled accross these at Whole Foods the other day. They're pretty tasty and low in saturated fat but high in the omegas. Look for them at your local "whole paycheck" or health food store, or go to www.Gerbspumpkinseeds.com. I'm just an email away if you'd like more info on cholesterol or the omegas.
Keep it moving!
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