Commercial Break Workouts

We all lead busy lives -- but I'm a firm believer than exercise still needs to be a priority.

The good news, is studies have shown that breaking workouts into smaller segments is just as effective as long workouts.

Tonight, as you're unwinding after class or a long workday in front of the TV, get up and move a little!

Recipe: Roasted Balsamic Strawberries

Happy Valentine's Day, loves! Here's a recipe that tastes indulgent, but is low in calories. Top with Ricotta, or light whipped cream for a satisfying dessert to share with your loved ones!

Ingredients:

• 6 cups fresh strawberries
• 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
• 1 TBS fine sugar

To Make:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees
• Wash and cut the tops off of the strawberries
• Toss strawberries in balsamic vinegar and place on a baking tray
• Sprinkle strawberries with sugar
• Bake for 15 minutes

Strawberries can be served warm or cooled. Enjoy!

Each 1 cup serving has: 60 calories, 15 g carbs, 1 g fat, 1 g protein

International Pancake Day!

Shrove Tuesday, or International Pancake day, has historically been celebrated as a prelude to lent. These days, most people have no time for pancakes during the busy workweek. Lifestyle and money-saving expert Bruce Lubin offers several tips in his Who Knew? Book series that will help you achieve the perfect fluffy pancake – quickly! The Who Knew? book retails for $29.95

Bruce recommends:

1. Making pancakes ahead of time and then freezing them. It’s much faster for a weekday – but not nearly as expensive as store-bought frozen varieties
2. Substitute club soda for water in your pancakes for even fluffier results
3. Load batter into an old ketchup squeeze bottle – not only will you have more precise pancakes, but you’ll save your counter from unwanted ladle to stove top transfer messes

Even with these tips, making the perfect pancake can be difficult for those who are culinary-challenged. To take any remaining guesswork out of the cooking process, TeleBrands introduces the Flip Jack – a pancake pan with two non-stick surfaces in a tight-fit seal to prevent batter spills.  Like the other pans in the revolutionary OrGreenic kitchenware line, Flip Jack features a ceramic lining that eliminates the need for oils, butter or fat – making healthy eating easy.

A full service breakfast solution, Flip Jack is also compatible for over-easy eggs, crepes and French Toast. Flip Jack retails for $19.99.

A Pound of Fat

I found this infographic on Pinterest, and it made me think. Why don't you take a look, and then we'll discuss.

Alright, here are my thoughts:

• Fat free, it seems, is not the way to go. Fat is an essential nutrient, and the fact that we will not be able to lose all of it means that it has an important bodily function, and WE SHOULDN'T AIM TO!
• Those who have more muscle on their bodies burn more calories going about their day -- hence why strength training has some major fat burning benefits that extend waaaay longer past your workout -- so hit the free weights, ladies and gents!
• In regards to the Big Mac and Fries fact -- one one hand, the weight gain that one could see after eating fast food is clearly all from sodium and bloat, on the other -- it only takes 7??? Think of how many ounces of grilled chicken you could have instead!!
• Weight loss is a gradual process -- if it takes 4+ hours of exercise to lose a pound, it's much better to spread that exercise out over a full week. The pound didn't come on in one sitting, and you're not going to lose it in one workout, either. 

Anything to add? Thoughts?