tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76367127777036742272024-03-19T23:01:42.615-07:00Live N' It UpStriving for a Balanced Healthy LifeNinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12425693186657921134noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7636712777703674227.post-3371873326221243802010-01-10T21:59:00.002-07:002010-01-10T22:09:13.432-07:00Happy New YearHappy New Year Everyone!<br /><br />I gave up on this blog for a while because I thought it was lame and figured no one would read it. After almost 1 year I decided to review it again. I have over 11,000 page views! What? Who is reading this? Please let me know who you are and if you want me to continue this blog. I don't think I have anything exciting to share. Basically I spent the day cleaning my house and walking my dogs.<br /><br />Do you want to know how many calories you burn by cleaning house? Check out this site: <a href="http://www.fitday.com/webfit/exerciseinfopage.html">http://www.fitday.com/webfit/exerciseinfopage.html</a><br /><br />I probably burned at least 500 calories today just from cleaning. Not bad!Ninahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12425693186657921134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7636712777703674227.post-37881315209961354542009-01-25T21:52:00.002-07:002009-01-25T22:11:21.402-07:00Too Busy Getting Fit (Wii Fit) to Post<a href="http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/riptide/wii-fit-japan.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 285px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/riptide/wii-fit-japan.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>I got another new fitness toy last weekend. Last Saturday I went to Target and asked about the Wii Fit. They were out but said they would get a shipment on Sunday. I went back Sunday morning and snagged one. I brought it home and gave it to Chase for his birthday. I've been playing it a lot more than him though. The Wii Fit is very addicting. It has several exercises/games that last around 1 to 5 minutes each. The more you play the more exercises you can unlock. The exercises include yoga, strength, aerobics, and balance. In the first week I've pretty much unlocked all the games. There are two more strength challenges I haven't unlocked and some advanced/expert levels I haven't reached yet. Wii Fit seems to focus more on balance and strength than on cardio. So far the only game that makes me sweat is the long run. I don't know how fit this toy will make me but it's probably better than sitting on the couch. </div><div> </div>Ninahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12425693186657921134noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7636712777703674227.post-18038023768964593292009-01-18T14:38:00.001-07:002009-01-18T14:39:56.392-07:00Weekly Workout Stats 1/11-1/17Sun: 4.5 mile hike<br />Mon: Step Sculpt Class<br />Tues: Off<br />Wed: Step and Abs Class<br />Thurs: Body Works Class<br />Fri: Step Circuit Class<br />Sat: Step and Abs Class AM, 4 mile walk PMNinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12425693186657921134noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7636712777703674227.post-19280241317635332102009-01-18T14:31:00.000-07:002009-01-18T14:37:12.065-07:00Favorite Food Finds of the Week<div><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 180px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 180px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://zeer.com/images/products/1892276629_180.jpg" border="0" />Skinny Cow Ice Cream Sandwiches</span><br />The Skinny Cow Ice Cream Sandwiches are available in 6 Low Fat flavors and 1 No Sugar Added variety. I got the mint ice cream sandwiched between two chocolate cookies. These are delicious and only 140 calories per sandwich!<br /><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 220px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 303px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://www2.kelloggs.com/ServeImage.aspx?BID=47834&MD5=920c7bfcc4427c37e2f5bbb13fb3728d&W=220" border="0" />Special K Crackers</span><br />Available in Italian Tomato and Herb and Multi Grain. I tried the Multi Grain crackers. 17 crackers are only 90 calories. The crackers are smaller than I was hoping but still a good calories per content ratio. These crackers were delicious with my homemade <a href="http://spice-n-it-up.blogspot.com/2009/01/hummus.html">Hummus</a>.<br /><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 175px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 175px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://www.walgreens.com/dbimagecache/196678.jpg" border="0" />Sugar Free Jello</span><br />Sugar Free Jello This is a great snack or dessert when you are craving something sweet but you don't want the calories. This little treasure only has 10 calories per serving! I try to keep some in the fridge at all times.</div><br /><div></div>Ninahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12425693186657921134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7636712777703674227.post-40358341763085141202009-01-11T21:59:00.004-07:002009-01-11T22:43:51.250-07:00South Mountain Hike<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRwyOS2ZyW4piGZjsVP__X_nwpbr1Lt3KiknU2342WRnbwTu9QwefQQ5F8rn0lA2s2-UnFqHTxvXacBDN3aHsnAQBrqtewlZO5D1zx3UUjLK7p9lgXMrbh4Ta9RlMh5G8vikJbGEhI7iTl/s1600-h/1-11-09+030.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRwyOS2ZyW4piGZjsVP__X_nwpbr1Lt3KiknU2342WRnbwTu9QwefQQ5F8rn0lA2s2-UnFqHTxvXacBDN3aHsnAQBrqtewlZO5D1zx3UUjLK7p9lgXMrbh4Ta9RlMh5G8vikJbGEhI7iTl/s320/1-11-09+030.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290278092295717474" border="0" /></a>South Mountain Park is the largest municipal park in the country. The park has several moderate to difficult trails and one very difficult trail. There are a few easy interpretive trails too. Today my husband, his friend, and I decided to hike at South Mountain Park. We selected a route that is part of the National Trail, the longest trail in the park. The entire National Trail is 14 miles long but our route was 4.5 miles. This is considered a moderate to difficult trail. Our route (the purple line on the map) started at Buena Vista Lookout.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjax71YJ1e-QMmH1qrrPtr6MmsUJX1nAiVBK7O8emimDQLsM7-AbOpRUWeoNQnqH_1eUN6BsiN4FLtVjcfA_GVW6D9KECwgxcXFls2ck3CB-MlypUYS8AEB0dyZXCoNzxVtPoPkcx-9zXzD/s1600-h/South+Mountain.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 177px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjax71YJ1e-QMmH1qrrPtr6MmsUJX1nAiVBK7O8emimDQLsM7-AbOpRUWeoNQnqH_1eUN6BsiN4FLtVjcfA_GVW6D9KECwgxcXFls2ck3CB-MlypUYS8AEB0dyZXCoNzxVtPoPkcx-9zXzD/s320/South+Mountain.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290278085349547938" border="0" /></a>We headed west to Fat Man's Pass (also known as "The Tiki Bar" I will explain later), which is where two large boulders come together along the trail leaving a small gap for hikers to pass through. It is a tight squeeze but do-able if you take off your pack and wiggle your way through. I am claustrophobic so I chose to go around. My husband and his friend walked through with no problems. Unfortunantely I forgot to take pictures of Fat Man's Pass. Then we walked around to the Natural Tunnel. On the way we slid down several slick rocks. It was fun but a little scary. The Natural Tunnel was neat. It was nice and cool inside and easy to walk through without feeling claustrophobic.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio2yqGgsA_N5zhCXKLc3Ij_LsYasHRGX4lPwQnb2hXuNHNG02iMmHETA78Pled0XzDbwNUvqg7t5vJshpqrxlrA0UwdYdQwHGGeQkQLkeaxjr6RZotkbPXHEreQcoEEmHNu6YA1c8L2m2l/s1600-h/1-11-09+034.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio2yqGgsA_N5zhCXKLc3Ij_LsYasHRGX4lPwQnb2hXuNHNG02iMmHETA78Pled0XzDbwNUvqg7t5vJshpqrxlrA0UwdYdQwHGGeQkQLkeaxjr6RZotkbPXHEreQcoEEmHNu6YA1c8L2m2l/s320/1-11-09+034.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290278091195898082" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdBcI8pcMXc9Jze_cvrHYyEmNqzSyERXEujNRlUImjDcpOst0mpf7mv0KP7hcmsHjy3v8IyL2573TKxzdtHDBQdtOIz57D-YBdUmRaVN5NtFbZL2lGa49dgDMpz6cD4Jk-SeuQfRnRPBVD/s1600-h/1-11-09+038.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdBcI8pcMXc9Jze_cvrHYyEmNqzSyERXEujNRlUImjDcpOst0mpf7mv0KP7hcmsHjy3v8IyL2573TKxzdtHDBQdtOIz57D-YBdUmRaVN5NtFbZL2lGa49dgDMpz6cD4Jk-SeuQfRnRPBVD/s320/1-11-09+038.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290278088496248034" border="0" /></a>After completing the loop we traced back our steps East on the National Trail. On the way back several hikers heading West asked us how far to Fat Man's Pass (apparently a popular attraction at the park). Since I had on my Garmin Forerunner I could tell them exactly how far. One particular hiker, who was almost out of breath as he walked by us, asked how far to the "Tiki Bar". I don't recall seeing a Tiki Bar along the trail, although it would have been nice, so I think he was referring to Fat Man's Pass too. It was a great day for hiking one of my favorite trails in Arizona. If you do this route I recommend going early because parking is sparce.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3naqYkkIama41oV3cb7DyQDUeE2zPl4YF-SgZxkrZxXQCeTyOcnI-a4CJeD4CtbdH5LaAS2p7XrGhXTDJAczXagZdBdxGzYT1rYt085_VqcU16BJZvsu-b-NwBbtvDZBdUE49dfT9WX3Y/s1600-h/1-11-09+029.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3naqYkkIama41oV3cb7DyQDUeE2zPl4YF-SgZxkrZxXQCeTyOcnI-a4CJeD4CtbdH5LaAS2p7XrGhXTDJAczXagZdBdxGzYT1rYt085_VqcU16BJZvsu-b-NwBbtvDZBdUE49dfT9WX3Y/s320/1-11-09+029.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290278097230691330" border="0" /></a>Ninahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12425693186657921134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7636712777703674227.post-71484380166904879422009-01-10T23:17:00.002-07:002009-01-10T23:20:35.062-07:00Weekly Workout Stats 1/4-1/10Sun: 3 mile run/walk, 3 mile walk<br />Mon: Step Sculpt Class<br />Tues: 2 mile walk<br />Wed: Step and Abs Class<br />Thurs: Off<a href="http://live-n-it-up.blogspot.com/2009/01/dvd-review-amy-bento-all-pump-extreme.html"><br /></a>Fri: Step and Abs Class AM, Step Circuit Class PM<br />Sat: Step and Abs Class AM, 3 mile run/walk PMNinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12425693186657921134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7636712777703674227.post-9106744067975718542009-01-08T21:21:00.003-07:002009-01-08T22:00:19.498-07:00Well Balanced Nutrition in a BowlThe last few weeks I have been avoiding restaurant food because I know it is one of my weaknesses. Meal portions at restaurants seem to be getting bigger and bigger. After reading the book <a href="http://live-n-it-up.blogspot.com/2008/12/eat-this-not-that.html">Eat This Not That</a> I wonder if something I order at a restaurant that seems healthy like a salad is really packed with 1200 calories or more and lots of fat. What is the point of eating a salad? I might as well get the double cheese burger, chili cheese fries, and chocolate shake. Healthy restaurant food is becoming an oxymoron. You can still find some diamonds in the rough though. One of my favorite cuisines is Vietnamese. You can order just about anything on the menu and feel good about what you are eating. Most dishes come with lots of fresh vegetables, herbs, and spices. It is balanced with a reasonable portion of protein and rice or rice noodles. The cooking methods, including grilling, stir frying, boiling, and steaming, are lower in fat. Some days after working 10 hours straight and squeezing in a session at the gym I really don't want to come home and cook dinner, but I don't want to fight typical restaurant temptations either. Vietnamese cuisine is a great solution!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.emptystomachemptypassport.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/pho.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 340px; height: 255px;" src="http://www.emptystomachemptypassport.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/pho.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Ninahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12425693186657921134noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7636712777703674227.post-91834781403046037312009-01-05T22:24:00.003-07:002009-01-05T22:28:12.393-07:00Hard Work Pays OffI weighed in this morning after my first full week of trying to eat healthier and workout and I lost 2 pounds! Woohoo! I think I have more energy and I feel better too.Ninahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12425693186657921134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7636712777703674227.post-46565401077524275482009-01-03T23:08:00.004-07:002009-01-03T23:30:44.369-07:00Favorite Food Finds of the Week<span style="font-weight: bold;">Barry's Bakery Maple French Twists and California Almond Fren</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">ch Twists</span><br />available at Costco or <a href="http://www.barrysbakery.com/shop/cart.php?target=product&product_id=13&category_id=1">online</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.barrysbakery.com/shop/images/origthumb.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 70px; height: 111px;" src="http://www.barrysbakery.com/shop/images/origthumb.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Layers of Cinnamony sweet puff pastry. Available in 6-packs of Original, Raspberry, Maple French Toast & California Almond. Each Weight Watchers approved Twist is only 60 Calories and Low Fat. French Twists have NO Cholesterol, Butter, Eggs, Yeast or Dairy. Just Great Taste! All Barry's Bakery products are Kosher Parve.<br /><br />These are so good that I ate 4 of them the first day. Yikes!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Nature's Own Double Fiber Wheat Bread<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.naturesownbread.com/Global/images/Products/naturesown/AN%20Double%20Fiber_sm.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 150px;" src="http://www.naturesownbread.com/Global/images/Products/naturesown/AN%20Double%20Fiber_sm.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Nature's Own Double Fiber Specialty Wheat Bread has 7 grams of fiber per slice. That's twice the fiber found in a slice of 100% whole wheat bread. And it is only 50 calories per slice.<br /><br />I toasted this bread and put almond butter on it and had it for breakfast. I also used it for tuna sandwiches.<br /><br /><span class="productDesc"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Yoplait® Light</span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.fsafood.com/NR/rdonlyres/30AD458B-F165-48A6-883A-FB8A656D1651/0/Yoplait150.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 150px;" src="http://www.fsafood.com/NR/rdonlyres/30AD458B-F165-48A6-883A-FB8A656D1651/0/Yoplait150.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span class="productDesc">It's fat-free and only has about 100 calories per 6 oz. serving. </span>You won't get bored with flavors either. Some of my favorite flavors are Apple Turnover, Banana Cream Pie, Boston Cream Pie, Strawberries & Bananas, and Strawberry Shortcake.Ninahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12425693186657921134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7636712777703674227.post-40766897495392482782009-01-03T22:53:00.002-07:002009-01-03T23:06:57.875-07:00Weekly Workout Stats 12/28-1/3Sun: 5 mile hike<br />Mon: Step Sculpt Class<br />Tues: <a href="http://live-n-it-up.blogspot.com/2008/12/workout-dvd-review.html">The Biggest Winner Maximize Full Frontal DVD</a> and <a href="http://live-n-it-up.blogspot.com/2009/01/dvd-review-10-minute-solution-workouts.html">10 Minute Solution DVD</a> Boot Camp, Ballet, and Yoga<br />Wed: 2 mile walk and <a href="http://live-n-it-up.blogspot.com/2009/01/dvd-review-10-minute-solution-workouts.html">10 Minute Solution DVD</a> Kick Boxing and Pilates<br />Thurs: 2 mile walk and <a href="http://live-n-it-up.blogspot.com/2009/01/dvd-review-amy-bento-all-pump-extreme.html">All Pump Extreme DVD<br /></a>Fri: Step and Abs Class AM, Step Circuit Class PM<br />Sat: 4 mile run/walkNinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12425693186657921134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7636712777703674227.post-16662731065260638712009-01-03T16:42:00.003-07:002009-01-03T17:00:32.849-07:00DVD Review - Amy Bento: All Pump Extreme Workout<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51XvwExQ92L._SS500_.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 328px; height: 328px;" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51XvwExQ92L._SS500_.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Amy Bento: All Pump Extreme Workout</span><br /><br />120 minutes of intense strength training. This is definitely an advanced DVD. It requires lots of equipment: a step with 10 risers, dumbells, bands, body bar, and plate loaded bar. I didn't have most of this equipment so I tried to modify where I could. It doesn't provide any equipment modifications but if you are at an advanced fitness level you can probably come up with some on your own. I still got a really good workout and was sore the next day. I learned some good moves that I will try to remember to incorporate in to my regular workouts such as curtsy lunge with side lunges and balancing stick. It doesn't give very many easier modifications and the ones it does provide aren't very good. I think the number of reps was excessive but maybe that is normal for those who spend two hours or more working out each day. I wish I had the time. The elevator music left something to be desired. At least Amy isn't annoying like some workout DVD hosts. She can't count to save her life though. Bless her heart! If you want to learn some new moves or if you need a more challenging workout this DVD is pretty good. You just need to make a pretty steep investment in equipment.Ninahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12425693186657921134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7636712777703674227.post-37432145478608949172009-01-03T16:04:00.003-07:002009-01-03T16:41:21.326-07:00DVD Review - 10 Minute Solution - Workouts to Shape Up Your Whole Body<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51TSN2VR6TL._SS500_.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 303px; height: 303px;" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51TSN2VR6TL._SS500_.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><b class="asinTitle"><span id="btAsinTitle">10 Minute Solution - Workouts to Shape Up Your Whole Body<br /><br /></span></b><span class="asinTitle"><span id="btAsinTitle">This DVD might be good for a beginner but I didn't feel like a got a workout at all (a stroll in the park is better). The DVD is broken up into five 10 minute segments. It claims that each segment is a workout in itself with a warm up, exercise, and cool down. While trying to squeeze all that into 10 minutes you only get about 5 or 6 minutes of exercise. I don't think you can push yourself enough in that short amount of time to really get a good workout. You can also combine several segments to make your own workout but I tried this and still didn't break a sweat. It doesn't require too much equipment (dumbbells, a chair, and maybe a mat). I like how it is divided into 5 different segments </span></span><span class="asinTitle"><span id="btAsinTitle"></span></span><span class="asinTitle"><span id="btAsinTitle">so you can experience different types of exercises.<br /><br />Boot Camp - </span></span>Light cardio, squats, and push ups<span class="asinTitle"><span id="btAsinTitle">. I wouldn't call this boot camp at all but maybe an easy warm up<br /><br />Ballet - This is all leg work using a chair instead of a bar.<br /><br />Kickboxing - Traditional kickboxing moves such as forward kick, round house kick, upper cut, hook, bob and weave<br /><br />Pilates - I took Pilates for a while and recognized some of the moves such as hundreds. The first few minutes is just breathing which was a waste of good workout time.<br /><br />Yoga</span></span><span class="asinTitle"><span id="btAsinTitle"> - includes some traditional yoga moves such as downward dog, moving cat, and warrior. If you just want to do some cool down stretching this is a pretty good segment. I don't have the patience for a one hour yoga class so this 10 minute segment was perfect for me but if you are a yoga guru you might want to look for something else.<br /><br /><br /></span></span><b class="asinTitle"><span id="btAsinTitle"></span></b>Ninahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12425693186657921134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7636712777703674227.post-70581372961086699142008-12-31T21:24:00.003-07:002008-12-31T21:58:20.474-07:00Workout DVD Review<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://images.dvdempire.com/gen/movies/1256789.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 135px; height: 190px;" src="http://images.dvdempire.com/gen/movies/1256789.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />I knew the gym would be closed on New Year's Day and they wouldn't have evening classes New Year's Eve so I picked up some workout DVD's from the library. The first one I tried was The Biggest Winner Maximize Full Frontal by Jillian Michaels (trainer from NBC's Biggest Loser). This workout was tough! It was only about 30 minutes but I was sweating buckets. Jillian is intense but motivating. This routine works abs, thighs, shoulders, tricepts, chest, and hips. The workout requires a bench and dumbells (3-8 lbs). It is high impact with lots of jumping (jumping jacks, squat jumps, jump rope, etc.). They don't stop to demo the moves and it switches quickly between the moves so it is hard to follow at times. It also rotates between laying on the bench and standing moves several times so if you have trouble getting up and down this workout probably isn't for you. The workout is intended to focus on front muscles but my back was the most sore part the next day. There were two things I didn't particularly like about this video. First, doing jumping jacks or any jumps with weights is dangerous and can easily cause injury. I think this is why my back is sore. Second, it is not safe to lay down for crunches before bringing your heart rate down. I did like how the routine combined strength and cardio. I definitely think if someone did this workout consistently they will see results. It is part of a 5 DVD set; Shape-Up Front, Shape-Up Back, Cardio Kickbox, Maximize - Full Frontal, and Maximize - Back in Action. The Shape-UP DVDs are beginner level and the Maximize DVDs are advanced.Ninahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12425693186657921134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7636712777703674227.post-64293116742707725072008-12-29T23:04:00.004-07:002008-12-29T23:16:58.348-07:00Daily NutrientsToday I did a nutrition trial run using the Sparkpeople.com Nutrition Tracking tools. After I entered my weight loss goals and fitness level it calculated my daily Calories, Carbs, Fat, and Protein goals as well as other nutrition goals. My daily calorie goal should be between 1650 and 2000 calories. The program will provide meal plans that meet these goals or you can enter your own. Today I didn't follow the meal plan but I tracked the food I ate. I stayed within the calorie range with 1659 calories. yeah! But my sodium was too high and my potassium was too low. boo!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivoCHICxKjWM1uvWFPUxxGQ1GNMdkaMVl9W_05x1ywSmdkfvD2i0wiarV5o3ZSDCpOreXvYud879WAOw4cn6ZT1QGLqnEtSoUYYSPZhGkVyHhB_vpPCjL9RXIkEhOwP3jjx2wvGtyRcHpi/s1600-h/Daily+Nutrients.bmp"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 592px; height: 635px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivoCHICxKjWM1uvWFPUxxGQ1GNMdkaMVl9W_05x1ywSmdkfvD2i0wiarV5o3ZSDCpOreXvYud879WAOw4cn6ZT1QGLqnEtSoUYYSPZhGkVyHhB_vpPCjL9RXIkEhOwP3jjx2wvGtyRcHpi/s320/Daily+Nutrients.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285460304092598178" border="0" /></a>(click on the graphic for a clearer picture)Ninahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12425693186657921134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7636712777703674227.post-18457761567600220142008-12-28T20:50:00.005-07:002008-12-28T21:28:30.184-07:00Waterfall HikeOne of my favorite things about Arizona are all the great hikes and outdoor activities. Today was a gorgeous day for hiking. We went to the White Tank Mountain Regional Park in Waddell, AZ. The first hike we went on was the Waterfall Trail. At the end of the trail is a natural waterfall. It only runs if there has been rain. I've hiked this trail several times in the past but this is the first time I've actually seen the waterfall running. The waterfall isn't the only feature of the trail. Along the route are many rocks with petroglyphs created by the Hohokam Indians that used to inhabit the area. This park is a well preserved archiological site. It is very cool to see the Indian ruins in person. The Waterfall Trail in about 1 mile out and 1 mile back.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLpt2Ol6UomvjhVJW5z02HuiA9lEzwcSyX5Ks2sy3hF5Lg9ZUMvmbrQNzToPFm7R7REi3h7V9kiKNDKLhXMuskDQP8ZJO6UpDL-uI71tHX-VR9WLGn8M_A__gnEtTDR6S7j-uSkks6T3kP/s1600-h/12-28-08+009.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLpt2Ol6UomvjhVJW5z02HuiA9lEzwcSyX5Ks2sy3hF5Lg9ZUMvmbrQNzToPFm7R7REi3h7V9kiKNDKLhXMuskDQP8ZJO6UpDL-uI71tHX-VR9WLGn8M_A__gnEtTDR6S7j-uSkks6T3kP/s320/12-28-08+009.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285062662947835138" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWyHVDPKRMEtytLt4ox46844jO5Ewb1Qfx-IemlhsNRpRK55poURDwtXSfxhW_q8qRAg9W_wDBx974eAd_NQGAc4As_EcDbWUd3rtUAETa6QDuRhsxYK-Y1O8xZanAM_ny_bgMMfcBAbFK/s1600-h/12-28-08+008.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWyHVDPKRMEtytLt4ox46844jO5Ewb1Qfx-IemlhsNRpRK55poURDwtXSfxhW_q8qRAg9W_wDBx974eAd_NQGAc4As_EcDbWUd3rtUAETa6QDuRhsxYK-Y1O8xZanAM_ny_bgMMfcBAbFK/s320/12-28-08+008.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285062665016238226" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOJ0DYStQPPdFDBtblZ-zH8LtxFRSur6p0omfdlvNpr4AA6JNPqjI4_0NZI3crz1vMKPAXE9EHl7wxsZHtcQdk6hol7aPWD16CEACp2bNO9yw9DIHfJHPfwMNbBqCUiGhCTI6222lPuBYx/s1600-h/12-28-08+012.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOJ0DYStQPPdFDBtblZ-zH8LtxFRSur6p0omfdlvNpr4AA6JNPqjI4_0NZI3crz1vMKPAXE9EHl7wxsZHtcQdk6hol7aPWD16CEACp2bNO9yw9DIHfJHPfwMNbBqCUiGhCTI6222lPuBYx/s320/12-28-08+012.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285062666971569410" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd1p1z2QEEfqKQwEmFZVwRLbyPViyc48XTf3bvb4pDRNSh6COrvszGT4VxfhRH4kYsYYadB6Ba_xY45b5zuhhR6Nx16sOzP3UUzy2F1loW5EmGnw1R4tfO55MQvSrrYDQ-a2ChWaVDJULU/s1600-h/12-28-08+013.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd1p1z2QEEfqKQwEmFZVwRLbyPViyc48XTf3bvb4pDRNSh6COrvszGT4VxfhRH4kYsYYadB6Ba_xY45b5zuhhR6Nx16sOzP3UUzy2F1loW5EmGnw1R4tfO55MQvSrrYDQ-a2ChWaVDJULU/s320/12-28-08+013.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285062668210386130" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0scphI-6FNJKfDlhov_E76zgHpioIf1WnBMmmgVYpBj7spTcQ2DriSDci-Fuz6XyropG4qj3PXxNnN00nQrz237xEW_P7N0U-_sCGghe_EOds-rYwb0nFvM5qh7vrCQ-fze19UXhkXMrQ/s1600-h/12-28-08+018.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0scphI-6FNJKfDlhov_E76zgHpioIf1WnBMmmgVYpBj7spTcQ2DriSDci-Fuz6XyropG4qj3PXxNnN00nQrz237xEW_P7N0U-_sCGghe_EOds-rYwb0nFvM5qh7vrCQ-fze19UXhkXMrQ/s320/12-28-08+018.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285062671957524354" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5LBkRyFoG7Mu6IMEBvrJgIAj8LEXdkz_-jR9uiFpRSAIsvYBaurBaPlRATckeo-OFuoUEJOWLhmnNQ0d06E1kY27gGb2P7E5EE2GJC9OTnqLC47EccVlCRqkji6nA7DIaRdi1LtldeuU8/s1600-h/12-28-08+021.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5LBkRyFoG7Mu6IMEBvrJgIAj8LEXdkz_-jR9uiFpRSAIsvYBaurBaPlRATckeo-OFuoUEJOWLhmnNQ0d06E1kY27gGb2P7E5EE2GJC9OTnqLC47EccVlCRqkji6nA7DIaRdi1LtldeuU8/s320/12-28-08+021.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285063138090878498" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja4sFg09AxTFyf5EzIqMqLzN0vt7VI-D4luHIN1MYROZPCJZAOG3rPh_u1h48pRxx_DaHI9smcMGYVy82m4P3gz7-OKlAB4aGIIxVVkSvNYr22QlIdlXCTqe7GCdgfqwUvwU1fQNTZSYdq/s1600-h/12-28-08+022.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja4sFg09AxTFyf5EzIqMqLzN0vt7VI-D4luHIN1MYROZPCJZAOG3rPh_u1h48pRxx_DaHI9smcMGYVy82m4P3gz7-OKlAB4aGIIxVVkSvNYr22QlIdlXCTqe7GCdgfqwUvwU1fQNTZSYdq/s320/12-28-08+022.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285063137599577394" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBopHESF4ILC6Wjovod0F0ksmnFIq2KHIXsCdZXLhH82p-j8Bp8Ed4H4zdNvH47nuANEA2xthDElCaw5N5iDDNgRZZOGWZCcpuEtXQ55wZU0uXAYN3YQQe_pYd1WvVzxLmXYngASeqn17v/s1600-h/12-28-08+023.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBopHESF4ILC6Wjovod0F0ksmnFIq2KHIXsCdZXLhH82p-j8Bp8Ed4H4zdNvH47nuANEA2xthDElCaw5N5iDDNgRZZOGWZCcpuEtXQ55wZU0uXAYN3YQQe_pYd1WvVzxLmXYngASeqn17v/s320/12-28-08+023.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285063181498202242" border="0" /></a><br />After the Waterfall Trail we took a short break and snacked on our trail mix and granola. Then we headed to Ford Canyon Trail. This is the one of the more strenuous trails in the park. If you take the trail west you can climb through some mountainous areas and see an abandoned dam. This is a neat hike but we took that route on our last visit. This time we took Ford Canyon east. It was a nice mellow hike. We walked about a mile and a half out and back.<br /><br />We completed almost 5 miles (4.97 to be exact) of hiking today and felt rejuvinated from the fresh air and sunshine. I love the outdoors here; especially this time of year.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis5mE7JQdQZFZ7Uy3uqJawTqTB_qyM2WwGVrHjn9bL5-Cyk4W5AIPwry5ZOME6GQYztcPJVhY3oLHhhGO5Ke-OBN15mdvC5wh1r0hjjR-TewtT6iZncULP0Wqsgx6ZQlOOD2H-Dg5zFyOY/s1600-h/White+Tank+Map.bmp"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 438px; height: 255px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis5mE7JQdQZFZ7Uy3uqJawTqTB_qyM2WwGVrHjn9bL5-Cyk4W5AIPwry5ZOME6GQYztcPJVhY3oLHhhGO5Ke-OBN15mdvC5wh1r0hjjR-TewtT6iZncULP0Wqsgx6ZQlOOD2H-Dg5zFyOY/s320/White+Tank+Map.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285063193535576242" border="0" /></a>Ninahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12425693186657921134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7636712777703674227.post-51815347069007935412008-12-27T21:37:00.006-07:002009-01-25T21:55:15.935-07:00New Toy<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41qjtMBdSdL._SS500_.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 500px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41qjtMBdSdL._SS500_.jpg" border="0" /></a>I just got a Garmin Forerunner 301. It does so many more things than I originally thought. It tracks heart rate, speed, distance, calories, and time. You can connect it with GoogleEarth and see your exact route/GPS coordinates. I love this thing. The downside is a lot of my workouts now are indoors and as far as I can tell it won't track the distance and calories while working out on a stationary piece of equipment. I can still use the heart rate monitor but it would be nice if I could get stats on the other data too. If you know of a way to do this please post a comment. Thanks!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj35fZ7ycSaE3PiLiHpd4WZEmLruF5UYWXTmsE2lWyeh-zy02G8EhgJi15E8OQZH7dc12sDmRtqiBeR93ljz_pxoW629MoSH6R9MtyGJiaI1SzEJL44xYkv10RdBmgCS5Sw9Hw1Z1q_aEdl/s1600-h/My+Activities+12-21-2008.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5284702175734705282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 292px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj35fZ7ycSaE3PiLiHpd4WZEmLruF5UYWXTmsE2lWyeh-zy02G8EhgJi15E8OQZH7dc12sDmRtqiBeR93ljz_pxoW629MoSH6R9MtyGJiaI1SzEJL44xYkv10RdBmgCS5Sw9Hw1Z1q_aEdl/s320/My+Activities+12-21-2008.jpg" border="0" /></a>Here are my workout stats from this week:<br /><br />Sunday: 3.62 mile walk outside<br />Monday: Step Circuit<br />Tuesday: Eliptical<br />Wednesday: Off<br />Thursday: Off<br />Friday AM: Step<br />Friday PM: Step Circuit<br />Saturday: Step (forgot to bring the Garmin so no data for today)<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpcXOuoGyC7rY01LKLBMIHMk3mVg3V1XRX8LX6jlt2OtSQVQBkoQs9GGLi76PrDOgv8mlXHusmH7gKPURzFrDLocHqB9pdSsB-E2j92VfJK01ZaUDf_-rW4qrBAqek_Hy0k2X_BU9BPaXr/s1600-h/Garmin+12-20.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5284702167644474018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 192px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpcXOuoGyC7rY01LKLBMIHMk3mVg3V1XRX8LX6jlt2OtSQVQBkoQs9GGLi76PrDOgv8mlXHusmH7gKPURzFrDLocHqB9pdSsB-E2j92VfJK01ZaUDf_-rW4qrBAqek_Hy0k2X_BU9BPaXr/s320/Garmin+12-20.jpg" border="0" /></a>Ninahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12425693186657921134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7636712777703674227.post-39966321304497915182008-12-26T16:23:00.002-07:002008-12-26T16:54:14.848-07:00Eat This Not That!<span style="font-weight: bold;">Eat This Not That!</span><br />By David Zinczenko and Matt Goulding<br /><br />This book analyzes the calories and nutritional information of popular chain restaurants and grocery store packaged foods to help the reader make healthier choices. The salad is not always the healthiest choice. Did you know the worst food in America is the Outback Steakhouse Aussie Cheese Fries with Ranch Dressing with a whopping 2900 calories/182 g fat/ 240 g carbs. Yikes! At the grocery store, Oscar Mayer America's Favorite Bacon is actually a better choice than Oscar Mayer Turkey Bacon. They both have 70 calories / 6 g fat for 2 slices but turkey bacon has 380 mg sodium while the regular bacon has 290 mg. This book also includes fun facts though out like did you know the name Sonic came from the restaurant's original slogan, "service at the speed of sound," a reference to the speaker boxes used in the original drive-ins. Another interesting fact, a recent study found that subjects ate 350 calories more at Subway than they did at McDonald's. Researchers call it the "health halo": the tendency for diners to overeat when they believe they're eating at a healthy restaurant. My husband and I debated this one for a while. He says he eats the same amount of food and therefore lower calories at a healthier restaurant. I think I eat more when I go to places like Subway because I think I can justify the foot long sandwich as healthy but when I go to a burger place I tend to get a junior burger.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61cj9k6rkAL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA240_SH20_OU01_.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 240px;" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61cj9k6rkAL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA240_SH20_OU01_.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Ninahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12425693186657921134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7636712777703674227.post-17967660616608339082008-12-21T18:29:00.000-07:002008-12-21T18:30:40.850-07:00Welcome to My New BlogHello and welcome to my new blog.Ninahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12425693186657921134noreply@blogger.com0