I don’t take too many group exercise classes because I’m easily distracted.

Now where was I? Oh yes, group fitness classes.

Because it’s hotter than hot these days I’ve resorted to doing just about all of my cardio in the gym in one form or another. So to shake things up I decided to go to a few spinning classes for the first time since joining my new gym.

I’ve been taking spinning classes on and off for years now but I had my first aha moment during class on Saturday. Spinning classes are a lot like high school, in just about every class you have…

• The class clown. This spinner would add a bell, a basket, and streamers to his stationary bike if he could get away with it.
• The cheerleader. This is the chick who can’t help but shout out a “woop, woop” or a “wohoo” from time to time.
• The new kid. This poor rider usually has no friends, no school supplies (like water or a towel for starters), and gets the worst seat in the class.
• The best dressed. This guy comes to class wearing better gear than Lance Armstrong.
• The chatter box. This riders jaw usually gets a better workout than her body.
• The overachiever. This kid shows up to class really early to make sure he gets the bike in the front row, directly in front of the teacher.
• The drama queen. This person would win the lead in the school play for acting like she’s working a lot harder than the rest of us. She’s not.
• The drop out. Need I say more?

Ok, ok, one more thing. For all of you spinning instructors out there, thank you! But please do us a favor and don’t shout into those microphones, you sound like Charlie Brown’s teacher and we have no clue whaa-whaa-whaa-what you’re saying.

Now I really must go grease up my spinning bike and get ready to go to Ryde-ll High!

I bought some Textured Vegetable Protein a few weeks ago for a recipe and ran across the bag in my cupboard when I looking for a quick snack. Not being schooled on how to use this stuff, I decided to give my friend Carrie a call. The conversation went something like this:

ME: What do you think about textured vegetable protein?

CARRIE: You mean TVP? The stuff they pumped into elementary school hamburgers?

ME: Eww.

The very thought of school cafeteria food makes me lose my appetite and think of this song performed by the great Adam Sandler:

Ok, kids back to TVP.

What is it? Well, it sounds like a disease, but it isn’t. TVP is defatted soy flour. Sounds appetizing doesn’t it? It’s actually not too shabby. I’ve been enjoying it in its dehydrated state as it packs a hearty crunch, something I’ve been craving lately.

I’d say it tastes and looks like a cross between rice crispy cereal and granola, which might explain why I’ve been eating it by the handful, as a substitution for croutons on salads, as a topping on protein shakes, and mixed in with a spoonful (or two) of Justin’s Chocolate Almond Butter. Num.

You can find TVP in the bulk aisle in places like Whole Foods or in some grocery stores that carry Bob’s Red Mill. It’s cheap…which might explain why lunch ladies around the globe use this stuff, too.

A word of caution: If you want to enjoy TVP in it’s crunchy state add it to your food at the last possible second. What I’m really saying is don’t let it get in contact with something that isn’t solid (like salad dressing, protein shake, or nut butter) for too long or it will turn into some unrecognizable mush like something a woman wearing a hairnet might serve.

Now I really must go to recess, I’m challenging the lunch lady to a game of four square(s)!

This week has been full of it. Full of the good, the bad, and the funny. Let’s get started with…

THE GOOD!

Remember many moons ago when I wrote about Operation Beautiful? Just to refresh your memory, Operation Beautiful is a movement started by a fellow blogger on a mission to end negative self talk one positive post-it note at a time.

Good news! This beautiful blogger just released a book telling the story of Operation Beautiful and the stories behind some of the most powerful notes posted in random places around the globe. Congratulations, Catlin! You done good!

THE BAD!

I have a real beef with this burger. A hamburger sandwiched between 2 grilled cheese sandwiches?! Is this really necessary?

I’m not going to tell you where to get one or say anything more about this beast because that just wouldn’t be Friendly.

THE FUNNY!

Ok, you know how much I love my Safe Side towels? You know the ones where the word FACE is printed on one side and the word GYM is printed on the other so you know which side of the towel hasn’t touched the gym equipment?

Well, check out this full-size bath/beach towel my sister Jennifer found! No explanation necessary. It seriously makes me LMBO! And speaking of butt’s…

Now I really must go hit the gym and work on my weak-end!

Sometimes healthy living can be contagious–and not in a good way.

I am not a germ freak despite some of my recent posts on the subject. BUT, I took an oath as a healthy-living writer to make sure you are safe in the gym and in the kitchen. No, I didn’t. But I figured if I have to be grossed out so do you.

Earlier this week I was reading the Health section of  the New York Times and came across this article titled:

Be Sure Exercise Is The Only Thing You Get In The Gym

As I was reading along, I nearly spit out my coffee. In a nutshell, the article explained that in addition to a great workout you can also get boils, athletes foot, ringworm, impetigo, and other skin infections in the gym if you’re not careful.

After reading the article I’m going to make sure I pack some antibacterial soap in my gym bag, bring my own yoga mat to classes, and remember my Safe Side Towels.

I think you should read the article for yourself, use common sense, and at the very least be sure to wash your hands before and after your workouts. Unless of course you like boils.

Now I really must go grab my yoga mat so I don’t get germany.

Move over spaghetti squash, there’s a fresh kid in town: Zucchini!

While I fell in love with spaghetti squash last winter, I just started seeing zucchini this summer. Ok, I’ve been seeing a lot of zucchini especially since purchasing the Spiral Slicer. This little gadget makes angel hair noodles out of zucchini (and other fruits and veggies, too) as easy as making curly hair out of play dough…and it’s just as fun!

So now that zucchini is in season I can welcome back pasta dishes without the guilt. These noodles make great no-cook (or as the cool kids like to call them “raw”) pasta, perfect for making all sorts of creations like Asian and Italian inspired dishes.

Yesterday I made a simple pasta salad by tossing zucchini noodles with some chopped cucumber, tomatoes, and carrots with a simple vinaigrette. And for dinner, I covered the noodles with a fresh tomato sauce that I made by piling Roma tomatoes, sun dried tomatoes, red pepper, spinach, garlic, mushrooms, and seasonings into the Vitamix. Dinner was served in a matter of minutes!

And get this…did you know that zucchini are 95% water? How great is that?! A zucchini-filled dish will fill you up without weighing you down!

Now I really must go hit the gym and later I just might play a little squash!

I like my iced coffee like my personal trainers, strong and not bitter. So when I discovered a better way to make iced coffee I was pumped.

I used to just make iced coffee by brewing a pot of coffee and pouring it over ice—the result? Cold, bitter coffee. Not grande. Now I make the perfect pitcher of iced coffee in just 3 easy steps…

• Combine 1/2 pound of coarsely chopped coffee beans with 5 cups water and let it sit for 12 hours (not hard and yes you can double this recipe)
• Strain coffee into a pitcher using a colander lined with cheesecloth, a coffee filter, or a paper napkin (right, Carrie?)
• Pour over ice and dilute with additional water or your favorite milk to taste (an important step as this brew will be venti strong!)

Now let’s address your questions:

• What if I like my iced coffee like my personal trainer…a little sweeter? Then it’s time to get a new trainer! Kidding! To sweeten the pot, simply add a little natural sweetener like stevia and/or a tablespoon or two of your favorite protein powder.
• I can’t possibly drink the entire pitcher in one day how long will it keep? You can store the coffee in the fridge for a good week or two, maybe even three.
• My doctor suggested that I limit my caffeine. Will decaf coffee work? Silly question.
• Are there health benefits to drinking coffee? Great question! I am not a doctor, but I asked WebMD and a few other sources and discovered there have been many studies about the perks of coffee including its benefits to athletic performance and recovery. Here’s what Dr. Terry Graham has to say on the subject…

” …[caffeine] signals you to ignore fatigue or recruit extra units of muscle for intense athletic performance. Caffeine may even have a direct effect on muscles themselves, causing them to produce a stronger contraction. But what’s amazing about it is that unlike some performance-enhancing manipulation some athletes do that are specific for strength or sprinting or endurance, studies show that caffeine positively enhances all of these things.”

[Disclaimer: Talk to your doctor about caffeine and drink responsibly]

• But what if I don’t like coffee? This does not surprise me. I just read this statistic on Livestrong.com that only 54% of people in the U.S. drink coffee everyday. I don’t get it. But to answer your question, I suppose if you are one of the people that can pass up a cup of coffee, you can pass this recipe on to 54% of your friends.

Now I really must go grab a cup of  coffee, my trainer said we’re going to hit the grounds running!

If you’ve watched or even heard of MTV’s “reality” show the Jersey Shore chances are you’ve probably lost a few brain cells.

Apparently the young cast of East Coast party animals have found a few brain cells because according to the tabloids, they are now making 5 figures an episode. 5 FIGURES!

Speaking of figures, Exercise TV is having a little fun at the Jersey Shore’s expense. I think this series of “workouts” is hilarious! Check it out:

You can find a few other Jersey Shore-related video clips on Exercise TV and find out how you can enter their contest to win an iPad. While you’re there, check out some of their “real” videos, they’re great to do at home or on the road to the Jersey Shore.

Now I really must go grab a quick bite and hit the gym, I can’t wait to show off my new jersey!

I decided to go on a road trip today. A literary road trip, not a literal one.

Today I am writing on two other sites:

First stop: ModelPer4mance.com. I actually write for ModelPer4mance…where the vain go to train, every Friday. Each week we spotlight inspiring, everyday athletes like Sarah Wilson. You might remember me drooling over talking about Sarah a few weeks ago, she’s the amazing jewelry designer behind Fashletics.com. Run right over to MP4 to hear the rest of the story…

Next stop: Askfitnesscoach.com. This site is an excellent place to ask and get answers to your health and fitness questions from a team of experts. My article today focuses on a  few of the keys to my healthy-living success. And when you get there, I’ll challenge you to a game of Rock, Paper, Scissors, stop by and see what I mean…

Are you there yet???

Now I really must go finish my trip, see you next fall!

I was driving to the gym yesterday on empty. Literally and figuratively. Thankfully I didn’t run out of gas before, during, or after my workout.

It got me thinking how much our bodies are like our cars…

• When we start our engines it’s important to warm up
• When we put in cheap fuel with a lot of additives we don’t perform at our best
• When we leave the house we should always check our rear view in the mirror
• When we’re low on fluids we can get overheated quickly
• When we neglect to recharge our batteries we don’t get anywhere fast
• When we break down we should call a friend
• When we don’t change our treads we can get out of alignment
• When we reach a certain age it’s time for a little deodorizer
• When guys take their tops off it usually means they’re on their way to a six pack
• When we get too much junk in the trunk it can reduce our mileage
• When we have no clue where we’re going we should break out the GPS
• When there’s something funky coming out of the tailpipe it’s time to pull over (and get out of the gym!)
• When we put on a spare tire it’s never good news
• When we go out we should really get washed and waxed

Now I really must go to bed, I’m utterly exhausted!

You know how Jerry Seinfeld’s wife Jessica wrote that cookbook Deceptively Delicious where she cleverly hides healthy ingredients into every recipe to make sure kids eat enough veggies? I use some of the same techniques to trick myself into drinking enough water.

In fact, I’ve set up a “hydration station” in my fridge to make sure I stay properly hydrated during the dog days of summer.

While I enjoy good ole plain water, I also like to get my water in by making sure I have other healthy, ice cold, no-to-low calorie drinks on hand, two in particular:

• First up: Sun Tea! I love the flavor of sun-kissed black tea, but to kick up the health quality a notch, I sneak in 2-3 green tea bags to the taste-tea brew.
• Secondly: Lemonade! Who doesn’t love fresh squeezed lemonade? Instead of making it from a mix or with a fancy simple sugar, I just squeeze the juice of 3 lemons into a pitcher of water and stir in stevia to taste. Lemons have so many health benefits including a great dose of Vitamin C so drinking the real deal is a real steal.

When I get my fill of one of these flavors, I’ll replace it with some deceptively refreshing cucumber water. Right now I’m trying to sneak in over a gallon of H20 a day so the variety in my hydration station has been a lifesaver.

And while I’m working on staying hydrated all day long, I’m also really focusing on drinking plenty of water around during my workouts, too. In fact, the American College of Sports Medicine recommends 20 ounces of water before exercise and 10 ounces every 15 minutes of exercise. GULP!

What are your tricks for staying hydrated?

Now I really must go fill up a bigger water bottle all of this talk about water is making me thirs-tea!