Tag Archives: .weightloss

Walking for exercise

It is funny how reliant we are on our cars.  I may be able to walk to the things around me, but why take the extra time when I can just drive there.  That is, however, until I woke up to find the card that allows me to get my car out of the parking garage had gone to work with my roommate.  At first I was super bummed!  I had planned a perfect day of double yoga at noon and 4:30.  I had plans to come sit in the my wonderfully air conditioned apartment, make lunch, read, and write in between sessions on the mat.  The day that ensued turned out to be much better than originally planned.

Determined to not let me lack of car keep me from my goal to hit a double yoga, I mapped out the route to get to my yoga studio.  I could either wait for the bus, and be there in 40min, or walk and arrive in 36.  Those who know my love for my fitbit and steps can easily guess which route I decided to take.  I loaded up my bag for the day and set out.  After my first class let out, I had 3 1/2 hours to kill.  Rather than trek back to the apartment, I decided to explore the area around the studio.  Right across the street from the yoga studio is the Vanderbilt Campus.

walking for exercise

I found a nice spot in the shade, busted out my lunch and read for a while.  I love being on college campuses.  They all tend to have the same similar, yet varying components; a quad, a large central clock tower, crazy artistic statues, greek life, tracks, and good people watching.

walking for exercise

Sycamore tree with crazy tennis ball fruits.

walking for exercise

The Tri Delta House. One of the many on Greek Row

walking for exercise

The Vandy Track, this was the area of UC Davis that I called home.

walking for exercise

Another random sculpture. Davis had egg heads scattered around campus in various poses.

Finally, after walking around for the while.  I decided I needed to get out of the heat for a bit.  I headed to an air conditioned coffee shop and busted out the work I had planned to do at home that day.

When I was finished I still had an hour and a half to kill until my next yoga class.  I headed over to check out one of Nashville’s Parks, Centennial Park.

walking for exercise

Centennial Park is home to the Parthenon.

walking for exercise

There is also a little lake that will be great to run around on a later date!

walking for exercise

walking for exercise

After yoga I headed back home pleased with how successful my day had been with the lack of my car.  I was even more pleased to sync my fitbit and see my data for the day:

walking for exercise

So the moral of the story: next time you start to head to your car ask yourself, “Could I get there by walking?”  When I drive to yoga I leave 30 min prior to the start of class.  When I walk I leave 45 min to the start of class.  Maybe you need those extra 15 min, but if you don’t that’s an extra 5,000 steps you could be getting.

Zucchini Pizzas

This is one that I stole from my Dad.  His grandfather grew Zucchini in the backyard.  Homegrown Zucchini can be HUGE, but if you don’t grow it yourself,

Start by cutting in half the largest Zucchini’s you can find and bake them in the oven at 375 for 20 min. zucchini pizzas

Then carve out the centers using a large spoon.

zucchini pizzas

Then here’s your time to get creative.  You can use pizza sauce, spaghetti sauce, or I chose to use a red and a green hot salsa from a local merchant at the Nashville Farmers’ Market.

zucchini pizzas

Top with your favorite cheese.  If you are trying to watch your calories, non fat mozzarella is always a good option.  You could even add pepperoni, sausage, onions, peppers or any of your favorite pizza toppings.

zucchini pizzas

Bake for 10-15 more minutes until the cheese is melted.

zucchini pizzas

And you have the a veggie disguised as pizza.  Something even the pickiest kiddo would at least try!

zucchini pizzas

Sorry to my vegetarians out there.  I served my vegetarian side dish with some steak! 😉

Running Motivation

Running Motivation

People always talk about hating to run.  What they really hate, is the process of getting in shape to run.  Every time I lose my fitness I hate running again.  Then I reread a journal I wrote during my most fit days and I see the advice I wrote to myself:

1.  Running gets easier the more you do it.

2.  You never regret going out for a run.

3.  The hardest time to run is right before you get back into shape.

4.  When you are out of shape, you won’t run as fast as you did in shape.

Simple, but they turn out to be true time and time again when I begin building my mileage.

That being said, I still need to trick myself sometimes to run.  That’s where the booty workout comes in.  All you need is a place with stairs.  Then make some rules.

1.  Whenever you reach the top or bottom.  Do 10 squats.

2.  As you start up the stairs, do 5 box (or step in this case) jumps.

3.  As you start down the stairs do 5 depth jumps.

I promise you, running will be the easy part!