When In Rome…or Monaco
Hi again!!
this is the first day in weeks during which I have not exercised. As in, no Insanity, no P90X, no Challenge and no Yoga. Wow. I did clean a bit, but that’s just about it. It feels weird.
Today I opened this box:
It really wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. It also has a bit more fiber than my usual cereals.
We don’t have All – Bran or Kellogg’s in particular in this country (well, besides the classical corn flakes)
I actually brought if over from my recent trip to the French Riviera/Côte d’Azur. The place is amazing. I think only St. Barts outrules it, but I am not even that sure as I haven’t been to St. Barts yet. Just so you see:
St. Tropez
I heart CHANEL. This is in Cannes. And just so you know, the auditorium where the film festival takes place at isn’t that fancy. The rest of the city is fabulous
Nice
Monaco
I’d say that 90% of Monaco’s marketing campaign runs on Grace Kelly’s connection to the place. Or better say, Princess Grace.
Anyhoo, today my eats haven’t been very good either. I am just trying to make something out of it all.
Oh, and I cannot STOP listening to this song:
SO addictive!
Have any of you seen When In Rome?
Heathcliff, my love
Jolly Thursday Hots and Fits!
I started the day extremely well! Despite a rather restless sleep I got up at 5:20 and decided to run outside.
For me, if I know in my head that it is cold but still wanna make it out and not let the winter scare me off, I open the window, stick my hand out, and prove to myself its not that cold (considering the fact that I sleep with a tanktop). I think it works because I am very warm when I wake up (now, wearing a long sleeve shirt and typing this, I am freezing!).
It wasn’t that bad but I only did 2 KM because my foot hurt. My other foot, that is. Weird. Something isn’t making sense. I will try again tomorrow.
Came back home and had a date with this guy (while being imitated by a bunch of other people):
I did the last 20 minutes of Pure Cardio, only skipping the 8 push ups + running session because I was going to end up late to work.
After all the “get ready hassle” (which lasts 20 minutes) I sat down to a bowl of this.
Gorgeous.
I also had a cup of coffee in my favourite cup:
Wuthering Heights is my favourite book. I heard Heathcliff.
I other interesting news, I came upon an article claiming that according to research, the pressure our knees and ankle joints absorb when running with sneakers is greater than if we were to run barefoot!
The research, conducted by a team of scientists from the University of Colorado in Virginia (huh??) studied the pressure on the hip, knee and ankle by gathering 68 volunteers, 37 of whom were women, all healthy, broad age range, and with no significant history of muscle injuries.
They ran at least 24 miles a week, either outside or on the treadmill. They also made them walk in high heels around a shopping mall for a while.
Surprisingly, they found that running shoes provided the highest pressure levels on the joints!
Threre are individuals that are criticizing this research, claiming that the sample group was too small. All I have to say is that I wish I could run barefoot.
I actually did once (shhhhh ….its a secret). I was on holiday in some remote village with my family and I felt like going for a run, but did not have my shoes. It was right after I graduated from high school and done with the track, thinking I would never wanna lace up those shoes! Anyhow, I did it. It felt great. But it is dangerous. Just thinking about all the crap that could be on the road made me constantly look down.
Ight Hots and Fits, my little sis just came back from vacay today so I’m going to hang out with her. I will see you all tomorrow!!
Its Friday in 3 hours! Well, at least for me 😛
Cereals and Portion Size
This past weekend, I betrayed my faithfulness to oatmeal and went for cold cereals.
I found that, with Shaun T kicking my ass during my mid-day workouts, oatmeal is not ideal.
I wish I had this variety to choose from, but I do not. Anyhow, if you are planning on a workout 2-3 hours after breakfast, you should keep it light. I know everybody is different, but my stomach definitely doesn’t handle it well otherwise. Here is what my bowl looked like:
If you are wondering about quantities:
- 60 – 70 grams of cereals. Yes, I never seem to get the portions on cereal boxes. 30 grams per serving? Really? I will be starving in an hour. I have 2-2.5 servings. I mixed my cereals, cause the one I got in Germany is pretty blahhh but at least the texture is different. The other kind I get here, its cinnamon flavor and very high in fiber.
- Milk. I put about 150 ml worth. There is no skim milk where I live. Only 1.5% fat. In my home country, there is 3%. Gives you stomach pain if you over-consume it.
- Banana. I used to hate bananas. But sometimes I find myself craving them. My favourite fruit is actually apple. I ate about 3 apples a day. Hey, its supposed to keep the doctor away!
Today was officially back to work here and the weather continues in its similar pattern. I was not even considering running this AM mainly because of the foot but also because of the weather. So I plugged in P90X‘s Kenpo X.
So on to The Spit: I skipped the warm up, because its not my type of thing. I don’t have a problem with people of do static stretches, but Jillian Michaels taught me that dynamic stretches are just as effective, take less time, and really get blood pumping through the body. Oh, and that saves about 12 minutes.
Kenpo X is supposed to be a Cardio workout, but my heart rate remains considerably low. I am still in the range, however here are the stats:
Duration: 50 minutes
Avg HR: 139 BPM
Max HR: 162 BPM
Calories: 370
As you can see, this is very different from INSANITY, but it offers a nice change.
The Hot is that I have never done kickboxing in my life but have always wanted to, and this definitely provided an opportunity. Its also really easy on your feet/knees (no jumping involved, besides occasional jumping jacks). There is very awesome move there, called the X. Its an X jumping jack. LOVE IT!
Anyhoo, The Hot and Fit is now headed towards dinner. Check out the ChaLEAN review – and let me know what you think!
Happy New Year!!!
Happy New Year my darlings!
This is where I will be spending my New Years Eve:
Like I said, nothing crazy, I am actually thinking of taking driving duty, so definitely no drinking. This may sound like a big, fat lie, but I really do not like alcohol. I actually get mocked for this very reason all the time at work.
Backing up a little to the beginning of the last day of 2009, I woke up much after my alarm hit off at 7 AM. I am seriously fearing Monday morning – it is going to be hard to wake up early!! I had breakfast first (some flavour-less cereals I got in Germany – blah). I made sure it is light because doing INSANITY after having oatmeal for breakfast is not a very good idea!
I did Pure Cardio today – this is an intense, kick-butt workout. There aren’t as many breaks as in the usual INSANITY workouts so I actually had to hit ‘pause’ a bunch of times.
I believe I am getting much stronger. I do not know whether it is psychological, and whether its just that good.
After that I did P90X’s Legs and Back, but I skipped all of the exercises involving the pull up bar, so that made it shorter.
Overall this was a good workout, I love all the squats variations, and I definitely felt my calves. I will be able to tell you more about it tomorrow (assuming I will make it home tonight!), hopefully I shall be sore!
My lovely Hots and Fits, thank you for sticking with me in 2009, and I ask you now to do the same through 2010!
May your year be full of love, happiness, health, laughs and fitness!
I wish the very best to you and all your loved ones! May 2010 be the best yet!
Yours truly,
The Owner Rules a Weird Coach
No idea what’s with the title – I am all about randomness this morning!
Look what I woke up to:
GORGEOUS, I know!
This is my first run in 10 days, I was expecting it to be hard. And it was.
I only ran 5.4 KM, and I didn’t time it because I didn’t want to beat myself up. My legs were pretty sore and it was very windy, so all things considered, I am very happy.
I also had this bowl for breakfast:
I always have the same breakfast. Always. Yes, I am that boring. Although I might add that during lovely summer days I prep the bowl in advance, let the oats soak over night, and have it cold in the AM.
Hers is what I put inside:
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50 grams quick oats – cause the gotta cook quickly in the microwave, 2 minutes tops, in order for me to get to work on time.
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150 grams of some yogurt – there are only 4 flavours where I reside at the moment. Strawberry, apricot, raspberries and blueberries. I stick to the strawberries. Sometimes, if I manage to sneak in a trip to a country near by, I will have other flavours like vanilla, chocolate, caramel…
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100 – 150 grams of liquid egg whites – these totally add the flavour. They make the oats taste like marshmallow. And they are full of protein, so its an excellent way to start the morning.
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Cinnamon and ground ginger – I heart cinnamon, and ginger involved cinnamon somehow (I think), so I am all up for it).
This morning, I over did it with the cinnamon. Blah. Oh, and the rest of my home dwellers find my morning breakfasts repulsive. They say that after staring at it for 10 seconds they start getting nauseated.
The Hot and Fit on: Breakfast Cereals (U.S. Version)
Happy Sunday Hot and Fits!
Today we bring over the top choices of breakfast cereals, continental U.S. version, according to 42 different individuals
Note: All cereals tested in this story were free of high-fructose corn syrup and hydrogenated oils.
The Best O’s
Cheerios
The pure oaty flavor and the hearty crunch of these whole-grain rings, which contain just one gram of sugar per serving, easily won over testers. “No wonder my toddler can’t get enough of them,” one enthused.
The Best Shredded Oats
Life
Mikey liked it back in the 1970s, and Real Simple testers feel the same way today. The thin oat squares strike a tasty balance of salty and sweet.
The Best Raisin Bran
Cascadian Farm Organic Raisin Bran
The plump, juicy raisins aren’t overwhelmed by the number of flakes,” said a fan. “Plus, the fruit is free of that awful coating of sugar so many companies use.”
The Best Crispy Rice
Erewhon Organic Original Crispy Brown Rice
Made with brown rice (a nice twist on the traditional white), these delicate puffs have “a pleasing nutty flavor,” a staffer raved. “Topped with strawberries, they would make a great light breakfast.”
The Best Corn Flakes
Trader Joe’s Organic Corn Flakes
These large, sturdy flakes hold their shape, have a strong corn flavor even when drowned in milk, and don’t develop a slimy film like some other versions,” said one appreciative tester.
The Best Frosted Wheat
Three Sisters Sweet Wheat
These bites have a dusting of icing on one side that adds a touch of sweetness to the milk. Bonus: The re-sealable plastic bag cuts down on wasteful packaging.
The Best High-Fiber
Kashi Go Lean
A medley of bran twigs, honey whole-grain puffs, and mini soy graham crackers, this won praise for being hearty and delicious. One of the healthiest of all the winners, it packs 13 grams of protein and 10 grams of fiber into a single serving.
The Best Shredded Wheat
Kashi Autumn Wheat
Passionate shredded-wheat devotees raved about how the squares “absorb the milk just enough, without soaking it up like a sponge.” Said one of them, “It’s tightly woven and yet has a lovely, airy crunch.”
The Best Crispy Whole Grain
Multi-Bran Chex
Molasses perks up the flavors of corn, wheat, and rice in these woven brown crisps. “Forget toast in the morning. This reminds me of my favorite wheat bread, but with a more robust, nutty flavor,” a panelist said.
The Best Whole Wheat Flakes
Organic Weetabix Crispy Flakes
This flake version of a popular English cereal has a pleasant, grainy texture and a slight sweetness, thanks to cane juice and a touch of sea salt.
The Best High-Fiber Twigs
Fiber One Original
Many twigs are thin and brittle, said a taster. “This sturdy example stands up well to milk and fruit.” For an afternoon snack, try the cereal solo or sprinkled on yogurt. Half a cup contains a whopping 14 grams of fiber.
The Best Flax
Nature’s Path Organic Flax Plus Multibran
It’s easy to get more heart-healthy omega-3s in your diet with these golden flakes. “They have a cute, cuplike shape that holds the milk,” commented a fan.
The Hot and Fit says:
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FIBER ONE Originals!! Our top pick by far ! These are amazing, so high in fiber and you could pretty much top them with any flavour to your taste. Peanut butter, chocolate, cinnamon….any type of yogurt…milk…
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Least favourite? Weetabix! Perhaps this is because our European upbringing forced us to eat way too much of the original English treasure…
What do you like the most? Personally, we tend to pick health first, flavour second (although most times we are lucky enough to have both!) Which ones are you favourite?
For a Good Night’s Sleep…
How many times have you gone to bed with the feeling that “Argh maybe my stomach would have felt better if I hadn’t eaten that for dinner!”?
Of course, your tummy’s reaction will depend greatly on your body’s individual preferences, but here are some general tips you may want to consider.
Your dinner should:
- Consist of complex carbohydrates, such as whole wheat pasta, whole grain rice, whole wheat bread etc. This is because only whole, unprocessed grains will make you feel full and satiated!
- Include foods rich in magnesium, such as nuts and almonds. These are great for loosening your muscles. Legumes such as beans and chickpeas are also high in magnesium however they are bloating.
- Consist of fruits and vegetables containing vitamins E and C, including nuts, green leafy vegetables, egg yolks, oranges, grapefruits, etc.
- Allow you to enjoy a cup of chamomile tea
- And of course, a cup red wine!
What you shouldn’t do:
- Eat an oversized out of proportion dinner – this is not only likely to increase your calorie intake of the day, but will make you feel very uncomfortable and over full
- Drink too many liquids – who wants to wake up all the time to go on a bathroom break?
- Eat a meal high in proteins – because they are harder to digest. So watch your dairy and poultry intake
- Eat foods that are too spicy or fried – again, really makes an unhappy stomach and not just when eaten before bed!
the hot and fit says:
- they say caffeine before bedtime won’t make you fall asleep – we don’t believe that, but then again, that’s just us. Test it out a couple of times and see if that cup of coffee really makes it hard for your sleep
- try to eat dinner about 3 hours before you hit the sack
- overeating during dinner is a difficulty many of us have had to overcome, and we still struggle with at times. The Hot and Fit finds an APPLE to be the greatest ally in this battle. Eat an apple, or even two if you cannot help it, before digging into that pantry.
- Not up for fruits? Try some cereals + milk. Yes, we want to keep the dairy low, so try about 30 grams high fiber cereals with another 100 ml of milk. Fiber One is one of our favourites!
[Photos via Flicker]
The Hot and Fit 
