Need a snack?? Try a Kiwi!

Why should you choose this super food??? Well, for starters it has twice the vitamin C of Oranges! Two medium kiwi's have almost 5 g of fiber, decent source of magnesium, low-sodium and are a high-potassium food (great after a run or workout).
Get this, the Journal of Medicinal Food did a study. They found that kiwi had the ability to reduce oxidative stress (damage from free radicals) in human plasma. Another study in Carcinogenesis confirmed kiwi's ability to protect against cellular damage AND repair cellular damage that had already occurred (just from adding kiwi into a normal diet)! Pretty cool!

Plus, they are DELICIOUS!

Oh, and according to The Environmental Working Group, Kiwifruit is considered one of the least contaminated with pesticides. Good to know!




Picture taken from here
Information taken from 150 Healthiest Food on Earth- Jonny Bowden

New Recipes I've Tried

Asparagus Risotto.

Italian Beef Fontina Sandwich.


Both of these dishes were absolutely delicious!
It was fun to try the new recipes and they were a HUGE hit with the family!
I put the links on both meal titles... check them out and my more of her delicious recipes!

Update on Chi Running

I have not finished the book, yet. I've been doing the exercises and trying out "Chi Running" as I'm going. So far, it's great, but challenging. My biggest issue is posture. Holding that posture is tough for me, but I can feel that it has affected my running and I feel better when I have correct posture.

When I run "Chi Running" style, I can feel the difference in my body immediately. Last Thursday, I had an easy run. I ran for 4.5 miles. I praticed my "form" the whole time. The first half was bit of a challenge for me, but as I proceeded and got more comfortable, it eventually felt effortless and like I was floating. My "Runner's High", at the end was exhilarating! I've NEVER had a runner's high like I did that day. It lasted for hours. It was the best I've felt running in a very long time.

Last night, I went and ran on the treadmill. It was much more challenging then running outside. I have to admit, my knee is a bit achy today. Part of my training required me to run today, but I'm taking today off. I don't want to over-do it or re-injure my knee.
So, I will keep going and let you know what I think as I progress. I think I might purchase the video as well. I'm a visual learner and I like to see how these things are done. So, I will keep you posted on that as well.

Happy Running!

Chi Running

I have a relay race coming up in the next 2 months... I'm really excited, but I've been a bit nervous because of my knee surgery. I've been working with my cardio coach and my personal trainer (sadly, my last session was Friday). We've really been working on glute, hamstring & quad strength, to prepare my legs for this FANTASTIC race.

website: http://www.chirunning.com/

My cardio coach suggested I get this book "Chi Running". So, I went over to Barnes & Noble and picked it up (generally, I'm way too impatient to order books online). I started reading it right away!
So far, it's all about balance and alignment. He talks about how you should never feel pain from running. If you do, you are not in balance and alignment. Because pain is just an indicator that something is off in our bodies. He mentions that we over work our leg muscles (like I've been doing), but it's not required if we run correctly.
He talks about using our mind, gravity and the natural flow of our bodies to move us forward, leading to effective running! He tells us we should get back to our roots, so to speak... Run like children. They have perfect form... because they just do it!
I haven't gotten into the running "form", but I'm extremely excited! He has mentioned great posture (one of my major issues), relaxed muscles and joints and tight core.
If anyone is interested in running or has been interested in running, check it out. So far, I really like the book.

Some very important things to remember when running:
Diet: It's really important to eat "good" foods while running (I'm going to insert a blip here... You should be eating well all the time. Our bodies need great food not just when we are exercising. Okay, I'm done). Carbohydrates (100% whole grains are a good one), proteins and good fats (ie., Avocados). Your body needs the right fuel to run and it needs all these items.
Fluids: When I run, I can not drink soda, coffee or alcohol. My body can't handle it! And my body requires more water.
Sleep: When I run (or do any exercise), my body needs more sleep. Make sure you are getting adequate sleep.

One last thing... When I first started running, I thought you had to run really hard, really fast equaling a high heart rate. After working with a cardio coach, I realized that the slower I went the more effective my body was working. Over time, my oxygen levels increased and I was able to run much faster, with a lower heart rate. So my speed increased, but the effort to reach that speed didn't.

If anyone is interested in running... and would like the information of my cardio coach. send me a message and I'll give you his information. He has changed the way I run and the way I feel when I run! I love it!
I'm so excited to see what this book has in store for me.

Happy Running!