Before you start please keep in mind that it is always a good idea to warm up and stretch before you start your routine. This can be done by jogging in place, jogging a short distance, or even run up and down some stairs to help get the blood pumping through your body.

Thanks to Men’s Health Magazine, they have some great routines and pictures to show some great things men and women can do to exercise! I will share a few with you from their website:

Here is the suggested workout:

The Workout

1. Prisoner squats (30 reps)

2. Pushups (30 reps)

3. Jumps (10 reps)

4. Swiss-ball leg curls (10 reps)

5. Swiss-ball pikes (10 reps)

6. Stepups (20 reps)

7. Forward lunges (30 reps)

8. Tucked-elbow pushups (20 reps)

9. Prisoner squats (15 reps)

 

Directions: Do this workout 3 times a week — Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, for example. Perform the exercises as a circuit, doing 1 set of each movement for the prescribed number of repetitions. Complete them in the order shown, without resting between exercises. Too easy? Rest 1 minute and repeat the circuit.

Prisoner Squat

Stand with your hands behind your head, chest out, and elbows back [A]. Sit back at your hips and bend your knees to lower your body as far as you can without losing the natural arch of your spine [B]. Squeeze your glutes (aka your butt!) and push yourself back to the starting position.

Your toes should be angled slightly outward. Don’t raise your heels as you drop into a squat.

Pushup
Assume a classic pushup position, with your back and legs straight and your hands beneath your shoulders [A]. Brace your abs and keep your body rigid. Now lower yourself until your chest almost touches the floor [B]. Then push yourself up until your arms are extended.

Keep your back flat and lower your body until you’re about an inch off the floor.

Jump
Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart. Now dip down at your hips and knees [A] and explode up [B], jumping as high as you can. Land as softly as you can, and then lower yourself and repeat.

Drop your hips back to generate power, and land on your toes before sinking into your heels.

Swiss-Ball Leg Curl

Lie on the floor with your calves resting on a Swiss ball and your arms outstretched. Squeeze your glutes to raise your hips off the floor until your body is in a straight line from your shoulders to your ankles [A]. Pause for a second, and then bend your legs to roll the ball toward your butt [B]. Straighten your legs to roll the ball away from you, and then lower your body to the floor.

Drive your heels into the ball to lift your body and activate your hamstrings.

***NOTE*** You do not have to use a ball (if you do not have one or you can’t afford one…but you can find some at a reasonable cost if you look online or maybe on eBay) You can use  a bench, a bed, or anything that will elevate your legs and will not topple over (we don’t want you to hurt yourself while you are trying to workout!)

Swiss-Ball Pike

Assume a pushup position with your feet resting on a Swiss ball, your body in a straight line from toes to shoulders [A]. Keep your back straight as you contract your abs, raise your hips as high as you can, and roll the ball toward you [B]. For an easier version, pull your knees up to your chest without raising your hips.

Your toes should be on the top-center of the ball to help maintain your balance.

***NOTE*** This move is def needed with a balance ball and is a more advanced move.  To start out you can use a bed or bench (or anything stable as talked about before) and do an elevated push up. This will allow you to build up your balance and get more comfortable until you are ready to try this move. 

Stepup
Holding your arms straight out in front of you, place one foot on a step or bench that’s about 2 feet off the floor [A]. Push down through your heel to lift your other leg [B], and then return to the starting position. Complete all your reps with one leg before switching legs and repeating the movement.

Your entire foot should be on the bench, with your toes pointed forward.

Forward Lunge 
From a standing position [A], take a large step forward with one leg. When your front thigh is parallel to the floor and your back knee is off the floor [B], hold for 1 second. Then return to the starting position and repeat with your other leg. Make it harder by holding the lowered position for 5 seconds.

Make it harder by holding the lowered position for 5 seconds.

Tucked-Elbow Pushup 

Assume a standard pushup position [A], but keep your elbows tucked in against your sides as you lower yourself until your chest is about an inch off the floor [B] and then push yourself up. To aid your form, place your hands closer than shoulder width, about 6 inches apart.

To aid your form, place your hands closer than shoulder width, about 6 inches apart.

***NOTE***This too is an advanced move. So do not get discouraged if you can not complete a full set the first few times.  

There are several different things that you can change in your day that will help you shed those extra pounds throughout the day. Here are some ideas for some non gym type “exercises” that you can do (or add to your day) that may help you optimize the amount of calories you burn a day.

• You know that elevator you wait 5-10 minutes on each morning on your way to your office? Take the stairs instead!
• Try walking more! If you need to run to the corner store to grab some milk or bread walk! Not only will this be beneficial to you, but this can also help you save gas money!
• You can animals on a walk or jog with you. You will complete 2 tasks that way (walking the animal and getting your exercise!!)

]]> http://www.infinitelifefitness.com/2013/10/23/non-gym-workouts/feed/ 2 http://www.infinitelifefitness.com/2013/10/17/child-obesity/ http://www.infinitelifefitness.com/2013/10/17/child-obesity/#comments Thu, 17 Oct 2013 11:00:41 +0000 http://infinitelifefitness.com/?p=169

Fitness and health are my overall passion.  But what I also would like to work hard at is helping to eliminate childhood obesity.

Looking back on my own personal childhood, there was not a time where I would beg to stay inside and play.  Yes, I was lucky enough to be one of those kids who was athletic.  But, at the same time, I also remember running around OUTSIDE with the other children I knew and grew up with.  Seeing today’s society and dangers does not allow children of today to roam their neighborhoods freely like I did back in the 80’s and 90’s.  But there are things that parents can do to get their kids away from the TV’s and game consoles!

One great thing is to impalement physical activity time during your family daily routine.  I know when I was a kid, we had a routine when we got home from school.  Get home, do our homework, read for an hour, dinner time, some nights were family fame night, then off to bed.  Granted we did not get home until 6 or 7 (or later some nights) but each family can plan their own family post school/work day routines.  Why not work out as a family? Yes, some gyms do offer discounted rates for family memberships but some people can not afford that expense each month.  Here are some suggestions that you can do as a family:

Walking:

The family can plan a special route that they walk a few nights a week (or even jog! If there are more children in the family you can offer a competition and have them race at certain points in your route).   You can walk around the neighborhood or if there is a nearby park.  You can maybe even do it right after school when you pick the children up (seeing as most schools have fitness tracks or fitness areas at their school).

Family Boot Camp:

A few nights a week you can create a Family Boot Camp workout.  This can include moves that ALL members of the family can complete.  This is a great idea because each member of the family will also work as a support system when someone needs a little encouragement to finish the selected workout move.  You can choose to do certain moves for a selected period of time (for 30 – 60 seconds) or you can say you have to do that move so many times before you move on to the next move.  Here are some suggested moves that you can incorporate in your family boot camp:

• Jumping Jacks (It is good to have this exercise be timed. Set a clock or watch for approximately 1 minute to 2 minutes) This is also a great exercise to do to help get the family warmed up! Don’t forget that it is important to warm up and stretch before your fitness routines!
• Push Ups (this is also a great move to do but to also time it.  To start off it is a good idea to start at 30 seconds and as you do these more and get better at doing them you can add time to this exercise).
• Crunches (also called “sit ups”)
• Jog in place or run for a certain distance (If you are having to move your workout inside due to the upcoming cold weather running in place is a great idea. Make sure to lift your knees and to actually go through the motions of running.  You can also set up cones or any other things you have available to have family members run that distance and back for a selected amount of time.)
• Jumping Rope
• Running up/down stairs (This is good to do if you have the space to do it.  Please BE CAREFUL if attempting to do this.  Make sure that no one is rushing to go up or down the stairs to help eliminate a mistake which will allow someone to fall and hurt themselves).
• Chair Dips (Thanks to this article look at the following picture to see how to correctly do a chair dip.  Make sure to find a good sturdy chair and a chair that is also big enough to use).

• Straight Arm Plank (Thanks to this article for describing this move.  You will want to time this move for about 30 – 60 seconds.  It is wise to start off at 30 seconds and raise the time once you have done this a few times)

• Squats (thanks to this website they have listed TONS of variations of squats that you can do at home.  They have also listed as well as show you many different exercises you can do at home with a partner or by yourself)

It is suggested that you work through the above listed exercises 3 times (go through all of them once and complete them again in 2 different sets).  After you have done that you can alter the workout to better fit your family and your time schedule.

Hope that these tips helped you out.  The best way to help your kids is to teach them healthy habits starting now! This will allow them to continue to practice these healthy habits as they grow up and become adults.  I promise they will thank you later for it!

]]> http://www.infinitelifefitness.com/2013/10/17/child-obesity/feed/ 6 http://www.infinitelifefitness.com/2013/10/15/the-perfect-snack/ http://www.infinitelifefitness.com/2013/10/15/the-perfect-snack/#comments Tue, 15 Oct 2013 11:00:56 +0000 http://infinitelifefitness.com/?p=115

Recently I was giving some advice to a friend about what snacks are good snacks to snack on during the day or between meals.  I will be the first to admit that I am a BIG snacker.  I would not make it through the day if I did not have my snacks.  But the key to maintaining a healthy eating habit is to find the right kind of snacks to consume throughout the day.

Of course you can snack on fresh raw veggies and fruit.  These are my favorite and some of the easy things to grab especially in a time crunch.  With some fruit and veggies, I have found some healthy dips to use on them to make them a little more enjoyable.  The key to allowing yourself to splurge on these type of dips is to make sure that you do not use too much and to find a dip that is not packed full of calories.

The key to snacking is not to eat something that will make you full.  The idea is to consumer something that has nutrients that will satisfy you until you have your next meal.  And since a snack is just a snack, you want something that is low in calories.

I will now give a few examples of some great snacks to have during the day! And the best part is that most of them are 150 calories or less!!

Hummus with Pita and Peas

3 tablespoons hummus; 1/2 whole-grain pita, cut into pieces; and 1/2 cup pea pods

 

Strawberries with Chocolate Sauce

1 cup strawberries drizzled with 2 tablespoons chocolate syrup

 

Apple and Peanut Butter

1 medium apple, sliced, with 1 tablespoon peanut butter

 

Pumpernickel with Swiss Cheese

3 slices mini pumpernickel with 1 slice Swiss cheese

 

Oatmeal and Berries

1 packet low-sugar oatmeal topped with a handful of berries

 

Spiced Maple Yogurt

Spiced maple yogurt: 6 ounces plain yogurt, 1 tablespoon maple syrup, and a dash of cinnamon

 

Green Tea with Cookie

Unsweetened green tea with 1 oatmeal dark-chocolate cookie (such as TLC by Kashi)

 

Granola Bar

1 trail-mix granola bar

 

Chocolate Pudding

1 chocolate pudding cup with 1 graham-cracker square crushed and sprinkled on top

 

Cafe Mocha

12-ounce nonfat cafe mocha (with no whipped cream)

 

Tomato Juice and Cheese

8-ounce V8 juice with 1 piece of string cheese

 

Chips and Dip

2 tablespoons low-fat spicy bean dip and 18 baked tortilla chips

 

Crackers with Honey Soy-Nut Butter

4 whole-grain crackers with 1 tablespoon honey soy-nut butter

 

Oranges with Walnuts

4-ounce mandarin-orange cup topped with 2 tablespoons chopped walnuts (or you can substitute your favorite nuts for the walnuts)

 

Apple and Cheese

1 small apple Apple and 1 ounce of Brie Cheese (or substitute in your favorite cheese for the Brie cheese)

 

Pudding with Cherries

4-ounces of low-fat vanilla Pudding with 1/2 cup of Cherries (fresh or thawed out frozen cherries)

 

Coffee and Cookies

2 whole grain fig cookies and 12 ounces of black coffee (with one teaspoon of sugar)

 

Red Grapes and Almonds

1 cup of red grapes and approximately 11 almonds

 

Cereal and Yogurt

6-ounces of light yogurt and 1/2 cup of whole grain cereal (Kashi cereal is a good choice for this snack)

 

Cheese and Crackers

1/4 cup low-fat cottage cheese, 1 teaspoon of fresh chopped chives, and 6 whole grain crackers

 

 

For that late night snack…

Lemon Sorbet with Raspberries

1/2 cup of lemon sorbet and 3/4 cup of fresh berries

 

Spiked Pomegranate Lemonade

1 1/2 lemon lime vodka, 1 1/2 ounces of light lemonade, 1 1/2 ounces of pomegranate juice, and 4 ounces club soda

 

Root Beer Float

12-ounces of light root beer and 1/2 cup of light vanilla ice cream

 

Beer and Nuts

12-ounce light beer (such as Bud Select 55, Michelob Ultra, Miller Light, Bud Select, or Coors Light) and 12 pistachios

 

Like I said there are 100’s of snacks out there for you to have, it is just about finding the right snack for you.  I hope some of the snacks suggested will cater to you and your snacking needs.

So go ahead and get your grocery lists ready so you can have some amazing snacks to have when you need them!!

]]> http://www.infinitelifefitness.com/2013/10/15/the-perfect-snack/feed/ 17 http://www.infinitelifefitness.com/2013/06/01/fitnesshealth-goals/ http://www.infinitelifefitness.com/2013/06/01/fitnesshealth-goals/#comments Sat, 01 Jun 2013 11:00:09 +0000 http://infinitelifefitness.com/?p=80 Over the past few post, I have provided more than enough material to help someone who wants to start to be active again.  Besides getting up and starting your healthy lifestyle, the only other thing that you need to do is set a goal!  It makes it easier when you have a goal you would like to reach so you know how long and how hard you should work.

 

To weight your self…or not to weight yourself…that is the question!…

Some people like to know their starting off right.  This is a good idea.  Although it may be disheartening to find out how much weight you have gained, it is on a temporary number! With hard work and dedication that number will steadily decrease over time.  You can purchase your own scale (which may be good to help you keep track of you weight loss over time) or you can use a scale at a gym, doctors office, or any other place that will allow you to do so.

How much weight you should expect to lose over time… 

On average, with the right exercise routine and a good balanced diet, you should be losing about 2 pounds a week.  If you are losing more than 7 pounds a week then you might want to evaluate what you are doing (because its normal to lose between 2-5 pounds a week).  Accurately losing weight is done by balancing how many calories you burn with how many calories you are consuming.  Naturally, if you are burning off more calories that you consume this will lead to weight loss.  These results will not be seen overnight! It takes time and patience and a regular routine of exercise and a good balanced diet.

what is a realistic length of time to set a goal?…

Lets say that your goal is to lose 20 pounds.  To be honest, the length of time it will take you to lose 20 pounds may be different from someone else.   It all depends on how often you exercise and if you decrease your calorie intake to help you burn fat.  Like stated above you should be losing about 2 pounds for week (but some weeks it will be more than that and other weeks it will be less than that. It is completely normal for that to happen!).  So if you calculate 2 pounds per week this will take approximately 20 weeks (or about 5 months).  Like I said before The length of time it will take someone to lose weight will be different from someone else!  If  are losing about 4 pounds a week it will take you about 5 weeks to lose 20 pounds.  It just all depends on how hard you work and how many pounds you lose from week to week. Do not let the length of time discourage you! These things take time, patients, and dedication.  And in the end the hard work will show.

What happens if I do not lose weight one week?…

It is OK if there is a week that you do not lose any weight or you lose one pound.  Try not to worry or stress out too much if this happens! Just try to push yourself a little harder the next week to help you get back on track to reaching your goal!

What to eat during this time… 

Setting a menu is just as important as setting a work out schedule.  What I have personally found to be helpful is that each time I go to the grocery store, I plan my menu’s (at least for the next week to two weeks).  It helps because I can budget the things that I need to get, and I can also cook some items I need during the weekend so that it can be stored to be used later in the week.  Each month I set a monthly budget for how much I can spend at the grocery store and how much money I can spend going out to eat.  A few years ago I stopped eating fast food all together, so my “out to eat” budget is for the weekly dinners I plan at restaurants with my friends (and I always save half of that meal to be eaten the next day for lunch or dinner! so I get two meals out of going out to eat)  It also allows me to look at the local stores newspaper adds so I can try to get the best price for the fruits and veggies I buy and eat on a regular basis.

What happens if I do not reach my goal in the time that I set for myself?…

If you do not reach your goal in the time you set it is OK!! Just extend your goal time.  Allow yourself a few more weeks to work hard and reach the initial goal you have set for yourself.  What I have suggested to some clients is to possible keep a fitness/health journal.  This can help you keep track of your workouts, if you happen to splurge during one meal (which is OK but try not to make it a habit), or any other things that go on during the time you are trying to reach your goal.  It will not only allow you to keep track of these things, but it can also serve as an outlet of positive and negative things that happen.  You can write it down, or blog about it (there are several sites that will allow you to keep your blog private or let you choose who can/cant see it).  This can also help by letting people see thins and encourage you to keep pushing towards your goals. I also love this idea because if I am out and I hear of something I want to try or randomly find a recipe I would like to try, I have my journal near by to jot it down!

I hope that these tools will help you create your goals and start your own fitness and health journeys.

 

]]> http://www.infinitelifefitness.com/2013/06/01/fitnesshealth-goals/feed/ 2 http://www.infinitelifefitness.com/2013/05/28/start-your-running-regimen/ http://www.infinitelifefitness.com/2013/05/28/start-your-running-regimen/#comments Tue, 28 May 2013 11:00:57 +0000 http://infinitelifefitness.com/?p=71

Running is the perfect way to start getting active! In today’s post I will go over several tips to help your running experience more enjoyable as well as suggest a running routine to help those who are just now getting back into exercising.  And don’t worry, I will also suggest something for those who have been jogging/running for a while and need something to spice up you workout. (Click on the image above for running safety tips.)

There are other important factors that you have to take into account before you start this running routine.

1. Shoes

You will need to find or buy a decent pair of shoes to run in.  One of my biggest pet peeves is to see someone running down the street in shoes that they should not be running in! You can go to any shoe store and the sales associate can help you find a perfect shoe that fits you perfectly for running.  The Shape Up type of shoes are not ideal (because of the shape of the sole of the shoe).  You will want to have a running/jogging shoe.  Trust me there are TONS to choose from.  And with the holiday season right around the corner you can score some decent shows for a pleasantly low price.  If not, look in your closet and try to find a shoe that have laces (so you can tie them up snug) and that do not have high awkward shaped soles.

2. Location

There are a lot of parks with paved or gravel routes designated for joggers and runners.  Some schools will even allow you to use their tracks when their students are out of athletic practice.  You can also map your own route through your neighborhood or for those who want to invest in a gym membership most gyms have nice treadmill equipment or inside tracks to run on.  Wherever the location make sure you feel comfortable there and that you are able to use it during the best times that work for you.  I know my workouts vary from week to week so I try to make sure that my running route is available morning and night to ensure a safe and comfortable workout for me.

3. Running Partner

Having a running buddy is a great idea! They can be your motivation and also someone to help past the time while you are working out.  Now, I will be honest and say that if you can carry on a full conversation while you are working out maybe you are not pushing yourself hard enough.  I’m not saying you have to be running at 100% speed the whole time, but the focus is the workout…not gossiping or discussing the latest episode of your favorite TV show.

4. Music

For those of you who do not have work out buddies music is a great motivational tool.  I know that I have a personalized workout playlist on my iPod that I listen to during my workouts.  It also helps me to keep track of how long I have been running or working out. Here are some great suggestions to add to your workout playlist:

www.infinitelifefitness.com/2013/01/29/songs-to-add-to-your-work-out-playlist/

www.infinitelifefitness.com/2013/02/08/more-work-out-songs-volume-ii/

http://www.infinitelifefitness.com/2013/02/24/work-out-songs-volume-iii/

http://www.infinitelifefitness.com/2013/03/08/work-out-songs-volume-iiii/

If you do work out in a gym, some facilities have docks you can hook up to so you can listen to a variety of music or even watch TV (or a DVD) while you are using their machines.  This is also a great option because it helps you to not focus on how long you are working out.

 5. Ready…Set…RUN!

For those who are looking for where to start when it comes to getting physically active the best way to start is slow.  Try not to jump into any exercise routine.  You have to start out slow and gradually build up to the desired routines that you would like to do.

First you want to find discipline, commitment, and belief that you can accomplish your fitness goals. The rewards of running are not instant, but they become
evident overtime.  You should set your first running goal by setting a workout/running schedule for the first two weeks of your new program.  Schedule  consistent runs by shooting for running at least 2 days in a row. Try not to take more than two days off in a row, because doing that makes running each day like it’s the first day all over again.

For starting out, 20 minutes is the magic number because that is when the body starts to produce physiological benefits; increased heart size, stoke volume, and capillarization to name a few.  You should start out by pushing yourself to run for at least 20 minutes per workout session. If you need to stop during this time it is OK! But keep moving! Either briskly walk or significantly decrease the speed at which you are running so you can catch your breath and get a small rest. If a running break is needed while on a run make it brisk!  Maintain this pattern for 14 days. At the end of those 2 weeks you can monitor the progress you have made since the start of your program.  Once you have been able to run no stop over your 20 minute run, then slowly add time to your runs ( I usually suggest adding times in increments of 10 minutes).

For those veteran runners out there I suggest incorporating sprint intervals into your run. Lets say that you have a 40 min run planned for this evening.  Start your run (after stretching of course!!) and do your usually run for 15-20 minutes.  It is then at that point that you sprint (yes as hard as you can!!) for 15-30 seconds (I suggest to start off with 15 seconds and then gradually build up).  After the 15 second sprint , go back to your regular jog for 30 seconds.  You can continue this sprint interval for the next 10 minutes (which is suggested), but for those who are in better shape you can do this for the remainder of your jog.

Now that I have suggested a workout for you to do…go Make a run for it!

 

]]> http://www.infinitelifefitness.com/2013/05/28/start-your-running-regimen/feed/ 5 http://www.infinitelifefitness.com/2013/05/22/workout-wednesday/ http://www.infinitelifefitness.com/2013/05/22/workout-wednesday/#respond Wed, 22 May 2013 11:00:36 +0000 http://infinitelifefitness.com/?p=88 Today is Hump day….so I have decided to try to help you over exercise and health humps!

Still need some convincing to get up and get started? Read this article I found at WebMD.com.  This article gives you 10 good reasons to start your fitness routine (other than just working out to get healthy and see the physical benefits).

Here are some quick tips to remember once you have jump started your routine:

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day!

This is the most important meal of the day! It is suggested that you eat breakfast within 2 hours of waking up.  Your body has depleted all of its food and other nutrients from the day before so it is good to get something to eat in that time frame. It helps to jump-start your day and to give your body the energy needed to get started.  There are tons of HEALTHY options (other than the drive through at your favorite fast food place or coffee place).  Try having 2 eggs (or egg whites) with one piece of toast and a cup of fruit.  You can also have a smoothie, or 1/2 a bagel with low-fat jam or cream cheese (make sure to look at the nutritional packages! Most of the time 1 serving size is a lot smaller than you think!) My personal favorite breakfast is a bowl of oatmeal with pecans with a cup of fruit.  The key is to find something that you can eat that will keep you full for the next few hours until you have your mid morning snack or to make you last until lunch time.

For those of you who are weighing yourself regularly, in the morning before you eat breakfast is the best time to do so.  Usually at the end of the day you are full with the nutritional food and water you should have been consuming throughout the day.

Start and Finish your work out routine

Make sure you have a plan before you start your work out.  It is always good to know ahead of time what you want to do before you start.  It is also important to not forget to stretch! It is suggested that you do a quick warm up (before stretching) and a cool down after the work out.   A quick brisk walk (or any other activity) is suggested for about 90 seconds.  Then after that 90 seconds gradually build up your speed (you can keep it at a slight jog) for about 5 minutes.  After that time is over you stop and do your stretching and then go into your fitness routine.  After your workout you should also do your cool down.  This can be done by doing a slight jog for approximately 90 seconds, and then again doing a quick stretch of all of your major muscles.   This should help to keep you lose and stretched out.  Doing these can also help prevent injury and also help reduce muscle pain after your workout.

Don’t forget to eat right (by not consuming too many “empty” calories)

When I speak of “empty” calories I am talking about foods/drinks with little nutritional value.  These can be found in carbonated beverages, unhealthy snack choices, and unhealthy meal options.  Try to plan a balance meal that will suite your nutritional needs and taste buds.  Also, try to increase your activity by doing your fitness activities.  The key to losing weight is to burn more calories than you are consuming.

Can I afford to workout?

YES you can!

In order to workout you do not have to buy a membership to a fitness facility.  You can work out at home, in the park, or anywhere! You just have to find the space and things needed to help you complete your desired workout.  But if you do go to a facility do not feel self-conscious about the people who are there.  I have had plenty of my friends tell me that they were afraid to go to the gym because of the “guys with muscles walking around” or the “Barbie sized girls that will be skipping around”.  Yes they may be there but I promise they will not be focusing on you.  Like you, everyone is there to get a workout! So do not even worry about them! They will be focused on their fitness goals and what they want to get done in the gym just like you.

 

]]> http://www.infinitelifefitness.com/2013/05/22/workout-wednesday/feed/ 0 http://www.infinitelifefitness.com/2013/05/16/weekend-meal-time/ http://www.infinitelifefitness.com/2013/05/16/weekend-meal-time/#respond Thu, 16 May 2013 11:00:44 +0000 http://infinitelifefitness.com/?p=96 Weekend Meal Options

As promised here are some new recipes that you can try!

What I personally like to do is to cook a few different things over the weekend or over the duration of the week.  Then I will have several different left over meals to choose from when it is time to eat.  I like this method because it allows me to cook and try out new things as well as cook food for the week.  I know that sometimes my schedule gets kinda hectic, so it is nice to have the meals already made and waiting on me in the fridge so I can go home and grab it and go.  This method allowed me to better plan my menus and to plan a variety of food options for me.  I gave up fast food several years ago!  Yes…its true…I have not eaten any kinda if fast food in over two years and i did made the goal at first to force myself to make better meal options and to help me budget and save more money.  I calculated it and I saved over $600 a year by cutting out fast food and setting up my menus and grocery budget.

Here are some great Lunch and Dinner recipes.  I included photos that I took when I cooked these items to help you get an idea of what it looks like.  You can alter and add/take away ingredients that you do not like.  But I will have to say, these meals are very delicious!

Black Bean Soup
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 15 minutes

1/2 c chopped red onion
2 tsp olive oil
1 tsp minced garlic
3/4 tsp oregano
3/4 tsp cumin
1 can (15 oz) black beans, rinsed and drained
2 c chicken broth
1 Tbsp feta cheese

1. In a large saucepan, combine onion, oil,
garlic, oregano, cumin, and salt to taste. Cook,
stirring, over medium heat until softened, about
3 minutes. Stir in beans and broth. Reduce heat
to medium-low.
2. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes.
Mash some beans against side of pan. Serve
sprinkled with feta and cilantro (optional).

Per serving: 205 calories, 7 g fat (2 g saturated),
447 mg
sodium, 27 g carbs, 9 g fiber, 12 g protein

Cheese & Kale Quesadillas

Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 5 minutes

1/2 c fine-sliced kale leaves
1 Tbsp water
2 9-inch whole-wheat tortillas
3 Tbsp crumbled feta cheese
**I also added green peppers

1. Place kale and water in a microwavable dish.
Cover with microwave-safe plastic wrap and
cook in microwave on high until wilted, about 90
seconds. Remove plastic carefully. Drain kale and
pat dry with paper towel.
2. Heat a heavy 9-inch skillet over medium-high
heat. Place 1 tortilla in pan. Top tortilla evenly
with cheese, kale, and second tortilla. Cook,
flipping occasionally, until tortilla is toasted
and cheese melts, about 4 minutes. Cut into
4 wedges.

Per serving: 119 calories, 4 g fat (2 g saturated),
336 g mg
sodium, 22 g carbs, 2 g fiber, 5 g protein
***NOTE***  I combined the above to recipes for one meal! Here is the picture.


Tilapia Tacos
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 0 minutes

1 c coarse-crumbled leftover cooked tilapia
fillets (recipe 40)
1/4 c red onion slivers
1/4 c thinly sliced kale
1/4 c canned diced tomatoes, drained
2 Tbsp crumbled feta cheese
2 tsp olive oil
2 tsp lime juice
1/8 tsp cumin
1/8 tsp red pepper flakes
2 9-inch whole-wheat tortillas, warmed

In a mixing bowl, combine tilapia, onion, kale,
tomatoes, feta, oil, lime juice, cumin, pepper
flakes, and salt to taste. Toss. Spoon onto
tortillas. Fold tortillas in half. Cut each half into
two pieces.
 Per serving: 291 calories, 14 g fat (3 g saturated), 571 mg
sodium, 25 g carbs, 4 g fiber, 18 g protein

Stuffed Chicken Parmesan

prep time:20 min

start to finish:55 min

makes:6 servings

6	boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 5 oz each)
1	box (10 oz) Cascadian Farm® frozen organic cut spinach, thawed, well drained
2	oz 1/3-less-fat cream cheese (Neufchâtel), softened
1/4	cup shredded Parmesan cheese
1/2	teaspoon dried basil leaves
1	clove garlic, finely chopped
1/4	cup fat-free egg product
12	stone-ground wheat crackers, crushed (about 1/2 cup)
1	teaspoon dried basil leaves
1/2	teaspoon pepper
1	cup Muir Glen® organic Italian herb pasta sauce
1/4	cup shredded mozzarella cheese (1 oz)

1.	Heat oven to 375°F. Spray 13×9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish with cooking spray. Between pieces of plastic wrap or waxed paper, place each chicken breast smooth side down; gently pound with flat side of meat mallet or rolling-pin until about 1/4 inch thick. (I did not have a rolling pin, so I found something else to use)
2.	In medium bowl, mix spinach, cream cheese, Parmesan cheese, 1/2 teaspoon basil and the garlic until blended. Spread about 1 tablespoon spinach mixture over each chicken breast; roll up tightly. If necessary, secure with toothpicks.
3.	In small shallow bowl, place egg product. In another small shallow bowl, mix cracker crumbs, 1 teaspoon basil and the pepper. Dip each chicken breast into egg product; coat with crumb mixture. Place seam side down in baking dish.
4.	Bake uncovered 20 minutes. Pour pasta sauce over chicken; sprinkle with mozzarella cheese. Bake 10 to 15 minutes longer or until thermometer inserted in center of chicken reads 165°F. Remove toothpicks from chicken before eating.

1 Serving: Calories 290 (Calories from Fat 100); Total Fat 11g (Saturated Fat 4 1/2g, Trans Fat 0g); Cholesterol100mg; Sodium 450mg; Total Carbohydrate 10g (Dietary Fiber 2g, Sugars 3g); Protein 38g

Hope you enjoy trying out these recipes.  Keep looking for more and have a great weekend.

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