Play ball!

Meet Josh.  My day started out with a run past him.  I later slowed down to a walk and was offered a very satisfying Amazing Race Diet Papaya Mango Tea by the good folks of Snapple, also out for today's home game.  After walking to the Bay Bridge, it was time to turn around; I wanted to catch a glimpse of the game through the gates of AT&T Park!  Josh, this time, was rallying.  He caught my attention again.  I dodged through the stadium-bound sea of orange and asked him if I could take a picture of him for my blog.  He said, "Sure!" and the iPhone photo was snapped.  I really like his entrepreneurial spirit, and will have to buy one of his cool printed rally rags next time.  Unfortunately, I was just out for a run and, as usual, didn't bring any cash.

Inspired by Meg

One of my sisters, who just turned 24 the other day, tells me that her motto is "do something that scares me just a little every day." It's not that she continually puts herself in harm's way; she simply makes it a point to step out of her comfort zone on a daily basis. I like this and, as her older and tamer sister, have been trying to adopt some of her balls to the wall attitude.

So, I have compiled a list of activities in San Francisco that might make the average Jane a little bit uneasy and a lot proud to have tried:

1. Boxing - There's nothing more liberating than punching a body bag, trust me on this one. My personal preference is Third Street Boxing Gym in the Dogpatch, and I plan on signing up soon.

2.  Sailing - If sailing lessons aren't you're thing, sign up for a sailing tour instead.  Both are offered at San Francisco Sailing Co, located at Pier 39.  Technically, I can cross this one off my list, because I do have a valid boat license in Australia.

Proof:

3.  Cooking classes at Williams-Sonoma in Union Square - Pop in and grab one of their monthly schedules of technique classes and demonstrations.  It looks social, and I think you get to eat the finished product!

4.  Events of all kinds - Check Eventbrite for networking events, baseball watching events, fashion events, wine tasting events, fitness events...  I really could keep going.  Heck, you could even create your own event!  This is probably one of my favorite things on the internet to peruse right now.  I tend to go to these events during the week, when my boyfriend is at work and my friends are busy bees or in Tahoe on skis.

5. Get cultured - Visit the SFMOMA, de Young, or Conservatory of Flowers on a free Tuesday.  Yep, admission is free every first Tuesday of the month.

6.  Volunteer - The San Francisco Education Fund is always looking for public school volunteers, but you can also volunteer at your community garden, the American Red Cross, or Pets Unlimited.  Look around for something that suits your interests.

7.  Take MUNI - For those of you who never get anywhere without your car, park it for the week.  Get a Clipper card or have $2 on hand, and sit back to watch the entertainment that is public transportation.  Not only will you save money on parking fees, you'll come home with some great stories.  Better yet, tell your stories to @munidiaries on Twitter.

8.  Donate - Clean out your closet.  Stop hoarding your aerobic socks and puff-paint sweatshirts.  There are plenty of people out there who attend ugly sweater parties and love to dress up in this kind of stuff.  If you aren't using it, pass it on.  Don't forget to get a donation receipt to you can write it off come tax time!

9.  Sport a new hair-do - This is a continuation of #8.  Donate your hair.  All you need is 10 inches of extra length, but make sure that your hair has not been dyed.  Locks of Love is where my youngest sister and I have sent our pony tails.  Even though mailing a pony tail feels creepy, it is such a beautiful gift for a child who has lost their hair to illness.

10.  Try a vegan meal.  I'm not suggesting that you change your diet completely, but varying what you eat can open your eyes to new, healthy options that you can incorporate into your usual meals.  Since college, I've been a fan of Smart Balance Buttery Spreads.  My favorite is the one made with extra virgin olive oil.  It has omega-3s and 50% of your daily value of Vitamin D per serving.

Maybe I haven't covered anything too intimidating, so give me your suggestions, and I'll add 'em to the list!

Delayed for days

The aforementioned delicious and nutritious blog is still on the way, but not going to get posted today.  Grad school applications have temporarily taken over my life.  Just so you know, I'm applying for a Masters and Single-Subject Teaching Credential (of the English and Reading variety).

So, with that said, let me announce that I have created a new group workout set for the early morning of Tuesday, March 29th in the Embarcadero and Telegraph Hill area.  It is a departure from the usual girls-only workouts, as it will also be open to men.  Couples workouts?  Hm!




Before I call it a night, I want to throw something out there.  I enjoy getting health and fitness related questions because they give me an opportunity to research topics I may or may not already know about.  If you have questions, leave them for me here as comments, and I will reply with thoughtful and well-researched answers and supporting examples based on my experiences.  Sound good?


Until next time, here's a picture of my smiling, happy, post-run face ;-)

New post pending

Been quite busy lately, but I've got a great nutrition post coming up tonight, so keep tight!  Until then, snack on THIS healthy sammie :)

Embarcadero Sessions

After hearing all the talk and about the Instagram app, I had to download it so my iPhone photos could walk the walk, too.

Here is where you will meet me for Embarcadero sessions:

We will then go either here:

Or up there:

Bridal boot camps are Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:30 -7:30 am.
Small group boot camps are Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:00 - 9:00 am.

Be heart-healthy this Valentine's Day

A friend of mine posted the link to this short CBS News article on Facebook, so I'm going to repost it here as food for thought.  Take a look at the statistics, but also make note of the fact that excess weight is finding its way into other countries.  Cardiovascular disease is becoming the plague that we can actually do something to prevent.

Obesity: Global Epidemic Could Trigger Heart Disease "Tsunami" by David W. Freeman

I'd like to note that I have spent a few months in Southern Africa and have observed countries who drive far less, walk far more, spend more time outdoors, and tend to have fewer modern comforts.  One can still find KFC in the bigger cities, but fast food is regarded as more of a treat than a daily meal.  On the other hand, meat and starch, especially in areas of the Kalahari, are staples of the Afrikaans diet.  Additionally, this particular area has more development thanks to its wealth of natural resources, and cars are more common, likely because they are more easily afforded by the employed.  This is where I could see the expanded waistline.

I am no expert, but I have traveled, spending nearly 2 years in unfamiliar places, and I have often been surprised by how much thinner people are once I've stepped out of the states.  I think that, yes, stressful desk jobs contribute to weight gain, as do fast food restaurants, the convenience of having a car, and the simple pleasure of sitting on the couch to decompress and watch television with comfort food at hand.  Never mind the stress eating.

Doesn't Italy get something like 43 days off each year?  Maybe Americans need more time off from work, fewer cars, less of a dependency on fast food, and more interest in maintaining an active lifestyle.  I don't think we can hope for more days off, but we can be proactive about eating more of the right stuff and less of the wrong stuff, and we can make the effort to be more physically active when we aren't sitting behind the desk.

Saying it is one thing, but how do we actually make the improvements?  Will heart problems be the reality check?

Ready, set, launch!

Okay, ladies, here's a very special note:  The Fit Foxes website is up and running!  Jet Creative did all of the logo and website design, making the face of this business a welcoming one.  I hope to add more photos to the website as the business grows.  Another goal for the future is to have a merchandise page where clients can buy t-shirts and sweatshirts made in the USA as well as plastic water bottle alternatives.  Take a look at what she has done:  WORKS | Jet-Creative | Jet Angeline Villaflor, Jet's Wordpress, The Fit Foxes Website.
A little bit about my sessions:  I like to include boxing in most of my workouts.  Don't worry, no sparring!  You won't go home with a black eye (though I have been accidentally punched before).  It's good for the arms, it's good for the heart, and it's good for a hard day.  I don't like to bring a lot of gear to sessions because I don't think we need it given all of the resources with which San Francisco's parks provide.  Plus, I want this to be as environmentally conscious as possible, so I walk, ride, or take the bus to sessions and cannot juggle a gym around the city.  I will bring a mystery bag usually containing boxing gloves and mitts and any of the following: resistance bands and ropes, 2 pound weight balls, a stability ball, 1 pound wrist weights.  I will bring mats when we need them.  Some days will include a lot of stairs or big hills.
There is nothing to fear by the name "boot camp."  I am not going to leave you behind, judge you, or force you to do anything you cannot or do not want to do.  I want all ages, shapes, and sizes to feel comfortable with me.  With this plan, I think that we can succeed and, believe me, I want that more than anything.
Just remember that it is cost-friendly to sign up online.  Drop-in rates are $25 per 1-hour session, whereas $80 can get you unlimited sessions for a week.  So, if you come to 5 sessions, that works out at $16 per session.  Come to more and, well, it's like you're hardly paying me at all!

Laughter is good for the soul

A friend of mine just sent this to me, and I thought it was so funny and stereotypically spot-on that I had to share it.

The Perfect Saturday Workout

This Saturday, I convinced my boyfriend to run the Greenwich and Filbert steps with me.  Little did I know, he would actually have to double back to help me get up the stairs during one of our 3 passes.  Yes, struck by an intense feeling of nausea, I had to sit down for a few minutes and admire the view.  My legs felt heavy, my skin cold.  Though I was so gung-ho at 8 am to do this workout, I found myself ready to call it quits halfway through.  Elliot reminded me that the "I'm going to die" queasiness meant that I was really giving it my all.  I know this, I've felt it before (running a hill near King's Park in Perth), but it's so easy to forget.  The reminder has a way of putting things into perspective.  I am doing my best.  I am working so hard that I'm making myself sick.  This is an achievement, and I should feel proud to be here, right now, feeling like this.  And it all will pass in 5 minutes.

After we rewarded ourselves with a shared Blue Bottle latte at the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market (yum!), we mulled over the idea of hiking up Mount Sutro, something we'd been wanting to do for a while.  We were already out.  With often busy schedules, when might we get another chance?  Wouldn't brunch be even more delicious?  Onto the Muni we went, Sutro bound.

If it's possible to leave the city while still staying in the heart of it, this hike is the portal.  With leafy ferns, vines of gentle and violent varieties, tall trees covered by mosses and ivies, and a well maintained switch-backed path, it's easy to ignore the ascent to the top.  On the descent, you can catch your breath and remark on the beauty of it all.

Lucky for us, the mist held of just long enough for us to take cover under a tree at our bus stop, and the rain long enough for us to catch the bus home.  A perfect Saturday workout.  Good locations, good views, good company.

Saffron-Tomato Soup

It's a cold and gray afternoon in San Francisco.  Warm up with a healthy favorite from my recipe book!  This is actually a recipe I pulled from a magazine during my time living in Queensland, Australia.  The heat from the saffron will warm you right up.

But first, a note from British nutrition expert, Patrick Holford, about tomatoes.  In his book, The New Optimum Nutrition Bible, Holford explains that Lycopene is a "powerful antioxidant with anticancer properties, found in tomatoes...  Lycopene in tomatoes becomes considerably more bioavailable when you juice, mash, or cook the tomatoes" (152).  What this means is that, when you heat and puree the tomatoes for this soup, you are taking full advantage of the Lycopene that each tomato has to offer.  Anticancer and anti-oxidized, hurray!  Let's get started.

Saffron-Tomato Soup

Serves:  6
Prep time:  15 minutes
Cooking time:  25 minutes

Ingredients:
1/4 cup (60 mL) olive oil
1 large yellow onion, finely chopped
3 celery stalks, finely diced
3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 tsp saffron threads
1 can whole Roma tomatoes (For a salt-free alternative, use fresh Romas, boil them, and remove their skins)
2 tsp caster sugar
1 slice sourdough cracked wheat bread, cut into cubes, crusts removed (I like San Luis Sourdough or any sourdough with grains because more seeds and grains = more fiber)
2 cups (500 mL) vegetable stock (Go for a salt-reduced stock)
Basil leaves, to garnish
Reduced fat sour cream, to serve

Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat.  Add onion, celery, and garlic.  Season with salt (optional) and pepper.  Cook for 8-10 minutes or until softened.  Lightly crush the saffron threads in a small bowl.  Add 1 tsp of boiling water, and leave for 1 minute to infuse.  Add saffron mix to pan, and cook for 5 minutes.  Add tomatoes, sugar, bread, and vegetable stock.  Cook for 10 minutes.  Puree in 2 batches until smooth.  Return to pot.  Ladle and garnish.

Happy dining!