October Unprocessed 2012

Ready for October?! It's coming at you fast. I love fall and the changing colors and cool temperatures. However sometimes these fall months can come to be a bit more indulgent as the holidays sneak up on us. So let's start the holiday season right with

OCTOBER UNPROCESSED 2012

 

Started by Eating Rules in 2009, he set out to go a month without eating processed foods. From there, hundreds of fellow bloggers and readers and hopped on the unprocessed bandwagon and are making an effort to change their October. Will you?

Be sure to check out his post on what goes in to this month and even sign up!

What is processed? Here is his "kitchen definition":

Obviously there’s a wide range of implications in that word, and we will probably each define it slightly differently for ourselves. My definition is this:
Unprocessed food is any food that could be made by a person with reasonable skill in a home kitchen with whole-food ingredients.
I call it “The Kitchen Test.” If you pick up something with a label (if it doesn’t have a label, it’s probably unprocessed), and find an ingredient you’d never use in your kitchen and couldn’t possibly make yourself from the whole form, it’s processed.
It doesn’t mean you actually have to make it yourself, it just means that for it to be considered “unprocessed” that you could, in theory, do so.

I love this. I love that he is encouraging people to make a change - and if you can only commit to a week, that's great too! But just imagine what a month could do for you and your family's health! Here is to a healthy and unprocessed October!

30 Days

Before I tell you this story, you have to understand that I am a punctuality FREAK. That is probably even an understatement. It drives my family crazy at (most) times. So I try to only be anal when I have to be. But really…it is probably out of hand. See example:



My mom used to always tell me that it takes 21 days to make a habit. So if you are trying to start something new (like a new years resolution, eh?) you do it for 21 days straight and it will become a habit. Fast forward to my sophomore year of high school where one of my neighbors would give me a ride to school each morning. She was always late. To the point that she would drop me off outside the door closest to my classroom because there was approximately 30 seconds until the late bell rang. Which is a recipe for a heart attack for me.

So anyway, I decided to challenge my dear neighbor (who was a senior) to 21 days of picking me up on time. And I offered a reward. Seriously as I type this I realize I am totally weird…but I promise we were good friends and she was happy to try it, because she too wanted to be on time for once. So for 21 days she was on time, and it was glorious. Come day 22, and we are back at racing against the clock. I will say though, that from that point on, we were on time probably 75% more than we used to be.



Are you wondering why I am telling you this yet? Ya, I’m sure you are. Well I came across this video on trying something new for 30 days. I did something similar to this last January and I think it works out well. Some goals should last longer than 30 days, because they will take longer than 30 days. But small goals along the way, or maybe trying something new, or trying to break or start a habit – 30 days is perfect. So check out this video. And decide what changes you want to make for the next 30 days. Because you can do anything for 30 days!

Take a Seat

We all have pretty busy lives. Between work, school, church activities, family time, socializing and much more, we are frequently on the go. But this can really put a damper on your health and eating habits. During the semester I made a goal to only eat while eating. Sound funny? Really, it is something a lot of us struggle with. There were many times I wanted to read or study while eating. Instead, I made a plate of food, sat down at the table, and focused on eating. So this week, guess what your challenge is?

sit down with a meal and eat!

When meals (and snacks) take place in cars, in front of computers, or in spurts while doing things around the house, your body doesn’t register that you are eating much. That then translates to not getting full or noticing when enough is enough.

Research has shown that those who sit down to a COMPLETE meal, as well as snacks, are less likely to eat more calories throughout the day.

Sitting down to eat compared to standing up while eating plays a mental game with our food diary. The mind does not recognize when we eat on the go or while standing… leading us to snacking after the so called meal.

Visually seeing everything laid out on a plate also helps to visually satisfy those cravings/hunger and helps one pay attention to what we are putting in our mouths.

Eating while sitting down at the table compared to standing up or on the road ultimately makes the meal more satisfying and full.

When we don't think about our meals, it frequently lead us to make less healthy food choices…

1. We eat larger portions: grabbing a handful of chips at a time while working often results in eating way more than one serving
2. You eat more food: when you just grab a little of this and a little of that, you really have no idea how much you just ate. That is why it is important to make a plate of food, eat what is on it and wait 15 minutes to see if you are really still hungry.
3. We eat more processed foods: if you think about it, the foods you can just “grab and go” with, are frequently processed. Unless you are grabbing fruits and veggies…if that is the case, chomp away! But handfuls and snacks in packages don’t lead to good things
4. You don’t have a balanced meal: it is important to see all you are eating on your plate to make sure it is balanced
5. You skip the water: when you graze, you usually don’t incorporate water into your meal

So…this week make an effort to sit down and eat while eating. It really is refreshing!

Talk to you later!

~What things distract you from sitting down to eat meals?

~Have you ever gone fly fishing?
**My family all went to a class this weekend to learn how for my dad’s birthday. It was fun! I used to be pretty intimidated by the idea, but it wasn’t too hard to pick up.

Snack Attack

Often times, when people are trying to lose weight or get healthy they have a good handle on meal times. They learn how to create well balanced meals with protein, carbs and loads of veggies. They even have a handle on exercise, knowing how much to do and what to do on certain days. Where they fall short? Those in-between meal times where they walk into the kitchen ready to eat whatever is in sight.

Beware. It can make or break your success. 

So this week, I challenge you to

plan your snacks!

Really. I think we often think of planning and preparation for the week and we make lists of meals and exercise schedules. But do you plan what you will grab when you get that nagging feeling at 3:00 pm? 

So this week, instead of just grabbing that bag of chips, followed by a granola bar and some pretzels, (those foods don’t have to be bad, but all of them at once? no thanks.) know what to grab BEFORE it happens. This could also mean packing a snack to put in your bag or backpack if you know you'll be gone awhile. Then there is no need to visit those darn vending machines!

Here are some easy snack ideas:

• home made granola bars
• crave something salty? try some air popped popcorn with a little sea salt
• crave something crunchy? try a handful (about 10 – 12) of almonds or a bigger handful (20-25) of pistachios
• one of my favorites: celery with peanut butter!
• 1/2 c. of cottage cheese with some peaches
• baby carrots and hummus
• a hard boiled egg with some sliced sweet peppers
• 10 crackers with little slices of turkey or cheese on it
• apple and peanut butter
• 1/2 c. yogurt with fruit
• green smoothie
  

There are so many options! Just don’t go grazing. That usually leads to unhealthy choices and over eating. A snack should be small enough to make you hungry again in a few hours, but not so small that you are hungry before the next meal. Try drinking lots of water while you snack too…it will help you stay full AND hydrated. Happy snacking!

~What are your favorite go to snacks?

Why Fix What’s Not Broken?

Last week I witnessed a funny thing. 

I go to spin class pretty much every Wednesday afternoon after my classes. There are a lot of the same people every week, same instructor, we all have our spots and bikes we use. You get it…we pretty much are creatures of habit. Well this last week I was there a little early so I decided to lift some weights. It was about time for class so I started heading toward the studio and a few of the “regulars” from the class were just waiting outside. I was confused and looked in, and it looked like we had a sub. He was setting up the room different than “normal” and I guess people were debating whether to go. 



SERIOUSLY? It’s a spin class!

I walked in and then some people followed. It turned out to be a killer class! And I really liked the instructor.
It made me think about how we often get stuck in exercise ruts. We like doing what we are comfortable with. Whether that be going to the same classes, doing the same workout DVD, running the same route, etc. Not that doing the same thing is wrong…because really, if something is working for you, why change it?

Because it really is good for us. Both our bodies and our minds. Different workout DVD’s can challenge us in new ways, new instructors can teach us new techniques, and change in any routine can spice up what could get boring.

So this week, your challenge is

to try something new

This could be a new class, a new workout schedule, a new food, anything. Often we think that just because we are healthy and doing lots of good things that those shouldn’t change. Yet they can…and sometimes we find something even better!

~Highlights of the weekend?
**My family had a “big kid” Easter egg hunt. Don’t worry…I won. 

~What habit do you have that you’d like to push yourself to change? Same food, same exercise, same seat in class? What keeps you from changing?
**I’d like to try some new exercise classes. I usually just go cycling. Maybe some yoga or weights classes!

Weighty Issues

Hey, friends! I am almost back in business. The nice cold that sent me to bed last week is hanging around still, but I’m much better than I was!

After this snowy (what?!) April weekend, I’m ready to plow through this week.


In my anatomy class we are learning about the muscular system. As we’ve talked about it, my professor has really emphasized how certain muscles are certain shapes and sizes for specific reasons to protect our bodies. He even gave an example using gorillas!



Their quad muscles make ours look like little twigs! They use their leg and arm muscles so frequently that they are developed to an extreme, which in turn protects them from injury.

So, can you guess what this week's challenge is?!

incorporate more weight training into your workouts!

This is definitely something I need to work on. A lot. I’m such a cardio junky that I often don’t make time for lifting. But it is so important! So this week, schedule some time. You’ll see the benefits in so many ways!

Have an awesome week! 

~Do you have a set schedule for weight lifting?

 **I try to do an upper body circuit twice a week with a lower body once a week. Certain weeks go better than others...ha

~If you could add any face to Mt. Rushmore, who would it be?

**I was asked this in an interview last week. Of course, I said John Stockton.  

Distance, Speed, or Something in Between

This weekend was great! Especially because of the big family lunch we had yesterday…no need for April Fool’s Day when you can have

source

biggest.salad.bar.ever. Yum! It included lots of goodies, like hard boiled eggs, peppers, peas, slivered almonds, carrots, cheese and much more.
 
Then there was a pasta bar with different kinds of whole wheat pasta and a variety of sauces and chicken and veggie toppings.

Finally, dessert was some homemade frozen yogurt! There was plain banana, plain strawberry, and split strawberry layer and banana layer, and a mix. YUM!
See how fun it is to eat healthy? Yes, yes it is. 

This week I thought we should focus on more of the mental side of healthy living. After all, being well is about all aspects of life, and sometimes our mental game isn’t as strong as our physical one.

source

This weeks challenge is…

to determine a purpose

before each workout. I sometimes go to a cycling class on Saturdays when I am home for the weekend. The instructor is fabulous! One of the things I love about her is how each week during the warm-up she encourages us to determine why we are there and how hard we are going to work. She talks about how we came out early on a Saturday morning, and so before we starting working we should decide what our goals are and what our workout will be like. Because really, we are the only people that can determine that.

So whether your purpose is to increase speed, go for a distance, go for an amount of time, increase power, just get something done, build muscle, etc…make sure your body knows your goals.

I know for me if I don’t determine a route before a run or what my goal is in time or distance before I leave for the run or bike, I often sell myself short. We can often push ourselves more than we do. Show yourself just how strong you are! Have a super week :)

~Do you do mental prep for workouts or big races or games?

~What’s your favorite salad topping at a salad bar?

Protein Mix-Up

Hello friends! It is Monday and I’m back in school. I miss Spring Break already…but I’m ready to finish this semester off right!

In my anatomy class right now we are learning about the muscles of the upper and lower limb. It makes it fun to lift weights (which isn’t always that fun, let’s be honest). I get to figure out which lifts build certain muscles the best!

Along with building muscles in the weight room, it is important to build them in the kitchen! That’s right. This week, my challenge is…

to mix up your protein sources!

This can work for everyone. What I want you to think about is where you usually get your protein, and try new ways to get it in your diet. Often people only think about red meat and chicken. Here are some good sources of protein that people don’t always think about:

• eggs
• quinoa (Here are some recipes for quinoa!)

(source)

• nuts
• beans (I LOVE black beans!)

(source)

• fish (Check this out…fish AND nuts!)
• yogurt

Here is an interesting article on the best and worst protein sources you could check out too.
So, look at the above list and find something you don’t normally focus on with meals. Then, center your meal around it! There are lots of ways to center a meal around beans, quinoa, fish and eggs. And you’ll find it is quite delicious too!
Have a great week! Filled with building muscles and eating yummy food :)
~What is your favorite source of protein?

~Do you have a favorite dish that uses one of those protein sources?

O-Me O-My

It is Spring Break, so this is going to be short and sweet!
At my nutrition class for athletes a couple weeks ago we got talking about Omega-3’s and fish oil supplements. This week’s challenge is to

increase your omega-3 consumption!

This is different for everyone, so it is important to do some research for what is right for you. But I will say, no matter who you are, it is so important that you are getting enough. Especially athletes and people training – it does so much for your body! Here’s some information on Omega-3’s.

So…what are omega-3 fatty acids?

You can get lots of good information at this site, but I will summarize it for you.

Omega-3 fatty acids are polyunsaturated, unlike saturated fats in butter and like fats. Monounsaturated fats, found in olive oil, are liquid at room temperature, but harden when refrigerated. When eaten in appropriate amounts, each type of fat can contribute to health. However, the importance of omega-3 fatty acids can’t be emphasized enough! The three most nutritionally important omega-3 fatty acids are alpha-linolenic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).
These fatty acids have traditionally been classified as "essential" because the body is unable to manufacture them on its own and because they play a fundamental role in several physiological functions. As a result, we must be sure our diet contains sufficient amounts of both alpha-linolenic acid and linoleic acid.

So…what do they do?

Here is a simplified version! Our cell membranes control what goes in and out of our cells and what leaves our body. Without proper function and fluidity in the cell membrane, we can’t retain nutrients and our cells can’t communicate…which ultimately results in disease and health problems. You see, our cell membranes are made up of fat. The integrity and fluidity of our cell membranes is determined in large part by the type of fat we eat. Remember that saturated fats are solid at room temperature, while omega-3 fats are liquid at room temperature. Researchers believe that diets containing large amounts of saturated or hydrogenated fats produce cell membranes that are hard and lack fluidity. On the other hand, diets rich in omega-3 fats produce cell membranes with a high degree of fluidity.
This is only the beginning! But I don’t want to overwhelm you. And I don’t want to sit at my computer longer than I have to this week…so…more to come on Wednesday about where we can get these Omega’s-3s and other important info. There are some great foods out there, as well as supplements that can be taken.

Have a good Monday!

P.S. I finished spin instructor certification! Can’t wait to get teaching!!

~Do you take an Omega-3 supplement?
~Do you have any favorite spin songs or spin workouts? Tips would be great!

Go Big or Go Home

How was your weekend? My nutrition class was really fun to teach, and everyone was asking questions and seemed interested...which I love! The weather was also fabulous, which is always a treat!

Let's jump right into things. On Friday I talked about an article from Livestrong.com that talked about becoming vegan-ish by emphasizing plants in your diet. Can you guess what this week's challenge is?

increase your veggie intake!

How do you do this? Well, it is easier than you think. I've decided to break it down into some simple steps:

1. Determine how many servings you are getting currently. Look at what you eat on a day to day basis and count out the servings. 

 (This is what my personal fridge looks like. Clearly, I love vegetables.)

2. Set a goal for serving intake each day. I would encourage you to get 3 to 4 servings a day. You can check out mypyramid.org to get an idea of servings and vegetable ideas. 

3. Sit down and plan out menu ideas that allow for adequate vegetable intake. I recommend starting in the morning! This can be done by making spinach shakes, juicing spinach and fruit, or making a veggie omlet. Then plan for small snacks through the day of chopped veggies, fit in a salad at lunch or dinner, and have a side dish of veggies. Then you're good to go!

 

 (ingredients: 2 big handfuls of spinach, frozen raspberries, a peach, water...delicious!)

A while back I talked about making a healthy switch from potato chips to kale chips...I will post that super easy recipe on Wednesday!

Until then...get your veggies! Just remember, go big, or go home :)

~What's your favorite vegetable?**pretty sure it is broccoli. But I also LOVE my spinach smoothie I have each morning

~How do you make sure you are getting enough vegetables in each day?

**Like I said earlier, I start with breakfast. Then when I want a snack through the day, I always pair it with some celery, carrots, or sliced peppers. I usually have a salad or veggie side dish for dinner as well.

Did You Know?

I hope it was a good weekend! I spent a lot of time studying for my next anatomy test this week...so let's hope it pays off!

Before I announce the challenge for the week (that sounds quite formal for this quite informal blog...) I thought I'd share with you some funny "travel taboos" that I read in a magazine this weekend. Not that I'm traveling internationally any time soon, but still!

- never leave your chopsticks vertically in a bowl of rice in Japan. For the Japanese, this is reminiscent of grave markers.

- If you don't flush the toilet in Singapore, you may be charged with a $150 fine!

- Train passengers in Cheshire, England, should avoid overwhelming public displays of affection. "No Kissing" signs frequent the walls of the Warrington Railway Station to keep affectionate couples from delaying travelers.

- When in Egypt, don't put salt on your food unless you want to seriously insult the chef

- In Ukraine, giving an even-numbered bouquet of flowers is considered ill-mannered because they are traditionally used only for funerals (specifically yellow flowers and Easter lilies)

 (source)

Pretty funny, eh? I enjoyed them. 

So this week the challenge was inspired by my great workout on Saturday! I loved it, so I thought I would challenge you to do something similar. This week, I challenge you to...

do an interval workout!

There are several reasons I LOVE interval workouts. I used to hate the treadmill...until I started doing one or two interval workouts a week. Now I usually do a day of hills and a day of sprints each week. They are great because you really can tailor them to your skill level and workout plan. You can do them on a bike, in a pool, on a run, and even walking. The purpose of interval training is to get your heart rate up quickly, sustain it, and then bring it down quickly, and repeat. It builds lots of endurance, burns tons of calories, and is never boring because you are always switching things up. 

On Wednesday I will share some of my favorite workouts. However, I am always trying new ones that I find on the internet, so don't hesitate to google it up! In general, I always start with a one mile warm up jog to get everything warm. From there I go into my interval sets...either hills or sprints with cool downs and speed changes. 

So give it a try! Push yourself during the hard sets, knowing that recovery is coming soon :)

~Do you have any interval workouts you really like?
~Are you a fan of the treadmill, or do you consider it the "dreadmill"?

Super Swaps!

Happy Presidents Day!

Let's jump right into the last week of February! (can you believe it?!) A couple weeks ago our challenge had to do with eating oatmeal. More importantly, eating the real stuff and not the packaged stuff.

Well, this week there is a similar challenge. Mostly because I just LOVE making healthy changes. Because one change can make a huge difference! So this week, I challenge you to...

make some super healthy swaps!

Before you assume that I'm asking you to only eat fruits and veggies for snacks, let me explain :) There are several ways to make healthy swaps in day to day life that will make a difference in how you feel and how you are feeding your body. 

I encourage you to look at your daily life and what you eat, and think of some changes you can make on your own. Here are a few that I find to be fantastic:

• choose air popped popcorn over the microwave stuff

• try putting some salsa on your salad instead of dressing (lower calorie, and more vegetables!)
• make some homemade granola bars instead of store bought (recipe coming soon!)
• swap out the peanut butter from the store with some natural nut butters! My favorite in Maranatha's Almond Butter. The only ingredient is raw almonds! And there are tons of different kinds.

 

• swap out your regular ranch dip for veggies with some guacamole! Check out this website - so cool!
• trade your greasy potato chips for some kale chips! They are delicious - I promise! (recipe on Wednesday!)

So there are just a few ideas to make some super swaps this week. Hopefully you can make one or two of these, or come up with some on your own. Getting healthy is a process, and it takes small changes to make a big difference!

~What are some other healthy swaps you make?
~What are your favorite healthy snacks?

Thanks, Jerry

First order of business...a tribute is in order.

 

(no, my brother and I don't look like this any more. I promise...see?)

Dear Jerry, 

Thank you for the 23 years of basketball. My family has been along for the ride from Hornacek, Stockton and Malone to Harpring and the more recent CJ Miles and Kyle Korver. We've celebrated with you, cried with you (especially when Stockton retired), and loosened our ties with you. The Utah Jazz won't be the same without you, but we wish you the best of luck with all future endeavors. 

Your Forever Fan, 

Trisha

Well, now that we have the most important item of business out of the way, we can get to our weekly challenge. Oh ya, HAPPY VALENTINES DAY! This weeks challenge has a little something to do with that beautiful thing called love. 

Mother Teresa said, "Love cannot remain by itself -- it has no meaning. Love has to be put into action, and that action is service."

Yes, you are still on a health and fitness blog. But part of being healthy is being well, and it's important to work on all aspects of life. That is why this week's challenge is:

to focus on service!

I don't want to set a number of acts you need to do or certain activities...just shift your focus. I think you'll find that when you make an effort to focus on it, more opportunities show up. So get out there and show some love!

~Are you an NBA basketball fan?
~Any special plans for Valentines Day?

I Like to Oat...Oat...Oat

Do you remember that song? Pretty sure it can go on forever...but it always made kids laugh!

This week, my challenge was brought to you by some fond memories of Valentines Days in the past. Since I was a little girl, my mom has always brought her kids breakfast in bed on Valentines Day, along with a cute note telling us how much she loved us. I had no idea how lucky I was until one day at school I was talking about it, assuming every mother did that, and my friends all freaked out saying they wished their mom's did that! Yes, I would wish that too if I were them :)

 

So besides that fact that my mom ROCKS, this week's challenge has a little something to do with breakfast and sharing the love :) I don't want to just challenge you to eat breakfast, although that is a very worthy goal if you don't eat it every day already. This week, I challenge you to...

eat oatmeal for breakfast at least twice!

Of course, I mean the real stuff too :) Why twice, you ask? Well, first off because it is a very good breakfast option. It has good fiber and carbs that will keep you full. Also, because there are SO many ways to eat oatmeal that if you try one way and don't like it, you should try another! There are recipes all over online with hundreds of ways to make your oatmeal to your liking. 

 sliced banana, oats, cinnamon

 yogurt, almond butter, oats

When I make my oatmeal, pretty much every morning, I take the following steps:

1. I take about 1/2 c. dry, old fashioned oats and put them in a bowl

2. I cover the oats with water so it is barely above them, and pop the bowl in the microwave for a minute

3. When it comes out, I put in a big spoonful of yogurt, followed by a spoonful of natural almond butter

4. I mix it up

5. DEVOUR IT!

It truly is delicious. Another combination I enjoy is sliced bananas and yogurt or sliced bananas and cinnamon. There are lots of different combos that work! You can even play with adding the fruit you choose (bananas, raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, apples) in with the dry oats when you microwave it. I do that frequently with the bananas to make them softer and mix better.

Some other toppings to try: nuts, honey, cinnamon, peanut butter, make it with milk instead of water (adds creaminess!), jam, coconut, raisins, canned pumpkin, cottage cheese, cocoa...the possibilities are endless!

Have fun!

~Do you have any good oatmeal ideas? What's your favorite?

echo.

On Monday I talked about remembering your accomplishments to help you reach your goals. There are a few things I chose to remember and write about, but there is one in particular that I thought I'd share with you.
I like to remember my very first triathlon. It was the Echo triathlon in Park City, UT. I recommend it to everyone!

I remember training, which wasn’t always easy but always felt good after. I remember my first training “brick” or bike and run…my legs felt like jell-o! Then I remember being cheered on by my family members as I came out of the water, rode my bike and finished my run. It was invigorating! Which is why I kept doing them :)

My “trish-athlon” supporters!

I hope you found something, or maybe a few things, to remember. It's always nice to reflect on things we have accomplished. Often times all we focus on is where we want to be, not where we have been. Both are important. Talk to you Friday!

~Have you done a triathlon?
~What's your greatest accomplishment outside of the fitness world?

Breaking the “Social Norm”

When I was in AP Psychology in high school, one of our assignments was to break a social norm with a group and get it on video. Then we all made DVD’s and watched them as a class. They were hilarious! People did the craziest things! Like taking food out of people’s grocery carts and putting it into theirs, or walking through a store singing at the top of their lungs. Definitely a project I will always remember.
Moving on to a different social norm we NEED to break…

It’s January 24th…the beginning of the 4th week of January. Do you know what that means? That a third of everyone that made new years resolutions/goals have already broken them. But not you, right?! Because this year will be different. This year you made specific and reasonable goals that you can measure and attain through effort and dedication.

We all have those days where our goals seem a bit too far out of reach or you just don’t want to run that last mile. But today, I challenge you to

REMEMBER

This week, I want to you take some time to sit down and write about a time you reached a goal. Whether huge or small, or personal or fitness related, sit down and write about it. Write about how you reached it, write about the days that were sometimes hard, and then write about what it felt like to finish. Keep what you wrote in a place you can see frequently. That way you’ll remember frequently. 

Here’s a hint as to what I like to remember. More to come on Wednesday!

~What do you remember?
~Have you ever broken a different social norm for fun?

Yoga, anyone?

So I told you last week that one of my goals for January was to do more Yoga. I'm a college student that doesn't have tons of time or money to go to a yoga studio, but I'm determined to get some in at least once a week, just to give my running and cycling legs some good stretching. So this week, the challenge is:

Do some yoga!

It doesn't have to be a long session, it doesn't have to be multiple times, it can even just be after a long cardio session. Just give it a try, and you'll probably see why there are lots of "yogatics" out there. It feels nice to give your body a full stretch!

Today's the first day of a new semester, which means a day full of reading overwhelming syllabuses/syllabi (it can be either way, I just looked it up so I wouldn't sound like a fool). So I'm definitely going to try to fit in some yoga this week! 

Especially since I'll be lugging around these beauties each day for the next 4 months. Thank you, human anatomy.

Have a great week! And keep working on those goals :)

~Are you a "yogatic"?

~ Do you have a favorite yoga DVD or workout you do?

P.S. guess who just scored big? my new roommate is a yoga instructor! Classes every Saturday. I'll probably die...but I'm excited!