Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Taste of Summer - Eat this fresh, simple, delicious salad

Wow I have a lot of cucumbers and tomatoes coming out of my garden right now! Today I whipped up an incredibly tasty mix with them that was ready in minutes. You can't go wrong with this recipe. It is rich in vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients and healthy fat. Snack on it when you are hungry at night and it is sure to help you burn some body fat while you sleep. Serve it as a side dish with a lean protein (chicken, fish, turkey) for dinner and your plate will be a beautiful array of colors and fresh tastes.

Check out the pictures on Facebook. Remember to "like" us while you are there.

Enjoy!
Mark

Mark's Twist on Cucumber Salad
3 cucumbers, peel half of skin leaving strips of green, diced
2 cups cherry or grape tomatoes, rinsed and dried
1/3 red onion, diced
1/2 green cabbage, shredded
1 1/2 cups green or yellow beans, chopped and steamed 5-7 minutes then ice bathed
1-2 T olive oil
2-4 T apple cider vinegar
1/2 tsp pepper (I used white pepper)
1/2 tsp salt
1-2 T agave nectar (cuts acidity from vinegar)

Toss and serve.

Sunday, August 11, 2013

Can exercise REALLY be FUN?

I participated in 2 mud runs this year. I've told several people about them. "Why would anyone want to crawl through mud?" and "You could not pay me to do a race that involves climbing ladders and running through water!" were recurring comments I heard. Yet for the thousands of participants in Michigan's various mud events, doing these things is PLAY.

Remember your childhood play - running, jumping, spinning around until you fell down dizzy and laughing? There is a unique joy in seeing what your body can do. Exercise is not just going to the gym to walk/jog on a treadmill. It can be any movement that puts a smile on your face - dance, shoot hoops, play tag... Perhaps return to your childhood. A hula-hoop is a great abdominal exercise. A jump rope is an incredible weight loss tool.

Looking back on my childhood, my neighbor and I could entertain ourselves for hours with a frisbee. Can you add some play back to your fitness routine?

To see my before/after MS Muckfest pictures, check out https://www.facebook.com/BetterLivingAnnArbor
While you are there, please hit the "Liked" button.

Happy exercising!
Mark