Quote of the Day

"Can God go to the gym to workout for you?

God helps those that help themselves.

You have to do it! God or some omnipotent power

or whatever you want to believe in gives you the energy,

the will to do it, but you have to do it yourself."

                                                                                   -Jack Lalanne

Rock n' Roll Marathon 2011

Yesterday I signed up for the Seattle Rock n' Roll Marathon, June 25th, 2011! I am participating in it under Team In Training, a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. I hope to raise over $2800.00 and have ran 26.2 miles by the end of the day of the event. For the next five months I am going to be focusing most of my blogs recording my fitness progress, new recipes and meal plans that aid in achieving my goal and various exercises and workouts routines that hopefully will help me cross the finish line without stress or injury. Please join and assist me with your input facing the challenge of my first marathon! I need all the advice that I can get!

Obesity and Depression May be Linked

It is rational to assume that those who are obese are likely to become more depressed than those in a healthy weight and body composition range because they are dissatisfied with their appearance, mobility and health. Likewise, it is safe to hypothesize that those with depression may become obese due to motivation to eat nutritionally, exercise and embrace a healthy lifestyle. It is a viscious cycle, that for many, is hard to escape. However, there is scientific evidence that the obesity of those with depression may also be the result of an influx of physiological and psychological components of the immune and hormonal system.

The following scientific article, "Obesity and Depression May be Linked", Science Daily, June 6, 2008, gives an excellent educational viewpoint of the superficial and dynamic relationships between obesity and depression and several ways to combat the disease.

Lower Crossed Syndrome

Is this your body shape?




Looking at the photo above, you can see what is happening to a lot of us that sit too much during our day. As you can see there are some pretty significant changes that happen over time, when the body is put into the same position over and over again.
The same can be true to reverse this process. By putting your body into the proper position over and over again, the body will respond by correcting that incorrect pattern of movement. Want that to happen a bit faster and hold a bit better?Add weight training. The effects of Lower Crossed Syndrome is especially effective for golfers, who generally generate power and control through their hips and legs. Below is a great article that pertains to treating a golfer's case of Lower Crossed Syndrome, but the exercises work well for all athletes or those that tend to sit throughout the day.


GET RID OF LOWER CROSSED SYNDROME

The Worst Food in America

I, of course, try to provide information to increase and encourage a healthy lifestyle, whether it be a nutritious recipe or ingredient of the day, however, I believe that we all need to be informed about foods that are detrimental to our health and our waistline, many of them hidden behind rich and delicious flavors and deceptive advertising. 

Worst "Healthy" Burger: Ruby Tuesday Bella Turkey Burger

 

1,145 calories

71 grams of fat
55 grams of carbs

Outback Steakhouse Aussie Cheese Fries with Ranch Dressing

2,900 calories

182 grams of fat
240 grams of carbs

Worst Sandwich: Quizno's Classic Italian

1,370 calories

86 grams of fat
4460 mg of sodium

 

Shakeology Protein Shake Recipe

In addition to a personal training student, I am also a Coach at Beachbody; the company known for Tony Horton's P90X, Turbo Jam, Slim in Six and a variety or amazing DVD's and workout products. In addition, we provide Shakeology, an ultra-premium nutritional health shake, which provides the widest array of nutrients from around the world in a nutrient-dense but low-calorie formula. One that can't be replicated anywhere. Please refer to my Beachbody website at http://myshakeology.com/esuite/home/brinkfitness for extensive dietary information, recipes and the ability to order either Greenberry or Chocolate Flavor. I have sampled almost every protein-rich nutritional shake on the market, and there has not been one compared to this product. I consider it the perfect meal.

Carl Daikeler Special*
1 scoop Chocolate Shakeology
1 Tbsp. natural peanut butter (or almond butter)
1 banana
¾ cup water
½ cup nonfat milk or soy, rice, or almond milk
Ice to taste
Blend on high until creamy

* Carl Daikeler is the CEO of Beachbody

Quote of the Day

"As I see it, every day you 

do one of two things: build health 

or produce disease in yourself."

                                            Adelle Davis (1904-1974)

Full Body Workout Routine of the Day

My Mom is an amazing golfer and in amazing shape due to the miles of walking she does each day on the course. However, as the weather has become more and more chilly and wet in the Portland, Oregon area she is forced inside to maintain her strength and flexibility inside the gym. I have started putting together daily workout routines geared to specifically improve and maintain the athleticism of a female golfer. Her goal is to workout between thirty and forty-five minutes a day, not including cardiovascular exercise, five days a week.

Recipe of the Day

I am looking to become vegetarian, and a friend of mine gave me a wonderful vegetarian cookbook for Christmas: The Greens Cookbook, Extraordinary Vegetarian Cuisine from the Celebrated Restaurant by Deborah Madison and Edward Espe Brown. The Greens is Madison's highly successful and bold vegetarian restaurant on San Francisco Bay. I thought the following recipe would be quick, easy and light accompaniment to any meal, whether it be a steak, salad or poached fish. To add a bit of richness top the tomatoes with crumbled feta or blue cheese.

Late Summer Tomatoes with Fresh Herbs

Vine ripened in the sun, late summer tomatoes are incomparable, especially when they are from your backyard, a local farm, or a farmer's market. Basil is always right with tomatoes, but other herbs are delicious too-lovage, tarragon, Italian parsley, or hysop leaves and blossoms. Use a good olive oil and freshly ground pepper.

1 1/2 pounds juicy vine-ripened tomatoes (or heirloom tomatoes are fantastic as well)
4 to 5 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 to 3 tablespoons fresh herbs of choice, chopped roughly
Kosher salt
Fresh ground pepper
High quality balsamic or wine vinegar to taste
Crumbled feta or blue cheese (optional)

Use a serrated knife-a steak knife or bread knife-and slice a plateful of tomatoes. Pour some olive oil over the tomatoes, a rich scattering of fresh herbs, salt and pepper.
Add a little vinegar and crumbled cheese, or not, as you prefer.

Serves 4 to 6