The Bracelet

Happy (Mother’s Day and) National Women’s Health week!

By MizFit | May 11, 2008

This year’s theme is It’s Your Time: Get inspired. Get healthy.

(and really. is there anything more to be said than that?)

It’s not too late to join the WOMAN Challenge an eight week challenge which encourages women and girls to set and achieve personal/physical activity goals (SMART goals, anyone?) appropriate for their lifestyles.

Or to investigate what events might be happening in your town (people are doing everything from throwing Mammogram Parties and Pap-a-thons to offering free lectures on fitness in the workplace).

However you decide to mark this week make TODAY the day you start doing something good for your health every, single, solitary day.

Why? (all together now) BECAUSE YOU’RE WORTH IT.

Need some ideas on how to get started? check out this blogger’s offer.

(and yes guys, this includes YOU. For all the women who love you and want you around.)

Topics: Uncategorized | 12 Comments »

Once upon a time,

By MizFit | May 10, 2008

In a hot & humid land, there lived a MizFit.

A MizFit who wrote this post proclaiming her undying affection (if by undying you mean KINDA SORTA KEPT UNDER WRAPS UNTIL AFOREMENTIONED PROCLAMATION—which I do) for a certain Bravo television show.

A post about her desire and longing for the new season to start & to someday interview the star of the show, Jackie Warner.

Alas, our MizFit was disappointed.

The new season? Fraught with kissing and gratuitous ab-shots and virtually none of the success stories & trainer tips of yore.

The Warner? Chose not to respond to MizFit’s emailed pleas (in the form of silly Seussian poems no less).

And then, the Peeler stepped in.

Stepped up if you will.

Both as the new star of the show (in our MizFit’s never to be humble opinion) and as the sole encourager of our Bumbling Band.

His comment on this this week’s Monday Facetime?

Brian “PEELER” Says:
May 10th This is a very good at home workout for you ladies for getting started. You soon will have the arms you have always wanted. B.

The MizFit was very, very happy (& not just because rumor has it he’s in talks to do a workout show which is, well, about *working out*)

The End.

Topics: Uncategorized | 20 Comments »

Link Love and a Friday FREEBIE!

By MizFit | May 9, 2008

Happy FRIDAY!

Without further rambling let’s get to the LINKS!

This first one I shall spare you the longass story about. The short version? I inexplicably became OBSESSED with how not white my teeth were about a year ago.

for no apparent reason.

whatsoever.

Until one day I ran into a friend who remarked: the Tornado’s teeth are SO WHITE.

Conundrum explained (read: I dont refer to her as my sidekick for no reason. homegurl and I are barely apart and I was staring at those blinding whites 24/7).

natural solution? mightcould be here.

(want naturalhomemade toothpaste? please to go here!)

This next one *I* adore the promise of because I never get a chance to roll solo in the dressing room.

That said, Im fairly certain I’d love it regardless as there’s nothing like having a living avatar-thingy-ma-bob (the technical term) model your undies fer you in the privacy of your home or office.

Please to enjoy.

File this next link under MizFit needs a sugarmommy and cross-reference under damn she loves the ugly shoes.

I give you these.

Beyond the fact of what’s NOT to love about something referred to as physiological footwear— I long to experience the Masai Barefoot technology.

I need to see for my own feet if they really activate neglected muscles, improve my posture, and reduce stress on my joints in general.

I desire to roll down the street sporting a pair of those sandals.

On an entirely different note (if by ENTIRELY DIFFERENT you mean this is in no way my interest area or skill set—which I do) I give you this.

A site where, as their tagline states, you can COOK IT, FILM IT, SHARE IT.

We all know that the MizFit would be more than thrilled to VIEW IT (and I want to nominate this AMAZING blogger as the woman who should run the site as her videos are funny, helpful, informative, easy to understand and HEALTHY).

LinkLastly, I need to ask you (as there’s no need for you to ask me. Im an open book that way.) DO WE REALLY NEED THIS?

The royal we.

The we who are not training for the Olympics or any kind of professional athletes. The we for whom this mightcould be TMI which trips (the royal) us back to the ED?

Please to discuss.

And, finally, the freebie.

This weeks generousity is brought to you by Run U Mother.

This concept was born when two friends were planning a trip to cheer on a friend running the Marine Corps Marathon.

Shouting “Go Nancy” just didn’t sound as exciting as the phrase they subsequently came up with (Run U Mother!) and a company was created and has been running ever since.

Now, much to MizFit’s delight, they’ve added yoga into the ranks with their new Pose U Mother tank top.

(What would make the MizFit even more delighted? (alltogethernow) LIFT U MOTHER any & everything.)

You can be entered to win a run u mother hat for the low low price of a comment below.

Have at it.

Topics: Link Love | 34 Comments »

And the Experience Life Subscription winner is:

By MizFit | May 8, 2008

Katheryn!

Email me your address and Ill arrange your subscription!

Topics: Uncategorized | 5 Comments »

Guest Chef Time!

By MizFit | May 8, 2008

This week’s semi-anonymous guest chef is none other than the MizFit’s sister.

The MizFit’s runnercookerbabymamaEXTRAORDINAIRE sister who hath been dragged here because the recipe below *always* garners praise and needed to be shared (again) with the masses.

I give you Sisterfit:

I love this dish — using instant brown rice and creamy Neufchatel cheese makes an easy and fancy “mock risotto.” Substitute any vegetables you wish for the asparagus, bell pepper and mushroom or just add more. I like it as a meal and add lots of vegetables.

It’s originally from Eating Well (MizFit note: Ok, I had to look up the fact that Eating Well is a magazine. Im woman enough to admit it and nice enough to share the info and spare you the search…or did you already know?) and I added the mushrooms, tomatoes and lemon juice — and omitted grated cheese that should be incorporated into the mixture. I also don’t add the garlic or the scallions!

Who am I you asked?

Working mother of one — I love having a dish that can be made ahead and be reheated fast. [i like sunsets, soft music and walking on the beach — hee hee]
Makes 4 servings, 1 1/2 cups each
ACTIVE TIME: 40 minutes
TOTAL TIME: 40 minutes
EASE OF PREPARATION: Easy

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 medium onion, diced
1 carton sliced mushrooms (optional)
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 cups instant brown rice
4 cloves garlic, chopped
2 1/2 cups vegetable or reduced-sodium chicken broth
1 pound asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1/4-inch pieces
1 red bell pepper, finely diced
1 cup frozen peas, thawed
4 ounces reduced-fat cream cheese (Neufchatel)

Grated Asiago or Parmesan cheese for garnish
1/2 cup Chopped tomatoes or scallions/chives (garnish)
Lemon Juice squeezed on top to taste.

1. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-low heat. Add onion and salt and begin cooking — add in mushrooms. Cook until mushroom soften, and onions are just beginning to brown, 4 to 6 minutes.

2. Add rice and garlic and cook until the garlic is fragrant, 30 seconds to 1 minute.

3. Add broth and bring to a boil; cover, reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes.

4. Remove cover and spread asparagus and bell pepper on top of the simmering rice—do not stir into the rice mixture. Replace cover and continue simmering, adjusting the heat if necessary, until the liquid is almost absorbed and the asparagus is bright green but still crisp, about 5 minutes.

5. Add peas and cream cheese; stir until the mixture is creamy and the cheese is incorporated. Return to a simmer and continue cooking until the liquid has evaporated and the asparagus is tender, about 5 minutes more.

6. Serve topped with chives (or scallions) or tomatoes and grated Parmesan Cheese.

NUTRITION INFORMATION: Per serving: 352 calories; 12 g fat (6 g sat, 4 g mono); 28 mg cholesterol; 51 g carbohydrate; 13 g protein; 7 g fiber; 665 mg sodium; 338 mg potassium.

Nutrition Bonus: Vitamin C (120% daily value), Vitamin A (70% dv), Folate (29% dv).
THANK YOU SisterFriend!

(and alas you had no choice—-you were already a MizFit.)

Topics: Food Glorious Food | 23 Comments »

A big *big* BIG thank you goes out to:

By MizFit | May 7, 2008

Shelley Livaudais for sprucing up the look of the MizFit.

(the site, anyway.  the woman? she’s still in need of an Oprah Are You Stuck In A Time Warp makeovervention.)

Topics: Uncategorized | 11 Comments »

Uh, about that Circle K thing?

By MizFit | May 7, 2008

for some reason the words which are clickable links are not appearing highlighted even though you can click em.

please to note.

thank you,

MizFit Management.

Topics: Uncategorized | 4 Comments »

Viewer Mail.

By MizFit | May 7, 2008

Before we head into the viewer mail I wanted to do a shout out of sorts.

A Can we get an AMEN?! holla of love to a magazine which doesnt waste precious pages on the proper make-up to wear to the gym or how to make yer arse look best whilst using the elliptical just in case your future spouse is on the treadmill directly behind you.

Experience Life is a magazine which belongs on all of our reading lists because they are what they purport to be (as do their editors’ blogs. I know edutainment is an overused no-no term, but it applies here, People. Check them out.) :

Your road map toward real and lasting self-improvement.

It’s all about that second to last word.

We can easily starveoverexercisejuicefastDEPRIVEOURSELVES into a temporary fix. It’s time to find a plan, err, road map for the long haul.

Ok.

Enough evangelizing (can you tell Ive read one too many puff pieces on Sports Bras That Will Make You Look Two Cup Sizes Larger!!).

As a special Hump Day freebie Im gonna draw a winner from the comments for a year subscription to Experience Life Mag—–because that’s just how the MizFit rolls.

(we now return you to your previously scheduled Viewer Mail)

Dear MizFit,

You did a video with the BOSU ball where you fell off (thanks for that it made me feel way better about my own lack of balance).

That made me start wondering how I know if I have bad balance for my age? or if Im fine?

hope that makes sense.

Thanks MizFit!

First, Im so glad that I could make you feel better about yourself as the MizFit lives to serve.

(Oh that I could pretend that I fell off ONLY to make people feel less badly about their possible lack of balance. Sadly that’s my current state. I *am* working to change it—-but that’s a Renaissance Man Hath Proclaimed Himself My BOSU-trainer post for a different day)

There is, in fact, a simple test you can do to see where you fall within the norms of balance for your age.

It’s easy, fast, and a diagnostic test which Ive thus far avoided taking.

Stand next to a piece of furniture upon which you can steady yourself should you need to.

Fold your arms across your chest, raise one leg and bend it at the knee approximately forty five degrees.

Check the second hand on your watch and close your eyes.

How long can you hold this position without uncrossing your arms, tilting sideways, moving your standing leg or touching the bent leg to the floor?

Repeat this test on your other side and compare your results with the norms:

*twenty-forty nine years: 24-28 seconds

*fifty-fifty nine years: 21 seconds

*sixty-sixty nine years: 10 seconds

*seventy – seventy nine years: 4 seconds

*eighty plus years: typically cannot complete test.

How did you do?

In all seriousness, there’s a reason Ive skipped taking the test:

I know that I need to improve regardless of where I fall (pun intended) and there’s nothing like that last line to encourage me to try and be the 80 year old who can finish the test.

If you take the test at home—-hit me up in the comments and let me know how you did!
My question is on your opinion of my weight training. I am in the routine of around 3 days a week and had my weights setup where I would do back and biceps one day, chest and triceps the next and legs and shoulders on the third day. I do abs every time I workout. I normally do three sets (12, 10, 8) and on the last set I am really pushing it to get the 8th done. I generally do 2 exercises per body part. Does this sound right or should I be incorporating more into my workout? Thank you so much for the advice!

First, let me note that there was an initial sentence here which—while the emailer didnt use these terms—asked about HIT cardio versus longer cardio. That’s coming in a different viewer mail post.

OK, this is both an easy and a difficult question to answer (please to take a moment and refer to the disclaimer at top of site). It is, indeed, a good rule of thumb to begin your weight training routine by working your ENTIRE BODY twice a week, your entire body three times a week and then, as the emailer has, further break down your routine into focusing on specific body parts more intensely.

Here is where the gray area comes into play (what are your goals? physical limitations? time constraints?).

I normally do three sets (12, 10, 8) and on the last set I am really pushing it to get the 8th done. I generally do 2 exercises per body part.

Not knowing any of your background the 12, 10, 8 repetitions and finding the last few DIFFICULT is precisely where you want to be. Too often we (the royal) get stuck in the three sets of 15 repetitions (where the last set of 15 reps is as easy as the initial) either out of laziness or misplaced fear of developing bulky muscles (MizFit WISHES this myth were a reality)——so kudos to you for pushing yourself!

The 2 exercises per body part? GREAT and if you wanted you mightcould do more.

Are you exhausted after your workout? In a rush to get home/to work & an extra exercise might actually make you not lift at all? SKIP IT.

Have the time/energy/motivation? I say go ahead and add one in!

3 exercises per body part with the routine you’re doing would be perfectly fine and, as always, LISTEN TO YOUR BODY.

Feeling many or all of the below?

you may be overtraining so cut back for a few weeks and see how you feel.

As far as the ab work: three times a week is not overtraining at all (& my abpinions are an entire post in and of themselves)

Got better ideas, MizFits?? Lay em on us in the comments.

Topics: Viewer mail | 37 Comments »

Strange things are afoot at the Circle-K.

By MizFit | May 6, 2008

(Movie anyone?)

Please not to panic if the MizFit appears a tad discombobusheveled for a bit— we’re revamping a bit up in herre.

Topics: Uncategorized | 7 Comments »

Tues Tips & Trends

By MizFit | May 6, 2008

Subtitle: The one tip and then random shit stuff MizFit loves version.

First, because we are supposed to be all about fitness and healthy living up in herre, I give you something I just learned (have ya’ll known this for years? not me): when you make an ok-sign with your hand the inside space between your thumb and forefinger is about a tablespoon.

how cool is that?!

(and, yes, I began to ponder things such as “how big is the space between Amy Roloff’s thumb and forefinger?” Or “Would Magic Johnson possess a two tablespoon ok-sign?” Im easily distracted that way.)

Definitely quite a handy tip with regards to portion control at places such as salad bars.

now for the entirely random and semi-immature portion of our meeting:
I truly can not believe the words PAMPERED CHEF and MizFit WANTS are coming in the same sentence, but I give you this.

Oh the concoctions I believe I could create given the capacity to seal it all up ala the delectable, I mean, HORRIBLE for you Smuckers Crustables.

You know you want one now, too. Admit it.

Lest you hath become at all confused and think that the MizFit is a grown woman she also wants this.

Merely, only and solely because it’s called a giant stud.

I keep searching my domicile for this (even though they spelled my name wrong. no matter) but cant find it! If I *do* you simply must come over and check it out.

And lastly, one which has been around for a bit but never gets old, the booty popper.

Put away your BOSU, toss your elliptical machine and squat no more. The answer to yer booty conundrum is in a pair of panties.

Please to enjoy.

Topics: Tuesday Trends | 34 Comments »


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