Dance Party!

Part of my exercise routine includes a great deal of cardio, so I decided for anyone who is interested I would post my workout music. I love music, I never stop listening to it and it always helps me push through a long run when need be. I have a huge collection so my mixes will be a bit random but I think you will enjoy!

Cardio Mix 1

Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Heads Will Roll
Who Da Funk - Disco Balls
TV on the Radio - Wolf like Me
Roger Sanchez - Turn On The Music
The White Stripes - Catch Hell Blues
Phoenix - Lisztomania

Chicken Enchiladas

Another Healthy version of a great Mexican classic. I made this the other night by mixing a few recipes together and it tastes pretty darn good! I dont really have exact measurements but I will try and make it clear.

- 1 Roast chicken - It is much easier to buy a roast chicken at the grocery store and then you are able to use it for multiple meals over the week. Just use enough chicken pieces for one meal.
- 1 jalapeno diced- use as much or little as you like, I recommend buying it fresh but it does come canned.
- diced onion
- diced sweet bell pepper
- 1 diced garlic clove

Heat up a pan on medium high heat and then add a small amount of canola oil. Turn down to medium and saute all ingredients together until soft. Make sure you do not burn the garlic!

In a bowl mix together 1/2 tsp paprika, 1 tsp cumin and 2 tsp chili powder. Mix with a little bit of olive oil and water to make a paste. Then add a good amount of tomato sauce. Either jarred or if you want to be extra healthy with your own pureed tomatoes with garlic, sugar and basil.

Add the sauce to the sauteed chicken and vegetables on med/low heat for a couple of minutes. Make sure to leave a little bit of sauce to put on top of enchilada when wrapped.

Heat up a whole wheat tortilla by wrapping it in a moist towel in the microwave for 15 sec or so.

Place tortilla on cutting board or flat surface and add mixture. On top shred some chedder cheese. Fold to close and place in a dish that can go in the oven. Add remaining sauce on top with a bit more chedder cheese. Place dish in 400 degree oven for 15 minutes.

Quick, Easy and Healthy. Enjoy!

Week Two

Well my second week has ended and I have realized something about myself ... I am really lazy on the weekends! I have no momentum to follow the diet when there is endless food in the fridge and I finally have time to catch up on some tv and movies. Even so, I did manage to get to the gym 5 days this week. During this time I have already started to use some heavier weights and from Yoga feeling much more flexible.

This weeks goal: to keep up my workouts including Body Pump and Yoga and keep following my healthy food plan for the weekend. Plus more healthy meals will be popping up once I try them out and find my recipe book!

Chicken Paprikash (Low Fat)

This Hungarian stew recipe is out of Food&Wine Magazine March 2009, and is full of flavor with the extra benefit of being low fat!

Time 1:30 8 Servings

1/4 cup Canola oil - I sometime use olive oil to follow the Abs Diet
1 Large Onion chopped
2 Red Bell Peppers (i like to cut into strips)
3 Large Cloves of Garlic thinly sliced
1/4 cup Paprika
1 1/2 tsp Caraway seeds ground
3 tbsp All purpose flour
6 cups Chicken Stock
2 Bay Leaves
2 Thyme Sprigs
S&P
2 Pds chicken breast sliced
1/2 cup of law fat sour cream (optional)

1. heat oil in large casserole or dutch oven. Add onion, peppers, garlic over moderate heat, stir occasionally over 8 minutes until brown.
2. Add paprika, caraway and flour, cook stirring for 2 minutes. Add stock, bay, thyme, S&P and bring to a boil. Simmer over moderate heat, stirring occasionally until peppers are very tender and sauce had thickened (about 1 hour).
3. Add chicken which have been cut into slices into the sauce and cook over high heat until white throughout (6min)
4.Transfer unto bowls and add a dollop of sour cream. I also like it with a bit of whole wheat pita for the sauce.

ENJOY!!

well isnt that interesting ...

So I fell off the bandwagon yesterday. I was ultra tired and felt like eating not the healthiest things, which I ended up doing :( BUT on the radio today I found out that yesterday was the most depressing day of the year. So coincidence that I felt crappy yesterday .... I think not ...

p.s did lots of strength today and ate very healthy meals!

Week One

Well I finished my first week and pretty much kept up with my plan. I went to the gym 6 days this week and took part in two new classes (Body Pump and Yoga). Im already feeling alot more energetic and positive. I did have a friends birthday this weekend so lost some points with drinking and eating some unhealthy food.

Plan for week two is keeping up with going to the gym 6 days a week and trying to cut out as much crappy food munching!

Body Pump

Just spent the last hour doing Body Pump, my arms feel like Jello but trying to keep up with it once a week.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUjOIEKJQ94

The Plan

The nice thing about following the Abs Diet is it isn't your typical type of diet. It is a way of changing your lifestyle to become healthier and stronger. Some of the main things I must follow are:
12 Power Foods - must incorporate foods everyday for protein and other health benefits:

1. Almonds and other nuts
2. Beans and Legumes
3. Spinach and Other Green Veggies
4. Dairy
5. Instant Oatmeal
6. Eggs
7. Turkey and other lean meats
8. Peanut Butter
9. Olive Oil
10. Whole Grain Breads and Cereals
11. Protein Powder
12. Raspberries and Other fruits

I must eliminate refined carbs, saturated fats, trans fats, high fructose syrup, partially hydrogenated oil and fatty cuts of meat

I will be eating three small meals a day followed by three snacks in between each meal and 3 strength training sessions at the gym followed by two cardio sessions. Even though the book has certain exercises and cardio to follow i will be changing them up a bit. I will do 30-45 min of cardio and an the two days of strength training shown n the book but also a BodyPump and a Yoga class at my gym once a week.

The Beginning

Two years ago I purchased the Abs Diet by David Zinczenko. I have always wanted to work on strengthening my muscles and have some lovely abs to go with them. Two years later I have began to follow the plan but have always given up after a couple of weeks. Well with this blog I am going to finally follow through with the plan and hopefully feel healthier and stronger by the end of 90 days!