Spicy Peanut Noodles

How is your New Year going? I know it’s only a week in, but that’s 1/52nd of the year! Now doesn’t that sound like a lot of time? Aside from my VERY important resolutions, I’m working on a few smaller goals. One of those is to try and do more things that scare me. I’ve found, in the past, doing these scary things have yielded amazing results.





A number of years ago I joined my first gym. For the first year I spent a good amount of time on the elliptical machine. Walking in place, uphill, downhill. Very fulfilling. Got some killer calves from that year, rock hard. After a while I got a little bored and decided to try out the weight room floor. All those shiny machines were calling to me. After a personal trainer showed me the ropes I dove in, hit those machines, usually on Fridays. This lead to some nice arms and a few too many offers of friendship from the muscle-bound men.

Look at all that color!  Delicious!

The final hurdle I jumped was going to the group fitness classes. I decided that I liked this the best. Not only would I have awesome arms and calves, but I would be able to work my whole body! Pilates, body sculpting, yoga it was all so much fun! But what really caught my eye? One night I spied a kickboxing class while pedaling away on my elliptical. Punching and kicking, all the members in unison like one of those Bally’s commercials. I could do that, right? You bet! Although it took an introductory class and a pair of new shoes to get me into the rhythm with the rest of them. But now I can round house kick like Chuck Norris.  Totally worth it!

The scary thing for this week? I stopped at that imposing looking Asian market on my walk home from work. Walking inside and being greeted with strange candies and bad lighting. I walked up and down the aisles, looking over the bottles and jars with words written in Chinese, Korean and Japanese. I decided to bring home some of these sauces, even though I wasn’t quite sure what they all were. Dinner would be spicy tonight, because the bottle we’re using tonight says chili!

Pineapple Upsidedown Muffins

I’ve finally returned to Connecticut, which means I’m back in my own kitchen. I missed all my tools and ingredients, the ability to throw together a meal in minutes. It’s so hard making dinner in a kitchen without even the simplest necessities, like salt, or a mixing bowl. My return also means the beginning of our month of healthy eating! After a quick run to the grocery store, for the more unusual items, I was able to whip up dinner, lunch and breakfast.

Since it makes the most sense, breakfast is first on the menu. I’m a big breakfast fan, especially when it tastes like dessert. I originally made these muffins back in Colorado. They are full of energy and will keep you going until lunch. I liked to treat myself to them after I convinced myself to get up early and workout. Sometimes it would be an incentive to get out of bed in the morning and get to that 5:30am class. Although I found that teaching the 5:30am class to be a bigger incentive, since there would be no class if I didn’t show up!

This thought beings me to one of my favorite fitness tips – Make a Gym Buddy! Being an instructor I have seen it time and time again. Those people that make friends, or bring friends, to a class were more likely to come back. My 5:30am Bodystep class included a group of 8 women who came every week. If one of them was missing they would have some explaining to do the next week! I’ve met so many wonderful people at the gym, friendships that I still have today, even though I don’t live close anymore. You and your buddy will have more fun in class together and you’ll have each other to motivate, cheer on and challenge.

Be sure to vote on my poll!  What types of healthy recipes are you looking for most?  This will help influence the recipes that I post in the next three weeks.  I might even get boyfriend to lend a hand in the kitchen, that way you'll know it's an easy recipe to follow!

Don't let them lie to you! Healthy Tip #1

Welcome to the New Year everyone! In lieu of a recipe today, we’re starting off the month with some helpful tips and tricks to living healthy. Advertisers try to do their magic and get you to buy things that might not actually be healthy. With a little knowledge, you should be able to wind your way through the aisles of the grocery store and come out with a cartful of delicious and healthy foods.



(Keeping in mind I have a PhD in chemistry, and not nutrition, you should take all of my suggestions with a grain of salt! Some of my personal views on food and life are influenced by my science background.)


Advertiser lie #1 – Eat Nutella for breakfast, it’s so healthy for you!

The Truth – The first two ingredients on the Nutella label are oil and sugar. Sure, there are some hazelnuts in there, but it should be considered an oil, not a protein. Same rule applies to other nut butters. They are considered oils first, protein sources second.  You should still eat nutella though, just not for breakfast. :)


Advertiser lie #2 – High fructose corn syrup is so much worse for you than sugar!

The Truth – The only difference between sugar (sucrose) and HFCS (glucose and fructose) is a single bond. Some studies have shown that HFCS can cause more weight gain than sugar, this was tested in rats, not people. The weight gain could be from the fact that HFCS is already partially broken down and your body doesn’t need to spend the energy to do this. In reality, you want to avoid eating too much of either, but HFCS won’t kill you. Eat fruits instead!


Advertiser lie #3 – Whole grain granola/cereal/muffins are so good for you, look at all the whole grains!

The Truth – Generally the amount of whole grains you get in these food are minimal. You will also find that the calorie count on these items is incredibly high. A serving size of granola is usually just a few tablespoons and is weighed down with added sugar. Love your morning cereal (I know I do) stick with something like cheerios and toss in some fruit.



Now if you are looking for some fun ways to work off those cookies and other holiday treats, here are some of my favorite workouts. I’ve tried pretty much everything offered at the gym and have certifications to teach my ultimate favorites. I’ve also fallen in love with a few home workouts, if you aren’t a gym rat.

1. TurboKick – The ultimate high energy cardio class! A kick boxing, hip hop and abs class all wrapped into one. This was my first certification and still one of my favorites. Your first class might be a little confusing, so go with a sense of humor! If you like to workout at home, check out TurboJam or TurboFire!

2. Les Mills Classes – If you go to an LMI affiliated club then you’ll see these on the schedule as the “Body” classes. There are eight formats ranging from sculpting to step to yoga. After a few classes you will notice that they follow a format and are easy to follow. I think this makes it a great class to really push you. Personally? I love Bodystep.

3. Pilates – fantastic if you want to feel taller and stronger. I’d suggest checking out a live class first, just to be sure you are doing the moves properly. Then check out Windsor Pilates home workout. Pilates really strengthens your core muscles, making you less likely to fall down on the icy pavement!

Just remember, cardio and strength! Work those muscles, then eat a sandwich!

Be sure to vote on my poll (on the right hand side of the page!). What type of healthy meal are you looking for? Do you struggle finding healthy breakfast options? Maybe you need something for an on-the-go meal? How about a smart option for an afternoon snack? Let your voice be heard!

Feel free to ask your questions too, I’ll be dropping healthy eating tips all month long!