A guest post! I’m so excited about this great write up by J. Jacobs.  Read on friends and ENJOY!

J. Jacobs is a guest blogger for An Apple a Day and a writer on ultrasound technician schools for the Guide to Health Education.

Exercise can be fun! Did reading that make you want to reach through your computer screen and grab me by the neck? If so, you’re probably one of many. Upon hearing the word, too many people associate “exercise” with pain, torture, obligation, etc. But it really doesn’t have to be. Yes, you’ve probably heard this same message if you’ve ever picked up a weight loss or self-help book, but there’s a reason why the message has been used so often: it’s true! When people aren’t interested in their exercise programs to start with, and then carry on with these same programs for weeks or months on end, then exercise can get really painful really fast. What started off as something that you don’t look forward to, but might can tolerate, can soon become extremely repetitive and even seem like a waste of time. You might start to look at your exercise routine as slave labor rather than something you’re doing to improve your health and self-esteem.

There are a few tricks to make sure this doesn’t happen. Before you choose an exercise routine, make sure to start with something that you enjoy and that’ll be practical for your lifestyle. You want to do something that you’re naturally good at, or at least could get good at in a relatively short period of time. For instance, if you have two left feet and cemented hips, perhaps advanced zumba isn’t something you should start off with because you’ll just get frustrated and be tempted to quit. This isn’t to say that you shouldn’t allow room for improvement. Isn’t that the whole point of exercise programs to begin with? I simply mean that you should gravitate towards exercise programs that fit your preferences and abilities.

Also, you should change up your exercise routine every now and again. Not only so your body doesn’t get too comfortable, causing your routine to become too easy, but also so you don’t get bored. If the second you pop in the exercise DVD, your body assumes the position of downward dog to begin the warm-up without you having to think about it, it might be time to switch it up.

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One exercise that may be fun to do if you have access to a treadmill is simply walking backwards on it. Not only does this shake up your normal routine, it targets muscles on the back of your legs that often get ignored. This will also mean muscles you didn’t even know you had will be sore the following day. This idea may seem silly or difficult, but as long as you can mount an escalator without any trouble, you probably won’t fall flat on your face while walking backwards on your treadmill. Make sure that you have strong balance, coordination, and leg strength before attempting this exercise.  Also, just to be safe, don’t hold onto the treadmill rails because doing so may cause injury. This is a great way to take what exercise equipment you might already have and make a new, exciting, and challenging exercise routine. Find other innovative exercises to do on a treadmill by clicking here.

Baby Tiramisu

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Finally! A way to enjoy Italian desserts without seeing them on your expanding thighs.  Check out this incredible recipe from Eating Well.

Makes 6 servings. Active prep time: 15 minutes. Total prep time: 45 minutes.

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup nonfat ricotta cheese (4 ounces)
  • 2 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 12 ladyfingers (approximately 1 3/4 ounces)
  • 4 tablespoons brewed espresso or strong coffee, divided
  • 2 tablespoons bittersweet chocolate chips, melted

Preparation

  1. Combine ricotta, sugar, vanilla and cinnamon in a medium bowl.
  2. Place 6 ladyfingers in a 9-by-5-inch (or similar size) loaf pan. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons espresso (or coffee). Spread the ricotta mixture over the ladyfingers. Place another layer of ladyfingers over the ricotta and drizzle with the remaining 2 tablespoons espresso (or coffee). Drizzle with melted chocolate. Refrigerate until the chocolate is set, about 30 minutes.

Nutrition

Per serving: 107 calories; 2 g fat (1 g sat, 0 g mono); 3 mg cholesterol; 18 g carbohydrates; 3 g protein; 0 g fiber; 125 mg sodium; 29 mg potassium. 1 Carbohydrate Serving. Exchanges: 1 carbohydrate (other), 1/2 fat.

Not so bad, right? Your non-existent saddle bags will thank you.

Thanks J. Jacobs! I love it!

Joanne

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