Healthy Habit #6--Stretch It Out!!

Hello from Germany!

 Time to tackle Healthy Habit #6, which is to stretch every single day!  You will feel loose, limber, prep your body for your workouts and prevent injury.  Between my back going out (I was a bad girl and hadn't stretched in a week, then jumped into a workout without warming up--I should know better!) and my travel planning, it has been a minute since I've posted a video.  So I decided to do a quick stretch while waiting for my plane and record it for you.  This is a routine I do regularly and it focuses a lot on stretching the back.  It includes a lot of stretches you have probably seen before and also incorporates some yoga.

 You can use this routine as a starting point, but know that every body is different, with special needs.  If you have muscles that cause you aches and pains, then I encourage you to do your homework and find the stretches that will help those muscles.  If a certain muscle is causing pain or is very tight, it is also good to know that working the muscles around that muscle will also help to loosen it up.  Everything is connected!  The same goes for opposite sides of your body.  For example, if a muscle in your upper back hurts, then working out your pecs, directly opposite of that point, will help alleviate the pain.

 I really want you to tackle this challenge because next week I will be challenging you to start your workouts.  Stretching, like exercising, is not usually fun the first couple of weeks.  It kind of hurts.  But after you get over that hurdle and the discomfort is gone, both stretching and working out will feel so incredibly good to you!  And if you start stretching this week, exercising next week will be that much easier.

 If you have any specific questions, go ahead and ask me on my facebook or twitter and I will try to help you out! See you next week when I'm back in America!

  Mon

I Followed the Sunshine and This is What I Found...

Hi everyone!

If you don't already know, I live in beautiful Washington State.  I LOVE living here.  I've been all around the world and Washington, and the Pacific NW as a whole, is the most beautiful place I have found.  It seems no matter where you go, there is a new trail to explore or mountain to climb.  The great thing about living in Western Washington, in particular, is that you can drastically change your scenery in only a few hours!  I can go to the ocean for some surfing or fishing, I can go snowboarding and skiing, I can go to the desert.  And in my own backyard, I am surrounded by water and lush forests.

I didn't take full advantage of Washington until I got in shape.  Now it is like I am rediscovering the place I've lived for so long.  I'm rediscovering my body and what it can do.  Life is what you make of it.

The one drawback to living here is the rain.  Especially during the winter when we get about 6 months of gray, rainy Hell.  Many of us Washingtonians get S.A.D., an appropriate acronym for Seasonal Affective Disorder, which is basically seasonal depression.  My first 2 winters here were awful.  By my third winter, my body had adjusted and I had learned a few tricks, but that's another blog post.

Why do we put up with it?  Not only for all the reasons I mentioned in the first paragraph, but also because our summers are PERFECT.  We get 3 months of the most beautiful weather you can imagine.  Washington summers are a time to go to concerts at the Gorge (the best venue in the world for concerts), boating in the Puget Sound, fishing, stand up paddleboarding, camping, kayaking, going to Seattle for our games.  Washington summers make up for the Washington winters.  And even winter can be manageable if it snows and you spend it on the mountain snowboarding.

We are at the beginning of Spring now, which means even more rain, but now it is punctuated here and there with green grass, flowers and the occasional sunny day.  The other day it was raining where I live, but I noticed a break in the clouds over yonder.  So, in an attempt to escape the rain and put a smile on my dog's face (yes, pit bulls smile!), Lola and I jumped in the car and drove toward the sunshine.  I had no idea where I would end up--I just followed the sun.  The great thing about Washington is that no matter where you go, there is always a hidden gem to explore.  Hope you enjoy the pictures and they inspire you to go on a spontaneous adventure of your own!

Lots of love,
Mon

I was so surprised to find a sweet little pond at the end of the trail!

Beautiful Washington greenery :)

I <3 my trees.

Lola is taking in the scenery.

Lola saying "Thank you" for taking her out. :)

Juice Recipe and Juicing Tips!

Even Lola loved my juice!  She kept trying to get some! lol

Hi everyone!

I know it has been a minute since I posted.  If you follow me on facebook or twitter, you know that my back went out last week and honestly, it was just too painful to sit at the computer for too long.  As an added bonus, I have to say that a week without as much technology was kind of nice. :)  But I am starting to feel a lot better and I'm back with a yummy juice recipe I made today!

I just bought jars to store my juice in.  Jars are great because they keep your juice airtight, which will keep it fresher longer.  Remember, real fresh juice is not loaded with preservatives so it will turn brown if exposed to the air for too long!  Another trick is to add a lemon to any juice recipe--lemon juice is like Mother Nature's preservative!

I juiced enough to fill four 32-ounce jars.  These jars are the perfect size to take with you so you can drink your juice all day long!  I challenge you to wake up a little earlier and make some juice for your day.  I guarantee you will feel amazing!

Lots of love,
Mon

Juice Recipe 

(enough for 4 jars)

7 apples

2 oranges

about 3 handfuls of baby carrots

3 pears

5 kiwis

3 stalks of celery

1 lemon

Add all of these ingredients to your juicer and enjoy!

Juicing Tips
-If your juice tastes bitter, add more apples for a sweeter taste.
-Add a lemon to your juice to keep it fresh longer.
-Mix it up and don't be afraid to experiment with different juicing recipes!  I usually just use whatever fruit and veggies I have on hand.
-Costco makes it very affordable to buy enough fruits and veggies to make all of your juice! (and I did not get paid to say that! lol)
-Buy jars to put your day's supply of juice in to prevent oxidation and keep it fresher longer!