Health Archives - Page 14 of 14

If Only Every Weekend was a Long Weekend

Well, the long weekend I had been looking forward to for a long time is almost over. Don’t feel bad for me though because it was definitely a good one! So good in fact that I feel compelled to share some highlights. Smile

Much of Friday was spent searching the web for random wedding ideas – songs, hairstyles, mendhi designs, outfits, etc. Ok so I’m kind of lying. I didn’t “search the web.” I searched Maharani Weddings for a good portion of the night. This website features some of the most stunning Indian weddings in all their glory. I especially love the videos they post. Beautiful just doesn’t begin to describe the content on this site. If you decide to check it out, give yourself a few minutes…err…hours. You won’t be able to stop clicking and exploring.

I was pretty much out and about all day Saturday. I headed to the outlets near my place for some Labor Day shopping and was met by a Labor Day crowd. It was so packed that I found myself getting annoyed 15 minutes into my trip (mostly with myself for not planning everything out better).

I am a very unique shopper. I don’t linger and debate about potential purchases. I usually walk into a store, do a quick inventory of everything (5 minutes tops), and then decide whether I want to stay or leave. And when I find something I like, I do a quick assessment of the item in my head and either put it back where it came from or buy it. I love to shop, but I definitely have to be in the mood.

I guess I wasn’t feeling it this weekend because I went into the five or six stores I really wanted to hit up, found some blouses for work (see above) and left. Still a success in my book!

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Much of Saturday night was spent reading Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks. I am a huge Nicholas Sparks fan and have been since high school. The romantic in me can’t get enough of his love stories. And this book didn’t disappoint. Although, the plot was a lot deeper then his usual storylines. I don’t want to give away too many details, but if you like out of this world love stories, check out any one of Sparks’ books. And from what I’ve heard, this one is going to be made into a movie starring Jake Gyllenhaal. Smile Woo hoo!

I also picked up the first book in The Hunger Games series. One of my coworkers just started reading it, so we’re going to host our own little book club at work. We eat lunch together most days of the week, so it works out perfectly!

Yesterday, I headed out to the city to visit my friend Monica. We hadn’t seen each other in over a month, so a visit was well overdue!

After chatting for a bit, we headed over to the Newbury Street area for lunch. We went to a place called The Other Side Café. I ended up ordering the grilled cheese/veggie chili combo, and Monica went with the nachos topped with chili.

My grilled cheese was pretty tasty, but the chili was just so so for me. I guess I prefer a more cumin and spice filled chili – this one was definitely very tomato”y.” Regardless, we left there with full bellies, so we decided to walk up Newbury Street for a bit before making our usual stop at JP Licks. Smile I definitely went with the Coffee Oreo flavor but decided to downsize to a Kiddie Cup. Portion control at it’s finest!

After getting home last night, I Skyped with my family. My mom and sister invited a few close family members and friends over to the house for a “surprise” birthday dinner for my dad. I got to join in for the birthday song singing and cake cutting part. It was definitely not the same as physically being there with everyone, but it was better then nothing.

Then I curled up on my couch and watched Forks Over Knives. I think I’m going to save my thoughts on it for a separate post, but I will say this…my goal is to get everyone I know to at least watch this documentary. To say the VERY least – it was eye opening and provocative. A must watch!

That brings us to today. I don’t have much planned – just some light cleaning, a quick workout, and a few hours of work stuff. Again, don’t feel too bad for me because the rest of my long weekend was just what I wanted it to be. Smile

What was the best part of your weekend?

What I Learned

written by Parita Leave a Comment

Saying goodbye has never been my thing. Never. Over time though, I’ve learned that you have to look forward to the next time. That’s the only way to go. So you can imagine how heavy my heart was this morning when I dropped my sister off at the bus station. Go figure…I still hate saying goodbye. But, we had a great time while she was here, and there are lots of fun times ahead, so no worries!

By now, y’all know that I’m very close to my sister. Y’all also know that she’s quite a bit younger than me (that’s neither here nor there!). However, I truly believe that everyone has something to give, to teach, to share, regardless of age. My sister shared some of her fitness and eating techniques with me this weekend, and I in turn, am going to share them with y’all. Aren’t we just the best?!

So, with the half over and done with, I am now looking to create a workout and eating plan for myself that I can sustain until the big day. Now when I say this, I don’t mean anything drastic. For the most part, my eating habits are just fine, but I still think there’s room for improvement. I’ll get to that in a minute. I do, however, believe that my fitness routine needs to be revamped to fit my wedding goals. See, Indian outfits tend to show off two major parts of the body – the stomach and the arms. If I had to pick, these would be my “problem areas.” Again, nothing I plan on doing is very drastic, but I know that if I want results, I have to do things differently. I’m not 100% sure what my exact plan is going to be, but I have time since we’re still ironing out some of the wedding details. What I do know, is that regardless of the timeframe, I am definitely going to incorporate some of the things my sister shared with me this weekend. Are you ready!?

1. Incorporate 3 lb. hand weights into my treadmill routine. Aekta does bicep curls, arm raises, and forward punches while walking on the treadmill. Genius! If she switches over to running mode, she puts down the weights and picks them back up when ready. Why didn’t I think of this!?

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2. Planks. Planks. Planks. Aekta has started to incorporate planks into her daily workout routine. Her physical therapist told her that planks are the single best way to truly strengthen the core, and that along with some solid cardio, they are your best bet to a flatter tummy. Sign me up!

And go figure, that Laura had posted about planks today. Great minds think alike! Winking smile Laura actually shared a link to Haley’s blog, and I actually really liked her plank routine, so I think I’m going to get started with it tonight! I love the blog world! Ask and you shall receive!

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3. This next little tidbit of wisdom from my sister is actually pretty simple. Remember how I told y’all that Aekta and I are big eaters?! Well, that’s not always good. Aekta realized that her love for food was actually taking a turn for the unhealthy, so she implemented a new system. Portion control and slow eating. She serves herself half of what she wants, eats it slowly, and then takes more if she’s truly still hungry. What she realized is that over time she ate less at every meal because what she needed did not equal what she wanted. Easy, right!? Well, we’ll see. I think I do ok with the portion control part of the equation, but I’m not a slow eater. Back in March, I started a Slow Down Challenge. I did ok for a week or two, and then I totally dismissed the entire thing. Not good. Well, guess what…I’m bringing it back!

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Well, I’m off to watch the news the Bachelor Pad. Don’t judge. It’s not nice. Everyone has their vices. Smile

So tell me…do you do planks as part of your fitness routine? Have you seen results? I need all the motivation I can get, people! Share away!

Half Marathon Training: Week 1 Recap

written by Parita Leave a Comment

Hi, friends! I hope your Monday was full of warmth and sunshine – unlike mine. To make matters worse, our office was colder than usual today. Brrrrrr… Currently, my hands are ice cold because I refuse to turn on the heat. What can I say!? I’m stubborn!

So I want to take y’all on my half marathon journey with me. I plan on doing weekly recaps to talk about what I did and more importantly the lessons I learned along the way. It’ll be fun…I PROMISE!

Week 1 looked a little something like this…

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Sunday
Strength workout with Jillian Michaels	3 mile run (3.45 total)	REST	3 mile run (3.7 total)	Strength workout with Jillian Michaels	REST	5 mile run (5.75 total)

If you remember from my original training plan, I only allocated myself one rest day. But because of my work event on Wednesday and not being at home on Saturday, I ended up with two rest days. At first I was kind of upset, but I realized that it was probably a good thing, especially with this being my first week. And let me tell you, my body definitely feels it. Even before I started training, I worked out regularly – power walks, runs, elliptical, DVDs, strength training, etc. But now I am really pushing myself to train hard and stay consistent, which means I am getting out of my comfort zone.

The other key lesson learned from this first week is that training is truly mind over matter. I can’t tell you how much my body didn’t want to run, especially at 5 AM. It would tell me to press the snooze button and let it have just 5 more minutes of sleep. But I didn’t listen to that annoying voice in my head. Instead, I threw off the covers and got my butt to the gym. It took a mile or so for me to really get past the “my legs feel like lead” phase, but after I got into my groove, I pounded out and conquered my runs. Woot! AND my knee didn’t bother me at all – not even once. That deserves a BIG WOOT!

Running vs. Jogging

Do y’all differentiate between a jog and a run? Do you call yourself a jogger versus a runner? Vishnu and I got into a somewhat heated discussion last night about how I am technically a jogger but call myself a runner (his view). His point was that it’s all in how you do it – your method. Runners take longer strides and obviously go faster. Joggers on the hand are slower and don’t extend their legs out completely. If that’s the case, then yes, I am a jogger, but I’m still going to call myself a runner (sorry, babe!).

Our little debate got me curious, so I did my own research on the matter. According to a Fit Sugar article I found, if it takes you 9 minutes to complete a mile, you are running, otherwise you are jogging. Again, in that case, I am a jogger (or a really slow runner Winking smile ). But really, keeping a 10 minute/mile pace is no easy feat. Whatever! Running vs. jogging…it really makes no difference to me. I do what I can, and I’m pretty darn proud of myself!

Do you distinguish between running and jogging? Does it matter to you how you are technically classified?

All this running talk brought back memories from my first half marathon. It was so fun. I ran the entire thing with my friend Purvi (the one who just got engaged)!!

We’re diagonally behind (to the left) the lady in red on the right (if that makes any sense).

Yay! We’re done!!!

Me chowing down on a fantastic Turkey Day feast my mom made

The Power of Walking

written by Parita 17 Comments

Hi, friends! I have a question for you. How many of you are walkers? And when I say walker, I mean someone who choses to walk for exercise purposes, even if it’s just once a week. The reason I ask is because I feel like many people dismiss the power of walking. I never really hear anyone talk/blog about how they exercise by walking – it’s always running, spinning, etc. I think we (and yes, I am including myself because my preferred form of cardio is running) tend to forget that walking is actually great for the body and mind. I know my parents would agree (they go walking for at least 45 minutes 5 times a week). In fact, I walked for an hour this evening, and it felt great!

I know what a lot of you reading this are thinking. “Parita, walking is great and all, but I want to burn calories, get my heart rate up, sweat, etc.” I get that, trust me, I do. I love super sweaty, heart-pumping workouts too, but hear me out. All I’m trying to say is that walking is a completely acceptable form of exercise…even if a secondary or backup choice.

Look at what all walking can accomplish for you…

Walking can raise your metabolism for up to 12 hours after just two miles.
Walking improves circulation of blood and other key body fluids, which in turn improves your immune system.
Walking massages your internal organs (think constipation). Because walking engages so many different muscles your respiratory demands increase, which keeps your internal organs mobile and healthy.
Walking lowers LDL (bad) cholesterol and raises HDL (good) cholesterol.
Walking can lower blood pressure.
Walking can reduce your risk of or help you manage type 2 diabetes.
Walking is easier on your joints than running.
Walking just a couple of miles a day improves mental clarity and emotional and spiritual well-being.
Walking is FREE!!!! No expensive gym memberships needed!

And these are just a few benefits of walking…the list really could go on forever. Smile

And just like any other exercise, walking requires proper form and technique…

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I’m not giving up running any time soon (especially with half marathon training starting tomorrow…eek!), but I’ll definitely think twice before I dismiss the power of walking!

Are you a walker? Do you see the benefit in walking?

Have a great night!

Terrible Triglycerides

written by Parita Leave a Comment

A little over a week ago I did a guest post for Stefanie over at The New Healthy. I chose the topic “Knowing Your Numbers” because I feel that sometimes we focus too much on what we look like on the outside, how our clothes fit, etc. and not enough on what is happening to us on the inside. The topic is also very personal for me as many of my family members have diabetes, high blood pressure, and/or high cholesterol. I know that my chances of being diagnosed with one of these diseases is likely, but instead of just accepting that, I choose to educate myself on what these diseases are, what the numbers mean, and what prevention looks like. I want y’all to do the same!!! Let’s keep the ball in our court for as long as possible!

I got my usual WebMD email at work this week, and as I was perusing through it, an article titled “Lifestyle Changes Reduce Triglycerides” caught my eye. See, one of the numbers I focused on for my guest post was triglycerides, hence my interest.

Triglycerides are a type of blood fat associated with heart and blood vessel problems and other diseases. By making lifestyle changes and eating healthier diets, people can lower their high triglyceride levels significantly. Appropriate changes could reduce triglycerides by 20% to 50%, according to the American Heart Association (AHA).

For individuals outside the normal range, scientists recommend limiting:

Added sugar to less than 5% to 10% of total calories consumed
Fructose, from processed foods and naturally occurring foods, to less than 50-100 grams per day
Saturated fat to less than 7% of total calories
Trans fat to less than 1% of total calories
Alcohol, especially if triglyceride levels are higher than 500 milligrams per deciliter

Researchers also recommend limiting sugar-sweetened beverages to less than 36 ounces per week. They also say that people with high triglyceride levels should eat more vegetables, fruits (cantaloupe, grapefruit, strawberries, bananas, peaches), high-fiber whole grain, and omega-3 fatty acids found in fatty fish.

Eating right is only part of the equation. The AHA also states that people with triglycerides levels in the 150-199 milligrams per deciliter range should incorporate physical activities into their normal routine (i.e., brisk walking for at least 150 minutes per week). This may help to reduce triglyceride levels by 20% to 30%.

In my guest post, I stated that the optimal number should be 150 or less. However, the AHA is stating that the new optimal level for triglycerides is 100 milligrams per deciliter.

If you’re reading this post and thinking, “There is no way my triglyceride level is high,” think again! About 31% of Americans adults have triglyceride levels of 150 milligrams per deciliter or higher. And the affected age group is young adults between 20 and 49. So, even if it isn’t you, it may be someone you love…spread the word!

I’m not a doctor or a medical professional, but I know from watching numerous family members suffer from not being educated about their numbers that this is important stuff.

If you take nothing else away from this post or even my guest post, please remember this, visit your doctor for regular checkups, get your blood work done, and ask questions to ensure that you are healthy from both the inside out as well as the outside in!

Source: WebMD Medical News; Lifestyle Changes Reduce Triglyceride Levels

Let the Training Begin

written by Parita Leave a Comment

Don’t you love it when someone randomly thinks of you? That happened to me today. My cousin thought of me after seeing this quote – “The way to know life is to love many things” –Vincent Van Gogh. Her email telling me so really made my day! Love you, Bijalben!

So, I’m not sure if you remember or not, but my sister and I are running a half marathon together in August. Smile I just put together my training plan and wanted to share. Please feel free to give me some feedback if you see something you don’t agree with. We don’t start training until next week, so there’s plenty of time to make changes.

S&S – stretch and strengthen; CT – cross train

When I trained for my first half marathon, I followed a similar plan, but this time around I’m doing things a bit differently and am encouraging my sister to do the same.

The first time around I didn’t do any strength training/yoga or cross training. I think it’s important to set aside days for this and this alone. Specifically for me, I think S&S will help alleviate (hopefully prevent) some of the knee pain I had when I trained the first time around. And let’s face it, I like muscles!
Something I am a bit ashamed to admit is that I never, until recently, had proper running shoes that supported MY feet. I started running over six years ago in an effort to lose weight, and since then, I’ve been wearing your run of the mill “running shoes.” I always assumed that if they felt springy when you put them on, you were good to go. I assumed wrong. I got fitted for shoes last October, and what a difference that has made for me. I even made my sister go get fitted a couple of weeks ago. The shoe thing alone makes me feel more confident this time around.
My weight lose journey actually began my junior year of college, but my true healthy living journey only began a year or so ago. I know for a fact that the first time I trained I didn’t fuel my body properly. I would eat a granola bar and drink a small glass of milk before a long run ( 5 miles and above)…eek! I now realize that in order to maximize performance you have to try to incorporate a good mix of proteins, healthy fats, and carbs into your meals. I know I ate enough the first time around (for the most part), but I could have done better in the quality department. And I’m only human, so there will be days of imperfect eating this time around, but at least I’m going in with a plan.
Hydration is something I try to work on in general, but I think that it’s even more important when you’re putting your body through 12 weeks of something it’s not used to. I never paid much attention to the amount of water I consumed on a daily basis, but it’s something that’s now important to me so I try to be more cognizant of it, especially now. My goal is to drink at least six glasses a day. Wish me luck!

So there you have it – my 12 week training plan and must dos. Please share any thoughts you may have. There are so many seasoned runners out there that have done lots of different races, and I’d love to hear from all of you!

Thanks, y’all! Have a great night!

Obsession, Passion, and Lust

written by Parita Leave a Comment

Hello hello! Today’s post has to do with obsession, passion, and lust, but before I go there, I want to share some serious and important information…

I got an email from my mom today with the subject line, “Ladies, let’s ask for this – please share.” I had no clue what this email was about, but I’m glad she shared it with me. The email was sent to my mom from a coworker who is a fan of The Dr. Oz Show. She wants to spread the word about something she heard on the show – potential causes of thyroid cancer. This was news to me, but thyroid cancer is one of the fastest growing cancers in women. Dr. Oz mentioned that this increase may possibly be related to dental x-rays and mammograms. He showed the viewers an example of the dental apron that everyone has to wear when getting x-rays taken. He then pointed out a little flap that can be lifted out and wrapped around the neck. Most dentists/dental hygenists don’t bother using it, which is a shame. But the next time you are getting your dental x-rays taken, please be sure the find this flap and use it! Also, there is something called a thyroid guard that can be used during mammograms. My mom’s coworker just recently went and got a mammogram, and she asked the technician for a thyroid guard. And sure enough, there it was lying in a drawer. When my mom’s co-worker asked why it wasn’t routinely used, the technician said, “I don’t know. You have to ask for it.” That makes no sense to me, but if/when you get mammograms, please ask for this small “tool/device” that could possibly save your life.

And please pass this tidbit of information on to your family and friends…thanks!

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Now, on to the obsession, passion, and lust….with Taco Bell that is! What did you think I was talking about?! I’ve only shared my love for TB once before on this blog, and that’s because I am slowing but surely phasing it out of my life. I honestly haven’t had it in five or six months.

Something you should know is that my family and most of my Indian friends share my love for TB. We Indians love this “restaurant!” In fact, I don’t think I’ve met an Indian that doesn’t like TB. Growing up, Taco Bell was a weekly indulgence for us, and mexican pizzas and tostadas were our go to menu items. So, as you know, I’m all for moderation and balance, but there was a time when I would eat it at least twice a week. In fact, I partially blame my 17 pound weight gain in undergrad on my unhealthy obsession and the late night trips my friends and I would make to get our Taco Bell fix. When I think back on how much I used to eat it, I am…well, disgusted!

I still get cravings for TB, but I just can’t go back to eating it so frequently. What I can do is recreate some of my favorite menu items at home, and that is exactly what I did tonight! Here you have my very own “healthified” mexican pizza…

“Healthified” Mexican Pizza
Yields 1 pizza

2 whole wheat tortillas crisped using this method
half a cup of vegetarian refried beans
2-3 tablespoons of water
garlic powder
chili powder
1/2 a cup picante sauce or salsa
1/4 cup of goat cheese
Your choice of toppings: avocado, tomato, onion, spinach, olives, etc.

Loosen up the beans by adding water and then microwave on high for about 45 seconds. Add a couple of dashes of garlic and chili powder to the bean mixture and mix well. Blend salsa in a food processor or small blender until smooth. Spread one tortilla with bean mixture and blended salsa. Place second tortilla on top and spread with remaining salsa . Sprinkle goat cheese on the pizza and microwave for 45 seconds. Top the pizza with your choice of toppings. Today I opted for sweet onions, avocado, tomatoes, and sour cream.

This really is as simple and easy as it sounds, people!!! AND it was incredibly fresh, delicious, and filling! My mexican pizza puts Taco Bell’s to shame, or at least that’s what I think!

What’s your favorite fast food? Do you ever try to recreate healthy versions of it at home?

If Only Every Weekend was a Long Weekend

What I Learned

Half Marathon Training: Week 1 Recap

The Power of Walking

Terrible Triglycerides

Let the Training Begin

Obsession, Passion, and Lust

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