Health Archives - Page 4 of 14

“Almond Joy” Date Balls (Recipe)

I’ve had “make date balls” on my to-do list for the last few weeks. Why the last few weeks? Well, I was missing the key ingredient and kept forgetting to buy it. So, step one – buy dates! I finally remembered to do just that over the weekend. Step two – make date balls! On Monday evening, I rolled up my sleeves and got to work in the kitchen.

As simple of a recipe as this is, you have to buy the right kind of dates. I’ve made something similar in the past using pre-pitted dates, and the texture was completely different. If you want balls with a Larabar like consistency, you have to buy the dates with pits and then take them out at home. You can find them in the bulk bins section of Whole Foods (where I went this weekend) or even at Costco. Wherever you buy your dates from, just make sure they aren’t already pitted.

One other note – you can easily make this recipe vegan by using dairy-free chocolate chips (I love the Enjoy Life mini chocolate chips). I promise you won’t be able to tell the difference at all!

Soooo, I call these “Almond Joy” date balls. The quotes obviously mean that they’re supposed to taste kinda sorta like the candy but are a healthier alternative. When I told Vishnu this, using air quotes, he said, “Yeah, saying these taste like an Almond Joy is misleading. They’re really good though.” Air quotes, Vishnu, air quotes!!!

Anyway, I really love these, and so does Vishnu (as evident by a few missing date balls!). Personally, I find these to be the perfect post-dinner treat. And I especially love the taste and texture – sweet but not overly sweet, chewy, nutty, and just plain delicious!

Enjoy!

“Almond Joy” Date Balls
Yields approximately 12 small date balls

¼ cup raw whole almonds
1 cup dates, pitted and roughly chopped
2 tablespoons mini chocolate chips (use dairy-free chocolate to make a vegan alternative)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
pinch of sea salt
2 tablespoons unsweetened coconut flakes

Using a food processor, process the almonds until crumbly.
Add the dates and process until a uniform batter starts to form.
Add chocolate chips and vanilla extract and process until incorporated into batter.
Scoop the date mixture into a large bowl.
Add coconut flakes and sea salt and work the mixture with your hands to make sure the flakes are thoroughly incorporated.
Pinch off about a tablespoon or so worth of dough at a time and roll between your hands to form balls.
Store the balls in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week or so.

Have you ever made date balls? What’s your favorite flavor combo?

Sunshine Juice (Recipe)

written by Parita 5 Comments

When I was in Chicago a couple of weeks ago, I spent some time with Roshni and Samir. I went over to their place upon arriving in the city and didn’t leave until almost 11pm! We talked, we watched Wheel of Fortune (their latest guilty pleasure!), we ate delicious lasagna, and we drank what I can only call Roshni’s smoothie concoction.

To be quite honest, when she told me what all was in the smoothie, I was skeptical. I didn’t understand how all of those things together in one drink could possibly be edible…never mind taste good. Well, she proved me wrong! Her random mix of strawberries, blueberries, banana, OJ, ground flax, apple, avocado, spinach, kale, almond butter, and ginger was…refreshing! I even asked her to make it again when I went back to their place later in the week.

With Roshni’s smoothie as my inspiration, I set out to create my own drink. The one criterion I had was that it should get Vishnu’s seal of approval. In order to do that, I knew I had to keep things simple.

When we went grocery shopping this past Monday, I bought some kale, OJ, and fresh ginger knowing that I wanted to include all three in whatever I decided to make.

After a little internal deliberation, I went with this combo –> orange juice, a Granny Smith apple, frozen strawberries, kale, ground flax, and freshly grated ginger (a must in Roshni’s book!). And…It. Was. Delicious. Even Vishnu agreed!

I named it Sunshine Juice because it’s more liquidy than a smoothie and just a bit lighter in taste. And the ginger and OJ combo takes the whole thing to another tart, refreshing, slightly spicy level.

Even if there’s no sunshine where you are right now, make this anyway. You’ll feel like you’re sipping on a yummy tropical drink while basking in the rays. I promise!

Sunshine Juice
Serves 2

12 ounces of orange juice
1 tablespoon ground flax
½ of a Granny Smith apple
1 tablespoon freshly ground ginger
3-4 kale large kale leaves
¾ – 1 cup frozen strawberries

Add ingredients to a blender (in this order) and blend until smooth and juice-like.

Note: While any blender should do the job, a high powered blender (such as the Blendtec –> what we own and use) will provide the best results.

Have a great weekend!

Ripped in 30 + Back to the Basics

written by Parita 7 Comments

Ripped in 30

I’ve been intuitively exercising since my half marathon. Basically, this means my fitness routine lacks structure. I do what I want when I want.

This also means that my motivation to workout has been anything but consistent lately. Quite frankly, I just work better with a plan. I also work out better when someone else is telling me what to do.

Enter Jillian Michaels’ Ripped in 30.

Source

As you all know, I’m not the biggest JM fan as evident by my open letter to Jillian. I am, however, a fan of her workouts. I really do love them! When I was in Atlanta last week, I did level 2 of Ripped in 30 and was sore for two days. Like so sore that it hurt to get out of bed.

When I thought about it some more, I realized that this DVD is exactly what I need right now. The prescribed program is only four weeks long. The workouts target all body parts and incorporate strength, cardio, and abs. And really, all you need is thirty minutes, some floor space, and a set of dumbbells. Perfect!

Now for the sake of transparency, I have to mention that I’m going to Puerto Rico in a little less than a month for my friend Sweeti’s bachelorette party and wanting to look decent in my bathing suit may be a big motivator right now. It’s not that I’ve completely let go of my healthy habits or anything like that. But ever since our team meeting earlier this month, I haven’t been making the best choices. I’m hoping my plan + my trip will help kick my butt into high gear!

JM’s Ripped in 30 workout plan suggests doing 5-6 days (in a row) of each level before moving on to the next. I don’t like doing the same exact workout (except running) on consecutive days, so I’m customizing it to fit my style.

Here’s a rough outline of what a given week will look like:

Ripped in 30 + 20 minutes of cardio on non-consecutive days. Once I’ve done each level 4-5 times, I’ll move on to the next.
Running/walking/elliptical on the in between days for 30-45 minutes
One longer run on the weekend
One full rest day
Lots and lots of stretching

If you’re in the middle of a winter workout rut, I highly recommend this DVD. It’s one of her best ever. Quick and effective!

Back to the Basics

As I mentioned in a past post, Vishnu and I are officially “cleansing” right now because we ate a lot last week. And not all of it was healthy.

Our definition of a cleanse is probably different than most people. We’re basically going back to the basics with most of our meals. This means we’re going to be eating lots and lots of fruits, veggies, whole grains, nuts, and lean proteins. I’ve also recommitted (for real this time!) to the dairy-free way of eating.

We stocked up on lots of fresh produce on Monday night, and I’m going to the farmer’s market on Saturday to buy more of the good stuff. And so far this week we’ve enjoyed salads, stir-fries and a new-to-us green juice (recipe to come!). I feel better already!

Are you a fan of JM workouts? What’s your favorite?

An Honest Review of “Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead”

written by Parita 5 Comments

I’m a huge fan of the fact that there are so many health related documentaries on the market these days. In fact, Food Inc. was what pushed me into the vegetarian camp. And even though I know that these films are very one-sided, I always get sucked in! That’s exactly what happened with Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead, a documentary which focuses on juicing as a way to drastically improve health and wellbeing.

Source

The story begins by introducing the audience to Joe Cross, an Australian salesman who decides to go on a 60 day cross-country road trip while doing a juice fast. Joe is not only overweight but he’s also suffering from an auto-immune disease that resembles hives. During his trip, Joe meets Phil Staples, a morbidly obese and seemingly depressed truck driver. Joe convinces (inspires) Phil to try juicing as a way to improve his health.

Of course, there’s a little more to it, but the basic premise is that Joe and Phil both go on intense juice fasts to improve their health – lose incredible amounts of weight, get off their medications, and basically save themselves from early deaths.

I’ll start with what I appreciated about the film.

I’m not a huge fan of juicing, but I do agree with the central premise of the film. Many health problems can be reversed with dietary changes. And I’m referring to good old fashioned healthy eating.
Even though this was a very drastic change in the diets of these two men, the film did hone in on the fact that the key to health is sustainable change.
Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead does a good job chronicling both Joe and Phil’s healthy living transformations (both physical and mental). They are pretty incredible.
I also liked that both men were carefully supervised by doctors and nutritionists. That sends an important message, especially if someone is considering a radical change.

And now, here are a few things that had me scratching my head.

60 DAYS OF JUST JUICING!?!?! I still can’t wrap my head around this.
After years of trying to figure out what healthy looks like for me, I’ve come to the conclusion that the old 80/20 (80% diet/20% exercise) adage is true. Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead could’ve done a better job of focusing on the 20% instead of just mentioning it here and there.
By focusing on what medications these men are on and how the juice fast is helping them do away with certain pills, the documentary does the audience an injustice by making it seem like changes in diet have WAY MORE of an impact (almost miraculous) than medication when it comes to treating diseases.
To the point above, Joe manages to lose 90 pounds, get off most of his medications, and alleviate the effects of his auto-immune disease. In just 60 days. Don’t get me wrong…good for Joe! But is he more the exception than the rule? If so, that point didn’t come across.
Everything I said in this non-juicer whole juice post.
While the documentary harps on all the positives of juicing, it doesn’t address the general topic of healthy eating, which is the more sensible and sustainable approach. And I have to think that after this “juice reboot” as they call it, both Joe and Phil had to navigate difficult food choices to stay on track. I feel like this wasn’t touched on enough.

Overall, Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead accomplished what it set out to do, but like any documentary, it all needs to be put in perspective.

Have you watched Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead? Thoughts? What’s your favorite health related documentary?

The 2015 Miami Half Marathon

written by Parita 15 Comments

If you follow me on Instagram, you already know that I did it! I ran the entire 13.1 miles of the Miami Half Marathon! And believe it or not, my Achilles tendon, my knees, my calves, etc. were all fine making it a relatively pain-free race. I was 110% sure running the whole thing was out of the question, so no one was more shocked than I was.

But I’m getting ahead of myself. Let’s start with the day before the race.

RACE EXPO

Vishnu and I made our way to Miami Beach around 9:45 am on Saturday morning. The wedding we attended this weekend started at 2:00 pm so unfortunately I didn’t get a chance to explore the race expo much. I ran in, got my bib and t-shirt, and ran out.

MEALS

Breakfast – Protein shake (banana, chia seeds, instant coffee, cocoa powder, protein powder, spinach)
Lunch – Breakfast plate (eggs, potatoes, and toast) at OTC
Dinner – Hodgepodge of stuff from the Whole Foods hot bar (pasta, lasagna, lentil salad, chickpea cake, etc.) + a vegan blueberry muffin
LOTS AND LOTS OF WATER!

RACE DAY GEAR

After we got home from dinner, I laid out all of my race day gear. I knew if I didn’t do this the night before my morning would be hectic and stressful.

earphones
knee brace
bib
fanny pack
running shorts, sports bra, and long sleeve t-shirt

RACE DAY!

The race was scheduled to start at 6:05 am, so Vishnu and I planned to leave our place at 5:00 am. This means I woke up at 4:15 am. I got dressed and made myself a pre-race snack (bread + peanut butter + banana).

We originally planned to take the free Metromover over to the American Airlines Arena (where the Heat play), but when we stepped outside, Vishnu suggested we walk so I could warm up a little bit. This was an ironic statement because it was a chilly 53 degrees outside.

After making our way through the crowd, we found my corral…corral H (the second to last one!). After snapping a few pictures and exchanging a huge hug, Vishnu and I parted ways.

I waited with the other corral H runners as the 13th annual Miami Marathon and Half Marathon got underway. We learned that there were approximately 45,000 runners from over 80 countries (Colombia, Canada, Australia, Peru, Cuba, Ecuador, Chile, India, the UK…just to name a few!) running either the half or the full marathon. After the national anthem was sung (I definitely teared up!), the race officially started. Corral A was first, followed by B, and so forth and so on. There was a two minute wait between corrals, so I didn’t cross the start line until 6:53 am.

Here’s a little breakdown of the race (as much as I can remember anyway!):

Mile 1: I was freezing at this point (53 degrees + a strong breeze), and I quickly realized I had to pee. Even still, mile 1 went by rather quickly

RESTROOM BREAK: I hate porta potties. They are just gross. But you gotta do what you gotta do!

Miles 2-5: I don’t remember much, except that after mile 4, I remember thinking, “a little less than a third of the way done!”

Mile 6: I grabbed a glass of water at the water station and took a small sip because my mouth felt dry. However, I didn’t want to drink too much and risk having to use the porta potty again.

Mile 8: At this point, I felt like I was in the homestretch even though I had 5.1 miles left to go. The Venetian Causeway was the last long bit before we headed back into downtown.

Mile 11: I was so excited because there were so many people cheering us on at this point. And this was the real homestretch! I think I ate some fresh pineapple at one of the water/food stations!

Mile 13.1: I definitely yelled “woot woot” as I crossed the finish line at 9:30 am! Such an incredible feeling of accomplishment and relief…haha!

If you do the math, you’ll figure out that I ran the half in 2:36 (including the potty break). While this is probably super slow for many people, I was excited to learn that I finished the race in almost 2.5 hours, especially considering that I hardly ran after my 11 mile run two weeks prior. Also, as I mentioned, I didn’t feel any significant pain during the 13.1 miles. It was so strange! I mean, I had slight heel and knee pain, but nothing that stopped me in my tracks/forced me to walk. I told my mom that it was nothing short of a miracle!

THE COURSE:

The course was awesome! I highly recommend this race to anyone looking for a beautiful and relatively flat race. We started in front of the American Airlines Arena, made our way on to the A1A (one of the bridges that connects Miami to South Beach), ran up Ocean Drive and Washington Ave, crossed the Venetian Causeway back into downtown, and finished in front of Bayfront Park.

I’m so glad I ran this particular race and explored Miami in this way!

POST-RACE ACTIVITY

Per my request, Vishnu and I walked home instead of riding the train. The last mile of the full marathon went right by our condo building so we got to cheer on some of the runners!

Once home, I stretched and took a shower (to warm up!). It. Felt. So. Good! I then made myself a protein shake and promptly fell asleep for three hours. I woke up a bit hungry but not starving, so I ate some strawberries (pretty much an entire carton) while watching TV. Before I knew it, it was time to leave for dinner!

Vishnu and I, along with our friends Anand, Nazia, and Aman, had dinner at Kush in the Wynwood area of Miami.

My black bean burger, fries, and beer satisfied my appetite and cravings, as evident by this picture…

This meal was the perfect way to celebrate – good food + good friends!

THANK YOU!

And last but certainly not least, THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for all the support…not only on race day but all throughout my training! I had so much fun documenting my journey and sharing it with all of you. Your kind words (via Instagram, Facebook, email, and text) made the experience that much more awesome! THANK YOU!!!

I plan on sharing more about my post-half fitness plans in an upcoming post. But for now, rest, slow walks, and yoga are on the agenda!

Have a great Tuesday!

And in case you’re interested, here are links to my weekly recaps:

Week 1 Half Marathon Training
Week 2 Half Marathon Training
Week 3 Half Marathon Training
Week 4 Half Marathon Training
Week 5 Half Marathon Training
Week 6 Half Marathon Training
Week 7 Half Marathon Training
Week 8 Half Marathon Training
Week 9 & 10 Half Marathon Training
Week 11 Half Marathon Training
Week 12 & 13 Half Marathon Training

Half Marathon Training – Week 12 + 13

written by Parita 2 Comments

When planning my week 12 workouts, I had every intention of following the original script. I even penciled everything into my planner.

Well, as we all know, sometimes it’s not about our plans…

Before I explain, here’s what week 12 looked like:

Monday – Arm Burner + 20 minute power walk on the dreadmill
Tuesday – Rest
Wednesday – 3.25 mile run + 1.25 mile walk
Thursday – Rest
Friday – T25 (Speed 1.0)
Saturday – Rest
Sunday – 6.5 mile run

So what happened was…

After a much needed rest day on Tuesday, I felt fresh and ready to knock out 4.5 miles on Wednesday. However, about 3.25 miles in, I started to feel pain in what I now know is my Achilles tendon. Almost like a shooting pain that started right above my heel and shot up my left leg. So I stopped and walked the rest of the way home.

When I told Vishnu and my sister about this pain, they told me I needed to rest and not irritate it anymore. So that’s why the next three days were dedicated to not doing much. Speed 1.0 incorporates stretching into the workout so I thought it would be good for my muscles. Plus, I needed to move my body in a different kind of way. Thankfully, I didn’t feel any pain.

That brings me to Sunday. I started my run at 6 pm and felt strong for the first few miles. I even smiled to myself at one point because I wasn’t feeling any pain. Then right around mile 6 I started to feel a dull ache in my left heel, and slowly but surely the pain started making its way up my leg. I wanted to persevere and keep running, but after staying with it for an additional half mile, I knew I had to stop, especially with the half coming up so soon.

And because I want to write my race recap next week, I’m also sharing what this week’s workouts have looked like/will look like:

Monday: Gaiam TV yoga with Vishnu!
Tuesday: Lots of low impact walking
Wednesday: Lots of low impact walking
Thursday: Lots of low impact walking
Friday: Rest
Saturday: Rest
Sunday: HALF MARATHON!!!

All of my short runs have been replaced with walking. I don’t want to risk injury this close to race day.

In fact, when I talked to Roshni, who’s a podiatrist, she told me to rest as much as I can, apply a warm compress as needed, and take anti-inflammatory drugs to help with the pain and any potential swelling. She also said I should wear sneakers to work. I responded to that last suggestion with a “maaaaaybeeeee!”

Fingers and toes are now crossed for a pain-free/injury-free run on Sunday. My goal is still to run the whole thing, BUT if I start to feel the slightest bit of pain, I’m going to resort to running + walking.

AHHH…wish me luck!!!

And in case you’re interested, here are links to my weekly recaps:

Half Marathon Training (Week 11) + A Full Body Strength Circuit

written by Parita 11 Comments

I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel! January 25^th honestly can’t come fast enough. As much as I’ve enjoyed training for this race (well, 95% of the time), I’m ready for a new challenge. One that involves a little bit of cardio and lots of strength training.

While this week wasn’t a total bust, I definitely didn’t get a lot of mileage in thanks to my cold. However, I did manage to complete my long run this week! 11 miles done and done! AND I ran each and every mile!

With that, here’s what week 11 looked like:

Monday: 2 mile walk
Tuesday: Rest
Wednesday: 3.5 mile run
Thursday: Full Body Strength Circuit + 2 mile run
Friday: 4.5 mile run
Saturday: Rest
Sunday: 11 mile run

This week’s long run was a beast, but I did everything in my power to ensure that it actually happened. For one, I ran at 6 pm instead of 8 am. I also made sure to eat a substantial lunch and drink a lot of water throughout the day.

Only one more long run to go…eek!

Fitness Buddy App + A Full Body Strength Circuit

Vishnu recently introduced me to Fitness Buddy, an app that houses tons of workouts with step-by-step instructions, animations, etc. I haven’t tapped into the app’s full potential yet, but I love what I’ve seen so far.

The built-in workouts are my favorite feature, and I can’t wait to use this app to shape my strength routine after the half. I tested one of the workouts on Thursday and wanted to share it because I think most people would benefit from a little Fitness Buddy in their life!

*Full disclosure: I am not a personal trainer. Please adapt this routine to your current fitness level and/or consult with a professional before attempting.

A few notes:

I used 10 pounds weights to complete 10 reps of each exercise for a total of 3 sets. If you are new to strength training, I recommend starting with 3-5 pound weights and increasing slowly.
Complete all eight exercises back-to-back with no rest. However, be sure to rest for 1-3 minutes between sets.
*For the body weight plank, I did a 30 second plank followed by 10 seconds of rest followed by 30 more seconds of planking.
To challenge yourself further, follow this routine with 20-30 minutes of cardio (running, elliptical, Stairmaster, etc.)

An example of each move:

What’s your favorite way to exercise? Please share any strength training apps/tools/resources you use!

And in case you’re interested, here are links to my weekly recaps:

Week 1 Half Marathon Training
Week 2 Half Marathon Training
Week 3 Half Marathon Training
Week 4 Half Marathon Training
Week 5 Half Marathon Training
Week 6 Half Marathon Training
Week 7 Half Marathon Training
Week 8 Half Marathon Training
Week 9 & 10 Half Marathon Training

“Almond Joy” Date Balls (Recipe)

Sunshine Juice (Recipe)

Ripped in 30 + Back to the Basics

An Honest Review of “Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead”

The 2015 Miami Half Marathon

Half Marathon Training – Week 12 + 13

Half Marathon Training (Week 11) + A Full Body Strength Circuit

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