cup of jojo

what’s YOUR reason to be fit?

(via reasonstobefit)

NYTimes: “Brown Fat, Triggered by Cold or Exercise, May Yield a Key to Weight Control”

…so if brown fat burns calories when it is triggered by cold or exercise…then exercising IN the cold is the solution to the obesity epidemic! boom. you’re welcome.

(might be a tough sell, seeing as we can’t even get people to exercise in the comfort of a gym, or when the weather is WARM)

Woke up exhausted this morning…power protein breakfast helped to get me going. Whole wheat english muffin with natural peanut butter and a drizzle of honey; hard-boiled egg; coffee with cinnamon. Goal was to prevent a big blood sugar spike that would cause me to really crash in a couple hours…higher protein & lower carb is the obvious answer, but did you know cinnamon also helps keep blood sugar down? True story.

(Source: advice-from-a-caterpillar, via getyouryogaon)

please…walk awayyy from the juice…

It’s that time of year…cold & flu season! JoJo has come down with a lovely upper respiratory thing, and I’m doing everything in my power to kick it’s butt without antibiotics. Besides massive doses of vitamin C and drinking my weight in H2O, my next go-to remedy is nutrient-packed and immune-boosting foods. Enter this chicken soup recipe from Bon Appetit—it should be handed out at the doctor’s office. Simple & fresh ingredients make for a fantastic homemade stock. They say to buy a whole chicken and chop it into parts, but I saved some time (and mess) and just bought a package of raw organic chicken legs/thighs. Garlic is anti-bacterial & anti-viral; ginger is anti-inflammatory and aids the immune system by stimulating sweat glands; the dark meat on chicken thighs is packed with zinc and B-vitamins; and of course chicken soup is the ultimate comfort food—how could you not feel better?

http://www.bonappetit.com/recipes/2012/01/cleansing-ginger-chicken-soup

be honest-are you using the holidays as an excuse? this year, resolve to get back on track BEFORE the new year. Ready…set…go!

Yummy, hearty, healthy, homemade lentil “stoup” to get through these gloomy rainy days in DC. Olive oil + onions + garlic + carrots + celery + chicken stock + bacon bits + lentils + potatoes + bay leaf salt pepper + kale. Into the pot in that order. Simmer til done. Sprinkle with parmesan, eat.

green tea + ginger snaps = happy

11.19.11: Sunrise at the Annapolis Half Marathon.