Running Music Review: BHB, by Ballas Hough Band

I've mentioned before that I love good music. Sadly, the only time I really get to listen to it is when I work out. Sure, sometimes I insist on listening to mommy music instead of Dora sing-a-longs when gallivanting around town with the kids in tow. But I'm still busy watching the road, throwing goldfish crackers into the back seat hoping they land in an open mouth, talking on the phone (I know...I shouldn't), and stretching my arm around like elastigirl to pick up dropped toys. Sound familiar?

When I got a CD in the mail to review, I first popped it into the car for a quick listen. But I knew I had to give it the real test if I really wanted to hear it. The running test. You know, so I could actually listen to what I would be reviewing.

Dancing with the Stars uber studs Mark Ballas (season 6 winner with Kristi Yamaguchi) and Derek Hough (season 7 winner with Brooke Burke) have joined forces on a new musical endeavor...the Ballas Hough Band (formerly known as Almost Amy). On March 10th they released their first CD, BHB.

A few weeks ago, I went on a 10-mile run in preparation for some upcoming races. It was a great opportunity to run with it. Let's just say The BHB CD and I are now good friends...I listened to it the whole darn way. And I finished the run...that alone says something! Here's the verdict:

It's actually a great running CD! Not only can they dance, these guys can actually rock. A lot of it reminded me of fun, old-school pop. A few songs reminded me of New Kids on the Block (but cooler!) The lyrics were catchy, and the beat kept me going. I really liked the 7th track, "Fall" and the 8th track, "Do It For You" co-written by the new American Idol judge, Kara DioGuardi. (Maybe the fact that I once auditioned for American Idol made me especially keen on liking this song. Or maybe it really was the song. Either way, I like it.)

If you have teenage daughters in the house, this is perfect music for them. I have a one-year-old-going-on-sixteen who rocks out when she hears this music playing. I'm OK with that. The lyrics are clean. The tunes are catchy. The album puts a great spin on old-school pop, but also has some edgier, funkier, more rock-sounding songs. I like the variety. I hope the band does well, and keeps putting out good music that I can run to. Cuz that's the only way I'll be able to appreciate it.

Visit the Ballas Hough Band website to find out more about these guys. You can get a taste of their music for yourself! You can purchase online from Amazon.com.

Thanks to the One2One Network for this review opportunity. If you are interested in becoming part of this fabulous women’s word of mouth marketing organization, head on over and sign up!

What about you? Do you have a favorite band that you work out to?

5 unconventional fitness tips

Thanks to Evelyn for directing my attention to a few crazy, somewhat unconventional fitness tips. Here are a few:

1. Don't exercise with your BFF. I actually agree with this one. If a friend gets you to the gym, that's great. But don't sit and chat! You will work out at a much lower intensity. A great solution? Group fitness. You're there together, but you're doing the work out at your own level of intensity!
2. Wear RED! I've never heard this one. Supposedly the colors red and orange cause certain light waves to enter the eye. They convert to electrical impulses in the brain, which increase body temperature temperature, energy levels, and appetite (does that mean that red makes you hungrier, too? There's a new diet for you...the NO RED diet...except when working out!) So you'll be able to work out longer (and harder) if you wear red! Anyone want to test the theory?
3. Drink pickle and pineapple juices to help with recovery! It makes sense, but gross! Pickle juice? I guess the salt and vinegar in pickle juice help muscles recover from sodium loss and decrease cramping. Isn't that what gatorade is for? Pineapple juice (which I'm much more willing to try) can also reduce post-workout inflammation. Enzymes found in pineapple juice help with lactic acid buildup in the muscles. Interesting.
4. Run barefoot. I'm not going to promote this one. Don't do it. I'm all about GOOD RUNNING SHOES. Shoes can take the broken glass. My feet? Not so much.
5. Shout empowering affirmations while you workout. I would love to walk into a gym to hear the members chanting, "I. AM. STRONG. NOW!" with each repetition. IntenSati is a fitness program which means "moving meditation." The idea is to use the mind, and more importantly, the voice to intensify workouts. While jumping, lunging, whatever, you repeat a single statement such as "I. CAN. DO. THIS." IntenSati creator Patricia Moreno says, "The repetition of a single statement moves you into a state of focused awareness." She claims these motivational chants boost emotional strength, increase self-confidence, and distract participants from feeling fatigued, which increases the effectiveness of their workouts. I like it. Try it!

For the wisdom behind these unconventional ideas, and more, click here.

What do you think? Are you willing to wear red and drink pickle juice to improve your workout? What other strange workout rituals have you heard of (or practice)?

The Truth About High-Fructose Corn Syrup

My family loves to make fun of me for many reasons. I'm the picked-on-middle child, what can I say? One thing in particular they often scorn is my food-label-reading-obsession. I just have to know what's in what I'm eating. No, this doesn't always deter me from eating what I shouldn't, but it helps.

One thing I really watch out for is high fructose corn syrup. My husband likes to say, "You grew up eating high fructose corn syrup, and you turned out just fine." It's true. But I'm honestly in much better shape than I was growing up. Was HFCS the culprit for the chub? Who knows. My parents didn't have a scale in the house during my teenage years, so I have no idea what I really weighed in High School. I think that's a good thing. And luckily I've learned a few tricks since then.

One thing I've gained is an aversion to high fructose corn syrup. Why? Here's the scoop. According to Alexandra Shapiro, Ph.D., a research scientist at the University of Florida, "High-fructose corn syrup has a higher ratio of fructose to glucose than other sweeteners." Some studies have linked this sweetener to the obesity epidemic. Why? Shapiro's research found that consuming too much fructose could impair the function of leptin, the appetite-controlling hormone. So we don't know when we're full! Leptin resistance is associated with weight gain and obesity.

However, other studies show no effect on hormone levels from the high-fructose corn syrup. So what should you do? Find alternatives. And when an alternative isn't available? Treat high-fructose corn syrup as you would any other added sugar. LIMIT! AVOID! RESIST! (And if you must, bake your own goodies! That way you'll know exactly what's in 'em!)

What tidbits have you gained along your journey that you didn't know about healthy living in your adolescence? Do you read food labels? Do you scorn food-label-readers? Join the conversation in the comments...

Reading Food Labels to Avoid Too Much SUGAR!

We've already established that I'm a sugar addict. I tried to commit to a sugar fast. Don't ask me how it's going. After caving the first time, let's just say I haven't gotten back on the no-sugar-bandwagon.

I'm about to re-commit myself. Why? Because I'm convinced that the only way you can really "spot reduce" is by controlling what goes into the mouth. I'm often asked questions such as: "How do I lose my love handles?" "How can I get rid of belly fat?" etc. I've already ranted about certain workout myths, such as the myth that doing lots of crunches will give you a flat tummy. In my opinion, crunches are usually counter productive. But that's another post for another day.

Most of us just don't spend enough time working out, if we're to have the freedom to eat whatever we want all. the. time. (if we want to look how we want). This is where diet is crucial! Yes, exercise is a #1 priority. But we are normal people with normal lives. I'm one of those people who actually really loves working out. But I love spending time with people, doing other things even more. As a wife-baby mama-housekeeper-chef-chauffer-part time personal trainer-teacher-church-goer-friend- neighbor-blogger, I can't work out any longer than the time I've already allotted myself. In fact, if we're being honest, I probably am much less productive in other areas of my life because of my daily workout routine.

This is where diet really plays a major role. How you look is largely determined by what you eat. LARGELY determined. I'm going to go out on a limb and say PROBABLY more than exercise. I work out a lot. According to my Heart Rate Monitor (with which I'm obsessed!), I burned around 3,500 calories last week. But I probably ate enough junk to balance out the calorie deficit.

SO, if we mommies want to lose our mummy tummies for good, we have to be disciplined low-sugar-occasional-indulging eaters. Here are a few hidden sources of those darn sweeteners to watch out for:

1. READ THE LABELS. You have to know what to watch out for! Sugar isn't JUST sugar. If the label says any of the following, watch out! Maltose, dextrose (glucose), fructose, fruit juice concentrate, corn sweetener, corn syrup, high-fructose corn syrup, maple syrup, honey, malt syrup, and brown rice syrup.
2. FAT-FREE DOES NOT MEAN LOW SUGAR! If something is low fat or fat-free, higher amounts of processed sugar are often added to make up for the missing flavor created by the missing fat!
3. EASY ON THE SAUCE! My husband loooovvvves sauce. He was leery when I first introduced him to Heinz Organic Ketchup. But once he tasted it, he could NOT tell the difference. So many sauces we eat on a regular basis are packed with sugar! Barbecue, spaghetti, hot sauces, ketchup, and relish to name a few. More than half of the calories often come with added sugar. Look for low (or no) sugar options, like my ketchup. Otherwise, lighten up, and always request sauce and dressing on the side!
4. WATCH OUT FOR "ALL-NATURAL". This healthy-sounding terminology really doesn't mean jack! There are no guidelines for it's use, so READ THE LABEL. Many supposedly "all-natural" items are loaded with refined sugar, especially high fructose corn syrup.

So I'm re-committing to having a sugar-free month in April! Wanna join me? How do you control your sugar cravings and intake?

Gorilla Quote

I found this quote, and had to share it:

"Success is like wrestling a gorilla. You don’t quit when you’re tired, you quit when the gorilla is tired!"

Robert Strauss

Let's hope for a wimpy gorilla!

Traveling Fitness

My family decided to take a road trip to visit some family. This was supposed to be a vacation. It still has potential, but is hard to classify as such when the 12-hour journey begins with a 13-month old vomiting all over the place. But we made it, everyone slept through the night, the vomit appears to have ceased, so the vacation can officially begin!

This morning, I did a quick workout in the hotel room, with no equipment. Here's what I did...

Lunges: 2 sets of 50 on each leg

Push-ups: 3 sets of 30

Wall-squats: Hold on wall for 2 minutes. Press arms against wall, and do bicep curl with no weights...the entire time (about 150 reps)

Tricep Dips: 3 sets of 20

Plank: Hold for 90 seconds

Stretch!

Total Workout? 20 minutes! Mood? 1,000,000 times better than when I went to bed last night.

How do you fit in your workout while traveling?

St. Patrick's Day...EAT GREEN!!!! (With some green smoothie recipes)

When St. Patrick's Day comes around each year, the "Irish" comes out in all of us! Today I'm sporting some lime green capris that I'm pretty sure won't be seen any other day this year. But on St. Patricks Day, if it's green, it works!

What about food? I'm all for adding a bit of green food coloring to "green" up your morning eggs or waffles. But why not have a GREEN meal without the food coloring?

Here are a few of my favorite green foods...add some to your plate tonight:

Granny Smith Apples
Green Grapes
Avocados (guacamole!)
Asparagus
Broccoli
Green Beans
Spinach
Kale
Cucumber
Zucchini
Sweet Peas
Kiwi Fruit
Limes
Green Peppers
Honeydew Melon

Here are a few GREEN (literally) smoothie/whole juice recipes:

CREAMY CUCUMBER JUICE
1/2 cup lowfat plain yogurt
3 cups green grapes
1/2 cup cucumber (with or without peel, chopped)
1 stalk celery cut into 3-inch pieces
Optional--1 oz. Wheat grass
1/2 cup ice

Blend away! The grapes really make it sweet, and surprisingly good!

GREEN GIANT VEGETABLE JUICE
1/4 cup water
3 cups green grapes
1/2 cucumber--peeled
1/2 cup frozen or fresh sweet peas
1 stalk celery--cut into 3-inch pieces
1/2 cup broccoli

Put all ingredients in blender, and blend! As long as you remember this is a VEGETABLE juice, it's actually really good. The grapes add the needed sweetness.

Lime Kiwi Smoothie
2 kiwis-peeled
1 large pear-seeded
1 Tbsp lime juice
2 Tbsp sugar
1/3 cup water
1 cup ice

Add everything to blender, mix, and enjoy!!!

What are your St. Patty's Day traditions?

Eating Healthy on a Budget

So, for the first time in my life, I'm actually really trying to stick to a budget. We're using nothing but cash. And apparently I need to spread it out a little better, because as of now, my allotted grocery "cash" is gone...until tomorrow. I was going to cheat. We're out of bread. What's a few dollars, right? But I'm trying to hold myself accountable. So, I decided to get creative. I got out the wheat. I got out the blender. (Have I told you how much I love my blender? Well, it grinds wheat, too.) So, in my attempt to save money by making my own bread, I decided to try not only GRINDING the wheat, but MIXING the dough. I have a bread maker, but why wait 4 hours for some fresh bread, when it can be done in 1! Plus, I had a pretty little blog post ending with a loaf of beautiful bread constructed in my head.

Here's what went RIGHT...

1. Wheat? Perfectly ground.
2. Molasses, water, and yeast? Perfectly mixed.
3. Yeast mixture? Perfectly added to the ground wheat.

But then things started going COMPLETELY WRONG...

1. The instructions said to press the PULSE button 15-20 times, scrape the sides, and repeat. Well...the repeat didn't go so well. NOTHING was happening. So I held down the pulse button. Which led to the blender actually over-heating, and the dough not really moving. Result? Some very hot, sticky dough.
2. I still thought it could work. I pressed the sticky, lumpy, hot dough into the bread pan. The instructions said to let it rise for 10 minutes. I ended up waiting a few HOURS, but the dough never moved. I KILLED THE YEAST!
3. But I baked it anyway. And sadly, the fresh-baked loaf of bread looked just like the dough. And tasted worse than cardboard.

BUT WAIT...The happy ending!

I reluctantly broke out the bread-maker. I ground some more dang wheat. I measured the ingredients. And I begrudgingly let the patient bread-maker do it's job (the machine...not me...my impatience killed the first loaf). And four hours later, we enjoyed this...

And I didn't spend a DIME! But going to the store would've been a lot easier! How do YOU eat healthy on a budget?

PEANUT BUTTER WINNER!

The random number generator has spoken...and LINDY IS THE WINNER of the 16 oz. jar of Smart Balance Peanut Butter! If you're not jealous, you should be...it's the best! So e-mail me with your address, Lindy, and I'll hook you up (and specify whether you prefer creamy or chunky)! Email: fitmepink at gmail dot com

MY PEANUT BUTTER OBSESSION (with a freebie)

I love peanut butter!
Let me count the ways.
I honestly eat it
every. single. darn. day.
Unlike other condiments,
spread it on as you please.
Hold the mayo. Hold the ketchup.
But not the PB!
When I'm pregnant,
can't resist it. It's the one thing I crave.
I go through it like water.
Addicted? It's my fave.
What about when I'm training
for a long, long, long run?
Forget gu! Me want sandwich!
PB & J gets it done!
Full of protein, good fats, vitamins B3 & E,
Not to mention loads of fiber. That alone pleases me!
Magnesium, folate,
antioxidants, time to say it...woo hoo!
Guilt-free pleasure full 'o flavor.
I really heart it. Do you?
High in fat, so yes...
moderation is best.
A little goes a long way.
I eat too much, I'll attest.
Have to say, I have tried
ev'ry brand in the store.
A PB connoisseur.
An expert. Hard core!
I always go for "all-natural,"
don't like the trans fat
in hydrogenated oil.
'Nuff said about that!
As for brands, have some thoughts.
Don't mind if I share!
Adams Natural PB?
Not my favorite out there.
The taste? Sure...it's fine.
It just ends up real dry.
By the end, hard to spread.
Nope, just doesn't fly.
Skippy natural? Love the taste.
Prob'ly cuz they add sugar!
On that count alone,
have to pass, sugar boogars!
Kirkland brand found at Costco
is actually one of the best
It's organic, spreads great,
tastes superb, passed my test!
But my number one favorite
(let the drum roll begin)
is the Smart Balance Peanut Butter!
It win-win-win-wins!
Besides spreading well, being natural,
tasting great,
Omega 3's have me screaming,
Yep! They raise my heart rate!
Love this PB so much,
with you, want to share!
TO THE WINNER, I will send
a FREE 16 oz. jar!
To be entered,
all I need is a comment below.
A random number will be chosen.
Act now, don't be slow!
A winner I'll announce on Wednesday, March 11th.
"SPREAD" the word. Tell your friends!
Two extra entries I'll grant.
Leave a comment for one entry.
Link on your blog for two more!
Then add two more wee comments,
and I'll tally the score.
What would you do with P-Butter?
Eat with chocolate on a spoon?
Spread on celery? Eat in oatmeal?
Fill up a balloon?
Let us know in the comments.
I hope you all win!
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Peanut Butter!
Sure makes my face grin!

Oat-tastic Smoothie and More...

I've already established my love for all things smoothie...including my fabulous blender. And I REALLY love that so many of you share my love! I've received some reader mail with more amazing smoothie creations that I'm passing on to you....you'll thank me later! (Thanks, Mindy, Aly, and Laura!) One of these days, I'll be really organized and will take pictures. But for now, blend away!

Sugar-Free Oat Smoothie

1 1/4 cups strawberries, halved

1/2 cup fat-free plain yogurt

1/4 teaspoon sugar substitute

2 tablespoons nonfat dry milk

2 tablespoons chopped walnuts

1 1/2 tablespoons oat bran

1 tablespoon sugar-free pancake syrup

1/4 cup ice cubes

Combine the strawberries, yogurt, sugar substitute, dry milk, walnuts, oat bran, syrup, and ice cubes. Blend until smooth and frothy. Pure heaven, people!

Protein Smoothie

1/2 cup skim milk

1/2 cup orange juice

4 frozen strawberries

1/2 packet of single serving size crystal light lemonade powder

1 large heaping scoop of vanilla protein powder (it doesn't matter which brand...just look for low sugar)

Blend until thick and smooth! This is a great post-workout drink!

Green Smoothie (Kale Apple Grape)

1/3- 1/2 bunch of Kale (any variety)
1-2 Apples: fuji, jonagold, golden, red- as long as they are ripe
1 cup Grapes: red or green, as long as they are sweet.
1 cup water

1 Banana &/or a squeeze of lemon to balance the flavor.

Blend well. Great way to get you green, leafy veggies in!

Thanks, ladies! Have a recipe you want to share? Leave it here, or e-mail us! (FitMePink at gmail dot com). And come back tomorrow for a PB giveaway!

Letter to a Pregnant Friend...6 Tips for Losing Baby Weight

Dear Friend,

You've reached the end of your third pregnancy. You will deliver your sweet baby boy in a few short weeks. It's hard not to start worrying about losing the baby weight. But you'll get there. Be patient with yourself. In my mind, the best approach is the gradual approach.

My 2nd baby just turned one, and I still have a few pounds to go! If I could turn the clock back a year (or put myself in your soon-to-be-new-mommy-again-shoes), I would probably tell myself to relax just a bit. When my own little bundle-of-pink-joy was 4 weeks old, I started running. I just HAD to get back into my workout routine. To be honest, starting so soon probably did more harm than good. I would finish my quick 3-mile run on the treadmill to console a screaming baby, get a snack for a sad-mommy-deprived toddler, try to throw a shower into the mix, and end my morning routine pulling my hair out, and totally exhausted (and ornery). Not to mention MAJOR back pain for several weeks.

As you know, time with a brand-new baby is SO SHORT. In a few blink-of-an-eye-months, the baby won't even want to be held as he explores the world away from you. So here's my first piece of advice: Enjoy the little piece of heaven that is yours until HE and YOU are ready. Hold him, squeeze him, cuddle him, smell him. Losing the baby weight will take a while either way, so you might as well savor this sweet time. Be patient with yourself! Remember how long it took to put the weight on...expect it to take just as long to take it off!

When you are ready to face reality, here are a few ideas to get you going.

1. Don't "diet." I know this is a strange bit of advice, but something mentally happens when you feel "deprived" of the foods you love. For me, if I know I can't have something, I want it so much more! Having a new baby is stressful enough. Don't deprive yourself, or beat yourself up over an occasional indulgence. However, pay attention to what you eat! Eat healthy, and eat for hunger. Keep healthy snacks on hand. Here's a list of some of my favorite cart-fillers! Load up on these "super foods" before reaching for the processed (although yummy) junk!
2. Drink water! DO NOT DRINK YOUR CALORIES. I'm not even a fan of diet sodas, but I'll stand on that soap box another day! Water, water, water. Drinking water may also speed up your metabolism...woo hoo! And rather than forcing 8-glasses down each day, use the color of your urine as a gauge! If it's relatively clear, and you're going every 3 or so hours, you're getting enough.
3. Breastfeed, if possible. While I'm a big proponent of breastfeeding, I have to say that I have a love-hate relationship with it. I've nursed both of my babies for a full year. I love it while I'm nursing. I hate it when I need a break. But apart from the fact that breastmilk is great for your baby, it also uses up your fat stores (and upwards of 300 calories a day...just don't use it as an excuse to eat whatever you want!)
4. Sleep! This is definitely where I don't practice what I preach. My baby is just NOW! FINALLY! HALLELUJAH! sleeping through the night! Go to bed early if you need to. And if possible--I know, usually impossible--sleep when the baby sleeps. Rest is soooo important to weight loss! When tired, your body releases cortisol and other stress hormones that actually promote weight gain. When I'm tired, I'm also more likely to reach for the unhealthy food choices.
5. EXERCISE!!!! Like I said, give yourself time before jumping in, but when you're ready, move it! Lately, there's been much discussion on the fact that three 10-minute sessions are just as effective as one 30-minute session. So do what you can, when you can! Go for a brisk walk to get your heart pumping. Add some resistance training (apart from lugging a new baby around...unless you use him as your weight as you do your overhead presses!) And here are a few more of my favorite workouts.
6. LOVE YOUR BODY! The human baby-making body is truly a miracle. Look in the mirror each day, and remember that you've been a partner with God in bringing a baby into this world. YOU are a miracle...and one HOT MAMA!

I can't wait to meet your bundle of joy! Good luck!

Love,

Robyn

P.S. Here is an excellent post from Mama Sweat on having a Fit Pregnancy! Enjoy!