healthy living

RunLAB

Spring is just around the corner which means Marathon season is also nearing. Making it time to lace up and hit the streets.

After the Nike’s Womens Run I lost a bit of my passion for running. Time seemed to be hard to come by and everything else took priority. Next thing I knew the winter months were amongst us and naturally I succumbed to hibernation mode. I do admit, a break was welcomed and I hadn’t sworn off running completely. I was still getting out one or twice a week but I had lost that love for running on the daily. I knew I had to spice things up before it began to feel like a fitness chore.

Now to ignite that spark!Nike RunningOne of my running goals last year was to be more social with running. Which unfortunately,  I hadn’t quite accomplished. I definitely was more social with sharing and I did do some runs with friendships, but on the day to day – not so much. So, as the year-end neared, I decided to join a run crew! I was unsettled with nerves, undecided on my level of commitment and uneducated on what each run group was really all about. I found it all a tad intimidating to be honest. However, I was super excited at the challenge and as with many of my running queries, I turned to my trusted friends and my biggest runspirations and that is where Academy of Lions RunCrew came into play. Academy of LionsMy good friend Natalie had always been encouraging me to come out to her crew, so finally I committed myself to doing just that. Once a week, half an hour, running with the community – perfection! I made it out a handful of times before the holidays and started to feel that happy flutter once again. Plus, I got to catch up with some pretty awesome people! I was excited to return in the New Year and with my luck – the launch of their first ever RunLAB. Timing couldn’t have been better!

A 16 week program designed to challenge yourself but not by yourself. Weekly runs led with the best support (3 energizing and experienced coaches) and the motivation of MANY, as we all train towards our own goals and distances (5K, 10K, 21.1K & 42.2K) on #TheRoadtoGoodLife (Toronto’s Good Life Marathon).

I should note, that what is truly incredible about this training program is that it is open to all and free! No matter what your goal is, whether you are new to running or looking to run your 20th marathon, this Run Crew is welcoming to all levels of athletes and it doesn’t go unnoticed. Academy of Lions is truly doing something remarkable to help bring the community together and inspire one another on their running journey. Insert High Five!

We just finished off week 2 and it’s going great so far. I’m already feeling stronger, more confident in my ability and super motivated! I’ve yet to decide whether it’ll be a half or a full marathon for me (I’m leaning towards the half, the full scares me), but I am training towards the Around the Bay 30K again (see last year’s recap here) and will gauge at that point on how I will finish these 16 weeks. I’m excited to see how much stronger I am this time around with a proper program to follow. 🙂 I’ll be sure to keep you all posted! Running Selfie

Find your Strong. xx

 

 

Glowing Green Smoothie Bowl

Despite the wicked snow storm we were having early this morning, I had a bit of extra time and was feeling inspired. Since we rang in the new year, I’m finding muse in all the social sharing that is taking place with everyone’s new healthy 2016 regime – there have been some beautiful creations posted out there. With that being said, I wanted something different than my typical blend of fruits and veggies.

I recently organized my spice/toppers/baking/coffee/tea cupboard (yes this a thing haha) so I knew I had a handful of delicious add-in ingredients. So I decided to get creative and jazz up my smoothie with something beautiful and even more filling – a smoothie bowl!

I took some of my favourite toppers/ingredients – chia seed, coconut, hemp hearts, and strawberries and topped them onto my trusted Glowing Green Smoothie recipe (limit the water part to keep it on the thicker side).

What a simple and gorgeous dish to start off the morning – it definitely brightened my day!Glowing Green Smoothie Bowl

Be creative. xx

Vanilla Rosehip Hibiscus Cider

With the winter amongst us, I find myself continually wanting to grab a hot cup of anything delicious. Java, matcha, hot water with lemon, apple cider, black tea, green tea, blueberry tea, mulled wine – there are a ton of options for all times of the day and some more simple than others.

This weekend was probably the first where we really felt Winter in the air (lately we have been SO LUCKY with above average temps).  After strolling around the city all day in these cooler temps and almost immediately as I come in from the cold, I find myself looking for something warming and special. A cup of deliciousness to cozy up on the couch with and catch whichever Christmas flick that may be on.

With a ton of apples lying around, I decide to juice them and make homemade apple cider. While healthy and delicious, how can I fancy this up, make it special, make these apples worth juicing. 🙂

I come up with a vanilla bean, cinnamon stick and rosehip hibiscus; in my mind – perfection! This combination could not go wrong.Vanilla Rosehip Hibiscus Apple Cider

A cup of HEAVEN was just how right these flavours were when brewed together. Sweet, warm, rich, extraordinary, a treat for those days when you need that special pick me up.

  1. Juice apples (I used a mix of gala and fuji), remove foam from juice. 6 apples yield about 3 servings
  2. Slice open the vanilla bean lengthwise and scrape the seeds into a large pot; add the scraped pod as well + cinnamon stick
  3. Pour in the apple juice and heat over low-medium heat until liquid starts to simmer
  4. Remove from heat, add the rosehip hibiscus and let steep for 10-12 minutes
  5. Strain cider and serve

Vanilla Rosehip Hibiscus Cider

Keep warm. xx

The Perfect Matcha

Who said you couldn’t have your greens in a warm and cozy cup… Ok not quite… But a good cup of Matcha offers many benefits to help kick off your day. This miracle elixir has been around for over a thousand years and is ever growing in popularity. While the best can be found at small Chinese tea shops, Matcha is easily available at most major tea and coffee retailers, when you are looking for convenience. I’ll often get my fix at Starbucks if needed and on the go. However, nothing beats sitting back and relaxing with a warm cup of greens before starting the day. Finding that moment of peace and calm in a delicious cup is beyond comforting.Matcha

It’s well known that Matcha is a ‘superfood’ we should not ignore. There are loads and loads of benefits that should be well noted and celebrated with each latte you make. Here are a few that are top in my books –

  • high in antioxidants, exponentially more than any other ‘superfood’
  • loaded with catchin EGCg, which is most powerful with cancer fighting properties
  • L-Theanine helps in calming, aiding in relaxation and meditation efforts
  • L-Theanine also produces dopamine and serotonin which enhance memory and concentration
  • a clean energy boost from combined nutrients vitamin C, selenium, chromium, zinc and magnesium
  • rich with chlorophyll, naturally detoxifying the body
  • boost to one’s metabolism, helping burn calories
  • natural antibiotic properties that fortify and stregthen the immune system
  • health properties that help fight heart disease, improve cholesterol and lower blood sugar

Making the perfect Matcha is kind of a no brainer, but here you’ll find a few of my special touches. This recipe yields 2 servings.

Matcha & Coconut Milk

2 teaspoons of Matcha, 1 1/2 cups of unsweetened almond coconut milk, 1/2 cup water, drizzle of maple syrup or coconut agave syrup.
Matcha

  1. Whisk the Matcha with a tbsp of water to get rid of lumps and clumps
  2. In a small saucepan, bring the milk of your choice to a simmer over medium heat
  3. Boil water in kettle
  4. Add Matcha and sweetener to simmering milk
  5. Fill mug with half water, half Matcha milk
  6. Enjoy!

Matcha Latte

Matcha On. xx

Tropical Greens

Sweet and delicious, this tropical smoothie will have you throwing back the greens. I don’t often incorporate pineapple in my green shakes due to the higher sugar content but this combination makes for a nice change and is a welcomed option for those starting to drink more green shakes/juices. This combination is loaded with tons of nutritional properties from our beloved Kale and Hemp Hearts (as you have learned about in my previous posts or can now catch up on), but we also have some added perks from the funky pineapple.

This fruit is so deliciously sweet that we often forget how nutritious they actually are. Yes, they are higher in sugar, but they do contain high amounts of vitamin B & C, manganese, dietary fibre, thiamin, and bromelian (which in my book, offsets the negatives of sugar. And we are pairing it with Kale and Hemp Hearts here).

These vitamins and minerals make pineapple a great source of energy and a defensive antioxidant. Eating pineapple (in moderation) can help:

  • fight heart disease
  • reduce joint pain
  • strengthen bones and connective tissue
  • support digestive health
  • reduce inflammation
  • increase metabolism

Multiple reasons for you to check this one out. Here’s the dish –
Tropical Greens

Tropical Greens (yields 4 servings)

  • 3-4 cups kale
  • 1 banana
  • 1-2 cups pineapple
  • 3-4 tbsp hemp hearts
  • 2 cups water

Combine all ingredients in blender and blend until smooth. Add water until desired consistency.

Tropical Greens

Je suis un ananas. xx