Friday, November 29, 2013

Got Your Winter Running Gear?



The right attire could be the difference between performing well and sucking when you run, especially in the winter. Granted, you will be cold no matter what, but there are ways to stay warmer without hindering your motion.

Thursday, November 28, 2013

Happy Thanksgiving!!!



Today is Thanksgiving in the US! I am so thankful this year for so much. I truly believe I have great support in my life from family and friends, I have my health and the determination to achieve my goals, I have a great job and I do not lack, I can inspire people everyday, and I have you guys that support what I'm trying to do here through this blog, Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook. Yes, I am thankful for you :)

What are you thankful for?

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

So I Ran My Last 2013 Race!



2013 has been a great running year for me. It has been very difficult dealing with injuries and the weather and breathing (while I was out in Colombia), but I have learned a lot about my body and myself. This past Sunday, I ran my last race of 2013! Yay! 

This means many things for me: One, I will still be running during the winter, but I will not be competing because my body needs time to recuperate (and because I don't particularly like competitive winter running); and Two, I have now qualified to run in the 2013 NYC Marathon! So watch out for me next year.

If you are a sponsor looking for someone to showcase your products in the 2013 NYC Marathon,... ahem... we can talk...lol.

We will be talking more about yoga, strength training, and even gearing up for winter running for the rest of the year :)

Cheers Eights & Weights!

Saturday, November 23, 2013

Recipe: Brown Rice Jollof


We have a guest post! Yay! If you are a fan of Nigerian food, you may constantly be asking how to make your recipes healthier. Well, while I share how I make my recipes healthier, it is great when we can hear from experts in the kitchen as well. If you have ever heard about the blog 9jafoodie, you know that she has great overall Nigerian recipes, but I love when she puts a healthier spin on things. Today, she has shared her recipe for jollof rice with us, which has been modified to use brown instead of white. Enjoy!


Thursday, November 21, 2013

New to Yoga Series: Hip Openers


So hip opener poses are my favorite part of yoga. They tend to hurt because most of them focus on the inner thighs, but that feeling of looseness in my legs afterwards is amazing. I will show you a few simple hip openers to help you as you try to get a little stronger and more flexible.

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Recipe: Quinoa with Cranberries and Almonds



Quinoa is one of my favorites, which is why I have many recipes on this blog using quinoa. It is tasty when prepared right, and is a great alternative to rice or pasta because it is a natural "whole grain" food and considered a complete protein (all 8 essential amino acids). I say "whole grain" because it is not really a grain, but it has all the characteristics. And it has a nutty flavor, while it absorbs flavors from the other things you cook it with. Plus, it only takes about 20 minutes :)

Monday, November 18, 2013

Jawbone UP vs. Fitbit Flex



You have probably read my previous post on Fitbit products, including the Fitbit Flex. If you don't know what a Fitbit Flex is, it is a wristband-like device that helps track your activity throughout the day, mainly the steps you've walked. There are a few similar devices on the market, including the Nike Fuelband and the Jawbone UP. I have used the Fitbit Flex for a few months, but I hadn't had a chance to use the Jawbone UP, until now.

Friday, November 15, 2013

New to Yoga Series: Cow and Cat Pose


A major area of concern with me is my back, especially when it comes to flexibility. I carry a lot of tension in my neck, shoulders, and back, and so I do a lot of back stretches during my yoga sessions to ease out some of that tension. Two of the poses I tend to do a lot are the cow and cat poses.

Thursday, November 14, 2013

NutriCrystal Wireless Smart Food Scale Review




Okay, so I'm sure you've read the nutrition information of some food online, and have found it really difficult to translate the information to practical every day life. I mean, who the hell knows what 200g of chicken breast looks like, huh? But sometimes, especially if you are on a strict calorie program, it is easy to veer away from the right track because estimates can be grossly wrong. So of course, when I got the opportunity to review a food scale, I was pretty excited. 

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

New to Yoga Series: Warrior Poses


The warrior poses are a sequence of poses that really focus on the front of the body, the shoulders, and the sides. I like them because just like the name suggests, they are poses that put you in positions of strength. Most people like to do the warrior sequence a few times during their sessions to focus on balance as well. Here are some tips on how to do these poses:

Sunday, November 10, 2013

New to Yoga Series: Sun Salutations Part 4 - Upward and Downward Dog


Next and last in the sun salutation sequence are the upward and downward dog poses. These are really great for the shoulders and the back, but it is important to get them right.

Upward dog
From chataranga (or low push-up), keeping the palms under the shoulders, push your upper back upward. Stretch upward but put push into your palms and bend from your lower back. Always remember to keep your shoulders down.

Friday, November 8, 2013

New to Yoga Series: Sun Salutations Part 3 - Lunge and Chataranga


From the flat back, people take one of two paths usually: either extend one leg back to the lunge and then go into a yoga pushup, or jump back with both feet straight into the upper pushup position. The style you choose usually has to do with level of strength.

Thursday, November 7, 2013

New to Yoga Series: Sun Salutations Part 2 - Flat Back and a Video of the First Half



What's the next step in the sun salutation? Although people do their versions differently, the next step is usually the flat back. You come into this pose from the forward fold. With your palms on the floor or on your legs, lift your upper body until you feel a stretch in your back and shoulders. Look forward and try to pull your head forward so your spine is stretch out parallel to the floor. Here are a few points to note:

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

New to Yoga Series: Sun Salutations Part 1 - The Extended Mountain Pose and the Forward Fold


The sun salutation is a series of poses combined with breaths that yogis usually do to warm up during a yoga session. The theory behind the name is that 'light' is seen as good in every culture, and the sun is the first and ultimate source of light. I interpret this to mean this salutation celebrates light and all things good.

It really is a perfect series for warming up the body because it involves the use of the whole body. For the next few days, I want to walk you through the different poses in the series, and then I'll show you how they flow into each other. Just remember, the high poses involve a deep breath in, and the low poses involve a deep breath out. Breathing deeply helps guide you from one pose to another.

Sunday, November 3, 2013

New to Yoga Series: Core Strength



People tend not to realize how much core strength goes into yoga. There are a lot of planks and push-ups involved, and so a great way to build your core and upper body strength is to do these planks over and over again with the right posture. 

Saturday, November 2, 2013

New to Yoga Series: Breathing



You have probably heard about deep breathing in yoga. There are actually some forms of yoga that focus solely on the breathing. But generally, breathing is very very important in yoga. You're probably wondering why. Well, I like to tell you these things :)

Friday, November 1, 2013

New to Yoga Series: What is Yoga?



There is a lot of misconception about what yoga is and what it is not, so I want to address this today. I have had people tell me that yoga is demonic, and although I truly believe everyone has a right to believe what they want to, I also want people who are interested in learning more not to be scared off by these personal beliefs.
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