The Manic Cure

I’m feeling rather frazzled lately. Too much on my mind, and too many things to keep track of at once. Even though I have the check list of to do’s, it still seems like I’m missing something. I need to slow down, but how can I when my mind is racing like this?

A friend of mine recently told me about her friend’s very simple remedy for constant activity. When she feels like she needs a mini vacation, she gets a manicure.

I’m not one of those girly girls who likes to go to the salon all of the time or even wears nail polish (except for my toes in the summer because my feet look so much better in sandals when I do). But there’s some good sense in this piece of advice. When someone is working on your hands, you can’t do anything – write, read, talk on the phone, push buttons, etc. You have to just sit still and wait for them to clean, cut, shape and polish your fingertips. Then you have to wait for the paint to dry. It’s boring to sit there watching the little fans drying your digits, but that’s all you can do. And then you realize that you haven’t done anything for at least 30 minutes and, well that feels pretty good actually.

I think it’s about time I get one.

P90x Day 61: My first chin ups

Monday’s workout marked a true milestone for me – I did my first chin ups without the use of a ladder to support some of my weight. I did 2.5 chin ups before I had to resort to using the step ladder for the rest of my reps. I think the last time I was able to do a chin up was in grade school. Even when I was working with my trainers, I was never able to achieve the strength that I have now.

This work out really works if you follow the instructions. I have been showing off my arms quite a bit lately. I will post pictures soon – I need to take some new ones.

High Protein Yogurt

After my workout this morning, I needed something with a little extra kick. I whipped up this breakfast yogurt in no time:

1 cup lowfat plain organic yogurt
1 scoop IsaPro whey protein powder
1/2 cup frozen wild blueberries (from Trader Joe’s), thawed

Place all ingredients into a bowl and stir well until incorporated.

Wild blueberries give you extra antioxidants. This dish is also very low in sugar – the only sugar comes from the blueberries. Combining the yogurt and whey protein gives you a whopping 28 grams of protein – perfect for helping you rebuild muscle and burn fat when you’re working out hard.

*Note – it’s probably best to thaw your berries before incorporating them. This dish is already quite cold. Even better, drink something hot first before having it (see my post on eating hot foods).

Asian Lentil Soup

There’s no such thing as Asian lentil soup – that is, until now. I made this dish up last night when I wanted something warm and soothing after a long day at work. I was tired and had a headache, and I needed something soothing and grounding:

1/2 cup red lentils
2-3 cups water (add as needed)
handful of shredded nori
handful of dried shrimp
dash of shoyu
dash of sesame seeds

Combine first four ingredients and bring to a boil. Lower heat when boiling and simmer covered for about 20-30 minutes (test to see if lentils are done). When lentils are almost cooked, add in last two ingredients, and stir to combine. Cook for a few minutes longer. Add salt and pepper to taste if desired.

Health benefits – Nori adds nutrients through trace minerals to the soup. Lentils provide fiber, B vitamins and iron, and they are low in fat. Dried shrimp give the soup a richer flavor, and shoyu offers salty flavoring while providing some of the benefits of eating fermented soy.