Power Pairs!

If you're looking for a workout that will WORK. YOU. OUT. but also allow for efficiency and speed- Check out these two-in-one exercises: http://www.womenshealthmag.com/files/pdfs/power-pairs.pdf

Our very good friend send us this link, swearing she fell over during a couple of these moves! However, know that the more you do them, the better (and stronger) you get.
It's a 20 minute workout, three days a week- so doable and will yield awesome results.
Grab your free wights and a stability ball and let us know what you think!

Working Out - On Ice!

In a month-long quest to work out each day- you need to switch up your routine from time to time.
On a disturbingly beautiful Valentines Day (literally, it was 65 degrees outside!), Jess and I walked down to the ice skating rink at the sculpture garden on the mall- a place we have gone often in the summer but only one other time in the winter- over two years ago now- sheesh!

I will say that the ice rink was borderline hazardous as the temperature reached the mid 60s (!) and the ice was in a constant state of melting (!) but neither one of us fell on the ice this time intentionally or unintentionally, and after an hour of skating we were both feeling the workout was going to leave a significant burn.

Jess, did a little research on the actual impact of ice skating as a workout and we were surprised and excited by what we found- check it out:
-The American College of Sports Medicine states, "On average, for every hour of continuous skating, a 150-pound person burns about 600 calories." That is just about the same calorie count as running five miles in an hour. (!)
-By adding the basic skills of skating (forward and backward crossovers, turning, stopping and changing feet) the health benefits increase to about 800 to 900 calories per hour. (!)
-In ice skating, you work your whole body- but especially your inner thigh (the adductors) and also the hamstrings and gluteal muscles, and then the lower back.

A little explanation as to why ice skaters look so darn good and a little motivation to get out on the rink just a little bit more!

Check out our adventures on ice!:

Then

Now

The overlap of no cable and working out

As we mentioned in our inaugural blog post, Jess and I have recently cut off our cable subscription (eeks!). Due to our life schedules and the relatively few TV shows we watch, we couldn't justify paying for cable any longer (big decision.). We also found ourselves watching bizarre shows instead of being productive- (one time I watched an hour about the evolution of truck stops in America...yikes.)

The shift to no cable was surprisingly easy, as the vast majority of TV shows we watch are broadcast on Hulu and Netflix. This switch has allowed us to explore newer technology and not feel as though we are wasting quite as much time (with random shows that involve truck stops...)

We did however have one unexpected run in with trouble- we cut cable just as we became invested in Top Chef All-Stars. In seasons past, Jess and I have enjoyed learning new cooking techniques (even if they are rarely eating vegan or vegetarian food, we have been able to borrow a few ideas here and there) and becoming immersed in the interpersonal drama of the show and are completely and utterly invested in the ridiculousness and amazingness of the top chefs. We may even create games and competitions around it... (!)

This season, we were instantly hooked when they reintroduced some of our all time favorites, including a strong contingent from D.C. The problem is that Bravo doesn't host Top Chef on Hulu or their own webpage, the only way we found to watch episodes was by paying $2 to Amazon. While on some very lazy days this is worth it, we developed another solution. Jess and I would spend the hour episode on Wednesday nights (10 PM never felt so late!) running in the gym downstairs.

At first I was inclined to use the elliptical but after Jess' cardio research, I was converted and spent this week running four miles while watching the cheftestants cook themselves into some drama. I must say that it is refreshing to watch an entertaining show while running as opposed to 30 min loops of Sports Center which has been much of my experience thus far.

And to put a true DC spin o n the whole experience, feel free to bring your smartphone and answer emails while the commercials are on.
The interception of fun, healthy and top chef love all at once (!).

This new inspiration for an excuse to exercise and watch our favorite reality cooking TV will undoubtedly stick with us past our 36.5 days.

Go Carla! (Jess); Go Richard! (Jon)

The Bar Method

I was first introduced to this form of exercise on a trip back to the Bay Area by an old friend and workout partner. Whenever we're together we exchange workout and health tips & tricks and about a year ago she challenged me to a new workout program called The Bar Method. I had never heard of it before, but became incredibly intrigued as she described it to me - the smallest muscle movements making the greatest overall impact. I needed to see what all of the buzz was about. While we didn’t make it to any of the in-person classes (a bit pricey and only in very specific locations) she had a few copies of some of their workout DVDs, which we enjoyed together.

And, I must say, after just a few DVD classes, I was hooked! (And sore!) I immediately ordered copies of my own and find myself both continually impressed and motivated by their workouts.

First, I have to say, that the woman who founded The Bar Method, Burr Leonard, and appears in most of their videos, is 58 years old and HOT. H-O-T. She has one of the best bodies imaginable, which is motivation in and of itself (!) to keep you up and moving during the exercises. While working out, I literally meditate over having a body like that when I’m 58- the ultimate incentive!

But, I digress... (sort of.)

The Bar Method is a workout technique based on the work of Lotte Berk, a German dancer and is designed through a series of fat-burning and muscle shaping isometrics specifically designed to strengthen and stretch every major muscle group in your body. The benefits? It's non-impact, improves posture and literally re-shapes your entire body. You'll develop "dancer" muscles in a matter of months- Michelle Obama (sculpted) arms, flat abs and elongated thighs. (I mean, really. How awesome is that.)

These exercises are small and almost make you wonder how you are actually “working out”- but let me tell you, you’ll feel the workout the next morning! Never have I been more soar from such small muscle movements! All the isometrics, regardless of the muscles you are working are intense and quick - only spending about a minute per movement.

What I love about the pace is that it allows your brain to stay focused while your muscles scream (literally). Even though the movements are small, you will definitely sweat and you will move for the entire 60 minutes, which will keep your heart rate elevated so you get the most out of each minute.

Here is a list of studios, which are scattered throughout the country, but still limited to only a few cities. If there are no studios close to you (like me), try any of these DVDs- they are fun, and once you make the initial investment- they pay off everyday!

Also, in writing this, I discovered Burr Leonard's blog- it's so interesting! I highly recommend checking it out!

All of this writing and re-learning about this amazing program is re-motivating me to get. on. it!

Resolution within a resolution. Bar Method 3-5 days a week. (!)

Vegan Food - sports snacks

While lots of Vegan food is healthy- there are still unhealthy (and still delicious) snack foods that are Vegan (for real), and that still usually find their way into our lives and counter tops. Tonight we will highlight two of our favorite dishes, and then promise to blog more about working out- we just happen to be eating a lot this week and clearly, love food. :o)

Vegan pigs in a blanket:

I had two favorite foods growing up- pigs in a blanket and ketchup (Insanely disgusting now that I think about it!).

Pigs in a blanket were a staple at our house at all major events- so much so that they were the one special request I had when we were planning my bar mitzvah menu...
How far we (I) have come....
And imagine my surprise when our good friend who introduced us to the diversity of vegan food insisted that we make vegan pigs in a blanket for her birthday this year (!). I just about went bonkers.

It turns out that their are wide variety of Vegan hot dogs on the market and we quickly learned our local grocery store stocked two different types. Tofu Pups are the ones we happen to be using for this recipe. We were also surprised to learn that Pillsbury crescent roles are also vegan (scary? we think so...)

Recipe:

All you need to do is unroll the crescent rolls into the triangles they come in, and then wrap them around the sliced hot dogs (we cut the pups in half).
After 12ish minutes at 350 degrees, your "pigs" are done... It's that easy!

And to show how much I have grown up, I now serve them with spicy mustard instead of ketchup. Way better.

Vegan chick'n BBQ dip:

This is a recipe we initially learned as a vegetarian dish- and it is similarly simple to make (and equally unhealthy, yet delicious).
In the end you get a great hearty BBQ dip perfect for watching sports.

Recipe:

You take seasoned chick'n strips from morning star farms and heat them on a no stick frying pan. Once they have warmed then you cut them into bite sized pieces and mix in a small Pyrex pan with barbecue sauce (be careful, most BBQ sauces contain anchovies). After ensuring the chick'n is coated, cover the entire dish with Daiya cheese and bake in the over at 350 for 10 minutes. Then move the dish to the top rack and broil for an additional 5 minutes to ensure the cheese is melted.


For an extra creamy version, feel free to add vegan sour cream to the BBQ sauce. And if you want the 7 layer dip version- add guac, salsa and bean dip to the top!
This dish is best eaten with your favorite tortilla chips.
Y.U.M.

The Greatest Birthday Feast

Yesterday, we celebrated Jon's mom's birthday (Happy Birthday Mary!) with a vegan birthday feast of epic proportions- SO delicious! She, and Jon's dad came in our house, where my mom, sister, Jon and I were cooking away and awaiting their arrival. We spent much of our day planning our menu, chopping vegetables and fruits and rockin' out of Pandora around the house.

We wanted to use this birthday opportunity and holiday (President's day) to cook and show off some of our new recipes and skills developed during our first resolution with both of our wonderful families together and celebrating.

The menu we put together was as follows:
Apps.:
Home made cilantro hummus (oil-free!)
Home made kale black bean dip (oil-free!)
Home made pita chips
Entrees:
Forbidden Rice (always.)
Spring salad
Barley tahini Casserole
General Tso Setan
Dessert:
Fruit salad
Chocolate swirl tofu cheezcake:

Yes, it was a feast, and FAR too much food for the 6 of us, but we will reap the leftovers all week long (even better!).

Some recipes posted below, others on the links, some posted asap: cook them, eat them, enjoy them! (especially recommend replicating the cheesecake- INSANELY delicious!!)

Chocolate Swirl Tofu Cheezcake: (From 1,000 Vegan Recipes)
1 1/2 cups vegan chocolate cookie crumbs
1/4 vegan butter (Earth Balance)
3 (8 oz) containers of vegan cream cheese
1 cup sugar
1/2 cups plain soy milk
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 ripe banana
1/3 cup creamy peanut butter
1/2 cup semisweet vegan chocolate chips

-Bring all ingredients to room temp., grease bottom & sides of 9 in spingform pan & preheat over to 350 degrees.
-Place the crumbs in the bottom of the pan, add Earth Balance and mix with a fork to blend. Press crumb mixture into bottom and sides of pan and set aside.
-In food processor, combine: cream cheese, sugar, soy milk, vanilla; blend until smooth
- Add banana & peanut butter; blend until smooth
- Pour filling into prepped crust
- Melt the chocolate and with a circular motion, swirl it into the filling creating a decorative pattern
-Bake for 45 minutes; turn oven off and let cake sit for another 10 minutes in oven
- Remove cake from oven and let it sit at room temp for 1 hour
- Put in refrigerator and let it sit for an additional 4 hours
- Serve and enjoy!

Home made kale black bean dip
3 full leaves of raw kale
2 cups of black beans
6 cloves of garlic
1 onion
1/4 cups of cilantro
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 cup of lemon juice

-In a food processor, combine raw kale, black beans, lemon juice, garlic and onion. Blend until smooth
-Add cilantro, cinnamon, garlic powder. Blend until smooth
(If at any point, food processor is having difficulty blending ingredients, add more lemon juice and break up dip with spatula)
-Taste and enjoy!

Which Cardio Machine is Best for You?

So, in our time at the gym these past 15 days (holy moly!), we’ve had the opportunity to do quite a bit of strength training, the guy on 8 minute abs in our new best friend, and also enjoy a bit of cardio as well.

In my quest to make my cardio decision each day (when I’m not lovin’ on the jump rope), I’ve been walkin’ my talk on the treadmill.

Now, I know treadmills are pretty old school and often times just not as exciting as the new hot elliptical, but last year, when I was working out with a friend who is also a certified trainer, he hold me that an hour on the elliptical is never worth the time and energy- instead I should spend my time rockin’ an incline on the treadmill (Incline 10, speed 4) in order to truly get the workout I’m looking for.

His reasoning was, that for every step on the treadmill, you create your own energy- the treadmill makes it so you have to be exerting energy over and over again in order to keep pace and not fall off. However, on the elliptical, it allows you to “go with the flow” and you can often use the energy created by the machine and the momentum to go around and around, rather than needing to create your own. (Makes sense)

While this made sense to me, I sometimes feel like I burn more calories on the elliptical for the same amount of time. In all of this working out, I realized I needed to do more research for I could be making the most informed decision possible.

What I found seems as though it's really up to who you are, what type of workout you are looking for an what your intentions are in your workout.

Here’s the skinny (pardon the pun) on how you should make the decision on which machine is better for you:

The treadmill:

- Treadmills provide a better training experience if you are a runner/jogger or trying to be

- Treadmills offer an “on the ground” experience similar to that of running outdoors or actually competing in a race (if you are training)

- Because of the “on the ground” experience, treadmills offer a higher impact workout, which strengthens your bones and lower body

- The motor of the treadmill can force you out of your comfort zone, forcing you to work without any momentum

The Elliptical:

- The Elliptical offers you an “impact-free” workout, since you do not actually touch the ground

- “Impact-free” workouts are helpful if you need a gentler workout for joint problems or if you experience pain in your bones while you workout.

- If you have an Elliptical with both handlebars that move as well as foot petals, you are able to get an upper and lower body workout simultaneously

- You can petal both forward and backward on the Elliptical, adding important variety and different ways to strengthen and utilize your muscles

- The Elliptical allows you to workout your upper and lower body at the same time and studies suggest that exercising many muscle groups at once can increases your fat burning efficiency.

In terms of calories burned, both machines seem to actually be quite similar in what you are able to accomplish (running on a treadmill = approximately 783 calories/hour; high excretion on an Elliptical trainer = 774 calories/hour), however, the real difference between the two is the amount of exertion you put into your workout. For instance, if you are at the gym and only “going through the motions” on the Elliptical or using its momentum, you are likely to only burn as many calories as an informal walk on the Treadmill.

So, in choosing between the machines, I realize that I have to ask myself four questions:

1) Which machine will motivate me to push myself to the highest levels of exertion?

2) Am I looking for a high or low impact workout?

3) Am I looking to strengthen and workout both my upper and lower body simultaneously or just focus on my lower body?

4) Am I training for a walk or race where I need to be able to simulate the experience as much as possible in order to be on my best game for the big day?

For me, this puts me on the treadmill more of the time, as I find that I actually exert myself more on that particular machine and we are training for a few races coming up- but it also allows me to think about jumping on the Elliptical once or twice a week to get the full cardio in as well and work the forwards and backwards function of the petals (sort of love that!).

Happy Cardio!!

Want to learn how to cook Vegan?

Check out this deal from Home Run (very similar to Groupon). Jess and I will surely be diving in for this two hour cooking class- you should consider joining us!

Lunges. YUCK.

Are my feelings about lunges. YUCK.

I literally have to brace myself, not only for the pain of the moment, but the pain in the days follow when I am asked to (or force myself to) participate in lunges. Whether it's the burn, their repetition on top of the burn, or the fact that there is no machine involved, just me pushing the burn onto myself over and over again

Yet why whenever I'm in the gym, watching a trainer or working out with a group are we always so focused on the lunges?!

In order to get me invested in doing lunges these next few weeks, I needed to research what all the fuss was about- here is what I found (pretty compelling in fact):

Why you should feel the lunge burn:

(1) It's an incredible exercise for your lower body that strengthens your hamstrings, quads and gluts and whips you into shape quickly and very quickly and effectively! (Lot of bang for your lunge buck)

(2) Like jump roping, they are convenient. You can perform them anywhere, and at anytime, which makes them awesome (like!).

(3) They increase your metabolic rate- helpful if you are looking to burn calories in the hours after you exercise

(4) They enhance your cardiovascular health, meaning they are great for your heart and for your lungs, AND because when your blood circulation is rockin' it supplies more nutrients to your skin, creating a natural detox and promotion of healthy skin

(5) They help you develop strong bones

(6) They help to reduce your stress levels. By feeling the lunge burn, you are combating hormones that enter the blood stream when you are stressed- how amazing it that!

I'm sort of in awe of the reducing stress reason, and for that- tonight, I will lunge....

General Tso

The recipe below is the most complex we have posted so far (and the most complex I have made, so exciting!)- but also one of the most delicious!

I never grew up eating Chinese food in the house- I can still remember one of the first times I had it, freshman year of high school on my first date (!)- I went for the exotic orange chicken. (Ha!)
Flash forward seven years I would find myself living in China for 6 weeks with a wonderful host family who cooked for me every single day I was there - incredible. The food I had the pleasure of eating surprisingly (thank goodness!) bore little resemblance to the food I ate while on my first date. This food was much less greasy and much more reliant on fresh produce. (So much better!)
However, both styles of Chinese food are incredibly challenging to make and seemed to require a different awareness in the kitchen than preparing traditional "American" (ie Italian, Mexican) cuisine. Let the challenges begin!

Over the past year or so, as Jess and I transitioned to being Vegan, much of what we make has been created from shamelessly mimicking other recipes we have seen.
To this point, we were incredibly pleased when we found Whole Foods serving Vegan General Tso's Seitan at one of their prepared food counters.
This dish, with its heavy hand of fresh vegetables, reminded us of the food we each enjoyed in China and we eagerly bought it and enjoyed on far too many occasions, without actually attempting to make it ourselves.
Given our past resolution, we were THRILLED when the recipe was handed out at this year's Green Festival.
The first time we tried making it (a few months ago), it was good, although it bore very little resemblance to the food we first indulged in at Whole Foods.
The second attempt was much closer to the real thing, and we highly recommend working with and tweaking this recipe for the more ambitious among you!

General Tso's Seitan

Ingredients:

1 12oz package of seitan (or 1 and 1/2 8 oz packages)

1/2 lb. broccoli chopped

2 sliced peppers

1/2 lb. onion chopped

1tsp. minced fresh ginger

3 Tbs peanut oil (2 Tbs if using a non-stick pan)

Batter for the seitan:

1/4 cups all-purpose whole wheat flour

2 Tbs. cornstarch

1 tsp. egg replacer (such as Ener-G)

1/4 tsp. baking powder

1/4 cups unsweetened soy milk (we use light soy milk)

1 Tbs. soy sauce

For the sauce:

1/4 cups soy sauce

2 Tbs. rice vinegar

3 Tbs. Vegetable broth

2 1/4 Tbs agave nectar (or 3 Tbs sugar)

2 tsp. cornstarch

In a small bowl combine all the sauce ingredients, mix and set aside.

In a large bowl, mix together the dry ingredients for the batter, then whisk in soy milk and soy sauce.

Cut the seitan into one inch(ish) pieces and mix with batter.

Heat 2 Tbs. peanut oil in a wok over medium/high heat and then add the seitan. Fry until pieces are brown and crispy, constantly stir and ensure the pieces remain separate (this can take up to 10 minutes) and then removed the seitan from heat.

Add the remaining 1 Tbs. of oil to the wok and add onion. Cook till almost translucent and add broccoli and peppers (and/or any other vegetables you would like). Stir fry and add ginger. Add the sauce and cook for three minutes and then stir in the seitan.

Serve on its own or with forbidden rice.

All hail to the power of kale!

Kale is one of my favorite vegetables- you can enjoy it in so many different ways (steamed, dehydrated, raw, fried) and it's health benefits are completely out of this world. This was a vegetable that I was pretty unfamiliar with until just a few years ago. I never saw it on the dinner table growing up (which is ironic, because we were SUCH a health conscious family), and didn't recognize it as anything I was familiar with or dared to experiment with in the grocery store.

Yet, a few readings on the nutritional benefits and a few daring attempts to try it when I noticed it in the Whole Foods salad bar line, and I was hooked.

First, a shameless plug for the kale in the Whole Foods salad bar: While insanely expensive, it's also so delicious. I've found it cooked in two ways, one is lightly steamed and the other raw and covered in a delicious garlic sauce. If you're looking just for a taste- I would recommend hitting it up there.

If you've never tasted it before, it is a bit of an acquired taste- sort of like sushi, so just be prepared. It's a bit hard to chew and very filling - all of those dark leafy greens and fiber in action!

So, why chew through this vegetable you ask? The reasons are endless....

Kale belongs to the Brassica family, which is a group of vegetables that includes cabbage, collards and brussels sprouts (all take a bit to get used to, all soooo good for you). Kale can be found in local grocery stores all year long, but it is "in season" from the middle of winter through the beginning of spring (right now!) when it just tastes sweeter!

The (super)powers of Kale...

• It fights fat
• High in fiber: And if you really want to enjoy its fiberous benefits, steam it
• Kale provides your with important cholesterol-lowering benefits
• Kale also helps boost body's detoxification enzymes
• Kale contains seven times the beta-carotene of broccoli, which protects your cells from free radicals and is an incredible source of vitamin A
• Kale is a great source of calcium, which helps fight osteoporosis and makes your bones strong!
  
• Kale contains folate and vitamin B6, which help to treat a number of health issues related to your heart, skin, depression, fatigue and with your nervous system
• The compounds found in kale allows for both antioxidant AND anti-inflammatory benefits to your body
• My favorite: Kale is a natural detox-er, providing your body's detoxification system with insane supports. Recent research shows that the ITCs made from kale's glucosinolates can help regulate your body's detox at a genetic level (!!)

At Eco-Fest this year, I discovered Kale Chips, and it was INCREDIBLE.
Kale Chips are simply dehydrated Kale, made to taste like potato chips- they are crunchy, thin, flavorful and (I think) taste even better! You can buy Kale chips at stores like MOMs Organic, Yes Organic or Whole Foods, but they are a bit pricey. So, I would recommend making your own.

Here was my adventure with making homemade Kale chips last night:

Set the oven to 300 degrees
Rip the leaves off of your Kale bunch (or bunches) and spread over a large cookie sheet
Dust the leaves with oil, pepper and garlic powder

Let them sit in the oven for about 15 minutes (until they are completely dried and crunchy)

Enjoy!

Keeping it simple

I knew that in order to really keep pace with this resolution and accomplish the goal at hand, we would need to keep it simple. If we set off to do 800 calorie burning workouts every day it wouldn't be sustainable or fun. Rather, we set the expectation that each day we would workout- and it can/will take on many different forms and lengths of time. Some will be those ambitious 800 calorie burning workouts, some will be focused on lifting and strength training and others yoga, cycling elliptical, ect. The most important part though, is to remember to keep it simple, achievable and fun.

One way I've found to do this is through jump roping. Never in my life, even on the playground in elementary school (maybe aside from one year in 4th grade), was I ever a huge fan of jump rope. Sure. I could handle your standard double-dutch and nursery rhyme chat, but after that, I would mostly just get board and move on to the field games.

However, about a year and a half ago, I discovered the INSANE health benefits of jump roping. It seems so simple and easy, and even sometimes like an after thought, but jump roping is the bomb- and SO good for your health and body. Actually, I learned that when used in conjunction with a healthy diet, jump roping is actually one of the most efficient ways to burn calories. Only ten minutes of jump rope can be as effective as thirty minutes of jogging! (Human Kinetics, 2003) In the world of sports and fitness training, jump roping is considered one of the fundamental building blocks to improved agility, coordination, endurance and performance.

Endurance is the key though (at least for me right now). It's actually really hard to jump rope for 10 minutes (even five minutes- or two minutes!). To be able to jump rope for a sustained period of time, it required training and practice in and of itself.

One way I try to approach it, which I enjoy and have found to be effective is to alternate rope jumping with lifting hand weights (5-7 pounds). I'll strive to spend five minutes rope jumping and then do five - ten minutes of lifting. I've tried to develop a habit of doing circuit exercises three times, which would leave this at about 15 minutes of jump roping total and anywhere from 15 - 30 minutes of lifting. Using jump ropes in conjunction with lifting allows you to not only tone and strengthen your muscles, but also increases your metabolism for hours after your work out. (BIG bonus!)

So, while it does take a little bit of work to get into the habit of jump roping and to build endurance, here are some extra tidbits that are just too amazing to share:
Top 6 Reasons to build jump roping into your exercise routine:

(1) Once you're jump roping at a steady pace, you can burn up to 800 calories per hour. (!) (Whoever can jump rope for an hour- you must not be human- but talk about something to work toward!)

(2) Not only does it burn calories and fat, it increases muscle strength, timing, coordination and balance

(3) It tones your legs, back, glutes, shoulders, abs, chest and arms (so pretty much everywhere!)

(4) For women, the cross-training function helps us strengthen the bones in our lower body

(5) For folks with tricky knees like myself, jumping rope is a low-impact alternative to running

(6) It's portable and you can do it anywhere! On vacation, inside, outside, at the office- you need so little to do it right, you can really take advantage of this work out from everywhere.

(7) It's inexpensive - as long as you have a jump rope ($5 - $20) you've got your workout!

Excited to hear if anyone currently jump ropes and/or is willing to take it on- It's fun- but sweaty and challenging too.

Happy Jumping!

http://www.xomba.com/discover_powerful_health_benefits_jumping_rope; Michael O’Shea, Ph.D., is a fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine.

DONE.

Well... at noon tomorrow, that is! And while we would love to say that we are breaking it in some fantastic way (like Founding Farmers or Zaytinya) we unfortunately won't be (pathetic, we know).- I'll be at an all day conference and Jon will be working on the Hill- a bit anti-climatic, BUT we will both have the freedom to enjoy lunch with colleagues- SO, that will be magical in and of itself. Now, if we both have the opportunity to eat vegan- that will be a miracle (so packing lunches just in case). Seems somewhat funny to go into the last hours of this journey not knowing what food we'll finally be able to eat, but we sure do hope it's delicious!

In the spirit of these resolutions, challenges, and this blog- we wanted to take a minute to capture the lessons learned over the course of this adventure and what we hope will carry with us for the rest 0f 2011 (and beyond...):

The top 10 lessons learned from 36.5 days of not eating out:
(1) We have yet to master (or even be proficient) in the art of making our own bread (2 attempts, 2 total failures)
(2) When properly challenged, we can create a brunch just as kick ass as (and MUCH cheaper) than our very favorite brunch places in the city
(3) There is really no need for canned ANYTHING- crockpot power! (Although, that would be an entirely different challenge, but you get the spirit behind it)
(4) Saying "no, thanks" to colleagues, friends and family members who want to eat out is really hard, and sometimes painful (in your heart- and stomach).
(5) It's really easy to eat all of the yummy foods you love and crave if you learn to cook them yourself (and dangerous!).
(6) It's worth the extra 15 minutes in the morning to pack your lunch for the day (financial and making good choices).
(7) When I skip the afternoon coffee break, I probably cut at least 20 medium coffees from my body since the new year (!).
(8) When you don't eat out- you sort of develop a photographic memory for the closest grocery store (and start to know the staff's hours).
(9) Jon's vegan waffles are delicious, no matter who you are or when you're eating them. De-lious.
(10) Focusing our efforts on this challenge, and taking time to write about it, has given us better personal/professional alignment ("PPA" is what our office calls it) than college!

2 bits of food for thought general curiosity and/or musings:
(1) No weight lost, no weight gained (for both of us)
(2) We didn't track this as well as we should have, but here are the approximations that we made (which we are feeling good about, but can't confirm for sure) that take into account typical spending on items eaten out and then the cost of groceries.
Money saved in not buying coffee out: ~$55.00
Money saved not buying lunches out: ~150.00
Money saved by not dining out for dinner/brunch: ~$400.00
Money saved by not going to happy hours: ~$100.00
Total saved: ~$705.00(ish)

Even though it's the end of our "not eating out challenge' and we are now working out, we will definitely still be posting recipes from what we are cooking and enjoying- so much more to come on the food front too :o)

Thanks for following our adventure with us! Now, hitting the gym....

I LOVE My Bosu Ball

This resolution makes me so excited (for many reasons), but perhaps most of all- for the time I will undoubtedly get to spend (or be forced to spend, based on the day) a ton of time with my Bosu Ball.

The Bosu ball is awesome because it's double sided- and I try to use both sides almost equally when working out. I know there are endless possibilities for using this ball, and actually when just making the link to the site, I learned a new one (for hips), but for my basic practice- I really only use each side for one purpose: The bubble side for abs and the flat side for core strengthening and lifting.

I first learned about the Bosu when I was visiting my mom in Arizona and doing an endless amount of crunches (getting ready for my wedding) in her living room. She saw me working hard, but came out from their back room holding her Bosu ball, "Try them on here," she said. And while I was feeling like dynamite and like I could go on forever just doing crunches on the carpet- the Bosu was a whole different story. I think I got through maybe 10 before my entire core started shaking and I had a very difficult time lifting myself up for each crunch. Very humbling indeed!

From that moment though, I was hooked. So while, I definitely enjoy my 8 minute abs with Jon everyday, I usually also try to do about 3 sets of 30 crunches on the Bosu ball (on a good day) as well (got to love that burn!).

The other side of the Bosu ball I learned from a trainer at my mom's gym. He had me step on the flat side of the Bosu ball (be prepared to shake quite a bit if you've never done this before). Balancing on the ball for an extended period of time naturally strengthens your core muscles, which are often hard to activate through normal workouts and daily activities. And if you're looking to push it even further, you can lift while you're up there- and if you're really crazy, try squats! (Squats on a Bosu ball is not for the faint of heart).

So, here's to 33.5 more days of adventures with Bosu! If you have one, or are interested, let me know- always looking for Bosu buddies :o)

From Push Ups to Work Outs

One of the things that I was most excited for in joining my new office was the camaraderie not only towards our work but also to the side projects that people dedicated themselves t0- some more serious than others, but all compelling, fun and adventurous.

I was thrilled to learn, that when I officially came on board, a few colleagues were getting ready to launch an "official" office wide push-up challenge (!) The thought being that everyone gets more motivated when they are competing- and at out office, we are all about goal setting, tracking progress and celebrating success. So, with that in mind- I put my name in the hat and began doing more push-ups than I ever had imagined. Literally, sometimes right beside my desk (shhh!) Each month this inspired me to compete against not only my peers but also myself (if we didn't hit our targets of 50/day, 60/day etc then we would own the difference in cash) and i don't think Jess anticipated loosing money earned to push ups lost each month (!).

These challenges were great to help me focus on a routine, have fun and get in better shape- and with this new challenge in front of me, I am excited to apply lessons learned, make it fun and (hopefully) a routine will form!

In my first year teaching I got into a habit of running each morning to train for the Cherry Blossom 10 miler- this year, the training will help prepare Jess and I for the Warrior Dash. (VERY excited!)

So, let the games begin! The next 34.5 days begin!

In the mean time we are still looking for a good tracking system for the next month- (to keep our competitive spirits alive and track our progress) let us know if you have any suggestions and wish us luck!

The Great Overlap

So, today was a pretty big day for us as we have an official overlap between our first and second resolutions (!).

Because at the turn of the New Year, we were still in California, we were not able to start our first resolution until January 3rd and then we lost two days during a trip to New York, where we didn't have access to a kitchen- putting a a full four days off track. As a result, in order to make our 36.5 days x 10 resolutions = 365 days (a full year), we would need to start our second resolution on day 32 (today).

So, for the next 4 days, we'll have both to continue not eating out, but also start our working out resolution- And it kicks-off today!

A quick note (and explanation) on the two additional days we needed to add to our first resolutions from when we were in New York: While our resolutions are really important for us to keep and we have been incredibly disciplined about maintaining the course consistently and for the full 36.5 days, it's we don't want to be doing anything with a total absolute- everything needs shades of gray, so while we don't anticipate needing to break any of our resolutions for even a day, if for some reason we do need to, we are going to add our days, so everything is completed in full. For our New York trip, we didn't have any choice but to either eat two meals out or not go, so we decided that our trip was worth it.

So, 3 more full days of not eating out (Weeeee!) and today- we went to the gym- it's official! Jon did 9,000 strides on the elliptical (6 miles= the first half of the Superbowl,) I did an hour on the treadmill and we both did our favorite couples exercise video 8 Minute Abs (so dorky, but so fun) and a few pull-ups and push ups in between.

I've been saving up my Groupon to cash in to our local gym, Results, that I'm obsessed with, but since we have a mini gym in our building haven't been able to rationalize a membership in the slightest- but with the Groupon, I get 30 days for $39 and I figured- if I'm ever going to legitimize a membership for this gym- it's the resolution- and I'm SO excited about it! Endless classes, equipment, and trainers- I can barely contain myself!

So, as soon as I can get myself over there- the fun begins!
Jon is sticking with our building's gym- he's so sensible like that- so we're envisioning a combination of going to our gym together, me freaking out and taking advantage of my Results membership, a lot of couples 8 minute abs, and then some lifting fun.

Much more to come as we take on this new endeavor,learn new things and take on opportunities and challenges that come our way, as well as finish up our first resolution this week (!)

Any suggestions for how we should break it?!

Finally, we had SO many amazing vegan meals this weekend- here are a few of our favorites:
Butternut Squash Vegan Muffins
Red Lentil Soup
Moroccan Tofu
Vegan Pigs In a Blanket

Recipes to come!

We get by with a little help from our friends...

First, a celebration (!)- we are wrapping up day 30 - today (Hey-Oh!)- We have officially not eaten out for 1 month, and today marks the last week of this resolution (unbelievable).

And in our jubilee, we have to pay recognition to all of our friends and families that went above and beyond to allow us to stay social, but also stay on track to our goals- many of whom, joined with us in cooking, getting creative and bringing out the WOW factor.

We couldn't resist not sharing some of our very favorite recipes that originated with some of our loved ones, but should be shared with all who love good food.

In the brunch we enjoyed last weekend, a beloved friend put a bold twist on our morning mimosas- look how beautiful they turned out! Looks just like a tequila sunrise, right at sunrise (so appropriate)
Here's the trick:
Fill the glass half full of champagne (or Cava- even better!)
Then fill 2/3 of what's remaining with orange juice
Finally, add a splash of pomegranate juice (we used POM)
Delish!



And take a look at this BEAUTIFUL spread of avocado-wasabi sushi that our friends made- from scratch- so impressive, scrumptious and healthy - the best potluck dish I've seen in a long time!

I wasn't able to get the recipe from them, but couldn't resist not providing the visual- Perhaps they'll post it in the comments (hint, hint) :o)




Then- we have two recipes that have become clutch for our very existence and have been key in our success both through this resolution and being vegan in general (seriously, they are amazing!)- both were recipes of those close to use: Vegan Bean Brownies (don't knock it, till you've tried it) and amazing Guacamole (modified to be vegan).

Vegan Bean Brownies:
(We like to pretend like these are as healthy as they sound)
Ingredients:
1 can of black beans
1 box of brownie mix (we like Giradelli Dark Chocolate)
Preparation:
Put the can of black beans into a food processor with the bag of brownie mix
Blend until smooth (will be thick)
Spread mixture onto (pre-sprayed) baking pan
Bake for 35 minutes
LOVE the brownie.

The BEST Guacamole ever:
Ingredients:
1 onion (diced)
4 avocados
1 jalapeno pepper (minced)
1 cup of vegan cheese (Diaya)
4 cloves of garlic (minced)
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 tbsp. of all spice
1 1/2 tbsp. of garlic powder


Preparation:
Mash the avocados and put them in a medium size mixing bowl
Add the onions, garlic, jalapeno pepper and mix together until smooth
Add the vegan cheese, lemon juice and spices, mix until smooth
Add pita chips and enjoy!

One. More. Week.

GO TIME.

Homemade Veggie Burgers!

When Jess and I did an Alternative Spring Break together in college we went to Scottie's Place, a camp for homeless kids in West Virginia, which was incredible in so many ways- from the service, to the people, we left inspired by the lessons we learned and the difference that one family could make. (Actually, in posting this, I went to their website and found that there is still a picture of me from college on their website- Check out my hair(!) Ha!)

One of the things that we couldn't get enough of were all the innovative and creative recipes we learned from Jo-El, one of the founders, hosts, and year round staff members. The vast majority of the food at Scottie's Place was vegetarian (huzzah!)- a literally created from anything and everything. Being in the kitchen with Jo-El was fascinating- she moved so quickly, but with purpose and passion. She inspired us to "think outside the box" about what could be possible and what could be put into a pan. The one meal that truly changed us that week were her veggie burgers.

At the end of our week of service, Jo-El took all the veggie scraps from our other meals, mixed them together and made the most incredible veggie patties on a campfire that I have ever tasted.

Since that evening, Jess and I replicate the recipe regularly, although we have struggled to keep the veggie patties in "burger form" since we moved from vegetarian to vegan. But the veggie burger scrambles are still delicious, and we strongly encourage eating them in wrap form with a salsa and hummus. Below I will post the recipe for making the burgers vegan and will put the additional ingredients in italics to make them vegetarian. Both amazing and will definitely have some WOW power.

Happy cooking, and to anyone who wants to- we strongly encourage you to go visit and serve at Scottie's Place- Maybe you'll even get some genuine Jo-El veggie burgers over an open campfire!

Veggie Burger Vegan Scramble:

Dice two onions and sautee in 2 tbs of olive oil in a large frying pan

Add 6 cloves of minced (or pressed) fresh garlic

Add 3 cups of chopped vegetables (frozen is ok)

Add 1 cup of black beans

Add 1/2 cup of oats

Add 2 tbs cinnamon

Add 3 tbs of hot sauce

Add 2 tbs of cumin powder

Add pinch of salt

Remove from heat

Mix in wholewheat flour and water till vegetable mix sticks together

(Use egg and bisquick for vegetarian option)

Form patties and place back on non stick frying pan with light oil or non cooking spray and fry till bonded.

Happy hours are hard

When committing not to eat out- missing out on happy hour deliciousness can be the worst! (Literally, the worst!)

Since the start of this journey, nothing has truly tempted Jon and I more, or made us feel like we were missing out on something really fun, than needing to pass up happy hours. What's funny and slightly ironic, is that we don't even drink that often (go figure)- Which makes me realize just how tempting and important good wine, good company and time to just enjoy is to us. But really, when you throw in a pita and hummus appetizer and some good specials, what is better?

This photo was taken of us on Friday when our team went to happy hour to celebrate the end of a round of our work and the start to a new one. Wine, beverages, and dozens of appetizers literally overtook the table (and at least 50% of them were vegan!)!We participated in joy of the happy hour, even though we couldn't eat or drink (which, although fun-just isn't the same). Lessons learned.

Sometimes it's so hard to say no, and I just thank my lucky stars that we are both in this together!

P.S. Doesn't Jon look a little angry in this photo too! Ha! (Nothing like letting your real emotions show for a photo) :o)