Toxics

Great to see the Red team out in full force last night at the lecture! We are making a comeback, and we certainly had the most enthusiasm in the room! Way to go!

So last night's lecture covered a lot of information and there were tons of questions. It was great to see. It seemed like people were looking for some more information so I pulled together a few links for those looking to learn more.

I decided not to get in the artificial sweetners debate because many of the journal articles I read provided a lot of conflicting information. I personally try to stay away from artificial sweetners, but like last night's speaker said I think moderaration is the key. If you try to change all these things at once you would go crazy.

But that said, for those of you looking for more resources here are some links:

Nice overview on VOCs in your Home
http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/indoorair/voc/

A more scientific paper on scented products in your home
http://www.fpinva.org/AWMA2005.htm

Wall Street Journal Article on Microwaving Plastic
http://www.mindfully.org/Plastic/Microwave-Health-Problems.htm

Non toxic cleaning
http://www.eartheasy.com/live_nontoxic_solutions.htm

Information on Dry Cleaning
http://www.thegreenguide.com/doc/ask/wetclean

Team Workout by Moonlight!

We had a great time at the AACC track on Tuesday night. Gail, Nanette, Roger, Ann, Andrea, Susan and Keri ran around the track, did relays, skipping, lunges, hopping, running forwards and backwards and even ladder sprints around the track. We finifhed with stretching and abs in the grass under the moon. I am still feeling my hamstrings a few days later!! Thanks Keri!

Hope you will join us for the next team workout!

Fall Recipe Idea

I love squash in the Fall. Nothing says Fall more to me than pumpkins, apples, acorn and butternut squash.

When I looked at all the recipes I had they contained a TON of brown sugar. No wonder I love them! Here is one that has much less sugar that I tried last night. It was great

2 lbs butternut squash 3/4 inch diced
4 shallots

Cube the squah and quarter the shallots. Put them in a roasting pan or baking sheet with sides. 2 tablespoons oil oil
1 teaspoon brown sugar
1 teaspoon pepper
1 tablespoon salt
1 teaspoon chopped Rosemary

Mix altogether and cook at 450 degrees for 20 minutes. Stir and cook for an additional 5-15 minutes until they are soft and starting to brown.

Enjoy!

Let's have a great week!

Let's start the week off by thinking to yourself...."WHAT IS MY GOAL THIS WEEK???" Is it to make it to the gym a 4th time this week? Is it to plan out your meals to make sure you start the day off with a great breakfast? Is it to make sure you attend the lecture this week? Whatever your PERSONAL goal is, achieve it!!! Yoga was great last week, those of you that made it really did a great job! However, we barely had half the team there..... We all know that things come up in our day to day lives. Plans change last minute, life HAPPENS! However, if you are someone who has been missing challenges, lectures, not making your 3 workouts, take a step back and think...."Is this really for me?" If it isn't now is the time to let the team continue on and for you to take a step back. Contact either coach if you have any questions, concerns or need help or feedback! A GREAT number of you are seeing results, attending challenges, attending lectures and really using the gym and trying something new.....That is what it is all about. Please don't get discouraged if our team points aren't as high as you would like to see them. That can change. That is also temporary....Are YOU doing all that YOU can? Are YOU seeing results? Are YOU enjoying yourself? A lifestyle change is what lead you to the challenge, are YOU making a lifestyle change???? This Week's Schedule: Tuesday - TEAM WORKOUT; 6:30 pm Workout. Darcy's Human Sport class starts at 6pm if you want to join her. OR you can meet Keri at 6:30 at the trainers station. (if the lights are on, we will head to the track for running drills!!!!) 7:15 - Abs session in the human sport area Wednesday AM and Thursday PM - Lecture "Staying Healthy in a Toxic World" COME ON RED TEAM....WE CAN DO THIS!!!
Have a Great Week!!!

Great Team Workout!

If you missed yesterday's team workout, you missed a good one. We had a great group starting out with some cardio followed by 2 trips around the weight circuit lead by Keri! It was great having someone to check your form, and call you out when you watched the clock! That was followed by abs and stretching with both Keri and Darcy. It was great to have a strong red presence there. Lets have even more next week.

So did you get hooked on Spinning after the last challenge? Join me for Keri's spinning class tonight at 6pm.

Great Abs - Thanks Darcy!

Thanks for the great abs session tonight Darcy! There were only 2 of us there... Come on Red, don't give up now! We need to bring up our score.

Let's meet to work out on Thursday before the lecture. How about trying the circuit at 6:30? (The lecture starts at 7:15.) Hope to see you there!

Team Workout Tonight

Don't forget Team workout with Abs session tonight. Abs at 7:15! You can bet you will feel it afterwards!

7:00 p.m. Spinning Class

Those of us in the 7 p.m. spin class were wondering where everyone was - glad to hear you all were there at 5 p.m.! Keri taught a great class!

If any of you like step aerobics, Becky teaches a great class on Saturday at 9:30. Maybe I'll see some of you there?

Have a great weekend everyone!

Andrea

Great Job!

Nice to see such a great turn out at spinning. Julie gave us a good workout at 5 and I am sure Keri's 7pm class was tough as well. Are you sore today? If not, check out Keri's class next week and give that tension knob another turn! Next challenge be sure to wear your Red Team T-shirt. Let's show the other teams that we are a force to be reckoned with !!

This weekend looks beautiful get outside and enjoy the sunshine and fresh air.

Comment Test

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Hope this helps!

Get ready for Spinning!

Thanks Keri for the team abs and stretch last night. It was great. Next week lets double the number of people who are there!

Don't forget the spinning challenge tomorrow night at 5pm or 7pm. Be sure to bring water and a small towel and don't forget to eat a little something an hour before. Be ready for some fun tunes and a good workout.

I have had a few requests on how to post on the blog. I will resend the invitation via e-mail. Click on the link in the email and follow the directions to set up a Google account. If you already have a Google or gmail account you just click on the sign in link on the upper right hand corner of this page, and log in. I will also try to enable the comment feature so you can write comments without having to log in.

Glad you are reading! See you tomorrow at Spinning!

Lets have a great week!

Alright Team we are 25% of the way into the challenge. Are you giving 100%? 110%? I know I can work harder. Are you starting to see a difference? Do you have more energy? If so tell us about it! If not feel free to post questions to learn how to make some adjustments to your routine.

See you at the gym!

Barbecued Chinese Chicken Lettuce Wraps

2 cups, 4 handfuls, fresh shiitake mushrooms
1 1/3 to 1 1/2 pounds thin cut chicken breast or chicken tenders
2 tablespoons light colored oil, such as vegetable oil or peanut oil
Coarse salt and coarse black pepper
3 cloves garlic,
chopped 1 inch ginger root, finely chopped or grated,
optional 1 orange, zested
1/2 red bell pepper, diced small
1 small tin, 6 to 8 ounces, sliced water chestnuts, drained and chopped
3 scallions, chopped
3 tablespoons hoisin, Chinese barbecue sauce, available on Asian foods aisle of market
1/2 large head iceberg lettuce, core removed, head quartered
Wedges of navel orange -- platter garnish

Remove tough stems from mushrooms and brush with damp towel to clean, Slice mushrooms. Chop chicken into small pieces. Preheat a large skillet or wok to high. Add oil to hot pan. Add chicken to the pan and sear meat by stir frying a minute or 2. Add mushrooms and cook another minute or two. Add salt and pepper to season, then garlic and ginger. Cook a minute more. Grate zest into pan, add bell pepper bits, chopped water chestnuts and scallions. Cook another minute, continuing to stir fry mixture. Add hoisin Chinese barbecue sauce and toss to coat the mixture evenly. Transfer the hot chopped barbecued chicken to serving platter and pile the quartered wedges of crisp iceberg lettuce along side. Add wedged oranges to platter to garnish. To eat, pile spoonfuls into lettuce leaves, wrapping lettuce around fillings and squeeze an orange wedge over.


Do you have a great recipe to share? Post it here!