Easy Being Green

I’m sure we’ve all heard about the “green smoothie” fad in the health and fitness industry. At first, I was definitely a skeptic, but eventually I figured I would give it a try. It was love at first taste and I realized that this could be a really healthy and TASTY addition to my current diet.

You can essentially add anything (and everything) to one of these smoothies (fruits, vegetables, seeds) along with the spinach and/or kale which makes it green, and you really don’t even taste the vegetables.

One of my go-to recipes is:

1 cup of almond milk

1 scoop of vanilla protein powder

1 banana

6-8 frozen strawberries

1 tablespoon of flax seeds

2 handfuls of fresh spinach

Add all of the ingredients into the blender and blend until smooth.

I’m usually pretty fruit-heavy on my smoothies, mainly because you can add them without chopping or peeling and that is a time saver before work, but other vegetables are great to add, also. I’ve tried it with cucumbers, kale, and avocado, and you really can’t even tell they are in there! Ginger, beets, and carrots are also popular additions.

In the summer/ warmer months, I usually work out in the morning and come home, shower, prepare a quick smoothie and head to work. The smoothie, with the addition of the protein powder and the flax seeds, keeps me full until lunch time (flax seeds also add lots of omega-3 essential fatty acids and fiber). Unfortunately, once it hits about October, it’s way too chilly to be holding and sipping a cold smoothie in the car. I can’t wait until the weather gets warmer so I can enjoy one of my favorite breakfasts!

Try some of these smoothie recipes and I bet you’ll be hooked (or suprised, at least!):

http://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/recipe-collections-favorites/healthy-meals/green-smoothie-recipes-00100000096170/

http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-7956/5-delicious-green-smoothies-for-beginners.html

Spinning Frenzy

My favorite cardio alternative as of late has been spinning. Instead of constantly trucking along on the treadmill or getting a less than breathless workout on the elliptical, spinning is a great way to get your heart pumping and to provide a little variety to your weekly workout. Some sources say that spinning can even have you burning 600 calories during an hour long class! The structure of just having a spinning class to sign up for in advance also holds me accountable to make sure I get a good workout in that day, which helps a lot on those days that I’m just not really feelin’ it.

Before Christmas, I found an introductory offer at the Spinning Lotus on the Wayland/Weston line (see below for link) for new riders, and my co-worker and I decided we would try it out. We got two classes for $20 and figured that even if we didn’t end up loving it and signing up for additional classes, it would be a good change of pace in our workouts.

I had been to spinning classes with my sister at her gym maybe a dozen times before, so I would consider myself experienced with setting up the bike and what a spin class usually entails.

So, I’ve completed both of my “trial classes” and I loved it. The Spinning Lotus features the Real Ryder bikes, which in comparison to traditional bikes that are totally stationary, actually tilt side to side like a bike would if you were riding down the street, turning down a side road, or hustling up a huge hill. This engages your core and arm muscles and we were left very sore after that first 6am class with Nichole. The next time I went, I took a class with Tom. He had a different style of teaching but I feel that I got an equally intense workout.

There is another spinning studio close to work that I plan to try out (with another introductory rate package) before I make any commitments to a studio. While I know it is a bargain compared to Boston prices, classes in this area range from $17-$20+ per class, so it isn’t cheap!

I definitely recommend the Spinning Lotus for beginner riders all the way up to advanced riders, as there were people with all fitness/spin levels in my classes.

http://spinninglotusstudios.com/

Intro: A Little About Me

Hey Guys! My name is Morgan and welcome to my blog!

That’s me on the right, with my boyfriend, Peter. (Morgan is a confusing unisex name, I know)

I am originally from Newtown, Connecticut but I moved to an area just outside of Boston to get my Bachelor’s degree in Finance from Bentley University (which I obtained in 2012).

I now work for an insurance company as a financial analyst I am currently pursuing my Master’s of Banking and Financial Services Management at Boston University. This is my second class in the program.

As of now I don’t have any pets but I am obsessed with pugs and would LOVE to get one very soon. (Okay I’m basically obsessed with any dog that passes me on the street, but thats a different story.) I grew up with two pugs and miss having those little furry guys around! (I mean who can resist that face?)

This blog will follow my journey to maintain moderation in my life: to work out consistently but not obsessively, to eat healthfully but allow myself to indulge, and to work diligently but remember to embrace life’s little joys.

I am very new to blogging but I’m excited to learn more about the blogging world and myself during this process. Thanks for stopping by!