Sweet Sweet Indulgences :-)

Workout Highlights of the Month...

Favorite Breakfasts of the Month...

A lot of oatmeal....

Friday Breakfast...

Morning Peeps,

Happy Friday! I started my day off with a balance breakfast:

1 slice of sprouted grain toast
1 egg
1c sautéed spinach
Almond slivers and raspberries on the side

I topped this off with some hot sauce Here's a pic if you don't believe me :-p
















Healthy. Balanced. Delicious.

I plan on getting a cardio session in during lunch :-)

How is your Friday morning going?

Seasonal Affective Disorder

Hello Everyone! Today's temps are suppose to reach to high 50's, the mild temps combined with the days getting longer can certainly increase ones happiness :-)  This brings me to talk about S.A.D's or Seasonal Affective Disorder, which is very common. S.A.D's .  


According to Pub Med Health: Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is episodes of depression that occur at a certain time of the year, usually during winter.  There is no real test to diagnose S.A.D's but symptoms include:

• Increased appetite with weight gain
• Increased sleep and daytime sleepiness
• Loss of energy and ability to concentrate in the afternoon
• Loss of interest in work and other activities
• Slow, sluggish, lethargic movements
• Social withdrawal
• Unhappiness and irritability

Source: mayoclinic.om

A few ways to combat S.A.D's during the winter months:

• Exercise: Get those endorphins and neurotransmitters moving! I know it's hard to get motivated to exercise when you're already down, but push yourself to do this. Remember, most likely, after your workout you will feel much better!
• Continue pampering yourself: Feel good about yourself! Get a nice hair cut, your eyebrows done, manicure/pedicure.  Remember, looking good on the outside can help you feel good about yourself on the inside.
• Vitamins:  Take a multivitamin with added vitamin D.  Studies have shown that vitamin can combat depression and improve your mood. In the winter, because the days are shorter, you lack getting vitamin D from natural sunlight, which is a cause of S.A.D.
• Eat Good Mood Foods:  Instead of getting a quick mood booster from drinking coffee, work to sustain a better mood by eating the right foods, that contain a balanced diet of healthy fats, fruits and vegetables.
• Talk to someone: If you are already going through a difficult period in your life, S.A.D's can affect you more. Do not be afraid or ashamed to talk to good friend, psychologist or your MD.

S.A.D's affects millions of people throughout the year and should not be ignored!

The Workout...

I was able to get a quick run in today as my workout! I started off by running at a 5.6 mph pace and finished off at 5.9. This was only a 20 minute run but I am hoping to increase my speed a little every day.

Tomorrow's workout will include cardio and strength. Were you able to get your workout in today?

Back On Track...

Hey Hey Peeps,

You probably got the drift of this post by its title, it's a Back On Track post.   Yes, yes, I know, it's been a while since I've blogged but I now hope to bring you motivational tips, healthy recipes and some decent workouts :-)

nickparkerfitness.com

With summer just a few months away, everyone is working hard to get in shape and eat right.  The only thing that works for me is regular exercise and a balanced diet.  When I say balanced diet, I mean a healthy portion of plant fats, complex carbs, lean protein and fruits/veggies at every meal. I know when I stray away from this and consume too much sugar or processed foods, it makes me feel sluggish and harder to lose weight.  So, now I'm making a conscience decision at every meal, to eat right and exercise at least 4-5 days a week!

How do you stay on track? What are your fitness and food goals for getting back on track?