Water; it’s all you’ll ever need.

I go to a Moksha Yoga studio here in London and I’d like to share the benefits of committing yourself to a yoga practice.

Overall:

• increased flexibility
• better balance
• increased fitness
• focus
• breath awareness
• less water retention

Health: 

• depression (melatonin is released)
• insomnia    (melatonin is released)
• stress reduction
• arthritis
• back/knee pain
• poor digestion and constipation
• headaches
• pregnancy
• posture
• scoliosis 

I challenge you to do a full 7 days of hot yoga (or non heated yoga). It can be any type that you’d like to do but try the hot yoga at least twice.

Stay hydrated!

xxJess

After deciding to not go for a BQ on my first marathon just over a month ago I decided to train for a 4:15-4:20 time.

The expo was great, met lots of runners, Katherine Switzer, and just amazing people over all. I walked around Toronto with my mum and had a delicious meal at East Sides. We head back to the Hilton to relax, watch the Rock game on the telly and then get a good nights sleep. My sleep sucked though however.

Race morning, I didn’t get to start with the breakfast I wanted, only downfall of the Hilton was that they didn’t have breakfast set up early for us runners. Mum and I head to the start and I’m feeling a good. A stop in the bush 5 minutes to go with a fellow runner and a kiss from my mum and we were off.

It was surreal, so many people and the weather couldn’t have been any better! I was on pace for my 4:15-4:20 when this old man came up beside me. We had a little chat asking if it was my first marathon and then continued to say that he didn’t run his first until he was 62. I asked him how old he was and.. 83. This old man was 83 years old. He then continued to tell me how he woke up at 1 am to ride his bike for 95k and then get to the start of the race. I asked if he was training for an Ironman and he said you betcha. This man became my inspiration.

So far so good… I hit the 21k mark at 2 hours and continued on. At 26k, disaster struck. A cyclist passing a group of cyclists crashed into me, causing me to go flying with him and the bike landing on top of me. Medical rushed over after a runner had called up ahead and I had so many nice things to say to the cyclist. I don’t think I ever cussed so much in my life. Medical didn’t want me to keep going and I tried to convince them that I was fine and they didn’t believe me, so during a painful 2k, they finally agreed to let me finish… I lost an hour in time due to the collision and the walk but I finished in 5:17. 

I’m just happy I finished with my friends and mum at the finish. I found out my friend came 5th with a new PB!

I decided to take my shoes off because I was ready to put my sandals on and the right foot had a nasty blister forming on it. I didn’t even get my left shoe off when a sudden rush of pain hit me. A 7 layer open blister was on the inner sole of my foot and it was the most excruciatingly painful thing I’ve had in a long while. That pain is still there but it’s getting better and I can walk with my full foot on the ground now. I also received a massive sunburn, but that doesn’t bother me.

Overall it was a great experience and I can’t wait for the next one!

xxJess

commit-to-fitness:

Was rewarded with drink recipes from Nike Training Club app. Thought I’d share with y’all :)

lizziesjourneytoweightloss:

Coconut Chicken Salad with Warm Honey Mustard Vinaigrette
Gina’s Weight Watcher Recipes 
Servings: 3 • Serving Size: salad with 2 chicken tenders • Points: 8 pts • Points+: 8 pts
Calories: 397.6 • Fat: 11.0 g • Protein: 26.8 g • Carb: 32.5 g • Fiber: 4.4 g• Sugar:10 

• 6 (about 12 oz) chicken tenderloins
• 6 tbsp shredded coconut
• 1/4 cup panko crumbs
• 2 tbsp crushed cornflake crumbs
• 1/3 cup egg substitute or egg whites
• pinch salt
• olive oil spray

• 6 cups mixed baby greens
• 3/4 cup shredded carrots
• 1 large tomato, sliced
• 1 small cucumber, sliced

Vinaigrette

• 1 tbsp oil
• 1 tbsp honey
• 1 tbsp white vinegar (balsamic would work too)
• 2 tsp dijon mustard

Whisk all vinaigrette ingredients; set aside.

Preheat oven to 375°.

Combine coconut flakes, panko, cornflake crumbs and salt in a bowl. Put egg whites or egg beaters in another bowl.

Lightly season chicken with salt. Dip the chicken in the egg, then in the coconut crumb mixture. Place chicken on a cookie sheet lined with parchment for easy cleanup.Lightly spray with olive oil spray and bake for 30 minutes turning halfway, or until chicken is cooked through.

Place 2 cups baby greens on each plate. Divide carrots, cucumber, tomato evenly between each plate. When chicken is ready slice on the diagonal and place on top of greens. Heat dressing in the microwave a few seconds and divide equally between each salad; a little over 1 tbsp each.

http://www.skinnytaste.com/2011/03/coconut-chicken-salad-with-warm-honey.html

this looks divine, I personally would change the dressing though.

Rice Krispies with Banana and Strawberries

Baked Pork Chop in Breadcrumb with Applesauce and Asparagus

Hello Friends!

This is what I did yesterday :) I worked out with my flatmate Bryce, he doesn’t like working out alone and needs to push because he plays college ball.

2 mile run

* are warm up weight

Squats

• 5 x body weight
• 10 x 50kg*
• 10 x 70kg
• 10 x 80kg
• 10 x 90kg
• 10 x 95kg

Deadlifts

• 10 x 20kg*
• 10 x 50kg
• 10 x 60 kg
• 10 x 70kg

Clean and Jerks

• 10 x 20kg*
• 10 x 30kg
• 10 x 35kg

Reverse Pushups

• 10
• 10
• 10
• 10

Chin Ups

• 10
• 10
• 10
• 10

Box Jumps

• 50
• 50
• 50
• 50
• 50

Swim

• 6 laps flutterboard
• 1 lap front crawl sprint
• 6 laps flutterboard
• 1 lap front crawl sprint
• 6 laps back crawl
• 1 lap front crawl sprint
• 6 laps back crawl
• 1 lap front crawl sprint
• 6 laps flutterboard
• 1 lap front crawl sprint
• 6 laps flutterboard
• 1 lap front crawl sprint
• 6 laps back crawl
• 1 lap front crawl sprint
• 6 laps back crawl
• 1 lap front crawl sprint

And then I proceeded to stretch in the steam room for 30mins.

I also had skating for an hour.

It was an amazing work out and my legs definitely feel it today!
xxJess 

The first step is to smile.

Well Good Morning, Afternoon, and Evening my wonderful friends!

How has your weekend been?
Friday was absolutely beautiful, +18 and just a little bit of wind, I walked to and from school. I worked from 2-6 and when I got home, I had all intentions of having a quick nap and then studying for my Biology midterm next week. Well what was suppose to have been a quick nap shortly turned into a 13hour sleep. I felt so good this morning when I woke up though! Once again it was a beautiful morning, the birds were singing, I could hear the neighbours going out for their morning walk and I couldn’t wait to start my day.
I grabbed a quick smoothie, made from the mini packs I had made, some greek yogurt and some natural protein powder. Grabbed my bike and headed for campus to work from 9-3. After work I biked home (in total biked 8km) and decided that it was too nice of weather to pass up for an enjoyable run. 
Washed my dishes, started laundry, threw on my shorts and a tank and headed out. 5 miles later, I arrived back home just feeling fantastic. It was nice just to run for the sake of it. Not having to worry about my marathon, not my pace, distance, etc.
Now it’s on to some assignments and studying, but like I said in my last written post, I have been working on some new things!

Hope you’re all well,
xxJess 

ps. yes that is a GU packaged on my messy counter. Espresso to be exact and I do believe it is my new favourite.
pps. Nivea moisturiser is the best!

Food from Monday :)

I also had a turkey wrap for dinner. 

choosethewr3nch:

Rest Day 2/9/12

Photo via activeinspiration.tumblr.com

They’re beasts.

(I love the rest of my body too)

I haven’t posted really all week since I have been really sick with some viral bacterial infection which has caused me to stay home and pretty well do absolutely nothing but sleep and eat chicken noodle soup, jello and drink water and tea. I’ve also had a breakdown which hasn’t helped me at all this week.

This week should be better. I’m going to try and go for a run tomorrow and get a small workout in to get my body back into the swing of things and try and clear my head of this breakdown. Also this week is hectic with synchro practice, singles practice, and ice show practice Monday, singles practice Tuesday, singles practice Thursday, and then head to Edmonton on Friday for Mountain Regionals. This week also includes running and school. It’s probably best that I fell ill this past week, but don’t worry I’m not going to exhaust myself in the way that you think. For singles practice this week is mainly focusing on executing my program and fine-tuning it. 

I will still struggle with not feeling 100% until late next week or the week after. My half marathon is on February 18 and I will certainly not be expecting to run my full race pace as this run is part of my training for the full in May. Also on the February 21st, I will be running in the Rick Hansen Relay and right after I do my run, I will be hopping onto a plane to go home for the Canadian Synchronized Skating Nationals! Yaaay.

So tomorrow will have a small update with how my run and training goes and my chicken veggie soup recipe and maybe my macaroni and cheese recipe. Then it will be on to my readings and coursework.

Hope you all have had a great week and enjoy the rest of your weekend!

xxJess

Breakfast: Banana & peanut butter on Silver Hills Bakery: The Big 16 bread, toasted. Served with an apple and a glass of milk.

Snack: Grapefruit and a post workout Stinger Strawberry Honey Waffle. 

Lunch: 12 grain tortilla with oven roasted chicken and oven roasted sundried tomato & oregano turkey, tomato, cheddar cheese, red bell pepper, romaine, and a little bit of sour cream. Served with a side of red grapes and cranberry juice.

Snack: Cherry tomatoes and greek yogurt.

Dinner: Cajun and cracked black pepper covered chicken breast and baked potatoes (drizzled with a little bit of olive oil and covered with aluminium foil and baked in the oven for 20mins at 425o. Served with a mixed green salad (spinach, red arugula, radish leaves), cucumber, tomato, walnuts and balsamic vinaigrette. 

Snack: Raisin bread and green tea