We got my dad a puppy!
Great loot for Fit (Hungry got a PS4!)
Noke loves her new bed
Good eats
Dec262014
Our Christmas in Pictures
Dec242014
Fit Over 40
As you can probably tell from previous posts and our Pinterest, we really love infographics. Not just any infographic, of course, but solid ones with good information and great visual content. Fitness and health are great subjects to put into infographics. It breaks down fitness techniques or health studies into relatable and understandable content that the reader can digest. We can totally get behind that. And they are just so fun to look at! We recently found Fit Over 40–an awesome infographic explaining what happens when you age and how you combat those aging effects.
I suggest–even if you’re not 40 or beyond–to take a gander at this infographic and article. We wouldn’t share things with you that didn’t have good grounding or that we didn’t think had good information. This one does and everyone can learn a thing or two from it. I really like the above picture, explaining what changes in our bone mass depending on what age we are. When we think of fitness, we often think of outside appearances. This is a huge “inside” health issue that can completely change your life. Pay attention to these types of things! It also talks about a range of different effects of aging like what happens to your hormones and more. Let us know what you think of the full infographic. And as always…stay hungry and fit!
BONUS KITTY PIC
Dec222014
Our Weekend in Pictures
Hilarious freezings of kongs
Christmas shopping
Getting funny Christmas cards
Great soccer matches
Chris following his December goals and bringing home-cooked meals to every work day
Core workouts
Cute kitties
Cute puppies
A beautiful view
Dec192014
The Truth About Supplements
Every day we hear something new in the media about different supplements. This one can stop Alzheimer’s and this one can prevent you from getting fat! It’s hard to know what to trust or what to believe in. You become hesitant with everything OR you simply start trying everything. Recently, my coworker showed me this incredible infographic on supplements and correlating studies. I got really excited about it because I am a firm discourager of fads. Most often, many supplements (I’m talking health supplements so things like coconut oil and garlic extract are included here), are popular fads without real grounding. Take a look at the Interactive: Snake Oil Supplements (no it’s not about snake oil, it’s just the title).
Screenshot
So how does this infographic work? It’s hard to understand at first. If you’re starting from the top, you’re looking at supplements with the most studies behind them which make them “Strong.” And if you scroll to the bottom, you’ll find “Slight” or “None” meaning there are very few studies behind it. This provides a wonderful foundation for the infographic–it’s all based on research. In addition, to keep this infographic fresh, the bubbles are all tied to a google doc. So when more studies come in, the infographic gets immediately adjusted. Pretty freaking cool, I think!
There’s also the size of the bubble which–at first–could be misinterpreted. We usually think big is better, but not necessarily. You’ll notice garlic high at the top in the “Strong” field yet its bubble is smaller than, say, copper, which is at the lower end of the spectrum. The bubble simply represents the popularity of the supplement. So even though egg shell membrane is a tiny bubble, it is backed by many strong studies.
I love infographics. I love health and fitness. And I love when they come together to provide free information to the masses. What do you think of this infographic? Are you going to start taking garlic extract now? Don’t forget your probiotics or B3! It’s always fun to learn more about supplements and I believe this infographic is a great way of doing so. Tell us your thoughts in the comment section below! And as always, stay hungry and fit!
BONUS ANIMAL PIC
Nymeria keeping an eye on Noke
Dec182014
A Few Things You May Not Know About Us…
We got tagged by Dani California Cooks to do this fun post…you should go over and read her post about it, you are sure to laugh. We love these kinds of posts, so we were glad to jump on it! We loooove lists. You’re gonna get trouble from Hungry AND Fit!
Hungry
- Worth the wait: A big bowl of ramen No patience for: Bad driving
- Better than I expected: College graduation Worse than I expected: Moving again
- Would Always: Finish everyone’s food at the table Would Never: Finish everyone’s dessert
- Picky About: Eggplant Not So Much About: Milk or cheese
- I feel for: People who think they have to stop eating to lose weight No sympathy: Bad fitness coaches
- Glad it’s ahead of me: Being financially stable Glad it’s behind me: Undergraduate degree
- Early for: Everything Late for: Places I don’t want to be or don’t have to be at
- Would pay good money for: A nice romantic dinner Wouldn’t take even if free: Crappy processed food snacks
- Fear conquered: Pennywise the Clown Not quite there yet: Stationary heights
- Getting better at: Being an adult Getting worse at: Cooking and playing video games
- Moment of triumph: Getting referred by clients Epic fail: Losing Valedictorian based on a technicality
- Skills mastered: You never master anything Can’t quite get the hang of: Bowling, ever.
- Risky when it comes to: Playing with animals Play it safe when it comes to: Dealing with strangers
- Always up for: A trip to the movies Never up for: A trip to the club
- Lie about: My career as a bouncer Honest about: That would spoil all the fun.
- Too much in my life: Signing up for but not finishing the… Not enough of: Taking things one step at a time
- True believer: Superpowers Major skeptic: Important people.
Fit
- Worth the wait: Getting a new computer No patience for: Pigheadedness (harmful ignorance)
- Better than I expected: Being engaged Worse than I expected: Wheatgrass shot
- Would Always: Jump in the ocean Would Never: Do gross things for a dare or money
- Picky About: Tea Not So Much About: Chocolate
- I feel for: Helpless suffering No sympathy: Selfish greedy people
- Glad it’s ahead of me: Paying for a wedding Glad it’s behind me: Roadtrip with 4 animals
- Early for: Dessert Late for: Parties
- Would pay good money for: Food Wouldn’t take even if free: Straight tequila or vodka
- Fear conquered: Public speaking Not quite there yet: Spiders and squished-face cats
- Getting better at: Science Getting worse at: Exercising
- Moment of triumph: Becoming a Certified Personal Trainer with NASM Epic fail: Ability to touch my toes
- Skills mastered: Not getting bothered on the street Can’t quite get the hang of: Not making a mess in the kitchen
- Risky when it comes to: Food expiration dates Play it safe when it comes to: Letting Noke out to pee
- Always up for: A good laugh Never up for: Horror movies
- Lie about: How much crap I eat Honest about: What I believe in
- Too much in my life: Stress and not slowing down Not enough of: Meditation and writing
- True believer: The heart of humanity Major skeptic: Big corporations
These lists were a lot of fun to make. Now you make YOURS and post in the comments below! And as always…stay hungry and fit!
Dec172014
Hungry Meets TRX
It might seem weird that after all these years in competitive sports and then the fitness industry, I haven’t really come across TRX before. None of my coaches, trainers, or sports medicine staff ever had me use it for my sports performance and I never felt the need to take a class or take a course to be an instructor. Well, that changed when we moved to LA and I found myself working at a new fitness facility where all three of the personal training staff were also TRX instructors. After some pressure was applied by my boss, I said… what the heck, why not?
In TRX, you don’t get certified; instead, you obtain qualifications for every course you take. With one TRX qualification, you are considered an Equipped TRX Instructor. (That’s me.) With three or more, you are Advanced and so forth. The system is based on the number of qualifications you have and the points that each is worth (Level 1s are worth 8000, Level 2s are worth 16000). The tiers also are color coded, like belts in Martial Arts.
All of this information is on the TRX database on their website, www.trxtraining.com. It’s a great system and free as a resource. If you want to pay a little bit every month, you can be a member of TRX Core, which gives you access to every TRX resource online, including a library of workouts, live chats with Master level trainers and Gurus, etc.
Fitness training courses
As for the qualifications, I took the Group Suspension Training Course, an introductory course to teach group exercise classes. Now, I’m signed up for their RIP trainer course and their level 2 TRX TEAM. It’s something different and it’s effective. It’s more challenging than elite athletes think and less challenging than health-seekers feel it might be. They find the straps intimidating but it can be scaled to hit any fitness level.
I would recommend beginners and people recovering from injuries do a few TRX personal training sessions before jumping into a group class, but since you’re on your own straps, you can go on your own pace. If your instructor is pushy and tries to make you go at the class pace when you shouldn’t, get a new instructor. Once you grasp the fundamentals and trust the straps, it’s fun. And while you should still be doing strength training to get stronger or practicing your sport to increase your skill, this is a great addition to any exercise regiment. It keeps you humble, builds balance, increases stability, and eventually mobility.
It has a lot of benefits, just be mindful of your knees and shoulders. Make sure you warm up properly, even before your instructor starts class. And make sure you change your grips so that you aren’t constantly squeezing the handles like you’re going to fall off a cliff. You don’t want to stress those forearm muscles.
Image source
Stay in touch, I’ll keep you updated as I teach more classes and get a few more qualifications under my belt. Still, feel free to ask any questions about TRX and I’ll let you know if you should give it a shot! And as always, stay hungry and fit!
BONUS PUPPY PIC
Little wet face
Dec162014
Cafe Ugo Review
The sun is down and it’s a cool night in early December. The allure of downtown Culver City draws us in and after parking, we walk Main Street. It’s a hip area for that demographic that loves small plates and craft beers but we LOVE food and we want a meal. After checking out a few menus and feeling the auras emanating from each location, we are seated at Cafe Ugo.
Service:
It was impeccable. 4/5. We wanted to sit outside and they brought us our own heating tower. It wouldn’t work so they got someone to fix it on the spot. We were slow to decide and our waiter put down the load he was busing in order to take our order when we looked ready. We didn’t even call him over. He had recommendations (and they weren’t based on price), he had patience, he had class, and he had a personality. My water was almost always filled, and if it wasn’t for a lapse near the end of the meal I would have given a perfect 5. When our heater went out, they immediately swapped out the propane tank for a new one. Just excellent.
Atmosphere:
A large restaurant with indoor and outdoor options, busy bar fronts and quiet back rooms. 3/5. The tables were just not a comfortable size. It was awkward but everything was clean and orderly. I didn’t love the makeshift walls for the patio but recognize their convenience for weather changes. While I had no major issues, there was nothing to set this place apart from a normal restaurant, dare I say, even a Cheesecake Factory.
Food:
There are always faults when you aren’t at a Michelin restaurant but they aren’t significant here. 3/5. The ravioli needed more sauce. They were dry and the spinach filling did not compensate for the somewhat dry pasta. Still, they had flavor. The pizza was a true delight to eat. It hit every flavor profile. Salty cheeses with acidic tones from balsamic that were tied together nicely on a well made crust. The structural integrity was questionable, but this is pizza from Naples and not New York so that can’t be taken into consideration. The fried calamari was well cooked but the sauces were a necessity because the breading was not seasoned.
Pricing:
Let’s just say they could have easily charged us more and while the portions were not massive, the food quality made it a good value. 4/5. It’s downtown Culver City, it’s a prime location, and it’s a specialty. Authentic Naples style pizza is not a common dish around here, especially with an 1000 degree oven and serving it uncut. We were more than happy to pay the price on the bill and tip accordingly.
We were glad that we stopped by Cafe Ugo that night. It was enjoyable, we were relaxed, well fed, and left happy. We recommend it to groups of 2, 4, or 6 that are passing by or in the area. It might even be worth a little drive in non-peak hours. We’ll be back if we’re in the area and we’ll bring some family next time. And as always, stay hungry and fit!
Dec152014
Sweet Holiday Treats with Silk
It’s the most wonderful time of the year and you’ve worked your bottom off for almost twelve months! Now is not the time to deprive yourself… take full advantage of the Holiday Season and reward yourself for everything that you accomplished in 2014. Relax. Read. Watch a movie. Sit by the fire. Have holiday treats. You’ve earned it. Make a mug of hot chocolate, your favorite blend of coffee, or a cup of tea. But let’s make this one special. Before you put in your cream and sugar, try this different little something.
Take your ice cube tray, walk over to the sink, and empty all the contents down the drain. (Or you can give it to your dog… Noke loves ice cubes!) Then, pull a carton of Silk Holiday Nog (or your favorite Silk product) out of the fridge and start filling those empty ice cube trays with the Silk! That’s right, we’re making these into Silk cubes. Let them sit overnight in the freezer and you’ll have a batch ready for your next favorite hot drink. Once you pour that boiling hot liquid into your container of choice, drop a Silk cube in, and enjoy. You know when you make a warm drink, that usually you make it too warm and you can’t start drinking it for a while? This is your quick fix! Cubes of iced deliciousness that will cool down your drink and make it taste better! Win win!
Remember, you should make this your special treat. I love to put some ground cinnamon in the trays with Silk Vanilla Soy Milk and add that to my hot chocolate (milk-chocolate based). It always puts a smile on my face when I throw my feet up at the end of the day. So give this little treat a try this Holiday Season and let us know, below, how you make Silk your own. We love to hear everyone’s different combinations! For more ideas like this one, visit Silk’s Facebook page. They are constantly providing everyone with fun recipes and good lifestyle tips! Also, don’t forget to sign up for their newsletter–there are many chances to win tons of Silk products and more! Signing up is free and it’s worth all fifteen seconds it takes!
Watch them spin!
Look like marshmallows!
We hope you enjoy our idea of creating little special moments by creating Silk ice cubes and we hope you try them! Celebrating the Holiday Season is a great way to stay hungry and fit!
This conversation is sponsored by Silk. The opinions and text are all mine.
Dec122014
Grounding Yoga Poses
Recently, I’ve been trying to get more into Yoga. My body feels stiff and I can’t even touch my toes anymore. I knew it was time to get back into the practice that has given me so many benefits in the past. So, with GaiamTV, I’ve been getting back into it. I try to practice at least once a week. I can feel the monumental difference when I do it. Not just body-wise (though my hips are so very happy), but mentally as well. Yoga and meditation are wonderful tools for getting through life and learning to roll with the punches. It’s good to just breathe. After stressful work days or crazy weekends, I find it incredibly helpful and soothing to practice grounding yoga poses. These are yoga poses that will help ground you into the earth and away from your stress and chaotic energy. Though the entire list would take many posts to explain, I chose three that I find fundamentally grounding.
1. Pigeon pose. This is an incredible hip opener. It’s a very slow pose and it should be taken gentle, though it may feel intense. Start on all fours. Bend one knee and drape the leg in front of your body and stretch the other leg behind you. Slowly move down towards the mat, eventually resting your forehead on the mat when you can. Remember to take this slow and gently, as it can be very intense in your hips. Angle your leg as needed to compensate for flexibility or sore areas. Hold for as long as comfortable and switch sides.
Image source
2. Dragon pose. This one is newer to me, but as soon as I started practicing it, I fell in love with it. It is such a wonderful opener for the hips, legs, glutes, and more. It’s like the body drinks up the benefits its reaping from this pose. For this one, start in a lunge position with one leg next to your hands on the mat, and the other leg back, knee down. If you’re able, go down to your forearms. If that’s too much for now, stay on your hands. Hold for as long as comfortable and switch sides.
3. Reclining hero pose. This one is a wonderful stretch deep in your quads. Everyone will be at a different level here. Start by kneeling. If this is hard on your knees, try putting a blanket under them, or it simply may not be right for you. Drape your arms behind you and slowly start laying backwards, with your knees folded below you. Go as low as you’d like, whether that’s a few inches or all the way to the floor. Stay as long as is comfortable. This is another slow, gentle pose.
Those are some of our favorite grounding yoga poses. Do this when you feel the need for grounding and calm. Remember to breathe deeply through each of these poses. Don’t rush them, take your time. Try to feel every part of your body as you ease into these poses. Treat your body and let it flourish! Remember to be sensitive to any ailments your body may be under at the time–sore knees, hips, and so forth. You never want to hurt yourself by pushing too far or doing something poorly for your body. Use these poses to help ground yourself and give your hips what they deserve! And as always, stay hungry and fit!
BONUS KITTY PIC
Dec112014
Who is Team Botan? Cafe Go-Go App Review
The last thing the world needs is one more app like every other. How many times have you heard yourself saying “if I get one more Candy Crush invite I swear I’m going to…” Nevertheless, we can’t help but check the app store, see what’s new, what’s cool, and what’s fun. Today, there is a new kid on the block that is looking to make its own unique impact on the market. It’s bringing back the enjoyment factor, but instead of telling you about it from our point of view… here’s one of the founding members and a Producer of Team Botan, Scott Polhemus (part of our video game brain trust), in an EXCLUSIVE Hungry & Fit interview!
First, a brief word about the game. Cafe Go-Go is a brand new app/game where the user plays as a worker taking orders at a cafe. As the orders come in, the barista must press the corresponding pictures for the items in the proper order. The faster you put a complete and accurate order in, the more points you get. It’s a game that is all about reaction time, hand-eye coordination, and focusing.
Hungry: We downloaded Cafe Go-Go and played it for a bit. It’s a fun game that’s easy to pick up and play. What were you trying to achieve by creating this app?
Scott: Our hope was to produce an original game based on the classic, coin-op arcade games we grew up loving. We wanted it to have a charming, retro look — and for the gameplay to be simple & accessible so anyone could pick up and play while on-the-go (or killing time on a train or in line).
Hungry: What exactly makes Cafe Go-Go different from the million others apps on the market?
Scott: Well, for starters, we didn’t build it to fulfill some sort of licensing gimmick or “sequelitis” sort of situation. Simply, three of us came together and felt it’d be cool if we could put a game together. After a few months of crazed development, we actually succeeded and released Cafe Go-Go.
So, what makes it different? Well, sure, we want it to sell, because it would be amazing if we could do this full-time (we all work day jobs, and this was sort of a moonlit labor of love)…but, we weren’t too keen on the philosophy of “pump-out-n-profit” that a significant number of apps these days adhere to. So, we tried our best to create a game with a charming atmosphere, and a healthy dose of challenge tossed in.
It’s our take on an age-old gaming concept, the ol’ time-based puzzler. We believe its worth & value are immediately apparent from its careful sprite-work to the featured SFX and music produced by our friend, Jack Vanoudenaren (better known as ABSRDST). Simply, that it’s a labor of love from three friends — and we hope the rest of the world shares in the fun.
Hungry: As Hungry & Fit, we’re always focused on the health benefits of activities. What does Cafe Go-Go contribute to a healthier lifestyle?
Scott: If you boot up a quick round of Cafe Go-Go right after waking, it’s a sure-fire way to get your brain going. Of course, no game can compete with the health benefits of going for a run outside, but if you can keep a round of Cafe Go-Go going for over 15 minutes, you’re sure to challenge your mental stamina, as well as your heart rate. Granted, I might just be an out-of-shape fatboy, but, I’ve played a couple rounds that lasted over an hour, and I’d managed to work up a sweat and profound thirst. That was probably the nerdiest sentence I’ve ever said.
Hungry: It seems like a good way to pass time while on a piece of cardio equipment. How much mental stimulation does it offer?
Scott: When you really start rolling, and string orders together in rapid succession, you can feel your concentration reaching higher levels, and before long your fingers work in tandem with the order commands your eyes perceive. Throw in the tip & time bonuses that float across the screen every so often, and you add a whole new layer of concentration and adaptability that challenges the mind.
Hungry: What can we expect next from the company that brought us Cafe Go-Go?
Scott: We’ve got a few projects in the tank currently. One won’t see the light of day until we (hopefully) secure serious funding. The other two, well, it’ll come down to what Team Botan’s brainchild (and programmer extraordinaire), Anthony Delia, feels like tackling first. He’s been storyboarding an idea recently, which I already believe should be our next baby.
Frankly, we just hope to make games with a fine blend of challenge & charm.
The kind of games that’ll have you sometimes gritting your teeth, but always smiling.
Hungry: If Hungry & Fit decided to make an app, would Team Botan be up for the challenge?
Scott: Of course! But, you better find your way to the top of our Leader Boards for Cafe Go-Go!
Right now, the score to beat is: 32,242,000
Think you can beat it?
And there you have it! Team Botan is to the point and looking to bring something new without breaking your bank account! No tricks, no schemes… just fun from some guys that obviously do this out of a love for gaming, not profiting. Still, I’m sure they wouldn’t mind making some money to help fund their newest projects in development that Scott gave us a heads up into! You can check them out on Twitter or purchase the Cafe Go-Go app in the app store!
And let us know what kind of app you’d want to see from Hungry & Fit? Exercise routines for different populations? Nutritional plans? Comment below! And as always..stay hungry and fit!
