Lots of food pics incoming…!
Workouts
Boulder Creek Festival…me having churro all over my face
Noke and I went on a nice hike
Avoided a storm
Ice cream, obviously
Beautiful morning walk
Chris turned French and made me a bunch of deliciousness
Bolder Boulder!
Baked muffins for two Memorial Day BBQs
Noms
and more noms
Noke didn’t throw up in the car! yay!
I crave pizza probably 85% of the time. And while it would be nice to grab a slice of pizza every time I get that craving, it’s best for my body that I don’t. That’s why we create alternatives and moderations to satisfy these cravings. This is a shout-out to my mum who would make this healthy version of pizza for me for a snack all the time. It’s time for pizza toast! This is a healthier, much cheaper version of pizza that is sure to kick your pizza craving in the butt. It is incredibly, incredibly simple and could call for some creativity if you want to get snazzy with it.
BONUS KITTY PIC
Nymeria stealing Noke’s 3rd bed
The first time I heard about black bean brownies, I turned my nose up. First of all, brownies aren’t my go-to dessert (although they can be delicious, see: Judith’s brownies) and second of all, BEANS?! IN BROWNIES?! Now you’re talking crazy. However, here at Hungry and Fit we’re always looking at ways to healthify things we love so we have no limits. One day, one of my trainers brought in black bean brownies and they were darn good. Black bean brownies are a sure lesson of not judging a book by its cover, because they are gooo–oood! This recipe is a sure way to eating brownies guilt-free!
BONUS PUPPY PIC
Poor puppy has been sick with giardia
It is time to bring you #24 of our “Top 25 Video Games of All Time“! I’ve been looking forward to this since last week! Make sure you check out our video game brain trust before reading further. If you missed last week’s #25 games, read here to update yourself. Ready, get set, go #24!
#24 Favorite/Best Video Game
Kai – Worms Armageddon – One of the few multiplayer PC games that could be played on a single computer. An amazing party game, full of humor and customization as well as tactical depth and variety. I spent countless hours at home and at friends’ houses trying to master the art of the ninja rope or the exploding sheep. A great game that perfectly captures the idea that games are about fun and shouldn’t take themselves too seriously.
Scott (Po) – Skies of Arcadia – I’m a sucker for sky pirates and RPGs. I fell in love at first sight.
Andrew – Major League Baseball Featuring Ken Griffey, Jr. (N64) – Call, call, call me Junior. Pretty sure that reticle size never, ever made any difference at all here. Pretty sure that Scott Rolen + anyone else was an absolute trading machine and other teams would drop him pretty much right away for rinse and repeat. This is my most played sports game after Madden and I just felt like I could replay the season mode over and over again. The music, the pageantry, the dynamics were just so fun (only thing holding this game back was that overthrows didn’t happen – if they did, absolute surprise to me). Naturally Mark McGwire shouldn’t be used in game. …with all this said, I tried to play whatever 2K Baseball or whatever people play now a days and I had like 0 outs with 3 runs against me in the top of the 1st so…yeah…
Alana (Fit) – FIFA World Cup Series – What a perfect way to continue the list as the actual World Cup 2014 approaches. FIFA games are all great, but I specified World Cup so that I could play as those famous countries. For me, it’s a timeless game that I can return to over and over. Soundtracks from that game will forever populate my mind. I started playing around 2000, I believe, and Kai and I would play tons of it. I would love to go through the whole World Cup process–it didn’t matter how bad the graphics were. There’s something about that game that gives you that addiction. Even when I start to play real life soccer, I say, “Let’s play FIFA!” It’s a great game for multiplayer and solo, especially for those who love the game. FIFA will always have a special place in my heart and I will continue to play it time and time again. Definitely my most favorite sports video game series.
Chris (Hungry) – House of the Dead III (ARCADE) – There will be a few arcade games that will make my list. The reason I am choosing the arcade version rather than the console release one is the pump-action shotgun that you get to whip around like Arnold in that mall scene in Terminator II. House of the Dead III is by far my favorite arcade shooting game, although there are tons of top choices including: Revolution X, Time Crisis II, Virtua Cop, The Ocean Hunter, etc., mainly because of the memories it produced. It also was one of the few that I beat in the arcade over and over again, along with all the ones listed earlier. It was a money issue, typically, but I couldn’t hold my quarters back for this one. The continuing story throughout the series, the decent graphics, the presence of voice acting, and the ability to choose your stages made this game better than most of its competition. Plus, the fact that it was released for multiple consoles made it even more accessible for in-home gamers. It might have been released in 2002 but it is a game I will still throw quarters into over 16 years later. If I have an arcade in my home one day, this will be one of the first three machines in it.
And with that ends our #24 greatest video game of all time. Keep your eyes ready for next week’s #23! Looking forward to what everyone lists! Let us know what you think with comments below! And as always…stay hungry and fit!
This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of GNC. All opinions are 100% mine.
Have you seen GNC's new commercial? I feel like I've been showing everyone lately. GNC is centering their new campaign about beating average (#BeatAverage). We are ALL about this. Who wants to be average when you could be so much more? I find it absolutely inspiring and motivating. Look at the commercial below.
How awesome is that commercial? There are so many truths in it. How often have you made an excuse in order to not workout? How many times have you "forgotten" to workout? It happens to all of us. But GNC is challenging us to be greater, to be stronger, to be more focused. GNC is here to help us beat average. I appreciate that which is why I've been trying to show everyone that commercial, to inspire them to beat average.
GNC has been around for almost 80 years, originally called the General Nutrition Center. It started in Pittsburgh as a place to go to live well and perform at your very best level. This is still very relevant today. If you aren't performing at your best level, why are you performing at all? When we strive, we should strive for the top of the top. We should be pushing our mind and body to get to that point we haven't ever achieved before. Average is blah, average is not for winners. Average is for those who want to just "get on" through life. No push, no struggle, no achievement. When you work hard, the rewards are endless.
I hope many are with me when I say I want to conquer "Average." Let's conquer and beat Average. No longer do we need a society with run-of-the-mill people. Let's push to the top, push ourselves to struggle through the pain for the path to greatness. If you're with me for this, stop over to GNC Live Well and join #TeamGNC along with Hungry and I. Average is not for us. Beat average to stay hungry and fit!
Lots of Noke pics incoming….
Kick-butt workouts
Thrift store shopping always promises interesting stuff
Look at those lats!
More silliness
Getting ready for the World Cup!
Amazing Sushi dinner
Noke made a new friend and we spent the morning hiking!
Which resulted in her passing out (yay!)
Corn is the signal of warm weather
Cuties
Nice sunsets
Trying to teach Noke how to cuddle
What did YOU do this weekend?
NOTE: Neither Hungry or Fit are sponsored or employed by Vibram or any of its affiliates nor do we have any professional or personal relationships or agreements with any individuals affiliated with or employed by Vibram or any of its partners. All opinions are 100% the property of Hungry.
Please click on this link and read the original story. That is also my citation so no one give me grief about plagiarism! I came across this article the day it was published (about five days ago) and had a significant reaction to what occurred. To loosely summarize the event, two year ago a woman led a lawsuit against Vibram claiming that they deceptively advertised their minimalist shoes and fabricated the health benefits of wearing and exercising in a pair. Vibram lost and it cost them nearly FOUR MILLION dollars. Oh… and now the 70,000,000 Americans that purchased a pair since 2009 are entitled to refunds up to $94 a pair. Here is my reaction.
$300 would really help right now. We just paid taxes, we’re going back to school, we really really want a second vehicle, and those $282 that I could get refunded would make a serious difference. I have had three pairs since 2009; Alana bought me two of those. At first, they were difficult to fit to my ridiculously oddly shaped feet but Vibram replaced them with different sizes for me at no additional cost. I owned three different models and they each fit differently, some better than others. Once you find the right size… they are very comfortable, in my opinion.
I have used them for all kinds of physical activity from running on the beach to Spartan Races to Warrior Dashes to 5ks to martial arts to bodybuilding to powerlifting to just about everything else I do. Sometimes they work better then other forms of footwear, sometimes I can’t tell a difference, and sometimes they are clearly not very effective. Vibram tries to help you in the selection process by creating shoes for specific disciplines, but it is really all up to you to decide what you like. AND THAT IS THE KEY!
We make our own decisions. If someone tells you to eat dirt because it will make your muscles grow, will you do it? What if a company that is really popular at the time tells you to do it, then what? Everyone who purchased a pair of FiveFingers should have done their research (online, books, magazines, etc.), talked to experts (their doctor, podiatrist, sports medicine professionals, personal trainers, etc.), and thought of the consequences of wearing minimalist shoes. I weigh over 200lbs and have ZERO foot arch. I have a size 11.5 right foot and 12.5 left foot (American sizes)… oh, and they are both EE width. When I run, I am always visited by my best friends, shin splints. Having these minimalist shoes does not help my impact like wearing moon shoes would, so do I run on hard surfaces with them? NO!
Now, do I think, as a professional in the fitness field that these can help strengthen muscles in the lower legs and feet, improve range of motion in the ankles, feet, and toes, and aid in developing balance and agility… YES, I DO. If they are used responsibly with proper fitness regiments and technique, they most certainly can and they have for me. I’m not quite sold on the elimination of heel lift, development of better posture, and ability to move naturally (maybe more naturally than certain footwear) but that’s beyond the point. I did not buy the shoes for ANY of the reasons that Vibram advertised, so I am not upset by these claims being deceptive for some individuals.
To hit on one last point, I want to respond to the claims of the APMA that these shoes can have negative health impacts, including being more prone to allowing puncture wounds and increasing stress on the lower parts of the your legs. Are you serious? Is this not COMPLETELY OBVIOUS to everyone? There is clearly very little protection on the bottom, and Vibram does not hide this. They don’t need to though because you can look at a pair in the store and see that if you step on a thumbtack, that point WILL go through your skin. Also, you’re making your lower extremities more vulnerable but that is usually the case when trying to strengthen something. Will pushups make my chest stronger? Yes, they will. Will I be more likely to get hurt sitting on the couch or doing pushups? Obviously doing pushups, but you decide to become vulnerable in order to make progress.
So, please, if you wear FiveFingers, other minimalist shoes, or ever wanted a pair do not abandon your desire because of this lawsuit. This SEEMS to be yet another case of people trying to set themselves for life because of a mistake they made themselves. Their egos will not allow them to be the ones at fault, so they point the finger, win for some strange reason, and never have to work again. If they really cared, they would donate that money to an organization that will provide shoes for developing countries and societies that want shoes. Or maybe they would donate it to an organization that could provide free surgical operations to people in need that have feet conditions. (I have had MULTIPLE foot operations and know how debilitating those conditions can be when they are not treated. I wish it on no one else.) Do your research on the topic, take responsibility for YOUR actions, and know that this part of your life is in your hands. You get to decide what shoes go on your feet in our country… don’t take that for granted. As always, stay hungry and fit!
BONUS KITTY PIC
Cutie wooties
I would say one of the most popular desserts of all time are chocolate chip cookies. I’ve rarely seen people deny them out of distaste, maybe just out of nutritional reasons. Chris is always wanting some fresh-baked cookies, and I decided to be nice (rare moments, I kn0w). However, they wouldn’t be completely without a twist of health. These chocolate chip cookies have whole-wheat flour in them instead of regular, which adds more fiber into our diet! Who needs apples when you could have these cookies? Just kidding, kids… But truth be told, these are full of fiber, and not overdone with sugar and butter. These are perfect for summer days and sure to win you friends!
Gotta love these ingredients
Best part to eat
Boooom!
*Question of the Day: What’s your favorite kind of cookie?
BONUS KITTY PIC
Sajah being cute
So finally we start the list! The list of our video game brain trust‘s top 25 video games of all time. We are–of course–starting with #25. Everyone’s criteria is different: that’s what makes it so interesting. Click here to be reminded of who is making these reviews. We aim to put out one of these each week for 25 weeks all the way down to our #1 choice! Here we go…
#25 Favorite/Best Video Game
Kai – Railroad Tycoon – I could not make a list of my favorite games without including the title that ignited my passion for gaming. Sid Meier’s Railroad Tycoon (1 of 2 games on this list with his name attached) came to us via the US Postal Service in a package from my grandpa. It arrived on Thanksgiving day in 1991 with the note “Too hard for me, maybe you guys can figure it out.” I watched my dad play it for 6 hours that day.
Eventually I took over at the keyboard and never looked back. It was a deceptively simple game of tycoons and industry which I never really mastered, but loved all the same. It perfectly captured the evocative power of the railroad and the addictiveness of building your empire. It had realistic historical and geographical models. It even had a functional stock market that allowed hostile takeovers. Firaxis recently made it free to download here: http://www.2kgames.com/railroads/downloads.html
I played a lot of Railroad Tycoon 3 in college. It’s a very deep game, with a powerful economic simulation driving the construction of your railroad empire. There are a number of scenarios that allowed you to explore different places and eras. While not as approachable as the original, it was a lot of fun to try and figure out which routes would bring your railroad to prosperity.
Scott (Po) – Morrowind/Skyrim – I’ve spent a disgusting number of hours in the Elder Scrolls world. I regret none of them.
Andrew – Star Fox 64/series (SNES + forward) – I feel like I am going to be saying this a lot on this list but I feel like this title should be higher. Star Fox felt so ahead of its time…sure, when I played it at Bradley’s, a friend’s, or someone else’s house it took forever to beat but then I borrowed it from a friend a couple years ago and it actually took like an hour so, as always, childhood nostalgia plays a role. Star Fox 64 (like a couple other games on this list) marked a hugely successful jump into 3D. Star Fox 64 had great music, a great branching path that included “fake” final boss battles, and you had to defend your squad mates or risk losing them (and had to score high in order to repair them). Star Fox: Assault was more of the same (not a bad thing for a game like that since I didn’t think Star Fox Adventures was a good move) and this series badly needs to be updated. My only issue is that I think this is a game best played on a controller and doesn’t need motion integration…unless it’s getting the full arcade treatment with throttle control and buttons galore.
Alana (Fit) – Age of Empires Series – It was incredibly tough to pick #25. I had several options and finally after a few days, and a long swim in the pool, I decided my order. My top 25 video game list isn’t about what’s critically acclaimed to be “best.” It’s about what has the most meaningful impact and memories. My #25 is Age of Empires. This may have been my first RTS, but I can’t be completely positive. The first of the series came out in 1997, so I would’ve just been seven years old. No doubt I watched my brother playing until I could figure it out on my own (without a manual, to be sure–for some reason, I always prided myself upon that). Age of Empires is a classic RTS, starting at the beginning of civilization, gathering resources, starting an army, to continue to advance. I played this series up until AoE 3 and it was an everyday thing. Seeing how you could build your empire up, explore the land, gather resources and conquer always interested me. It’s fairly basic, but you can play for hours on end. I played this loads of times when I was little. We did some LAN parties with it too–miss those days! It also taught me somewhat of history and also how to handle a RTS. I still go back and play it today!
Chris (Hungry) – Outwar – I cannot stress enough how difficult it is to make this list! I have to really limit myself to not picking multiple games from the same franchise! I’m starting it off with a game that very few will know of, but those that know it will freak out to see it listed. OUTWAR. This internet browser-based MMORPG started off as a free game where players entered groups ruled by stronger players, gaining power by defeating other players in fights and recruiting others to play Outwar. I have not played in a very long time, probably at least 10 years, so I don’t know what the game is like now, but it is still around. Nevertheless, my short-lived obsession with this unique game and the amount of customization that you can put into yourself earn it a spot on my list. I am sure my accounts are inactive at this point, and those accounts were not impressive at all, but people were selling Outwar accounts LONG before World of Warcraft was even a thought. That game was just so awesome at the time and anyone with internet access could play. I don’t remember much about it, in all honesty, but Outwar originals will have a blast of nostalgia when they see the image below!
So there you have it–the first of our long list! I love how different and similar they all are to each other and can’t wait until next week! Please comment below with YOUR #25 game of all time. Also let us know if you have any questions about any of these games. Thanks to all who contributed! Remember to stop by next week to see what lands as #24 for this video game trust! And as always…stay hungry and fit!
*Question of the Day: What’s your #25 video game of all time?
Good eats
Passed out after softball and drinks
Workouts
Noke tore up her bed
Diva Dash race!
Can you find Nymeria?
More workouts
Hi Dovah!
Thai Food
Noodle face
Looks like a caterpillar
Snow came…
Breakfast!
Our cute pup
Happy Mother’s Day!
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