Monthly Archives: December 2013

Dec312013

Adventure Clothing – Without Getting Damp and Sticky

This is a guest post by Ben Brown: Freelance writer, author and walking enthusiast Ben Brown looks at the best in breathable technologies – and why it works.

Breathable qualities are an essential characteristic for outdoor gear and modern materials and manufacturing processes ensure that this essential ingredient is built into most sportswear today. In fact breathable fabric could be argued to be more important than wind-proofing and waterproofing fabrics (or at least as equally important). However, there’s plenty of jargon to wade through (enough to get you into a real sweat) when it comes to choosing the right gear for your outdoor pursuits. In terms of breathable it helps to understand the basics.

Natural Cooling Systems – The Naked Truth

Breathable garments are designed to work in conjunction with the body’s natural cooling system; perspiration. “Garments” is a broad term and, in the case of outdoor gear, it includes everything from the tip of your headgear to the tips of your boots and shoes. As we overheat, our bodies produce sweat to cool us; the moisture evaporates, our skin cools and we return to our optimum temperature. This is fine if you’re not wearing any clothes at all, but not so great if you’re trekking up a mountain or running a marathon (in both cases clothes being more or less required) or conducting any other kind of sporting activity. For hikers, skiers, mountaineers and long distance trekkers. Balancing the need to stay warm and dry means that the body’s natural cooling mechanism can become a problem. Once clothing becomes damp from perspiration, it can remain so, keeping us cooling longer than we need to and eventually chilling us. While problematic at any time of year this can be a serious issue in winter when staying warm while outdoors can equal staying alive. Breathable fabrics operate to solve this problem by effectively drying quickly. Moisture is moved away from the skin and evaporates from the surface of the material, meaning our temperatures remain constant. While traditional materials, such as wool, have these qualities, modern polypropylene and polyester have been designed to create lighter weight garments with the same qualities. In terms of wool, often used in part in fleeces as an insulation layer, look for high quality merino wool products.

Wicking Qualities and Why they Work

While wool has been favoured as a breathable, fast drying fabric but the modern equivalents are considered more efficient. Today they are designed to incorporate ‘wicking’ qualities. Wicking describes the process in which moisture is moved from the skin and evaporates quickly, transferring it away from the skin in the same way that heat evaporates wax from a candle. For base layers, designed for a range of outdoor activities, materials with wicking qualities are ideal. For insulating layers material that is also breathable allows moisture to be quickly removed from between the layers and a final breathable waterproof layer ensures that excess moisture is drawn away from the body, while keeping out rain and or wind.

Horizontal Rain and Minuscule Vapours

Waterproof and breathable outer garments are now widely available and may seem an unlikely combination of qualities. These garments let moisture out and yet also stop it from passing through from the outside. The simple science behind this seemingly magical quality is the fact that moisture vapour from sweat is actually made up of smaller droplets, which can leave the fine mesh of the fabric, while droplets that form on the outer layer of the material (droplets in this case often being pelting, horizontal rain) are too big to enter, these run off thanks to waterproofing coatings. In many cases over time both the waterproofing and breathable qualities of this type of garment becomes compromised but regular treatments with recommended products help to restore and/or maintain jackets and coats.

Buying Tips

Buying appropriate waterproof outdoor gear is essential. For winter activities robust, strong outer layers are advisable, especially for mountaineering, trekking and hiking. Summer brings it’s own challenges in terms of weather conditions and lighter weight coats are advisable, unless climbing to high altitudes. For cyclists and runners these lighter weight outer layers are often ideal, even in winter. However, in all case ensure the best quality (usually branded) items are chosen. At this time of year as the winter sales and Boxing Day sales beckon, it can be the perfect time to restock on all manner of outdoor gear, from tents to clothing and waterproofing products. Where possible always buy quality outdoor wear and kit, as apart from its effectiveness it can last for many years (and many adventures) to come.

Dec302013

Safe and Sound in New Zealand! #travel

We made it! We finally arrived after 12 hours of flying and another of customs. We’re a little groggy (Chris is actually sleeping on the couch right now), but we’ve made it! Just in case you wondered where we’ve run off to…we are here in New Zealand for two weeks for a cousin’s wedding and to explore both islands! Some of you know I’m half-Kiwi, meaning that my mum is from New Zealand. We are very excited for this trip. My mum, dad, brother, and his girlfriend will be arriving tomorrow. My aunt picked us up and we are just getting acclimated. This post is going to be picture-heavy. Just of things we did in California and things we’ve just done in New Zealand! Here goes…

In NZ at a park across the way!

Let’s start with Christmas in Santa Monica, California (my hometown). We arrived Christmas Eve and boy did it go fast. We saw lots of family and friends, ate tons of good food, and got in fun workouts. Christmas loot was incredible this year, some of the standouts were the Jawbone UP, a mixer, Star Wars CCG cards, Amazon gift cards, oh and…A GOPRO!!!!!! Yeah Chris went a little overboard this year in terms of presents, so so excited to use the GoPro in New Zealand. We actually got footage of us “surfing” (there were no waves that day), and you’ll see it once I learn how to edit it.

Just arrived in Cali

Star Wars cards…super rare!

Jawbone UP…records movement, sleeping, and eating. A wrist band.

GoPro!!

Joys of opening packs

This was at a delicious Christmas Eve party with my family…Chris eating children of course

Gotta love Santa Monica..

In N Out…

Bay Cities!!

Mum’s homemade breakfast

Japanese food with Sophie and Kai

Epic Tekka Don

Time to move onto workouts…we did some improvising home workouts

Some at the beach with friends…

Rope climbing!

He got all the way up

And don’t forget the surf!

Beautiful picture from the GoPro camera

The five days in California went by incredibly fast, but I’m not surprised. Then on Sunday night, we loaded our stuff into a car, Dad dropped us off at the airport and we were on our way to New Zealand! We arrived to New Zealand Tuesday @ 5:30am. Yes, Tuesday…we skipped Monday! 18 hour time difference plus 12 hour flight will do that to you I guess. Here’s a few pictures from the journey so far…

Mum and I with travel pillows

Had to get this journal for the trip

Food at LAX

Airplane food, not bad!

Little itty bitty beginning of sunrise

They don’t refrigerate eggs here!

Chris’ epic kiwi breakfast

Going for a walk

New Zealand is just pretty

We hope to update you as often as we can, depending on internet of course. Probably the hardest part of all of this is being away from the cats for so long, but it helps to know that they are in good hands in Boulder. We are in Auckland now but will soon be travelling south. So excited to be here with Chris and my huge kiwi family for this trip. We are going to have lots of great food and find fun creative ways to workout on the road. Happy New Years!! As always…stay hungry and fit!

Dec272013

How to Make Beignets in Under 10 Minutes

Back in college, I did two service trips to New Orleans. That is where I discovered this magical things called beignets (French for “donuts”). There’s nothing like them really, and I always get overexcited when I get to eat them. Although there’s nothing like getting them fresh and hot from Cafe du Monde (original place in New Orleans), it’s still a treat to be able to have them from home. This isn’t going to be a complicated recipe. No, instead, I used the actual box mix that Cafe du Monde sells. Chris got me 3 boxes of them for Valentine’s Day last year. This product gets a full thumbs up.

Feast yer eyes

Prep Time: 7 minutes
Cooking Time: >1 minute

Ingredients

2 cups Cafe du Monde beignet box mix
7/8 cup water
flour for unsticking purposes
oil
powdered sugar

Directions

Stir together the 2 cups of the mix and the water until it is all bound together
Heat up a deep pot or skillet with an inch of oil in it. Turn up the heat!
Flour a cutting board and your rolling pin and roll out the mixture until it’s around 1/4 inch
Then go ahead and cut it into a little bigger than 2 square inch pieces. It was all a rough estimate for me.
As soon as your oil is hot (I don’t have a thermometer so I dropped water in to see if it would sizzle), drop those bad boys in. They shouldn’t need longer than 2 minutes
Take them out and dry them
Pour copious amounts of powdered sugar on them and then STUFF YOUR FACE!!

At least, that’s what I did. I couldn’t even finish them and Chris wouldn’t help me because he wasn’t hungry that early. I had tried making these before and failed horribly. It’s taken me awhile to try again and I’m glad I did because they came out pretty darn good. Not as good as Cafe du Monde, but that was never a goal. Go ahead and treat yourself with a box of this magic. We found it at World Market near us, but look it up! And as always…stay hungry and fit!

BONUS KITTY PIC

Nymeria taking a selfie

Dec262013

Intro to Power Bodybuilding

A few months ago, we tried introducing you to the Barstarzz, street workouts, and their body-weight exercises that can be performed in any neighborhood park. Ever since I saw that first Hannibal for King video in a New York City Subway, I was amazed by his relative strength and how he could manage his own weight so well. It was far more impressive than what most people can do in the gym, whether they are bodybuilders, powerlifters, crossfitters, triathletes, etc. Ever since that time, I’ve used their workouts a bit more in my own workouts to perform muscle ups (without kipping) and the human flag. It is a very practical strength.

Now, it is time to take a whole new approach to staying in shape and introduce you to power bodybuilding and its founder, Mike O’Hearn. There is a good chance that you’ve seen him somewhere but just didn’t know who he is or what he does. I’m not going to tell you his whole life story or what I know of it because this is about power bodybuilding but there is a chance I’ll talk more about him in the future. We will be in Los Angeles next week so maybe I’ll go to The Mecca at 4 a.m. and see him there. Before we get started, I support power bodybuilding because I sort of it did it without knowing it was actually real. I almost never isolate abs, never hit the treadmill/bike/elliptical, and do tons of power lifts, so it was somewhat similar.

Here is my understanding of it and a brief introduction to power bodybuilding. As you might be able to tell, it is part bodybuilding and part power lifting. Essentially, through exercises from both worlds you maximize your strength while keeping a low body fat percentage and a physique that you enjoy looking at in the mirror. Mike, a 4 time NATURAL Mr Universe, does not “do cardio or abs.” I get a lot of questions about those two. “Cardio” is often used as a means of burning calories to burn fat. People prefer to do it on a treadmill, bike, or elliptical because it is easy to calculate the number of calories you burn. Many individuals also focus on isolating their core because they know you need to strengthen and build your abdominal muscles so once you burn the fat necessary, your “abs” become more visible.

Power bodybuilding accomplishes both of these DURING your session lifting weights. In theory, if you are putting %100 percent into heavy squats, deadlifts, bench presses, shoulder presses, etc, you are burning massive amounts of calories. You could be more out of breath and have a higher heart rate than when you hit the treadmill. Also, you need to keep your whole CORE tight and engaged during these fairly complex lifts. You want a neutral back and tight core during many “power” lifts. Essentially, during a one hour power bodybuilding workout session you can accomplish multiple training goals, which makes this a very efficient way of training.

Now, Mike didn’t get on the cover of hundreds of magazines without focusing on all his body parts. He is an expert in the industry with one of the most impressive lists of accomplishments. He also isolates his arms, lives an active overall lifestyle, and does everything he needs to be cover model ready. He does it all naturally as well. Find me someone else that has that impressive a physique and that much strength without using performance enhancing drugs. And for anyone that doubts him being natural, you should trust what good people say and also look at the development of his body. I would never want to look like a professional bodybuilder or even physique competitor in the professional ranks. Too much size, lack of function and also far too vascular. But that’s just me, I find Mike’s physique set on the frame of a taller guy to be more aesthetically appealing. These were my words, I have never even spoken to Mike, but this is how I explain power bodybuilding to anyone interested in taking a new approach to building strength and burning fat. In the end, check out some of the links below and consider following his advice to reach some of your goals. (Hopefully I get to meet him next week at Gold’s Venice! He’s also a huge dog lover and motivator! Mike O’Hearn and power bodybuilding are Hungry&Fit approved!)

Mike’s website: http://www.mikeohearn.com/tag/power-bodybuilding/

Mike’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/mikeohearnvideos

Mike’s Instagram: http://instagram.com/mikeohearn

BONUS KITTY PIC

Sajah is a stud

Dec242013

How to Battle Weight Room Intimidation

We’ve all been there. When you enter the weight room and feel like a puny little thing in the corner, scared to enter this different realm. But there is a way to get from point A to point B, I promise. I was once there, nervous to enter that scary place filled with a bunch of grunting males. But I got out of that phase (obviously) and now I feel completely natural in the weight room. I don’t even notice a difference between cardio and weight rooms for me because that “status” it once held is completely gone. I feel calm and comfortable in there. Follow these steps and you can too.

1. Bring a weight room friend. If you really want to broach into this awesome place where epic gains can exist, then it’s good to start with someone who’s already been. Someone who has already been down this path you are now taking and has that comfort that you want when stepping into the weight room. A friend always helps. That way you guys can get into your routine together and talk to one another without noticing the other people who tend to stare.

2. Pump up your jams. Part of this is distracting you from your anxiety of where you are. Make yourself a playlist that you can rock out to, turn it up really loud, and get to your exercise. Make sure you’re really in the music and before you know it, you’ve already spent half an hour in a place you formerly feared.

3. Have a plan. Have your ideal workout already written down and take it with you (either in a workout journal or your phone) into the weight room. This way there are no awkward pauses in your workout and you can stay steadily focused on what you want to accomplish. Then you won’t even notice everyone around you.

4. Let it all out. A big part of why people are uncomfortable to enter weight rooms is the noise. There’s a lot of plate clanging, grunts, and shouts. Put your all into your workout and you may find a grunt or two escaping your mouth too! Don’t be shy, if you need to grunt to get that weight up, do it! And you will fit in even more so, too. Act like a natural 😉

5. Ignore them. People are going to stare at you. That’s what happens in weight rooms when people rest between sets. That doesn’t mean they’re judging you, people just like to see what others are doing. Some even look at others to learn from them. Don’t let this add to your anxiety. People staring is normal.

6. Put on your serious face. This is a big one for me since I’m a trainer at a gym. If I don’t go into serious mode, I will be stopped left and right. However, for you, it’s important to do this so everyone stays out of your way. They can tell that you’re here to do business, not fool around. A big plus in the weight room.

7. Just do it. Decide one day that you are going to try it. Even if it’s just for a set of curls. Go in there with the heavy-weights (or not so much as it later turns out) and lift! Put in perspective: if you start going now, those nerves will wear down within weeks at the most!

There are some tips from us to you so that you can enter that weight room and get strong. So you don’t have to have any anxiety or nerves about stepping into that zone and beginning another fitness journey. That’s what it’s all about. Battle weight room intimidation to stay hungry and fit!

BONUS KITTY PIC

Sajah and Nymeria scoping out our snake, Dovah

Dec232013

The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds (A Review by a NERD!)

On November 22nd, 2013, I walked into Target as it opened to purchase Nintendo’s latest installment in The Legend of Zelda series. I have been playing Zelda games for over 20 years and have beaten most of them, at least once, so I have a good amount of experience in writing this short review. In 1992, A Link to the Past was released. Not only was it one of the best games on the SNES (That is saying A LOT) but it is also one of the greatest console games of ALL TIME. (Not just my opinion, also the opinion of IGN and others.) The LTTP remake for handheld was very good as well. Six generations following that game’s events, this sequel starts. It’s not only in the same world but also has the same map. It’s so unreal I almost didn’t believe it as I started playing.

Basically this is the second 3D Zelda game for the 3DS, the first being the re-release of Ocarina of Time. I played that on the 3DS as well, and own it (didn’t beat it… I know, I know), but it wasn’t disappointing. I knew it wouldn’t compare to playing the original on N64 in 1996, in the height of my gaming lifetime, but it was solid. This is on a whole new level. Here are the pros and the cons, including the reason why you NEED to buy A Link Between Worlds.

In my opinion, if you are reading this and debating what to do, you NEED to buy this game. I would pay far more then $39.99 for this. It is SO much better than some of the $59.99 releases for the larger consoles. The ONLY disadvantage is has is that it needs to be played on the 3DS or 2DS (definitely the 3DS) and is too short for my liking. But it’s not necessarily short for a Zelda game, so let that be known. (I love JRPGs and LONG games, and making games longer, so this is totally subjective.)

Ridiculously cute pictures of Nymeria and Chris

Now for the ridiculously long list of positives, which I will break down:

Soundtrack – It is amazing and original. It features classic Zelda tracks that are altered, remixed, and sound crystal clear without being too complicated. You can only do much on a handheld with music, and this does it. By it, I mean, whatever can be done. It is engaging and varied enough that you don’t have anyone complaining about these annoying riffs repeating in their head. At the same time, it hits that nostalgic effect right on the head. (Replaying Adventure of Link through the DS Store did not make everyone in the house happy!)

Graphics – Again, it’s a 3DS, which can’t and does not try to compete with the larger consoles, but it provides one of the most engaging 3D experiences we’ve seen in gaming. It is charming, reminds you of past Zelda games, compliments the music perfectly, and ADDS to the story. It is exactly what the game needs.

Controls – Again, Nintendo provides top notch quality. The stylus is not used a lot but the touch screen is. At the same time, there are shortcuts to avoid using it too much in the heat of a battle. No clumsy fumbling from d-pad and buttons to the touch screen, which I love. Some innovations but nothing too risky, no failures. You utilize the L and R keys often but just like the original Legend of Zelda, you keep it real with the d-pad and the classic buttons. Using the running feature, I won’t spoil it, can be hard to handle but it’s not unreasonable. You can also attack at all angles, which a lack of was the downfall of the original Castlevania and Ninja Gaiden.

Story – I read a review on Metacritic that this game doesn’t have anything that makes you attached to the story. Oh man, do I disagree. This game hits a home run in this category. If you look at the amount of releases in major series (Resident Evil, Castlevania, Mario, Zelda, Final Fantasy, etc.) you start to ask what makes this game different, and worthwhile. Without providing too many spoilers, this game goes more in depth with some of the famous supporting characters in the repeating Legend of the Hero of Hyrule. Once you play you will know what I am talking about. It brings back classic characters and innovates with villains. Some games neglect to bring an aspect of Ganon and some games focus solely on Ganon. This game does everything. It is a great balance. I can’t say much about story without providing spoilers, but just think Symphony of the Night, sort of, for Zelda. Enough said, right?

the_legend_of_zelda__a_link_between_worlds_by_hylianluke-d6cxtjz

Image source

Difficulty: It is a Zelda game, not Ninja Gaiden. It is easy but engages the mind and the fingers! There are some challenging parts but beating the main quest without full completion takes little effort. Turning into a painting actually makes the game far easier since it is the ultimate defense!

Extra – HERO MODE! Once you beat the game you unlock hero mode, I am almost through with it, so I can say more later. It is similar, but a hit basically kills you! (Not quite) There is also a Streetpass battle function that I haven’t messed around with too much but its another function! Small SPOILER: You can choose the order of dungeons to complete, to a certain degree, and rupees actually mean something! You buy many key items instead of finding them! Remember the last time those two functions were available? 1986’s The Legend of Zelda for NES. It brings back amazing memories.

So basically, this game obviously has very few downfalls. It has a riveting story with tons of integration into the history of Hyrule. It also goes more in depth with certain characters that have been neglected in the past. It may not be revolutionary, but it is very innovative and might influence a better flow of handheld gaming. Gamespot named it 2013’s game of the year, across all platforms… not a bad title.

Give it a play and let me know what you think. Also comment below on your history with the Zelda franchise and which games were your favorites! The original Legend of Zelda will always be first on my list since it was my first game I ever played and the game that got me into gaming.

BONUS KITTY PIC

Sassy girl

Dec222013

Common Causes Of Hair Loss

Hair loss can be an emotionally traumatizing experience for many people, yet there can be a variety of causes and contributing factors that can lead to this eventuality. Prevalent in both men and women, losing your hair can be akin to losing your identity, and it can leave you feeling exposed and out of sorts. Unfortunately there is no definitive cause of hair loss, and there can be many reasons behind your hair falling out based on your gender, your age, your genes and your general well-being. Across each of these variables, it can be possible to take steps to counteract hair loss, and promote stronger, thicker growth. But what are the risk factors for causing this type of condition in the first place?

Image source

One of the most common causes of hair loss in men is genetic. Know as male pattern baldness, many men inherit genetic code that actually makes them lose their hair as they age. This is extremely common, and some suggest as much as 95% of baldness in men can be attributed to these factors. There is very little that can be done to tackle the genetic element of hair loss, which often sets in from early middle age. There are remedies that can help keep hair stronger for longer, but in these cases you are fighting an uphill battle against your body. This can be just as embarrassing for men as for anyone else, however, and is often regarded as a sign of aging – as a result, many men understandably want to keep their hair intact for as long as possible.

Image source

There are other cases, however, where the hair loss does not and cannot be the result of male pattern baldness, or any genetic trigger. There are lifestyle and health factors that can also have an impact on hair loss. Stress is a major cause of hair loss, and those who lead frantic lives are far more likely to notice their hair falling out. This can be particularly acute at times of major stress or upheaval, the hair loss only serving to compound the stresses and anxieties that caused it in the first place. If you want to fight against these causes of hair loss, you need to lead a less stressful life, or find ways of relaxing. While work and family life may be stressful, this can never be allowed to affect your health, and hair loss is a sign you could be pushing too hard.

There are also a number of health and dietary issues that can cause hair loss, and it may be wise to consult with your doctor ahead of taking any course of action to redress the situation. Supplements can be helpful for promoting stronger hair growth, which can help you get over your hair loss in time. Whatever the cause of your hair loss, it is important to find out about the options open to you, and a qualified physician will always be the best person to recommend how you should proceed.

Dec212013

Weekend Workout: Twisting Mountain Climbers

Hooray, the weekend is here!! For us, that means the madness of preparing before we leave Christmas Eve morning. But for most people, that means more time spent with loved ones and more loved FOOD! I’m here to give you a little extra exercise that can be done anywhere that can help shred your abs and keep you cut for the holidays. It will hit all across your abdominals, but especially your obliques, the side of your torso. It’s super simple, let’s do it.

Is there a name for it? I’m sure there is. But for myself, I call it the twisting mountain climbers. And they are not meant to be fast. It’s an extra perk if you have a bosu ball to do this on, but it’s perfectly possible to do without. Alright, let’s go step-by-step, though you won’t really need it.

1. Find a slightly elevated surface (like a bosu ball) and place your hands on it. Try to stack your wrists underneath your shoulders. Place your toes on the floor so it looks like you are in a yoga plank position.

2. Bracing your core, pull your right knee to your left side, basically twisting your body. This is supposed to be a slow movement to really challenge your ab muscles.

3. Place that right foot down and do the same with the left: bring it over to the right and twist your body.

4. Repeat.

Really complicated, huh? You can do this for reps or you can time yourself. It’s much harder than it looks and it’s all about muscle control rather than speed. This is a great exercise to do over the weekend for a slam dunk core workout! Use this exercise to stay hungry and fit!

Question of the Day: What is your go-to core exercise?

Dec202013

Healthy Broccoli and Onion Quiche Recipe

As you know, we’re travelling to California and New Zealand in less than a week. This means we need to get rid of perishables ASAP! What is a good way to use lots of eggs in a yummy way? Oh yeah, quiche. Now, I’ve never made a quiche of my own, but I’ve always always been a fan. My parents both make wonderful quiches in such different ways and I was excited to try it. And I am amazed how easy it is to make it! Quiches are going to happen a lot more often in this household! I was planning to have it for breakfast or lunch tomorrow, but unfortunately…none of it survived (thanks, Chris). This recipe was adapted from Whole Foods.

…

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 35 minutes

Macronutrients

Serves: 8 (well, I cut it into 8 pieces…obviously just served us 2, serve yourself more if this isn’t enough and you don’t have to feel guilty about it!)
Calories: 98
Fat: 4.4g
Carbs: 7.4g
Protein: 6.8g

Ingredients

4 eggs
1 small broccoli (roughly 1.5 cups)
1 white onion
1 cup milk
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp dried oregano
black pepper to taste
paprika to taste
1/4 cup whole-wheat flour

Directions

First, grease up a square or circle baking dish and pre-heat oven to 350 degrees F.
Dice up the onion (don’t forget your goggles so you don’t cry!) and chop up the broccoli into small little pieces

Heat up a pan with oil and cook the onions until tender. Then throw the broccoli in for 5 minutes or so.

Put the cooked veggies into your baking dish

Alrighty, let’s move onto our egg mixture. Grab a large bowl and put the eggs, milk, Parmesan, salt, oregano, and pepper. Whisk whisk whisk! Then slowly mix in the flour.

Now pour the egg mixture into the baking dish evenly.

And that’s it. Now we just put it in the oven for 35 minutes. After it’s ready, let it cool before you dig in!

This recipe was so easy and so delicious. Like I said, we ended up finishing the whole tin in one meal. We are hungry and fit after all. This dish is great with some ketchup, too. I am so excited to play with this recipe and throw different veggies, spices, and meats (for Chris) into it and see what happens. To top it all off, this recipe is ridiculously healthy which helps me stay true to my goals. Just look at those macros above! Use this recipe to stay hungry and fit!

Way too small of a piece

Love the broccoli bites

Question of the Day: What’s your favorite quiche ingredients?

BONUS KITTY PIC

Kitties in da bathroom

Dec182013

My New Love: Pho

Yes, Pho. Pronounced “fuh.” My boss took me to Saigon Xpress a few weeks ago and I consequently fell in love. You know we love noodle dishes like ramen, and this takes it to a whole ‘nother level. I had heard of Pho before, of course, and knew it had something to do with noodles, but wasn’t sure what all the fuhs was about (sorry, I had to). And then I tasted some and now I’m obsessed.

from Saigon Xpress

So what is Pho? Pho is a big bowl of broth, rice or egg noodles, vegetables, and whatever protein you have ordered (I get tofu). But wait, the magic isn’t done yet. Along with an absurdly large bowl of this madness, you get a huge plate of fresh bean sprouts, jalapenos, and thai basil. Restaurants usually serve hoisin sauce and sriracha as well for you to pour on as you please. So once you get your steaming bowl of deliciousness, you put the bean sprouts and basil in (as well as any sauces) and then stir it around. Then you may feast.

Why is it so good? The mix of fresh and hot ingredients is absolutely wonderful. And slurping up the noodles is a big favorite of mine too. For me, the real star is the thai basil. It has this minty flavor that totally zests up the entire dish. So far, I have not been able to finish my serving, even though I get a small. It’s a lot of food. I liked it so much when I had lunch with my boss that I ordered one to go for Chris later that night. I cannot wait to go again, Saigon Xpress is definitely a favorite. We tried it at Chez Thuy as well, but it didn’t compare to Saigon.

Another huge plus for me is the healthy factor. I do not feel any heaviness, regret, or guilt after I’ve finished my portion. I always feel happy, full, and content. I get my fill of liquids, carbs, vegetables, and protein all wrapped up in one healthy dish. I cannot even express the tastiness that this dish holds. Look up your local Pho eatery and go there ASAP. And if you’re near Longmont, CO, go to Saigon Xpress–you won’t regret it! Eating Pho is one great way to stay hungry and fit!