How to Workout at Disneyland

As you saw, we went to Disneyland over the weekend. It was a blast–no doubts there. However, when you’re at Disneyland for 13 hours, it’s hard to fit a workout in at the gym. How do we remedy this situation? Workout at Disneyland! What?! It’s possible, I promise. Despite the churros, the popcorn, and the beignets, you can also fit in some good workouts. After all, you do spend a considerable amount of time waiting in line. Instead of wasting time being bored or on your smart phone, but that time to good use! Work it!

Some of these are self-explanatory, but others I will delve into.

When I say incline push-ups, you might be thinking where. I say incline, because you don’t want to put your hands on the gross Disneyland ground. So there are usually poles forming the lines, or huge flower bed holders and so forth. Find one of those in line, move your body in the correct place, and start doing push-ups! It’ll give you a rush and a pump and get you even more excited for the ride!
When I say partner shoulder raises or biceps curls, you obviously need a partner. Now, you can do loads of partner exercises, but there were only so much room on my thing. For example, with shoulder raises you would have someone press on your straight arms, while you try to raise them. There are so many options for this, you can really get creative.

It’s actually easy to fit in a workout at Disneyland or any other theme park because you spend some time waiting in line! Pair that with the thousands of steps you will walk and you’ve done a great workout for the day! Did you know that we took 30,000 steps (13.4mi) when we were at Disneyland? That could’ve been my highest ever. So instead of waiting in line doing nothing at a theme park, spice it up and exercise! Have fun and workout! And as always, stay hungry and fit!

BONUS PUPPY PIC

Wet dog wet dog!

Oct152014

Get Back Up

With this big move and transition including everything and above, Hungry and I are struggling to create a routine. I’m using the train to get to work, he’s driving, he has weird hours, I like to be home before sundown if I’m walking by myself. What am I getting at? It’s tough for us to make a solid fitness routine. We haven’t been on our A-game (Hungry has been much much more than I), we haven’t been Hungry and Fit. I’ve been seriously struggling with setting a routine. There were times where I wouldn’t workout for a week! What! That’s crazy for us, but it happens. Sometimes you can’t always be a power machine because life enjoys throwing curve balls. But you can always get back on your feet and start again. Always.

Recent trip to the gym

Despite our bumpy road of transition–finding gyms, finding time for the gym, starting new jobs, juggling the animals, etc.–we are starting to get back on our feet. Hungry has been really good about finding time and pushing himself, me not so much. However, I miss having sore muscles and callused hands. I miss that feeling of desperate fatigue, of power, of strength, of a knowing calm. Although I am a bit sad and disappointed with how much strength I have lost, I know that I can get it back. I know I can get my bench press and squats back up to even beyond what they once were.

It’s all about perspective. If you sink yourself into the little hole that you feel you are in, you are going to drown. However, if you step back and put into 6 month, a year, or even 5 year perspective, is it really going to put that big of a dent in your life? The answer is no. The answer is that you’ve fallen on your butt before, and somehow you’ve gotten up again. So even though I’m not on my feet, I have the mindset and knowledge that I will stand back up. I’m pulling myself up now and I know I will be hitting the iron on a regular routine. Try not to get down on yourself (because that just makes things worse) and know that you can get back up. As always, stay hungry and fit!

Oct082014

3-Minute Paleo Test

At Hungry and Fit, we have opinions. Wow, Alana, great sentence. I’m serious! You know from our talks, discussions, and rants, that we don’t always hold back. That we tell you guys what we really think. Like… the rental scam or not taking shortcuts or the right way to season your food. We are HONEST with you in the hopes to bring you knowledge so that you can form your own opinions.

We certainly have our opinions about the “Paleo” diet as well (which basically entails meat and dark vegetables). For one, we don’t agree that it should be called Paleo because you can bake things, and second of all, we don’t love fads. We believe that is what the Paleo diet is right now–a fad. Not to say it doesn’t work for some people (my brother does it almost accidentally), but that we aren’t huge fans of fads in the fitness industry. However, we believe that nobody should be prescribing something for everyone, but that something can work for someone and not for another. While the Paleo diet doesn’t work for me, it does for those I know. Not everyone does it because it’s cool some people do it because it really syncs up with their bodies. And that’s great!

Why am I talking about all of this? Well, somebody showed me this really interesting test to see if the Paleo diet is good for you. Finally! Someone who isn’t shoving the Paleo diet down my throat and instead letting me answer 31 me-related questions to figure out whether the Paleo diet would even work for me. Spoiler–it didn’t work for me because I don’t eat meat, surprise surprise. However, I really think it’s a neat, fun test that isn’t harmful. Instead, it’s honest! And you know we like that. We are all about doing something because it is good for you, not because others tell you to do it or it’s the newest cool thing. Try it out by clicking the link below:

http://www.paleotest.com/

These were my results…

NOPE! OFF LIMITS!

You have no business thinking about Paleo, my friend.

YOUR PALEO DIET SUCCESS RATE:

-151%

SOME TIPS FOR YOUR SUCCESS:

You’re a leaf-eater, right? Paleo requires MEAT and is not a good fit for you. I made you do the other 30 questions for fun. Mwu ha ha ha ha ha.
You must learn to like meat. This diet is all about getting your meat consumption on. You’re going to need to get more comfortable with eating more meat or your success will suffer. Get good with spices and consider soups and stews.
Bread and pasta are yummy! Ahhh I feel you, I really do, but you’re going to have to seriously cut back on all things bread and pasta. Don’t tease yourself, just go cold turkey and quit the stuff. Expect a few weeks of sadness – fret not, it will subside.

It’s a fun test that can tell you whether or not you are paleo-fit, so why not try it out? If you were ever wondering whether you should actually “go paleo,” here’s your perfect opportunity! I’m a sucker for quizzes and tests that tell more about myself, so this was simply fun for me. Take it and let us know what you get! And as always…stay hungry and fit!

Oct072014

Having Gastrointestinal Issues? Try Pickle Juice

First disclaimer, I might be applying to and enrolling in school for a degree in Dietetics but I am not a doctor, so take this all with a barrel of salt. Second disclaimer, I do firmly believe that everyone’s body works uniquely to a certain degree; therefore, what works for me most certainly may not work for you.

Nevertheless, when I am having a pain in my throat, chest, or midsection (top or bottom), and I can’t figure out what it is, it is usually related to digestion. Something is upset in my gastrointestinal tract. If you’re reading this far, you’ve had those countless sleepless nights where no position is comfortable. You’ve went to every specialist, the emergency room, and there are still tons of unanswered questions. You’ve tried western medicine and homeopathic options. Heck, you’ve even tried not eating… but nothing works.

Personally, I went to the emergency room last year and was told that I only had gastritis. It was pain for days, and I have a high pain tolerance. But getting to the point, I had a similar pain a few months ago and used the “gastric cocktail” they made me at the hospital. It didn’t work. This must have been worse. What did work? Pickle juice. That’s right. Someone recommended using pickle juice and I was in so much pain (and nothing professional had worked) that I said, might as well.

How hilarious are these

So, I ended up chugging the whole jar of pickle juice. It was from Claussen’s Whole Kosher Dills, which is a higher quality pickle, in my opinion. Third disclaimer, I love pickles and pickle juice. I enjoyed drinking it. Fourth disclaimer, we are not sponsored by Claussen’s! Within fifteen minutes of drinking it I started to feel pressure alleviating from my chest. Burning dissipated from my throat and my stomach settled. After about 90 minutes, I felt completely fine.

So, it might be a long-shot, but it might work. It’s not expensive. I keep three jars of pickles in my fridge, and if you’ve had mysterious GI issues like myself for as long as you can remember, it might work for you. It might help you stay hungry and fit!

BONUS KITTY PIC

Nymeria being silly

Oct022014

Homemade Almond Milk

[Please welcome back our guest blogger, Jamie, with another one of her delicious recipes!]

KITCHEN EXPERIMENTS WITH JAMIE

**Jamie’s passion for food and cooking began as a young girl, while watching her mother in the kitchen. Her curiosity has pushed her to learn how to make a lot of her own products from scratch instead of buying it at the market like hummus, granola, yogurt, pickles, and much more. Jamie is currently studying to become an Occupational Therapist and would love to incorporate cooking into her practice one day.**

Today, one can find milk made from almost anything—soy, rice, different kinds of nuts, etc. They can be a little easier to digest than milk and I personally like the taste. While it is possible to find great quality milk substitutes at Whole Foods and other health food stores, they can be pricy and some brands can be high in sugar and contain additives. So, why not make your own?

Making your own almond milk is unbelievably easy and resourceful because you can utilize the whole almond with zero waste. After pulverizing the almonds to make tasty milk, try using the almond grounds in granola, in baked goods, or even just toast them in the oven with some sugar or spices and use them as sweet or savory crunchy topping.

Here’s my recipe for homemade almond milk. As always, feel free to play around with it!

Ingredients:

2 cups raw almonds, soaked in water overnight
5-7 cups water
5 Tbs. simple syrup (use any sweetener you like)
2 tsp. vanilla extract (or a whole vanilla bean, chopped)
small pinch of salt
Cheesecloth and large bowl

Directions:

1. Drain and rinse the soaked almonds.

So pretty!

2. Place almonds in a blender along with the water, simple syrup, vanilla, and pinch of salt. (I had to do mine in batches because my blender could not hold all the liquid)

3. Blend for a minute or so.

4. Place cheesecloth over large bowl (I held mine in place by wrapping a rubber band around it), and slowly pour almond mixture over it. Squeeze the bottom of the cheesecloth to release the milk.

So cool!

5. Pour into a pourable container to store in the fridge for about 5 days.

Makes 5-7 cups

You can make your own simple syrup by boiling equal parts sugar and water until the sugar dissolves and letting it cool to room temperature. I like to infuse mine with herbs like rosemary or sage and vanilla beans! Enjoy this recipe and as always, stay hungry and fit!

BONUS KITTY PIC

Jamie’s adorable cats

Oct012014

7 Tips for a Happy, Healthy Fall

October is here! Woohoo! I know Hungry is excited—Halloween is one of his favorites. What else does October mean? Fall is really here. Those closing their eyes and pretending it’s summer have to stop now. Well, you don’t have to, but come on—there are pumpkins now! I find that everyone I talk to has different opinions about Autumn—fears, loves, and so forth. Some detest it because the weather starts to get too brisk for outside workouts. Others love it because of the hearty produce it yields and the way it makes them feel. If you are ever feeling lost in Fall, here are a few tips to keep you happy and healthy while the leaves change color and drift away:

1. Don’t let the weather keep you inside. Yes, it may be getting colder, or even downright cold in some states, but that shouldn’t keep you confined to your personal quarters. That’s why layers were invented, of course! To allow you to bundle up and go outside, even when the wind threatens to flay you. You can even workout outside when it’s cold! Put as many layers on as you need to and remember—you can always take them off!

Talk about beauty!

Using layers 😉

2. Fight off negativity. Don’t get down on yourself if you find yourself indulging in pumpkin sweets and heavy foods. Negativity is the worst thing you can consume if you’re striving to be a healthy person. Even if you have an unplanned splurge, don’t trash talk yourself. Instead, learn from the moment and move on. Put it in perspective.

Indulgences happen…move on

3. Set a new goal for the fall. This is important because your goals should always be fresh and exciting to you. Otherwise you will fall away into boredom and apathy.

4. Indulge in autumn produce. Just because it’s no longer summer and watermelon isn’t on the daily menu anymore, doesn’t mean you have to resort to boring foods that give you the “blahs.” Even though in most states, it is getting colder, you must remember that Autumn is still a vibrant season with so much to offer! Think squash, pears, pomegranates and more!

5. Find a gym. If it is getting cold, and you find that it deters you from your workouts, find an indoor arena or gym you can perform your preferred workout. It may seem superficial, but atmosphere and environment are huge factors when it comes down to whether or not you will have a good workout, or even workout for that matter! Bite the bullet, hand over some money to either buy yourself some home workout equipment or a gym membership.

Home workouts galore!

6. Try new things. Change is scary, but it’s also really exciting. With new seasons, come change. And what should you do with change? Fight it? No! Embrace it and give it meaning! Learn something new! Try a new form of exercise! Do yoga! Take a dance class! Roll with the punches of nature and use the opportunity to embrace change and try something new.

That time I did a triathlon…

7. Stick with the old. Alright, now you really must think me crazy because now I’m contradicting myself. Contradicting? No! This is simply an add-on. While you embrace the new, hold onto the old that comforts you. It could be your morning routine, it could be your favorite snack, or your favorite drink. For me, it’s my Silk milk that I put in my smoothies and protein shakes. No matter what, my Silk Soymilk or Almondmilk will be there for me, giving me sustenance while the world around me continues to change.

We are all different. We all have our likes and dislikes, our habits and our avoidances. However, one thing is the same, ironically, and that is change. Nature teaches us to accept change and let it nurture us into better people who try new things and have a wider range of experiences. There is always the “old” or our rocks, our foundation that keeps us going to balance the change in our world. If you want more of the old and the new, check out Silk’s Facebook page, which is constantly coming out with new recipes and tips to stay at your happiest, healthiest you. You could also win a year’s worth of Silk products if you sign up for their newsletter.

Even though this may seem like a list of ways to stay healthy throughout the Fall (and it is), the deeper meaning is to allow yourself to experience change (and enjoy it) while balancing yourself with the things that make you who you are and keep you sane. I hope these tips help you along your way in your Autumn journey. As always, stay hungry and fit!

*Question of the Day: How do you stay healthy during Autumn?

This conversation is sponsored by Silk. The opinions and text are all ours.

Sep242014

Mesothelioma Awareness Day 2014

Awareness. It truly can save lives, especially when that awareness is related to something that is preventable. If everyone knew exactly what poison ivy looked like, do you think the cases of poison ivy would go down? I would say so. What about for something worse… like cancer? If you were aware of how to prevent cancer, would you take the means to do so for yourself? I most certainly would try. And this all brings us back to the title of this post and that one word that might not look so familiar, mesothelioma.

We’ll make this clear, mesothelioma is a very dangerous form of cancer that attacks a similarly named lining of your body cavity. It tries to, usually successfully, hurt a part of the inside of your body… obviously, you don’t want that to happen. What causes it? Exposure to asbestos. What is asbestos? You might know already or at least you’ve heard the word, but asbestos is a mineral that occurs naturally on our planet, and it is a known carcinogen.

Image source

To put that into perspective, aspartame, which has a very negative public opinion due to its presence as an artificial sweetener in so many processed foods, is declared as a non-carcinogen on www.cancer.org. That was even after studies and lab experiments. (I still don’t consume aspartame because I’m not convinced, yet.) What about arsenic… would you ingest it if you had a choice? You shouldn’t. Asbestos, however, is still used in construction projects throughout the world; developing and developed countries use it in homes, schools, industrial, and commercial buildings. So… how do you know if you’ve been exposed; what are the symptoms?

Here is the scariest part. Mesothelioma sits dormant in your body for 20-50 years after initial exposure to asbestos. Every year, nearly 3,000 new cases are diagnosed. Their average time given to live… 10 months. Although, it’s most common in individuals 50-70 years old, there have been of cases for those in younger generations. The three types that have been identified are in the lining of the lunges (80% of all cases), abdominal lining, and heart lining. All crucial parts of the body and all extremely painful, I’m sure.

So, what’s the point of me writing this post? Why exactly is FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 26th, 2014 the 10th Annual Mesothelioma Awareness Day? Because your awareness can save your life or someone else’s life. Although the United States Environmental Protection Agency banned the use of asbestos in most products in 1989, by 1991 the US Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals overturned it and most products containing asbestos are still made today. Try to avoid them and try to avoid buildings that were constructed with asbestos.

Image source

My personal input to this is that asbestos is easily a billion (maybe even trillion) dollar industry, and people aren’t willing to let that go. Money has significant control over the government and we know that. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Court of Appeals was bought for that decision to overturn the ban because the money in a few pockets is worth so much more to those individuals than the lives of nearly 10,000 Americans a year who die because of asbestos related diseases.

Become knowledgeable, spread awareness, avoid asbestos, fight the use of asbestos, and save lives. It could be someone you never met, it could be someone you love, it could be you. And stay hungry and fit!

Aug282014

Should I Eat Fish Skin?

(Yes, but be careful.)

That sounds weird. Should I eat fish skin? Fortunately, it’s a relatively simple question to answer. You just need to ask yourself a few questions when that fish skin is sitting in front of you. Unfortunately, answering those questions can be quite a challenge. (I got your hopes up, didn’t I?)

(The skin is naturally good for you if it isn’t contaminated.)

All of my friends know that I love Asian cultures, but when I went to school in South Korea I was exposed to tons of cultural quirks that I never learned about before. One time I was eating dinner in Seoul with some of my students (seems wrong, right?) and they teased me when I left the skin from my mackerel on my plate. They told me that all of the old women would always fight over the skin because it was the best part of the fish. I thought of the protein content of the meat, but they didn’t care about that.

(It is an amazing source of omega fatty acids so don’t waste it!)

It was amazing to get the feeling that the mackerel skin (or any other fish rich in omegas) was as valuable as gold or jewels. After thinking it over and not being one to waste food, I decided that I would always eat my fish skin and everyone else’s fish skin for that matter! Be cautious because even though the skin of just about any fish (especially those served in restaurants and available at fish markets) have amazing health benefits in an ideal world, the contaminants and pollutants in a lot of the heavily fished oceans/fish farms in the world, can present unwelcome health risks. In many cases, the risk outweighs the reward.

(The contaminants and pollutants don’t always make it to your mouth but know they were often there!)

You can avoid this by buying fish responsibly. Due to Alana’s eating habits, we always ask our food servers if they know the source of their fish. This usually isn’t a problem at fish markets,where they tell you if the fish is farmed or wild caught, and where its point of origin is. Once you find a respectable fish market and do the proper research, you don’t have to do it again… just get what you know!

I hope this didn’t confuse you too much and led you in the right direction. It’s not like chicken where there are almost no health benefits unless you’re looking for more fat and calories. So the final answer is yes–eat the skin–but be careful and do your research! As always, stay hungry and fit!

BONUS PUPPY PIC

Aug272014

Wake Up with a Salutation to Health

Too often we roll out of bed a few minutes too late only to start rushing here and there–barely remembering to brush our teeth after shoving the last bit of toast down our throats–and run out the door. This does not set up the day very well. This manic morning routine leaves you feeling rushed, anxious, and stressed. It should be the opposite! There are easy ways to make your morning feel calm, enjoyable, and rejuvenating–and they don’t take a day at the spa!

If I begin my day like how I pictured above, I’m not going to be in a great mood. It’s important me to start the day out right. I know this can be tough (I have a partner, two cats, a dog, and a snake–imagine kids!), but all it takes is a few minutes to begin your day on a healthy note. Sometimes I meditate–lots of breathing exercises to clear my mind and set my intention for the day.

Other times, I do a sun salutation. This is a yoga routine I try to do in the mornings or when I am feeling stiff. Many of you know my inflexible nature so this yoga routine is important for me to do at least once a day. This yoga routine is a beautiful way to start the day and will spur mental and physical wellness. We often just focus on our physical fitness, but our mental wellness is just as important, too. I’m no yoga master, but I do what I can (my poses aren’t always so pretty).

Let’s go through that routine:

Stand with your feet together and reach high with your hand and tilt slightly backwards

Sweep your arms downwards in a swan dive and reach for your toes
Put your hands on your legs and look forward

Reach back down towards your toes
Plant your hands down and bring your right leg back into a lunge

Bring your left leg back into a plank

Slowly lower, coming up into cobra or upward facing dog

Turn the toes and come into downward facing dog

Put your right foot forward into a lunge, and then your left to meet it
Slowly rise up, one vertebrae at a time, reaching for the sky

This takes 1-3 minutes, depending on how slow or fast you go. Try doing this sun salutation three times in succession. You can do them at different speeds, the same speed–whatever feels right to you that morning. This is a wonderful way to capture that physical and mental wellness spur that will keep you feeling lively and healthy for the rest of the day.

This goes along with my day-to-day routine of drinking Silk Soymilk. I usually go with Vanilla or Plain, but it keeps me healthy and helps my day get started. Silk is all about physical and mental wellness routines. Silk Soymilk has plant-based protein (6g per serving!) which I appreciate and it also helps me to keep fuller longer if I only have time for cereal in the morning (before my sun salutations, of course). They are all about creating products that make you feel better and healthier throughout your busy day.

For me, it makes sense to partner with Silk because we share the same values of natural food (non-GMOs) and leading a healthy and fulfilling lifestyle. If you want to learn more about their products, click here. They also have an awesome Facebook page where you can learn about fantastic giveaways, healthy yummy recipes, and fitness hacks. I hope you begin (or continue) your morning practice of sun salutations or meditation to start a mentally and physically healthy day. As always, stay hungry and fit!

This conversation is sponsored by Silk. The opinions and text are all mine.

Aug212014

Easy Hummus Recipe

Please enjoy our guest blogger, Jamie, and her wonderful hummus recipe.

Jamie’s passion for food and cooking began as a young girl, while watching her Italian mother in the kitchen. During her time studying at UC Santa Cruz, she came to love the process of cooking and experimenting in her own kitchen. Her curiosity has pushed her to learn how to make a lot of her own products from scratch instead of buying it at the market like hummus, granola, yogurt, pickles, and much more. As the Alternative Food Chef at a Yosemite summer camp, Jamie cooked for campers and staff with dietary restrictions. This challenged her to use unconventional ingredients to create hearty and healthy comfort food. Jamie is currently studying to become an Occupational Therapist and would love to incorporate cooking into her practice one day.

Chickpeas are a type of legume also known as garbanzo beans. In Arabic, the word for chickpea is hummus, which we know as a creamy, garlic-y spread made from chickpeas and tahini (sesame seed paste). You can find all different types of hummus at your local grocery store, but often times store-bought hummus is chock full of unnecessary additives and preservatives that you can’t pronounce. Luckily, it is incredibly easy to make!

Since I ran out of tahini, I decided to spice up my hummus by adding roasted red bell pepper and garlic, but if you have tahini, I would recommend using it. Also, I used chickpeas that I cooked from scratch, which takes longer since you have to let them soak overnight, so feel free to make the hummus using canned chickpeas instead.

Roasted Red Bell Pepper Hummus

Ingredients:

¾ C chickpeas (dry) or 1 can cooked chickpeas
3-5 Cardamom Pods (optional)
½ Red Bell Pepper
4 cloves of garlic
½ lemon
2-3 T Olive oil
S and P to taste
2 t Paprika or Chipotle Powder
¼ C Tahini

Directions:

Sort through Chickpeas and pick out any off-color or shriveled ones. Soak Chickpeas in water overnight. If using canned beans skip to step 3.

Drain and rinse chickpeas. Place in large pot and cover with a couple of inches of water. Add a pinch of salt and cardamom pods or any other fresh herb you like (adds a nice aroma and subtle flavor to chickpeas). Bring to a boil then reduce to simmer for 60-90 min or until tender.

While the chickpeas are cooking, place bell pepper and two cloves of garlic (skin on) in aluminum foil and drizzle with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Place the foil pouch in toaster oven or oven at 350 degrees F for about 45 min.

Once chickpeas are tender and the bell pepper and garlic are roasted, place in food processor or blender, adding a few tablespoons of the water that the chickpeas were cooked in. Make sure to take the skin off the garlic.
Roughly chop the other two cloves of garlic and add it to food processor along with the juice of half a lemon (or a little more to taste), olive oil, salt, pepper, and paprika or chipotle powder.