Healthy Heart Rate

When I started working out this past February, I could barely walk up four flights of stairs without being out of breath by the time I reached the top. I would check my heart rate at the gym, regularly, and also noticed that my heart rate would always be around 170-175. I'm not an expert on heart rate (what's good or what's bad), but I know that having a heart rate that high throughout an entire workout isn't a positive sign.

Today, almost 6 months later, I kept my heart rate below 160 the entire time I was working out. I was really proud of myself because I knew that my heart rate used to skyrocket on the machines as soon at I started my workout session.

I bet I could walk up those four flights of stairs now!

The main goal of working out is to become more active and healthy. Yes, losing the pounds is an added bonus, but if you were being chased (let's hope not!), you would want to be able to run away without falling over and passing out. To achieve this goal of beating out an unknown predator, you must keep your heart rate at a healthy level while working out. You should be tired during and after your workout, but you shouldn't be falling over from exhaustion.

Here is a good heart rate chart that will help you figure out what your normal heart rate should be and what your heart rate should be while working out.

Summer Has Officially Arrived

Over here in NJ it's been in the 90's for the past two days and is supposed to stay that way all week. Hello summer, glad to see ya!

I read in Self Magazine's June 2010 issue last night that you should try to make a list of what you want to do all summer because the three months of heat and laughter is longer than you may think. So here's my list of crazy things I want to do this summer, hopefully I can accomplish a few!

• camp in Maryland (I've never camped before!)
• go to the beach 3-4 times
  
• visit Red Bank Battlefield in Red Bank, NJ
  
• journey to Hoboken, NJ to see Buddy at Carlo's Bakery (loveeee Cake Boss!!!)


• go to NY and visit some friends


• go to Princeton and visit some friends


• check out a Broadway show for cheap


• see a movie in the park


• see a band in the park


• go to the gym at least 3 times a week


• save money! (how can I do that if I have so many big plans!)


• go to as many Phillies games as I can afford (which is like...two?)


• go to Wheaton Village in Millville, NJ


• view a movie at the Drive-in in Millville, NJ


• visit the animals in the Philadelphia Zoo and the Cape May Zoo


• eat at Uncle Bill's in Ocean City or Cape May


• take Jim to Wildwood for his first visit ever


• win the lottery (I wish)


• explore a new amusement park (any suggestions?)

I didn't know my list was going to be SO long. Looks like I better get going! Along with my list of "I wish I could..." I have a list of "What is already planned..." This list includes Disney World; Pittsburgh, PA, to see two Phillies games; and two weddings. Oh yea, and did I mention I start a summer class next week that is four days a week 8:00 to 10:40 AM? And then there's always that job I have....oh Starbucks...you ruin everything. BUT let's not be pessimistic yet! Summer has just begun, and I can see all of the endless possibilities ahead of me.

My tip of the day is to get outside and breathe in the fresh air: take a walk, go for a jog, or even just lay in your yard (mmm our bodies love the sun as long as we apply sunscreen!). And don't forget, drink lots of water! Water is the best drink that your body can have to stay healthy (well, besides wine :oP).

Breakfast With the Best Dad in the World

Father's Day 2010!




With the help of my sister-in-law, boyfriend, brother and this lovely blogger, we created a breakfast fit for a king this morning. The amazing breakfast included buttermilk pancakes, red velvet pancakes, eggs, bacon, and apple sausage patties. My pancakes didn't turn out as great as the ones on i am mommy, but I did my best and the red velvet pancakes were sorta red.



After breakfast shot of my boyfriend, Jim; me; my dad; my sister-in-law, Alicia; and my brother, Michael.

You're probably thinking that our Father's Day breakfast wasn't too healthy. Well, you're right! But you know what? Who cares?! On the weekends I kind of say, "The heck with it," and eat whatever comes into sight. Think about it, would you rather be happy and healthy or SUPER DUPER skinny and sad? I for one would like to be happy and healthy, which means I splurge on the weekends, but that's doesn't mean I eat a whole cake on Saturdays and Sundays! Maybe just a whole pizza :o) Just kidding!

Enjoy your weekends and don't say no to things you love! Never say no to something you enjoy eating or you will end up hating yourself. Just eat in moderation and know when you're full. That's what I do and it has been working great for me!

I weigh.... WHAT?

I don't know about you, but we had A LOT of snow here this year. Every time I cleaned off my car three more inches had fallen again. After all of that shoveling, I was hungry. Multiply shoveling by about ten and that's how hungry I was in January and February. By March, I stepped on the scale and weighed more than I had ever before. That was my wake up call.

As the snow was melting, I could smell summer: hot dogs, hamburgers, strawberry short cake, funnel cake! mmmhmmm. Who doesn't hit the panic button in March and go diet/exercise crazy? We see the bathing suits on the racks and see our stomach in the mirror and think, "How will I ever walk on the beach without looking like a beached whale?"

This year I tried something different. I didn't freak out and try to lose a million pounds in a month, I took it slow, gave up Starbucks pastries for 40 days, and went to the gym at least 3 times a week. Lent has it's advantages when you're not only giving up something, you're also making a promise to yourself to live your life better. By the end of the 40 days I had lost 8 pounds!

My tip for you today [as my job (aka Starbucks) makes me come in even though I have pink eye] never EVER get a venti (large) sized latte at Starbucks. Not only are you drinking 20-24 ounces of milk (depending on whether you get the hot or iced drink) you are also not getting any more caffeine than by just drinking a grande (medium) sized drink. Okay, so there is A LITTLE extra caffeine in a venti Iced Latte, but not enough to warrant you drinking all of that milk. You're not a cow (OR A BEACHED WHALE!). Don't get me wrong though, I loveee milk, and you should too! Just not 20-24 ounces of it at a time.

Try getting a Triple Tall Skinny Vanilla Latte (only 100 Calories). That's three shots of espresso, 12 ounces of nonfat milk, three pumps of sugar free vanilla, and a lot of yum. OR you can get a Quad Grande Americano with a little bit of steamed nonfat milk, two pumps of sugar free vanilla, and one Splenda. This alternative is less in calories, more in caffeine, and still the same amount of yum.

Hey you! Yes, you!

I am not new to the blogging world due to the fact that this is my second blog. I was introduced to blogging through a class in college, "Let's Blog." Can you believe that they actually offered a class for that and it actually counted towards my major requirements for English? I now know why everyone makes fun of English majors.

I hope to one day become an English teacher in a middle school, somewhere, ANYWHERE. Teaching jobs are few and far between right now and I hope that when I graduate in ONE year (I'm still adjusting to the fact that I'm finally a senior) that there will be more job opportunities.

This blog is hopefully the start of a book I would like to eventually write which will be a guide to losing weight (the healthy way) without hating yourself and without giving up the food you love. I LOVE hot dogs, pizza, french fries, and candy. But somehow I managed to lose 10 pounds in the past 3 months by eating less, working out more, and keeping a positive attitude.

I'm sure I will get off topic (more often than not) but what's the fun in just talking about just eating right and working out correctly?