Fitness

Pedal For A Purpose

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Want to pedal for a purpose? Well, then join me at the 2nd annual Body Armour Spin-a-thon Fundraiser this Sunday October 30th! For those who might not know, my niece was tragically killed in as car accident as a passenger one night 5 years ago. It is something that we as a family will never forget. Each year, the Elanna Zuller Memorial Sports Fund hosts fundraisers and events to raise money for local kids, sports organizations, scholarships and more. Body Armour is graciously hosting their spin-a-thon again this year in honor of Elanna Zuller!

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There’s no better way to show you care than donating to a good cause and burning some calories while you’re at it!  A Spin-a-Thon is just like a walk-a-thon, except that participants cycle on stationary bikes rather than walking.  Cyclists gather and members trade off cycling time to raise money through sponsors and donations. One hour is all it takes to help make a significant positive impact in the life of a local family. Your participation in this event will help support those in need in our community; all proceeds raised will benefit the Elanna Zuller Memorial Sports Fund, and your $10 registration gets you a Tshirt and a bike.  Bikes are still available for timeslots! $10 holds you a bike and you raise whatever denomination you wish!

Some Fundraiser Day Activities: 

8am Spin (instructor Rosemary)
8:15-8:45am The Art of Yoga with Joy (kids yoga and art project)
8:30 Pumpkin decorating goes all day long!
9 am Spin ( Instructors Amal & Jenna)
9:30-Noon Face Painting begins with Hazey Daze Creations 
10 am Spin (Instructors Jess & Tara)
10:30-11am The Art of Yoga with Joy (kids yoga and art project)
10:30-noon Complimentary lunch provided by Jersey Mikes
11 am Spin (Instructor Pete)

There will be snacks and drinks served all day. Raffles to win. Items to purchase. Boot camp demos. Fun to be had! The event itself is FREE. However, $10 registers you for a bike to take a spin class! Don’t want to spin? No worries. Come join in on the fun and support by trying to win some of the great raffles we had donated graciously by local companies and friends! Perhaps purchase some merchandise or just donate directly to the Elanna Zuller Memorial Fund.

I would love to have you pedal for a purpose with me!
Namaste~
Joy

 

A Busy Moms Guide To Staying Active

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If you know me, you know I adore fitness. Not for vanity reasons. I am what society likes to call “plus-size”, so I think the vanity portion is lost on me! I adore fitness because of how it makes me feel. I feel strong. It clears my racing, anxious thoughts right away. It sends a dose of happiness right to my brain. I am over 1 year free of my anxiety medication because I turn to fitness. Plus, it is fun. Yes, fitness can be fun. It can social. It can be life-changing. It can be what gets you through the day. It can be whatever your heart desires. But, only if you commit yourself.

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No, you do not need to go all in. You don’t need to start running 5 miles per day and spending hours at the gym. You can start small. It doesn’t need to be all or nothing. Chances are if you run into something without taking the time to properly see what works for you, you might end up jumping ship real fast. I don’t want that. You don’t want that. I want you to succeed. Whatever your definition of success is. Everyone’s success is measured differently. Just as everyone needs to find what works for them!

Busymom

I recently wrote an article for Rhode Island Health & Fitness entitled, A Busy Moms Guide to Staying Active. I talked about some of the ways we as moms, or any individual can fit more activity into their lives. We are a nation that is constantly living in the fast lane. Self-care can’t happen if you don’t slow down and make the time!  Check it out here, and perhaps there are some tips you could take into your lives today and become happier & healthier!

Namaste~
Joy

Baked Apple Chips & 21 day fix approved

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Apple’s are delectable. I will take them anyway I can get them. Sauce, Pie, Cobbler, Crisp, Chips or right off the core! I have made & consumed them in all these ways except Apple Chips. I occasionally buy a bag of dried apple chips, but they always end up disappointing. They are either too sweet, not sweet enough or just a pile of crumbs at the bottom of the bag. And to top it off, they are not cheap. Usually no less than $3 for a small bag. A few weekends ago, thanks to Storm Neptune, I had some time on my hands. I made Apple Chips for the 1st time. And let me tell you, it certainly won’t be the last.

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It’s quite simple really.  Apples, Cinnamon and  Sweetener are the only ingredients you need. Add a baking sheet, some parchment paper, a sharp knife (or mandolin cutter) and you are in business. Preheat your oven to about 200 degrees. The low temp allows you to keep them in the oven longer. They will crisp up nice and slow and ensure that you won’t burn them. Slice your apples as thin as you can. The thinner the apple slice, the faster they will crisp up in your oven.  Lay the apples on a parchment paper (or slip mat) lined cookie sheet. Mix together about 1 tbsp of cinnamon and 1 tbsp of sweetener of your choice. I used stevia. This will cover about 2 apples. Adjust depending on how many apples you use. Sprinkle the mixture on the apples. You can do both sides if you want, but I prefer only doing one side. Place in oven and set timer for 1 hour. Flip after one hour and put back into oven for another hour. After 2 hours are up, I shut the oven off and let them sit in the oven for another 30 minutes or so. I did a workout, took a shower, washed the dishes and checked my email all while these bad boys cooked (crisped) away!

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I love this recipe and will be making it again and again. I can ensure there are no added and unwanted ingredients, especially added sugar. For those who follow the 21day fix plan (which I LOVE), as long as you stick with the recipe above, you can enjoy these for a mere PURPLE container! This 21 day fix recipe for baked apple chips is so easy to make, it will become a staple snack in your house! time I think I will add only cinnamon, as I love the flavor. If you love apples as much as I do, this is a must try. Let me know if you try these!

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Happy Snacking ~ Namaste

Motivation Monday- Reviver Challenge

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Over the weekend, I participated in something I never thought I would/could do. I ran an obstacle course style race called the Reviver Challenge. It.was.hard. The obstacles were not fun or enjoyable. I mean, if you like climbing over 12 foot walls with only 1 platform for your feet- then you are well, not like me. If you like crawling in tunnels of mud that smell like <not mud> then this is your cup of tea! Me, I like running on smooth pavement listening to my teeny bopper catchy music and people watching as I go. This did not include any of that.

Ready to Race

Ready to Race

Just because the obstacles were not fun or easy, doesn’t mean I didn’t have fun. The fun came with running this with some fabulous ladies. The fun came with conquering each obstacle as a team. The fun came with getting out of my own head and living outside my comfort zone (even if only for a short while). The fun came when I saw my family there cheering me on. But the most fun was at the finish line.  When I crossed the line, I felt accomplished, proud, excited, relieved, tired, hungry and so much more. It was an overwhelming mix of emotions.

Over the past few years, I have been trying to live my life outside of the lines. When you push the boundaries, you experience things you never thought you would. When something scares you, think about how you will feel if you conquered it? Would you be in awe of yourself? Feel proud? What scares you? What is something you have always wanted to do, but never found the right time? Do it. What are you waiting for? Life is not endless. There is a limit to what we will be able to achieve here on Earth. So why waste your precious time doing nothing when you can be doing something. Go. Whatever it is, try it. Try everything once…..you never know……

Congrats to my girls- Jen, Meghann, Rebecca for a job well done!

After race smiles!

After race smiles!

 

 

Motivation Monday: Running Wild

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” Joy, you will never ever be able to run 1 mile without stopping”.  “Joy, just work with what you can do”. “Joy, medically is not possible, it’s too detrimental on your lungs”. They told me my lungs can not take that kind of pressure. You see, I have asthma, allergies, but also a deviated septum. It’s so bad, even the structure of my nasal cavities are small. Most people have round holes on their nose that lets air in. I have small slits, plus a deviated septum, which for those who don’t catch my drift: BLOWS! (I made a funny!)

Sporting my favorite running skirt

Sporting my favorite running skirt

Flash-forward to 2011. I started running. Warwick City Park offered a nice paved shaded 5k path perfect for walking/running with a stroller. I would walk- then run-then walk- then jog the whole thing. It would take me 1 hour 24 minutes. And I was pushing through it all, using almost 1/2 of my inhaler in the process. About 3 months after I started that, I decided to register for an official 5K. I chose the Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer 5k because that year I had a scare with the disease. PSA- please do self exams each month. I ran/walked that 5K on October 11th 2011 with a time of: 47 min 45 seconds …….. Much practice and self-discipline as well as understanding my body, I now run at least 2x a week.

My longest run- Feeling Strong!

My longest run- Feeling Strong!

I am here to tell you, don’t let someone tell you what you can and can not do. I understand that I was NOT supposed to be able to run. I get it. Medically, I am not supposed to run 1 mile, let alone a 5k. Running & breathing through your mouth are not conducive with each other. I ran yesterday as a Mother’s Day gift to myself. It was the longest I have ever run. 4.13 miles. My time was 45 minutes and 6 seconds. It was hard. I needed my inhaler like most runs, but nothing compared to 2011. The humidity didn’t help. But I didn’t stop. Don’t just push boundaries, break through them. I am a girl who is NOT supposed to be able to run 1 mile- and I just ran 4!

~Namaste~