Understandably, giving a workout-related gift can be delicate. Some women would think that means "Does you think I'm fat and need to exercise?". Not at all. These are gifts that say "I love the way you look...keep killin' it."
Carter addressed why the adjustment to a 4-3 defense was a struggle for him (and more) when I recently shot a story with him and safety Barry Church at Bowl & Barrel in Dallas.
My trusty Oster blender finally went kaput so I bit the bullet and ordered a NutriBullet. (Pun intended). I can't wait for it to arrive and have been looking for new smoothie recipes to try.
Five New Recipes to Try
You can experiment with anything. Wednesday's New York Timesoffered five delicious-looking recipes that are worth trying:
Green Smoothie with Cucumber & Cumin: kefir, celery, cucumber, parsley, mint, kale or spinach, ginger, chia seeds, lightly toasted cumin, lemon juice and a pinch of cayenne. This is the most complicated recipe and perhaps the most interesting.
Pear Smoothie with Celery & Ginger: this includes a pear, spinach, celery, banana, ginger, chia seeds, kefir, agave nectar, arugula and mint. In the past, I felt arugula adds too much flavor but the mint and ginger would mask it.
Blueberry Kefir Smoothie with Greens: contains only blueberries, kefir, banana, chia seeds, spinach or kale, and a teaspoon of honey (which I would eliminate).
Study author Magdalena Cuenca Garcia says that the catechins in chocolate are believed to help regulate hormones related to obesity. Catechin levels rise proportionately with cocoa content, meaning the darker the chocolate, the better. Milk chocolate contains added sugar, it's not good for you. That's candy and it's crap. Dark is the way to go.
Note that it is a small portion of chocolate, about an ounce and a half or a single square. A decadent, complex dark chocolate square is a substantial treat when savored.
The Chocolate Diet
I dropped about five pounds to prepare for a photo shoot while enjoying a square of dark chocolate every, single day. This "diet" included the Easter holiday on which I ate substantially more than a square...more like an acre. While I was in Paris, I joked that I ate the cheese, chocolate and wine diet. You know what? I lost weight. Four pounds to be exact.
Sample meal plan that helped me drop five pounds in seven days:
Breakfast: two scrambled eggs with small sprinkling of cheese and four or five strawberries.
Lunch: broth-based soup or a salad. Sometimes I was on the run and simply had a Pure Protein bar with a tangerine.
Snack: handful of raw almonds with five apricots or an apple and peanut butter.
Dinner: canned salmon with dijon mustard (I love this) with half an avocado and a cup f steamed broccoli or cauliflower.
Dessert: one square (maybe 2) of dark chocolate.
I worked out, generally, 30-60 minutes every day with a mix of aerobic exercise and weightlifting.
I never felt deprived or hungry. In fact, I felt great because I wasn't overindulging or eating too much. It was nice.
UPDATE, 2/2016: while my weight fluctuates 3-4 pounds every month, I have maintained that weight loss. Meaning, I am fitting into my skinny clothes. Yes, I still eat a dark square of chocolate (or two) almost every day.
Dark chocolate-covered strawberries? That's a healthy indulgence home run! The strawberries deliver some filling fiber while the chocolate satisfies your sweet tooth. They also take a while to eat which means you will eat more slowly.
What dark chocolate treats do you love? Please share your favorites in the comments section.
I hope you had an amazing weekend. Mine was educational, fun and enlightening, courtesy of Reward Style's 2014 Conference. What a great time mingling with a slew of smart girls (and a handful of brilliant guys) who are revolutionizing the way we consume and monetize new media.
I met women and men from around the world and learned about some fabulous new lines like UK-based River Island and that gorgeous bag (only $150! buy it here) in the photo above. The online publishers ranged in age from 19-44 who are all dreaming, hustling and owning new media. It's inspiring and exciting to be a part of something that's representing a fundamental shift in the way consumers digest information and shop online.
Most people come away from conferences or rallies inspired to change. That momentum usually wears off in a week or so. But there are common characteristics among successful people who don't let that momentum stop: hustle, perseverance and genuinecuriosity to keep improving.
That's the theme of today's Motivation Monday: Hustle. We can all dream. Grand dreams are what make life fun. But those dreams are rarely achieved without hustling your ass off to succeed. The accomplishment and pride that come from that hustle make life worth living.
The Downside?
Mama did some drinking and eating. I was on a good path lately but, as the nature of conferences, my diet was not what I would endorse: too many processed carbs aka white food, too much sodium and maybe one too many glasses of Ruinart Saturday night which led to a grease-filled Sunday at Village Burger Bar and Fernando's.
Monday's Detox Routine
Produce. Lots of it.
Breakfast: tons of water and a green juice with kale, celery, cucumber and apple.
Lunch: a produce-laden salad featuring spinach, broccoli, red peppers, some beans with some blueberries and strawberries.
Dinner: my Kale, Lentil, Sweet Potato soup. I make a big batch and freeze it in individual containers making it a perfect option to pop into the microwave on nights like this when I am pressed for time. I am going to the Mavs/Spurs game Monday night so I will eat this right before I leave for the AAC.
Kale, Lentil & Sweet Potato Soup - even my daughter loves it!
Broth-based soups, full of vegetables are a great way to end the day on a lower-calorie note.
Cowboys tight end Jason Witten believes Tony Romo will come back "better than ever" from his second back surgery in two years. Witten shared his thoughts on the Cowboys quarterback, the 2014 schedule and more Thursday at Albertsons in Fort Worth.
Rowdy, Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price, Fort Worth Police Chief Jeff Halstead and Jason Witten
Witten made the appearance (which I emceed) to work with six junior youth finalists from the Boys & Girls Club of Fort Worth. The kids partnered with him, Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price and Fort Worth Police Chief Jeff Halstead in a healthy recipe competition.
Chief Halstead's team won but the big winner was Jason Witten's SCORE Foundation which received a $75,000 donation courtesy of Albertsons.
On Tony Romo
Witten had high praise for Tony Romo who had surgery to repair a herniated disk in his back in December and missed the final game of the regular season against the Eagles. Romo was cleared for workouts that began on April 21st, which also happened to be his 34th birthday.
"He looks great and I'm excited to see where he is," Witten said with a smile.
"People don't realize the will and kind of toughness he has. I think somewhere it got lost because we were playing Philadelphia but he played most the that game (the Washington game) with the back injury and won the game for us."
"He looks good. I see him running out there. It's always good to have him out there. I think he's gonna be better than ever and I'm excited for this season."
Witten on the 2014 Schedule
With the Cowboys schedule coming out this week, Witten admits he looks at it and says it's "tough" starting right away with the San Francisco 49ers in the opener on September 7th.
What's Crucial for Late Season Success
While it's easy to downplay the impact these offseason workouts have, Witten warns against that.
"Winning in December and January, a big part of this is how the training camp goes and our offseason work," he said after the event. "I think it's critical in our development as a football team."
On the Draft
He also admits he's not a draft geek. While Witten is a college football fan, he's not watching the mock draft or waiting with bated breath to see who the Cowboys select. He's happy to find out with the rest of us.
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