Sweet Posts
Lifestyle, Exercise, Nutrition and Immune Health
Lifestyle, exercise, nutrition and immunity health go hand-in-carefully-washed-hand. This has always been a reason that I’ve known I should be taking diet and physical activity seriously, but after the last two years – and as things continue as they have been, these practices seem more important to me than they have been before.
What is Nutritional Yeast and How Do You Use It?
I have heard about nutritional yeast off and on for the last few years, and I’ve even been served this ingredient as a part of a larger recipe I once tried. Still, I’ve never known exactly what it is. Now that it seems to be going through another wave of popularity, apparently under the nickname “nooch”, I’ve decided that it’s about time to inform myself. And if I’m going to go to all the effort to get this right, then I’m going to take a minute to share what I learn with you too.
The Hand Pain-Free Way to Use Resistance Bands
Does anyone else get sore hands when they use resistance bands? I can’t be the only one. Yes, some of them come with handles, but some of the ones I like the most just don’t have them. This is particularly true when I’m bringing them with me. The ones without handles pack so small that I can bring the equivalent to a complete gym with me in a space smaller than what I need for my phone.
Running and Dehydration: A Brutal Combination
Running and dehydration pretty much go hand-in-hand during the summer months. As someone who has taken up running relatively recently and is facing her first summer with the sport, this is very new to me, though not unexpected. That said, as I’ve been researching, I’ve also discovered that the combination, while brutal, isn’t exactly what many of us assume it is, particularly when it comes to difficulty level.
Top 3 Reasons Not to Get Nutrition Advice from Influencers
I absolutely love helpful nutrition advice. The thing I need to remind myself to do more often is to watch my sources. I’m careful, to a certain extent. For example, if I look something up, I’ll definitely pay close attention to the quality of the links I click. If I see advice on a personal blog or on Harvard Health’s site, I’ll definitely consider the latter to be more reliable than the former. It’s not any old person on the internet is wrong, it’s just that some organizations have more street cred.
Are You Ready for the Treadmill Struts Workouts You Saw on TikTok?
Have you heard of the TikTok treadmill struts trend? If you liked the hot girl walk, then you’re likely going to enjoy this one too. They are both focused on activity through body positivity, self-love, and positive self-image. That said, while one takes you outside (which is great), this new trend lets you get your exercise no matter the weather outside. So, if your area is under a heat warning or buried in snow, you’ll still have this option to enjoy.
My Go-To Healthy Zucchini Recipes for Summertime
Summertime absolutely begs for great healthy zucchini recipes. Its all well and good to just toss them on the grill or grate them up and make a bread/loaf out of them, but there’s so much more to do with these summer squash than just zoodles. All those dishes are wonderful. I love them, but when the harvests start coming in – my own or those of generous neighbors who don’t know what to do with them all – I like to let my creative juices flow.
My Favorite 5 Vitamin Supplements for Nutrition and Wellness
The vitamin supplements shelf at my local drugstore is a wild west of different types of pills, powders and even gummies. Even when I go there knowing exactly what I want to find, I can still feel more than a bit lost and confused. It’s just not enough to know the general idea of what you want anymore. There are different formats, quantities, and brands to consider – not to mention price – and they all play a role in the final decision.
What Exactly is a Calorie Deficit for Weight Loss?
I’d heard about the need for a calorie deficit about a million times before I actually looked into what it was. Now, I understand that the name pretty much explains what it is. I got it on the most basic level. If I wanted to lose weight, I needed to burn more calories than I was taking in. That said, when it comes to putting things into practice, the situation became less obvious to me. I admit that it took freaking forever for me to actually look it up.
How Not to Wreck Your Joints Before You’re 30
It isn’t really until you wreck your joints that you realize how absolutely important they truly are. The key is to take care of them early instead of waiting until the damage is already done.
Most of Us Think we’re Making Far Better Healthy Food Choices Than We Are
I like to think that I’m making some healthy food choices, for the most part. I know my diet isn’t perfect. I don’t even aim for perfect. I’d have to give up too much of my favorite treats to get to that point. I don’t even think that focusing too much on nutrition is great for your overall wellbeing. A bit of fun has its place now and then. That said, according to this new study I’ve read, we Americans think we’re doing far better than we are, and it’s really holding us back!
Should You Believe the TikTok Olive Oil Trend?
I’ve been watching the TikTok olive oil trend probably too closely to be healthy. I had a minor obsession with it this week, so I decided to dive into it, fall down that rabbit hole, and then share what I discover when I climb back out again.
How I Make Running Fun Every Time I Head Out
I’m healed up from my injury and am ready to make running fun again. Since that’s my goal, I thought it’d be fun to share what I do to enjoy my new favorite sport. I’ve only been running for a few months, but I’m pretty sure each of these techniques would be just as helpful to seasoned runners as they are to newbies.
My Guide to Oat Milk Nutrition (As I Understand It)
Not being a doctor or scientist, I can’t say that any of the oat milk nutrition information I’m sharing in this blog are from any expertise of my own. That said, I’ve been researching this ingredient a lot because I’ve come to enjoy it as an alternative to dairy in certain circumstances, particularly in baking!
How I’m Keeping Up My Running Fitness While Injured
I was hoping that I wouldn’t have to write a blog about how I keep up running fitness while injured, but here I am. The good news is that the injury is a very minor one. Still, it’s enough to stop me from being able to run for a few days – maybe as long as a week – and I have come too far to want to sacrifice my progress to my injury. So, I dug into research and talked with my doctor (while I was there, I haven’t made dozens of appointments or anything). I have a plan.
My 5 Favorite Feel Good Books to Build Me Up in 2022
This year, I’ve been diving into feel good books of all shapes and sizes. I really don’t need to tell a single person on this planet that things have been tough for a couple of years. I’m ready to feel better, especially when it’s my escape time like reading and watching movies. Since I feel like I’m far from alone in this, I figured I’d share the top books on my list for feeling great overall in 2022.
What to Eat Before a Run
What to eat before a run has become my latest obsession. Everyone seems to have a different opinion! What I’ve discovered is that there are some helpful tips that can guide your own final decision, but that when it all comes down to it, trial-and-error will end up being the last step.
Being in Nature Improves Nutrition and Overall Health
I just read about a study that showed that being in nature improves nutrition. I mean, I’m super not shocked that you are healthier if you head outside in daylight and fresh air. I know that being around plants is also great because there have been lots of studies into that forest bathing practice that is so awesome in Japan. Still, the fact that it affects food in some way definitely caught my attention. Could going for a nature hike break my obsession with cupcakes? …no tree is that powerful!
5 Best Exercise Motivation Tips When You Absolutely Hate Your Workout
Last week, Holly posted a few things on Facebook and Twitter about some of the best exercise motivation tips she’s seen online. Unlike me, Holly really struggles to do her workouts. I used to, but I’m really getting into it, which I’m happy about. I think the difference isn’t that I’m someone who loves exercising and that she’s someone who hates it. I think I’ve just found the right way to do it for me. I’ve found what drives me. Suddenly, it all switched on.
Are Sugar Substitutes Messing with Your Liver’s Effectiveness?
Over the years, sugar substitutes have absolutely fascinated me. I’ve started to basically think of everything sweetened as not-so-great for me. I don’t ban those foods – obviously – but I aim to consume those ones in moderation. Still, the reason sweeteners of all forms are so interesting to me is that science is saying something new about them all the time. The latest seems to be that alternatives have some kind of odd effect on the liver, stopping it from properly detoxifying the body.
How to Do a 5am Run When You’re not a Morning Person
I am not a morning person, but I’ve still found that a 5am run is the time that works best for me. If you’d asked me a few years ago – heck, six months ago – if I’d be out there before the sun comes up and jogging down the sidewalk on my own, I’d have looked at you like you’d lost your mind. Never at any time in my life had I ever pictured myself as someone who would wake up that early, have a quick bite and sip of water and then start running. Now, I do it a few times a week! Even more surprising, I kind of love it!
Plant-Based Protein as the Focus of Your Meal
This week, I’m investigating plant-based protein and how to make it a focus of the meal. The reason? I discovered that when I eat meat, that tends to be my meal’s focus. When I have beans or tofu or something like that, it’s usually buried into the other ingredients as though I need to hide its shame.
