Challenge 1: Since Challenge 1 is Spring Break week, this is a two-part challenge.
Part 1. Be active for at least 30 minutes EVERY DAY.
If you already do this, then it’s time to turn it up a notch. Try something new or something outside of your comfort zone. Add time and/or intensity to your workouts.
This challenge begins over spring break for a reason. Experiment with different activities. Try walking, jogging, biking, jumping rope, dancing, lifting weights, yoga… anything you enjoy! Try a fitness app or a work-out video. Need recommendations? Let me know. I like Nike Training Club – I love the “Ab Burner” 15-minute workout. It’s perfect to do on days I walk or run. Log your workout in My Fitness Pal or a paper journal. Drop 10 participants:I will ask you to send a report on Monday after spring break showing what you did EVERY DAY. I will draw a winner for movie tickets.
Part 2: If you’re not already a breakfast eater, START now.
If you are a breakfast eater, “health it up.” Use the week of spring break to find breakfast ideas you like to eat and to prep for back to school. Your breakfast should include a good source of lean protein and colorful veggies or fruits. You need 7-9 servings of veggies and fruit (mostly veggies) every day. If you start by choosing two colors every morning, you’re well on your way to 7 or 9. No color in the morning? You’ve got a lot of making up to do the rest of the day. For a perfect (fast) breakfast, try some of the following ideas:
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Smoothies (see recipes)
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Greek yogurt with frozen berries.
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1 cup plain unsweetened Greek yogurt
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Mix with 1 cup THAWED frozen berries (the juice will sweeten the plain yogurt)
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Add 1 fistful (closed fist) pecans, walnuts, or almonds or 1 T. chia or flax seeds
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Pre-prepared egg bake or scramble (see recipes)
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Apple & PB (I recommend almond butter or Smucker’s Natural PB)
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Whey protein (mix with almond milk and have a piece of fresh fruit – seriously fast food)
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“Egg McMuffin” at home
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Fast:
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Whisk one egg + 1 or 2 egg whites and fry over medium heat in olive oil in a small round pan.
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Place on a toasted whole grain English muffin (or use Trader Joe’s sprouted grain bread – 2 slices have 10 g protein and only 14 g carb!) or on a rice cake
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Top with spinach leaves and avocado slices)
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Faster:
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Spray a coffee cup with cooking spray. Whisk eggs in coffee cup. Cover and microwave 1.5-2 minutes until firm. This makes a perfectly round egg for your muffin J
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Breakfast burrito at home
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My husband does this on Sunday nights:
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Scramble 18 eggs with peppers, onion, your choice of veggies (I like kale and mushroom and red pepper)
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Cool and refrigerate
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Add to a whole grain tortilla each morning and microwave for 30 seconds – Oila!
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Take pictures of your healthy breakfast and post to twitter. #Fit58
Think ahead: Plan your workouts for the week AFTER spring break now. If it’s in your calendar, you’re much more likely to do it. Even if you have to come in 15 minutes early and walk the track or the indoor trail and stay a few minutes later to do it again to make 30, you’re worth it.
You may also wish to work ahead on Week 2. (March 21)