On hot summer days, enjoy a cool smoothie. They are not only delicious but also make healthy additions to your lifestyle.
Strawberry-Banana Smoothie (Makes 2 servings)
Ingredients:
-Orange Juice (2cups) Note: For a thicker smoothie use less liquid.
-Frozen Strawberries (2 cups)
-Ripe Banana (1 1/2) frozen and cut into slices
-Splash of raw honey (optional)
-Pour orange juice into the blender.
-Place strawberries and banana slices in the blender.
-Add honey (optional)
-Blend at a low setting for 30 seconds then set blender to high for another minute. Make sure the strawberries and banana are completely blended.
-Pour and Enjoy.
We all acknowledge that we live in a fast paced world. Wake up, take the kids to school, sit in traffic, go to work, sit in more traffic, cook dinner, help the kids with homework, walk the dog then prepare to repeat the cycle over and over again. Between that 24-hour time-span we make it a priority to do many things and one of those priorities should be engaging in physical activity. Now I know what you are thinking, ”I don’t have time in my busy schedule to go to the gym and work out.” But in reality, you rush home to catch the latest episode of the newest reality show everyone is talking about. If you have time to watch your favorite television show, then you have time to add some physical activity into your daily routine. Try some of these exercises at home and eliminate the excuses:
- Resistance Bands- These flexible lightweight bands can be used for a total body workout. Start with completing 3 sets of 10-12 reps for each exercise and build your way up. Since resistance bands come in variety of resistance levels you will never get bored. Bonus- They can be packed in a suitcase when you are on the go.
- Jump rope- Remember back in school how you would jump for fun, well jumping rope is an excellent cardio tool. Mix up different techniques and footwork to keep it exiting.
- Basic pushups- Set a goal on how many you can complete in 30 seconds, then 1 minute and so forth. Once you are more comfortable with this exercise you can try different angles. For beginners, make try completing push ups on your knees until you feel more comfortable. Using your own body weight as a tool will help increase your overall strength and stamina.
- Crunches- In proper form, crunches can help build a strong and stable core. Be sure to breath through the entire exercise and move slowly. The key isn’t to rush through the exercise. Keep your neck steady and don’t force your head up. Keep all of the tension on your mid section. Set a goal starting with 15-20 reps then building your way up.
Special Thanks to K. Nicole for providing us with the tips!
