Another subject: Fitness!

I've meant to blog about this already quite some time now and never got around to it... Somehow I always end up thinking and talking about food! LOL

Well, my other passion is fitness, particularly fitness DVDs that I can do at home! It's my 'me time', when the kids are in school, the Hubby is at work, I had my 2nd cup of coffee in peace and some breakfast and I'm ready to go, right here in my own 4 walls in the living room! (Once we own a house I'm hoping to have a nice corner in the den or something where I'm completely by myself, but for now I have to make due with what I have and that's the living room! ) Not only do I love the privacy and convenience but also the fact that I don't depend on other people! No instructor cancelling etc. It's just me popping in a DVD and if it happens that I'm not in the mood for that chosen workout, guess what, DVD out, another one in, done! ;-)
Another big fact that I love about working out at home is that I can be a role model for my kids! Many times when I'm busy and have no time for a full 45 min or 60 min workout, I squeeze in shorter ones! Even 10 or 15 minutes are better than doing nothing at all! And many times I have some more time later on again where I can do another 10 or 15 or even 20 minutes.. You get the picture! ;)

I've been using DVDs now as my main fitness routine now for almost 12 years, having tried tons of different things, finding what I love and what I don't. (It saved my sanity and helped me getting quicker back in shape after both of my kids were born! Back then I would have had no opportunity to go to the gym!)

I'm a big believer in doing what you enjoy when it comes to fitness! If you struggle through a workout every time, chances are, sooner or later you're going to quit! Workouts that you love will get done, and that's all that matters in the end!

So for me, I've realized I enjoy simple, low impact cardio most of the time (walking with Leslie Sansone for example), sometimes mixed up with some short kickboxing, Turbo Jam, FIRM workout, Denise Austin, Bob Harper, Jillian Michaels, Jackie Warner.. But overall it's Leslie I pick for my daily 1-2 mile walks and then I add on other workouts like strength, yoga, pilates or lately again more barre (think ballet).

Because I love variety, my DVD collection is quite big (there are actually a lot of people like me, lovingly called 'vidiots' by ourselves -many of them having 10x more the amount of DVDs than I do! ;) ) but I've also lately been using videos that are being shared on YouTube! Some are amazing finds!!!

So, in case any of you 're curious, here's my channel on YouTube with lots of different playlists! :) 

And in case you're interested to find out more about fitness DVDs and all, come on over and join us at Video Fitness . It's a friendly forum of people who're all enjoying working out at home (or sometimes do both, go to the gym, attend classes as well as use some DVDs) and seriously so many of them are the most kind and generous people I've ever met in my life!!!

Without having ever met IRL, some have become truly important and wonderful friends to me!!! [You know, who you are out there! :* xox]

But beware! Reading on that board can become quite addictive and not always good for your wallet! Just sayin'... Don't say I didn't warn you! LOL 

[I'm more of a 'veteran' by now and not immediately tempted by every single thread, making me want ALL those kinds of different workouts.. I've calmed down to the point where it's now only the genre that I'm mostly into these days that causes me to have thoughts of wanting this or that DVD.. ;-) Since I have no other 'obsessions' with purses, shoes, makeup or whatever -not counting my vegan cookbooks *cough cough*- I think it's absolutely fine if I 'indulge' here and there with a 10$ DVD! :D

So, there you have it, finally a post about fitness, which goes hand in hand with healthy eating IMO! ;)

Another bread post!

I guess by now it's clear that I love my bread, huh? ;-) 

I'll admit though, after having started to watch my calorie intake again a bit closer (having quit smoking some months ago -in November '11 to be exact!- led me to have an increased appetite and over time some few extra unwanted pounds crept up *blech*) I'm probably not going to easily wolf down 2 slices at a time anymore soon!.. Unless they're lower in calories, which is why I'd like to share following 2 bread recipes! From all of my bread recipes I've posted so far, those seem to be really in the lower range! (Still more than a store bought bread, unfortunately.., but we'll have to remind ourselves that the home made ones are much better quality and no preservatives!!!)

I found both recipes on Alicia C. Simpson's blog Vegan Guinea pig and did the calculation over on Sparkpeople (which is a site I've joined years ago but have been MIA for quite some time and just recently started to re-visit! It's awesome for all kinds of things, whether you're interested in nutritional tracking, fitness tracking and conversing with others, get inspired, find a fitness buddy, etc.).

If you ever wanted to find me directly, I'm here: MomOf2Gremlins ;-)

Long story, short, here are the 2 wonderful bread (machine) recipes! 

  ~* Daily Bread *~

Makes a 1 1/2 pound loaf (~10 slices)

1/2 C Water
1/2 C Oat, Soy or Almond Milk
1 Egg Replacer Egg (I use Ener G)
3 C Bread Flour (sometimes I use 2C bread Flour and 1 C Wheat Flour)
2T Milled Flax Seed
1T Vital Wheat Gluten
1.5t salt
1T Olive Oil
2t Bread Machine Yeast
I bake on light - Remove when complete and cool on rack. Sometimes this cools before the family makes me cut it up. Perfect for sandwiches.

Per slice: 157 calories, 2 fat, 28 carbs, 6 protein

~* Potato Bread *~ 

Makes 1 ½ pound loaf (~10 slices)

½ cup water

2/3 cup almond milk

1 ½ tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1 ½ tablespoons agave nectar

2 ½ cups bread flour

1/3 cup instant potato flakes

1 tablespoon gluten (optional)

1 ¼ teaspoons salt

2 ¼ teaspoon bread machine yeast

Place all ingredients in the pan according to the order in manufacturer’s instructions (usually liquids on bottom, solids on top) be sure not to put the potato flakes and the liquids close together as he flakes will absorb the liquids too fast and change the outcome of the finished product.

Set the crust on medium and use the basic white bread cycle (do not use delayed start for this bread).

When the baking cycle ends immediately remove the bread from the plan and place it on a rack to cool. Allow to cool to room temperature before slicing.

Credit goes to Alicia C. Simpson (Vegan Guinea Pig)

Per slice: 175 cals, 3 fat, 31 carbs, 1.5 fiber, 3 sugar, 5.6 protein

Oh and in case you never know how to store your fresh baked bread, I found this adjustable bread keeper few weeks ago on Amazon and love it! All of my bread machine breads fit well in it and keep really nice and fresh! (Not that bread survives longer than 3 days in our household anyway! *lol*)