Smooth(ie) Review

Upon announcing my new vegetarian diet, my roommate immediately posted the link to a FABULOUS blog written by fellow NY-er and nutrition enthusiast, Michelle Davenport. Be still my healthy little heart- Within 30 seconds of viewing PrinceandLime.com, I knew the first recipe I had to try: the Body- Friendly Pumpkin Pie Smoothie.

Photo courtesy of PrinceandLime.com

The Simple Recipe: 

A few scoops of pumpkin pie filling

A few scoops of greek yogurt 

A pinch of pumpkin pie spice (I used nutmeg to spice it up.... literally.)

A splash of milk (I used non-fat soy milk but you can use any milk you prefer. Michelle prefers hemp milk- I might try that next time!)

Optionals: Green lettuce, spinach and/or kale (I went with spinach) and a little squeeze of honey.

Blend together until smooth and top with a dollop of greek yogurt and a sprinkle of nutmeg

I followed her recipe almost to a T and it was so tasty. Admittedly, mine did not come out quite as pretty as hers- in fact, mine was GREEN beuse I used *too much* spinach but it still tasted plenty pumpkin-y and I am making it again ... and again and again! Thanks, Michelle!

Just for laughs, here are two pictures of mine.... I swear they still tasted very good!

A Kick in the Mouth

Personally, I tend to associate corn with the sunnier, summer months of the year so perhaps it's due to the unseasonably warm winter we're experiencing up here in the City that I was inspired to try this super delicious- and equally easy to prepare- corn chowder. On those nights it does get a little chilly, this soup will warm you right up! Fair warning: It is on the spicy side!

                          Tangy Vegan Crockpot Corn Chowder

Gather your ingredients:

• 2 (12 ounce) cans whole kernel corn
• 3 cups vegetable broth
• 3 potatoes, diced (I used two sweet potatoes and one baking potato)
• 1 large onion, diced
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 2 red chile peppers, minced (I accidentally put three in mine! Whew!)
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 tablespoon parsley flakes
• black pepper to taste
• 1 3/4 cups soy milk
• 1/4 cup margarine (I added one tablespoon of I Can't Believe It's Not Butter!)
• 1 lime, juiced

Chop your veggies and throw all ingredients (except the milk and butter) into your crockpot. Set it on "Low" for 7 hours. Carry on with your busy life in the meantime. ;)

After seven hours, transfer your soup into a blender and allow it to pulsate into creamy goodness. Return the soup to the crockpot and add the milk and butter. Stir and allow to continue heating for another hour.

Eat up! I put together a spinach salad w/ baby tomatoes, mozzarella cheese shavings, and apple slices to accompany this hearty soup.

The recipe I followed comes from the AllRecipe website. I followed it for the most part but I decided to use a little less butter in my own soup. No wonder my soup was so SPICY- I also added an extra red chili pepper by accident! Stick with one or two to be safe. Let me know what you think!

Also, here are a few fun facts about corn: 

- The high amount of fiber present in corn helps lower cholesterol levels and also reduces the risk of colon cancer. 

- Corn, if consumed in moderate quantities, has been seen to be beneficial for those suffering from diabetes. 

- Those suffering from anemia have shown positive effects after consuming corn. (This factoid is music to my borderline anemic ears!)

- Owing to the presence of thiamin, corn has been said to help in the metabolism of carbohydrates.

- Regular consumption of corn, in moderate quantities, has been associated with better cardiovascular health. 

6 Weeks of NO MEAT

Hey, all! Well, this post is prettttttttty straight-forward. Like the title up there says: I'm going straight vegetarian for the next six weeks. Well, the next five weeks and two days actually because I started this diet five days ago.

I've decided to do this for a few reasons but what really spawned the idea was watching a documentary called Vegucated. (Thank you, iTunes, for delivering on a less than exciting night in!)  For six weeks, Writer/Director/Editor and food activist Marisa M. Wolfson followed three NY-ers in an experiment in Veganism. She introduced them to the philosophy behind it, opened their eyes to the atrocities that happen in far too many animal plants around the country, and taught them about the exponential number of options they have in eating a non-carnivorous diet.

Now, I have seen plenty of documentaries that focus on the same topic, or one closely related to it. In fact, I will be reviewing a couple of them over the next six weeks right here! So often, I am turned off by the "holier- than- thou" tone of the creators. They sometimes act as if it isn't true that the taste of a perfectly fried slice of bacon in the morning is not delicious- PUH-LEASE. At that point, they lose all credibility with this girl.

In Vegucated, Marisa is much more open- minded to the idea that people probably won't want to give up all meat and animal products immediately. She "gets" that most of us grew up around kitchen tables where meat was the main course and that was that. Our food "choices" are really habits we've cultured since we were old enough to give up the bottle and for most of us- no matter how horrific the undercover footage of sadistic abuses against animals can be or how unhealthy we KNOW all of the greasy meat we consume is for us- are not going to give it up easily. Instead, all Marisa asks is that each of us learn the facts and make informed decisions about what we eat. Will we get it right all of the time? Probably not. Will we do better if we're willing to open up our minds and eat consciously? Most likely.

So, predictably, here I am feeling inspired and embarking on a vegetarian diet. I decided baby steps was the name of the game and not to try veganism just yet- Never say never, though! Over the next five weeks and two days, I'll share some of the vegetarian recipes I test, give a shout out to the NYC restaurants and cafes with great vegetarian selections, and share my general experience.... the "good", the "bad", and the "ugly", if you will. Maybe you'll be inspired to do this with me? Maybe you're a badass and can go full vegan (please share if you do!) and maybe you'll eat meat just one less time/week than you normally would. The goal here isn't to be competitive but simply to pay attention to your food choices and know what you're eating. After all, as my cousin so eloquently put it in her guest post a couple weeks ago, "one day my body will be a prison" and right now, I plan to treat it well and enjoy it to the utmost of my ability!
                                                                    Wish me luck!

                                             (Honestly, five days in, it has been 95% easy to stick to this new habit!)

Club H is Kicking My Butt Into High Gear!

Hope you're all well and ready for a great weekend! I am psyched to be back in NYC- I've got the quintessential NYC weekend planned (you know, brunches in the afternoons, dancing all night, shopping and a spa trip with a friend, and sleeping in late!) but I also plan to visit my gym at least a couple times. Everything's about balance plus I've just really missed it while traveling! You may remember that this little blog all started last summer because I was moving from a building with a gym to one without. For awhile, I was just taking various classes around Manhattan and working out outside but I soon learned I prefer a "home base" so to speak to work out on my own. I need a place that I am familiar with, don't have to talk to talk to anyone in and can zone out for a bit, and where I have a routine. I found that fairly easy in a great NOHO gym called Blink Fitness but I know that it sometimes takes a little longer to find that perfect fitness home. 

With her energy and focus, it does not surprise me in the least that my good friend Rachael wanted to find just the right place to work on her health and fitness in 2012.  As you read in her last guest post, "A Detox for the Entrepreneur... Or Just a Super Busy Person Always On the Go!", Rachael first tackled the "nutrition" side of getting healthy and now she's ready to share her experience on the "fitness" aspect of the big picture. La Femme FITalle-ers, please enjoy another helpful blog post from Rachael.

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FACT: Living in NYC when you are constantly on the go and you love food + chocolate with your entire heart doesn’t help when you are trying to get your body in shape. 


FACT: My body type is average; my metabolism is okay, and my motivation is poor. I literally keep a carton of rocky road ice cream in the freezer because I always get the craving for it. My husband has really had enough of me whining about my desperate need for chocolate and having to step out into the cold to get me some. I think it’s putting quite the strain on our marriage. ;)

Well, since I can’t kick my love of food and chocolate, and I can’t help that my work requires me to run around the city attending charity events for Lifestyle + Charity Magazine, it was time to face these "facts" and accept that I needed to work out.

So, I joined a gym. But here’s a little bit of history. Every time I join a gym, I am 150% in for about a week... and then I fall off the map. So, I’m paying X amount of dollars each month for no results. Great. I could use that money on clothes, but when I don’t feel good, then I don’t look good in the new clothes that I just bought. 


You know how that goes.

So Body 2.0 in 2012 is all about achieving a healthier and fit lifestyle. To kick it off, I joined Club H. It’s kind of a luxury gym, but so far after 2 weeks, I’m still going. Instead of being the loner that I usually am at the gym, I started taking some classes. What’s great about Club H’s classes is that they are really hard, fun, and you feel results right away. The second great aspect is that the class instructors cater to you; they talk to you during the workout, and they know what you are going through, while they push you. The third thing is that they blast the music. Since I love to dance and I love that high-energy scene, the louder the better because it pumps me up!Not to be left out, the thing I really LOVE about Club H is its commitment to the community. They support over 30 charities in the NYC area. How's that for mind and body goodness?!


That’s just my experience at Club H, but here are some of the classes that are giving my body results:

SHOCK&AWE: 45 Nonstop minutes of 50% Core, 50% challenging pump. No lightweights allowed! Instructor Courtney Paul leaves no stone unturned when it comes to whipping your body back into shape in this class. Trust me.
Rebounding: An easy to follow, fun, flowing, non-impact (absorbing 80%) of the shock) cardio workout on mini-trampolines.
Kardio Kick: Kick and punch your way to a new physique with this fast paced, high energy class. Combines martial arts, boxing, and cardiovascular training to elevate your heart rate and boost metabolism.
LUNCH HOUR YOGA: Break up your day with a vibrant yoga hour crated to nourish your body & fill up your spirit. All levels.
PURE STRENGTH: Head to toe toning and body sculpting. Get ready to sweat and punish yourself to a stronger you.

Some tips before you go: wear a t-shirt (not a long-sleeved tee), bring Gatorade, and eat a healthy snack - banana, oatmeal, nuts, an egg - you’ll need it.

You can chat with me on Facebook (Facebook.com/RachaelLechliter) or Twitter (@Rach_Lechliter) for what I went through during the class. Some of it is quite hilarious. I leave you with #StrongerThanYesterday

“Socialize with those that make your heart sing.”
Rachael Lechliter
Co-Founder + Creative Director Lifestyle + Charity Magazine
@Rach_Lechliter
Facebook.com/RachaelLechliter

I Spin for Peanut Butter!

Happy Monday, everyone! (I know, I know... it stinks- But that's why I have another fun post to distract you for a few minutes!) 


Here in Thailand, it's actually already Monday night and I just hopped out of the shower. Not to get TOO personal but while I was in there, I was admiring my legs not only for the tan I've acquired in my tropical locale but also for their shape and definition. I have not had a single proper workout since I left NYC on Dec. 23rd and I was considering that even though I have not been able to hit the gym, my lifestyle here is so very active that I still feel (and look!) fantastic; well, I think so anyway...


 (I figure self-loathing on fitness blogs is so 2011 and in 2012, we should be admiring our bodies, yeah?) 


MUCH of my activity comes from riding a bicycle everywhere- the market, to the school I'm teaching at, to the Thai massage parlor, to the wat (temple), etc. Even when we go out to lunch and dinner, we ride our bikes. It's incredibly pleasant and I'm so thankful for the workout cycling approximately 4-5 miles/day has given me! I know I'd go a bit mad without it. Luckily, when I return to the States in a week, I won't have to give my newfound fitness obsession up entirely.....
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I Spin for Peanut Butter!

(Photo courtesy of Asphalt Green)

I do. And for ice cream, bbq chips, pancakes, cheeseburgers... all of it. It was the moment I saw Jenn Anniston’s rockin’ hot bod, then calculating the near 20 year gap between her and I, that I thought, “Okay, I need some spin in my life!”

So I joined Asphalt Green on the Upper East Side, and was off to my new life, and my first spin class. I was hooked! I thought I was going to die, and sweat like a man (the only available seat was next to the really adorable chap of course!), but I knew I was past the point of no return. I’d be back. I put together some tips for girls, who like me, and just starting off:

1. Have a positive attitude. You might want to kick and scream a bit, but have an open mind. Rome wasn’t built in a day!
2. Don’t let intimidation get the best of you. Sure, there will be classmates who look like Olympians and can spin circles around you, but the challenge in some beautiful way brings us together.
3. Drink water! Stay hydrated. Trust me, it’s your new best friend.
4. Motivate, challenge, push yourself. You are capable of burning up to 600 calories in one class! Find that picture, set that goal, the bikini you’ve been dying to wear, and go for it!  (Do you know how much peanut butter you can get with one spin class?... Only about 5 tablespoons. Rip off.)
5. Keep doing it! Don’t quit after the 2nd or 3rd class. It gets better and better, and so does your bod!
6. Get to know your spin instructor. I am loving Karen Sullivan, of SpinUpGirl.com. She is friendly, inspiring, encouraging, and a lot of fun! She makes me feel confident on the bike.

Benefits of spin class:

• Burn calories
• Increase endurance
• Get super fit
• Have fun!

There you have it. So, what do you spin for?

More about Asphalt Green
Asphalt Green is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to assisting individuals of all ages and backgrounds achieve health through a lifetime of sports and fitness. This premier athletic complex situated on a beautiful 5½-acre campus is one of New York City’s most valuable resources, acknowledged for its unparalleled programs and expertise. Learn More

“A hero is no braver than an ordinary man, but he is braver five minutes longer.” -Ralph Waldo Emerson
Elena Baxter
Co-Founder + Marketing Director
Lifestyle + Charity Magazine
@emabax
Facebook.com/ElenaBaxter
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So who else is up for a little spinning this year?! Elena, let's make it a date in the City when I return! Oh, and P.S. Be sure to check out the magazine Elena and her sister co-founded, LifestyleandCharity.com. There are some wonderful fitness articles there plus great events going on in the NYC-area!

Fly Away, Fly Away, Fly Away....

Welcome back to LaFemmeFITalle! You all are in for a treat today because my second guest blogger is going to tell you all about a trend that has hit yoga HARD and (thankfully) is not going away anytime soon! 

Rachael is my trusted resource for all things yoga in NYC- We've really enjoyed canvassing the city to take classes together and now that she is working the desk at OM Factory in Chelsea, I know exactly where to head to get my zen on. =) Please enjoy her post as she teaches you all about a yoga phenomenon definitely worth looking into. Who knows- It just might be your 2012 fitness obsession...

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Have you ever wanted to fly?  I remember dreaming of flying like a bird night after night as a kid.  I remember thinking to myself that when I grew up, I wanted to fly.  The closest I have come to fulfilling this childhood dream is AntiGravity Yoga…it gives you wings (and not the Red Bull kind).

Doesn’t sound familiar?  If you just shook your head and thought “What is AntiGravity Yoga all about?”  Then you can count yourself as being a part of the majority of people who have yet to experience AGY.  It is an art form that is in its infancy.  It is so new, in fact, that it doesn’t even have its own Wikipedia page yet (!)  Not only is AGY a new art form, but its development has created a new genre of exercise, known as “suspension fitness” and involves the use of Hammocks which are securely suspended from the ceiling and function to allow people to hold challenging poses longer, build cardiovascular and muscular strength, and decompress the vertebrae of the spine without strain.  

I am fortunate enough to intern at OM Factory, one of the very few yoga studios in NYC that offers AntiGravity classes.  If you are lucky enough to take an AGY class there with AGY certified instructor, Josie Say, she will probably give you a brief history of the practice.   Last Thursday, she informed our class that AGY was dreamed up only about 20 years ago by Christopher Harrison, the founder of AntiGravity, Inc, an acrobatic entertainment group based in New York City.  She explained that AntiGravity Yoga is a hybrid practice combining traditional yoga poses with aerial arts, Pilates, and dance.  I can attest that elements from all of these arts were a part of the 75 minute class.  

The class moved at steady clip, with enough time in each pose to really feel the muscles activating.  If you are familiar with yoga, you will recognize that AGY classes move through the familiar poses, but the extra element of swinging in a hammock adds an entirely new dimension to the yoga practice.  Everyone began in a seated position in which the soft silkiness of the AGY Hammock envelopes your body.  This is called, “Womb” and is considered a levitating meditation or, in Sanskrit, Badda Konasana.  That was followed up with a zero compression inversion.  Josie very carefully guided us in and out through a series of simple progressions, while rhythmic music hummed softly in the background.  My second favorite pose was “Monkey” (my first being the “Screaming Cannonball” … it’s nicer than it sounds).  “Monkey” is one of the simpler inversions in which our legs carry the weight of our body as our bodies swing weightlessly upside down.  

Everyone Monkey!

The remainder of the class was dedicated to hydrating joints through mobility exercises, elongating and strengthening the muscles, decompressing the spine and fine-tuning proprioceptors for better agility through swinging exercises. At times, people needed a little extra-boost of confidence to make it into a pose & Josie seemed to have a sixth sense at these times and was able to say exactly what we needed to hear to move us forward in our AGY journey.  She and her assistant did a tremendous job of providing moral support to each of us, even giving hands on assistance when needed.  Believe or not, everyone was successful every time.  We finished with a “Floating Savasana” meditation where one seals in the positive effects of their practice.

Before I left the class, Josie and her assistant were nice enough to humor my questions about AGY and were even willing to help me into a few advanced poses.  

This is our version of “Double Lotus”.  

You can see that I am enjoying my new relationship to gravity!  I can’t wait to do it all again next week.  As to whether or not you will take the leap and try AGY is totally up to you but I will leave you with a quote from AGY instructors to help you make up your mind: 

"The class emphasis is to have fun while learning new skills and experiencing a total body workout." –OMFactory

Namaste.

Rachael

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Oh, and P.S., if you are interested in a hilariously honest account of living in N.Y.C., be sure to visit Rachael over at her own blog:

                                                              WhenStarbucksRuledTheWorld.blogspot.com

Do You Blink?

I Blinked this week and it felt AMAZING!

Mind you, I gave up my gym over a month ago and it’s tough to go cold turkey, am I right or am I right?

So WTH am I talking about with this “blink” talk? Lemmie explain:

Blink is a newish gym located in NoHo, Paramus, and Yonkers. The message they declare is that everyone deserves to work out because, like blinking, it is only natural. Their super affordable rates ($20/month) allow even the most broke to work up a sweat within the confines of a clean, spacious gym with great equipment!

I was so excited to get started on my workout routine for the first time in months (seriously felt like I was on my way to visit with an old friend) as I walked the five or so blocks from my apartment to Blink. Before I could hop on the treadmill, however, I made a quick stop by the front desk to sign up for the month. I was using a Groupon deal I’d bought in July so my first month’s dues were just 10 bucks! Sweet. The attendants at the front desk were not only efficient but also incredibly friendly and cleared me to use their gym in a few short minutes. 

I took a look around the large, open room and saw that most of the free weights and machines are located on the left side of the gym and most of the cardio equipment is located on the right. I made a quick pit stop in the women’s locker room (Note to Self: Bring a lock next time!) and headed out to one of the many rows of treadmills. The treadmills, like the rest of Blink, are new models and equipped to allow you to plug in your headphones to watch tv (there are about 15 tvs hanging from the ceiling) or to hook your iPod up. I picked one closest to the window because I wanted a bird’s eye view of the street (Blink is on the second floor of the building) as I clocked my miles (…. Ok, my 1.5 mile…).

Following my run, I jumped on an elliptical and continued my cardio conditioning for another 20 minutes. By then, glistening and loving it, I was ready for the weights! Blink has a TON of weight machines, all obviously well-maintained. I tried out the thigh abductor machines and then grabbed a couple of free weights to work on my arms. Then it was time for (drumroll, please……..) my core session! You KNOW how obsessed I am. Unfortunately for me, a gym employee was mopping the padded area designated for floor workouts so I had to wait a bit before I could begin (I’m glad they keep it so clean, though!) The gym offers plenty of exercise balls so I grabbed one and got started on my 30 minutes of ab bliss (I know- I’m a weirdo for loving it). You know what’s funny? Despite all of the classes I’ve taken and physical activity I’ve been doing lately, after completing my own ab routine on the exercise ball, I could DEFINITELY feel myself working muscles I guess I’ve been missing. This led me to purchase my own exercise ball for my apartment on the way home.

So,

Would I do it again? Yep, after finishing up my workout and stretching all my muscles out, I left Blink one happy camper. I have my one-month membership and at $20/month, who wouldn’t sign up?

PROS: Obviously, the price. Also, for me, the location works. It’s right at Broadway and West 4^th. The facilities are nice and the employees are even nicer.

CONS: The gym is a bare-bones gym; there are no classes offered and I didn’t notice personal trainers standing around (though, again, the staff was super helpful and friendly).

I also have a sneaking suspicion that, due to the affordability, this place gets PACKED during peak hours (weekends & before and after work). I’m not the most patient person so I don’t think it’d work for me if I couldn’t go during non-peak hours.

I’d definitely recommend this place to most people who need little to no guidance when working out. 

                                      Hey, maybe I’ll see you around!