source: http://theutopianlife.com/2014/10/14/hacking-into-your-happy-chemicals-dopamine-serotonin-endorphins-oxytocin/
dopamine vs endorphins vs serotonin
on pilates
i've always been a fan of mat pilates even back home...when i moved here there were limited gyms that offers pilates and the schedule always sucks...
how was it? i like it...it's more fun than mat pilates... the thing is, i usually lose interest after a month but this one i didn't and i'm now on my 3rd month and just finished my 30th session (as of october 2 that is)!
Update: was doing Reformer Pilates until I got pregnant with my first (2015), then came back after I gave birth in 2016.
bye-bye weight watchers
i'm paying $17/month so i could use weight watcher's online tool and iphone app.
i did lose a few pounds but then i started yo-yo-ing. my fault really. i wasn't being very vigilant with being careful with my food intake.
and then i decided to just let of weight watcher's too and just went back to using Lose It!
it's pretty much the same as weight watcher's tools except that it counts calories not points. i've been using that before i even started nutrisystem and weight watchers and now i'm back to using it.
try it.
i cancelled my weightwatchers account today...
i didnt think $17/month is worth it...i have the "Lose It" app on my iphone that pretty much does the same thing...WebMD has that too.... and besides i can follow the weightwatchers program on my own even without paying for the e-tools....i know what my alloted points is and there are weight watchers food points website found on the web to get the points for the food i eat...
so there...bye weightwatchers...hello to cheaper and more practical weight lost tools....
quinoa, my quinoa
i discovered quinoa (pronounced keen-wah) while I was parked and on my way to walmart to hoard some carbonated water. as i was about to turn off my engine one of the DJs asked this:
dj: i was at the restaurant with a girl, ok? and then i started reading the menu looking for something to order and then i saw something with quinoa... so i said why not, quinoa's a healthy food...does that make me look gay?
now that's the first time i heard that word and the dj doesn't even know how to pronounce it (he pronounced it as ki-no-wa) that one of the female dj's had to correct him.... and then the female dj started saying something like: "wow, didn't even thought you would know what that is, that's good".
so i got curious and researched it, got intrigued and bought my first pack at whole foods, tried it, loved it and the rest is history..... yep, quinoa fan here!
so what is this quinoa thing....
a little history.i refrained from eating rice a loooong time ago. since i was rumored to be pregnant because i got fat. problem is when i moved here in the U.S i suddenly started craving for rice a lot more than when i was still in the philippines. and discovering quinoa is my weight saver! a very good rice alternative. most importantly its NOT carbs. ya hear me yo? NOT carbs.
quinoa is called the gold of the incas. quinoa is a super food and it is not technically a cereal grain like wheats or oats it is actually a distant relative of spinach and beets.
so why did i say that it's a super food? let me count the ways...
1. high in protein (8 grams in 1 cup cooked). yep, quinoa is a complete protein, which means that it contains all the amino acids necessary for our nutritional needs. complete proteins are rare in the plant world, making quinoa an excellent food for vegetarians and vegans, or for anyone looking for healthy protein source.
2. it's also high in iron and calcium
3. a good source of manganese, magnesium and copper, as well as fiber (5 grams per cup).
4. quinoa is naturally gluten-free, making it an excellent food for celiac patients or other people following a gluten-free diet
so how do you cook it?
simple.
i use my rice cooker. yep. rice cooker. for one cup of quinoa just add 2 cups of water. oh. and dont forget to rinse it even if the package says its "pre-rinsed". if you don't have a rice cooker here's how:
1. combine one cup rinsed quinoa to two cups water or broth
2. bring to a boil
3. then simmer for 10 to 15 minutes, until the seeds become translucent and the germ of the seed uncoils to form a little "tail."
quinoa has a light, slightly nutty taste and a fluffy texture. It makes a tasty porridge or casserole and can be added to soups and stews. so far i have made champurado and jambalaya out of it. basically, whatever you can do with rice you can do with your quinoa too.
still don't believe me?
here's a video.
sources:
http://www.webmd.com/diet/guide/10-everyday-super-foods?page=2
http://www.livestrong.com/article/4695-need-health-benefits-quinoa/#ixzz1VmY6Didk
http://happynutritionist.com/quinoa.html
current run status
click below for my running status:
http://nikerunning.nike.com/nikeos/p/nikeplus/en_US/plus/#//runs/history/1818256168/
i went yellow to orange to green! i think the next level is blue but its harder to get because i need 425 miles to get to the next level.....
it's getting more and more difficult to run because of the weather..... i try to run atleast 2x/week instead of my usual 4..... hopefully when the weather gets cooler i'll get back to my normal routine.....
the running buddies....
my nikeplus sports band (the sensor is in that pouch attached on the shoelace)....my earphone specially made for ipod shuffle second generation....... my nike shoes..... and mindovercookie's infinite playlist..... fine, i'm exagerrating....just 1gig worth of mp3s.....
i don't like running with wires dangling all over the place and i'm really glad i found that arriva earphone.... the sound isn't that great but it will do.....
and here's the dissected version:
you don't need to buy those "special" nike shoes so you could use the nikeplus gadget..... you can just buy that sensor pouch from amazon.com ($4) and you're good to go!
update:
that shoes above had given me injuries..... i had my old trusty fila shoes but it's very worn out that i had to replace it....unfortunately, i didnt know better and didn't know i need to buy shoes depending on my foot type and gait......i just got lucky with my old fila that it fits me just right.....
so here it is, my new running buddy: the nike vomero+ (same color as the photo)
i'm an underpronator with high arch so i need to get a shoe that has cushion.....and boy oh boy! after trying out my vomero it felt like im running on clouds........ no more sore shins, ankles, calves, knees, muscles (yeah, the other shoes really messed me up).....
the vomero+ is nikeplus friendly..... there's a place to put the nike+ sensor inside the shoe (under the sole cushion) so i don't have to use the pouch anymore........
run-away bride
no....not that kind of runaway....
i've been very good and have been running religiously (atleast 3 miles every other day) since april..... and hopefully til the end of the year...... wish me luck!
and here's the proof....
(from my nikeplus account)