It's March Madness - No Gym Necessary!

It was March Madness! We were on the downslope of the month and its challenges, but wait there was #noexcuse for not working out! You don't need a trainer, a gym, or special equipment to get that body moving. Most people enjoy dancing even if it is to their own individual beat, music in their heads, or just to shake what their mama gave them! I know I do! In fact, whenever I'm stressed or trying to unwind, or really in a silly mood, I DANCE IT OUT! Yep...sometimes you just have to dance it out, dance it out, dance, dance, dance! You get what I'm saying.

Well, there are all sorts of exercises you can do anywhere. We at RMDSF want to know how our Chicks Who Play actually play. What do you do when you can't make it to the gym or when it is snowing outside or when you only have 10-20 minutes? I used to belong to a gym then I took inventory at home and found that I didn't need a gym. The gym was $40/month and cost me an extra two tanks of gas/month, and an extra 30 minutes in travel time each day I attended. Don't get me wrong; I think a gym can be well worth the added expense. But, I didn't see the benefits and found that I really only liked the bellydancing classes, Zumba, and kickboxing. 

So, I was at home and thought about all of the exercise focused items I had here. Well, my complex has a full gym. Yeah, I only go to use the stationary bikes and for the occasional weight training session. But here, I have a gym quality treadmill, stability balls, a jump rope, resistance bands, hand weights, assorted DVDs, Wii Fit, a yoga mat, and Youtube! I'm sure I've left something out. Nonetheless, I have all of this stuff, but truthfully, I just need me. Walking, jumping jacks, burpees, pushups, squats, and ab exercises do not require any equipment or videos. So, there is no excuse for not exercising. Go ahead...shake that body! Shake those calories down! Move those curves!

I like to do an assortment of exercises, but I need something that makes me sweat to feel accomplished. Since the weather has been uncooperative, I often walk on the treadmill on days that I cannot meet up with my walking partner and hit the trails. For strength and cardio, I use cross training videos. My favorite is Insanity by Shaun T, but it is too long for that level of intensity. Hey, I'm still a beginner! LOL! So,sometimes instead, I use Jillian Michael's 30-day shred. I prefer level 2. It gives me a good sweat, but I do find it just a little boring. Just last week, I purchased the shorter Focus T25 by Shaun T. I'll let you know in a few days if it becomes my preferred video. When I'm at my oldest sister's house, I pull double duty with Zumba and walking her doggy, Kilo Buddy. 

 I plan to start the C25K program this spring. I am not a runner nor do I want to be, but I want to know that I can do it. So, I am doing the couch to 5K program for that reason alone. Besides, it can come in handy for my next 5K (per my niece). It's always good to challenge yourself...your life may depend on it.

March Nutritional Challenge - Crockpot Hawaiian Chicken Wraps

Happy National Nutrition Month! March is full of excitement. It is the intersection between winter and spring that keeps us on our toes. Some days it is nice outside, other days, you feel like a snow bunny. Well, one thing is for sure, you still have to eat! So, we felt that March should be our month of #NOEXCUSES! 

This unusual time of year leaves us confused over what to cook. Do you want a warm soup or something light and easy? Are you going to be home and able to caress a meal or will the hustle and bustle of life keep you going? Fear not! The slow cooker (or as we know it the Crockpot) is here to save the day! It's a flash from the past but remains a useful tool for healthy living. It saves you time. And, it saves your brain power from having to come up with excuses for not providing a healthy meal for your family or yourself. 

Until I realized how much I love soups, my slow cooker was a dust collecting large dip server or meatball warmer. Yes, I only used it when we were having a family gathering and needed an additional warmer. Occasionally, I would make a spinach and cheese dip (which I do not like) and take to a potluck party. But, mostly, it stayed on the shelf in the cabinet. About a year or two ago, my sister remodeled her kitchen and remarked that she needed to get a matching slow cooker. I didn't think anything of it until I started searching for a Christmas present for her. I found a very lightweight and reasonable Crockpot (brand) that matched her updated kitchen. It was shortly after that I fell in love with soups again. A coworker/friend and I would go to Olive Garden and get the chicken gnocchi soup. We wouldn't even eat our meal because the soup was fantastic! Soon, we only wanted soup, salad, and breadsticks, even for dinner. I needed to learn how to make this soup without all of the calories, salt, and fat. So, I pulled out the slow cooker and altered the copycat recipe I found online. From there, I've employed that slow cooker to do so much more. 

For the March challenge, I chose to make a happy summer meal. March has been somewhat challenging for me, so I wanted to feel the sunshine in and out! And, hawaiian chicken wraps with sweet potato chips feels like sunshine. They are sweet, spicy, juicy, tangy, and comforting all wrapped up. So flavorful without the guilt. I adapted a recipe I found on Slender Kitchen. Chicken, pineapples, asian flavorings, garlic, ginger, and peppers...YUM! Be sure to taste your flavorings so that your dish isn't too salty. I used low sodium teriyaki and soy sauces, but still had to modify the amounts greatly. Check out the video below.

I hope you like the video. Remember, the crockpot challenge has been upgraded with two opportunities. You can submit any healthy slow cooker recipe and image collage or video. Additionally, Kim Anderson has issued a healthy crockpot chili cook-off challenge for an additional prize! There is #noexcuse for not cooking healthy. Grab some ingredients and a slow cooker...your life just may depend on it.