Source: http://www.fannetasticfood.com/2016/03/25/what-im-loving-lately/

Hey friends! I haven’t done a what I’m loving lately post in awhile so I thought it might be fun to kick off the weekend with one since I have a random variety of topics for you all today.

1) DC Cherry Blossoms!

Obviously the cherry blossoms win #1 spot for things I’m loving lately. So gorgeous! If you missed yesterday’s post with all my sunrise cherry blossom running photos, go look!

The ladies and I are doing one last long run tomorrow in preparation of the Cherry Blossom 10 Miler (<—last year’s recap) next weekend, and we might try to swing by the tidal basin again to see how the blossoms are progressing. We’ll see – I’m sure it will be a mob scene by late morning, though!

I really hope some of the blossoms stick around for the race!

2) Dining al Fresco

Being able to…

Source: http://www.runningonrealfood.com/vegan-flexible-dieting-meal-plans/

Today, I’m checking in with you to share my nutrition challenge progress as well as a few days worth of vegan flexible dieting meal plans. On Monday, I’ll be 6 weeks into my challenge using flexible dieting to help reach my fitness goals. Guys, it’s been crazy. My weight has fluctuated up and down, up dan…

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The post 6 Week Check-In + Vegan Flexible Dieting Meal Plans appeared first on Running on Real Food.

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Source: http://www.sonima.com/yoga/how-yoga-supports-pregnancy/

“Fear not the strangeness you feel. The future must enter you long before it happens. Just wait for the birth, for the the hour of the new clarity.” —Rainer Maria Rilke

For yogis, Rilke’s advice is close to the basic tenet of practice: There is a perpetual orientation of receptivity, as well as an awareness that the cycle of death and rebirth is constant. Yoga takes on both meanings of cleaving—it is a separation and a unification at one time.

The practice of yoga during pregnancy has become increasingly common, and can be incredibly profound for mothers both in their process of connecting to and birthing their baby. We spoke to women at various stages of their pregnancies to learn more about the ways yoga supported them through the process. Read on for a glimpse at how their practices and provided clarity in their transition to motherhood and as their children grow.

Charlotte, 38 
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With daughter Sequoia Gisèle, 5 weeks and son Zephyr Soleil, 2 1/2 years.

Whether I’m on the mat, in my playful Acroyoga practice, sitting in deep meditation or navigating my daily life, it …

Source: http://nextlevelfitness.com/whats-your-reason-2/

It’s amazing how fast your life can change, no matter how prepared you think you are. My son Samuel was born two weeks ago, and despite knowing he was on the way, I couldn’t have been more surprised.  Not surprised in regards to Samuel coming into this world, but more with the overwhelming feelings of being a new father.  One look at my little guy and I realized that my life would never be the same again. In an instant, my priorities shifted, and my actions have a new purpose now.

Years ago when I started training, my motivation for training was pretty typical.  As many of you know, I was the proverbial 100-pound weakling.  I got tired of being that guy, and used that as motivation to transform a physical nobody into an athlete, or the makings of one anyway.

Recently I’ve started training for a completely different reason.  If you’ve been reading my earlier blogs you know that I’ve been trying to claw myself back into shape so that I can take on new challenges.  Now I have discovered a whole new set of reasons for taking care of myself, and they all have to do with my son, Samuel.

I know that I’m technically a little old (or older than most, anyway) to start having children.  The promise I’ve made my son is that I will always be there for him to the best of my ability, and I mean to keep that promise in every way.  That means making health decisions that will not only keep me around longer, but also keep me physically able to be a…

Source: http://www.sonima.com/fitness/fit-couples/

Watch video on YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLgMK_6_aEM

Your best training partner may be sitting on the couch right next to you. You’re both pros at egging each other on to watch one more episode of your latest TV show obsession. What if you were to use that same drive to push each other to do one more rep? This total body workout routine is designed for couples by Pete Egoscue, Sonima.com’s pain and anatomy advisor. You don’t even need to leave the comfort of your living room to do it. In just 15 minutes, you two can feel healthier, fitter, and closer to each other than when you were sitting side-by-side on the sofa.

Start with a series of crunches and bicycles, pressing the soles of your feet together for support, to work your core. Afterward, sit up, face each other, hold hands and take turns pulling each other as far as you can go for a nice stretch. From there, transition to a plank position for one-arm push-pulls (again holding hands) to challenge both your balance and strength. To stabilize yourself, tighten your quads, use your whole body and lock your elbow. Next, continue to engage your quads, core and each other with wheelbarrows and a back-to-back squat—both of which require good partner communication to perform properly. Smiling or laughing through these moves might take your mind off the burn. Wrap up the workout with walkouts where you bend down to touch your toes and walk your hands out for pushups….

Source: http://clubindustry.com/news-central/planet-fitness-opens-traverse-city-michigan

This press release was provided by Planet Fitness. The Club Industry editorial staff was not involved in the creation of this content.

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. — Planet Fitness announced the opening of its newest club in Traverse City at 3111 W. South Airport Road, next to Aldi, across from the Grand Traverse Mall.  The new club is currently offering special memberships for just $1 down and $10 a month.

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Source: http://www.karpfitness.com/video-2015-fitness-gift-ideas/

The post Video: 2015 Fitness Gift Ideas! appeared first on Personal Training Vancouver.

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Source: http://www.sonima.com/meditation/mindful-living/mood-stabilizers/

Q: This time of year I often feel sad and out of sorts. Are there any natural remedies that can help me feel better?

A: As winter comes to a close, we are all ready for spring. Awaiting the seasonal shift can sometimes ignite seasonal moods that can make us feel a bit blue. Here are some ways that you can enhance your natural state and boost your mood.

1. Diet

It’s important to try to keep your blood sugar stable. Emotional highs and lows can be initiated from a diet high in simple sugars that elevates our mood, only to end in a low state. Don’t go for 10 hours and realize you are starving and eat three meals in one sitting. If your blood sugar is stable, mentally you will feel more stable. If certain foods make you feel uncomfortable because they lead to bloating, gas, or indigestion, avoid them. Leafy green vegetables are particularly filled with nutrients that can impact our mood—potassium, magnesium, and a host of trace minerals. These vitamins and minerals provide additional energy that sustains us rather than carb-heavy foods that can trigger the blood-sugar blues.

2. Exercise

Almost anything will do! Just get out there! As long as you are moving, you are going to lift your spirits. You don’t have to run a marathon in order to exercise and take good care of your body. If you do something every day, like a 20-minute walk, that will impact your mood more than you can imagine. You may also want to incorpor…

Source: http://clubindustry.com/medical/hospital-city-reach-deal-preserve-suburban-chicago-fitness-center

St. George Corp., the parent of Palos Community Hospital, and the Village of Orland Park, Illinois, put together a memorandum of understanding that preserves Palos Health & Fitness Center from destruction. The facility had been scheduled for demolition as part of the hospital’s expansion plan.

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Source: http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2016/03/25/471447638/sing-it-now-one-a-penny-two-a-penny-hot-cross-buns?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=thesalt

Traditional hot cross buns from Baker Tom’s in the U.K. Easter is the bakery’s second-busiest holiday after Christmas, and special orders for the buns start coming in weeks in advance.

Courtesy of Baker Tom’s

If you’re looking for a sweet Easter treat, there’s plenty to choose from: chocolate rabbits, jelly beans, intricate sugar eggs, and — of course — the ubiquitous peeps. But there’s one slightly more refined treat that many in the United States are familiar with mostly from the song.

“One-a-penny, two-a-penny, hot cross buns” — made from spices, dried fruit, and a lightly sweetened, eggy dough — have been the Good Friday bread of choice in England since the 1500s. Yet the tradition of eating a special, rounded cake during spring festivals is actually much older, dating back to ancient Greece, writes John Ayto in An A…