Smart Living

The Search for a New Fitness Tracker to Reach My Fitness Goals

Anyone who knows me knows that I work out quite a bit. In fact, sometimes become enthralled in it and enjoy challenging myself with new workouts and activities. I become unmotivated when I plateau so I always feel the need to switch things up.

But which exercise is most helpful to me in reaching my goal? What can I do more of or less of?

Last year a friend of mine got a Fitbit. I was pretty amazed because It calculated her heartbeat, her steps, and how many stairs she took in a day. The tracker also allowed her to compete with other people who had the tracker, so she felt motivated all the time. Then my sister showed me hers while we were away and I knew then that I wanted a fitness tracker. I could see that it motivated both my friend and my sister in being more active.

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Working Out to Feed My Mind

When we moved into our house nearly four years ago, I told my husband I needed a treadmill and some weights so that I can create my own “gym” in one of the extra rooms in the basement. I didn’t want to pay for a gym membership as I knew working out at home would be easier for me, especially with a kid. I also know me and leaving the house to go to the gym can be a mission.

Soon after we moved in, we set up my own “gym” in the basement. I say “my” because I use it 98% more than my husband does.

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Chicken with Black Bean & Corn Quinoa

Yes, this is another quinoa and chicken recipe, but what can I say? We love quinoa and chicken just pairs really well with it. The beauty about quinoa is that it easily takes on whatever flavour you want it to be. It’s also something I can get my son to eat without trouble as he loves black beans and corn (at least today he does. Who knows what the future brings). This recipe is delicious and healthy and I feel good about feeding it to my family.

Chicken with Black Bean & Corn Quinoa

You will need:

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Slow-Cooker Pulled-Chicken Tacos

We are a taco family. We’ve been having tacos at least once a week for the past few months. Luckily our son loves them just as much so we know he will for sure be eating when we make them. Of course, there are several different kinds of tacos you can make, so we’re always switching it up.
Last night I suggested we try a slow cooker chicken recipe. We’ve been lagging on the slow cooker meals but they really are the best thing for busy times. Sure enough, tacos came to mind. We threw in some chicken and some veggies and ta-da! Slow-cooker pulled taco chicken! Another one for the books.

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Mango Curry Chicken

A few years ago, we had a family friend come visit from Israel. He is an excellent cook who wowed us every time with his ability to throw anything into the pot and create a masterpiece. One evening, he made a whole-fish mango curry and it was fabulous. I begged for the recipe and he kindly gave it to me, letting me know I can also make it with chicken. I couldn’t wait to recreate this meal for my husband and son.
Since I haven’t learned the arts of cooking a whole-fish, I’ve been making this meal using chicken and it is just as fabulous. Mango Curry Chicken is made anytime we manage to find good mangoes. Here it is, I hope you enjoy!

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Vegetable Chicken Quinoa

There was a time last year when my husband was gone during the week for work and was only home on weekends. I found dinners to be one of my biggest challenges as I was tired after working all day never felt like cooking when I got home. But not making dinner was not an option as I needed to feed my son. I wanted to make healthy meals that would carry us for a few days and give me a small break. Having recycled through most of my on-hand recipes, we needed a change. Out of frustration one night, I pulled out some chicken and whatever vegetables I had laying around in our refrigerator. I chopped everything up, pulled out some spices from the cupboard, and got to work. In no time at all, we had a delicious and healthy meal made with love and it is now a staple in our home.

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Butternut Squash and Sweet Potato Soup

The cold months are back and it’s soup time!
I’ve always been a bit adverse to butternut squash, so when my mother asked me to try her butternut squash and sweet potato soup for the first time, I was skeptical. After feeling pressured from my parents and my husband to “just try the soup already!”, I gave in. Now this soup is a regular in our house.
This soup is creamy, delicious, and easy to make. Enjoy!!

Butternut Squash & Sweet Potato Soup

You will need:
2 tbsp vegetable oil
1 tbsp minced garlic
2 small onions, diced
1/2 a butternut squash, peeled, seeded and chopped
2 cups peeled, chopped sweet potato (about 2 medium size)
4 cups of vegetable broth
1/2 tbsp minced fresh ginger
1/2 tbsp curry powder
1 tbsp honey

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5-10 Minute Workouts for the Busy

Years ago, while working at as a Healthy Living Coordinator at a group home, I developed quick routines to do with the youth to get them more active, especially in the winter-time when everyone seems to hibernate. The workouts I did with them are quick and don’t require any gear, so it was hard for us to make excuses not to do them.

Like most mothers, I am tired after a full day of work and then caring for my family in the evening. The last thing I want to do after my son goes to bed is change into my workout gear and go down to our makeshift workout room in the basement and workout. I’d much rather pour myself a large glass of wine and watch television until I fall asleep.

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Banana Mini-Muffins Your Kids Will Love

From the time my son started eating solids, I did my best to make sure he had wholesome and delicious foods. One day I made a banana bread and then it occurred to me that I could turn this banana bread into a healthy mini-muffin for my mini-human. For the past two years, I have been turning any bread and muffin recipe I come across into my own version of healthy mini-muffins. There were some fails, but I scored with this one! My husband calls these “hippie muffins” and my son loves them. They make a good breakfast with some yogurt or served as a snack.

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Blackened Fish Tacos with Caper Cream Sauce and Mango Salsa

fish-tacos

We love tacos! My husband, the cook-extraordinaire, has come up with another way to make tacos fun and delicious. We fell in love with fish tacos on one of adventures to Mexico and for some reason we neglected to make them upon our return (some four-plus years ago). We have been trying to include more fish in our diet lately and that’s when the light bulb turned on: FISH TACOS! This is a recipe we love and that our son can’t get enough of. Enjoy!

Blackened Fish Tacos with Caper Cream Sauce and Mango Salsa

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