Thanks Blogger for keeping count of the number of posts! I have actually been looking forward to this one for a long time!! Since starting 'This So Called Healthy Lifestyle' in June I have written exactly 100 posts. Over the summer I was faithful in posting every single morning but when school started in August I have had less time to devote to posting.
For the 100th celebration I have decided to commit to my top 100 things health related, at first I was going to do them in order but that was harder than I thought it would be! I am breaking it up to do this over 2 posts so that it is not pages and pages! Here of 50 of my top 100 things :)
100. Mushrooms-this is a new found obsession. I have started putting them in just about everything or even eating them raw with some salsa. They provide zinc for optimal immune functioning and are high in antioxidants99. Cycling-I am absolutely, unbelievably in love with cycling classes. There is something so motivating in the music, the people around you and the great feeling of dripping with sweat and powering those legs through another challenge
98. Asics-I am kind of an Asics snob. For the past couple of years I have been faithful to sticking to Asics everytime I buy a new tennis shoe. They are comfortable, supportive and built to last
97. IPOD-a really great playlist can be the secret to a great warm-up. There are so many times when I am just about ready to give up and a song comes on that picks up my spirit and gets me to push forward another step
96. Armadillo Dash-An absolutely wonderful little half-marathon in College Station. It was my first run ever and is what got me hooked on the sport. It has become an annual thing and is fun to look forward to.
95. Cinnamon-Virtually calorie-free and a perfect flavor for just about anything-coffee, oatmeal...help pick up your favorite foods!
94. Oatmeal-It is actually hard for me to eat something other than oatmeal for breakfast! I LOVE it with peanut butter, cinnamon, blueberries, or vanilla protein powder. Yummy and fat-free
93. DailyMile-I have actually gotten my whole family addicted to this website. Check out my DailyMile post, but it is a really great way to keep track of your training and get connected with other runners, cyclists, walkers, swimmer, triathletes or athletes
92. New Running Clothes-Getting new fitness gear is always fun! I love trying on new tops and pants and finding ones that feel great. There are so many to choose from but once I get something new I always want to get out there and run it as soon as I can. This can be a great way to get to the gym-show off what you got!
91. Jason's Deli-This is actually probably an unhealthy addiction. Since graduating I have gone less than when in College, but I can't explain how in love I am with this place. If you ask me to choose the restaurant, this is probably what I will choose. Mediterranean Wrap, no olives, with fruit...too bad it is only 8 am right now because this sounds so good!
90. Lactaid-A few years ago I found out I was lactose intolerant. This was huge because the original thought was that I couldn't take gluten, so dairy was way easier to cut out. I have always been in love with milk and have found lactaid to be an excellent alternate-I can't tell the difference.
89. Stairmaster-For some reason this is always one of the least popular machines at the gym, so it typically isn't hard to get one (even at the busy times!) The stairmaster offers a workout for the glutes like you can't imagine and also hits the leg muscles and is an excellent option for a cardio workout
88. Apples-I love, love, love any and every type of apples. Green, yellow, red...I am not picky! "An apple a day keeps the doctor away". High in fiber so they are filling and great for those wanting to lose weight.
87. Free weights-All too often girls overlook their strength training needs. Their entire focus is on cardio and miss out on the benefits of weights. For more information check out my post on 'lose your fear of weights', but building muscle replaces fat and helps speed metabolism significantly and helps to create a leaner body.
86. Tuna-Although the mercury prevents eating too much, tuna is an excellent health option for those wanting to work on their eating habits. It is easy to throw on bread, in a salad or with some eggs and is high in Omega-3, helps prevent cardiovascular disease and lowers blood pressure.
85. MapMyRun-MapMyRun.com allows you to log in your specific location and map out a run. It shows distance ,elevation, parks, water, bathrooms and other helpful information that can be used to plan your next run
84. Insanity-I am in love with Shawn T. and his sweat-producing, body-busting workout videos. Seriously one of the most intense workouts put out and is not for the fainthearted. It is a 60-day challenge that works your body in ways you can never imagine. It provides hard days, lighter days and rest days so your body receives maximum benefits.
83. Whey Protein-While it is expensive, it has been such a great way to increase my protein intake. Easy to throw into a smoothie, on oatmeal, or mixed into a pancake.
82. Dancing-I was a dancer all growing up and something I was very passionate about. While I don't do it anymore it is a truly wonderful way to give your body an excellent workout without feeling like your exercising. The music and the movement help get your mind off of it and you are able to just enjoy the sport.
81. Rest days-Taking a day off seems like a strange thing to say but I love working hard and getting that day to just truly let my body relax. It is such a great feeling to take a day or two off and then start back feeling strong and energized
80. Crystal Light Strawberry Kiwi-I get the single serving Crystal Light packages. They have a little bit of caffeine to keep me energized and help me increase my water intake
79. Coffee-While the Crystal Light's are great, I could not possibly survive without my coffee. I have it set-up so I can get it the second I wake up!
78. Women's Health Magazine-Great tips, recipes and ideas for health, fitness and living a balanced lifestyle. I am subscribed via-email so I get daily tips and articles that I can research more on
76. Blogging-I have really enjoyed finding out more information and being able to share it. A healthy lifestyle is something I am very passionate about and I love being able to share that one post at a time.
75. Blender-I make a protein smoothie everyday. I mentioned in a prior-post that I actually eat 5 full meals each day, with my second being a smoothie. This keeps me full, my metabolism running high and prevents cravings. I have truly fallen in love with the ease of being able to throw things into a blender and trying new mixes
76. Luke's Locker-This is a running store in the area I live that has all sorts of fun running gear. My favorite thing is they will get you up on a treadmill and watch you run in order to provide you with your best running shoe.
75. Peanut Butter-This has been my comfort food my entire life. I can put it on absolutely anything or just eat it with a spoon. When I was younger, my mom actually had to limit me to one peanut butter sandwich a day! I love it and it is great for protein!
74. Frozen Vegetables-While I really do adore and prefer fresh vegetables they go bad all too often. It is nice to stock the freezer with some fresh veggies so I can bust them out as needed and not worry about having to trash them for going bad.
73. Plank-this has always been my favorite ab exercise. It is a mindless move and work the entire core. When I taught fitness classes this was a great move because it allows for all type of variations in order to accommodate beginners and advanced exercisers.
72. Marathon running-LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the marathon world! It has become a huge part of my life and something I really have enjoyed. My favorite part is that it is truly a challenge and requires dedication and commitment to complete. It is not a one time event but rather months of effort and work in order to be fully prepared.
71. Sandwich Thins-These are the new 'IT' thing in sandwiches. At only 100 calories, they are an excellent alternate to the loaf of bread.
70. My Garden Tub-When apartment hunting, I didn't think twice about the bathtub in the place but since moving in, this has been one of my favorite features. After a long run or hard workout there is nothing more relaxing then a warm bath to ease my muscles.
69. Elastic Shoelaces-About 2 months into training I bruised the top of my foot on a long run from my shoelaces being too tight. Stupid me continued to complete my runs and the pain continued to get worse. At first I freaked thinking it was a stress-fracture but I tried some elastic laces and have been pain free ever since (well as far as that area-there have been many other aches along the way!)
68. Yoga-I have actually never been most of a yoga person. I have tried to get into it but typically find myself leaving bored but recently I have loved doing yoga on my cross-training day in order to get a good stretch and work my body in new ways.
67. RunningHope-Steven Curtis Chapman has a charity called Show Hope to raise money for orphans and to help place them in loving homes. A runner teamed up with Show Hope to create RunningHope that has runners raise money to provide money to the effort. It is such a powerful way to use what you love to love others.
66. Fitness Classes-I was an aerobics instructor throughout college and thought it was the best job ever. I love how motivating it is to workout with a group of people and being able to try new and fun fitness classes.
65. Family Walks-Even if it is just an evening stroll it is great to spend time with family and get moving. A better option than sitting on your laptops in separate rooms of the house.
64. Whole Wheat Gingerbread-Hodgson Mills makes a whole-wheat gingerbread mix that is absolutely fantastic! Muffins, pancakes, breads, cookies-AMAZING!
63. Whole Foods-Wholefoods.com is a great place to find recipes that are healthy and tasty. They have a broad assortment of all types of amazing recipes and I haven't tried one that I haven't liked yet.
62. V8-OK I know I am alone on this, but I actually really like the tomato juice. They offer a low-sodium option and it is a great way to amp my veggie intake
61. Garmin ForeRunner-The other day I posted about my running watch that I received for Christmas. The more I play with it, the more I love it! It shows distance, pace, time and has so many other fun tracking features to help evaluate my runs.
60. Animal Crackers-Yes, this makes me sound like a 5-year old but these things are wonderful! I always keep my pantry fully stocked with these. Not exactly extremely healthy but at least they are low-fat!
59. Sunny Days-You know the feeling, you wake up and it's cold and rainy outside. You want to do nothing more than lay on the couch with a blanket and watch movies all day. But those pretty days when the sun is out gets me motivated and excited to get outside.
58. Pumpkin Pie Cliff Bars-There are so many options out there for energy bars but I have grown attached to Cliff. They really taste great and I have found them to provide me the longest lasting energy for running. Recently they had seasonal Cliff Bars and the pumpkin pie flavor was to die for. I already can't wait to get it next year!!
57. Spaghetti-This has been my favorite meal for as long as I can remember (good thing it is quick and easy!) My mom has made every year for my birthday and I always look forward to Spaghetti night. With some whole wheat pasta, this does not need to be a meal that you avoid.
56. Salsa-At only 10 calories, salsa is a great staple to keep in the fridge. Try it on vegetables, chips, tacos, potatoes or anything else you can think of!
55. 100 Push Up Challenge-hundredpushups.com provides a 6 week program to get you to 100 push ups. Sounds pretty intense? I took it and reached the goal and it was not as bad as I thought it would be.
54. Workout Friends-Having friends who are dedicated to fitness helps keep me motivated. Having someone else to encourage you and to workout with you makes it more enjoyable and gives you some motivation to complete your challenge.
53. Big D Marathon-In April I completed my first marathon and experienced one of the greatest feelings of accomplishments. It was a gorgeous route around a beautiful lake, through the scenic neighborhoods and with a view of a pretty area.
52. Monte Bene Sauce-Speaking of spaghetti, this sauce is wonderfully flavorful, 40 calories, low fat and all-natural.
51. Stretching-Give your body an all-around benefit that helps you relax and prevent injuries. How great does it feel to get a deep stretch?
50. White Wine Vinegar-Calorie-free and is so good on salads and sautéed with some vegetables. I am not as big of a fan for red wine vinegar, but I know a lot of people use that for some of the same purposes.
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