Progress through Consistency

Being a fitness instructor at a gym, this time of year is what we call the "Silly Season". The gym is overrun  with  whole crop of fresh faced members, who are pumped up to make serious changes in the new year and to get in shape. Sadly, by Valentine's Day, the gym reverts back to normal and the"Resolutionists" disappear and the regulars settle back in to their normal routines and regain  access to all their favorite equipment.

  With the people I train and the runners I coach, the successful ones are the consistent ones. It is the same for my running. I always strive to maintain a base throughout the year, with peak training times and also recovery time as well. Hence the term "Progress through Consistency". The old catch phrase " New Year, New You" has the word "Year" in it, not "month", so be consistent and don't "flame out" by Valentine's Day!

Some of my "Regulars" at my 5:30am boot camp!

I was quite excited to find some dandelion greens on sale at my local Kroger supermarket the other day. I am trying to incorporate a nice big salad each day for lunch into my routine, and this find certainly helped motivate me!

kale, romaine, dandelion greens, broccoli, roasted red pepper, chic peas and walnuts. A pinch of pink Himalayan salt and some ground pepper. Dressed with some extra virgin olive oil and fresh squeezed lemon juice.

Post Workout Smoothie, Vegan Style!

Here is my typical post run/bike smoothie!

1 cup Almond Milk
1 Banana
1Tsp Udo's Oil
1/2 cup frozen fruit
1 tsp Chia seeds
1 tsp Maca powder
1 tsp Salba
2 TBSP Hemp Protein Powder

Put all ingredients in blender and blend to desired consistency.

A few options:  Replace banana with a ripe avocado. You can also use a frozen banana. When my bananas start to get real funky, I peel them and individually wrap them and put them in the freezer.

Instead of hemp powder, I switch up with a scoop of Vega Energizing Smoothie Powder. Check out all their fine products at http://www.myvega.com/

I vary the frozen fruit at times with fresh fruit. Just add some ice to the mix to get the texture you want.

I also throw in some coconut flakes or a tsp of coconut oil on occasion.

For some added iron, throw in some ground raw pumpkin seed too!