Health goals... and parsnips!
May. 20th, 2008 04:09 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sarahmichiganSo, I've slowly been plugging away at my health & fitness goals. Today, I worked on both #2 and #4.
For #2, I took an AST class, which is different than the "Total Body" classes I've been taking semi-regularly. In the "Total Body" classes, you use exercise bands, your own body weight, and light hand weights, doing many reps with almost no break between sets, so it's mostly a weight-lifting class with the side-effect benefit of a cardio workout,since you never stop moving for the whole hour. The AST class, in contrast, is specifically half-and-half. It's 30 minutes of step aerobics followed by 30 minutes of weight training and stretching. It was taught by an instructor I think of in my head as "The Spastic Whippet" but she's actually pretty fun as an aerobics instructor. They have to be on the peppy side, really. None of the dance steps were too complicated, and I got a good heart rate going. The weight training portion I had mixed feelings about. I feel like my lower and mid back barely got worked, my biceps practically not at all, but I got a hell of a workout on abs, glutes, shoulders and triceps. So, it was good for the purposes of mixing things up and busting boredom, but not as good for a well-rounded weight workout. Still, I'm glad I gave it a try.
For #4, I used snow pea pods in a recipe this past weekend. I have eaten them fairly often in Chinese take-out before, but I don't believe I've ever tried to prepare them at home, so I'm counting them toward this goal. Also, as of today, I have obtained a couple of small parsnips. I probably have eaten these before but it would have been a long time ago, and I have never tried to make them at home. I didn't know before I bought them, but generally the smaller ones are less woody, less bitter, and more sweet. Luckily, I did pick small ones. Most of the info I'm reading on these veggies say you can use them the way you'd use carrots or potatoes in a recipe. I'm getting lots of recommendations for oven roasting them or turning them into a puree/mash. Nutmeg seems to be the seasoning of choice. I've got a few recipes I'm considering, but I'm open to suggestions from anyone reading who has a favorite parsnip recipe.
Health and Fitness Goals for Spring/Summer 2008
All of these goals started April 15 and are to be completed by and/or terminate at the end of August.
1. Weight lift consistently 3 times a week from now (April 15) until the end of August, barring injury or illness (a bad cold, the flu, etc.). [Note: I will consider it a success if I take no more than 3 passes on a workout day by the end of August. So far, I've already taken 2 "buys" so I'm going to try to be a little more consistent for the next couple months.]
2. Try three new classes at the fitness center and/or a class I've already taken but with a different instructor. (in process: Took a "Total Body" class with a different instructor Sunday May 4. Took AST (aerobics and strength training) class Tuesday May 20.)
3. Sometime in August, re-take the fitness assessment at the fitness center. Attempt 17 or more "girly" pushups.
4. Try three new fruits or vegetables I haven't eaten before and/or have never tried to prepare at home (they don't have to be completely new- they can be just a different variety, for instance a different variety of apple that I've never tried before). (in process: Cooked snow pea pods Saturday May 17. Bought parsnips Tuesday May 20.)
5. Run a mile in under 13 minutes (ran a mile in 12:53 on May 12).
6. Bicycle an unfamiliar trail and take a ride of 15 or more miles.
7. Barring illness or injury, get in 3 hours and 15 minutes *minimum* of combined cardio and weight-lifting per week, and average at least 4 hours per week of cardio & weights (and yoga will qualify as well) between now and the end of August. (in process)
For #2, I took an AST class, which is different than the "Total Body" classes I've been taking semi-regularly. In the "Total Body" classes, you use exercise bands, your own body weight, and light hand weights, doing many reps with almost no break between sets, so it's mostly a weight-lifting class with the side-effect benefit of a cardio workout,since you never stop moving for the whole hour. The AST class, in contrast, is specifically half-and-half. It's 30 minutes of step aerobics followed by 30 minutes of weight training and stretching. It was taught by an instructor I think of in my head as "The Spastic Whippet" but she's actually pretty fun as an aerobics instructor. They have to be on the peppy side, really. None of the dance steps were too complicated, and I got a good heart rate going. The weight training portion I had mixed feelings about. I feel like my lower and mid back barely got worked, my biceps practically not at all, but I got a hell of a workout on abs, glutes, shoulders and triceps. So, it was good for the purposes of mixing things up and busting boredom, but not as good for a well-rounded weight workout. Still, I'm glad I gave it a try.
For #4, I used snow pea pods in a recipe this past weekend. I have eaten them fairly often in Chinese take-out before, but I don't believe I've ever tried to prepare them at home, so I'm counting them toward this goal. Also, as of today, I have obtained a couple of small parsnips. I probably have eaten these before but it would have been a long time ago, and I have never tried to make them at home. I didn't know before I bought them, but generally the smaller ones are less woody, less bitter, and more sweet. Luckily, I did pick small ones. Most of the info I'm reading on these veggies say you can use them the way you'd use carrots or potatoes in a recipe. I'm getting lots of recommendations for oven roasting them or turning them into a puree/mash. Nutmeg seems to be the seasoning of choice. I've got a few recipes I'm considering, but I'm open to suggestions from anyone reading who has a favorite parsnip recipe.
Health and Fitness Goals for Spring/Summer 2008
All of these goals started April 15 and are to be completed by and/or terminate at the end of August.
1. Weight lift consistently 3 times a week from now (April 15) until the end of August, barring injury or illness (a bad cold, the flu, etc.). [Note: I will consider it a success if I take no more than 3 passes on a workout day by the end of August. So far, I've already taken 2 "buys" so I'm going to try to be a little more consistent for the next couple months.]
2. Try three new classes at the fitness center and/or a class I've already taken but with a different instructor. (in process: Took a "Total Body" class with a different instructor Sunday May 4. Took AST (aerobics and strength training) class Tuesday May 20.)
3. Sometime in August, re-take the fitness assessment at the fitness center. Attempt 17 or more "girly" pushups.
4. Try three new fruits or vegetables I haven't eaten before and/or have never tried to prepare at home (they don't have to be completely new- they can be just a different variety, for instance a different variety of apple that I've never tried before). (in process: Cooked snow pea pods Saturday May 17. Bought parsnips Tuesday May 20.)
6. Bicycle an unfamiliar trail and take a ride of 15 or more miles.
7. Barring illness or injury, get in 3 hours and 15 minutes *minimum* of combined cardio and weight-lifting per week, and average at least 4 hours per week of cardio & weights (and yoga will qualify as well) between now and the end of August. (in process)
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no subject
Date: 2008-05-20 10:15 pm (UTC)I also made mashed parsnips not too long ago. I found the recipe online somewhere. This one looks like it may be the one I used. I didn't use any nutmeg, since I don't have any. I think I threw in some spices I had on hand, probably including thyme (since I like thyme on just about any savory dish).
no subject
Date: 2008-05-21 12:24 am (UTC)I personally like to roast them or make parsnip cake.