Zucchini "Pasta," and other ramblings

Sorry for the couple day break! It's been a long weekend, working as an Orientation Assistant (helping incoming freshmen out) at my college!

Anways! I have heard about the recipe for a long time, and I thought I'd try it myself. I sort of played it by ear. It's a great and VERY QUICK recipe that works really well for days you don't feel like thinking too much about cooking. It's also an awesome way to incorporate veggies into your diet without really noticing it!

ZUCCHINI "PASTA"

One zucchini makes approximately one serving.

Soo basically what happens here is.. you make pasta. Out of zucchini. Yep.

What you need:

Salt (to add to boiling water.. I used sea salt)

1 medium to large zucchini 

Whatever toppings you would normally put on spaghetti! (e.g. mozzarella, marinara sauce, Italian seasoning, etc.)

What you do:

1. Slice zucchini into skinny "noodles." Usually this can be done more efficiently (mine were thick, so I had to cook them for longer). I had misplaced my peeler for this meal, but I would suggest using a peeler if you have one (just don't make the "noodles" too thin!).

2. Bring about half a pot of lightly salted water to a boil (uncovered).

3. Add "noodles" to pot, and turn down heat to medium/medium-high. Cook for about 3-5 minutes, uncovered (the length of time will change depending on how thick or thin you sliced your zucchini). The key is to make sure that your zucchini is wilty/droopy and acts "pasta"-like when you hold it on your fork. 

4. Take out the zucchini and strain the water out. 

5. Put in a bowl, add toppings, and enjoy! (I used mozzarella and way too much Italian seasoning.. thanks to the lid falling off of the bottle. Blech.) 

ON TO THE NEXT...

I ran 10 miles this morning. At a 9 minute pace. In the sun - not my usual 6 AM dark, dark, dark run. I had two buddies (a trainer and a friend) to help push me out there. I love days where I challenge myself and push myself to the limit. If I can keep up a 9 min pace for my final half marathon, I will be as pleased as cheese (just made that up... wah).

By the way, I highly recommend the Nike+ GPS app for iPhones. It's amazing. I've never had any problems with it. Ever.

Love you guys!

Training & T.Z.T.

I have never been so ecstatic about exercise. It's truly wonderful. I've been getting 5 hours or less of sleep, which is AWFUL by the way - bad habit to drag yourself into. But, because I've been eating healthy and taking care of my body by providing it with all the nutrients it needs (and exercise), I am able to stay energetic throughout the day. This morning, I ran 4 miles (easy run to recover from yesterday), but, when asked to join someone at the gym this afternoon, I just had to go again. I mean, I wasn't doing anything else... right?

It's awesome. I hope I remain as excited about my well-being once school starts back up on Monday!

On another note, I burned so many calories tonight that I decided to play with some ingredients I had around the house tonight and make a hearty yet healthy (not to mention extremely yummy) meal.

I proclaim this new recipe "T.Z.T." - standing for "Turkey Zucchini Tacos." Randomest taco ingredients ever, I know. Get over it. They're delicious.

TURKEY ZUCCHINI TACOS

Makes about 3-4 tacos (I usually just eat 2)

What you need:
6oz lean ground turkey (room temp)
1 chopped fresh zucchini
1 chopped garlic clove
1 tsp olive oil
2 tbsp water
1 tsp curry powder
1/4 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp ground cumin
Mozzarella cheese, to your liking
3-4 LaTortilla Low-Carb, High-Fiber 50 cal whole wheat tortillas

What you do:
1. Heat medium sized skillet/pan on stove with olive oil. Once hot (I put mine a little above medium level), add chopped garlic clove. Use a spatula to brown.
2. Once the garlic has browned, add the ground turkey to the pan. Add 2 tbsp water and spices.
3. Separate turkey with spatula, and cook on medium/medium-high heat (constantly turning/stirring) until the turkey is almost completely cooked.
4. Add chopped zucchini, sprinkle on a bit more curry powder if you want (sprinkle on a bit more water too), and turn the heat down to medium-low. Stir around the zucchini until covered with spices.

5. After ingredients are thoroughly mixed in the pan, turn the heat down to simmer and let sit for a bit. I usually let the mix simmer until I am finished putting away my dirty dishes and ingredients/warming up the tortillas and preparing the mozzarella.
6. Once this is all done, you're ready to scoop the T.Z.T. mixture onto your tortillas! Sprinkle each with mozzarella cheese.

Sounds like a weird combo but I swear it's to die for!

Enjoy! :D

FIT-NATION: STAY FIT ANYWHERE

Ever been upset with yourself because you are working 24/7 and don't have enough time to get motivated and moving? 

I have. Constantly. Like today, for example - I had training for work from 7:45 AM to around 9:30 PM (*I work as an Orientation Assistant for my college, introducing the incoming freshman to the school). Granted, I had a break from 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM, but working out right after lunch was a no-no, and then I had a few errands to run. HENCE, NO TIME TO WORKOUT. BESIDES MAYBE A MILE RUN AND SOME CRUNCHES. Not good enough. Sighhh... Life is tough, no?


Absolutely not. Life can be simple if you make it simple. That's why I'm writing this post today. To inform you that there are, in fact, many ways to incorporate calorie-busting activities throughout your work day. Just keep it simple. (Ahem, unless, you are a crazy person like me who gets up to run at 5 AM or works out in her room at 9:30 PM). OBSERVE.

I do not take credit for this image.

1. Take the stairs.
Well, now of course you're like Duh, taking the stairs burns more calories than taking the elevator. But how many of you actually do that? If you don't now, you should. Climbing just two flights of stairs everyday could result in a weight loss of 6 pounds per year. Six flights could help you cut almost 18 pounds.* And half the time, taking the stairs is actually faster than waiting for the elevator. Not only do the stairs burn calories, but they also burn stress, which is something I have had to deal with constantly. I started taking the stairs during my first job this summer as a camp counselor for high school students (I had to climb four flights of stairs multiple times a day). I immediately noticed a heightened energy level and a lower stress level.

*Information from Senior Life Health

I do not take credit for this image.

2. Drink more water.
To me, it seems that the more water I drink, the less unnecessary snacking I will be doing, especially at work. It satisfies cravings for the most part - because a lot of the time when you think you're hungry, you're actually just thirsty! Not only will you snack less, but you will probably burn more calories by walking to the drinking fountain or constantly breaking for the bathroom (hehe).

3. Walk to lunch.
OR, you could even work out during your lunch break - there's a thought. But really, find a healthy place nearby to grab a quick lunch. If your lunch is really quick, you might even be able to go for a longer walk during lunch. You can even pack your own lunch and walk somewhere pretty to eat. Grab some friends to go with you.

4. Eat a balanced breakfast - or at least eat SOME breakfast.
I can't stress enough how important it is to get in a good breakfast. Seriously. Eating breakfast jump-starts your metabolism from the get-go and helps you to burn more fat/calories throughout the day. It will probably also prevent you from constant, unnecessary snacking throughout the morning (snacking is good, but not excessively, and not with junk food!). Some examples of great breakfast choices are a serving of oatmeal or whole grain cereal with non-fat or skim milk and a hard-boiled egg. Or maybe a bowl of berries or other fruits with plain Greek yogurt and granola! Peanut butter on whole wheat toast and non-fat milk is also another great option. And, don't forget that every breakfast should include a glass of water! (I think my next post will be about balanced breakfast options!)

5. Stand more.
Always look for opportunities to stand - in a meeting, while on the phone, during a lecture, whenever. Seriously. The more you stand, the more you burn.

This is my friend Emily - isn't she purty!?

6. Make the most out of your commute.
If work is too far to walk, you could try biking. If work is too far for either of these options, try parking or getting off the bus stop a few blocks away and walk to your destination instead. Every little bit counts!



Most of these "activities" may seem extremely minor, but by making an effort to implement them on a daily basis, you will definitely see improvement over time. It may be slow and steady, but combined with healthy eating and other exercise (even if just on the weekend), this will truly make an impact. No doubt about it - this has all worked for me over the past four months.

Pardon me for the totally NON-personal post! I will be updating you guys tomorrow with pretty new pictures of my OWN food - and maybe even my first recipe! I'm so excited :)

-Sarah Beth