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Thursday, July 28, 2011

Eating great, Exercising lots, Feeling amazing!

Pooja's Way is more than just about eating whole foods, exercising regularly and creatively, and changing the way we think about our health. It is also about changing the way we see ourselves and building confidence through making better choices for our bodies.

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I have been feeling great lately overall and proud of myself for all of the small achievements I have been making every day as part of Pooja's Way- becoming more responsible for myself and cooking my own meals (not doing the store bought thing), pumping up my exercise routine and hopping off my former plateau of doing the same exercise every day, cutting off from sugar (and I still haven;t cheated!), and focusing on eating whole foods. My friends constantly remark to me that they could never do what I am doing, but I always tell them that they can, too. They just have to try, and they would only realize that it is super easy and so worthwhile because you feel so good!
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 BASIL & JICAMA SALAD

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Check in with no sugar!

The breakfasts Pooja gave me and not eating sugar are going great. I think I ate the oatmeal for too many days in a row, so I am currently sick of it and obsessing over the banana flax smoothie (http://poojasway.com/article-cook/june-23-2011-functional-fitness-drinks-banana-flax-raw-cacao-smoothie/), so likely, the same will happen. But I am really enjoying them! 
cacao FLAX DRINK

Here is the recipe for my peach-egg breakfast salad (http://poojasway.com/article-cook/july-18-2011-meatless-monday-recipe-chickpea-peach-salad/) that I totally love!
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 The fitness is going fine as well. I actually was coaching off-ice yesterday and made my students do a few of your exercises because they said they wanted to make their hearts race and they really liked it, but it made them tired (which was a good thing!). As of yesterday, I am catching a cold, which is not fun. Before yesterday, I have been feeling good. I actually have started going to two dance classes with my friend Teresa who is a professional dancer/ teaches hip hop (here is a video of her dancing: http://www.youtube.com/teresainaction) and yoga, too! I decided I really wanted to step up my game :) 
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Follow my dancing friend her @Tereeses
As for the no sugar, I haven't really had any cravings since the first week. I know that I like ice cream, cupcakes, etc., but I don't think "OMG. I want that". Instead, I think "That looks pretty/cute/ good, but I don't really care/ have an interest in eating it" or "That looks good, but I don't need it." I actually have gone into several bakeries with friends who wanted stuff (but felt guilty because they know I am not eating sugar) and I totally didn't want anything. I was like "Meh. Looks good. Won't eat it." I definitely think I lost some weight, but it is hard for me to tell...I need to weigh myself sometime this next week. One thousand thanks to Pooja for getting me into better shape! make sure to check out her latest exercise post , her mini video series, and her hosting Today's Tweet on Huffington Post! You can also follow her @poojamottl or visit poojasway.com to see the website which officially relaunched today!

Monday, July 18, 2011

Chelsea Market, Highline, and homemade Almond Butter

As for my most current adventures, I spent more time with my friend Cassidy at yoga, which was so awesome. I am really trying to step up my fitness game and doing any exercise is more fun with a friend! After yoga, we walked to and from East Village/Chelsea/ Hell's Kitchen/ Union Square area (about 50 blocks total of roaming around) because we got dinner at Chelsea Market and walked the Highline (an outdoor park that used to be a railway and that is super sustainable). We ate soup, fruit, and salad, but we really just in awe of the whole inner marketplace. I had never been before and it was so fun, I am going to make it a ritual for myself to go to Chelsea market and the Highline once a week! Here are some pics:

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I also have been keeping up with my breakfasts that Pooja has given me recipes for, but I am still loving the banana flax cacao smoothie the best :)
cacao FLAX DRINK   

I also ventured to make my own (pure) almond butter because I was running low on my stash (which is kinda sad because it is Costco-sized, but I can't get enough of the stuff!). It took more time that I anticipated, but it was really exciting to make a 'slow food' I had never made before, but it was super easy! All I did was blend the nuts until they became buttery. Clean up was surprisingly easy as well because all of the almond butter stuck to itself and not the blender! 
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Stay tuned for tomorrow's post about my workouts! (hint: here is a preview http://poojasway.com/article-move/july-18th-2011-vibrant-life-anywhere-series-3-exercises-to-get-lean/)

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Yoga and Pho :)

Yesterday, I did Yoga with my friend Cassidy and I sweat so much! It was so gross and I sweat through my shirt, but I felt so good! After, we got Vietnamese food and I got pho, which is basically DYI soup. I got mine with seafood like shrimp, octopus, and other miscellaneous sea creatures. It was sooooooooooooo good. I highly recommend pho for myself and you on a daily basis!

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Pho! (spot the tentacles :) )
Also, I wanted to share the gorgeous view from the rooftop of the Met:

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I also get to add another option to my breakfasts, Pooja's Mediterannean Beet, Fennel, and Lentil Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette = YUM!
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Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Ode to the Farmer's Market

I love the Union Square Greenmarket, but I newly discovered the Tuesday farmer's market on 10th and 2nd (by randomly seeing it when I was walking from the West Village this morning)! I got bread from Bread Alone Bakery (this organic bread bakery I am OBSESSED with), tomatoes, blueberries, a peach, and nectarines.

handmade pastries, locally roasted coffee, soups, sandwiches and panini
Photo courtesy of breadalone.com
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I love how fresh all of my produce was! Quite often, food in supermarkets in the city have been sitting in trucks for a while and taste blah or have tons of pesticides on them. Even though it costs a little more, my food tastes way better and like the actual food I am tasting. My tomatoes I got were juicy and firm (organic) deliciousness. I am only thinking of this because I literally had to throw away half of the last carton of cherry tomatoes I bought from the supermarket because they were bad :( Look at these beauties: 

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I also loved my blueberries and indulged in my peach. The farmer kept telling me it was the best I could buy, and I was like 'Uh, huh...Sure...', but he was totally right. It was AMAZING.
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I also used my tomatoes in Pooja's Summer Salad with egg, pumpkin seeds, and peaches that I usually eat for breakfast, but also for lunch and added quinoa:

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OM NOM NOM.

To try another of Pooja's delicious salads, try her new Beet-Fennel- Lentil Salad!

Dancing before and in the Movies!

Yesterday I went with my friend, Teresa, to dance class in the city at Broadway Dance Center! It was so fun :) We took two 90 minute classes- ballet and jazz. Teresa actually teaches dance classes and is ridiculously good and I... could use more dance classes. Haha. At least I wasn't the worst!


Broadway Dance Center
Photo courtesy of broadwaydancecenter.com


I definitely want to go again because I had so much fun and want to get better- I think I am hooked :) I really loved my teacher Sheila Barker. She was funny and intimidating at the same time. Teresa and I really loved her! After, we got udon (which was delicious) and met some of our other friends at Bryant Park for a free screening of "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" (starring Marilyn Monroe; i.e. the origin of 'Diamonds are a Girls Best Friend'), which was a musical with tons of dancing! We are def going again.


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Today, I plan on going to an awesome yoga class near where I live called Yoga to the People, with my friend Cassidy. I am so excited to get my yoga on! Exercise classes are so...classy! I am also still doing my 6 week Pooja's Way exercises in the park, which is making me super strong :)


Saturday, July 9, 2011

Imma be like Atlas!

Imma be like Atlas because I am being super healthy :)

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Huh! I am strong!!!

I am eating super whole grains like Bob's Red Mill to get super strong and lean. I actually recently stocked up and got some organic whole quinoa, museli (I am super obsessed...it might be a problem), 10 grain cereal (I like it cold), whole grain couscous, and some other delisheries for ultra muscles *flex*.

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Check out the stash!
(My secret place for getting this brand on the cheap is Ocean State Job Lot!)
I have also been doing Pooja's workout at the park that the rink I coach at is in:

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Btw: I use the park benches as part of my workout :)
I am also super excited because I am going to try a ballet class with my friend who happens to be a ridiculously good dancer. I will need to take pictures to share! I am also recovering from sore legs after being at the rink for over 11 hours, so I have been stretching a lot today. I always try to stretch before and after I do every and any workout!

Friday, July 8, 2011

Fit Me, Baby!

As of yesterday, I have officially started my 6-week fitness program with Pooja to get sexier arms. Yeah! I am so excited.

Today is also the first day where I noticed I looked a little skinnier, probably from not eating sugar. My friends still tell me I am crazy, but I don't find it too hard. The only foods I really miss are really fattening (like ice cream...Oh, my dearest ice cream...), so it is good I am not eating them at all. Right now, getting back in shape is more important to me than the temporary pleasure of sugary sugar (sugar with sugar). No more sugar!

I am skating lightly for fun whenever I have free time at the rink, in addition to Pooja's workout for me. I am basically doing her shuttle runs, side shuffle things, and  two foot hops, in addition to these weird lengthening arm exercises that I don't know the name of, but am obsessed with (I will post pics of the arm stuff soon).
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Run, Sarah! Run! (Shuttle Runs)
Pooja's Shuttle Shuffles :)
BOING! (Two fooot hops)
I know I have really just begun doing Pooja's fitness plan, but I am excited because I know I am on the road to a healthier me! I actually exercise regularly, but I think I have reached a plateau in my progress from doing the same thing. I really love working out with Pooja because she adds so much variety and fun to my old, boring workouts!

Here is the link to some of her other exercises: http://poojasway.com/move/

Monday, July 4, 2011

Fireworks and Hiking on the 4th!

Happy 4th!

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I had the privilege of doing work on my yard today! However, I did see fireworks :) This weekend, I went to a concert in a neighboring CT town that ended with a bang (several, actually!).

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I also visited Kent Falls with my family and visiting Israeli cousins! It was so pretty :) We had a picnic with veggies, berries, and hummus (yum!), played games in the grass, frolicked in the water, and hiked up the mountain.
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Even my little cousins (ages 4, 9, and 11) hiked up the mountain with my brother, mom, their parents, and myself. It was so fun to be outside by water. Also, it was a nice change to see mountains, which I am used to from living in CT and are absent from NYC. At least I have Central Park.
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This was a view from the upper middle of the mountain!

Starting Wednesday, I am kick-starting my official Pooja's Way fitness plan! Details to come. In the meantime, get a sneak peak at some of my workouts at http://poojasway.com/move/

I Heart Pooja's Tart!

I swear I am sweet, but I love this tart! I made Pooja's tart for my family and they loved it! It made the perfect 4th of July treat :)

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Obviously, Pooja's is prettier and made correctly, but I tried!

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I also realized later that it is vegan because instead of butter and eggs, the recipe uses coconut oil. In the jar, coconut oil looks super solid, but actually melts to the touch. It was in the oil section in Whole Foods (hiding on the top of the shelf in the oil aisle).
For fun, I used the coconut oil in my own recipe to caramelize a banana, also with the coconut sugar I used in the tart recipe. Because I didn't make it well, I added it to Wallaby's organic nonfat plain yogurt. I love Wallaby brand because the texture is super smooth!

Pooja knows that I love yogurt, and she pointed out to me how much sugar is added to flavored yogurt. Tp cut calories and avoid all of those unnecessary chemicals, add your own fruit to yogurt. Always get plain and sweeten with maple syrup or honey (if desired). I am weird and don't sweeten most of my foods (not that I am eating sugar anyways), but I usually opt for maple syrup and blueberries in my yogurt. I also like to get nonfat yogurt because it is fewer calories. As far as organic goes, organic=whole foods= good for the environment= good for the body= :)