Green Tea!

Wherever you look there are green tea products, and for years we have heard that there are many benefits to drinking Green tea, so I decided to do a little research and create a summary about this delicious and nutricious drink :)


Health Benefits:

-These three cups can help you burn upto 100 calories daily and increaes your metabolic rate by 4%
-Can help reduce your appetite
-Great way to cut down on coffee calories
-Helps prevent fat absorbtion
-Green tea has been found to reduce many types of cancer including: breast, lung, and colon as well as prevent the creationg of LDL ( bad choloesterol) and increase HDL ( good choloesterol

How to Prepare:
-3 cups of green tea is the average you need to consume to recieve the benefits, if you really don't like the taste there are green tea extract pills that have most of the same benefits
-You should let it steep for 3-5 minutes before you drink it
-You should drink it freshley brewed to get the benefits, none of that bottled stuff
-I recommend it iced with lemon :)

Sources: Harvard Health Publications, American Journal of Clinical Nutrition: http://www.colonhealth.net/weight_loss/Green_Tea_Increases_Metabolic_Weight_Loss.html

the magic of a sweatband

Although sweatbands are usually associated with basketball players or 80's work out instructors I have to admit that I bought one, and I LOVE IT. Our gym here in Spain is not too keen on AC, entonces it is very very hot in our classes and we sweat a lot. Sweating is great, you feel like you accomplished something, but having to wipe your face every 2 seconds is not only gross but annoying.

Alex and I had been talking about purchasing sweatbands for a while, half as a joke and half seriously, but last weekend at the mall we decided to take the plunge. We were going to get matching ones but decided to cool it and got differenct colors.

Conclusion of the story, yes I do look like an 80's work out instructor, my bright blue pants and off the sholder work out shirt don't help that situation, but not having to wipe sweat off my face every two seconds has been an amazing experience I would recommend to everyone.

Body Combat- My New Favorite Class

It took me a while to get the guts to try combat,probably since everytime I walked by the class there was angry rock music and lots of angry punching, but once my favorite instructor told me that you burned up to 1200 calories in an hour I decided to give it a try. Combat has quickly become my favorite gym class. It is a combination of a variety of matial arts put to music, (only the last song was scary rock the rest are technoish). After a month of doing combat I really feel a difference in my level of cario, while at first I was dying inbetween each routine, now I am dying a little less :)

Here is a video clip that gives you a little glance into the life of a combat class goer, (clearly I am not that coordinated)

really yummy snack idea/sandwhich alternative

I was just reminded of a really good snack and thought I would share. As a an alternative to a sandwhich you can make a lettuce wrap...trust me it is a lot better than it sounds!

All you have to do is get romain lettuce, laughing cow light cheese, and whatever low fat deli meat you like (I personally like it best with turkey). Spread the cheese, add the meat and tadaa! You still have a nice crunch factor from the lettuce ( which at least for me tends to be a key for satisfaction), it is delicious and very good for you.

I'm going to make it tonight and will post a picture, if anyone else gives it a try please let me know what you think :)

The Buddy System

I once read an article that said your friends can make you fat, which is true, if your friends are ordering a burger and fries, you start thinking well if they are having one I guess I can have one too...What I have recently realized is that your friends can also make you skinny! Having friends who are also fitness oriented is really inspiring, not only does it make working out more fun and even a social experience, but it also makes you watch what you eat.

Since I signed up for the gym in Jan. five of my friends have joined me and it has made working out a much better experience. If there is a class you are afraid to try because you are affraid you are way too uncoordinated and will look dumb ( STEP), bring a friend and at least you can be silly together. In addition, having a work out buddy pushes you to work out more, if your friend is going to the gym and you don't there is an automatic sense of guilt..if she is going I should go too.

In terms of eating, having healthy meals with my amigos has been a big part of my social life. Everyone brings some ingredients and we make a delicious and nutricious meal that we can be proud of ourselves for eating.

One additional fun activity to do with a buddy was recently suggested to me by my friend Alex, to send a picture of someone you want to look like to your buddy everyday. Not only does it inspire you but it is fun too.

Intro!

Operacion Verano aka getting into amazing shape for the summer (and the rest of the year as well). The last 8 months of my life have been spent as a teacher in southern Spain, amazing yes, helpful for staying in shape definitely not! With tapa bars on every corner, one euro bottles of delicious wine, my waist line has suffered, but now I am on a mission. This blog is meant for me to share my personal experiences about getting in shape, from classes at the gym, to great recipees. I hope that this information will be helpful and hopefully inspire some people to participate in operacion verano.