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Stretch

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Psst!  This is the LAST DAY to enter the giveaway for a copy of Eat The Yolks!  Seriously, this is the one nutrition book you must read now.  It is educational, inspiring, and hilarious.  It's less about how, and more about why.  Why are today's nutrition myths failing us, where did they come from, and where do we go from here?  To learn more, go enter to win HERE! 

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Dare you to... STRETCH!  I don't just mean after a workout, and I definitely don't mean before a workout (before a workout, do dynamic stretching!).  Today, I'm talking about stretching for stretching's sake, stretching on a recovery day, stretching to feel good!

Last week, I neglected my sleep in favor of broadway shows and visiting family.  Undoubtedly connected, this week, I got hit with something that left me with a cold, a very sore throat, and swollen lymph nodes.  I wanted to rest and recover before it got worse, not stress my body even more.  Instead of working out, I turned to stretch…
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Dynamic stretching

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I first heard the expression "dynamic stretching" early on in my fitness career, back when my only workout was a Jillian Michaels video, viewed for free on Exercise TV On Demand.  My limited exercise experience before that included playing soccer and softball, as well as gym class's dreaded Mile and occasional weight room rotations.  Suffice it to say, I didn't know much.

What Jillian Michaels taught me in her 30 Day Shred was that we warm up the body with movement, throughdynamic stretching.  That is, we open up our joints and wake up our muscles by moving our bodies through a range of motion, rather than holding a static stretch (like those we did in gym class) before our workout begins.  Save those static stretches--holding a pose over many seconds or longer--for when the workout is complete.

I still hear Jillian's voice like it was just yesterday...  Here's an example from a different, more recent video of hers, but the idea is the same:


You get the idea.

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Friday Features

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Some quick "Friday Features" for you -- some articles and posts from the recent past that I found interesting, and hope you do, too!

 Jill Coleman of JillFit.com dares you toTake Action by using a simple tool: "The Alternative".  By considering the alternative, you may find the motivation to stand up and make a difference!

 Are supplements really necessary? Chris Kresser answers: Yes and No. This actually makes a lot of sense. Dare you to learn how.
Sarah shares running tips for beginners.  My favorite?  "If you have time to run, you have time to stretch."  So true and so important!

Chef Katelyn considers the ways that CrossFit has Changed Her Life.   This goes way beyond fitness, so give it a read!
Just one month in, are you looking for some sane, healthy, productive, and possible resolutions to work into your 2013?  Carrie Brown has some great suggestions.  Some are on my list already; what can you add to yours??

The New York Times addresses going Gluten-Fre…
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Friday Photos: Oct 5-11

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First off, let me tell you about something super exciting.  I got to meet one of my favorite foodie bloggers, Liz of I Heart Vegetables.  I love her blog, and turns out I loved the person behind it, too!


It was really exciting meeting her in person, and chatting about blogging, food, photos, life, and.. everything!



We hit up the Chobani Soho store, and I think Liz enjoyed her first taste.  She got the Dark Chocolate Pistachio, which I certainly recommended, and instead of my usual Fig & Walnut, I opted for the Blueberry Power (sub in honey) on this particular morning.



We left happy :)



And now, on to the October #LiveLeanEatGreen Challenge!

October 5: Try a new vegetable.



Cooked with (baby) artichokes for the first time ever.  Not easy! Full story to come.
6: Do a Tabata workout



This was fun. I like Tabata workouts.  Quick and intense.
Used my Gymboss--makes Tabata easy. I chose to do plank jacks, which definitely wore me out!
7: Go makeup free today. You're beautiful.


This was se…
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