Whole Wheat Apple Cinnamon Muffins

Now that September has rolled around, it is beginning to fill like fall. The air is getting crisper and the leaves are starting to change. Fall is my favorite season, partly because of the cute clothes, and partly because of the delicious food. Apples are a staple for the fall. So, I decided to make some delicious apple cinnamon muffins, but tried to make them healthier than the standard muffin.

Ingredients

• ½ cup plain nonfat Greek Yogurt


• 1 Tbsp. Canola Oil


• ½ cup applesauce


• 2 egg whites


• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract


• ¾ cup whole wheat flour


• ½  tsp baking powder


• ½  tsp baking soda


• ¼  tsp salt


• 1 tsp ground cinnamon


• 1 apple (1/2 cup) peeled and diced

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350°


• Grease muffin pan


• In a bowl, combine Greek yogurt, canola oil, sugar, egg whites and vanilla extract

• In another bowl, combine whole wheat flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.

• Slowly mix the dry ingredients with the wet ingredients

• Chop, or blend, apples and mix with rest of ingredients

• Pour batter into muffin tins

• Bake for 30 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean


• Let cool

• Enjoy!

For an added bonus, I sprinkled some brown sugar and cinnamon on top. Yum! Delicious! If you would like a printable version of the recipe click here. I also included the nutritional information. Not too bad for a muffin!



What are some of your favorite fall foods?

Well... I'm Running a Half Marathon

It is official. I am registered for my first half marathon. I am unbelievably excited. I don't know why I waited so long. Actually, that's a lie. I waited so long because I was scared. For some reason I didn't think I had 13.1 miles in me. After running 9 miles with my running club last Saturday, I finally decided I could do it. I am officially registered for the Philadelphia Half Marathon.

I really am excited. A little over 2 years ago, I couldn't even run a mile without getting out of breath! Now, I will be running 13.1 miles! I have to say, my running club has been extremely motivating. They have really made me believe in myself and renewed my passion for running!

I am proud that I have stuck with my morning workouts now that school is in full swing. It hasn't been as hard as I thought. Audio books are pulling me through. Currently I am reading Wuthering Heights. I particularly enjoy the narrator's old English accents. They really add a lot to the story.

I am also enjoying the interesting people I see in the apartment complex gym that early in the morning. It is an interesting mix of business men, a women secretly running a personally training service, a man that runs in way too much clothing, and an eighty year old man. Today someone I have never met walked in and said, "We are all crazy for running at this hour!" It is almost too much entertainment to handle at 5:30 am. Then I think, I was missing all this before, while I was sleeping. The world had begun, and I was missing all the good stuff!

What races are you training for? Do you have any good stories from the gym?

Morning Workouts

How will I fit running into my schedule? This is something I have struggled with over the last few years. What is the best time of day to run? The answer to that really depends on the person. Some people like to wake up early and get the run done with, or maybe they like seeing the sunrise. Others prefer to run after school/work and might enjoy catching a sunset.

In the past, I usually chose to run after work. This week I started my new teaching job and decided I wanted to switch things up. I decided that I would try and run before school. So far it has been working nicely, and I have actually kept to my schedule!

I am sure many of you wake up way earlier than I do, but I am just starting with this. Baby steps! My biggest concern with working out before school was that I would be exhausted by the end of the school day. To be honest, I have felt energized by my morning runs. I think I would be tired at the end of the school day regardless of whether I got up early to run. At least this way, the run is already finished! I actually don't remember how I had the energy to ever run after working a full day!

Since I live off a major state route, I feel very uncomfortable running by myself, outside in the dark. Luckily, there is a great gym in my apartment complex! Part of the reason I believe I have been so successful is that I do not give myself time to change my mind. I grab a banana as a quick breakfast and head out the door before I can even begin to think about quitting. (Sometimes I even sleep in the shorts I will run in!)

To keep the monotony to a minimum while I am on the treadmill, I listen to audio books, which I have been loving so far. Now don't get me wrong, I still run outside with my running club. I do actually enjoy the outdoors, but safety is a priority!

Aside from personal preference, apparently there are actual benefits to working out before starting your day. Some claim that it boosts the metabolism and actually makes your mind more productive. Hopefully I notice some of those added benefits!

Also, apparently many, very successful people workout before beginning their day. Some of these people include the president of Starbucks and the creator of Twitter! If you want to read a great article about some of these early rising runners, click here.

So far, I definitely think I am hooked on morning runs.

What about you? When do you run and why?

Baked Tortilla Chips

Sometimes you are just in the mood for a crunchy snack. With all the packaged products out there though, it can be hard to find a healthy option. The best solution then, is to make your own! That is exactly what I did with these tortilla chips. The recipe is very simple. You only need a few ingredients, and it only takes a few minutes!

Ingredients:

• Tortillas (I used whole wheat)


• Salt


• Garlic Salt/Powder

First, I used a pizza cutter to cut my tortillas into chip-sized pieces. You could use a knife as well. I chose whole wheat tortillas, but regular tortillas would work just as well. Then, I laid a piece of foil on a cookie sheet and spread the tortilla pieces out.  Next, I sprinkled salt and garlic powder on the top side of the tortillas. Add as much or as little as you like.

Turn your oven to broil. Once your oven has heated up, put your cookie sheet with the tortillas in for 2- 3 minutes. Watch carefully to make sure they don't start to burn. Your oven might be a little different than mine. Once the first side is down, take the tortillas out of the oven. Turn them over and sprinkle the other side with salt and garlic powder. Return the cookie with the tortillas to the oven and cook for another 1-2 minutes. Again, watch to make sure the chips do not start to burn.



When the chips look finished, take them out of the oven and serve with salsa. Enjoy!

Do you make any version of baked chips?



 

Why I Run

When I tell people I run, I often hear responses like this:

"Running is so boring." or "I hate running, I don't know how you do it." 

Honestly, if you would have brought up running to me three years ago, I probably would have said similar things. A couple of years ago, though, something changed for me.

I had always been a pretty active person. My mom enrolled me in ballet classes when I was three, and I was hooked from there. All through elementary school, high school, and college, I had dance several nights a week for hours each night and all day on weekends. There definitely was not a lot of sitting around going on in my life. After I graduated college, I got my first teaching job. I threw myself into my work, which involved a lot of lesson planning, which meant sitting.  After that first full year, I starting noticing that I would get out of breath pretty quickly. This had never been an issue for me. I decided I needed to do something about this.

I needed to start exercising more regularly. The problem was, how was I going to find the time? Then I realized, if something is important to you, you make time for it. No matter what. I had not put my health as a top priority, and it was catching up to me. Now, you might think this is all fine and dandy, but why in the world would I choose running?

[caption id="attachment_95" align="aligncenter" width="179"] My sister - who inspires me to run[/caption]

I knew coworkers and friends who ran. My sister had  even run a marathon a few years back. I had plenty of positive running role models. The main reasons I chose running were the convenience and the price. I could go on a run whenever it fit into my schedule. I did not have to wait until a workout class was scheduled. I could just pick up and go. Also, I did not have to buy a bunch of fancy equipment. Eventually I upgraded to much nicer running shoes, but in the beginning, I had a cheap pair from Target. I wore some old shorts and tank tops, and I was good to go. Fancy accessories and workout clothes can make the experience more enjoyable, but are by no means necessary.

I slowly eased into running using the Couch to 5k program. One of my coworkers was even inspired to begin the journey the week after me, so we kept each other accountable, which helped a lot. I slowly saw myself becoming a runner. Then, I ran my first 5k. The rush was amazing. I felt so accomplished. I had gone from not even being able to run one mile, to running 3.1! I did not have to stop once!

This is another reason I run - the feeling of accomplishment. With running, you set new goals, and when you meet those goals, you feel fantastic. You might set a distance goal, or a speed goal, whatever you want. That is the beauty of running. It is whatever you want.

[caption id="attachment_92" align="aligncenter" width="225"] My first 10k![/caption]

After that first 5k, I knew I was hooked on running. I went on to run more 5ks. Then, I went on to run a 5 mile race. I remember being so nervous, but once again, relishing in the thrill of accomplishing another goal. After that, I decided to really challenge myself. I signed up for a 10k. At first, this task seemed monumental. I was about to double my running distance; me- someone who couldn't even run one mile two years ago, was going to run 6.2 miles! I trained my little heart out, and low and behold, I ran a 10k without stopping; even without pain! I remember feeling like I was on top of the world.

I went on to run another 10k. Now, I am training for my first 10-miler. I am very excited about my training, and love going further each week than I ever have before. My self confidence is growing daily. After this race, I hope to run a half marathon. After that, well, we will just have to see!

[caption id="attachment_93" align="aligncenter" width="300"] My second 10k![/caption]

So, why do I run, you ask? I run for me. I run to take care of myself, to be healthy, to be strong. I run to prove to myself that I can do anything. If I can make it through 10 miles, what can't I accomplish? A difficult situation at work? If I ran 10 miles, I can surely handle that! In a busy world, where we often focus on taking care of others, it is important to remember to take time for yourself; to take care of yourself. For me, that is what running does. And it can do it for you too. If you let it.

Balancing Your Workout

While running is a fantastic workout, I also like to mix things up with different workouts. Switching up my workout routine helps keep me motivated and keeps me from getting too bored with any one particular thing. As a former ballet dancer, I was instantly interested in Pure Barre when I heard about it. Don't worry though, you do not have to know anything about ballet to take a class. In fact, I am guessing most people at the classes do not.

This workout meshes especially well with running because it focuses on muscle toning. You will definitely feel the effects the next day! I went yesterday, and I am definitely feeling the burn today.

Equipment you will need for the class (provided at the site) include hand weights, a ball, and some exercise bands. As the class progresses, you isolate different muscles with the various equipment. You really get a very well-rounded workout.

You also use mats to work on your core. There are a lot of exercises for the various abdominal muscles. I have never had my ab muscles shake before; that was an interesting experience. The instructors actually say, if your muscles aren't shaking, you aren't working hard enough!

Even though I am not affiliated with Pure Barre in any way, I would definitely recommend this hour long workout to any runner looking to increase flexibility and tone muscles. The price can be a little steep, but if you wait long enough, you can usually find some deals/specials. Sometimes they even post on Groupon or Living Social.

How do you balance your running with other types of workouts?

Feel Good, Look Good!

Last night was a particularly brutal run. As part of my training group, Tuesday nights are interval training. Let me begin by saying, I have never done any sort of training before, let alone interval training. Usually, I am not too concerned with my pace. I basically just run to feel healthy and accomplished. Last night I really pushed myself. For part of the run we were supposed to do 400's at a very fast pace for ourselves. Well, I did that, and man, do I feel it today. I do feel very accomplished though.

Anyways, I may have felt like I was dying, as I sprinted in outrageous humidity, but you can bet I looked good. I don't know what it is, but there is something about workout clothes that I love. Maybe it is the bright colors, or maybe it is the spandex. For some reason, spandex just feels awesome, and usually looks flattering.

Recently I discovered that TJ Maxx has an amazing selection of workout clothes. (Let me add, I am not even being paid by TJ Maxx, and have no affiliation.) I made a trip to the local store Monday, and tried to control myself. I don't think I went too wild, but you know I will be back soon. This time I scored:

• Avia dry-fit short-sleeved t-shirt: $7.99


• Champion Sports Bra: $9.99


• New Balance Lightning Dry Capris (in a fantastic purple color): $15.00

I would say this was a great haul. I especially love the capris. I also happen to think a lot of sports bras are ridiculously overpriced, so I was very pleased to find this great one by Champion for under $10.

I already know I will be back because I have my eye on a beautiful headband. I actually picked it up and put it back twice. I have a complex about spending money apparently.  What do you like to wear when you workout? Do you have a favorite place to shop, or place with secret deals?