sneak-a-peak: lean mode food diary

Our new eBook has a bunch of color pages. Aren't they cute?!?! Not to worry, the rest is b&w, so you won't have to use $10,000 worth of printer ink!We previewed our new online shop and food diary to our loyal journal-ers today. We love you all!!! I still can't believe we've been doing this now for five years, and there's still so much more to come! And even though I'm completely exhausted from these past few weeks of trying to pull everything together (new website, food diary, blog & online shop - and we did it all ourselves, thankyouverymuch) I'm really just so thrilled about finally being able to share it with everyone! My greatest hope is that you all have as much fun using our journals as we've had creating them. And if you love em, tell your friends :~)

skyr - icelandic yogurt

What is skyr? It's Icelandic yogurt. Just like regular yogurt, only thicker, and very high in protein. I read about it in this article on MSN. Apparently Skyr has about 16 grams of protein per 6 oz. compared to my Brown Cow yogurt (which I love) which usually has about 5 or 6 grams of protein per 6 oz. Does that matter? I don't know. I suspect you'd feel fuller longer by consuming more protein. But what I really want to know, is does it taste good? I'm a big fan of yogurt. So I'm a little picky about it. I don't like anything with artificial sweeteners, or anything that's overly gelatinous. Yogurt should be smooth and creamy. Like Brown Cow from Antioch, CA:

Not only is Brown Cow yummy. It's the only yogurt with a website that has a talking cow, named Lily, who will greet you (while wearing a diamond tiara) when you enter the site. Too funny! This is also one of my favorites:

 

Fage (fah-yeh) Total greek yogurt. It's the best! It's soooo rich and creamy. I have two favorite concoctions I like to make at home. I'll share them both.

Banana Bliss (I made that up, just now actually. Because really, I usually just call it breakfast.)

-1/2 cup Fage greek yogurt (usually 1%)

-1 small banana, sliced

-walnuts, sliced, (about 8, or sometimes I use pecans)

-1 tsp. of honey (for taste)

-a dash of stevia (if you want it to be even sweeter)

-1/4 cup of blueberries (optional)

This makes the yummiest breakfast or snack. It's such a treat, and it's totally healthy.

My other concoction is pretty simple:

-1/2 cup Fage greek yogurt (usually 1%)

-1/2 cup frozen mixed berries

-dash of stevia

If you don't let the berries thaw out a little bit this one gets really frosty and thick, sort of like frozen yogurt. But you don't want to put honey in it, because it won't blend well if it's cold. 

I must admit, this is the most thought I've ever given to yogurt in my entire life. Probably won't need to post on this again. Ever. So, if you haven't tried Fage Greek Yogurt you should give it a shot. And for the truly adventurous, this Siggi's Icelandic Skyr sounds like it could be a real treat! Now if I can only find it on the west coast...

stella mccartney for adidas

Doesn't this hoodie look super comfy?!?! It's all thick and warm, perfect for fall. I think Stella McCartney has done a fantastic job designing athletic apparel that is functional yet stylish. I have my days when I want to wear super high energy brightly colored workout clothes (my lululemon), and then I have days where I want to be more calm and design-y. Stella is perfect for that. Though I must admit, her clothes are a little spendy, so I usually wait for them to go on sale. However, I think this hoodie is a must have! Check out Stella's fall collection for Adidas.

pilates (pi-lah-teez)

Definition: a method of physical and mental exercise involving stretches and breathing that focus on strengthening the abdominal core. Named after Joseph Pilates, designer of the system.

I am a big fan of pilates. They are the best exercises for your abdominal core. And they will help you to have beautiful posture (something I am trying to improve) which is important, not just for looks, but for keeping your whole body strong.

Here's the thing. Pilates are usually performed on a machine, with a personal trainer. This would seem to be the most effective way to get results, however, it is also the most expensive. I have always taken pilates mat classes. Which don't use machines, and are performed in a class of up to 20 people. They are a lot less expensive, and you still tend to get some personal attention from the instructor. The main thing about pilates, (actually about any exercise plan) is to be consistent with your workouts. If you are, you will see results. If you haven't ever tried them, give it a shot!

This post from FitSugar offers some great ideas on how to recession proof your commitment to pilates. 

october fitness tip from the streaming colors fitness journal

If you're in the habit of working out with weights, it's time to change–not your habit, but your routine. Continually adding more weight or sets can lead to overuse injuries or a plateau. To see real progress, you need to challenge your muscle fibers in new ways. Shake up your strength training routine every month (and track it in your journal) by varying the exercises you do and/or the order in which you do them. Try "breakdown training," where you decrease the weight at the end of the set by about 10%, and then immediately perform up to three more sets at the lower weight. This recruits fibers deep within your muscles and helps your muscles grow. Allow adequate time between workouts for muscle repair.

i dig my sigg

love the motto on the back! it's the same concept as our fitness journals. make small manageable changes one day at a time.One of the healthiest habits I have is drinking water. I always have a bottle w/me. I drink way more than the recommended 64oz a day. I think it goes back to when I was little and my mother owned a clothing store in Stillwater. She was always sending me down the street to Brine's deli to get her lime flavored Mendota Springs bottled water. This was back in the day, before plastic bottles were everywhere and glass was the trend. Now in my recent attempt to be more environmentally conscientious I'm trying to quit plastic bottles altogether. I've converted to aluminum. My bottle of choice: Sigg. These water bottles are everywhere in LA. I got mine at Whole Foods, but when I looked at the Sigg website I wish I would've ordered direct. This Eco Logical bottle is so cute! Their website has a lot of fun designs. And yes, I realize they are kinda spendy - $25 for a water bottle!!! But they are really durable, lightweight, and they don't have any funky odors. So your water tastes like water flavored water. Not plastic or tin. Anyway, thanks mom, for getting me started on drinking lots of water, and for all the change I kept from every bottle you drank. I made a killing off of you. Ha!

think pink

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and one of my favorite fitness retailers lucy activewear (yes, they have carried our wonderful Streaming Colors Fitness Journal in their store) is supporting the cause by donating 10% of the proceeds from lucy's Think Pink graphic tees to Network of Strength, a non-profit which offers immediate emotional support to those battling with breast cancer. Our family has been lucky so far, we don't have any immediate relatives diagnosed with breast cancer (knock on wood) but I know it is a cause worth supporting. And I want to encourage all women to get in the habit of getting their mammograms on time. Whenever that is for you. Also please consider supporting the cause in any way you can... these lucy t-shirts are just one option. (FYI, I have a bunch of their long sleeve tee's like this one and they are fantastic! So so comfy!!!)