Fitness4Her

Women's Fitness

The Pear: It’s Not Just a Body Shape

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It’s probably the most abundant fruit in your grocery store and the most overlooked on your list of fruits to eat. But pears come in so many diverse and succulent flavors with so many great health benefits that it’s time you created a space for them in your fruit bowl this year.

Did you know that there are more than 3,000 different varieties of pears throughout the world in all different shapes, colors, and flavors? As the third largest pear producing country in the world, we are fortunate here in the states to have access to some of the most exotic and delectable varieties of pear. Most of the pear orchards in the U.S. can be found in Washington and Oregon, where the rich volcanic soil is teeming with the right nutrients to allow the pear trees to flourish.

When most people think of a pear, they usually picture the common Yellow Bartlett, which is one of the most abundant pears in the U.S. and can be found in most grocery stores from late August through January. The gritty texture combined with the classic pear flavor makes this a favorite for shoppers.

The Green Anjou pear is the second most common variety of pear in the U.S. and is harvested in late September. The Green Anjou is known for its refreshing lemon-lime flavor. A tip to remember about the Green Anjou is that when it ripens it will not turn colors, but will remain a bright green shade with a faint blush of red.

The Bosc Pears are known for their golden brown skin and sweet and spicy flavor that has a surprising and satisfying crunch that can’t be beat. The Bosc can be found in grocery stores starting in late September through the winter months.

Other types of pears to be on the look out include: Red Bartletts, Red Anjous, the Comice (one of the sweetest pears), the Concorde, the blazing Forelle, and the Starkrimson. Most of these varieties begin their harvest in the fall and are available until early spring.

Fitness4Her advocates eating a diet full of fruits and vegetables and pears are a great fruit for this time of year. Pears are fat-free, sodium-free, and cholesterol-free and provide generous portions of potassium and fiber. Pears are also rich in vitamin C and antioxidants, which can help prevent cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes. Looking to shed a few pounds this year? Look no further than the pear. A great snack that can help you lose weight and feel great.

So familiarize yourself with the many different types of pears that can be found throughout the U.S., and next time you go to the grocery store, be sure to put pears at the top of your list.

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Roast Beef and Watermelon Salad

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This salad is my friend’s favorite. After a long day of shopping, nothing suits us better than this heavenly combination of red meat protein and cool, refreshing watermelon.

Salad
4 cups arugula
1 lb watermelon, cut up into chunks
1/2 red onion, sliced
4 oz fat-free feta cheese
16 oz thin sliced roast beef

Dressing
1/2 cup red wine vinegar
1/4 cup olive oil
1/2 cup lemon juice
1 garlic clove, crushed
1 tsp parsley

Directions
1. Whisk together dressing ingredients and set aside.
2. Toss together salad mixings.
3. Serve in individual bowls and drizzle dressing over salad.

Health Benefits
Roast beef is a great source of iron and protein, needed for a busy women’s fitness program. You’ll need your strength to keep up with all that you have to do, so why not eat healthy and lean? Stick with the fat-free cheese for best results. Watermelon is an excellent source of vitamin C and contains a healthy amount of vitamin A. Plenty of nutrients and low in calories.

Ever hear of such a wonderful recipe?  Share your opinion by adding a comment below:

Happy Easter and New Beginnings

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After an unusually long, cold winter, it is with joy and delight that we proclaim that Spring has indeed sprung! The trees are budding, flowers are beginning to bloom and the birds are tweeting as they rehearse their songs for nature’s Easter Cantata.

Easter is a reminder that as long as we live, we have the chance for new beginnings. The chance and the choice to start fresh and new. Like a newborn babe, each one of us can make this day “Day One” of our start at a brand new life, a brand new way of thinking, living and performing.

You can make that choice today…to have a better life for yourself. Whether you are looking to lose weight, gain weight or get your body in better shape, the choices you make today will bring about the changes you desire for life.

What better time than now, to take the first step towards a better and more fulfilling life? One that isn’t held back because of your weight or size. A life celebrated with the confidence that you can succeed by taking control of your health and happiness. It’s possible and it’s easier than you can imagine. But that’s only if you take the first step.

As a member of Fitness4Her, you have all the tools you need to start a healthy diet and exercise plan that will put you on the fast track to a healthier lifestyle!

My First Encounter With The Gymboss

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The Fitness4Her Health and Fitness Product Review of:

The Gymboss

I heard about this new timer on the market and it’s called the Gymboss, it’s small enough to clip onto your gym clothes and allows you to exercise without worrying about the time. I decided to try one out and let you all know what I thought.

I got a pink one and it goes perfectly well with most of my gym attire. When I clipped it onto the waist of my workout pants, I noticed that it didn’t pull on the material and the clip seemed comfortable enough to wear. I also tried hooking it onto my gym bag, but I move around the gym so much that I found that to be more of a nuisance.

I like to do circuit training exercises a couple times a week and really need a timer to alert me when to change up my circuit. If I have to rely on a clock, I’m forever twisting my neck to see how much time has elapsed. I’d much rather put that time and effort into working something other than my neck muscles, plus all that twisting leaves my back and neck a little sore.

One of my problems in using a pre-set timer is that I don’t always spend the same amount of time on each exercise or workout. If I have to reset it for each exercise, I find that wastes too much time. The thing I liked about the Gymboss is that it has a three button setup that is pretty easy to handle and takes seconds to set. I’m not all that electronically savvy but it was easy for me to adjust it for repeating intervals and set it up for different lengths of time.

With the Gymboss firmly attached, I was able to do some squats with weights, then at the sound of the alarm, begin jogging in place for 2 minutes. I can tell you, it felt great to be able to jog without wondering how long I had been going at it.

I know why they call it the Gymboss, the alarm reminds me of a good coach or personal trainer who is always there to tell me when it’s time to change up my exercise. It helps to keep me accountable when I’m exercising alone. It has both a vibrator and an alarm mode and can even be set to vibrate and sound an alarm at the same time. With the Gymboss, I can’t fudge on the duration of my workout because that little bossy gadget is there to keep me in line.

For under twenty dollars, the Gymboss is well worth the money. I’m thinking that these little timers will make great gifts for birthdays, Christmas, graduation, Mother’s Day or even tucked inside an Easter basket.

For more information, please visit them at directly at: Gymboss

Cinnamon Peanut Butter and Banana Pancake

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Start your day with something sweet and nutritious. This healthy breakfast is good any day of the week. Most of these ingredients are regular staples in the pantry.

1/3 cup oatmeal
4 egg whites
1 tsp cinnamon
1 Tbsp natural peanut butter
Stevia to taste

Directions
1. In a large bowl, combine all of the ingredients and mix well.
2. Lightly spray skillet.
3. Heat on medium.
4. Pour batter until pancake forms, flip and cook on other side.
5. Serve with banana slices or substitute with blueberries or strawberries.

Health Benefits
Low in fat, sodium and sugar. Cinnamon has been shown to lower the bad cholesterol and so is excellent when served with peanut butter. Oatmeal is a wonderful source of soluble and insoluble fiber, needed for a healthy women’s fitness program. Fiber aids in digestion and helps to lower cholesterol too.

Have you tried this recipe?  Tell us what you think in the comment space below: