Happy Sunday everyone.
I have had a great morning so far, drinking coffee, yapping on the phone, blogging, and eating a great breakfest - wholewheat pancakes with rasberries, blackberries and blueberries. Pancakes with fresh fruit and a steaming hot mug of french roast coffee is my version of Sunday nirvana.
Once I have everything cleaned up in my kitchen, I'll be running off to the gym. I have upped the number of times a week I go to the gym from three to four within the last couple of weeks. My mid section has expanded more that I would like over the winter/spring months so I want to burn it off by Labor Day.
I've also adjusted my diet a bit. Overall I eat well - mainly chicken and fish, fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds and legumes. But that darn sweet tooth of mine has gotten the best of me so I am trying to limit sweets and increase my physical activity to burn this spare tire off.
I really do enjoy working out - I feel better, less bloated and weighed down, I love the mental high I get as well. But I really like the fact that I am doing something good for me - taking time out during the week to do something that is healthy for me. I especially like the fact that I know that as I exercise, I am clearing all that crap out of my system - all the toxins, etc., that reek havoc on our bodies on the cellular level, and cause disease.
And of course, after you work out, you need to drink fluids in order to help your body expel all those toxins. I always drank a couple of glasses of after once I returned home from the gym, but I came up with a concoction that I make before I go to the gym and get it nice and cold for when I arrive home. I just finished it and poured it into a pitcher and the hole house smells so good.
So, if you would like, give the following a try. It's full of anti-oxidants, and fat burning properties, but it also has powerful anti-inflammatory properties to it as well:
2 white tea bags (green works too)
I hunk of ginger
A ton of fresh mint
The yellow part of one whole lemon
Chop the ginger and the mint and add to a french press. Add the tea bags and the lemon rind, then add hot water (boil the water, then remove from the heat for one minute, then add). Push the plunger all the way down.
Steep for 15 minutes, then pour it into a pitcher and let it cool before placing in the fridge.
When you get home, add to a glass with some ice, and sweetner, if you like and enjoy!
If you don't have a french press, just add everything into the pot of water.
And try substituting what you like - sometimes I add rosemary rather than mint, but this is much stronger so be careful when you make substitutions.
Let me know how you like it and what you might substitute in place of mint.