Foodbuzz Health Contributing Editor

Take a look at my breakfast this morning;

I had picked up some amazing plum tomatoes yesterday and didn't feel like waiting for lunch time to enjoy them!  I sautéed them in some extra Virgin Olive Oil & some fresh garlic, amazing!

• Plum Tomatoes
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• Sea Salt & Black Ground Pepper
• Egg Whites
• Melba Toasts 
• Fresh Chopped Parsley 
• 1/3 Cup Oatmeal w/cinnamon (no pic)

Foodbuzz is launching their new Health Section and has selected Health & Fitness Professionals to write for them!  I was so excited to be selected!  Power Meals is all about Health, Nutrition & Fitness.  I am passionate about sharing my recipes, ideas and inspiring others to eat healthy.

My Fitness Retreats will be starting soon!  I have some new and exciting recipes and ideas to share.  What a great way to start off the Summer!  Thanks Foodbuzz!

Sautéed Asparagus~Today's Breakfast

Today's breakfast was so amazing I had to post it;  sautéed asparagus with extra virgin olive oil, topped with sliced almonds.  Grabbing my protein shake and I'm out the door!  Health Benefits for the wonderful food Asparagus:

• It is high in vitamin K and Folate
• Eat asparagus when you are pregnant or thinking about conceiving – because of it being high in folic acid it helps prevent birth defects such as spina bifida
• Great for your heart
• Helps w*Helps menstrual cramps with fertility problems
• Great for your gastrointestinal tract and your colon
• Helps menstrual cramps
• Great food to help treat depression
• Has been known to increase the success rate of chemo therapy
• Is considered a diuretic which means it is a good anti-inflammatory – best for arthritis, asthma rheumatism, and even water retention…PMS
• Help get rid of warts
• Helps detoxify your body
• Add more asparagus to your diet to lover cholesterol
• Great for nursing mothers stimulating milk production
• Has antioxidant agents – prevents the effects of aging
• Has antifungal and antiviral qualities
• Great for your kidneys – cleansing your body by stimulating urination and preventing kidney stones
• Helps prevent bladder and urinary tract infections
• Use to be used as an a aphrodisiac – increase sexual and comforting feelings
• Helps with treating HIV
• Helps prevent multiple sclerosis
• Helps prevent scurvy
• Asparagus has anti-cancer agents – especially lung cancer
• Helps fight chronic fatigue syndrome
• Helps fight off high blood pressure
• If you bruise easily – eat more asparagus
• Is considered a laxative – eat an asparagus if you have diarrhea and constipation
• Great for your capillaries – eat more asparagus to avoid varicose veins
• Great for your eyes preventing cataracts
• If you are experiencing hair loss- eat more asparagus
• Helps treat toothaches

Fresh Blackberries

Blackberries

In the 'best antioxidants' league table, blackberries are right up there. In fact they are probably in the top ten. 

As we know, antioxidants are fighters of free radicals. 

We are told that a good method to identify an antioxidant-rich fruit or vegetable is by it's dense and dark colors, well just study a blackberry, it passes that test..hands down. Blackberries are also rich in manganese and vitamin C. It is important to have adequate vitamin C as a lack of it can weaken our immune system,which in turn can make you stressed and run down. Other good sources of manganese and vitamin C are strawberries and raspberries.

Fresh Blackberries, Cream & Saigon Cinnamon

Health Benefits of Cinnamon

Besides using it in cooking, cinnamon is also thought to have health benefits.  Recent studies have found that cinnamon may have a beneficial effect on blood sugar. One of the first human studies was published in 2003 in a medical journal called Diabetes Care. Sixty people with type 2 diabetes took 1, 3, or 6 grams of cinnamon in pill form daily, an amount roughly equivalent to one quarter of a teaspoon to 1 teaspoon of cinnamon. After 40 days, all 3 amounts of cinnamon reduced fasting blood glucose by 18 to 29%, triglycerides by 23 to 30%, LDL cholesterol by 7 to 27%, and total cholesterol by 12 to 26%.

Whole Wheat Tart filled with  Protein Pudding, topped with Blackberries Red Raspberries & Blueberries

Bed and Barbell Girls Training Camp

Bed and Barbell was truly an incredible experience.  Words cannot express what an outstanding Fitness Vacation we had in Arizona!

Starting off with our flights leaving from New York, everything was perfect and on time, and we were excited for our mother-daughter fitness getaway.   We landed in Phoenix and were shuttled off to get our rent a car.  We arrived at Bed and Barbell around midnight.  Not really knowing what to expect, never having been to Arizona.  The town of Gilbert was really nice, and close to the airport.  We pulled into the driveway and the house was stunning!

We read the note left for us on the front door and headed to our room.  Our room was beautiful!  Julianne left us a note stating to make ourselves at home and help ourselves to everything.  We went downstairs to check out the house and kitchen. There was plenty of food and snacks.   Julianne also left a bottle of wine and cookies too!  Brittany was happy!  I wasn't hungry, but I definitely sleep better knowing there is food close by.

When we woke up that morning we saw the beautiful pool view from our sun deck off our room.  So nice!  The gym was ridiculous and equipped with everything too!  I would love a set up like that!

This is definitely my kind of B&B!  If you are looking for a getaway, love training and want to learn, this place is a must.  Not to mention, posh!

Our first day we got acquainted with everyone.  It was really great to finally meet Coach Staley, Coach Phil, Julianne & Josh.  That night we all went out to dinner together.  That was fun finally getting to know the other women too, they are all very inspiring.   Friday was morning training with Coach Staley and Coach Phil (Olympic lifting technique & Power lifting),  followed by afternoon sandbag training in the park with Josh Henkins Ultimate Sandbag Training Systems, what a great & different workout!  

Early on Saturday morning we were off to watch Alex and Charles compete (Olympic Lifting), that was great, my first time at an Olympic Lifting meet, amazing athletes and very cool. That afternoon was Soft Tissue Self Care class with Jay Bell Arizona Body Wellness (great information), followed by massages.  Our last day, Sunday was Scottsdale Field Trip in the afternoon to Gene's compound and home gym to deadlift with the crew, that was a blast!  Our final night we all ate dinner together again, said goodbye and were getting our things ready to leave the following morning.

Brittany and I loved our Girls Training Camp together, and we met some remarkable women, everyone was really friendly and hospitable. We both enjoyed the hands on training information we learned and loved our stay at B&B.  Brittany and I also appreciated the peace and quiet after the bustle of leaving NY.  It's quiet there, I thought I was dreaming when I was sleeping, I heard a rooster early in the morning, but I wasn't, there was one back there somewhere!

Bed and Barbell is an amazing place for a training incorporated vacation, the location is ideal, walking distance to everything, a perfect hidden gem, and a welcome change from staying in hotels!  We will be back! 

Spring 2010 Girls Camp Video Day 1