I’m also looking forward to getting back into the kitchen. No central AC = sweaty shins in the kitchen. I enjoy sweating on a daily basis, but just not in my kitchen.

Unfortunately, this means I’ve been eating a lot more processed/ frozen foods this summer. I recently came across Lightlife frozen entrees.

Ingredients for Zesty Mexican Entree: Cooked whole grain brown rice, fire roasted peppers, corn, black beans, pinto beans, tomatoes

The meals come with a separate sauce packet which allows me to decide how much sauce to add to the meal.

Check out the nutrition stats for the Zesty Mexican Entree:

For a frozen meal the stats are good and so is the price when compared to take out. One of these meals paired with a side salad or another vegetable is great option for when it’s too hot to cook or when I’m short on time.

What’s your favorite “healthy” frozen meal or do you avoid frozen meals?

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And I’m okay with that. =)

However, I never ever thought I’d be able to run outside during the cold months of winter. Now, I love it and even ran a race last January.

I never thought I’d be able to touch the floor during standing poses in yoga class, but I can.

Today, I’m giving away two subscriptions to Fitness Magazine.  Mine is up for renewal and includes two free gift subscriptions, which I want you to have.

To enter the contest leave a comment telling me about a fitness goal you achieved that once seemed impossible.

Contest ends Tomorrow night, September 2nd at 12:00 a.m. EST.

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Read it Here: FCITC’s September Issue: How to Stand Out in a Sweaty Crowd

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FCITC’s September Issue Part II: The Must Have Pants of the Season

#1: Nike Distance Tech Women’s Running Capri Pant

Capri pants are essential for transitioning from summer to fall running. In early fall I wear a long sleeved top and running shorts. When the temperatures drop into the 50′s I switch from shorts to capris. Capris are also great for running in the rain as they don’t ride up. I wore these while running the Fitness/ More Magazine 1/2 Marathon.

Added Bonus: Zippered back pocket for stashing cash and and an emergency snack.

Tip: Look for these at a Nike outlet store. I paid 1/2 price for mine.

#2 : Lucy Cross Training Pant

Confession: I love these pants so much, I’ve been wearing them for the past three days. In fact I’m wearing them while I write this post and may never take them off.

The Lucy Cross Training Pant not only looks and feels great on, but can be worn for just about any workout. Right now they’re perfect for indoor workouts. However, when the temperatures start to drop into the 40′s I’ll be wearing them for outdoor workouts before transitioning into tights.

Added bonus: An interior pocket for stashing a metro card in the event I get lost.

Tip: Get on Lucy’s mailing list for online and in-store discount codes. If you live near a Lucy store and are a certified fitness professional, ask about a special discount for Lucy Pros.

A few of you have asked about what to wear in the winter, read How I Dress For Running in the Cold.

*In full disclosure Lucy sent me a pair of Lucy Cross Training Pants to review. This does not in any way effect my opinion about these pants.

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How to progress from a modified push-up to a full push-up

#1. Believe in your own strength: You are stronger than you think. You DO have the strength to perform a full push-up, whether you think you do or not. It just takes practice.

#2. Take the training wheels off: For push-ups this translates as take your knees off the ground. If you never take the training wheels off you’ll never learn how to ride a bike, right?

#3. Modify without putting your knees on the ground:

• Push-up Modification Level 1: Hands on the wall
• Push-up Modification Level 2: Hands on high rail or bench
• Push-up Modification Level 3: Hands on low bench

#4. Practice 1/2 of the push-up: Practice lowering yourself to the floor with control (from a full push-up position). Once you reach the floor, push pack into child’s pose. From child’s pose come back to a push-up position to start over. Repeat 10 times.

Bonus: Try this Move to Improve your Push-ups to increase core strength.

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Hope you’re having a great weekend!

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I’ve been celebrating the good weather all week by taking my workouts to the next level.  Yesterday, instead of doing 4 hill repeats I did five.

Here are few things you can try this weekend to take it to the next level.

#1 Download my hot summer playlist as featured in Vital Juice (Click the photo below).

#2  Ditch your ordinary push-up for a “single leg push-up with a curl“.

For more info on staying fit, check out my tips featured on AOL’s Lemondrop: At Work, Happy Hour or Home — How to Avoid Extra Calories All Day Long.

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The winner of the Yoga Anywhere: The New York Sessions DVD is Caronea who said “I love doing yoga in exciting places! I do it in the park all the time (strangers always say really nice things to me while doing it too!) and have done it on the beach, in the backyard, all over the house and apartment, etc. Nothing too crazy, but maybe one day”

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Not for the sacred red corral.

Not even for post race cupcakes.

But because it turns my gray skies blue.

And that my friends is why I love to run.

What turns your gray skies blue?

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Likes:

• Great Venue
• 5 Different Workouts
• Unique Style

Dislikes:

• Audio instruction (only available for one of the workouts)
• Needs more modifications for poses

Overall this dvd is visually stunning and offers a fresh approach in a market saturated with yoga DVDs.

Want to see for yourself?

Leave a comment telling me about the most unique place you’ve struck a yoga pose and you could win this DVD. Winner will be announced Friday, August, 27th.

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Chapter two of Run Less, Run Faster focuses on goal setting. The idea is that failing to reach your time goal may not be a function of having a bad race but merely a function of setting the wrong goal.

Thirty Seconds = the time between a realistic and unrealistic goal.

The book includes a race pace prediction table to help set a realistic goal for varying race distances. I thought this could help determine whether or not my goal of getting into the red corral is realistic.

The only flaw is that it predicts my 5k race pace to be slower than that of the Fitness Magazine 4-miler I ran last year. This leaves me back at square one: Is getting into the red corral a realistic goal?

• PR for 4 mile race: 29:10

• Goal for 4 mile race on November 21st: 27:56

What fitness goal has you repeating “I think I can”?

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Today, starts a new series titled “FCITC’s September Issue” where I let you in on all of my favorite cool weather workout fashion must haves.

Today’s Topic: How to Stand Out in a Sweaty Crowd

A while back I was invited to preview Lucy’s fall collection.

Here’s what I love about Lucy:

Attention to Detail

Great Fit: Pants come in three lengths short, regular and tall.

No Stores in NYC: Which means 5 other ladies in your workout class or running group will not be wearing the same top.

Best way to stand out in a sweaty crowd of look alikes, is to shop at a store that is not in your neighborhood or state.

Coming up next on FCITC’s September Issue: The Perfect Pant

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