19 Sep

P90X before and after

Posted by Sophia in Exercise.

My husband and I just completed 13 weeks of P90X.  For a thorough review after 8 weeks , please see my previous post.

Most of what I shared at 8 weeks I still agree with.  I would probably drop my overall rating from 4.5 out of 5 stars to 4.  Given the amount of time we dedicated to exercise during this program, I think we should have seen better results.  I attribute this to the lack of cardio in the program.  P90X classic dictates two days of cardio per week (plyo and kenpo).  I would say only plyo was really cardiovascular for me.  One day a week of cardio, no matter how much you’re exercising, is not going to produce significant change.  I know I’m stronger after this program, but if you still have a layer of fat on top of your new muscles, you won’t be able to tell that much has happened.  While we didn’t do the diet, I’ve done plenty of exercise programs without a dietary change and seen impressive results (for example, Tae Bo).  With P90X, I lost a grand total of 1 pound and 1.5 inches (1/2 off my waist, and 1/2 inch off each thigh).  I would have liked to lose 2 inches off my waist, and I don’t think that goal was unrealistic.  My husband didn’t want to weigh or measure, but you can see from our before and after photos that he had better results than I did.  However, he was sedentary before beginning this program. Continue reading

13 Sep

Yummy veggie enchiladas

Posted by Sophia in Recipe, Vegetarian/Vegan.

I’ve been making a version of these enchiladas almost every week for the past year.  They are so tasty and you can really tweak the recipe to work with whatever ingredients you have.  I think this recipe proves you don’t need meat to feel satisfied!  I list very few quantities to keep the recipe flexible.

Ingredients:

  • Whole wheat tortillas (I usually use 10)
  • onions
  • bell peppers
  • zucchinis
  • sweet potatoes, peeled and diced
  • fresh corn
  • garlic
  • cumin
  • paprika (smokey is delicious, but sweet works)
  • mexican seasoning
  • Eden Foods canned beans (pinto or black)
  • jar of salsa
  • Robertos enchilada sauce (or more salsa/tomato puree for the non-spicy kid version)
  • monterrey jack or cheddar cheese
  • avocado, or guacamole Continue reading

12 Sep

Soothing a sore throat

Posted by Sophia in Personal Care Products.

I often get sore throats from colds, or from hanging out late in loud environments while drinking.  I’ve found a great way to treat sore throats is by gargling with natural mouthwashes.  Many are formulated with great essential oils that are soothing and/or antiseptic.  I especially like the peppermint mouthwash from Tom’s of Maine (not their new wicked fresh line, but their previous line) but I have a hard time finding it.  I just tried out a Jason Healthy Mouth one.  Check out these great ingredients for sore throats:

  • Aloe
  • Calendula
  • Echinacea
  • Witch Hazel
  • Golden Seal
  • Clove oil
  • Tea tree oil
  • Menthol

5 Sep

Safe sand

Posted by Sophia in Children.

Sand for children’s sand tables and sand boxes is typically silica (silicone dioxide).  The National Toxicology Program (NTP) has concluded that silica is a carcinogen.  California’s Prop 65 mandates that silica containing products be labeled with a cancer warning.  The problem with play sand containing silica is that as a child plays with it, it creates a dust that the child inhales.  While workers using silica wear respiratory protection, obviously children do not.  Breathing dust that contains crystalline silica particles can lead to a respiratory disease called silicosis.  Most children playing in sandboxes will not breath in enough silica to cause disease, but some parents may be concerned about their children breathing in anything dangerous while playing.  You’re probably not surprised to find that I am one of those mothers!

Some other concerned mothers in my neighborhood decided to order sand that does not contain silica, so I joined them and got 50 pounds.  The company is called Safe Sand and there is a lot of information about sand on their site.  The stuff is pricey though, at $1/pound.  We have yet to clear out the sand in our sandbox and add the safe sand, but once we do, I’ll try to share some pictures.

30 Aug

Greener and safer food storage containers

Posted by Sophia in Children, Food and Nutrition, Plastic.

It’s hard to find food storage containers that aren’t made of plastic.  Especially portable ones for lunches on the go.  That’s why I was so excited to see a new vendor at the antique market in my neighborhood.  They were selling all sorts of lunch boxes and containers made of stainless steel, glass, and other safer materials.

Here are some of the great finds I got:

  • Lunchskins – bags made of frosting piping material.  Free of lead, BPA, and phthalates.  Dishwasher safe.  A great alternative to plastic sandwich bags.
  • LunchBots – My sister-in-law gave me one last year and I love it.  They make various sizes.  I love that they aren’t breakable like many of the glass containers we use at home.  Much better for my children’s school lunches.
  • Lifefactory sippy cups – These bottles and “cups” are made out of glass, but are protected from breakage by a silicone cover.  The sippy cup top is made with plastic #5 (one of the safest options out there) with a silicone stopper to prevent leakage.   Continue reading

26 Aug

High levels of flame retardants found in pregnant women

Posted by Sophia in Children, PBDEs.

A study from UC San Francisco of 25 pregnant women living in California found the highest levels of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE’s) ever reported in expecting women.  PBDEs were banned in 2004 in California, but for decades before that were used in anything with polyurethane foam (couch cushions, crib mattresses, etc.), as well as electronics.  PBDE’s affect the development of baby’s brain, liver, and thyroid.  While PBDE’s may be banned, they persist in the environment and bioaccumulate in people.  Chemically similar substitutes are currently in use.

The best way to avoid inadvertent consumption of PBDE’s is to wash your hands frequently (especially before eating), dust/mop your house frequently, and avoid foam products.  Also look for electronics made by companies who have phased out PBDE’s, like Apple and Sony.  For more about this study, see this article.

24 Aug

Preventing stomach bugs with probiotics

Posted by Sophia in Supplements.

A stomach bug is going around where we live.  In fact, my baby already had it two weeks ago, but now I hear of kids at my son’s school having it too.  So I thought I’d share my best prevention tip for stomach bugs–probiotics!  If a stomach bug is going around, or you fear you may be catching one, consume a probiotic supplement.  I believe crowding your gut with good bacteria doesn’t give the bad bacteria a chance to thrive.  Every time someone in my family gets sick, I start popping the probiotics, and I never catch it.  Once someone is sick enough to be vomiting, it’s probably best not to irritate the stomach with a supplement.  But probiotics do work wonders for diarrhea.

22 Aug

Easier, faster, healthier eggplant parmesan… from scratch!

Posted by Sophia in Recipe.

Lately, I’ve had to find a new way to cook.  I just can’t find the time to pick weekly recipes, make grocery lists, and shop for specific items.  Rather, I have been memorizing my favorite recipes, going to the store list-less, seeing which ingredients are available, and buying what’s needed to make a seasonal recipe.  Probably how my grandmother has shopped and cooked her whole life. Currently, eggplants, tomatoes, and basil are in season which means I’ve been making a lot of eggplant parmesan.  This is one of my favorite recipes, but it is time-consuming and usually quite complicated.  So I’ve created an easier, faster, and healthier version.  Memorize it and make it!  Quantities in parenthesis are what I use to make enough for approximately two dinners for 5 people.

Ingredients:

  • eggplant (3 large)
  • tomatoes (approximately 5 to 10–fresh are best, but you can use strained jarred tomatoes if you must)
  • onions (2)
  • garlic (3 bulbs)
  • basil (I like a lot!)
  • olive oil
  • salt
  • parmesan cheese
  • mozzarella (about 8 oz of the fresh stuff, if possible)

15 Aug

Why does every glass of Tropicana taste the same?

Posted by Sophia in Food and Nutrition.

Regardless of season or the location where the oranges are grown?  Why does it never taste like Minute Maid or any other brand of OJ?  Read this blog post to find out.

13 Aug

P90X review, after 8 weeks

Posted by Sophia in Exercise.

I promised to review the P90X program 7 weeks in, but instead, I’m reviewing it after the first 8 weeks.  My husband and I have been doing it very consistently for the past two months.  We have 5 more weeks to go until we have completed it.  Here are my thoughts on the program so far… Continue reading

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