Oh, how I enjoy being in the sunshine! Today the weather was absolute perfection in San Diego and I got to soak some of it up by the pool this afternoon.
For lunch today, I created a waffle recipe worth sharing:
Peach & Granola Waffle
- 1/4 cup whole wheat all purpose flour
- 1/2 peach Greek yogurt (3 oz)
- 1/4 cup unsweetened almond milk
- 1 TSP brown sugar
- 3/4 cup sliced frozen peaches, either thawed out or warmed in the microwave (or fresh!)
- 1 TBSP wheat germ
- 1/4 cup granola (I used Back to Nature honey almond flaxseed)
- A sprinkle of stevia sweetener, optional
Simply mix up flour, yogurt, milk, sugar, and wheat germ in a bowl while your waffle maker is heating up.
Cook waffle until browned, then top with granola and peaches. I added a dash of sugar on top after I tasted it and thought it could use a touch of sweetness.
Stats: 375 calories, 7 g fat, 17 g protein, 65 g carbs
A bit ago when I got hungry for dinner and was rummaging around my kitchen, I was pleasantly surprised to find leftover homemade pizza in my freezer. I had forgotten that my friend Meg had thrown a few slices in there a couple of weeks ago. Sweetness. That certainly upped the awesomeness of my day!
Moving on to this post’s title..
Why are Active Rest Days Beneficial?
I must admit, my body is feeling pretty achy today. I had some hard workouts this week, including yesterday’s boxing session. I really enjoy exercising and like to do it everyday, but I also know that sometimes my body needs a break. On days like this, especially on weekends, I like to slow it down and have an active rest day.
Exactly what does that mean? My favorite activities to do on active rest days are taking long walks with Harley and doing yoga. Today I did just that. I’m a fan of fast-paced yoga because it stretches muscles out and helps to increase flexibility, while also making me break a sweat.
I happen to just be reading the latest issue of Women’s Health, in which an article highlights the main reasons to partake in low-key activity the day after a strenuous workout:
- It will prolong the muscle-sculpting perks of increased circulation: fresh blood flow brings new nutrients to your muscles and helps flush waste products (such as lactic acid)
- Staying active has been proven to reduce post-exercise muscle soreness and suppress nervous system activity that can result in poor sleep.
And to add in my own reasons:
- Any type of exercise, even lighter forms such as long walks, improves your mood
- You’re burning more calories than you would just sitting on your couch!
So if you’re sore from whatever workout you did yesterday, get up and get moving a little!
Off to run some errands, including a dreaded trip to the Apple store because of this doozy:
Whoopsies.
My phone slipped out of my hand and onto the concrete yesterday. My case clearly didn’t do much good. GRR.
Enjoy the rest of your weekend!
Jersey Girl says
Yay for left over pizza!! Boo for broken iPhone!