Exercise is quite trendy at the moment, isn’t it? Fashionable shops are selling activewear and ranges of fitness equipment, and the cool kids are all wearing Fitbits and shunning nights out in favor of drinking water and competing to see who can do the most steps. But, what if you hate exercise? You know that you should be moving more and exercising to stay fit and healthy, but you just don’t enjoy it? What if you want to be healthy, but the idea of going to the gym fills you with cold dread? Well, that’s ok too. There are plenty of things that you can do, without becoming a fitness freak or a gym bunny, that will help you keep fit, stay in shape and live a long and healthy life.
Try Something Different Not everyone enjoys every sport and fitness plan. But, that doesn’t mean that there isn’t something for you. Try new things, get involved in a team sport, take some classes at your local fitness center, go hiking, cycle, have a go at something more unusual like fencing or roller derby, or take up a completely unrelated hobby, like nature photography, which would get you moving more without you realizing.
You are never going to stick to a plan if you hate what you are doing. You can tell yourself that you are going to go to the gym three times a week, but if you don’t enjoy it, you’ll soon start making excuses. Instead, take your time to try some different things until you find something that you love doing, and remember, if you are moving, it counts!
Walk More Walking is one of the easiest and best exercises out there. If you don’t enjoy exercising because of the physical exertion, you might find that you absolutely love a long, relaxing walk. Try taking your dog for longer walks, pushing your kids around the park or just walking to work in the morning. A long walk every day can be more beneficial than three 30-minute gym sessions.
Treat Yourself Treating ourselves makes us happy. If exercise means you get more treats, you might be keener to do it. Buy yourself some new workout clothes and shoes and click here for what you need to make your workouts more comfortable.
Make Small Changes to Your Routine Walking isn’t the only small addition that can make a big difference. Remember, every single step counts, and if it’s a step that you wouldn’t normally take, it’s increased activity. So, stop waiting for the elevator and start climbing the stairs, use the bathroom further away when you are at work, and drink more water so that you need to go more often. Do a few simple stretches when you get out of bed in the morning and go for a quick walk on your lunch break. You might be surprised what a big difference small changes can make to your health and fitness.
Look Online One of the main reasons that people hate exercise is anxiety. They don’t like the idea of working out in front of other people. So, don’t. Look for some great workout videos that you can do at home online.
Thank you to everyone who entered our recent giveaway for a chance to win tickets to see the new movie Paul, Apostle For Christ.
PAUL, APOSTLE OF CHRIST stars Jim Caviezel (THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST), James Faulkner (Downton Abbey), Olivier Martinez (S.W.A.T.), Joanne Whalley (A.D. The Bible Continues) and John Lynch (THE SECRET GARDEN).
In PAUL, APOSTLE OF CHRIST, Luke (Caviezel) risks his life to visit Paul (Faulkner), who is held captive in a Roman prison under Nero’s rule. Together, they struggle against a determined emperor and the frailties of the human spirit in order to live out the Gospel of Jesus Christ and spread their message to the world.
The movie premieres on Friday, March 23rd in theaters nationwide. Watch the official trailer for the film here:
And the winner of our giveaway is Deborah W.
Congratulations Deborah! You will receive two tickets to see the movie, courtesy of Level3.
You will receive an email message from us with more information.
Thank you to everyone who entered and be on the look out for more giveaways very soon.
FTC Disclosure:
Bubbling with Elegance and Grace will received two tickets to the movie in order to host this giveaway.
I know we have a lot of readers who are going through Lent right now.
What is Lent?
According to Dictionary.com, it is “the period preceding Easter that in the Christian Church is devoted to fasting, abstinence, and penitence in commemoration of Christ’s fasting in the wilderness. In the Western Church it runs from Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday and so includes forty weekdays.”
Many people will give up sweets, soda, or even entire meals. While others will give up watching television or looking at their social media accounts. Whatever they give up, it is a way to remember the sacrifice that Jesus Christ made as He prepared for His death on the cross. It is also meant for Christians to draw closer to God and strengthen their faith in Him. If you’re looking for faith-related Easter movies, check out Pure Flix. This year, my hubby and I have decided to give up meat on Mondays. It is a small way for us to focus on our relationships with God and remember all that Jesus Christ has done for us.
While giving up meat is meant to be a spiritual sacrifice, there are also natural health benefits as well; including reducing your risk for heart disease, it lowers your risk for cancer, helps maintain a healthy body weight and living a longer life. In addition, going without meat can reduce your grocery costs and lower your healthcare costs as well (Information gathered from the Meatless Monday website).
It may seem hard to give up meat, but it can be done. With some thoughtful meal planner, it will become much easier as you go forward with it. If you develop a meal plan in advance, you will become aware of how much meat you have been eating; and you can look for alternative choices that don’t include meat. We wanted to share with you one our favorite recipes that we can say doesn’t make us feel like we are missing out on meat. A portobello mushroom sandwich is a tasty choice for anyone who likes mushrooms. By picking portabellas, they almost taste like meat because they are very hearty and have some substance to them. Here is our recipe.
Portabella Mushroom Sandwich
Portabella and Pepper Sandwich with Swiss cheese
Ingredients
— Portabella mushrooms
— 1 tbs. of olive oil
— Sliced onions, red and green bell peppers
— Sliced Swiss Cheese
— Garlic salt, seasoning salt, black pepper; or your favorite seasoning
— Multigrain bread or sourdough bun (optional)
Preparation
— Add olive oil into pan and turn on burner to medium heat.
— Add the desired amount of sliced portabella mushrooms
— Add the onions,red and green bell peppers
— When veggies and mushrooms are sautéed to your liking, top with swiss cheese
— Turn off burner and allow the cheese to melt
— Serve on a slice of your favorite bread or without
— Can be served with french fries and steamed veggies
— Total prep time is about five minutes
** The amount of mushroom, onions and peppers that you use will be depend on how big of sandwich you want.
** We use frozen mushrooms, onions and peppers. If you use fresh, start with sautéing the onions and peppers and then add in the mushrooms.
This is a simple recipe that makes for a quick and tasty meal. It is a perfect choice for Lent or for anyone who is looking for a healthier meal choice.
Are you giving up anything for Lent? Let us know in the comments section below what it is and why you are giving it up.
It was 72 degree on Thursday and but I still feel that I have to wear a jacket, sweater or both. It is not officially springtime yet; and yet even in the spring, it still can be cold. At the local park I have seen people wearing all kinds of attire; from shorts to tank tops. It is still chilly out there. I just don’t know what to say about that.
At work, I never know what the temperature may be. It can be cold in one office and more mild in another room, all at the same time. I need to be dressed for the temperature changes, so I dress in layers.
I really like a modern turtleneck that is not bulky. It looks smooth underneath sweaters and jackets. Macy’s is my go-to place to for these turtlenecks because they have such a wide array of color. To add a pop of color to the turtleneck I chose my pink cashmere cable knit sweater that is also not bulky. However, cashmere is a natural fiber that will keep you warm. I find that most of my cashmere is vintage because it is hard to know where the cashmere is sourced from and if it’s sustainable. I saw an article on Fashionista,“Three Ecofriendly Cashmere Labels to Watch.” The article highlights three eco-friendly companies, including White and Warren who reclaim cashmere by going through the recycling process of unworn cashmere. There is no governing board over what is sustainable, so there is still more work to do. All cashmere is not created equal. Take a look at this other article from Fashionista, “How truly ‘Responsible’ is your Responsible Cashmere”.
JT Style FIle
Vintage cable knit cashmere sweater: Macy’s
Turtleneck: Macy’s
Skirt leggings (one Piece): Legacy
Tights: I have had for a couple of years
Boots: Clarks
Handbag: Dooney and Bourke
For me, I am striving to eat healthy and to live a healthier lifestyle, so I can live longer and stronger. One stipulation, as I often hear from other people, is that the food needs to taste good. My hubby enjoys cooking and likes to create his own recipes. I asked if we could share one of his favorite creations? He said, “Sure, that would be awesome.” He calls this concoction, Cheesy Chicken Southwestern Fiesta. It is amazing what can happen with a combination of chicken, some veggies and cheese. And depending on how you make it, he suggests eating it as a dip for an appetizer or as a soup for lunch.
Cheesy Chicken Southwestern Fiesta
Cheesy Chicken Southwestern Fiesta
– 8 oz of frozen pre-cut pieces of chicken
– 1 Tbs. Olive Oil
– Chili Powder or Season Salt / Pepper to taste
– 8oz. of frozen red and green sliced bellpeppers / sliced onions combo
– 8oz. of frozen black beans/corn combo
– 1 medium Zucchini squash sliced in 1/3 inch slices or to your liking
– 1 medium yellow squash sliced in 1/3 inch slices or to your liking
– 1/3 block of Velveeta cheese or jar of Tostito cheese dip
* Add the chicken with the pepper / onion combo to a wok or a large pan. Pour in the olive oil and begin cooking on medium heat. The chicken can be purchased already precut; but you can also slice a fresh chicken breast. The precut bag of chicken are often sold for making fajitas or for soups.
Chicken and grilled peppers / onions
* Allow chicken and veggies to cook for a few minutes before adding one medium zucchini squash and one medium yellow squash, each sliced into bite size pieces.
* When the zucchini begins to soften, add in the black bean/corn combo. If the frozen combo is not available in your local grocery store, you can also add a small bag of frozen corn and a can of drained black beans.
* Add your favorite seasoning – chili powder or seasoning salt/pepper.
* Cooked the veggies to the consistency that you like. I like my veggies slightly al dente (A little crunch, a little soft).
* Finally, add in the cheese. You can add 1/3 block of Velveeta cheese or a jar of Tostito cheese dip. Allow the cheese to melt into the mixture.
* If eating as a soup, you can add more cheese.
* If you are eating it as a dip, you may want to add less cheese, but that is up to you.
* Serve with your favorite tortilla chips.
So, how would you eat it? As a soup? As a dip? Or both? Let us know how you like it or if you would add in different veggies.
Learn More About JT
Bubbling with Elegance and Grace started out as an outlet for my passion for fashion but has evolved into a place for me to teach, collaborate, and inspire. My hubby has since joined the team and we have been digital creators for 13 years. We are thankful for those who believed in us from the beginning and those who have just started riding with us on this lovely journey.
Follow!