It has been pretty cloudy here in northeast Colorado the last few days but today’s forecast is SUNSHINE. Aka suns out, guns out! I want to wear a tank top simply because Ron Burgundy is telling me to….
Happy Friday! Not surprise, but this week flew by. It is always busy at the office when I get back from a longer vacation and it definitely felt that way this week. Nothing too overwhelming, but one thing after another after another. It made the workday go fast and now it is the weekend. Holy cow. I’m not mad about it!
Time for Anything & Everything Friday. Five topics are discussed each Friday based on articles I’ve read or items I’ve seen or whatever I feel is relevant to my life and the time of year. I try to keep each topic health-related, but that is not a rule set in stone. Friday’s are for having fun and not having rules, right?!?!? Well, maybe not exactly but it is fun to think about! Here we go….
Healthy Tailgating Tips:
Donny has been so pumped the last few weeks, because it is FOOTBALL SEASON! I happen to love football season as well. We tend to try more recipes and get together with friends and family more during the football season so we can watch the Broncos! Tailgating and football get-togethers are not known to have the most healthy food options. Sometimes that is part of the fun, but if it doesn’t fit your goals then here are some tips.
SparkPeople.com not only has tips to help you keep on track while watching football, but also has some recipes at the end that you can take with you or serve at your own party! Check out The Best Foods For Football Fans: Healthy Tailgating Tips & Recipes.
If I am the one making the appetizer or dish to take to the party, then I typically make a healthy one. If Donny is in charge, he usually makes something delicious, but not always diet-friendly! I believe you can have both. SparkPeople.com has a recipe for chili, Buffalo mac n’ cheese and Mexican lasagna. Might have to give them a whirl this season. GO BRONCOS!
Fitbit Blaze:
I completely forgot to mention this a few weeks ago, but my Fitbit crapped out. The Fitbit Charge HR was what I used as a fitness tracker for over a year and I liked it. However, the plastic piece on the back of the tracker (where the charger gets plugged in) detached from the rest of the device. It wouldn’t have been a big deal, but without that piece the Fitbit won’t charge. No charge IS a big deal!
I called Fitbit to see if they could do anything and they couldn’t, because the one-year warranty had expired. This was actually my second Fitbit Charge HR, because a similar problem happened with the first. They replaced the first (it was within the year time-frame) but wouldn’t replace the second because the “year” is based on the FIRST device you purchase, not the replacement. They did offer 25% off another Fitbit tracker.
To be honest, I didn’t want the Charge HR anymore because the same thing happened twice within a short amount of time. If that kept happening then I’d have to replace my tracker all. the. time. No thanks! Instead, I did a bunch of research and almost all the sites recommended the Charge HR for the price and functionality. I personally couldn’t commit to it though, so I kept researching.
Finally, I decided to stay with Fitbit but go with the newer Fitbit Blaze. It looks more like a watch and has all the functions of the Charge HR. One thing I really like about it, is that it displays my heart rate more quickly than the Charge HR did. I want to know instantly what my heart rate is and the Charge HR didn’t read it quite that fast. So far I’ve been happy with the Blaze. It is definitely bigger, but it doesn’t bother me. What type of fitness tracker do you use?
Mr. Olympia 2016:
Mr. Olympia, the biggest, most prestigious bodybuilding competition, started yesterday and goes all weekend in Las Vegas. I don’t follow any men bodybuilders, but I do follow several female bodybuilders on Instagram and Facebook.
Nicole Wilkins is going for her 5th title in the Figure division! She would be the first woman to ever win five and I’ve been following a little bit of her progress. She tried for 5 last year and got 2nd place, so I have a feeling she has been extremely motivated the last 365 days! I won’t lie, she is a badass.
In the bikini division, I’m a big fan of Justine Munro and Cori Baker. However, Ashley Kaltwasser has won it the last three years and is competing again. I don’t know a ton about the event, but I watched the figure and bikini last year and it is amazing what those ladies have done. They have worked their asses off and gotten themselves some amazing looking asses while they were at it! I don’t have any desire to compete in a bodybuilding competition, but these ladies are definitely motivating!
Restaurants in Denver:
Zagat.com came out with the Best of the Best: The 50 Best Restaurants in Denver. Donny & I have been to five out of the top ten, so it looks like we have some work to do! I’m pretty sure Fruition (#1) is in our cigar box as well as Mercantile Dining & Provisions and Luca. We will get to all of them eventually!
I love finding lists like this 1) to keep them in mind for future dinners but 2) to go online and look at their menu! Donny & I spend a lot time hanging out on the couch or laying in bed looking at restaurant menus. Drooling most of the time, but also thinking about what the dish will look like, taste like, etc. Have you been to any of the restaurants on the list? What was your favorite?
Sparkling Water Cocktails:
Summer is dangerously close to being over… I’m talking this next Thursday, September 22nd is the first day of fall! Well, it is time to fit in a summer cocktail or two before fall hits. I’m all about clean eating, but I enjoy a cocktail every once in a while. I love beer, I like wine and I’ll crave a cocktail occasionally, it just depends on my mood.
I am also always down to try a “healthier” cocktail. Earlier this summer I introduced you to the Grapefruit Vodka Soda that I was enjoying. It used La Croix sparking water rather than soda water. Delish.com showed me up and Brittany Fuller put together a list of 10 LaCroix Cocktails You Need To Try Before Summer Officially Ends. The Sparkling Cherry Limeade sounds delicious and I love lemon drop martinis, so why not make a skinny one! Check out the other eight recipes and also check out my Grapefruit Vodka Soda!
Well that’s all for Anything & Everything Friday! Have a great weekend. Eat healthy, squeeze in some exercise, but have fun dang-it!
