Michelob Ultra Ft. Lauderdale Half Marathon

Hi Guys! Its been a while since my last post and even my last race. I wanted to let you know that I am officially registered for the Michelob Ultra Ft. Lauderdale Half Marathon happening on November 9, 2014. So its been a while since my last race actually. I’ve taking on a lot of work responsibilities and currently finishing up grad school but nevertheless thats no excuse. I’m excited for this run and I know it will be fun and eventful which will help me to get back on track!

Here is a link to the course map. Check it out and let me know what you think (It’s on the water).

http://www.131marathon.com/FortLauderdale/PDF/coursemap.pdf

I also have my eye set on Palm Beach Marathon on Dec 7, 2014 as well as the Miami Marathon on Jan 25, 2014. If you have been following me for a while or have read my previous blog post you know that I’m all for setting goals and sticking to them. Without goals its hard to improve and to share experiences with others.

Respond back to this post and let me know how you are doing with your Health and Fitness endeavors! Looking forward to it.

 

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Long Time No See!

How’s it going everyone?! Its been a while since my last post, life has been very busy and I’ve been trying to accomplish some very challenging professional goals. Nevertheless, I am still here and hope that your nutritional and fitness goals are going well. Please let me know whats new with you. What is working and what can be improved? Looking forward to hearing your responses.

As for me, I have been lacking a little bit on my running but I am focusing on getting back in shape. I got some new winter gear, shirts, socks, shoes and shirts. I’m going to aim to run 3-4 times a week and lift weights 3 times a week. The weather is cooling off nicely here in Tampa, FL which makes for a better run in my opinion.

I’m scheduled to run a half marathon on Dec 7, 2013 in Orlando with my friend Matt who has never run a half before. So I’ll be running with him and pushing him through. Sometimes we need that encouragement from others to accomplish certain things. I am also set to run the Miami marathon on Feb 2, 2014 which will be really fun. So I have some serious training to do. I’ll keep you posted on the results from both runs.

A Day That Will Never Be Forgotten

This is probably the most depressing blog topics that I have written about in two years. As many of you are aware, two explosives were detonated at the finish line during the Boston Marathon today 04/15/2013. I am not writing this blog to report the news and give you politics or the facts, however I am writing this to express my condolences to those that are no longer with us and those who are severely injured. All of our prayers and thoughts at LJay Health goes out to families of the victims, the Boston community, running family and the nation as a whole.

The Boston Marathon is like the Super Bowl for many runners and everyone works very hard to get there. Unfortunately the glory and victory was taken away from the athletes who ran the marathon today. Who would have ever thought that someone would intentionally plant explosive devices at a marathon, it definitely caught everyone off guard.

I have ran 5 marathons to date, 30 miles this past Sunday and running the Boston marathon was in my future. Considering the events that happened today, I am not really sure how I feel at this point in time. It is really a heart felt moment for myself and millions of other people. It is important that we not live in fear but to be very cautious in everything we do.

One thing that we can take away from this tragedy is to remember to cherish life and be there for one another. I want to leave you with a quote that I was inspired by especially after today.

Live, Love, and cherish Life. Make friends, memories, and plans. Your life is about you, but life is not about you. Fall in love. Love the fall and winter and spring and summer. Ski, skate, sing and dance. Smell the rain and the chocolate chip cookies. Take all the time you need, but don’t waste it. Catch the big one with your dad. Go on a trip with your mom. Love children, for you were once one. Learn from your elders, and one day you’ll have their wisdom. Seek the truth. Find it in yourself, others, and in your faith. Be patient and gentle. Most of all truly live.

Leave a comment and let me know how you are feeling even if its just to vent.

 

More Natural Whole Foods

It’s always interesting to see the studies done on processed foods and how they compare to natural whole foods. In the photo above the watermelon aged as time went by representing that it is a natural food from the earth. On the flip side, the burger and fries did not age as time went by and as a matter of fact it looked exactly the same 180 days later.

When we eat processed foods like burger, fries, vending machine foods, cookies, chips, soda etc our bodies have a hard time processing the food as energy therefore stores the food as fat and toxins in the body.

Foods that are natural, whole and from nature like fruits, veggies, whole grains, nuts, and lean meats are better absorbed by the body and used as fuel for energy.

Why not look good from the inside out rather than from the outside in. Incorporating more natural food in the diet helps improve skin tone, eye sight, improve chronic diseases, and helps with sleep patterns.

I use to have bad skin before eating more natural foods and would be so focused on buying skin care products and going to see the dermatologist to apply chemicals to my skin. Nothing would really work, I saw a little improvement but didn’t get the results I wanted. When I started eating foods like spinach, broccoli, carrots, nuts, berries and fruits and drinking water I started to notice that my skin tone improved drastically. Blemishes were gone, oily skin reduced, and pimples didn’t appear anymore.

What kind of improvements have you noticed while eating whole foods?

Remember eat to live and not live to eat. Correct the issues starting from the inside out and make this a great year to improve your health!

Thanks for reading as always,

LJay Health

Merry Xmas & Happy New Year

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone and your families! This has been a fun and exciting year and I wanted to express that I am really happy to have all of you in my fitness and health community. It really means alot to know that I can and have inspired so many across the globe and can help people accomplish challenges they didn’t think were possible.

I made a post on 2013 goals and it was great to see that many of you have come so far and want to achieve so much in the future. Just know that you can accomplish anything you dedicate yourself to. Remember to have a positive support group, patience, and don’t let anyone hold you back. Its your life and you deserve it to yourself to live it to the best possible. Make 2013 your year and shoot for the **STARS**

Thanks again for supporting and promoting the blog! I appreciate every single comment posted even If for some reason I don’t respond. Truly means alot!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year,

Sincerely,

LJAY HEALTH

ING Miami Marathon

I am slowly gearing up for the ING Miami Marathon. This will be my 2nd full marathon (26.2 miles) and I am excited about the awesome scenic route of Miami. I think that this will be a great way to start the New Year and set the expectation for my 2013 race year. I have 8 weeks left until the big day Sunday, January 27, 2013. My training schedule includes 4 runs a week in which Saturday’s are my long runs consisting of 14+ miles. I am using a running plan by http://www.runnersworld.com/training-plans/marathon-training-plans.

Goals: My goals for the race is to finish in 3 hours and 30 minutes, and to drop to race weight which is about 10lbs I will need to lose in 8 weeks. Losing the additional weight will help my body last longer and relieve the stress on knees and legs during the long distance.

The Course: The race will start in downtown Miami (Biscayne Bay) and then head over the first Causeway (2 miles) unto South and Miami Beach. After running on South Beach runners will head back over the Causeway (2 miles)back into downtown Miami and then all the way down into Coconut Grove and turn around heading to the finish line.

Participants: This year (2012) there were almost 4,000 marathoners and over 16,000 half marathoners. With that being said, they are expecting an even bigger turnout for 2013 since ING NY Marathon was cancelled. Runners will be coming from all over the world to run this race and mingle with other runners.

Recommendation for 1st time marathoners: My best advice to prospective marathoners looking to run a marathon is to be consistent with training and put in the time. Nutrition is equally important and both go hand and hand. If you have a marathon training schedule you should try and follow it as much as possible but don’t beat yourself up if you miss a day. Also, please please please listen to your body and avoid injuring yourself.

If you are thinking about registering or want to know more about the race there is still time to sign up and I am including the link to the website: http://www.ingmiamimarathon.com/

Ill be sure to let you know how the race goes! To keep up to date with my training and day to day prep, follow me on Facebook or Twitter @ljayhealth. Both links are also found on the left side of this page!

What’s Your Take On Supplements?

Multi vitamins, green tea, vitamin C, B vitamins, omega fish oils and the list goes on and on. You can walk into any health food store, or a vitamin shop and find shelves of nothing but dietary supplements. The picture above are my very own supplements that I take on a daily basis and have taken for years. Some other supplements you see there is alfalfa which helps to cleanse the liver, cinnamon that is a natural blood sugar stabilizer, and garlic which helps to improve cardiovascular functions.

Many people feel that supplements are a waste of money and have no true benefit but I believe otherwise through personal experience. Taking supplements in conjunction with nutritious meals have helped to improve my overall workout endurance, strength  and not to mention my handsome looks 🙂  If you do or don’t take supplements I would like to hear your feedback and take on it. Please share with your fitness family!

So why do people take supplements?

I personally take supplements to help ensure I am getting all of the nutrients my body need on a daily basis. It is also convenient for me to take the supplement rather than eating the food that carries the vitamin. Also being a vegetarian I have to make sure I am receiving adequate amounts of B vitamins, calcium and iron since these vitamins are found in meats.

Some people may also have the need to take supplements because their bodies lack the production of it. For example, someone may have a iron deficiency and therefore they need to take an iron supplement to make up for it.

What is the downside to taking supplements? 

Supplements should not be taking in place of eating natural foods. The bulk of our daily vitamins and minerals should come from real foods and not in the form of supplements. Supplements, especially depending on the kind can be expensive and may put a dent in your wallet after while. In my opinion, our health is definitely worth the investment and I believe we have an opportunity to prevent serious illnesses and diseases that might be faced later in life through intake of natural foods and supplements.

Digesting Supplements

When taking supplements try and take only 2-3 at one time and wait 1-2 hours before taking another one. The reason is that our bodies can only use a certain amount of nutrients at one time. The excess comes out through the urine and is generally darker than usual. Most supplements come in the form of a pill some small, medium and large depending on the type. Many supplements are now being made in powder form that can easily be blending or mixed in with water or a soft drink.

LJAY HEALTH TOP VITAMIN & SUPPLEMENT SHOPS

1.GNC 

2.Vitamin Shoppe

3.BodyBuilding.com

4.Nutri Shop 

5. Discount supplements.com

 

 

What Do You Like About Your Gym?

 

There are many gyms to choose from when looking for a fitness home. Fitness giants like; LA Fitness, Gold’s Gym, Bailey Powerhouse, and World’s Gym are just a few that dominate the market. People are now joining Crossfit gyms which I love, building home gyms and working out in the fitness clubhouse where they live.

Most gyms offer a plethora of amenities like swimming pools, yoga classes, basketball courts, saunas, tanning beds, free weights and cardio machines. Ultimately when choosing your gym you pick the one where you will have the most benefit and of course the one that is closest to your home or work.

 What gym are you apart of and what do you like most about that gym? What keeps you there? What amenities or classes do you frequently take advantage of?

I am currently not apart of any gym but have been in the past. I mainly do workouts at home, in the parks or run in the neighborhood. However when the weather starts to get colder I may be joining a gym again haha. What keeps me working out at home is the convenience of being able to just wake up and get a workout in and not worrying about how long it will take someone to finish using a machine.

Next year (2013) I am planning to take a tour to some of the biggest and best gyms in the country and will also be going to some Crossfit gyms too. I will then write an article of each gym I visited and what I found best about it.

Please share with me and others details about your gym and why you decided to join..Thanks—LJAY HEALTH

Thank you, Thank you, Thank You

7 Healthy Tips

Maintaining a healthy lifestyles can sometimes be frustrating due to all the different directives from doctors, healthy experts and family members and friends. I came up with 7 quick healthy tips that you can focus on to help improve and maintain your overall health and well being. Always remember that portion control is everything, too much of even healthy food can be a negative impact on your health.

1. Eat a balanced, Healthy Breakfast. Typically breakfast should include protein, complex carbs and healthy fat. Studies show that people who eat a regular breakfast maintain their weight and have a lower risk of diabetes. Try and avoid breakfast bars as many of them have too much sugar, too many calories and little protein. Try to include boiled eggs, make a protein shake mixed with protein, milk of your choice, and fruit, or some cut up fruit to take with you if you are rushing in the morning. Drink a cold glass of water as soon as your wake up to hydrate your body from the water loss through perspiration while sleeping. Have a handful of nuts including almonds, cashews, walnuts.
2. Boost Cardiovascular Health with Physical Activity. Only 30 minutes of physical activity a day can improve cardiovascular health, reduce LDL cholesterol and help normalize weight. Some ways to increase your daily activity could be to park furthest away from your work building, or store. Use a bike for transportation, jump rope whenever possible. I keep a jumprope in my car at all times 🙂 Take the stairs instead of the elevator if it’s a short flight. 
3. Get at least six to eight hours of sleep. Avoid caffeine before bed. Close your eyes and do deep breathing exercising for 10 minutes. In yoga we practice breathing exercises all the time and it helps me to renew my mind and calms me down. Breathe in your nose and out your mouth, take deep breathes frequently especially when working out. Turn your phone on vibrate to avoid being disturbed while you are sleeping. If you have a hard time sleeping take a few caps of Melatonin (a natural sleep aid) before bed.
4. Eat 5-7 servings of fruits and vegetable a day. Veggies and fruits are high in fiber and contain a large amount of antioxidants. These foods help protect you from heart disease, cancer and many other illnesses. I cant remember the last time I was sick or had to use my health insurance 🙂 I eat fresh produce, organic when possible.
5. Lift weights. Lifting weights helps increase bone density and lower body fat which increases metabolism and lower heart disease risk. If you are new to lifting weights, get a personal trainer to show the ropes or buy fitness magazines for different routines. Practice air squats, lunges, pushups and pullups. I have posted some videos on my youtube account with some of the routines. Youtube account name=ljayhealth 🙂 Stair climbing, jogging, running and other workouts requires your body to work against gravity also boosting strength and endurance.
6. Stay Hydrated.  You all have heard or know you are supposed to get in at least eight glasses of water per day. However if your exercising you should have more than this. Staying hydrated keeps you mentally focused and help maintain blood pressure, improves physical performance. During work days I keep a jug of water with me and drink it constantly throughout the day. When I workout I sip of water frequently. Try and avoid drinking too much caffeine. Caffeine is a diuretic and increases the body needs for water. Foods high in water like fruits and vegggies count towards  your daily water intake!!! If you are not a fan of water, adding lemons to enhance the water taste may help you increase your water intake.
7. Wash your hands. I previously posted a article on germs and their negative effects. Germs are everywhere and they are surrounding you right now. Washing your hands frequently helps to prevent you from becoming sick from bacteria and flu like symptoms. Wash your hands after leaving the restroom, pumping gas, opening and closing doors and typing on your computer. Avoid from touching your face, rubbing your eyes and licking your fingers. Use hand sanitizer while in the gym, and wipe down the equipment after your are done working out.  According to HandHygiene, during a 16 hour period we touch our face at least 250 times per day, 7500 times a month, and 90,000 times a year.

Following these tips daily will help prepare you and get you on the road for living a healthier lifestyle! Thanks for reading as always. -LJAY HEALTH 🙂