by kelsey | Mar 31, 2016 | Etc.
As many of you from the Watertown area know, we have a beautiful recreational trail. The trail goes around the lake and all the way to the Redlin Art Center. It truly is a great part about Watertown! Dr. Dan and I are part of the Watertown Trail Committee that works to promote the use of the trail. Our committee also works with the great folks at the Park and Rec who manage and maintain the trail system.
We have a facebook page for the trail: https://www.facebook.com/WatertownRecreationalTrail/. Be sure to head on over and “like” us for updates on the trail! We plan to increase our Facebook activity and interest in the trail by highlighting the various sections of the trail throughout the year to encourage use and activity on the trail….and this is where we need your help! We invite you to send us pictures of you and your family and friends on the trail. You can email us the pictures and we will post to the Facebook page and site. Be sure to include the following: your name and area on the trail–this will be included when we post the pictures! You can email pictures to strive2survive@brownclinic.org. We look forward to hearing from you and be sure to get out and enjoy our beautiful trail!
-Kelsey
by kelsey | Mar 30, 2016 | Diet, Food
Last night’s STRIVE’s treats were once again delicious thanks to our friends at County Fair Foods! Be sure to give these a try!!
Avocado, Cucumber, Tomato Salad (pictured above)
1 English Cucumber
4 Roma Tomatoes
3 Ripe Avocados
1/2 Red Onion
1/4 c Cilantro
Juice of 1 Lemon
Salt and Pepper to taste
2 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Directions: placed sliced cucumber, tomatoes, avocados, onion, and cilantro in a large bowl. Toss with olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Enjoy plain or with baked, whole grain chips.
Raspberry Banana Muffins
2 Bananas
4 Eggs
Raspberries
Directions: Mash bananas and then add 4 eggs and mix well. Grease muffin tins. Place some raspberries in each tin. Divide batter up between 6 muffins. Shake to level each batter in each tin. Bake at 200F for 12 minutes. Dust with powdered sugar. Enjoy!
-Kelsey
by Dan | Mar 27, 2016 | Exercise, Goals, Motivation, Weather, Wellness/Health
Do you have Fortitude, that firmness of spirit, a steadiness of will in doing good in spite of difficulties faced in the performance of one’s duty? In achieving one’s goals? We all face challenges when it comes to exercise, and the biggest factor is the continuation of an exercise plan. We all get busy, we all face challenges, and we are have those days when exercise is not really what we want to do. These are the times when we need fortitude more than any other time. That strength of mind to keep going, especially when we know the benefit can be very high.
We need to push ourselves, especially when our mind tells us otherwise. If we can convince our minds, we can make it. Our bodies can take a lot more than we think. Here Sarah is pushing it towards the finish line of one of the 5k races we did. It does not mean that she did not have to work for it though.
When we push it, we know it! We will recover, but in the end we know that we gave it our all. That goes for all of it. As stated many other times, unless we are able to push past our comfort zones, we will never know how far we can actually go, or how much we can actually achieve! You would be surprised as to how much you can amaze yourselves as well.
But, in South Dakota, we also get to face the weather conditions as well. This in and of itself can be a huge challenge! A challenge that tests us physically, but even more so, mentally! Our bodies can take it if our minds are willing to take it on.
Here Sarah and I are coming across the finish line of the Turkey Day Race on Thanksgiving. At this time of year, the temperature can be very cold, and can be tough to convince yourselves to get out and just do it! When it is a race like this, it is always helpful when there are more people involved. It helps motivate you to keep going, and to go out and exercise, whether running or walking. Otherwise, when it is cold, or snowing, it is very easy to say “forget it, not today!”. Been there, done that. It makes you stronger overall when you still exercise in conditions like this. Life is always throwing curve balls, and the saying “adversity makes you stronger” comes even more into play. You feel like you can handle anything that life throws at you when you can go exercise in conditions that are far from ideal.
Regardless of the conditions, you can do it. If you wait for conditions to be perfect, you will never get anywhere. It is very rarely perfect. But boy when they are, it makes it even more worthwhile!
Have the courage to face that adversity, and potentially poor conditions, and see what you are capable of doing…just like life in general. The daily grind of everyday life can take its toll as well, and it is easy to feel frustrated by it. Stick to that strength of mind, that firmness of spirit…that Fortitude!
Here Steve, one of our run club members, and friend, sums it up well with his shirt…run forever! That can translate to exercise forever, walk forever…keep moving forever! Use it or lose it. You need to have the fortitude to continue at those times of adversity in order to make us stronger in general.
Keep moving everybody!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day #: 3103
by kelsey | Mar 24, 2016 | Cooking Tips, Holidays
With the Easter Holiday and Celebration just a few days away, many of you have your eggs hard boiled and ready to be painted…or many of you already have them painted! As Sunday comes and goes, you may wonder what to do with those eggs. Here are some tips for you to practice proper egg safety:
- Not sure how to boil an egg? Place the eggs in a saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a boil with the lid on, then turn off the heat. Let the eggs sit in water for 15 min. Remove eggs and place in a bowl of ice cold water to cool.
- Eggs should be used within 3 weeks of the sell by date. Be sure to store them in the fridge at a temp less than 40 degrees F.
- Hard boiled eggs spoil faster than fresh eggs as the protective coating is washed away, making them more susceptible to bacteria. Hard boiled eggs must be refrigerated within 2 hours of cooking.
- If you want to eat the hard boiled eggs after the holiday, you must store them in the refrigerator. Throw away any eggs that are cracked, dirty, or have been out of the fridge for more than 2 hours. If you are going to use the leftover cooked eggs, it is recommended to use them within one week to prevent food poisoning. To help you do this, you could make two batches- one to display and one for eating.
- Ever wonder what the green ring on a hard boiled yolk is? It’s a result of overcooking the eggs and is caused by sulfur and iron compounds in the egg reacting to the surface of the yolk. The green color may also be a result of a large amount of iron in the water used to cook with. It may look funny, but it is safe to eat.
Happy Easter!
-Kelsey
by kelsey | Mar 23, 2016 | Etc.
Do you have your Easter baskets all ready for the little (or big) kids in your life? Easter baskets are usually filled with all kinds of goodies and I like to think of them being just as exciting as getting your Christmas stocking! My family has all kinds of funny stories about the big search for finding our Easter baskets and of course what we find inside is even more exciting! The candy aisles at the store are filled with all kinds of goodies, but let us not forget that there are plenty of other non-junk food options to fill your Easter baskets with. Here are some ideas for you:
- Sidewalk chalk
- Color Dotz by Crayola (color your bath water with them!)
- Books
- Coloring books
- Stuffed animals
- Sunglasses
- Shoes
- Socks
- Hair accessories for girls
- Mini cars or planes for boys
- Nail polish
- Gift certificate to the movies or iTunes
- Magazine subscription
- Jump rope
- Yo-yo
- Pencils, crayons, markers
It’s ok to enjoy a little candy, but be sure to include some of these other goodies to help make your Easter baskets a bit healthier! And more importantly, remember the real meaning of celebrating Easter!
-Kelsey
