Journey to Healthified: Week 6

Another great week at the Kennett Area YMCA.  This week, I did manage to make 3 trips to the YMCA, all of which were great!  I ran the track doing Week 1 of my Couch 2 5k app for Droid. I've enjoyed the simplicity of using the track: it's peaceful and is a good compromise between running outside (heat, hills, etc) and using a treadmill.  I am hoping to start Week 2 tomorrow.  It has made a huge difference bringing my kiddos and using the babysitting the Y offers.  Having babysitting available makes it so much easier to get several work outs in a week.  My girls love it!  Little Chica actually asks, "When can we go to the Y again???"

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The Y:

Locker Rooms

 I know. You might be thinking, "Um, you're going to talk about the locker rooms?"

Yes. Yes I am.

You see, part of the joy of having 2 hours (did I mention that the Kennett YMCA offers 2 hours of babysitting per day?!?) of kids-free workout time is that I can use part of that time to take a shower. A shower.  A kid-free, non-rushed shower.

AKA: Heaven.

I am lucky to get a shower every other day, and I usually have to work that shower around when my husband is home.  There is never time in the morning and nap time never works out the way I like it.  So I've really enjoyed having the opportunity to collect myself, shower and be fresh for the day after a workout at the Y.

Now you might understand why I am talking about the locker rooms.  I am a girl, and where I am using the facilities (ahem) and showering matters a lot to me. Like a lot a lot. I've been very pleased with the locker rooms at the YMCA. First, they are fresh and clean.  I've yet to catch a weird smell, a spot of grime or questionable surfaces.  The locker room is roomy, with plenty of lockers for gym-goers to use. 

The showers definitely meet my expectations. As with many gym shower, there is an "outer" shower, where you can change, place your towel, etc.  And a curtain separates this space from the actual shower.  I have found that the outer shower has ample room to maneuver (which is more than I can say for other locker room showers I have used).  There are hooks and usually a white stool to use/place stuff on, etc. Every shower I have gotten at the Y has been nice and HOT.  My favorite part?  AMAZING WATER PRESSURE.  My home shower is kind of lame when it comes to pressure. The Y showers have a strong, steady spray which I love.

Apart from cleanliness and great showers, there are assorted benches and counter space to use, as well as hairdryers and towels!

Confession: some days I try to get my work in simply because I know I'll get a hot shower sans kids.  

Like I said. Heaven.

The Soundtrack

(I make no apologies for my random and awesome taste in music)

1.  Pumped Up Kicks - Foster the People

2.  Horchata - Vampire Weekend

3.  Fast Car - Tracy Chapman

4.  Daylight - Matt and Kim

5.  Follow You Down - Gin Blossoms

6.  Vienna - The Fray

7.  Smells Like Teen Spirit - Nirvana

8.  Hallelujah - Jeff Buckley

9.  Praise Chorus - Jimmy Eat World

10. New Soul - Yael Naim

Healthy/Healthifed Recipe

As nights will start to get cooler in the next few weeks, it is great to have soup recipes on hand. This recipe was given to me by a great friend when I first got married, and it has become a weekly staple in my house. It's fresh and healthy, so don't feel bad if you grab some crusty bread to go along with it :)  Below is the original recipe, and tweaks I've made are noted in red.

Ginger Carrot Soup

(Some adjustments/tweaks I've made to fit my tastes - noted in red)

• 1 Cup Chopped Onion
• 1/4 Cup Butter or Margarine
• 4 1/2 Cups Chopped Carrots
• 1 Large Potato, peeled and cubed (2 large potatoes)
• 2 (14.5 oz) cans low sodium Chicken Broth (1 box of chicken stock - or JUST enough broth to JUST cover the veggies)
• 2 tsp Ground Ginger 
• 2 Cups Evaporated Skim Milk (1 can of evap milk)
• 2 tsp Crushed Dried Rosemary (I grind it into a powder with my mortar and pestle)
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/8 tsp pepper

1) Saute Butter and Onion until tender in a large pot

2) Add Carrots, Potato, Broth and Ginger

3) Cover and cook over medium heat until vegetables are tender (20-30 minutes)

4) Puree in small batches with a blender or food processor until smooth (*I use a hand blender, and blend directly in the pot. WAY easier!)

5) Return soup to pot on stove.

6) Add evaporated milk, rosemary, salt and pepper.

7) Heat through, serve and enjoy!

Progress

Pretty good week for me.  I managed to get back to 145 lbs, which I can feel good about. It's a journey, right?  Looking forward to more C25K runs this week, as well as possibly trying some of the yoga and aerobics classes the Y has to offer!

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More to come next week!  

How are you doing in your Journey to Healthified?  What did your week look like?  I'd love to hear about it - leave a comment to share your story!