Little Tip

This summer my good friend Alicia taught me the coolest trick to cutting watermelon

Cut the watermelon into two halves, cutting across the lines

Cut each half into half again (from the bellybutton of the melon)

Take each one of those halves and cut across the lines 

make these as thick or thin as you like

Cut into thirds, creating a perfect triangle to eat! 

Viola! Simple & Yummy

The best way Ive found to serve watermelon

To Pump or Not to Pump

Before you ask....yes this is a picture of me!  I usually don't like to shock people into dumbfoundedness by showing my sculpted abs but I thought in light of the topic of this post I would humor you and show them to you this one time......ummmm NOT!!!  I wish......hahaha

I used to be afraid to lift weights.  I didn't want to look like this lady

I was sure I would BULK UP and would look like a man, no offense, if I started lifting.  I'm sure many people feel the same way, especially women.  Men don't usually care if they get "bigger" if it's muscle mass.  This is a myth, you wont turn into He-Man/She-Woman if you control how much you lift. 

So I started taking a Les Mills Pump class several months ago when a friend told me that ones metabolism will stay elevated longer after a weight lifting workout than a cardio workout -

SIGN ME UP!!!

I wasn't, excuse the pun, "pumped" about starting the classes, I knew they would be "slower" than what I like but figured if the benefit outweighed my whining it would be worth it.  

AND IT WAS.....I love Pump now.  I lift very low weight with many repetitions and have seen a change in my body.  The patterns in a pump or sculpt class are easy to follow, especially if you actually listen to the instructor.  It's important to have correct and good FORM as you lift the weight, remember to tighten your core (tummy and back), keep your spine in a neutral position and always always always keep your knees behind your toes.  This will prevent injury and pain.  

Here are some things I have found helpful when lifting.....

1. A good pair of weight lifting gloves.  They don't have to be fancy or expensive.  Walmart and Target have 'em.

2. Bring water.  Even though this anaerobic workout will have you sweating less than Zumba or Kickboxing, you should replenish your body with agua!

3. It's good to eat or drink some Protein after you lift.  Remember your metabolism is elevated and will want to burn something.  Even better, eat a small protein (chicken, eggs, peanuts, glass of milk) before you lift also.  

4. DON'T be afraid to ask the teacher questions.  Ok maybe you don't want to ask mid class but afterwards?  They are more than happy to help.  

If all else fails we could wait until one of those machines from Captain America becomes available to the public.....5 mins in there and he was totally RIPPED....wouldn't that be nice? lol

You can read more about starting a weight lifting program HERE

Asian-Flavored Quinoa Salad

Lets make this salad this week? Let me know what you thought of it.

Ingredients

	1 1/2 cup(s) canned chicken broth, or water
	3/4 cup(s) uncooked quinoa, *
	1 Tbsp rice wine vinegar
	2 Tbsp orange marmalade
	2 tsp dark sesame oil
	1 Tbsp ginger root, fresh, minced
	1 tsp kosher salt
	1 cup(s) sugar snap peas, trimmed and halved
	1 cup(s) shredded carrots
	1 cup(s) shredded red cabbage
	1 small sweet red pepper(s), thinly sliced
	3 Tbsp cilantro, fresh, chopped
	2 Tbsp scallion(s), thinly sliced
	1 Tbsp sesame seeds, toasted

Instructions

• In a small saucepan, combine broth and quinoa; bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer for 10 minutes.
  
• Meanwhile, to make dressing, in a small bowl, whisk together vinegar, marmalade, oil, ginger and salt; set aside.
  
• After quinoa has cooked for 10 minutes, toss in snap peas to partially steam them; cover and simmer until most of liquid has been absorbed, about 5 to 6 minutes.
  
• Remove pan from heat and stir in carrots, cabbage, peppers and dressing; mix to thoroughly combine. Garnish with cilantro, scallions and sesame seeds. Serve warm, room temperature or chilled. Yields about 1 heaping cup per serving.

Notes

• *Check the box of quinoa you bought to see if it has been "prerinsed". If not, rinse the quinoa in a colander before cooking to remove its bitter outer coating.
  
  Use prepackaged coleslaw mix or shredded vegetables to speed the preparation of this dish.

AMAZING

Here are some pictures from the Adolfo Indacochea workshop.  IT WAS AMAZING.....
The way he taught was incredible.  Broadway Hall was full of people, mostly ON1 dancers.  He taught us without counting and just using his voice (with a tumbao rhythm) and had us dancing ON2 within 10 minutes.  AMAZING.......I LOVED IT!!!!!!
After social dancing and hanging out, he and Carla danced for us.  I'm having trouble uploading that video so check back for that.  They are awesome dancing and I love how the really "feel" the music and interpret the nuisances within the song.   

I will dance anywhere

So here is a link to my family blog.  Check out my impromtu dance at a YMCA in Florida
http://bainbridgeblogger.blogspot.com/

Learn to Dance Salsa this week

When I first started dancing salsa I was so confused when people talked about dancing ON1 or ON2....calm down....... its just two different styles of Salsa.  There are many!
So out here in Las Vegas for the most part we dance ON1 or LA style.  It's when you ladies start with your right foot back on the first count of the music, men forward with your left.  ON2 is also known as New York Style or East Coast style.  The beat is the same, 1 2 3, 5 6 7 but ladies start 1 on the right in place and then forward on 2 with the left foot.  It creates a different pattern and gives a lot more room for styling and "sabor" or flavor. LA style has a lot more large movements as well as tricks whereas NY style is more about the "feeling" behind the dance, or so Ive been told...lol  I have not learned to dance ON2 yet.
Either way, here are two great opportunities for you to learn one or both styles.   I will be attending the workshop on Friday night with world famous dancers Adolfo Indacochea and Carla Vosconi They will be teaching ON2.  Sign up here to register in advance or purchase at the door on friday night.

If you are interested in taking beginning salsa classes (ON1) here in Las Vegas, Groupon is running a special for $30 for 6 classes at Broadway Hall Click the Groupon link to purchase! This deal ends Thursday night 8/25/2011

The obsession begins....

After having my fourth baby, I joined the gym to loose my baby weight.  Kami was just over a year old when I started.  For two years straight I worked out religiously.....almost two hours everyday except Sunday.  I love the elliptical, stationary bike, the ski type machine and I would also walk the track. 
One day I happened on a SALSA class.  My college roommates and I used to joke about taking our hubbys dancing salsa but never got around to it, or I should say never enticed them enough,  so when I saw the class at the gym, I thought "why not?"
Well it was love at first listen!!!  The music just grabbed me and took me in.  A few weeks later the class was cancelled and a Zumba class took its place.  The teacher was OLGA who has become a good friend of mine.  OMGOSH.....did I love it.  High energy, great music, people uninhibited by the movements and lots and lots of sweating going on - whooohoooo!  The addiction began.......
Of all the dance formats offered in the class, Salsa was my favorite.  I didn't know what I was doing, I just liked it.  I decided I would look for a salsa class and happened to find one at the W. Sahara location of my gym.  I started dancing with Fabiola, a beautiful Brazilian who I attribute with teaching me the foundation of salsa dance.  Ive had classes with the Rico brothers at Broadway Hall and dance weekly with my good friend & partner Daniel,  who has taught me so much.
I always loved music and dancing, did a little Irish dancing as a kid in Ireland and drill team in the little town of Alamo, NV when we immigrated but I never knew I could have so much fun working out and dancing until these last couple of years so I say dance on my friends, lets sweat it off together!

Welcome

I've been toying with the idea of starting a new blog for a few months now.  I began my family blog two years ago on vacation in Florida, during an obnoxious hurricane.  I've never looked back......i love the idea of blogging and send my family blog to print each year.  Now seems like the perfect time to begin this new venture, as I'm again on vacation in Florida (no hurricane thank goodness) and have some time on my hands, something that is hard to come by back home. 
The idea behind this blog is to share the things that I learn and love within the area of health, fitness, dancing, food & fun.  I have to preface that I am by no means an expert in any of these areas, except maybe FUN - I love to have a good time and love the feeling when Im having it, hence the name of the blog!
Over the years I've had some experiences that have helped me learn to live a healthier life which in turn has done wonders for my mental state - no joke!  But go ahead and laugh.....if you know me you know Im a little bit nutty!
I hope to share those things that have helped me as well as new things I come across.  Check back often for random (hopefully useful) information.....oh and share your ideas and tips so we all learn together.