VACANT HEART

January 13, 2011Read: 1 Corinthians 3

"...the spirit of God lives in you." --1 Corinthians 3:16

Image is everything, right? Just ask those who worked at the Ritz-Carlton during the depression. After the crash of 1929, when neighboring store fronts were closed and out-of-business signs were in full view, it was business as usual at the Ritz (or so it seemed). Management asked the few remaining staff to turn on all the guest room and ballroom lights, so it would appear from the streets that the hotel was unaffected by the economic tragedy when, in truth, the heart of the hotel was empty.

Can you relate? I know I can. If you're like me, you sometimes turn on your smile and muster up that charm in order to hide what's really going on inside...or what's not. We don't want anyone to know when we're low on energy, short on answers and slow to joy. No matter what, we're open for business!

But God knows our hearts and loves us despite them. He understands when we feel empty, and filling that vacancy is His specialty.

--J.P.

5-STEP FRIDGE MAKEOVER

Body makeovers start in the kitchen. So for 2011, it’s out with the old and in with the new for your fridge and freezer. We’ve got five things to scratch off your shopping list and five fresher, healthier, and more affordable things to put in their place.

OUT 1. Sugar-sweetened soda 2. Yogurt with artificial sweeteners 3. Imported, out-of-season produce 4. Mayo, soy sauce and ketchup 5. Frozen entrees

IN 1. Sparkling water 2. Nonfat plain Greek yogurt 3. Domestic (or local), seasonal fruits and veggies 4. Hummus, lite soy sauce, salsa 5. Homemade frozen chili, soup or casseroles

Soda You can save 100 calories per serving by swapping out soda and other sugar-sweetened beverages for sparkling water or seltzer. If you typically drink one can per day, the switch can lead to 10 pounds lost in 2011!

Yogurt You’d be shocked how many low-calorie yogurts use artificial sweeteners to keep the calories down. Plain Greek yogurt doesn’t have any added sweeteners (artificial or otherwise) and it’s higher in protein. Sweeten it up yourself with fresh fruit or a drizzle of honey.

Produce Just because you can buy things like blueberries, asparagus and tomatoes in the dead of winter doesn’t mean you should. Buying produce in season and as locally as possible ensures that it’s fresh and nutritious. Eating with the seasons also helps you get in a wide variety of fruits and veggies throughout the year.

Condiments Folks tend to forget that condiments count! They can add gobs of fat and sodium to your day. There’s nothing wrong with a little mayo, regular soy and ketchup on occasion but for daily use get more nutrients. Spread hummus on sandwiches, make stir-fry with 40 percent less sodium, and kick up the flavor of chicken, eggs, or rice dishes for only a few calories with salsa.

Frozen Entrees Take a look at the sodium content on a typical frozen meal – even the lowest-sodium varieties contain over 25 percent of your daily needs. How about real home cooking instead of preservatives? Sure, it takes some extra time to prepare, but the health benefits are a huge reward. It’s undeniably time well spent!

Dana Angelo White, MS, RD, ATC, is a registered dietitian, certified athletic trainer and owner of Dana White Nutrition, Inc., which specializes in culinary and sports nutrition.

DEFINE YOURSELF

August 23, 2010Read: 1 Corinthians 3

"...the spirit of God lives in you." --1 Corinthians 3:16

Image is everything, right? Just ask those who worked at the Ritz-Carlton during the depression. After the crash of 1929, when neighboring store fronts were closed and out-of-business signs were in full view, it was business as usual at the Ritz (or so it seemed). Management asked the few remaining staff to turn on all the guest room and ballroom lights, so it would appear from the streets that the hotel was unaffected by the economic tragedy when, in truth, the heart of the hotel was empty.

Can you relate? I know I can. If you're like me, you sometimes turn on your smile and muster up that charm in order to hide what's really going on inside...or what's not. We don't want anyone to know when we're low on energy, short on answers and slow to joy. No matter what, we're open for business.

But God knows our hearts and loves us despite them. He understands when we feel empty, and filling that vacancy is His specialty. Once He checks in, He never checks out.

>> Do you feel His presence daily? Share your thoughts, experiences and comments below.

--J.P.

PRAYFIT WORKOUT OF THE WEEK: THE GIDEON Make room for this week's holiday feast with this fitness gauntlet

Today and each Monday we'll post a sample workout routine for you to try. On any given week, it could be a run, a resistance workout or a boxing-inspired bout. Whatever it is, we hope you try it and enjoy. Give it your best, log your workout in the forums and encourage others to do the same. You'll need your stopwatch or a nearby clock and a notebook to journal your numbers.

Your workout today is one we like to call, The Gideon. Anyone can try it because it's all relative to your own fitness level.

>> For complete exercise descriptions, click here.

>> New to PrayFit? Click here to learn how to get started.

Exercise Warm Up: Jog in place or use a treadmill for 5 minutes.

Jump squats for 30 seconds | Record total jumps Bodyweight squats for 30 seconds | Record total squats Wall squats for as long as possible | Record total time

>> After reaching failure -- the point at which you can no longer hold this position -- on wall squats, stand and rest for 1-2 minutes. >> Complete the entire workout five times total.

>> NETWORK: Sign in to the PrayFit forum to log your workouts, post questions for the trainer and to see how you're stacking up against friends and family with the Gideon.

>> FRIEND US: If you haven't made the move already, click here to visit our official Facebook page, then click "like" to start receiving updates.