5/5: Meals and Fitness for the week
Is it sad that part of my weekend excitement involved a first-time use of a neti pot-type apparatus?
My allergies have been driving me insane for about 4 days now, and after tweeting to ask for advice, the neti pot was (as always) a popular suggestion. My mom always tells me to use one when I’m sick, but it’s always freaked me out; I didn’t want the solution to go in my brain and give me an amoeba. Anyway, I was on my last limb and finally decided to give it a whirl. Kyle stopped to get me one on his way to hang out at our house Friday afternoon, and he was there to give me a pep talk as I apprehensively tried it out.
It actually felt really good. In Kyle’s words, “It feels like you’re drowning, but a good drowning.”
He was dying laughing watching me do it, and after it was over and I felt like a million bucks, he showed me all of the iPhone pics he snapped without my knowledge. The boy has blackmail pics fo’ lyfe.
The Pilot left with the boys for a bachelor weekend vacay with Kyle and his groomsmen,
so it’s been a girls’ weekend. Liv and I have had a blast together, met up with the fam on Friday night for Chipotle dinner after shopping,
(holy tower of guacamole!)
and just hung out at the casa Saturday night. I watched a bunch of shows I had saved on the DVR and went to sleep at 10 each night. Pretty glorious.
Since the Arizona pollen has been into my skin, making me sneeze 4,000 times, I’ve been taking it pretty easy with the workouts. I have Zumba to teach later tonight, and then it’s dance week at work. I choreographed two pieces for the show (a ballet/hip hop/Zumba dance and a hip hop), and am also in a bellydance piece. I always love dance week 🙂
Here’s what’s on my fitness plan:
-SUNDAY: Teach Zumba
-MONDAY: Upper body weights (25 min, no cardio); film new ab burner
-TUESDAY: OFF or short run depending on how the day goes
-WEDNESDAY: Teach Zumba + lower body weights
-THURSDAY: Teach Zumba
-FRIDAY: OFF
-SATURDAY: OFF (Meg and Kyle’s wedding! My exercise will involve lots of booty-shaking on the dance floor)
Meal ideas:
Plan and prep:
Roast chicken
More smoothie packs
Pick up snacks:
Fruit/veg with guacamole to dip (I get the Wholly Guacamole 100-cal packs)
Organic turkey jerky
Goat’s milk yogurt
Dinners:
Mediterranean bean burgers, sweet potato fries, chopped salad
What’s on your meal and fitness menu this week? Here’s a friendly reminder to plan out your week- it’s so much easier to make healthy choices that way!
Have you ever used a neti pot or something similar??
xoxo
Gina
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Amoeba’s will not eat your brain if you follow directions and *always* use distilled water (or boiled and cooled as last resort if distilled is not available). I have used every nasal rinsing device under the sun. That bottle is nothing like a neti poti, and both have learning curves. Also, residual water may stay in your sinuses and leak at inopportune times, so you get to be good at mastering silly positions for maximal drainage. LOL.
P.S. my doc recommends replacing the plastic ones frequently as they are impossible to disinfect and get frequently contaminated from backwash (and putting the ceramic ones in the dishwasher to sanitize).
I’m glad you’re feeling better! I’m one of those lucky people who don’t really have allergies to most of the usual things. Do you find that goat’s milk yogurt has a better flavor than that of a normal one? I’m curious :). Have a wonderful, wonderful day!
Sorry for the allergy attack and glad you are feeling better now! Your weekend sounds pretty awesome as does the dance week. You inspired me with your Zumba video and I am going to start with my first Zumba class TOMORROW!!!
let me know how it goes!!
I loved it! I used to do Aerobics religiously in the past and when it disappeared on the class schedule I stopped pretty much taking classes. I was so happy to be in and DANCING again!! Will do it now regularly, 1 class Zumba and 1 class Dance Aerobic!!
yay, i’m glad you loved it!!
I swear by the neti pot, especially for the allergy/ head cold department. Makes me feel like a new woman instantly. 🙂
Nothing too crazy on the agenda this week. It’s supposed to be beautiful outside this week so I’m taking advantage by ditching the gym and enjoying many walks with the pup! Feels good to shake things up.
Meals this week include some kind of Mexican fiesta tonight, burgers, grilled chicken kabobs, Napa cabbage stir fry, and most likely fish on one of the nights. Quick prepped items: hard boiled eggs, baked sweet potatoes, hummus, guac, cut up veggies, LOTS of local strawberries, and banana bread. It looks like cookies might get made this afternoon too… 😉 Always enjoy reading what you have planned for the week!
Oh gosh, that guac!!! Now I need some avocado in my life…massive craving has ensued.
Dang, sorry about the allergy attack. Those are never fun. Happy to hear it’s looking better now!
Happy Cinco De Mayo:D
Sorry you’ve been feeling so crummy with your allergies. I’m so blessed…I have no allergies what so ever, but truly feel for those that suffer.
I’m thinking some bean burgers sound pretty great…the recipe is already churning in my head. Have a great Sunday and relax a little. 🙂
Hi Gina!
Congrats on your first Neti Pot experience!
It does kind of feel like you’re drowning. I find that it feels less like drowning when the water is closer to my body temperature.
My plastic Neti Pot can be microwaved to sanitize it. I wonder if yours can be too?
Happy allergy relief.
Kristin
If you’re worried about being the 1 in a million odds of amoebas, use distilled water!
My husband is an allergist here in Tucson and it has been an awful spring!! He tells his patients to buy something called xclear. You can get it at Sprouts and I think Vitamin Wherehouse, also Amazon has them too.
It’s just saline and it does a great job of washing the allergens out of your nose. Both our daughters play softball and its really dusty…he sprays it in his nose the whole time he is outside and it really helps. Also take a shower as soon as you come in from outside. You don’t want to go to bed with all that pollen in your hair and skin….you’d wake up really miserable!!
We need some hundred degree days to kill off all the pollen! It won’t be long.
Is it Xlear? I googled xclear and xlear is a saline spray that came up.
Gina- I use Simply Saline, which is a spray in a pressurized can, for a quick rinse out, like before yoga. I’ve been using a neti pot nearly daily for years, too. The squeeze bottle you bought is pretty much the same principle and works fine.
I am feeling you on the allergies. My nose, throat, and lips are massively itchy and I am sneezing like a maniac. This is the first in three Arizona springs that I have experienced any allergies. I am racking my brain to remember what the asthma/allergy doctor at UMC told me I was allergic to down here, and debating if it is bad enough (or worsening my asthma) to pick up a prescription from her.
Hoping the neti pot type thingy works wonders for you.
P.S. Can I bathe in guac????
Gary actually introduced the neti pot to be years ago, he grew up with it and loved it. I was so nervous to try it the first time, we still have one but to be honest I have not used it in awhile. But when I have used it I remember liking it, once I got over the fear 🙂
Hi Gina,
I never suffered from seasonal allergies until I moved to Az (we’re up near Kingman area, but still all the cactus as a bloomin’)
I didn’t even know what was happening the first spring…the second spring I realized…hey I’m sick-ish and it’s spring again…this spring I am prepared.
Neti pot rocks. I try to use it once a day especially if I have been outside around nature.
I ue some stuff called Alkalol in it, it’s an herbal mixture you buy at Walgreens, very nice smelling and seems to clear the sinus passages very well.
I also have found a natural allergy “medicine” to have been a HUGE HUGE HUGE relief to me. Called Respir-All. It has lots of bromelain and nettle and vitamin c etc and I take lots of these in the spring now and have greatly reduced allergy symptoms. I love it so much I get paranoid if we leave the house with out them. They are an all natural supplement, no freaky deaky side effects like pharmacy OTC stuffs.
Also we invested in a nice stand alone air purifier that we run 24/7. On my worst days I move it to whatever room I am in.
Then beyond that I try to eat healthy, avoid sniffing all the cactus flowers (which I actually did the first spring we were here, jamming my nose in every pretty posy I saw outside, not realizing their pollen would make me feel like a truck was sitting on my chest)
Hope that helps.
I have found this to be my best spring season yet following all the things I mentioned above as an almost daily practice.
Smiles from me Tracey
I love Wholly Guacamole 100-cal packs! They’re the perfect portion and that way you don’t have to worry about the avocado turning brown 😉
I have gotten allergies for the first time ever and they are killing me! I will have to find the NeilMed, because I am ALL freaked out too to try the Neti-pot too. The Margarita looks amazing! Thank you for your meal plan for the week, I am meal planning tonight and am going to add the Turkey Tacos!
Hey Gina! Absolutely love love love your blog. I was going to roast a chicken for dinner tonight. What do you usually do for yours? (Seasoning and such)
here ya go! http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/lemon-and-garlic-roast-chicken-recipe/index.html
I bought a new road bike yesterday so I foresee lots of riding this week, and hopefully not too much falling haha.
Just bought some of those guacamole packs! My grocery store was out of the classic kind though, so I got the spicy kind. Not gonna lie, I’m a little scared. I am sometimes a spiciness wimp haha.
I love my nose wash thingie too! I have the worst allergies pretty much all the time in Brisbane, but I really didn’t want to take antihistamines. I started using my wash, and it’s made a huge difference!
I use it twice a day, and I really notice the difference when I accidentally forget. Also, something important is to boil the water and let it cool before you use it. Much more sanitary! Good luck, allergies are the worst!
I loathe sinus rinses. I feel like more goes in than out so it leaves me still congested and water-logged. (Is that a word?) Anyway, good luck!!!! Hope it’s better for you! Next step is surgery for me, and I’m trying to avoid it! I picked up MucoStop at the health food store. :/
PLUS citrus kombucha, vitamin c tabs, and roasted garlic bulbs. lol I smell divine!
there bad this year I’ve been sick since last Friday and I just switched my allergy meds to see if it helps. I’ve been doing allergy shots since oct 2011 and I have already noticed a small difference. My problem is I have crohn’s and take immunosuppressant’s so my allergys are a little worse because my body can’t fight it. I love my neti, it really does help and I just realized you have to use distilled water and it makes a huge difference then using tap water opps I guess I didn’t fully read the pamphlet when I bought mine.
figured I’ll be brave and try it too. Just ordered on amazon.
I’ve been taking zyrtec every day for the last 10 years, but that aint gonna fly once we starting trying for a baby
The net I pot took forever for me to get used to, the idea of sticking hot water into my brain..lol but now I love it and swear by it, I buy it for my clients as get well gifts when they get sick! Sending you a happy Cinco de Mayo and hope you get well! Love + Shine Courtstar
I think your description of the neti pot is right on. My poor guy has been dealing with allergies as well, they are the worst! I am happy you found relief 🙂
I’ve never used a neti pot, but I’m literally (and I mean literally) always congested. I blow my nose a million times a day. Not cute, but it’s true. I should look into one. Although, like you mentioned, the idea freaks me out a little bit too!
What kind of turkey jerkey do you buy & where? The only kinds I have found have either been filled with nasty fillers OR like $10 for 2 pieces of jerkey. 🙁
Also, CHIPOTLE HAS MARGS?! why have i never noticed this before?! it’s a game changer!
i get it at whole foods. it’s organic and $8, which is a lot, but it has 3 servings (even though i could probably eat the bag in one fell swoop)
the margs are NEW and amaaaaazing! they have sauza tequila and patron!
I used to have really really really bad sinus problems (think a sudafed every day, probably not so good for my liver) then I started using a neti pot and my life totally changed! It felt great! I have to admit though when I found out about the amoeba thing my enthusiasm drained a little and I haven’t been as good about since but I still use it when needed over sudafed!
Neti Pots scare the heck out of me. Good on you for working up the nerve to do it! Quick question… what kind/brand of protein powder do you use in your Amazeballs? After weeks of thinking about it, I’m actually going to make them!
sun warrior! it’s my fave 🙂 let me know how you like them!
Can’t wait to see the wedding pics!
Family wedding weekends are the BEST! You have a lot to look forward to!
I have horrible allergies, weekly shots. After I had sinusitis surgery the surgeon told me to use the Neil Med Sinus Rinse and it has been a lifesaver! The Neti potty doesn’t really do the job Do it daily and you will feel so much better!!! I also did this before my races, especially Marathons and it works wonders!!! Good luck!!
I’m pregnant and am just getting over the worst cold of my life! I didn’t want to take any meds and was absolutely desperate! After a sleepless night I decided to give the neti pot a try. Totally freaked out about using it the first time but it ended up being a lifesaver! At one point, I was using it 4 times/day! It’s amazing! My sweet husband made sure I had plenty of distilled water on hand:)
My friend had told me about the Neti Pot for years, but I was skeeered to try it. I finally did it… and love it. For whomever is skeered also and hasn’t tried it ~ give it a try!! 😉