So as the summer starts here in Spokane what will you be eating?  As for me  I have been thinking about what kind of  food I want to eat that  encourages me to stick to the changes I am making for a  healthy lifestyle.  So I went online  and found a couple really awesome vegetarian recipes online to try. As I browsed the list of recipes I realized that there are so many healthy and tasty choices.   

Although I was  looking for recipes that are low in fat I also wanted  ones that appealed  to my taste buds. I happen to love avocados so when I found this recipe  I knew I wanted  to share it. If you like avocados and salsa you will love this,  it is absolutely delicious. I made it and enjoyed it for several days. 

Avocado Salsa

Here are the ingredients you will need:
1 (16oz) package of frozen whole kernel corn, thawed
2 (2.5 oz) cans of sliced ripe olives, drained
1 red bell pepper chopped
1 small onions chopped
5 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup of sour cream

1/3 cup olive oil
1/4 cup lemon juice
3 tablespoons of cider vinegar
1/2 teaspoon of salt
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon of black pepper
4 ripe avocados, peeled, pitted and diced

Already sounding pretty tasty. Okay here’s how to prepare this great summer salsa. It is so easy and simple that you’ll want to make it more than once.  It would be really  great  for a Spokane summer picnic or potluck. Because it  is so simple  you won’t  need a lot of prep time.  However you’ll want to know that the first two step need to be done the day before for marinating.

Steps For Preparing Avocado Salsa

• 1. In a large bowl mix corn, olives, red bell pepper and olives
• 2. In a small bowl mix garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, cider vinegar, oregano, salt and
  pepper. Pour into the corn mixture and toss to coat. Cover and chill in the refrigerator
  8 hours or overnight.
• 3. Stir avocados in before serving add sourcream as desired.

So easy and so good. You can scoop it up with baked chips or top your low fat tacos with it. One serving size is  1/8 cup and this make 32 servings so I really had to be careful not to over do it, especially since I am starting to keep a food diary.  As you enjoy this remember that part of a healthy lifestyle includes physical fitness. I know that including physical exercise can be difficult at times with work and children but here in Spokane there are so many different activities during the summer that make it easy to want to go out and get physical.

 Besides walking and gardening I decided that having a physical trainer was something that would really benefit my healthy lifestyle.  So I go and workout with Zach Hunt my personal trainer.  He is located  in Liberty Lake at Physzique. The whole experience of a personal trainer is taking me sometime to get used to. However I know from some of his other client’s results and his own personal testimony  that it is well worth the sweat and hard work.

Enjoy the salsa and give Zach a call at Physzqiue Personal Fitness. He takes the time to understand each of his client’s needs and that makes him a great trainer. He also really knows his stuff so you can feel confident that you are getting intense exercise and excellent advice. Living a healthy lifestyle is important for each of us for so many reasons  and only benefits us in the long run.  Personally I want to live a long, healthy and fulfilling life. How about you?  What do you want?    I do have one more recipe I want to share, I promise it will be worth the wait.

How Does Exercise Help?

Research indicates that 30 minutes of moderate to high intensity exercise five days a week reduced depression in some individuals. Other evidence suggest that being physically active can increase certain mood-enhancing neurotransmitters in the brain. Working out also releases endorphins which are proven to make you feel better. As you exercise your muscles release tension and that can reduces anxiety. It also raise your body temperature
which for some, has a calming effect.

Exciting Benefits of Exercising

• Self Confidence
• Distraction From Negative Feelings And Thoughts
• Increased interaction With Others
• Coping Skills
• New Healthy Habits

• Weight Loss

Why Choose Exercise Over Depression And Anxiety?

Because it just makes sense. It is something that anyone can do no matter what shape they are in. Increasing physical activity gets you out of isolation and keeps your mind on the positive aspects of living. As you lose the weight you will become aware of how much you’ve allowed the depression to fuel the unhealthy habits that led to your obesity. That will get you motivated to make changes before it is too late.   Instead of  anxiety as a major way to deal with life you can use exercise instead. It really does help when you are faithful to a workout program.

With each day of physical activity depression seems to subside. You will realize that exercising needs to become a steady and permanent part of your life. You can actively make choices to let go of the depression and anxiety and embrace a more healthy state of mind. We all know that exercise is not a magic solution to depression and anxiety but it is a alternative to feeling hopeless and helpless.

Setting Realistic Goals

This is very important so as not to become overwhelmed and just give up. Starting slowly with attainable goals is the way to be successful at overcoming depression and anxiety when you are using exercise as part of your treatment. You can start by walking where ever you can to run errands. But you also have to make a conscious effort to keep track of what you eat by starting a food diary.  Believe it or not some foods can contribute to depression and anxiety.

There is a great exercise program hiding out in Liberty Lake, Washinton. It is called Physzique, home of  Zach Hunt. He is a personal trainer. Every time you go workout there, you will feel better and better. Your confidence will increase and your depression and anxiety will veryl likely decrease.

One other important thing to remember is if you are on medication for depression or anxiety do not stop taking it without your doctor’s approval. If it’s a goal to be off medication talk with your provider and ask him about making exercise part of a complete treatment plan to deal with the depression and anxiety.

So is today your day? Will you give yourself the opportunity to live a life that is full of  joy? Or will you sit on your couch full of anxiety or lay in your bed depressed and miserable? Make the right healthy positive choice: start exercising. Today is your day make the most of it!

Call Zach at Physzique today to start down the road of a healthier, happier life!