Love Eshe

5 movies that will shrink your belly

This week I want you to pick one night to melt into your couch cushions and do nothing. Do nothing other than watch a movie. Which one?  Well, Jeff Moonie Jr, an award-winning filmmaker, is back to tell us which movies will motivate us to succeed, in fitness and in life. Warning: plot points are revealed. If that bothers you, watch the movie before you read Jeff's synopsis.

In the words of a cinema genius, here are the 5 movies that will help you lose that jiggly gut and motivate you to do something greater.

Lance says, "Success Can Be Yours"

 photo credit: Jakob E

Today, we have Lance from the Jungle of Life as our guest writer. His passion for writing stems from his passion for spreading goodness. His blog is a constant reminder to stay focused on the important things in life. And that's why I read it. You may be wondering how the two of us got connected. Well, it's simple. We have a bond that no one can break: neither of us can swim. 

His words will humble you, inspire you, and encourage you to live your best life. Love Eshe, I give you Lance.

Gladwell's philosophy: Anybody can win!

In the New Yorker, Malcolm Gladwell writes: 

How to win your age group

Need another reason to do the Run Amuck 5k? Well, an article in the Washington Post Express explains why it's worth your time and how to go about winning it. (They interviewed me for the "how-to" portion.)  

Website of the week

Use this site to map your running route and find out how far you are running. Here.

7 ways to burn fat at home

A reader sent me an email and she said, "I don't belong to a gym but I know I need to lift weights. I'm going to exercise at home. What equipment should I buy?" This is a great question and a very popular one. There are people in the world who don't like to use sweaty equipment nor watch veiny men flex in the mirror. For that person (or for the person who simply prefers exercising in their own space), I have included a list of everything you need to get fit. That's right: you don't have to go to a gym to get sexy. As a matter of fact, I'm at my desk getting sexy right now.

Here are the 7 tools you need to make a perfect home gym:

1. Dumbbells. To accommodate strength disparities in the upper and lower body, I recommend purchasing two pairs. Women: 5 and 10lbs, Men: 15 and 25lbs. You can buy dumbbells anywhere so I'm not going to waste time providing a link. However, if you have the luxury of living with a mate who loves strength training as much as you do, it'll serve you well to invest in a pair of adjustable weights. Save space, lift heavy, then make love. Here.

2. Stability ball. Anything that's not done on a ball is for kids. I mean, my four year old nephew can do crunches on the floor! Take it up a notch and get on a ball. It's fun and you will work more muscles in less time. Be sure to get the burst-resistant kind, unless you like firecrackers. Also, order one size up. If it tells you to get the 55cm, get the 65cm.  Here.

 

Workout song of the week

In my spinning class last week, I did every version of hill drills that I could think of.  Forty minutes into the workout, everyone (including me) was dying. My quads were popping out of my cycling shorts as the lactic acid flowed out of my vastus lateralis. My brow furrowed so much I could've been the before picture in a Botox commercial.

Thank God I included Separate Ways by Journey on the playlist. When it came on, everyone got their second wind. It was magical. My booty felt alive.

Don't buy this shirt. (Unless you want a flat stomach.)

Oh, and it happens to feel like cashmere. Why? Because it is made from 70% Bamboo Cotton and 30% Organic Cotton.  Translation: It's eco-friendly and ridiculously soft!  It comes in black, too. You know you want one.

25 waist-friendly snacks. Brownies, french fries, and neck bones did not make the list.

I've split this list of snacks into sections based on what you have available (and enjoy eating). All 25 snacks are healthy, easy, and less than 200 calories. 

If you like peanut butter: 

1. 1 medium apple, 1 tbsp natural peanut butter 

2. 1/2 peanut butter and jelly sandwich on whole wheat 

3. 5 celery stalks, 1 spoonful almond butter 

4. 1 sliced banana, 1 tbsp peanut butter 

5. 4 whole grain crackers, 1 tbsp almond butter 

If you eat dairy: 

6. 1 cup chocolate milk, 1 apple 

7. 1 stick string cheese, 1 orange 

8. 1/2 cup low-fat cottage cheese topped with berries 

9. 1 oz parmesan cheese, 3 slices mini pumpernickel bread 

10. 1 cup greek yogurt, 1 spoonful granola 

My trip to the grocery store

I just came from the grocery store as I needed to fill some empty space in my refrigerator. With the items pictured above, my body gets protein, complex carbohydrates, Vitamin A, C, and D, fiber, calcium, iron, and free radical fighting thugs.

Consider the following items on your next shopping trip:

Lentils

Cashews

Apples

Carrots

Oranges

White Tea

Ground Bison

Sweet Potatoes

Whole Wheat Pasta

Greek Yogurt

Brown Rice

The 300 workout

Here's the 300 workout from the movie 300. It will challenge you like no other workout has. It will tax your entire body: abs, legs, chest, back, forearms. Whew! You're welcome.

Heart Disease is the #1 killer of women. Are you at risk?

The heart is one of those things we need, like air, water, and internet service.

Take this quiz to determine if you're at risk for heart disease. At the end of the quiz, you'll find information on how to keep your heart its healthiest.

I'm not trying to scare you. I simply want to keep you informed. I like you and I want you to be around for a long time.