The UB Toner Blog

Did you know November is Sweet Potato Awareness Month?

Fun Facts about November

• It is the last month of the Fall season
• November in the Northern Hemisphere is similar to May in the Southern Hemisphere
• American football is the main sport watched in the United States during this month
• Most of the leaves have fallen off the trees by the end of November
• In the USA, November is sweet potato awareness month AND good nutrition month-now there’s a win-win!

November makes me think of, well, honestly, Thanksgiving dinner! I have been waiting all year for this meal! I am lucky enough to have a daughter who loves to cook and will be hosting the festivities in her new house this year. All I know for sure is there will be pecan cheesecake and extra UB Toner exercises!

I have been on a mission to be healthier this year. With healthy eating and working out, I have lost 20 lbs and feel great! Temptations are put in front of me every day…donuts at work, Halloween candy by the truck loads, impromptu lunch dates, etc.

I do indulge once in a while. I never want to say, “No, I can’t have that” because I would feel deprived; everything in moderation is my moto. This is my plan for Thanksgiving dinner. I will have some of everything, I will enjoy it, and I will not feel guilty about it.

So, if you are looking for something a little healthier for your holiday dinner, and since November is sweet potato awareness month, why not try something new? Here are a few tips to make your sweet potato casseroles healthier.

• You can cut the butter back without sacrificing flavor by adding even more flavorful ingredients. Try honey, orange zest, ground ginger, cinnamon and vanilla extract.
• Marshmallows are OK if you don't use too many. But if you want a topping with less sugar, try a simple topping of nuts, seeds and dried fruit to add texture and sweetness without any added sugar. Or opt for a homemade crumb topping with whole-wheat flour, brown sugar and a little butter. If you can't part with marshmallow topping but want something less processed, making a meringue topping—it has all the flavor and sweetness of marshmallows and it's prettier too!
• To keep the calories reasonable, start with a smaller amount of potatoes. Plan for about a 1/2 cup serving size for each person, which is plenty, especially considering all the other food on the menu.

Have a wonderful November and Happy Thanksgiving!

Autumn is Here!

Children are back in school, the weather is cooling slightly, pumpkin lattes are all the rage and we are all trying to get our busy schedules aligned after a wonderful summer full of sunshine and BBQ’s. I am getting ready to harvest apples, pears and grapes.

I love autumn. I love sweaters, crock-pots and Halloween. I love the beautiful colors of the trees and the crisp, cool mornings. It’s the time of year when football fanatics are overjoyed to see their teams play again.

It is also the perfect time to revamp your exercise routine. For me, summer exercise includes a lot of gardening; in the fall, not so much. So, I am looking for something to keep up my activity in the cooler weather.

Things like yoga, walking outside or on a treadmill or riding a stationary bike in conjunction with my UB Toner workout are some good ideas for me to develop my fall season workout.

What are you going to do to rev-up your workouts this season?

Enjoying the Bounty

I can’t believe the back-to-school ads are on TV already! Where does the time go? While I don’t have small children at home anymore, mine are grown with children of their own, I am not ready for the slow slide into fall yet.

I am still harvesting blueberries and raspberries, patiently waiting for green beans and artichokes, and weeding…always weeding the garden. I love this time of year!

I am a two-time breast cancer survivor. Gardening has saved me in so many ways. It’s my quiet place, my thinking place, my play with my seven cats outside place. Most importantly it is my way to live a healthy life. Eating whole foods, eliminating sugars and processed foods and staying in shape is how I live my life now. And I feel great!

Wherever you are in your life, enjoy the small things; a beautiful sunny day, the smell of fresh flowers growing, eating fresh fruits and veggies from your garden to nourish your body, being with your family.

Enjoy the bounty life has put in front of you!

Amy

Summer means fresh veggie season is upon us!

The beauty of this season is having access to fresh vegetables from your local farmer’s market or better yet, your own garden!

My name is Amy and I have recently joined the UB Toner team. I am an avid gardener and look forward to the harvest every year. I grow artichokes, green and black beans, tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, melon and squash alongside of my many fruit trees and berry bushes. Adding fresh or grilled vegetables to your BBQ menu can cut down on calories too!

Here are a couple of easy, healthy ideas you can try!

Watermelon Feta Salad

This salad is easily portable to your outdoor parties and is very refreshing.

INGREDIENTS

• 6 cups cubed watermelon
• 1/2 red onion, chopped
• 1/2 cup feta cheese
• 1/3 cup fresh mint leaves, chopped
• Balsamic vinegar, optional

DIRECTIONS

In a large bowl combine watermelon, red onion, feta, and mint. Stir until ingredients are well combined. Drizzle with balsamic vinegar, if using. Serve chilled.

Marinated Mushroom Skewers

INGREDIENTS

• 2 pounds mushrooms, sliced ½ inch thick
• 1 TBS Soy or tamari sauce
• 3 cloves garlic, chopped
• ½ tsp thyme, chopped
• Salt and pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS

Marinate the mushrooms in the mixture for 30 minutes. Skewer the mushrooms and grill until just tender and slightly charred, about 2-3 minutes per side.

I look forward to sharing more with the UB Toner community. 

Enjoy and until next time, 

Amy 

Summer is just around the corner

With the first official day of summer right around the corner, we are all very excited to switch up our wardrobes and settle into the easy lifestyles that warm weather can bring. The summer season is known for it’s fun, relaxed and care-free attitude, but that one thing that we should try not to relax on this summer is our health and fitness regime. In fact, this season could be the perfect time to start a new one! Did you know it only takes a few weeks to create a new habit?

Why not get in the habit of starting to use your UB Toner each day. It doesn’t have to be complicated. Using your UB Toner for just ten minutes a day following these four easy exercises can tone your upper body and make you look and feel great in your favorite summer outfits.

Try incorporating your UB Toner regime into into your morning routine, or pulling it out when you are watching Netflix in the evening. You could even bring it to your child’s soccer or baseball practice and use it on as you cheer them on from the sidelines. The UB Toner is small, portable and can be used anywhere, even on your summer vacations.

Incentive yourself and make your summer work outs more fun by giving yourself rewards like buying some cool workout or tech fitness gear or maybe plan a BBQ with friends at the end of a long week.

Here’s to summer, fitness and being healthy all season long!