Get Up off that Chair

Healthy Breakfast Cookies:

Could it be?? A healthy cookie?!.. Yep.. I know, it's a little surprising, but these cookies can help you start your day off right with a good amount of carbs and protein. Cook them up and see for yourself:

INGREDIENTS:
· ½ cup olive oil
· ½ cup Sucanat
· 4 egg whites
· ½ cup agave nectar
· 1 tsp vanilla extract
· ½ cup unsweetened
applesauce
· 3 cups large whole grain oats, unprocessed
· 2 ½ cups Nutri Flour Blend (or 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour and ¾ cup wheat bran)
· ½ cup ground flaxseeds
· ¼ cup sesame seeds
· ¼ cup poppy seeds
· 1 tsp baking soda
· 1 tsp cinnamon
· 1 cup raisins (or other dried fruit)


INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 350ºF. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.

2. Beat olive oil and Sucanat until creamy. Beat in egg whites, one at a time. Add agave nectar and vanilla. Stir in next 8 ingredients, then stir in raisins.

3. Place ¼ cup dough for each cookie on prepared baking sheets. Flatten slightly.

4. Bake in preheated oven 20 to 25 minutes, until golden brown.

NUTRIENTS PER SERVING:
Calories: 220, Total Fats: 9 g, Saturated Fat: 1 g, Trans Fat: 0 g, Cholesterol: 0 mg, Sodium: 70 mg, Total Carbohydrates: 33 g, Dietary Fiber: 6 g, Sugars: 13 g, Protein: 6 g, Iron: 2 mg

Get Off your Chair and Do Something

Do you find yourself sitting a lot more than you'd like to? According to the British Journal of Sports Medicine, long periods of inactivity are being linked to serious long term health problems, even people who regularly exercise. This study was conducted in Austrailia and showed that a sedentary lifestyle-described as sitting for prolonged periods of time during hours that you're awake, such as desk work, long-distance driving or extended leisure time, could have serious long term health effects such as breast cancer, weight gain and metabolic syndrome. These could lead to type 2 diabetes or cardiovascular disease.



The solution is moving more by fitting small bursts of activity in throughout your day. Maybe fit a short walk in every few hours, do yoga at your workplace or send your next report to the printer way accross the office. Here are some other tips to try:

1. Walk the stairs in your office for three sets (one set equals a full walk up and then back down.)

2. Take advantage of lunch-hour fitness classes at your workplace or a nearby local gym. This is a great way to refresh your mind and break up your day so it won't seem so long.

3.Organize a lunchtime walking or running club with a small group of coworkers. Include a few sets of plyometrics at a nearby park or in the parking lot.

4. Whether it's during every television commercial, or everytime the phone rings at the office, have a cue that helps you remember to get up and move around.

5. If you're on a long road trip, try to pull over (when it's safe, of course) at least once an hour to stretch your muscles and activate circulation.

Try these tips, they'll help shorten your days and get your endorphins going, which will make you happy. No more grumpy work day for you :)