My alarm went off at 5:10am this morning so I could get to the lab in time for our first test. I felt like I could have had about five of these!
I walked into the lab and found the primary GRA snoozing in one of the testing rooms. He completed his first Ironman Triathlon this past Sunday in an amazing time so I’m sure he’s catching up on as much sleep (and food) as possible. I wished I had my camera because it was a sight to see….a tall guy on a small exam table sleeping face down!
Wednesdays are active rest days for me. I would have liked to take the dog on a nice, long walk, but it was pouring rain all day! I ended up going to the Rec center for a 60-minute elliptical workout with the new Shape magazine. I kept the incline at 5 and the resistance at 12 and just pedaled (ellipticaled?) away until I was sweaty and tired. It felt good to move my legs and work out some soreness from yesterday’s exercise sessions.
I stumbled upon this and wanted to share:
A study published in the Journal of Research in Personality found that people who are friendly are rated as more attractive than those who are introverted. According to researchers, that’s because people associate being sociable with physical beauty.
I think sometimes we get an idea in our head about what is beautiful and decide that we need to look a certain way (or wear certain clothes, be a certain weight, etc.) in order to feel attractive. This study reminds us that others find us most attractive when we connect with them. After reading this, I made an effort to smile and say “hi” to people I passed for the rest of the day, and I found that it made me feel good about myself too!
So, I’ll leave you with that. Oh, right, and the recipe for cucumber avocado salsa 
Try it and let me know what you think!
Cucumber Avocado Salsa
2 cucumbers, partially peeled
2 roma tomatoes, diced
1 avocado, cubed
3 green onions, chopped
1/2 cup chopped cilantro
1/2 tsp salt
3 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp lime juice
2 tsp apple cider vinegar
1 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp celery seed
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp lemon pepper
Combine cucumber, tomatoes, avocado, green onion, cilantro in a large bowl and sprinkle with salt. Stir gently to combine. In a separate bowl, whisk together remaining ingredients. Pour over cucumber mixture and stir toss gently. Refrigerate at least 1 hour before serving.
*TIP TIME*
Take at least one day per week to do a light form of exercise that you really enjoy. Yoga, walking, easy cardio with a book or magazine, or doing gardening and yard work are excellent forms of active rest. This gives your mind and body a break from more intense exercise and helps to prevent injury.
QUESTION: What is your favorite form of active rest?
