Hooray! Winter is gone, and spring has sprung here in sunny Florida. I don’t know about you, but there’s something about that fresh springtime smell that gets me excited about new beginnings, new goals, and new habits and routines. If your New Year’s resolutions didn’t go quite to plan (you wouldn’t be the only one!), now is the perfect time to reset and invest back into yourself and the life you want to create. It’s time to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, spend time in the sunshine, and enjoy spring break with the family if you have kiddos… which is all so much more fun when you’re healthy and happy! This month, I’ll be breaking down some of the latest buzz in the health and fitness world and helping you achieve greater health in the season ahead.
Movement of the Month: Stretching
There are so many incredible benefits of stretching daily! It’s just one of those habits that helps you live a fuller life while taking up very little of your time and energy. Here are some reasons to stick with it:
- Maintain Mobility: Stretching helps extend agility and slows down the aging process, making daily activities easier.
- Improve Range of Motion: Increases joint flexibility, enhancing freedom of movement.
- Reduce Injury Risk: Warming up with active stretching prepares muscles for exercise, reducing injury chances.
- Manage Pain: Stretching can aid in the recovery of recurring back pain by strengthening the core and back muscles.
- Enhance Circulation: Boosts blood flow to muscles, aiding recovery and nutrient delivery.
- Improve Posture: Regular stretching and strengthening balance tight muscles, promoting a tall, strong posture.
- Release Tension: Helps relieve muscle tightness and soreness, especially in the neck and back, while reducing stress.
Interested in learning more? Check out this fascinating article from Health Tree!
Feed me, I’m Irish! (Yummy Irish recipes to ring in St. Patrick’s Day)
Do you or someone in your family have Irish heritage (or maybe just a desire to eat yummy soda bread and stew)?
Look no further for tasty and healthy Irish recipes to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day! I’ll be sharing a delicious gluten-free soda bread recipe and a hearty Irish beef stew recipe, and I hope you’ll try them out.
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups buttermilk
- 1 large egg
- 4 tablespoons melted butter, divided
- 3 cups gluten-free all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ¾ teaspoon salt
Directions
- Preheat oven to 400°F
- Whisk 1 ½ cups buttermilk, 1 egg and 3 tablespoons melted butter in a medium bowl.
- Place 3 cups flour, 2 teaspoons baking powder, 1 teaspoon baking soda and ¾ teaspoon salt in a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Mix on low speed to combine. Increase speed to medium and slowly add the buttermilk mixture until a soft dough forms. Let the dough rest for 10 minutes.
- Brush the remaining 1 tablespoon butter over the base and partway up the sides of an 8-inch cast-iron skillet. Dust hands with flour and form the dough into a ball. Press the dough into the prepared pan. Use a sharp knife to score a deep “X” into the top of the dough.
- Bake until lightly browned and hollow sounding when tapped on the bottom, 30 to 40 minutes. Remove from the pan and let cool on a rack for at least 30 minutes.
Ingredients
- 2 ¼ pounds boneless chuck roast, trimmed and cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground pepper
- 2 tablespoons canola oil, divided
- 1 small yellow onion, chopped
- 3 medium carrots, diagonally sliced into 1-inch pieces
- 3 stalks celery, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 (12 fluid ounce) bottle stout beer (such as Guinness)
- 2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme
- 4 cups low-sodium beef broth
- 1 ½ pounds baby Yukon Gold potatoes, halved
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons cold water
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley, plus more for garnish
Directions
- Sprinkle beef all over with salt and pepper. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large heavy pot over medium-high heat. Add half of the beef; cook, turning to brown on 2 or 3 sides, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer the browned beef to a bowl; repeat the process with the remaining beef and 1 tablespoon oil.
- Add onion, carrots and celery to the drippings in the pot; cook, stirring often, until the vegetables begin to soften, about 4 minutes. Add tomato paste; cook, stirring constantly, for 1 minute. Add beer and thyme; cook, scraping the bottom of the pot to release any browned bits, until the liquid is slightly reduced, about 2 minutes. Add broth and the beef (with any accumulated juices in the bowl); bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low; cover and cook until the beef is mostly tender, about 1 hour, 10 minutes. Stir in potatoes; cover and cook until the beef and potatoes are tender, 15 to 20 minutes.
- Whisk cornstarch and cold water in a small bowl. Increase heat to high; add the cornstarch mixture and cook, stirring constantly, until thickened, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in parsley. If desired, garnish with additional parsley.
The Perfect Spring Scents
Ready to craft the perfect spring scents for your home without the toxic candles? I’ve got your back with these invigorating and bright scent blends from doTERRA!
Protect Your Little Ones’ Skin on Spring Break!
With Spring Break right around the corner, there’s no time like the present to ensure your kids are protected from the sun’s harmful UV rays during their adventures. Getting even one serious sunburn as a child can drastically increase one’s risk of developing melanoma later in life, so it’s best not to take chances. Plus, you can have the best of both worlds in this adorable and lightweight zip-up for kids!
Suited for toddlers and elementary-aged kids alike, BloqUV’s unique material blend allows for breathability and comfort while protecting your child from UV rays.
Grab yours at BeFitSRQ today!
Soak Up the Warmth with Element Tree Essentials
If you’re anything like me, you’re ready to (safely) bask in the sunshine and take in all the warmth of this new season. What better way to do that than by indulging in the warming scent of amber as you practice your shower and body care routine?
Simply burn this gorgeous candle as you shower and use the warm, buttery melted wax as body lotion when you get out! It’s the perfect habit stacking tool for better relaxation, renewal and skin hydration.
Don’t Let Pain Stop You!
Have you ever wanted to start a new exercise regimen or participate in active hobbies with your friends and family… only to find that your chronic pain is stopping you from enjoying these activities? I totally get it, and I can’t recommend Laser Therapy enough. It’s non-invasive, painless and soothing for the aches and pains common to athletes and seniors.
Book your appointment today when you come into BeFitSRQ!
Local Happenings This Month
New Art Exhibit at Sarasota Art Museum – From February 9th-May 4th, enjoy Future Now: Virtual Sneakers to Cutting-Edge Kicks, an exhibit featuring “over 70 futuristic designs from the Bata Shoe Museumʼs holdings as well as loans from other prominent institutions, collectors, designers, and inventors.”
Sarasota Suncoast Half Marathon – Enjoy this water’s edge half marathon on March 8th on the coast of Sarasota! Register here.
Moulin Rogue! The Musical at Van Wezel – Enjoy this classic award winning musical at Ven Wezel from March 18th-23rd! Buy your tickets today.
That’s all this month, friend! I hope March treats you well and that the transition from winter to spring brings new joys every day. I can’t wait to see you at BefitSRQ!
Warmly,
Michele