Healthy Dieting and Fitness Posts

"Ingredients

• 15 oz great northern beans
• 15 oz black beans
• 15 oz pinto beans
• 15 oz lima beans
• 1 cup smoked cooked ham, chopped
• 1 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• 1/3 cup carrot, chopped
• 1/3 cup celery, chopped
• 1/2 cup onion, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, chopped
• 1 can (28 oz) diced tomatoes
• 32 ounces chicken stock or vegetable stock
• 2 Tablespoons fresh chopped oregano
• 2 Tablespoons fresh chopped basil
• 1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper juice from one lemon
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest

Drain and rinse beans and place in large bowl with ham and set aside. Heat oil in stockpot on medium high; add carrots, celery and onion. Cook, stirring, about 5 minutes until soft, but do not brown. Add garlic and jalapeno, cook stirring, 1-2 minutes. Add tomatoes, stock and beans, stir and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, add herbs, salt and pepper. Simmer for about 15 minutes. Just before serving add lemon juice and zest, stirring to blend.

Notes: This soup is wonderful reheated as a leftover. And it doesn't take all day to cook because most of the vegetables are already cooked.

"Crunches

Lie down flat on your back with your knees bent and your feet on the floor. Hold your hands wherever you feel comfortable (on your chest or beside your head - just be sure you don't pull on your head). The typical crunch is taught by instructing you to simply roll your upper torso forward. This is fine to start with. To increase the effectiveness of the crunch movement, push your chest and head up towards the ceiling pushing your lower back flat onto the floor. Your anatomy will automatically cause you to follow a crunching pattern. Hold at the top of the movement for a second and squeeze hard. "

Resource: http://www.fitstep.com/Library/Begin/exercises.htm