I came across a super interesting article today about the best time to eat a banana in its ripening process.

I was kind of bummed to learn that the riper they are, the better they are for you and the easier they are to digest. If I am eating a banana straight up or sliced on toast/in a sandwich, I prefer them at a ripeness level of 4 or 5. Once bananas get brown spots it’s game over for me. They literally turn my stomach and make me want to gag. At that point, I either freeze them for smoothies or use them in oatmeal.

According to this article, I should love to learn the riper ones.

• First, as bananas ripen their starches convert to simple sugars that are easier to digest. Bananas with any hint of green still remaining at the stem can be hard for some people to digest and cause gas.
• Second, as they ripen they produce antioxidant and anticancer properties and the darker the brown patches, the higher these properties will be.
• Finally, bananas with dark spots are eight times more effective in boosting the immune system.

I did some further reading about the best way to store bananas and according to Chiquita, if your bananas are too green you can store them in a brown paper bag with an apple overnight to accelerate the ripening process. If you want to slow it down, bananas can be stored in the fridge. It’s likely the skin will darken but they’ll still taste good.

Now you know! 🙂

What’s your ideal banana ripeness? How do you store your bananas? 

And now…for this week’s workouts. Two complete rest days, a few runs, two strength/cardio days and two yoga practices. Nothing too crazy or challenging for me this week but it got the job done.

If you’re short on time and looking for a great workout that combines cardio and strength, try Tuesday’s workout. Just 15 minute total and a full body burn that kept my heart rate through the roof. You do not have to work out for hours on end to get a good workout!

Monday

REST

Tuesday

Circuit Training

5 mins: 

10 jump squats
10 push ups
10 kettlebell swings (35#)
*6 rounds done

5 mins: 

10 deadlifts (85# barbell)
10 bent over rows (17.5# dumbbells)
10 wall balls (14#)
*4 rounds done

5 mins: 

10 box jumps (20 inches)
10 thrusters (35# barbell)
10 burpees
*3 rounds done

Wednesday

Hot yoga + 3 mile run

Thursday

10 minute treadmill run with increasing pace to 7:15 to warm up

For time: 

20 pull ups (kipping)
30 front squats (85# barbell)
40 calorie row
50 overhead plate walking lunges (35# plate)
*This took me 10:45

10 minute treadmill run at 7:20 to finish

Friday

REST

Saturday

3.5 mile run at 8:20 pace

Sunday 

5 mile run at 8:15 pace + 2 mile walk with Zoey + hot yoga

The run was amazing! 5 miles with the company of a friend in shorts and tank tops on a beautiful day.