Get Up & Go Nutrition

This has been the week of the dehydrator! It's been fun bringing my "raw" creations to the office every day for review. Most of the reviews were mixed. Some liked, some didn't. Today, however, I brought in something that everyone enjoyed.

Tuesday PM I mixed shredded apple, chopped walnuts, unsweetened coconut, cinnamon, and agave syrup together and formed small "bars". It was necessary to squeeze out the juice so that the bars wouldn't drip on the dehydrator racks. When they were all formed and the dehydrator was humming, I poured the sweet apple/cinnamon juice into a container to use as a base for oatmeal the next morning. The Apple Walnut Get Up & Go Bars would need a full 20-24 hours in the dehydrator.

The oatmeal was delicious but a little sweet by my standards. Shawn & Trysten ate it without complaint. At least I have a way not to waste this juice. Later, after work, I cooled the bars and tested one. It was a little chewy and seemed tasteless at first. Wasn't sure it was worth the effort.

We went to church and sat through our second-last class of the semester. The last couple classes of the Overcoming Attitudes, Habits & Addictions course are about nutrition and how important it is for total wellbeing. I was happy to have confirmation that the direction I had been going in these past five months is the right one. Many of the materials I've been reading were quoted.

The funny thing was, before I arrived for the class, Shawn had admitted to the instructors that he had eaten two pieces of pie earlier that evening and made a joke about it being the "Dessert Lesson". That is all they needed to hear. Shawn was addressed by name several times during the class. I have given up trying to control my husband's nutrition other than to set a good example and offer taste tests in hopes that he will find something he likes. It was rather amusing to see someone else getting on his case!

When we got home from church, Shawn & I pulled my Apple Walnut Bars out of the fridge and tried them together. Now they were crunchy and had more flavour than before. Shawn was impressed and said he could definitely eat these. Could this be a taste of things to come?

Almond Milk Making

It was suggested to me by a friend and nutritional consultant that I stop drinking cow's milk and try almond milk instead. I wasn't ready to make the change at the time, but I was curious. I like almonds. Maybe I would like almond milk too.

My "Raw Energy" recipe book not only spoke glowingly about the value of this raw food but it provided a recipe that looked surprisingly easy. I told Shawn that I would like to try it and he suggested I buy a carton at the store first before I waste time and ingredients making it.

Costco sells Blue Diamond Almond Milk by the case for a good price but I observed that it was sweetened and didn't want the extra sugar. No, I was going to have to look for a sugar-free version in the health food section at the Superstore and pay more. Plus, did I really want to buy a case of a beverage that I'd never tried before? I didn't think I could count on my gang at home to help me out if it was a flop.

The Superstore was more than helpful. I found sugar-free Blue Diamond Almond Milk in Vanilla and Chocolate and it was a mere $2.39 per litre carton. More expensive than cow's milk but not as much as I'd expected to pay. It was also lower in calories than I expected...only 45 calories per cup.

I read the ingredients and saw a few additives. I think one of them was meant to thicken it and give it a creamy texture. This wasn't a raw or completely natural product. I used it as a base for my morning hot cocoa and I'll be honest, it was not that good tasting to me. First off, it was not sweet at all. I didn't realize how much the natural sugar in milk makes it palatable. I couldn't taste any almond flavour which was a bit disappointing. If I had to choose between the two, vanilla was better than chocolate.

I wasn't ready to give up. When my store-bought almond milk was depleted, I followed the recipes instructions and made my own. There were compromises. First off, I don't know if the almonds I used were raw. I bought the bag at Costco and they say "Whole Almonds" and "Natural" and they don't mention anything about "roasting" them, but it doesn't say "Raw" either which the author of "Raw Energy" insists that it should. Oh well, these almonds would have to do.

Secondly, I do not own a nut milk bag so when it came time to strain the almond milk from the nut puree, I was forced to resort to cheesecloth. It seems to have been effective but it was a little awkward so I'll be searching for an official nut milk bag on my next grocery trip.

The end result was wonderful! I think almond milk tastes much better homemade without the vanilla, chocolate, or thickening agents. I did break down and use 1 Tbs of agave syrup to sweeten the 1 litre recipe as suggested and it did the trick. I actually drank a glass with ice and enjoyed the almond flavour. I haven't done the math but 1 1/2 cups of almonds made approximately 1litre of milk so I think this is less expensive than buying it pre-made. Is it raw? Not sure, but it's probably more nutritious than processed cow's milk!

Veggie Chippers

With Saturday's grocery shopping out of the way and a few hours to call my own on Sunday after church, I decided to tackle my first dehydrating recipe, Zucchini Chips.

My new Japanese Mandolin Benriner worked like a dream and felt much more safe than the other ones I have used in the past. Didn't get bit by the blade and the zucchini slices were delicately thin and perfect. Trysten even got into the action by helping place the marinated zucchini slices (olive oil, sea salt & pepper) on the plastic lattice racks of the the circular dehydrator. My son, who loves all things round, was disappointed to find that no actual rotation motion was involved in dehydrating. We set the temperature and plugged it in and let it run for 16-20 hours. Easy. That was all I had time for yesterday.

At 6:30am this morning my crisp little zucchini chips were ready for tasting and I was pleased that Trysten was open-minded enough to try them. Nice crunch, but frankly, the zucchini chips tasted yucky. I didn't even like them. I put them in a ziploc bag and brought them to work and a few people really liked the taste which was kind of bitter. I also observed that the oil that I had marinated them was pooling at the bottom of the bag. Too greasy for my liking. I made a note to 1/2 the olive oil in my other vegetable chip recipes. In the end my co-worker, who genuinely enjoyed them, got the whole loot to take home. Did I mention that 3 whole zucchinis were reduced to less than two cups of vegetable chips? Shrinkage to the max!

This got me thinking. I don't really like zucchini all that much anyway. I don't mind it freshly sauteed in a tomato-based sauce or in a vegetable soup but I've never enjoyed zucchini on it's own. Maybe this wasn't the best forum for this vegetable since dehydrating tends to minimize size but maximize flavour and the best thing about zucchini is that it doesn't have much taste!

Not daunted by zucchini failure, I made sure to prepare sweet potato chips and had the dehydrator humming before leaving for work. I halved the oil this time. We've done a few taste tests this evening and the sweet potato chips look like a winner-even by Trysten's standards. The chili powder and Bragg's soy sauce help, but the sweet mild flavour of the sweet potato is pleasant on its own. I didn't time this recipe very well because they will be finished at 2am. Guess I'll be setting the alarm clock for this one!

In the end, if I find a couple vegetable that the kids will tolerate, it will be a nice snack option for those days where I'm after my family to pack a vegetable in their lunch and there is nothing available fresh. Let's not forget those valuable digestive enzymes!

Checking In

It feels really good to be back into normal routine after the conference and vacation. No big events in my near future which may be depressing for some, but is oddly comforting for me.

A girlfriend of mine called just before I went away and asked if we could plan a weekend to go away (just us girls-no husbands or kids) to Niagara Falls and do a day-long bike ride along the Niagara River. We are planning to do this in early fall and I was able to secure Shawn's blessing so long as I allow him a guy's motorcycling weekend in the near future. Deal.

My friend wanted an event to train for and this was supposed to be a favour for her, but I feel equally blessed. I need a physical event on my horizon to train for too. I need a reminder that even though my life has had to switch focus, I can still do some of the physical activities that bring me joy and serenity. Check out the awesome scenery on this nature trail that is my favorite spot to cycle.
http://www.ontariotrails.on.ca/trails-a-z/niagara-river-recreation-trail/

I have pretty much given up on working out in the morning and have needed to set another boundary on myself. I now workout immediately after work, before dinner, and cannot post my blogs until I do so. This approach has worked really well so far and I am back to doing my weight workouts again. It feels really good.

The eating stabilized as soon as I got back home and it feels oh so good to have good Canadian food again. My one Myian coffee in Mexico had me up til 3am doing a puzzle. My husband asked if I was going to bed. "Just one more minute," I told him and then stayed up for 4 more hours. Good thing it was sunny the next day and I was able to spend the day sleeping by the pool.

I think it's safe to say at this point that the processed sugar & caffeine abstinence is a lifestyle choice that I feel good about and plan on sticking to. Even tonight I was able to watch my family eat ice cream and it didn't bother me at all. I don't want it. Just wish they didn't want it too, but at this point, I'm just working on my issues.

I also began a Heavy Metal Cleanse immediately after returning from Mexico and have found it to be more intense than the usual cleanse that I do. Usually I experience a rather overactive digestive system...if you know what I mean, but this time the only symptom is nausea shortly after taking the morning capsules. It reminds me of morning sickness which I only experienced when I tried to take pre-natal vitamins. No overactive digestive system at all. Just a rough nausiated 1/2 hour or so in the morning. I don't know if I should be concerned and may just call the company to inquire.

I'm doing a heavy metal cleanse because of my metal fillings, immunizations, and other exposure to heavy metals. I've wanted to do this ever since I read the chapter in my "Seven Pillars of Health" book called "Detoxification". It was the first time that I realized that I could have heavy metal poisoning and that it could be the source of some chronic conditions that I deal with.

Another suggestion they give is having the metal fillings gradually removed but I'm not so sure I want to start excavation on my teeth. I'm not suffering that bad.

I know I've been blogging alot on peripheral topics, but I just wanted to share with my readers that I'm okay and on track. I feel as committed to my health as I did in January and believe that these next months are going to usher in some of the benefits of my good choices earlier this year. Thank you so much for reading my blog and being supportive of my efforts.

Knowing that you would be reading my blogs challenged me to do my best and gave meaning to all sorts of seemingly insignificant decisions. I really needed you and I'm so glad you are here to help. Here's to Healthy Choices in 2010!

Mandolin Memories

According to "Raw Energy" another major player in the raw food kitchen is the Japanese Mandolin Benriner. This tool is useful for slicing foods thin for use in recipes or for dehydration.

I had an experience with a similar gadget when I was around 11yrs old. I wanted to make french fries when my parents weren't home so against my better judgement, I pulled out my mom's and started slicing with the french fry attachement. My hand slipped and went through the blades. I hastily cleaned up my mess and bandaged up my sliced hand and never told my mom that I had injured myself. My motivation? I didn't want to get stitches. I still have three visible scars from that crazy mandolin episode.

Later I bought one from Pampered Chef, but my earlier life experience combined with it's poor performance made me loath to use it so I finally sold it in a yard sale or gave it away.

Since I began to make occasional batches of Thai wraps, I have thought about picking up another one of these kitchen helpers, but now that I have set myself down the road of eating more raw foods, it appears to have become a necessity. Fortunately, a friend and co-worker told me about the Oriental Market on Dougall Ave. that sells a simple but effective model for 1/2 the cost of other stores. They were out of stock for several weeks but just got a shipment in today so I slipped by after work and picked one up.

I've read the instructions and the packaging and have seen "watch your fingers" many times. I break into a cold sweat just thinking about the hazardous possiblilities! I can do this.

Agave Love

I bought a bottle of Organic Raw Blue Agave syrup a couple months ago from the Superstore and it sat in my cupboard unopened until just before vacation. I was scared to try this unknown syrup made from the same plant as tequila.

In a burst of bravery, I opened the bottle and tried it on french toast. Wonderful!! Where has Agave syrup been all my life? My family wouldn't try it but they had to listen to me rave about how great it tasted and how much I loved it.

"Is this "Agave" love?" my husband quipped.

I laughed at his wittiness and promised to use "Agave Love" as the title of one of my blogs. Eye roll. My writing is so not appreciated at home. Do you know that Shawn has not even read any of my blogs? I tell him he doesn't even know me. More eye rolls. Anyways...that's another blog topic.

Agave tasted so good that I turned the bottle over to examine the nutritional content. Hmm...120 calories for 2 Tbs...that's not much different than sugar. 32 grams of natural sugars too...why is this healthy? My "Raw Energy" book had the answer for me. Agave is healthy because 1) it's raw which means enzyme action and 2) it's low glycemic which means that the 32 grams of sugar won't raise the roof off your blood sugar. It's also sweeter tasting than sugar which means that you can use less of it. I like that it doesn't contain artificial sweeteners so there's no chemical taste.

While in Mexico I looked to see if I could order some of this native syrup with my breakfast. The waiter looked at me with troubled eyes. "Tequila?" he suggests making a drinking motion. I laugh because it's 9am in the morning and it's also obvious that this Mexican has never heard of any other use for the agave cactus. Never mind.

This is just another example of a healthy food that I avoided out of ignorance and then later, fear. Why are we so afraid of the unknown? I'm so glad I overcame that and found a new sweet food to enjoy!

Raw Energy

During our pre-trip shopping, I came across a book that I purchased for travel entertainment called "Raw Energy-124 Raw Food Recipes for Energy Bars, Smoothies and Other Snacks to Supercharge Your Body" by Stephanie Tourles.

While I have no intention of restricting myself to a completely raw diet, I can see the benefit of increasing my intake of raw foods. I feel similarly about vegetarianism. I see the benefit of taking a break from meat now and then but have no desire to completely eliminate it from my menu.

The primary attraction for me to eat more raw foods is the increase of natural enzymes in the food which aid in digestion. We all have digestive enzymes in our bodies but various health materials I have read agree that as we age (especially if we have not eaten properly throughout our lifetimes) we begin to loose that valuable enzyme action and depend more on our foods (or medication) to aid in digestion. I want enzymes.

Plant foods that have not been heated beyond a certain temperature are considered raw and are live with naturally-occuring enzymes. I have already delved into this arena with my juicing, salads, and date cookie recipes. This book adds all sorts of possibilities to my menu: granola bars, nut milks, vegetable chips, cookies & squares, smoothies, juices and more. All the recipes that need sweetening use Agave or Maple Syrup which are natural products that I am willing to use. (By the way, even Stephanie, the queen of rawness, uses maple syrup which she admits is not a raw product!)

A good portion of the recipes involve using a food dehydrator which I don't currently own but due to my thrifiness during our recent trip (no spa visits or shopping sprees), I was able to purchase one from Costco.ca when I got back. It's not a pretty appliance and it's home is going to be our basement laundryroom, but the price was right and the company is 2nd best in reputation. My real attraction is to the Excalabur which would look oh so nice on my kitchen counter but it's all about $$$$.

So my new appliance should be delivered today or tomorrow and I've already picked some recipes to try right away starting with zucchini chips. I consider it my nutritional editorial duty to forge into the world of rawness & dehydration and take you with me via blogland! To go where no Cassidy has gone before...

Cancun Catastrophe "Not Bad"

I finally found a chink in my "Healthy Choices in 2010" armour during our Cancun vacation last week.

It started with the breaded pork cutlet that I ordered during a pre-trip lunch with my Ciaramitaro grandparents at a Greek diner. The pork cutlet was actually two chops (with bone), breaded and DEEP FRIED. I picked at one of them but the lunch sat in my stomach like a rock and within a couple hours I had to take Gravol to control the nausea. Dinner was a quick trip to the grocery store for strawberries, ginger herbal tea and wheat crackers which I ate sparingly. It helped.

The next morning we were up and off to the airport by 4am and the airport hotel buffet was not out yet so we had planned ahead with bananas, more crackers and ginger tea.

By 10:30am, when we arrived at the Ocean Spa Hotel in Cancun, we were all hungry. The first room they showed us to had 4 cochroaches waiting for us...I was back in the lobby with our luggage immediately requesting a room off the main floor. There was a large gap under the door which faced off an alley so it was only logical to assume that if we could get up off the main floor, we would get less bugs. They showed us another room that was unacceptable and I got pretty serious with the front desk at that point. The third room they offered was acceptable but not cleaned yet so we had to wait all afternoon for that to happen.
In all this chaos, brandishing our all-inclusive bracelets, we made our first visit to the hotel breakfast/lunch buffet which was open from 6am-12pm.

Now, if you've been following my blog from the beginning, you know how I feel about buffets. Poor food quality is common and food temperature questionable. Our Ocean Spa Buffet was the epitome of my worst buffet nightmares. Chicken pieces in green sauce (guacamole-based maybe?), scrambled eggs with chopped weiners mixed in, cucumber slices with the centres carved out...many unidentifyable or unappealing food mixtures that made me cringe. I found a few items that looked safe but when I tried them, they were lukewarm and tasted different to what I was accustomed to.

I tried opting for a freshly-made omellette that a chef prepared in front of me, but the neon yellow of the egg mixture and the equally unappealing taste had me sampling my daughters freshly-grilled hot dog. "Hmm...Not bad". I had visions of eating hot dogs morning, noon, and night. I hated that I wasted so much food that I had tried and couldn't bring myself to eat beyond a bite or two. I was seriously concerned about food poisoning and determined to try and eat freshly prepared foods as much as possible.

Between the meal and our room situation, I was struggling with panick. We were stuck in Cancun for 5 days and this was going to be our existence. I was trying not to show my misery but Shawn caught it and asked if I was going to be okay. Did I mention that it was also pouring rain? I had researched Cancun's weather in April and rain is not supposed to happen. The shuttle driver had told us that it was supposed to rain for two days and then it would be sunny. Immediately afterwards he had looked at his pal in the front seat and laughed! The weather forcast on tv actually confirmed this growing unease I was feeling. Rain was forecasted for the whole week!

I tried to readjust my expectations. I had been on a mission trip as a teen and this was bringing me back 22 years in time to a month in Guatemala. This wasn't a mission trip. It was supposed to be our "dream" vacation and things were not looking good. Well, we were going to make the best of it and have a good time no matter what. We had solved the cochroach issue and we would find better restaurants in our resort and it's affiliates. We would survive!

Well, the rain lasted two full days but we stayed in our bug-free room, did a 1000 piece puzzle, watched a couple of the english-speaking tv channels, read and napped. Eating at the various restaurants took on a brave, foraging quality and when someone found an item that was "not bad", we celebrated it. "Not bad" became a statement that would define our entire eating experience no matter what we had. All except the Myian coffee dessert that I finally broke down and ordered and the virgin Pina Colada's that we supplemented our diet with at will--yes, sugar and caffeine! It took two days for me to break down and decide that survival was my only goal and if I could find anything palatable beyond "2 eggs over medium", and fresh fruit, I was going to go for it! Even then, I stuck to bottled water and ginger tea as much as I could bear.

We had one glorious day of sun before we headed back and despite all the obstacles, we had a great time. We got plenty of rest and really enjoyed each other without distraction of work, food prep, cleaning, internet, phones etc. We also received incredible service from the hotel staff who served up their fare with dignity and hospitality beyond anything I have experienced in North America. I have a feeling this will be one of those vacations that we talk about for years to come.

"Do you remember that trip to Mexico we took when we were kids and you and dad argued over whether he was eating chicken or pork? What was he eating anyways?"

"Absolutely no idea--there wasn't a sign on it...but it wasn't bad!"

We're back in our native country of Canada, in our beautiful, clean home, sleeping in our comfortable beds, and eating our absolutely wonderful food and I feel like royalty. We are so blessed to have the luxury of the lifestyle choices we have available to us and I am more determined than ever to make the best of them!

Finish the Race

A couple years ago I decided that entering a Triathlon would be a great fitness goal to work towards. I had never done more than a 5K run before but had been a fitness instructor for a few years so I thought I was capable of finishing. That was my goal, to finish.

I signed up for a local event that required a 500m swim, 30K bike ride, and a 5K run--roughly 1/2 of a full triathlon. I went to the library to research triathlons and how to train for them and gleaned information from other fitness-minded people. At one point I even called the person who was organizing the event and when he perceived that I had no triathlon experience, he suggested that I do the Try-a-tri which is geared to beginners. No, I wouldn't even consider it. The distances in that event wouldn't challenge me at all. I was willing to perform poorly at a more challenging race, even if it was humiliating. I wanted something that I would have to work for.

A friend of ours had offered to train and participate in the event with me. He had done a triathlon successfully before and was going to be very helpful in guiding me through this experience. I had my husband's blessing and our friend's motives were pure, but after one training session with him I knew I couldn't go through with our arrangement. It was too much time for me to spend with someone who was not my husband and I felt convicted. This decision disappointed our friend and handicapped me, but I felt certain that obedience to the Holy Spirit prompting within me was more important and that this was a critical decision to my future. I was on my own now.

No sooner had I begun my training then I began to encounter all sorts of unexpected challenges. On one bike ride, my tire went flat and I had to walk the bike home. On another ride, I skidded on some gravel and tore up my leg. The pool where I was swimming my lengths kept closing unexpectedly so I had to find another location that was inferior in size. I had difficulty juggling my training with my family responcibilities.

I bought a wetsuit in preparation for the cold river water and found it uncomfortable (almost choking) to swim in. I found out the night before the event that it was because I was wearing it BACKWARDS! No wonder it was so hard to wiggle out of after swimming.

The worst thing I had to deal with was the fear that began to well up inside me.

"Who do you think you are?"

"Don't you realize you are going to look like a fool?"

"Everyone's going to wonder why you entered this race"

"Better not invite too many people to watch, you're going to completely humiliate yourself"

I had to battle the thoughts of insecurity and failure that bombarded my mind during the hours of training. I had to remind myself that even if I came in last place, if I finished, that was my success.

The day of the triathlon I felt even more awkward and inadequate. Most people were in groups, had real triathlon bikes and were a great deal taller and leaner than I was. I even dressed different than everyone else. I had a few wonderful friends who came to support me and I was greatly encouraged by their enthusiasm and rallying around me.

First came the swim. It was mostly a run through shallow water which I hadn't anticipated or trained for, but the actual swim was worse. The water was black and wavy so I couldn't see or get a breath without a mouthful of water. This was far different the glassy, still pool water I had done laps in. I had to swim sooner the other competitors too because I was so much shorter. Before long they were out of the water and on to the biking portion and I was still there with the lifeguard, literally swimming for my life. I thought I was going to drown, but fortunately the lifeguard coached me along and I made it to shore gasping and legs trembling. My fellow competitors were long gone but bystanders pointed me in the right direction and soon I was on my bike.

The ride was lonely because I was so far behind and only the race volunteers were there to mark that I was going the right direction. I noticed that I was racing along at a faster than normal speed and it was pretty easy so I started to feel confident. If I kept this up, maybe I could make up for lost time in the water.

At the turn around point I was in for a shocking surprise. The cycling had been easy because the wind had been at my back! Now in my return journey I was travelling into the wind and the pace was gruelling. I had not bought a MP3 player--I didn't think racers actually used them during events. I was so bored that I took to counting to 100 over and over again just for something to pass the time.

It felt great to get off the bike but by now my legs were jell-o and I had the 5K run left. I jogged unbelieveably slow and the heat was really getting to me, but I kept on going. I had planned on doing a full triathlon in the future but during that run I wondered why anyone would want to double this torturous event...never mind do an Ironman.

I finally crossed the finish line in just under 2 hours with my friends cheering me on. I cried with happiness and relief while my loved ones gathered near. I found out that I came in 36th out of 38 competitors. I finished and I wasn't the last one! I was very happy.

While enjoying a post-race massage, I was in for a greater surprise. They were giving out awards to the winners and my name was called! I went the the front of the crowd and received a gift and plaque for 1st Place! It turned out that I was the only female in my division (35-39yrs). I won by default.

This experience taught me so many things. I had no idea that I had won 1st place in the triathlon the moment I sent my entry in and determined to follow through. Not because I was the fittest, trained the hardest, or was the most deserving...but because I was the only one who entered the race!

This brings to mind so many comparisons. So many of us are plagued by fear, intimidation and hear the taunting voice of doubt when we attempt to do something more difficult than we've ever done before. We compare ourselves with others around us (as I did with my fellow competitors) and find ourselves lacking. We get left in the dust and feel the humiliation of not performing well. Things go wrong and we make mistakes, but if we stick to our resolve and finish our race, whatever it may be, we may just find out that we did better than we expected. Maybe those people we compared ourselves to, weren't our competitors after all. Maybe we are in a division of our own and we are winners just because we dared to start and stuck it out until the bitter end! My friends, finish your race with your chin held high. You are a winner!

Stirring the Waters

Exercise was a huge part of my life in my 30's. I went from inactive to extremely active and experienced the tremendous benefits of weight-training, cardio-training, and stretching.

I remember pre-fitness, sitting in my doctors office overwelmed with new motherhood and all the physical challenges that I experienced as a result. My fatherly physician suggested that I exercise which brought tears to my eyes. How, with all the expections I had to meet daily, could I possibly meet yet another demand on my schedule and body? In gentle wisdom he pointed out that I was looking at exercise from the wrong perspective. If done properly, my workouts could be pleasurable and become somthing I would look forward to instead of dread. I didn't believe him at the time but I have to admit now that he was right.

Even after years of rewarding activity as a fitness instructor/personal trainer, I have recently found myself exercise challenged with the onset of a non-fitness focused full-time career. All of a sudden I am grappling with a time shortage and conflicting priorities!

Dr. Don Colbert lists exercise as the 4th Pillar of health. He talks about how it benefits our bodies primarily in our lymphatic system which doesn't have a pump like your heart to circulate it. The lymphatic system is completely dependant on our body motion to assist in it's circulation. He describes exercise as "stirring the waters". I like that term. It brings to mind the consequence of not exercising (a stagnant pond with pond scum-think sickness and disease) and the benefit of exercise (a clean, constantly refreshing stream teaming with life-think health & strength).

This June I am entering a new decade of life, the 40's. With this change comes a new exercise focus. I no longer have the time, energy or desire to chase after a buff, hard body. Instead I will exercise consistantly to maintain muscle mass, dense bones, flexibity, balance and a strong heart. I will also move to "stir my waters" so my body can purify and renew itself in the years to come.

I challenge all of you reading this to do the same!

Priorities

There isn't a person alive who doesn't wrestle with competing priorities. Some experience it more consciously than others. Sometimes the battle ferocity varies but listen to people talk from their heart and you will hear the angst. Work, family, social demands are weighed and sifted along with spiritual, physical, educational and emotional fulfillment. This happens in the all too often confining perimeters of time and financial resources.

There is the ever-giving stay-at-home caregiver who wrestles with personal fulfillment or the working parent who battles guilt over not being more hands on in the raising of their children. The super successful executive who gets sick because they don't make time for their health and the ultra-health conscious person who can't hold a steady job. There's the happily married couple who never have or do anything throughout their lifetime and the wealthy, outwardly successful person who ends life sad and alone because they sacrificed all their relationships for the elusive pinnacle of accomplishment.

We all have our "if only" scenario which offers the reason we haven't accomplished what we claim to desire. Look a little deeper though and we have to admit it is because at the end of the day, something else was more important to us. Right or wrong, we made our choice.

The point is that we have to be flexible. Life is fluid. If we are waiting for the perfect season in our life to make good choices, that day will never come. There will always be deadlines, trips, holidays, events, illness, meetings, and every conceivable obstacle to making the right choice. If we let go of what we can't control and work with what we have left, then every day can be an opportunity to do what our heart truely desires.

Hate What Brings Death

I have been struggling lately with a decision that I did not want to make. I've been solid in the "no caffiene, no processed sugar" resolve I've committed to for 2010. The funny thing is that there are a whole lot of unhealthy things you can indulge in without caffiene or processed sugar. Is it not part of our human nature to find a way to gratify ourselves even while playing by the "rules"? I watched a slow progression over the past months until suddenly I find myself rejecting what is wholesome and life-giving and embracing what is destructive and life-taking. I've seen more indulgence in pizza, french fries, easy foods and less reaching for fresh veggies, water, vitamins and weight-training.

I decided a week ago to begin again as I did this past January with a "fruit, veggie and nut cleanse" for 3 days with the progressive introduction of food groups as the days go on. When I emerged from this altered diet I would dismiss yet another unhealthy food from my lifestyle. I was aiming for the french fries. I bought all sorts of produce and began with breakfast but my body and will rebelled and by lunch I was eating a burger and fries. Needless to say, I didn't follow my plan.

Why was I struggling? I know better than to get all crazy and obsessive. I just contented myself with the progress I have made so far and decided to wait out this struggle. I determined I would take action but it has to be heartfelt or I wouldn't stick to it.

Today as I was listening to some excellent motivation material (completely unrelated to physical nutrition) when I realized my problem. It was the hindering factor that kept me enslaved to my other habits and until I conquerored it, I couldn't successfully give them up.

You see, I still see a plate or carton of french fries as a friend. They are crunchy, hot, salty and then soft inside. They are stimulating and comforting. I might not be able to have a soda but I can enjoy those fries. I don't see them as the enemy that they are to my health. I don't hate them enough to say "Why would I want to consume this nutritionally dead and even destructive food?"

I hear the seeming voice of reason in my head saying, "Do you have to be so extreme? What about the 80/20 rule?" I understand the concept of moderation but it seems to work better in theory than in practise. Some foods for some people defy balance. Some foods are so appealing that they slowly draw your affection away from other better foods until they are all you crave. They are the enemy of nutrition and need to be kicked to the curb where they belong!

So now that I have located my heart and my wrong thought process, I am ready to declare war on this enemy to my goal of a healthy lifestyle and am making myself accountable to you. No more fries or other deep fried foods. I recognize that while they taste good and others may occasionally indulge...they are at cross purposes with what I desire which is a healthy, nutritionally dense diet that helps me age gracefully and be vibrant for many more years to come!

Refresh...and Soon

The peacefulness I am experiencing in my life at the moment starkly contrasts with the anxiety I was carrying up til the completion of a major work project. I don't think I even realized how much my work was affecting my peace of mind. Let me rephrase that. My perception of my work and how it was impacting my personal life was affecting my peace of mind. Whatever was stirring the stormy seas in my mind is gone now and all is blissfully sweet and calm. This brings challenges of it's own.

Without the marionette strings of deadlines, appointments and "do or fail" scenarios, my motivation has gone slack. Move to the urgent & critical long enough and it becomes what holds you up.

Recently a fellow administrator from another church said that she felt impressed to admonish me to take time to get refreshed...and soon.

I felt duly warned. I wasn't sure if the reason was internal (I was risking my health & wellbeing) or external (I would need my strength to overcome an unforseen circumstance). I didn't need it spelled out, I'm ready to rest.

On Saturday I had a rare day where I had no urgent tasks or appointments at all from sun up to sun down. I barely knew what to do with myself. I resisted the urge to work and spent the day doing what refreshes me: blogging, rollerblading with my family and my dog, and winding the day down with a clean family movie.

With my focus off extra projects at work I am tuning into neglected areas of my life: relationships, the dust & cobwebs in the corners of my home, my sporatic workputs and unfinished renovations. It is overwelming and I literally have to reassure myself. "Not yet, I am refreshing." I've promised myself that these issues can wait until after vacation. In the meantime I am praying because without God's wisdom and intervention the proverbial eggs will always be falling out of my basket. I have never before felt so dependant on Him to orchestrate my life and guide me in my daily choices.

In this season of pondering I have already gotten one strategy that I'll be trying out soon. Maybe more will follow? It is my experience that the answers we are looking for are right under our noses but we are too busy dancing to our old routines to try and learn a new step or two.

A friend said recently that I encouraged her to work smarter, not harder. I think taking time to "refresh" does that for us, so take some time to rest, pray and ponder...and soon!

Culinary Appreciation

I have noticed recently that food is tasting better to me than ever before. I'm not sure exactly why. My most educated guess is the lack of sugar and sweetener chemicals in my diet have sharpened my taste buds to the more subtle nuances of the foods I do eat. My second guess is that since I refuse to count calories, food exchanges, carb grams or anthing else and no longer keep a detailed journal of my food intake, I am free to enjoy my eating events without guilt or distraction.

One day I found myself groaning with delight over every bite of a Turkey/Veggie lasagna that I had reheated not just for breakfast but for lunch too.

I already shared the exquisite pleasure I experienced over the Maple Salmon I was served at Koinonia. They also served a Museli bread that was amazing.

I had a similar appreciation for the veggie & cheese omelette I was given at our hotel. Later I was raving about the post-conference celebratory steak dinner complete with sauteed mushrooms.

Perhaps the most surprising is my growing appreciation for fresh fruit. I've always liked fruit but it wasn't my first choice. Lately, I welcome fresh cut fruit with a gusto that I have never felt before. Just a couple days ago I found a plate of pineapple and strawberries left unattended on my dad's desk and my "just one bite" turned into a polishing off of the whole plate. I disposed of the empty dish and forgot to tell him what I had done. I wonder if he even noticed!

This phenomenon has worked in reverse as well. Even though I haven't set clear limits on some less-than-healthy foods like pizza, french fries, or fast food burgers, I have noticed that I have developed an aversion to McDonald's burgers of any kind for the first time ever. I mean, I have gone through extensive periods of abstinence from McDonald's over the years but not because of dislike. Have you ever noticed that you don't really chew and savour fast food burgers? Ususally they are devoured quickly--at least by me! I have noticed too that after a fast food meal, I don't really feel satisfied. Full, yes. Satisfied, no.
 
This could be the start of something...hmmmm...now what to have for breakfast...

Thin Enough

During my fitness career, I worked with many women who were in or slightly above their healthy BMI range, but were still unhappy with their bodies. I had very few truely overweight clients. No, for a brief time I was the poster girl for the average female who wanted the hard sculpted body we see in magazines. I would look into their desperate eyes and try to help them in their quest but even then I questioned the sanity of it all.

I have recently seen some women who are extremely thin after losing weight to the point that I question their methods and their health. To clarify, I am not speaking of naturally thin women who eat well. I want to take these aforementioned ladies aside, hug them, tell them that they were beautiful even when they were overweight. They don't have to prove anything to anyone or continue trying to chase the illusion of bodily perfection anymore.

I must be getting older. I remember the well-meaning souls who tried this approach with me numberous times in my life and I didn't receive it well. I thought these mothering women were controlling, jealous diet sabatogers. Women who had failed to achieve perfection themselves, who wanted it but couldn't have it and thus felt the need to discourage any other woman who appeared to be succeeding. Sick. I really thought that way. I took their concern as criticism of myself and would instantly get defensive and distance myself from them.

Specifically, I remember two incidents:

At 21 years old I joined Weight Watchers after my doctor used the word "obese" to describe my weight of 118lbs during a physical exam. I was unfit and a little chubby and she was using the word "obese" as a clinical term for my less than perfect physique. I heard "FAT" and grabbed onto my Weight Watchers diet for dear life.I didn't have a car at the time so I was riding my bicycle between school and the two part-time jobs I was working so the weight melted away until I was 92lbs.

One afternoon a group of ladies was visiting and witnessed my rejection of dinner as I raced out the door to catch a ride to an event I was late for. One of the ladies caught my arm and tried to express her concern for my lack of appetite and diminishing weight. I can't recall our conversation exactly, but I didn't receive her words.

It wasn't until my school backpack wore the skin from my bony spine and I was told that I was too underweight to give blood that I realized that maybe I was a little too thin. I still didn't like what I saw in the mirror and felt fat. Soon afterward, I got a car and a full-time job in food service and my weight was regained, much to my disappointment.

Later, in my 30's, during my fitness & low carb dieting era, I dropped below 100lbs again. I reached a point where my nose would spontaneously begin bleeding. My husband's aunt lived next door and was visiting when this happened once. She expressed concern over my weight and the nose bleed, but I heard only criticism. Soon after I began eating fruit again, put on a few pounds and the nosebleeds stopped.

I could tell you of more women who tried to speak into my life-some more delicately than others, but I think you understand. I wouldn't hear them.

That is why except for this writing, I mostly stay silent. How can I express to these beautiful, vibrant women that the illusive prize they seek is not worth the price they are paying? How can I tell them that the positive attention that they are getting due to their body change will one day not be enough and that they will never be satisfied? How do we switch the focus from weight-loss to nutritional and fitness health?

I do not know the answer to this question yet as I am only now discovering this for myself. I only know that I am looking at the women around me differently and appreciating them for more than how much they weigh. We need to take care of ourselves not abuse these wonderful forms that God has given us. Watch our nutrition, yes. Exercise, yes. Live and be healthy in ALL areas of life, YES! Sacrifice your health and wellbeing to be thin, no.