Apparently, you don't have to. But you also don't have to NOT.
I have a stomach of steel--but it wasn't always this way! I can definitely remember a time when I felt nauseas after eating and then riding, but as I rode more and got used to going on longer rides, I warmed up to the idea of eating more around (or even during) my workouts. It all started with a 'bonk' and the best-tasting sports gel I've ever had! Here's an article about sports gels and drinks for cyclists, but it's from Running Times and it applies to other things: http://runningtimes.com/Article.aspx?ArticleID=6677 .
Now, before a 6am or 7am class, I have a mini breakfast -- sometimes a bowl of yogurt and some cereal, sometimes a piece of fruit and some cottage cheese -- to get me out of the house. I know some people who are adamant that they just cannot eat before a class, and after seeing a participant pass out during one of my classes (not my proudest moment) last year, I really started to wonder if they were putting themselves in danger. I found an answer in Nancy Clark's Sports Nutrition Guidebook, and you can read the answer for free on google books: http://books.google.ca/books?id=Itwl2-rKwEoC&pg=PA171&lpg=PA171&dq=nancy+clark+eat+before+early&source=bl&ots=m668snzZKB&sig=YpFBlY8j7jLX0aO_sebhe1naEc8&hl=en&ei=baE3TdarBYGugQfoqOXqCA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CBUQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false .
She says it is okay to go ahead and exercise on an 'empty' stomach, but there's a catch. You can't exercise on 'empty' muscles. She suggests having your pre-workout snack the night before as a solution. Another, similar suggestion was made in this podcast http://www.groupfitnessradio.com/show-episodes/nutrition-diva/ , which goes into recovery nutrition in general and says that what really matters is keeping your body well-fed and nourished.
I also like how the above podcast says that fitness instructors and die-hard exercisers, which I think a lot of people who read this blog are (or aspire to be), have some room for play. I think rather than accepting that we not only have room for but also NEED more energy, we tend to do these intense workouts with the mindset that we could get the best results if we pair them up with a decrease in calories. In reality, we end up missing the window to really nourish our bodies and muscles when the food can be used to help us recover and rebuild stronger and we set ourselves up for overeating later. One way to change this thinking is to consider that we need fuel before a workout in order to fuel the workout and to let us work out harder and then to think about how our bodies need the energy to rebuild itself in recovery and to spare ourselves from further breakdown.
You're still wondering -- won't I burn more fat if I don't eat before I do my workout? I used to buy into this belief because it makes sense: if you don't have as much energy floating around in your bloodstream, of course you're going to tap into the fat stores earlier. That being said, most experts will disagree. You can read one dietitian's take on the issue here: http://www.healthline.com/blogs/diet_nutrition/2007/11/eat-before-exercise.html . Canadian Running addresses fat-burning myths pervasive amongst exercisers ( http://runningmagazine.ca/2010/06/sections/health-nutrition/recipe/fat-burning-myth-busters/ ) and says that exercising on an empty stomach is similar to driving a car without enough fuel -- you can get through it, but it's not good for the car and it's not going to get the best results. I can remember being told that you may in fact burn a greater proportion of fat if you have an empty stomach, but you will be doing so at a lower intensity and the quality of your workouts will suffer.
An important issue raised in Spinner's article on the issue of eating before workouts (at http://www.spinning.com/spinning-news-for-enthusiasts/2010-6-1.asp ) is that if you don't eat enough early on, you're just setting yourself up for a binge!
Why not give some of these suggestions a try for yourself? Try eating before a workout. If you throw up, maybe you're one of those people who should eat a little bed time snack the night before your early workout! Experiment with post-workout snacks: do you feel better when you've refueled right away? If you don't eat after your workout, do you find yourself ravenous when you do get hungry and does this lead to overeating? Are you willing to take a new mindset to your workouts and instead of getting through them or using them as a tool to lose weight or burn fat, do everything you can to thrive in them and to use them to feel strong, healthy, and fit?
Let me know what happens...
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Monday, January 10, 2011
Friday, December 17, 2010
When I said I'm going to be the next Jillian...
I didn't realize:
- She'd come out with some products that I'm not so sure are helping people lose weight in the healthiest, most maintainable ways. In other words, I think she's joined the weight loss industry and is getting rich off of it. Sure, sell fitness DVDs, sell books, sell workout gear, sell online training...those kinds of things are relatively harmless. Even selling her own protein powder seems fine, although I'd like to know what makes hers different from the cheaper ones available (isn't whey protein pretty standard?) But selling fat burners and cleansing systems detracts from her other products, in my mind. Not only does it seem dangerous to take some of the products (the fat burners contain a serious amount of caffeine and the cleansing system comes with a host of warnings), but offering these things suggests that you need them. Shouldn't following her diet advice and doing her workouts be enough?
- Biggest Loser is worse than we thought. Past contestants have come clean about how they're really treated on the Ranch. I had a picture of a happy place filled with hours upon hours of sweating, but I didn't realize the things that went on before weigh-ins. As a side not, that makes me an idiot. Contestants regularly lose over ten pounds in a week -- did you guys know that ten pounds of body fat is equivalent to 35,000 calories? Or roughly 117 cheeseburgers. Needless to say, something funky has to be going on. Whether or not it leaves contestants with disordered eating is debatable, but some of them will admit it. Kai Hubbard is one of the contestants who made a big controversy by speaking out, but others have said it's tough to adjust back to real life after living on the ranch. Helen Phillips, one of the winners, talked about the stress of going back to real life and having to learn to not work out all day long. She also talked about the fear of gaining the weight back. All of this leaves me wondering how 'healthy' the ranch is really making contestants.
- She makes fitness videos and programs without understanding the techniques first: I bought Jillian's Yoga Meltdown DVD about the same time I started to actually practice. I thought I'd be getting the best of both words--Jillian and zen! I made it halfway through the DVD. Did I quit because it was too hard? Nah. I quit because I felt like I was going to throw my back out when she had me 'rep out' reverse triangle. Remember the ballistic stretches that your gym teacher told you were so dangerous? If you don't, I'll lend you the copy of Jillian's DVD and you can check out the contraindicated move for yourself, or get a taste of her yoga skills. What kills me is that she is in Self magazine in January with a yoga workout to help you meet your New Year's Resolutions (that's a whole different post in itself!). At any rate,I learned my lesson with the yoga DVD and didn't bother buying her Kettlebell DVD. Since I don't actually own it and haven't seen it, I can only comment based on what others have said. There's outrage in the Kettlebell community over her form and lack of training and she's defended herself on her blog and twitter. Kettlebell has it's own certification program (kind of like if you want to become a certified spin instructor) and for good reason--swinging around a weight like Jillian is asking for injury if you don't know what you're doing!
- Blatant product placement gets annoying. I might not like Jennie O Turkey. I might not want a Brita filter water bottle, even if Jillian tells me I need one to stay hydrated. I really don't like Subway. But I do like Extra gum, but there's no way that chewing a 5 calorie stick is going to stop me from having dessert if I have my heart set on dessert. Stuff that in a Ziploc bag. I'm aware that the Biggest Loser has to endorse these brands to make money and that the trainers are automatically roped into promotional stuff on the show. But Jillian has also taken on Popchips, which are supposedly a healthy snack option. News flash Jillian, these are potato chips. See the ingredients? ...same as potato chips. See the fibre and good stuff? ...me neither.
Basically, my girl let me down. I still love "If it didn't come from the ground or have a mother, you shouldn't be eating it." But I also love Christmas cookies and fail to see how saying that you shouldn't be eating them when we all know that every sane person will be eating them (and other, less than nutritionally stellar things that we all eat) does anything but create unnecessary guilt. There are plenty of healthy people who eat Cheetos, Jillian! What do you guys think? Is the Biggest Loser making something healthy--weight loss to get to a healthier place--an obsession? Do you think seeing contestants drop double digits is inspiring or makes the efforts of ordinary folks, who take a sensible approach to their weight loss, seem menial?
If we focus on getting healthy for the sake of getting healthy and lose the obsession with the numbers, people will still lose weight. They will also develop the skills and habits that they need to maintain that weight in the long term. Rather than getting frustrated and giving up if they have a 'bad' day or week, they'll learn to look at that and use it as a learning experience to get back to a healthier place. Exercising because your body is meant to move, eating foods that nourish you (body, mind, soul), and taking care of yourself are habits that everyone--regardless of whether they're overweight, underweight, or at their perfect weight--should work on cultivating!
- She'd come out with some products that I'm not so sure are helping people lose weight in the healthiest, most maintainable ways. In other words, I think she's joined the weight loss industry and is getting rich off of it. Sure, sell fitness DVDs, sell books, sell workout gear, sell online training...those kinds of things are relatively harmless. Even selling her own protein powder seems fine, although I'd like to know what makes hers different from the cheaper ones available (isn't whey protein pretty standard?) But selling fat burners and cleansing systems detracts from her other products, in my mind. Not only does it seem dangerous to take some of the products (the fat burners contain a serious amount of caffeine and the cleansing system comes with a host of warnings), but offering these things suggests that you need them. Shouldn't following her diet advice and doing her workouts be enough?
- Biggest Loser is worse than we thought. Past contestants have come clean about how they're really treated on the Ranch. I had a picture of a happy place filled with hours upon hours of sweating, but I didn't realize the things that went on before weigh-ins. As a side not, that makes me an idiot. Contestants regularly lose over ten pounds in a week -- did you guys know that ten pounds of body fat is equivalent to 35,000 calories? Or roughly 117 cheeseburgers. Needless to say, something funky has to be going on. Whether or not it leaves contestants with disordered eating is debatable, but some of them will admit it. Kai Hubbard is one of the contestants who made a big controversy by speaking out, but others have said it's tough to adjust back to real life after living on the ranch. Helen Phillips, one of the winners, talked about the stress of going back to real life and having to learn to not work out all day long. She also talked about the fear of gaining the weight back. All of this leaves me wondering how 'healthy' the ranch is really making contestants.
- She makes fitness videos and programs without understanding the techniques first: I bought Jillian's Yoga Meltdown DVD about the same time I started to actually practice. I thought I'd be getting the best of both words--Jillian and zen! I made it halfway through the DVD. Did I quit because it was too hard? Nah. I quit because I felt like I was going to throw my back out when she had me 'rep out' reverse triangle. Remember the ballistic stretches that your gym teacher told you were so dangerous? If you don't, I'll lend you the copy of Jillian's DVD and you can check out the contraindicated move for yourself, or get a taste of her yoga skills. What kills me is that she is in Self magazine in January with a yoga workout to help you meet your New Year's Resolutions (that's a whole different post in itself!). At any rate,I learned my lesson with the yoga DVD and didn't bother buying her Kettlebell DVD. Since I don't actually own it and haven't seen it, I can only comment based on what others have said. There's outrage in the Kettlebell community over her form and lack of training and she's defended herself on her blog and twitter. Kettlebell has it's own certification program (kind of like if you want to become a certified spin instructor) and for good reason--swinging around a weight like Jillian is asking for injury if you don't know what you're doing!
- Blatant product placement gets annoying. I might not like Jennie O Turkey. I might not want a Brita filter water bottle, even if Jillian tells me I need one to stay hydrated. I really don't like Subway. But I do like Extra gum, but there's no way that chewing a 5 calorie stick is going to stop me from having dessert if I have my heart set on dessert. Stuff that in a Ziploc bag. I'm aware that the Biggest Loser has to endorse these brands to make money and that the trainers are automatically roped into promotional stuff on the show. But Jillian has also taken on Popchips, which are supposedly a healthy snack option. News flash Jillian, these are potato chips. See the ingredients? ...same as potato chips. See the fibre and good stuff? ...me neither.
Basically, my girl let me down. I still love "If it didn't come from the ground or have a mother, you shouldn't be eating it." But I also love Christmas cookies and fail to see how saying that you shouldn't be eating them when we all know that every sane person will be eating them (and other, less than nutritionally stellar things that we all eat) does anything but create unnecessary guilt. There are plenty of healthy people who eat Cheetos, Jillian! What do you guys think? Is the Biggest Loser making something healthy--weight loss to get to a healthier place--an obsession? Do you think seeing contestants drop double digits is inspiring or makes the efforts of ordinary folks, who take a sensible approach to their weight loss, seem menial?
If we focus on getting healthy for the sake of getting healthy and lose the obsession with the numbers, people will still lose weight. They will also develop the skills and habits that they need to maintain that weight in the long term. Rather than getting frustrated and giving up if they have a 'bad' day or week, they'll learn to look at that and use it as a learning experience to get back to a healthier place. Exercising because your body is meant to move, eating foods that nourish you (body, mind, soul), and taking care of yourself are habits that everyone--regardless of whether they're overweight, underweight, or at their perfect weight--should work on cultivating!
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Snowed in? No gym equipment?
If you're like me, the first snow day was nice. The second was an excuse to sit around and listen to Christmas music. If you start to go stir crazy by day three though, remember that working out doesn't have to mean going to the gym! Try these home-friendly exercises:
UPPER BODY:
-pushups: close grip, wide grip, clapping (if you're brave), scorpion (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdq2j57eS4o), spider (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAJ4rX__5W0) (remember that going to your knees is a good modification if it means you keep your core engaged and maintain good form)
-supermans
-tricep dips on a chair or a couch (remember that bending your knees makes it easier)
LOWER BODY
-squats: regular, plie/sumo, jump
-lunges: clock (lunge forward, to the side, to the back, back, side, forward with other leg); forward, reverse; side; jumping; walking if you've got room
-calf raises
-glute bridge: single leg, both legs (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKaNAGnUeMQ&feature=related)
-wall sits
CORE:
-situps
-crunches
-leg raises
-planks: side, extended (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPJfGhSwJyE), up/downs (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=097EmpGkgP0)
CARDIO:
-tuck jumps
-mountain climbers
-burpies
-jumping jacks
-cross country skiing
-high knees
-jogging in place / running in place with high knees / butt kicks in place
Put these together in any combo you want! Maybe do a circuit: choose one lower body and one upper body, then one cardio exercise and do each for a minute. Repeat all four exercises once or twice more. Then choose four new exercises and do the same thing! finish up with a circuit of core, cardio, core, cardio exercises to get a full body workout! You'll be surprised how hard you can work without leaving your room!
UPPER BODY:
-pushups: close grip, wide grip, clapping (if you're brave), scorpion (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdq2j57eS4o), spider (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAJ4rX__5W0) (remember that going to your knees is a good modification if it means you keep your core engaged and maintain good form)
-supermans
-tricep dips on a chair or a couch (remember that bending your knees makes it easier)
LOWER BODY
-squats: regular, plie/sumo, jump
-lunges: clock (lunge forward, to the side, to the back, back, side, forward with other leg); forward, reverse; side; jumping; walking if you've got room
-calf raises
-glute bridge: single leg, both legs (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKaNAGnUeMQ&feature=related)
-wall sits
CORE:
-situps
-crunches
-leg raises
-planks: side, extended (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPJfGhSwJyE), up/downs (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=097EmpGkgP0)
CARDIO:
-tuck jumps
-mountain climbers
-burpies
-jumping jacks
-cross country skiing
-high knees
-jogging in place / running in place with high knees / butt kicks in place
Put these together in any combo you want! Maybe do a circuit: choose one lower body and one upper body, then one cardio exercise and do each for a minute. Repeat all four exercises once or twice more. Then choose four new exercises and do the same thing! finish up with a circuit of core, cardio, core, cardio exercises to get a full body workout! You'll be surprised how hard you can work without leaving your room!
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Top ten things I won't be feeling guilty for over the holidays...
1) Sleeping in. 7am spin is amazing, but so is waking up when it’s light outside.
2) Taking a few days off. Rest and recovery is part of every sound training program!
3) Licking the spoon. I might be a little worried about salmonella, but I’ve got a strong stomach.
4) Skipping kickboxing to build a gingerbread house. Life’s too short.
5) Going shopping instead of studying. Don’t people say that giving is the best feeling ever?
6) Drinking Bailey’s in my coffee. Before noon. ‘Tis the season.
7) Blasting Christmas music on the radio. November 1st, I was a closet listener. Now I can play “Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer” as loud as I want!
8) Not setting a New Year’s Resolution. Every day should be about goals and going somewhere, don’t you think?
9) Reusing wrapping paper. It’s a green thing, people!
10) Eating my Advent Calendar days whenever I want to. Today, I want a reindeer. Look out, December 12!
2) Taking a few days off. Rest and recovery is part of every sound training program!
3) Licking the spoon. I might be a little worried about salmonella, but I’ve got a strong stomach.
4) Skipping kickboxing to build a gingerbread house. Life’s too short.
5) Going shopping instead of studying. Don’t people say that giving is the best feeling ever?
6) Drinking Bailey’s in my coffee. Before noon. ‘Tis the season.
7) Blasting Christmas music on the radio. November 1st, I was a closet listener. Now I can play “Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer” as loud as I want!
8) Not setting a New Year’s Resolution. Every day should be about goals and going somewhere, don’t you think?
9) Reusing wrapping paper. It’s a green thing, people!
10) Eating my Advent Calendar days whenever I want to. Today, I want a reindeer. Look out, December 12!
Monday, November 22, 2010
Skipping School
What would you skip school for?
Would watching this: http://social.macys.com/parade2010/?cm_sp=GFA-_-thanksgiving-_-n#/home do it?
How about eating http://www.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http://ny-image2.etsy.com/il_fullxfull.94249314.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php%3Flisting_id%3D32060398&usg=__h75Ely1AX20a3KxpMKY0fBkqMc4=&h=600&w=900&sz=85&hl=en&start=0&sig2=34Wi7WSv8xkyvuxyClA-UQ&zoom=1&tbnid=ns4xNgw57qxMbM:&tbnh=115&tbnw=153&ei=hjjrTMnHM8iKnQfanbHeAQ&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dgrandma%2527s%2Bpumpkin%2Bpie%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26biw%3D1345%26bih%3D511%26tbs%3Disch:1&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=612&vpy=198&dur=410&hovh=183&hovw=275&tx=123&ty=126&oei=hjjrTMnHM8iKnQfanbHeAQ&esq=1&page=1&ndsp=22&ved=1t:429,r:10,s:0 this?
Maybe the prospect of sitting in a confined space with your mother for hours on end? http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=london,+on&daddr=mifflinburg,+PA,+USA&geocode=FUbQjwIdRkgo-ykLm42oDvIuiDGVawWaadfHKA%3BFU5acAIdOlho-ykzDX7_VBjPiTEiv8RjdWpRzg&hl=en&mra=ls&sll=42.02342,-79.02874&sspn=3.166489,10.777588&ie=UTF8&ll=42.081917,-79.057617&spn=3.163644,10.777588&t=h&z=7 ... I'm calling it quality time!
If not, I'm sure that the sales you know I'm going to find this weekend are going to be worth it! If you're not familiar with Black Friday, you should be!( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Friday_(shopping) )
If we get sick of the mall, I'm thinking of going to the Horse and Buggy Museum. http://maps.google.ca/maps?hl=en&expIds=17259,18167,26473,27692,27698,27744,27746&xhr=t&cp=35&wrapid=tljp1290484303665050&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=horse+and+buggy+museum+pennsylvania&fb=1&gl=ca&hq=horse+and+buggy+museum&hnear=Pennsylvania,+USA&cid=0,0,14215671893939436345&ei=VTrrTI-QM5D2sgbSxqyFDw&sa=X&oi=local_result&ct=image&resnum=1&sqi=2&ved=0CBoQnwIwAA
...going to Pennsylvania takes me back to my childhood! It's not just about Tastycakes, Cowtails, friend bologna sandwiches, and Manischewitz wine--although all of these things are lovely (and delicious)--it's about going home--that`s what`s worth skipping school for!
I'm going to round this out with a few thankfulness quotes:
"What we're really talking about is a wonderful day set aside on the fourth Thursday of November when no one diets. I mean, why else would they call it Thanksgiving?"
As a side note, there is no gym in the town where I`m going. I`m thinking of `forgetting` my runners. Periodization requires a week off or at least easy every once in a while, this way I`ll force myself to take a rest!
"Difficulties are opportunities to better things; they are stepping stones to greater experience. Perhaps someday you will be thankful for some temporary failure in a particular direction. When one door closes, another always opens."
Phew, changing programs and adding an extra year onto my undergrad is okay! I opened a new door to let me explore journalism, teaching, whatever else tickles my fancy without feeling pressured and rushed to get there! Yay for learning from our mistakes!
"We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures."
"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow."
Would watching this: http://social.macys.com/parade2010/?cm_sp=GFA-_-thanksgiving-_-n#/home do it?
How about eating http://www.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http://ny-image2.etsy.com/il_fullxfull.94249314.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php%3Flisting_id%3D32060398&usg=__h75Ely1AX20a3KxpMKY0fBkqMc4=&h=600&w=900&sz=85&hl=en&start=0&sig2=34Wi7WSv8xkyvuxyClA-UQ&zoom=1&tbnid=ns4xNgw57qxMbM:&tbnh=115&tbnw=153&ei=hjjrTMnHM8iKnQfanbHeAQ&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dgrandma%2527s%2Bpumpkin%2Bpie%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26biw%3D1345%26bih%3D511%26tbs%3Disch:1&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=612&vpy=198&dur=410&hovh=183&hovw=275&tx=123&ty=126&oei=hjjrTMnHM8iKnQfanbHeAQ&esq=1&page=1&ndsp=22&ved=1t:429,r:10,s:0 this?
Maybe the prospect of sitting in a confined space with your mother for hours on end? http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=london,+on&daddr=mifflinburg,+PA,+USA&geocode=FUbQjwIdRkgo-ykLm42oDvIuiDGVawWaadfHKA%3BFU5acAIdOlho-ykzDX7_VBjPiTEiv8RjdWpRzg&hl=en&mra=ls&sll=42.02342,-79.02874&sspn=3.166489,10.777588&ie=UTF8&ll=42.081917,-79.057617&spn=3.163644,10.777588&t=h&z=7 ... I'm calling it quality time!
If not, I'm sure that the sales you know I'm going to find this weekend are going to be worth it! If you're not familiar with Black Friday, you should be!( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Friday_(shopping) )
If we get sick of the mall, I'm thinking of going to the Horse and Buggy Museum. http://maps.google.ca/maps?hl=en&expIds=17259,18167,26473,27692,27698,27744,27746&xhr=t&cp=35&wrapid=tljp1290484303665050&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=horse+and+buggy+museum+pennsylvania&fb=1&gl=ca&hq=horse+and+buggy+museum&hnear=Pennsylvania,+USA&cid=0,0,14215671893939436345&ei=VTrrTI-QM5D2sgbSxqyFDw&sa=X&oi=local_result&ct=image&resnum=1&sqi=2&ved=0CBoQnwIwAA
...going to Pennsylvania takes me back to my childhood! It's not just about Tastycakes, Cowtails, friend bologna sandwiches, and Manischewitz wine--although all of these things are lovely (and delicious)--it's about going home--that`s what`s worth skipping school for!
I'm going to round this out with a few thankfulness quotes:
"What we're really talking about is a wonderful day set aside on the fourth Thursday of November when no one diets. I mean, why else would they call it Thanksgiving?"
As a side note, there is no gym in the town where I`m going. I`m thinking of `forgetting` my runners. Periodization requires a week off or at least easy every once in a while, this way I`ll force myself to take a rest!
"Difficulties are opportunities to better things; they are stepping stones to greater experience. Perhaps someday you will be thankful for some temporary failure in a particular direction. When one door closes, another always opens."
Phew, changing programs and adding an extra year onto my undergrad is okay! I opened a new door to let me explore journalism, teaching, whatever else tickles my fancy without feeling pressured and rushed to get there! Yay for learning from our mistakes!
"We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures."
"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow."
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Eating "Right"
Home with nothing to read except my orgo book, I went to Shopper's and I picked up a copy of a Yoga Journal special. It's got some really good sequences in it if you're the zen type. It's also got a really good article about what 'eating right' means: http://www.yogajournal.com/lifestyle/2020 .
The article basically summed up what I'm trying to practice and linked a yoga practice to being more mindful and less scientific about what we eat. I really like the quotes that they pull out: "People have a guilt complex if they eat anything that tastes good....We've become so engrossed...that we've forgotten that the point of living is to enjoy."
Not just did it speak directly to me, it also cited several other books/movements that I've connected with in the past:
- "The Omivore's Dilemma" -- Michael Pollan ("In Defense of Food" is also good) -- Pollan recognizes that taking a purely scientific view of food is partly the problem in America. He wrote "Food Rules" recently. His basic idea is to "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants." He's one of those writers that can make anything interesting (read his book, then call me and we'll talk mushrooms...seriously). http://michaelpollan.com/books/the-omnivores-dilemma/
- "Food Politics" -- Marion Nestle (also "What to Eat") -- She points out that food companies are businesses. They need to sell things! We learned about this in one of my Brescia classes (omg, school actually applying to something I care about?) about Nutrition and Agriculture: In the past, food production has been driven by profits and not by health. Consumers who want healthier food need to demand that it be produced. http://www.foodpolitics.com/
- "Overcoming Overeating" -- Jane Hirschmann (co author) -- Written mostly about disordered eating, she notes that the government can't really tell us to eat less while also promoting agriculture. Think about it -- If people stopped overeating, what would happen to all the food? Insightful. Maybe we could start to feed the people who need it? http://www.overcomingovereating.com/index.html
Those are just the writers that I've read before or been interested in before! The article also features others that are probably insightful (Christmas reading list, anyone?).
I hope you guys read this and can relate to it. I hope the article stirs something in you too!
Other things that go along with this blog:
- "Pay the grocer instead of the doctor." I am always amazed at people (especially students) who cite lack of funds as a reason for eating processed foods. Not only can you eat whole foods on a budget (it might require some planning, eating what's in season, and comparison shopping or going to the market), convenience foods cost more than real food! Remember that you're paying for processing, packaging, shipping, marketing, etc. (also note that sometimes, there could be more going on if your convenient food is cheaper -- think government subsidies, exploitation of farmers, blah blah blah I won't bore you but think about it, read about it, and decide who you want to support for yourself). Spend money on good food.
- "Only eat it if it came from the ground or had a mother." Jillian Michaels -- There's a love-hate relationship here. I used to love. Then I saw her fat burners and thermogenics. Then I checked back and made sure I had in fact read that she said she'd never sell out and make these products. Then it became a love-hate thing. She still kicks butt and her get in your face / deal with your emotions approach rocks BUT sometimes I question her agenda (never when she's doing a product placement ad--did anyone watch Biggets Loser last night? How about them Brita filters -- the only way you'll stay hydrated!). Anyways, this is a smart way to think about most of your food choices.
- If your grandmother would've eaten it, go for it. My grandma likes TastyCakes (they're akin to Twinkies), but she also knows that butter, milk, bread, and eggs are not going to kill you -- in fact, they're staples. Regular butter, not margarine. 2% milk, not soy milk. Whatever bread's the freshest, not necessarily the 'whole grain' one in the freezer. Regular eggs, not egg white substitutes or omega 3 enriched eggs.
- "Food Inc." -- watch it. Or check out the website and read about some of the issues to do with food that have little to do with you thighs. http://www.foodincmovie.com/about-the-issues.php
All this being said, I eat pudding. I eat organic berries. I eat frozen pizza. I'm learning to listen to my body. Eating 'right' is an individual thing. (See the Caveman diet post, earlier). How do you define it?
...one more thought: Are you creating too many or overly rigid food rules for yourself so that you can feel in control of something? And don't you think there are better things you could do with your energy?
(For me, thinking of all the time I've WASTED worrying about this whole topic makes me realize that life is too short. Eat what you want, when your body wants it, and move on. Don't give food more power than it deserves. Don't underestimate the importance of nourishing yourself, body and soul, with food and with all the other good things in life.)
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