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!
Friday, December 17, 2010
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.)
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Random thoughts
I couldn't find one thing that I really feel like commenting on, so here are a couple things that I found interesting in my exploring today...
1) Walmart planning to buy more local produce...http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/15/business/15walmart.html?ref=nutrition
Sometime's it's funny how you can have a conversation, lecture, or just think about something and then all of a sudden it's all around you. Reading about 'sustainability' in school is actually interesting, and this kind of makes me feel better about the fact that I, on occasion, go to Walmart for groceries (quite the change from the farmer's market, I know). Less guilt is definitely a good thing...
2) On the vein of food guilt, I'll segue into this one...http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/27/dining/27candy.html?pagewanted=2&ref=nutrition
Candy (and sugar in general) as the scapegoat in nutrition talk? Yep! High fructose corn syrup takes a big hit too! I understand that it's an issue for economic reasons (corn subsidies, etc.) and that foods that contain it are far from nutritional all-stars, but Jillian Michaels and Dr. Oz (who I trusted without really thinking about it) led me to believe that there was something inherently different about the way my body handles the stuff. Turns out, there's no difference. Unless you could isolate the fructose, which is handled differently, sugar is sugar. That means things with high fructose corn syrup and things with sugar are equally as sugary. Notice, after reading the NY Times link, I didn't say 'bad' or 'indulgent' or 'sinful' -- food shouldn't have moral implications. Think about all the advertisements you see (right now I'm picturing the ones for the sugar free Jello pudding--it tastes good, yes...but what's in it anyways?--that place their product as morally superior to 'sinful' cheesecake/rich desserts, etc.). Now, realize how crazy it is to consider food on a moral level!
3) My sister made me feel better last night, so here's another eerily relevant one...http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/26/health/26essay.html?ref=views
4) And this one hits close to home too because I am seriously considering putting myself on a crackberry diet...http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/16/health/research/16behavior.html?ref=health What do you guys think? How do you decide if you're spending too much time texting or on your Blackberry? I like the idea of not, I like the idea of giving up facebook, and I like the idea of having face to face encounters. I don't like the idea of not being able to let my friends know when something funny or bad happens, I don't like the idea of not being able to talk to the people I love 20 times a day if I want to, I don't like the idea of losing touch with out of town friends. It's a tough balance, I suppose, and something we all have to figure out for ourselves! I know that if one more person ploughs into me on the bridge because they're too busy texting to look up and see where they're going, shit might hit the fan!
...that's all for now folks! Amazing the things you find if you poke around the NY Times site!
1) Walmart planning to buy more local produce...http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/15/business/15walmart.html?ref=nutrition
Sometime's it's funny how you can have a conversation, lecture, or just think about something and then all of a sudden it's all around you. Reading about 'sustainability' in school is actually interesting, and this kind of makes me feel better about the fact that I, on occasion, go to Walmart for groceries (quite the change from the farmer's market, I know). Less guilt is definitely a good thing...
2) On the vein of food guilt, I'll segue into this one...http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/27/dining/27candy.html?pagewanted=2&ref=nutrition
Candy (and sugar in general) as the scapegoat in nutrition talk? Yep! High fructose corn syrup takes a big hit too! I understand that it's an issue for economic reasons (corn subsidies, etc.) and that foods that contain it are far from nutritional all-stars, but Jillian Michaels and Dr. Oz (who I trusted without really thinking about it) led me to believe that there was something inherently different about the way my body handles the stuff. Turns out, there's no difference. Unless you could isolate the fructose, which is handled differently, sugar is sugar. That means things with high fructose corn syrup and things with sugar are equally as sugary. Notice, after reading the NY Times link, I didn't say 'bad' or 'indulgent' or 'sinful' -- food shouldn't have moral implications. Think about all the advertisements you see (right now I'm picturing the ones for the sugar free Jello pudding--it tastes good, yes...but what's in it anyways?--that place their product as morally superior to 'sinful' cheesecake/rich desserts, etc.). Now, realize how crazy it is to consider food on a moral level!
3) My sister made me feel better last night, so here's another eerily relevant one...http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/26/health/26essay.html?ref=views
4) And this one hits close to home too because I am seriously considering putting myself on a crackberry diet...http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/16/health/research/16behavior.html?ref=health What do you guys think? How do you decide if you're spending too much time texting or on your Blackberry? I like the idea of not, I like the idea of giving up facebook, and I like the idea of having face to face encounters. I don't like the idea of not being able to let my friends know when something funny or bad happens, I don't like the idea of not being able to talk to the people I love 20 times a day if I want to, I don't like the idea of losing touch with out of town friends. It's a tough balance, I suppose, and something we all have to figure out for ourselves! I know that if one more person ploughs into me on the bridge because they're too busy texting to look up and see where they're going, shit might hit the fan!
...that's all for now folks! Amazing the things you find if you poke around the NY Times site!
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Real Food Now
So you may or may not have seen that I am bailing (or backing out gracefully) from the Foods and Nutrition program that I was so excited to get into this year. I have not been enjoying myself in the classes, even though I have met a lot of wonderful girls who I know are going to make great dietitians when all is said and done! Being in a program that I thought was a passion (but that actually crosses the line to an obsession) is counterproductive for me -- despite the fact that I am confident that I could make it through the program and become an RD who has struggled with food issues, I am not so certain that doing that is what I want to do. Of all the things I can do with my life, do I really want to spend it in such a potentially triggering situation? Do I really want to limit myself to something just because it's what I've started? ...the answer to these questions is NO. I am willing to admit that even though I don't know what else to do with my life, I am not willing to stay in something just because. I am also at a point where I can admit I made a boo boo in transferring into the program, but where I also give it credit: had I not been so immersed in it and actually tried it out, things might not have escalated and I might not have realized how badly I needed to address my issues AND if I had not tried it, I might have always wondered what could have been.
All of this is more of a diary entry than a blog post, but at any rate, here's what was interesting for me today--and it comes from a lecture, believe it or not!
Go this link: www.realfoodnow.org and WATCH THE VIDEO. These are the kinds of foods and nutrition things that I am passionate about and that I can see myself working in in the future. Helping people get past the fat grams and what's healthy vs. unhealthy debates and to the bigger picture. It's all cheesy, but thinking about sustainability is serious and is important! I am not going to ask you (or myself) to give up things like salad in February just because it's not local, but I am going to consider the implications that my choices (not just food, but everything) have on the bigger picture. I was really interested in the 100 Mile Diet when it first came out as a book, then when it caught on and became a TV series, I was even more interested. http://www.amazon.ca/100-Mile-Diet-Year-Local-Eating/dp/0679314822 and http://100mile.foodtv.ca/ (check it out!)
Another interesting topic discussed (very briefly) today in class was the idea of using regional or seasonal versions of the Food Guide instead of the standard one we have now. I never would have thought of it, but as soon as the idea was presented, it made so much sense! How can people in the Northwest Territories and people in the GTA expect to eat the same, realistically? There has to be a healthy way to adapt the Food Guide to the regions and doing so will enable people to actually follow the recommendations. To be honest, it seems to me like we need to return to a simpler way of eating: people in the Northwest Territories managed before they had a guide to tell them what to eat. They also managed before there were fresh fruits and vegetables shipped to them year-round.
Whatdya guys think? Should we have seasonal, regional guides? Do you think Western and the Real Food Now campaign would work together? Or do you associate eating local with a long, boring winter of hearty borscht? Lemme know!
All of this is more of a diary entry than a blog post, but at any rate, here's what was interesting for me today--and it comes from a lecture, believe it or not!
Go this link: www.realfoodnow.org and WATCH THE VIDEO. These are the kinds of foods and nutrition things that I am passionate about and that I can see myself working in in the future. Helping people get past the fat grams and what's healthy vs. unhealthy debates and to the bigger picture. It's all cheesy, but thinking about sustainability is serious and is important! I am not going to ask you (or myself) to give up things like salad in February just because it's not local, but I am going to consider the implications that my choices (not just food, but everything) have on the bigger picture. I was really interested in the 100 Mile Diet when it first came out as a book, then when it caught on and became a TV series, I was even more interested. http://www.amazon.ca/100-Mile-Diet-Year-Local-Eating/dp/0679314822 and http://100mile.foodtv.ca/ (check it out!)
Another interesting topic discussed (very briefly) today in class was the idea of using regional or seasonal versions of the Food Guide instead of the standard one we have now. I never would have thought of it, but as soon as the idea was presented, it made so much sense! How can people in the Northwest Territories and people in the GTA expect to eat the same, realistically? There has to be a healthy way to adapt the Food Guide to the regions and doing so will enable people to actually follow the recommendations. To be honest, it seems to me like we need to return to a simpler way of eating: people in the Northwest Territories managed before they had a guide to tell them what to eat. They also managed before there were fresh fruits and vegetables shipped to them year-round.
Whatdya guys think? Should we have seasonal, regional guides? Do you think Western and the Real Food Now campaign would work together? Or do you associate eating local with a long, boring winter of hearty borscht? Lemme know!
Monday, November 8, 2010
More Crazies
This is on a similar vein to my last post. Watch this:
(Or don't, and read on)...
These shoes kill me: Scalers -- sneakers with mini electronic sensors. All you have to do is stand still for a minute so that the shoes will tell you your weight. At any time during the day. Seriously? Because we're not weight obsessed enough as it is...
I decided to look at how expensive these bad boys are, so I ended up at their website:
PLEASE go look at it. There's a picture of a blonde in a bathing suit bottom with a t-shirt that says "Scalers shoes did this to me!" Ummm, did what to you? Put you on the beach in an ugly t shirt that makes you look like an idiot?
They market them to people who maybe are rushed after their workout and need to know how much they weigh. Or to athletes who need to know if they'll make weight (and that topic is a WHOLE different blog post in itself). Or to people who are too self conscious to get on a scale in a public place. Um, hi, so wearing the shoes with the readout right on them won't broadcast it to the rest of the room or something? Or point out the fact that you're insecure enough to need to know your weight at any given time? Maybe to just let the world know that your worth is based on an arbitrary number?
Okay, I'm getting a tad bit fired up. Before it gets out of hand, I think I'll just stop. Last thing...I don't want to forget to mention, they're ugly ugly ugly!
BOO! 2 THUMBS DOWN FOR SCALERS!
(Or don't, and read on)...
These shoes kill me: Scalers -- sneakers with mini electronic sensors. All you have to do is stand still for a minute so that the shoes will tell you your weight. At any time during the day. Seriously? Because we're not weight obsessed enough as it is...
I decided to look at how expensive these bad boys are, so I ended up at their website:
PLEASE go look at it. There's a picture of a blonde in a bathing suit bottom with a t-shirt that says "Scalers shoes did this to me!" Ummm, did what to you? Put you on the beach in an ugly t shirt that makes you look like an idiot?
They market them to people who maybe are rushed after their workout and need to know how much they weigh. Or to athletes who need to know if they'll make weight (and that topic is a WHOLE different blog post in itself). Or to people who are too self conscious to get on a scale in a public place. Um, hi, so wearing the shoes with the readout right on them won't broadcast it to the rest of the room or something? Or point out the fact that you're insecure enough to need to know your weight at any given time? Maybe to just let the world know that your worth is based on an arbitrary number?
Okay, I'm getting a tad bit fired up. Before it gets out of hand, I think I'll just stop. Last thing...I don't want to forget to mention, they're ugly ugly ugly!
BOO! 2 THUMBS DOWN FOR SCALERS!
Locker Room Lunatics
I think you could write an entire book based on the things you overhear people talking about. At Starbucks, in line at the grocery store, on airplanes -- the conversations you hear are crazy! Some of the funniest ones I've heard are in the locker room. There's something about being sweaty and half naked that makes women really open up to each other, apparently!
Anyways, on Friday morning, I was in the locker room after a particularly awesome spin class. I was eavesdropping (or couldn't help but overhear the women who were yelling across the big women's changeroom at the Athletic Club). I had spoken to one of the chit-chatters last week, making the usual small talk about the gym and how tough it is to get there in the morning when it's freezing. She complained a little about how she has a lot of weight to lose (she looked like a pretty average middle-aged woman to me). We went our seperate ways. This time, though, she was opening up a lot more than she had to me!
"I've lost 16 pounds in three weeks!" (Already, I'm thinking OH NO here we go again.)
"How?" chimes in the other lady, who is a smaller, also middle-aged woman.
"This great new diet. It's called the pee aye ell eee oh, Paleo, diet. You eat like a cave man!" (I'm not kidding. She spelled it out slowly, she said that you eat like a cave man. Now I've heard of the diet before but I generally think of young, athletes or really eager health nuts trying it out. I also see the merits in eating more whole foods.)
The smaller woman was impressed and started to open up about her stubborn last five pounds. She never really said why she needed to lose them, she just made it very clear that it was necessary! She did, however, tell her locker room buddy that she didn't know what else she could possibly give up. She gave the details of her own diet, pointing out the things that she does eat--fish, salads, chicken, black tea, and vegetables--but more importantly, lamenting about the things that she doesn't--rice, potatoes, pasta, bread, sweets, cheese, and milk, among other things. But oh, she pointed out, "I let myself have yogurt every other day." (Good thing, I'm thinking, you need some Calcium woman!).
The cavewoman was pretty disinterested and shifted the conversation back to her own meal plan. She basically talked to herself and came to the conclusion that she must have been lactose intolerant, all kind of suggesting that the yogurt every other day might be an issue. (At this point, I am literally biting my tongue because I wanted to ask if these women were taking multivitamins?)
Multivitamins and worrying about their bones wasn't the only source of my anxiety. I wanted to tell them that they were letting me down--I was kind of hoping that 30 years from now, being okay with my body and finding better things to talk about in the locker room would come easy. Maybe I'm naive, but I think that five pounds isn't worth eating the same 7 foods every day, waking up at the same time every day so that you can religiously walk on the same treadmill and complain about the same five pounds over and over and over again. Seems depressing, doesn't it?
While I'm not saying that the Paleo diet doesn't have its merits: I'm all for eating more whole foods (Jillian's rule: If it didn't come from the ground or have a mother, think twice before you eat it.) but I am also all for living in balance and keeping moderation in mind. Eating like our grandparents is one thing, but eating like our ancient ancestors is another. No grains. No dairy. That means no cheese. No ice cream. No whole grain bread. No oatmeal. No LOTS of healthy things. Also, to me, no flexibility. No fun.
Rather than letting these ladies get me down, I decided that I would use them as an example of what I NEVER WANT TO LET MYSELF BECOME. Maybe I've been there before, eating the same things over and over and over again because they're 'safe'. In fact, I have been there and I have missed out on a lot of things because I've been concerned about what I would eat or when I would exercise. But hearing other people discuss it makes me realize just how easy it is to get caught up in our beliefs and to let them dictate our lives in ways that are simply unhealthy.
This isn't meant to be a post that excuses laziness or gluttony: I'm a fitness instructor, cyclist, and I love to move. But you don't need an excuse to sit around and you don't need a reason (or weight to lose) to exercise. Our bodies are meant to move. They're also meant to tell us when we're hungry and to tell us what we're hungry for. As soon as we start ignoring them, that's when our weight can become an issue. Worrying about the outcome--the number on the scale, your pants size, etc.--is backwards. Worry instead about what you can do: nourish your body with foods, treat it right with exercise. This is what I like because it leaves room for ice cream, mornings where the snooze button wins, quinoa, and half marathons alike.
What do you guys think?
Anyways, on Friday morning, I was in the locker room after a particularly awesome spin class. I was eavesdropping (or couldn't help but overhear the women who were yelling across the big women's changeroom at the Athletic Club). I had spoken to one of the chit-chatters last week, making the usual small talk about the gym and how tough it is to get there in the morning when it's freezing. She complained a little about how she has a lot of weight to lose (she looked like a pretty average middle-aged woman to me). We went our seperate ways. This time, though, she was opening up a lot more than she had to me!
"I've lost 16 pounds in three weeks!" (Already, I'm thinking OH NO here we go again.)
"How?" chimes in the other lady, who is a smaller, also middle-aged woman.
"This great new diet. It's called the pee aye ell eee oh, Paleo, diet. You eat like a cave man!" (I'm not kidding. She spelled it out slowly, she said that you eat like a cave man. Now I've heard of the diet before but I generally think of young, athletes or really eager health nuts trying it out. I also see the merits in eating more whole foods.)
The smaller woman was impressed and started to open up about her stubborn last five pounds. She never really said why she needed to lose them, she just made it very clear that it was necessary! She did, however, tell her locker room buddy that she didn't know what else she could possibly give up. She gave the details of her own diet, pointing out the things that she does eat--fish, salads, chicken, black tea, and vegetables--but more importantly, lamenting about the things that she doesn't--rice, potatoes, pasta, bread, sweets, cheese, and milk, among other things. But oh, she pointed out, "I let myself have yogurt every other day." (Good thing, I'm thinking, you need some Calcium woman!).
The cavewoman was pretty disinterested and shifted the conversation back to her own meal plan. She basically talked to herself and came to the conclusion that she must have been lactose intolerant, all kind of suggesting that the yogurt every other day might be an issue. (At this point, I am literally biting my tongue because I wanted to ask if these women were taking multivitamins?)
Multivitamins and worrying about their bones wasn't the only source of my anxiety. I wanted to tell them that they were letting me down--I was kind of hoping that 30 years from now, being okay with my body and finding better things to talk about in the locker room would come easy. Maybe I'm naive, but I think that five pounds isn't worth eating the same 7 foods every day, waking up at the same time every day so that you can religiously walk on the same treadmill and complain about the same five pounds over and over and over again. Seems depressing, doesn't it?
While I'm not saying that the Paleo diet doesn't have its merits: I'm all for eating more whole foods (Jillian's rule: If it didn't come from the ground or have a mother, think twice before you eat it.) but I am also all for living in balance and keeping moderation in mind. Eating like our grandparents is one thing, but eating like our ancient ancestors is another. No grains. No dairy. That means no cheese. No ice cream. No whole grain bread. No oatmeal. No LOTS of healthy things. Also, to me, no flexibility. No fun.
Rather than letting these ladies get me down, I decided that I would use them as an example of what I NEVER WANT TO LET MYSELF BECOME. Maybe I've been there before, eating the same things over and over and over again because they're 'safe'. In fact, I have been there and I have missed out on a lot of things because I've been concerned about what I would eat or when I would exercise. But hearing other people discuss it makes me realize just how easy it is to get caught up in our beliefs and to let them dictate our lives in ways that are simply unhealthy.
This isn't meant to be a post that excuses laziness or gluttony: I'm a fitness instructor, cyclist, and I love to move. But you don't need an excuse to sit around and you don't need a reason (or weight to lose) to exercise. Our bodies are meant to move. They're also meant to tell us when we're hungry and to tell us what we're hungry for. As soon as we start ignoring them, that's when our weight can become an issue. Worrying about the outcome--the number on the scale, your pants size, etc.--is backwards. Worry instead about what you can do: nourish your body with foods, treat it right with exercise. This is what I like because it leaves room for ice cream, mornings where the snooze button wins, quinoa, and half marathons alike.
What do you guys think?
Monday, November 1, 2010
Candy Creativity
Leftover Halloween Candy?
If in the midst of fun size candy bars galore you managed to hold yourself back this weekend or if perhaps you didn’t get as many trick or treaters as you anticipated, you’re probably wondering what to do with your extra Halloween candy. Instead of snarfing it all before it gets stale, here are some other ideas you might like (and if all else fails, you’re more than welcome to send it my way!)...
Make your own Marble Slab.
Are you suddenly recognizing the world of possibilities here? Maybe your deep freezer has started glowing with possibilities? Open up the chocolate bars and chop them into small chunks that you can put in individual Ziploc bags before you throw them in the freezer. Watch for sales on ice cream and frozen yogurt and let the flavour possibilities unfold...
Use those little caramels for something that actually tastes good.You know the ones I mean. They taste more like plastic than anything, but they’re cheap and you always seem to end up with tons of them! Turns out they’re a KEY ingredient in one of the most delicious cakes I’ve ever devoured in a single sitting (that’s only a mild exaggeration): http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,186,145162-236193,00.html isn’t my recipe but looks pretty close to the one I use!
Be smart with your Smarties.
Ever since nut free became so important, I have ended up with more Smarties than a person could possibly want. If you know any Canadians living in the US, send them your boxes – they don’t make them over there! Random info: Smarties in the US are those chalky little candies that Canadians call Rockets. Maybe it’s because I grew up in the states, but I really don’t like Smarties all that much! However, when you bake them into a chocolate chip cookie recipe they’re not so bad! M&Ms obviously work well here too! Like Phoebe on Friends (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3a-mDPknXI )¸I think that Nestle Tollhouse has the best recipe...http://www.verybestbaking.com/recipes/18476/Original-NESTL%C3%89-TOLL-HOUSE-Chocolate-Chip-Cookies/detail.aspx Just throw in the candy instead of (or with) the chocolate chips. And make extra for me, please!
Another delicious option: throw them into some trail mix! Take a healthy snack and make it delicious by adding chocolate to any combination of mixed nuts, dried fruit, pretzels, and cereal. Yum!
Kiss wisely.
Two things I love: peanut butter and chocolate (not just in Reese’s form). Hershey Kisses are even more delicious when they come on top of a peanut butter thumbprint cookie. I can’t think of a better vessel with which to bring the candy to my mouth! Here’s a recipe if you don’t have one for peanut butter cookies that you prefer: http://www.hersheys.com/recipes/recipes/detail.asp?id=5191 !
Turn what could’ve been a Whopper of a snack into a healthier choice.
I feel old. Malted chocolates used to be something my parents liked – an old person snack. Now, I love the darn things. Rather than eat too many as a snack on their own, why not crush them up and throw them on top of a sugar free (or regular) pudding cup?
Coffee and chocolate are not food groups, but they should be.
Coffee Crisp bars are basically a fusion of two things that keep me going on a daily basis. When they come together and wrapped in a bright yellow package, I can’t help but be happy! Again, instead of eating so many that I feel sick as a snack on their own, taking one or two and cutting them up before tossing them in with vanilla or cafe latte or mocha yogurt does the trick for me! Protein, chocolate, coffee, calcium...I like what I’m seeing here (and it’s a healthy snack)!
Get crafty.
Remember the cool jewellery people were making out of Starburst wrappers a few years ago? Why not get creative – you’ll feel less guilty tossing out the candies (or eating them) if you need the wrappers for your craft! If the final product isn’t really your style, think of a cousin, friend, or little sibling who’d get a kick out of your creation and save it to give to them at Christmas time! http://www.ehow.com/how_6160340_directions-make-starburst-wrapper-necklaces.html
No lab coat or goggles required.If you’re like me, labs = danger. I worry sometimes that the chemistry building at UWO is going to see its last day when they hand me a Bunsen burner. Experiments with candy are a much safer bet for folks like me! This is nerdy but cool: if you soak Skittles, apparently the S floats to the top of the water! Check out this site for some other cool ideas: http://www.candyexperiments.com/
Donate it.
There are plenty of places that will take your candy. People even ship it in care packages (the kinds that won’t melt—think gummies, candy corn, etc.) to people overseas or to the military!
I’m sorry for taking away your excuse to eat 2 pounds of Snickers tonight but you’ll thank me later! Enjoy!
If in the midst of fun size candy bars galore you managed to hold yourself back this weekend or if perhaps you didn’t get as many trick or treaters as you anticipated, you’re probably wondering what to do with your extra Halloween candy. Instead of snarfing it all before it gets stale, here are some other ideas you might like (and if all else fails, you’re more than welcome to send it my way!)...
Make your own Marble Slab.
Are you suddenly recognizing the world of possibilities here? Maybe your deep freezer has started glowing with possibilities? Open up the chocolate bars and chop them into small chunks that you can put in individual Ziploc bags before you throw them in the freezer. Watch for sales on ice cream and frozen yogurt and let the flavour possibilities unfold...
Use those little caramels for something that actually tastes good.You know the ones I mean. They taste more like plastic than anything, but they’re cheap and you always seem to end up with tons of them! Turns out they’re a KEY ingredient in one of the most delicious cakes I’ve ever devoured in a single sitting (that’s only a mild exaggeration): http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,186,145162-236193,00.html isn’t my recipe but looks pretty close to the one I use!
Be smart with your Smarties.
Ever since nut free became so important, I have ended up with more Smarties than a person could possibly want. If you know any Canadians living in the US, send them your boxes – they don’t make them over there! Random info: Smarties in the US are those chalky little candies that Canadians call Rockets. Maybe it’s because I grew up in the states, but I really don’t like Smarties all that much! However, when you bake them into a chocolate chip cookie recipe they’re not so bad! M&Ms obviously work well here too! Like Phoebe on Friends (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3a-mDPknXI )¸I think that Nestle Tollhouse has the best recipe...http://www.verybestbaking.com/recipes/18476/Original-NESTL%C3%89-TOLL-HOUSE-Chocolate-Chip-Cookies/detail.aspx Just throw in the candy instead of (or with) the chocolate chips. And make extra for me, please!
Another delicious option: throw them into some trail mix! Take a healthy snack and make it delicious by adding chocolate to any combination of mixed nuts, dried fruit, pretzels, and cereal. Yum!
Kiss wisely.
Two things I love: peanut butter and chocolate (not just in Reese’s form). Hershey Kisses are even more delicious when they come on top of a peanut butter thumbprint cookie. I can’t think of a better vessel with which to bring the candy to my mouth! Here’s a recipe if you don’t have one for peanut butter cookies that you prefer: http://www.hersheys.com/recipes/recipes/detail.asp?id=5191 !
Turn what could’ve been a Whopper of a snack into a healthier choice.
I feel old. Malted chocolates used to be something my parents liked – an old person snack. Now, I love the darn things. Rather than eat too many as a snack on their own, why not crush them up and throw them on top of a sugar free (or regular) pudding cup?
Coffee and chocolate are not food groups, but they should be.
Coffee Crisp bars are basically a fusion of two things that keep me going on a daily basis. When they come together and wrapped in a bright yellow package, I can’t help but be happy! Again, instead of eating so many that I feel sick as a snack on their own, taking one or two and cutting them up before tossing them in with vanilla or cafe latte or mocha yogurt does the trick for me! Protein, chocolate, coffee, calcium...I like what I’m seeing here (and it’s a healthy snack)!
Get crafty.
Remember the cool jewellery people were making out of Starburst wrappers a few years ago? Why not get creative – you’ll feel less guilty tossing out the candies (or eating them) if you need the wrappers for your craft! If the final product isn’t really your style, think of a cousin, friend, or little sibling who’d get a kick out of your creation and save it to give to them at Christmas time! http://www.ehow.com/how_6160340_directions-make-starburst-wrapper-necklaces.html
No lab coat or goggles required.If you’re like me, labs = danger. I worry sometimes that the chemistry building at UWO is going to see its last day when they hand me a Bunsen burner. Experiments with candy are a much safer bet for folks like me! This is nerdy but cool: if you soak Skittles, apparently the S floats to the top of the water! Check out this site for some other cool ideas: http://www.candyexperiments.com/
Donate it.
There are plenty of places that will take your candy. People even ship it in care packages (the kinds that won’t melt—think gummies, candy corn, etc.) to people overseas or to the military!
I’m sorry for taking away your excuse to eat 2 pounds of Snickers tonight but you’ll thank me later! Enjoy!
Sunday, October 31, 2010
GET YOUR SWEAT ON!
A lot of people have been asking me either for my workouts OR asking if we could work out together sometime. I was saving these for a best seller some day, but I guess I’ll give everyone a preview and trust that you’ll buy my book when I let you be in there as testimonials. I can’t take the credit for these in their entirety, but I can say that I’ve brought my own little flair to them! Hope you guys enjoy them in a sick and exceptionally sore kind of way...
CONES:
The story behind this one: I ‘borrowed’ some of it from Marc Lebert (check out his stuff - -http://www.lebertequalizer.com/index.htm) and added to it. The first night of my bootcamp, me scared out of my mind, I put the brave souls through this! I heard they were sore for days and I knew I had a business going...
Set up baby pylons (or anything, really, but these are cute and ironic since the workout is
anything but cute/baby/etc.) as far apart as you’d like--the farther the better but you can
go back and forth more times if you’re stuck in a smaller space!
First...jog down and back to warm up (and to cool down when you’re done).
Then, choose any of the following and repeat it 4 or 5 times. It will depend on how far apart you put your cones!:
shuffle sideways down and back (don’t cross feet) – get low!
criss cross sideways down and back (cross feet) – get low!
bear crawl down and back
pencil hop down and back
lunge down and back (or jog back)
jump squat (or step, step, squat) down and back (or jog back)
sprint down and jog back
This doesn’t take long but you will feel it the next day! ...and the day after that! and maybe even the day after that!
TEN TO ONE:
A trainer in Calgary introduced me to this one. We did the following, but you can again do anything you want! I like to add in a surprise – tuck jumps, sets on the stairs, inverted rows, etc – every once in a while!
10 reps each of: pushups, dumbbell squats, dumbbell thrusters, box jumps, kettlebell swings, burpees, pull-ups (jumping) followed by 9, 8, 7, 6, 5 4, 3, 2, 1 and what I decided to add and call BONUS! 10 round after you finish the 1s!
PLANK FUN #1:
1 minute plank / 1 minute up down (push up into a pushup position, lower down, alternating which side you start on --http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=097EmpGkgP0 ) /1 minute walking legs in and out / 1 minute plank
(It doesn’t have to be 1 minute, you could do 45 seconds or 30 seconds or even 15 seconds of each! 4 minutes is a long time to be loving those abs but it’s awesome! I like to start with the 1 minute round, rest, then repeat for 45 seconds, rest, then do it for 30. Needless to say, I get mad at my friends for making me laugh the next day...ouch!)
PLANK FUN #2:
Holding a basic OR a pushup position plank:
1st time: reach forward with your left hand 10 times (keep your body in line and your abs engaged)
repeat with your right hand
repeat with your left leg
repeat with your right leg
repeat with your left hand and right leg
repeat with your right hand and left leg
...REST
2nd time: following the same progression as the 1st time, reach forward for 5 reps and hold for 5 counts
...REST
3rd time: following the same progression as the 1st time, hold for 10 seconds each
MARATHON ABS:
The name is credited to Lola, the toughest Cardio Kickbox instructor I’ve ever met!
You can do it with any exercises, but my favourite patterns are 30 seconds or any time period without rest each of:
i)crunches/situps
crunches/situps with legs elevated
leg raises
reverse crunches
crunches/situps
ii) crunches/situps
crunches/situps with legs elevated to a 45 degree angle
scissor kicks (bonus inner thigh workout)
crunches/situps with legs elevated to 45 degree angle
crunches/situps
The possibilities are endless...
OTHER:
Other things that people aren’t doing but should be(I’ll admit, myself included on some of ‘em)...
turkish get ups
wall sits
mountain climbers
smiling and clapping when they do burpees
running stairs
pushups (all kinds of possibilities)
plyos
stability ball pikes
rowing
using the jacob’s ladder
jumping rope
CONES:
The story behind this one: I ‘borrowed’ some of it from Marc Lebert (check out his stuff - -http://www.lebertequalizer.com/index.htm) and added to it. The first night of my bootcamp, me scared out of my mind, I put the brave souls through this! I heard they were sore for days and I knew I had a business going...
Set up baby pylons (or anything, really, but these are cute and ironic since the workout is
anything but cute/baby/etc.) as far apart as you’d like--the farther the better but you can
go back and forth more times if you’re stuck in a smaller space!
First...jog down and back to warm up (and to cool down when you’re done).
Then, choose any of the following and repeat it 4 or 5 times. It will depend on how far apart you put your cones!:
shuffle sideways down and back (don’t cross feet) – get low!
criss cross sideways down and back (cross feet) – get low!
bear crawl down and back
pencil hop down and back
lunge down and back (or jog back)
jump squat (or step, step, squat) down and back (or jog back)
sprint down and jog back
This doesn’t take long but you will feel it the next day! ...and the day after that! and maybe even the day after that!
TEN TO ONE:
A trainer in Calgary introduced me to this one. We did the following, but you can again do anything you want! I like to add in a surprise – tuck jumps, sets on the stairs, inverted rows, etc – every once in a while!
10 reps each of: pushups, dumbbell squats, dumbbell thrusters, box jumps, kettlebell swings, burpees, pull-ups (jumping) followed by 9, 8, 7, 6, 5 4, 3, 2, 1 and what I decided to add and call BONUS! 10 round after you finish the 1s!
PLANK FUN #1:
1 minute plank / 1 minute up down (push up into a pushup position, lower down, alternating which side you start on --http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=097EmpGkgP0 ) /1 minute walking legs in and out / 1 minute plank
(It doesn’t have to be 1 minute, you could do 45 seconds or 30 seconds or even 15 seconds of each! 4 minutes is a long time to be loving those abs but it’s awesome! I like to start with the 1 minute round, rest, then repeat for 45 seconds, rest, then do it for 30. Needless to say, I get mad at my friends for making me laugh the next day...ouch!)
PLANK FUN #2:
Holding a basic OR a pushup position plank:
1st time: reach forward with your left hand 10 times (keep your body in line and your abs engaged)
repeat with your right hand
repeat with your left leg
repeat with your right leg
repeat with your left hand and right leg
repeat with your right hand and left leg
...REST
2nd time: following the same progression as the 1st time, reach forward for 5 reps and hold for 5 counts
...REST
3rd time: following the same progression as the 1st time, hold for 10 seconds each
MARATHON ABS:
The name is credited to Lola, the toughest Cardio Kickbox instructor I’ve ever met!
You can do it with any exercises, but my favourite patterns are 30 seconds or any time period without rest each of:
i)crunches/situps
crunches/situps with legs elevated
leg raises
reverse crunches
crunches/situps
ii) crunches/situps
crunches/situps with legs elevated to a 45 degree angle
scissor kicks (bonus inner thigh workout)
crunches/situps with legs elevated to 45 degree angle
crunches/situps
The possibilities are endless...
OTHER:
Other things that people aren’t doing but should be(I’ll admit, myself included on some of ‘em)...
turkish get ups
wall sits
mountain climbers
smiling and clapping when they do burpees
running stairs
pushups (all kinds of possibilities)
plyos
stability ball pikes
rowing
using the jacob’s ladder
jumping rope
BREAKFASTS (reposting...)
raisin bread + pb + 1/2 a banana and a yogurt (you can make it the night before) to be honest i sometimes have this with carrots and celery. and by sometimes i mean every tuesday and thursday after spin, i eat veggies at 8:30 in the morning. it's my second breakfast, so it's legit!
cook oatmeal or porridge in the microwave, put it in a tupperware and throw some frozen berries and yogurt on top of it...in the morning, it is A M A Z I N G (extra delicious)
do you like cottage cheese? if not, use yogurt: 1/3 cup all bran buds + 1/2 cup kashi go lean cereal + whatever fruit you can get your chands on :) delicious
if you're feeling fancy, dice up an apple and microwave it for about a minute so that it gets nice and soft. i like it on top of mini wheats (but any cereal would work) with cold cold milk or soy milk. and some brown sugar and maybe raisins. nom nom nom.
another personal favourite: pumpkin pie oatmeal -- cinnamon, pumpkin, and raisins/walnuts/an apple/brown sugar if you'd like on top of a bowl of cooked oatmeal. so good! sometimes i throw some egg whites into the oats before i cook them. delish. VEGETABLES AT BREAKFAST! YES!
how about a "protein" pancake (with or without protein powder, you can make it work): oatmeal, protein powder (or flour or neither and just play around until it holds its consistency) with egg whites mixed together and put into a sprayed hot frying pan. you can top it with peanut butter and banana (my fave), jam, syrup, other fruit, WHATEVER YOU WANT!...delicious
Now that i'm hungry i'm goign to go to bed so that i can wake up and eat one of these things! Sound good?!?
cook oatmeal or porridge in the microwave, put it in a tupperware and throw some frozen berries and yogurt on top of it...in the morning, it is A M A Z I N G (extra delicious)
do you like cottage cheese? if not, use yogurt: 1/3 cup all bran buds + 1/2 cup kashi go lean cereal + whatever fruit you can get your chands on :) delicious
if you're feeling fancy, dice up an apple and microwave it for about a minute so that it gets nice and soft. i like it on top of mini wheats (but any cereal would work) with cold cold milk or soy milk. and some brown sugar and maybe raisins. nom nom nom.
another personal favourite: pumpkin pie oatmeal -- cinnamon, pumpkin, and raisins/walnuts/an apple/brown sugar if you'd like on top of a bowl of cooked oatmeal. so good! sometimes i throw some egg whites into the oats before i cook them. delish. VEGETABLES AT BREAKFAST! YES!
how about a "protein" pancake (with or without protein powder, you can make it work): oatmeal, protein powder (or flour or neither and just play around until it holds its consistency) with egg whites mixed together and put into a sprayed hot frying pan. you can top it with peanut butter and banana (my fave), jam, syrup, other fruit, WHATEVER YOU WANT!...delicious
Now that i'm hungry i'm goign to go to bed so that i can wake up and eat one of these things! Sound good?!?
Quidditch for Muggles
With the opening of the next Harry Potter less than a month away, I have to admit that I'm more excited for this than I am even for the possibility that a strike could happen in t minus 4 days and I could get a break from ORGO!
Global (I think, it could have been CTV) news had a story about universities playing QUIDDITCH! Even though it is ridiculous, and the snitch is a random person who runs around campus dressed in all yellow, it has apparently caught on enough that there's an International Quidditch association and a World Cup scheduled for November!
http://www.leaderpost.com/Harry+Potter+Quidditch+soaring+popularity/3719889/story.html
I say Western starts a team, whatdya think?
Global (I think, it could have been CTV) news had a story about universities playing QUIDDITCH! Even though it is ridiculous, and the snitch is a random person who runs around campus dressed in all yellow, it has apparently caught on enough that there's an International Quidditch association and a World Cup scheduled for November!
http://www.leaderpost.com/Harry+Potter+Quidditch+soaring+popularity/3719889/story.html
I say Western starts a team, whatdya think?
Friday, October 29, 2010
Halloween Haunting, Turkey Trot, Santa Shuffle
Admittedly, the thought of hundreds of people running/walking while dressed up as all kinds of things (I’m hoping to see Lady Gaga on Sunday) makes me pretty happy. I’m one of those suckers for fun things like themed runs...
Turkey Trot? How CUTE is that?! And how totally awesome to exercise BEFORE you eat all that turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, gravy, pumpkin pie, pecan pie...okay I’m getting off track!...
Santa shuffles are popular all over the place...
(register with me this year: http://www.runningroom.com/hm/inside.php?id=3194)
So, I decided to look up some other FUN events that are goofy for the sake of getting people active...
The best one I found was in Finland, of all places. There's a wife-carrying competition loosely based on a robber who lived in a forest and would steal food and girls from villages (Ronkainen the Robber). The winner of the 832 foot obstacle track, complete with water and plenty of wife-dunking took less than two minutes this year. The prize? The wife's weight in beer! The event is now being held around the world, where couples qualify to go to Finland to compete in the world championships(yes, Canada was represented this year!). Check this out... http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1292095/Wife-carrying-championships-Finnish-pair-clinch-title-second-year-running.html
On a more serious note, PETA organizes a “Running of the Nudes” event two days before the not so funny Running of the Bulls in Spain. The event is in protest of the bull running, which PETA says tortures the animals for the sake of tourism.
http://www.runningofthenudes.com/
In other words, my search turned up kind of sad. Do you guys know of anything wacky going on? Better yet, do you have any brilliant ideas? Maybe we can think of something great for charity or just for the heck of it! Use your brain for something besides studying tonight!
Turkey Trot? How CUTE is that?! And how totally awesome to exercise BEFORE you eat all that turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, gravy, pumpkin pie, pecan pie...okay I’m getting off track!...
Santa shuffles are popular all over the place...
(register with me this year: http://www.runningroom.com/hm/inside.php?id=3194)
So, I decided to look up some other FUN events that are goofy for the sake of getting people active...
The best one I found was in Finland, of all places. There's a wife-carrying competition loosely based on a robber who lived in a forest and would steal food and girls from villages (Ronkainen the Robber). The winner of the 832 foot obstacle track, complete with water and plenty of wife-dunking took less than two minutes this year. The prize? The wife's weight in beer! The event is now being held around the world, where couples qualify to go to Finland to compete in the world championships(yes, Canada was represented this year!). Check this out... http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1292095/Wife-carrying-championships-Finnish-pair-clinch-title-second-year-running.html
On a more serious note, PETA organizes a “Running of the Nudes” event two days before the not so funny Running of the Bulls in Spain. The event is in protest of the bull running, which PETA says tortures the animals for the sake of tourism.
http://www.runningofthenudes.com/
In other words, my search turned up kind of sad. Do you guys know of anything wacky going on? Better yet, do you have any brilliant ideas? Maybe we can think of something great for charity or just for the heck of it! Use your brain for something besides studying tonight!
On the agenda this weekend: sleepovers, jack-o-lanterns, lots of sugar, and an EPIC wedgie?
This weekend, instead of JUST snarfing large amounts of candy and carving pumpkins like every year, I am going to take part in the Runner's Choice Halloween Haunting! Sunday morning, I'll run (okay, jog) 10k along with hundreds of other (crazy) dressed up folks who are looking for some exercise and fresh air!
http://www.runnerschoice.on.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=11&Itemid=12
There's still time to register if you're in London and there are 3k and 5k options so everyone can join in! The best costumes get prizes so you could be a winner if your costume's impressive enough! I am anticipating a FUN run but I am also anticipating that EPIC wedgie I mentioned in the title...here's my take on what's going to happen on Sunday: I'll be all suited up and ready to go. My foot's feeling much better so I'm ready to race this thing (but have an excuse if my time's less than stellar). I'm looking forward to seeing Tanya at the start line and trying to chase her down the whole time (she's amazing)! I'll be dressed in my finest (read: spandex from head to toe) and sporting my fuzzy running gloves and my cap. My nerves will be pumping, my heart rate monitor all fired up, and my muscles sufficiently loaded with glycogen from all of the Halloween candy I plan on consuming tomorrow (carbo loading is KEY, folks!). I'll start off with a FAST pace, ready to win the thing. But then...it will creep up slowly. Literally, as I run, my costume will become more and more of a pain in the butt...
I'm gonna leave it to you guys to guess what I'm going to be. Otherwise, you're just going to have to wait and see (Sunday's coming up quickly, don't worry)!
There's still time to register if you're in London and there are 3k and 5k options so everyone can join in! The best costumes get prizes so you could be a winner if your costume's impressive enough! I am anticipating a FUN run but I am also anticipating that EPIC wedgie I mentioned in the title...here's my take on what's going to happen on Sunday: I'll be all suited up and ready to go. My foot's feeling much better so I'm ready to race this thing (but have an excuse if my time's less than stellar). I'm looking forward to seeing Tanya at the start line and trying to chase her down the whole time (she's amazing)! I'll be dressed in my finest (read: spandex from head to toe) and sporting my fuzzy running gloves and my cap. My nerves will be pumping, my heart rate monitor all fired up, and my muscles sufficiently loaded with glycogen from all of the Halloween candy I plan on consuming tomorrow (carbo loading is KEY, folks!). I'll start off with a FAST pace, ready to win the thing. But then...it will creep up slowly. Literally, as I run, my costume will become more and more of a pain in the butt...
I'm gonna leave it to you guys to guess what I'm going to be. Otherwise, you're just going to have to wait and see (Sunday's coming up quickly, don't worry)!
Yay!
It wouldn't be fair of me to be 'interested' in or 'curious about' my own post but...
http://www.westernmustangs.ca/news/2010/10/28/FITWEL_1028105755.aspx?path=fit
http://www.westernmustangs.ca/news/2010/10/28/FITWEL_1028105755.aspx?path=fit
Thursday, October 28, 2010
What caught my eye today...
It's easy to get sidetracked and end up following link after link after link when you SHOULD be doing homework! I had the best of intentions on finishing an entire presentation on avoiding the "Freshman Fifteen" / eating healthy at University (for my communications class) but I did let myself surf around the internet when I got caught up in a couple of stories!
It all started with this...
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/39868583/ns/today-today_health
Basically, if you're not in the mood to read it... Maura Kelly (who I'd never heard of before) wrote a blog about the CBS show "Mike and Molly," which is about a couple who met at Overeaters Anonymous (I'll admit I've never seen the show, either, but it sounds funny). In Kelly's blog for Marie Claire, she said that she would be "grossed out if she had to watch two characters with rolls and rolls of fat kissing each other." She went on to compare overweight people walking across a room to an alcoholic stumbling in a bar. Kelly's insensitive post has received thousands of responses, both supportive and appalled.
The Today show story has a link to the blog and to Marie Claire's website, where I got off on a tangent. I was a little angry at the whole situation -- someone blogging for Marie Claire should certainly be sensitive to weight issues! I bought an issue last month and was impressed to see a column written by a plus size woman in the industry. I was actually impressed with the issue and I intended to buy the next issue until I found the Today show story! However, I did poke around the Marie Claire cite and found myself reading an interesting article that kind of redeemed the magazine in my mind.
http://www.marieclaire.com/health-fitness/news/articles/health-blogger-controversy
This one is about a bunch of bloggers (see a trend here, this is a good first post for me) who keep tabs on their own healthy lifestyles and who have developed quite an extensive following. This would be good if their lifestyles were in fact healthy, balanced, and worth aspiring to. Turns out, they are borderline obsessive and when I read some of the things that the women do, I immediately realized just how easy it is to fall into the trap of always wanting to be "healthier." There are obvious benefits to being active and eating well, but there is a fine line between doing a good job and driving yourself crazy.
What both of these little things did for me was to make me think. I really had to look at myself -- while I definitely would never say things like Kelly did about overweight people, I am guilty of being prejudiced against obese individuals. At the same time, I've gained an appreciation of the need to approach the problem from a different perspective. Individuals who are severely overweight are not disgusting, incapable, or less than human. In fact, they could be suffering from the same issues as we are and just using food in an unhealthy way. The only way to address this is to approach the problem from it's root. Fat burners, diets, surgery, even extreme workout plans won't help them. Sure, in the short term, a trainer yelling in their face and someone telling them what to eat will help them lose the pounds but not the weight of their issues. Weight loss needs to be a process that is far more than just a physical transformation!
The second article made me realize that I am guilty of the same things that these women are. As much as I hate to admit it, I am proud of myself when I eat vegetables and I feel guilty when I eat cake. At one point, accidentally receiving a sandwich on white bread might have sent me into a tailspin. However, I`ve learned to ease up about these kinds of things and to take on a new outlook. Life is too short to spend trying to make every choice the healthiest. There needs to be a new definition of what really makes something `healthy` and the media needs to promote it. If we can`t stop competing to see who is the healthiest (synonymous with the most obsessive, restrictive, etc.), we are going to be worse off than if we`d never put in the effort to get healthy in the first place! I realize now that `bragging` about the number of workouts I put in or about the sheer amount of fibre I consume on the average day (menu planning assignments and foods and nutrition assessments are a surefire way to bring out our competitive instincts -- about eating the fewest calories, the most omega 3s, the most organic foods) is not helping anyone get healthy.
With this being my first blog post and both of the things I `noticed`being online blogs, I think it`s only fitting that I chose to write about them! Apparently I`m getting the reminder to watch what I say and to be honest from the get go...so hold me to it! Let me know what you think and if something makes you curious, let`s hear about it!
PS: The Freshman Fifteen speech is coming along well. When it`s done I`ll try to get a version of it up on here so you have another reason to KEEP CHECKING THIS BLOG OUT! I`ll keep ya posted! :)
It all started with this...
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/39868583/ns/today-today_health
Basically, if you're not in the mood to read it... Maura Kelly (who I'd never heard of before) wrote a blog about the CBS show "Mike and Molly," which is about a couple who met at Overeaters Anonymous (I'll admit I've never seen the show, either, but it sounds funny). In Kelly's blog for Marie Claire, she said that she would be "grossed out if she had to watch two characters with rolls and rolls of fat kissing each other." She went on to compare overweight people walking across a room to an alcoholic stumbling in a bar. Kelly's insensitive post has received thousands of responses, both supportive and appalled.
The Today show story has a link to the blog and to Marie Claire's website, where I got off on a tangent. I was a little angry at the whole situation -- someone blogging for Marie Claire should certainly be sensitive to weight issues! I bought an issue last month and was impressed to see a column written by a plus size woman in the industry. I was actually impressed with the issue and I intended to buy the next issue until I found the Today show story! However, I did poke around the Marie Claire cite and found myself reading an interesting article that kind of redeemed the magazine in my mind.
http://www.marieclaire.com/health-fitness/news/articles/health-blogger-controversy
This one is about a bunch of bloggers (see a trend here, this is a good first post for me) who keep tabs on their own healthy lifestyles and who have developed quite an extensive following. This would be good if their lifestyles were in fact healthy, balanced, and worth aspiring to. Turns out, they are borderline obsessive and when I read some of the things that the women do, I immediately realized just how easy it is to fall into the trap of always wanting to be "healthier." There are obvious benefits to being active and eating well, but there is a fine line between doing a good job and driving yourself crazy.
What both of these little things did for me was to make me think. I really had to look at myself -- while I definitely would never say things like Kelly did about overweight people, I am guilty of being prejudiced against obese individuals. At the same time, I've gained an appreciation of the need to approach the problem from a different perspective. Individuals who are severely overweight are not disgusting, incapable, or less than human. In fact, they could be suffering from the same issues as we are and just using food in an unhealthy way. The only way to address this is to approach the problem from it's root. Fat burners, diets, surgery, even extreme workout plans won't help them. Sure, in the short term, a trainer yelling in their face and someone telling them what to eat will help them lose the pounds but not the weight of their issues. Weight loss needs to be a process that is far more than just a physical transformation!
The second article made me realize that I am guilty of the same things that these women are. As much as I hate to admit it, I am proud of myself when I eat vegetables and I feel guilty when I eat cake. At one point, accidentally receiving a sandwich on white bread might have sent me into a tailspin. However, I`ve learned to ease up about these kinds of things and to take on a new outlook. Life is too short to spend trying to make every choice the healthiest. There needs to be a new definition of what really makes something `healthy` and the media needs to promote it. If we can`t stop competing to see who is the healthiest (synonymous with the most obsessive, restrictive, etc.), we are going to be worse off than if we`d never put in the effort to get healthy in the first place! I realize now that `bragging` about the number of workouts I put in or about the sheer amount of fibre I consume on the average day (menu planning assignments and foods and nutrition assessments are a surefire way to bring out our competitive instincts -- about eating the fewest calories, the most omega 3s, the most organic foods) is not helping anyone get healthy.
With this being my first blog post and both of the things I `noticed`being online blogs, I think it`s only fitting that I chose to write about them! Apparently I`m getting the reminder to watch what I say and to be honest from the get go...so hold me to it! Let me know what you think and if something makes you curious, let`s hear about it!
PS: The Freshman Fifteen speech is coming along well. When it`s done I`ll try to get a version of it up on here so you have another reason to KEEP CHECKING THIS BLOG OUT! I`ll keep ya posted! :)
Introduction
So, my plan (yes, I have a plan) for this blog is to make a comment on something that surprised me, shocked me, interested me, or otherwise got my attention. It might have been something in the paper (the mumps case at Western) or something I saw on the news (the backlash against the overweight people in a sitcom by a journalist who basically labelled overweight people as 'disgusting'). Maybe it will be something I've overheard or been told about...only time will tell!
It's about getting curious about the things going on in the world...
It's about getting curious about the things going on in the world...
"You learn something every day if you pay attention."
Ray Lebond"The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity."
Dorothy Parker (Thanks, Kaitlin)
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