All calories are not created equal

I'm not an unhealthy person, really. I rarely eat fast food. I'm not a fan of soda...I don't even handle carbonation well, let alone the caffeine in the Diet Coke that is so very popular around these parts. I don't drink, smoke or do drugs. I exercise very somewhat regularly. I tend to cook and eat homemade prepared meals rather than freezer or microwave fare.

That being said, I do have one pretty big BUT....

I have a sweet tooth. A raging addiction to sugar. Which means that when I'm snacky, I tend to go for some kind of candy or baked goods rather than fruits and veggies. Not always. But frequently.

So when my neighbor proposed an 8-week "get healthy" challenge, I was interested. Extreme or fad diets are not for me. I have a hard time visualizing how they work out in the end. Oh sure, you'll work super hard and be super focused and intense for some predetermined amount of time, and certainly you will lose weight. But then how do you transition back into normal life after that? How do you maintain? I was more interested in finding something that would help me ease into a new, healthier lifestyle. And this plan seemed to have many of the same goals that I was already trying to make into habits...wrapped into a nice little challenge with a built in group of friends who support and/or commiserate with you. Plus, did I mention there is a monetary prize for the winner?

The plan? Daily points for things such as eating 3 veggies and 2 fruits. Cutting out sugary treats (except for 1 cheat day a week). Drinking 64 ounces of water. Exercising 5 days a week. Keeping a food journal. Quit eating by 9:00 at night. All things that we've long been told would be beneficial to our health, yes? And we even get points for each pound lost, or for simply maintaining.

We're finishing up week 4. Halfway through. I have not been keeping track of my calories...only specific foods eaten. I've never wanted to be a calorie counter. I don't know...something about it just rubs me the wrong way. Maybe I'm worried that it would be too easy for me to become obsessive about what I ate and how much I weighed. I don't want to be consumed with each and every tiny morsel that I put into my mouth. However, I have become more aware of calories in general. It's a little bit discouraging to realize just how many calories even a piece of fruit such as a banana or pear can contain. But yesterday I discovered something that made me laugh.

On our neighborhood "get healthy challenge" Facebook page, there have been recent rumblings about how many calories raw almonds contain. Now we all know that almonds have long been touted as one of the world's healthiest foods. So to hear complaints about needing to eat fewer because of the calorie count got me a little curious.

And hey, yeah. 190 calories for 1 serving...a serving being 1/4 cup. Hmmm.

Curiosity continuing to lead me on, I searched out and found a package of my favorite dark chocolate acai/blueberry candy sitting empty in my bedside table drawer.

The results from my search? See for yourself.

One serving equaling 1/4 cup of these particular chocolates at least, is 180 calories! Less calories than the almonds! Albeit only by a small margin.

Clearly all calories are not created equal. Foregoing the chocolates for the almonds is the obvious healthy choice...if you are indeed going for health over simply losing pounds. But oh, how I enjoyed that little bit of irony!

Namaste

I always liked the idea of yoga, but it took me quite a long time to take action and find a class. Fear of the unknown maybe? Of looking inexperienced...a newbie in a group of experienced yogis? Of feeling ridiculous doing poses named after animals? Who knows, really but for me at least, it's always a little bit easier to conquer fear and try new things with a friend along for the ride. Mylissa and I signed up for a gym with the express intent of trying out yoga. Well, that and the spinning classes...Mylissa is my biking buddy.

The heat was spiked in the room. I hadn't realized that yoga was done in higher temps. And though it made sense, heat and I are not usually not friends so this worried me slightly. The class was full but the regulars cheerfully made room...sincerely happy to have us join their "practice." The instructor, a gal named Cassie, talked us through the hour's worth of poses. Some very doable, others more challenging but I was pleased to find that I was able to flow along with everyone else, Cassie suggesting different modifications for those who wanted more or needed less. Music played throughout the workout. And at the very end, Cassie had us lay in "Shavasana" or "corpse pose." Laying on the floor, breathing deeply with our eyes closed, Cassie read to us passages from a book. Honestly, I can't even remember what it was that she said...only that my first inclination was to laugh. Though I knew that yoga is multi-faceted, to me it was all about getting some good exercise. And I had achieved that. Any of this Sanskrit mumbo jumbo I had already pre-judged to be complete hooey. But I stopped myself. It was my first yoga class ever. Shouldn't I at least give all of it a honest and open-minded chance before I decided what I was going to take away as being of value?

So I did what Cassie asked of us. I let go of all my daily worries and put everything out of my head. I focused inward...on my breathing, on each individual part of my body. I took in the words Cassie was sharing...noticed it, reflected on it, and let it move on. I softened every part of my face and body...let go of any tension and completely relaxed. And surprisingly...it felt really good. I went home that day feeling not only physically rejuvenated but unexpectedly mentally as well.

I have come to love yoga. I don't go to class anywhere near as often as I wish I could. But when I do, the effects last all day. It is a hard workout. I am stretched and pulled and worked in all sorts of ways that I didn't expect in the beginning. It is very good exercise. But just as much, I love how meditative it can be. The whole practice is all about focusing inward, mentally as well as physically. I love having that time to clear my mind completely and really think about every little part and parcel of my body... what it is doing, how it feels, what for and why. Balance and flexibility and endurance and breath....despite likening myself to a cat or cow or cobra. Calm and centered and focused and meditative....despite the fact that I'm pushing my body to do hard things physically.

At the end of each class, we put our hands to "heart center" and wish each other Namaste.

I honor that place in you where the universe resides, and when I am in that place in me, and you are in that place in you, we are one.

Or, a more casual way of defining it would maybe go something like this....hey, we've just done this great thing together and are feeling really good about life. This light and goodness in me right now recognizes that same thing in you and thinks you are awesome. See you next time!

Gym vs. Diet

I got this backwards today.  I worked out hard in our little home gym this evening....rowing, weights and sit-ups.  (Did you know that I can row a 5k faster than I can run one?  Go figure.)  But I ate way too many cookies.  (Darn Rebekah and her friend for making snickerdoodles.  Don't they realize that I have next to no willpower??) 

My workout for the day...

This....

...arrived via Fed Ex semi truck at our house about a week ago.
And what is this, you ask?
It is one year worth of food storage for four people....bought to beef up (pun not intended, but funny all the same..haha) the odds and end canned and boxed goods we are already storing in the basement.

Last night we hauled it all to the storage room. Countless trips up and down the stairs. And though I could only take one box at a time compared to Bryan's loads of two or sometimes even three, I'm totally counting it as my workout for the day. Stairs AND weightlifting! (Hey...lentils, wheat and chocolate drink mix are HEAVY!!)

Making the best of a snowy spring break...

Plans involving bike rides, yard work and picnics at the park apparently were not in the cards this, the week of "SPRING" break {grumble, grumble}. Instead, after watching it snow all day, we decided to make a snowman. And then have a really big snowball fight.
Two thoughts:
1. If ever gymnastics doesn't work out for Brandon, he would make an awesome pitcher for a baseball team. I think I may have bruises where he nailed me with hard packed snowballs...
2. I'm going to claim running through the snowy backyard, ducking and dodging, bending down to gather up snow as I ran, throwing snowball after snowball...as my workout for the day. All agreed? Thank you.

Happy February!

Happy February all! I decorated for Valentines a few days ago. Do you like my Valentine tree? Bought last year on a Pottery Barn sale, it's supposed to be an Easter tree. And I fully intend to use it as such come April. But I think it can easily do double duty with hearts in February. (I can't take credit for the idea though. I totally copied my friend Mylissa.)

I stayed up late reading "The Lightning Thief" to Brandon. Well, actually...it wasn't all that late, but I was tired. I shouldn't have let Brandon convince me to read that "one more chapter, please Mom!" I soon found my head nodding and my eyelids drooping. And kept catching myself reading words that weren't actually on the page. (I'm sure this confused Brandon...time and time again, asking him "What did I just say? Oh. Sorry. It really says this...." And eventually I must've fallen asleep on the couch because I woke up around 11:30, all the kids having put themselves to bed after turning off the lights and covering me with a blanket. I really need to stand firm and not let Brandon talk me into reading more than I've originally promised. It's just so hard to say no when he starts rubbing my back and playing with my hair....
One quote from the book that I do remember...you know, before I started nodding off. It's when Percy and his friends are down in the Underworld looking for Hades. And Percy is describing the scene: "To the left, spirits flanked by security ghouls were marched down a rocky path toward the Fields of Punishment.....Even from far away, I could see people being chased by hellhounds, burned at the stake, forced to run naked through cactus patches or listen to opera music."
hahahahahahaha....breath.....opera music!....hahahahahaha!! :)
Maybe I should double check with Bryan to make sure that listening to opera music isn't a form of punishment for him....seeing as I sing opera music frequently....

Because I promised Julianne that I would drive her to Taylor's house at 6:30 this morning (she and her friends frequently like to get ready for school together, swapping clothes and doing each other's hair and all that) I couldn't go to the gym. I talked myself into running on the treadmill. I was fifteen minutes into my run before Rebekah came in and begged for a ride to the bus stop. Knowing that it was only 12 degrees outside, I consented. I threw on a big trench coat over my shorts and tank top for the quick car ride around the corner and down the street. (And laughed when I realized how silly I must look...) I resumed my workout with a speed walk on a steep incline. But 15 minutes into that I realized that it was time for Brandon to wake up. Sigh. I got him moving and made him breakfast. By the time he was out the door, Lilian was up. She did not want me to get back on the treadmill. "Too loud!" she said. So after turning on "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse," I did some pilates and some sit-ups on the floor next to her before deciding that maybe I could declare this piecemeal workout complete. Sheesh. Talk about multi-tasking. Maybe tomorrow will go more smoothly? I'm hoping to win the "mind over mattress" battle and get myself to the gym to do some spinning. We'll see.


My Paperwhites are blooming on my kitchen table. Aren't they pretty?

Incentive

I've been running about 4x a week. 3-5 miles each time. I joined a gym and am loving my yoga classes. I've been writing down what I eat because after seeing in print the horrifying evidence that I eat a lot of crap, mentally it's easier to have more willpower.

It's not a diet. I'm not trying to lose bunches of weight. Any woman, no matter how fit, slender and healthy she is, has some sort of issue with her body. As sad as that fact is, it's all a part of being a woman. So yes, I do have areas around my mid-section that I wish weren't quite as squishy. And losing a few pounds wouldn't break my heart. But this is more about a lifestyle change. I'm not getting any younger. That skinny little thing that had a metabolism that would allow a diet of whatever struck my fancy is gone. It takes a lot more effort now and will, I'm sure, only continue to get more difficult. Thus the healthy lifestyle change. I'm not one for fad diets. Not that I've tried one but it seems like once the strict diet is over and you're back to your regular lifestyle, it's hard to maintain. I'm also not one to eat like a bunny. I like to eat. Our society revolves around food. Parties, BBQ's, family dinners, lunch with friends, ward parties...food is a big part of all of that. I'd rather have a little manageable pudge and eat a piece of cake than be a size zero. But excersizing a little restraint when it comes to chocolate and baked goods would probably be a good thing. Also portion sizes. I'm pretty sure I can out-eat my husband.

So...a healthy lifestyle change. Excersizing regularly...despite the fact that it is winter which is usually hibernation time for me. And being more careful about what I voluntarily put into my mouth and ingest...no matter how much I crave it.

This bikini hanging up in my closet is incentive. Oh, I can fit into it right now. But I wish it looked a little better. And I don't ever want to get to a place where I can't fit into it anymore. Which is funny, really, because I actually don't wear it much anyway. A string bikini doesn't make it into the swimsuit rotation during summers at Cherry Hill. The only time it comes out is when Bryan and I are off on a little vacation just the two of us. But I'd like to think I COULD wear it...and look darn hot in it...if I wanted to, you know? So, incentive.

Cabela's vs. REI

Up until last summer, sporting goods stores were not high on my list of places I enjoyed shopping. Mostly just because I was rarely in the market for anything they were selling. That changed a few months ago as I entered the world of biking and triathlons which put sporting goods stores on my radar. My sister Melissa and her husband Scott have always joked that Cabela's is the Republican sports store while REI is the Democrat sports store. I've patronized REI numerous times in the past year but today I visited Cabela's for the first time. Bryan and his brother wanted to pick up some gun ammo. I was hoping to check out any triathlon or running clothes they might have. Can you guess who was more successful with their shopping list? And so although I count myself as a Republican, and though I own a gun and happily join Bryan on jaunts up the canyon or to a range to go target shooting... looks like I am more of a REI customer. Hunting, fishing, camping? Nope. Biking, running, triathlons and yoga? Yep, that's more me.

My Thursday in bullet points

*Blearily up at 6:00 to make it to my "insane" workout by 6:15. But it's cardio recovery day so blessedly the workout is filled with lots of stretching and yoga. Home by 7:00.

*Spent the next hour and a half getting myself showered and dressed and the kids fed and ready for school.

*Climbed in the car at 8:30 to head to school. Kids went to their classes. I spent the next 2 and 1/2 hours helping decorate for the book fair. It's a 1950's diner theme. Masking tape was my constant companion. I think I may hold a new record for how many loops of tape used in a period of time. But it looks darn impressive and the kids and teachers are making excited comments as they walk by so I guess it's all worth it.

*Had a half hour at home before Lilian and I got back in the car to drive to Sandy. A long drive made solely to buy myself some Vibram Five Finger shoes. (More on that later.) We had lunch at Schlotskys...the only one left in the state. Y-U-M-M-Y!!

*Got home around 2:30 and had an hour to putter around at home before the day kicked into an even higher gear. Should've been cleaning. Spent the time catching up on email instead.

*3:45 saw me piling Brandon, Rebekah and her friend Jenny into the truck. Left Julianne home to babysit Lilian. Dropped Brandon at gymnastics and the girls at Classic Skating for a school choir party.

*Stopped at Chevron to get gas for the car, at Target to get some snacks for me and then continued on my way to Gary's house for a master class.

*5:00. First up of the performers...I sang two songs. "Oh Had I Jubal's Lyre" by Handel and "Veille Chanson"...a french song. Amazingly I actually remembered almost all my french and it was the better of the two songs. Thought it would be the opposite. Overall, was pretty happy with my performance.

*Left early at 5:45 so I could pick up Brandon by 6:00. Got home at 6:15 and anxiously awaited Rebekah's arrival home so that Julianne and I could leave by 6:30. She didn't come...didn't come....didn't come. Reluctantly I left Brandon in charge with promises that Rebekah would be walking in that door momentarily. (Apparently she did come about 5 minutes after I left.)

*Broke speed limits to get to Ogden for our rehearsal for "Power in His Touch" at 7:00. Spent the next 3 hours blocking the scene for "King of the Jews." Julianne and I have been officially cast as a wealthy mother and daughter who haughtily stand on the steps and look over the poor beggars and lepers with disdain.

*Home at 10:30. Ate dinner. Went to bed at midnight. Long day.

Insane

I've started a new workout. Six days a week for 10 weeks I'm going over to the church at 6:00 AM and joining a bunch of my neighbors in doing the "Insanity Workout." Umm....yeah. It IS pretty insane. It's advertised as being "the hardest, most extreme home workout ever created." They claim it's for "those hard core, fitness nuts ready and willing to workout in a pool of their own sweat." Well, I'm not sure I'm a hard core, fitness nut. Which means, I suppose, that doing this really does make me insane. I'm 8 days into the program. Last week I could barely walk, I was so sore. And tired! I find myself falling asleep in bizarre places. In the middle of Brandon's FHE lesson, during "The Importance of Being Earnest" at Hale Theatre, while spell checking a document on the computer. But I am determined to see this 60 days through. Which is why I'm talking about it here. Accountability, you know?

A Discouraging Morning

I was doing sit-ups yesterday. Trying valiantly to start the new year off on the right foot. Lilian was downstairs with me. She'd been nibbling on a piece of chocolate. Sweet thing, she decided to share with Mommy...just like Mommy does with her. So she stood next to me and stuffed chocolate in my mouth every time my head came up. Sigh. A good personal trainer she is not.

I was in the bathroom straightening Rebekah's hair when Bryan walked in.....in MY jeans. I had left them on the floor in the bedroom the night before. I don't know if he originally thought they were his (because he leaves his jeans on the floor Every-Single-Night and I usually don't) or if he thought it would be funny. He did have a big smile on his face. But funny? No. My jeans, my SKINNY jeans were loose on him. In my defense I must state that Bryan, of course, has never been pregnant. 4 times. Widened hips and left-over jelly belly have no place on his body. Nor, if we're really being fair, does he have lack of will power when it comes to eating treats. Sigh. I always thought that size 6 was pretty darn respectable. But still. No woman really wants to see her husband looking skinnier in her jeans than she does, right?