This video is amazing and I don't need to add anything. Just watch this video and soak up all the great messages it is sending. My goal is to wake up every morning and watch this video. It's a great way to start your day off right! Enjoy:)
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Nutrition is my constant battle
Nutrition. Today was another wake up call for me. For the past 17 days, I have been diligently writing down everything I eat along with how much I eat. It has been a big pain in the butt. I have always believed that your food should not be this complicated and hard. I should just eat and not have to worry. This is true, but lately I have fallen off the path of healthy eating and forgotten how to just eat right. My wonderful crossfit coaches told me to start a food log and after 2 weeks they would take a look at it. Well…today was the day. Even though I am doing the Whole30 program, I learned that there are still areas of improvement.
I have been trying to master my nutrition for the past 6 months. I have successfully cut out dairy (except butter), legumes, grains, and most processed foods. My sugar intake has been minimal and for the past 17 days it has NOT existed in my life. So what do I eat you ask? Meat, veggies, nuts, seeds, some fruit, little starch and no sugar. Some people refer to this as paleo/caveman diet, but I just call this a healthy and natural way of eating. It is NOT a diet, but a lifestyle change to improve my overall health.
Even though I have been eating all awesome things for my body, I have been going crazy on the nuts and nut butters. Uh-Oh! When sugar is removed from our daily lives…we crave it! I have been filling that void with lots and lots of fat, and I also some fruit. These two combo’s together without any protein are BAD. The fruit is a carbohydrate, which causes my insulin to go up and it tells my body to store. Then when I add some fat in there….my body will instantly store the fat. So for the past week, I have been allowing my body to store fat with no way for it to be released. Ughhh!! This just pisses me off.
Coach Brad told me to back off the nuts. My problem is that I love almonds, hazelnuts, cashews and macadamia nuts so much that I just can’t eat a few. I always devour them with no ability to stop myself. My solution: Get those nuts out of the house! I immediately went home and through away all the nuts and nut butters I had in my panty. Eliminating them completely is the only way for me to break this habit. I am now going to replace the fat I got from nuts with avocados, olives, olive oil, coconut oil and coconut. I find that I can’t really over eat on these fats like I could on nuts.
What did I learn? I learned that nutrition is a CONSTANT battle. There is always room for improvement and always changes to be made. It can be completely frustrating at times and can even get to the point where you just want to say F*#! it. Trust me…I have been to this point several times. It always takes me a moment to realize and remember how I felt when I ate “dirty.” I was tired, lethargic, weak, and just gross! Eating right has improved my life. It hasn’t been easy, but then again if eating right was easy then we wouldn’t have this obesity pandemic. Nutrition is a constant battle for everyone. There are always going to highs and lows. If you fall off….no worries! You just have to get right back on!
Food for Thought:
"To eat is a necessity, but to eat intelligently is an art.” -La Rochefoucauld
I have been trying to master my nutrition for the past 6 months. I have successfully cut out dairy (except butter), legumes, grains, and most processed foods. My sugar intake has been minimal and for the past 17 days it has NOT existed in my life. So what do I eat you ask? Meat, veggies, nuts, seeds, some fruit, little starch and no sugar. Some people refer to this as paleo/caveman diet, but I just call this a healthy and natural way of eating. It is NOT a diet, but a lifestyle change to improve my overall health.
Even though I have been eating all awesome things for my body, I have been going crazy on the nuts and nut butters. Uh-Oh! When sugar is removed from our daily lives…we crave it! I have been filling that void with lots and lots of fat, and I also some fruit. These two combo’s together without any protein are BAD. The fruit is a carbohydrate, which causes my insulin to go up and it tells my body to store. Then when I add some fat in there….my body will instantly store the fat. So for the past week, I have been allowing my body to store fat with no way for it to be released. Ughhh!! This just pisses me off.
Coach Brad told me to back off the nuts. My problem is that I love almonds, hazelnuts, cashews and macadamia nuts so much that I just can’t eat a few. I always devour them with no ability to stop myself. My solution: Get those nuts out of the house! I immediately went home and through away all the nuts and nut butters I had in my panty. Eliminating them completely is the only way for me to break this habit. I am now going to replace the fat I got from nuts with avocados, olives, olive oil, coconut oil and coconut. I find that I can’t really over eat on these fats like I could on nuts.
What did I learn? I learned that nutrition is a CONSTANT battle. There is always room for improvement and always changes to be made. It can be completely frustrating at times and can even get to the point where you just want to say F*#! it. Trust me…I have been to this point several times. It always takes me a moment to realize and remember how I felt when I ate “dirty.” I was tired, lethargic, weak, and just gross! Eating right has improved my life. It hasn’t been easy, but then again if eating right was easy then we wouldn’t have this obesity pandemic. Nutrition is a constant battle for everyone. There are always going to highs and lows. If you fall off….no worries! You just have to get right back on!
Food for Thought:
"To eat is a necessity, but to eat intelligently is an art.” -La Rochefoucauld
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Safety Box
Spring is in the air in Fort Collins today. The park was busy with families and friends gathering together to enjoy this wonderful world we live in. The sun is out and shining its beautiful light down upon us all. As I sit here, I can’t help but smile. Everyone is so happy and all the anxiety in day to day life is removed. Today the world seems perfect.
It is days like these that I look forward to in my life, a day of peace and relaxation. It is so easy for people to get caught up in life, while forgetting to LIVE IT! I think that everyone gets in such a routine and a comfort zone that they are just able to go through the motions. But what happened to fun and excitement? Well, it slowly disappears because we are trapped by our own habits that we created. Unconsciously, we keep ourselves locked in a box. The box represents our safety zone; a place that we grow to know everything inside; a place that we know will not throw any surprises at us; a place of comfort.
Imagine your life differently…yes, I know this is hard. We are so use to this safety box that it has actually hindered our ability to think outside of it, but I challenge you to make a change today. Step outside of your box into the world of the unknown. Change is hard, but change is good. It helps build your confidence, improves your outlook on life, provides new experiences that facilitates learning and personal growth, and it opens the door to new opportunities. The hardest part of making a change is taking that first step, but I can assure you that once you take that first step out of the fear….then life can stimulating and fun.
My mom called me this morning in tears. These were tears joy and fear. She is about to embark on a wonderful change in her life. Recently, my mom has decided to accept a new job in a new town away from where we call home. She is happy that a new opportunity has opened up, but she is scared to leave her comfort zone. This comfort zone represents 30 years of her life. It’s a place that warms her heart and carries countless memories. To say the least, this change is going to be rough. The crazy thing about change is that affects everyone. Not just the person experiencing it, but the people you surround yourself with in your life. This particular change will affect my family, my mom’s friends, co-workers, and even our adorable dogs. This new experience can be ABSOLUTELY frightening to everyone. Change is uncomfortable and in turn we automatically hate it! However, my mom did remind me that when BIG changes take place in our life, it is extremely important to keep your support system close.
Change does not have to be a bad thing. I think that there is ALWAYS something good that comes from it. Change requires you to think about life in a new way. It allows you to discover new things about the world and yourself. You can make a change today!
Start with baby steps. Change can be gradual and it doesn’t have to be big.
1. Start changing the little details in your life. Maybe take a new route to work, try a new restaurant, wear something you wouldn’t normally wear, or listen to new music. These changes may seem small and irrelevant, but they will help guide you later and make you less hesitant to try a bigger change. They will also help you get use to how change feels. Change is awkward and scary. The more you can experience change, the less terrifying it will be for you to step outside of your box.
2. Don’t be afraid to make a fool of yourself. We are often held back by the fears of being judged by others. Who cares?! Go out and do it for yourself, not for the for a complete stranger who knows nothing about you. Act goofy for once. Everyone knows that no one is perfect and I bet you if you let people see your “foolish,” or crazy side…they will learn to love those imperfections because it makes you exciting and fun to be around.
3. Enjoy the ride. Once you can step outside of your box into the unknown, your life will become a rollercoaster. There will be ups and downs with twists and turns, but it will only make you a stronger individual. This new ride will help you grow to better understand yourself and encourage your inner soul to fly. Remember life is too short to stand around, so hop on the rollercoaster and enjoy the ride.
I encourage you to be curious about life. Soak up all it has to offer and break down your barriers. Let good thoughts rush through your mind. Capitalize on every single day.
I am going to leave you with a quote from my mom as food for thought…
"Have fun. Seek adventure. Change your life in a wonderful way!" -Mom
It is days like these that I look forward to in my life, a day of peace and relaxation. It is so easy for people to get caught up in life, while forgetting to LIVE IT! I think that everyone gets in such a routine and a comfort zone that they are just able to go through the motions. But what happened to fun and excitement? Well, it slowly disappears because we are trapped by our own habits that we created. Unconsciously, we keep ourselves locked in a box. The box represents our safety zone; a place that we grow to know everything inside; a place that we know will not throw any surprises at us; a place of comfort.
Imagine your life differently…yes, I know this is hard. We are so use to this safety box that it has actually hindered our ability to think outside of it, but I challenge you to make a change today. Step outside of your box into the world of the unknown. Change is hard, but change is good. It helps build your confidence, improves your outlook on life, provides new experiences that facilitates learning and personal growth, and it opens the door to new opportunities. The hardest part of making a change is taking that first step, but I can assure you that once you take that first step out of the fear….then life can stimulating and fun.
My mom called me this morning in tears. These were tears joy and fear. She is about to embark on a wonderful change in her life. Recently, my mom has decided to accept a new job in a new town away from where we call home. She is happy that a new opportunity has opened up, but she is scared to leave her comfort zone. This comfort zone represents 30 years of her life. It’s a place that warms her heart and carries countless memories. To say the least, this change is going to be rough. The crazy thing about change is that affects everyone. Not just the person experiencing it, but the people you surround yourself with in your life. This particular change will affect my family, my mom’s friends, co-workers, and even our adorable dogs. This new experience can be ABSOLUTELY frightening to everyone. Change is uncomfortable and in turn we automatically hate it! However, my mom did remind me that when BIG changes take place in our life, it is extremely important to keep your support system close.
Change does not have to be a bad thing. I think that there is ALWAYS something good that comes from it. Change requires you to think about life in a new way. It allows you to discover new things about the world and yourself. You can make a change today!
Start with baby steps. Change can be gradual and it doesn’t have to be big.
1. Start changing the little details in your life. Maybe take a new route to work, try a new restaurant, wear something you wouldn’t normally wear, or listen to new music. These changes may seem small and irrelevant, but they will help guide you later and make you less hesitant to try a bigger change. They will also help you get use to how change feels. Change is awkward and scary. The more you can experience change, the less terrifying it will be for you to step outside of your box.
2. Don’t be afraid to make a fool of yourself. We are often held back by the fears of being judged by others. Who cares?! Go out and do it for yourself, not for the for a complete stranger who knows nothing about you. Act goofy for once. Everyone knows that no one is perfect and I bet you if you let people see your “foolish,” or crazy side…they will learn to love those imperfections because it makes you exciting and fun to be around.
3. Enjoy the ride. Once you can step outside of your box into the unknown, your life will become a rollercoaster. There will be ups and downs with twists and turns, but it will only make you a stronger individual. This new ride will help you grow to better understand yourself and encourage your inner soul to fly. Remember life is too short to stand around, so hop on the rollercoaster and enjoy the ride.
I encourage you to be curious about life. Soak up all it has to offer and break down your barriers. Let good thoughts rush through your mind. Capitalize on every single day.
I am going to leave you with a quote from my mom as food for thought…
"Have fun. Seek adventure. Change your life in a wonderful way!" -Mom
Friday, June 11, 2010
A twist on Deviled eggs...
A couple weeks ago, I was fortunate to attend the Whole 9 seminar. Melissa and Dallas were amazing! They explained how and why certain foods affect our body. They broke down the way our body digests foods and the optimal Pre and Post workout meals. I learned a large amount of fabulous information. If you have never heard of Whole 9, I highly suggest you visit their website ASAP! www.whole9life.com
I am currently participating in their Whole 30 program. For those of you who are not familiar with Whole 9, this is 30 days of eating fresh veggies, fruits, meats, nuts and seeds. This means absolutely NO SUGAR, no dairy, no legumes, and no processed foods. I am on Day 11 and going strong. I feel stronger than ever and I have a solid amount of energy through out the whole day. I sleep great at night and for the past 5 days, I have woken up before my alarm. Love it! You can tell that my body is totally digging me eating like this because I have no stomach discomfort at all. I am really excited to see the results at the end of 30 days. I will keep you posted.
In the mean time, I have found that planning my meals is critical! Most people fail to eat healthy because of lack of planning. Each week, I plan out my meals and go grocery shopping for the week. I have no excuses. By keeping my refrigerator and pantry stocked with healthy food choices, I am teaching myself to eat this way. Now it is a habit and permanent lifestyle change. However, it does take time. I didn’t stop just cold turkey. In January of 2010, I started to slowly cut out grains, dairy and legumes. Six months later, I am eating 100% primal/paleo/caveman/healthy…whatever you want to call it! Nutrition is something I am continuously working on. There is always going to be bad days and good days. As for now, I am making sure that the good days far out number the bad days.
Here is a recipe that I recently made for my family BBQ. It was amazing and these are great snacks to pop in your mouth when you are in a hurry. Enjoy:)
Guacamole Deviled Eggs
-12 Hard boiled eggs
- 4 ripe Avocados
- 2 limes
- 4 T. chopped white onion
- 4 T. chopped cilantro
- 2 tsp. approx garlic powder (possible more for taste)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 T. fresh Dill
Directions:
1.Cut peeled eggs in half length wise and place 6 yolks in a mixing bowl,set the whites aside. Mash the yolks with the back of a fork and add avocados, onion, lime juice, cilantro, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Mix with fork until there are small chunks. (or mix until smooth if you like your guac that way.)
2.Spoon or pipe the filling back into egg white.
3.Sprinkle with fresh dill.
4.Cover and refrigerate at least one hour before serving.
Here is how mine came out...
I am currently participating in their Whole 30 program. For those of you who are not familiar with Whole 9, this is 30 days of eating fresh veggies, fruits, meats, nuts and seeds. This means absolutely NO SUGAR, no dairy, no legumes, and no processed foods. I am on Day 11 and going strong. I feel stronger than ever and I have a solid amount of energy through out the whole day. I sleep great at night and for the past 5 days, I have woken up before my alarm. Love it! You can tell that my body is totally digging me eating like this because I have no stomach discomfort at all. I am really excited to see the results at the end of 30 days. I will keep you posted.
In the mean time, I have found that planning my meals is critical! Most people fail to eat healthy because of lack of planning. Each week, I plan out my meals and go grocery shopping for the week. I have no excuses. By keeping my refrigerator and pantry stocked with healthy food choices, I am teaching myself to eat this way. Now it is a habit and permanent lifestyle change. However, it does take time. I didn’t stop just cold turkey. In January of 2010, I started to slowly cut out grains, dairy and legumes. Six months later, I am eating 100% primal/paleo/caveman/healthy…whatever you want to call it! Nutrition is something I am continuously working on. There is always going to be bad days and good days. As for now, I am making sure that the good days far out number the bad days.
Here is a recipe that I recently made for my family BBQ. It was amazing and these are great snacks to pop in your mouth when you are in a hurry. Enjoy:)
Guacamole Deviled Eggs
-12 Hard boiled eggs
- 4 ripe Avocados
- 2 limes
- 4 T. chopped white onion
- 4 T. chopped cilantro
- 2 tsp. approx garlic powder (possible more for taste)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 T. fresh Dill
Directions:
1.Cut peeled eggs in half length wise and place 6 yolks in a mixing bowl,set the whites aside. Mash the yolks with the back of a fork and add avocados, onion, lime juice, cilantro, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Mix with fork until there are small chunks. (or mix until smooth if you like your guac that way.)
2.Spoon or pipe the filling back into egg white.
3.Sprinkle with fresh dill.
4.Cover and refrigerate at least one hour before serving.
Here is how mine came out...
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Happy 90th Birthday Nona!
This past weekend my whole family gathered together for a good old BBQ to celebrate Nona’s 90th birthday! Yes…I said 90. I mean who do you know that lives to be 90 these days? Oh and I forgot to mention that at the age of 90 her and my 93 year old grandpa still live in their own house on the dairy farm. She still drives to town every Friday for groceries and to get her hair done; she still cooks 3 fabulous meals a day and cleans the house until it is spot free. At the age of 90, Nona has memory that puts mine to shame. This lady remembers everything and forgets nothing!
At our family BBQ, I asked her...“Nona, what is your secret? How are you so mentally and physically strong at the age of 90? I want to live to be 90.” With a cute and soft chuckle, she responded...“I guess I am just lucky.” What? I don’t think so! I don’t think being able to go out and work the garden and irrigation system at the age of 90 is called luck. I think she has led a very different lifestyle than what we all do. Since she decided not to respond to the question, I have come up with my own ideas on how to live to be 90.
1. Eating close to the source has a lot to do with longevity. Being raised on a diary farm, Nona has always eaten fresh veggies and fruits from her own garden. Every morning, she starts off her day with milk squeezed right from the cow. Not to mention, she got her protein from the dairy cows and chickens that she raised herself. Nona has fueled her body with the highest quality products. No chemicals, no growth hormones, and no insecticides. Straight up all natural and as raw as you can get. I believe that eating lots of processed food just kills our body and hurts us in the long run.
2. Physical activity people! Even though Nona has never set foot in a gym, she is constantly outside working in the garden, moving cattle, fixing the irrigation systems, repairing the broken fences, and countless other jobs. Nona has been able to stay so strong and flexible because she has ALWAYS stayed active. There is no such thing as a “rest day.” Everyday, there is something for her to do that challenges her physically. At the age of 90, she needs no help. She does everything herself. Ok, yes she has slowed down a bit, but I guarantee that my Nona can kick any other 90 year-old lady’s a#*!
3. Family. I have been very fortunate to grow up on a dairy farm and learn the true meaning of family. Family is working together, loving each other always, sitting down together at the table for dinner every night, listening intently to each other, and of course laughing endlessly together about stupid stuff that you as a family only understand. Family can bring happiness to anyone’s life. Family is the one place of comfort that you can go to at the end of the day to make your life feel at peace. Nona has led her life with family as a priority. Family has been her backbone. It is her support system through the good and the bad.
Now, I am not a nutritionist, scientist, or geneticist. I am just an accountant, but I have feeling that Nona’s lifestyle has a lot to do with longevity. By surrounding ourselves in a positive environment that includes high quality food, family and lots of love, I believe that maybe we can all be like Nona one day. Happy 90th Birthday!
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Let it be...
I am inspired by two things tonight…American Idol and Biggest Loser. Yes, I know you are thinking that I am nuts and how these things could possibly inspire me on a Tuesday night. Well, it is quite simple….faith and desire!
First of all, I hate American Idol and I never watch it, but tonight I was eating dinner and my dear roomies had it on. A young girl sang a beautiful song by the Beatles called “Let it Be.” It has been ages since I heard this song and one sentence stuck out in my mind…..”There will be an answer, Let it be.” In a time of confusion, anxiety, and frustration in my life and many others, I find it important to remind myself on a daily basis (or sometimes an hourly basis) that it’s ok that I don’t know what is about to happen in my life and I don’t know the solution right now. I am the kind of person who likes to know the answer to everything in my life, but in reality there are going to be changes in our life that cannot be explained or answered right away. The answer will come….maybe not today or next week or even next year, but we need to have faith in ourselves that our hearts are leading us in the right direction. Faith is defined as “the confident belief or trust in the truth of a person.” Your heart always speaks the truth and you are the only one who knows what it is saying. It is up to me to either act or express those feelings. No one else can possibly read or know what our hearts are telling us. We often get caught up in this world of perfect perception and we listen to what society pushes upon us. Unfortunately for so many people, life is made up of decisions of what other people think is right or wrong….when in reality we need to make our own decisions. We often forget to have faith in ourselves and our true power house, OUR HEART. Even though I cannot always tell what my heart is saying because it’s only whispering, I do know that someday I will hear it loud and clear. Until that day…I am following those whispers and letting it be.
Second, Biggest Loser is my favorite show. It is a great reminder that if you truly want something, you have to have the desire to get there. Desire is everything. In order to have drive, you have to have the desire. In order to feel success, you had to have that need to take you there. If everyone took on a job or an assignment with the desire to get it done and do a great job….think about how our lives would change! I know that when I want something so badly and I finally reach that goal or milestone…nothing feels better. And at that moment life feels perfect. Oh what a fabulous feeling. Just think…It all stems from desire and that need to reach and work hard for something. So….everyday we need to wake up and find that desire. Search deep for it. Remind yourself that success feels so much better when you want it!
Here is some food for thought:
“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.” –Ralph Waldo Emerson
First of all, I hate American Idol and I never watch it, but tonight I was eating dinner and my dear roomies had it on. A young girl sang a beautiful song by the Beatles called “Let it Be.” It has been ages since I heard this song and one sentence stuck out in my mind…..”There will be an answer, Let it be.” In a time of confusion, anxiety, and frustration in my life and many others, I find it important to remind myself on a daily basis (or sometimes an hourly basis) that it’s ok that I don’t know what is about to happen in my life and I don’t know the solution right now. I am the kind of person who likes to know the answer to everything in my life, but in reality there are going to be changes in our life that cannot be explained or answered right away. The answer will come….maybe not today or next week or even next year, but we need to have faith in ourselves that our hearts are leading us in the right direction. Faith is defined as “the confident belief or trust in the truth of a person.” Your heart always speaks the truth and you are the only one who knows what it is saying. It is up to me to either act or express those feelings. No one else can possibly read or know what our hearts are telling us. We often get caught up in this world of perfect perception and we listen to what society pushes upon us. Unfortunately for so many people, life is made up of decisions of what other people think is right or wrong….when in reality we need to make our own decisions. We often forget to have faith in ourselves and our true power house, OUR HEART. Even though I cannot always tell what my heart is saying because it’s only whispering, I do know that someday I will hear it loud and clear. Until that day…I am following those whispers and letting it be.
Second, Biggest Loser is my favorite show. It is a great reminder that if you truly want something, you have to have the desire to get there. Desire is everything. In order to have drive, you have to have the desire. In order to feel success, you had to have that need to take you there. If everyone took on a job or an assignment with the desire to get it done and do a great job….think about how our lives would change! I know that when I want something so badly and I finally reach that goal or milestone…nothing feels better. And at that moment life feels perfect. Oh what a fabulous feeling. Just think…It all stems from desire and that need to reach and work hard for something. So….everyday we need to wake up and find that desire. Search deep for it. Remind yourself that success feels so much better when you want it!
Here is some food for thought:
“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.” –Ralph Waldo Emerson
Friday, June 4, 2010
Welcome!
For the past couple of months, I have turned to writing as a way to heal. I am a very technical and logical person and I have found that sometimes just writing it out allows me to take a step back and look at the big picture. In today’s society we often get too caught up in the small things of life and we focus on the end result. In reality, the end result doesn’t matter nearly as much as our journey to get there. It’s the journey of obstacles that brings about new opportunities; it’s the journey that challenges us both physically and emotionally; it’s the journey that defines us as a person.
“The more I see The less I know.” I have chosen this quote to represent my blog because IT IS SO TRUE! For the past several years, I have been under the horrible assumption that as I grow older the more answers/solutions I will discover about life. And you know what happens when someone assumes….it makes an ass out of you and me! As we grow older, life becomes more challenging and naturally we start to think of solutions to every problem. If there is one thing I have learned, it is to focus on the NOW part of our life. There are so many situations that can never be explained or answered. So it is imperative to stop focusing on the future and be present.
This blog is my journey about day to day obstacles, nutrition, working-out, and being mentally strong. I would love to hear your feedback, so please comment:)
“The more I see The less I know.” I have chosen this quote to represent my blog because IT IS SO TRUE! For the past several years, I have been under the horrible assumption that as I grow older the more answers/solutions I will discover about life. And you know what happens when someone assumes….it makes an ass out of you and me! As we grow older, life becomes more challenging and naturally we start to think of solutions to every problem. If there is one thing I have learned, it is to focus on the NOW part of our life. There are so many situations that can never be explained or answered. So it is imperative to stop focusing on the future and be present.
This blog is my journey about day to day obstacles, nutrition, working-out, and being mentally strong. I would love to hear your feedback, so please comment:)
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