I just really liked this post....

Many of you already read Shelley's blog...but for those of you who don't-this past year her blogs have really become very special. Here is today's that I really enjoyed; I hope you do to.

In my pursuit of happiness I have been led down a path of self-discovery. I have sought to find true happiness. I wanted to know the secret. The secret of people who look deeply satisfied. Before I set out on this journey I didn't have the clarity of direction that comes from being fully aware of my Self, my actions, my beliefs, my place within the universe, to reach anywhere truly extraordinary. READ MORE

TASTY TUESDAY!

Protein Packed Pumpkin Muffins



These turned out yum!

3/4 C Whole Wheat Flour
1/2 C Vanilla Protein Powder
3/4 C Quick Oats
2 TB Brown Sugar
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp ginger
2 cups of peeled & chunky chopped pumpkin or butternut squash
1/2 C low fat or skim milk
1/2 C no sugar added applesauce
2 egg whites

Preheat oven to 190 C (400C) and spray muffin tin with spray oil of your choice...I use the silicon style-much better! Boil the pumpkin until soft enough to mash. Whilst boiling the pumpkin, combine dry ingredients in a medium bowl.
Put soft pumpkin into a large bowl-mash then add milk, applesauce and egg whites-blend with mixer. Add dry ingredients and blend with mixer till just mixed. Fill muffin cups and bake for 25-30 minutes.
Perfect protein snack!

I Am Interested In My Mind

I am interested in my mind, and in my body. Previous to my having cultivated the habit of sitting, I had thought about myself and had used my body as a tool in the world, to grip a pen or to chop firewood, but I had never systematically, rigorously, observed my body -- what it feels like; not just with a shy, fleeting glance, but moment after moment for hours and days at a time; nor had I committed myself to observe the reciprocal influence of mind and body in states of exhaustion and rest, hunger, pain, relaxation, arousal, lethargy, or concentration. My quest for knowing is not merely objective and scientific. This mind-and-body is the vessel of my life. I want to know it with the same organic immersion that sets a snow goose flying ten thousand miles every winter and spring. READ MORE HERE

Computerless Sunday Tomorrow!

The flood of information that swamps me daily seems to produce more pain than gain. --Paul Hemp

I need to come up with a better name than Computerless Sunday...LOL...maybe Techless Sunday? hmmm...any suggestions?
Anyway-I'm off the computer until Monday-I actually enjoyed not having it on at all last Sunday-sort of liberating really!

Back, Bis & Tris tomorrow-15 weeks until comp prep starts...and so far things seem to be healing and dealing with the workouts-YAHOO!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend! See y'all next week!

Great Link

Well, we might be preaching to the choir- but even the choir needs a little reminder once in a while to get back to the right tune! Jackie from Girl With No Name blog shared this link through Twitter-and I just had to pass it on...
Just another reminder to people who SAY they want to lose weight but always find excuses for not doing the right thing...

Weight Loss – It’s what you DON’T Want that Holds You Back
I’m sure you’ve heard people say the phrase “I want to lose weight” and yet that same person never does anything about it. Or they say they tried and it didn’t work. So why make the statement at all if you’re not serious about it.

This sounds a bit ironic. They say they ‘want it’ but never do what it takes to get it.
So do they really want it, or do they just say they want it. OR do they even know what they are saying. READ MORE

It's a quick read-but a good one!
Have a great weekend!

My New Addiction....

SMFR, sounds kinky hunh? Well, it's not-sorry! LOL
Self Myofascial Release

LOVE IT!
Thanks to Lia for re-introducing it! I remember Lia first blogging about it back when I first started reading and writing blogs about the end of 2007. I went out and bought the noodle and gave it a go a couple of times, but just couldn't quite get the hang of it, so set it aside. Then, a few weeks ago, Lia mentioned it again in her recent training regime blog. So after re-reading Lia's info, and the link at the top with demonstrations and seeing this short vid of Pauline Nordin demonstrating her version with a rolling pin this week decided to give it a go again-now I love it! It hurts and feels good at the same time, but I really feel like it's helping with some of those aches and pains. I highly recommend it!

Have a fantastic weekend!

Sometimes it just takes a good song!

After a very slow start to the week-feeling very fatigued, achy & of course having cramps from hell thanks to that TOM-today I'm feeling pretty up and fit again-quite enthusiastic and inspired really!

First reason is the knowledge that today makes 67 days of not touching alcohol. I have to admit, that I have had a few moments of missing it-mainly "red wine Friday"; but you know what? It passes! That's the key folks, when you get a craving, take heart in the knowledge that IT WILL PASS!

Other than that, John & I have still been working on a few issues as it is still very raw for him-but fortunately he knows he will get fully past it eventually so actually, we are doing really well; especially when you consider it has been less than 3 months, though it really does feel like an eternity ago.

As I said earlier, I was feeling quite fatigued early in the week. I skipped cardio Sunday afternoon-but grudgingly got on the treadmill Monday, Tuesday & yesterday. Yesterday afternoon one of the new songs I just downloaded to my IPOD came on and WOW-I just couldn't help but start thinking of a posing routine for comp! I played the song over several times-so my cardio session went longer-then I got off the treadmill and fooled around with a routine! It just amped me up! It's really amazing how the right music can alter your mood. So that is my tip for the day-get the right music on your IPOD for your cardio sessions...it really makes a humongous difference!

TASTY TUESDAY!

Another easy one-one pot!

One of my many versions of healthy spaghetti. The great thing about spaghetti is you can cook up a batch and have it for leftovers during the week-and the leftovers are even better since the spices have had a chance to really get into the sauce.

Ingredients:

Enough whole meal pasta for 4-6 serves
1 T olive oil
1 T minced garlic
1/2 K minced turkey (or 1lb)
1 med sized eggplant chopped
1 large tomato chopped
1/2 C mushrooms chopped ( I usually use the Swiss browns-but they didn't have those at the store so I used the field mushrooms)
1 jar of pasta sauce of your choice
1 T tomato paste
1-2 T of Italian seasoning
if you have some fresh basil, oregano etc-definitely throw that in!
1/4 c olives

Boil up pasta for about 10-15 minutes-drain.
In the same pan, sate garlic in olive oil for a minute then add meat-cook meat for just a few minutes then add eggplant, cook for a few minutes, add tomato, then pasta sauce, paste & seasonings. Cook for about 10-15 minutes, add olives-cook a few more minutes add pasta-heat through for about 5 minutes.
Done!
Can be served with some freshly grated Parmesan.

Enjoy!

One step closer....

to the studio getting done...yay! Today the electrician is coming to hook up some new lighting, ceiling fans & bathroom stuff for our PT studio. Then we only have the painting, the flooring and to replace the roller door with a big sliding glass door. It's finally coming together!

Other than that, I really enjoyed not touching the computer yesterday; though I do have to admit there were a few moments of "craving" (for lack of a better word); I swear, it's just like any other addiction! But, I prevailed and did not give in to temptation-even when hubby had his lap-top on! :-)

Below is a pic of my new favourite chick. DARA TORRES. I just read an article about her in the latest FITNESS RX FOR WOMEN-and I'm going to get her book when I have a chance. I always love to see mature women (she's the same age as me!) defeating the odds and coming out on top-and look at her-fit and fabulous and still winning Olympic medals!


Have a great week!

I gotta be honest…..

This week has been pretty rough for me...for the bod that is. Not sure it was ready for the heavy stuff because it's been rebelling a bit. But, that’s ok! I’d already planned to do heavy weeks in cycles so that I’d only be lifting heavy one week a month. So the next three weeks will be lighter again. A girls gotta listen to her body, hey! As you’ve probably read in recent blogs, (KEK & KERRY just off the top of my head), listening to the body has been the prevailing topic as of late; as it should be! We’ve only got one body, so be smart! I do love to “power through the pain”, but can’t be totally stupid about it! Personally, I still want to be powering around upright on both legs when I’m 80, not hunched over in a wheel chair!

I’m still completely focused on the possibility of competing next year-and keeping fit and trim in general, so just because I’m taking it easy on the weights does not mean everything else goes out the door, especially since, as I said, I still want to be very healthy at 80! I’m still doing regular cardio sessions and of course eating healthy, clean and balanced. That’s just the way John & I live. Even through my alcohol days-I kept to pretty clean nutritious food-and now that I'm not drinking anymore-my nutrition is, of course, that much better!

I’m also listening to my brain which is telling me I’m on TECHNO OVERLOAD. I was looking over my plans for 2009 and I had listed that I was going to take a day off from the computer each week. I did do that for a little while, but fell off that wagon. Well, I’m climbing back on starting tomorrow. I will not be going near the computer on Sundays from now on.

The picture above is of MEDICINE BUDDHA or the buddha of healing and medicine...just seems appropriate!
Stay strong and STAY HEALTHY!