Look Back, Plan Ahead, But START NOW!

Wow! It's almost the end of October, which means we are only weeks away from the New Year; it gets earlier each year, hey!

I've been noticing lots of looking back and lamenting about the year; people blogging about what they had planned for 2010 but didn't achieve and of course heaps of plans for 2011.

It's good to assess your wins and failures of the past and make a new plan for the future; but why wait until January 1? I say get it on NOW!

Oh, I know....it's so hard to eat healthy foods over the holidays, and it's so hard to workout when trying to organize the presents, the kids, the food.

Hmmmm....sounds a bit like excuses to me. And you know what? If you are making excuses now, what makes you think you won't make excuses on January first, second and third? I know there will be heaps more excuses by then:

January 1- I'm too hungover

January 2- I've got to take down the tree and start cleaning this place up

January 3-well the kids are still on vacation (here in Australia); got to keep them occupied so, I'll wait till they get back to school

January 4 - It's too nice out, I'm going to the beach instead (or if you're in the states-It's too cold out, I'm staying here by the fire!)

You see what I'm saying here? There will ALWAYS be an excuse. But if you truly want to start living a healthy lifestyle, today is the day to start. If you want to be fit and healthy and still able to have fun when you are 60, 70, 80, 90....today is the day to start eating right, and get the body moving. No matter how big or small your fitness goals are, just  do it!

If you start ignoring the excuses and empower yourself with healthy habits and exercise now, you're mind and body won't allow you to give in to those excuses in January.

So get on with it! Get going! What are you waiting for?

Ciao for now!

Did You Know...?

When a person's anger response has been triggered, the chemical released by the brain surges through the body and causes a physiological experience; but within ninety seconds from that initial trigger, the chemical component of the anger has completely dissipated from the blood and the automatic response is over. If a person remains angry after those ninety seconds have passed, it's because they have CHOSEN to let that circuit continue to run. Every moment that passes, a person makes the choice to either hook into  the negativity which is now something that is past, over and done with or move back into the present moment, and allow that reaction to simply melt away.
You know where I learned this?

 This book is amazing! I've learned more about the human brain and meditation from this book, which isn't even about meditation, than I have from most of the books I've read specifically on meditation & Buddhism.

Jill Bolte Taylor is a neuroanatomist who ended up having a stroke (at only age 37) and due to her scientific background has been able to identify each part of the brain and mind that was affected as it deteriorated. She ended up functioning for quite a while with only the right side of her brain as the left side was severely affected.

The left side of the brain is where our logical, analytical, ego based thinking comes from; the right side is the creative, spiritual and compassionate side. Jill was able to see what life is like  from a purely ego less, compassionate point of view; and learned so much more about the human brain than she ever would have if she'd never had the stroke. Jill is not a Buddhist nor particularly religious; she's a scientist who's learned through first hand experience that we are all connected to the universe as one.

Once Jill's left brain was functioning again, she of course had to re-learn many things. What she was able to do, though, is pick and choose the traits she no longer wanted dominating her thoughts and actions, and she teaches us that we can do this too!  We can work at utilising our right brain and become more compassionate, caring people...if we choose to. We have power over all of the choices we make; and you know I'm spreading this out over more than just anger and compassion; we can choose the foods we eat, the exercise we do, the cravings we give in to. We all have the power in us-it's just a matter of making the choice.

So now what do you choose? To be dominated by the angry, ego centered left brain or the happy, compassionate right brain?
Can you guess what I'm choosing? It may not happen over night...but it's a fabulous goal, don't you think?

I brought you into this program, I can take you out!

Sounds menacing, hey?! That's just me revamping my running program, again.

You may or may not know that I've been dealing with pain in my right hip and sacro illiac area for over three years now. I've pretty much got the pain at a manageable level by regularly using the foam roller and adding some new yoga stretches to my routine. However, my left hip has suddenly flared up-right at the hip socket with pain radiating out over the whole hip area.

I've been working out long enough to know that when my body starts to scream, I need to listen. When it just whispers I know I can keep going and often the pain subsides-sometimes it's even related to a mental barrier that I just need to break through. But, when the old bod starts shouting very loudly, I know that it is a physical limitation and I'm not willing to push through it just to prove how tough I am. I already know I am strong for my size and age, and John knows-and that's all that really matters.

My fitness goals are simple, stay healthy and fit right up into my 70's 80's & 90's (like RUTH, and CLARENCE among many others). Trying to push my body past it's breaking point just to say "I did it" is simply not worth it to me, and not going to help me achieve my ultimate goal of being HEALTHY.

So, once again, I've had a good look at my program and have realised that the biggest and most recent addition to my training regime is drills. What are drills? Well, the ones I've incorporated I got out of my  "Runners World, Complete Book of Women's Running"-low strides, leaping bounds and sideways running. Now I'm sure these work great for heaps of people, but, they are simply screwing me up. I started them to help my running, but my running has disintegrated and my hips are, well %*&)(*&* ya know? I am convinced it's the drills; so OUT THEY GO!

Wow, I feel liberated! I hated those drills.  At least I gave them a try; but I'm just going to run...no drills, no form, just run. And of course lift because I LOVE MY WEIGHTS!

Listen to your body and have a great weekend!
Ciao for now!

Where's my "Runner's High"?

Good morning all! Well first off, just wanted to say I had a wonderful little lunch get together with Chelle of Chelle's Ultimate Challenge  yesterday...was lovely to meet you hon!

During the lunch, we ended up talking about running since Chelle recently got back into it and I was trying to get some "hot tips" hehehe.

It occurred to me while we were talking that I really have never experienced the much sought after "runner's high" that so many runner's and athletes in general talk about. Now I've been working out with weights for, gee over twenty years now; and honestly, though I get a good pump and, well if you've read my blog for even only a month you'd know I absolutely loooove my weights-but I can't remember every really getting that sudden surge of energy to go that extra mile. Once I've maxed out, say, on bench press-that's pretty much it...everything else is pretty mediocre for the rest of the workout. And so far in the three or four months that I've been running super consistently, I've yet to feel that sudden surge; it's more like a forced push at the end-especially at the end of my 5k.

So, I'll just keep chugging along, it's bound to appear at some stage right? How about you...do you experience a "runner's high" while running or weight lifting...or any sort of exercise? At what stage does that surge of energy hit you?

Having said all of that, if this is the biggest of my problems in life, life is DAMN GOOD!

Ciao for now!

Eat Real Food

Good morning all!  The title is my tip of the day. If you are not sure  what "real food" is...then on to my next tip...

I love this book...super easy to read and understand. Easy little tips like "Eat animals that have eaten well themselves", "Eat all the junk food you want as long as you cook it yourself" and "The whiter the bread, the sooner you'll be dead". Each rule has a little description, if needed, to explain his reasoning-and to me all the reasons are good. Much of what Michael Pollan says is backed by science, but he doesn't bore you with all of the minutiae of that-you can find any of that out with a bit of research.

I became a fan of Michael Pollan after reading "The Omnivore's Dilemma". If you haven't picked that up-it's another one I strongly recommend.

No fancy diets here-and to be honest this is basically how John & I eat. No, I'm not a total purist-I do have pre-prepared curry paste and salsa in my fridge; but for the most part-we just eat food, most of which was living at some stage-plant or animal.

This book is quick and easy and just makes sense.

Have a great week!
Ciao for now!

Tyler CHOOSES to keep living life to the fullest!

Yesterday, John showed me an article his mom had just sent us from the states and I thought it went perfectly with my "Which do you choose" post from yesterday.

In January of 2007 Tyler Carron and his mate were changing a flat tire on a car at the side of the road when another car slammed into them from behind, pinning them in between the two vehicles. Subsequently, they both became double amputees from the accident.

Having been a champion wrestler, Tyler was no quitter and through strength, courage and the support of his friends and family, he was walking on prosthetic legs to receive his high school diploma only four months after the accident. Since then he's been tubing, hiking, wake boarding, golfing and has now been accepted to the USA Hockey's national sled hockey team.

In preparation for the sled hockey, Tyler started working out with weights and for fun, competed in a bodybuilding competition in August. Though he placed fifth out of five competitors, he received a special "Heart of a Warrior" award for his determination and being such an inspiration.

Tyler had a choice-he could have wallowed in self pity and blamed the car accident for ruining his life, but instead he is continuing on to be the best he can be-building on his strengths and having fun living life.

Yay for Tyler!

Below is a little vid about his preparation for the bodybuilding comp.

Ciao for now!

Have a great weekend!

Which do you choose?

Optimism or pessimism.

The drama of being a victim or the empowerment of dealing with issues and moving on.

Blaming others for all that has failed in your life or taking responsibility for your actions.

Happiness or sadness.

We don't always have a choice in what happens to us; but we always have a choice of how we deal with each situation. What do you choose to do today? Approach the day with a smile or wallow in self pity?

I CHOOSE to be happy!

TASTY TUESDAY!

Chilli Mussels:
-1 Tbs oil-I used Grape seed oil
-1 or 2 hot chillis chopped up-depends on how hot you like it and how hot the chillis are
-3 cloves of chopped garlic
-1/2 C chopped Leek
-500 g mussel meat
-2 Roma tomatoes-chopped
-2 Tbs chopped capers
-1 Tbs lemon juice

Heat up oil in wok. Throw in chopped chillis, garlic & leek. Stir fry for 1-2 minutes until wok is nice and hot. Throw in mussel meat and cook for about a minute then toss in the tomatoes & capers. Cook for a few minutes until mussels are heated all the way through-about 5-7 minutes. Take off heat and drizzle on lemon juice and serve.
I served with sliced avocado drizzled in lemon juice...because I love it!
Ciao for now!

I'm a boxing chick now!

Well, not really-but I love the idea of training like a boxer-they have such awesome workouts, and they look so fit in the ring. We have a speed ball and a double end ball (or crazy ball) and I've started regularly incorporating them into my training for some extra heart rate oomph. One of these days we will get a big ol' punching bag too-we are on the hunt!

Below are some vids I found to help me train with these types of bags more properly. If you have access to any kind of punching bags, I highly recommend giving them a go-it's bloody fun and  a great way to amp things up a bit.

Be your own teacher

I was just reading a couple of blogs and saw some really good messages I'd like to share. The particular blogs I read were raw foodie blogs, and one of the gals, Heather from SWEETLY RAW who had been a vegetarian and raw foodie for years realised she was having health problems and had to start eating meat. This was very hard for her, but she had to follow her bodies own best advice, and now she's feeling much better for it. Now, this is not to say that a raw food diet or vegetarian diet is bad for everyone...it's just no longer working for her.

Below, is HIGH ON HEALTH vlogger Fran (where I originally saw Heather's link) discussing how so often people blindly follow some diet guru or fitness expert without really thinking about how it's affecting their own health; It's what so and so said, so it must work. There are so many different regimes out there, there is no one right way. I know KELLY O has mentioned this countless times; and believe me, she's tried a heap of them!

So I would say there are two messages here, one is to listen to YOUR body. Just because it works for some supposed "expert" or even your favourite blogger, does not mean it's going to work for you. The second message is, change is ok. Just because you've followed a particular regime for years for health, moral or spiritual reasons, and just because it worked for years, does not mean that it's still the best thing and if your health is now suddenly suffering, you might just have to do something different; even if it goes against some of your earlier beliefs.

If we open up and truly listen to our bodies, our bodies will usually tell us exactly what it needs.
Cheers!
Check it out, Fran is in Sedona Arizona...One of my favourite spots in the world! If I ever move back to the states, I'm moving to Sedona; Heaps of good energy there!

A bit of fun for the weekend...

Thanks to my little bro for posting this on his Facebook page...it's a hoot!
Have a great weekend!

So, you wanna' quit smoking...

Well, maybe you don't, but you should. I'm not here to tell you why you should though. Unless you've been living in a cave for the last thirty years, you know why you should quit smoking. I'm here to tell you YOU CAN.

Just like alcohol or food, smoking is an addiction; and like any addiction, you get cravings and like any craving, it can be overcome. You simply suck it up.

No matter what your addiction is, people always have an excuse why theirs is harder; alcohol-it's a disease, food-can't live without it, smoking-well the nicotine is just too powerful. Call it what you will-these are all simply excuses-the fact is you have an addiction, but you can conquer it if you try. You get cravings, they will pass, if you let them.

I read a great article HERE  about the stages of quitting smoking-they are very similar to quitting drinking; you have anxiety, you are cranky, can't sleep, restless, hungry...it's all there. I love the main point too-Nobody ever died from QUITTING cigarette smoking.

I have an alcohol addiction; I excessively drank off and on for over 20 years due to "cravings" that I just felt I couldn't control. They made me feel like I was crawling out of my skin...and I'd give in and have that drink. I'm telling you-it was like the worst itch possible that just had to be scratched. My stomach would do flip flops and my heart would pound as I passed the liquor store trying to tell myself I would not go in to buy that wine. But for years, I just gave in...WEAK. That is the only word I can use to describe it. I was weak.

But now, here I am over a year without the alcohol. Not a single drop has passed these lips. And no, it hasn't been a total breeze. Even though I am fortunate enough to have the support of John, who also quit drinking, I am still surrounded by alcohol. It's in movies, books, advertising, I pass the liquor store EVERY single time I go to the the grocery store-either one of the grocery stores as they both have a liquor store right next door. I was surrounded by alcohol when I was in the states; and I won't lie, those thoughts crossed my mind-even as small slivers of thought, they were still there. But you know what, I made a decision on September 1, 2009, and that decision was to never drink again. So now, when I get those thoughts, I wait and watch it and you know what? The thoughts pass. They always do. In the beginning I had to work harder at it-it is easier now...especially when on occasion the thought of alcohol turns to disgust and nausea.

The point is, do not give in. Period. Be strong, fight it. It's a fight worth winning. You can do it, it might be hard-but why not put yourself to the challenge. Are you really going to let the nicotine (or alcohol, or junk food or whatever your beast may be) win? Just hand your life over on a silver platter to the advertisers and companies that are making a fortune off of your demise?

I am telling you, you can quit. It's up to you, but you can do it. What have you really got to lose by trying with all your might and heart to quit? You will be cranky-go for a walk, you will be hungry- drink some tea or chew some gum, you might not be able to sleep-good time to catch up on that reading pile.
Where there is a will, there is a way. ALWAYS.

Ciao for now!

TASTY TUESDAY!

First off-have a look at the fabulous greens I got from the garden yesterday for last nights dinner-Lebanese cucumber, two kinds of spinach and two kinds of lettuce:

I love having my own garden fresh veggies-I know there is no pesticide and no herbicide at all! Just wish I could get the tomatoes to grow-every single one we've planted has rotted-I guess from too much rain-bugger!

On to today's recipe:

                                                  Pan Cooked Mackerel W/Fennel & Capers

This was super easy; I used about 1/2 cup chopped fennel, and about 2 tablespoons of chopped capers and about the same amount of parsley. I sauteed that with about a tablespoon of grape seed oil in a pan for a few minutes then placed the mackerel  (lightly dusted w/flour of your choice-I used brown rice flour) on top and spritzed the mackerel w/a tad more oil. Cooked for about 5 minutes and flipped till done. I served w/ a slice of lemon to drizzle on and some green beans from the garden-blanched for a few minutes then tossed w/chopped tomato, olives & some crumbled goat cheese.

Her is my cute little oil spritzer-I picked this up for like $3 at IGA.

That's it!
Ciao for now!

Combining Training Methods

Hey all! Hope you've had a lovely weekend. We've been invaded by feral pigs here-and have heard them almost every night for the last week..they are not quiet eaters-LOL. Hasn't been a real problem yet-so far they've just been taking out the Ginger that we hate anyway-but they've kind of started a bit on the lawn....not good.

So, as you may know if you've read my blog over the last couple of weeks, I've been reading the book Chi Running. I love many aspects of this book-mind/body focuses, breathing etc. However, I'm having a difficult time with working on the form and posture stuff. One reason that I know this is difficult for me is because I have scoliosis-curvature of the spine. So everything is very crooked...my hips are out of whack-one side tilts forward the other back, my legs are then naturally a bit off and one toe points out and of course my whole upper body is lopsided. You probably think I'm exaggerating since most of my pics you can't tell-so below are a couple of back pics from comps in 2008 and 2010-if you look closely, you can clearly see the curve...which of course throws everything else off. I had to work extra hard at getting my shoulders to look even during comps.

With the Chi Running, they emphasize various things about the posture that when I try to put into practice-it actually seems to make the running harder -and the whole Chi Running principles are designed so that you shouldn't have to work as quite hard. Not that I mind hard work-but why make it more difficult than it already is with the risk of injury...especially since the cover of the book says "effortless & injury free running".

So, I'm still going to be utilising some of the focuses-I love the breathing and mind/body emphasis-but I'm also now incorporating things like drills that I got from "Runners' World-Complete Book of Women's Running" in order to build up my strength and stamina. I'll be looking into some other books as well that KELLY O has recommended; Kelly is a fairly novice runner as well, so if it's working for her-I'm confident I'll glean something from some of those books too! Isn't blog land great?!

I'll let you know how I go with combining these two methods and whatever else I come up with! Hopefully I'll have some longer distances and shorter times to report!

How about you? When you train-whether it's running, weights, swimming-do you find one training style and stick with it or utilise different methods? I know with my weights, I'm all over the place-but still manage to gain bits of strength here and there-gotta mix it up though to keep the muscles guessing!
Ciao for now!

Focus on the Exhale

                                                         

In the yogic practice of breath control (or pranayama), the exhale has a special function. While the inhale is stimulating, the exhale is relaxing. While the inhale is about bringing energy into the body, the exhale is about releasing stress, toxins, and pain.

Because of this, you can use conscious breathing as a break in your day. By focusing on your exhale, you can let go of the past and come into the present with a renewed commitment. Here's how:

Sit up in your chair with your feet on the floor and a long spine. Close your eyes and focus on your breath. Inhale through the nose, feeling your spine get longer and taller. Then exhale through your mouth with a deep sigh. As you exhale, visualize the moments of your day moving away from you.

Try this for a few minutes anytime you need to let go of something. It can have a profound effect on your emotional and physical health.

FROM: YOGA JOURNAL-DAILY INSIGHT
Have a great weekend!
Ciao for now!