grit, guts and gumption

2011-11-21T16:30:00.000-05:00

One of my favorite purchases from Shirt.Woot.

Warning: Be prepared to make a purchase should you choose to click through to the site. The shirt designs are entirely too witty :)

Dirty Dozen

2011-11-15T16:24:00.000-05:00

Have you ever dropped an egg on the floor? Being the clutz that I am, it's happened to me more times than I can keep count :) Creates a mess, but a little paper towel, cleaning fluid and elbow grease cleans everything up and pretty soon I'm back to cooking.

A diet deviation should be no different. If we eat something unplanned or perhaps a bit too much of something, all we need to do is pick ourselves up, brush ourselves off and get right back to it. Just like dropping an egg. When I drop one egg, I don't decide that since one is broken I might as well drop the rest of the dozen. Why is it that we tend to think that just because one meal got off track that the rest of the day is a lost cause?

Remember, we're always just one meal away from being on plan. So clean up that egg, crack another and keep on cookin'!

Brick by Brick

2011-09-20T17:02:00.002-04:00

Making the commitment to alter our (eating and fitness) lifestyle is huge. But the steps we take to get there don't need to be. We would never put the roof on a house without first laying the foundation and building the walls. And I doubt I could write a novel without first learning the alphabet :) Nutrition and fitness are no different; we should spend some time and lay the groundwork before we can truly embark upon the journey. The smaller the change, the more likely we will be able to maintain it and live with it.

What does this mean to us? It could mean going from 2 tablespoons of creamer in our our morning coffee to 1 tablespoon. Or perhaps committing to going to the gym just once per week rather than telling ourselves that we have to get there every single day.

Make small changes, and then build on them; brick by brick.

So, what are we changing this week? I'm going to limit the times my hand dips into the pretzel cannister....

Stranger than Fiction

2011-09-14T13:56:00.000-04:00

Oversize Man Sues White Castle Over Seats

Here's what I'd like to know...

When you are too large to fit into a booth at a fast food restaurant, do you:

A) Get take out
B) Seriously reexamine the life choices that have led you to this point
C) Sue the restaurant

Where's the Beef?

2011-01-25T10:21:00.000-05:00

No, really. I mean, really? Where's the beef?

Law firm to Taco Bell: That's not beef

Gym Etiquette, via Slate.com

2011-01-21T14:51:00.000-05:00

via Slate.com

Food for Thought

2011-01-14T12:56:00.000-05:00

Remember: Every little bit counts. And that works BOTH ways. Every small change you make towards a more healthful lifestyle will yield enormous results. But in the same manner, all the little things we "allow" ourselves - the treats, skipped workouts, etc (particularly when it becomes habit) - can often have a considerable aftereffect as well.

Just a little something to keep in mind as we finish out the work week and enter into the weekend.

Small change. Big value.

I pick things Up and put them Down

2011-01-13T10:07:00.001-05:00

A little repetitive, but still amusing :)

Mirror, Mirror...

2011-01-12T09:57:00.002-05:00

You know who you are...

Flowchart o' Fabulousness

2011-01-10T11:21:00.001-05:00

via Summer Tomato

I think I'm in love.

Someone Else's Plate

2010-12-23T10:28:00.000-05:00

A Worldwide Day's Worth of Food via TIME

Incredibly interesting and thought provoking.

It also made me hungry.

You can find more information about the book in it's entirety here.

Face lift, Schmase-lift!

2010-12-21T10:38:00.000-05:00

I'm not sure if this is a case of Captain Obvious or not, but check out the results of a new study coming out of Israel:

Endurance exercises can make you look younger!

I wonder what the human distance equivalent (in terms of relative stride length) to the rats' 20 minute treadmill runs would be.....

Singledom - the ultimate fitness accessory!

2010-12-20T23:52:00.001-05:00

See, it really IS my husband's fault!

Marriage may be bad for your physical fitness

...if it's on the internet, if must be true :)

Tool Time!

2010-12-17T08:00:00.000-05:00

For all you DIY mavens out there, here's a handy list to guide you in your gym gear construction!

Homemade Equipment Lists via Ross Training

Get busy!

Naughty or Nice?

2010-12-10T08:00:00.003-05:00

If you've got a runner, walker or cyclist on your Christmas gift list (or if you're looking for a really belated Hanukkah present), you really can't beat the Road ID . And right now they're offering 10% off orders placed before the 25th, so get on it! Not to be morbid, but god forbid anything should happen to any of us while we're out and about running, wouldn't it be good to be wearing something with all our emergency contact information?

Plus, they come in all sorts of purdy colors!

*disclaimer* I am not affiliated with Road ID in any form, nor will I receive any compensation for this blog post.

Potato Creek Trail Runs

2010-12-09T08:00:00.001-05:00

If any of you are situated in the Midwest (or have a hankering to travel) check out this inaugural set of races being hosted by a very cool dude:

The Potato Creek Trail runs will be an event for all skill levels and age groups. The course will have varying distances that will cater not only to the hardened ultra runner but also to the first timers who are new to the sport. Theses races will not only serve to expose athletes to the joys and excitement of trail running but will also expose an entire new, and diverse group of people to the natural beauty that exists at Potato Creek. The intent is to slowly and carefully grow the race each year; making certain the athlete has a quality experience regardless of number of entrants. Events include a 13.1 Mile Mini Marathon, 26.2 Full Marathon, and 60K Ultra Marathon.

They've got both online and mail-in registration, and I'm sure the finishers' medals will be kickin'! Check it out!!

If my little brother weren't getting hitched the night before, I'd be there with bells on!!

Whatever Shall I Wear?

2010-12-08T08:00:00.000-05:00

Winter Running Tips via Julie Berg: Run On

The Emperor's New Clothes

2010-12-06T20:35:00.002-05:00

Reebok Easy Tone....clothing.

Really?

Sigh.

S510

2010-12-02T08:00:00.011-05:00

Rumor has it that the bill may effectively be dead in the water currently; the senators added new taxes to the bill, an action that must be initiated in the House of Representatives. So, the debate currently raging across the internet may in fact be a moot point right now.

S510 - Pros and Cons:

Pro

Three Reasons Your Food is Now Safer via Fooducate

Con

Top Ten Lies about the Senate Bill S510 via Natural News

Thoughts?

100 Reasons I Run, #81

2010-11-30T09:57:00.000-05:00

#81

Because every run is an opportunity to learn something.

Whether it be something about yourself (mind and body) or the environment you're running through, each time you lace up your sneakers (or wiggle your toes into your wonky Vibram FiveFingers) and hit the road you open yourself up to a world of possibilities. Count your blessings, not the miles.

Move Over, Elastic!

2010-11-26T08:00:00.001-05:00

You can't make this sh*t up:

Gluttony Pants

I wonder if they come in Petite...

Chew On This

2010-11-24T15:28:00.000-05:00

Wiser words were never written:

Here We Go Again - Same Old Industry Dogma, Same Old Terrible Mistake: Happy Holidays! Really?

It's a long read, but well worth it. Go over to Scott's blog, read his post and feel free to chime in on the comments over there!

Gobble, Gobble

2010-11-22T10:51:00.002-05:00

First order of business - an apology for the lack of new posts lately. Not that it's an excuse, but I have been very busy learning all sorts of new and exciting things! The most important thing that I've learned thus far is just how much I don't know. Yet :)

Second order of business - can somebody please tell me how it can be Thanksgiving already?

My eyes are on the forecast for Thursday...I'd really like to run the 5M Turkey Trot this year (I missed it last year) but I have to confess that I don't care to run it in the rain. Yes, I'm getting wussy in my old age. I admit it. There is also the matter of that ornery alarm clock....particularly if DH and I head out Wednesday night for amateur hour (also known as the biggest bar night of the year). So, plenty to deliberate...

Perhaps the most important item up for consideration this week is dessert. Thanksgiving dessert. My contribution to the celebration, to be precise. I don't like to do anything half-assed, so if I'm making dessert then it's got to be GOOD. Because I will most assuredly be eating it. Gotta make it worth my while :)

Any suggestions?

Sweet Soapbox

2010-11-01T10:50:00.000-04:00

OK kids, fess up! I want to hear about your Halloween, the annual celebration of sugar :)

In the past, I've purchased little baggies of pretzels to hand out, figuring that what was leftover would be less destructive than those delectable chocolate treats. This year, however, I opted to go for the good stuff! One bag of assorted Reese's candies (Cups, Pieces, Sticks and Fast Breaks) and then a bag of the tiny mini sized Snickers, Milky Ways, Twix and 3 Muskateers.

Now, normally we don't get a whole lot of kids coming to our door, so I assumed that we'd retain the bulk of the candies (to be doled out over the course of the next few months). To my surprise, we wound up giving away most of it! By the end of the evening, we were carefully choosing what we'd part with, and what we simply had to hold on to :)

Chances are that DH will soon finish it off before I reach for the chocolate again. He's good like that ;)

But I had a piece or two last night, and I'm perfectly content with those few nibbles. Because what's Halloween without a little sugar rush?

And on that note - what's up with all the people trying to kill that sugar buzz? I'm all for health and wellness, but there are some things you just don't mess with! Chocolate at Halloween, Pumpkin Pie for Thanksgiving and anything barbecued or smoked at a summer outdoor gathering.

Lighten up, people. Let your kids collect massive bags of glorious candy. Let them enjoy one evening of gluttony and then put the candies away in the closet and enjoy them, in normal human moderation, for a few more weeks.

Just remember to brush your teeth :)

2010-10-29T11:36:00.000-04:00

Never fear! I'm alive and well and living in theatrical purgatory...land of baked goods in the green room (actor's lounge), trail mix in the dressing room and ginger ale masquerading as champagne on stage. A well fed actor is a happy actor :)

Whole Grain Bllsht

2010-10-11T10:49:00.000-04:00

The Fooducate blog posted a great article about the tactics employed by the food industry. Read through their examples, and I promise you that the next time you meander through the supermarket you'll see evidence of these marketing ploys on virtually EVERY package you see.

Five Food Industry Tactics via Fooducate

National Captain Obvious Day

2010-10-01T11:19:00.000-04:00

Today (October 1st) is apparently National Clean Eating Day. Or NCED. It's already got an acronym.

Oy.

I propose that we make tomorrow National "If You Sprinkle When You Tinkle, Please Be Sweet and Wipe the Seat" Day.

Or National "Brush Your Teeth" Day.

Or National "Say Excuse Me if you Burp" Day.

Sigh.

Love to Hate you

2010-09-30T11:13:00.000-04:00

I'm currently embroiled in an "on again, off again" relationship with my alarm clock. At 5 am the radio turns on. I promptly turn it off. For 4 days in a row I have ignored the alarm clock's valiant attempts to draw me from my bed, to rouse me out of sleep and deposit me upon two legs.

Obviously, I set my alarm for a reason. It's just that at 5 am I have an equally, if not better, reason to hit snooze.

I can tell myself that I need the sleep, or that the short run I had planned isn't really necessary. I can justify the additional hour of sleep by saying that I need more than 5 hours a night, that at a particularly busy or stressful time in my life missing a day of training won't do any damage.

All of the above are true. Simple, easy and true.

But the problem that I have isn't with choosing sleep over training. It's that I am consistently breaking a non-verbal contract I make with myself each evening as I set the alarm.

SO...

Tomorrow my alarm will go off at 5 am. And I will get out of bed. I may not run. I may not go to the gym. But I will go downstairs, walk the dog, drink some coffee and bask in the early morning solitude with the personal satisfaction that comes from keeping a promise.

How well do you keep your promises?

The Boobie Diet

2010-09-20T10:19:00.001-04:00

I just puked a little in my mouth.

Believe it or not, this commercial is NOT a Saturday Night Live spoof. It's an actual NYS Dept of Health Ad.

There are so many things that I find disturbing in this 31 second blurb that I am sitting here at the computer at a loss as to where to begin. Aside from the deplorable script and atrocious acting (sorry), this ad is just plain wrong. On a very basic level.

Breast feeding isn't about burning calories. It's about FEEDING YOUR CHILD.

The decision to nurse your child should NEVER be based on the desire to lose weight. It's an intensely personal choice, and should not be touted as a weight loss aid. Additionally, maternity pants should never be held up as an example of a "before" weight. It has the potential to lead to some incredibly destructive mentalities regarding baby weight and self-image.

Strive for a healthy pregnancy, nourish your child and yourself. Should you choose to nurse, yay for you. If you don't, you can still achieve your target weight. Whether you burn an extra 500 calories or not, it takes hard work, focus and determination. And everyone is capable of succeeding.

100 Reasons I Run, #82

2010-09-17T07:26:00.000-04:00

#82

Because it's an amazing accomplishment to take yourself from 0.0 to 50k through nothing more than desire and determination.

New endeavors take time and patience. But I promise you that if you allow yourself to succeed, the payoff is more than worth the investment.

Parody or Propaganda?

2010-09-16T10:20:00.001-04:00

OK, really? REALLY?

I detest this sort of propaganda. People deserve the right to be educated, and in that same vein - they deserve the right to make their own decisions and thus be held accountable for the consequences.

You can't blame a fast food restaurant for making you fat. You can't blame a fast food restaurant for your health problems. Though Peter Griffin tried - he sought to sue McBurgerWorld for damages after he suffered a stroke after having consumed 30 of their hamburgers in one sitting :)

As posted on the Fooducate blog, the parody commercial above was created by the Physician's Committee for Responsible Medicine. In case you hadn't realized, PCRM supports vegetarian and vegan diets. In fact, according the PCRM, the 4 food groups should be: Fruit, Legumes, Whole Grains and Vegetables. While I agree that a diet based predominantly within these constraints is beneficial, it's not the magic solution to our nation's health issues.

And Big Macs aren't the devil, either.

Thoughts?

Lose-A-Palooza!

2010-09-14T09:59:00.002-04:00

Today is Lose-A-Palooza - a one-day social media event to help raise awareness and encourage participation in the Lose For Good campaign. For every mention of "Lose For Good" made on Facebook, blogs, Twitter, and check-ins via foursquare, Weight Watchers will donate $1 - up to $60,000 - as part of the Lose For Good donation. Go to Lose-A-Palooza for details.

Viva la Devolution!

2010-09-13T10:17:00.000-04:00

A friend of mine posted this on Facebook, and I had to pass it along....

I have to say though, that I feel the pig is getting a bit of a bad rap here.

Is there any other animal more deserving of representing mankind's devolved state?

2010-09-07T10:09:00.000-04:00

Well kids, Labor Day has come and gone, and with it - summer. Sure, I know that summer isn't technically over, but it sure feels that way doesn't it? Particularly with the reappearance of the Big Yellow Buses.

It's the beginning of the school year - what are YOU going to learn this term?

I'm working on Exercise Anatomy and Physiology. Scientific terminology for musculature is brain boggling, in case you were wondering. MUCH simpler to just say "tush, abs, lunch-lady arms".

What's on your agenda?

Nuh Uh!

2010-08-30T15:39:00.000-04:00

What do you think - viable option, or overkill?

Fridge Locker

I'm thinking overkill when utilized for BLT reduction, but completely viable when used to keep coworkers from stealing your lunch in a community fridge :)

I'm Rubber, You're Glue

2010-08-27T10:07:00.001-04:00

This morning, the Fooducate Blog touched upon an article from Saturday's New York Times:

Fixing a World That Fosters Fat via It's Not Our Personal Fault We're Fat

In a nutshell, the NYT makes the argument that it's damn near impossible for Americans to make healthy food choices and incorporate exercise because of our environment.

The real problem is a landscape littered with inexpensive fast-food meals,; saturation advertising for fatty, sugary products; inner cities that lack supermarkets; and unhealthy, high-stress workplaces.

I call Bull Shit. While it's true that the current environment is not conducive to easily living an optimally healthy lifestyle, laying the blame outside of oneself is just plain folly. The only portion of the above statement that I will concede to is the lack of supermarkets in inner cities (although from what I can see here in NYC there is no lack of availability, I can't attest to the situation in other parts of the country).

The NYT article suggests cutting agricultural subsidies as a way to equalize food pricing and influence people's eating habits. The thought there is that "if we cut the subsidy on whole milk and made it cheaper only to drink low-fat milk, people would switch to it and it would save a lot of calories." - (Dr. Barry Popkin, professor of nutrition at UNC). This is akin to the proposed taxes on soda and juice that many states have attempted to pass in the recent past.

But why are we passing the buck? Just because the easy choice is to hit the drive-thru, whose decision is it to make? It's ours. No one holds a gun to our heads and tells us to buy the frozen entree. No one backs us into a corner and makes us grab a burger and fries instead of a baked potato and chili. There is no one holding your grandmother hostage, refusing to release her if you don't buy from Mr. Softee instead of the fruit cart.

Sure it would be great if the cost per calorie worked in favor of the apple over the happy meal! But just like politics, the change has to start at home. YOU do the difficult work, consciously make the decision to eat to nourish your body. Set a good example for your family, your friends. The change can trickle UP. From you, to your children, to their friends, to their schools. From you, to your social circles, to your merchants, to our legislators.

It won't happen by limiting choice (taxing treats). It will only happen by embracing choice.

The buck stops here.

On Two Wheels

2010-08-09T13:18:00.000-04:00

Someone asked me once if running was like riding a bicycle, in terms of "you never really forget how". My response was "Yes, if that means falling on your face and skinning your knee a few times until you get the hang of it again". While you obviously don't forget how to run, you simply can't jump back in where you left off. No matter how badly you want to. The mind may be willing, but the body just isn't able.

Of course, that doesn't mean most of us don't try. Many of you are probably guilty of jumping back in before you were ready. I know that I'm pretty much the poster child for such behavior :)

But there are some amongst us who are smarter. Patient. Wise.

They know not to beat themselves up for finding a once easy run, difficult. They know that before you can run long, you need to run strong. They know not to measure their success in mileage, but in effort.

And this applies to most all forms of fitness. You can't pick up the barbell where you left off. You can't expect to be as fast or as agile. You can only be present.

So don't beat yourself up. Own your experience and remember that hard work isn't measured merely by distance or pounds. It's measured in sweat and heart.

100 Reasons I Run, #83

2010-08-06T09:33:00.000-04:00

#83

Making plans to meet new people I barely know (or don't at all, for that matter) to run, simply because we have a common goal.

p.s. - It is NEVER, and I repeat NEVER a good idea to run down Broadway from Central Park at 7 pm in the evening. Really. Don't do it. Even if it's the most direct route. Trust me. BAD idea.

p.p.s. - If you do decide to run down Broadway from Central Park at 7 pm in the evening, despite my incredibly vehement warning, be sure to carry enough money to bail yourself out of jail. For assaulting pedestrians. Many, many, pedestrians. Because, trust me, you'll be tempted.

You Go Girl!

2010-08-04T10:51:00.000-04:00

For women who pee standing up. Seriously.

Cereal Scan by Fooducate

2010-08-02T09:15:00.001-04:00

I don't own an iPhone, and I'm generally revolted by the sheer number of idiotic Apps that are out there (though the lightsaber one is pretty cool). But if this one works the way they claim, it might just be incredibly kick-ass.

Cereal Scan by Fooducate

Basically, you load the app on your phone and hit the stupidmarket. When you find an item you're interested in, you use the iPhone's camera to take a picture of the barcode. The application will then translate all the gobbledy-gook that passes for an ingredient list and rates the product compared to other comparable items, tells you the calories per serving, gives you the item's traffic light rating (Green = good, Yellow = so so, Red = not so good), lists information that the food company may not want you to know, and then offers healthier alternatives.

I know that many of you, like me, don't buy much that actually comes in a package. But you've got to admit that in the quest to be an educated, healthful consumer this type of application is pretty damned neat. And a heck of a lot faster than using your phone to Google the things you're unsure of ;)

In particular, I think that an app like this will be most eye-opening when applied toward "health" or "sport" foods, like protein bars, supplement drinks, etc...

When You Wish Upon A Star...

2010-07-30T07:39:00.001-04:00

Just want to point you toward a great blog post:

Principals, Partials, Promises and Pinheads: Acknowledging your Wish Bias

I know that I can definitely see myself there - my constant struggle to build muscle AND mileage comes instantly to mind :)

How about you?

Obituary for a Binkie

2010-07-28T09:54:00.000-04:00

On Monday, July 26th, the 32oz Blue Nalgene bottle with the green sipper top and the pink smoothie straw was reported missing. The beloved bottle was inadvertently left backstage at a theatre Monday night, where it had graciously provided it's owner with refreshment during a short concert she was performing in. It has not been seen since.

During its all to short life, the bottle enabled its owner to drink an entire bottle on the way into work without spilling all over herself when they hit bumps in the road, or stop and go traffic. She was able to walk from my office to the gym, sipping away. It was easy to keep hydrated at her desk all day long, and keep it going on the commute home. Once there, the Blue Nalgene was a familiar sight either at the couch or on the dinner table. And it had a space of honor beside her on my nightstand.

The Blue Nalgene bottle is survived by a Pink Kleen Kanteen and many other bottles (too numerous to count) that are merely a pale shadow of portability and ease of use.

It will be missed.

Shoddy?

2010-07-26T10:12:00.000-04:00

Gait specific shoes - Yay or Nay? (NYT article)

Under the Hood

2010-07-23T08:00:00.001-04:00

IN CASE YOU DIDN'T KNOW:

Potassium Chloride is a type of salt that adds flavor but not sodium (see Nutrition Facts for sodium content).
Maltodextrin is a carbohydrate that comes from potato or starch.

Intrigued?

The above definitions were listed beneath the ingredients of a can of Campbell's Select Harvest Soup (New England Clam Chowder). And yes, I did eat it. Advertising "Real Ingredients. Real Taste.", the website also includes an ingredient glossary.

Since these descriptions are relatively vague, I went off in search of more answers. Being a girl with a notoriously short attention span, I quickly got sidetracked when I found the following two websites:

FOOD ADDITIVES: WHAT THEY DO

and

Fooducate: Eat a bit better

The first link takes you to a .pdf listing common food additives and explains why they're added to our foods. If there is even a smidgen of the geek in you, you'll bookmark this.

The second link is to a blog that I would marry if I were single and it was legal in New York to marry a website. Really. It's full of common sense, some unexpected eye-openers and sprinkled with just a touch of attitude. Did you know that a Chipotle burrito is nutritionally worse than a Big Mac? Or that there is no actual coconut in M&Ms coconut (for shame). Click through the blog and take a look. Let me know here what piqued your interest or threw you for a loop.

There you have it kids, your homework for the weekend :)

disclaimer: I eat processed foods. Not often, but I do. And I enjoy them thoroughly. I certainly don't want to demonize them (Let's face it, you can't make an oreo out of whole foods) :) However, I do think that it behooves us all as consumers to at least recognize when we're eating a Frankenfood.

2010-07-21T11:36:00.000-04:00

A must-see:

ULTRA RUNNER from Cedar Wright on Vimeo.

Many thanks to Senator Brett for passing this along!

Summer in the City

2010-07-19T12:23:00.000-04:00

How hot is too hot? When it comes to outdoor training, at what point do you draw the line?

New York has been in the grips of a heat wave all summer - when it's not raining (or dark out) - the temperature is consistently in the upper 80s to upper 90s, with a few triple digit days thrown in. That's hot. Granted, it's not Badwater Ultramarathon HOT, but it's certainly danger zone hot for us mere mortals who aren't necessarily accustomed to running in this weather.

Personally, unless I'm knee deep in marathon or ultra training, I avoid running outdoors in this weather. If I can, I'll get out there for an early morning run (starting before 7 am) or an evening run (once the sun's gone down). I'll also take pains to plan routes that incorporate as much shade as possible (trails by me are great for this) while avoiding spots that I know are notorious for pounding you with sunshine (portions of my Lake run are killer).

Another strategy that I find useful when it's overwhelmingly hot during long training runs - loops. They're boring, but they're virtually fool-proof. Hot weather means more liquids. I make sure that in addition to whatever I'm carrying, I have stashed liquids that I pass by at least once per hour. Just make sure you don't pass your car too often - the temptation can be too great to call it a day and head home :)

The toughest thing to remember in this heat is that you've got to dial down the intensity. Put away the watch, stop looking at your pace, and just listen to your body. Unless you're well acclimated to heat and humidity, you're going to have to slow it down. Perhaps even trim the distance.

Remember that we run because we like to. Keep it enjoyable, keep it real and keep it safe.

2010-07-15T14:37:00.000-04:00

I've been neglectful, and I apologize for that. Rest assured that I'm here, and haven't forsaken the blogo-sphere :)

Nice Buns!

2010-06-25T10:50:00.001-04:00

Not to make this blog about nothing other than food porn, but have you seen the new burger from Friendly's??

Things that make you go.....

2010-06-18T05:14:00.000-04:00

....what???

Fib or Fact?

2010-06-17T10:53:00.000-04:00

Another reason to limit your consumption of packaged (processed) foods:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

I have to admit that I'm not terribly surprised, though. Nothing is perfect, and I'm sure that the amounts differ from box to box, even within the same food item. Even if it's not accurate, at least people are LOOKING at what they buy and eat. And any time you make a conscious decision, you've made a winning choice.

I make it a point to take everything I read with a grain of salt - look at calorie counts and your daily allotment like a coloring book. The lines are there for guidance, and it's your job to color within them.

What Color are your Glasses?

2010-06-14T12:20:00.000-04:00

Recently, I came across the following quote:

"What we see depends mainly on what we look for." - John Lubbock

This quote was offered within the context of reading and comprehending a textbook, but I found it profoundly appropriate to life in general. If you expect the worst of a situation, you will invariably find it. In contrast, if you seek out positivity you can find it in abundance. We can all choose to dwell in negativity or revel in happiness. It's all about your point of view.

Glass full or glass half empty?

Personally, I've made the conscious decision to find the happy in everything, even the cruddiest of days. And not surprisingly, it's worked. Granted, there are days when it takes a bit longer to pull aside the curtains of "meh", but the sun always finds a way to shine through.

So, if this can affect my view of the day's events, what else can point of view and expectations color?

How about sport and fitness?

You can take that same mind set and inquisitive outlook to your training. Awful training days can serve as the most informative learning opportunities. So rather than lament a crappy long run or a lackluster lifting session, sit down and reflect on what specifically it was that made the experience less than stellar. Establish what didn't work and why. Examine the factors leading up to the end result instead of that end result alone.

The process is the truly important part of training. It teaches and informs us so that we can continue to grow within our chosen sport. Without an introspective examination of the journey, the path will surely dead end.

100 Reasons I Run, #84

2010-06-10T10:15:00.000-04:00

#84

Because it's way easier than cycling! Seriously, have you ever tried to cycle up a hill? And what's the deal with all those gears????

The New Home Gym

2010-06-07T12:27:00.001-04:00

OK, I'm all about finding fitness in every day life, but really?

What's Yours is Mine

2010-06-04T11:01:00.001-04:00

I love being outdoors. If it weren't for the siren song of the big red couch, I'd spend more time outside than in. (It's quite a song, by the way. Incredibly difficult to tune out, and once you've heard it you're pretty much done for).

Right now, much of my training takes place inside the gym. And while I could modify it in order to bring it outdoors, I lack sufficient space to do so safely and without infringing on other people's outdoor right. Which leaves me jonesing for some good 'ole Vitamin D! So far, the only way for me to get a fix is to either sit at the pool (incredibly inactive) or take the dog for a walk (only active if I'm trying to keep up with DH - I take 2-3 steps for each of his).

Which brings me to my question for you: Do you count incidental exercise/movement towards your training? For instance, ideally I would be taking the dog out for a brisk walk/run about an hour a day (generally he looks at me with doggie eyes after 30 mins and I bring him home. He's lazy). In terms of my training, I would never consider that my "run" or my "cardiovascular exercise". It's just...exercising the dog. But if I were to include it as "training", I'd really be tacking on about 5-7 hours of light jogging or brisk walking to an already finely tuned (that's sarcasm, people) training program.

Interested in how you kids handle this sort of thing in your own programming. Particularly those of you who train other people, or lead group exercise classes/training runs.

If it's not "your" workout, does it count?

Carrot or Stick?

2010-06-03T13:10:00.000-04:00

Lately, there here have been reports in the news of employers offering cash incentives for their employees to lose weight.

Employees Earn Cash For Exercising More - WSJ

Obesity is an American epidemic - in recent studies, it was found that 66% of Americans (over the age of 20) are overweight, with approximately 34% of adults (roughly 72 million people) are estimated to be obese. Of the younger population, 9 million are classified as overweight or obese. It has been forecast that by the year 2015 nearly 1 out of every 4 children will be overweight.

The statistics regarding obesity related illnesses and consequently deaths are equally staggering. Putting aside the fact that almost 80% of deaths attributed to cardiovascular disease and cancer could have been prevented by living a healthy lifestyle, the monetary cost of physical inactivity and poor eating habits is astounding: in 2005 the costs attributed to cardiovascular disease reached $393 billion dollars in the United States alone.

So with this in mind, I wonder if earning a few extra bucks is actually incentive enough to get people to make a change when the clear and evident health risks of being unfit are apparently not stimulus enough?

Will the carrot be more of a catalyst for change than the stick? Would people be more apt to adopt a healthier lifestyle for a cash reward, or would they be more likely to give it a whirl if they knew that they'd have to pay a fee instead?

I know that personally, I'm more likely to respond to the stick. What about you?

NHANES

CDC

National Running Day 2010

2010-06-02T12:51:00.003-04:00

Lace'em up, kids! Or go barefoot!

Whatever your pleasure, today is National Running Day - so get out there and put that body to work :)

get Up, stand Up

2010-06-01T16:13:00.002-04:00

If you're reading this, I want you to stand up.

That's right. Push back your chair, and stand up. In fact, I'm standing up as I write this :) Seriously. Aside from a few extra typos, it's actually fairly easy to type on foot.

So, why should you do something so bizarre? Well, I'm glad you asked!

According to one online source, standing burns approximately 50% more calories than sitting. While I personally feel that figure is a bit optimistic, the fact remains that the simple act of standing rather than sitting will increase your caloric expenditure for the day.

Sounds simple, doesn't it?

That's because it is.

Which brings me to my next point: pocket change.

We all accumulate ridiculous amounts of small change during the course of the year. It sits at the bottom of our pocketbooks, litters the cup holder in the car, or sits on top of your dresser. If we took the time to collect it, roll it and bring it to the bank we might find ourselves with some real money.

Just like those coins that we're so quick to forget about, there are so many small changes we can make in our daily routines that, in the long run, can turn into large investments in our general wellness, fitness and nutritional health.

Things as simple as pushing back our chair and standing up every once in a while.

This summer, join me as I collect my pocket change and turn it into cold, hard, wellness cash.

Just be sure that when you do push back that chair, you move it out of the way so as not to trip up your co-workers ;)

Never Forgotten

2010-05-31T08:26:00.000-04:00

It's not about the day off, it's not about the BBQ. Today is about the men and women who serve our country in times of war and peace.

Regardless of your political leanings, please take a moment to honor them.

For those of you who are Facebook saavy, consider donating your status to honor a fallen hero.

And please remember at 3 p.m. today to pause for a National Moment of Remembrance.

Drink up!

2010-05-28T07:50:00.000-04:00

But you know it's got to taste like heaven!

PB & C Shake at Cold Stone = liquid bacon :)

Check out the full list of the 20 worst drinks in the US here.

A Little Something Extra

2010-05-26T15:26:00.001-04:00

Interested in an easy way to boost your calorie burn at the gym? What if I told you it's something that you're very likely already doing, and by doing more of it you'll not only easily add to your workout, you'll be performing a much needed service as well?

I'm referring, of course, to re-racking your weights!

If you're anything like me, you wouldn't dream of walking away from a fully loaded barbell when your training is complete. No, you take the time to strip it down and return all the plates to their neat and tidy home. Sadly, you and I are often in the minority. At my gym, it's rare that even one of the employees takes the time to walk around the gym floor taking care of these small housekeeping chores.

Last year, a good friend of mine left her health club job to train privately. As time progressed, she noticed that despite continuing the same training and eating regime, she was putting on a small amount of weight. What had changed that would result in the unexpected weight gain?

She wasn't constantly re-racking weight plates or rearranging dumbbells on the racks (and all the other organizational duties) while working in her former club.

Now, I can't promise that putting someone else's crap away will make give you a six-pack or make that V-taper pop (someone else's, because I'm assuming that none of my readers are the annoying PITA that leave all their sh*t lying around). But I can tell you that you'll get a little extra burn for your gym buck, you'll be more likely to find what you're looking for the next time you train, and the employees working the floor will become your best friends.

Big Apple Run For The Warriors®

2010-05-24T08:00:00.000-04:00

Come join me!

Big Apple Run For The Warriors®

When: Sunday, May 30^th, start time 8:30 am

Where: NYC Vietnam Veterans Memorial

Who: Benefits Hope For The Warriors®

Want to celebrate Memorial Day weekend right and have fun at the same time? Then register now for the Inaugural Big Apple Run For The Warriors® 3-mile or 1-mile run/walk. A ceremony to honor our fallen and wounded begins at 8:30 a.m. followed by the race at 9 a.m. The race begins and ends at the NYC Vietnam Veterans Memorial and racers will also pass the NYC Police Museum, Wall Street, Fulton Fish Market, South Street Seaport as well as pass under the Brooklyn Bridge.

All proceeds for the race will benefit Hope For The Warriors®, a nonprofit organization that assists wounded service members, their families, and families of the fallen. Registration is $30 for adults, $15 for college students. Active-duty military, their families, and ALL children under 18-years old are FREE.

Grab your sneakers, bring out the whole family, and celebrate Memorial Day with Hope For The Warriors®.

Picture Perfect

2010-05-20T08:04:00.003-04:00

Jen Fit posted this on Facebook yesterday, and I think it's something that everyone should take a gander at.

What Does 200 Calories Look Like?

Very eye-opening pictorial article illustrating the caloric density of common foods. There's nothing newsworthy about it, of course - no big shockers or surprises. But it's still enlightening, and really serves to hammer home the importance of knowing how to get the most bang for your buck, particularly if (like me) you're a volume eater :)

Just don't go there until after you've eaten. It's torture if you're hungry ;)

What's Your Angle?

2010-05-18T10:36:00.001-04:00

Perspective. Sometimes you've got it, sometimes you don't. If you're lucky, you have people in your life who can provide you with a little extra help in that area when you need it.

A little while back, I was discussing with a friend how I'd been somewhat lax with my eating that week. Eating some unplanned grapes. A raisin here or there. And, for at least 3 days in a row - having 30 almonds instead of my planned and accounted for 20.

She stopped me and asked me to think about what I had just said.

10 almonds.

69 calories.

Now, she was in no way condoning the deviation, merely pointing out that in the grand scheme of things, 10 almonds is not much of a deviation.

The issue itself lies not in what was eaten or how much, merely in the fact that it was done mindlessly. Not because I was starving, or lacked energy, or even because I was DYING for another almond. I ate 10 extra almonds because they were there, so why not? I ate the grapes because they were sitting out on the counter, about 5 feet from my desk. The raisins because they had fallen out of some cookies.

How many times have you bailed on a workout and kicked yourself in the ass for it? Before you beat yourself up though, examine WHY you bailed. Were you stressed at work or at home, over-trained, sick or ridiculously tired? Or were you simply not in the mood?

Taking an unplanned rest day is OK. Listening to our bodies is smart, no question about it. Having a flexible approach to your diet can be a great thing as well, reminding us to enjoy life and keeping us from psychological burn-out.

But when these moments arise, we need to take a moment to step back from the situation and examine the motive behind the behavior. Be truthful and you will never steer yourself wrong.

Beginning my Bucket List

2010-05-13T08:00:00.001-04:00

I have found my goal race for 2011:

The Doughman

Breakfast Belly Bombs

2010-05-03T08:00:00.000-04:00

11 Scary Fast Food Breakfasts

Damn. Now I'm hungry.

Skinny Cow

2010-04-29T09:00:00.001-04:00

I came across this article this week:

Selling the "Skinny Dream"

I've written and rewritten this blog post all week. Something about the above referenced article just bothers me, but I can't seem to express what it is in words. It's just off somehow.

So, I give up and am going to ask YOU! What do you think? Am I missing something?

Outside the Comfort Zone

2010-04-26T12:52:00.001-04:00

There's a reason they call it a "comfort zone". It's comfortable! Like that pair of jeans long overdue for a trip in the wash, the comfort zone is a tough place to break free from. It feels good to be comfortable. Why in the world would we ever want to disrupt that?

Two weeks ago, I bit the bullet and joined the gym close to my home. To be clear, I love my gym in the city. It's close, it's cheap, I get along well with the staff. I know where everything is, and I know how to adjust it to fit me perfectly. I even know who the crazies are (tai chi man, anyone?) and what time of day to avoid (anything past 11:30 am). But now that my work hours have returned to human size, hitting the gym for 2 hours in the middle of the day gets expensive in terms of office time lost. Now, as many of you know I also have a fairly good home gym set up as well. Treadmill, squat stands, barbell with bumpers, adjustable dumbbell, pull-up bar, AbMat and plyo box. But there are things I can't manage at home (heavy leg work, mostly). So, a second gym membership was my solution.

The local gym is the one that my nutritional and posing coach work at, so I was familiar with it. Well, familiar with the walk from the front desk to the Diet Dude's office, the room we practice posing in, and the women's locker room. But that's it. I didn't even tour the facilities before I joined (I know, I'm an idiot). It was a good deal, I needed (wanted) more fitness access on the weekends, and the location was prime. That was enough for me.

I joined on the 15th, right after tax season. It took me until this past Thursday to work up the balls to actually GO. Amusing, isn't it? Here's a girl who would live in the gym if she had the opportunity, and yet she had to psyche herself up to go to a new one. What's up with that?

The gym at home is at home. Which means I might know someone there. Ick.
At my gym in the city, I'm one of very few women who are relatively hard core. The gym at home is full of women who just competed in a figure competition.
Did I mention that I might KNOW someone at the gym at home?

Add to the above silliness the fact that I don't know where ANYTHING is, and you've got my recipe for gym-unease. But I pushed it aside and went to the gym for the first time to work legs on Thursday. And boy did my workout SUCK :)

The squat stand I used was a half rack (instead of my usual power cage) and the bar was either too high or too low. Waah.
The leg presses can not (to my knowledge) be adjusted to accommodate my teeny tiny legs. Waah.
There are so many machines that I wandered around searching for the prone leg curl (it was next to the seated leg curl that I wound up using). I tried to use a mulit-hip machine (never again) instead of the ab/adductor machine that I couldn't find. That too was right next to what I eventually wound up using. Waah.
The amount of time I spent attempting to find and adjust things to my liking made for an incredibly long and less-than-intense workout, where I felt like I looked like the HUGEST gym newb ever. Big Waah.

Not one to give up, I returned on Friday to work Back. It was a little better. I had more of a clue :) Attempted to do heavy legs again on Saturday, slightly more success there. I still prefer to hit legs in the city, but I think I'll manage in the new gym. Particularly because it turns out that they have both a powerlifting room AND a huge empty space with sprint lanes, kettlebells, more free weights (and did I mention SPACE?) in the back.

Who knows how long it will take me to get comfortable there. Until then, each training session is another trip ventured beyond my comfort zone. Which is probably good. Just...uncomfortable :)

Luckily, I have yet to run into anyone I know :)

Do You See What I See?

2010-04-21T11:31:00.000-04:00

On the news this morning, they ran a short segment about how gaining a pound or two a year increases a woman's risk of breast cancer. OK. That's a valid warning. Not new (if you Google it you can find reports going back to 2007), but certainly newsworthy.

But the footage that they ran in the background was of all (anonymous) obese women as they walked down the street. And when I say obese, I'm not referring to "having a BMI over 25" obese. I'm talking "over 300 lbs, candidates for gastric bypass" obese.

The average woman watching that broadcast wouldn't see herself in that risk group at all. So what did the news report accomplish? Aside from pissing me off? Nothing.

It seems that whenever weight is a factor in a news story, the visual is always excessive. Overweight doesn't always mean obese. And until people realize that, and see themselves in the category of being at risk for health issues, these stories will become increasingly relevant.

In choosing to run stock footage that provided some shock value, the morning news missed out on actually reporting.

100 Reasons I Run, #85

2010-04-19T10:07:00.001-04:00

#85

As I write this, approximately 25,000 people are out running the 114th Boston Marathon. 5,942 of them are women aged 18-39. There are 7 people entered aged 80 and over. One of them is a woman.

I wonder who of the 5,942 will grow up to be that lone 80+ entrant?

Bounty vs. Brawny

2010-04-07T12:37:00.000-04:00

Recently, I was feeling a bit disheartened at the apparent lack of progress I have been making (in regards to body composition). Upon hearing this, someone pointed me to the following:

The Paper Towel Analogy

So simple and yet so easily overlooked.

Food Porn, Snuff Style.

2010-04-05T18:12:00.001-04:00

Double Down

Thoughts?

According to the article:

The Double Down comes either grilled or fried with KFC’s Original Recipe. The fried version has 540 calories, 32 grams of fat and 1,380 milligrams of sodium. The grilled version has 460 calories, 23 grams of fat and 1,430 milligrams of sodium.

You know people will order the grilled version thinking that it's healthy....after all, there's no bun.

Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire!

2010-04-02T10:33:00.002-04:00

Brilliant.

I've been switching over to measuring by weight as opposed to volume, particularly because I am the QUEEN of getting far more to fit into a spoon/cup than the laws of physics should allow. It's seriously impressive. I think it's a girl thing (like getting the rest of the dishes to fit into the dishwasher). It's a tough switch, because you just wind up getting so much LESS food. But really, who are you fooling by calling it a serving when it's really 1.5? Sure enough your body knows the difference. Why lie to yourself?

Perspective

2010-03-31T18:30:00.000-04:00

It's that time of year for me when everything outside of the radius of my desk seems to vanish. The days no longer have names. They all run together, punctuated by the few hours I spend at home. Sleeping.

Everything I do seems to take forever. For instance, it's now after 6 pm and I started to write this post sometime after noon.

I alternate between slap-happy giddiness and being the biggest biatch in the world. The smallest things will set me off - I left the gym one day in a vile mood because the music was too loud. In my defense, it's a stretch to even call such noise "music" :)

In the past month, I have eaten perhaps 5 meals with my husband. Or at home, for that matter.

I have worked without a day off since Sunday, February 28th. I will continue to do so until Thursday, April 15th.

Oddly enough, I'm OK with all of this. Once the initial shock of the schedule passes, the rhythm of ceaseless work takes over and you just flow with it. I think it's similar to the start of an ultra, when you stand at the start withover 30 miles ahead of you. Once you begin to move, and the miles begin to add up, the task ahead becomes less daunting and you simply accept your path.

Of course, ultras have much better aid stations than tax season.

Hmm, that's definitely something to consider for next year....

Running in Circles

2010-03-29T15:01:00.000-04:00

This past weekend, it seems as though everyone I knew was running a race! My ultra buddies were down south running the Umstead 100 (and 50M) Endurance Run, while my NYC peeps were in Central Park running the Colon Cancer 4M and 15K.

Me - well, I was at the gym and at work.

It's been strange this winter, stepping back from running. But I think it's been good for me. I've taken time to train, get stronger and leaner, and really figure out what I want from my athletic endeavors.

I still haven't figured out exactly how to have my cake and eat it too, but I haven't given up on that yet :)

Umstead 100

2010-03-26T10:17:00.000-04:00

Sending out some Happy Hundred Vibes to all my friends running the Umstead 100 Mile Endurance Run this weekend - I wish I were out there with you! Maybe next year.....

Calling Captain Obvious

2010-03-24T15:44:00.000-04:00

March 23: A new study suggests that without making changes to their diet, women need exercise just to keep their weight stable--but exercise alone won't lead to weight loss.

Captain Obvious strikes again!

Watch the "news report".

Lullabye

2010-03-22T12:30:00.000-04:00

I miss sleeping. A sleep free of stress, a sleep that recharges, energizes, invigorates. A sleep that comes after unwinding at home, talking to loved ones, playing with pets. A sleep that greets the morning with a smile and the beauty of the day yet to unfold.

OK, I'll be honest - I'm rarely smiling in the morning. But that sounded better than "cranky".

Lately, my sleep is nothing like this. It is a sleep borne of exhaustion. I come home, throw my stuff down wherever I can find a free spot, sit on the couch for about an hour and then trudge upstairs to collapse into bed. The day's clothes lay at the side of the bed, piled up and cushioning my feet when I finally drag myself out of bed in the morning. Still exhausted. Body tired and stiff from waking in the same position as when I passed out the evening before. Depleted. Today, even my shower did little to awaken me. I stepped out of the shower and toweled off (barely). As I stood there, I spied my husband's towel hanging on the door. So soft. Inviting. I stepped forward and leaned my head on it, sure that I could catch just a few more minutes of precious sleep. Then I realized that it's unlikely I'd stay standing if I were to fall asleep and that I'd wind up with a busted head.

But, I digress.

I'm getting about 6 - 7 hours of sleep a night. Not over training. Yet still I'm simply.....beat. What is odder yet is that it really only affects me during the bookends of my days. I'm fairly functioning during the actual day. Really :) The gym energizes me. I can remain focused on work. I have yet to truly bite anybody's head off. But why can't my mornings and evenings be smoother?

How about you? Do you sleep well? Do you sleep soundly? And if not, how do you handle less than optimum sleep patterns?

26.2 divided by 2 equals 13.1

2010-03-19T15:14:00.001-04:00

Best of luck to everyone running the NYC Half Marathon this Sunday! I'll be with you in spirit!

Perfect Posture Perfects Perfomance

2010-03-17T06:26:00.002-04:00

In high school, I had a friend who would always repeat the mantra "Perfect posture perfects performance". We were both typical overachievers, honors classes (a year ahead, thank you very much), after school activities, good relationships with our parents, fairly typical geeks :)

But wheras I would slouch at my desk, she'd always be upright and aligned.

Perfect posture perfects performance.Smart cookie that I am, I made sure to emulate my friend :) Whether or not my "perfomance" has been "perfected" or not remains to be seen - but I'm sure that my body is thankful for the attention to my posture.

Bad posture is, to this day, one of my biggest pet peeves. Particularly in tall people - I mean, come on! You've got glorious height! Show it off!!!

Poor posture upsets me most when I see it on avid gym-goers. I fail to understand how someone seemingly intent on achieving physical health can overlook such an obvious flaw in their physique. For instance, there is a woman at my gym who puts herself through fairly grueling interval workouts. She drips with sweat, moving from a barbell to the stair master (I won't even go into her form or lack thereof on that maching) to the decline ab bench and back again....an absolute workhorse. She is incredibly lean, but her shoulders roll forward to her chest in such a way as to make me uncomfortable (I seriously roll my shoulders whenever I see her). I don't know if she's just lazy with her posture, or if she's built up such an imbalance between her chest muscles and her back that she's basically PULLING her shoulders to the front. Yes, I realize that she very well could have some sort of condition, but let's theorize that she doesn't (for the sake of the argument).

What I want to know is how someone who puts so much work and effort into their training can miss something so simple to correct?

Don't piss me off. Stand up tall. Own the space your body occupies. All of it. All the time. Your back will thank you for it.

WikiHow to Improve Your Posture

Out of the Kiddie Pool

2010-03-15T13:25:00.000-04:00

"Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime". - Chinese Proverb

Sigh. Apparently my training partner has subscribed to this train of thought :) I've spent the better part of the weekend (and this morning) attempting to write up my programming for the next cycle of my training (which begins today). She asked me if I was excited for the new program, and I told her no ;)

Partly, it's just that I'm afraid of doing a poor job at making my own program. What if I do it wrong? What if I ultimately end up spinning my wheels in the gym, wasting valuable time? I don't feel as though I have a broad enough vocabulary of movement and form to construct it well, much less know if it's working. But, I'll get over it (and myself). I know what I'm doing, and it's about time I took off my water wings and went for a dip on my own.

Do you do your own programming? Or do you follow someone else's - a trainer, CrossFit mainsite, the most recent issue of Shape/Fitness/Men's Health? If you do follow someone else's, do you ever question WHY you're doing particular movements or volume?

If you don't (question) - start! The best part of having someone to guide us is being able to learn the why along with the what/when/where and how!

Link Love

2010-03-12T10:13:00.000-05:00

Not being lazy(really!!), but this is a great blog post that I thought I'd pass along to you kids. FILLED with common sense (imagine that!) and no-nonsense truths:

The Key To Successful Fat Loss

2010-03-11T10:59:00.001-05:00

I know - I've been awful this week at keeping up with you all. For that, I apologize. Between the real job, commercial work and busting my tuchus getting ready for my competitions, I've been a very neglectful blogosphere commentator.

I promise to be better :)

In the meantime, follow along on my daily competition prep. Just click on the link to the right - from there you can check out my food journal and (as always) my training journal, as well as keeping up with the daily trials and tribulations (i.e. mood swings and food swings). Feel free to comment, encourage, or smack me upside the head ;) Just don't be a stranger!

Gluten Free Fitness - Erin Elberson

2010-03-05T10:33:00.001-05:00

Just wanted to share a website with you kids that focuses on a Gluten Free Lifestyle for active/fitness folks. I know a lot of you follow Paleo dietary guidelines, and many of you are Clean Eaters. Definitely a wealth of information to be found here. If you sign up for Erin's newsletter, you'll also receive a short eBook that introduces you to Gluten Free eating and how you can tailor it to your desired outcome (weight management, etc).

What you'll notice as you read through her posts is that she's a proponent of REAL foods - no faux-food substitutions. Just natural, honest, naked food. Paleo folks - just skim over the grains :)

Gluten Free Fitness

Do you do it with the lights on?

2010-03-03T15:15:00.000-05:00

There were so many exciting things going on today at the gym that I actually had to sit and think about what to share with you. It was a veritable smorgasbord of idiocy :)

My favorite?

Tai Chi man - he goes into a corner of the side room at the gym, turns OFF the lights (doesn't ask, mind you) and goes through his progressions. Already, we can tell he's a keeper!

Today, I notice him sitting at the Hammer Strength Chest Press.

READING A NEWSPAPER.

With a People magazine at his feet.

I watch.

He reads.

I watch.

He reads.

I watch.

He reads.

Then, he puts down his paper. My excitement builds. He grabs hold of the handles, arches his back off the seat so far that he's almost airborne, PUSHES the handles forward while slamming his body back into the seat, returns the handles to the start position, and LEAVES.

*insert quizzical face here*

Maybe he's got no force production with the lights on....

Tao of Tetris

2010-03-01T10:06:00.001-05:00

Does your office have a refrigerator? A kitchenette? How do you handle the shared space?

As many of you may know, I currently work 12 hour days. This means that I eat breakfast, lunch AND dinner here at my office. It takes a little bit of planning and a lot of pre-cooking and measuring, but it's a very manageable situation.

Here's the rub: I work with 5 other people. These five people also eat a majority of their meals in the office. So, at any given moment let's assume that there are the fixings for roughly 13 meals in our office fridge. Which, I should point out, is an under-the-counter model.

Seeing as how we're awfully tight for space, I only bring one day's menu at a time (even though almost the entire week is already cooked and portioned out at home). If something needs to be in a hard sided container, I choose the smallest available. The only full sized items that I store here in the office are condiments. Some people, however, aren't so considerate. So most mornings I spend a good 10-20 minutes sitting on the floor in front of the fridge, rearranging everything so that my father's and my poor nutritional needs can be refrigerated.

Basically, I play Tetris with food.

In my new, improved Zen state of mind, I try not to judge people for their selfish fridge hogging, as in the past I too have been guilty of such. I strive to accept that they have no spacial conception.

I slide, stack, shimmy and stuff everything into tight little cracks and corners. I move them from my shelf, my corner (top right in case you're curious - don't mess with it, I'm very territorial), and into a more appropriate location.

Someone stole my drawer, but I'll get over it.

Someday.

Snow Day Poll!

2010-02-26T16:18:00.001-05:00

Snow day today, and got in a version of my Legs/Shoulder workout at home. Aside from all the gym stuff I didn't have access to, there were two things that I really found myself missing (sitting in my gym bag in the office): my Gym Boss timer (for my rest between sets) and my notebook!

What training accessory(s) can you absolutely NOT do without?

Weighing In

2010-02-24T15:10:00.000-05:00

Yes, pun intended.

Excuse me, is this seat taken?

Obese people and airplanes - what's your take? Having been sat upon during many a flight, I am all in favor of requiring people of a certain stature to purchase two seats. However, to be fair, I think that airlines should also provide at least a row or two for those poor individuals who stand at over 6' tall.

IS there a way to handle this dilemma with tact and respect?

The Biggest Snoozer

2010-02-22T14:08:00.000-05:00

I've never been a big fan of the show "The Biggest Loser". For me, it's neither exciting nor inspiring to watch severely obese individuals beat themselves up in an attempt to lose record amounts of weight in record time. This is in no way a refection on them - I applaud anyone who makes healthier life changes. But come on, let's get real! How difficult is it, really, for someone who is 400lbs to lose weight? Particularly when you throw them in a controlled environment, force them to do insane amounts of exercise, and dangle an obscene amount of money in front of them in the same way you'd taunt a horse with a carrot?

Well apparently I'm not alone in my less than warm-fuzzy-feelings for the show. Read on:

‘Biggest Loser’ has big health problems

An Open Letter #2

2010-02-19T14:29:00.000-05:00

Dear Guy on Smith Machine,

I'm very pleased to see that you're enjoying your training today. However, it's a bit disturbing to me just how much you seem to be enjoying it. Your grunts of effort (pain? discomfort? exultation?) are loud, and far too similar to...uh...well, you know. Perhaps, if you must make so much noise in order to complete the reps in your set, you might be better served by lessening the weight?

Also, I'm not sure what that last exercise you were doing was supposed to be (picture a body row, with the head thrown back, and the pull to the bar incorporating an undulation of the spine. While GRUNTING), but it was beyond odd, and made me hurt.

Your friend,

The Girl at the Squat Rack

Polar FS3C Heart Rate Monitor

2010-02-17T10:06:00.000-05:00

If you know me, you know that I LOVE new toys :)

This is the Polar FS3C Heart Rate Monitor - very basic, reasonably priced, and incredibly simple to operate. It has ONE button. Just one. And once you're working out, you don't even need to press it. That's right - it will scroll through the different display screens like magic! All you do is hold the wrist unit near your chest (where the HRM strap is) and voila! It beeps and scrolls! Love it!

No bells, no whistles. No personalized workouts, no percentages, no nothing. Just the time of day, the elapsed time exercised, and your heart rate. And a back-light, of course, for those of us who hop on the treadmill before dawn and refuse to turn the light on.

I currently have mine set with a minimum heart rate of 130 and a maximum of 139 (my target zone for cardio workouts) and the wrist unit will beep at me if I am outside of those perimeters.

Next on my wish list: the Polar WearLink+ Coded Transmitter and Belt Set. It's a soft transmitter, rather than the enormous plastic T31 that came with my watch, or the T34 that came with my treadmill. The only problem is that it costs almost as much as the heart rate monitor itself :)

Rest for the Wicked

2010-02-15T13:08:00.000-05:00

I've taken the past few days off from training due to a nasty chest cold, and I swear it's left me with the same feeling as a well planned taper. I'm sitting at my desk right now, raring to go. Sadly my lungs don't agree with me, as a few well timed hacking coughs have proven (thus cementing my decision to continue to rest until Wednesday's planned cardio and lifting). But aside from that, I feel great - it's as though the past 3 days of rest were magical. I lost a few pounds, my muscles seem more defined, and my desire to move has increased by leaps and bounds.

Up until this point, I've barely been taking rest days, at least not full rest days. Sure, there were days that I didn't run, or days that I didn't lift, but very rarely a day in which I did neither. It doesn't matter that I know better, of course. It's just always difficult to actually follow through and take the rest when it's needed - which more than likely led to this recent bout of whatever-the-f'k that hit me last week with a vengeance.

It only goes to show - you don't need to be a world class athlete to need a rest day. Us normal people need them too.

PS - us normal people also have to google the correct usage of "proven vs. proved".

Eeny Meeny Miney Mo

2010-02-12T15:49:00.000-05:00

A few quick questions for you kids:

Do you prioritize your gym time/running time?
Do you schedule the rest of your life around it? Work/Family obligations?
Is this the way it should be?

I realized the other day that I am, for the most part, guilty of putting my fitness goals ahead of the rest of my life. In the past year, I haven't gone to an audition if it conflicted with my gym window. I schedule other classes around my training plan (ie, Tuesday is a rest day so I take my musical theatre class that day). I pick my clothing and shoewear based on the day's training. I am building an extensive supply of Lululemon pants and classy gym tops so that I can wear my gym clothes to work, and when I'm going to train upper body I wear sneakers, while when I'm training lower I wear whatever since I will change into lifting shoes. I won't go out and party if I've got a run planned for the next day. Heck right now I won't go out and party at all since I'm dieting down for a competition.

But why? I'm not a professional athlete. I don't make money running, or lifting, or modelling. If anything, this is a hobby that, while healthier than being a club kid, is actually not that healthy at all. I go far beyond what is generally accepted as the recommended amount of physical activity for a healthy adult. I run far enough to cause blisters, stomach upset and the occasional dehydration. I lift heavy enough to cause excessive strain, wear and tear on my muscles just to affect a physical and aesthetic change. I modify my eating to create a desired end result that is only maintainable for a month at best, and ultimately leaves me weaker than when I began.

And yet this what I choose to prioritize in my life. Is it right? It makes me happy, so that's got to count for something. I'm still married, so it's not yet caused a disturbance at home...

Ultimately, it comes down to one thing - choice. This is how I choose, at this moment, to live my life. Good or bad, right or wrong, it's my choice. Conversely, it's not my place to say that other people are wrong for NOT behaving in this manner - I salute the people I see at the gym who show up each day to put in the requisite 30 mins of movement that makes them feel as though they've done something. I applaud the cardio bunnies - if that's what makes you happy, go for it! And as for the guys who lift in jeans and boots, who never fully finish a movement or use full ROM - hey, if it works for you then it's not my place to poo-poo it.

So before you pass judgement on the guy sweating next to you on the elliptical, or the crazy CF devotee who shouts 3-2-1 GO! at every chance (while counting zone blocks and extolling the horrors of grain), just take a step back, breathe, and choose to smile (inwardly).

Because when we forget that we're all in this by choice, it's then that the prioritization takes on an unhealthy, obsessive quality. As long as you choose to do something, you can still choose to do something else.

Weather or Not

2010-02-10T09:51:00.001-05:00

Snow day!

The view out my window is gorgeous! I wish I were brave enough to hit the road and go for a snowy run, but instead I'm going to open the blinds and hit the treadmill :) It would be different if I were in walking distance of a trail - it's the cars that concern me in inclement weather :)

How do the elements affect your outdoor workouts? Do you head out regardless?

Keeping Time

2010-02-08T10:46:00.001-05:00

Do you eat when you're not hungry? I'm not talking about mindless eating or snacking, or even emotional eating. But conscious eating - knowing full well that you aren't the least bit hungry, but going ahead and eating anyway. No gluttony involved, but rather eating a planned meal or snack.

I find that I tend to hoard my food all day long, pushing my meal time back more and more until I'm no longer hungry. Or saving the bulk of my snacks until later in the evening, and then having to consume them right before bed because I simply lost track of time :)

So let's hear it - what about you?

Digging the Sweat Stuff

2010-02-05T09:52:00.002-05:00

I love sweat. I mean, except for when it drips into my eyes and burns like the devil, of course. But to finish training and actually be dirty...It's kinda delicious, isn't it?

I wonder though why we guage our effort on something so easily manipulated. If the environment is hot enough, you'll sweat regardless. And if the ventilation and cooling is good, you may sweat a little less. Does that change how hard you worked? If the person who crosses the finish line next to you is dripping while you're lightly misted, did they run a better race? Does no sweat angel equal a sub par performance?

Caloric Deprivation and Deep Thoughts :)

2010-02-03T10:27:00.002-05:00

I'm not sure if any of you follow my contest prep journalling, but I posted something yesterday that I think carries through to much of life. It's about how imperative it is for us all to really, truly, show up for our lives.

You can find my plopplings here.

Gym Etiquette

2010-02-01T13:14:00.000-05:00

Should I tell the guy working out in the mustard yellow ringer T with the black band and brown pants with boots that he looks an awful lot like a Starfleet Officer? Or would that be innapropriate?

Question of the Week(s)

2010-01-29T10:24:00.000-05:00

GREAT new articles up on Gillian's blog - both dealing with issues I'm sure most of us are familiar with: what to do about your training when you're feeling ill, and how the heck to get (or strengthen) your pull-up!

An Open Letter

2010-01-27T16:41:00.000-05:00

Dear Mr. Bluetooth Ipod,

I am very happy that you enjoy your gadget. It is very cool that you can attach your ipod to the beaded curtain near the tanning booths and wander around the free mat area, practicing your boxing movements. Or that you can attach it to the metal posts of the squat rack while you do your squats (even tho they make my neck and back hurt just to watch).

But I would appreciate it greatly if you would resist the urge to sing along to the tunes. Aside from the fact that your voice is less than stellar, I find it difficult to concentrate on my own workout when you keep blurting out random musical phrases. It's quite frightening, to tell the truth.

Sincerely,

The Shortie at the Squat Rack

ps - You probably also didn't realize the ruckus you made when you dragged the plyo box across the floor (I know that you're a bad-ass, and needed the cable station so that you could don the vest, attach yourself and work your sparring moves). It's a heavy box. It is most likely larger than I am (or at least it feels that way whenever I pick it up to move it). But dragging it is LOUD. Particularly to those of us within spitting distance.

Reading is FUNdamental

2010-01-25T15:16:00.000-05:00

Do you keep a training journal? Paper? Online? Software program?

If so, what do you record in it? Do you stick to mileage and time, reps and weight? Or do you include your perceived effort, your mood, what you ate or how you slept?

Lastly, do you ever look back at what you wrote?

I keep both a paper and an online training journal. One is merely a reflection of the other (although I record a few humorous thoughts in my notebook while I'm at the gym - ie, smelly man, water fountain parade, dude who won't stop singing, etc). I look at previous workouts in order to figure out the weights to use or the rep scheme, but that's about it.

Today I completely failed that very simple exercise in due dilligence. Off the bat, I was doing my full body workout with too high a reps scheme (3 sets of 15 rather than the 10 I was supposed to be doing), and then I flubbed on the amount of assistance to set for the Gravitron.

Oy.

Moral of the story is - use what you've got. Namely - if you record your workouts in a journal, READ them.

grit, guts and gumption

Dirty Dozen

Brick by Brick

Stranger than Fiction

Oversize Man Sues White Castle Over Seats

Where's the Beef?

Gym Etiquette, via Slate.com

Food for Thought

I pick things Up and put them Down

Mirror, Mirror...

Flowchart o' Fabulousness

Someone Else's Plate

Face lift, Schmase-lift!

Singledom - the ultimate fitness accessory!

Tool Time!

Naughty or Nice?

Potato Creek Trail Runs

Whatever Shall I Wear?

The Emperor's New Clothes

S510

100 Reasons I Run, #81

Move Over, Elastic!

Chew On This

Gobble, Gobble

Sweet Soapbox

Whole Grain B*llsh*t

National Captain Obvious Day

Love to Hate you

The Boobie Diet

100 Reasons I Run, #82

Parody or Propaganda?

Lose-A-Palooza!

Viva la Devolution!

Nuh Uh!

I'm Rubber, You're Glue

On Two Wheels

100 Reasons I Run, #83

You Go Girl!

Cereal Scan by Fooducate

When You Wish Upon A Star...

Obituary for a Binkie

Shoddy?

Under the Hood

Summer in the City

Nice Buns!

Things that make you go.....

Fib or Fact?

What Color are your Glasses?

100 Reasons I Run, #84

The New Home Gym

What's Yours is Mine

Carrot or Stick?

National Running Day 2010

get Up, stand Up

Never Forgotten

Drink up!

A Little Something Extra

Big Apple Run For The Warriors®

Picture Perfect

What's Your Angle?

Beginning my Bucket List

Breakfast Belly Bombs

Skinny Cow

Outside the Comfort Zone

Do You See What I See?

100 Reasons I Run, #85

Bounty vs. Brawny

Food Porn, Snuff Style.

Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire!

Perspective

Running in Circles

Umstead 100

Calling Captain Obvious

Lullabye

26.2 divided by 2 equals 13.1

Perfect Posture Perfects Perfomance

Out of the Kiddie Pool

Link Love

Gluten Free Fitness - Erin Elberson

Do you do it with the lights on?

Whole Grain Bllsht