Taking back power.

I've been a member at a small local fitness club for about a year now. I mainly joined because I needed a reliable treadmill on days when it was too icy to safely run outdoors. (It helps that I was paying a mere $14 a month to be a member.) It was usually quiet when I went in the mornings; not too crowded, a nice assortment of people peppered across the weight room and cardio room. In short, the club was not close to my house, but it was cheap and I liked it fine.

The only problem I had was when I took up swimming. When I joined this club, I was well-aware that their "pool" was the size of a postage stamp. In fact, I once asked the front desk how many yards it was, and she looked at me like I was crazy, told me she had no idea, and informed me that no one had ever asked before. Huh. But when first started the swimming thing, it was nearly June. Plenty of great weather to get into a lake and swim, and since I was doing the Trizelle program through Gazelle (http://www.gazellesports.com/info/74-multi-sport-training-programs.html), I had opportunities to swim both indoors and outdoors with them. Plus, I didn't even like swimming when I started, so the size of the club's pool was really a non-issue.

As the weather started turning colder, I started picking up a couple of weekly swims at a local middle school. That was okay; the pool was rarely filled to capacity, but it was damn early, the pool was freezing, and it was one of the most expensive lap swims in town. Then, one frosty morning a few weeks ago, I showed up to the middle school and found a completely abandoned parking lot (which isn't to say this is the first time this has happened; it wasn't). The sign on the double doors simply read: POOL CLOSED. Hmm. Well, this seems a little different than the usual "No lap swim these dates" signs that usually adorn the doors on a break. With a little asking around, I discovered that the pool was closed indefinitely because of whatever problems they were having with it. Disappointing.

So, what's a girl to do? Here I am:

* frustrated that my knee has been bothering me, making my runs less than successful.

* frustrated that the pool I've been relying on is closed until further notice.

* frustrated that I'm not getting my usual amount of exercise.

Finally, I decided it was time to move on from my little gym on the west side. I still needed a reliable treadmill or indoor track for icy days. I needed a reliable pool. I needed some classes to break up the monotony of "training". And I needed it to not be over-priced.

In the end, I decided that the $14 a month I was paying for the gym, and the $40 I was paying for 10 swims at the middle school, would be better spent in a YMCA membership. So, that's where I put my money. In the last couple of weeks, I have gotten in loads of swimming, some running, some Zumba, some weight/core work, some elliptical and rowing.... lots to do there. To be honest, I've felt better in the last few weeks than I have felt in quite some time. The knee is still rehabilitating (it feels like it's mending), but at least I have options to keep my cardio up while it does so.

Ruts are funny. Sometimes you don't even realize you're immersed in one until you start to break out of it. Or you deny you're in one, like you don't want to hurt your gym or your chosen sport's feelings. It's important not to give up. Generally, a rut just means you need a new way to feel good about yourself. It's not being unkind to the sport I've religiously thrown myself into for the last four years to branch out. In fact, taking a couple of weeks off of running in favor of other activities has made the running much more enjoyable when I've been able to do it!

Last week, I managed to swim just shy of a mile in the pool. This is a feat that I didn't think was possible a year ago. It left me feeling proud. Invigorated. Empowered. That power carried, and helped make my Saturday run feel better than it has in weeks, even months.

To that I say: Do what makes you feel powerful. Whatever that may be today.

"He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life." ~ Muhammad Ali

Saving money at the store!

Here are my top three ways to buy organic cheaper.

BUY IN SEASON. If you want the cheapest deal on fruits and veggies, you have to buy the fruits and veggies that are in season. These are always going to be the best bang for your buck. Are grapes in season now? No. That's why you can't find organic ones, and the conventionally grown ones are grown in another country, picked, shipped here, and sold for more money than you'd pay for even organic ones while they are in season. On the other hand, I bought a bag of organic valencia oranges for $2.99 at Meijer today.

FIND COUPONS. It's true that store/paper insert coupons are rarely for organic items. But that doesn't mean you can't find them. Many manufacturers have coupons on their site if you join their newsletters or email clubs (Horizon Organic, Organic Valley, Newman's Own, Stoneyfield.... lots of coupons out there if you do a lot of research online). Or, try some organic coupon blogs and sites that people have out there:

http://www.earthfare.com/YourSavings/Coupons.aspx

http://www.healthylifedeals.com/p/organic-printable-coupons.html

http://www.organicdeals.com/

PLAN YOUR MEALS. I'm not kidding when I say I have saved $25-$75 every week in the past month by planning better. Typically, I'll make something Sunday night or Monday morning that my fiance and I can eat Monday and Tuesday nights, and then freeze whatever portions might be left for quick meals later. Casseroles and crock-pot creations are the easiest. Wednesday night I usually have a break from work to make dinner, so I plan ahead for that, too. I try to have something quick like pasta or chicken I can throw in the oven for Thursday. The key is to pick easy things that won't take forever to make; under an hour is best. Before I shop on Monday mornings, I take a good inventory of what we have, what we need, and I don't get distracted by "good deals" and "ooh, that looks good" when I shop. I plan my meals, I stick to my list. Here's a really excellent site for easy, healthy recipes for any meal of the day:

http://www.trainermomma.com/

Don't waste your money on fast food and boxed meals.... it really doesn't take too much to make good meals. I'm not even home for dinner most nights and I can manage it. Print coupons, look for seasonal foods, plan ahead. Make tummies happy!

until later...

"Failing to plan is planning to fail." ~ Alan Lakein

My latest love....Date Sugar

In my on-going quest to remove artificial sweeteners from my life, I've recently been experimenting with date sugar. Now, I love dates. I can't buy the little powdered ones, you know, the ones that look like rabbit turds? Not because they look like rabbit turds (which, really, they do), but because I will just eat and eat and eat them. And you can't just go to town on a bag of dates, because a) you'll be pooping for something like two weeks straight, and b) they are full of natural sugars, so they're not a calorie-free food or anything.

But let's bring it back to date sugar. Why date sugar? Well, for one, date sugar is literally dehydrated dates ground up finely. So there's nothing strange in it. It's not overly sweet (which is funny, because dates themselves are quite sweet in my opinion). I've found it works well in oatmeal (I'll post a recipe below), and tried it out in some muffins (they weren't very sweet, but tasted very gingerbread-like, which I enjoyed). Aside from the peace of mind of knowing that I am using a natural, non-chemical sweetener, it's only 20 calories and 4 grams of sugar in two tablespoons. Plus, because it's derived entirely from dates, you get some of the fiber, vitamins and minerals that you would get from eating dates. A sweetener that contributes to the society of your health? I think I kind of like that idea.

Here's a quick article about agave, honey, and date sugar that I liked for its conciseness. When going for a "natural sweetener", it's easy to think that by pouring agave all over your oatmeal you're doing yourself a favor. (Or even date sugar, for that matter.) Two of the biggest things I took from the article were: cut back on the amounts of sweeteners you use in general, because "there's nothing wrong with getting used to having less of a sweet tooth", and "enjoy fruits to satisfy your sweet cravings"! I admit that I eat a ton of fruit... I often use mashed bananas or even baby food to sweeten things! Just look for fruits that are in season, as they will be cheaper, or buy them frozen. Otherwise, you are compromising on nutrients buying strawberries in February; they had to travel a loooooong way to get to Michigan, and lost vitamins every step of the journey, I promise you that.

Here's the article:

http://practicalnutritionbydietitian.com/2010/08/05/the-low-down-on-agave-honey-and-date-sugar/

And here's my oatmeal today!

APPLE-CINNAMON OATMEAL

1/2 cup oatmeal

1/2 apple, diced

about 1/2 Tbs cinnamon (I just use it to taste?)

2 Tbs date sugar

1 Tbs peanut butter

* Make the oatmeal according to directions. (I like the Meijer Organics rolled quick oats... they aren't mushy like some quick oats, but I do not have time for a 40 minute steel cut oatmeal. I just don't.)

* While water is boiling or oatmeal is cooking, chop up the apple and microwave it with some cinnamon. I find 30 seconds, a stir, and another 30 seconds is good.

*When the oatmeal appears to be about done, add the peanut butter, apples, date sugar, and some more cinnamon. Stir until everything looks smooth!

until later...

"Be miserable. Or motivate yourself. Whatever has to be done, it's always your choice." ~ Wayne Dyer

Effective "green" cleaning products!

Curious about switching to greener cleaning products (personally, I feel better when I'm not spreading massive amounts of chemicals around my house), but not ready to scour the place with vinegar and lemon? Here's a list of some popular ones to start with. The list breaks down things like scent and effectiveness very quickly, with prices per ounce (or load, in the case of laundry). Of course, one product not on the list are the Meijer "green" products, which are probably cheapest of all. (I divide between that and Seventh Generation most of the time.)

Thanks to my friend Stacy for this little link!

http://www.learnvest.com/2011/03/going-green-the-best-cleaning-products-for-your-buck/

Healthy food, healthy skin...

Growing up, I had awful, terrible, horrible skin. Here's me at 17-years-old.

I'm just going to throw it all down right now. I was completely embarrassed by it. Up until probably the last year, I wore make-up everywhere. I wore it to bed, I got up early when I worked at camp so I could sneak it on my face... I hated (and am still getting over) when anyone touched my face or got it wet. And everyone else in my family had wonderful skin; blemish-free, healthy looking. Me? Well, based on my skin and other pieces from my hormonal puzzle... I was just a mess. I could barely look in a mirror.

I tried every skin care line on the market. I seriously think I've tried everything you can buy at a Walgreen's or Target: Clean and Clear, Aveeno, Oxy, Noxema... the list goes on and on and on. I even tried stuff meant for babies, thinking, "Hey, maybe I have sensitive skin!" Then came the Proactiv.

I become particularly incensed when I see commercials with smiling celebrities ("It's soooo hard being so famous when everyone is looking at your skin!" Sorry, Katy/Avril/Julianne... I've never looked at your skin and thought, 'What a worthless troll!') and newly rejuvenated college kids who can't believe how much Proactiv has turned their lives around. Did Proactiv work when I used it? Depends on how you look at it. It was kind of like a band-aid on a corpse situation: it didn't clear up my acne, but it made it seem somewhat better. What I definitely know from my three or four year stint with that junk is that it BLEACHED EVERYTHING I OWNED. Towels, washcloths, t-shirts, sweatshirts, pillows, sheets... everything. I ask you: do you really want to put something that bleaches your pillows on your face? Really?

Now here's the real deal, and maybe it's a coincidence, but I don't think so. I made the decision to get healthier a few years ago. I started drinking more water, getting more exercise. My skin was a tad healthier, but still prone to break-outs. I was still using chemical-laden products on my skin (although not the bleaching kinds), still eating some processed foods.

Then I started weaning off of the processed foods (which of course I still imbibe in sometimes)... started switching out the chemical beauty products for more natural and organic ones.

And one day I suddenly realized, I just wasn't having the same problems I had as a little as three or four years ago. I didn't need to lacquer on foundation and concealer and everything else in my huge arsenal. My skin was just... better. Good even. It felt smooth, it looked clear, it seemed happy instead of angry. Today, a typical face day is tinted moisturizer, lip balm, and blush. Maybe mascara if I'm going out. But even that stuff is generally the more natural cosmetics (I'm a fan of Tarte and sometimes Korres... or even Physicians Formula Organics if you're on a budget). One recent night, I went to a friend's house without any make-up on, which was a huge step for me. Do I still get a pimple here and there? Of course. But nothing like what plagued me for a good 15 years.

Exercise. Water. Clean eating. Living a little simpler. Is it possible that this was the key to freeing those hormones that kept me sad for so many years?

It's also possible that all the swimming and running I do has made me more confident. I've had to take a step back and knock my pride down a peg, because you're going to get wet. You're going to get sweaty. People are going to see you looking filthy and gross. But they're also going to see you at your best; they'll see you striving to for awesomeness, they'll see you working really hard. A job well done, a feat that you're proud of? So much more than skin deep.


me, make-up free in 2012...

Want to check how dangerous your soaps, sunscreens, and make-ups might be?

http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/

until later...

"Beauty is a short-lived tyranny." ~ Socrates

Do something.

I went out earlier for a much needed jog around the neighborhood. I confess that lately, running/working out has seemed like a chore more often than a joy. I couldn't quite pinpoint the source of that fact; but I knew I'd come up with a long list of "reasons why".

My knees have been achy.

I'm tired.

It's boring out there alone.

It's probably icy.

I just ate.

I wasted all that time watching recorded TV, and now it's pretty close to work time.

It's raining.

I could use a day off.

I just don't feel like it.

The more I write down reasons and think about reasons, the more I realize that my reasons aren't so much reasons as they are excuses. Excuses are a pain in the ass. We come up with all of these crazy ideas of why we can't do something, and why? Because we're lazy? Because we're scared of the result? For me, it's a combo. I often find myself feeling lazy, but even that is an excuse. It may have more to do with fear. I have a fear of not living up to my potential. A fear of being beaten in races by others who are faster than me. A fear of not meeting my goals.

And greatest of all, the fear of sliding back into old habits. Does fear channel me into laziness, a sort of "self-prophecy"? "It might happen, so I'll just sit here and let it?"

Fear is a powerful inhibitor. It helps us create excuses. It marinates self-doubt.

As I was out on my run, it started to drizzle. I didn't mind too much, rain is better than ice in my book. The drizzle turned to full-fledged rain, and I came across an elderly man out getting his exercise. Hunched over, speed-walking, wearing a neon jacket and running tights, he was braced against the rain as though he didn't give it a thought.

"Here comes the rain," I shouted to him as I passed.

"Have a great day," he returned. "Still another mile to go for me!"

Here is this guy who is in at least his 70's, if not older. He's out circling the neighborhood any way he can, despite the rain and the chill. Why am I coming up with excuses to not get a simple half an hour of exercise in? Our day is made up of 24 hours, generally 16-18 of those hours are "waking" hours. If we got in 30-60 minutes of any exercise, be it running or swimming or yoga or walking, we still have SO many hours left to work, to enjoy with our family, to veg out with "Teen Mom 2" if we want. Instead of coming up with these negative self-prophecies, we should be pumping ourselves up by doing anything we can. It doesn't have to be a marathon every time. It can be walking the dog. Nothing is too small, because something is always greater than nothing.

We don't have to be the best of everyone out there. We just have to do the best we can do. Cut the excuses. They are not the reason.

until later...

“I am doing the best I can given what I have today.” ~ Jillian Michaels

Transparency in our food choices...

I came across this interesting article today and wanted to share it. One of the most popular questions I seem to get from people is whether it is more important to buy "local" or buy "organic". Here we see that it's both important to buy food with strict regulations, and important to buy food that travels less distance for the sake of our carbon footprint as well as nutrition in the food... but what is probably most important is to be informed. Know where your food comes from, know your farmers' values and practices, know what's in the food.

Read on...

http://www.mariasfarmcountrykitchen.com/organic-or-local-i-say-transparent/

Until later...

"You have to ask yourself this: Do you know your local farmer? Do you know whether or not he or she uses a lot of chemicals? If you’re not sure, then you have to decide what’s more important, knowing that your food does not contain any artificial or chemical substances (certified organic) or being able to eat seasonal, fresh food harvested close to home with a smaller carbon footprint (local)?" ~ Alberto Gonzales