Catching My Breath

I have been so very active this past few weeks that I have barely had time to think about a blog post let alone actually sit down and write/publish one.  But I am not ready to give it up just yet so thought I would just catch my breath, and catch YOU up, too.

Here goes...

Fitness

I have been keeping the promise I made to myself and getting into the fitness room in our building 3 mornings every week to do a strength session. Yes, I am concentrating on my core and my upper body in these sessions because I think the other activities I am enjoying are taking care of my legs.  I am using a couple of my 21 Day Fix workouts... alternating between Upper Fix and Dirty 30... and really seeing good results in my core and my shoulders, especially.  Don't you just love how weak and shaky your shoulders and arms feel for a while after a good hard workout?

I am keeping my eye on the prize... which is wearing a beautiful floaty Summer dress to a nephew's garden wedding in mid July so it has been easy to stay focussed!  #workforthedress


I have also been playing singles tennis with The Captain twice a week.  This is not only great HIIT/cardio work but also reinforces the shoulder training. Wow! and it is fun. I love playing tennis. And I love my purty purple Asics tennis shoes, too. They are so comfortable.

Running is taking a bit of a back seat right now.  I seem to have slotted it into Sunday mornings and then taking the opportunity for a good stretch afterward. I really need to start adding yoga too and have just enrolled in a yoga challenge for runners so hope this will motivate me.

And walking... oh yeah! I have been averaging about 12,000 steps per day on my FitBit for a while now.  We are lucky to live in such a walkable, beautiful city.  Even though we moved a bit further from the water in January, we can still be on a beach walking only 20 minutes in any of 3 different directions!

So what has all this activity done for me?  Well it makes me HUNGRIER I can tell you that. So lets move on to my favorite topic...

Food

Some people would think that my food plan is kind of complicated 'cause I follow a few different programs... but they compliment each other so well that is it easy for me and they all help me choose natural, whole foods and limit junk and processed frankenfoods.

I am a Weight Watcher, and you know I am loving the Smart Points program that is part of the recently rolled-out Beyond the Scale platform.  I find it really easy to live with because it steers us away from sugar and toward protein... it just naturally points me toward healthier choices.

Along with that. I have also embraced the Cheat System Diet.  It is a great program that promotes healthy EATS and limits less healthy CHEATS.  It is so easy to understand and it fits my brain and my lifestyle.  I am a volume veggie eater so this works for me. It focusses leafy greens and healthy fats.

And you all know I carb cycle, too, a la Chris Powell.

I naturally eat in a window that is about 11 hours long and don't snack in the evening.  I am thinking about shrinking that to about 8 hours... we shall see.  I lnow that lots of people workout and run in a fasted state but I have not had any great success with that myself.

Sounds so complicated, all of this, but it works for me and is just easy.

I have been in love with dark frozen cherries for some time now and cannot find enough ways to eat them (on my high carb days, of course!).  This bowl has low fat cottage cheese mixed with a bit of NuNaturals cherry stevia and cinnamon.  OMG. My fave!  If you are counting Smart Points, it is only 2.

And these goodies from Chosen Foods!  Avocado oil is a new love... chia seeds and coconut oil are long-time favorites. I am thrilled to learn that some Chosen Foods products are available in my local markets.

Fun... Frills... Frivolity

We are having a phenomenal Summer here. The weather is spectacular and I am spending as much time as I can outside. I am even doing a bit of reading for pleasure... yes, total frivolity in entertaining novels! I have missed this as when we lived on the boat, I would spend hours lazing in the sun reading.  We had no internet connection when we were swinging on the anchor, and it was great. Life was simpler, and so much less 'connected'. It is a direction I am leaning toward again...

Our own balcony gets wonderful morning sun but we are in the shade in the afternoon.  There is a lovely rooftop lounge in our building with a large adjoining outdoor area that has been really nicely furnished with several bistro tables and chairs and also sun lounges.  That's for me!  Especially cause no one ever uses this area it seems.  I have been reading a few chapters at a time and keeping the sunning to about 30 minutes. I love a bit of color on my arms and legs, but don't want to bake.

'Fessions

I have been using coconut oil to brush my teeth for some time... usually mixed with a bit of baking soda.  Recently I read that coconut oil pulling will, over time, actually remove plaque from the teeth, so I have been faithfully oil pulling again. If I can avoid the hygenist scraping my teeth, I am all for that.  I think my teeth look shinier now after a full week of daily pullling than they did after the last time I had them cleaned and polished!  They certainly feel smooth and shiny too.  It only takes a spoonful of coconut oil and I usually pull it back and forth between my teeth for anywhere from 10 to 12 minutes while I am washing my face and doing my hair.  After I am done pulling and have disposed of the oil, I brush with a commercial toothpaste and warm water.  Here is a tip... don't dispose of the oil in your sink... it will clog up eventually!

Fashion

This is not normally my topic... but I have picked up a few new Eddie Bauer tees this Summer. They keep sending me $10 coupons in my email and I keep using them!  How can I resist when they match my tennis shoes?  I really think that Eddie Bauer makes the softest tees, but I honestly cannot imagine paying regular retail price for any of them. Wow!

Finally

We will be celebrating Canada Day on Friday, July 1st.  Lots of fireworks and fun things planned for the day and evening.

What about you?  What fun things have you been up to lately?  Have you ever tried coconut oil pulling?

5 Things That You Can Do Now to Make Friends With Your Body

I have spent many, many years bemoaning the fact that I do not have what I consider my IDEAL body type.  I have dieted myself skinny; I have worked hard in the gym to build shapely arms and a tight butt.  All my adult life I have regretted not having lush breasts and creamy skin.  Especially as I age I am noticing freckles and dark spots and my skin is starting to sag with gravity. However, I refuse to give in to the knife or botox... out of fear mostly.

But over the past few months, I have finally, and happily, come to the realization that I actually like my body.  It is strong.  It is relatively healthy.  It allows  me to run... walk... play tennis... golf.  And I am appreciating more and more the things I can do rather than concentrate on the attributes I wish I had.  I can finally say I have made friends with my body and I think you should too! Yes, I said should.

Why should you make friends with your body?  It is all about confidence. When we are not confident we tend to shy away from new challenges, and from new people. We tend to fade into the background at meetings, and events where people might notice us. Even if we have good ideas, or particularly special abilities, without confidence we don't share them or even reveal them sometimes.

Confident people treat themselves better.  They are happier. They have better posture. They walk with a certain little swagger. They take better care of themselves both physically and emotionlly.  They have more to give to others. I could go on and on but I think you get the idea. And confidence in one area breeds confidence in others. Think about that for a moment.

So how has this change in me come to pass?  It's been an attitude shift for sure.  And I think it is one that anyone can make with just a bit of work. I have been thinking about it a lot.  This is for you if you are struggling with body image or know someone who may be.

Here are 5 things you can do RIGHT now, to start  making friends with your body:

1.  Go to the mirror and notice 3 or 4 things that you like about your physical body.  Say them outloud to yourself.

For example... I like my nose.  I have pretty eyes.  I like my long legs.  I think I have great fingernails.  I love the little muscles that are popping from my shoulders.

2. Think of 3 things that your body has done for you over the past 24 hours that make you happy or proud.  Say them outloud to yourself.

For example... I increased the weights on my bicep curl/overhead raises today by 3 pounds.  I walked 4 miles yesterday.  I  fit into my skinniest jeans yesterday and wore them all day for the first time in 6 months.

3. Plan 3 things that you are going to do for yourself today. Write them down. Do them.

For example... I am going to have a nice long soak in the tub today with epsom salts to soothe my sore muscles after my morning workout.  I am going to prepare myself a cup of green tea after lunch and make a food plan for the next few days.  I am going to use coconut oil to clean my teeth today.

4. Leave yourself a little love note on your bedroom or bathroom mirror, or even on your computer screen if you don't want anyone else to see it.  A simple note that will make you feel cared for.

For example,... SMILE, YOU ARE AWESOME.  Or YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL.  Or YOU ARE STRONG.

5.  Catch your negative self talk and replace/reword it with positive phrases.

For example... Oh gosh, I wish my tummy was flatter.  Wait, my tummy actually looks better than it did a couple of weeks ago and I am really happy about that.  Or.. Wow!  I hate my big feet, I wish they looked nice in sandals. But I am going to give myself a pedicure today and start taking better of them.

Repeat.

These 5 things need to be repeated of course... if you do them daily you will soon start to make that mind shift and eventually you will find that you have made friends with your body too.

And one more thing, while we are on the subject... be very mindful of the things you are saying out loud in front of children especially.  We model behaviors and attitudes.

Are you friends with your body? What advice would you give to someone else about becoming friends with their own body?