A Marathon of A Different Kind

Since my gym membership expired a week or so ago and I haven’t been attending those  noon group exercise classes, I have been really making an effort to keep up my daily workouts.. have been getting in some runs, some extra long walks, have tried P90 strength workouts, did a yoga session and have even been swimming!

And yes, I do miss the Body Pump and have been looking for the Jari Love Get Ripped DVD to take its place, but no luck so far in finding it locally.  Guess I will have to break down and order online and pay for shipping, which I really hate to do!

But I am working on a food prep marathon right now!  I have been spending lots of time in the kitchen over the past few days. 

I colored Easter eggs for The Captain…

 

and had lots of fun with them this year, coloring the insides of the eggs instead of the shells, just to change things up a bit.

And today we got up early and visited a couple of local markets to get in on some door crasher specials…  after coming home and having breakfast, I got started.

The first thing I did was to separate the pork loin roasts into separate bags for the freezer.

 

 

These are all about 1.25 pounds each so will make nice cuts for the crock pot or the oven.  Freezing them in individual bags makes it so much easier.

 

Then I started chopping veggies and put together a huge pot of beef chili to start cooking… onions, garlic, red and green bell peppers, mushrooms, and carrots along with extra lean ground beef, canned diced and crushed tomaotes, and lots of spices.   I just had a peek under the lid to check on it and it smells very good right now.

 

 

After it is cooked, I will let it cool for a bit and then portion into individual containers to freeze.

 

And I just took some baked eggplant chips out of the oven to turn them over…

 

 

They make such a nice crunchy and salty snack!

 

I have also peeled several pounds of ripe bananas to freeze…

 

 

We both love banana ‘soft serve’ for a cold sweet and I often use mashed banana in my pancakes and microwave muffin cakes.

 

I am about to start the cranberry and orange sauce for tomorrow’s turkey dinner.

 

 

And I checked on the turkey in the fridge, too.  It is thawed and ready to roast when we get home from the Sunday morning draw of the Men’s World Curling Championships that are taking place here this week…  We will be watching Canada take on Finland.

 

So, it’s almost 10 a.m. and I hope to have my work all finished and stored away before lunch because I would love to spend the afternoon walking on the beach in the sunshine.

What are you up to today?

Do you like to do food prep marathons too?

Yogi Clothing Review and Giveaway

A short while ago I was given the opportunity to review some articles of clothing from an American company called Yogi Clothing.   I was not familiar with them at the time, so did a thorough search of their web site and Facebook page and saw lots of beautiful items of clothing… workout wear and outer wear.  I also visited a few other blogs where I read reviews of their clothing and found very favorable reports, so I decided to proceed.

They have so many lovely pieces!  I looked long and hard before narrowing my selection to a couple of items to try.  Both of the items I chose are loose and flowing and not things that I would have typically purchased for myself… which made trying them even more fun for me. 

When they arrived, I took them out of the packaging and they were quite wrinkled so I hung them up and left them overnight…  and when I checked on them I was pleasantly surprised at how good they looked and how soft the fabrics were.

The first garment I chose was this simple grey and white double layered cardigan.    Grey is not a color I wear very often since I left the corporate world of data and finance,  but I knew this top would go really nicely over a couple of grey tanks I already had in my closet.  And I thought it would be the perfect piece to snuggle up in while watching tv in the evening or to pull on after a yoga practice.  It is so soft and comfy.  It is loose enough to almost wrap around me twice, and I love the double layer of soft fabric.  The inside layer is plain white.

You can check it out on the Yogi Clothing web site here.

 

The other piece I chose is a cardigan as well…. it is loose and flowing and quite lovely.  There is a bit of grey tweedy trim to break up the black. I have worn this piece to work with black pants and tank top,  and also a black pencil skirt and black shell, and it also looks great with black tights and black workout bra or tank.

 

 

You can read more about this piece on the Yogi Clothing web site here.

 

I know that my American friends will be happy to learn that Yogi Clothing is made in the U.S.A.

 

I am so very excited that Yogi Clothing is offering a giveaway to one of my lucky readers.  They would like to give you one of the grey and white double layer cardigans, like the one I am wearing in the first picture!   And because there are so many different ways you can enter, I have decided to use Rafflecopter this time around.

 

The first entry is mandatory, and you must visit the Yogi Clothing web site and then leave a comment on this post in order to fulfill the entry requirement.  None of the other other entries will be considered if this mandatory entry is not fulfilled.

 

The other entries are optional and include:

 

• Liking Yogi Clothing on FB
• Following Yogi Clothing on Twitter
• Following Yogi Clothing on Pinterest
• Pinning a Yogi Clothing item and providing the url
• Following Yogi Clothing on Tumblr
• Tweeting about the giveaway and providing the url

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

The giveaway is open to entrants with Canadian or U.S. mailing addresses, and please make sure to read the Terms and Conditions.

 

Yogi Clothing provided me these 2 pieces to review but the opinions are my own.

 

Thanks so much for your interest and your entries!  I have selected a winner, as you can see in the Rafflecopter widget, and just emailed her about the win! 

 

Congratulations!

What’s in Your Fitness Closet? #FitnessCloset

If you look into my closet, what would you see?
Lots of IZOD golf togs and Champion capris,
a few Jones New York jackets and Eddie Bauer jeans,
navy striped sailor shirts and khakis… Dockers, please.
But the drawers are more enlightening.
That’s where you will learn lots more about me.
They’re full of Handful bras and tank tops, Tommie Copper tees,
compression shorts and calf sleeves, all to suit my needs.
I have Titika  Active yoga wear, and Running Divas tees
to go with Reebok shorts, and Yogi Clothing sweaters,  colorful indeed.
No shortage of socks, likely way more than I need…
Fitsock, Swiftwick, Recovery, and Pro Compression up to my knees.
There also are some bamboo fabric Moeben sleeves.

I  am such a lucky gal to be fitted out so wonderfully!

Do you sense a recurring them here…. in the color department?

Check out my Pinterest Board if you would like to see some more pictures of Things I <3.

Liebster Blog Award

A few weeks back I was nominated for a Liebster Blog Award by Jamie, at Rise Run Repeat Mom…  I first started reading Jamie’s blog when she was writing about kettle bell workouts and do enjoy it immensely.

What is a Liebster award? You might be wondering...

The word liebster is a German word meaning sweetheart, dearest or beloved and then applied to blogs that one likes.

Thank you, Jamie, for the nomination!

 

There are a few rules that come with this nomination:

• Add the award icon onto your blog
• link your nominator and say thank you
• post 11 random things about yourself
• answer 11 questions from the person who nominated you
• nominate 11 bloggers (and let them know)
• post 11 new questions to the bloggers you nominate

I know that this award has been making the rounds so I am going to bend the rules somewhat….

You all know that I am terrible at coming up with these random things about myself so I am going to to jump to answering Jamie’s 11 questions…

11 questions for Jamie's nominees:  1.  What's your favorite reality TV show?

The Biggest Loser is my ONLY reality TV show.  I think it was so much better this last season.

2. Do you play an instrument?

Piano, accordian, and I pluck at the guitar and mandolin a little.

3. Have you ever broken a bone?

Yes, a small one on the outside of my foot but darned if I can remember if it was the left or the right as it was so long ago.

4. Are you scared of bugs?

Not afraid, but not particularly enamoured of them either.

5. What is is your favorite movie?

It has always been Ghost with Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore, but Life of Pi is pretty darned spectacular.

6. Do you like to cook?

I do!  That is why I write a second blog called We can begin to feed…

7. Do you have any pets? If yes, how many and what kind?

Not at the moment.  In the past I have loved dogs, cats, fish, turtles, guineau pigs and hamsters.

8. What is your favorite job?

Tending my balcony garden maybe.

9. Are you afraid of the dark?

Nope, but I have never spent any scary or tense time in the dark.

10. Have you ever travelled to another country?

Many times to the U.S. and Mexico.  Also Denmark, Sweden, Germany, Austria and Holland.

11. If you run, do you enjoy running in the rain?

I don’t mind running in a warm rain but cannot honestly cross the line to ‘enjoying’ it.

Now I know that many many of you have also already received this nomination… so I am not going to tap anyone in particular… but if you would like to answer the following questions, I would love to read the answers!  Please let me know if you do.

1. Where is your favorite place to run? 
2. Do you travel to take part in running or fitness events?
3. Name one thing you never leave home without.
4. What is your favorite piece of workout gear?
5. Do you think music enhances your workouts?
6. What is your favorite food?
7. Is there any food you don’t allow yourself for health reasons that you would really like to have?
8. What was your best friend’s first name when you were a kid?
9. Oranges or apples?
10. Favorite color to wear?
11. Best vacation ever?

There we have it!  Thanks again, Jamie, it was so sweet of you to include me in your nominations… and I shall continue to enjoy reading your blog!

Bye Bye Gym Membership... It's Been GREAT!

I have just returned home from an awesome workout at the gym... I ran a couple of miles on a treadmill, and then cycled a couple of miles and then ran another mile before cooling down, having a snack and then heading in to a wonderful Yoga Flow class.  I do love this yoga instructor.  She seems to sense the moods and needs of the group and chooses her poses and flows accordingly.  Love it. Love it.  LOVE it.

And then I walked home in a snotty wet Spring storm.. yes, it IS the first day of Spring... ate my lunch and am now taking a bit of time to reflect on my gym membership this past month before I enjoy my hot shower.

I won the membership in a Facebook contest.  And although I was pleased about it, I was more pleased that it came with a gift card to a local Canadian sport retailer.  I really didn't think I would even use the gym membership because I have always thought I didn't care for gyms, fitness centres, and the like.  And yes, I have tried a few in the past.

But, when The Captain settles in to watch The Scotties and The Brier (that's curling and it is a big deal for Canadians, especially those who are or have been champions at the sport themselves) on tv for a few hours each day off and on from mid Februrary through mid March, I get antsy and definitely need to entertain myself. I like a bit of it, but not for hours at a time.

I realized that activating this free gym membership and taking advantage of it, would not only entertain me, but do me some good! And so I checked their web site and found out they had lots of group exercise classes that I would like to try,  along with several different kinds of cardio machines, spin bikes, weights of course, and a group of machines that make up a circuit for strength training.  There are personal trainers available, tanning beds, blood pressure monitors, and all kinds of other amenities, too numerous to list.  It is a well rounded, and seemingly well-run facility.

So I have attended several different group exercise classes.... All Terrain Spin, Body Pump, Body Flow, and Yoga Flow. I have run and walked on the treadmills and ellipticals and ridden the recumbant bikes. I tried the strength circuit machines, and made good use of the stretching area. 

I have thoroughly enjoyed all the time I spent there over the last 30 days. And I really loved being exposed to all the new activities.  But I elected not to extend the temporary membership... and do have some mixed feelings about it as I mull it over.

The Cons...

• I thought it was pricey compared to other facilities.
• the classes are either very early morning, at noon, or at dinner time. I would prefer 9 a.m. or 10 a.m. and found that going to a class at noon just broke up my day. It really took from 11 to 1:30 or longer. Then I still had to shower and have lunch after I got home. Very time consuming and I never felt like I could fit in any other exercise on a gym day.
• the floor in the group exercise area is always kinda dirty.... petty maybe but it bugged me.
• there is one member who is very annoying and 'in your face' and he attended all the yoga classes I did. I learned to make a point of keeping my back to him at all times.
• the whole month I was there, 2 out of the 3 commodes in the ladies locker room were out of order... call a plumber, someone.

The Pros...

• great variety of classes.  I loved All Terrain Spin, Body Pump, Body Flow and Flow Yoga.  I would also like to have tried RPM Spin, Body Step, Body Attack and Zumba but the timing of those didn't work for me.
• the equipment is state of the art; there is lots of it; there is a great variety of cardio machines.
• there is lots of room for everyone.
• it wasn't ever very busy... however I did avoid that work-home transition time and apparently it is busier then.
• the staff were incredibly friendly and helpful.
• loved the towel service.
• it has 2 local locations, one of which is woman-only but I never went to it as the main location is just a short walk from home.

and to add to the Pros... and what I can take away...

• I have discovered a whole new appreciation of yoga.  Since I have taken some classes with a live instructor I know now, for sure, that this is something I want to pursue and spend more time doing.
• I also discovered a love for Body Pump and for listening to energetic music when I work out. This was a real surprise to me and I just never 'got' the music thing before. I do now and loved it.  I am on the hunt for some Jari Loved DVDs as I think her RIPPED series is about as close to Body Pump as I am going to get at home. 

and it is not a Pro or a Con, but a simple observation...

• I reconfirmed my dislike for running for any length of time on a treadmill... I do know they have their place, but I am just not a fan.  Even with a tv screen and earbuds for entertainment, I get so bored and so HOT running on a treadmill... give me the great outdoors, wind and rain and snow included, ANY day!

I am so grateful for this wonderful opportunity to try out all of these facilities and classes over the past 30 days.  I know that my arms and legs and abs are happier too!

And now I can look forward to getting back to some other workouts, and figure out how I am going to fit yoga and Body Pump in as well.... I really think I am going to need a schedule!

What is your favorite exercise... other than running of course.