Progress Report - Starting Week 10

Today started week 10 in my 14 week challenge. My goal was to get back in great shape before school started and to hopefully get down to 132 so that I could get really well-fitted nursing uniforms.

Looks like the whole vegetarian thing is working out for me in more ways than one - I'm down to 139 so not far off! I am actually almost exactly the same measurements as I was at my very healthiest back in Korea. (Actually my legs are even smaller now.) But because I have built so much muscle through running and yoga, it will take a little more effort to get down to 132 this time around.

The exciting part of losing this weight for me has been that I did not diet or deprive myself. I just changed my whole lifestyle and priorities. I'm eating what is right for my body and that has made all the difference in the world. No more struggling, no more cravings...The changes I have made for myself are lifelong. I am setting goals for myself that I never dreamed possible before (like my desire to run a half marathon in 2010).

While there are those who still make fun of me for going all "healthy" and stuff; I will gladly accept the joking for the reward that I get from feeling great about my accomplishments. (Travis still laughs at me when I drink my "green smooties" in the morning, but I just go about my business and slip into my clothes feeling great that I can wear them so comfortably now!!)

So, the exciting thing for me today was that I tried on my very tiniest pair of hiking pants and they fit!!! They actually fit really nicely too, not tight at all.....These pants were smaller on me even back in Korea and I got them as a light-weight hiking pants there. I have NO idea why I ever kept them, and when I was unpaking stuff here in NZ I could not for the life of me figure out why in the world I even brought them. (At the time I couldn't get them even up past my hips!) We only brought over a suitcase of clothes and a duffle bag so I was frustrated with myself for taking up the space to bring a pair of pants that I couldn't even wear!! Then, this morning I remembered them and thought I would give it a go - What do you know!? Progress is finally taking place and all of my hard work is paying off.

My runs this week have been really nice - some good paces going on and I even got a good six miler in this week too - I have been averaging around 25km (15 miles) a week, so that's exciting progress on that front as well. - I'm looking forward to our next 7K this coming Tuesday and hope it will be a great one.

Tonight for dinner I made home-made pizzas which were fabulous. I made the tomato base from scratch and then topped mine with all sorts of yummy vege and cheese and then Travis got to have his with sausage which made him really happy. I did get the crust from the store because I didn't want to do the whole dough thing today; but overall it was all really healthy. (The breads here don't have preservatives and stuff like in the states, so it was still rather healthy.)

My goal for the next few weeks is to make a lot of freezer food before school starts. I got a ton of fruits that were pretty cheap today and froze them which will be so wonderful for my morning smoothies. Friday I had made a huge pot of soup with different lentils and barley to freeeze, then Saturday morning I had gotten up before work and made a mung bean casserole and I froze most of it, then today I made a lentil soup and froze all of it. (unfortunately the recipe called for spinach and somehow the combo of spinach and lentils really reaked. I mean, it smelled really bad! Bummer..hope it tastes better than it smells...it did look pretty- Travis was VERY happy that this was a freezer food for me later and not our dinner! ha....)

I am taking a first aid class on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week, so it will be a busy week for me.

That's the latest progress report, I will post my next one at the conclusion to my 14 week challenge. After that I begin training for my 10K and 13K races....More to come!

Summer in Palmy

The weather here in Palmerston North has been totally amazing this week! So warm and sunny and it just makes me want to go to the beach! (Can't convince Travis to go - bummer.)

Last night we had dinner with some friends from church, which was really nice. There were a few others there that we had not met yet, so it was nice to get to know them. One of the girls will be in my nursing program so it was really cool to meet her. Dinner was fabulous (I love how people here cook so healthy...mostly roast meals...we had peas, carrots, roast pumpkin and roast potatoes, an orzo salad - fabulous - and they also served lamb....It was so great having so many vegetable choices because no one even noticed that I didn't eat the lamb!) Lovely dinner and felt great that we were able to still eat a healthy meal!

This is me in my sun dress that Travis bought me to wear in NZ! =) Not the best picture, but you get the idea...

Tonight is our second 7K race in the Super Seven Series so we are both looking forward to that - although we are likely to have heat stroke if the weather holds as it is now! (Our Alaskan natures are just not used to all this warm weather! ha)

The past few weeks I have been focusing on increasing my running distances and really getting in some good yoga sessions every day. I haven't been back at the gym as often as I was before Christmas so I am working on that - just hard to fit in everything, and I would rather make sure I get my yoga and run in...it's a compromise and in an ideal world we would have time for it all, but you know...

I thought I would share a super easy recipe real quick since it has become one of my new favorites! I have been drinking green smoothies every morning with my breakfast and continuing to eat really healthy, so I'm very happy with how that's coming together. I am down to 64kg this week so very happy with that as well. (Still a little ways to go, but I'm content on taking it slow.)

Chickpeas and Roast Vegetable Couscous

Ingredients:

• Combination of diced vegetables of choice: I chose root vege like kumera, carrots, parsnips (my first time EVER eating or cooking these - and I LOVE them!) potato (if using a white potato you will want to boil them a little first...mine did not cook fully) onion, red pepper, and cauliflower
• Chestnuts, Almonds, or Cashews - I just tossed a handful in with the roast vege
• Olive Oil
• Dried Sweet Basil and Oregano
• Chickpeas
  
• 1/2 Cup couscous
• 125ml Vegetable Stock
• 1 tsp paprika

Directions:
I adapted this recipe from some other ideas, so it's really basic. Just coat all vege and nuts in olive oil and dried herbs, salt/pepper. Turn into a casserole dish and roast in oven on 200c stirring occasionally to cook evenly. I cooked mine for about an hour, but just watch and remove when all vege is roasted thoroughly. Cover 1/2 cup couscous with hot vegetable stock and mix in the 1 tsp paprika. Let sit covered for about 5 min. until couscous absorbs the liquid. Mix the chickpeas and couscous with the roasted vege and serve!! It is fabulous and makes a ton!

I served this on the side of a pesto pasta (fresh basil, garlic, pine nuts, cashews, olive oil, and Parmesan cheese pureed into a pesto) and for Travis I served chicken as well. Makes a lovely dinner! (Next time I will steam some asparagus or broccoli because I felt like it could have used some more greens on the side.)

"What is good for the body, is good for the whole man" ~ Fred Rohe Zen Running

Enter to win a FREE yoga mat bag!

I found this amazing website through another great blogger, and wanted to share.....LaRae is a yoga and pilates instructor and she started designing and sewing all of these fantastic items that are used for relaxation/yoga/even cooking!! Her website is awesome, and the items she sells are truly beautiful as well as reasonably priced. Check this website out if you want something nice to treat yourself, or as a really nice gift. The website is yogagrrlie and you can read all about LaRae's projects and see the various items she makes.Also, if you want to win one of her yoga mat bags, check out Monica's blog and enter to win!!

Fabulous Lentil Quiche

So, I promise that all of my blogs aren't going to be food related in 2010, but I have seriously been coming across some amazing recipes that I have to share! This one is a really neat twist on your traditional quiche. (The thing I love about it is there is no pastry!!)

I made this when I got home from work tonight and it was fabulous!! Travis' first comment was, "There's a lot of green in here!" but he asked for a second piece and seemed to really like it......Because it takes over an hour to make, I served a pumpkin dahl for an appetizer. (I had made that a while back and froze it. I chopped up some chicken in Travis' for him and he was content to wait for the quiche to finish.)

Lentil Quiche

Ingredients:

• 1 chopped onion
• 2 Tbsp olive oil
• 2 cups chopped broccoli (roughly about one big bunch)
• 1 chopped tomato (next time I might try sun-dried tomatoes so you could substitute that.)
• 1/2 cup dried lentils
• 4 eggs beaten
• 1 cup milk
• dash nutmeg
  
• salt and pepper to taste
• chopped fresh herbs - parsley, basil, coriander
• dash of dried oregano
• dash of dried sage
• 1/2 cup shredded cheese - Parmesan and mozzarella (just what I had)

Directions:
Pre-heat oven to 350F or 190C. Stir-fry the onion in oil until softened and set aside in a bowl. Using the same pan add lentils and cover with water. Bring to a boil - about 15 min. or until just tender, but not fully cooked - Drain access water off until just a small amount is remaining. Return to stove and add broccoli on top. Put a lid on the pan and let the broccoli steam while the lentils soak up the remaining liquid - about 5 min. Stir all vege together with cheese and pour into a greased deep dish pie plate (maybe two?) or a small casserole dish. Whisk together eggs, milk, all spices and herbs. Pour over vegetables. Bake for 40-45 min. or until set. Let cool for 5 min. before serving.

Healthy choices, mean healthier futures ~ Namaste

Super Seven Series

Last night was the first 7K race in a seven week series here in Palmerston North. I finally convinced Travis to go along and race with me, and it turned out to be a really wonderful event! So glad he went. We had a lot of fun together and it was great walking home and talking about the event!

We decided to walk to the race since it is only about 1 1/2 miles from our apt. (We figured this would be a great warm up/cool down as well.) We got there way early because we had been warned that the crowds could make for long lines during registration etc. We were some of the first there, so our numbers reflect our "early bird" mentality - Travis was #7 and I was #8 - There were 1,095 who turned up to race last night!! It was a great turn out.

The weather was actually rather chilly at first (we were both sporting our Texas A&M sweatshirts - courtesy of Kari Howell - so I'm sure we stood out as Americans! ha...) We tossed the sweatshirts right before the race and it turned out to be perfect running weather! (cloudy and a bit cool)

The race was fantastic. The only other two races I have run were both really small and I always was running alone (usually in the back). This race was different in that regard, because there were a lot of other runners around my speed that I could pace off of, and quite a lot that I passed! =) It felt great, and I really enjoyed running in a group like that - very motivational and keeps your mind focused elsewhere.

Travis definitely was rockin' it yesterday and placed 13th out of 1,095!! He clocked 28:24 so was cooled off and had finished his bratwurst by the time I crossed the finish at 43:42! =) I was still very happy with this time, as my goal was to finish in under 45.

Overall the whole event was just spectacular - great turn out, great organization, well marked, great route etc...Kudos to the Manawatu Striders and thanks!

We will be back out there next Tuesday night for another great race.

"Running is a big question mark that's there each and every day. It asks you, 'Are you going to be a wimp or are you going to be strong today?'"

Some Healthy Choices

For all of you who have been emailing me about recipes, I am posting two really nice ones that make a wonderful lunch dish. You can also serve either dish as a side for your main course.

Indian Chole

I just made this today to have for lunches this week. I will warn you that it is extremely spicy. If you aren't into spicy food, I would highly recommend that you use less green chillies and less chilli powder! =) It is really delicious though.

Ingredients:

• 1 small bowl of cooked chick peas (roughly 1 1/2 cups)
• 1 large tomato diced
• 2 handfuls of chopped coriander
• 1 large onion diced

For Paste:

• 1 medium tomato chopped
• 2 spoonfuls of tomato paste
• 1 onion
• 4-5 green chillies
• 1 tsp cumin seeds
• 1-in strip ginger
• 2 cloves garlic

• 2 Tbsp sunflower oil (or olive)
• 2 bay leaves
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon or a little extra
• 3 cloves
• 1 1/2 tsp red chilli powder
• 2 tsp coriander powder
• 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
• 1/4 tsp stevia (or 1 tsp sugar)
• 1 tsp garam masala
• Salt to taste

Directions:

Blend together tomato, one onion, cumin seeds, chillies, cinnamon and cloves to make a paste using a little water. Set aside.

Heat oil in large frying pan (or electric skillet) and add the bay leaves. Add the diced onion and fry until golden brown. Now add the tomato paste mixture and fry for a few more minutes. Add the dry powders (chilli, turmeric, sugar, coriander, and masala). Now add the chopped tomato and coriander and bring to a soft boil.

Boil for 5 minutes and serve with chapati bread as a side dish, or on top of rice for a main course.

Lentil and Coriander Soup

Ingredients:

• 1 Tbsp sunflower oil (or olive)
• 2 cloves garlic - minced
• 1 1/4 tsp cumin seeds
• Pinch of cayenne pepper
• 1 1/8 Cup brown lentils
• 1 small onion, cut in half
• 1 bay leaf
• 4 Cups of water (more or less depending)
• Salt to taste
• Freshly ground pepper
• Freshly chopped coriander leaves

Directions:

Add all ingredients to your crock-pot, turn on high, and let it go!! Depending on your machine, it may take a few hours. The amount of water you use will depend also on your machine. The first time I made this using 5 cups of water, but that was too much. Soup is finished when lentils are tender. Remove onion and bay leaf.

Coarsely puree the soup with an immersion blender, or scoop a little out and blend in your food processor. Return the blended paste to the soup for thickening. Serve with a large portion of chopped coriander and a dollop of yogurt if desired. This is a delicious soup, although I admit that it isn't very pretty. =)

I took this to work all last week, and it is great with a little hummus and vege on the side!

Happy cooking this week, everyone!

You are what you eat ~ Namaste

Finding Peace and Equanimity in Challenging Moments

My focus today has been to quiet my mind in moments of struggle and to find a sense of calm in challenging moments.

1) During my weight-lifting session this afternoon I was definitely challenged. Mostly in the last 5 min. when I finished my gym workout with my usual core routine. (It's a 5 min. session of holding bridge where you alternate sides every 30 sec. without ever coming out of the posture.) It was so challenging but in that moment I was breathing calmly and reminding myself of this focus until the last second passed and the challenge had ended.

2) During my six mile run this afternoon I kept this focus at the fore-front of my mind thinking about how I could release tension and just relax and enjoy the run...constantly reminding myself to "let go" in that moment and to breathe through the challenge.

3) Finally, as I released the strain from my various workouts today in a wonderful and relaxing yoga session; I focused once again on finding equanimity and calm in that moment. It all comes full circle here - through yoga.

The reason for my focus today is to hopefully carry this thought with me throughout the week. When I am feeling stressed at work, or challenged by any number of things; I will try to bring my thoughts back to the moment of "letting go" and the feeling of peace within the challenge.

For those working on adding those healthy additions to your diet, I include here a wonderful hummus recipe that is fantastic with raw vegetables or healthy crackers for a snack!!

Sun-Dried Tomato Hummus

• 1 15 ounce can chickpeas, drained (or I just cook about a cup dried beans)
  
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes
  
• Juice of lemon (or about 2 Tbsp lemon juice)
  
• 3 cloves garlic
• 1/2 tsp paprika
• 2 tbsp tahini (If you have trouble finding tahini, just substitute water. I just love tahini.)
  
• 1/4 tsp salt

Add all ingredients to your food processor and voila! (You may need to add a little water depending on your preference for consistency.) I have been taking this to work with a few organic rice cakes and some lentil soup for lunch! =) Yum....

Focus your mind on the present moment and finding equanimity even in the most challenging situations. ~ Namaste

Vegetable Kashmiri

Last night I made a wonderful Indian curry dish that was so fantastic. I thought I would share it here since I have been talking about healthy living and vegetarian eating etc.....I served this over brown rice and also made Travis a side bowl of ground beef and sausage I just poured his meat mixture - which I added a little green chilli and oil to - over the rice and then topped with kashmiri. He loved it. Vegetable Kashmiri

2 tsp cumin seeds ground - or use half cumin seeds and half ground cumin

fresh ground pepper

2 cardamom pods - seeds only

2 in. cinnamon stick ground - or about a 1/2 tsp of ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp grated nutmeg - or substitute extra cinnamon or allspice

3 Tbsp olive oil

1 inch fresh ginger root

1 fresh green chilli

1 tsp chilli powder

1/2 tsp salt

2 large potatoes - cut into tiny cubes

8 oz cauliflower - in small pieces

8 oz broccoli or other vege - last night I used broccoli and peas

2/3 cup natural yogurt

2/3 cup vegetable stock

Toasted flaked almonds and fresh coriander

Grind all spices together. Heat oil in a large skillet or pot (keep in mind how much vege you are cooking so you have room to stir!) and fry the chilli and ginger for 2 min. Add the chilli powder, salt and ground spice mixture and cook for 2-3 min. Stir in the potatoes and cover and cook for 10 min. (if needed, add a little of the vegetable stock if spices are sticking to pan. I have found that if you add just a little stock gradually it keeps it all flowing.) Add the other vegetables and cook 5 min. Add the yogurt and stock. Bring to a boil and reduce heat. Simmer 20 min until vegetables are tender and serve garnished.

Changing your eating habits forever

I dedicate this blog today to everyone out there who has ever tried dieting and found that after a while all the progress that was made is now regressing and slowly slipping away. (This has been me throughout my whole life....I have done Weight Watchers, South Beach Diet, Cabbage Diet, Detox Diet, etc. etc. etc....) I have tried everything and with each diet that I went on I had great success followed by the inevitable return of the weight....

So, as many of you know, I have gradually moved into a vegetarian lifestyle over the past 6 months or so. I read a wonderful book called The China Study that really opened my eyes to lifestyle choices and the things we chose to feed our bodies....I have also watched various movies such as Food Inc. (which if you haven't seen, you DEFINITELY should) and have done a lot of research on healthy living and lifestyle choices.

I have made some serious changes in my life and it seems that there are others out there who wish to do the same this year. I wanted to do a post on "How to change your eating habits forever". I'm not a professional and I don't claim to know the answers, but I just wanted to share what worked/is working for me. I hope that something here will inspire you to seek the path of health for your future.

Firstly, you must have a passion and motivation for change. Why is it that you want to change your eating habits? Do you really know what is bad and good for you to eat? Do you really know the impact that food has on your health and life? Where is your passion for this change coming from? Take some time to ask yourself these questions and really contemplate your answers. Until you identify your motivation I think that change will not only be difficult, but very likely it will not be forever....To make a change that will last forever it has to really mean something to you personally. You have to feel that it really is "life or death" and it has to hold that kind of motivation for you. Wanting to lose weight is NOT motivation enough to make a change that will last forever. It has to mean something more...

Secondly, you must identify the easy habits to kick. If you know right off the bat that you could easily give up cheese because you don't really like it anyway, or bread, or meat, or alchohol or whatever it is....give that up first! Then move onto the harder stuff....Once you identify the reasons you have for quitting it is so much easier to give it up...I just gradually took this approach with each thing - coffee, chocolate, meat, sugar, etc....I identified why it was bad for me, what it was doing to my body, how I would feel if I gave it up, what it would mean for my life and future if I did etc.....Once you start seeing the results in your life you get excited about it and want to eliminate more and more things! (For example, after giving up caffeine and chocolate my headaches started going away! I am definitely excited about spending less of my life suffering and more of it living...This has motivated me to eliminate other things as well)

Thirdly, you cannot give something up without replacing it. (Depriving yourself only makes your lifestyle choices more of a diet than really a change.) In order to make these changes last forever you have to find something that will satisfy you in the same way. For example, to satisfy the need for sugar you might eat fruit or something with a natural sweetness. The way I felt less deprived when giving up meat was to treat myself to new foods and buying new ingredients. I had never cooked with legumes or grains like bulgar wheat and stuff. I had never even heard of cardamom pods and never dreamed of cooking with ginger enough to buy a whole root of it! Basically when I moved to NZ I started a whole new pantry and I took that time to fill it with only the good stuff! I don't cook with flour or lard or anything like that anymore, I have a huge selection of grains, beans/legumes, spices, herbs etc...If a recipe calls for cream or something that I know my body doesn't like, I skip it and find a new recipe! Look for recipes that are totally different than what you are used to making and it will add a new element of excitement to these lifestyle changes.

For me the key is not buying it....I never buy sweets or candy or chocolate or cakes or anything like that, I never buy ice cream or cereals or snack foods like granola bars. I just don't buy it!! If I need a snack I eat a few raisins and some pumpkin seeds or some carrots or something. After the first month of getting past all the cravings I don't even need snacks anymore. I feel totally satisfied with what I have eaten and I hardly ever crave sweets. (I think that part is directly related to my lack of meat intake though.) I have never felt healthier and more energetic. I don't have any pain like I used to have, and I just feel refreshed. If you are offered a small chocolate or a bit of cake or something, you can feel awesome about indulging in that since it may have been months since you had a treat. And you can enjoy it knowing that it isn't part of your every day lifestyle and therefore a small bit isn't going to hurt you. =) I think it makes the indulgence even more intense.

The biggest part for me is finding things to cook that will attract my husband to eat them! (he is definitely a meat eater!!) I have found that he totally loves Indian food and Mediterranean and Middle-Eastern so I stick with a lot of recipes like that. I do a lot of soups where I can make some meat on the side for him, and I also just adapt things....if he ever complains (which is very rare) I just use the reasoning "I'm trying to save money, love; it's so much cheaper to cook without meat!" He has no response to that and will usually smile politely and recognize that I'm trying to honor his desires to save money! =) And yes, it is true - meat is so much more expensive...especially if you are buying organic meat! If you have children I would encourage you to start NOW to help them eat healthier and make better food choices.I think that as a parent you have a wonderful opportunity to help your children learn how to eat things that will help them grow happy and strong and help them avoid the many pit-falls of our American diet.

I hope that this helps to motivate you to make life changing choices for your future, not just a quick fix diet for today......It's about what is going to help you live a healthier, happier, longer life! It definitely takes dedication to do an overhaul on your diet like this, but I think that it is well worth the sacrifice. I promise that if you commit to changing your eating habits for life, it WILL bring life back to you!!! It won't be a diet that you have to constantly be starting over, it won't be an up and down road, it will just be your new lifestyle, and it will be so worth it!!! If you need encouragement, please feel free to write me. By making these changes for myself it has changed my life, and I hope that you will find the same to be true.

We all feel, struggle, laugh, and cry...We are a supreme universal spirit ~ Namaste

Progress

So, I just wanted to share that the gym opened again today after the holiday break and I got to weigh in - roughly 142lbs (64.5kg) - I am so excited!!! I am really starting to feel a huge difference. I am down to the very last 10lbs and my goal was to hit the mark by the start of school...That leaves me 7 more weeks since I am half way through my 14 week challenge! Definitely doable!!! Yeah for progress!!!

"The pictures you hold in your mind form the reality of your existence." ~ Namaste

2010 New Year/New Passion

Continuing in true New Year's traditional fashion, this blog will contain goals/resolutions for the coming year.

My hope for each of you is that the start of a new year will bring excitement for all that you hope to accomplish, encouragement to start fresh, and a desire for new and better living choices in your life!

While I have already previously stated my goals for 2010 in regards to running and yoga, I want to take this time to focus on my resolution towards diet and healthy living.

I started gradually eliminating meat from my diet many months ago, and for the past two months I have been eating completely vegetarian. My goal for 2010 is to continue this eating habit but to take it to the next level. My body just responds so much better to a vegetarian diet and I feel a huge difference. I have been trying so many new recipes and enjoying the experiment of new grains/legumes and I want to continue down that path. I have given up sugar and chocolate and caffeine (with the exception of my tiny soy flat white which I have once a week.) My next phase is to give up all processed food. Right now the only real processed food that I eat is bread and salad dressing, but I want to eliminate even that. I want to eat more raw foods and focus on learning more about the various health benefits from vitamins/minerals that I eat. As I begin my nursing program, my study of nutrition will no doubt make me a better nurse as well.

Through yoga, I hope to gain a sense of balance and peace to carry with me each day and to embrace the present moment and the challenges that will come in those moments. Through running, I hope to gain strength and confidence within myself to accomplish that which I hope to achieve. Through diet, I hope to become healthier within my own body so that I can reach my goals for physical fitness and better focus for my studies. My desire is that together all of these will work towards creating a healthier/happier lifestyle.

I am so excited as I look towards this next year and all that it will bring. There will be so many challenges along the way, and yet I look forward to facing those challenges with a calm mind and with acceptance in that moment.

May each of your desires for 2010 come to pass, and may you embrace each moment with peace and calmness of mind! ~ Namaste

See It Done

I read this great book recently - which I have mentioned before...The 5 Rules of Thought - In that book it says that once you have set a goal for yourself you should spend some time each day meditating on the end result of that goal in order for it to become a reality. You should, in all ways, "See It Done".

In my mind I have a picture of the healthy body that I want to have and of myself running races and crossing the finish line. Every day I spend time meditating on this image and seeing the inside of my body healthy and whole. I think about this as I walk into the gym, as I warm up and get ready for my run etc.....

Secondly he also talks about once you have that goal in your mind and are meditating on it then you must do everything in your power to see it become a reality. It will not just happen on it's own. You must put forth the effort to see it completed. Taking that into consideration I have increased my mileage every week and the intensity at which I work out. I have been faithful to eating healthy and de-stressing every day.

As a result the weight is finally starting to drop off. I'm confident that it's a combination of everything, but either way I am very excited that I may actually stand a chance of meeting my goals to get back to the "healthy me" that I was at one time. This week I hit 145lbs and since October I have lost 14.5 inches in combination! I am overwhelmed by how strong my body feels and how great I feel in general. I don't have the headaches that I used to, and my other health problems have not been bothering me at all!

Just wanted to share that as I come upon the end of the year I'm excited that my goals are close at hand. I still have 13 lbs that I would like to lose between now and February, and I definitely have big goals for my running in 2010. But I must say that it is encouraging to finally start seeing results.

Set a goal, then "See It Done"!!! ~ Namaste

Cultivating a Healthy Life

Many of you know that my grandfather had triple bi-pass surgery a few weeks ago. Heart disease, obesity, and Alzheimer disease, among other health problems runs on both sides of my family. These are not things I want to ever deal with in my life, and I am determined to break the chains and create my own destiny. (I honestly believe that healthy living has the power to do this!)

I'm sure you have heard the saying, "You are what you eat". I really believe this is a statement of truth and that you can change your own health by dedicating yourself to major lifestyle changes. It's not something that is easy to adjust to (especially in the American culture.) but it is definitely worth the effort. Over the past few months my diet has changed drastically and I am continuing to make adjustments. Since arriving in New Zealand our access to fresh produce and organic food has been totally amazing. I am so grateful for this change. (Access to fresh fruits and vegetables in the remote areas of Alaska is virtually unheard of. - unless, of course, you have a green house in the few short summer months.)

The reason I bring up this topic is because of how different I feel. Today as I was walking home from the gym I was amazed by just how great I felt. It's hard to put into words, but my body feels "whole" In comparison to what I felt before. I do not know exactly what to attribute this to (Not sure if it's a certain food I have given up, or a combination of things), but I am here to say that eating healthy is definitely life changing.

I have been reading a lot of books lately on our toxic environment and cancer and health related issues. I am shocked, really, by the things that we willingly consume and surround ourselves with on a daily basis that we KNOW are killing us! How often do we eat something because it's so good in the here and now; but deep down we know that we will suffer from it later? I know I have done this many times in my past - never again! - For example, I am lactose sensitive and I KNOW that drinking milk, eating ice cream, eating a lot of cheesy food etc. is bad for me. I KNOW what it makes me feel like. Yet, somehow I eat it anyway - what is up with that? At what point do we wake up and realize that our long-term health is so much more important than our short-term pleasure?

After saying all of that, I also make note of the fact that once you kick the habit of something (which I have heard takes 40 consecutive days) you seriously do not crave it in the same way that you used to. I was so addicted to coffee that when I was in highschool I had a coffee pot in my room! No joke....I would drink tons of coffee all day long, every day! Kicking that habit was really hard, but gradually I did and I cannot tell you how much better I feel! The same thing goes for Dt. Coke - wow, what a difference this one made! - Giving up meat also helped me in turn to give up sugar. (When I eat meat it tends to trigger some kind of need for sugary desserts.) These are just a few examples. They were hard adjustments at first, but now I don't crave them or notice their absence at all.

These are just some observations that I have made in my own life this week. I am determined to carry these healthy lifestyle changes with me throughout my life and I hope that you will make some changes in your own diet as well. It will change your life forever! Cancer and disease are so prominent in our culture that it sometimes feels like people have given up the fight and are just willing to accept that it is just part of life - I am NOT willing to accept this for my future and I want to take whatever preventative measures that I can NOW. Hope you feel the same and will make the needed adjustments in your own lives. It's time we took responsibility for our own health and our future! No one can make these changes for us.

Namaste