Healthy Thoughts and Readings.

Wow - I've been thinking a lot lately on what I put in my mouth. It started this weekend with som yummy eats that weren't necessarily "healthy" = low fat, low calorie, etc, but it was totally fresh food with many good things for me and my body (and my mental health and physical activity). Also, I was reading a magazine this morning on the plane from my local health food store in the Ville - Rainbow Blossom. Very interesting articles and I learn every time I read from different sources. I am also wanting to take nutrition/health classes just to learn more and be more educated about what I put in my body. God made my body for a reason (for His glory) and I want to take care of it the best I can.
So, here are some things that I am learning:
1. I do not run well (running, as in physical activity) after eating protein. I've tried it a couple of times (like an egg white omelette on greens) and I just am not propelled as I am when I eat carbs before running.
2. I want to eat as much "natural" stuff as possible. I think I am growing fond of being a locavore when it comes to fresh ingredients. Not necessarily all local ingredients, but definitely all fresh ingredients. I would love to live in a place where I could just go to a daily farmers market and pick out my stuff for the day.
3. I like to eat/graze every 2-3 hours. I don't get starved, I don't get stressed. Now, I just need to eat less when I do and continue to make healthy choices (like homemade hummus and carrots, or carrots and mustard, or a small whole grain homemade oats muffin- yum, fruit, etc).
4. Vitamin K helps with slowing the aging process - and other good things for us. Now, I do take a multi-vitamin (a chewable so I don't have to swallow a horse pill), but I want to get my vitamins naturally - from a whole source. So, a good source of Vitamin K (because as I age I definitely want to look younger) is leafy green veggies and oils like canola and olive. Also, you can find some in meats and fermented foods like cheese and natto (fermented soy beans, a Japanese meal usually served for breakfast). May have to try that - round out my world travels for breakfast (I've been eating a very meditteranean breakfast of couscous and yogurt).
5. Spices help with e-coli - cleaning and the whatnot. Cloves are particularly helpful (and most everyone has that in their kitchen right now), and essential oils do as well.
6. Ah, sugar or natural sweeteners. I am a fan of sugar. I do use honey and maple syrup and different fruits, but I don't use fake sugar. Will i try these new natural sugars? Who knows? I am under the opinion that I would rather go with normal stuff and eat less of it (what I bake) then eat more chemicals when I eat a larger portion of the stuff made with fake stuff. Now with natural sugars - like Agave, I just haven't tried it. anyone have suggestions?
7. Green tea is so good for you. I think the benefits of it are much better than coffee. I have a ton of teas at my house - I just need to use them more. Usually my mornings are not stress free, so I don't have time to sit down to a slow cuppa - maybe in the future.
8. Did you know that prunes are a super super food? I have some in my pantry right now. I need to start eating them. More potassium than a banana. low GI numbers, high in fiber and ranked in the top for its antioxidant powers (and you know how everyone is all about that right now).
9. My chiropractor - whom I get to see today - tells me "if you stop moving, you die." I like that. I just want to be more active, always doing things, not just sitting and letting my body rot or waste away. I want to be healthy from the inside out. I want to eat off the land that God has given me and us. That means I don't eat a lot at fast food places anymore - and if I do, I get salads. Ah, the joys and complexities of wanting to eat healthier and be healthier.
10. How does this work when I bake all the time? I usually am not baking for me. I taste a bit of it - then I give it away. I love to bake and use usually full fat full calorie ingredients when I do. If I eat it, I eat a small portion of it. But, I have learned that indulgences can be allowed - just not every day!

Ok - those are some of my thoughts for now. Have a great day. Be God's today - body, mind, soul.

Runners World: "Running and Glutton" by David Willey

There are certain words that grab my attention right now. Two of those are running and gluttony. I only took up running in January. I got a subscription to Runner's World, signed up for races, and put runs in my calendar for the week. I also learned that you must keep running to keep being good at it. I now don't run that much - I love variety in my work outs. But, I just signed up for a 5k in my hometown over Thanksgiving so I need to get working at it again (can't let my Dad beat me!) The other one is gluttony. I'm writing some things on this, so the key word is there again. As a believer in Christ - I think any time a "sin" word comes up in conversation or writing - it catches my attention, helps me be on guard.
I sat down to read this month's Runner's World and the Editor's Letter was titled: Running and Gluttony. I immediately tore it out, read it, and am now blogging on it. I usually like what David Willey has to say, and he looks like a young Rob Lowe - so how can he be bad. I didn't disagree with everything - here are some points:
1. Quoting the PC guy (the dude on the computer commercials, John Hodgman): "The problem with nutritionists is that they only care about nutrients." I hate it when people think the healthy food has to be yucky tasting. One of my friends recently wrote on her facebook status something to the effect of - 'gotta get back on my diet, goodbye all the good tasting foods'. I definitely have to disagree. I think a lot of healthy things are very good tasting as well. I love to cook. And nutrients are good for you. Green beans fresh from the field have more nutrients and taste better than canned ones that have been sitting on a shelf for 2 years. If we want to be a healthier America, and healthier individuals, we must change our attitude and stop thinking of healthy as gross or handcuffed just out of reach of yummy morsels. And nutrients propel you to do better running, have better PRs, finish higher in races, etc.
2. "One of my favorite things about being a runner is the freedom to eat both halves of a Dagwood-sized corned-beef Reuben or to say, 'Sure, I'll have another beer' without a moment's hesitation or a trace of regret." Two things wrong with this statement. Do we need to eat both halves of the sandwich - or is one plenty serving and will fill us up? 2. We shouldn't use exercise as a motivation just to eat more. A person related to me once said this about someone else: he exercises because he likes to eat more. How screwed up a view of our bodies is that? Yes, I fail in this many times - eating more because I know I'm going to do a Jillian Michael's DVD later and will need fuel and will work it off. Your body does need more fuel if you are going to go run 26.2 miles. But, we use this excuse way too often - and our bodies are usually unhealthier because of it.
3. "The key to indulgence, as any nutritionist will tell you, is moderation." Yes, I agree. But then are we relegating indulgence just to a type of food and not to the amount of food. I see them as both and.
4. (In light of a burger topped with peanut butter and bacon) "What was decidedly bad was my six-miler along the Charles (River) the next morning. I felt...well, like you'd expect to feel after fueling up on three flavors of fat (with a side of fries)." Then why do it - they all went back later and had more. I know how horrible I feel if I eat too much. But, does that stop me from doing it the next time - not usually. There are commercials with digestion help tablets that joke about how much American's eat for Thanksgiving or Super Bowl or other heavy-feasting days. Why do we do it? We feel horrible. I ate late one night before a race - I could tell it in my running the next morning.
5. "The next days' run was even worse (after eating more PBB). I actually felt remorse. But, I'll probably have another PB&B burger in April. Not just because its delicious but because it offers something by the book nutrients often lack: fun." There's something healthy about that, too." Oh, from the Christian stand point.... Sin is fun. Indulging in things that aren't good for us may be fun - yet we are like dogs returning to vomit - creatures of habit. I don't want to chained to bad food anymore - or good food for that matter. I want to make healthier choices for many reasons: Obedience to God, it makes me feel better, it fuels my body better, and it tastes so good! And you know what - I can have a small cheeseburger on occasion - but I NEVER need a whole Royal Red Robin Burger ever again.
Thanks David Willey for offering me food for thought and fuel for my run.

Goals - Updated in Moleskin 4.17.09

I took some time today to write down some of my goals. I have a moleskin (love those things) for weight, how I feel each day, and my goals. So, I thought I would share the goals with you (for all who read it - which isn't very many). But this is a tangible way for me to stay on track.
Races:
Mini-Derby - 4.25.09 - 1/2 Marathon - less than 3 hours.
Through the Zoo - 5.9.09 - 5k - under 39 minutes
Berea Trail Run - 6.6.09 - 8k - 1.10
Joe Huber's - 6.13.09 - 10k - less than 1.19
Bluegrass 10 - 7.4.09 - Under whatever my Hubers time is...

These are more general goals:
Goal Weight by Erin's wedding (8.9.09) - 9 lbs to go!
1 diet coke or carbonated beverage per/week - right now I'm at about 3, so I need to cut those down.
Stop eating when full. This will do me good because some times I eat real fast and don't take time to think about why I am eating.
Memorize Scripture about food, my body, healthy living, etc.
Snack healthier - I don't need to consume processed foods.
Try new grains. Wheatberries, etc. I need to broaden my horizons when it comes to good-for-me grains.
More veggies - this will be much easier in the summer! :) Bring on the farmer's markets
Sale Produce/meat - even if it means trying new things or maybe eating a lot of the same things cooked in different ways - at least I'll be doing good on the checkbook!
Eat on small plates. I don't like big dinner plates - because I fill them up!
Toning - I do 200 weighted twists/punches each night. I need to keep that up - get that core and those arms in shape!
Body Fat - I need to get that in a good range and first need to get it tested. I've already put out an email regarding that.
Cholesterol. I'm having that checked in 10 days. See where it is. See what I need to do with it. If it is not in a healthy range, then make it there!

Ok - now to get to it! :)

Help! Spring is Here!

Ah, spring - how I love thee. Longer hours to exercise outside, dark mornings (don't know how productive those are, but I like lighter evenings), fresh fruits, more produce stands, green veggies, budding flowers, travel.
All that to say...it seems like I've been snacking. In the winter I can easily dish out soups and chilis that are healthy and filling. But, cooking for one in the spring and summer and not eating salads every day is a bit challenging. So my weight is stagnant even with all this exercising because I'm more tempted to nibble.
I need some ideas for healthy eating for one, or just what to do to jump start the weight loss again!
Thanks!

Guest Blogger: Rebecca Horton: Whole Foods

Rebecca is a UNC grad who I had the privilege of getting to know during my time at the Summit. I didn't know her through the college ministry. I got to know her because she plugged in to others areas within the church and served. We worked in the children's ministry together - mainly during the child care times for other events.
Rebecca has a passion for many things - and she is a great writer about them. She now lives in DC (in my top 3 fave cities). So, I read her blog this morning over at Passionately Alive and thought I would "borrow" it - giving her full credit and a shout out! The reason I posted this here is the healthy benefit of whole foods. Eating vegetables, grains, non-processed (mostly chemicals and sodium) is so delicious and more beneficial. It provides you with much energy to be more active. The vitamins in most whole foods far outweigh its counterpart processed food - and therefore you are less sick and have more energy.
Rebecca - thank you for this information. Hope you are doing well. Miss ya girl!

So, i've been pondering significantly about my own values in addition to the principles which make a company "good/effective" as I approach the many ideas swimming in my head. Tonight, in the midst of trying to get into a Jane Jacobs book (i'm going to be honest her books are less compelling-writing style wise-than I anticipated) and make sense of this crazy calling i'm feeling on my heart with increasing strength, eating dinner at a table at Whole Foods I noticed their "Core Values" posted on the wall. Several of them really struck me and I think they're worth posting.
There are many reasons why I love Whole Foods, although admittedly it doesn't quite compare to my favorite Chapel Hill Co-Op, Weaver Street Market. (Side note, I love Weaver Street Market and the restaurant in there too.) And reading these values just cements my reasons for liking it all the more. Whole Foods started as a grocery option when I went on a fair trade/organic everything craze in college (a much harder quest than one might anticipate). Since then, i've become a frequent visitor. They have such a unique variety of foods, including certain local ingredients I was never able to find previously, and their store design is really invigorating. Additionally, I've never been to a place where the employees seemed so cheery, and excited to be at work-this is saying a LOT, I used to work in retail and it often sucks, straight up-, and their hot/cold food bar, while overpriced is really tasty. Not everything is perfect there, I do have some complaints and frustrations-especially about the overpriced items-but I like a lot of what this grocery chain stands for and works to live out day to day.So here are their values:
Selling the Highest Quality Natural and Organic Products Available
Satisfying and Delighting Our Customers
Supporting Team Member Happiness and Excellence
Creating Wealth Through Profits & Growth
Caring about our Communities & Our Environment
Creating ongoing win-win partnerships with our suppliers.
Numbers 1, 3, and 5 are especially intriguing...I'm interested in drilling down a bit more and exploring their business model in further depth. I'll let 'ya know when I find out more.

I hope these links and this write-up inspires you to visit your local co-op and eat more naturally and healthily for your body!