For years it conjured up in my head visions of people in white gossamer clothing getting in touch with their inner selves and eating tofu.
OK, admittedly, I am a bit more educated on it.
It’s supposed to help with flexibility, strength, better posture, help you with your breathing and over all reduce stress and make you feel more calm. Who wouldn’t be down for that ?
I’m sure there are a lot of other benefits too.
Here’s where it’s been kinda in my face for awhile….. it’s supposed to be really good for runners. I’ve read articles about the benefits of yoga as a recovery or strengthening process.
Alright so I’ll admit why I’ve steered clear…. don’t judge me now….
it’s just so… tame… and quiet….and not… intensely active like I’m used to….
It’s different than flying down the road on a bike… or running a zillion miles… or knocking the heck out of a punching bag.
I secretly wonder if I could handle such a wide shift of physical activities….. being more….still…. yikes.
Ok but then, as I runner, how can I ignore these promises of incorporating some yoga into all my other activities :
It can make you a better runner, improve form and balance, it can also decrease your susceptibilities to over use injuries. It can also improve mental focus which is so important before and during a race when mental staying power is as important as physical strength.
Now….how can I not look at that a little closer ?? Our local running store offers a runners yoga class once a week… and if I can ever get my schedule to bend that way I might check out.
As much as running can build a strong body, those muscles get tight in all kinds of places. Flexibility and fluid motion is so important in running. Things that are tight don’t allow for optimal performance.
I found some moves that were targeted at runners and even told you what muscles they opened or loosened. I figured… why not? What runner doesn’t want to be more strong and flexible ? So I’ve tried some.
Hahaha….. oh my gosh. You know that term hurts so good? I immediately found places in my hips that were tight… and let me know it. My back…legs… all kinds of tight spots.
On top of holding the pose… you have to remember to breathe… I realized… I kinda sucked at that part 😛
Then you get in this pose…and your “reps” ( which Is how I’m used to operating) are more like the amount of breathes you take holding that pose.
This is when I pondered : where is the woman who ran marathons who’s whining about this pose and attempting to breathe at the same time ? Here’s what I know thus far…….. I’m breathing hard from pain, not cardio exertion haha
I decided this could be a butt kicking adventure in a different kind of way. I think I’m definitely going to try and add some into my training with the intent it will benefit my body for running. It always comes back to that for me.
So my readers…. who does yoga? Do you like it? What benefits have you seen ? If you’re a runner, have you seen benefits from it ?
Ok so I hate not having something to share with you guys…but sometimes the weekends are…well.. the weekend.. and I give my brain a little time to rest from churning out (hopefully) relevant and encouraging words to you.
Sooo I decided to do a fun little Q&A thing… based on questions I’ve been asked at various times. Some, with predictable frequency, some just random. I’ll toss in the humorous and inquiring ones as well.
Here we go……
Have you always been a runner ? No. I’ve been running almost 5 years now with 7 half marathons, 2 full marathons, an ultra marathon and numerous smaller races under me. I think I need to stop considering myself a newbie 😛
You weren’t athletic in school? I was a band geek and twirler, does that count ?
Is running really hard? Yeah… it’s why I love it. When runs feel easy, you know you’re getting stronger.
How tall are you ? 6’0… barefooted…however I love heels which can throw me into the 6’3-6’4 range. #noapologies
Do you always eat healthy ? 95% of the time yes. If I want a treat, I have it. All things in moderation…leads to success.
How long is your marathon? 26.2 miles
Why did you start running? the insanity took over nah…. really honestly, I started running ’cause I walk so crazy fast, it was easier to kinda lope along… eventually my speed picked up… and somehow… I was transformed into a runner.
What do you DO to look like that ? (as person indicates their hand up from my feet to my head) I make myself move and sweat a lot, lift heavy things, and I don’t have an affair with food 😉
You’re how old? Do I need to disclose that ? 😉
Do you do anything else besides run ? Yes, I love doing anything that keeps me entertained and moving. I’m getting more into cycling, I love the brute force of boxing, weights make me feel strong, swimming… anything to keep it moving.
Do you really drink black coffee? Why yes, yes I do.
Do you win your races ? Yes, every time I toe that start line, and every time I finish, I win. Personal victories are amazing.
How long is your marathon ?? 😉
What about your….. knees… don’t they hurt?? Nope but thanks for asking.
I’m not sure I want to lift weights, won’t I get bulky? Do I look like the hulk ? 😉
How do I get abs? We’ve all got them. On most people they’re hiding out under some extra body fat. Healthier eating, lower body fat and exercise can coax them out.
Did you play basketball? **see former band geek status**
Are you always training for something ? Pretty much. I love having goals and I love the structure of training.
When’s your next race? My next big race is a December marathon.
I don’t know if I could run all those miles. How do you ? One at a time…..
I’m trying to eat more veggies but I hate broccoli… what should I do? Ha… don’t eat it 😉
Exercise makes me sweat. I can’t stand that. Doesn’t it bother you ? Not at all. It makes me feel like I’ve brought it all to the table.
Ok… that’s it for my random Q&A session… .. have a question? Toss them at me for future non-brain taxing blogs 😉 Meanwhile, have a good weekend!
In yesterdays post I mentioned seeing my doctor and that it was one of my two weigh-ins that I typically do in a year.
The cool thing ? It really only ever bounces around a couple pounds in either direction… especially depending on where I am in my training. I am less concerned today about those numbers than I’ve been in my life. Mainly ’cause I’ve learned there’s way more going on in my body besides what those numbers spit up.
Oh, at one point I was like any other woman when I was needing to lose. I consulted the scale for proof of my efforts for the week. If I’m honest ( and I know you do this too) you do everything the exact way… for me… early morning.. no clothes…hold my breathe… pray for good numbers… like you’re a prize in Vegas or something…..
As I lost weight and eventually got to a place I was comfortable with I became less concerned , not careless, I had just developed a plan that worked for me to keep me in the place I liked. If my small clothes continued to fit comfortably I knew I was where I needed to be. My exercise was strong, steady, and a sustainable habit so that helped keep me there too.
Those beginning years of my health and fitness journey I was focused on weight loss, learning better nutrition and getting my exercise where it needed to be.
** Ok, and hang with me here. I am my own guinea pig, I have no other person to use as an illustration, although I wanna hear from you guys if you have something to say on this or where you are in process. **
In time though, something interesting began to happen. As my body fat dropped, muscles began to be more obvious that had been hiding under it.
My body started to take on a different shape…leaner… more cut and defined. It wouldn’t be till many years later that I’d learn about something called “body recomposition”.
Basically, it means the way the body is composed. So… recomposition is a restructuring of the body and what’s in it.
In physical fitness it usually means the amount of fat mass and lean muscle mass. Fat mass is literally, all fat in your body. Lean muscle mass means all the other stuff 😉 after long periods of ( nutrition, exercise and fat loss) you can “recompose” your body ending up with more lean muscle mass than fat. I think it’s a pretty good trade off for hard work, right ?
You WANT more muscle than fat. First of all, for your health, it looks nicer, and finally it metabolically burns about 6 calories per pound at rest, compared to the 2 calories a pound of fat burns.
It can dramatically change your appearance… and it can also sneak up on you. At least, it’s how it felt to me. None of that was on my mind when I began my journey.
When I hear women say they want to get “toned”, they really mean, they want some muscle because the muscle is what gives shape and that taut look. This happens when body fat drops and muscles that are being built become visible.
It’s a process of intentionally eating well and lifting heavy things, building muscle, and losing body fat that leads to these changes.
.You are essentially, trading fat for more muscle. ** Please note: you can’t turn fat into muscle or muscle into fat. They are complete separate things. **
It’s a slow process that can take years. I think it’s really important when I talk to (women) but it’s the same for men too, I didn’t build this overnight, no one does. I consider it still an ongoing work in progress.
The danger today is that people want fast, instant gratification on things like weight loss and body change but the reality is, it takes time! I’ve been at it for 7 years now. Remember, in the beginning, I was out to just lose weight. When my body started looking so different from what I was doing, it became an interesting science project to press on with 😉
It’s also interesting to note that in the past couple years, my weight has stayed pretty much within a couple pounds in either direction, yet amazing changes still were taking place. Muscle made me look leaner even though the numbers didn’t drop. I’m no longer really assessed with a BMI but more on body fat percentage. In December I had gotten to about 13%.
Now you….tell me where you are on your own fitness journeys. Have you had body changes after years of persistence? Has it been worth the effort ? What have you learned ?
And finally, I’ll add some photos from the past few years so you can see the changes……
Dec 2010… one of my first pics to do… I thought I was rocking some serious arms 😉Jan 2010….I’m really pretty happy with myself at this point. I’ve been on my journey for 3 years. You can tell my tummy has a little definition but still more than enough body fat… hiding my deeper ab muscles.Fall of 2011.. leaner… but abs still have a ways to go….Here come those arms… Jan 2011….way less fat allowing muscle cuts to showSept 2011…. a bigger change….evolving arms 2010/2013My other professional pic taken for Runners World… this one didn’t get used…this is Sept 2012… the belly has leaned out… some definition showing upDec 2014… the front =)Dec 2014 back looking pretty definedDec 2014… abs… =)Dec 2014…. strong legs…lots of muscle
Moments after the finish of my second marathon Dec 7, 2014
So in view of my focus on being fit and healthy, one of the things that is important to me is making sure that I take care of myself with proper health care. I kinda refer to it as temple maintenance… just like we maintain anything else in our lives… shouldn’t managing our health be at the top of the list ?
That being said, today was my yearly check in with my family physician. One of the reasons I see him is to have labs done to make sure my thyroid levels are all still on par (which they have been for years now) I learned a lot about this tiny little thing (that we all have )several years back.
When I could barely drag myself through a day without desperately needing a nap, and I’m totally serious, my gyn inquired as to if I’d ever had it tested.
I was like… “what’s a thyroid??” haha
Anyway, a blood test revealed mine was way low on producing enough hormones which is why I was dragging so bad.
One tiny little pill and in a couple days… I felt like Wonder Woman… amazing. We will be fast friends for the rest of my life but I’m ok with that.
And by the way, the thyroid produces two hormones, T3 and T4, which control energy, regulate temperature, and assist other organs in their functions. It controls your metabolism and keeps your whole body functioning properly. It’s crucial that it’s all in balance for your overall well being.
Now that I educated you on that….. in a nutshell version 😉
Besides that it’s my bi-yearly weigh-in. Yes, seriously, I see my weight maybe twice a year.. freedom 😉 ( this will lead to another post on weight and body composition…watch for that)
Anyway, Mr. Doctor is also a friend in the “real world” so I don’t mind seeing him… walks in and promptly says…
“Got your labs. Your boring. Good boring.”
He then rapid fire goes through numbers with me….all of which look stellar. My blood sugar, which I’m careful to watch since I’ve had family members deal with diabetes issues, came in at a low level. He also promptly said “and your cholesterol looks awesome, especially your good one” which was like 82.
For most people, yours truly included, getting the good cholesterol up is harder to do….exercise and eating well can drive it up.
(Hang with me… I’m going somewhere ) after going through labs it led into my athletic adventures. Not only does he counsel me on a “normal” person level, but also who I am as an athlete and what I’m doing physically.
We discussed my goals for the year… my interest in a tri or duathlon…his concern I don’t run my legs off ( I promised him I DO listen to my body) … tried not to giggle as he once again proclaimed ” I don’t get you runners!” and talked over cross training, rest and recovery ideas.
He said “I’m always trying to get my patients to exercise and.. you… I feel like I need to keep you reined in!” haha
I love his support and encouragement… even if he might think I’m a lil crazy 😉
As he mentioned again my labs and how good and strong my heart and lungs sounded I quipped…….
” Seriously, all that exercise and eating right SHOULD have pay offs!”
Now here’s what I want you to pay attention to……
Our health and fitness levels are revealed in a lot more ways than how strong we may be or how fast we can run, or aesthetically what our bodies may look like. Yes, that all reveals levels of health, strength and fitness. When we have blood taken and tested that gives us a look at what’s going on INSIDE it also reveals an extremely important level of our health and wellness.
I know that sounds like a no brainer but so many people miss that.
Eating well and purposeful physical movement is an investment into our lives and the quality of them. I can’t run strong or lift heavy or take on the million tasks in my day if I neglect to care for myself in crucial ways.
I eat lots of veggies and fruit…rarely eat fast foods or refined/processed foods… lots of water.. minimal sugar. Overall, I make an attempt to eat well 95% of the time ( you do know I still like my occasional Peanut M&M fix 😉 and sometimes, yes, I do want to eat that burger out somewhere. I workout doing something 5-6 days a week and see my exercise as important as anything else I have to do.
It’s in the overall constant choices we make that matters.
How you eat doesn’t just fuel you for energy , but builds and strengthens all those internal things you don’t see but which are so vastly important to our overall health.
There is a huge truth then in….you are what you eat =)
How do you look at that? Have you ever given much thought to the fact, the foods we take in have a great impact on our internal health and wellness ? Have you had to make changes? How has that worked for you?
I love new challenges and putting myself out there to experiment with new things. There’s a sick kind of rush to it. Maybe it’s doing something I’ve never done or thought I couldn’t do….whatever it is…. in the athletic arena it’s a very broad spectrum of goodies to choose from. Maybe I like pain….
Since I’ve already knocked out one big thing in this year I was after ( a 50K) and since I obviously won’t be running or training those back to back, it’s pushed me to consider other athletic challenges.
Triathlons intrique me…. but honestly… I suck at swimming.
I mean, I can, it’s just that pool time has always kinda gone like this…. cute suit… sun… get to warm… swim for a bit… and repeat process haha
I’ve never swam intentionally or anything resembling competitive. I will admit though the last few summers of getting in the pool and pushing myself to do laps. It really feels amazing after a long run. And a not known fact maybe, but you can seriously sweat in the water.
So in view of a tri, the running and biking don’t intimidate me but the swimming does.
I however, won’t limit myself if I chose to do it.
A few years ago, I never thought I was a runner either.
My triathlon friends have shared their horror stories of being in the water with nothing but arms and legs flying everywhere and praying they didn’t get kicked unconscious before they hit land again… ha.. did I mention adventures?
I do think it’s kinda cool how they have these mini-tris to um… get your feet wet with 😉 to see if it’s something you’d like.
So there’s that possibility….
But imagine my delight when I stumbled across another event last year called a duathlon.
It’s like a tri but you run, bike, run. That… I can do…. no water involved 😉
I have done brick training before where I did a short run and then came back and did miles on the bike. Talk about doing interesting things to your legs… but that is soooo doable for me. Again I’ve found beginner races that do a 5K run, a 15 mile ride and ending with a 5K run.
So yeah…. a definite possibility in challenging myself to something new.
I have a bike… an ordinary bike that doesn’t cost as much as a good used car… however my body doesn’t seem to know that when I’m making it peddle up hills and stuff 😉 but you wonder if you need more for racing among the Corvettes and Camaros that are on the road… ah something else to consider…
I fear divorce if I want an overpriced bike haha 😉
In the ways of running…. trail running would be a new beast to conquer since it’s so different from road racing. However to practice I just need to take off down the huge canyon that’s my back yard….
In tamer things, I will admit to be intriqued by the idea of fencing. Yes, that involves sword play.
Or maybe it’s the thought I can wear black and have a sword makes me feel like some kinda super hero 😉
Of course, there is always so much more to do with running…. faster… longer.. new PR’s… I think I love running so much ’cause there’s that constant challenge to beat yourself. With that said, I do have a marathon plotted for December.
So share with me. Have you taken on a new adventure ? Or is there something you’re wanting to try out or experiment with ? Something you’ve done and never thought you could ?
It’s no grand secret it’s the key to life 😉 I really kinda like the stuff too.
I mean seriously, when you are honest to goodness hungry and you want to eat the first thing that moves, doesn’t food taste… amazing ?? I don’t feel like that if I’m not hungry.
Give me an hour after an intense workout and I can do food like a piranha.
Attractive, I know. Me….a couple hours after a serious long run….
And there’s sooo much deliciousness in this world we can choose from… vast amounts of food to handle our daily needs… aren’t we blessed?
Now here comes the trickier part… if we keep in mind that food is fuel for our body… to give us energy, balance, and stability for our day…we need to consider how we are fueling.
That can require some thought and preparation so when we are in full blown hunger mode, we can still make smart choices.
One thing I’m starting and it’s not a novel idea is chopping up all kinds of raw veggies and tossing them in a Ziploc bag. Now I know people do food prep and have cute little containers for the week or day, but I think it takes up to much space and my veggies don’t mind gettin’ all close and comfy in the same bag together 😉
Look at all those tasty critters living in harmony 😉
This is handy in several ways for me. If I need a fast snack and those veggies are ready to go, I am way more likely to graze on them ( instant gratification) and if I’m super on top of things, I’ve also whipped up some ranch dip made with plain Greek yogurt to have with them, if I’m so inclined. On the lunch menu, I really love salads so having veggies I can just toss in with my spinach and not have to cut and chop is a huge bonus.
Now all of you out there who’ve ever wondered how you get your veggie servings in … a super salad at lunch can just about get your there.. and you can snack like a ravenous beast on veggies…wheelbarrows full for minimal calories and huge nutritional benefits.
What? You can’t do it? Don’t like them so much over say, chips? Remember that habit thing we’ve been talking about ? Just start small, with what you like, and go from there.
Veggies are a wonderful fuel source for your body, and so good for you too. I love being satisfied, but not feeling lethargic, from a good lunch. The foods we eat can make us feel good, energetic, and stable or they can leave us feeling full, sluggish, lethargic and not energetic. Consider your meals and how you feel after… determine where you might need to make adjustments.
Remember the fuel illustration. If I had a high performance sports car, I wouldn’t put junk fuel in it. Take the same approach to your body.
Food prep comes in handy to help you make good choices when you need them and gives you the ability to make wise fuel choices when you might be weak. It all keeps coming back to the habits we build…. train yourself to reach for good foods.
Other things you can consider:
Hard boil eggs for a quick protein snack or to add to a salad.
Have cheese cubed for an afternoon snack with some fruit.
Make your own snack mix with raw nuts and craisins ( I like the 50% less sugar ones) keep in small bags for when you’re on the run.
Greek yogurts… ready to go.
I love sweet potatoes. I usually roast extra at night so I can use in salads or for breakfast.
Mix up tuna with avocado. I love it by itself with some fruit or you can have it on a sandwich.
Keep fruit washed in ‘fridge so it’s ready to grab.
I know when I’m hungry I’m less likely to take time to do certain things, so if I’ve prepared in advance, it definitely helps keep me on the right eating track. Making good choices makes me not just feel better physically, but mentally too.
Do you do food prep? If so, what tricks do you have?
So I’m gonna tackle a topic that might be a lil off my usual stuff, but one that is definitely in national attention as well as making local news stories too. It’s something I believe seriously needs addressed.
I promise to resume my normal athletic(y) antics soon 😉
Childhood obesity.
It affects 30% of children making it the most chronic disease of childhood. This number has tripled since 1980.
Childhood obesity is a health issue.
More children today are diagnosed with diabetes, hyper tension and other co-morbid conditions associated with obesity and morbid obesity.
Obesity is defined as more than 20% above the ideal weight for a particular height and age.
The physical complications can be great for over weight children. Type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, asthma, sleep disorder, non-alcoholic liver disease, and early puberty or menstruation.
Besides the over arching problem of physical effects on these children, the social and emotional complications are huge. These children can often suffer from low self-esteem, bullying behavior, learning problems and depression.
The risk factors know no economic boundaries. Poor diet, lack of exercise, family factors, and socioeconomic all can contribute to children being overweight.
I’m gonna play the bad guy for a second and break up this word.
Child…. the first part of childhood. Meaning they are the children who are dependent upon the adult to provide food, provide boundaries and provide guidance.
Parents are the ones who shop for food and provide for their child. Good nutrition is so important, but often, parents feel they need to provide empty calorie snacks and drinks for their child. I’ve also watched in my world at times where the children have been allowed to eat unchecked with no reminder “you’ve had enough” or maybe ” 2 cookies is plenty” .
It’s really ok for parents to say “no” to kids when they’ve had enough. To teach proper portions. The “no” word isn’t just ok for some things, it’s ok when it comes to teaching children balance and moderation on food too.
Children will eat what we bring into the home. If they don’t have junk food to graze on, they won’t eat it. Oh I’m not the totally evil mom, I do have cookies and treats, but when my kids were in school they were the weird ones who had water bottles in their lunch instead of “juice” boxes which are often no more than glorified high fructose flavored drinks.
Although my 23 yr old wandered in one day and proclaimed “when you stated getting all healthy the good stuff went away!” ha that’s not entirely true as I still make a mean batches of cookies 😉 but I really keep the snack foods to a minimum.
As I’ve shared in previous posts, I grew up in a family with many family members being over weight. We were taught to clean our plates. I never made my kids do that, allowing them to eat till they were satisfied. My Mom flipped the first time I let my son leave the table with food still on his plate
I allowed them to learn and listen to their bodies natural signals. Alongside treats they learned about eating good foods too.
We teach our children so many things in life, shouldn’t eating well should be at the top of the list of what we teach them?
How do you help if you have an over weight child?
→ Improve daily diet making small gradual changes.
→ Offer water instead of sugary drinks.
→ Encourage exercise and outdoor activities. Let your child brainstorm fun ways to exercise.
→ Focus on the entire family eating healthy and exercising.
→ Teach balance and moderation in eating. If your child is old enough, encourage them to read the labels, looking at serving size, and measuring it out to help them understand what that serving looks like.
→Offer rewards and treats that aren’t food related.
→ Allow them to have input on the types of healthy snacks and foods they want to try.
Encourage their efforts and keep the focus off numbers with the goal of being healthy and fit =)
They abound everywhere, do they not ? There are the ones that seem to have been around forever, there are the ones that are major “companies” where you get support systems and eat their food, let’s not forget the current trendy ones all over internet, or ones that your neighbor is hawking.
All of them structured plans with the ultimate goal, to get you thinner, and more fat free.
In my past life when I participated in the diet games I’d find whatever might look promising in a magazine and give it a try…..for a week…or two… if I could grind it out that long.
You know what I finally realized ? I really HATED being told what I had to eat, when, and how much I could have. I HATED the idea that foods I loved were “off limit”. And I really HATED the whole feeling of deprivation and lack of fun that went along with it.
Why did something that was supposed to help me feel so…. life sucking ? Confining? Annoying?
I finally got it. I think it’s important to really understand yourself, how you roll, what makes you tick. Sometimes it might take awhile, but you get it.
I’m a total free spirit and a self confessed often rebel at heart…. no wonder conventional structured “diets” worked against everything in me.
I rebelled against being boxed into someone else’s food plan and ways of eating. I didn’t want to be nailed down to “a plan”.
When I decided to take control of my life and not be locked into a structured system of eating, here’s what I realized.
Taking away things I loved, or even things I randomly ate if I felt like it, made them way more powerful in my life than they needed to be ’cause it made me think of it more than I needed to… like “I can’t have these things…therefore…I want them”
Seriously, who wants to spend their mental energy thinking of food ?
That’s when I took my power back. That’s when I realized I really was a grown up and declared nothing “off limit”. If I wanted a piece of chocolate, I’d eat it and move on. I trusted myself that I really wouldn’t eat a whole bag if I wanted a piece ( disclaimer… I never ate a whole bag of anything 😉 haha
I remember about a month in to my experiment. The fam wanted to go out for a burger. My previous “diet girl” mode would’ve been to scope out a salad, eat it, and feel deprived and left out. No… I got my burger…and fries… and enjoyed myself… and kept rolling with my plan. I got up the next morning, business as usual. No beating myself up or over crazy workouts to “compensate” for it (as if).
A couple months went by and I was losing weight AND happy at the same time ( what a concept) overall I was making good food choices, eating normally, and allowing occasional treats …. those are the things that allow you to still feel normal while your in the process of becoming more fat free 😉
Then, along the way, I came across this verse from a man named Paul, who was an apostle I the Bible.
It said “All things are permissible but not all things are beneficial”
That really resonated with me and my current thoughts on eating and losing weight. All food was permissible, it just wasn’t all beneficial for me to reach my health and fitness goals.
It’s still a reminder to me. I don’t like labeling foods “good” or “bad”.
However…… I choose to examine it in the context of is it beneficial for me? For my overall health? for my fitness goals? for how I feel ?
I’m not sure where you are on your fitness and health journey. Maybe your doing just fine or may these words might be helpful to you in your process to lose weight.
All (foods) are permissible, but not all (foods) are beneficial. (mine)
Ok… I hear you now getting ready to correct me. You’re thinking… “wait a sec Cathie, wasn’t it Daniel and the LIONS den?”
And yeah, you’re right, and I haven’t forgotten the story I learned as a child. If you’re not familiar with it, it’s a story from the Bible where Daniel was miraculously saved from being devoured as lunch after being thrown to the lions by the King… good people then….
Now don’t start twitching and worrying that I’m gonna preach or anything… I mean… I COULD… but it’s not where I’m going here. Regardless of your personal view on the Bible I think we can all agree it does contain vast amounts of historical information…. and if you dig… some interesting tidbits to make you think. Thinking… is good…..
For example… this particular passage I’m using is known to me and I’ve thought for awhile about doing a blog on it. Recently, it’s come home to me that this passage is pretty relevant for our health and wellness today… which is why I’m using it to bounce off of.
I’ll try and keep this brief…. King Nebuchadnezzar took over Jerusalem. He requested that some children of Israel be brought to him, both of nobility and royalty to be trained to serve in the Kings palace. He then assigned to them a daily portion of his rich and dainty food and of the wine he drank. They were to be educated and nourished for three years before they’d serve in the palace.
Enter Daniel…. one of the youth chosen to serve. I like Daniel… he had a mind of his own… he knew what he needed to do……. “But Daniel determined in his heart that he would not defile himself by eating the King’s rich and dainty food and drinking the wine he drank. He requested the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself”
Again, on a historical level, you must understand to Daniel, eating and drinking certain foods defiled him because they didn’t follow the dietary rules given by the Lord.
Can we pause on these words…. “rich and dainty foods” Now I don’t know about you, but if I applied those words to foods today it would be those things that are high in fat, or sugars, tasty treats and would be foods that make me fat and pasty looking…not to mention leave me feeling sluggish. Oh, and then toss in the wine and you’ve got some serious feeding going on… and the potential for lots of calories….
So Daniel… gets all bold…. which I totally dig…. he makes the request not to eat it… but the poor steward is all worried and flat out tells him…. “I fear (the king) should see your faces worse looking or more sad than youths of your age….then you would endanger my head”
Check Daniels response…. ” I beg you, for ten days and let us be given a vegetable diet and water to drink. Then let our appearance and the appearance of the ones eating the kings food be observed and compared by you and deal with your servants according to what you see.”
Daniel is able to convince the steward to go along with their experiment.
So what is the result at the end of ten days ? “at the end of ten days it was seen that they were better looking and had taken on more flesh than the youths who ate the kings rich dainties. SO the steward took away their rich dainties and wine and gave them vegetables.”
Just let that breathe over you for a moment….. the other guys were living the good life getting all the royal tasty foods and wines… then thanks to David and his entourage …. they get assigned the veggie diet.
I’m wondering if there was some grumbling in the ranks…. veggies and water. Actually, I’m pretty sure Daniel did them a favor.
I guess I’ve related to this story because I know how I look and feel eating more veggies, fruit, and water vs. other foods that aren’t as nutrient dense. You feel good, you look better, you’re giving your body real nutrient rich foods that shows in your appearance.
Now Daniels choice was based on his religious convictions and from what I’ve read based on the Old Testament food guidelines he would’ve been able to eat foods, besides veggies, that fit those guidelines. This could’ve included fruits and nuts among other things. I’m not going to launch into all the possible dynamics of what he may or may not have eaten… the point is…. abstaining from rich indulgent foods and eating foods that are as close to natural has a positive effect on your body.
Get this… when I started doing a little research there are actually diets called the “Daniel Diet” or “Daniel Fast”. I don’t endorse any “diet” however, pursuing an eating plan that encourages lots of good healthy food isn’t a bad thing. (just don’t get dogmatic on it).
A couple years ago I was invited to participate in fitness challenge for 3 months. Part of it involved doing a particular eating plan for 30 days. This plan encouraged lots of veggies, fruits, nuts/berries and some meat. No grains, dairy, pastas, beans etc. I found it to be very restrictive.
On the good side, I learned to eat veggies at ALL my meals and to experiment with new ones. I leaned out pretty fast in that month. I liked how I felt eating more veggies.
And heck what other kind of foods can you eat wheelbarrow loads of for minimal calories ?? 😉 I’ve learned to cook them in all kinds of ways as well as just eating them raw in salads
Maybe you are ready for your own 10 day challenge. That’s short enough to try something new and good you, right ? To see how it makes you feel ? Or maybe an experiment just to get you used to eating more veggies… to get on the right path.. You have nothing to lose and only improved health to gain, isn’t it worth a shot ?
So as I pondered the blog I’m about to write it crossed my mind that it could fall into that realm of ” not politically correct” that seems to permeate our world today. You know, that place where you can’t or aren’t supposed to say anything or have an opinion on anything for fear of “offending” someone ? That if you speak out, someone might feel that you are bashing or tearing them down ?
Hear me… there’s a huge difference in speaking out in love/concern over being mean spirited and hateful.
Well! Now that I have your attention…. 😉 ( you’re pondering…where the heck is she going with this?)
I’m fixing to speak truth.
I’ll tell you…. I’m gonna talk about….. fat…. and the fact our country has an epidemic of it…. including our children… childhood obesity will have to hold for another post…
It’s not cool to mention fat. We live in this current world of not “shaming” and trying to make everyone feel ok and comfy when the reality is this…
Obesity increases the risk of many health conditions, including the following:
Coronary heart disease, stroke, and high blood pressure.
Type 2 diabetes.
Cancers, such as endometrial, breast, and colon cancer.
High total cholesterol or high levels of triglycerides.
Liver and gallbladder disease.
Sleep apnea and respiratory problems.
Degeneration of cartilage and underlying bone within a joint (osteoarthritis).
Reproductive health complications such as infertility.
The high cost of healthcare for these diseases.
Hear me on this, fat isn’t bad. Our bodies need fat to protect our organs and give us energy as well as help with proper functioning of our nerves and brain, it helps to maintain healthy skin and other tissues.
Excess fat is what becomes bad. It puts extra stress and strain on our knees, hips and other joints. Internally, our heart and lungs have to work harder to carry the extra weight. On a practical level…. daily tasks can be harder and take more energy and that can leave you tired.
I feel I have a platform to speak on this. I’ve not always been athletic, had muscles or worried overly about what food I ate. If you’ve known me for awhile, then you’ve seen me at varying sizes, however, so many of you are new to following me you might assume I’ve always been into running/fitness. Not true.
April 2007, Senior pics with my first born who was getting ready to graduate. This was a rather unplanned pic that the photographer took of us. I love it ’cause I’m with him. I was not “unhappy” with myself? But It was one of those moments where I once again was reminded…. “you could drop a few pounds”. 7 months later I began my journey and never looked back.
My grandmother and mom were considered morbidly obese… not a pretty term….but sadly true. I’m the age my grandmother was when she had her first heart attack. She had not only heart issues but diabetes and other health related problems. She eventually died of congestive heart failure.
My mom nearly died one Easter of undiagnosed diabetes. Her blood sugar level was something like 960. If you know your numbers then you know… that is out of the world high. Somehow though, she pulled through that. She also had high blood pressure and dealt with many other issues including loss of both kidneys, 2 transplants, and later in the past few years, life of dialysis and never ending doctor appointments. Because of diabetes complications, she eventually had toes and parts of her foot removed. All of these things directly related to her being so overweight. Oh, she did have surgery a number of years ago and lost a lot of weight and was quite small when she passed away…. but all the damage had been done.
I lost her a year ago tomorrow.
My grief is neatly packed away on some levels and there is a blog waiting to come out…. someday….. but I digress….
It’s an ugly truth we don’t want to confront in ourselves or in this world today. Fat can be deadly and take a huge toll on our health and quality of life. But we don’t want anyone to feel bad so we act like it’s all ok…. again… this isn’t about treating anyone poorly…. it’s about offering love and support.
7 years ago I started my journey after kindly being confronted by my doctor… or perhaps challenged is a better word… to consider losing some weight. Pointing out basically, I was healthy, but could stand to lose a few pounds. Well, honestly, I went on to lose more than a few, about 55 actually. Not to mention who knows how many inches, and about 6 pant sizes.
At one point, I couldn’t wear these pants. I guess I still can’t wear them 😉
I remember the first night I went out for a walk ( begrudgingly I might add) I had to deal head on and face to face with the reality. I was 43 at the time…. did I want my life potentially to be like my mom and grandmother? Was I going to let food dictate and control my life? Or was I going to make changes?
That…. was when my fitness journey began.
I will always remember taking in the December 2012 edition of Runners World to show my doctor. I had been one of 22 selected out of over 400 submissions to be shown in their “Runners Body” feature. I asked him if a few years ago when I first came in would he have thought I’d have been in such a magazine ?
My feature page from Runners World Body Edition
He was in tears…..his words….. “I tell people all the time, they usually don’t listen. I’m proud of you”
So yeah, I feel like I can speak to this topic on too many personal levels.
Yet, losing even 10lbs can lower blood pressure, help reduce knee and hip pain and help to lower blood sugars. Not to mention, it can make you feel awesome for doing it =) Oh yeah, what about increased energy as you lose weight ?
The most important thing ? Get started.
→ Set small realistic goals
→ Include daily purposeful exercise
→ Remember even when you don’t see big “losses” that things are happening inside you too.
→ Enlist help or a support team
→ Aim to eat healthy nutritious food 95% of the time.
→ Allow for an occasional treat but don’t reward yourself with food.
→ Don’t quit. Slow and steady wins the race.
→Progress pics aren’t vain…. they can remind you how far you’ve come….. take them =)
You ultimately are the only one who can take control of your health and wellness. If you are in a good place perhaps you need to be encouragement to someone on their journey…support goes a long way! Most of all, consider what you do an investment in your quality of life… you’re more than worth it!
sassyfitnesschick 