March Daily Exercise Update

As we near the end of March I wanted to update my exercise progress. At the beginning of the month I had challenged myself to daily workouts, based around Jillian Michaels' 30 Day Shred. I have never been good at maintaining any sort of consistent exercise routine, but this month I have rocked it! Monday will bring me to the end of the 30-day challenge. Level three is now getting easier, and I am ready for the next challenge. I haven't noticed much of a visual difference in my body (as I suspected!) but I am most definitely in better shape and ready to kick it up a notch.

I did take a few days off of the 30-day-shred here and there, but I always did some other form of exercise those days, such as hiking or running on the treadmill. Speaking of which- I have avoided using the treadmill for running due to the joint wear-and-tear that it can cause. Well a couple days ago I bought some new cross training shoes and wanted to test them out. I looked at the treadmill and felt frustration at being physically limited. Throwing caution to the wind I decided to go for it. I used to run, and there is nothing like that feeling you get during and after when the endorphins kick in.

I started off slowly at 2.5 miles/hr, with a 5% incline. (Using an incline helps prevent shin splints- it works like a charm and obviously adds resistance at the same time.) Maintaining the same incline throughout, I increased my speed by 1/2 mile each minute until I reached 5.5, then brought it back down to 2.5. I cycled through until I hit the 30 minute mark, drenched in sweat. This is known as High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT), and is known to be far more effective for fitness training and fat burning than keeping the same speed throughout. As an added bonus, you get a better workout in a shorter amount of time.

I was very pleased to note that I had no aches and pains the following day. I will be adding this cardio into my routine as often as possible, which means I'll be running in the mornings before work. Did I ever think I'd be saying that? No!! But here we are.

Quinoa Banana Bread Muffins

Today was Good Friday- one of the few statutory holidays that falls at the end of the work week. We had gotten free passes to the West Edmonton Mall Waterpark, joining what seemed like half the city's population. The parking lot was absolutely overflowing. With some trepidation, we got through the line and made our way in. It actually wasn't too crowded in the main wave pool section and we all had a good time letting the waves carry us along and splashing each other. We spent a couple hours playing before the people got to be too much and we called it a day.

I also got a chance to play in the kitchen again today (I love this not working thing!) Since I have a bunch of pre-cooked quinoa in the fridge I wanted to incorporate it into baked goods, as I had read that it adds a nice texture and moisture, and of course it's healthy! I made some banana bread batter and added a cup of the quinoa.

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1 egg
1 cup cooked quinoa
3 medium bananas, mashed
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup cooking oil
1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 F. Mix the flour, baking powder, baking soda and cinnamon in a large bowl in set aside. Separately, mix the egg, quinoa, mashed banana, sugar and oil. Add to the dry ingredients and mix just until combined. (Batter will be lumpy.) Fold in chocolate chips if desired.

Pour batter into a muffin tin or loaf pan. If using a muffin tin, bake for 20 minutes. If using a loaf pan, bake for 50 minutes. These are great warm or cold, but fresh out of the oven is always awesome! Enjoy...and see if anyone notices the "secret" quinoa ingredient. My picky daughter didn't!

Foot Scrub

Despite what the snow covered landscape might indicate, spring is officially here, which means summer is around the corner. Once the snow is all melted it will be sandal and flats season! Hooray! I always end up wearing the same pair of boots all winter long and craving the variety that summer brings with different footwear options. I have way too many pairs of seldom-worn shoes considering how short the season is. But hey, it's one of life's small joys.

I tend to forget about my feet over the winter since they're always encased in either socks or slippers, but this time of year I start my "foot rehab" treatments. A good scrub in the shower and some intensive lotion before I put on my socks in the morning. Pinterest yields some effective do-it-yourself foot scrub recipes, and I tried one of them out a few days ago. It is as follows:

2 handfuls of rice (ground to a medium powder)
2 TBL honey
Cider vinegar (enough to get the desired consistency)

Grind the rice in whatever tool you have....coffee grinders and blenders both work. You want it to be somewhat grainy still, not a fine powder. Add the honey and mix together. Pour in a small amount of cider vinegar to get a smooth, slightly runny consistency. Use the scrub on the heels, and whatever other parts of your feet are calloused/ have dead skin. Rub in a circular motion for a minute or so and rinse off. Be sure to follow up with moisturizer. I ended up with enough scrub to last about a week. I just keep it in the shower.

According to site that offered this recipe, this works great for severely dry heels that are cracked (mine are nowhere near that bad, but it worked great for me too.) The rice is an exfoliant, the honey is a moisturizer, and the vinegar is a gentle method of removing dead skin. You can also add olive oil for extra moisturizing power. I've been using it every day, and my feet are thanking me for it. Bring on sandal season!

A Weekend in Jasper

As mentioned in a previous entry, I booked myself two nights at a Jasper hotel over the past weekend so that I could enjoy the tail end of winter in the mountains. I chose to stay at the Whistler's Inn right in the heart of Jasper's downtown section in order to minimize my driving. The Edmonton area was absolutely walloped by a severe winter storm the day before I was scheduled to leave, so I was afraid that the drive would be a nightmare. As it turned out, the highways west of Edmonton were just fine once I got a few kilometers out of the city. It was dry and sunny the whole way, and since I was traveling alone I sang along to my iPod to my heart's content! (A major perk of solo traveling, just so you know.)

Once I got close enough to see the mountains I could feel my heart soaring. The sun reflecting off the snow covered peaks was mesmerizing. I'll never understand how anyone can speed through the mountains when they're driving, but I guess if you see it everyday it's not as special. I had a grin pasted on my face the whole time.

Stopping briefly in Hinton to stock up a few grocery items and some wine, I made it to Jasper in plenty of time to check in and do a bit of shopping before the Maligne Canyon ice walk tour I had scheduled. The hotel was in an excellent location and boasted two outdoor hot tubs on the roof. Those were the good points. The not so good points....it is an older hotel with very thin walls and a musty smell. The other hotel patrons tended to be very young and prone to drunken partying in the hallways. I think I might have been the only one that wasn't part of their group, as they all seemed to leave their doors open to wander back and forth into the early morning hours.

I decided to take a wander around town and explore the charming shops that lined the streets in abundance. I spent a happy hour window shopping before it was time to get changed for my Ice Walk tour. The company that was taking me was located right across the street. I discovered one of the drawbacks of traveling alone when the other group members showed up. It was comprised of three couples and myself. Hmm. I cracked a joke about it, and we all got along just fine after that. A short bus ride later, we were ready to explore the canyon floor. It is only in the winter and early spring that the canyon is accessible on foot- in the summer it's a raging river. We were supplied with waterproof boots (a necessity), and crampons to help keep us from slipping. There was still plenty of slipping on the icy paths, but I'm sure it could have been worse. The walk was fascinating and surreal. Recent warmer temperatures had caused some spectacular ice formations for us to enjoy.

Pictured below: Some of the ice formations; a view from the bottom of the canyon where a river is normally running; an ice climber (look closely!); and an ice cavern that we went inside.

Towards the end of the hike our guide asked if we were all interested in some cave exploration. Being an adventurous group, the answer was a resounding yes! I've always been interested in spelunking and figured this would be an easy introduction. Not so much, as it turned out! Once we got to the mouth of the cave he warned us that the first 20 feet or so had to be navigated on our stomachs, slithering like snakes, so if any of us were claustrophobic we should probably sit it out. Only one woman opted to do so (and it sure wasn't me- claustrophobia has never been one of my issues.) We put on some headlamps and slithered in one at a time. As you can imagine it wasn't exactly gentle, sliding across jagged rocks and ice. It did occur to me halfway through that I bruise ridiculously easily and would probably have colorful arms and legs in a couple days. (Incidentally I was right...my legs are a horror show right now!) It was so worth it though; we got through the narrow passage and climbed down to a larger, open chamber where I felt a sense of awe knowing that the weight of a mountain was on top of us at that moment. The air smelled earthy and warm, and when our guide suggested that we all turn off our headlamps for a few moments, the most complete darkness that I have ever experienced descended on me. It was like sensory deprivation...I felt like I had black velvet over my eyes. If one of the women hadn't been a bit squeamish and turned her lamp back on right away, I could have basked in it a lot longer.

We squirmed our way back out of the cave without incident and hiked back to the van, stopping along the way to try berries from a juniper bush. They tasted very intense, and very much like a concentrated burst of the gin that is distilled from them. I actually quite liked it... I might give martinis another try sometimes. We got dropped off at our respective hotels and parted ways.

I decided that I simply had to try out the rooftop hot tubs at that point, being a little sore from the cave exploration. I took a glass of wine along, which is actually allowed in this hotel, and was pleased to see that I had both hot tubs all to myself. It's a lot more relaxing to stretch out in an unladylike fashion when there's no one around to observe you! Ahhhh....best feeling ever! At some point during the brief period that I had been inside, the clear evening had clouded over and was flurrying like mad. Of course it doesn't matter when you're in a hot tub. I thoroughly enjoyed my soak, complete with wine.

The next day I slept quite late thanks to the late-night revellers...they got up early so I took advantage of the quiet and basked in my bed until nearly noon. Being a mom, this is a rare treat! I had a late breakfast/lunch and wandered across the street to the Parks Canada office. I asked where the best snowshoeing trails were and found out that most of them had very little snow left. But he gave me a map and suggested a trail right outside of town called the Valley of the Five Lakes. I took the short drive out there and found that he hadn't been kidding- there was hardly any snow at the trailhead. I took my chances, hoping it would be better further out. I had the trail to myself completely, which surprised me considering how beautiful it was outside. There was more snow once I got past the first short section, and I happily crunched along the ice and snow, enjoying the smell of the trees. The trail crossed a wooden bridge and rose higher, making for a gorgeous panoramic view of the mountains. As I stood enjoying the sight, a group of deer made their way past me, completely unafraid (as is typical of wildlife in the national parks). I never did make it as far as the lakes indicated in the title, but I still had a lovely walk.

That evening was spent walking around town again, watching the completely tame elk in the town square, and eating delicious pizza from The North Face pizzeria. I had gone down to the pub the previous night, and decided that tonight I would just stay in once I was done my walk. I snuggled up in bed with the rest of my pizza, white wine and Netflix on my iPad. (The tv reception was awful.) I fell asleep early... I'm such an old woman! Ha ha. But it felt gooood.

Going home the next day it was just as beautiful and sunny, but the drive was tinged with slight sadness that the mountains were now at my back. I immediately started formulating a plan for my next trip, which will be all about hiking. I felt better knowing that I would be back soon. Jasper, I adore you....so beautiful, and right in my backyard! Until next time...I will just have to enjoy my memories.

Irresistible Peanut Butter Play-Dough

I had a fantastic weekend in Jasper which I returned from yesterday afternoon. I have so much to talk about, but it will have to wait for tomorrow's post when I have a bit more sit-down time. I actually took this week off to be with my daughter for her spring break, but of course staying home means I have much less time with my computer!

I've been having fun in the kitchen today, and came up with an AWESOME edible play-dough recipe to keep her busy (for roughly five minutes.) It's as yummy as candy but far healthier and very moldable. I had a hard time not scarfing it down myself actually, but I managed to resist.

The recipe is as follows:
1/4 cup smooth peanut butter
1/4 cup plus 2 TBL raisins
1/4 cup powdered milk
2 TBL salted peanuts
1/8 tsp vanilla extract
1 TBL honey

Blend all the ingredients in a blender or food processor until well combined. Turn onto a hard surface and knead until smooth. Add another pinch of powdered milk if it's too sticky. Toss it onto a piece of waxed paper and let your kids go nuts! (pun intended. Hehehe.)

The Coffee Grounds Cellulite Solution (My Firsthand Experience)

Depending which stats you look at, between 80 and 90% of adult women suffer from cellulite to a greater or lesser extent. The causes range from hereditary (me!), poor circulation, hormonal changes and accumulation of toxins. Like many of you gals, I do have the dreaded cellulite on my thighs and rear. It prevents me from comfortably wearing shorts and bathing suits as I am always hyper-aware of it. (It doesn't actually stop me from wearing them, but it would be nice to feel more confident.) I know mine is hereditary since it started showing up when I was 15, long before any possible toxin accumulation or poor circulation. Of course it's only gotten worse with time.

Yesterday one of my friends re-posted a link on pinterest showing how a person can use coffee grounds to help reduce the appearance of cellulite. Intrigued, I did a bit more research to find out the how and why, and whether it was worth my time to try. It turns out that warm coffee grounds increase circulation to the affected area, helping to flush out toxins and excess water from the tissue and lessening the dimpled appearance. Sounds good to me! There are a couple of lotions on the market that seem to be effective as well (according to the reviews), but at $60 for a month's supply I'd rather suffer with the cellulite. I'm not made of money. Coffee grounds it was! I decided there was no time like the present, so after my evening workout and a bit of slacking off in front of the tv, I got to work. The simple recipe I chose is as follows:

1/4 - 1/2 cup of warm coffee grounds (heat in microwave for 10 seconds if they're cold.)
2 Tablespoons olive oil

I had to make some coffee to produce the grounds this time around, but I will save them in the future. The general consensus seems to be that you should use this treatment three times a week. The effects are temporary, so it's an ongoing process.

Step one: The instructions stated that I should stand on newspaper or in a tub/ shower, and rub the mixture onto the affected area with a firm circular motion for a few minutes, leaving as many of the grounds on my skin as possible. I decided to use the tub and I am very glad I did- it is MESSY! I don't recommend using newspaper, as you will end up tracking grounds everywhere. As it was, I had to wipe my feet when I exited the tub. After massaging the grounds into my thighs and rear I had a fair amount stuck to my skin, and even more on the bottom of the tub.

Step two is to firmly wind plastic wrap around the massaged areas and let it sit for about ten minutes. Okay. Thighs are easy to wrap so that didn't take long. The rear end though...that's a bit trickier. I ended up just putting saran wrap all the way around my hips in order to swathe my entire lower half. It was difficult to get it tight, but good enough! I was SO tempted to take a picture when that part was done since it looked quite hilarious, but I figured that would be a little too risque for my blog. I passed the next ten minutes watching Netflix on my phone and laughing at my reflection in the mirror. Note: firmly wrapping saran wrap around your rear isn't attractive. The poor thing was completely flattened out!

Step three: I got back into the tub and turned on the shower before attempting to unwrap, trying to avoid extra mess. It worked well that way. I simply unwound the plastic wrap and crumpled it into a ball for the trash, then rinsed the grounds off with warm water. Note: you are supposed to use ONLY water, not soap. It took awhile to get the mixture out of every nook and cranny, kind of like sand from a day at the beach, but I managed.

Step four: Dry off and use a rolling pin (yes, the one in your kitchen), to roll over the treated area firmly for a couple of minutes. This part was also quite hilarious and kind of fun. Bonus: it's like getting a massage. Once that part's done your treatment is complete! The whole process took about 20 minutes and should be repeated no more than three times a week as I mentioned. Any more than that will seriously dehydrate your skin.

My consensus: the coffee grounds not only smelled great but did a great job of exfoliating. The olive oil kept the whole area moisturized nicely and my skin ended up very nice and soft. Even if it does nothing for the cellulite it is obviously great for the skin. The treatment was a bit of a process, but it wasn't unpleasant, and if it helps then it's well worth it! I will continue to use it three times a week and update on any difference I see.

Meal Organization

My downfall with consistently preparing healthy meals at home is the same as many people's: lack of time and inclination. When you work full time and arrive home hungry (with a hungry child), it's all too easy to fill up with convenience food that isn't necessarily nutritious. I do well most of the time, but there are sometimes entire weeks where I fail to plan ahead. Not only does it result in poor choices, but it ends up costing a lot of money! Last night I was feeling motivated though. We loaded up on grocery staples including a bunch of chicken breasts, pork chops and various marinades. When we got home I divided the meat into single meal portions and poured a different marinade into each ziploc. Using my handy label maker (I love that thing), I made sure to indicate the type of sauce and calorie content so there wouldn't be any guesswork. (That's for my sake- I do like to keep track of my calorie intake since losing 35 lbs a few years ago.) The end result was two weeks worth of main dishes that I can thaw one at a time and pair with veggies and rice or potatoes. There is enough variety to keep everyone happy. There is something super satisfying about being organized like this...must be the bookkeeper in me!

Another One Bites the Dust

Yet another weekend has drawn to a close. I have to say that the continual snow has really put a damper on everything. We have had an incredible amount and it's STILL falling! It makes leaving the house a hassle, and driving into the city a bit nerve-wracking. It didn't actually stop us from going out, but it does add an element of difficulty.

On Saturday, my daughter and I got to watch my boyfriend play sledge hockey. He's on the Edmonton Garrison team and they were playing against another local team. Sledge hockey is an alternative version of the game that the disabled can play. They strap themselves into a sled-type piece of equipment that has two blades along the bottom. Using two sticks, they move themselves by pushing with one end, then flip them around to the other end to shoot the puck. It was quite entertaining to watch, and my daughter and I both enjoyed cheering on good old number 9!

Sunday was St Patrick's Day, so I started it off by making my daughter's favourite cauliflower pancakes (see my post: Hidden Veggie Recipes) with a fun twist. I added a bit of green food colouring to the batter and used a spoon to carefully pour it into shamrock shapes. Success!

The pancakes were a hit, but the water with green food colouring was a miss. She took one look at it and said "mom, I am NOT drinking that!" Oh well....it looked good in the picture anyway!

I continued with my exercise routine throughout the weekend. Moving up to level three of the 30 Day Shred was actually fun. I like the variety that it introduces, and it's not as scary as I had feared it would be. Yes- it's more challenging, but it's still doable and I can feel the changes that it's making in my endurance and muscle development. I didn't do so great with the healthy eating these last few days (okay- I've been terrible!) so today I am back on the wagon. It's not easy when it's so miserable outside though- all I want is comfort food! But I am strong...I will persevere!

Ah March...Thou Art a Heartless B**ch

Every year around this time we inevitably get all excited for spring, and then disappointed when another winter storm hits, or the temperature plunges. We KNOW it's going to happen, but it still feels like a betrayal from Mother Nature. March asserted itself in grand style with a dump of about 20 cms of snow yesterday and today. The roads are a horrible mess of ice and snow, with plenty of bad accidents to prove the point.

I saw this nasty one on the way to work this morning. Yes- that's a light post on top of that poor guy's car. *gulp*. He was okay, just shaken up (obviously).

Our large accumulation of snow was starting to recede, and now all of the melt-age has been replaced by a fresh load of powder. The only bright spots are that the days are longer so I won't be driving home in snow AND darkness, and the snow will melt sooner rather than later, given the time of year.

Despite the weather though, I am in a great mood today. It's Friday, and things are going my way. There has been resolution to a long-standing issue I won't get into, except to say that it's a tremendous weight off my shoulders. I'm also weirdly excited because tonight I am moving up to level 3 of the 30-Day-Shred. Ten more days and I will have completed the program. I'm proud of myself to sticking to it for once, and kind of shocked that I actually look forward to working out somewhat. Yay me!

Have a great weekend all!

This Guy Right Here...This is the Guy!

I haven't said much about my boyfriend in this blog aside from mentioning him briefly, but today I am breaking trend and doing so. I am just so darn proud of him, and proud that he is a major part of my life. He works helping injured soldiers on a daily basis, and he consistently goes above and beyond to make people feel as comfortable and cared for as possible. His desire to help comes through in every aspect of his life, and he does so in a way that has just the right amount of kick-butt, don't-you-dare-feel-sorry-for-yourself edge. He has been down himself, and it makes him uniquely qualified to help these individuals, as well as his friends and loved ones in everyday life. He is pictured here (the one on the right) receiving a commendation for helping one such person.

He is an immense support to me, a hugely positive influence in my daughter's life, and the guy that makes my days complete with a big bear-hug. I cannot imagine my life without him!

How do People Workout in the Morning????

I honestly can't fathom making a regular habit of getting up extra early to do a workout. I am going out this evening (Great Big Sea concert with my bestie! So excited!) and I didn't want to break my daily exercise streak, so I did the unthinkable. I got up at 5:15 am, the day after we switched the clocks ahead an hour. In other words, my body thought it was 4:15 am. On top of waking at such an ungodly hour, I kept checking the time throughout the night, thinking my alarm was about to go off. I always do that to myself when I need to be up earlier than usual for whatever reason...it's very irritating! I finally got out of bed for real at 5:15 (15 minutes before my alarm) and staggered to the bathroom to put my contacts in, get into my workout clothes and pull my hair back into a ponytail. I tried not to look too closely at my puffy, makeup-free face. With a big sigh (unheard by the rest of the household, who were still wisely sleeping), I trudged downstairs, prepared to be "motivated" by Jillian. To my credit, I managed to get through the workout with a pretty good energy level. Round two is getting easier- it will be time to switch it up soon.

I stood in the shower post-workout and reflected. I concluded that no matter what others may claim, working out first thing does NOT give me a boost or improve my mood. I was decidedly grumpy (as per usual). BUT....I am happy that I got it done and don't need to feel guilty about skipping it when I'm at the concert tonight. And another thing to be pleased about this morning: I am at day 15 of the 30 Day Shred! Halfway done. I am already looking ahead to my next workout DVD, which I have decided will be "Ripped in 30" (another Jillian Michaels one.) It's apparently more challenging than the 30 Day Shred, so should be a logical progression for me. Bring it on Jillian! Bring. It. On.

I love this picture...that's exactly how I felt this morning!

Lemon Yogurt Muffins...With Cauliflower!

I will NOT be saying happy Monday today...daylight savings has kicked my butt righteously, and I know I'm not alone! The hardest part was convincing my daughter to go to bed early (but m-o-o-o-o-m it's still light out!), and then having to drag my poor pumpkin out of bed to get ready for school. I felt so mean! I really wish we could just scrap this pointless time change once and for all like our neighbors is Saskatchewan. But on to a happier topic....

I came up with an all-original healthy, low-cal muffin recipe during my Sunday baking yesterday that I wanted to share with you all. They are delightfully lemony with just a hint of sweetness, and yes, hidden veggies once again. Believe me when I say you will NOT detect the presence of the cauliflower, even if you don't normally like eating it.

The recipe is as follows:

Flour: 1 3/4 cup
Granulated sugar: 1/3 cup
Lemon zest: 2 tsp
Baking powder: 1 tsp
Baking soda: 1/2 tsp
Salt: 1/4 tsp
Egg: 1 (beaten)
Lemon extract: 1 tsp
Plain 0% Greek yogurt: 1 cup (8 oz)
Cauliflower puree: 1/2 cup

Directions:
- Preheat oven to 400 F
- Grease a muffin tin and set aside
- In a large bowl, mix together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt and lemon zest.
- In a separate bowl, beat one egg and add the lemon extract, yogurt and cauliflower puree.
- Add to the dry mixture and stir just until combined. The batter will be lumpy, don't over-mix it.
- Pour into muffin tin about 3/4 full and bake on center rack for 18- 20 minutes, until golden brown.
- Remove from tin and enjoy! They are awesome warm but great cold too.
- This recipe should yield 12 muffins

These little guys are only 112 calories per muffin, and contain 3.89 g of protein each.

30 Day Shred Update...Still at it!

Just a quick note today as I find myself short on time with various tasks. I did my third session of level two on the 30 Day Shred workout yesterday evening. Luckily by that time my muscles had mostly recovered from the two sessions I had done close together. I am pleased to note that this workout really targets the glutes and quads in addition to the arms. I feel like I am accomplishing something significant by doing it daily. (Also I feel like I'm completely awesome and unstoppable!) So far I have done 10 straight days, and my endurance is WAY better than when I started. I can also feel an increased firmness in my glutes, quads and abs, which is gratifying. My arms were already in decent shape, so I don't notice a big difference there, but judging by their soreness they are definitely getting a workout as well. Visually, there is a difference in my midsection and back already (of course- the places where there wasn't a lot of extra padding would show the progress first.) Next step- thighs and rear end...that's where I'd REALLY like to see a difference. Fingers crossed!!

Adventures in Shady Bars and Meditation

Yesterday evening I had made plans with my friend to check out a Buddhist meditation center in the city. She had gotten free passes to one of their sessions, and we had both been wanting to try it out for awhile now, so this was a good opportunity. When we found the address we discovered that it was in a rather "colorful" area of the city, on the end of an eclectic strip mall that featured the Buddhist center, a Christian center, a laundromat, a convenience store and an extremely shady looking bar. No one was there yet since we were a solid hour early. In our typical style we decided that the only thing to do would be to kill time at the bar! Neither of us had ever set foot inside one that was quite so decrepit looking, but it was 6:00 pm on a Tuesday and it was practically deserted, so we felt safe enough. Inside were the typical VLT's and a couple of pool tables. The blinds were dusty and mangled, and there was a group of elderly men huddled near the bar. We grabbed a couple of beers and chatted for awhile. When 6:30 rolled around I got the abrupt urge to buy us shooters (I think it was my small-town bar roots showing.) I suggested sour puss, my friend said "how about porn stars? They have sour puss in them." So I went up to the bar to order. "Two porn stars please!" The man sitting at the bar smirked. As I waited for the waitress to pour the drinks an elderly man came up behind me and laid his hand over mine. Startled, I looked up. "Cold isn't it?" he asked, apparently having been outside. "Yes. Quite chilly." I answered, having no idea how else to react. He staggered away. I brought our shots to the table where we downed them and decided it was probably time to leave before we got to know the regulars better.

It was time for meditation! Both of us felt loosened up and ready for the new experience. The center is run solely by volunteers and relies on donations, and I was quite impressed by their dedication. There were three rows of chairs, some pillows at the front for those who preferred to sit on the floor, and a Buddhist altar featuring several different statues and numerous offerings of food and drink. Amusingly, there were chocolate eggs and Easter bunnies among the offerings. The ten or so other students were a mix of ages and types. 

Our teacher was a young blonde woman. She started the session off with a recorded prayer that is commonly chanted/ sang to commence Buddhist mediation. She then led us into about ten minutes of silent meditation where we were told to visualize breathing in pure white wisdom light, and breathing out black negativity. I found it helpful to focus on that as a visual image; it prevented my mind from wandering too far. I'm so bad at sitting still though...I had an itchy cheek...my hips were sore...I wanted to shift around but didn't dare because it was so quiet. Finally a small gong sounded to signal the end of the first session. The teacher spoke to us about the destructive nature of anger, and how pervasive it is in our daily lives. I was struck by her assertion that anger is merely a personal interpretation, and that it is deceptive in its tendency to exaggerate negative qualities in people and things, and forget the positive. She talked about the importance of recognizing anger when it arises, and understanding that it is not a reflection of reality, but merely a passing state of mind. Ultimately we should be striving to accept things as they are and move past them without bitterness. I could tell that her words resonated with everyone in the room.

We had a short tea break, another ten minutes of silent meditation (I failed miserably at staying focused that time), and the class was done. I felt a little more relaxed than when I had gone in, and definitely intrigued by the views on anger. I'm not sure that I will go back to that specific center, but I would absolutely like to practice meditation more and do some additional reading. All in all it was a very worthwhile evening, and a most interesting experience!

Morning Workout

Since I started doing my Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred last Monday I have not missed a single day. I want to put a serious effort in and test her claim that I will looked ripped by the end of 30 days. I have serious doubts if my body is even capable of looking ripped, but it surely won't hurt either way. There are three levels of intensity, and after doing level one for 7 days I felt ready to move on up. Yesterday evening I chose the level two option on the menu with a slight sense of fear and foreboding. I was finally comfortable with level one and would have been happy to stay there, but as we all know, real results come from pushing oneself. It wasn't as bad as I had feared. There was more focus on holding muscle contractions for a long period, which certainly makes them burn, but is less challenging aerobically. Mind you, she made up for it in the cardio portions with a lot of high impact jumping around. My heart was ready to explode at a couple points which I'm sure would have made her happy, but I got through it and lived to tell the tale! It is satisfying to see how quickly my fitness ability increases when I put the effort in every day.

I also had a very productive pre-nine-am morning! I decided last night that I would wake up early to do my  workout since I'll be out with a friend this evening. This means that I would do two level two workouts in close proximity. Not something I would normally do when I just increased the intensity, but better than skipping it altogether. Now I've never been one to do early morning workouts, and I'm sure not making a habit out of it, but I managed to follow through today. I am giving myself major points for that. I am already feeling sore...hopefully I'll still be able to move after sitting at my desk all day.

I was feeling pleasantly mellow on the drive to work. The endorphins from my workout combined with the feel-good nourishment of my green smoothie made for an easy-going mood. We had a hard frost last night, and the sun was shining brilliantly as I drove, making everything sparkle. There was heavy fog in the low-lying areas, and the way it diffused the sunlight into a brilliant, out-of-focus glow made me think of a Hollywood version of what heaven looks like. I love my drive into the city on mornings like this. Just look at that blue sky!

Quinoa Granola Bars

I'm feeling unusually cheerful for a Monday morning...must be something in the air! I had a very laid-back weekend with the family and am feeling recharged today. And I am very proud to say that I was NOT weak this time! The lack of work schedule did not send me off the rails. I am still very focused on making March my kick-ass month. I have worked out every single day, and have made healthy eating choices 90% of the time. (The exception being when my boyfriend and I went out for wings and beer and then a movie...you can't go to a movie without some form of junk food! I chowed down on his peanut butter M&Ms. That's what he gets for taking me to a guy movie. Hehehe.)

I baked a batch of homemade granola bars yesterday afternoon. There's a lot of concentrated goodness in there, and they would be perfect for long hikes or post-workout. I'm freezing a bunch to take to Jasper with me at the end of the month. They are vegan friendly (if you omit the chocolate chips). The recipe is as follows:

1 cup rolled oats
1/4 cup uncooked quinoa
2/3 cup nuts (I used almonds)
1/3 cup raisins
1/4 cup dried, tart cherries or cranberries
1/3 cup pitted dates
2 very ripe bananas
1/2 cup chocolate chips (optional)

Preheat oven to 325 Fahrenheit. Spray an 8"x 8" square baking pan and set aside.

Mix all ingredients except the bananas in a food processor or powerful blender. Pulse until finely chopped. Add bananas and pulse until fully combined. Fold in chocolate chips if desired.

Pour into pan and press into the corners until evenly spread. Bake for 20 minutes on the center rack of your oven. Let cool and slice into even pieces. Store in an airtight container. Enjoy!