Splish Splash: My pool adventures

Truth be told, I've become a little bored with Cycling class. Besides, it's good to mix up the workout routine. I haven't been in a pool in a couple of years. Very early on in my weight loss, get fit journey I used to take water aerobic classes. Actually, it was the first gym group class I took once I enrolled at 24-Hour Fitness in the spring of 2010.

I'm not sure what's going on with me, but three weeks shy from turning 41 years old and I've decided it's time to learn how to swim.  Remember, a couple of months ago I resolved it was time to ride a bike? Maybe it's because I'm coming into myself, maybe it's because I'm working with a trainer, or a little of both. It's kinda nice to have someone guide me and help me in areas where I need it. With Christie by my side I'm more wiling to try new things and I also push myself harder.

This morning, I followed my regular strength training routine and then met up with Christie in the pool.  She introduced me to the paddle board, but that didn't go to swell. No worries. There's always an alternative. I just grabbed the side of the pool and kicked, kicked, kicked. Then onto some pool exercises similar to water aerobics (jumping jacks, mountain climbers, etc.). I love how I feel in the water. I feel so light. It's incredible how I can jump and kick so high. If I were on land there's no way I could move so freely and effortlessly.

After pool exercises Christie started showing me how to float on my back. Wow! What an adventure that was! She totally had to help hold me up. I wish I would have had my camera to capture that moment! Needless to say, I didn't learn to swim today but I sure had a splash of a time. Stay tuned...I'll keep you updated on my pool adventures as they happen.

shop.prep.cook #3 with The Soanka's

The experience
Yesterday, I spent the afternoon with The Soanka's: Derek, Christie, and Baby Olivia for a shop.prep.cook session. I've had the pleasure of visiting their home and helping them with meals three times now. Since they've been in and out of town the past few weeks they've been eating on the go and were eager to have me back in the kitchen.

Derek requested more fresh salsa (which Baby Olivia helped make), peanut sauce, and Simple Slaw. Christie wanted more Simple Slaw and fresh salsa too (we made her own batch because she likes it mild), and she wanted to use up the abundance of squash from their garden.

Their food, their way right in the comfort of their home!

Christie grocery shopping with me guiding her

Baby Olivia helping me make the Fresh Salsa -- Young Chef in training

The Soanka's personalized menu:
- Teriyaki & Peanut Sauce -Cucumber Sauce -Fresh Salsa
-Baked Tortilla Chips - Simple Slaw
-Sautéed Squash and Tomatoes -Stuffed Squash
-Teriyaki Chicken Kebabs -Lemon Rosemary Chicken -Grilled Herbed Butter Lobster Tails

Fresh salsa

Prep work

Squash and tomatoes ready for sautéing

Stuffed Squash

After all the prepping and cooking we needed a food break.
So impromptu we paired the cucumber sauce with Naan, garden fresh tomatoes, Kalamata Olives, andFeta Cheese for a Mediterranean experience.  Local blueberries added a taste 

of sweetness.

Derek joined us but he opted for a taste of Stuffed Squash

After our break...

Grill time

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I've been here, there, and everywhere in the community teaching cooking classes and delivering healthy lifestyle presentations. Now, I want to bring my passion for food and cooking right to you in your home. shop.prep.cook is a more personal experience. The way I see it, this is your food, you should have it your way. Having it your way means being involved in the entire process from meal planning to cooking. What I've learned is most people may want to cook at home but their busy lifestyles make it challenging, some are looking for new ideas, and others may just not know where to start. No matter where you are I want to help. I'm full of ideas and passion for home cooked food. 


shop.prep.cook

Mistakes made, lessons learned

As a young girl, out of curiosity I placed my hand on the red burner. Ouch! I quickly learned, a red burner means it's hot. I never done that again.

As an adult, I was driving down the highway in a new area of town I accidentally took the wrong exit. Oops! I never took that exit again.

Trivial mistakes like those are a part of life. So, are not so trivial mistakes, like my latest. As you know, healthy living is a relatively new concept for me. I've been obese the better part of my life (see previous post) so I know all to well how to be inactive and eat unhealthy.

Anyhow, I had been working out and eating healthy for about three years -- the best run of my life -- when all the sudden my professional life became hectic and I started slipping off of my program. I'm an all or nothing kinda gal so when I wasn't able to workout I also began making poor food choices. Before I knew it, it had been six months before I seen the inside of a gym and I had an expanded waist line to prove it.

I beat myself up about it. Hung my head some, but such is life (see previous post). I have to learn from it and move on. What I learned: I can't afford to not workout. I can't allow myself to eat what I want when I want. I have to set a routine and stick to it even when life becomes hectic.  This is no fad. There are no quick fixes. I'm in it for the long haul. This is a lifestyle.

I'll never touch a red burner again, I'll never take that exit of the highway again, and I'll never travel off my path of healthy lifestyle quite the same again. Mistakes made, lessons learned.

"The only real mistake is the one from which we learn nothing."

Happy 3rd blog day!

Three years ago I had this crazy notion to write this blog as a way to share my journey of weight loss and self-discovery and to chronicle my ongoing battle with obesity.  Little did I know this blog what be the beginning of something magical, something Outside of the Box.

After losing my Marketing Assistant position in 2009, my lifelong friend, Carmen (Rest In Peace) told me that maybe I wasn't supposed to work a 9-5 and that maybe there was something else for me. She went on to tell me to write down everything I liked to do and wanted to do no matter how unrealistic it seemed. At the time, I was in such a bad space I couldn't have ever imagined that all the things I wanted to do and liked to do could become what I would do. But, here I am three years later doing ALL the things I love!

Thank you all for reading, attending my events, buying my cookbooks, and for the ongoing support, encouragement, and love. Since no birthday is complete without gifts, through the end of July, I'm offering 10% off my cookbook, Shop, Cook, Eat: Outside of the Box. Click here to order through PayPal (the 10% discount already applied).

Highlights from my past "Outside of the Box" year:

- 142 blog posts 
- Authored Shop, Cook, Eat: Outside of the Box
- Shop, Cook, Eat: Outside of the Box becomes a required textbook for Clark College Health 100: Food and Your Health students
- Shop, Cook, Eat: Outside of the Box hits the shelves of Clark College Bookstore
- Book signings at Clark College Bookstore, Vancouver and Cascade Park Library, Tully's Coffee, and DiTazza Coffee
- Shop, Cook, Eat: Outside of the Box gets a Dewey Decimal number (641.563 MOSLEY)
- Shop, Cook, Eat: Outside of the Box on the shelves at Fort Vancouver Regional Library,
Multnomah County Library, and Clark College Library- Invited as a guest lecturer for Clark College's Health 100, 104, 258 classes
- Keynote speaker for for Clark College's Biggest Loser competition
- Appeared on KBOO 90.7 FM Wednesday Morning Talk Radio - September and March
- Appeared on KBOO 90.7 FM Black Book Talk
- Article on front page of LiveWell in The Columbian and numerous blog features- Article in The Independent
- Founded “5 or 50” Women’s Sustainable Weight Loss & Healthy Lifestyle Group meets
  monthly
- Offering shop.prep.cook Services and prep.cook.eat Parties
- Food & Wellness consultant for Nautropath

Healthy Food Presentations
- Clark College Health 100: “Food and Your Health” – February, March, and May 2013
- Clark College Health 104: “Weight and Your Health” – February 2013
- Cascade Park Community Library - October, February, and April 2013
- Fruit Valley Foundation – February and March 2013                                                   
- Northwest Personal Training – November 2012

Cooking Classes
-Chuck’s Produce & Street Market – September 2011 – April 2013
-Clark College Health 100: “Food and Your Health” at Chuck's Produce & Street Market – November 2012

Public Speaking
- "Eat to Live" Panel - February 2013
- Camas & Washougal on a Diet – March 2013
- Lacamas Swim & Sport Silver Sneakers – March 2013
- Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) – December 2012
- Professional Connections – November 2012
- Vancouver Community Library - October 2012
- Multnomah County Library – September 2012
- Women in Networking (WIN) – August 2012

I’m not sharing my highlights to boast, but rather to remind you that you can do anything if you tap into yourself and are willing to step OUTSIDE of the Box. As Carmen said, write it down even if it seems unrealistic!

Outside of the Box 4th of July Cookout

I enjoyed myself catering on the 4th of July for some friends. But, don't expect me to get a catering license anytime soon. I'll stick to educating and empowering folks to cook at home -- thank you. 

On the menu:

Lemon Rosemary Chicken Kebabs • Vegetable Kebabs 

Flank Steak with Pesto • Teriyaki Chicken with Pineapple

 Kale & Carrot Salad • Sweet & Spicy Coleslaw • Black Bean Confetti Salad
Strawberry Spinach Salad • Greek Orzo Salad •Garden Fresh Pasta Salad
Baked Beans
Grilled Italian Bread

 

 

At last... I get to sit down with Baby Olivia!

prep.cook.eat Party with Fitness Enthusiasts

I've been here, there, and everywhere in the community teaching cooking classes and delivering healthy food presentations. Now I want to bring my passion for food and cooking right to you in the comfort of your home. Instead of going out, invite your friends or gather your family for a prep.cook.eat Party!  A prep.cook.eat Party is a fun way to learn and share new recipes and simple cooking techniques.
  
The scene
Saturday morning I had the pleasure of meeting with a group of fitness enthusiasts.  These health conscious ladies workout and group train together.They understand that while working out is beneficial to their health, eating well is even more important. After their group workout session they decided to have me over for a prep.cook.eat Party! Take a peek at the delicious fun!

The personalized Salads & Snacks menu:

Greek Salad • Wheat Berry Spinach Salad
 Avocado Tomato Salad  • Santa Fe Chicken Salad

 Kale Chips • No-Bake Oatmeal Energy Bars 

 Hummus w/Crudites • Brown Bag Popcorn 

 

The experience

I'm doing my part to bring Kale back. 

It's not just a green leafy decoration on the salad bar

 

 Even Baby Olivia likes the Kale Chips

 Prepping fun!

Goodies To-go 

The ladies working out before the party!