Priorities

The other day, my instructor mentioned in class that perhaps we should re-frame our way of thinking. Instead of saying we don't have time to __ we should say I don't make it a priority. She's right. There are only 24 hours in the day. You only have 24 hours. I only have 24 hours. It just comes down to how we choose to spend our hours.

If you're like me when you really want something you find a way to make it happen. You make it a priority. Well, I have quite a list of things I want. So it's been rather challenging to prioritize. Blogging, speaking events, cooking classes, book writing, taking classes in the Fitness Trainer program, and oh yeah, trying to live a better healthier life.  After all, I'm the gal who publicly declared I'd be "Fit by Forty". Ha.

I have good intentions to keep up with my workout schedule, but over the last few weeks it has become less of a priority. Rather than beat myself up about it I focus on the big picture. This folks is life and I'm doing my best to balance it all. Sometimes I have to make adjustments. Currently, I've moved my workouts down a few notches on my priority list. I'm still dialed in on my nutrition, and I figure I do get a workout in, in my Exercise Technique class. Surely, my priorities shift from time-to-time, but the ultimate goal remains the same: To live a happy, fit, healthy life, and sharing my story to help others do the same.

Food and Your Health

Super-excited to be learning lots in the Fitness Trainer program. My favorite class this quarter "Food and Your Health" is centered around food. Not because we taste or prepare food in the class, but we examine food as it relates to our health.

Food and tapping into my diet has been the hardest piece of the puzzle for me throughout my battle with obesity. I can proudly say, however, I've gotten the piece to fit. I want to share my new found knowledge  because I suspect it's the most challenging piece for others too.

I've long said, we have lost our way when it comes to food. I'm always ranting about the fast food industry, Crap! and processed foods, Grocery Shopping No-Nos. The class, "Food and Your Health" further confirms what I already believed. Food should not come in a package that has a label. Food should eventually rot. Food is not advertised on TV. We received a handout in class "The Seven Criteria for Food Selection." Take a look. Pretty simple, but somehow we've made it, oh so complicated. I hope this helps. I'll share more soon...

Seven Criteria for Food Selection 

from AnneMarie Colbin, CHES

1- Food should be WHOLE, as nature provided it with all their edible parts in tact.  The body is smart and if there are nutrients missing from the food we eat, it is likely we’ll crave what’s missing and try to get them in other ways. Missing nutrients in fragmented foods means you’re missing what was left out.   This means:

• Whole grains
• Beans
• Fruits
• Vegetables and Sea Vegetables
• Nuts and Seeds
• Eggs
• Shellfish
• Mussels, Clams, Oysters
• Small Fowl
• Whole Milk
• Full fat yogurt

2- Food should be FRESH and NATURAL/Natural whenever possible not canned and frozen, where oxygen is lost and thereby taste and flavor is lost and 20-80% of nutrients are lost and salt and additives are added to replace flavor. If you want to preserve food, you want to pickle it, ferment it or dry it. Pickled and fermented use friendly bacteria to preserve and dried foods become more nutrient dense.

3-  Food should be REAL, the opposite of fake. We avoid “artificial” sweeteners and “fake” meats. When we use substitutions based on dietary restrictions (removing meat for vegetarians, dairy for vegans) if we need to replace proteins or richness that might be lost, we’ll use other real ingredients to do so.

4-  We use SEASONAL/ LOCAL/ ORGANIC/ NON-GENETICALLY MODIFIED produce. Whenever possible we source ingredients direct from farmers using CSAs (community supported agriculture), greenmarkets, farmstands, and other small local businesses. We aim to cook according to the seasons following the traditional schedule of planting and harvesting.

5- Prepare foods that are in HARMONY WITH TRADITION.  We are inspired by the traditional cuisines of many different parts of the world and recognize that food many times can spark a memory of ones history either via family or travel. We aim to remind our guests of these memories, and inspire new ones through our food.

6-  Food should be BALANCED in flavor, texture, color, and flavor and in the way it makes us feel.

7- Food should be DELICIOUS.  The body is a system of information; taste brings information to the body. If taste isn’t good, normal reaction is the body doesn’t want that anymore, and that is worthy of listening to.

Truly, Madly, Deeply

My first week of classes in the fitness trainer program are off to a good start. I'm looking forward to learning lots and making tons of new connections. Speaking of... Monday in class, I met a tall, dark, New Yorker. We chatted a little. He was friendly, and from our brief encounter it seemed we had at least a few things in common. He asked for my phone number. We exchanged a few text messages that day, no biggie. Then, yesterday, after class he asked if we could meet and chat. We agreed on a time and place. Well, today, I was at the place, at the time, but he wasn't. I gave him the benefit of doubt and waited for ten minutes. Once the clock struck 25 after I was gone.

The old me would have waited at least a half hour and I probably would have texted or called him to find out his whereabouts. I also would have questioned myself. Why did he stand me up? What's wrong with me? Oh, the thoughts that would have filled my insecure, unsure mind. But, I'm so happy and proud to say those types of behaviors are long behind me. There is nothing wrong with me. The issue here is that he didn't have the decency to text me to say he was unable to make it. I should mention I have no idea if he was trying to hit on me. Perhaps he was just wanting to meet as classmates, however the old me would've automatically assumed he wanted more. And whether he was hopeful to date me or not, the fact still remains he did not show up and that's plain rude.

Is it that big of a deal? Should I really take the time to blog about it? Yes, because this ladies and gentleman is about me and my behavior. Not his. It's about the way that I reacted to the situation and how I've grown as a person. The old me would have placed all the value in some guy I barely knew. Seeking, searching, approval and attention from any outside source to validate me. No longer. I value my time. I value myself. It's been a long time coming -- the process of self-love and worth. It's not just tied to any one incident, certainly not this incident, but instead a multitude of instances, situations, and lots of lots self-reflection. I truly, madly, deeply love myself. I'm the girl who shops at Neiman Marcus.