What's for ME

As October comes to a close, I'm encouraged. There were a couple of snags this month, but I've come to learn -- what's for me is for me. I don't have to force or try to manufacture things. So the business deals that didn't go through. Oh well. People who come in and out of my life. Toodles. I don't want to seem flip about it, but it is what it is. The universe works it all out.

Here's the positive from October:

• Hosted two successful cooking classes 
• Delivered my third motivational speech
• Six weeks into the Fitness Trainer Program
• Over 13,000 visitors to the blog
• eHow..com featured a blog post, "Sugar: Don't be fooled."
• 325 + FB "likes"
• Dates booked into March 2012
• Officially received notice that I'll teach a series of classes beginning January 2012
• Secured my biggest speaking venue to date for February 2012
• Working on a super delicious project -- details soon to be announced 
• I'm healthy, vibrant, and loved                                                                                                                                                              

I don't sweat the small stuff. What's for me is for me. I'm right where I'm suppose to be doing exactly what I should be doing. Ain't nothin' gonna break my stride. Bye-bye, October you were good to me. Looking forward to November.

"Not Afraid"

When I look at photos of myself as a morbidly obese woman. I don't really even remember being that person. I don't really know how I became that way. Well, I do. I ate gross, fattening food and no exercise.  What I mean to say, I have no idea how I let it get so out of control. At my heaviest, I weighed a whopping 388 lbs. What I'm sure of,  "I had to go to that place to get to this one." 

America is in trouble. Obesity is an epidemic. There are many contributing factors: crappy inexpensive so-called food, lack of knowledge, lack of exercise. But, I've taken a stand. Today I'm healthier, happier, fitter, and sharing my story in hopes it will help others. I will tell my story to anyone who will listen and those who are not ready to hear it well...

I'm not afraid to publicly share my story. If I can touch and change lives than maybe, just, maybe that's why I went to that place.

From Eminem:

I'm not afraid (I'm not afraid)        
To take a stand (to take a stand)
Everybody (everybody)
Come take my hand (come take my hand)
We'll walk this road together, through the storm
Whatever weather, cold or warm
Just lettin you know that, you're not alone
Holla if you feel like you've been down the same road (same road)

Yeah, it's been a ride
I guess I had to, go to that place, to get to this one
Now some of you, might still be in that place
If you're trying to get out, just follow me
I'll get you there

Sugar: Don't be fooled

It's in everything. It can be masked under all sorts of names. Let's be clear: Sugar is sugar no matter which name they mask it under. Yes, honey and molasses too.

• glucose
• fructose 
• galactose
• dextrose
• honey 
• molasses
• brown sugar
• raw sugar
• cane juice 
• beet juice  
• agave syrup 
• nectar 
• apple, grape, or orange juice concentrate
• confectioner's sugar
• baker's sugar
• powdered sugar

Next time you reach for your favorite sauce, condiment, potato chips, or even a beer check the label to see if it has one of the hidden sugars -- my guess, it probably does. The higher up on the list of ingredients typically means that there is a large amount of the ingredient. So that's why on some packages you'll see several different types of sugars listed. Don't be fooled.

This article gives a more in depth look and may be helpful:

Sugar Overload Curbing America's Sweet Tooth

"Food Rules: An Eater's Manual"

Love, love, love this little treasure. I devoured the entire book in about an hour. I swear, this guy took all my thoughts and summed them up perfectly. Ha, ha. Seriously, this little book totally makes the complicated subject of what we should eat -- so simple.

A few of my favorite rules from the book:

Rule 1: "Eat Food..."
Rule 20: "It's not food if it arrived through the car window."
Rule 60: "Treat treats as treats." I know, I've said this before.
Rule 63: "Cook." Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah

I've been sharing some of my favorites with my cooking classes between preparation. Makes for great food conversation and a little bit of laughter too. Thanks, Mr. Pollan for your simple yet very effective take on food.

I say EVERYONE should own a copy.

Healthy Cooking 101: Roasted Vegetables

Yesterday's Healthy Cooking 101 class featuring Roasted Vegetables was my best class to date. Not because there was 27 folks there (surely that helped), but because there was a special warmth in the room.

Two ovens roaring, filled with four different vegetables (Brussel sprouts, Cauliflower, Roma tomatoes, Yukon Gold potatoes), and the eagerness, oh the eagerness of the participants. They all were hungry. Not just hungry for food, but hungry for knowledge. From the questions that they asked of me, I got the feeling they were tired of the same ol' same. They seemed to be there looking for ways to cook food at home, vegetables even. Ha. Maybe, just maybe, they're tired of .99 Value Menus. Tired of being lured in by convenience. Tired of letting their busy schedules be the reason they cave into the convenience. Perhaps, I'm reading way too much into this, but I tell you those enthusiastic faces made me a little emotional. It was AWESOME, I tell you, AWESOME.

Photos: 2011 © Cari Hachmann