tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41894184037768967862024-03-05T08:40:03.896-05:00The Outer AisleRamblings of a 30-something never-cooked-before mom of 2 that lost 60lbs 3-times over on WeightWatchers eating packaged, processed food-like substances, but wants to keep it off eating cleaner, real food found mostly in the outer aisles.Christy Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07401381898863501277noreply@blogger.comBlogger203125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4189418403776896786.post-67147260902250024382017-01-10T20:30:00.000-05:002017-01-10T20:26:38.222-05:00Snow White Lies<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinyjrx6TQRmTym92oZKSWvCzYXMS7jKuQ_8hsvFlnn0l7sPRrrtZ-GJ3gbT5t8utL0JrzT3EkerD5pBmTp7cX4F5gLmwzDgTScr8TeKfyvvVSA7mbQ7Y0iMtIh8EGth66gtEo_bQ-Ebs0D/s1600/snow+white.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinyjrx6TQRmTym92oZKSWvCzYXMS7jKuQ_8hsvFlnn0l7sPRrrtZ-GJ3gbT5t8utL0JrzT3EkerD5pBmTp7cX4F5gLmwzDgTScr8TeKfyvvVSA7mbQ7Y0iMtIh8EGth66gtEo_bQ-Ebs0D/s1600/snow+white.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I know what she is thinking:<br />
"At least this apple is zero points....".</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
It has been awhile since I posted. I kept meaning to, but I kept getting side tracked or didn't really have anything to say. Or didn't have anything I felt was worth posting. And then "the blog" became another burden. The LAST thing in the world I want this to be is a burden. This is something I want to do...I love to do...I need to do. I need to write. I have hope that it helps me and hopefully other people. And if not, well, so be it.</div>
<br />
Last night, my husband and I had a long conversation about a lot of things, but one of the things was around food. It just sort of just popped up. I didn't mean for it to come up, but it just did. And as soon as I started talking, it just all came out. Stuff I didn't even realize I was carrying. I finally put the bags down.<br />
<br />
During training for the marathon, I ate a lot, but I was burning off a ton of calories. It was kind of like my permission to eat, just like I had permission to eat when I was pregnant or nursing. Only this time because of all the calories I was burning, I stayed relatively in my healthy weight range. <br />
<br />
But since <strike>my structure via a detailed excel spreadsheet that tells me what to do when and for how long</strike> my training ended, I've been in this weird binge-y thing. I eat a good breakfast, lunch, snack and dinner and finish each meal satisfied, full. I don't need to eat more. But then the post-dinner thing happens. I really don't want to eat after I put the kids to bed, but I am afraid I'll be hungry later, so I keep going back to the pantry for a few more handfuls of something before heading upstairs. It isn't junk, but if we had junk, I would be eating it. <br />
<br />
Once they are in bed, I make bargains with myself: <br />
<br />
<div>
"Ok, you can have corn bread or a1/2 bagel." </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Cornbread.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Then I eat the 1/2 bagel. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"You can run it off tomorrow." "</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
But you already promised you'd run off the spoonful of nutella."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Screw it, just eat the damn 1/2 bagel. You're fine.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Then I think it would taste even better with butter. So I add butter to the other 1/2 bagel. Not even toasted, because 1.) it would take too long to wait and 2.) toasting produces a wonderful aroma and then I would be "caught"...like anyone would care if I toasted and ate 1/2 or a whole or a bag full of bagels with butter. So essentially, this proves that this isn't about enjoyment since CLEARLY a toasted bagel is WAY better than a plain 5 day old one.</div>
<div>
<br />
The next morning, I weigh myself and see that the scale hasn't changed from the day before. I sigh a relief that at least in didn't go up, then beat myself up in the shower, promise to write everything down today. But I don't write anything down. I eat ok at work (packed lunches), come home in the evening and the whole cycle begins again. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
As I explain all this with tears streaming down my face, in shame and in thinking he is going to think I want to lose more weight thing when I am at a healthy weight (oh there's the judgement again!), or that I am obsessing over food when I there are way more important things to focus on, he says, with no judgement in his voice: "Why didn't you tell me you were going through all this? I am sad you didn't talk to me about this."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Thud. That was my heart, not my head.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
It isn't the eating that bothered him - he could care less what I eat! It was the keeping it from him. The feelings. The eating. I kept not only the food stuff a secret, but the feelings around it too. Why is it that I felt the need to go through all this struggle on my own, internally, in secret?<br />
<br />
I know what is going on. I know this is just a cover-up of some bigger things lurking. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Training for the marathon was a lifesaver in terms of structure. But it also distracted me from other un-resolved issues. The marathon is done now. No structure, so eating is the task. I know there are some stresses and issues that I am struggling with and food either tastes better than the ick inside, provides something to do (bored eater?) or is even a bit of self-sabotage of all the "work" I did to get at this weight. </div>
<div>
<br />
All these things also come at a time when I started reading <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Grace-Eventually-Thoughts-Anne-Lamott/dp/B001O9CHLG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1305837186&sr=8-1">Anne Lamott's Grace (Eventually)</a>. Perfect timing really. The other day I read this passage and was reminded of it today: </div>
<blockquote>
"No matter how much of our time is spent in pursuit of physical beauty, even to great success, the Mirror on the Wall will always say, ‘Snow White lives’, and this in fact is a lie – Snow White is a fairy tale. Lies cannot nourish or protect you. Only freedom from fear, freedom from lies, can bake us beautiful, and keep us safe."</blockquote>
She goes on:<br />
<blockquote>
“To step into beauty, does one have to give up on losing a little weight? No, of course not. Only if you’re sick of suffering. <b>Because if you cannot see that you’re okay now, you won’t be able to see it if you lose twenty pounds.</b> It’s an inside job.” </blockquote>
I have an inside job to do. And maybe by writing this down, I can let some of it go. It isn't in secret when you post it on a blog.<br />
<br />
"...and the truth will set you free." John 8:32<br />
"'And may the free make others free'" from Anne LamottChristy Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07401381898863501277noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4189418403776896786.post-50697220916411948192014-12-02T22:21:00.001-05:002016-02-11T14:35:44.536-05:00Food Bank Finalists. Can you help click?<div dir="ltr">
My dad has been working flat-out for his local Food Bank, located at The Good Shepherd UCC. Can you help his food bank get a van by clicking a link? State=AZ. Food bank = Good Shepherd </div>
<div dir="ltr">
http://wm8.walmart.com/HolidayMakeover/#/</div>
<div dir="ltr">
From dad:</div>
<div dir="ltr">
"We handed out 300 turkeys and all the trimmings this Thanksgiving, and have fed 2000 distinct individuals this year through the food bank.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
We have been named finalists for a $20,000 grant which we want to use to purchase a van. The van will be used to intercept the food stream in the Nogales area, where 40 % of the produce in the distribution center gets culled and thrown into the landfill. Most of it is wonderfully fresh food. </div>
<div dir="ltr">
We are one of 170 agencies named as finalists, and 75 will receive $20,000 grants-- IF we can get enough people to vote for our bank. You do that through the attached link.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
Now the grant is offered by Walmart (I know that causes angst for many people, and it is ironic that we are feeding some of the very people that should be paid better by Walmart) but we are trying to stay open not to the pedigree of this money, but to its destiny. Fully 25 % of the children in our area are food insecure, and we are making a huge dent in the problem. But without transportation for the food, we keep running out.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
The voting happens today through Dec 12, and you can vote once each day-- click on the link below, scroll down and type AZ in the search field. The Good Shepherd is one of the two banks in Arizona that are finalists. The link goes through Facebook, which they use to prevent you from voting more than once a day. But you can vote each Facebook account in your household once EVERY day until the 12th."</div>
<div dir="ltr">
Thank you so much!!!</div>
<div dir="ltr">
http://wm8.walmart.com/HolidayMakeover/#/</div>
Christy Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07401381898863501277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4189418403776896786.post-76968713935737428562014-07-07T20:47:00.002-04:002015-04-30T13:36:23.093-04:00Loving my closet.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpX9iXz6cT1IbXeaMVT9p81EWNCighd2EVx9zSwQOq5Ljd72oFLbqxmoGYZxRlarWkXKUtN5yjKvZjZEW4qs99c8kVvdnh0xvgJTGR-xujpMM9-SbVI4jfcbSOJsJI55ZfskAqmvg1G2U7/s1600/image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpX9iXz6cT1IbXeaMVT9p81EWNCighd2EVx9zSwQOq5Ljd72oFLbqxmoGYZxRlarWkXKUtN5yjKvZjZEW4qs99c8kVvdnh0xvgJTGR-xujpMM9-SbVI4jfcbSOJsJI55ZfskAqmvg1G2U7/s1600/image.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
I’m terribly embarrassed at how I let my closet go. But what better place to free myself of my embarrassment of my closet than to let it all *hang* out than in theouteraisle; the place where shame melts away and brutiful truth telling takes her place.<br />
<br />
I am sure that there are other people that feel this way about their closets, but we don't always talk about them, let alone show them in the raw bright day of light. I believe that the more we talk about the messiness we feel around our closets, the better we will feel and most importantly, we will take action to both accept the way our closets are AND make positive changes.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Over the last several months, I prioritized other things above my closet and I haven’t been taking good care of her as you can plainly see. The things that I have been putting in my closet have been dirty and not cared for; crumpled, frayed and blah. I know what it could be, but I just haven’t had the energy. <br />
<br />
Because I haven't had the energy, I haven’t planned out my outfits for weeks. I haven’t kept up on sorting the good clothes from the bad; which means my outfits have been getting sloppier and sloppier. My clothes have been less appealing and I have been wearing the same thing over and over, sometimes even wearing clothes picked up from off the floor. Clearly, I haven’t respected closet and her gift; what she was made for. <br />
<br />
I had enough. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I hit the tipping point. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I want to wear the outfits that make me feel good and keep me motivated to be my best self. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So this weekend I did a major overhaul of the clothes I typically wear. I got rid of clothes I didn't need; I planned out outfits I love and that make me feel good; and I already am caring for and feel better about my closet. Fantastic really! I even got my daughter to help me this weekend with the clothes and planning outfits! Because of this mental and physical shift, there is space in my closet for running, relaxing, working and reading. My closet feels so much more put together! </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
For me, it is pretty much impossible to always wear clean clothes; Sometimes I just have to break down and wear a quick, unplanned outfit. However, it IS possible to wear cleanER clothes. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I vow to look at my closet everyday and be grateful for the abundant clothes I have. And if I find myself frowning at my closet, if I treat it poorly, I will start again. Every day is a new day. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Now, read this WHOLE POST again and replace the following words: <br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
closet = body<br />
outfits = meals<br />
clothes = food<br />
wear = eat</blockquote>
<div>
It is truly amazing how when something like getting one’s food in order ends up affecting so much more in one’s life, like taking good care of one’s closet. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Here is my closet today. </div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhERB8U2y6QZpmAImkIGCmDBliXE3af5Mx-HSUsYEkniS07TjQNrjxxKoVpuuePXk5VwTWPRjCWe8NsVyAg_3XSdIWQILr2LkCD_Bjgm0ScIzK6ng_83cgQQXS7plaHRAbA1gSZ-zjPys8l/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhERB8U2y6QZpmAImkIGCmDBliXE3af5Mx-HSUsYEkniS07TjQNrjxxKoVpuuePXk5VwTWPRjCWe8NsVyAg_3XSdIWQILr2LkCD_Bjgm0ScIzK6ng_83cgQQXS7plaHRAbA1gSZ-zjPys8l/s1600/photo.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
Christy Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07401381898863501277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4189418403776896786.post-16286508615579224172014-07-02T17:54:00.000-04:002014-07-02T23:05:01.097-04:00Bounce back.So hey. Long time.<br />
<br />
It’s probably not a surprise that someone who has lost 60lbs, 3x over wouldn't stay at goal weight <i>forever</i>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
But I was kind of surprised. After maintaining for 3 ½ years, I started to see the scale creep back up. And it kept creeping and creeping….</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkjedhzKHwk&index=1&list=RDbkjedhzKHwk" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGyE-KaTYdWE3lhhoDyt_kpCtYpigQscUUqQOj8-20jRZIMOEFtKA2FkCvdC3TOz2XcxDyCFloowT-DRXTGGOj48pbQaLYTV_7aEak3_thX1ilCVYt7lfCZdR1ssW0_zR7i0NLGnHDrmw2/s1600/Creeper.jpg" height="200" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkjedhzKHwk&index=1&list=RDbkjedhzKHwk" target="_blank">Creepin Creeper</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
The thing is we are not here to strive for perfection; I believe we are here to live, love, and learn. And all of those things cannot happen without a few mistakes. The trick is how we respond to the mistake. When it comes to weight loss, often time the damage isn’t done when we slip up, but when we try to get BACK on plan.<br />
<br />
<h4>
<b>How do you feel when you slip up? </b></h4>
For me, I get this ridiculous voice in my head that goes something like this:<br />
<div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>“Just skip this meeting, lose the pounds you gained, get back to goal and THEN go.”</i></div>
<i></i><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><i>“Just one last hurrah before I go back on plan.”</i></i></div>
<i>
</i><i></i>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><i>“Just go once a month so you don’t have to pay EVERY time. (then go never.)”</i></i></div>
<i>
</i><i><div style="text-align: center;">
<i>“I’ll get up to run tomorrow when it is cooler.”</i></div>
</i><i><div style="text-align: center;">
<i>“I’m too busy to plan my meals.”</i></div>
</i><i><div style="text-align: center;">
<i>“It is going to take forever to get this weight off.”</i></div>
</i><i><div style="text-align: center;">
<i>“Go gluten free, that will work. Thank goodness chocolate is gluten free!”</i></div>
</i><br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i></i></blockquote>
So we slip up on occasion. Or in my case, slip up and try to get back on for a year.<br />
<br />
When you break a dish, do you break the whole set? (The Napa house would be pretty P.O.’d if that were the case….)<br />
<br />
<h4>
<b>How can you spot a slip?</b></h4>
For me, I notice when I stop tracking, stop “caring”, start isolating (Don’t Isolate! – ADT), or when the clothes get tight. I have been sliding for some time and I don’t want to go sliding to another weight gain. Instead, I grabbed on. I got myself back to meetings, got myself back on the boards talking with friends to keep me accountable and I am writing. Writing even when I am terribly embarrassed for gaining.<br />
<br />
But this is a JOURNEY not a destination. That would be boring. On this journey I’ve tried new things like: <br />
<br />
<h4>
How to get back on track? </h4>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-weight: bold;"><b>Snap & Track</b> – </span>I’ve taken pictures of my food to show my girlfriends. (I’m not going to eat that because I do NOT want my beloved accountable partner to see I ate THAT!)</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><b>Text a friend</b> – when I feel frustrated or anxious, instead of isolating and heading to the pantry, I reach out. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><b>Go to meetings</b> – I’ve gone to 7 straight meetings and on one meeting I knew it was going to be a tough weigh in, so I skipped the weigh in and just went to the meeting. In my 11 years at WW, I have never skipped a WI and stayed for a meeting . Before, I’d skip the meeting all together or weigh in and dash out. It finally dawned on me that going past the weigh in counter and sitting in the chair for a meeting is more important than the 10 seconds on the scale. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><b>Track everything or Simple Start</b> – I had a lovely girls weekend this weekend (In NAPA!!!!) and I was really, really tempted to not track. To just throw in the towel and face plant into the pizza, blueberry French toast, curry chicken, caramels, brownies, wine, wine, wine. Besides, I was running 13.1 miles --- who needs to track???!! But I did. I knew it was going to be bad. I had 3 more than 40 P+ days (I get 26P+), but I managed to still lose. If I didn’t track, I’m sure I would have kept eating without regard to the full feelings, because it all tasted do darn good. But now, I remember it tasting good, not the gross feeling of an overeaten-overfilled stomach.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<div>
<br />
All this paid off. I got to celebrate today with two new charms as I hit my 25lb loss since I first joined WW and for finishing my 9th half marathon this weekend (whoohooo!) </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3UwXDPSa_GUTkOwF2PVxYZfbeUrgxIeUnYv-SNBJw1HjEZyrmtx6Ecrz6gngrcSK41cX7fmx8pUAIrlLJQVH8p4ilny-7JhlXwChhAb4skqRFBsQyyt41AdXVG2eG2fDYGnBU-UzDUJqb/s1600/20140702_125736.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3UwXDPSa_GUTkOwF2PVxYZfbeUrgxIeUnYv-SNBJw1HjEZyrmtx6Ecrz6gngrcSK41cX7fmx8pUAIrlLJQVH8p4ilny-7JhlXwChhAb4skqRFBsQyyt41AdXVG2eG2fDYGnBU-UzDUJqb/s1600/20140702_125736.jpg" height="112" width="200" /></a></div>
<div>
<br />
<b>OK sweetpeas, what is one piece of advice you would like to give yourself to get back on track?</b></div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
</div>
Christy Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07401381898863501277noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4189418403776896786.post-77821200619516481712014-05-26T19:07:00.001-04:002014-05-26T19:17:15.983-04:00A Time For Everything - Boston Run to Remember<i>For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven....A time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance. - Ecclesiastes 3: 1,4</i><br />
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0VlbYVmBeYSwD0M-IPfUAIihXfJDJTutTRLIklbqzXloIH0Ju4eXztBjac6GtGe020_mhJE8mKUA_2uHJ8pHEdPP0y-0ptSa93s5M3DIA_RzERqGXnmeiw4855gU1dBmEvh6WbcdNG24e/s1600/BostonRunToRemember.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0VlbYVmBeYSwD0M-IPfUAIihXfJDJTutTRLIklbqzXloIH0Ju4eXztBjac6GtGe020_mhJE8mKUA_2uHJ8pHEdPP0y-0ptSa93s5M3DIA_RzERqGXnmeiw4855gU1dBmEvh6WbcdNG24e/s1600/BostonRunToRemember.png" /></a></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i>
Me and 12,000 runners ran through the normally bumper to bumper streets of Boston yesterday. I planned on treating this as a "supported training run" for the <a href="http://zoomarun.com/napa-valley/" target="_blank">Zooma Napa Valley Half</a> I am running with my awesome C25K grads in June. It was supposed to be a run 4 minutes walk 2 minutes for the 13.1 miles. A time for walking a time for running.<br />
<br />
The first beep went off during mile one and I ignored it. I kept one earbud in only, which I really liked because I got the best of both worlds...music and the ambiance of the race. I think I will do that more often.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I did think that I would pay for skipping the walks by the end, but I also thought if I started walking early I might bail on the whole thing. I actually did figure out that at mile 4 and; 5 I could run from MIT down Mass Ave the 4.2 miles to church and my car if I needed to.... </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Instead, I ran to the first water stop walked through the stop then kept going figuring I'd see how I felt an hour in. I kept at a regular pace so I finished 5 miles in about an hour. By then with every beep I just skipped it and kept running walking only through the water stations. And one up hill. So I think that was 10 walks total. I hit mile 8 thinking, I did 8 last week....Easy peasy. Mile 3-8.9 had me really wishing the lines weren't so long at the port a john's before the race. I've never skipped before. So mile 9 with all the gatorade sloshing around made it an emergency at mile 9. Eek! I hit mile 10 around 2 hours and knew I could finish. I thought I'd do the run walk thing in the last 3, but kept going. I finished it in 2:40:01. Literally :01 second over 2 hours and 40 minutes. I tried to book it to get under 2:40. That said, considering I haven't run double digits since October, I'll take it. Besides, I was all a glow afterwards. I'd forgotten just how awesome a long run feels. </div>
<div>
<br />
Boston's Run to Remember is so interesting to me not because of the run or the location or the time of year, but because of the race itself. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The race is hosted by the Boston Police Runner's club to remember the fallen officers. There are many group volunteers at the water stations, at the venue, including officers and incarcerated volunteers. The race is to honor the fallen and the proceeds goes to community and programs to keep kids off the streets and safe. This paradox reminds me of Ecclesiastes 3. At a recent church council meeting we read out loud (I agree with <a href="http://www.ucc.org/feed-your-spirit/daily-devotional/its-not-your-book.html" target="_blank">Lillian Daniel</a>) and then prayed a fortunately/unfortunately prayer in the vain of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fortunately-Remy-Charlip/dp/0689716605/ref=la_B000APOFW4_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1401144317&sr=1-1" target="_blank">Remy Charlip</a>'s Fortunately. </div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">Fortunately, Ned was invited to a surprise party.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">Unfortunately, the party was a thousand miles away. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">Fortunately, a friend loaned Ned an airplane.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">Unfortunately, the motor exploded. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">Fortunately, there was a parachute in the airplane.</span></i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><i>Unfortunately, there was a hole in the parachute.</i> </span></blockquote>
<div>
Anyway, Boston Run's to Remember felt like Ned's adventure, like church council meditation, like Ecclesiastes 3..... </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Unfortunately we have a prison system that often keeps people in a vicious cycle; fortunately the inmates had a beautiful day to be outside. Fortunately we were supported by volunteers and I tried to thank every one no matter what shirt they were wearing ---bright orange or dressed blues---unfortunately some go home to prison. Fortunately we have a 13.1 run in Boston. Unfortunately it is to commemorate lives lost.</div>
<div>
<br />
This is my 3rd one and every year I wonder about running it...thinking about those in my family who are cops and those in my family who have been to prison.<br />
<br />
Lots to think about, lots to pray about, lots to remember on a long run through Boston.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0nyiVxXS8lEpd6dIT2VhrjsIxYVKrvKDR3ZpU-8FYixDz0zI8h60BwKYlcciDHsI62Pd6SeWDM9JPeGuHU-hYiXQi5bwKuwVplKO4wMVARscUpiTCGPTNADtFbOuVJtIxa1Qr6lD_HQVW/s1600/10367723_10203125382831515_34356235736174370_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0nyiVxXS8lEpd6dIT2VhrjsIxYVKrvKDR3ZpU-8FYixDz0zI8h60BwKYlcciDHsI62Pd6SeWDM9JPeGuHU-hYiXQi5bwKuwVplKO4wMVARscUpiTCGPTNADtFbOuVJtIxa1Qr6lD_HQVW/s1600/10367723_10203125382831515_34356235736174370_n.jpg" height="320" width="179" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How I looked pre-race.<br />
A time for confidence. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYCgJQR2YoKw-4bhI3qTesArwXodbBGJYD4qm3MHFzx46WEorAOyNDeFcNx_ODNYjPLoi0GI-mt_ucY9qu573IytMRK1IypN6Gj0hUBobmT0OLxko3InlOoxVttTC5XecPLWWH9x2w_Prt/s1600/10306259_10203125382991519_4743029460812352171_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYCgJQR2YoKw-4bhI3qTesArwXodbBGJYD4qm3MHFzx46WEorAOyNDeFcNx_ODNYjPLoi0GI-mt_ucY9qu573IytMRK1IypN6Gj0hUBobmT0OLxko3InlOoxVttTC5XecPLWWH9x2w_Prt/s1600/10306259_10203125382991519_4743029460812352171_n.jpg" height="320" width="179" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How I felt pre-race. <br />
A time for insecurity.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
For everything there is a season,<br />
a time for every activity under heaven.<br />
<a href="http://biblehub.com/ecclesiastes/3-2.htm">2</a>A time to be born and a time to die.<br />
A time to plant and a time to harvest.<br />
<a href="http://biblehub.com/ecclesiastes/3-3.htm">3</a>A time to kill and a time to heal.<br />
A time to tear down and a time to build up.<br />
<a href="http://biblehub.com/ecclesiastes/3-4.htm">4</a>A time to cry and a time to laugh.<br />
A time to grieve and a time to dance.<br />
<a href="http://biblehub.com/ecclesiastes/3-5.htm">5</a>A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones.<br />
A time to embrace and a time to turn away.<br />
<a href="http://biblehub.com/ecclesiastes/3-6.htm">6</a>A time to search and a time to quit searching.<br />
A time to keep and a time to throw away.<br />
<a href="http://biblehub.com/ecclesiastes/3-7.htm">7</a>A time to tear and a time to mend.<br />
A time to be quiet and a time to speak.<br />
<a href="http://biblehub.com/ecclesiastes/3-8.htm">8</a>A time to love and a time to hate.<br />
A time for war and a time for peace.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://biblehub.com/ecclesiastes/3-9.htm"></a><a href="http://biblehub.com/ecclesiastes/3-9.htm">9</a>What do people really get for all their hard work? <a href="http://biblehub.com/ecclesiastes/3-10.htm">10</a>I have seen the burden God has placed on us all.<a href="http://biblehub.com/ecclesiastes/3-11.htm">11</a>Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end. <a href="http://biblehub.com/ecclesiastes/3-12.htm">12</a>So I concluded there is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can. <a href="http://biblehub.com/ecclesiastes/3-13.htm">13</a>And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God.</div>
Christy Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07401381898863501277noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4189418403776896786.post-57848862203730727192014-01-23T13:56:00.001-05:002014-01-23T17:22:02.396-05:00Lunch.<p dir="ltr">This is lunch. </p>
<p dir="ltr">Going into week 5 of dairy free, gluten free eating. Which pretty much means all outer aisle stuff. </p>
<p dir="ltr">I just realized that before I worked to maintain eating from the outer aisle, but now I'm trying to lose. Differently this time too. Eating, yoga and swearing off the scale except once a month, the first of the month. </p><p dir="ltr"><br></p><p dir="ltr">Quinoa, chicken, fresh TJ'S salsa, tri color peppers, baby kale, chard, spinach, EVOO and salt & pepper. Tonight I'll show you how I prep for the day.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS4xV7Trm44hkM74JLH4_Y7jDpI8MUfheK05f-u1BcPZClNx-tNT6w8ZSqXuqM6HyaMVt0gZjoZWHc0kp7tDH2q2ZJtIIQYLA30AewNlhqDYhAJlKZO5woRjpJfjshzqENK5gNOhdMjPqc/s1600/1390502860599.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS4xV7Trm44hkM74JLH4_Y7jDpI8MUfheK05f-u1BcPZClNx-tNT6w8ZSqXuqM6HyaMVt0gZjoZWHc0kp7tDH2q2ZJtIIQYLA30AewNlhqDYhAJlKZO5woRjpJfjshzqENK5gNOhdMjPqc/s640/1390502860599.jpg"> </a> </div>Christy Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07401381898863501277noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4189418403776896786.post-6843099588690616512014-01-14T20:41:00.001-05:002014-01-14T20:41:13.726-05:00The Love Book.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn-MF_5bmQjJhSVSt4qwMscraGwyaLV1ABuKHrDB6micDXL5cSyeqafAY02pWZ3vLj2IcsqIukGMuvHawPWZplKJml39A7ZoJVR7qPmvck7vYBq_2_ziVT-oHmDULvpqytNaQDWTxCdPup/s640/blogger-image-626912517.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn-MF_5bmQjJhSVSt4qwMscraGwyaLV1ABuKHrDB6micDXL5cSyeqafAY02pWZ3vLj2IcsqIukGMuvHawPWZplKJml39A7ZoJVR7qPmvck7vYBq_2_ziVT-oHmDULvpqytNaQDWTxCdPup/s640/blogger-image-626912517.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Sometimes teachers comes in small packages, like 6 year old girls. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Izzy wrote The Love Book tonight while I waited for her to fall asleep. While I was getting annoyed that she wasn't asleep yet, she was pouring her little heart out with a sharpie. She presented these pages moments ago and declared (shaking she was so excited) that each teacher and principal in her school needs a page. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Izzy, my love, I think we all need a page. Every day. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Words and writing by Isabella, translated by her mom. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">1. By Isabella Zuzelo. The Love Book. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">2. Love Book by Izzy if you reach into your heart you can do anything. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">3. <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Love Book by Izzy me and my brother think we can do anything. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">4. Love Book by Izzy in this book we believe you can do anything. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">5. Love Book by Izzy we have to stand up for ourselves.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">6. Love Book by Izzy I think we can do anything we believe in. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">7. Love Book by Izzy in the love book people believe we can do anything.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">8. Love Book by Izzy in the love book people care about what we do together. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Me: "Izzy what inspired you to write this book?"</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Izzy: "What does inspire mean"</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Me: "What made you feel like you wanted to or needed to make this book."</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Izzy: "The love book? I decided to make the love book because my family cares about me and loves me. My class, my teachers, everyone surrounding me that knows me loves me."</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Dear everyone that surrounds Izzy, and especially her teachers, thank you, thank you, thank you for making her feel so very loved that it overflows into these inspiring moments. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Xo, </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Christy</span></div>Christy Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07401381898863501277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4189418403776896786.post-89637268705311587552014-01-09T20:45:00.000-05:002014-01-09T20:52:34.915-05:00Pizza Dream.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs2rP7uFvhYWgmbN1S0M-UrIZw_PeXlHQj8tL918gHWlglngHhcrawrcxzOm7D0yScBQBxXho0uyXB6ynQMJgpLwfzKNIwga_SofV_N7ykUcBn82Jhfr5h2frj6_v_3bF-EruBY3mwE5DD/s640/blogger-image-1394814480.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs2rP7uFvhYWgmbN1S0M-UrIZw_PeXlHQj8tL918gHWlglngHhcrawrcxzOm7D0yScBQBxXho0uyXB6ynQMJgpLwfzKNIwga_SofV_N7ykUcBn82Jhfr5h2frj6_v_3bF-EruBY3mwE5DD/s640/blogger-image-1394814480.jpg"></a></div><br></div>
It happened again, I dreamt of something that I consciously decided to give up. First it was the cake dream, then I had the brownie bites dream and last night, a pizza dream. Again I woke up feeling sickish, with a headache and swearing I must have eaten the greasy cheesy saucey pizza sometime in the night. <br>
<div>
<br></div>
<div>
Giving up dairy, wheat, coffee and sugar seems a lot easier in REAL LIFE than in my dreams. Huh, who'd a thunk. </div>
<div>
<br></div>
<div>
David, my real sugar, is going through this food, yoga journey with me (thank goodness!) so I asked if he had weird food dreams. </div>
<div>
<br></div>
<div>
"No, but I did get an erection in the coffee aisle at Whole Foods today." </div>
<div>
<br></div>
<div>
!!</div>
<div>
<br></div>
<div>
Well there ya go. Love him. </div>
<div>
<br></div>
<div>
I told one of my good friends who is in years into recovery about my dream and he said that was common for him to have dreams that he drank something or was drunk but then woke up without a hangover. Apparently it is pretty <a href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-wisdom-your-dreams/201207/dreams-and-recovery-addiction" target="_blank" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">common.</a></div>
<div>
<br></div>
<div>
As we talked more, we decided it would behoove us to move away from the past and think about the future. To Visualize where we will be in a year, 5 years. It is hard to change, it takes a lot of momentum. Visualizing helps so much because we don't always have the energy to PUSH ourselves there,but that future self....That self DOES have energy. She is Wonder Woman or Superman and can pull, pull, pull hard to get the momentum to move the tired present self out of the rut, the sinking hole, the anxious dreams.</div>
<div>
<br></div>
<div>
As much as I don't like the anxiety of feeling like I did the thing that I didn't, I will take anxiety over actually doing the thing. </div>
<div>
<br></div>
<div>
Try something with me. Let's write down where we want to see ourselves in 1 year; write10 things as if we have already accomplished them. For example, if you want to run a 5k, have an emergency fund, read 20 books, etc. write:</div>
<div>
<br></div>
<div>
01/10/2015</div>
<div>
1. I ran my first 5k.</div>
<div>
2. I saved enough money to cover 6 months of expenses.</div>
<div>
3. I read 20 books, 15 fiction, 5 non-fiction. </div>
<div>
4. I binged watched Orange is the New Black in one weekend.</div>
<div>
<br></div>
<div>
You get the idea. Maybe this will change our dreams from what we thought we did, to what we will do. </div>
<div><br></div>
<div>
The end. </div>
<div>
<br></div>
<div>
Xo</div>
<div>
Christy</div>
<div>
<br></div>
<div><br></div>
Christy Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07401381898863501277noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4189418403776896786.post-7347268648472790772014-01-08T20:08:00.001-05:002014-01-08T20:13:39.900-05:00Sweet Potato Soup.<div dir="ltr"><br></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD9clUxNvxDeUjMN_1V00Qk1TCR7Y8rcy3CrfgRP3SFvvRFdd7jk0ReQAgT2jmJ5JPLaUWu1TH7DnL7Phk0tjgL_S8NvB0bLXrI28azkTtLJr5iGwp7voWqh3rbEmz3EpdaDRYq989jSeD/s1600/20140102_124302.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD9clUxNvxDeUjMN_1V00Qk1TCR7Y8rcy3CrfgRP3SFvvRFdd7jk0ReQAgT2jmJ5JPLaUWu1TH7DnL7Phk0tjgL_S8NvB0bLXrI28azkTtLJr5iGwp7voWqh3rbEmz3EpdaDRYq989jSeD/s640/20140102_124302.jpg"> </a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p dir="ltr" style="margin: 0px; text-align: start;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">With winter comes quite a few sweet potatoes. I love them raosted in EVOO and a little sea salt.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="margin: 0px; text-align: start;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">But I can only do that so often and I figured I'd try something new. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="margin: 0px; text-align: start;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="margin: 0px; text-align: start;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">So I just made this up. As my good friend Rob says to me when I get all food failure anxious, "if you've never done it before, you can't do it wrong."</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="margin: 0px; text-align: start;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="margin: 0px; text-align: start;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Luckily, he was right and It did taste good. Here is what I did.....</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="margin: 0px; text-align: start;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="margin: 0px; text-align: start;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">6 sweet potatoes peeled and chopped.<br>One yellow onion, chopped<br>Garlic clove, crushed<br>1 apple, chopped<br>1 pear, chopped<br>1 chicken bullion cube<br>4 cups water<br>EVOO<br>Salt, pepper to taste</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="margin: 0px; text-align: start;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="margin: 0px; text-align: start;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">In a soup pot heat EVOO and add garlic and onion. Cook until almost translucent. Add the sweet potato and cook for about 5 minutes stirring frequently. Add the apples and pears and cook for another minute or so. Then add water and bullion cube.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="margin: 0px; text-align: start;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Cook until the potatoes are soft. Use an immersion blender to smooth out the soup. If it is too thick, add more water. Add some salt and pepper and done.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="margin: 0px; text-align: start;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="margin: 0px; text-align: start;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">It was kind of like butternut squash soup, but a little sweet-earthier. Makes sense since where do potatoes grow....der.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="margin: 0px; text-align: start;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="margin: 0px; text-align: start;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I bet this would be awesome with fresh rosemary too.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="margin: 0px; text-align: start;"><br></p><p dir="ltr" style="margin: 0px; text-align: start;">How do you like your sweet potatoes?</p></div>
Christy Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07401381898863501277noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4189418403776896786.post-72893952775129339222014-01-06T21:21:00.001-05:002014-01-06T21:21:14.809-05:00Click.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPH7L8TopaeFltF4xVs8Ld_rNhkaOtOchWfUVgzzOZGHwZSL4uXU98LJRw8O4XeMZ9N97pUMr4NHrZCSVo2FWwXUQmEjR9Ls2ZWV0Wffk8WTCe_HB2W1Ow4M9uEMiSdTCLBPaNtZcigaQ0/s640/blogger-image--1761238961.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPH7L8TopaeFltF4xVs8Ld_rNhkaOtOchWfUVgzzOZGHwZSL4uXU98LJRw8O4XeMZ9N97pUMr4NHrZCSVo2FWwXUQmEjR9Ls2ZWV0Wffk8WTCe_HB2W1Ow4M9uEMiSdTCLBPaNtZcigaQ0/s320/blogger-image--1761238961.jpg" width="319" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
My girlfriends and I were talking about the "click" you know the one that you get when you KNOW you have a habit and are walking the walk. Sure it is hard every day, but there is something about the "click" that even when you know it is going to be a long journey you are still ready to take it one step at a time. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
We are so happy when it happens. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
We are so happy when it happens for others even if we can be incredibly jealous. Yes, we can be both! I know I was. On my way up this go around I watched others going down and while I was happy for them, I couldn't find it in myself. And it pissed me off. What was wrong with me! I KNOW how to do this. Just do it. But the harder I tried to find the click, the more I gained. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
When we do find it, it is magical. We want to bottle it and give it away (or sell it and be rich). </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
The thing with "the click" is that you could put anything in there; fighting depression, or addictions to food, booze, sugar, sex, drama, weight, work<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">, anger --- what ever demons we are facing, "the click" is telling the demon to go Fuck off. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">(Sorry parental units reading this...some times f-bombs are the best way to describe said effing off to the beasts. I won't use the Lords name in vain, but give me a well timed swear word, and I am totally there.)</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Where was I?</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Oh yeah.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
I hit the one week mark of no sugar, no dairy, no coffee, no wheat gluten. Dude! I feel better than I have in a long, long time. My kids are happy because I'm not gassing up the car as much.....<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">"eeewwww, what SMELLS so bad???!!!"</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Maybe it IS like Sister Anne says, "you crave what you eat". She says, cut sugar out for 3 days and you won't crave it. Maybe. I'm only one week in. I don't know that I will stay on the no, no, no, no eating pattern, but I do know that eating a half a loaf of bread and canola butter in one evening is not ok, even if it is whole wheat, even if it is the heels that nooner else will eat. So bread is out. This simple shift is my head and my heart giving my body a time out. A grace period. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Isn't it funny how we say "grace" before meals, before the ones that are often mindfully made with care, yet we don't say grace before we eat a "meal" standing up in the kitchen of franken crusts, picked over chicken and spoon fulls of Nutella? </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
My friend Deb says the click happens when we are in the right time, right place, and right head space. Like an eclipse, you can't make everything allign it just does. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Maybe it is that or maybe it a little grace has got me clickin' away. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
What is your click? How do you get it and how do you know?</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
Christy Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07401381898863501277noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4189418403776896786.post-73386485012380224712014-01-05T15:20:00.001-05:002014-01-05T19:58:49.212-05:00Humbled.<p dir="ltr"><br></p><p dir="ltr"> <font color="#000000" style="text-align: center; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0x0rKPJbB55yzOidB7KIXkPEZdCPtd35yiZ9Gvv9XOekEo4G-JLTkNxbgugLJ89wLAz1YALsFXUJ_jBfnBMTcqr0Au5NHYeyBI3tlj7TDc0AFDOZGUD7VcWvXSjM4cdm-w3Wlzw8wTjNs/s1600/20140102_124218.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="text-align: center; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0x0rKPJbB55yzOidB7KIXkPEZdCPtd35yiZ9Gvv9XOekEo4G-JLTkNxbgugLJ89wLAz1YALsFXUJ_jBfnBMTcqr0Au5NHYeyBI3tlj7TDc0AFDOZGUD7VcWvXSjM4cdm-w3Wlzw8wTjNs/s640/20140102_124218.jpg"></a></font></p><p dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">I was very humbled by the people that reached out to thank me for writing again. Your hugs and prayers and candles and thoughts have meant a lot to me. </span></p><p dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">I have the most amazing friends. I love you guys. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> I </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">feel warm like a cozy, healing blanket.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr">One good friend commented my posts have been pretty heavy, no pun intended of course! </p>
<p dir="ltr">So today I figured a salad post would lighten things up a bit. </p>
<p dir="ltr">This has been my go to staple. </p>
<p dir="ltr">When one gives up sugar, wheat and dairy - fresh greens is one of the few foods one can eat. But who wants to chew like a cow eating cud????</p>
<p dir="ltr">The trick is to chop the heck out of the salad. </p><p dir="ltr">But first, please pick green GREENs. Iceberg lettuce has barely ANY nutritional value. And no taste. I swear my nose wrinkles like a rabbit every time I think of iceberg.</p>
<p dir="ltr">David, our wonderful household shopper, gets a big 'ol smooch when he comes home with a big box of organic baby kale, chard, spinach from BJ's and a roast chicken. We chop it up, add some sea salt, pepper, EVOO, lemon or vinegar of some sort, (I like white balsamic or champagne wine vinegar). Sometimes I add quinoa or tuna or egg for some complex carbs and protein. Yum.</p>
<p dir="ltr">I beleive in chopped salad so much, I keep a cutting board and knife at work to prep my lunch. </p>
<p dir="ltr">So there you have it. A light salad post, just heavy on taste. </p>
<p dir="ltr">xo</p><p dir="ltr">Christy</p>Christy Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07401381898863501277noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4189418403776896786.post-53227537535697871522014-01-03T20:35:00.000-05:002014-01-03T20:42:58.963-05:00Dreams.<div dir="ltr">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXape-7-q1DNX0Ek39DUhJfDFvDY6CPpZ929qBuEZst0BDQOZm_wlM2xKJORNEVKCCRojYMAVdZ7gw6vbWVjcWkpSErg5tt7vfskyJQe3CNbntnoYK1nEfuJ_AN28yZsMQ0dnL8RN1azen/s640/blogger-image-1117992728.jpg"></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://arttattler.com/archivesingularvisions.html" target="_blank" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px;">Georgia O'Keeffe Ladder to the moon</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
<div dir="ltr">
Sunday we talked about and drew our dreams during our all-ages service. It was my turn to be the lay liturgist, prepare my talk, my own confession and lead the church in a unison prayer of confession. The scripture reading was Matthew 2:13-23 where he talks about 4 dreams; Joseph's, and the 3 Magi. </div><div dir="ltr"><br></div>
<div dir="ltr">
I thought a lot about my dreams leading up to and after Sunday. I'm a pretty vivid dreamer and I can usually remember even the tiniest details in my dreams. (Makes sense, it is my brain. Duh.) <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Some of them are funny or bizarre, some are unbelievable and some are very scary.</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> </span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
Like take for instance a few days before I was to speak in church.</div><div dir="ltr"><br></div>
<div dir="ltr">
I dreamt I went to church, completely unprepared for my liturgy, frantically scratching it with an un-sharpened golf pencil on a scrap of paper, only to fall asleep right there in the Godly play room and sleep through the first service and wake up some time during the second. Pastor Jeff somehow knew I would wake up so he saved the confession for last, which made me even more anxious because the service and the liturgy was all out of order and I STILL had to speak and you all saw what an anxious mess I was AND see that I failed because I wasn't prepared.</div><div dir="ltr"><br></div>
<div dir="ltr">
That was last week. </div><div dir="ltr"><br></div>
<div dir="ltr">
So guess what my resilient-renewed-outer-aisle-eating self dreamt this week.....</div><div dir="ltr"><br></div>
<div dir="ltr">
I ate a whole cake. </div><div dir="ltr"><br></div>
<div dir="ltr">
At a restaurant. </div><div dir="ltr"><br></div>
<div dir="ltr">
In public. </div><div dir="ltr"><br></div>
<div dir="ltr">
In front of my whole family. <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Extended too. </span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
I was going away at this four layer cake, completely forgetting my choice to cut out sugar. Then I downed a glass a milk forgetting I cut out dairy. Then back to the cake. It dawned on me during the 2nd round of cake eating that I failed. Again. I asked the server to take the cake away. </div><div dir="ltr"><br></div>
<div dir="ltr">
Still in dreamland as we were leaving the restaurant I whispered to David that I felt so sick and asked if he would help me remind me how sick I felt in that moment so I would never do it again. </div><div dir="ltr"><br></div>
<div dir="ltr">
I woke up thinking I really had eaten cake. It took some time to get my head wrapped around the fact that it was just a dream and I didn't have cake. </div><div dir="ltr"><br></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">The way Matthew tells it, my cake and unprepared dream was nothing compared to Joseph's dream. I can only imagine how anxious Joseph must have been feeling. His life was turned upside down, and then he dreams about an impending doom. This random scary being (be not afraid. Angels are scary???) shows up and tells Joseph to take his wife and unborn kid and get the hell outta dodge and go into hiding before Herod finds them and kills the kid. </span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Whoa. </span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Dude. Joseph and me, we're like this [crossing fingers]. Behind the scenes supportive. But man does he know how to breathe after a crazy dream. He didn't just take his anxious dream and stew over it, he took action. He moved, exercising all the way to Bethlehem or Egypt.</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">When we have dreams that are sometimes scary or anxious, like Joseph, we need to act. We reach out, we talk to one another, we talk to our parents, our teachers our friends, our pastors, we pray to God, we blog. </span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">As we talk about our fears sometimes we find out that other people feel the same way. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Sometimes If we really listen we realize that God not only was calling attention our anxiety but also putting the people in our paths to help us, even from within our dreams. </span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">I am pretty sure that was God in my two dreams since my liturgy was pretty much written by last week's dream and I asked for </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">help to get out of the vicious cake cycle. Yay me!</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">
<br></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">
If you are struggling. Reach out. This prayer I addapted from Sunday helped me this week. Maybe it will help you too. </div><div dir="ltr" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">
Forgiving God,<br>Even as I celebrate your birth into the world, I struggle to feel your presence.<br>It seems like so long ago that you were here - It seems so far away.<br>Sometimes I get a little confused about how to celebrate.<br>When you feel absent, I fill the absence with other things like cake or dramatic dreams.<br>Baby Jesus, be born in my heart.<br>Come alive in my deepest and darkest recesses.<br>Plant yourself like a seed<br>And grow up in my dreams.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
Amen.</div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><br></div>
Christy Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07401381898863501277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4189418403776896786.post-53847097019374329462014-01-02T21:37:00.000-05:002014-01-02T21:43:40.201-05:00Resilience.<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1WPYyLCw2q9qIXWQJuAa7rc_291AUXl7jVmowW-KkPwMNkIYY77OZlrYuGFmhFYFTKLNEHZCuMkuUKWL5x-DVsbevGECfMAvGdsUkTYOrAZkRisIVwU6zP8gy1v50LtBsLGn_rr7pqL2E/s640/blogger-image--900796065.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1WPYyLCw2q9qIXWQJuAa7rc_291AUXl7jVmowW-KkPwMNkIYY77OZlrYuGFmhFYFTKLNEHZCuMkuUKWL5x-DVsbevGECfMAvGdsUkTYOrAZkRisIVwU6zP8gy1v50LtBsLGn_rr7pqL2E/s640/blogger-image--900796065.jpg"></a></div>
<br></div>
<div>
<br></div>
I promise you this is not a New Year's resolution post. In fact, I don't believe in New Years resolutions. I do believe in redemption and falling down and getting back up again and resolve and resilience. <br>
<div>
<br></div>
<div>
So this is a resilience post. My resilience started a long long time ago, but my most recent one started last week. I can explain.</div>
<div>
<br></div>
<div>
Somehow in all the changes that have taken place this year - starting a new job, going solo on my teaching job, officially out of the "littles-stage" with the kids old enough for all day school, losing my step-dad James - I still managed to complete 2 half marathons this year in May and October ---whoooo me---- yet somehow, this freshmen year at my new place didn't get me the freshman 15, but the freshman 40. </div>
<div>
<br></div>
<div>
Yes. You heard me. Forty. </div>
<div>
<br></div>
<div>
I maintained my goal weight for FOUR years. Then graduated and with that I found 40 pounds in a 10 month time frame. I guess it is good I trained and ran 2 half marathons this year or otherwise I'd be on my way to losing 60lbs 4 times over. Bright side???</div>
<div>
<br></div>
<div>
It isn't the pounds so much that bother me, but how I got there, eating quick foods, leftover second lunches, sugar, sugar and more sugar and not able to stop the nightly ritual pantry raid. </div>
<div>
<br></div>
<div>
The failure. The shame. The embarrassment. </div>
<div>
<br></div>
<div>
When I started to get fed up with myself I went back to old habits. Unlimited diet soda and freezer full of lean cuisines. Frankenfood. </div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">It didn't work. I gained 10 more pounds. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Anne Lamott knows this well. Recently she posted a cautionary tale for all those planning to diet on Jan 1. "Oh, you are going on a diet? How much do you plan on gaining?" </span></div>
<div>
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/AnneLamott/posts/419734154822900">https://www.facebook.com/AnneLamott/posts/419734154822900</a></div>
<div>
<br></div>
<div>
Like Anne, when it comes to some foods and such, I don't have a. "off" switch.</div>
<div>
<br></div>
<div>
So I am taking my resilient self and I am turning off sugar, franken foods and this go around I will learn to LOSE myself in the outer aisle so I can maintain once again. It is much easier for me to stop the sugar roller coaster if I don't start in the first place. </div>
<div>
<br></div>
<div>
I'll leave you with the words of Sister Lamott that have served me well in my 30 something's. </div>
<div>
<br></div>
<div>
"<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">It's really okay, though, to have (or pray for) an awakening around your body. It's okay to stop hitting the snooze button, and pay attention to what makes you feel great about yourself, one meal at a time. It's an inside job. If you are not okay with yourself at 185, you will not be okay at 150, or even 135. The self-respect and serenity you long for is not out there. It's within. I hate that. I resent that more than I can say. But it's true."</span></div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">To all the beloveds, you. We are resilient. It IS an inside job. And we do have it in us. Just watch. For me, my inside job is in the outer aisles, so back there I will go. </span></div>
<br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
XO</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Christy</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>
Christy Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07401381898863501277noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4189418403776896786.post-44264990551048385612013-07-25T08:49:00.001-04:002013-07-25T08:49:18.634-04:00AMR Guest Spot<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://anothermotherrunner.com/amr-radio/" target="_blank"><img src="http://anothermotherrunner.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/AMRSplash3.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Today at 1:30 pm you can listen live to <a href="http://anothermotherrunner.com/amr-radio/" target="_blank">AMR Radio</a> (Another Mother Radio) to hear some thoughts on nutrition, some great insight from the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Run-Like-Mother-Moving---ebook/dp/B004I8VGRQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1374756488&sr=8-1&keywords=Run+like+a+mother" target="_blank"><i>Run Like a Mother</i></a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Train-Like-Mother-Across-ebook/dp/B007GK8L58/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1374756488&sr=8-2&keywords=Run+like+a+mother" target="_blank"><i>Train Like a Mother</i></a> dynamic duo and you might even hear a conversation from a familiar voice....<br />
<br />
If you can't listen at 1:30, no worries. In fact, even better....subscribe to the AMR podcasts on itunes and get some great running tips from the amazing marathon and ironwoman mamas, <a href="http://twitter.com/sbsontherun" target="_blank">Sarah Bowen Shea</a> and <a href="http://twitter.com/dimityontherun" target="_blank">Dimity McDowell</a>.<br />
<br />
And don't forget to leave them feedback on iTunes!<br />
<br />
CiaoChristy Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07401381898863501277noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4189418403776896786.post-61504611203886120192013-07-25T07:58:00.000-04:002013-07-25T07:58:07.478-04:00Granola<br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Has anyone seen my Birkenstocks? I smell granola. Not patchouli.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNaAS4YdqNMpJg_CBbsKU2G1FUFeCSoaGziFR6PqfFN91lR7c1ROZahdUyxWlfjYoH6uwBm6WZQpuf-N5lAGaeZqKBgY1glmhjeo3tIAIErQ8Vehhf6JGrPNzh5nzzUp3eDdRb1u3Ci7wa/s1600/granola.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNaAS4YdqNMpJg_CBbsKU2G1FUFeCSoaGziFR6PqfFN91lR7c1ROZahdUyxWlfjYoH6uwBm6WZQpuf-N5lAGaeZqKBgY1glmhjeo3tIAIErQ8Vehhf6JGrPNzh5nzzUp3eDdRb1u3Ci7wa/s200/granola.jpg" width="200" /></span></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="http://theouteraisle.blogspot.com/2010/03/has-anyone-seen-my-birkenstocks-i-smell.html" target="_blank">(Original post March 26, 2010)</a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Cliché alert. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I learned how to make granola at <a href="http://oberlin.edu/">Oberlin</a>. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I know. It is really a rite of passage. Along with not shaving. Except your head. *Bzzzt*</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Anyway, I learned how to make it, but I haven't actually made it in (oh, good crikey!) umpteen years. Until about two weeks ago. It was like riding a bicycle.... A fish without a bicycle....oh nevermind. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">This.is.officially.a.staple.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The other nice thing about granola, you can experiment and it rarely turns out bad. Toasted oats and a little sweet. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Here is how I made it last night.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<b style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Ingredients</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">8 c. Rolled Oats (We accidentally got 1-minute Quaker oats and these worked very well too.)</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">1 c. whole wheat flour</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">3/4 c. canola oil (I have used butter instead)</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">3/4 c. honey or maple syrup (or HFCS infested Aunt Jemima...ya know, if you're *ahem* trying to use it up.)</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">1/2 c. water</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">1 tsp. vanilla</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">1 tsp salt</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">1 tsp cinnamon</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Almonds</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Craisins</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Raisins</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<b style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Directions</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">On medium-high, heat up the oil, honey (or syrup), water and vanilla in a pot until thin. With a wooden spoon, stir in the oats, flour salt and cinnamon until the oats are coated and look moist. Yup, *moist* IS a funny word. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Spread the mixture on a cookie sheet, crumbling the clumps of oats. Pop it into a 350 degree oven for 30 minutes - turning the granola every 10 minutes with a spatula. During the last 10 minutes, add dried fruit and nuts if you want. or if you are looking for added protein a little powdered milk will do the trick. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Breakfast these days for me is granola mixed in with fat-free greek yogurt (<a href="http://chobani.com/">Chobani</a> honey, peach or strawberry are my favs and here's a tip... stock up by the case when they are $1.00)</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Since portion control is an issue for me, I put a 1/2 cup container in with the granola and when I have it with my breakfast, I store it in a little 1/2 cup container. And yes, the handful walking past the pantry is oh so tempting! </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Oh and seriously, re: Birkenstocks. I have at least 4 pairs and I can't seem to find them anywhere. I think they are in a box in David's mom's attic. Maybe. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiSLHgSLBGaBQPfAAdpfXtZHsGINPJ5uEg4S36uWVGbM1M0n5_46aLLOV5iw1Pz73HL7k40Vgqi8DHS43NHlzhRHpvF0mi-mQKBEtIfe2n_9LhClYNrtGeiD3u7Am_H3bHtMUAzfuEohY5/s1600/birkenstocks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiSLHgSLBGaBQPfAAdpfXtZHsGINPJ5uEg4S36uWVGbM1M0n5_46aLLOV5iw1Pz73HL7k40Vgqi8DHS43NHlzhRHpvF0mi-mQKBEtIfe2n_9LhClYNrtGeiD3u7Am_H3bHtMUAzfuEohY5/s200/birkenstocks.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Tally....</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">NI: Approx. 225cal/15g fat/4g fiber/7g protein per 1/2 cup</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Cost: Varies...here Approx. $3.83 for the batch, so $.20 per serving.</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>Christy Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07401381898863501277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4189418403776896786.post-36183003588884712332013-04-16T22:12:00.004-04:002013-04-17T07:01:04.346-04:00No words.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2X1xv2PTxpftqf2QQUZEqcvARQI8M95d8S47G876Cktt2h4bUaIT7BmpaU02lwllCJxh9VcAVec95VDxaie-U3tfArHPpak6OtJnMauXBeCGtRfzt5ZUXtNjp5L3FrR5jIk1uwkS1j0RE/s640/blogger-image-194401884.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2X1xv2PTxpftqf2QQUZEqcvARQI8M95d8S47G876Cktt2h4bUaIT7BmpaU02lwllCJxh9VcAVec95VDxaie-U3tfArHPpak6OtJnMauXBeCGtRfzt5ZUXtNjp5L3FrR5jIk1uwkS1j0RE/s200/blogger-image-194401884.jpg" width="140" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Raw. Hurt. Angry. Teary. Shock. Annoyed. Worried. Relieved. Blessed. Angry. Tired. Drained. Angry. Confused. Shocked. Angry. Relieved.<br />
<br />
Over and over again yesterday and today, all these emotions were rushing through me. Through so many of us. Yesterday started on a joyful note as I got an email from my dear friend Sarah entitled: "Happy Boston-versary!" saying that me and the Boston Marathon are forever linked in her mind. How much has changed in 48 hours. <br />
<br />
Shock as we turned on the TV staring. Confusion as we watched in horror. Boston? on Patriot's Day? Marathon Monday? Why? Relieved as I looked up runners I knew were running and seemed to be safe enough away from the finish line having crossed or not crossed but away from the blasts. <br />
<br />
Relief as I viewed fb post after fb post of friends letting friends know through tags and through comments and emails that they were ok. Blessed at the number of people concerned for me and my own family!<br />
<br />
Then more anger. Sadness. Anger. This is our town. Our race. Our community. <br />
<br />
I don't know what you do when you feel angry, but I turn to someone who has helped me recognize my anger: Thich Nhat Hanh.<br />
<br />
"Breathe to take care of your anger" he says. To me this is so fascinating because as a runner, I know when I hit the sweet spot and want to run on and on and on, when my breathing clicks. <br />
<br />
He states:<br />
<br />
"When the energy of anger, jealousy, or despair manifests in us, we should know how to handle it, otherwise we will be overwhelmed by it and suffer tremendously."<br />
<br />
I am going to assume that yesterday's and most if not all of these acts that harm and terrorize are rooted in anger, I refuse to allow my own anger to consume me and fan those flames. <br />
<br />
Here are some exercises from TNH.<br />
1. Contemplating a person in anger, I breathe in. Seeing the suffering of that person, I breathe out.<br />
2. Contemplating the damage from anger to self and others, I breathe in. Seeing that anger burns and destroys happiness, I breathe out. <br />
3. Seeing the roots of anger in wrong perceptions and ignorance, breathe in. Smiling to my wrong perceptions and ignorance, I breathe out. <br />
4. Seeing myself burned by the fire of anger, I breathe in. Feeling compassion for myself and others burning with anger, I breathe out.<br />
<br />
Lastly, when I ran Boston 2 years ago, I ran for life,for saving lives through the work that Dana-Farber does here in Boston. I have a reverence for life, and I take this vow:<br />
<br />
Reverence for Life<br />
"Aware of the suffering caused and the destruction of life, I vow to cultivate compassion and learn ways to protect the lives of people, animals, plants, and minerals. I am determined not to kill, not to let others kill, and not to condone any act of killing in the world, in my thinking, or in my way of life."<br />
<br />
<br />
I run for the joy that it brings. For life. And I will keep running tomorrow for all those that can't.<br />
<c>Boston Joy. </c><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEmZaLgHR-OidpblH3-VLAFQkvn7Zv1bfFXRu21KXvCcKg_Q3E2kepQZuPA7vzAzO-ktP4BaelGqU0dbb0a5H5lVWPCH9Plehsa7ZzB0u_JpHPrgaS8Gb9n8XDKkorhY8Y49AEb395tqY/s1600/BostonJoy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEmZaLgHR-OidpblH3-VLAFQkvn7Zv1bfFXRu21KXvCcKg_Q3E2kepQZuPA7vzAzO-ktP4BaelGqU0dbb0a5H5lVWPCH9Plehsa7ZzB0u_JpHPrgaS8Gb9n8XDKkorhY8Y49AEb395tqY/s320/BostonJoy.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>Christy Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07401381898863501277noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4189418403776896786.post-22147180600547380952013-04-13T21:11:00.001-04:002013-04-13T21:31:36.065-04:00The Closest To UsMy daughter is something special. I know everyone says that about their children, and they should, and my daughter is definitely something special. <br />
<br />
Tonight after a fantastic day, a decent enough bedtime, she was feeling frustrated and used a naughty word. She could tell it pushed my buttons, so she used it 3 more times. Rrrrrrrrrrrr.....<br />
<br />
I walked out of the room. Partly to show I wouldn't stand for being pushed around, but in prt because I needed a cooling off period. Tearfully, she came out to get me, I was stern and I tucked her back into her bed and she let go of some emotions that had been bugging her at school. (Lots of transitions, teacher starting maternity leave, 5 yr olds learning how to be kind to one another, etc.) <br />
<br />
Iz: xxxx was mean to me at school.<br />
Me: oh?<br />
Iz: yeah.<br />
Me: maybe xxxx is lonely and isn't sure how to say it? Do you feel lonely sometimes? Are you always kind? (Hindsight, I should have paused & listened more)<br />
Iz: I'm always kind at school.<br />
Me: what about to your brother?<br />
Iz: no, but it's a long time to be with the same person.<br />
<br />
(Yes, she really did say that.)<br />
<br />
Me: Did you hear that somewhere? <br />
Iz: No, it was just in my head.<br />
<br />
And then she fell fast asleep. <br />
<br />
Me, after picking my jaw up off the floor, realize just how true that is. Aren't we the meanest to the people closest to us? And the meanest to the person really closest to us....ourselves?<br />
<br />
<br />
Before all this went downhill and then back on track, we spent some time at the Loving-kindness spa. LKS is the part two of our bedtime routine after she picks an age where I tell her a story from that time in my life. (Tonight she picked 8 for me. Also her brother's age). <br />
<br />
Anyway, at the Loving Kindness Spa, Rose (aka me) is our stylist/ticklebacker/relaxation/whisper specialist. (I'm not surprised Iz picked that name for our specialist, since it is the name of someone special in her life.) At LKS we say kind things about ourselves, our friends and role play positive behaviors while pretending to get our hair done (it helps me get her tangles out....win!), get massages (we massage out the icky and not so great moments of the day) and whisper positive loving feelings while at LKS. <br />
<br />
I really think that it was the LKS that made her feel comfortable enough to test the waters and talk about the icky things that were going on and the way to transition to that was to push my buttons after we were done at the LKS. <br />
<br />
Maybe all of us need time at LKS and the best way to get though the mean feelings we feel toward ourselves (or others) and to get out of coping with food or booze or ______fill in the blank_____, is to book an appointment with Rose at the Loving-Kindness Spa. <br />
<br />
I promise LKS is always open. <br />
<br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcaBkbm5t_9UusGNwPO7w7y0pYGT7SyYAFV2bu14SaYhJnAUx4s4LQX-MPj1UGRsZDOmP7p2aErRb7krFNfqflu3XcgnSTFNg2EttFjyrcW4xjMmZ_5RGkOjjGxj_GLysah23U4UKaT3dY/s640/blogger-image-427349049.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcaBkbm5t_9UusGNwPO7w7y0pYGT7SyYAFV2bu14SaYhJnAUx4s4LQX-MPj1UGRsZDOmP7p2aErRb7krFNfqflu3XcgnSTFNg2EttFjyrcW4xjMmZ_5RGkOjjGxj_GLysah23U4UKaT3dY/s640/blogger-image-427349049.jpg" /></a></div>Christy Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07401381898863501277noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4189418403776896786.post-2508244110026674222013-04-08T20:58:00.001-04:002013-04-08T21:27:35.499-04:00Twenty-twoMy daughter and I started to play this game at bed time where she picks a number between zero and thirty-seven, (my current age) and I tell her a little bit of history from my life. I told her about the time when I was 9 and was in 4-H and trained a seeing eye dog for a year; 31 and met her for the first time; 0 and spent my first Thanksgiving making her Gramma think I was ready to be born only to make her wait another week; 11 and played Abigail Adams in my 5th grade school play (we had a great political discussion that night and she told me she voted at school....in a race "between the football player and Barack Obama." She said Barack Obama won. She couldn't remember the other guy....."PoopEye?" she asked. <br />
<br />
Tonight she picked 22.<br />
<br />
I told her about my time as a dog-walker, walking beagles and border collies and terriers and golden retrievers and yellow labs. I told her that I work with someone now that I was friends with at 22!<br />
<br />
I didn't tell her I was 60 pounds overweight and sad and anxious and quit school for a year. I didn't tell her that walking dogs was what got me it of bed in the morning. I didn't tell her I was miserable in my skin and felt huge all the time, avoiding mirrors and beaches and hid cookies in my bedroom and ate Ben and Jerry's pints at a time and smoked Marlboro Reds.<br />
<br />
Instead I told her the things that I know we have in common. I told her I read lots and lots of books and I read lots and lots of comics.<br />
<br />
She lit up and hopped out of bed. <br />
<br />
"Close your eyes"<br />
She puts three books in my hand.<br />
Her brand new issues of Spider girl.<br />
(Only she calls her SpiderWoman. I love that!)<br />
"Can we sort comics tomorrow?"<br />
"I'd love to."<br />
<br />
My weight, no matter what it was....no matter what it is....it does not define me. It doesn't define any of us. Our experiences do.<br />
<br />
Be resilient. Reframe. <br />
<br />
How do YOU reframe?<br />
<br />
<div><br />
<img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfh88u8Q_TiC9yPtcc_wBZsWv9UoAtzD7Nd0PHvlcG80z_LzoFYblOT0O1xJKGCRgAPZZN0bxh0qa3eYym0sHMlPNG5PETj7TPxWw6SUuwjaDR0NKPGN0OkezsO0GDEItz_271IxIagPbG/' /></div><br />
Christy Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07401381898863501277noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4189418403776896786.post-11338972040636373362013-04-05T08:41:00.001-04:002013-04-05T08:41:19.358-04:00W2.D5 The Wrappers.I'm on the train and I'm hungry. My mental check list is going .....<br />
<br />
protein? can of tuna in my salad. check.<br />
veggies? spinach salad. check.<br />
good carbs? yep, granola. check. <br />
water? ummmmm..... 2 coffees and one 11oz bottle according to my tracking. <br />
<br />
Not good. <br />
<br />
Fast forward 2 hours later, my dinner was bigger than normal and I totally failed the <a href="http://theouteraisle.blogspot.com/2013/01/you-are-why-you-eat.html">FLAB test</a> and reached for the left over Easter candy. This time it was the F'n F. Kids wild before bed and bam. Wrappers everywhere!<br />
<br />
But in trying to look on the positive side and how to handle these inevitable situations here is something we can do. While abstinence is best, sometime candy is too tempting. If you find yourself going for the candy, try this: leave the wrappers out so you can see how much you've eaten. Not as a punishment, but to track and move on. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaeD50Bz0bVNkMHl4jQX-aIrPqmfS4JDvMRDeKVnPj4CQAi8ZFQAzHMwe3eaR6C93nVi7S4H2XqxOcCcF94JNY9N4-AkGH8R4aNpfCnuMeZqFnlJ493q27C2YGWII0CpA3bb7bdIxFpnO8/s640/blogger-image-1933470060.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaeD50Bz0bVNkMHl4jQX-aIrPqmfS4JDvMRDeKVnPj4CQAi8ZFQAzHMwe3eaR6C93nVi7S4H2XqxOcCcF94JNY9N4-AkGH8R4aNpfCnuMeZqFnlJ493q27C2YGWII0CpA3bb7bdIxFpnO8/s320/blogger-image-1933470060.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
On the bright side....<br />
<br />
[imagine sounds of elephants running and lions fighting above our head]<br />
Me: I'm self soothing with chocolate.<br />
David: where did you find those?<br />
Me: the bottom of the Easter basket. Want some?<br />
David: No, but I had I know those were there earlier, they'd be gone. <br />
<br />
Good deed for the day: I ate all the candy before anyone else did. :-/<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Christy Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07401381898863501277noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4189418403776896786.post-38863764685676843262013-04-03T20:34:00.000-04:002013-04-03T20:34:15.430-04:00Food Review.We are starting a new segment on TheOuterAisle.<br />
<br />
Food reviews.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<object width="320" height="266" class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-riB20Uadl6o/UVzISh2YWWI/AAAAAAAABwY/lbMA3Ez7jFo/s0/28F16A26-578B-46DA-BDC2-E972342C1C8D.MOV"><param name="movie" value="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?videoUrl=http://redirector.googlevideo.com/videoplayback?id%3D18b802843173cec9%26itag%3D5%26source%3Dpicasa%26cmo%3Dsensitive_content%253Dyes%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1367627501%26sparams%3Did,itag,source,ip,ipbits,expire%26signature%3D7062E11E8B603F2C6CD588545E293839060355C7.2B9272EB259D074AA8756911D69439BBC7572BB2%26key%3Dlh1" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?videoUrl=http://redirector.googlevideo.com/videoplayback?id%3D18b802843173cec9%26itag%3D5%26source%3Dpicasa%26cmo%3Dsensitive_content%253Dyes%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1367627501%26sparams%3Did,itag,source,ip,ipbits,expire%26signature%3D7062E11E8B603F2C6CD588545E293839060355C7.2B9272EB259D074AA8756911D69439BBC7572BB2%26key%3Dlh1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<span id="goog_1678667301"></span>Christy Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07401381898863501277noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4189418403776896786.post-68133468699386639772013-04-03T18:20:00.001-04:002013-04-03T18:20:58.613-04:00W2.D4. Is your why bigger than your but(t)?Yesterday, I talked about my why. Why it is that I want to continue on this sometime arduous, sometimes rewarding journey. Love and Gratitude is the short answer, but it took some time to get there and I encourage you to find your short answer but really dig and get there the long way around. <br />
<br />
Anyway, love and gratitude is great, but (butt) it doesn't shed the weight or cut my marathon time. <br />
<br />
So, dear Christy, what does cut the weight or shed time off my PR? <br />
<br />
One.step.at.a.time. <br />
<br />
What is ONE thing, just ONE thing that you will commit to tomorrow, just tomorrow?<br />
<br />
Here are some ideas:<br />
Drink half your weight in ounces of water. <br />
Take your lunch to work.<br />
Eat the lunch you took to work.<br />
Go to the gym. <br />
Track your food for the day.<br />
Dance with your kids and get all the sillies out. <br />
Bring your sneakers to work, or put them by the door. <br />
Use them.<br />
<br />
Just pick one. <br />
<br />
A colleague of mine used to say "if everything is important than nothing is." So for real, all you overachievers out there.....You are only to pick ONE!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaGnKmcRjRehpNj07-IjfeeBi6H4BGcKB5JnmUxn9iyTN_ZgdxUvMEpOfuJCBonMOqPLJ9uzvKLrs_PjfCQT7QVv9FPsX8z28CmlHpemlulwZo2gADt2x7Z8nqFKALSnkFVZdfT7QiqCCw/s640/blogger-image-1853786457.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaGnKmcRjRehpNj07-IjfeeBi6H4BGcKB5JnmUxn9iyTN_ZgdxUvMEpOfuJCBonMOqPLJ9uzvKLrs_PjfCQT7QVv9FPsX8z28CmlHpemlulwZo2gADt2x7Z8nqFKALSnkFVZdfT7QiqCCw/s640/blogger-image-1853786457.jpg" /></a></div>Christy Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07401381898863501277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4189418403776896786.post-8498241214028129682013-04-02T19:15:00.001-04:002013-04-03T17:58:28.159-04:00W2.D3. My Why.Yesterday I said I would share my "why" so here goes. <br />
<br />
I don't ever want my children to hate their bodies like I hated my own. <br />
<br />
I thought I wanted to lose weight so I could fit in my wedding dress. And I did, but I gained it back and then some with my first pregnancy. Then I wanted to fit back in my clothes so I lost weight again. But I gained even more back with pregnancy number 2, weighing 210 at my first weight watchers meeting AFTER my sweet baby girl was born. <br />
<br />
Finally enough was enough. <br />
<br />
I decided to lose weight (and keep it off) because I didn't want to suffer any more. I started this blog for me and for others so that they don't have to suffer in silence anymore either.<br />
<br />
I hope one day if my children ever chose to read this blog/journal that they know that I love them with all my heart and I will do anything to keep them from suffering in this way. Don't get me wrong, they will suffer, everyone does, and I can't always protect them from suffering, but I hope it is not in this way. I hope they never hate themselves or their bodies. <br />
<br />
Yet, while we all suffer, we all survive the same. And I want to SHOW them how to survive. <br />
<br />
Survival = Love + Gratitude. <br />
<br />
Survival starts with loving oneself. I want to show them that I love myself. That I love my body. That I am grateful for the body God gave me. To show my love and gratitude, I honor and treat my body with respect by feeding it good food, moving it, and letting it rest when it needs rest. <br />
<br />
My why is because I want to show my children how to survive with love and gratitude. <br />
<br />
What is yours?<br />
<br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiENNzbfssCk5nZyjxpSMZUA-Z3L9-sCztBBvmtSr0_Hr6ziNUnuGXHNVjmURuIXQoQSiHLoO8cVgOkQgThyT7_giLBv3XJkVok9mb82BmWQZKdZafvFsDIDjsn7yYShyot-KSrM_PXVX8P/s640/blogger-image--2071670117.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiENNzbfssCk5nZyjxpSMZUA-Z3L9-sCztBBvmtSr0_Hr6ziNUnuGXHNVjmURuIXQoQSiHLoO8cVgOkQgThyT7_giLBv3XJkVok9mb82BmWQZKdZafvFsDIDjsn7yYShyot-KSrM_PXVX8P/s640/blogger-image--2071670117.jpg" /></a></div>Christy Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07401381898863501277noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4189418403776896786.post-77776211747318803442013-04-02T18:50:00.001-04:002013-04-02T18:50:23.235-04:00Quick dinner idea.Protein, check.<br />
Greens, check.<br />
Good carbs, check.<br />
<br />
Chopped spinach, chopped apples, chopped left over pork (thank you David!), dried cranberries, light raspberry vinaigrette.<br />
<br />
Sweet potato (6 minutes in a low power microwave) <br />
<br />
Delish. <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibIjhUCq41O-OqyFZj_bR-cBYw4Fg9j-FqxBAXPSc-int3jEJn_zdVxvapCZ9nEL3ssgEYk2WnHTXxFyBiqpq69J_xXwDQf81jds1FTieow41AK-iY7bvGtw3pinp_3bYLwARyv2ooPjXY/s640/blogger-image--119815920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibIjhUCq41O-OqyFZj_bR-cBYw4Fg9j-FqxBAXPSc-int3jEJn_zdVxvapCZ9nEL3ssgEYk2WnHTXxFyBiqpq69J_xXwDQf81jds1FTieow41AK-iY7bvGtw3pinp_3bYLwARyv2ooPjXY/s640/blogger-image--119815920.jpg" /></a></div>Christy Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07401381898863501277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4189418403776896786.post-69272113303272035232013-04-01T18:12:00.001-04:002013-04-01T18:13:38.995-04:00W2. Day 2. What is the Why?Today, the Women's Networking Group at my place of work invited a speaker to talk to us about the importance if balance and healthy living. Yes, of course we all know that it is important, but this gentleman (yes, it was a man....I never understand why the featured speakers at many women's networking groups are men.....but whatever.) preached no processed foods, get enough sleep, move. <br />
<br />
All these things we know. I know them. You know them, but change is hard. <br />
<br />
The most important thing that Chris Johnson from <a href="http://ontargetliving.com/">On Target Living</a> said, in my opinion was "make sure your WHY is bigger than your butt."<br />
<br />
Here is the thing, all of us want to look and feel good, but is that what gets us to change? Many of us want more energy, to get off medications, to live longer, but that STILL doesn't answer WHY we want to break habits and make a new change.<br />
<br />
So our task for today is to really think about WHY we want to make a change. And ask yourself, is that WHY big enough to actually do it?<br />
<br />
What is your why? I'll tell you mine tomorrow..... Stay tuned. Until then,<br />
<br />
Onward!<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKVPiY_o1vCPdUOtqplpXcL_vgAd5keVAsRoH-itJtPmH_T2D5-BI3Y5RBfQtQWcnoDSpmfOrIv0aFhk2KYUK2d1Teq88EJAFp4CKr3RgtI3aSGjkWjdWywADmfI1zBeMIgBgvzVbmUei-/s640/blogger-image--220831457.jpg" /></div>
Christy Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07401381898863501277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4189418403776896786.post-53797445835181788152013-04-01T08:05:00.001-04:002013-04-01T09:18:46.722-04:00W2 Day 1. The weigh in.The scale and I have a love hate relationship. On the one hand, I am a total data girl, I love tracking information, and if you think about it, our bodies are like machines producing lots and lots of information. Hook us up to a counter/ tracker/scale and we will deliver. I've tracked distance, steps, pounds, heart rate, mood, repetitions, calories, points, weight...my height stays the same for now and I will take calcium every night to keep it that way! It isn't just about tracking, but then analyzing what we tracked. <br />
<br />
So today, after a long Easter weekend with lots of Easter events, some I tracked and some I lazily tracked ( in my head till I lost count) which really isn't tracking, I am not surprised at the scale.<br />
<br />
I had a gain this week.<br />
<br />
But the scale is not me. It is not my mood. It is what it is and I will not let it dictate my mood. <br />
<br />
Done. <br />
<br />
So today's Easter morning task is to drink plenty of water and going on a mini-detox, getting rid of all the salt, sugar and build ups from this weekend and keep moving onward. <br />
<br />
Detox the brain of negative thoughts. Detox the body of the Easter abundance. That is a resurrection in of itself. <br />
<br />
Onward!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY_Hfty_oLyGJxhmBY5YFhbr5HzriXAtwfUeZWwRIzOxfEGWgOGPsndmK3WHXSSlP_e4031UNgpZWgkn6pxIxOlSIqwCZkNVIZ_K16XFVqkuvQ7Frcb11w9CG1ZSGaHWlrH353HT78aq9M/s640/blogger-image-1925406941.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY_Hfty_oLyGJxhmBY5YFhbr5HzriXAtwfUeZWwRIzOxfEGWgOGPsndmK3WHXSSlP_e4031UNgpZWgkn6pxIxOlSIqwCZkNVIZ_K16XFVqkuvQ7Frcb11w9CG1ZSGaHWlrH353HT78aq9M/s640/blogger-image-1925406941.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Water + light = Resurection. <br />*by Izzy B. via Paper on Easter Sunday</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Christy Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07401381898863501277noreply@blogger.com1