Not Buying It! Part 12

This is Part 12 of my 90-Day “Not Buying It” Challenge.  Inspired by Judith Levine’s book Not Buying It.

You can read my previous posts here: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, Part 10, Part 11.

Here are my rules for the 90 days:
* No shopping except food and essential items
* No new books, clothes, or music
* No eating in restaurants or buying take-out
* Try to use up food items that are already in the house
* I’m still allowed to pay for dance and yoga

Read about my 12th week here:

http://truebodymindsoul.com/not-buying-it-part-12/

Mindfulness and Your Perfect Weight

Check out my latest blog post on truebodymindsoul.com!

Whether you want to lose, gain, or maintain weight, or simply enjoy your food more, Mindfulness can help!

http://truebodymindsoul.com/mindfulness-and-your-perfect-weight/

365 Challenge Day 10 – Cardio

A couple of years ago, even though I was in a good routine of walking almost every day, I realized that to be healthy I really needed to add cardio, or aerobic exercise to my week. The thing that made me realize the importance of it was reading this book: Change Your Brain, Change Your Body, by Dr. Daniel Amen.  Actually, I just decided I need to read it again.

I love neuroscience, and I find neuroplasticity completely fascinating!!  For years I had been reading about how meditation changes the brain, but this book was much more comprehensive.  There were many issues the author specifically outlined and how they were related to brain health, linked back to areas of the brain being damaged or understimulated.  There were multiple solutions for specific problems, some were complex and required medical interventions.  But there was one solution that would help any of the issues and all areas of the brain: aerobic exercise!  Basically, by increasing the oxygen flow to the brain, it improves brain health, which in turn improves  mental and physical well-being.  Things like memory, mood, and willpower could all be improved though cardio.

For example there was a study that showed students excelled academically in a school that made aerobic exercise part of the weekly phys-ed program.  Another study that showed regular aerobic exercise was more effective in the long term then anti-depressents for treating depression, and didn’t have any of the terrible side effects.  His first book (which I haven’t read) talks about mental health and depression in much more detail: Change Your Brain, Change Your Life.

Today I signed my son up at the gym where my daughter and I are both members.  I was just there to get him started so I followed him around and we went on the bike, the stair master, and the treadmill, about 25 minutes all together.  He also tried this crazy looking thing called a Jacob’s Ladder.  Then in the afternoon I went back with my daughter, and I did 20 more minutes on the elliptical machine.  I’m hoping that we’ll be able to get into a routine of all going together twice a week.

When I was in my 20s and trying to lose my “freshman 15” (except it was more like freshman 20) I used to go on the stair master for one hour at a time.  I don’t know how the heck I did that!!  Well, I sure did lose the weight.  Now, since I started trying to incorporate cardio again, I can’t seem to do more than 30 minutes at a time.  Even 20 feels like a lot!  I’d like to work up to at least 40.  That would be a good goal for me.  At least twice a week.  I can’t say I love going on the elliptical machine the way I love yoga, love dance, and LOVE Zumba.  But I don’t dislike it either.  I put on some good tunes, or even listen to an audio book, and am always happy when I’ve done it.

 

 

 

365 Challenge Day 9 – Sweet Greens

When I was in DC last month for a two-week conference I was bombarded with sweets and unhealthy food (see my post about it.) Something clicked in me and I decided I wasn’t going to touch any of the junk. I took matters into my own hands, and told the conference organizers not to include me in the meal count.  It was there I discovered this amazing restaurant called sweetgreen.  It was awesome!!  The best salads I’ve ever had.  I ate there almost every single night.  Now that I’m home I figure I’ll just make my own amazing salads using a lot of the same ingredients.

This was today’s lunch.  YUM!  My twelve-year-old son tried a bite, actually asked if he could have some, and then told me I should write a cookbook.  Awwww.  The best compliment ever!!  Well, if I’ve got both my kids loving arugula, I figure I must be doing something right!

Here are the ingredients:

arugula

steamed beets

shredded carrots

cooked green lentils

corn

avocado

scallions

fresh cilantro

hearts of palm

cooked portabello mushrooms

for dressing I used: balsamic vinegar, garlic olive oil, dried dill, salt and pepper

 

I went easy on the oil and avocado since I’ve been trying to lose a few pounds. Speaking of which…

I weighed myself this morning and in the past two months I’ve lost 7 pounds!!  Awesome!!

I’m reluctant to totally trust this number because I did have some stomach issues last week in Madagascar, so it’s possible I’ll gain a few back.  But I think I’ve been so good about eating healthy, avoiding sugar and flour, and increasing veggies, that I definitely can count on some, maybe 5.

The last time I went to Madagascar I lost a few pounds, and that time I didn’t even have access to a fitness room and barely exercised.  Considering I ate every single meal in a restaurant I was pretty confused about that.  My conclusion was that it’s from eating three meals a day, including a hearty breakfast, with almost no snacking.  At home I can be bad about midnight snacking.  I tend to stay up late and at home I often have quite a large snack before I go to bed.  At the hotel I was pretty stuck and there were nights I went to bed hungry because I didn’t have access to snacks or sweets.  This time I brought some nuts and dried fruits, but was good about only snacking moderately.  So that’s that only reason I can think of that I would have lost weight.  Also maybe eating a hearty breakfast which I don’t usually do.  Things to think about.

I also had a green smoothie for breakfast, jam-packed with spinach and romaine lettuce, so I think I’ve had my fair share of greens today!!