Like That Scene From Rocky

From Decluttering to Minimalizing

2011-07-07T13:41:00.000-07:00

Over the weekend I tamed / thinned out / decluttered my closet by following my 5 Steps to Clearing Out Your Closet as posted last week and spent two days clearing things out.

Day 1: Everything Easy. Old / Ill-Fitting / Ugly / Just-Don't-Like-It-Anymore clothing. I filled about 4 garbage bags. Yes. 4! Full!

Day 2: The Hard Stuff. I decided to take my decluttering a step further into minimalist territory. I asked myself what it was I truly need; how much clothing I have to have in my closet to be happy. On day 2 I managed to get rid of:

6 dresses; 12 bottoms; 10 tops; 3 pairs of shoes; and 8 accessories. EVERYTHING IN THIS PICTURE!

The bags I filled with donate/throw away clothing aren't pictured here, and I decided not to count those towards my total amount of stuff I managed to thin out. Why? For me, this was more about learning to be happy with less, not getting rid of stuff I know I won't wear.

What I Learned:

An interesting paradox: Now that my closet has been slimmed down, I actually feel like I have more clothing options. Getting dressed is so much easier when you can go to your closet and you love every piece, instead of being overwhelmed by underwhelming clothing. It's as if the crap was totally blocking out all the great clothing I have.

So that's where my money goes: I need to start seriously thinking about what I'm buying before I throw money away. I have a tendency to thrift shop, and this exercise made me realize I buy a lot of junky clothes. Sure, that tee may only be $7, but I just threw away around 15 pieces of $5-10 clothing.

Just when you think you're finished: The best decluttering doesn't happen in a day. I cleaned my closet over the weekend, and this morning I went to my closet and found a few more things I could live without. The best time to declutter is at the end of a season: if you didn't wear it that winter, time to move on.

I also read, "The Joy of Less" to motivate myself, I definitely recommend picking it up!

Can Decluttering Help you Lose Weight?

2011-05-20T09:48:00.000-07:00

I came accross an interesting series of articles over at Canadianliving.com. In them, Peter Walsh explains how clearing clutter can help you lose weight.

Of course, he isn't speaking literally. Throwing out 10 pounds of stuff won't subtract the same amount from your butt (unfortunately). Walsh notes that the reasons we accumulate clutter - such as emotional distress or trauma - are also often the reasons behind weight issues. By tackling the issues that cause clutter, not just the clutter itself, we are facing our weight-loss issues.

This article highlights an interesting concept I have been thinking a lot about since I started this challenge... Clearing clutter requires more than just throwing things away. If you don't deal with the issues that underlie your addiction to clutter, 6 months after your purge you will be right back where you started.

It makes me wonder... where does my addiction to "things" come from, and how can I get over it?

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5 Steps to Cleaning out your Closet

2011-05-18T16:30:00.000-07:00

The Fasion Lovers Comprehensive 5 Step Guide to Getting the Most out of Your Closet

You know why Parisian women always look so good?

Small closets.

No room for crappy clothes.

I love clothes. I love, love, love them. So naturally, I have a hard time pairing down my much loved clothing supply.

I understand your pain. I understand the difficulty of throwing things away. So we're going to do this together.

Here are 5 easy (but not painless) steps for clearing out, decluttering, and getting the most from your closet.

Before you Begin:

Prepare your Space. Make your bed so you can lay clothes flat on it. Clean a space for you to put discarded clothes. You'll be pulling a lot of clothes out, so it is imperative that you have a clean space to work in. The tidier the battlefield the better.

Prepare Mentally. As with all decluttering, be merciless. There is no room for sentimentality. Be completely objective! You are a machine. Robots have no sentimental attachment to clothes. They feel no guilt about donating the awful sweater their robot-Aunt gave them 2 years ago. Just like pulling off a band aid, the quicker you do it, the less painful it will be.

Prepare your Bins/Bags.

Consign/Give to Friends - This bag should include all your nicest clothes. Tags still on? Great for consignment (or ebay). Have something you love but can't bear to give up? Pass it on to a friend. That way, its still close to you, just not in your closet. AND you can borrow it whenever you get a craving! Giving much-loved clothes to a friend is a hundred times easier than giving them up altogether. Baby steps, right?
Donate - These are all the things that are in good enough shape for Goodwill, but not good enough shape to consign or give to friends.
Clothes for Tailoring/Fixing - Have a shirt that needs to be taken in or pants that need to be hemmed? Now's the time to do it.
Throw Away - Everything else.

5 Steps to Cleaning out your Closet: For ultimate ease of cleaning, follow in order.

1. Clothes you just don't like. To get the ball moving, start with things you know you want to get rid of. Don't skip over the sentimental things: ugly birthday presents, ex's old clothes, novelty tees, etc. Divide (into bags) and conquer (the clutter).

2. Clothes that do not fit you. Can any of them be tailored to fit? If so, put in the appropriate bag. Get rid of all the rest. I don't care if they are jeans you bought on sale and will look great when you lose/gain 5 lbs. Get rid of them. Divide all those baggy sweaters, tight pants, and uncomfortable shoes between the appropriate bags, and move right along. (Remember - be honest with yourself. If you have to, try things on and give the article a good critical review in the mirror).

3. Clothes that do not look great on you. Does that colour look awful on you? Skirt in a cute shape, but definitely not for your body? Get rid of it. Keep only the things that make you look, and feel, great.

4. Clothes you haven't worn in a year. This is where I start to have some fun, and where the majority of your time can go. Begin by asking yourself, "Why haven't I worn this?" Your answers will probably be:

It's ugly/It doesn't fit. This should have been dealt with in Step 1. Get rid of it.
I have duplicates. You'll get more out of your clothes (and your closet) if you only have 1 or 2 of a specific item. Like me, are you the proud owner of 15 graphic tees? 5 white tank tops? 3 workout zip-ups? 12 pairs of bootcut jeans? Choose the high quality ones you really love, and then divide the chosen ones in half.
I have nothing to wear it with. For example, you have a skirt you love, but never wear. Is it because you need a specific kind of shirt to go with it? You need a top that's fitted but all you have is flowey? First, go through your existing clothes and look for something to wear the piece with. Put that skirt on, and try on every top you have. Chances are, you'll find an outfit you didn't even know you had. If that doesn't work, start a clothes shopping list (you do it with groceries, why not clothes too?) so you can shop with specific pieces in mind. Stumped on what to wear it with? Simply type, "high waisted skirt" (or whatever it is you don't wear) into google images and get inspired.
It just doesn't "go." Do you have an overwhelming colour pallet in your closet? Most of my clothes are in fairly subdued colours, but occasionally I will go a bit nuts and buy something bright pink that doesn't go with any of my other clothes, and then I'll never wear it! Shocking. The same goes for pieces that just don't fit your style. Are you a bit preppy, but have the odd bohemian bag or hipster hat? These "just-don't-go" pieces, while probably very cute, are usually better off bid adieu.

Go through each piece of haven't-worn-in-a-year clothing this way. Keep only the things you truly have the intention of wearing again.

5. Clothes you love, but are tired. This is my least favourite part. We all have our favourite sweaters, jeans, or shoes. We love them so much, we wear them all the time. And its because of our love that they are piling, they are stretched, they have holes in them. And its time to let them go. Remember: getting rid of old clothes makes room for new ones!

Tips:

Don't forget to do jewelry, belts, scarves, shoes, socks, underwear, and bras!
This is VERY important: Do NOT go through the bags again! You've heard of shoppers remorse? Declutterer's remorse is much, much worse. Once its in the bag, say farewell.

Need some extra help?

How I Conquered my Bathroom Clutter

2011-05-17T10:51:00.000-07:00

Bring it on, bathroom clutter.

I followed the tips I laid out in my Bathroom Clutter post and the strategies in my Goal Achieving Action Plan I created at beginning of this challenge.

Read on to see how I fared!

Tylenol from 2007.

First, I have to note that I already did (what I thought was) a thorough decluttering of my stuff before my first move.

But once I get started, I'm amazed at what I missed. Prescriptions from 2008, Tamiflu from my 2009 trip to Cambodia, Tylenol that expired in 2007 (gasp, I took one of these on Friday!) Wow. Clutter can be seriously bad for your health.

About halfway through I realize: I lugged all this crap from Vancouver to Montreal, left it in Montreal for years, then brought it back again?? That makes me feel like a bit of an idiot.

All my bathroom supplies: BEFORE

All my bathroom supplies: AFTER
The pink bag on the left is stuff I use everyday.
The purple box on the left is my Pharmacy!

Stuff I got rid of: electric toothbrush parts from who knows how long ago, an old hair straightener, incredibly old nail polish, old prescriptions, jewellery (to be given away) and old makeup.

I'm not sure if I quite made my 50% quota, but I was pretty darn close. I think the bathroom declutter was an overall success!

What I Learned:

1. Free = Clutter. I need to stop taking mini soaps and shampoos from hotels. Just because its free, it does NOT mean I should take it!

2. Don't hesitate on stuff to donate. When I am given smelly lotions, creams, and bubble baths for Christmas they will be donated straight away, otherwise they are bound to sit under the sink for years until they go bad.

3. Buy the small version of hair sprays, gels, shampoos and lotions. I am very minimalist when it comes to using hair product, makeup, and lotions, so the big ones just sit and collect dust until I am bored of them and buy a new one... which just leads to clutter.

That's it for my bathroom... now on to my closet....

Declutter Your Bathroom

2011-05-16T10:55:00.000-07:00

To kick off my Declutter Challenge, I decided to start in the bathroom.

As promised, my tips on how to declutter your bathroom. Including my own, personal, never-been-shared-before tip you don't want to miss: Step #3: "The Pharmacy"

Start easy...

1. Throw Out: Old or Expired

Medication - Prescriptions, ointments, and over the counter medications (such as ibuprophen or cough syrup). Remember: Don't throw away old medication (it can get into the groundwater) take it instead to the pharmacy where they can dispose of it. Remove any personal information on the prescription bottles.
Lotions/Creams/Shampoos/Soaps - Is it watery with a weird smell? Empty it out and recycle the bottle.
Make-up - Expired make-up is nothing but bad news. Bacteria on old make-up can cause some nasty infections, so make sure you know when all your beauty products expire, it may be sooner than you think!
Nailpolish - Do you have nailpolishes that are so old the sparkles have separated from the colour?

2. Donate or Give Away:

Hair Accessories - Still have a crimper? Are we still in the 90s? How many hairbands do you have? And how many do you need? Same goes for hairbrushes. Be realistic with yourself. If you have a gorgeous feather flapper-inspired headpiece you love, but never wear... its probably time to give it away.
Linens - Think hard about how many towels you honestly need. 2 per person? Keep sheets you have full sets of and donate the rest.
Jewelry - Check back to see my post on how to declutter your jewelry!

3. The Pharmacy: The Budgeter's Best Friend...

Create your own personal pharmacy by consolidating all your extras, duplicates, and unused products you have scattered around. Keep these still-usable items in one place (i.e.- a box under the sink) so you know exactly what kind of product supply you have. The next time you run out of something, check your own pharmacy instead of running to the one down the street! Leave out the item with the least amount left (or what is nearest the expiry date) and put the rest into The Pharmacy for future use.

Samples - Who doesn't have a million flosses/toothbrushes from your dentist or hotel-size shampoos laying around? Throw all your extra flosses in a ziplock with other teethcare products and put them in your pharmacy to be used next time you run out of something.
Duplicates - I have a tendency to buy multiple waxing kits. I started consolidating them all and found I have enough wax to last me at least 6 months. I leave out the one with the least amount left, and put the rest in the pharmacy.
Half-Used Bottles of... - Lotions, shampoos, etc. If you like the product, keep it in the pharmacy and don't buy more until your supply has been used up! If you didn't like the product, I suggest offering it to a friend. If that doesn't work, you can...

4. Repurpose:

Shampoo/Soap/Body Wash - If you have shampoos or soaps you don't like, try using them as hand soap. I have read a few different articles that suggest shampoo be used as bathroom cleaner. I've never tried it, but if you do let me know how it goes!

** For more tips: check out the What I Learned section of my "How I Conquered my Bathroom Clutter" post!

Check back at future posts for tips on how to avoid getting all cluttered up again

Challenge: The Spartan Sprint

2011-05-15T17:02:00.000-07:00

This is how you celebrate when you're almost finished a race... like that scene from Rocky!

On Saturday I ran in a race called The Spartan Sprint with my boyfriend, brother, and his girlfriend.
The Spartan Sprint is a 5 km obstacle course designed by US Marines. Absolutely grueling, but also incredibly fun!

Spoiler Alert! If you are considering doing the race, I suggest not reading on! Half the fun of the race is not knowing what obstacles are coming your way!

So the race consists of a 5 km trail run and a series of obstacles. Each year and race the obstacles are different, and you aren't told what they are before the race. Going into the race without knowing the obstacles absolutely adds to the excitement. This year the obstacles were (in order of appearance):
Fire jump; run through a river; blow up a balloon while running uphill; standing on a bridge, pull a rock tied to a rope up from the river; carry a bucket of rocks up a hill; a tent run; a balance beam; a rock pull; a wall climb; crawl through the mud under barbed wire; scale a cargo netting A-Frame; a javelin throw; a wall scale; and finally... dodge a real life spartan!!

Fire Jump!

A-Frame!

Barbed Wire Injuries


Scale a Wall

Menacing Spartan Guy

It was a great race, but totally exhausting. The best thing about it was the sense of comradery between the contestants. Everyone cheered you on and was quick to offer help if you were having trouble with one of the obstacles.

I was nervous that I wasn't in good enough shape to complete it, but that turned out to be a waste of worrying-energy. Everyone did the race at their own pace, and there were definitely some places I slowed it down to a walk!

Still feel like you need to work on your fitness a bit before the race? Head over to Amazon.com and pick up the Navy Seal Fitness Guide. It comes with an instructional DVD, 12 week fitness program, and even works for the beginner Spartan Sprinter. $15 well spent if you want to make the best of your race.

Check out the Spartan Sprint website (http://www.spartanrace.com/) for videos or more info.

Declutter Challenge: The Declutter Series

2011-05-11T13:44:00.000-07:00

Spring has sprung, and we all know what time it is...

This marks the beginning of my declutter series. Posts include tips and tricks on:

How to Declutter your Bathroom
How to Declutter your Closet
How to Declutter your Kitchen
How to Declutter your Life

Be sure to subscribe to my RSS Feed so you don't miss out on some great tips!

My Decluttering Goal Achieving Action Plan:

1. Write down your positive goal in concrete terms.

Pare down enough items to fill just two truck loads when I move next week.
Note: not including furniture, because I honestly don't have that much furniture.

2. List your reasons for setting this goal.

Moving: I'm moving in the next few weeks and I have so much stuff. I do not want to have to move it.
Moving: Further, I'm moving to New York in the fall, and I need to fit my things in my boyfriend's tiny Manhattan apartment.
Personal Improvement: Minimalist is beautiful, and something I've never been very good at.
Exploration of Consumer Culture: While I was in Cambodia I was perfectly happy living out of my suitcase for 3 months. Do I need all this "stuff" to be happy? No. So why do I have such a hard time throwing it out?

Be sure to read the rest of my Action Plan!

3. Do your research.

Check. Tips on decluttering to be included in following posts.

4. What are you going to do to achieve your goal?

Achieving my goal of two truck load of 'things' requires getting rid of approximately half my stuff. I plan on pairing down my things by 50% by closely following the tips I have compiled.

5 and 6. What are the obstacles to achieving your goal? How will you overcome them?

Sentimentality - I keep lots of things for very sentimental reasons. I will remind myself that throwing something out will not erase the memory tied to that particular object. Or, I will take pictures of the things I don't need but want to remember.
Love not Lost - I have things I still love, but will never use again. I will give these things away to friends so they are still in my life, or will donate them so I know they are actually being used (by someone who really needs them, no less).
What if I need it? - I will make a special box for things I have not used in some time but worry I will need again. That box will go in the closet, and after 1 year I will get rid of it for good.

7 and 8. What are your triggers and what postive habit will you do instead?

See numbers 5 and 6.

9. Who will help you?
My mom and brother - Both ruthless when it comes to throwing things away. My mom will definitely help me when I pack, so I will trust her judgment when she says an item should be tossed.
My friends - They will be quite helpful when it comes to purging clothes.

10. Create a mantra or positive saying to repeat when you get stuck.

Do I need this to be happy?

Do not keep things out of guilt.

Throwing this out will not erase the memory.

Do I want to keep this simply because I have it? - I am reading a great book called Nudge, and in it they discuss how people assign higher value to things when they posess them than when they don't.

11. Set rewards.

When I declutter my closet I will buy an awesome closet organizer (space for shoes, for belts, the works!)
When I declutter my kitchen I will purchase a new set of stainless steel measuring cups to replace my mismatched set.
When I declutter my bathroom I will buy Leo Babuata's book, The Power of Less.
When I sell the things I mean to sell I will buy a replacement item of clothing for something I had to throw away.

12. Set a start date and achievement date.

Bathroom: May 13
Bedroom: May 20
Kitchen: May 27
Sell/Donate/Give away "decluttered items" by June 1

13. Keep track of your progress.

That's what the blog is for!

To get your own goal achieving action plan visit my Achieving Goals Page.

Vegan Challenge: Final Thoughts

2011-05-09T11:23:00.000-07:00

Sorry little buddies.

It's 1 week after my 3-week diet ended, and now is a good time to reflect. I never went into this challenge expecting I was going to go vegan for life. At most, I was hoping to learn some vegan subsitututes I would be likely to incorporate into my everyday life.

Vegan Habits I'll Continue

Milk alternatives: Soy milk in my Americano; Almond milk in my cereal (here for my almond milk post)

Corn tortillas instead of flour

Homemade Vegan Granola (here for the recipe)

Eating nuts for snacks

Vegan Habits I Won't Continue

Vegan cheese. Bleh.

Not eating bread. I need it!

Soy milk/almond milk in my tea. I need the good stuff.

What I Learned

I used to think strict vegans/vegetarians were slightly self-richeous, smug, and kind of irritating. But after eating vegan for just 3 weeks, I have a whole new respect for people who put the time, effort, and willpower into a non-mainstream diet for the sake of their beliefs. I am extremely passionate about the things I believe in, and those willing to deprive themselves for the sake of their convictions deserve the utmost admiration.

Go Vegans!!

Tips on Starting a Vegan Diet

2011-05-02T10:36:00.000-07:00

Coming to the end of my diet, I decided to post a few tips and tricks on going vegan.

If you're going vegan for good or just for a short cleanse, these are some tips you'll definitely want to read.

Getting Started:

Set a date – This allows you to mentally prepare for your new diet, as well as clear out your fridge without having to throw anything away.
Purge your kitchen of non-vegan items – Eliminate the temptation to snack on ‘forbidden foods’ during those moments of weakness.
Do your nutrition research – Make sure you understand what your body needs and how to get it on a vegan diet.

Vegan Health has some great tips
Or Choose Veg's Vegan Food Pyramid

Check with a health professional – As with starting any new diet, make sure that there are no special nutritional concerns you need to be aware of.

Shopping & Cooking:

Make a meal plan – Collect recipes from cookbooks, the internet, and friends, and make a meal plan for your first week. The more thoroughly you plan your meals, the less you’ll be struggling to find something to eat. Don’t forget about snacks!
Buy quality ingredients – Fresh, organic produce, good quality beans and legumes, and rich spices. Good ingredients make a huge difference in your recipes.
Buy a few pre-prepared vegan items – Have some quick-fix snack on hand such as granola bars, breakfast patties, and other things you can prepare quickly or eat on the go. Just remember not to rely on these pre-prepared foods too heavily.
Buy in bulk – not only is buying bulk cheaper, but it allows you to buy a small amount so you don’t waste money on something you don’t like if you’re trying something new.
Don’t expect vegan items to taste like their non-vegan counterparts! I learned this with my quiche. You may want your vegan mac and cheese to taste like Kraft, but chances are, it won’t.

Eating out:

Find local vegan/vegetarian restaurants – Eating vegan at a regular restaurant can be kind of boring (salad, anyone?) and a serious test of your resolve. Vegan restaurants are popping up everywhere and offer delicious meals even a carnivore will love.
Choose cuisines that naturally have vegan options – Thai, Vietnamese, Indian, Nepali, and Mexican (minus the cheese) are all cuisines that are largely vegan-friendly.
Visit your local restaurants' websites – This allows you to see their menu (if it is posted online) and determine in advance what you can eat. It may also be helpful to email the restaurant to get an ingredient list, which may be more reliable than asking your server.

More Tips:

Transition time – Going vegan is a huge change, and its not always a breeze to do overnight. You must change not only your eating habits, but shopping and cooking habits as well. If you need it, try a transition period in which you test out vegan recipes a night or two a week. This can also help to avoid “vegan burnout,” something I began to experience around 2 ½ weeks of my vegan diet.
Don’t be too hard on yourself – There’s no doubt about it – it’s hard to go vegan. If you slip up and have a french fry fried in animal fat, don’t beat yourself up.

A few of the things on the list are from a great post over at veganbits.com on Strategies for New Vegans and a few of them are my own. I hope they help!

This is an AWESOME vegan cookbook - I highly recommend checking it out!

Vegan Challenge: This is Why We Have Mother's Day

2011-04-27T21:10:00.000-07:00

I finally arrived home from New York after a nightmarish full day of traveling.

The worst thing about arriving home late is having nothing in the fridge; not even a little morsel to snack on.

Lucky for me, my Mom really got on board with my whole vegan diet. Last week she cooked up some awesome tofu-pineapple chili and gave it to me to freeze.

Having a delicious pre-made dinner made my arrival home infinitely better.

Vegan Challenge: VEGAN IN NYC

2011-04-27T12:07:00.001-07:00

The lovely Sophia and I on the Brooklyn Bridge

Despite the frequency with which I am lucky enough to visit New York City, every time I go I still get into serious vacation-mode. And my NYC vacation-mode tends to be less focused on relaxing and more focused on throwing together fantastic outfits, going for drinks at trendy bars, and eating way too much delicious food.

I was not about to drag my boyfriend and friend visiting from Toronto to a bunch of vegan places, so needless to say, there was some cheating on my vegan diet.

Some Thoughts on Eating Vegan While on Vacation:

Eating vegan at regular restaurants can be really boring. In the day I had to subsist on salads with nothing on them, side plates (side mushrooms, side pickles, etc), and french fries. At night I pretty much ate whatever was put in front of me.

If you do have to go out to eat but your comrades are keen on meat, choose cuisines that are naturally extensively vegan. Some examples are Indian, Thai, Vietnamese, and Mexican (corn tortillas and vegetables anyone?)

When you are out, just because the menu says its vegan, it doesn't mean it is! I was pumped to see a vegan burger on one menu, but the burger came out on a non-vegan hamburger bun, which I only found out because I asked the waitress.
("Perhaps you should tell your customers the bun isn't vegan when they order the vegan burger." "Oh, yah, I guess I should.")

All in all, my foray into veganism in New York was a total failure. I managed to avoid meat, save for a bite or two at a tapas place we visited, but being away from my own kitchen and going out to eat every day proved to be extremely difficult!

There is a fierce debate within the vegan community about a concept called the Paris Exemption - the idea that it is okay to eat meat on special occasions or if vegan meals are hard to find. I agree with it on the grounds that something like veganism, or any other diet or lifestyle for that matter, should not be treated as dogma. In my opinion, doing so can potentially lead to the isolationism of and friction between groups with differing opinions. Flexibility is key to getting along with people who don't believe in the same things you believe in. (But maybe I'm just saying that to justify the bacon wrap I had on Saturday night).

For an extremely interesting article on vegan fanaticism, visit this article by vegweb.com

Soph and I in Soho

Vegan Challenge: Vacation Prep

2011-04-21T21:52:00.000-07:00

So I'm going to New York for the Easter weekend to hang with my boyfriend and best friend (who is visiting from Toronto).

One thing I always try and do before a trip is clean out my fridge. Since I've been eating vegan, my fridge is full of vegetables. Knowing they wouldn't keep until I returned home, I decided to freeze 'em up so when I'm back I can make my own vegetable broth!

Celery, Brussel Sprouts, Yams, Garlic, Carrots, Zucchini, Green Beans, Lettuce, Asparagus, Orange Bell Peppers, Mushrooms, and Cherry Tomatoes. Delish.

Make sure you chop them BEFORE you freeze them, because that's much harder to do when they're frozen rock solid!

Chop chop, stuff in a bag, and toss it in the freezer.

There's a few things to be said about making your own vegetable broth. For one, store bought broth tends to be extremely high in salt. And secondly, I'm a firm believer that the more processed food you buy, the more pounds you're going to put on. So whenever possible, I try to make everything from scratch (sauce, dressing, etc.)

Typically, the hours leading up to me leaving for a trip can be hectic to say the least. For example, today I came home early from work to do a garbage run (from my basement renovation) and when I returned home, just hours before my flight and still not packed, I found water gushing out the side of the house. Fantastic.

It's a great feeling knowing I have a clean fridge and tasty vegetables just waiting to be turned into broth when I get home.

NOW I'm ready for New York!

Vegan Challenge: Vegan Snacks POPCORN!

2011-04-19T21:55:00.000-07:00

I love me some popcorn.

I'm not a big fan of popcorn from a bag. And unless you love those transfats, I'd suggest buying popcorn kernels and popping them yourself. It takes just a few minutes, and it's far tastier than the microwaved bag. Heat a little oil in a pan, throw in some kernels, cover, and keep movin' 'em around until they're all popped. Since I am human after all... I do like some butter. When the kernels have popped ( I use the bag instructions: wait until poppings occur every 3 - 4 seconds) I transfer everything to a bowl, put a little butter in the pan, wait until it melts, then put the popcorn back in the pan. This ensures even butter distribution, which, as we all know, is essential.

I usually toss a little spice on my popcorn. I just tried out Cajun seasoning blend, which is probably my favourite so far.

Here's a recipe for Excellent Homemade Cajun Seasoning from Canadian Home Living:

Cajun Seasoning: Ingredients

1/4 cup (50 mL) paprika
1/4 cup (50 mL) dried parsley
2 tbsp (25 mL) garlic powder
2 tbsp (25 mL) dried oregano
2 tbsp (25 mL) dried thyme
1 tsp (5 mL) salt
1/2 tsp (2 mL) cayenne pepper

Toss all the ingredients together, and sprinkle on your popcorn.

I suggest you also try on your popcorn: Cumin; Curry; Paprika and Chili Flakes. All excellent!

Vegan Challenge: Weekend 1 - Guilty Milk and Egg-based Pleasures

2011-04-18T13:28:00.000-07:00

Want to know what I did this weekend?

Confession time:

I came home from the bar on Saturday night and had a piece of toast. NON-VEGAN toast. It did have vegan breakfast patty's on it though. And ketchup... and ranch dressing (also non-vegan). It sounds more gross than it tasted.

I had a family dinner on Sunday and was able to refrain from eating the roast beef. I went through much trouble to make my own special vegan mashed potatoes and falafels in place of the roast beast. When it came time to eat, I did however, proceed to cover my entire plate in gravy. Bad vegan!

And then I had a cookie.

Ok, so clearly weekends are hard. Really, really hard.

But I did have to pick up 3 Subway sandwiches for my brother and dad (who are currently renovating my basement) and I made it out with only a salad. Which is impressive, because Subway is one of my favourite things in the world.

What did we learn?

(That I love gravy? and cookies?)

Plan ahead (meticulously) when going out for a meal. I thought I had my whole vegan alternative meal planned out, but I forgot about two very important additions: sauce and desert. If your will-power is as bad as mine, careful planning is your best ally.

Vegan Challenge: Veganism and World Hunger

2011-04-15T12:45:00.000-07:00

Photo taken during my 2009 trip to Cambodia

Friday Thoughts: The World Food Crisis

By now, most people are aware that there is a global food security crisis. After a 2-year period of decline in food prices following the 2007-2008 spike, food prices are once again on the rise. As usual, it is the poor who are feeling the worst effects of the rising food prices, and it is the poor in the poorest countries who are being hit the hardest. What I want to know is, can eating vegan reduce world hunger?

While the food crisis can't be attributed to a single cause (analysts have called it a "perfect storm" of factors) there is one factor I feel I can have a direct - albiet small - affect on, and that is by eating less meat.

According to the head of the International Food Policy Research Institute, the gradual change in diet among newly prosperous populations is the most important factor underpinning the rise in global food prices. As people move out of poverty and into the middle class, generally they begin to incorporate more meat into their diet.

Raising meat is an extremely inefficient process. One kilogram of beef requires seven kilograms of feed grain. By reducing my meat intake, its not as if these grains would become immediately available to starving families across the world. It does however, allow for the gradual relocation of grains from animals to humans. Further, less demand from the livestock industry will conceivably lower grain prices.

I have no idea how much my not eating meat will affect food prices. Probably very little. But at least its something, and it always feels better to do something than nothing :)

If you want to do something, visit the World Food Programme's website. WFP is an amazing organization helping out a lot of hungry people around the world. Read up on their work, spread the word, or donate! http://www.wfp.org/

Vegan Challenge: Almond Milk and Kale Chips

2011-04-14T18:23:00.000-07:00

Day 4 Menu:

Breakfast: Kashi Cereal with the world's best homemade Almond Milk (see recipe below)

Lunch: Leftover Quiche :(

Snack: Kale Chips

Dinner: Black Bean Burgers

I've made almond milk before and it's always been a bit watery and bland. Just a bit "blah" overall.

This one, on the other hand, is awesome! Nice and thick and delicious. Go here for the recipe!

Almond milk is about 1/4 of the price when you make it at home rather than buy it at the grocery store.

I'm a big tea drinker in the mornings, and unfortunately for almond milk, it just does not taste the same when substituted for milk in tea. Nor does soy. Bummer.

Vegan Challenge: Vegan Quiche

2011-04-13T18:12:00.000-07:00

Doughnuts at the Snack Table: An glance at my last month of very tempting emails.

My Day 3 Thoughts:

Without fail, at least 3 times a week a mass email gets sent out from various people in my office. The subject line reads something like, "Cookies at the usual spot!! :):) " or today's, "Doughnuts at the snack table!" There was 4 dozen of them. I don't even really like doughnuts (hah, lie. I love them but know how bad they are for me so I tell everyone I hate them). Try again: My self-control is usually quite good, but today, knowing I can't have those doughnuts, those damn doughy circles of goodness were on my mind all day.

I suppose its actually a good thing I "can't have" the doughnut. As I mentioned yesterday, it's not like I'm particularly hungry.

But that makes me wonder, had it not been for the vegan diet, would I want the Boston Creme this bad?

And if I were a "real vegan," sworn not to consume animal products for truly ethical and moral reasons far bigger than myself, would I still want the Boston Creme? Or would the thought of those poor cows and chickens be enough to put me off completely?

I also wonder... is there some small part of the Boston Creme that's vegan, and I could just eat that?

This is only day 3.

My Day 3 Menu:

Breakfast: Granola and Soy Milk
Snack: Pumpkin and Sunflower Seeds
Lunch: Last night's leftover (faux) Chicken Quesadilla
Snack: Apple
Dinner: Quiche

So I made this quiche... it took me forever. And I was excited about it because it required a lot of steps, a lot of garlic, a lot of sauteing spices. Sounds like it should be great, right? WRONG. It just tasted like tofu. The only redeeming feature was that I couldn't find a vegan pie crust, so I used a regular pastry crust, which was sweet and delicious (but cheating).

Here's the recipe. Everyone else seems to love it so perhaps I did something wrong??

Here's a lesson learned: When the deliciousness of a dish is largely based on a single ingredient (in quiche's case: eggs) you can't replace that ingredient with something else and expect it to taste the same!!!

Vegan Challenge: Homemade Granola

2011-04-12T14:03:00.000-07:00

My Day 2 Thoughts:

I'm one of those people that has to eat every 2 hours or else I turn into Sigourney Weaver at the end of Ghostbusters, so I thought the lack of vegan snacks could be a problem. In reality, I don't find I've been all that hungry.

I'm in the process of renovating my basement (office lemming by day, demolition expert by night) and I was actually kept pretty full by what I had to eat today. I think it must be the granola. Talk about hearty.

My Day 2 Menu:

Breakfast: Homemade Granola, BC Fuji apple, and soy milk (see recipe below!)
Snack: Sesame and Pumpkin seeds
Lunch: Mixed 6-bean Salad
Dinner: Quesadilla with tofu chicken and vegan cheese.

This homemade granola recipe is excellent!
I highly recommend trying to make your own rather than buying it.
Processed granola tends to be high in fat and high in price, while this is neither!

Homemade Granola Crunch Recipe

Ingredients:

6 cups rolled oats
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
1-2 cups chopped assorted nuts
1/2 cup wheat germ
1/3 cup flax seeds (whole or ground)
1/4 cup maple syrup
1/4 cup oil
1/4 cup turbinado sugar
3 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 1/2-2 cups water
2 cups dried mixed fruit (I used dried bananas and raisins)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. Mix all ingredients except the fruit. For non chunky granola, skip to step 3.
2. For granola with chunks, slowly stir mixture in pot over low-medium heat until ingredients become sticky and form clumps (it will be somewhat hard to stir). If you need to add more water, do so.
3. Dump mixture onto 2 large jelly-roll pans, spread evenly. Bake for 1-1 1/2 hours (less time is needed for the granola with no chunks), stirring every 15-20 minutes. Granola will be a golden brown when it is ready.
4. Cool granola by spreading it out on flattened paper grocery bags. Add dried fruit.

Store in an air tight container; it should last several weeks.

This is where I got the recipe from. Thanks Vegweb.com!

Vegan Challenge: Day 1

2011-04-11T13:06:00.000-07:00

I have prepared a meal plan for the week.
I have done the grocery shopping
I have said my goodbyes to all things meat and dairy. Bye-bye milk for tea in the morning. Bye-bye brie. Bye-bye spicy tuna rolls (I'll miss you most of all).
And so it begins...

My Day 1 Menu:

Breakfast: Kashi Puffs with my roommate's soy milk
Snack: My own mix of sunflower and pumpkin seeds (if you like trail mix, its cheaper to buy the nuts in bulk and make your own!)
Lunch: Salad, lots of chick peas.
Dinner: Pho (see recipe below!)

I love pho. I mean, I really love it. And THIS is a great recipe. I spent some time in South East Asia, and I'm not saying that qualifies me as a "connoisseur" or an "expert with a perfectly refined palate" but I mean, I spent 3 months in Cambodia. And that's right next to Vietnam, where pho is from. So yah, I know what I'm talking about.

**I like to give credit where credit is due, but I have no idea where I got this recipe from.

The Best Pho You'll Ever Make

Serves 4

Ingredients:

6 oz. rice noodles

1 1/2 cups snow peas, ends trimmed

1 cup shredded carrots

1 piece ginger (1/2 inch thick) peeled and chopped

1 star anise

3 whole cloves

8 cups chicken broth (or vegetable broth if you are trying this vegan!)

1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1/4 inch strips (obviously discount this ingredient if you're trying it vegan)

1 red bell pepper, cored, seeded and cut into thin strips

1 tbsp fresh lime juice

1/2 cups chopped scallions

2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro

4 sprigs basil

1 lime, cut into 4 wedges

Steps:

1. Boil noodles in salted water for approx. 3 minutes.

2. Place prepared snow peas and carrots in a colander; Drain noodles over snow peas and carrots; Rinse; and divide among 4 bowls

4. Tie a sachet of ginger, star anise, and cloves in cheesecloth or loose leaf tea bag; Place sachet in a large pot with chicken/vegetable broth; boil 5 minutes.

5. Reduce heat to medium (if you're making without chicken, skip step 6 and move onto 7).

6. Add chicken

7. Simmer 5 minutes

8. Add bell pepper and lime juice and season with salt

9. Remove sachet; ladle into bowls; top with remaining ingredients

Nutritional Info: (with chicken and chicken broth)

395 Calories per serving

5 g. fat (1.3 g saturated)

51 g carbs, 3.7 g. fiber, 38 g. protein.

The first time I made it it took me around half an hour, but since then have gotten much faster :) Try it out and let me know your thoughts!!

My Changes:

I have tried this good pho recipe a variety of different ways. With shrimp/prawns instead of chicken, with different kinds of peas/shoots. In this photo I've added some bean sprouts. Its great every time.

So far, eating vegan ain't so bad! (I feel like this is like one of those times in the movies when the lead says something positive, and the audience cringes because they know that shortly its all going to go completely the opposite way...)

Challenge: 3 Week Vegan Diet

2011-04-10T16:02:00.000-07:00

I drifted back and forth from vegetarian to ravenous meat eater for the past 4 years. Is going vegan really that big of a stretch?

I used to think that vegans were just birkenstock wearing, dreadlock sporting, PETA-freak, granolas. That's not to say a lot of vegans aren't that way, but my research made me realize going vegan is also for environmentalists, health nuts, and feed-the-hungry types (I fall into the latter category). I was pretty much hooked on the idea of becoming a vegan, if only for a little while, when I read that:

“Nearly half of the world's grains and soybeans are fed to animals, resulting in a huge waste of food calories. The extent of waste is such that even a 10% drop in US meat consumption would make sufficient food available to feed the world's starving millions.”

A word of caution: Before starting any diet its important to do your research! I picked up Jack Norris' Vegan For Life, which includes all the info you'll need to do a vegan diet right.

The Motivation: My motivation to complete this challenge is going to be the thought that by avoiding animals products, I am reducing animal suffering, and in my small way possibly helping someone not go hungry.

The Goal: Save some animals, green up the earth, get healthy, and reduce world hunger!

The Challenge: Consume no animal products for 3 weeks
This includes meat, animal milk, cheese, eggs… if it comes from an animal, it’s stayin’ out of my mouth.

Oprah went on a vegan diet for 3-weeks in 2008, and in February Oprah and her staff went on a 1-week vegan diet, so I’ll be using a lot of her recipes, as well as some additional ones I find on my own. And lets face it, if Oprah can do it, I can do it.

Difficulty Level: When I was in my first year of university and I watched “Fast Food Nation.” There is a graphic scene in a cow slaughterhouse which really turned me off eating meat. I don't really cook red meat for myself, but will occasionally make chicken if I start to crave it. Remember, cravings are your body trying to tell you something, and you should always listen to your body! I will eat a burger once and a while, and my dad makes a mean steak I just can’t refuse. For these reasons I don’t call myself a vegetarian, I simply don’t eat a lot of red meat. Since I don’t eat a lot of meat to begin with, and I am a big fan of tofu products, that part of the challenge should be relatively easy. I do, however, love bread, cheese, milk, etc. I also love going out for dinner but hate to order salads when I go out. So that 'vegan option' is out the window.

Overall Difficulty Level: 8.5/10

Start Date: Monday, April 11
End Date: Sunday, May 1

Fitness Challenge: Conclusion!

2010-06-29T14:50:00.000-07:00

Well, I did it! Here's a quick breakdown of my thoughts on this challenge.

Amount of time: 28 days / 4 weeks

Times I completed the Program: 10

Times I did interval training: 9

Rest Days: 9

It’s 28 days later. How did I feel about the workout program?

I really enjoyed how each of the exercises targeted a different part of the body. It offered a fast, complete, alternative workout to those huge machines at the gym. I certainly felt the burn after doing this workout, which I was somewhat surprised about given the simplicity and small number of exercises. I began to notice a difference after about a week, as my quads got more toned. The real differences, though, came right around the third week. This was when I noticed I was looking forward to working out, and it wasn't impossible to do the exercises right from the outset.

If you are going to take up this program, I highly recommend you pair it with an additional cardio workout as I did. While the program had me breathing hard and sweating, it is no cardio substitute for a 20 minute run.

This is an absolutely fantastic workout to do when you can’t get to the gym. While I loved this total-body workout, I personally wouldn’t make it part of my everyday workout routine. It’s simply too limited to give a proper, extensive workout over a long period of time. That being said, it is perfect for those times you can’t get to the gym because you are travelling, too busy, etc.

I also recommend taking up this program if you are just starting to work out. It is hard, but doable, and it is quick! Get through a couple weeks of this program, then work your way up to a more comprehensive workout routine.

How did I feel about Interval Training?

Interval training is absolutely the greatest thing in the world! I thought I was in shape, but if you were to throw some 30 second sprints at me I’d be finished in 10 minutes. I saw my fitness level increase substantially as soon as I began running with intervals. I got in far better shape far faster than I ever did simply by running.

Another thing I suggest is to avoid that flat, track running; get out to somewhere where there are a few inclines (hills, gradual climbs, even stairs). Just like sprints, running up a hill or two will get your heart working.

In Conclusion:

I’m not sure if I can say I was ‘successful’ at my challenge (I had a few more rest days that I originally planned) but overall I think I did pretty darn well. My cardio improved, I got much more toned in my arms and hamstrings, and I am now able to multiple push ups.

Looking back I would set this to a difficultly level of 8/10, and highly recommend you to try it and let me know how it goes for you!

Fitness Challenge: Days 22 - 28

2010-06-27T11:08:00.000-07:00

Day 28: Program Day

Today was the last day of my scheduled program. I took my time, and focused on my breathing and doing the exercises correctly. I was able to get through all of them, except for those damn push ups. I still did 3 reps of 10 push ups though! And my arms are looking much better for it.

Day 27: Rest Day

To be honest, I just felt lazy today.

Day 26: Program and Interval Training

It’s nice to find that just over 3 weeks ago I could barely get through 20 minutes of interval training and/or the complete program. Now I am doing both in a single day! That’s the kind of progress that makes this all worth while!

Lesson Learned: In any workout program, results are not going to be immediate. Quick fixes aren’t fixes at all, so stick to it!

On a personal note, today I signed the papers to close on my dream house in Mount Pleasant, Vancouver. It was built in 1912, and I will spend the summer renovating it with my family. Perhaps that could be my next challenge…?

Day 25: Running Day - The glorious return to Vancouver

I am back to running with my dog in the wonderful trails around Capilano dam, and doing the program in my parent’s living room (which is actually bigger than our entire apartment in Paris). I’ve been exploring these trails since I was 11, and despite knowing them like the back of my hand, I doubt running in them will ever get boring.

Lesson Learned: No matter where you are, try and get outside to work out! You don’t have to have the French countryside or BC rain forest outside your door, the bottom line is: fresh air beats stale a gym/house environment any day!

Day 24: Rest Day

Can’t work out on a plane!

I had a pleasant surprise when I was getting dressed today. I threw on a pair of shorts and caught a glimpse of my hamstrings in the mirror. They are looking much better than they did 3 weeks ago… I guess that means the program is working!

Day 23: Another Running Day - Running it is…

Yes, this program does not require a lot of space. But it still requires more space than our 300 sq. ft. Paris apartment affords.

Day 22: Running Day – I’m not running FROM anything guys…

We left Bordeaux today and took the train to Paris. Paris is a funny city to jog in. Granted, you see more runners in the city now, but when my father and I first started coming here we got the strangest looks from people when we would go jogging. People would glance around, a bit nervous, as if to ask, “What are you running away from? Should we be running too?!”

Fitness Challenge: Days 15 - 21

2010-06-20T10:53:00.000-07:00

Day 15: Program Day - %?$% Push-ups…

So its right around the 2 week mark and I'm beginning to see some real improvement! I can get through full reps (15) and sets (3) of each of my exercises, and I am even starting to really focus on doing them PROPERLY, not just doing them! What a great feeling.

I lied. I still cant do a the double stop push up. I HATE so-called ‘girl push ups’ but have decided to do them for a week and see if I can work on getting a real push up or two under my belt.

Day 16: Interval Training Day – Yet another reason to love coffee

Another lazy day in

France

. I read online caffeine may help improve stamina during a work out. So naturally, this morning I had two delicious espressos at a café in town (to go with my two croissants) and took off for my run. I'm not sure if it was the coffee, a culmination of the runs Ive been doing, or purely mental, but my cardio has improved drastically!

My interval run: 1 minute sprint (about 85%) alternated with a 2 minute jog (60%) for 20 minutes. Not bad!

Lesson Learned? Improve your workouts by having a caffeinated drink before your workout- coffee and green tea both work!

Day 17-18: Program Day and Interval Training - Keep on keepin on!

I love that first day working out goes from being a chore to something you enjoy! Such a fantastic feeling! This is what staying in shape is all about: Looking forward to running around outside!

Day 19: Rest Day

My family is going to the town of St. Emilion to do the tourist thing and pick up some bottles of wine for our wine blind taste test.

Day 20: Interval Training Day – I should call this post-hangover day

Today should have been a program day, but I am a runner at heart, so when I feel crappy the best thing I can do is run. Running is also a MAGIC hangover cure! Why?

I have this theory: You can have an amazing workout the day after a night out drinking. How is this possible you say? All the alcohol you consumed turns to sugar while you sleep, which gives you tons of extra energy to use up when you're working out!

**Please note, I have no idea if this theory is medically valid… but I'm more likely to go running while Im hungover if I believe it is!

I went for a great run and came back to lie by the pool guilt-free for the rest of the day.

Lesson learned? If you find something that motivates you to work out, exploit it to its fullest!

Day 21: Program Day – How to do a push-up!

Today I had an epiphany about the program. It's great while you're travelling or if you don’t have a lot of props, but after 3 weeks I am beginning to get a little bored of it. I can feel myself starting to crave the bosu ball, free weights, and a bit of a harder workout in general.

On the upside, today I was able to get through 8 REAL push ups! Heres some tips on how to do a proper pushup:

Proper form is key! – arms shoulder width apart, keep your eyes straight at the ground (don’t look down to your feet or tilt your head to look up)
Don’t arch your back – this is a problem a lot of girls have, myself included. Keep your pelvis tilted flat. If you have pain in your lower back, its probably because its over extended. Try shifting your pelvis, tighten your abs, and keep that back flat.
The wider apart your feet, the easier its going to be!
Use your arms! – this seems intuitive, but I think this was the major problem I came across. Rather than using my arms, shoulders, and back to lower my body, I was trying to lower my body WITHOUT using those muscles. (Try and figure out how that one works, no wonder I failed)

I also noticed that as my push ups improved, I found the bird dog exercise has become significantly easier as well. Push ups employ multiple different muscles, including your abs (which are essential for the balancing you do when executing the bird dog exercise). I'm happy to see my commitment to learning how to do a push up has helped me with the other exercises!

Lesson Learned: Don't get discouraged if you can't do an exercise right off the bat. See if there is an easier version of that exercise and start there.

Fitness Challenge: Days 6-14

2010-06-14T10:07:00.000-07:00

Day 6: Program Day - Slow and Steady...

I've gotten pretty quick at making my way through the exercises: I do 3 of them in about 10 minutes. While its nice to be able to get through these things quickly, its actually much harder (and you get better results) to do them slowly. And I don't mean power through the moves and take a 5 minute water break!

Tips to help you get more out of your workout:

Take your time executing each move
Keep your form in mind - if something new feels too easy, you may not be doing it right!
Think about the muscle you are supposed to be working
Pause at the extension
Keep your abs tight, ALWAYS!
Breathe, breathe, breathe! (I find this also helps you to slow down)

Once I slowed down a bit, I started to feel the burn after far fewer reps. Even after slowing myself down significantly, I was still able to get my workout done in under 30 minutes.

Lesson learned? Slow and steady gets the tight butt!

Days 7-12: Excuses, Excuses...

Rest days. That's a nice way of saying exams and packing up my apartment got the best of me. In my defense, days 9 and 10 were spent on a plane and in a jet-lagged haze. On the upside, I'll be in

France

for the next 10 days!

Day 13: Program Day - Stay Motivated!

My 4-day sabbatical did a serious number on my mental game. All momentum was lost. I was pretty upset with myself for going so long without running or doing the program, especially since I had made such an explicit commitment to following through with it. That disappointment really translated into not wanting to work out at all. I did it though, and afterwards I felt great! The program has definitely gotten easier, and that feeling of disappointment is long gone.

I am able to get through a minimum of 12 reps of each exercise, except for the double stop push up. Can't complete one double stop push up. And by "one" I'm not referring to "one set."No no, I can't do a single, proper push up.

Lesson Learned? Don’t let a long time between exercising discourage you, and especially don't let it stop you from getting out there. As soon as you get it done, you get to bask in a wonderful feeling of righteousness. And eat a croissant - or two - without TOO much guilt...

Day 14: Interval Training Day - The Importance of Great Running Tunes

Today I went for a 30-minute run along the Dorgodne River. (To read about my French travels, check out: bfishoutofwater.blogspot.com ). It was a muggy, languid kind of day, and in order to leave the pool side I knew I needed a little extra help.

I purchased an app called ITGO- Interval Training Go (here for a review). I love this thing. You can choose how long you want to run, your warm up time, and how long you want your intervals to be. You pick songs (chosen directly from your ipod list) you want for your slow and fast intervals. The app tells you when to switch between intervals by automatically changing from your fast paced song to your slow paced ones (and vice versa) once your chosen interval time is up. In case that isn't clear enough, a guy also yells, "SLOW!" or "FAST!" at the beginning of your interval, which always makes me giggle a bit.

I'm a big believer in having fast paced tunes to get me moving during a run, and studies have shown music can actually increase workout performance. This app fit exactly what I was looking for. My day 14 run was dramatically better because of this little gadget.

Lesson Learned? Listen to music to get your butt moving, harder and longer! Remember to choose songs whose pace matches your desired running speed. Think fast, heavy beats like techno or heavy metal.

**What do you listen to when you run? I'm always looking for new music and I'd love for you to share some of your best running tunes!

Fitness Challenge: Days 1-5

2010-05-30T18:20:00.000-07:00

Time to start my Fitness Challenge! (click here to read what this challenge is all about)

Day 1: Program Day

So I tried out the program. It's short and sweet. And by sweet, I mean friggin’ difficult. 6 exercises and I am sweating. Profusely. For 3 of the 6 exercise (Side Bridge, Push-up; and Bird Dog Pushup) I do 3 sets of just 6 reps.

And I thought I was in shape??

Day 2: Interval Training Day

Feeling quite smug with myself for starting a new workout program, I set out on my interval training in the park. By the time I returned home I had been knocked down a peg or two. 20 minute run with only 4 30-second sprints. I was sprinting at about 80% and jogging at about 50%.

Have intervals always been this hard??

Day 3: Program Day

Wrap Around Ankle Touch is gettin' the job done, I can tell. My ass is killing me.

Day 4: Program Day

I almost copped out on the workout today with a medical note reading: glutes too sore to bend down. Then I reminded myself: it's only half an hour! The exercises feel easier today. I'd like to think I'm seeing results already, but I think it's more likely I'm just getting the hang of how to do them properly.

Still can't complete full 15 reps for each exercise. And yes, I know I was supposed to do an interval training day today, but Day 2 scared me into doing the program 2 days in a row.

Day 5: Rest day!

A day early, but my ass-leg (the muscle below your butt and above your hamstring) needs it.