Food for thought, or rather, being;
"Give up defining yourself - to yourself or to others. You won't die. You will come to life. And don't be concerned with how others define you. When they define you, they are limiting themselves, so it's their problem. Whenever you interact with people, don't be there primarily as a function or a role, but as the field of conscious Presence. You can only lose something that you have, but you cannot lose something that you are." - Eckhart Tolle; A New Earth: Awakening To Your Life's Purpose
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Monday, May 23, 2011
Running Fuel
By no means am I a professional runner. I am merely a person that runs for cardiovascular exercise, to get my heart pumping and to feel alive. I enjoy short-distance running, but recently, I signed up for a half marathon which will take place in October. I am in the training phase and trying my best to fit in all my runs and workouts in my busy days. But lately, I am feeling exhausted, suffering from energy slumps in the afternoon and getting into the ever-popular cycle of eating sugar (or relying on caffeine) for a boost. This is a terrible habit, which today I did not feed. As my eyes were getting heavy in the car this afternoon, I decided that turning to pranayama would be more benfecial and soul-nourishing than chocolate. So I breathed, inhaling deeply and exhaling all my tiredness out of me. It felt wonderful.
My next step: all the chocolate eating is to be replaced with pure prana (I really don't eat that much chocolate...) I also need to journal my food intake so I can see what is causing the slumps and completely get out of the cycle. Plus, with all the running I have been doing of late, I need some high-quality fuel.
Back at home, I found this article on active.com about "Runner's Rules to Eat By". It is not ground-breaking information; it's everything we know. But somehow, when you see those rules written by someone else, they seem to resonate deeper.
If you're pretty sure your diet needs an overhaul (whose doesn't?), keep the following principles in mind. Once they become ingrained in your thinking, your food choices will improve automatically.
Quality:
Pay attention to the types of foods you eat. Are they the best quality? For fruits and vegetables, the most nutrient-packed are usually the most brightly colored. Think dark greens and bright oranges, yellows, and reds. For grains, the less processed, the better. Choose fat-free and low-fat dairy products. For meats, choose leaner cuts and smaller servings. And stock your cupboards with plenty of high-quality, nutrient-packed beans, nuts, and soy products.
Variety:
Try not to settle on the same foods over and over. Your repertoire of vegetables, for example, should not include the same four or five types every day. Branch out. For grains, move beyond wheat and rice to quinoa, barley, and millet. Try new fruits such as papaya, mango, kiwi, starfruit, or blood oranges.
Frequency:
As a runner, you need more food than the average sedentary person, so you should eat lighter meals every 3 to 4 hours. Each makeover diet contains snacks to help you maintain steady energy levels throughout the day, which helps with weight control as well.
Joy:
You should love the foods you eat. Don't eliminate the foods you love or force yourself to eat the foods you don't. Every nutrition plan has room for junk food, as long as it's the kind you love and not the kind you eat because it happens to be handy.
Adventure:
Making a change takes effort, but it's worth it. When you start a new eating plan, you'll experience different flavors and textures. Eating becomes more than something you do to pass the time or quiet a rumbling stomach. It becomes an adventure. So go ahead and experiment. Cook new recipes. Eat unfamiliar foods. Go to new restaurants. Congratulate yourself every time you move out of your comfort zone.
My next step: all the chocolate eating is to be replaced with pure prana (I really don't eat that much chocolate...) I also need to journal my food intake so I can see what is causing the slumps and completely get out of the cycle. Plus, with all the running I have been doing of late, I need some high-quality fuel.
Back at home, I found this article on active.com about "Runner's Rules to Eat By". It is not ground-breaking information; it's everything we know. But somehow, when you see those rules written by someone else, they seem to resonate deeper.
If you're pretty sure your diet needs an overhaul (whose doesn't?), keep the following principles in mind. Once they become ingrained in your thinking, your food choices will improve automatically.
Quality:
Pay attention to the types of foods you eat. Are they the best quality? For fruits and vegetables, the most nutrient-packed are usually the most brightly colored. Think dark greens and bright oranges, yellows, and reds. For grains, the less processed, the better. Choose fat-free and low-fat dairy products. For meats, choose leaner cuts and smaller servings. And stock your cupboards with plenty of high-quality, nutrient-packed beans, nuts, and soy products.
Variety:
Try not to settle on the same foods over and over. Your repertoire of vegetables, for example, should not include the same four or five types every day. Branch out. For grains, move beyond wheat and rice to quinoa, barley, and millet. Try new fruits such as papaya, mango, kiwi, starfruit, or blood oranges.
Frequency:
As a runner, you need more food than the average sedentary person, so you should eat lighter meals every 3 to 4 hours. Each makeover diet contains snacks to help you maintain steady energy levels throughout the day, which helps with weight control as well.
Joy:
You should love the foods you eat. Don't eliminate the foods you love or force yourself to eat the foods you don't. Every nutrition plan has room for junk food, as long as it's the kind you love and not the kind you eat because it happens to be handy.
Adventure:
Making a change takes effort, but it's worth it. When you start a new eating plan, you'll experience different flavors and textures. Eating becomes more than something you do to pass the time or quiet a rumbling stomach. It becomes an adventure. So go ahead and experiment. Cook new recipes. Eat unfamiliar foods. Go to new restaurants. Congratulate yourself every time you move out of your comfort zone.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
At The Foot Of The Hill
Today was a terrible eating day. There is no food in my house and I was feeling under the weather - my daughter ate cheerios for breakfast, hummus and veggies for lunch, scrambled eggs as a mid-afternoon snack and whole wheat pasta with salmon and spinach for dinner. I ate 3 small sqaures of chocolate, a cup of black tea with milk, a hanfdul of almonds and a small plate of the pasta with the salmon. What kind of health coach eats like that?!
Well, as I say, I am at the foot of the hill and I have my walking boots on. All I need to do now is climb the hill. I need to buy some whole foods tomorrow morning and transform my eating habits - I need to consume raw, fresh foods to feel alive, glowing and rejuvinated. How do I feel these days? Sluggish and tired, perpetually fighting to keep myself awake in the afternoons. I am sleep deprived. I have a 7 month old son (who, incidentally, has been sleeping through the night since he was 2 months old) and a daughter just shy of 4 who is an awful sleeper. My nights are constantly interrupted; lately my baby boy has been throwing a lot of night wakings in the mix too. That is my excuse. But it certainly is not a valid reason for eating below par.
Tomorrow is a new day. I have a baptism to go to in the evening and 3 children's birthday parties over the weekend. Cake, cake and more cake at every occasion. Do I resist the urge to give in to my recent sugar cravings? Or, do I indulge and start over on Monday?
Well, as I say, I am at the foot of the hill and I have my walking boots on. All I need to do now is climb the hill. I need to buy some whole foods tomorrow morning and transform my eating habits - I need to consume raw, fresh foods to feel alive, glowing and rejuvinated. How do I feel these days? Sluggish and tired, perpetually fighting to keep myself awake in the afternoons. I am sleep deprived. I have a 7 month old son (who, incidentally, has been sleeping through the night since he was 2 months old) and a daughter just shy of 4 who is an awful sleeper. My nights are constantly interrupted; lately my baby boy has been throwing a lot of night wakings in the mix too. That is my excuse. But it certainly is not a valid reason for eating below par.
Tomorrow is a new day. I have a baptism to go to in the evening and 3 children's birthday parties over the weekend. Cake, cake and more cake at every occasion. Do I resist the urge to give in to my recent sugar cravings? Or, do I indulge and start over on Monday?
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Becoming Me
I have to share this book, Becoming Me, with you all. It is the greatest children's book I have ever read and I think it is a must-have for all parents who want their children to recognize themselves as a part of God.
Not Afraid To Change
I just finished the first Open Session or webinar at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. I am so inspired! Each student enrolled has their own story and together we are encouraged to be 'agents of change', to go out in our communities and make changes in America and the world. I am absolutely on board!
One thing that hit me this evening was when one of my fellow students recounted her cancer story; she was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer last year and following surgery took a holistic approach to healing and changed her diet. I am always floored by such stories and such people, to have the strength to overcome a situation with such power and determination. It made me think of how easy it is to keep putting off good health. What's funny is that I, and many, many people I know, have vast amounts of knowledge on what constitutes 'superhealth', yet our daily choices do not reflect this. I don't want to wait to have a terminal illness to force a nutritional and spiritual awakening when I know I should just snap my fingers and make the right decision now, every time I eat. I must listen to the rhythms and needs of my body - my awesome, accurate bio-computer that never makes mistakes.
I am not afraid to make changes. I will change my choices and make better choices each day, each time I am faced with choices. Good health is as easy as that.
One thing that hit me this evening was when one of my fellow students recounted her cancer story; she was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer last year and following surgery took a holistic approach to healing and changed her diet. I am always floored by such stories and such people, to have the strength to overcome a situation with such power and determination. It made me think of how easy it is to keep putting off good health. What's funny is that I, and many, many people I know, have vast amounts of knowledge on what constitutes 'superhealth', yet our daily choices do not reflect this. I don't want to wait to have a terminal illness to force a nutritional and spiritual awakening when I know I should just snap my fingers and make the right decision now, every time I eat. I must listen to the rhythms and needs of my body - my awesome, accurate bio-computer that never makes mistakes.
I am not afraid to make changes. I will change my choices and make better choices each day, each time I am faced with choices. Good health is as easy as that.
Monday, May 16, 2011
Welcome to The New Me
Today, Monday May 16th, 2011 is the start of a new journey for me. I have been avoiding being the healthy me I know I can be. But not anymore. Now I embark on a path to superhealth. I have enrolled in a course at the world's largest nutrition school, The Institute For Integrative Nutrition, and today is my first day. To be a certified holistic health coach, I aim to live what I learn and to be a walking billboard for good health and wellness. I hope that my journey helps those who follow me on it, and inspires you along the way. This is not just a journey to eat well, but a journey to cleanse and nourish my soul. This is my diary and I give you permission to read it.
Stay well,
Mariam
Stay well,
Mariam
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