Leave Only Your Footprints

Tomorrow is a new day…

Kelly — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 21:36:13 +0000

I am embarking on a “cleanse” of sorts. There are so many things that I want to get on track: my health, diet, exercise, sleep, work, life, friends, meditation, love, art, etc etc.

So, starting tomorrow, my life is going to change. Here are a few of the things on my list:
-Diet: I hate the word “diet” because everyone’s minds go to a crazy, weight-loss place. When I say diet, I simply mean what I am putting in my body. I’m going to go back to a diet that is 75-80% raw. I will probably be 100% raw at home, but there are just too many great cooked vegan meals out there!
-Health: Vitamins! I have been really bad about taking my vitamins and I need to get that back on track. Here is what I take: B12, Vitamin D, Magnesium, and Calcium. Would be easier to take a multivitamin and I will start as soon as I finish these off.
-Exercise: It’s time to end this couch potato lifestyle! I have always envied people who run or exercise regularly, but I can never seem to keep myself on track. They say it takes 21 days for a habit to form. Lucky for me, I won’t be traveling for the next 21 days, so I will have no excuse. I found the gym I want to join, now I just need to get there……after I buy cute workout clothes, of course!
-Alcohol: No beer for the next month ::eek:: I have been drinking too much lately. As if the calories weren’t bad enough, I am sick of losing days to hangovers. Also, I need to find healthy ways to deal with stress (i.e. go to the gym).
-Consumption: You should see the recycling that has built up in my kitchen. I would post a picture, but I am too embarassed. Both of my green tubs, 2 plastic bags, 2 paper bags, and a cardboard box overflowing with recycling currently reside on my kitchen floor. I used to feel OK about buying packaged food, magazines, getting newspapers, etc etc because I recycle them. Wouldn’t it be so much better to not buy them in the first place?! So, as of tomorrow, I am going to be much more conscious of what I purchase. I rarely buy plastic bottles (usually just when I travel), but they are the first thing to go. I pledge to not buy another plastic bottle. Feels good just saying it!

Well, that’s the plan for now! I think certain parts will be easier than others, but I am going to try my best. I’m off to walk Blanca and get ready to see Pete Yorn! Updates to come this week including my starting stats (weight, measurements, etc) tomorrow.

Namaste,
Kelly

A lot has happened in a year…

Kelly — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 00:52:34 +0000

The last year has been a rollercoaster (in terms of my weight and lifestyle). I’m not sure why, but I cannot stay consistent. I get very motivated to eat healthy and exercise, start to feel and look great, and then it all goes to sh!t. I’ve been battling with my weight consistently since summer and I am ready to make a change.

I’ve been doing a lot of blog reading (list of some new faves to come shortly) and have really been inspired to make a change. I’ve always been fascinated by nutrition and health, but it seems overwhelming. I am debating seeing a nutritionist….would love to hear stories from anyone who has. It seems like that would be a great starting point on my road to a healthy lifestyle.

I am leaving in the morning for a weekend trip to Chicago (my adopted hometown) and I think it is the perfect time to start my new lifestyle. When I return, I will be joining a new gym. I have always envied people who run…I have never been able to get to the point of enjoying it. Starting a running program is a goal of mine on this new journey. Look for an exercise log to be included with my new food journal.

I better get going on my packing New posts to come soon!

Namaste,
Kelly

Strawberry-banana smoothie.

Kelly — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 18:50:41 +0000

My second smoothie making attempt was much more successful!!

2 bananas
1 c. frozen strawberries
1 c. water
few blueberries
1 leaf of kale

Pandora Radio…

Kelly — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 17:48:05 +0000

…may be the greatest invention ever! I listen to it all day while I am working. You can create radio stations based on artists that you like and it plays songs from similar artists.

For example, I am listening to “Dave Matthews Band Radio” right now and here are some songs that have been played:

Omaha, Counting Crows
Yellow Ledbetter, Pearl Jam
That Was A Crazy Game of Poker, O.A.R.
When The World Ends, Dave Matthews

If you don’t like a song or artist, you give them a thumbs down. If you like it, thumbs up.

Check it out here. It will change your life. Not really, but it is awesome!

Not so smooth smoothie.

Kelly — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 00:32:45 +0000

My first try at making a “green” smoothie didn’t go so well. I found a recipe that looked delicious on Happy Food and decided to give it a go. It was so simple: 2 bananas, 1 orange, water, greens, and flax seed oil. I think I got a little overzealous with the kale because my smoothie was solid green and chunky. I tried to drink it, but only got down half a glass. I will try again tomorrow with less kale.

Other than the smoothie set back, I am feeling fantastic! I snacked less today and drank more water. My black bean recipe didn’t work out…the beans have been soaking since Monday night and are still hard. Not sure if I should keep soaking them or give up.

Namaste,
Kelly

Quote of the day.

Kelly — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 14:46:44 +0000

I saw this quote on the wall at the Lincoln Park Zoo years ago and have never forgotten it. So simple. So powerful.

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.

-Margaret Mead

H2O.

Kelly — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 14:36:26 +0000

I need to start drinking more water.

What do you, the trees, and a hamster have in common? Give up? You all need water. All living things must have water to survive, whether they get it from a water fountain, a rain cloud, or a little bottle attached to the side of a hamster cage.

You can help your body by drinking when you’re thirsty and drinking extra water when it’s warm out. Your body will be able to do all of its wonderful, waterful jobs and you’ll feel great!

Without water, your body would stop working properly. Water makes up more than half of your body weight and a person can’t survive for more than a few days without it. Why? Your body has lots of important jobs and it needs water to do many of them. For instance, your blood, which contains a lot of water, carries oxygen to all the cells of your body. Without oxygen, those tiny cells would die and your body would stop working.

Water is also in lymph (say: limf), a fluid that is part of your immune system, which helps you fight off illness. You need water to digest your food and get rid of waste, too. Water is needed for digestive juices, urine (pee), and poop. And you can bet that water is the main ingredient in perspiration, also called sweat.

In addition to being an important part of the fluids in your body, each cell depends on water to function normally.

Your body doesn’t get water only from drinking water. Any fluid you drink will contain water, but water and milk are the best choices. Lots of foods contain water, too. Fruit contains quite a bit of water, which you could probably tell if you’ve ever bitten into a peach or plum and felt the juices dripping down your chin! Vegetables, too, contain a lot of water. Think of slicing into a fat tomato from the garden or crunching into a crisp stalk of celery.

How Much Is Enough?

Since water is so important, you might wonder if you’re drinking enough. There is no magic amount of water that kids need to drink every day. Usually, kids like to drink something with meals and should definitely drink when they are thirsty. But when it’s warm out, or you’re exercising, you’ll need more. Be sure to drink some extra water when you’re out in warm weather, especially while playing sports or exercising.

When you drink is also important. If you’re going to sports practice, a game, or just working out or playing hard, drink water before, during, and after playing. Don’t forget your water bottle. You can’t play your best when you’re thinking about how thirsty you are!

When your body doesn’t have enough water, that’s called being dehydrated. Dehydration also can keep you from being as fast and as sharp as you’d like to be. A bad case of dehydration can make you sick. So keep that water bottle handy when the weather warms up! Not only does water fight dehydration, but it’s awfully refreshing and has no calories.

Your body can help you stay properly hydrated by regulating the amount of water in your system. The body can hold on to water when you don’t have enough or get rid of it if you have too much. If your pee has ever been very light yellow, your body might have been getting rid of excess water. When your pee is very dark yellow, it’s holding on to water, so it’s probably time to drink up.

Source: http://kidshealth.org/kid/stay_healthy/food/water.html

Blend me up before you go, go.

Kelly — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 23:20:47 +0000

I just went out and bought a blender! I am so excited to start making smoothies and soups. On the way home I stopped for some frozen fruit, kale, and flax seed oil. I’m thinking breakfast tomorrow will be a smoothie with:

orange
mixed frozen berries
kale
flax seed oil
banana

This is the model I got ———————–>

Organic flax oil.

Kelly — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 23:15:28 +0000

What is FlaxSeed Oil?

FlaxSeed Oil is also known as Linseed Oil. FlaxSeed is a blue flowering plant that is grown on the Western Canadian Prairies for its oil rich seeds. FlaxSeed oil is highly recommended for the general well being, whole body nutrition and helps in restoring body’s natural balance of good and bad prostaglandins.

FlaxSeed Oil is considered to be nature’s richest source of omega-3 fatty acids that are required for the health of almost all body systems. Flax Seed Oil contains omega-6 and omega-9 essential fatty acids, B vitamins, potassium, lecithin, magnesium, fiber, protein, and zinc.

Several scientific studies show that consumption of omega-3 oils leads to a substantially lower risk of death from coronary heart disease. Until recently, experts believed the best sources of omega-3 were fish oils. However, flax seed oil contains twice as much omega-3 essential fatty acids as fish oil products, without the fishy aftertaste. Some nutritionists, researchers, and scientists believe that it could be the most important health-promoting supplement next to a multi-vitamin.

Some of the Benefits of FlaxSeed Oil are as under:

Researchers found low incidences of breast cancer and colon cancer in populations that have high amounts of Lignan in their diet. Lignan are molecules with anti-cancer, anti-viral, and anti-bacterial properties. Flax seeds are the richest source of lignans. Diets high in lignans can lead to a lower chance of getting colon, prostate, and breast cancer. Flax is 100 times richer in lignan than most whole grains.
Studies show that Omega-3 fatty acids help lower cholesterol and blood triglycerides, and prevent clots in arteries, which may result in strokes, heart attacks and thromboses.
Flax seed oil helps protect the body against high blood pressure, inflammation, water retention, sticky platelets and lowered immune function.
It shortens recovery time for fatigued muscles after exertion and increases the body’s production of energy and stamina.
Flax seed oil accelerates the healing of sprains and bruises.
Flax Seed Oil eases weight loss in people afflicted with obesity. Stimulates brown fat cells and increases the metabolic rate making it easier to burn off fat.
Flax Seed Oil improves the absorption of Calcium, strengthening of fingers and toenails as well as an improved eyesight and perception of colors.
Flax Seed Oil can relieve some cases of asthma and alleviate some allergies.
Flax seed oil is helpful in the treatment of Eczema, Psoriasis, and Dandruff.
Flax Seed Oil can relieve the symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis and Diabetes Mellitus.
Flax Seed Oil helps in the prevention of Atherosclerosis and in the treatment of Multiple Sclerosis.
Flax Seed Oil helps in improving the behavior of Schizophrenics and in some cases the depression patients.
Flax Seed Oil can provide relief in some cases of Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) in females.
Flax Seed Oil also helps in a better liver function.

Source: http://www.flaxseed-oil.com/artflaxseed.asp

Snow dog.

Kelly — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 17:28:20 +0000