Do The Best You Can Until You Know Better Then When You Know Better Do Better Maya Angelo

Years ago I thought the answer to the question How are we supposed to eat for longevity and optimal health? meant following a vegetarian diet.  Obviously there are many varying views and opinions about this subject, but as my understanding of nutrition deepened, I started to believe that high quality animal products played an important role in the human diet.  Chicken patties and fish sticks?  No.  Pasture raised animals and wild caught seafood?  Yes.

You’ve probably heard about “The Fat Burning Zone” when it comes to exercise and cardio – I think it was the elliptical machine equipped with a heart rate monitor on the handle bars at my university fitness center that clued me in to this concept a dozen or so years ago.

Keep your heart rate between here and here and you’ll burn more fat!

Really? Sounds good to me!  I’m ready to start burning fat! I’m ready to start burning so much fat that we set this place on fire!

Life of Pi

January 24th, 2013 | Posted by Alison Spath in Good Reads - (6 Comments)

Life of Pi by Yann Martel

I just finished Life of Pi by Yann Martel. I didn’t know much about this book before I read it, and for that reason I don’t want to share too many details here.  It was nice picking this up and knowing very little about it, simply believing it was going to be good.  I liked having nearly every part of the story being left to surprise, so I want to leave much of it a surprise for you too.

I will tell you what little I knew going into it though, in case what intrigued me might intrigue you.

This American Life

July 22nd, 2012 | Posted by Alison Spath in Fitness - (9 Comments)

A couple of days ago I went for my first run in a long, LONG time. The log from my Garmin tells me my last run was in early January, so that means it’s been nearly 7 months since I’ve done much more than walk for exercise.

Overall, it went well!  I was able to run for about 3/4 of a mile before it started to feel uncomfortable.  I pushed myself to get to the one mile mark before slowing to a walk.  I then walked/ran the next two miles before returning home.

You Need a Reason in This Season

February 15th, 2012 | Posted by Alison Spath in Motivation - (13 Comments)

This is the time of year that can be the most challenging when it comes to finding the motivation to exercise.

Bike

It’s cold. It’s dreary. Your bike is in the river.

(That’s not my bike, but you get what I’m saying.)

Here’s a little ditty that has nothing to do with bike riding, unless you like to ride for exercise in the winter. Then this can have everything to do with bike riding.

Letters to Breakfast

January 15th, 2012 | Posted by Alison Spath in Breakfast - (9 Comments)

Dear Everything Bagel,

Everything Bag

I know you aren’t the best thing in the world to eat, but you’ve really got a hold on me right now, so I’m rolling with it. Like a bagel would roll down a hill, you might say.

I justified you today with an early morning two mile walk to the bagel shop and then a two mile walk home. Kids at Granny’s for the weekend, husband at home in bed – just you, me, fetus and Jillian Michaels on a sunny Sunday morning? There are worse things.

And so twenty twelve begins.

January 1st, 2012 | Posted by Alison Spath in Life - (9 Comments)

16 weeks

16 weeks pregnant (tomorrow). I think I’m starting to feel the baby move, but these early flutters are so easy to confuse with the digestive process sometimes I wonder if it’s just dinner that I’m feeling move around.

January One started with a four mile walk. A walk sprinkled with the tiniest bit of running. I had intended to run the entire way today, but running for very long is proving to be too uncomfortable these days. “Mostly walking” it is then.

Yesterday, Today and Probably Tomorrow

November 13th, 2011 | Posted by Alison Spath in Life - (11 Comments)

A Grilled Cheese and Pickle sandwich.

Grilled Swiss Cheese and Pickle

Real butter, sesame Ezekiel bread, Swiss cheese and a sliced Claussen dill pickle. Soooo good.

And yes, that pickle totally counts as my vegetable.

Most vegetables are completely unappealing to me right now. I expect that these odd food aversions I’m having will pass in the coming weeks, but for the time being, I’m doing my best with pickles and a lot of fruit.

(Not at the same time, but now I’m thinking…)

Lost: One Exercise Mojo

November 1st, 2011 | Posted by Alison Spath in Healthy Habits - (7 Comments)

Cobbs Hill Reservoir

Did you ever watch that HBO show Six Feet Under?

There’s this great quote in one episode that I think about from time to time.

We all go through fallow periods when we must let the soil rest to prepare for new growth.

Agriculturally speaking, when a field is left to go “fallow”, that means nothing is planted for a period of time in order to let the soil rest before it’s called upon to grow another crop.

I often think of that quote when it’s time to take a break from anything, whether you particularly want to or not.

Berry Simple

October 25th, 2011 | Posted by Alison Spath in Breakfast - (5 Comments)

I’m trying to make peace with the fact that early morning outdoor exercise is soon to be a relegated to the weekends.

Pink Knit Hat and Gloves

For the first time since early spring I busted out the pink hat (you know, the hat I knit myself) and gloves for a morning walk/run today. More walking than running this morning, sometimes it nice to simply walk.

It’s also nice (and necessary) to remember that no matter how freezing it is out there, you DO warm up once you get moving! If anything, the cold is motivation to pick up the pace in the beginning. Knowing how good that early morning air and sunshine will feel on your skin is enough to make it worth it to drag myself out from under the covers.