One Life...

One life can change before the blink of an eye...
One life can love so many....
One life can influence so many...
One life can give so freely...
How much do we value the people in our life???

I write this post not to be sad or sappy, but to express the deeper meaning behind working out.
I was taking this week off from social media just to clear my head and to take that time to think of others.  Here is what came to me...

To be transparent....I take for granted the memories that I have with my friends of all the good times that are centered around doing something physical.  Rather it is a race, Waterfall Glen, a bike ride, an early morning run, the Hill, or trying some new class.  I just took more time to notice the older women walking with their sun hats and walking sticks on the path, with their large bottles of water.  I was stopped to take a photo a two senior men out for a bike ride. As I left I thought at least if one of those men cannot remember they will have that photo to look at.  I thought to myself I just hope that I have those times with my friends as we grow older together.  Seems kind of ridiculous to think that now, because that is 40 years from now.  But what I see is that it is those choices I make now that will allow me those times in the future.  My focus is to be more appreciative of the times I have with the people in my life. It seems simple, but there are so many distractions in life.  Taking some time off from social media really did allow me to clear my head.

Not everyone gets why we lift.  That is okay because I am not here to preach. What I will proceed with is the thought that went through my head as I stared at the 35 pound plates on each side of the bar this week before my set.   I looked at it and I just got a flashback of seeing my husband and his training partners one on each side.  The leg press machine was filled to it's full capacity with 45 pound plates and them spotting him.  How they would yell words of encouragement to do "Just 1 more!" It hits me that the trust has to be there in that relationship and so does the belief in one another for their strength.  One to  lift it or one to catch it when it drops. Isn't that just life?  You need trust, strength, and belief.  It ain't just lifting, it is about having a relationship.  If you catch my drift it isn't just people but you know who that we need that with.

To end with my transparency for this entry...
No, I am not exactly where I want to be with my stats and numbers...
No,  I do not weigh what I want to weigh...
No, I do not look the way I want to look...


BUT I STOP myself with those thoughts because that is of this world...

I am STRONG
I am DEDICATED
I have PASSION
I have ENDURANCE
and above all else
I AM HAPPY and that does not come from looking a certain way, but from LIVING a certain way.

Have a remarkable day!
Kima 

Rice Noodles as Baked Lasagna

Pampered Chef "Brownie Pan"

It takes me a while to grocery shop, because I am always reading the labels.  I have learned that just because the package promotes healthy it isn't always.  My new addition to my bakeware is through my mother.  I have added the Pampered Chef "Brownie Pan."  There is a wide variety of recipes besides brownies.  Here is what I made with these ingredients.

* Lasagna (Brown Rice Pasta) Noodles
* Organic tomato sauce
* Mushrooms

(Seldom do we eat dairy and the noodles that I selected were wheat free/gluten free.  The only ingredients in the noodles are:
brown rice, rice bran and water)

I am a simple cook.  So here are the steps in a simplified way: 
1. Cook the noodles until desired texture in boiling water.
2. Drain and rinse with cool water.
3. Layer in this pattern
tomato sauce, noodles, mushrooms, tomato sauce, noodles, tomato  sauce.
4. Bake in the oven on 350 for 20 minutes.

The reason I like the brownie pan is that you can make each on individually. In the photo the two without sauce on top are mine, because I like a little less sauce.

I like to keep our healthy eating recipes simple and easy to make.  Yet, it taste delicious.

What do you think I could try in this brownie pan?

Balance

"Nicole Piper Photography" 

I believe that life is about balancing.  We only get so much time in the day and when it ends what do you feel yourself thinking?  Some days we might feel like we accomplished everything that we wanted to and other days we wonder where did the time go?  It is about balance and keeping that into perspective. 

My point of view on a balanced life: 

1. Let go, if you fall off the path find your way back and don’t look back. 
2. Focus on your life and your dreams, not what others expect. 
3. If you feel like you are juggling too much, you probably are. 
4. Follow your heart it will lead you the right direction. 
5. Be thankful that you have these decisions and things to do, some only wish they had those opportunities that lay in front of you. 

What are your thoughts on a balanced life? 

A special thank you to a close friend who is always there for me. Please follow her on Facebook at "Nicole Piper Photography."  She is an amazing friend, mother, and a talented photographer. 

The Yoga Band Wagon

Carla Tantillo at Mind Practices Book Launch Party with Dr. Susan Kurland
Dr. Kurland is the FIRST Chicago Public School principal
 to have a salad bar at her school. 

I gotta be honest I am someone who is on the go and I like to sweat when I move.   So, when yoga reared it’s head in Physical Education I was not jumping on the band wagon. Well, never say never...because here I am 5 years later and I am a HUGE advocator of Yoga movements in my classes.  Please let me define that I write Yoga movements, because when you really look into Yoga there is soo much more than just the move, but a whole culture of Yoga.  I do not get that in- depth with this part since I am teaching young children in a school setting.  What I do get into is the realization of how one feels after par-taking in Yoga movements with calming music.  With what our youth faces today as challenges be it stress, inactivity, too much electronics, unhealthy food options, and crazy schedules Yoga can provide them with positive benefits.  Why not join in???

If you do not believe me or want to know more look at this website http://www.mindfulpracticesyoga.com You will see someone who is out there impacting our educational system and society in such a healthy way through Yoga. The link to the “Teacher’s Forum,” was full of excellent articles and even had a spot where I could submit a question.  It amazes me how one’s creativity and dedication can grow an organization like Mindful Practices. 

Yoga for everyone... 

My suggestion would be to look under the “Store,” link to view more information about the yoga pose cards.  I have been utilizing the cards in my classes for teaching materials.  The options are endless with these.  The unique part of the card that I have not seen on other cards is at the top left hand corner.  It categorizes the mood of the yoga pose.  This gets back to what concepts I expose my students to.  I can have the students create an individual yoga routine based on mood with these cards.  This resource from Mindful Practices attracted a lot of attention at my presentation for DuPage County this past March.  

I even find myself wanting and fitting in time to just decompress through Yoga.  It has been a stress- reliever and it feels so good on the body.  If you find yourself in the same spot or you are a huge advocate for Yoga already, please leave me a comment....

A love story....

         I am sure that you can browse the Internet and get a million results for websites that will offer workout plans, nutrition plans, running plans, you can find a plan for anything! That is fantastic, but this thought won't get out of mind.... We do not need anymore "how to's" what we need is the desire to love!  That desire to love moving and in the way in which our body desires to move.  That desire to love and to define love is unique to each person.  Think of it as a love story... Who knew fitness would be a topic of romance.

        My mother always said you can't go looking for love, it will just happen. I thought my mother was absurd with that advice in my young adult life...Well here I am almost about to celebrate my 10th year anniversary with my husband. Wouldn't you know when I wasn't looking here comes Mr. Right and that was 13 years ago! Well that is the same for working out! You will just find that one workout or combination of workouts that makes your stomach flutter and you can't stop thinking about it and wanting to be around.  Just like falling in love. 

       Sure, you will come across some bad break ups along the way, but through each one you learn more about yourself. I tried to date "group fitness classes.". They seemed appealing, but on the inside when I finished those classes I just did not feel complete.  Something was missing.  Kind of like that guy you dated where it is “ok,” but you know it could be better.  You deserve better, why settle?  I did learn from this experience that I loved cardio. After some time, my next date was with running. I gave myself some time before rushing into the next relationship, I became friends with running first. I was a little apprehensive, because of all the “bad” things I have heard about running. People do like to give advice or their thoughts once you tell them you are in a “new” relationship.  I wanted to keep my mind open and I out weighed the risks of all the injuries and the boringness that people speak of.  Sometimes people can have that opinion of marriage.  That it is really boring to make a commitment . But than there are those couples like by grandparents who were married for over 70 years.  They made it through thick and thin and make you believe in love. I was headed down the road with running and I was finding such joy without any expectations of where it might lead.  I was comfortable of taking the leap of faith.  Reminisce of what one does when they allow themselves to fall in love.  I found myself always thinking about running and my body soon began to desire the way it felt on those long runs.  To start out with 2 miles were long, then as time went on it changed to 6, and then eventually 26.20 miles (repeated 3 times). I wasn't looking for a relationship with running, it just happened. Leading me back to my mother was right.  

        I really do believe that you have to desire to fall in love with your kind of exercise, because there will be obstacles that try to get in your way.  When I mean fall in love I mean unconditionally love. As you do with your significant other. The daily schedules, the unhealthy desserts at parties, the stress in our every day lives, and  lack of time to name just a few will all try to take your love away from moving, from exercising. Unconditionally, you have to make a commitment to yourself and to that relationship.  Bumps will happen in relationships, just as some injuries will happen from the exercise you so love! You are committed and you take the good with the bad.  That is “tru” unconditional love. 

       Lastly, if it doesn't make you happy or a better person why do it?  Why stay in that temporary relationship when it does not allow you to be the best you can be? As hard as it is to walk away, because it is habit or easy. You need to in order to become who were meant to be! Working out, moving your body should fill you with happiness.  Equate that to the people in your in your life, you should feel happiness when you share their company.  

      Some may think that this is an absurd analogy and some may think falling in love or getting married is absurd.  One day you will understand and if you don't than it wasn't meant to be.... 

Reflections...

My blog posts are usually inspired by my conversations that I have with other people.  I wonder how often in a day people are really present in their conversations or if they take time to reflect on the interactions they have had in a day.  Or are we all so busy that out of sight, out of mind takes place.  In my happy world everyone takes at least a little time to reflect. 

I think reflecting is one of those elements that is not talked about a lot in the working out sense.  I forgot how much I do, because I have spent so much time reflecting on my running that I do not even realize that I am doing it.  My new reflections have been on my CrossFit journey.  I have been at CrossFit Amplify for going on  6 weeks now.  I have been focusing on olympic lifts.  This is completely out of my comfort zone as was my first Zumba class.  I say that because you are to be explosive and you can drop the weight.  Eek, completely the opposite of my first love, which was body building. That requires slow methodical technique and you are not to drop the weight. Especially when Randy is training you, a bit of an inside joke amongst our crew.  

I appreciate my husband videoing and editing  my CrossFit classes.  I wish I would have done that with my running form 5 years ago.  I get a chance to self -reflect and analyze what I need to focus on.  I do have some commentary on the recent video my husband made, before posting it.  I could have kept this a private video, but at times it is best to laugh at yourself.  

First of all, I really needed to work on my set up.  I was not understanding the power triangle at all.  Then it clicked with me after watching the video what I needed to adjust.  I have been practicing this and watching video on it almost daily.  I think it paid off in the last class I finally felt my hamstrings! By the way this is the same move from my first entry about CrossFit, so I have jumped up in my amount that I lift.  

Completely not workout related but I do not wear make up or fancy clothes to train in.  So you can see in the video how I look at 7:30 at night after a long day, trying to get the bar up. I really like the facial expression he replays when I drop the bar for the first time.  No not really, but I did laugh! 

In our workout videos we do use 7th Heaven if you hadn’t noticed. Our summer date nights usually includes an outdoor show of this band.  I think we really get a kick out of seeing them perform, because they have such energy.  Check out their website under my “Fun Websites” column. 

So my commentary just shows that it does help to video, who cares what you look like at least you are not being lazy, and awesome music really sets the mood for a fantastic workout! 

To wrap things up, as much as I reflect about my workouts, I do in my personal life too.  I think that each person we meet, we meet for a reason.  Might not be for a huge life changing reason, but every reason has some meaning to it.  So, stop and think about your workouts and the people you meet and you might just see some more happiness by doing this.  

New Beginnings

This is the time of the year where the excitement is in the air, because summer is so close.  To some that means graduating, coming home, and preparing for their new stage of their lives.  So, how does this relate to fitness???  Yes, if you know me everything relates back to fitness.  I try not to have conversations about working out or nutrition, but somehow I find myself in a conversation about it.  I can be totally dressed up and at a formal function talking about kettlebells with the guys.  True story, but I figure I have one life to live so I ought to spend it talking about the things that excite me.  

This blog post is really dedicated to the seniors at PMSA.  So read this with the intent to apply....

First, of all I just want to say thank you for making me believe again.  I believe that our younger generation are knowledge seekers and use technology to better themselves.  I believe that you have discovered the deeper meanings to living a healthier lifestyle. I believe that you care about others and spend your time contributing to better our society. I believe that through our interactions on this blog and my after school talks with Mr. Spaulding.  I sincerely thank you for taking the time to read and comment about my entries.  

Secondly, I only wish I knew what you did at this age.  You have the whole world in front of you and resources beyond your imagination.  You only get so many chances to live a healthy and active lifestyle.  I can tell that you care, because you are reading this.  Take every opportunity you can get to do something good for yourself in these upcoming transitional phases of your life.  That might just be a 5 minute walk or eating an apple on the go instead of grabbing a bag of chips.  Do that because all of those little things add up to positive results in the end.  

Stress and challenges are going to come your way.  Find that workout or the technique to help you reset your mind so that you can overcome and think clearly.  Out of those situations you will really find out what matters to you as an adult.

The last couple of paragraphs I wrote aren’t just to do lists.  Those are still things I do today as a wife, mother, career woman, it is endless.  But when you have your health and a good mental state you can achieve anything. I really enjoy summer because I get extra time with my children and I really get to put a lot more into my blog & videos. My hope is that I hear from you in the fall as this blog will remain here, even if you have traveled on.  

From the Spaulding Family to the graduating class of 2012, congratulations!!!