Sometimes you have to be your own parent

Adulthood comes with multiple responsibilities. As kids we thought that grown-ups had it all. They could stay up as late as they wanted to and eat ice cream for breakfast. I'll admit I've done both, but neither were as satisfying as I hoped. The ice cream upset my stomach and left me feeling more hungry for actual real food. Staying up super late just left me more tired and grumpy in the morning.

In this way, being an adult, you have the freedom to take care of yourself how you want to. Your extra responsibility is the one you have over your own health and well-being.

Why is it that when it comes to our kids, we're all set to lay down rules and routines - and with good reason! - but when it comes to our own selves and bodies, we slack off and give in to the fatigue, the sometimes laziness, and lack of discipline; or we just don't make the time.

We know what's good for us, like eating healthy, avoiding sugar, fast food, and junk food; and exercising. So how can we advocate a healthy lifestyle for those that we love, but it's so hard to discipline ourselves?

The idea of self-discipline is huge. This doesn't mean that you have to punish yourself for eating candy, but it does mean that your decisions are contributing to your health status.

Today I want to motivate you to take control over your health and your body. Be your own parent.

Start with physical activity. This is something a lot of us have issues with, typically because we're either too tired or we don't have the time. But think about that... exercise is something that is vital to our physical, mental, and emotional health but we're too tired or can't make time for it? That's like saying you're so busy that you can't eat - which isn't uncommon! So how can we get around this?

[Journal assignment]: It's time to re-prioritize. For a couple days, grab a note pad or journal and before you go to bed, document everything you accomplished or did that day. What does that look like? First of all, can you remember everything you did during the day? Second, how many tasks are you completing that are for other people? How many items do you accomplish that are just for you and your own self-care?

If you find that list is void of anything that improves your overall health, it's time to re-evaluate your days. Start with something simple: schedule in 20 minutes for you every day. If you want this to be a workout or activity, maybe you give yourself 20 minutes for the activity, and 5-10 mins before and after for any "set-up" and/or "clean-up."

I have lazy days just like everyone else. Days were I feel tired and I'm way too comfortable to move. But I also realize how much worse I'll feel if I do nothing: within 3-4 days of being sedentary, I'm a moody mess. And that's when I force myself to get out there. Make a plan: Visualize what you think you can manage doing (yoga, a run or walk, workout video, etc), then get dressed and prep your space.

I've had to kick my own ass to get out for a run, or stay in for a workout, and by the time I'm finished, I'm incredibly grateful. There's nothing quite like the feeling of finishing something that is physically tough or uncomfortable. Even if it's only 20 minutes of yoga. Hold a plank pose for 60 seconds and see how you feel.

Second, take your To-Do list (if you have one... if you don't, start making them) and add on at least one activity that is solely for you. It could be anything such as:

• Meditation (anywhere from 5-20 minutes). Use a audio clip or YouTube video for guided meditations and body scans. 
• Brisk walk or jog (20-60 minutes)
• Journalling or writing (5-30 minutes)
• Creative projects, knitting, and crafts, etc
• Play a musical instrument
• Yoga or Tai Chi (15-60 minutes)
• Aquafit or swimming
• Read a book (not the internet)
• Try a new recipe for something healthy
• Walk barefoot through the grass
• Go for a bike ride (rent one in the city if you don't have your own)
• Make a pot of tea and invite a few friends over (or even just one awesome friend or neighbour)
• Play a sport: it could be an organized game, or just playing keep-up with a volleyball or beachball. 
• Take a class in the community (in whatever interests you)

20-30 minutes out of 24 hours per day isn't a lot to ask of yourself. Now, granted, you may be a parent with a child glued to your hip, so maybe a half hour really feels like too long. This is where a great support system comes in handy. Use the time when your little one is napping to take care of you; or ask for help 1/2 an hour per day and have someone watch your little one for you. Or, you can do your activity with them. If they're super little, they can roll around on a yoga mat, lay under you while you're in downward dog. You can use them as a body weight for doing Bridge work (lay on the floor with knees bent and feet on the floor; Sit baby on your pelvis. Keeping your upper back and shoulders pinned down, lift and tuck your pelvis, holding onto baby. This is a great quad and glute toner, and baby will think you're playing :)

Most importantly, you're also being a great role model for health and self-care. Your kid(s) will grow up aware of a lifestyle that includes healthy aspects and activities. My mom used to do workout videos all the time when we were little including those by Jane Fonda and Cher. I grew up trying to wear her ankle weights, drawing butterflies on her elevation 2x4" block of wood, and jumping and dancing to cheesy 80's background music. Fast forward to today and I have her old videos now on DVD and still use them religiously. 

All of these principles can be related to multiple aspects of our health and well-being. Self-discipline includes maintaining a healthy diet for you. Keeping up with your physio exercises. Flossing daily. Drinking an adequate amount of water everyday. Reducing alcohol consumption. Reducing caffeine consumption...

... These are all things we know are good for us but we tend to slack off more than we should. Now it's time to take care of you.

THINX menstrual underwear

It's been almost 6 years since I ditched tampons and decided to use only re-usable menstrual wear. I wish I had the knowledge to start this earlier, but as new "trends" catch on, products become more available, and also more developed.

Starting with reusable pads from Charlie Banana and Lunapads, I instantly fell in love with real cotton. I was tired of noisy plastic wrappers and all the waste. Tampons - although totally convenient - weren't comfortable when they absorbed all the lubricating moisture of those tissues. I also couldn't believe how soft and absorbent cotton pads could be.

Then of course came THINX. A company with a brilliant product that found me on Facebook (damn FB algorithms and cookies... they know what I'm in the market for...). I was a little deterred by the price, but over the years I had already bought three diva cups (lost one during a move, the dog chewed up another - don't ask how she found it... she's a cleaver pup and at the time had an insatiable appetite for socks, underwear, and anything that smelled like dirty socks or underwear.). I also knew that this was something to invest in, for myself and to spread the word to other women.

I bought two pairs of small Hiphuggers and packed them for our trip to Italy when my next period was due to come.
** If you're wondering about size, I'm about 110 lbs, 5'4", the small is a little snug, but it's a good snug!

Well, a few things happened when I wore them:

First, I couldn't believe how comfortable they were! I wished all my underwear were this comfortable and absorbent. Ladies, I'm sure you understand. Sometimes even when we're not menstruating, there are certain days - especially in the time between the end of your period and ovulation - when you feel like you're leaking fluids. It's real and it happens.

Second, I wore a pair during the heaviest day of my period. This wouldn't have been a huge mistake had I timed how long I'd be wearing them for. It turns out, I had a much heavier day that I was expecting. Heavier than I'm used to. I also wanted this to be a true test so I didn't use the Diva Cup this time around.

Thinking about how often I need to change my Diva Cup, I thought I could go 8-10 hours in my THINX or so without needing to worry. I was extremely mistaken. After 4-5 hours I was still completely comfortable. My mistake was thinking I could then go on a 3-4-hour bike ride without the Diva cup or changing my pair of THINX.

The combination of long duration of wear, my heaviest day of flow (and way heavier than usual), and sitting on a bike for 3+ hours was enough for my THINX to leak. I was devastated. It's been a long time since I've felt sad about having my period. But leaking through my Lululemon shorts on a bike ride through the Tuscan countryside with my new husband almost had me in tears.

Luckily my husband works in sports medicine and knows exactly how to get blood stains out of clothing! Seriously... he was a genius. My lulu shorts were saved!

As for my THINX, they are still my most favourite pairs of underwear EVER, and even more great that I can wear them on lighter days with no need for anything else, or as backup with a Diva Cup. They may have leaked, but it was definitely situational.

I've used my THINX since that first cycle and haven't had any issues. They are also fantastic for wearing during sleep when you have your period.

I also want to point out that during this whole experiment, it was rare that I ever felt damp or wet, making THINX not messy at all to use! Washing is also simple. Rinse with cold water right after wear, then throw them in the laundry with your gentles and hang dry. It's amazing how much fluid they actually can hold.

Would I recommend them to other women? Absolutely! But if your periods are heavy, be prepared to change out a pair after 6 hours or so. Get your hands on a zipped water-resistant carrier bag, like this one from Lunapads which has 2 zipped sections, one to keep clean menstrual wear in, and one for dirty. And yes, of course I bought the "Dandy foxes" print... This is "Healthy Fox Adventures" after all!

lunapads.ca

How to trick yourself into doing something difficult and loving it

Today I woke up with this feeling that I wanted to run hills today, and I wanted it to be a long run. I visualized what that would look like: What trail would I be happy on? What would that journey look like? And then I went out, knowing I was going to hammer out a minimum of 8km, but with a goal of 10km, starting at the end that has the greatest rises and falls in elevation. How did it go?

I did it. Of course I knew I would because I've play this same psychological game with myself every single run. The game is:

How to trick myself into doing something difficult and love it. 

Step 1: Figure out what your goal is. Listen to your body and your emotions and figure out what it is that you need. I have some days where I need to challenge myself with hill training. I have other days where I want a flat and easy path. I have days where I want a long but slow run where I can take my time, not caring about speed, but only the distance.

There are times I want solitude, and other times where I don't mind running into other people. There is typically an option for every mood and every need. If you're not a runner, that doesn't matter - you can still follow these steps for whatever your workout activities and goals are.

Step 2: Visualize the activity. Steps 1 and 2 can actually occur at the same time. It may sound hippie-dippie but the psychology behind visualizations are extremely important and lead to more positive outcomes. Before any run, I literally go through in my head what that experience is going to look like. I picture myself on the trail, moving along, in each section, hills, valleys, areas that have uneven or difficult terrain... everything. If I'm not satisfied that a particular route will be fulfilling for me that day, I try another route or another trail and see if that fulfils my goal. But the practice of mentally going through the route/routine prepares me for what I'm about to do.

Once I've made my decision and set my goal, it's set. Time to get ready.

Step 3: Get your gear on and make sure you're prepared. This step involves what I consider to be the "point of no return." Once I'm in my workout or running gear, there's no way I'm not going out. Even if it's pouring rain out, I know I'll still be glad I made the effort and got out there, but I'll dress appropriately for the weather. In this case, it also helps to visualize finishing your goal. For me, that means a yummy protein shake waiting for me at the end, a nice hot shower, warm fresh clothes and then a really awesome big meal (typically breakfast), all that will accompany my sense of accomplishment, feeling strong, and a runner's high. It's a pretty epic deal.

Step 4: Be comfortable being uncomfortable. Exercise isn't always going to be easy. It's not suppose to be. That's the whole point: you're training your body. But this is also an exercise in mental strength as well. Get yourself into a groove, relax your body where you can, and hold strong the areas that require your power (ie. for running, it's my core and hips that I hold strong, while my upper body is relaxed.) During the tough spots, tell yourself not to quit. You can quit if you want to... a lot of people do... but that doesn't have to be you. Can you go another minute? Another 5 minutes? Longer? Do you need to quit, or are you just tired of being uncomfortable? This is the game I play in my head: realizing that I don't need to quit yet. Get comfortable in your stride, get comfortable in your body, even though you're working hard! Then once you achieve your goal, you'll feel huge sense of pride and accomplishment.

Step 5: Always take that moment after you finish a workout or run to appreciate what you just did. Savour that moment. Stretch out your body and feel every single muscle. Feel your breath, and just how easy it is to breathe again. Enjoy every aspect of what you just did, and give yourself a high-five (not kidding, I do it all the time... when no one else is around or looking). Remember how good this feels. That way, next time, you can reflect back on this experience and let that be a driving force for repeating steps 1-4.

The importance of how we view food

Food is incredibly important to many of us. It serves as a means of gathering family and friends together. It's nourishment; It's tradition; It's comfort; and so much more.

Where we can get into trouble with our health is when we stop making conscious decisions with what we put in our bodies. Food is so incredibly important to me personally because I've had such a difficult time with foods. My diet is constantly evolving, changing with what my body needs and what it is able to digest.

With a slew of digestive troubles since I was a teen, food has been a constant battle. There was the Candida diet, the diet based on Food Sensitivity testing, the Vegan diet, the Paleo diet, a modified Paleo diet, and now, a low-FODMAP diet. Some people might say I've been cursed with a severely dysfunctional immune system, with multiple autoimmune reactions and conditions, but to me, all of these "problems" serve as a way of making sure I make conscious decisions with what I feed my body.

It's unrealistic to say that those of us with dietary restrictions are perfect with our diets 100% of the time. And no, in general, we're not depriving ourselves. Of course there are some foods I wish I could enjoy, and then there are ones that I'm glad I'm not tempted by because I know how terrible they can make me feel (typically, anything deep-fried). The reason being that when you eat "bad" (ie pain-making, pro-inflammatory) foods, you learn that sometimes the mouth-pleasure you get from eating something isn't worth the consequences (IBS symptoms, eczema breakouts, acne breakouts, energy crashes, migraines, ... etc) that come with it.

This is why I'm so passionate about food and diet. We all have the capacity to choose what we eat, and it can be incredibly empowering to understand this concept. But it's also a wonderful challenge to create meals and snacks that are healthy, that our bodies can easily digest and be happy with.

There is great joy in being able to show others how many options there actually are for those with dietary restrictions. Food is a part of our culture, a part of our everyday lives. At the same time, we need to understand that it's impossible to create a single diet that's best for everyone; We're all so different. So instead, I implore you to listen to your gut. Experiment with foods. Pull away from ones that don't make you feel great, and incorporate the foods (maybe even new foods) that you know you should incorporate (like more vegetables, or good-quality proteins). Remember that the signs and symptoms of food sensitivities are there to give us an indication that something isn't right, internally.

Nourish your body, love your body, and create something delicious in the kitchen today!

How to Start Running

Okay, silly title, but if you're new to cardio or exercise in general it's important to start the right way. The last thing you want is to attempt a workout intensity far beyond your body's capability and end up crashing and burning.

Some of us are inherently runners. Our walking pace is always twice as fast as everyone else around us. We enjoy the outdoors and time with our thoughts, and we always feel the drive to get out there and keep going. I am definitely that girl. If you want to start running, make sure it's because you want to run. Don't run because you think it'll help you lose weight quickly (which it might), or because you think this is the best way to get into shape (which it might not be - everyone is different).

So the first thing you need to start running is the drive to want to run. And once you get going, you must enjoy it. If you're miserable and hating yourself as your forcing your legs to catch you and pounding them on the pavement, you're likely going to cause your body more stress than actual benefit.

Next you'll need your "gear":

1) Running Shoes: a really good pair of running shoes will make all the difference! This is one of those expenses you just have to plan for. Go to a speciality running store and get yourself assessed for your running feet needs, specifically cushioning and stability. Make sure to run around the store and get a feel for the shoe. It must be comfortable and supportive.

Your running shoes should be replaced about every 800 kilometres or 6 months. When they stop feeling comfortable, supportive or when you start noticing more soreness or injuries, it's time to try on a new pair!

2) Sports bra (for the ladies): No matter your chest size, having a properly fitted sports bra is a must. Do your own version of the "bounce test" and make sure you're comfortable.

3) Run wear: This can be anything you're comfortable moving in. Summer's are easy, but I recommend shorts with liners or elastic grips to prevent them from riding up. In the winter and colder days, layer up or wear long socks

4) Road ID bracelet: If you're hitting the trails or running solo, a Road ID bracelet is just a smart move. It's your "in case of emergency" - should something happen to you, you can be identified, have any allergies listed, and you can leave an "in case of emergency" phone number since most of us have password-protected cell phones. Visit www.roadid.com

Important Tips for running:

• Start low (distance) and slow. Pace yourself and/or work in run/walk intervals. Take note of your breathing and your heart rate. If you can't catch your breath, you're going too fast. Slow it down, bring the heart rate down, catch your breath and then try starting again. 
• Focus on landing mid-foot to the balls of the feet. Avoid heel-strikes (when your heel hits the ground first) as it can increase the impact that you're taking and may cause you to be more prone to injuries. 
• Be well hydrated all day long! Imagine your muscles are like meat. If you're dehydrated, your muscles turn into beef jerky - all stiff and more "brittle" so-to-speak. You want to stay well hydrated so your muscles are limber and have full mobility. 
• Have a post run plan: A protein shake or small meal with protein and some carbohydrates will help your muscles to repair themselves after the "stress" of exercise. 
• Always start with a warm up (brisk walk or similar) and always end with a really good stretching routine. A modified Hatha Yoga routine to open the hips and stretch the hamstrings and the quads will be very important to prevent soreness and injury. 
• Examples of poses include: runner's lunge, warrior I and II, right-angle pose, triangle pose, straight leg stretch, and Royal dancer. 
• You can also foam roll after your run, like a post-run deep massage. Roll all surfaces of the legs and the glutes (buttocks). 

Don't forget to set a goal! When you reach your goal it makes running that much more triumphant and fills you with confidence. You'll be amazed at what you can accomplish!

Using your voice in medical/healthcare situations

I'm about to share a personal story with you. It might seem like a little too much information, but I'm doing so for an important reason. Today's post is about the importance of using your voice with anyone giving you medical attention (doctor, nurse, technician, etc) and standing up for yourself.

I recently have been experiencing abnormal cyclical pelvic pain. Knowing I needed a requisition for imaging and labs (blood work), I made an appointment with a medical doctor (MD). She was extremely nice, asked all the "red flag" questions and agreed that imaging would be necessary.

One quick thing I will bring up though is how Ontario's medical system - although effective at screening for emergencies - was disappointing. As a naturopathic doctor (ND) I've become accustomed to spending great amounts of time with my patients. And when it comes to female reproductive health my screening goes beyond the basics and into a full history with details on everything including family history, age of menarche (first period), history of symptoms, and flow assessment (colour, clotting, volume) and so much more. My time in this particular visit was limited. I felt like I kept cutting the MD off because I had additional information that I thought she would find helpful.

I guess it's a moot point because having the imaging and testing done was the most important thing to me. I just found it was really difficult to be heard in such a short amount of time. Where this would be more troubling for me is if I was counting on the MD for treatment. Depending on my results, I'll likely get stuck in a one-size-fits-all model, be prescribed hormone replacement (birth control pill) and that will be it (luckily I know I have so many other options!) unless a referral to gynaecologist/specialist is warranted.

Again, a moot point, I got what I needed and went and had both a pelvic and trans-vaginal ultrasound done. Upon doing the pelvic ultrasound the technician mentioned he could see a cyst. I told him another technician found something similar about a year ago but said it was just the remnants from a ruptured follicle (from ovulation). He said, no, that's not what this is. He continued to tell me that this is likely what's been causing my pain, and asked if I still wanted to do the trans-vaginal ultrasound.

Hold up right there. Red flag #1: I have no idea if this guy was a doctor. I'm almost certain he was only a technician. He has a requisition from an MD requesting both types of imaging be done and now he's asking me if I want to have one of them done - based on what he thinks is causing my pain? How many other people have been asked a similar question and have said "Oh, if you think that's what's going on, then maybe I should save myself the inconvenience and not go through with the trans-vaginal exam."? I was floored. So I stood my ground, "No, I'd like to have it done as well. I need to rule out other issues and pathologies that might also be going on."

Although he maintained professionalism during this next part of the exam, his communication was terrible. Again, lucky, being an ND and a previous gynaecological model for medical students, I've had a lot of experience with pelvic examinations and having to communicate direction and instructions.

I knew there was a problem when his initial attempt on placement of the ultrasound wand was way off. I thought, Okay, he's a technician who does this for a living. He must understand female anatomy and know how to troubleshoot in order to obtain the necessary images. So I offered direction and used anatomical description and direction to help him out. Red Flag #2: this guy doesn't know what "anterior" means... at all.

So as I'm describing how he needs to shift the position of the ultrasound wand, I realize he truly doesn't understand and now I'm very much uncomfortable and almost in pain, so I intervened, and changed the placement of the ultrasound wand myself.

Again I wondered, If this was anyone else on the table, would they have spoken up? How long would they have put up with this ... 'misdirection' before saying something? If I had been a teen, I probably wouldn't have said anything because you always think that grown-ups in the medical field know everything, Maybe that's how they do it? I don't know!

This isn't going to happen in every case, but there are lots of people in the medical field who have less experience, terrible communication skills and lack a good bedside manner. It's not everyone but it can happen anywhere.

My point is, no matter who is treating you or giving you medical attention, don't be afraid to use your voice. Speak up and stand up for yourself. If you want something, ask for it. If you feel pressured into a decision, ask about the risks and benefits of ALL available options. If something doesn't sit right in your gut, trust your judgement. And don't ever feel like you're a burden just because your doctor or technician is rushing you. That's them rushing - their issue - you pay for healthcare through your taxes, so make sure you're getting what you need.

Washing off your day: how to change your whole attitude after a tough day

As a healthcare practitioner it's hard to come home without lingering thoughts and emotions from my day. Patients and their stories, their moods, they rub off on you. I used to take my days home with me. I'd walk through the door, start talking to my partner and he immediately recognized that something was off. I'd get easily annoyed, I was angry or upset and I'd snap. This wasn't a good thing.

It's hard not to take work home with you. It's even harder if you commute and you carry those frustrations with you on top of everything else. So I created a game plan - with some help of course.

I had to change my energy and change my routine. The first thing was to make it known that once I walk in that front door of the house, I will say hi but then I am NOT to get into any conversations until I've dealt with myself. I go straight upstairs and "wash my day off" myself.

You can take this literally or figuratively - or both! Here are things you can do to wash your day off and change your attitude after work:

1) Brush your teeth: if you talk all day, like me, you need to wash everything out of there. Have "clean words" and conversations for the rest of the evening

2) Brush the tangles out of your hair. Again, literally and figuratively: As I brush through my long hair, I'm brushing out all the "tangles" from the day. It's refreshing!

3) If you're on your feet most of the day: take off your socks, wash your feet in the tub, give yourself a quick little foot massage and then put on some fresh dry socks. Your feet will feel so good!

4) Change your clothes! You're wearing work clothes - take them off! This is the best time to change either into your comfiest clothes, or your "Super suit" (Clothes that are comfortable and that represent you. Putting these on make you feel empowered). Peel off the layers from the day and put on fresh new ones.

5) Wash your hands. Wash your day off of you. Some of you might want a full shower. That's cool. But if not, just wash your hands and imagine that you're washing off all the garbage and emotions from your whole day. Watch it run off your hands and down the sink. It's gone. You don't need to carry it around with you anymore.

Lastly, make sure you're giving your body what it needs. If you haven't eaten since lunch, have a snack in the afternoon or at the end of your workday so that you don't have a hypoglycemic crash by the time you come home. Drink a glass of water - rehydrate.

This also applies to anyone working from home. It's important to separate work from family. Taking just 10 minutes for yourself when you get home or finish work isn't that much and it can make a world of a difference!

Turning goals into values

I've been working a lot on goal-setting with clients (as well as on social media), but this is really just the beginning of the journey. Goal-setting is great. We should always be striving for something new, a greater achievement, greater learning, and overall improvement. But there comes a point where some of those goal-related activities integrate themselves into your life and if they were to disappear, you would miss them.

This is where intrinsic values come in. It's about doing something for your own pleasure; it makes you feel good about you.

I love running 10km races because of the experience:
I set a goal for myself: I want to run the whole race without slowing down beyond 6 minutes/km, and finishing around 55mins.

BUT! I also love the perks (extrinsic value): First, I get a medal and my running bib, which I proudly display on my wall after the race. Then there's the free T-shirt, the bag full of magazines, samples, and fun stuff.

After the race I usually recover for a few days, taking a break from running.

Truthfully, I could stop right there. It would be so easy just to not run anymore. I reached my goal. I had fun. I'm not planning another race anytime soon. So why keep going?

It's that little part of me that knows I'm a runner. I even run in my dreams. My happy place is when I'm running in the forest. It's my escape. I'm content, alone and totally happy in my own zone. And after I finish - I own that moment. It's mine and no one can take it from me.

That's where value comes in - the more intrinsic kind. I keep going - I get out there every chance I get because it makes me feel good. Do I care how fast I run? No. Do I care how much ground I cover? Not really. Do I meticulously monitor my heart rate, calories burned, steps taken? Definitely not. I stop caring about all that because they stop having meaning. When I'm not training for a race, it's just me and the forest (and most recently, Joe Rogan's voice in my head as I listen to a podcast). My feet on the dirt and the grass, my pace, my breath, and all my cares melt away.

Will I still work on achieving more? Absolutely. My next goal is to run a 15k or 1/2 marathon race, but for the time in between I can be easier on myself and just do what I love.

Find that peace. Find something that truly makes you happy and every once in a while, let the numbers and extrinsic values fade away. I love my medals and free t-shirts, but I love me more.

Goal setting with your workout plan

I'm not a fan of the word "exercise" because it sounds like a chore. Instead I call it a workout. Because it's work, but it's something I enjoy doing and it makes me feel awesome :)

You can get out of that "exercise plan" mentality by changing it to a workout goal; a strengthening goal. And goals are freaking amazing!

I ran my first 10km race last weekend and finished at 53:41. For anyone who runs a lot, this may not seem like a very competitive time, but for me, it was my personal best and I'm ecstatic about it! Considering I've only been running for 2 years, a 10k was my marathon. Almost a full hour of running, not tiring, not feeling too sore, controlled breathing... it's a lot of work to get to that point. But I signed up for this race, along with 3 amazing girlfriends and decided that I would not let myself down. I would finish in under an hour.

Setting this goal was important. And the fact that I had to pay for this event meant that this was some serious business! I ran twice per week (adding in strength training and hip work through the week), extending my distances and using "Map my run" to keep track of my pace and distance. I made motivating playlists filled with songs that made me happy and picked beautiful scenic trails to run. The fact that I was happy and my soul felt free made up for my exhausted lungs, my red flushed face and my legs that were sore by kilometer 8, but on auto-pilot.

I also translated my goals to yoga. They call it a "practice" for a reason. Keep practicing and you keep improving. Flexibility gets better the more you stretch a muscle. Balance is more stable the more you use those muscles that keep you in that position. My "Royal dancer" went from wobbly to sturdy and extended. I went from staying in a lunge for a few seconds, to deepening it and wrapping my arms around my legs at the same time.

There's always room for improvement (I'm now working on arm balances and headstands!) but what keeps you going is that goal. Have a goal in mind, dedicate yourself to it and celebrate when you achieve it! My other advice is to keep your goal reasonable. I wasn't about to go straight from running 5km's to doing an actual marathon. It's about steps. Choose your next step, work hard and be proud of yourself.

My view along the waterfront trail

Power snack muffins!

I've had a request to post this recipe for a good "portable" snack that's full of nutrients (vegetables and nuts and healthy fats). It's a great snack for on-the-go as well as a post-workout boost when you've just depleted your energies.

Today was one of those amazing fall days, perfect for running in shorts. The trails that I run on were ridiculously busy today and I usually get super annoyed with people who take up the whole entire path and who ignore my running footsteps, but today I saw it as a pretty awesome obstacle course.

I was zipping past people like my legs just couldn't be stopped. What? There's a mountain up ahead? That's not going to stop me. Watch me run up it while you leisurely stroll along with your entire extended family and your individual walking sticks. Today I was unstoppable. I got to the top of that hill and just kept going. It's days like this that give me the motivation to run as often as my legs will let me.

I think we all need that. That success of working out and feeling amazing afterwards. It doesn't matter what you do to get that feeling. Maybe you get it after an hour of hot yoga when you're laying on your mat at the very end of class; All sweaty and your muscles are buzzing with happy vibes. Find it. Find that happy post-workout bliss and remember it!

Now after you have that amazing blissful feeling, it's time to recharge and give back to those muscles that just worked so hard for you. Here's my post-workout portable snack, full of deliciousness.

Veggie power paleo muffins

Makes 6 muffins (for 12 muffins, double all ingredients, but use 3 extra large eggs instead of 2 large ones)

1 1/4 cup almond flour
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup grated zucchini
1/2 cup grated carrots (peeled)
1 large apple, peeled, cored and grated (OR substitute for 1/2 cup diced strawberries)
2 large eggs
1 tbsp honey
1/4 cup melted coconut oil (or avocado oil)
1 tsp vanilla extract

Optional: 1 scoop protein powder - add a splash of almond milk to the mix to make up for the extra powder/dry ingredient

Preheat oven to 350F. Line a muffin pan with muffin cups.
In a large mixing bowl, combine almond flour, cinnamon, baking soda and salt.
Add zucchini, carrot, apple/strawberries and combine well.
In a small mixing bowl whisk together the oil, eggs, honey and vanilla.
Pour this mixture over the dry ingredients and mix well.
Spoon into muffin cups (right to the top) and bake in the oven for 45 minutes. The tops will be nice and toasted brown.
Remove from pan and let cool.

The muffins can be stored in the fridge (the muffin cups peel off nicer when they're kept in the fridge, but the muffins themselves stay softer and more moist at room temperature).

As pictured, I like cutting them in half or thirds and smearing almond butter on top. Delicious!!

Making changes Part 1: Say Yes to Life

Say Yes to Life

Many of us get stuck in that "day-to-day", following the same routine which feels safe to us. But when you think about it, time is precious, so shouldn't it be important what we do with that time? It's okay to stay in a place where you feel safe, but we shouldn't restrict ourselves based on fear of the unfamiliar.

My aunt once told me "Yes! You have to say yes to life!" And what she meant was say yes to opportunities when they come up. If there's something you really want to do, don't let someone hold you back from it (even if they're not saying it to your face).

I hate sayings like "YOLO" or "life is short". Of course it's short. We all know that, and "YOLO" shouldn't be an excuse to do something stupid or potentially dangerous. But when a new opportunity arises, well... it's kinda nice to think that you're filling your own life with new memories and creating your own adventures.

My boyfriend and I are flying out to BC this fall/winter, somewhere I've never been, and I'm so excited. It'll be an adventure on it's own, but it comes with the possibility of falling in love with BC and moving there. The unknown is exciting. Just because I was born and raised in the Greater Toronto Area, doesn't mean I have to stay here. Having roots is amazing, but I also like knowing that I'm not permanently fixed in one place in my life. Who says that you can't do something?

On a smaller scale, I used to look up to women who ran and did yoga. They were always so relaxed, so happy, so fit. I thought, I want that to be me. I want that endurance, that strength, that serenity. So I made the choice to try. I've been practicing yoga on and off for 4 years now and this summer was the first time I started running. It's a feat of endurance and each time I go out, it gets easier: I can run longer without feeling tired or getting out of breath. I decided to make that change in my life and try something new, and it has been incredible!

Another example: my sister wrote a children's book. She's a stay-at-home mommy with two amazing, beautiful children, and baby #3 on the way, and she took the initiative to have her book bound and made available on Amazon. (Click the link or search for the Bubble Dragon on Amazon.com).

The Bubble Dragon. Graphics by Laura Ireton

She made the choice to invest in her creativity. She reached out to one of my friends who is an incredibly talented illustrator, and she made her vision come true.

The idea of freedom is liberating. We make choices everyday and those choices shape our lives. I just like reminding myself of that: I make the choices that shape my life. It's a very powerful responsibility... with the potential to have amazing adventures, no matter how big or how small.

The Great Cardio Debate

There is something to be said about accomplishing a goal. No matter how great, or how small or insignificant, when you decide you want to do something and then finally do it, it's empowering.

Of course there are always things that try to stop us from getting there. Sometimes it's self-doubt; sometimes it's other people doubting us; Or it could be something that just needs more practice, or to work hard enough at.

I had one of these small victories yesterday during my run through the forest. I made it up this ridiculous hill that, to me, is like a mountain, but to others might just look like a speed bump. (I know there are no actual speed bumps in the forest... how ridiculous would that be? Like, how many animals need to be running in the same area to require speed bumps and even then I'm sure the deer would just jump right over it. And if it were an actual speed bump, I'm sure I would have tripped over it.)

But back to my story, I recently read The Oatmeal's comic on "The Terrible and wonderful reasons why I run" . I realized that I am still by no definition a "runner" and that The Oatmeal is far more experienced in this realm. In fact, I think he's a bit nuts, but I also realized that running and exercise in general is a slippery slope - in a good way! So I'm probably not too far from there.

I say it's a slippery slope because the more we exercise, the more tolerant our bodies are of it. Our muscles increase in size and we can lift heavier weights; our cardio endurance increases and we can maintain an 80% max heart rate for longer. The more you "practice" at working out, the more your body adapts and the more you can do over the next few weeks/months.

So why do I run if it's torture? Because really, I'm not running away from anything. I'm not trying to get somewhere faster. I run because in a sick twisted way, it feels great. First off, I run through a forest. There's nothing greater than nature. Who needs to spend hundreds of dollars on therapy when I can just be in a forest, walk on the grass with my bare feet, sit on a rock and put my legs in the creek.

When I run I can think about things. I can process things. I come up with blog ideas... unfortunately as soon as I get home I realize that my blog ideas weren't nearly as good as I thought they were in the forest. Maybe that's because forests are magical. Or nature is magical. Either way, there is universal magic at hand.

When I run, my legs are like energetic puppies and unfortunately my lungs are like an old, wise, asthmatic dog. My legs are hyperactive and caffeinated and want to keep going. They're full of energies and love the impact on the dirt floor. My lungs however, can just never keep up for long. They're learning, but every once in a while I come to that moment where the old dog just needs a break, regardless of the little puppies nipping on him, telling him to keep going (only 2K more!). I can often hear this interaction in my head, but of course, not wanting do die alone on the forest floor, I listen to the old dog and tell the puppies to hold their horses.

We can't forget the whole cardio debate... when you do cardio for long periods of time, you're basically enabling the flight of flight response. You're secreting lots of cortisol to deal with this "stress". But exercise is so good for you! So where am I on the cardio debate? I think running is amazing, but we also need to realize what we're doing physiologically. To some, it feels great to run 10K without stopping, but I'm actually a fan of an interval-style of training. Every once in a while stop, let your heart rate go back down and then do it all over again. OR, make sure to not to limit yourself to just running (no matter how addictive it is... because seriously, it is... ask any runner). Throw in some days of doing weights or resistance training. I love throwing in days of weight aerobics. Doing both within the same week helps to tone muscle as well as increasing endurance. It's a win-win. Otherwise you'll end up like The Oatmeal and have the legs of the Hulk, but the body of... well... just read the comic and you'll understand.

When life's milestones cost gagillions of dollars

I'm at that point in my life where it seems everyone around me is getting married or having babies. Biologically this is the end of the "prime" time, so it's really no surprise. But I find that many of us get tired of the rituals associated with these milestones. We have showers (usually several- both wedding and baby), bachelor and bachelorette parties, rehearsal dinners, and Stag and Doe's (the worst of them all).

Maybe that just applies to being in a bridal party. Because who really wants to spend a month's rent worth for a bride and groom just because you said you'd be a bridesmaid. It absolutely sucks. Not to mention the actual price of a wedding if you're the bride or groom.

Nowadays women are staying in school later, and therefore joining the workforce later. So how do you make it all work when you have no monies?

Seriously. I want to know.

But that's not my real beef today. I actually wanted to bring something to attention that often gets forgotten. We put so much effort into a wedding day, so why not give that kind of attention to your Birthing day? A wedding celebrates the beginning of a marriage, but the birth of your kid celebrates the beginning of their life and yours as a family.

I don't mean that so much in the financial sense, but in a symbolic sense. I believe a woman and her partner should be able to plan for their child's birth as you would plan for a wedding: as a special day in both of their lives. A wedding can be a huge production - in a materialistic show-y kind of way. A birthing day is a huge production in an organic human being sort of way. You seriously just produced a tiny human being and made your family 1 person bigger. That's a pretty big freaking deal!

It's one of my goals as a birth doula, to support mothers to make that day special, and not the dreaded account we see in movies and on TV. We've come so far in society to make giving birth a painful and uncomfortable situation. We joke around to pregnant mothers that "The pain's only going to get worse from here on out" and "You're practically going to be pushing a football through your lady parts." We tell them "Take the drugs! No one should have to go through that pain if you don't have to!"

Why do we build it up like it's the worst thing in the world? From what I've said above, it's like giving birth is equivalent to having all of your teeth pulled out. Who says it has to be that way? Why can't a woman be as comfortable as possible without having to get pain medication? Do you know how many tools we have at our disposal? How many relaxation techniques we have! I'm not saying that deep breathing is a pain killer, but it helps to tolerate the pain better. Stress can wreak havoc on our health, so why would it be any different when you're pregnant or are about to give birth?

What other species do you know gets hooked up to an IV, lies reclined and requires an epidural to give birth? Think of dogs! They have whole litters of puppies and no one gives a dog an epidural (I'm pretty sure anyways... that would be absurd.). There are certain circumstances where an epidural has it's place, but why not try to plan your pregnancy and birth to make it as special as a wedding day?

Have a plan, and have a back-up plan in case something medically concerning should happen. Make yourself comfortable. We all think that you have to go to the hospital to have a baby... but why? Something terrible isn't going to happen every time a woman gives birth. The Birth Doula who ran the workshop course this weekend said something that really hit the mark: give birth where you feel safe. A place that you can trust in. If you feel safer at home, give birth at home if you can. If you feel much safer going to a hospital, then go to the hospital. Either way, the point I want to make is to make sure you're comfortable. Bring things into the room that are comforting to you. Have music playing in the room if you like. Have people around you that make you feel safe. Remember and practice your relaxation techniques. Hire a birth doula! Know that you can ask questions. You are allowed to request the evidence that a certain medical intervention is best in your case. You are allowed to make decisions.

So you need help in making those big decisions? Ask about the risks, the benefits, and any alternatives. And lastly, please, please, please, don't put yourself in the mindset of a victim when it comes to having a baby. You are not a victim, you are a warrior and this is you and your partner's day. You deserve to experience childbirth in the way that you want. And it doesn't have to cost gagillions of dollars... though raising children in general usually does... 

Disclaimer: This is all within the limits of your health status. Any serious health risks may change your original birth plan, but your comfort and relaxation tools should always be available.

When do we start becoming "grown-ups" - Part 2

When I think about it, the term "grown-up" is really just used by kids to describe someone older than them who can make decisions.

I hate making decisions. And yet it defines my life... and all of our lives. If you didn't make decisions your life would be stagnant. You have to choose to get out of bed in the morning. You get to decide what to eat and when to eat throughout the day - so already your well-being is being decided by you.

You decide whether or not to show up for work/school, or go looking for a job. You choose when to pay your bills and how to budget your money. You choose how to deal with your children and if you'll go to yoga class later that evening. You choose whether you will recycle that empty can or throw it in a landfill.

Although it might sometimes seem like we're stuck in life, we actually have more power than we think we do. That's the power of being a grown-up. However, as a wise movie character once said "with great power comes great responsibility." But I like to think that means that the power of being an adult means you get to choose which responsibilities you'll follow through on.

I have the responsibility to show up to clinic if I want to graduate next year. I have the responsibility to do my research if I want to keep patients. I have the responsibility to budget my money if I don't want to run out of it. I have the responsibility of keeping in touch with friends if I want them to stay my friends; and working through relationships if I want to keep them. 

We tend to lose sight when we say we're stuck in life or that we have to take care of someone or do something. I'm talking about the people who can't seem to say no to anybody. They end up helping everyone else around them except themselves. They have no free time; they're stressed to the max; they're tired and worn-out and can't see any solution.

I think we all need to be reminded of balance in our lives. I would call that the "successful grown-up." The one who manages responsibility and takes care of themselves. It's not easy. But I think it's possible if you can override the power that guilt has on all of us.

Sure, guilt is a normal human emotion. It makes us apologetic. It verifies that we have morals. But we must also learn to put up our walls if someone takes advantage of that emotion and inflicts it on us constantly. I'm sure you can all imagine one person in your life who has a knack for giving you a guilt-trip over many things. It's the most awful feeling in the world. It can be a stressful emotion.

So although we can't control all variables around our lives, we need to remember balance. We need to be able to shut out the "guilt-trippers" when we have too much on our plates. We can't forget to take care of ourselves - which includes our relationships - but remember that there is always a choice. If you feel like you're stuck, remind yourself why you're there. Remind yourself what your goals are, and if you're not on the way to achieving those goals, maybe it's time to reconsider your path. 

I've been in post-secondary and graduate schools for the past 9 years (currently going on my 10th). I'm what my family calls the "permanent student". But then I remind myself why I keep going to school; what my end goal is, and that the journey is worth it.

It's never too late

Today was officially our first day of clinic and although I had a few "first-day jitters," it turned out to be a pretty amazing day.

I was reminded of something that I thought I would share. In the past, I've come across a lot of people who believe they are "too far gone." By that, they meant that they've suffered with the same or more symptoms over the years, and because it's been 10, 20 or 30 years going, they don't believe there is any solution.

Unfortunately, our medical system feeds into this: If you have a chronic condition, let's treat it with pharmaceuticals for the rest of your life. It's the "band-aid" approach. Then you have specialists who honestly don't have any additional advice they can give you (either because you don't fit into their cookie-cutter symptom picture, or you're unresponsive to their treatment) and can't take you further. You've gone this far through the medical system. You're seeing the guy who knows everything about that organ of the body and are devastated when you realize he has no other tools in his toolbox.

Enter naturopathic medicine.

At least, that's been my personal experience, but I know it's a fairly reoccurring theme in our population.

I think the body is able to heal itself if you help it do so. When you burden your body with toxic substances, foods that are hard to digest and process, foods that deplete your energy, anything that works against your normal functioning, your body needs a little help. Your liver is an amazing organ that helps you detox, but there's a threshold: It can only work so hard for you. The same goes for your adrenals. You can be stressed out for only so long before your adrenal glands get so tired of pumping out cortisol that they become exhausted.

But usually the damage is reversible (not always - but there's a good chance we can make the situation better). Hypertension and diabetes are both great examples of this. Our profession is great at helping patients to reverse these conditions IF the patient really does their work. It's not easy being healthy in our society- with Starbucks on every corner, McDonalds in every WalMart, processed foods and their sneaky ingredients-  but the benefits of doing so will blow you away.

So my message today is that it's never too late. It's never too late to change. It's never too late to make a difference in your life.

Suck it

There will always be people who come into your life (in some way, shape or form) who doubt you; And will tell you this to your face. They're not necessarily always negative people, but because they aren't capable of accomplishing something, they don't believe you can either.

The sad thing is that some of these "downers" actually have a big enough effect on people. The more you listen to them the more you think huh... maybe I can't do this afterall...

These downers are poison! Seriously. Like a Basilisk.. you have to go Harry Potter on their asses and get them through the head with the sword of Griffindor (figuratively speaking, of course).

We encountered a Basilisk downer yesterday morning before we were about to conquer biking the ocean-side. She was a sales lady for timeshares - your typical pushy rude saleslady. But what made me the most angry wasn't the fact that she made fun of our "lifestyle" of naturopathic medicine by telling us to take the stairs up to the second floor. It was the fact that when we told her we were going to bike from our resort to Jupiter which was a 25 mile or 40 km round-trip, she didn't believe we could do it and then told us to be careful not to die.

Seriously?! What gives people the right to tell me I can't accomplish something? Well, we did that bike ride, we got amazing sushi, we went to Juno beach, swam in the ocean and biked all the way back. So all I have to say to you downer Basilisk is SUCK IT! Not to mention the fact that after we got back, although our bums were very sore from the bike seats, we felt amazing!

Let this be a lesson to you all: if you have a goal (especially a workout goal) and someone doesn't believe you can do it, prove them wrong. Just because they aren't physically, emotionally or mentally able to do something, they have no right to put you down and say that it's impossible. It's only impossible to them.

Looking back I almost feel sorry for her. Knowing that she doesn't have goals like I do... knowing that she doesn't believe she can do something. It's kinda sad. But then I remember how rude she was to my boyfriend, and I'm more than happy to pull Griffindor's sword out on her (again, figuratively speaking).

Birthing like a warrior

While studying for a maternal and newborn care exam, I was so happy to read the evidence for my feelings on birthing practices.

There is only one thing I find more disturbing than watching women MMA fighters and that’s watching a woman give birth in the lithotomy position. Seriously. Jacked-up women fighting each other in a ring… it just seems so unnatural. It’s disturbing... As is our current birthing practices in hospitals. The lithotomy position is what we in North America would call standard: woman in bed, laying on her back, her knees pulled up to her shoulders with her hips externally rotated. Seriously?!? How does this make any sense?

I think what really makes me mad is that men (in history) have completely taken over this amazing part in a woman’s life. I mean, childbirth (is one of the many things that) makes us the warriors that we are. Why are we so afraid of it? Why does Hollywood depict childbirth as the most excruciating pain, like being tortured? Why shouldn’t we dictate how we give birth? I mean, why do we always follow the birthing plan of hospitals and not the one we want?

Okay, deep breath. Hold the phone. I personally have never given birth to a child. I completely admit that I have no experience with labour, other than watching my sister go through it twice. There’s a part of me that still believes it may be physically impossible for me to ever push a child out from down there; but hey, I’ve seen it on YouTube, I’ve seen in it real life, and if my size-0 sister can do it, I think anyone can.

So about those studies I mentioned… It was found that women who squatted using a birth cushion had a significant reduction in operative deliveries and a significantly shorter 2^nd stage of labor compared with delivery in the lithotomy position (Gabbe et al 2012). In another study, women in any upright position (squatting, kneeling, sitting, or standing per patient choice) had a greater chance of keeping an intact perineum than those in a laying position (Gabbe et al 2012). So really, if you have no serious health risks and no complications, you should probably consider an upright position.

I just can’t believe that our medical system hasn’t caught up with common sense. Haha, okay, wait, that’s a bit of a joke… I really shouldn’t be surprised. Someone just bombed a marathon (A what? A marathon!)… human society is f*%&ed up beyond belief.

But really, would you be more comfortable having a bowel movement if you were laying back in a recliner? No? You mean, it wouldn’t be easier to bear down while leaning back? This is what Oprah would call an “Aha!” moment.

Any mother out there reading this may shake her head because I am nulliparus, but I stand by the fact that when it comes to my body, I’m a warrior, and I don’t plan to lay back in a ridiculously awkward position while pushing a kid out. I will take charge, have a birth plan and be the boss of my own body. Hypnobirthing? Sounds amazing. Sitting in a warm bath? One of my favourite things! Acupuncture and herbs to move labor along? Sounds right up my alley. Much better than getting drugged up, snipped open, and forced into an uncomfortable position while pushing against gravity.

Have no fear! Welcome labour like the adventure of a lifetime that it is, and have a positive birthing experience. Do it the way YOU want, not the way you've seen it in movies or how medical doctors think it should be done.

Gabbe (2012) Obstetrics: Normal and Problem Pregnancies, 6th Ed.

Amazingness Day

 I'm entering super crazy exam study mode, so my blog posts are probably going to be a little more random and spread out over the next couple weeks, than they usually are.

 I woke up this morning at 7am (yes, on a Sunday) and was pleasantly surprised by the sunshine, blue sky and birds singing. There is something about mornings like this that make me so happy and more productive. I feel like I've been sunshine-deprived for way too long. 

 I have a postcard in my room from Moksha Yoga that says:

And it's mornings like this that I think it could be possible. My definition of "amazing" varies though. Sometimes I just want to be amazing for myself:

1) Eat an breakfast made with love and gratitude (thank you for the sunshine!)
2) Make something new and incredible in the kitchen
3) Wear something that makes me happy (like leg warmers... I'm an 80's baby through and through)
4) Find brand new music that I can become obsessed over (L-la, if you're reading this, I can't get that Amanda Palmer song out of my head!)
5) Push myself harder in a workout and sweat like crazy
6) Drink the perfect cup of coffee
7) Be productive with studying and leisure reading.
8) Be nice to a stranger (I actually confronted the dog lady last night. She was super sweet and I swear she hit the mute button on that little rat dog. I was pretty impressed! No need for the chocolate yet!)
9) Get/give hugs
10) Be as happy as the weather out there. 
11) Read PostSecret! (Sunday secrets!)

 I swear, sunshine is an anti-depressant. 

Well my fox friends, wherever you are be amazing today. It's Sunday and the sun is shining. 

The quote below is a bonus. I love Paulo Coelho and found this posted on facebook. Thought I'd share it as part of my amazingness day.  

"The two hardest tests on the spiritual road are the patience to wait for the right moment and the courage not to be disappointed with what we encounter."

~~Paulo Coelho (Veronika Decides to Die)

Klout ... it reminds me of a Scott Westerfeld novel

Has anyone else heard of Klout? It's like a social networking site that tracks how influential you are, based on your activity and responses in other social networking venues. This is all brand new information for me.

I just recently added myself to Klout and, surprisingly, I'm semi-addicted to checking my Klout scores every few days. And to be honest, I don't even know what it means. Yesterday I was a 49 today I'm a 50. Apparently Barack Obama is a 100 and Britney Spears is around 90-something. So really, I have no idea what my "50" actually means, but there's something about scores that are addicting.

It's like my blog. I LOVE checking the stats on my viewers and on the number of views I get. I'm still amazed at how many views I get from countries like Russia, Germany and the UK. It's amazing that I've reached so many people and I'm so grateful!

But there's something funny about this whole situation. It reminds me of a Scott Westerfeld novel. Specifically, "Extras" in which currency doesn't quite exist but is replaced by credits that you get for how influential and productive you are in society. Westerfeld's characters are obsessed with being influential over the internets. They kick stories and see how many people respond, going to incredible lengths to kick the best stories that will gather attention from the world.

Isn't that what we're doing? I mean, by blogging and by using something like Klout? Is there something that I'm missing here? Blogging for me is like having my own column in a newspaper or magazine. A place of writing-freedom. It's an author's dream. I'm grateful just to have an avenue in which to write, but to be able to influence others... there's something so powerful about that.

The thing about power though, is that people always want to harness it. And then exploit it. I really don't care to compare myself to Obama or Britney, but using Klout has me thinking... how far away is our reality from great science fiction novels?

Plastic surgery (or "surge") is already a reality. I myself having had my breast reduction am now considering laser eye surgery to correct my terrible vision. It's amazing what we can already do, but think of how close we are to other types of "surge". Also talking about Westerfeld's novel, we already have Maglev technology! I had no idea!

Most of the sci-fi novels that I read have a similar theme: what happens when humans fail and the earth can no longer support us. Sometimes I truly believe that James Dashner might not even be that far off. (Spoiler alert!) We develop a virus to control the population and it unpredictably mutates at an alarming rate... Sun flares hit the earth creating mass destruction... and the virus spreads like wildfire, embedding into our brains essentially turning anyone who isn't immune into a zombie-like being. Maybe a zombie apocalypse is a little far fetched, but setting an unpredictable virus on the loose sounds just like something our governments would do in desperate times.

I guess only time will tell. It's scary to think of where we're heading, and how infinite the possibilities are. How far will we go until we're exactly like a sci-fi novel? I think Westerfeld accurately captures the essence of human nature. His earlier novels like "Pretties" and "Specials" depicts how governments think, and what actions they take based on the actions taken against them. It's eye-opening when you see the similarities. Although they might seem like superficial books, his writing truly reveals so many levels of human thought and development.

I never thought I'd be upset about losing weight...

This week I had to try on my Maid of Honor dress for my sister's wedding. I was excited yet a little uneasy at the same time. I mean, you want to fit into your dress the first time - sans alterations.

I have to admit I was pretty upset when I tried on the dress and realized it was like 6 sizes too big for me. I mean, the dress is beautiful, but without it fitting properly, my mood had seriously declined... especially since alterations would cost another $60 on top of the already frightening price of the dress.

In all honesty, I've bought beautiful formal/party dresses from Forever 21 for $35, so spending more than $150 on a dress feels like I'm being stabbed and gutted.

So how did this happen?! I mean, it's been 2 months and I've shrunk that much? I should have seen it coming.. I wore a size 2 dress from David's Bridal for our school's formal, so I should have said something when the lady at the dress shop ordered me a size 10 for this wedding.

The truth is that there is no "herbal magic" or miracle weight loss drug. It's not even stress-induced weight loss. Shocking! I know! It was simple diet and exercise. I'm very lucky to not have any underlying medical conditions that affect my metabolism or make it difficult to loose the weight naturally. But don't hate me yet - this has been a huge struggle all my life.

I've always had a gut, ever since I was a little kid. It has stayed with me all my life and I never thought I would be able to change. In undergrad I worked out all the time, I tried eating healthy, I made almost all of my own meals. I ate my Special K with skim milk every single morning, and yet although I was in good cardio shape, I still couldn't see the changes in my body fast enough.

So what was the secret for me? I think the best thing that I've done was go gluten-free, dairy-free; I also eliminate (to the best that I can) soy, corn, refined white sugar, nitrates, nitrites, food additives/preservatives, food colouring, and non-organic meat or corn-fed beef. Again, it's not ALWAYS possible. I try to stay 70% paleo, with the other 30% being rice. I can't help my sushi addiction or get rid of my brown rice toast in the morning. I mean, a girl's gotta eat! And if I go long periods of time without eating I'm the grumpiest grumpy-pants ever! In my family we call it "Kingitis" (since our last name is King). We're all very good at diagnosing it. As soon as one of us gets snappy at the others, we order them to go eat something otherwise they are banished from our presence. 

But diet alone didn't change everything. I have to workout 4-5 times per week, doing an hour of my weight aerobics (strength training with tiny intervals of cardio). I say "I have to" because I'm addicted to working out. I get really antsy if I miss working out for more than 2-3 days in a row.

So really, I blame the combination of diet and exercise on my latest weight loss. It's funny that this is truly what can make you get into shape but everyone wants an easier answer. Never waste your time on diet fads or products that claim to be a "weight-loss miracle". If you don't have any medical condition that prevents you from it, diet and exercise truly can change your body. It takes time and dedication. Like I said, I've been fighting my belly my entire life, so I understand the frustration. But when you start to see results, it makes it all worth it. Every time someone goes out for takeout or fast food and you can't order anything... it's depressing. But in the end, it's actually a blessing. Yes, you can't have that fast and easy meal, but you can make better things. More delicious things! Things that your body will take and love you for.

My goal is to keep my body in shape for our vacation in May. To show my dedication, I'll post my before and after beach body (the before shot being a vacation pic from 2008).

Where there is will-power, there is a way :)