Drying Off After A Long Swim

by Suzanne Jolly on September 1, 2009

My best thing today: The AAPS presentation “Challenge of Change” from Warren MacDonald.  Thanks to Warren for his uplifting presentation and to Jasmin at AAPS for coordinating him to come to campus.

You may have noticed a lack of Suzanne last week on this blog. My apologies- I was away and I couldn’t bear the idea of writing.  Shame is a powerful thing my friends. 

I fell off the wagon last week and somehow managed to land in the coffee pot… then took a few more days to swim around in there…

I visited home last week to find that caffeine addiction runs deep in the roots of my family tree.  One of my favourite family traditions, since I can remember, was to join my parents on their bed with my two brothers and our old family dog, Griff, on lazy weekend mornings, as my Mom and Dad drank coffee and read the newspaper.  A few things have changed since I was 5- now I’m old enough to drink coffee, it’s a different house, it’s usually just me and my Mom and my Step-Dad and our family dog, Horatio, isn’t allowed in the bedroom (but my dog Stogie comes in and begs to be let up on the bed).  One thing is essentially the same: coffee.  I’ve been partaking in coffee in bed chats since I was about 16.

It’s the comfort of tradition that gets me every time.  My Mom wakes me up in the morning at home to tell me to join her and my stepfather in their bedroom for a cup of coffee.  I love that tradition.  More recently, I find comfort in the {newly developed} tradition of stopping for a coffee at Gallileo Coffee.  Then last night after a nice dinner out on the seawall with my Mom, there was comfort in the cup of coffee in the twilight.  It’s started to feel like kicking coffee meant giving up on traditions.

So my friends, I have failed.  I’ve been swimming in caffeine lately and honestly, I like it!  I feel like a rebellious teenage- I even kind of resent having to consider giving it up.  But I know I said that’s what I was going to do.  I even try to forget why I wanted to quit.  The fact is, in this moment, I cannot imagine not getting to partake in the traditions.  I know I could drink something else, but it’s just not the same.

Despite all this, I returned to my comittment today already.  I have not had coffee since 7:30 am yesterday in Brittania Beach.  Even though there was someone [whom I shall not name] sitting beside me in staff meeting this morning with a very delicious smelling cup of coffee.  Even though there was lots of free coffee at the staff meeting…I managed to enjoy my wonderful cup of herbal tea… even though for some reason the hot water was in fact cold.

I know that in the long run, it will pay off.  But short term, it’s a hard one. 

So while coffee may have won this battle, I have not waved my white flag.  I will win this war.

By the way, a special thank you goes out to Ash, the owner of my favourite local coffee shop, as he introduced me to a hot drink that’s warm and rich like coffee- it’s a Rooibos Americano, made with rooibos tea [which is an herbal tea without caffeine].  I think it might get me through the winter.

Next week, I’m going to be on vacation, so I won’t be blogging.  I will be traveling somewhere, with my car, climbing gear and dog.  So here’s a little song for you, to listen to when you miss my blog entry next week (hahaha, yea right). The Road I Must Travel by The Nightwatchman

{ 4 comments }

The Daily Grind

by Jolene Cooper on September 1, 2009

stef-and-phil-adventures-0371

Decisions, decisions.

I attacked the Grouse Grind again this past weekend, and to my own surprise, it wasn’t as bad as the first few times I tackled it. I even found I had enough energy at the very top to sprint up the last few hundred metres into the clearing.

Unfortunately, when I first set my fitness plan goals, I had hoped to do the Grouse Grind once a week. That has obviously not happened. Summer is a busy time, and with a multitude of friends coming to visit me from back east, there were much more fun things to do than torture myself climbing a mountain.

From this weekend’s adventure, however, I have been reminded of the benefits of the Grind. Not only did I feel a sense of pride and accomplishment upon completion, I sweat out all the toxins in my body (many times over), got a great (and free!) cardio vascular workout, but as I noticed on my regular run last night, breathing is so much easier on flat ground. I shaved maybe 10 minutes off my typical run time just due to the increased elasticity in my lungs.

One of my goals for 2010 is to run the Vancouver half marathon, so I think using the Grind to build endurance will be a great asset. Hopefully I’ll be able to make it back a few more times before it closes for the season. Luckily, another friend of mine arrives later this week, and she happens to be the fittest Ontarian I know, so we’ll see is she survives the Grind.  This might provide some evidence to support my theory regarding different fitness standards between provinces.  I’ll keep you up to date on my findings.

stef-and-phil-adventures-0391

Those are my feet, I swear!

{ 5 comments }

It’s my party

by Patricia Parker on August 31, 2009

Hi all,

I must be getting old…I completely forgot to post yesterday.  I was on vacation the week of August 17.  We had fun.  I would like to point out that sailing IS, after all, categorized as a sport, so I did manage to serendipitously work in some fitness.  It was like spending a week sitting on a Theraball.

theraball4

 

I wasn’t so concerned about counting calories or walking 3-4 kms per day, but I didn’t gain any weight, so things must have balanced themselves out. 

 

Finally, today is my 49th birthday.  As my gift to you, I will share a recipe for sinfully delicious chocolate cake.  My modifications to this recipe:  I don’t add any salt; I substitute ½ all purpose flour and ½ whole wheat flour;  and,  I add 1tsp of lemon juice to milk to “sour” it if I forgot to get buttermilk in the groceries.  A piece of this cake shouldn’t throw a big wrench into your healthy eating plans:

 

EatingWell’s Died-and-Went-to-Heaven Chocolate Cake

This foolproof cake is one of our most popular recipes. Dutch-process cocoa is preferred here for its deep chocolate flavor.

Ingredients

Cake

1 3/4 cups all-purpose white flour

1 cup white sugar

3/4 cup unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder

1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

1 1/4 cups buttermilk

1 cup packed light brown sugar

2 large eggs, lightly beaten

1/4 cup canola oil

2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 cup hot strong black coffee

Icing

1 cup confectioners’ sugar

1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1-2 tablespoons buttermilk, or low-fat milk

 

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly oil a 12-cup Bundt pan or coat it with nonstick cooking spray. Dust the pan with flour, invert and shake out the excess.

2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, white sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Add buttermilk, brown sugar, eggs, oil and vanilla; beat with an electric mixer on medium speed for 2 minutes. Whisk in hot coffee until completely incorporated. (The batter will be quite thin.)

3. Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 45 to 55 minutes, or until a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool the cake in the pan on a rack for 10 minutes; remove from the pan and let cool completely.

4. To make icing: In a small bowl, whisk together confectioners’ sugar, vanilla and enough of the buttermilk or milk to make a thick but pourable icing. Set the cake on a serving plate and drizzle the icing over the top.

Nutrition Information

Per serving

Calories: 222

Carbohydrates: 44g

Fat: 5g

Saturated Fat: 1g

Monounsaturated Fat: 3g

Protein: 3g

Cholesterol: 27mg

Dietary Fiber: 2g

Potassium: 142mg

Sodium: 340mg

Til next time

P

 

{ 2 comments }

Journey to Good Health

by Rick Byers on August 31, 2009

 
I remember when my vacation resembled more of a re-enactment of a day in the life of a rotisserie chicken; spending the entire day horizontal on some exotic beach, smelling like a coconut and slowly turning into a first place finish in the BC Hot House Tomato look alike contest. 

 

To this day, I wonder whether it was worth all those hours of melting under a blazing sun, followed by evenings spent in an Olympic-size pool of moisturizing cream, just so I can return to the office on Monday and have someone remark:

 

“Oh I see you went somewhere on vacation!”

 

Nowadays, I look forward to a vacation for the reward of mental and physical rest through exploring. Walking is the best way to get to know a city wherever you travel. Wear comfortable shoes, grab a map and bus schedule at a local convenience store and off you go. Rather than observe the world from a window, experience it as if you lived there. Whether you travel to Whistler, Vancouver Island, the Sunshine Coast, the Interior, the same approach can apply.

 

For me, one interesting discovery leads to another and then to another. Before I know it, I have walked a few miles and a much greater distance that my usual daily routine. The additional calorie burning factor is also important as I might indulge in a treat or two (another reward of vacation) during my travels.

 

Recently, I spent a week in Whistler. I humbly admit I am not a mountain biker, hand glider, hiker or runner. But I walked to everywhere I wanted to go to. If I forgot something at the store, I would either pass or walk back to get it. No driving under any conditions. I averaged 3 to 4 miles a day and felt great. Mentally and physically rested.

 

If you are limited by time and finances, you can walk the boardwalk at White Rock, the beaches at Spanish Banks, the perimeter of Stanley Park, Ambleside Park, Lighthouse Park, Crescent Beach Park, Boundary Bay and lots more locations – all free.

 

When you are walking in such beauty, an hour passes by like a few minutes.

 

And you won’t have to spend your evenings in an Olympic-size pool of moisturizing cream.

 

Next week: Golfing for Fun: Seriously!

 
Have a week of good health,
 
Rick

← Previous Entries

Next Entries →