Fire! Fire!

OK...now that I have your attention!    So really, who doesn't love Firefighters?  Honestly...they're in good shape, they save people and they look great in a calendar.  Really really really goooood.

Well, because of this, I have gone and done something that I may regret.  I signed up for the Firefighter Fun Run/Walk. What is fun about a run, you ask?  Well, nothing really.  Anyone who knows me KNOWS that I am not a runner.  In fact, I have diagnosed myself with exercise-induced asthma and am certain my lungs are smaller than average (I have no proof of this except for the fact that I feel like I am going to die every time I run).

My friend and bootcamp buddy sent out an email about this fun run and initially I was not even going to entertain the thought, but I clicked the link and read a bit about the run.  There are two distances... 3.43 km and 9.11 km.  The 3.43 is for the 343 firefighters who lost their lives on September 11, and the 9.11 is for 911 emergency response.  So that's cool, right?  But then reading on....apparently there is a bonus....as you cross the finish line you are welcomed by uniformed firefighters who present us with our finishers Challenge coin!   Uniformed. Firefighters.  

So, yes, I signed up.  And I signed up for the 9.11 km (am I cray-cray???).  Already I am panicking about what I am going to look like, huffing and puffing past the finish line with my hair all in disarray (uh-oh...didn't think that part through, did I?).  Maybe right before the finish line, I can quickly apply my lipstick (I'll find a place for it), and fix my hair?

Either way, I will cross that finish line (maybe in need of CPR?) and I will be able to say that I ran (?) 9.11 km.  So who else wants to do this with me???  

http://events.runningroom.com/site/?raceId=10089

www.bodynsole.ca

Pizza with Style

The theme of my week was pizza....but not just any pizza...and definitely not take out or delivery.  I had flatbread thin crust pizza at two trendy restaurants in Calgary.  I was first thinking...what a delicious week!  Two fabulous pizza places in three days!  Then I thought....what would my answer be if someone asked me "which do you prefer...Posto or Without Papers?"  Hmmmmmmm...lets take a closer look.

Tuesday night, some we went to Posto, which is featured as a Pizzeria and Wine Bar

Fig and gorgonzola at Posto

Their pizza was scrumptious and they had about 10 different kinds, including a spinach and chanterelle mushroom with a yummy fancy cheese, chicken and almond pesto with goat cheese and a fig and gorgonzola with radichio.  The ingredients were fresh, it was a trendy atmosphere, and we shared a yummy salad filled with caper berries, romaine, pancetta...need I say more?  

Today, I went to one of my favourite pizza places in Inglewood with a good friend (who was also at Posto) and her adorable daughter.  We both love this place as well, and again, the pizza is simply wonderful...thin crust with mouth watering flavours. Our favourite pizza there, hands down is the Shroom....mushrooms (imported of course), truffle cream, arugula.....so goooood....   Many places I have been to have tried this same pizza, and while they were good, none compare to this one.  They also have a buffalo mozzarella appetizer that is to die for.   

So what's the verdict? Both offer a trendy atmosphere, reservations, and good wine.  Both have amazing food and in both places you can share (or not!). And both offer a selection of meats and cheeses (formaggi e salumi).   I found Posto to have a bit more variety on their menu including pan seared scallops and ham hock, green apple and pistachio,  Oh my.  But...then there is the shroom...which for me, trumps everything.

I cannot choose!  Both are amazing!  But....if I did HAVE to choose....it could be Without Papers as they have that Shroom that I adore.  On the other hand, those seared scallops were amazing....ah...back where I started.     

The solution is simple.  Visit both in the same week, and just sit back and enjoy (both).

http://posto.ca/

http://www.wopizza.ca/

To Juice or Not to Juice....That is the Question.....

An alternative title to this post would be "Lets Eat Kale instead of Squeezing It!".    As it is January, many of us want to cleanse out all the poisons from the holidays.  Not only do we feel that our insides need a good bath, but some of us want fast results with our own personal health goals.  Juicing has become quite popular of late for a variety of reasons.  Even in the Calgary Herald this week, there was an article about juicing and as a professional it left me with more questions about why people are so obsessed with this craze?

When I think of juicing, sure its great that people can go buy juicers (so many kinds!) and make their own. And fresh squeezed orange juice (or fresh squeezed anything) tastes much better than store bought, but at the end of the day, it is just juice.  The concept of juicing everything from apples and oranges to kale, lettuce and spinach makes me question why not just eat the whole food and get all the nutrition benefits including the fibre and roughage (and what does the juicing-population do with all that waste???).  When people start to consume this juice AND eliminate other foods in their diets and call it a cleanse,  I feel that they are misinformed.  Eliminating grains from our diets, for example can be dangerous, as it is the key macro-nutrient that provides us with energy.  All in the name of cleansing.

Cleanse.  The word sounds amazing.  Renew.  Refresh.  Rejuvenate.  There is nothing wrong with wanting to make a changes in the way you live.  But why not strive for balance instead of the latest fad?  Including foods from all food groups, and ensuring you have a good sources of whole grains, fruits and vegetables and protein (including calcium rich sources too!)  is really the easiest way to reset yourself and get you on track.  Rather than eliminating key nutrients, include a variety of foods to give you adequate fibre, vitamins and minerals.

 I don't know about you, but I would rather eat a delicious kale salad with fresh pear and goat cheese any day over kale and lettuce juice mixed with extract of spinach and apple.  I guess that's just the foodie in me talking!  Bottom line...lets eat our fruits and vegetables instead of squeezing them!



juicing-craze article from the Calgary Herald...
http://www.calgaryherald.com/health/diet-fitness/cleansing+craze/9391975/story.html

Healthy New Year!

So it's January once again.  Clean slate.  Fresh start.  Detox.  Holiday weight.  Ugh.

We were away this year down in Florida, and as usual, I gained my typical 4 lb (or so).  I wanted to weigh myself as soon as I got home, but my husband put a stop to it, and told me that our bathroom scale is only good for one thing....weighing our luggage before a trip.  Well, I have to agree, but today I did it.  I stepped on that frickin' scale.  I am not sure why I was surprised, as it was exactly where I thought that vile number would be.  The good news is that I have probably lost a little of my holiday weight by doing simple things (i.e., not consuming alcohol every day, resuming my 6 am bootie camp, not having dessert on a daily basis, etc..).  But the problem is, there always seems to be a.....Cling-on (no, not Klingon) that won't go away.  Every time I gain, there is a little bit that clings.  Even looking at the definition, it seems icky....attach oneself to, hang on to....

So...what's the answer?  I can't just lose some of the holiday weight...I have to lose all of it (and then some???) or all those Cling-on's will add up!  I have to try and get back to my best weight for me (and also come to terms with the fact that my best weight post 2 kids at age 44 is NOT 130 lb).   I wish it could be, but it just can't.  I would love 155, but may have to be okay with with 160-ish.  The reason I say that is I know that in the past few years, I was able to get down to 161, and felt great, but it was very difficult to maintain there.  I ended up consistently around 165 and have more or less been able to maintain this weight.

Then I think...all these numbers.....arg!   Just ditch the numbers, eat healthy, be healthy, mind, body and soul!  I work out 2 times per week at my bootcamp (which I have stuck with for over a year!), I eat healthy (mostly), drink moderately (sometimes), and do not eat fast food (that's the honest truth!).  Shouldn't that be enough?  I do have temptations though...cheese, cheese and cheese (and the occasional piece of cheese).  So....I guess there's that (and wine, and appies with friends, etc...).

Or the answer lies somewhere in between.  Weighing myself could be deflating, as we know that it is more than just the number on the scale, but weighing can also keep me on track, and make me accountable.

So here it is...the truth.

Today, January 13, 2014 my buck-naked morning weight was 169 lb.  My plan....eat healthy, make good choices most of the time, watch my portion sizes (my least favourite thing to do), exercise in a way I enjoy, and to above all else, to be good to me, and to love my body no matter what (not as easy as it sounds).

That is my pledge.  I will weigh in and report (from time to time).

Meal Planning 2014 -- Creamy Cauliflower Soup

Happy New Year!   Here's to Meal Planning in 2014!!

I love slow cooker meals in the fall and winter.  They are easy, and bring delicious comfort to any meal.  My daughter gave me this book for my birthday this year, and I finally tried a recipe from it tonight.   It was "soup and sandwich night" for us, nothing fancy, just good old fashioned comfort.

The meal choice was based on what I had on hand:  1 head of cauliflower in my fridge, celery, fresh garlic, potato, and the kicker...I had made and frozen some chicken soup broth last month and had it ready to go in the deep freeze. All the makings of my cream of cauliflower soup.

It has no dairy, but what makes it creamy is that after it has cooked all day, you blend it (note if using a blender, make sure you vent it, or she's gonna blow!).  I have a little hand blender (one of those old Braun ones) and just put it right in the slow cooker and it worked like a charm.   The result was absolutely delicious for three out of four of us at the table tonight, which is pretty good.

 And not to worry, the boy didn't starve...he just opted for the sandwich part of the meal (he did try it though!).  




Creamy Cauliflower Soup

1 head of cauliflower
4 cloves of minced garlic
2 chopped and peeled baking potatoes (I used the red russets)
4 ribs of celery with leaves, chopped
3- 4 cups of  chicken broth (make batches of this way ahead of schedule and you are all set!)
2 tsp lemon juice

Chop up cauliflower, potato, celery and add minced garlic.  Put in slow cooker and cover with broth.  I used 3 cups, but probably should have put 1 more cup.   Add some salt and pepper (just a bit) and cook on low for 7 hours.  Mine cooked longer, as I left at 8 am and was home by 6:30...so a bit longer but still was yummy.   

Once you are home, it may not look the best in the crockpot (I honestly thought I had ruined it!).  But when you blend it up, it is amazing.   Once blended, add the 2 teaspoons of lemon juice.  No need for heavy cream to make it creamy...it is simply delish!  Top with aged shredded cheddar (cheese fixes everything) and serve with sandwiches...which was tuna tonight for us.

We were home at 6:30 and were eating well before 7!