Saturday, August 24, 2013

Summer Tomatoes - YUM-O!

A dear friend of mine, Nancy, gave me another bag of delicious home grown summer tomatoes today. They are juicy, sweet, colorful (shades of red, yellow, purple...) and unbelievably flavorful!  They should have a different name than the tomatoes sold in the grocery store.  My parents are also growing tomatoes this year and we have had some of theirs too!

Today for lunch I washed the little baby tomatoes and tossed them with olive oil, balsamic vinegar, chopped swiss chard and spinach.  I had a big ol' pile of that for lunch followed by a piece of a Santa Claus melon.  Ask your grocer if they have a Santa Claus melon for sale.  Allen came home with it.  I had never heard of it.  It was one of the best tasting things I have ever put in my mouth!!!

BTW, I just completed my well woman annual exam.  I had everything poked, prodded and measured.  My blood chemistry continues to be at optimum levels.  If you are a woman, I will pass this tidbit along:  my gynecologist says that the new gold standard is to test all women for HPV.  If your test is negative (and mine was) then he said I can go 5 years before I have to have a pap smear again!  Let's hear it for 5 years in between paps!!!  Woo-hoo!

I hope you are going to your annual physicals.  I know it isn't necessarily fun, but it is so important to stay on top of your health!

Desire to scarf down summer fruits and veges.  Dedication to your annual physical.  Discipline to schedule the appointment and go.

Saturday, August 17, 2013

"The Plan"

How many of you have heard about The Plan?  A friend just told me about it today.  I did a search and saw that Dr. Oz featured it on his show recently.  This link should get you to his site to watch all about it.    http://www.doctoroz.com/episode/anti-diet-plan-weight-loss?video=16175

It is compelling because a nutrition practitioner claims to have found the secret to weight loss.  Apparently, many of us struggling to lose weight and keep it off are simply making food choices that are wrong for us.

The cleanse phase of The Plan is only 3 days and then you slowly and systematically add back foods and carefully monitor how your body reacts to the foods.  It is based on our body having an inflammatory response to some foods that causes us to gain weight, even healthy foods like beans, broccoli, salmon, eggs and many more foods. 

I am intrigued.  I am going to buy the book, read it and give it a try.  If any of you have tried this and have an opinion on this "new theory", I would love to hear from you! 

Desire to check out The Plan.  Dedication to seek out the information.  Discipline to invest the 20 days to try it!                                                                                                                          

Sunday, August 11, 2013

Shhhhh, Did You Hear That?

Of course you didn't hear that because I am referring to the absence of sound, the peace, the quiet......pure bliss!

I am struck by how beautiful it is to sit in my kitchen and listen to the rustle of a soft breeze blowing through the trees in the back yard.  It is such a glorious sound, and yet, one that I/we don't often pause to enjoy. 

Our lives are so filled up with activity, errands, to-do's, going here and going there, and yet, on this beautiful Sunday morning, I am absolutely filled with happiness just sitting and enjoying the stillness.  OK, I know you are thinking.....but, Patty, you are typing a post to your blog!  Yes, you are correct, and still, it is quiet all around me.  :-)

Did you know that the whole purpose of yoga practice is to learn how to quiet your mind?  The asanas, or postures, are actually intended to help you focus in the moment, to go inside to the vast reality that is our inner self.  When we are able to be in stillness, just be, we can begin to connect with the higher power that is inside of all of us.  It is not religious, but it is spiritual. 

So, for the rest of today, I am going to be as still as I can be.  OK, OK, I am going to swim laps later on this evening :-), but up until then, I will enjoy as much quiet as I can.  I am excited to see what I will learn from my inner self today.

Desire to know more about me.  Dedication to peace and calm.  Discipline to be still.

Saturday, August 3, 2013

Family, Family and More Family

Here we are at the end of another week filled with family and fun. I have managed to keep up with my work schedule, my workouts and family visits every evening!  I am exhausted and happy and looking forward to next week when all I have to do is go to work and work out!

We have one more big day of family.  Tomorrow we are hosting my Dad's 85th birthday party.  I am so grateful that we are close enough, emotionally and geographically, to share this day with him, Mom, sis, brother and girlfriend, nephew and girlfriend and mother-in-law plus her husband. 

So, I am going to keep this super brief 'cuz I know you will understand when I say that I have much to do to prepare for the party tomorrow.

I hope you are enjoying a fun summer week filled with family, fun and health!

Desire to hold family close.  Dedication to enjoy summer.  Discipline to keep it healthy.