Several months back, I wrote a post titled ‘One Step At A Time’ in which I used one of my newest clients (with her permission of course) as an example of progress (to read it click here).  I’d like to continue that story just a little, to really show you the progress that she has indeed made.  To date she has lost 76 pounds…SEVENTY SIX!  If that were not impressive enough, she just hit a major mile stone yesterday and I was lucky enough to be with her when she did.  I’d like to tell you about it.

After returning from the trip I wrote about in my first post, Cindy set a goal for herself to hike to Delicate Arch, a 3 mile hike round trip.  She was doing some hikes in the Salt Lake area to prepare herself and continued coming to the gym and kicking butt during her workouts.  She was doing fantastic and was on track to make her goal of hiking to the Delicate Arch a reality when she hit a few road blocks that were out of her control.  So many people at this point choose to give up, but not Cindy.  She had a picture of the arch above her desk with the words ‘Dare to Dream’ printed on it.  It was amazing motivation for her.

She kept going, doing as much as possible to ensure her success while dealing with the road blocks head on.  The road blocks she was up against persisted for several months, and though she was definitely disappointed, she never gave up.  The end result however, was that she had suffered some setbacks, some of them more significant than others, and she knew it.  In fact, she even asked me about a month before the trip to Moab was scheduled if it was going to be able to happen or not.  At that point, it didn’t look good at all.

That month passed with amazing speed, and she found herself overcoming some of the road blocks and finding ways to deal with others that she had not overcome as yet.  She kept coming to the gym, kept losing weight and ultimately; kept making progress.  On Friday, April 26, 2012 we made the drive to Moab in hopes of making a dream, a reality.

On one of the most beautiful Saturday mornings in April that I have ever witnessed, Cindy and I (accompanied by her friend Beth) set out to hike up to Delicate Arch.  She was so excited to be on the path that she knew led to her goal, she could hardly stand it.  I got excited just watching her level of excitement!!  There were a few spots on the trail that she had heard about that had her (as well as myself) concerned, so there was definitely a little bit of anxiety but for the most part, pure excitement.

The weather was beautiful and the temperature was cool, perfect for hiking.  Off we went!  I had never been to Moab before, never seen Arches National Park so I was beside myself with the beauty I was surrounded by.  I think I spent more time taking pictures than talking, and (for those of you that don’t know me personally) that’s saying something!!  Lol.

I am PROUD to report that SHE DID IT!!!  To be there with her as she saw the arch for the first time in person was truly an honor.  To watch her as the tears of joy slid down her cheeks, as the realization of what she had just done really sank in was nothing short of AMAZING!  As she motioned for me to join her for a picture under the arch, I couldn’t help but think how far beyond grateful I am that she invited me along for the  journey.  What a complete honor.  I got a tear in my eye myself thinking how truly lucky I am to be able to witness the amazing progress she has made, and will continue to make.

To all of you I say, be like Cindy; DARE TO DREAM!

You may or may not know that there is a new Angry Birds game.  I downloaded the free version to my Android for those moments when keeping a child happy and quiet simultaneously are essential to one’s sanity…if you’re a parent, you know exactly what I mean by that.  ;)

My middle son was playing a game as a reward for having completed an extra chore I had asked him to do.  I heard the usual, “Yessssssssss!”, “One more pig to gooo……yeah!  I got him!”, “Hahahaha, die stupid pig!” and “”Take that!” that I am accustomed to hearing when he plays.  What caught my attention was the new phrase he used this game.

After playing a particular level multiple times I could tell he was getting frustrated with it’s level of difficulty.  He somehow stumbled upon the fact that the birds can be flung in more than one direction in this version.  Discovering this fact, of course, led to all of the pigs’ destruction and of course…dun, dun, dun…the next level (feel free to insert oooo’s and ahhhh’s here, lol).  Upon seeing for certain that he had indeed cleared the level, he said (rather proudly, mind you) “Well Mom, that just goes to show you, there’s more than one way to smash a pig!”  I laughed right out loud!  I gave him a high five and told him I was proud of him.

It got me to thinking about the saying I used to hear my Dad (among others) say when I was younger, “There’s more than one way to skin a cat.”  While this is as true as Tyler’s statement about smashing pigs, I couldn’t help but think of the “twist” that each generation puts on things from the generation (or two or three) before them.  Honestly, I don’t know if my kids have ever heard the saying about skinning cats or not.  They certainly haven’t heard it from me!  (I try very hard not to use most of the annoying sayings my parents used on me…though I am sure that the ones I do use my children find equally as annoying…lol).

Somehow, that thought led me to thinking about how today’s generations find different (and usually much easier) ways of doing the same things the generation before them had to.  Like the other day, My son and I (it happened to be the same son, actually) were walking out of a store.  He opted to go through the automatic door while I went through the one I “had to” push open myself.  He looked at me like I was crazy as he said, “Mom, why did you do that??  I always go through the door that always opens for you because that way you don’t have to do anything, it’s way easier.”  My eyes about popped out of my head as I said to him, “Whoa buddy…THAT was the WRONG thing to say to your Mother who also happens to be a personal trainer.  You get your cute little fanny back in that store and you go through the door you have to open for your self…and while you’re at it, do it ten times.  That kind of thinking is exactly what got our country in the morbidly obese state that we have found it to be in.  Why would you not want to use the perfectly healthy body that the good Lord gave you to do things for yourself?  Oh no sir, I’ll have none of that on my watch!”

How many times a day do you fall victim to something as lazy as not walking through the door you have to push open for yourself?  This week, I am issuing each and every one of you a challenge.  Walk through the door you push (or pull) open, walk up the stairs rather than waiting on the elevator or standing mindlessly on the escalator, don’t use the microwave to warm up your food (use the stove top and a pan..Oooo, archaic idea huh?), if you sit down to watch TV don’t use the remote…get up off the couch and change the channel yourself (it never killed me) or hey, park at the back of the parking lot and walk a few extra steps into the store, library or work.  Take the initiative to do just a little extra this week, burn some extra calories, take some extra steps and use your perfectly healthy body to do things for yourself!

For those of you who have ever changed your eating habits from one way of eating to a drastically different way of eating, you know what I mean when I say, “It sucks”.  However, as big of a pain in the fanny as it has been, it has been SO worth it!  I feel so much better lately, and I couldn’t be more thrilled.  The downside to eating gluten free is that just because a food item is gluten free, it doesn’t make it “healthy”.  I have spent the last five years being super careful about what foods I would or wouldn’t eat, watching my nutrient ratios like a hawk and being very leery indeed of eating too much fat.  This gluten free way of life has definitely been a challenge in a few of these areas.  I’ve had to come to grips with the fact that my nutrient ratios are going to be different, and that it’s okay.  I’ve also had to let go of some things and learn, err I mean, re-learn how to roll with the punches a little bit (not something I enjoy too terribly much…I much prefer to have control over the situation…at least when it comes to what I’m gonna be eating).

So, the other night when I was surfing the web for something to make for dinner that would be tasty, healthy AND gluten free…I ran across this recipe.  YUM…I’m just sayin’.  Try them out and see what you think, we gave them two thumbs way up!  Of course, it should be noted that my son, Tyler (whom I frequently call Ty) was totally loving that they are called Thai Pork Wraps…kept trying to convince all his siblings that they were all his, the name of the recipe even said so!  Lol, man I love my kiddos, they keep me laughing…not to mention, on my toes!  ;)

Thai (Or at Our House, Ty’s) Pork Wraps

Have you heard the terms “zen state” or “zen time”?  It is often used in conjunction with yoga, which is what most people associate it with.  However, it is not a form of physical exercise.  The word ‘zen’ originates from a school of Chinese religion dating back to the 12th century but has been further expanded by the Japanese in more recent times.  Zen focuses on self enlightenment through meditation, but in our western world, it has become a word meaning a state of relaxation, inner peace and reflection in addition to meditation.  It is usually used in reference to time away from the rat race lifestyle we all lead, a much needed break from work, co-workers, kids and the pressures of everyday life to.  Zen is a place, which can be physical or virtual, that allows you to be totally calm and become re-energized.

I’ve stood on my soap box before when it comes to this topic, so it shouldn’t be any surprise to those of you who visit often when I say that fitness isn’t always about the strength, conditioning and wellness of the body itself.  Fitness is about the total wellness of our body in addition to our mind and soul.  If the mind and soul are out of balance, the body will soon follow (usually manifested as some form of illness, injury or even a lack of energy/motivation/dedication, etc.).  Through the last year and a half, as I have dealt with some substantially intense personal situations, I have experienced this more than once…just take my word for it.

Finding time for zen is *so* important!!  I know what you’re thinking, your days are already hopelessly full of appointments and meetings, not to mention the to-do list that you haven’t even had a chance to get to by the day’s end.  You’re probably already dismissing the idea of fitting one more thing into your already busy schedule by asking the age old question, “How am I supposed to find time for this too?”.  But before you dismiss it, allow me to give you a reason (or several) to fit it in.  The reality, my friends, is this:

If you don’t fit it in you will find yourself, as my mother used to say, at the end of your rope…your very frazzled and fraying rope.  You’ll be moody, depressed, irritable with your family, co-workers and friends, lacking energy and motivation and in a general state of unhappiness.  The bottom line is that we all need time to ourselves, for ourselves, to recharge our batteries, ground and center ourselves, find that inner peace and re-energize.

As I said before, zen is a place.  Where is your zen place?  All you have to do to find it is think of your happy place!  Don’t know what your happy place looks like?  Well, take a moment to go into a room where you can be by yourself and close the door.  Have a seat, close your eyes and let your mind go.  For most people, zen is found in some form of nature.  As you sit there with your eyes closed, take note of the images your mind creates.  Is there a waterfall nearby?  Or are you in a garden spot?  At the beach?  On a mountain trail?  Is there soft rain falling or bright sunshine streaming down?

I find my zen in the sound of water.  It could be a rippling lake, the babbling of a brook, a river talking as it runs by or the sound of lapping ocean waves on a white sand beach (in which case there would be cute cabana boy too – hey, a girl is allowed to dream!).  Regardless of what your zen place looks like or where it is located, find your spot.  Then, when life begins to get stressful, hectic, chaotic, fast paced and over the top, make the time to go there.  You will be amazed at how it positively impacts your overall well being.  Once you return from your zen place, life’s routines become easier and you are, once again, capable of accomplishing great things – all with a smile on your face.  Bonus!  :)

How many times have you heard the words “I dare ya!”, especially as you were growing up?  True, all too often it was preceded by the words “double-dog” as in, “I double-dog dare you”.  So what does this really mean and what does it have to do with health and fitness?  Well, according to Webster.com, DARE means “to have courage, to challenge, to confront, to act with imaginative or vivacious boldness”.  Hmm…I like it!  The double-dog adjective simply ups the ante or degree of the challenge (which I am *totally* okay with).  Now for the connection…and my dare.

Here we are, two weeks prior to the Christmas and New Year holidays.  This is often a time associated with indulgence and excess.  The dare?  To negotiate this time period without packing on the guilt.  I’ve written several blogs posts full of tips on how to negotiate the food side of the holidays, so this post deals more with the other side.

As you think back to the holidays growing up, do you remember food greater than you remember family fellowship times, being around loved ones (especially those who are no longer with us), and playing games?  Yes, I remember specific foods too (some that were actually good, some that we made fun of when no one was looking), but more than the greasy stuff, the sweet stuff, and the various jell-o concoctions (by the way, whose idea was it to put shredded carrots in lime jell-o anyway?  I mean, YUCK!  Whoever it was, they should be shot), I remember playing and good family times.  Don’t have family close by?  Get together with friends or look at serving the needs of those less fortunate in this world.  This is the stuff lasting memories are made of.  Indulge in making memories this season…I DARE ya!

As we near the end of the year, now is a good time to reassess your health and fitness goals.  Whether you are a lifelong fitness guru, or a newbie only a few months into your journey, take a few moments and assess your goals.

• Are you including the right mix of exercises each week? - Cardio vs Strength, muscle balance to avoid injury, any rehab exercises for injuries already sustained,  do you have correct form for the exercises you have chosen?  If you don’t know the answers to these questions, seek them out (i.e., hire/talk with a trainer, take an instructional class, do some research — just do it. If you don’t, your hard work may not be gaining you the progress you expect — and no one has time for that).
• Are your workouts frequent enough to continue with forward progression?
• How are you doing with your nutrition?
• Are you getting that extra fiber in, those fruits and vegetable requirements, or your water intake?

Need a little more DARE help?

How about this:

Do - action verb, get off the couch, out from behind the desk, and move!
All – everything you planned, don’t short change yourself!
Right – anything worth doing is worth doing RIGHT!
Earnestly - sincerely, purposefully, every time – after all you’re worth it!

And finally…

DARE TO DREAM

As you finish up your holiday plans and reassess your health and fitness goals, don’t be afraid to reach for the stars that you know are out there.  For that matter, reach for the stars you don’t even know exists yet.  Trust me, they ARE there.

DARE TO BE

Not only who you want to be at this time in your life but also the you that you want to be in the future.  It’s interesting to see how your definitions will change as you progress along your journey.  Take notes…you’ll amaze yourself, I promise.

DARE TO TRANSFORM

As we grow, we change physically, mentally, and spiritually–embrace the inner YOU, it’s someone to be PROUD of!

So go ahead…  I double dog dare ya!

You may or may not have noticed that several people on facebook have been listing off something that they are grateful for each day since the 1st of November.  It’s a great idea to count and really focus on the many blessings we all have…but I’m not on facebook every single day, or even most days, to be honest.  Still, I wanted to make sure I took the opportunity to list a few of the blessings I have in my life.  Doing this always seems to really make it hit home, not to mention this will give me the opportunity to publicly thank God as well.  :)

First and foremost, I am thankful for my Heavenly Father, His Son and for their influence and unceasing love and direction in my life.  I know without a doubt that I would not be where I am today, nor who I am today, were it not for their extreme patience with me and all my imperfections and their continuing forgiveness and encouragement.

Secondly, I am grateful for my precious, precious children.  I live for them, rising each and every day to a list of “to do’s” that in one way or another, is for them.  Whether it be going to work, meetings with teachers, a trip to the store to buy a poster board for a procrastinated report due the next day or to drop them off at school or a friend’s house…and I don’t mind it one single bit.   I live through them, each day bringing a smile to my face and warmth to my heart through the funny little things they say, endearing notes of love and support, precious memories of time spent together and activities we’ve done as a family.  I’m also thankful for the rest of my family who have supported me in each decision I’ve made to better my life.  I’m thankful for their love, their support and their patience with all of my stumbles along the way.  My kids, as well as my other family members, never stopped believing in me and never once doubted my ability to get to where I am today.  Likewise, I know they support me in continuing to follow my dreams of reaching out to help others succeed in their fitness goals and I am extremely grateful.

I’m thankful too for the privilege and opportunity I have to help and assist others in changing their lives for the better.  Because of the path that I have walked, I understand just how low the valley’s feel as well as how high the peaks can take you.  I feel honored to ride this roller coaster with so many wonderful people and be allowed to share with them some thoughts and personal experiences that help them get through the low times just as I am thrilled to jump up and down with them when they experience a victory.  I am truly blessed to have so many wonderful people in my life.

There are many people who attend the Fitness Center I work out of who are not clients but whom I am just as grateful for.  I have made so many friends throughout the last two and half years of working there that it overwhelms me to think about it.  You may have heard the saying, “It takes a village to raise a child” well, it’s true.  Obviously, I am not a village.  Like I tell my kids all the time, I have been diagnosed with single person syndrome, I can only be in one place at one time and sadly, there is no cure…I’ll die this way.  Since I can not possibly be in all the places that my children need me to be, every single time they need me to be there, I am grateful for friends that I’ve made at the gym who step in and help me raise these amazing children I am so blessed to have.  You all know who you are, now please know that you are loved and appreciated more than words could ever properly express.

As Thanksgiving comes and goes this week, I hope and pray that each and every one of us will have a great week, and that we will all have an especially wonderful Thanksgiving Day, spent in the company of neighbors, friends and loved ones gathered around.  :)

Did you know that there is a connection between your physical health and the way your body responds to the way you think, feel and act, other wise know as your emotional health?  You better believe there is!

People who are emotionally healthy are aware of their thoughts, the emotions caused by their thoughts and the behaviors that their emotions lead to.  It may seem rather simple but in reality, it is rather complex.  How many of us are truly emotionally healthy?  Research shows that much less than half of Americans fit the bill.  In a study conducted in August of this year research shows that on average the percentage of Americans who are emotionally healthy (scoring above 90) ranges from a low of 24% to a high of 36%.

It’s no doubt when you consider that our day to day lives are full of stress and problems that arise often, sometimes seemingly minute to minute.  There are many different things that can, and do, happen in life that can disrupt our emotional health and lead to strong, even very strong feelings of sadness, anger, betrayal, stress or anxiety.  A few examples of these situations are:

•  Dealing with the death of a loved one
• Getting divorced or married
• Having a baby
• Having a child leave or return home
• Dealing with family related issues
• Moving to a new residence
• Suffering a severe illness or injury
• Switching jobs
• Getting a job promotion
• Being laid off/fired from your job
• Experiencing money problems

When we are experiencing strong emotions, stress or anxiety our body tries to tell us that something just isn’t quite right.  For example, high blood pressure or an ulcer could develop after a particularly stressful event, such as the death of a loved one or losing one’s job.  There are a myriad of  physical signs that your emotional health is out of balance, they include:

•  Back pain
• Change in appetite (eating less or more food)
• Chest pain
• Constipation or diarrhea
• Dry mouth
• Extreme fatigue or tiredness
• General aches and pains
• Headaches (can be severe)
• Heart palpitations (feeling like your heart is racing)
• High blood pressure
• Insomnia (trouble sleeping)
• Lightheadedness
• Sexual problems
• Shortness of breath
• Stiff neck
• Sweating
• Upset stomach
• Weight gain or loss

Poor emotional health usually leads to a weakening of the body’s immune system, making it much more likely that you’ll pick up a cold, the flu, an infection or viruses during an emotionally difficult time.  Most people don’t recognize, or simply overlook, the fact that “good” changes can be just as stressful, sometimes even more so than “bad” changes.  It should be noted that any change can, and usually will, trigger emotions that can lead to stress and/or anxiety if not handled properly.

Most people do not take care of their health as well as they should during an emotionally difficult time, which adds to the problem.  It can be difficult to feel motivated to exercise, eat the nutritious foods you should or even take and medications your doctor has prescribed.  Abuse of alcohol, tobacco or other drugs can come into play during these emotionally challenging times as well, none of which are good for your body, but are often used to lean on.  So, how do we improve our emotional health?

First off, it is extremely important to recognize each of your emotions and understand why you are having them.  Sort out the causes of sadness, stress and/or anxiety in your life.  Is it a situation you have any control over?  If so, change it.  If it’s not a situation that you can change, decide what you can do about it?  You may decide that the only thing you do have control over in the entire situation is how you choose to react to it.  If that’s the case, control how you choose to react.

Express your feelings in appropriate ways.  If feelings of stress, sadness or anxiety are causing physical complications for you, keeping these feelings bottled up inside yourself will only make you feel worse.  Know that it’s OK to let your friends/loved ones know when something is bothering you or has you upset.  However, know too that your friends and family may not necessarily be able to help you deal with your feelings appropriately.  At these times, you may need to ask someone outside the situation (i.e., your family doctor, a counselor/psychiatrist or religious adviser) for advice and/or support in order to help you improve your emotional health.

Live a balanced life.  It is important to avoid obsessing about the problems in your life whether they be at work, school or home, that lead you to feel negative feelings.  Now that doesn’t mean you have to fake being happy each time you feel stressed, anxious or upset, in fact that can be detrimental.  It is very important to deal with all of your negative feelings, but it is equally important to focus on all of the positive things in your life too.   All too often, we get wrapped up in the bad things and forget to even recognize, let alone take time to be thankful for, all the positives.  At our house, I made my kids and I a gratitude journal to keep track of all the things that we are grateful for, that make us feel happy and the things that bring us peace.  Listing your blessings is a good way to give your health a boost and improve your overall outlook on life.

Another important step is to find ways of letting go of the things in life that make you feel stressed and overwhelmed.  When my kids get frustrated with a certain situation I take the m up to the lake.  They walk around the close by areas collecting rocks.  After they’ve found the collection that stood out to them for whatever reason, they throw each and every one of them into the lake with as much strength and fury as their little arms can give.  Sometimes they even shout out at the rocks until they hit the water with a big splash.  It’s been interesting to watch each of them as they go through their little ritual.  I’ve found that after doing this they are able to talk about it and get it off of their chests.  With the exception of one of them they are then able to move on in a forward and productive fashion having left their problems, stress, anxiety and emotions on the bottom of the lake.  Likewise, it is equally important to take (or make) time for things that you enjoy doing.  Replacing the negative emotions and feelings with a positive experience is a good way to balance things out.

Develop resilience. People who have resilience are able to cope with stress in a positive and healthy way.  Resilience is a tough one but can be learned and strengthened through different strategies.  Some of these strategies include having a circle of friends/family for social support, keeping a positive view of yourself and your abilities to handle situations as they arise, accepting change for what it is and not dwelling on the negative aspects it brings and keeping things in perspective (not turning the molehill into a mountain).

Actively calm your mind and body.  Relaxation methods, such as yoga and meditation, are helpful ways to bring your emotions into balance.  Meditation is a form of guided thought but can take many forms.  Some people meditate by exercising, stretching or deep breathing patterns.  Personally, when I need to focus on me and reign in my thoughts and emotions I get the best results from a workout…an intense workout…ya know, the kind that leaves me hobbling around like an 80 year old grandma for near a week!  Lol, seriously though, since we are all unique we will each experience our own “best results” from different forms of meditation. 

Take care of yourself.  In order to have good emotional health, it’s important to have good physical health; take care of your body by having a regular routine for healthy meals, getting proper amounts of sleep and exercising (which helps relieve pent-up tension and frustration).  As always, avoid overeating and don’t abuse drugs and/or alcohol; they could end up causing family and/or health problems.  No bueno.  Nope, not at all.

Fall is officially here!  Crisp air, fall scents, beautifuly changing colors, falling leaves and wearing my favorite sweaters are just a few of the  reasons I love this time of year!  Of course, at our house, fall also means that the kids are getting excited for Halloween and trying to decide what they want to be (which is pretty much changing daily at this point).  With so much to think about, a lot of the time, fitness gets pushed by the wayside….uh-oh, that’s no good!    

With Autumn whisking us into cooler weather, there are a myriad of outdoor activities that become a lot more comfortable for most people to participate in.  Cycling, hiking, in-line skating and walking are all excellent forms of exercise made that much more enjoyable with all of the beautiful foliage to admire in addition to the sound of crunching leaves underfoot.  In addition, backpacking, kayaking and canoeing are all excellent total body workouts if you’re near an area that allows it.  Don’t forget that raking all those leaves that are about to fall is an awesome workout in and of itself! 

Fall means sports.  It is interesting to watch the people that come in and out of the gym.  You can tell what time of year it is simply by the high school athletes that come in for practice.  If you are not personally involved in a sport, perhaps you have a child that is?  I have several clients that, rather than dropping their child off at practice, stay there with them and walk the perimeter of the building, a nearby track or the parking lot.  That’s an awesome way to get in some cardio!  

Fall days are definitely shorter on daylight, but just because it is dark outside doesn’t mean you can’t exercise!  You’ll need to be smart and safe about it, but it can be done!  If you’re going jogging outside, make sure to wear appropriate attire, a reflective vest and light colored clothing, and carry a flashlight as well.  Using park trails or outside tracks to avoid areas where there is sure to be traffic is another good idea.  If you’re going to be biking, attach a headlight to your bike to allow for better sight as well as to alert others of your whereabouts. 

Another thing to remember if you choose to be outside in fall is to wear layers.  Three layers seems to be the best choice, in my experience.  The first layer should be made of a fabric that is moisture wicking (you don’t want sweat to stay on your skin, you’ll get chilled).  The second layer should be for warmth (I like fleece) and the third layer to protect you (such as a wind breaker).  If you’re going out while the sun is still up, don’t forget your sunglasses.  UV protection is important all year long, not just in the summer.

Don’t forget that with Fall here, winter is just around the corner and winter means CHRISTMAS.  Countless people each year fret about the pounds during hte holidays.  Getting a running start now is the best Christmas present you can give yourself and all your loved ones.  It means you’ll already be in the habit of exercising and watching what you eat so the holidays won’t feel so overwhelming…and that means a healthier you!  What’s not to love?

Today’s post is one of those that I’m sure I get a few raised eyebrows at here and there.  It has absolutely nothing to do with fitness.  There will be no exercise how to, no recipe, no nutrition lesson, nothing.  It is a post though, and you’re already here so you might as well read it! 

If you have a garden this year, or if you’ve had one in the past, you understand the phrase ‘coming out my ears’.  It applies to zucchini, crookneck squash, green beans, peppers of all kinds and tomatoes about this time of year…ahhh, tomatoes.  Personally, I adore tomatoes.  Three out of my five kids like them too, which works out pretty good when we get home from the gym late and call dinner tomato sandwiches.  Well, except for the two kids who don’t like tomatoes, that is! 

The plethora of tomatoes that we are being blessed with right now, is easily enough to make a thousand tomato sandwiches a day (okay, slight exaggeration), which even with five hungry kids, is NOT happening.  So, I’ve been making catsup and canning it, which is something my Mom used to do when I was a young girl living at home. 

I loved my Mom’s catsup…on pretty much everything.  It was the only way she could get me to gag down a hot dog (until the day my Dad told me what actually went into hot dogs and from then on, NOTHING could make me gag them down), the perfect mix in for my mac and cheese and the ONLY dipping option for chicken nuggets in my opinion.  Now days, since I’m all grown up I use it a lot differently, but it is STILL my favorite condiment of all time.  It’s great on eggs, it makes the best meatloaf and every now and then (shhhh!  Don’t tell my kids) I’ll actually take a small spoonful right outta the jar.  Yum!

Last week, I made two batches an should get another two or three this week!  Woo-hoo!  With all this catsup making going on lately, it has really taken me back to my days as a youth.  I remember so many summers with Mom and Grandma, and eventually me too, helping in the kitchen (which was always hotter than hell) getting the jars sterilized, the steam from the steam bath rising to the ceiling, the pressure canner making it’s unmistakable noise and all of ,what seemed like chaos at the time, but I now know to be a very specific process going on around me.  And in the end, when the kitchen was all cleaned up, cooled off and the countertops were full of all the beautifully colored jars of fruit, veggies, catsup, jams and pickled beets…Mom was always beaming. 

At the time, I can remember thinking “Well that was dumb.  We spent all that time in a hot and miserable kitchen just to have a few shiny bottles of food to stare at?  LAME!”  Now, of course, I understand exactly what it was that Mom was always beaming at.  She was beaming knowing that in the winter when it was colder than sin outside she could go downstairs and grab a bottle of summer, whether it be peaches, pears, apricots or cherries.  She was beaming with the sense of pride and accomplishment that comes from doing a job well and the gratification of her hard work.  She was beaming at the thoughts of being able to feed her family even if times got tough (which they did) and knowing that she and her efforts had made it possible. 

Mom was right, there is an amazing feeling that comes from a counter top full of beautifully colored jars of food, and even more so from knowing that you had something to do with it.  When I was a young girl sitting in the kitchen peeling peaches till my fingers wouldn’t move, I never EVER thought I’d can when it was my turn to be the Mom.  In fact, I promised myself that as soon as I moved out I’d never have to look at a another canning bottle again…not EVER.  And yet, here I am canning catsup, beans, salsa, and I’m going to try apple butter and cinnamon apples this year as well as doing some jam.  So not only am I canning but stranger still I. LOVE. IT. 

I’m so thankful that my Mom taught me the value of hard work, the beauty of canned food and the joyous sound of a canning bottle sealing.  Though she never said “I’m canning this food because I love you”, we all heard it just the same every time we had peaches for breakfast in January.  So though it is long overdue;  Mom, thanks for teaching me, not only through your words, but through your example.

One of the questions I always ask a new client is’ “How is your current nutrition?”  My goal in asking this question is to get a picture of how they eat on a daily basis and how they feel about eating out vs. eating from home.  It works, trust me.  In discussing current nutritional habits, one of the biggest concerns that usually comes up is that of cooking “healthy”.  When asked to expound upon their concerns, I usually hear something like, “I don’t mind chicken, but I don’t want to eat it every night for the rest of my life, let alone with dry brown rice and steamed broccoli.  Eating healthy doesn’t taste good, there aren’t that many options and really, when you look at the overall picture, I haven’t had much success with it anyway.  What a waste of time for such little results!  And that’s if I get any results from it at all!” 

Upon hearing these words (yet again) my reformed inner food addict gets cranky.  Which is rather ironic seeing that not all that long ago I felt the exact same way!  I find myself wanting to defend produce-kind, testify that whole grains are they key to energy and shout from the rooftops that lean proteins are not only good for you but that all three of these nutrients combined will give you more health benefits than you could ever imagine.  How could you say that they don’t taste good and that they don’t give you results worth sticking around for?! 

Yeah, sorry about that.  I’m a little passionate about good nutrition…sometimes I get a little carried away.

As I’ve thought about ways to convince people that healthy cooking is where it’s at, I’ve had a lot of ideas come and go.  One of my first ideas was to type up recipes and hand them out to new clients.  After all, when I first started I had no idea what TO eat.  I knew what NOT to eat, but didn’t have a clue otherwise.  That is one of the most frustrating things for a person with a food addiction…not knowing what to eat, which quickly turns into not feeling like there is anything you CAN eat.  It seemed to help, and continues to help, some of my clients.  The problem I found was that only those who already had some intrinsic motivation really use the recipes, everyone else loses them in the never ending paper shuffle at home.  That’s not good enough stats to settle for.  It doesn’t help enough people. 

Another idea I had, and I’ve written about here at transformationtrainer.com before, was joining with the South Jordan Fitness & Aquatic Center’s quarterly Nutrition Fair.  I donate my time to help make the food that is highlighted as well as being there during the fair to answer any questions that attendees have concerning nutrition, exercise or a healthy lifestyle in general.  That seems to help some people, but some people are too shy to approach me in a big group setting like that, they need more of a small group or one on one type setting.  Again, that’s not good enough.  So after thinking about it some more, I had another idea. 

It came to me as I contemplated my goals as to what it is I want to be able to give each of my clients, and truly all those I come in contact with.  I chose Transformation Training as my business name for multiplereasons.  First, I had undergone a transformation of my own and wanted to help people who wanted the same for themselves, who were willing to put forth the effort and hard work it inevitably takes to achieve such a transformation.  But too, I wanted to provide training, and not just workouts, that would allow people to make positive changes for themselves for the rest of their lives. 

Each client I’ve had has become a friend to me, though I’ve clicked more with some than others, each of them has had a positive effect in my life.  I want their association with me to be just as positive for them and to benefit them for years to come.  I want them to come away from our time together having learned information that will help them make decisions that will benefit the health of not only themselves, but their families as well.  Because when it comes right down to it, if you don’t have your health and your loved ones, what do you have?  Not much worth writing home about, huh?  

So, I’ve been bouncing this one around for awhile trying to get all the details worked out, to ensure that it turns out like I have it in my head.  There’s nothing worse than having an idea for a project pictured in your mind and then having it turn into utter chaos before your eyes…been there, done that, so I can tell ya firsthand, it sucks.  Enough said.  I’ve mentioned it to some people to see what they think, would they be interested in a class of this kind and how do they think it would be received by others, and from the responses I’ve gotten so far, people (besides me) are excited about it.   

So what is my big idea?  Healthy cooking classes!  At each class, a group of recipes will be demonstrated, showing people how easy it is to put healthy food together.  At the end of class, those in attendance will have a chance to experience healthy eating as each class will include dinner (a sampling of each recipe made that night), printed recipes and a shopping list to take home with them as well.  Each class will have a theme (for example, “Fast Fixes” or “Soups and Stews”) that indicates what will be demonstrated.  Due to location arrangements, spots are limited.

The first class is set to be held on August 3 at 7pm (per person cost TBA).  We will be highlighting “Summer Salads”, all of which are perfect for any occasion, from dinnertime with the family, the backyard BBQ or entertaining guests.  Whether you prefer sweet or savory there will be something for everyone!  I’m super excited about getting these classes started, and I hope all of you are too!  Hope to see you there! 

For more information on attending, to reserve your spot or to share any of your thoughts, comments, questions or suggestions you may have regarding class, feel free to leave a comment to this post, email me at laurabutterscpt@gmail.com or call me at 801-859-5013.