Hi Bloggies, how’s your day been? Mine has been fantastic because I met with Alyson’s Trainer and he and I had an awesome consultation appointment! I have never met with a trainer in my entire life so this was a first, and a great experience! We discussed My Goal of likely embarking upon Fitness Competitions and doing Bikini Shows and we discussed where he sees me now, what he sees for the future, what he recommends, and all in all, he’s just a great guy and a terrific resource! I can see why Alyson loves him! Although I cannot afford to see him for on-going, consistent training sessions, the information, feedback, and practical insights he gave me today was worth it’s weight in gold!
However, I am going to see him for one training session next week and see what he recommends for me, see how I do, and see if I even like lifting weights. Yes, you read that right. Lifting weights. I actually kinda hate April’s Fools jokes so I promise none of those will be in this post. He also tested my body fat percentage and I am pleased to report that my high raw vegan diet and yoga has been doing my body good, so that was cool. It nicely reinforced my vegan and yoga path.
I brought my trusty sidekick, Skylar, with to my appointment. Less than ideal because it makes it harder to focus on the adult conversation rather than trying to make sure my child isn’t about to drop a dumbbell on her foot, but hey, that’s what moms do. Before we left the house, she nibbled on a few Cinnamon Sugar Pretzel Bites from Chocolate Inspirations that I reviewed in This Post
The pretzels are not Gluten Free so they were all hers. She liked the 3 pebbles pretzels she decided to have.
When I got home from the Trainer Appointment I opened a box containing NuNaturals Stevia!
I use their white powder stevia in my Overnight Chocolate Brownie Protein Oats
I use their Liquid Vanilla Stevia in Coffee & Coffee Drinks
And I also use the Vanilla Stevia in Overnight Peanut Butter Banana Vanilla Chia Oats
It’s So Easy to Let These Peanut Butter Banana Vanilla Oats Soften Overnight and they’re ready to Go in the Morning!
And I use NuNaturals Cocoa Bean Extract Liquid Stevia Drops to the Popcorn Mix I Make
I also use the liquid cocoa bean stevia in my Guiltless & Fast Vanilla Hot Cocoa
And I use their Baking Blend in my Homemade Vegan Gluten & Soy Free Granola. Just replace part of the brown sugar with NuNaturals Baking Blend
I’m a Total NuNaturals Fan, so this Win will be put to great use! Thanks NuNaturals & Diana!
I also won some Miessence in Kristen’s Give Away that arrived today!
Kristen did a great review of the products and I have sampled a few Miessence items a few years ago because an acquaintance of mine was a rep, and can’t wait to try these out. The lady, Kathy, who sponsored the give away enclosed her card, and here’s her info.
Today I also decided to Bake my Insoles!
Remember the Other Day when I mentioned I ordered some insoles online that I could bake to customize? Hot product tip courtesy of Katie, thanks Lil Veggie!
Well I baked ’em up! 225 F for 2 Minutes
And then I put them in my shoes and stood in place for 2 Minutes. Madeline, do you like my Pearl Izumi Socks?
Verdict? The insoles are really comfy and definitely seem to help with my plantar fascitis issues. It’s hard to tell, though, after just a one tiny little run, if long term they will work out.
The Sof Sole Bake-able Insoles are a much Softer and Squishier insole than my Blue ones Called PowerStep (shown below here) that Fit Chick in the City Recommended to me a few months back.
Both feel “good” though and I can vouch after two months, that the PowerSteps have been helpful, but my plantar fasc still acts up from time to time. I would love to go to a podiatrist and get macked out custom insoles, but $$ince that won’t be happening for awhile, I have the insoles.
Thanks everyone on the feedback from Yesterday’s Post about the Religion of Your Childhood, What You Believe, If Your Faith as an Adult Differs from or Mirrors that of your childhood, and for basically telling me how and why you Believe What You do in your present life.
In summary, it seems as many of you don’t identify in the very strict sense of either your childhood religion, or of organized religion in general, but that you term yourself more “spiritual”. And really, I am not too surprised. In this day and age, especially among our very tech-influenced and secular society, I did not expect too many of you to tell me that you hold staunchly steadfast to religious ideology, however there are a few of your very resolute in your faith. And as Tina said, there’s a difference between Religion and Faith. I loved all your comments. Thank you for taking the time to write and fill me in and for being respectful about it, because when religion is in the mix, conversations can become pretty passionate!
Oh and thanks for the great vote of confidence you gave me about posting a Progress Page for my Fitness Endeavors. I think I am going to, but am going to mull it over another few days, first.
And yes, negative comments are unfortunate, and they really do hurt me, because I give of myself very freely on my blog, both in terms of my recipes, my time that I spend answering readers’ questions privately, and I do not couch my thoughts and opinions, and let it all hang out letting my personality shine through. I think I am kind to my readers and have no idea why people would want to leave me, or any blogger, rude remarks, but it happens. I am glad those of you who wrote in think what I think about the anonymous comments.
And I’m glad you like the Raw Vegan Cabbage Wraps
And Filling Options Like Baked Raw Vegan Cabbage Wraps
Sweet-nTangy Chicken-Less Salad Pate
And the Sauces…
From Peanut Sauce
To Sweet Hot Mustard & Orange Sauce
To Vegan Raw Cheddar Cheezy Sauce
For Dinner last night, I took the rest of the head of cabbage and sliced it for Cole Slaw. Cabbage is truly a vegetable that multiplies about 5-fold the minute you slice into it! I wish chocolate multiplied on my like cabbage seems to!
Sliced and put in a baggie
I added diced carrots and red peppers to the mix, and then as needed, I just scoop a handful out and Dress with Vegan Slaw Dressing, and voila…Vegan Cole Slaw!
I know I post about this stuff daily, but I could drink it. Maybe I do. kidding!
I gave Scott the last Raw Cabbage Wrap with a side salad
And I ate my weight in cabbage and slaw dressing! Fiber much?
Dessert was a fresh batch of 5 minute, 3 Ingredient No-Bake Vegan Maple Flaxseed Cookies
And there was Raw Vegan Coconut Oil Chocolate
Yoga Today is Side Crane, aka Parsva Bakasana.
For those of you who are regular readers, you know I’m a yoga teacher and have been since 2001. I am frequently asked how to do this pose.
The easiest explanation I can offer is:
Squat down with your feet close together.
Then point your knees all the way to one direction, let’s say the right hand side.
Make a table with your arms, and lean forward and up onto the back of your arms.
The pose is much more about center of gravity and weight distribution than it is about strength. Core strength, in this pose and in all of yoga, is fundamental, but once that’s established, just try to find the Sweet Spot, so you can lift your crane off the ground. Hopefully that explanation helps a bit.
Here’s Another Angle. Just have fun and you’ll get there!
Tip of the Day: Did you Check and See Who Won
Questions
1. Have you ever worked with a personal trainer? What prompted you to do so? Was it a good Experience? Do you feel like you learned what you needed to learn and can do things, by and large, on your own? Was it expensive and was price the only reason you stopped going?
Also, I know some of you are trainers and have your CPT certifications. If you do, feel free to chime in with what certification you hold, if you would re-do it again if you could re-choose this path or not, basically has it been worth it for you and are there any programs you love or hate? The perpetual student I am, I always am contemplating if getting my ACE or something similar would be beneficial. It would largely be for self-knowledge, personal fulfillment, and learning. Not to actually train clients but more as knowledge and learning.
Tell me about your trainer experiences if you’ve ever had one? And did they try to hit on you? haha!
2. April Fool’s Jokes. Do you like them or not?
I am not really a fan, probably because I take things to heart and don’t like feeling “tricked” for more than 3 seconds. Like if Scott walked in and said he lost his job or something, I would not find that funny. At all.
3. Do you have any nagging injuries or little aches and pains? What do you Do to Resolve or Minimize Your Pains or Issues?
Plantar fascitis is one thing that bothers me, for those who don’t know what it is, basically my arches feel like they are going to explode some days. I have had multiple knee surgeries from when I was a high school basketball player so those act up. I fell off my pogo stick when I was 8 and probably broke something in my shoulder but never went to the doctor and that bothers me sometimes. I’ve broken all my toes from various sports injuries. I have “computer neck and shoulders” meaning I have more knots & kinks that you want to know. None of these things are really horrible, but ya know, they exist. Part of it is my lifestyle though: I never say no to athletic events. Quadruple Black Diamond? Sure, I’ll try it. Balance upside down on my forearms? Bring it. I have always pushed myself and so as a result I do have these little “things” but nothing that slow me down. Trust me. And Yoga Helps overcome the majority of any of it! Yay for Yoga! And when that doesn’t work, I just tell myself I had an all natural childbirth and so whatever little ache I am having in the scheme, is just not a biggie!
Stay Tuned For Hot Topic Friday…
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