Something Tasty For Fall (and no it doesn't contain pumpkin!)

I love you all, but really stop with the pumpkin. That stuff is just nasty and smells worse than it tastes. It's best as a scary Halloween decoration for a reason. 

Instead, savor this tasty comfort food one day this week. Perfect for the cool fall evenings. My husband and son both enjoyed it too.

Pasta with Red Lentil Sauce

• 2 Tbls. olive oil
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 2 tsps. garlic
• 1 cup red lentils
• 2 cups broth or hot water
• 1 16 oz. can crushed tomatoes (original recipe called for 28 oz. but I thought that was too much.)
• 1/2 tsp. dried basil
• 1/4 tsp. dried oregano
• 1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes
• Black pepper
• Pasta of your choice

Cook your pasta and while that is going, heat the oil in a saucepan. Add the onions and garlic. Cook until softened. Stir in the lentils and the broth or water and salt to taste. Cover and cook until tender, about 15 minutes. When tender, add the tomatoes, basil, oregano and red pepper flakes and salt and pepper to taste. 

Simmer about 6-8 minutes and serve over pasta. 

I found this recipe in the "Quick-fix vegetarian" cookbook by Robin Robertson. 

It's My Way or the Highway Yo!

Yes, I am the expert! After all I have a piece of paper that says so. So there! You are a mindless idiot and therefore you should listen and live by every word I say. Just who do you think you are?!(Rhetorical question, so please shut your trap!) How would you know more about your body than me? After all I've spent all of 10 minutes with you. You've only been with your body for... uh..mmm. Well anyway, I'm in charge!

Wow, how many times have I had this feeling from a medical professional, trainer and maybe even a friend or two. Knowing me I've probably been like this to other folks as well. I'm working on that. 

The point is, you are the expert on you. At least you should be. Sometimes we have such an overload of information that we get disoriented. We start to jump from one thing to the next never really giving time and thought to one method to gauge it's effectiveness.

Doctors, trainers, friends, family, writers all have opinions. However, when it comes to your health and wellness, go with what works for you. What works for me may be totally different. After all we all have different likes, goals, DNA, ages, weights, talents, gifts, hormone levels, body types, medical issues and the list goes on. 

Now determining what works for you is often the sticking point. With an overload of information, how do we figure out what works for us?

Here are a handful of tips that might help.

1. Pick one plan and stick with it for 4-6 weeks. Whether it is an eating plan or a workout plan, give it some time. Rome wasn't built in a day.

2. Keep a log. If it is an eating plan, keep track of your hunger and how you feel. What's your digestion doing? Is it overly difficult? If it's an exercise plan, keep track of the reps and weight or of the time limits so as to see the little improvements.
3. Do you feel good or are you constantly run down and exhausted?
4. Is this something you can continue long term?

Chances are it is not going to be super easy to figure this stuff out. It takes some detective work, however when you hone in on that sweet spot, that's when things really start to click. Listen to your body and don't be afraid to get rid of the stuff that doesn't work and keep the stuff that does.

You are the expert on you!

G is for GOALS!

I believe in setting goals. Back in high school I had a teacher that would have us write down our goals so that we could solidify in our minds a few things we wanted to achieve for the year. I carried this practice with me through college (didn't work very well there.) As an honest-to-goodness adult I've often used this goal setting exercise to keep me focused on specific things. 

The lists have changed over the years and some are more serious than others. It just depends on where I find myself at the moment. This year I have had several goals and I'm well on track to meeting them. Here are some in no particular order.

1. Handstands! (Check)

2. Pull-ups (Check)

3. Body weight squat - I think I can do this one, but haven't tested my 1 Rep Max yet. I have worked out with 125 for multiple reps so another 25 pounds is close to doable. So stay tuned. 

4. Dead lift over 200 pounds - Once again, I think I can do this one, but haven't tested my 1 Rep Max, however I have done a 5 rep max of 185 pounds, so logic would follow that I'm close. 

5. Be more positive. I think I have done that. I guess I should ask others what their opinion might be. 

6. Be more of an encourager. Again a little outside critique might be needed on this but I feel I'm a pretty good cheerleader. 

This year has been about strength. I really didn't care about the scale and actually don't get on it much. Have I lost weight, yes, but I've mostly lost body fat and put on muscle. I don't even know what my starting weight was because I didn't care. I just wanted to be stronger. This has been the first time in my life that I haven't obsessed on that stupid scale and I'm happier for it. Between doctors visits and occasionally at home, I might check my weight every month or two. The scale really cannot comment to the quality of your fitness or the richness of your character.

As we draw to the end of the year, start thinking about goals for 2014. What have you  always wanted to do that you have put off or been too afraid or intimidated to do? That would make an awesome goal don't you think? What makes you happy? Set up a goal around that. What benefits other aspects of your life? That might make a worthy goal. What enriches the world around you for the positive? Goal it!

You really will be surprised what you can accomplish when you purpose in your heart to pursue something worthy.

Be bold, be optimistic and be tenacious!  It could just wind up changing your life.