Updateyness-ish

Hi Internets. I have been a busy bee for the past few weeks. For some reason the middle of the semester is a packed full of scholarly goodness. I have had five assignments and two group projects due. Thank goodness that next week is spring break. I am looking forward to six glorious days of thinking of things other than what is due next.

JP and I are still being money-conscious and that means being thrifty spenders and not going on overnight weekend trips. Really, though, that is ok because I have a lot to do around the house. I need to do a good spring cleaning, get my new recipes organized and started, and do lots of other odds and ends I just haven't had time to do recently.

I have been reading The Spectrum which is about the spectrum of choices we are able to make when it comes to our lives -- nutrition, meditation/de-stressing, exercise. It is a very comprehensive book and what I like most about it is that it is sound and based in science. I also like that it doesn't tell you what to do, but describes a variety of choices. Really, it is not about being forced to do things -- we are all making choices in our lives. Living (and staying!) at the healthy end of the spectrum is something I am choosing to learn how to do in the next few months. I will keep myself accountable on here.

The best news I have is that my camera is repaired and will get here tomorrow. I've missed it a lot! I cannot wait to get out with it next week.

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Exercise

Today I started on my goal of exercising six days a week. I did a 37 minute Leslie Sansone workout. I get a little annoyed with her, but she is pretty energetic and I like the walking combined with a bit of resistance training. I am going to do cardio Mon- Wed- Fri and resistance training Tues- Thur- Sat.

I live in complete urban sprawl where you have to make sincere effort to work out. It is not like the Northeast where chances are that you can walk down to the corner grocer, or bike over to your friend's place, or at least get SOMEWHERE without a car. Actually, we can't really walk anywhere from here besides Liquor World, and a walk to there seems kind of counterproductive. When we do walk around the neighborhood, it is around some fairly scuzzy streets and by open lots where people toss their used mattresses and burn their cars to collect insurance money. Needless to say, it is a joyous walk.

What do you guys do for exercise, specifically at home? Walk around the neighborhood? Hit the gym? Individual or team sport? Nothing because you're naturally toned and beautiful without effort?

I have a treadmill. I also have The FIRM dvds, but I haven't done that to myself yet. Maybe next week. I don't want to get burned out the first week and those workouts generally kick my butt.

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Sugar, ahhh, honey honey

Reading through the many blogs I peruse on a regular basis, I came across this article about sugar. According to the author:

In the last 20 years, we have increased sugar consumption in the U.S. 26 pounds to 135 lbs. of sugar per person per year! Prior to the turn of this century (1887-1890), the average consumption was only 5 lbs. per person per year! Cardiovascular disease and cancer were virtually unknown in the early 1900's.

The side effects of consuming so much really sugar really disturbs me. I am now determined to eat as low on the Glycemic Index as possible. I have been feeling sluggish for some time, and I think it has to do with the fact that I am not getting the proper amount of nutrient-rich veggies and ingesting too much sugar.

I am going to try to follow The Raw Food Detox Diet as much as possible for a while and see how that goes. I am also going to try out some of these juicing recipes. This is a brand new adventure for me, but I am determined not to take my body and health for granted anymore. I'll let you know how it goes!

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