July 09 Fitness Analysis

In July, I tweeted that I did a Fitness Analysis. This is something I learned as part of my personal training education. You can learn how to perform your own fitness analysis by going to this link. It's great because it gives you a general idea of your fitness level. When you see my results below you'll see I added in a few extra elements to the test just to get a clearer picture of where I was.

I wasn't exactly thrilled with the results, but everyone needs to know their starting point. Isn't there a quote out there somewhere that says what gets measured improves? I have been more sedentary since I have been working online more so here are my humble results.


After reviewing my results, I was bummed that I relapsed and lost most of my efforts I was making on my bikini body challenge. My sedentary lifestyle is eating away my physical abilities and I really needed to step up my game. There is no reason that I shouldn't be in the top 95%ile in all areas. Obviously, I need to work on my upper body strength and cardiovascular ability. I decided it's time to get back on track & make some goals, create a support system and accountability.

Goals
Run an 8 minute mile. It isn't a fantastic time, but it is a big improvement to my current time.
Complete 40 consecutive modified push-ups and 20 consecutive full push ups
Reduce my BMI to 18

Plan of Action
August I started a 30 day challenge. The goal is to complete a workout everyday for 30 days.

Cardio Plan
Complete 1 mile 5x on week 1= Total 5 miles
Complete 2 miles 5x on week 2= Total 10 miles
Complete 3 miles 5x on week 3= Total 15 miles
Complete 4 miles 5x on week 4= Total 20 miles

Strength, Flexibility, Balance Plan
Perform Yoga 2x a week- 90 minutes each session adding in lots of push ups or chaturangas for upper body strength.

Support System & Accountability
I created a yoga bikini body boot camp group for women. I love helping others by solving my own problem! Together we are supporting each other to improve our levels of fitness. Another way to stay accountable is by posting blogs on my weekly workout wrap ups. So check in weekly to see if I am still going strong.

I have already completed 10 days this month. I haven't missed a day of doing some exercise everyday! Even better, my sister decided to join in on the 30 days of fitness challenge and has been walking 4 miles everyday! I love it!

Comment below and share with me your current weekly workout!

Raw Spaghetti w/ "Sausage"

A few months ago I bought a spirooli. I knew I was going to be growing zucchini so I wanted to be prepared to make one of my favorite raw dishes: spaghetti (it is not in accordance w/ 80/10/10 due to salt & seasonings, but still a nice dish). I have a mandolin and sometimes make noodles with that too, but I really like how long and thin this makes them. Even a grater works (see in the video below).

Click HERE to see how it works!

Here is what my noodles look like after I use the spirooli. I like them somewhat short since after the first time using it I realized I was making 5 ft long noodles! DOH! I sweat the noodles by adding salt and letting them sit for about 30 min. then drain the liquid.

I haven't made this recipe in about a year, so my memory is somewhat failing me, but here are the basics. It's super easy & practically impossible to mess up.


For the marinara I use this base from the Raw Body Twins. Then I add more spices inspired by the marinara sauce from"Raw Food Real World" by Matthew Kenney. It's a flexible thing and you can change it to meet your preferences. However, the marinara in the video above is fine just as it is.

"Rawsage"
1 C walnuts
2 Medjool dates, pitted
in the food processor and added
1/2 dried fennel
pinch of crush ground red pepper
1/4 tsp basil
1/4 tsp oregano
1/4 salt

Process walnuts in the food processor til chopped. Add everything else, including dates, & process until it comes together but still has texture.

You'll be blown away. It looks & tastes similar to cooked ground sausage. Crumble this over the top of the marinara & noodles.

This recipe is even better the next day after all the flavors have had a chance to mingle in the fridge!

Water

You've seen Daniel Vitalis talking about it. You've seen Kevin Gianni (Renegade Health Show), Anthony Anderson (Raw Model), Philip McCluskey (Loving Raw), & Dhrumil Purohit (We Like It Raw) doing it. It's about time I do it!

What you ask? Collect my own spring water!

I used this resource to locate a spring near me and I have found a few options. I am lucky to live less than an hour away from all of them. If you live in So Cal here are the links for Big Bear Lake
Palm Springs, & Bay Tree Spring- Idyllwild (This one is closest to me and I just found out as of July 10th it is closed! To support the reopening of this spring.) check out theses sites: http://www.friendsofbaytreespring.org/ & www.myspace.com/savingbaytreespring

However, remembering to put my intention of love into the water is probably the most important. Love is the most powerful tool we have in healing water, relationships, our bodies, and the planet.



I did the rice experiement with my kids as a science project back in 2007 and it was a powerful tool to set the intention of love into my home. It truly changed the vibes of my home.

I had the jars sitting on front of my kitchen sink to constantly remind the kids and me to impress our intention. One was labeled "I love you" another "I hate you" and another was left blank.

We saw changes immediately. The water in the jar labeled "I love you" became pristine clear water and the grain (I didn't have white rice so I used cooked quinoa and it worked just the same) stayed vibrant and floated to the top as if it was uplifted by love. Even after several months it looked as though it was just prepared.

The water in the jar that was labeled "I hate you" became murky and grey. The grains began to cluster together and rot. It looked like a tumor. It really looked disgusting. It was hard for us to keep saying, "I hate you" to the jar daily because we knew this was affecting our cells as well.

The water in the jar that was unlabeled we were instructed to ignore. It turned yellow, but the grains did not rot.

I highly recommend you try this out. I promise it will change you!

Love your water, your life, yourself, the people in your life.

Hiking Devil's Slide

Took a nice break from the heat and went hiking to Devil's Slide. We didn't complete the full hike considering we started just before noon and after an hour into the hike we came across boy scouts who started the hike at 6:30 am. They suggested it would be too strenuous and hot especially if we didn't have about a gallon of water each on hand (which we didn't). Plus we needed to be back down the trail by 4pm. So we continued a while longer, then called it a day.

The background rock is the end of the hike.

Kickin' it before we get hiking.

Christie, Alex, Mehgan, Alex

Mehgan taking a little water break


I hope to be able to do this hike again and go all the way to the top. Mehgan kept commenting on how peaceful she felt being in nature. She said to me, "Mom, why do I feel so calm here?" Nature is so healing. Kids are so perceptive!

Late July 09 Garden Update

Look what happened in just 3 weeks in my garden!

July 7th

July 28th

I can't believe how fast things are taking off! Look what importing 5 yards of organic compost, rock dust, seaweed, and other organic goodies can do!

Days have been hot & dry (high 90's or low 100's). I had been hand watering like crazy! I have come home to find very wilted plants. I almost feel like I can't be gone from home very long. I am lucky enough to have a friend who is going to install drip irrigation to these beds. I'll be taking notes :)

A watermelon flower

A newly polinated watermelon

Isn't this just the cutest thing ever? Now I sound like a new mom bragging about her babies....sorry. Can't help it. ;)

As a novice gardener I realized I have underestimated these plants. I just found out that one watermelon can take up 100 sq ft! OH NO! I planted about 14 of them. It's gonna be a scary jungle here soon.

Raspberries are growing. I never knew when raspberries were in season. I am guessing sometime in late summer.

Butternut Squash (volunteer)
OMG, I just LOVE butternut squash! It is one of my favorites. I love it as a soup, roasted, steamed, sauteed, you name it. I need to learn more raw recipes for this amazing food! If you know any post them in my comments box below.

Look what Alex discovered! I had a green preying mantis in my garden a couple months ago, but seeing this guy just threw me for a loop. I didn't know there were different colors! However, he was hidden behind some rocks and he blended right in!

I think these guys (grasshoppers) are bad for a garden. Not sure. Anyone know? He was kickin' it on my cherry tomato volunteers.

I have also been enjoying the abundance of bees! I would guess there are over 50 bees or so out in the morning. It feels so good, especially after Mehgan and I watched a program recently on the problem with bees. No bees = no food! Mehgan really wants to raise bees, but I am concerned since my property is rather small. I wouldn't want neighbors to be trying to kill them. I dunno. Anyone know about this? My lot is just about 8000 sq ft.

Patty Pan on the Vine

I harvested this one. I think this was about the right size before harvesting for best flavor, etc. Again, not sure. Tasted fantastic though.

Yellow Squash (volunteer)

I ate this straight from the garden just minutes after picking. It was so sweet! I can get used to this! ;)

Zucchini
My first one of the season. It's got a weird shape to it!

A new cantaloupe

Cantaloupe (volunteer) amongst cherry tomato volunteers
Almost ready! Again, I have like 14 of these plants. I am not a big fan of cantaloupe, but Mehgan is. She can easily eat 2 a day!

Lemon Cucumber
I recently trained this up at trellis after it had become a big mess. It sort of shocked the plant I think, but it is doing better. Here is a young cucumber.

I think this is when it is harvesting time. I was told that if it was creamy colored and no longer green then it was ready to go. These are so good. I went to a raw food potluck where there were raw pickled cucumbers with lemon juice, dill, and salt that marinated over a period of several days. Who knew you could enjoy raw pickles? I am always amazed.

Here is a little clip of my compost! I have always had troubles doing it right. I never had crumbly dark soil. Either it would get stinky and too wet at the bottom and attract flies or it would be too dry and never break down. I think in this video it is a bit dry, however it is the best it has ever been. I bet I'll just keep getting better from here!