to be, or not to be.

I have recently found myself at a serious turning point. To be a runner, or not to be a runner. I started running my senior year of college, with the goal of completing a 5k race. In April of 2005, I completed that goal with my best friend, and it felt amazing. But when it was over, running slowly slipped away from my to-do list.

Fast forward 3 years. With the encouragement of my friends and a new gym membership, I decided to give running another shot with a different 5k to look forward to: the Smoke the Turkey Thanksgiving 5k in Toledo, Ohio that several of my friends were participating in. Again, I was able to accomplish my goal of finishing the 5k. And again, I took a serious break from running when it was over.

Then, last spring I agreed to a third 5k with a large group of co-workers. The Race for the Cure was held last May, and I had my best time ever. I was super proud of myself, and it felt amazing to finish the race beating my goal time. But it is currently 5 months later, and I haven’t been running. I’ve replaced pounding the pavement with yoga and elliptical work-outs, and every time I enter the gym I stay away from the treadmill like it’s the plague.

I look at other runners with envy. How did they find the motivation to go for a run? How do people run almost every single day? Is something wrong with me that I have no motivation? Is it normal to not be a consistent runner? I started thinking maybe it’s just not for me. Maybe I’m just not a runner. Maybe I just need to give up, so I can move on and do other activities.

My husband and I were at breakfast Saturday morning, and I started to share my dilemma with him. To my surprise, he announced that he’d like to start running and complete this year’s Smoke the Turkey 5k with me. What a renewed sense of spirit that gave me! Just knowing that he has the desire to run with me makes me want to lace up my sneakers and hit the pavement pronto!

So after all of this, I think I’ve realized it’s okay to have hills and valleys with your desire and motivation to do a certain activity. If you really and truly enjoy it, you’ll find new ways to be motivated and get through those times when you’d rather do the laundry, dishes, and vacuum before stepping on a treadmill. Maybe I’ll go through life not being a consistent I-have-to-run-at-least-3-times-a-week-or-I’ll-die runner. Maybe I’ll go through life running when I want to, and when I don’t, replacing it with other activities I find enjoyable—yoga, bike riding, tennis, or just playing with my dog. So I have my husband to thank for this revelation. Thanksgiving Day 5k—here we come!

challenge.

My mother and I have decided to embark on an interesting challenge – going one full year without purchasing any clothing item for ourselves. That means no clothes, purses, shoes, jewelry, etc. Using inspiration from my Aunt Ellen who just finished her year of frugality, and the idea that less is more, we’ve decided to give it a go.

Because of the current economic condition, we hear a lot about learning to love the stuff we already have, living with less, and realizing that owning expensive stuff doesn’t make us any happier. All around us people are cutting back, from swapping their morning latte for a cup of joe, to having a “staycation” rather than a vacation, to canceling their gym memberships. Frugality runs in my nature, so it hasn’t been difficult for me to always go straight to the sale rack, and to TRY and buy only what I need – a lot easier said than done (for example, I just spend $50 on a pair of Gap jeans I definitely don’t need).

This will be a challenge (and I love a good challenge) because I am one that loves to shop. Whether it’s for a new dress or a new blender, I love going out and looking at all the shiny, new, pretty things. So now I’ll have more time to do other enjoyable things.

One of my favorite blogs, Zen Habits, has an article called “Love Life, Not Stuff.” The author has a great point in saying that at the end of our lives, we’ll remember the people we loved and spent time with and the great experiences we had. We won’t remember what color our couch was, how big our TV was, or how many pair of jeans we had.

So, starting September 1st, we will no longer be purchasing anything for ourselves. I think my willpower will be pretty strong, but we’ll see what happens on Black Friday when I’m usually standing outside the department store with my Mom at 4:00 a.m. in 20 degree weather waiting to raid the sales. Wish us luck!

I'd also like to give a quick shout-out to my grandmother, known to all as Mee Mee. Today is her 90th birthday, and she is an amazing woman who I admire in every way. Happy Birthday and I Love You Mee Mee!

book review: you are what you eat

It's a phrase we've heard often, and often thought absurd. Dr. Gillian McKeith, however, gives a good argument as to why this common saying may ring true. You Are What You Eat is geared towards those who want to lose weight and feel better, but the tips and tricks can be useful for anyone. And while the beginning dieter who is used to 3 fastfood meals a day will most likely feel the advise quite daunting, Dr. McKeith provides good reasons to follow her plan. The main idea is not to eat less, but to eat an abundance of good foods, and these healthy food choices can make you look and feel great. She encourages readers to take a look into their own bodies and how they feel each and every day, providing checklists of symptoms and feelings. She then shares lists of foods and supplements that may help with various ailments.

The list of foods to eat in abundance is plentiful (thank goodness!), and is mostly made up of fresh fruit, vegetables, nuts, seeds, grains, beans and herbs. Of course there are many favorites featured on Dr. McKeith's no-no list: coffee, cocktails, refined foods such as potato chips, baked goods... the list goes on. But my favorite part is that she suggests following the 80/20 rule. Follow her advise 80% of the time, allowing 20% for "food naughtiness". I also love her idea that if you eat dead, lifeless food, it's only fitting that your body will feel the same way. But if you eat vibrant, fresh foods, you will feel vibrant and full of life as well.

You Are What You Eat is a colorful and quick read, providing great information on the healthiest foods one can eat. So if you think your diet is pretty healthy, think again, and read this book! There is always room for improvement in each and every one of us. Just remember to take one step at a time.

south africa.

I was just about to delve into my afternoon snack - a juicy, bright navel orange. One look at the sticker it was sporting and I stopped dead in my tracks. It read "South Africa Navel #3107". South freakin' Africa?! Are you kidding me? Is there any possible way that this sweet treat I was holding really came all the way from South Africa? And if it did... that is preposterous! Talk about the opposite of eating local - that's halfway around the world!

It's not just the distance the fruit traveled that has my environmental conscious going berserk. According to this report from the advocacy group Food & Water Watch, the amount of produce being imported from overseas has skyrocketed in recent years. One out of every five pieces of fresh fruit is grown abroad... doubling from 15 years ago. What's also scary is that the FDA's inspection of imported food is not up to par, meaning imported fruit is four times more likely to have illegal levels of pesticides than domestically grown fruit. Eek!

The lesson I quickly learned was to make it a priority to check the location of produce before I make a purchase. Of course I prefer to buy as locally as possible, but that's not always easy when you live in Michigan. Just today I went to buy apples from my grocery store of choice and noticed they were from New Zealand! I immediately put them down and found some apples from the good ol' US of A. Definitely an eye-opening experience.

restaurant review: mind body & spirits

I had the opportunity to visit Mind Body & Spirits in downtown Rochester, Michigan for a work event last week. I knew very little about the establishment prior to dining there, and I can honestly say I was blown away. The atmosphere feels more like a spa than a restaurant, with serene colors, fabrics and music. The menu features an abundance of organic and local items, as well as a plenty of vegetarian items. The non-vegetarian dishes include free-range and grass-fed organic beef, free-range chicken, and wild-caught Alaskan fish. Organic beer, wine and spirits top the drink menu, and dinner prices range from $10 to $25.

The most progressive part of the restaurant, in my opinion, is their use of green technology and construction choices for renovating the 1890's building. From solar power to geo-thermal heating and cooling, they didn't hold back when it comes to thinking about the environment. The restaurant features sustainable materials such as bamboo and cork flooring, VOC-free paints, and green roofing. They also have an on site greenhouse, and compost as much as possible. My co-workers and I were given a tour of the restaurant following our meal, where we got to see the greenhouse and learn about the concept behind Mind Body & Spirits. I guarantee I will be returning for another fantastic meal and dining experience!