Martini Momma

Pick Me Up?

I am dire need of a new afternoon pick me up:)  I am still battling low iron(despite 150mg of iron and a more than ever kick ass green leafy diet) and by mid-afternoon I can barely keep my eyes open.  I drink coffee and/or tea in the morning but I can not drink tea in the afternoon.  It gives me nightmares and then I am MORE tired because I spend the better part of my night saving my loved ones from bad things:) Weird, yes I know....

So I turn when needed to a can of Coke and it does give me the boost I need BUT then I fill my day with guilt (well, I don't fill it but you get the point) because I think that coke is ASS for our bodies.  Lululemon states so boldly that it is the niccotine of our young generation AND check out these facts - S-C-A-R-Y.

1. In many states the highway patrol carries two gallons of Coke in the trunk to remove blood from the highway after a car accident.

2. You can put a T-bone steak in a bowl of coke and it will be gone in two days.

3. To clean a toilet: Pour a can of Coca-Cola into the toilet bowl... Let the "real thing" sit for one hour, then flush clean.

4. The citric acid in Coke removes stains from vitreous china.

5. To remove rust spots from chrome car bumpers: Rub the bumper with a crumpled-up piece of Reynolds Wrap aluminum foil dipped in Coca-Cola.

6. To clean corrosion from car battery terminals: Pour a can of Coca-Cola over the terminals to bubble away corrosion.

7. To loosen a rusted bolt: Applying a cloth soaked in Coca-Cola to the rusted bolt for several minutes.

8. To remove grease from clothes: Empty a can of coke into a load of greasy clothes, add detergent, and run through a regular cycle. The Coca-Cola will help loosen grease stains. It will also clean road haze from your windshield.

9. The active ingredient in Coke is phosphoric acid. Its pH is 2.8. It will dissolve a nail in about 4 days.

10. To carry Coca Cola syrup (the concentrate) the commercial truck must use the Hazardous material place cards reserved for Highly Corrosive materials.

11. The distributors of coke have been using it to clean the engines of their trucks for about 20 years!

12. It was originally meant to be a cure for headaches, untill cocaine was illegalized and they had to remove it from the recipe.

I am by no means telling you not to drink Coke but I want a healthy alternative that gices me a serious boost.  A friend mentioned Brewer's Yeast and I am trying that but so far no effect:)

Where do you get that afternoon pick me up?

Introducing the Newest Member of our Family....

After months of waiting for you to hit the travelling roadshow at Costco I am so happy to announce your arrival....Welcome to the family Vita-Mix (Sorry Mr. Dyson - you have moved one notch lower on the totem pole)

I will not sugar coat it - this machine IS pricey but it is the ultimate tool in clean, healthy food - free from additives and preservatives.  It will make almond milk from almonds, oat flour from oats, and hot soup in just minutes.  I have been dreaming of smoothies with the likes of spinach, kale, and beets hidden amongst raspberries and yougurt.

I spent quiet time getting to know my Vita-Mix this morning and in a matter of seconds whipped up a raw beet, raw carrot, apple ginger juice that was delicious and is sure to get these iron levels up. 

Health was represented by oats and berries was on my vision board. The Vita-Mix is just one step closer to this goal.  After great tips from the women at the retreat I stocked up on daily must-have's Udo's oil, Brewer's Yeast, and a green supplement.  We are en-route!

****Today, we were vaccinated for H1N1 and that feels somewhat contradictory to my life thoughts.  I beleive that we are a family of 4 fully capable of fighting anything that comes our way.  We have done great so far without any flu shots ever in our family.  However, we do have advances in modern medicine that I trust can minimize the outbreak of the flu.  My true thoughtis that it is a bandaid to a REAL pandemic of crappy eating, preservatives, fast food, obesity, stress and lack of sleep.  I hope that there will come a time that a proper diet and a return to simple foods we will see a decrease in diet related illnesses and at that time vaccines may not be so required.  Until then, I will work at our own health as best we can and still vaccinate.

Transform This...

Ok, so the challenge is on - we are going for the P90X transformation at the Gompf household but you can rise up to challenge yourself to commit to 90 days of anything.  Do it! Get into the groove now before holiday drinking and baking takes you sledding down that slippery slope.

We started today - Harris couldn't wait to get this challenge started that so awesomely had a chin-up bar installed from the ceiling in our rec-room...funny, how he lost interest after few minutes and Kirby and I were left to feel the wrath of the chest and back track.  It was transformational alright.  It transformed my confidence around the shape of my body to an all-time low leaving me depressed by the goose egg at how many chin-ups this girl can do.  I guess room to improve, right?  The Ab-ripper definately ripped my abs in half probably right along my weakend c-section scar.  This is going to be my biggest challenge yet and somehow I am excited.

Here I sit enjoying wine (which is definatley not part of the nutrition guide) and typing before I awake to seized up muscles.

All you want a challenge to take you into the New Year - pick one, commit, cross over an imaginary commitment line, send it to me so i can harass you -just get it started!

Happy Friday - me and my new Frye boots are heading out for a hot date:) 

Inspired by Others - An Interview with Wendy

This one powerful woman - get ready to BE inspired.  If you are making the no time excuse - have a read:)  Wendy is a great friend of Brandi's who I have had the pleasure of getting to know.  My sister attends one of her baby and mom classes and she is tough.  Thanks for taking the time to do this interview...

 

Wendy Novotny (www.wendynovotny.com) - Bio

A former French teacher, I absolutely detested my job. I worked with a

Life Coach to help me figure out "what I wanted to do". I began

preparing for my career in fitness, even though it pushed me and scared

me. I looked fear in the eye when my marriage ended with a 1 month old

and a 23 month old with newly diagnosed diabetes and told it off. WIth

amazing support from family and friends I have realized one of my

dreams, I am now a fitness instructor and personal trainer, and

continue to set goals for myself that I would have deemed impossible a

few short years ago. Every night when I go to bed I see my future self

sitting in a rocking chair on the patio with all my remarkable friends,

and ask myself, "Am I happy with all I've accomplished?" And the next

day I live to make sure the answer is "Yes." Sometimes I think my life

is hard and I definitely am not all zen or strong about situations all

the time. I am not perfect. But I have amazing, amazing, friends and

family (this is no accident) and when I fall down, I look at that ugly

puddle of mud and I learn from it and I grow, and I get back up. People

help me all the time. I need help - I cannot do it alone. One day I

want to open my own studio for fitness, nutrition and spirit. I get so

excited when I think of this I almost pee my pants. That's how I know

I'm following my soul's path.

 

What is your philosophy/mantra around aging? 

 

I certainly loved my body when I was 18. I was thin and my skin taught.

I lived in size 27 low rise levi's and a silver "labatt-ice" bikini. I

really thought I had it all figured out and knew it all. I was the

shit. At 32 I am lean, strong and actually have a 6 pack. My skin is

not taught. My belly shows the stretch of 2 babies. My boobs do too...

I fully understand "rock in the sock". I have a line across my abdomen,

light purple, from a caesarean. My pelvic floor does not let me run

without help from Always. BUT!! I have started to wake up. I'm starting

to remember who I am. I really really love myself. When I see myself in

a mirror I think wow, I have taken charge of something that's really

important to me and I love the way I look. I love the fact that a high

conflict divorce has paradoxically taught me how to love. I love the

word challenge. I love that being vulnerable is not the same as being

weak. At 32 I am so excited to age. I can't wait to find out what

wisdom comes at 40, 50, 60 and beyond.

 

What are the top five must's for health as you get older? 

 

1) Eat grade A foods. I feel amazing when I eat clean, wholesome and

nourishing dishes. I don't believe in low-fat. By greatly reducing salt

(processed foods, restaurants, table salt) I no longer have bags under

my eyes and a bloated feeling. Food tastes different... oh! It tastes

like food.

 

2) Be active. I am active 6 days a week. When I push the stroller, I

push hard. I walk fast. I walk far. When I work-out, I keep the pace to

a level of "uncomfortable". By accepting the comfortable in a workout

you will never go where you want.

 

3) Deal. Get a psychiatrist. Go to a Theta Healer. Get your Chakra's

balanced. Go to a Healing Touch practitioner. I don't care how, but you

need to get all that plugged up crap OUT of you. Don't shove any more

crap in you. Microscope situations - Why did you react that way? What

was the trigger? Why do you feel guilt? Figure it out and put it to

bed. Cry it out if you need to. Don't shove uncomfortable situations

down. Instead, put them in a bubble and blow them away. No doubt they

will float by again. When they do, look at that bubble and acknowledge

it. Say oh, yeah, that.. why are you back? RE-deal. Get it out get it

out get it out.

 

4) Forgive. A Course in Miracles says that 'all DIS-ease comes from a

state of unforgiveness. Whenever we are ill we need to look around to

see who it is that we need to forgive.' Wow! 'Forgiveness means giving

up, letting go. It has nothing to do with condoning behavior. Its just

letting the whole thing go. We do not have to know HOW to forgive. All

we need to do is be WILLING to forgive. The Universe will take care of

the hows. We understand our own pain so well. How hard it is for most

of us to understand that THEY, whoever they are we need most to

forgive, were also in pain. We need to understand that they were doing

the best they could with the understanding, awareness and knowledge

they had at that time.' You can heal your life. Louise L. Hay.

 

5) Get rid of Ego. A very very challenging thing to do. Makes me

question - can it be done?

 

Who is one person that inspires you through healthy living?  Why? 

 

Deepak Chopra, M.D. - his book "Perfect Health" changed my life. It was

originally published in 1991. It is a national bestseller, with over

500,000 copies sold. My ex-husband used to make fun of me when I

ordered my water with no ice at a restaurant. Turns out my body type

gets aggravated when I eat cold things. That's why I don't really like

ice-cream (unless I'm pregnant and running at 1000 btu's of raw heating

power) Huh! Who knew! What I most like about Deepak is that he

addresses that everything in your body must be in balance. Mind. Body.

Spirit. I cannot agree more. If I'm healthy in the head and have a good

grip on my energy I am strong. In his book he talks about keeping

everything in your body in balance. Exercise, foods, meditation,

aromatherapy, energy. I saw him once on Ellen and he commended her on

the terrific energy and laughter from her show and she asked what his

New Year's resolutions were. He replied "to embrace uncertainty". This

really resonated with me. 'humans are truly bounded many times by

expectations of how it should be, how it ought to be, how it must be,

where they want to go, how they must go there and all of these things.

So when we talk of letting go of expectation we mean simply following

simple spiritual practice with no thought other than joy at this

practice. To do this you must follow your heart.' Channeling. What is

it and how to do it. Lita De Alberdi.

 

What are you favorite quick health tips? 

 

1) If I am really stuck for time but need a quick bite I run through

McDonald's and grab a grilled chicken spicy buffalo sauce snack wrap.

It's low fat, with carb and protein. It gives me the just the right

amount of food until I need my next snack in a couple of hours.

 

2) Keep tons of frozen vegetables and fish (cod, tilapia, salmon) in

the deep freeze. I'm never without a quick and healthy meal. It's so

quick to pan fry a few fillets of fish and throw the broccoli in the

microwave. A cup of brown rice and I'm good to go. Use some butter and

maple syrup to make it yummy.

 

3) Use rice cakes instead of bread.

 

4) Create a workout outside and with your kids. Call it

stroller-bootcamp. For example : get the kids in the stroller, bundle

them up. Warm-up then walk or run fast and hard, for 20 mins. Get to a

park - let the kids out to do whatever they want. Do 10 push-ups on the

ground, 10 tricep dips (on a park bench or picnic table), do 10 step

ups on the bench one leg then the other - all the while flying your

arms like a bird. Do all the strength again 5 times. So by the end you

should have done 60 push-ups, 60 tricep dips, 120 step-ups. Put the

kids back in the stroller and walk back home within 20 mins. You've

covered strength and cardio - and you should have done it in just over

an hour. If it takes you longer, move faster. Stretch after you get the

kids undressed inside. Take the dogs while you're at it.

 

What do you do for exercise?  Any tips? 

 

Bootcamps, Step Aerobics (long live Reebok and the 90's!!), Run, Bikram

Yoga (Hot Yoga), Spin Classes, Strength Classes.

 

My biggest tip is to change it up all the time - keep the body

guessing. I love step as much as the next person (oh, what, you don't?

haha) but if I did step 5 times a week my body would adapt. Your body

won't change. There are those ladies that "cannot do that bootcamp

class because it's at the same time as their step class". I commend

them for being active on a regular basis. They're moving, and that's

great! However, if they wanted to see their body change they would need

to switch from step once a week and do the bootcamp class.

 

My second biggest tip is: light weight (3, maybe 5 pound weights),

heavy rep (I do almost 200 reps of shoulders, biceps and triceps) to

build long lean muscle. Jari Love and Tracey Anderson METHOD follow the

same principle. They (and their clients) look amazing.

 

Third tip: Compound exercises. You're doing a bicep curl anyways, throw

in a curtsy at the same time for the glutes and legs. Burn 30% more

calories.

 

How do you motivate yourself on those "off" days? 

 

Make sure I've filled my body with good food so I have the energy and

drank enough water so my urine is clear and then I power through it. I

do the best I can with my energy on that day. I may not work out as

hard as I did the day before, but most likely in a few days I could go

hard again. At the end of the day I treat myself to a hot cup of tea

and a good book or tv show or magazine. I take Sundays off - if the

kids and I do anything active I do it at a slow pace.

 

What are five secret finds/tips/advice you would love to share with

other women? 

 

1) Learn Self-Love. It is your body. You have full and total control

over what goes into it and what you do to it. No one else will take

care of you as well as you can take care of yourself. You have no one

to blame for the person you are. So, ask yourself. What do you want?

Analyze anxiety... anxiety is a tap on the shoulder saying hey,

something's happening here!!

 

2) Belly button to spine. Abdominals together and in. Neutral back.

Always. Your core is your center of everything good. If  your core is

strong, it radiates to all other parts of the body and everything

becomes easier. (note - core is a big band from under your boobs to

your pubic area and all the way around your body - so lower back is

part of core. Pelvic floor is too.)

 

3) Quiet the mind. Otherwise how will you hear your deepest desires?

Practice meditation once a day. Get a guided CD or find a class.

 

4) Molton Brown Recharge Black Pepper body wash. From Holts. Heaven.

When you shower make sure the smell of your soap makes you super happy.

I love spicy smells like bergamot in the shower.

 

5) Aveda Lip-Saver Lip Balm. Is. The. Best. Ever. Period.

 

6) (sorry, I know there's only supposed to be 5...) Dove Pro-Age Lotion

is the only thing that keeps me moisturized in Calgary's crazy dry

weather.

 

Thanks Wendy:)

Home for a Rest

The First Kilometer

I am happy to be home and I am very grateful that as of this morning my legs have returned to full working order.  The trip and marathon was awesome, although somewhere around the 29th km I would have told you otherwise.  We ran a respectable race considering the time we could invest in training and the time we took off for injuries.  We finished together at 4:22:11 - it included tonnes of pictures along the route, a pee break, and a few mental break downs.  I actually lay in bed last night thinking about the Manitoba Marathon and if I could that training under my belt - who knew this would really wet the appetite? 

Crossing the finish line - we're in pink:) 

Huge kudos goes out to my sister who pumped continuously during the trip and saved my ass more than a few times from "the wall" - seriously, a marathon trip with a 5 month old at home - my idol.  Thanks to my mom and Aunt for cheering us on and being right there at the finish line screaming our names. 

The view was breath-taking - ocean side running for many, many kilometres - as soon I figure out how to get pictures off my phone I will post some.  Here are a few more that capture the weekend - what a beautiful city in the best country in the world - go visit if you can!

 

What's next? Looks like my basement has been transformed into a P90X gym while I was gone.  Kirby and I are gearing up to start our 90 day transformation this weekend - Who's in?

Let's Get it Started...

Let's get this weekend started.  I am leaving today and I am READY.  This is a trip of opportunities, challenge and love.  It is special because it is my second marathon - one that will be completed with my sister (xoxo) and one that will shout to this body and to the rooftops - set goals and be true to youself and dreams - it will make you a better mom:)  This trip is for me.

The fans coming to support us couldn't be more special - my mom and her sister (my Auntie Joan) - 2 sets of sisters!  This is a memory in the making....my mom and her sister is all there is left of the Roberston clan (they lost a brother and a Dad before me and a mom while I was young).  This is for us, for the Robertson blood in us, for bonding and for girl time (my Aunt has 4 boys!).  It is for the effort and the ease that allows sisters to say bonded and close despite the miles between all of us!  This is the love!

Watch for posts and tweets (I'll try) - Let's get this 42 km run of a lifetime started!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Lower Means Slower

Here comes the coach...Is it really lower your standards or just changing perspective? 

Trust me, I know I am on my own journey to lose the Type A Perfectionist need and live for my values.  I want a calm life, full of fun, patience, and perfection.  I want them in that order. 

If going a night without teeth brushing gets us closer to that then I consider that not lowering my stands but getting one step closer to living them (see that shift in perspective?) 

Of course, there are always expections and never brushing our teeth would step on another big value of my (Heath and personal hygeine, Friends and Family (who would not be able to stand the smell of us)

I am struggling with my own inability to lower my standards and keep my perspective shifted to the one I WANT to be in for the Marathon (5 days away - yikes).  Using a coach I moved myself from The holy shit what have I gotten myself into - I will never get my time goal perspective blah, blah, blah to  explore a whoel bunch of other perspectives that I could run the race from.  Some were terrible, in fact so terrible that I felt sick when I embodied that perspective for a while.  Here are some that I look at.... 

    1. Couch Potato – lazy, unhealthy, overweight, struggles with daily chores/tasks

    2. Hit the Wall Quitter – quits when it get too tough, disappointing, failure, so close but nevers follows through.

    3. Creating a Memory with sister – fun, memory, love, laughter, teamwork, exciting, great thing to do together, less pressure for great time, just a great experience

    4. Goal Time Achieved – need to hit target time, focused, driven, stressful trip, challenging, seems a bit daunting given training and injury, feeling of being doomed.

    5. Boston Marathon Runner – We all start somewhere, just one of many, you can do it, stay in love with running.

I am going to run the race in the #3 perspective. It allows me to feel the success of running the race without the pressure - TO ENJOY IT. My number one goal is to have fun with my sister, brag to our kids when we are old, celebrate with my mom and Aunt.  If lowering my standards by 15 minutes will allow me to be in this perspective then I choose lowering the standards. 

Repair and Restore....

It was a busy but great weekend!  Lots of parties = too many martini's and too much cake!  We celebrated sisterhood and first birthdays, fifth birthdays and family! 

 

Thank you to all my favorite girlfriends who came out to celebrate life and party on Friday - it was so fun and I loved having you all close!

My body is paying the price - I feel a cold taunting me of it's arrival and my pants are too tight.  I have SIX days to get this body into a lean, mean running machine.  The plan is this -

1. Lots of Rest - we are going L-A-Z-Y - so if I know you well don't expect much from me!

2.  Tea with Real Ginger Root- We got this tip from this blogger who also spent some time so generously sending me a list of cool stuff to do in Victoria.  Thanks Audrey!

3.  Bikram Yoga with Brandi

4.  Clean Eating Spaghetti and Meatballs (comfort food at it;s best)

5.  I am off shopping for the list of stuff - Lemon Fish Oil - because I will try ANYTHING to turn this body into a lean mean running marathon machine - TIPS send them my way!!!

6.  My Body is getting geared up with a massage from Leanna at Assiniboine Physiotherapy (Courts of St.James) - CHECK HER OUT! - she is getting the credit for curing my injury!

PS.  Momma's  - Here is the recipe for the Chocolate Raspberry Martini

Half and Half Cream (YIKES)

Raspberries in light syrup - thawed, mashed, and strained

Raspberry Vodka

Real Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips Melted

Mix to taste, shake with ice, and pour!

Chill-axing

So, I am taking tonight to chill, relax and prep for the calm before the storm.  I have the Eminence Tomato Lycopene mask on my face, and some Carmen Reserve in my glass.  I am 1 day in counting until my oh so happening Martini Party (the fridge is stocked with all the supplies to make made from scratch chocolate raspberry martinis) and 10 days in counting until my run!  I am conserving energy and drawing on the strength and power of my girlfriends to rise up to challenge.  Life is chill and so am I (until someone spills something:)) 

Fabulous, Fabulous, Fabulous!!!

 

Last night was SO GREAT!!!  Mike and I went out for appetizers and drinks, had lovely "adult" conversation, and the ended up at the KENNY ROGERS CONCERT!!!!  HOO YEAH!!!!!!  I almost peed my pants when we go there and I realized what we were doing.  Ironic that I posted about Kenny just yesterday...Now before I go any further, I need to make some corrections to yesterdays post.  I know I admitted that I found this 70 year old man "sexy".  I need to make clear that these feelings are directed towards the "Pre-Eye Surgery Kenny".  The "Post-Eye Surgery Kenny" is, well...creepy looking.  I feel like such a traitor saying that, but the pictures speak for themselves...

 

He looks like is is higher than a kite and not really able to focus on anything.  Sorry Kenny, it really is awful!! We had wicked seats-5th row on the floor, and so were close enough to see this botched plastic surgery job well.  You know, why couldn't he just leave well enough alone???  Before- a distinguished looking cowboy with one hell of a voice, after-a somewhat creepy looking old man looking like he is DESPERATELY trying to be younger than he is with one hell of a voice!

Don't get me wrong, I still love him and he put on a KICK ASS show!  Kenny is a true performer with a captivating voice.  For 2 hours last night, Mike and I had no worries.  I had forgotten how easy it is to get lost in live music.  Music is a powerful thing.  I bought a Kenny Roger World Tour T-shirt and threw on it over my clothes immediately.  We were by far the youngest in the crowd.  There was a whole lot of grey hair, and at one point one lady was actually waving her CANE above her head.  I am not shitting you, a freaking CANE.  It was so much fun.  I smiled all night.  I drank too much and cheered way too loud, but LOVED every second of it!  What a night!