Sometimes it's hard to do something good

Today's post is going to be a bit different than the usual fitness and nutrition posts. Today I want to talk about another important part of my life--being a pet foster parent.

I've been fostering cats for about a year and a half now. It all started when I noticed a lot of feral cats were hanging out in the woods behind our house. I decided to trap them, and put them through our county's TNR (trap, neuter, release) program. It's really the most humane thing you can do for feral cats. If they've been feral their whole life, they will most likely never warm-up to and trust humans. But, at least if they are neutered they will not reproduce. I also set up a little heated shelter and feeder for them outside.

I noticed that one of the cats who frequented the feeder, didn't really seem feral. While she wouldn't let me touch her, she would stick around when I went outside. I had already trapped and released two males, but once I noticed her I saw that she was already very round. She'd toss me a meow now and then. So I decided to gain her trust so I could bring her inside to have her babies. Soon she learned to trust me, and I was able to put her in a carrier and bring her inside. About three weeks later, she had a litter of five kittens (and a few weeks after that, we took in another kitten whose mother had abandoned him, so that our Mama kitty could nurse him).

I loved this new little family of mine with all my heart. I watched them grow, and develop little personalities. But with three household cats of our own, I knew I needed to find them all homes. And through networking (Facebook, people I know from work, etc.), I did. And at eight weeks old, they all went to live with their furever families. And it broke my heart. Every time one left, I'd sit in our kitten foster room and cry.

But after a week or so of going into that empty kitten room, it got better. It hurt less.


Soon, a friend called about a community of cats that needed help. A lady had been taking care of them, but she passed away. Now they were outside, roaming the neighborhood. She asked if there was a chance I could foster some of them, and try to find them homes.

I went over with my cat carrier. I was only able to trap one adult male named Shyly. His ear was notched, so I knew he had been neutered. I figured a somewhat wild, adult male would be a challenge, but I would try. I didn't even know if he was litter box trained.


Now the kitten room wasn't empty anymore. Mr. Shyly had taken up residence.

It took Shyly awhile to adjust, but he did. After a week or so I was able to get him to the vet for screening (all fosters must be screened for diseases so they don't make our resident cats sick).

While Shyly was still in residence, the same friend called with another cat in need--a young Calico named Poppy. (Since Shyly was neutered, I didn't have to worry ending up with another litter).

Poppy and Shyly actually got along really well, and made great companions.

Poppy was a great kitten ( ~ 6 months old). I loved having her here; however, neither cat had any prospects for an adoptive home. I was afraid I had bitten off more than I could chew, and would have two cats living in our spare room forever.

But I kept networking/sharing their pictures, and sure enough, a friend (a friend I consider as much a crazy cat lady as myself) wanted Shyly! Hurray! Shyly (now Cinna) so deserved to live as a spoiled indoor cat.

Meanwhile I was becoming very attached to Poppy. I was starting to convince myself I could slowly integrate her into our household. When one of the adopters from that first litter expressed interest in adding Poppy to their household, I almost told them she wasn't available. But I realized that the best thing for Poppy was to let her be adopted. We already have three demanding kitties (and two ferrets).

Again, sending her off broke my heart. It made me really sad for awhile. But the pain lessened, and I knew I had found another cat a new forever home that would be a really good fit for her.

So, why am I writing this other than to show off pictures of my beautiful foster children?  Well, because I'm in that sad place right now. I have a litter of four kittens and a mama who are leaving today and tomorrow.  Over the last eight weeks several people have told me they could just never do this. "How can you give those kittens away? Aren't you keeping any of them?" "I would just keep them all!" 

Believe me, there have been many times during the last few weeks--as I thought about these kittens (and mama) leaving that I thought, "No way! I'm keeping them all!!! I can't do it!" But two left this morning. One is leaving this evening, and Mama Callie and the final one leave tomorrow.

It's hard. It's heartbreaking. I cry when they leave. And when I go into that empty kitten room tomorrow, I will feel empty. But next week, it won't hurt quite so much. I might even appreciate not having to get up even earlier on my early mornings to scoop litter boxes and take care of five other cats. And in a few weeks, I'll probably see another opportunity to help a cat live a better life. And I'll start the whole process again.

So if you are one of the people who say, "I could never do that! I would just keep them all." Maybe think about it some more. Callie was found on a busy street, playing in traffic. Tomorrow she's going (with one of her kittens) to live with a big family--to have a great life.

Sometimes you have to go through the hurt to do something you're passionate about.

Musings of a 40-Something Fitness Instructor: Ah-Choooo-Uh Oh!

The first time it happens it's a little horrifying. You're walking along...maybe it's allergy season, or
you have a cold. Then it happens--the sneeze pee.

With any luck, you're wearing black pants (or more likely, black yoga pants). You're like, "What in the hell just happened?"

I'll be honest. I thought I was immune. I thought only women who had had babies dealt with the sneeze pee. Not so. It's something many women of a certain age deal with (I've talked to a few childless friends in their 30's who have already experienced this phenomenon).

I don't think there's a cure. It's not like those muscles are out of shape--I'm a Pilates instructor for goodness sake. I know all about my sit bones and my pelvic floor.  I do my Kegels!

And it's not just sneezing! There's the coughing fit pee, jump roping pee, jump squat pee...

My husband and I decided to check out the local trampoline place one date night. (Yes, we were the oldest people there--other than the parents sitting in the waiting area).  I thought, "It's a trampoline--nice, soft landing--no problem." Problem. Ladies, if you are going to go jump on a trampoline or add a little jump roping to your workout, WEAR A PANTY LINER OR PAD!

Some other tools of the trade:

Cross your legs when you sneeze or cough. Yes, even if you're walking down the sidewalk, stop and cross your legs. You may look a little funny (other women will nod and relate, standing by you in solidarity), but not as funny as the wet spot on your pants.

Always pee before jumping (or running, or bouncing of any kind). It's not a guarantee, but it will help.

I keep looking at the ads, but I haven't taken the plunge yet (I plan to), but buy some of those period panties or the undies for "women who tinkle". Seriously, let's just do it. Order them right now.

And when it happens, just realize you're not alone so don't be too embarrassed.

Musings of a 40-Something Fitness Instructor: Weighing In

I like to think that I'm a strong, confident woman. Mentally, I know I am. And I'm proud of my

fitness and activity level. And I truly do think that self-love is so important. Be proud of you for whatever you do best.

But deep down, I'm still obsessed with my weight and that damn scale. I've had body image problems since junior high (because, man, junior high kids can be mean). I also work in the fitness industry, so I do feel there is pressure to look the part (and I'm a 40-something fitness instructor, not a 20-something one). If people are paying me money to get them fit--I need to look the part. 

I've been a personal trainer since my late 20's. Back then I worked with many women in their 40's, and they would tell me how hard it is to keep the weight off now that they are in their 40's. I'd keep telling them it's just a matter of calories in versus calories out! Just keep at it! I'd now kind of like to punch that trainer in the face. 

The fact is, it does get much harder in your 40's (even in your mid 30's). Your hormones are doing wacky things now. Your testosterone and estrogen levels are going down--along with your metabolism. The effort to keep the weight off is much greater. The fact is you really have to change the way you eat and exercise. I eat better and exercise more than I ever did in my 20's, and keeping weight off is a constant struggle. I've pretty much had to break-up with bread and pasta unless I'm doing endurance training (i.e. long distance running). Keeping carbs low is what works for me. It may be something different for you. We're all different, and our bodies all respond to different things.

When it comes to checking weight, men and women could not be more different. My husband (Mark) and I belong to a health incentive program through his company. You get prizes for tracking your exercise, weight, measurements, etc.

One night after dinner, my husband gets on the scale.

"What are you doing?" I ask.

“ I just want to get my weight so I can get my points for this month.”

“But, it’s evening and we just had dinner!”

“So.”

I’m flabbergasted. 

There are strict requirements when I weigh-in:

• Yesterday had to be a good day food and exercise-wise.
• It must be first thing in the morning before I've eaten any food,  and after I have…errr….taken care of business. My body needs to be as empty as possible.
• I must be as close to naked as possible. This includes hair ties, headbands, and my FitBit.
• If at all possible, I weigh on a morning where all of the above are true, plus I’ve done some fasting cardio.

The only exception to this rule is if I’m weighing in at the very start of a weight-loss challenge or something. Then I need to see some results to stay motivated. So, my initial weigh-in can be at night after a big meal (but it’s still going to depress me).

Recently, after Mark and I spent a week and a half eating and drinking our way through San Francisco and wine country, we both got on the scale. We realized we had put on a decent amount of weight. I talked him into going low carb with me for a month or so until we were back to where we wanted to be. He reluctantly agreed--the man lives on bread and pasta. 

We did our weigh-in at night--after eating (that's how it's done)! After three days of both of us behaving very well, we got back on the scale. He was down eight pounds. I was down one. It's been about a month now. I'm still down just the one--he's back at his goal weight. 

Sometimes men really tick me off. 

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Sleep, Sweet Sleep

After pretty much a lifetime of insomnia problems (that just keep getting worse and worse), I finally broke down and went to a sleep doctor today. I'm not sure what I was expecting. I thought they would sign me up for one of those overnight stays at a sleep clinic--maybe give me some drugs (I'm typically not a fan of prescription drugs, but I'm getting a little desperate). I've tried every natural sleep remedy (Valerian Root, Melatonin, 5HTP, chamomile, lavender, cardamon and warm milk, meditations, sound machine), but sleep alludes me.

I assumed I'd get advice like:  Don't read on your tablet before bed; shut off the t.v. an hour before bed; cut back on your caffeine (I've tried switching to decaf before).

I didn't hear any of these things. I kind of wish I had.

The doctor said that I need to re-program my brain for sleep. And then listed how to go about doing that.


So first, I'd like to apologize ahead of time for the royal b*tch I'm going to be for the next six weeks (well, six weeks starting after the 4th. I have some special plans over the holiday weekend).

The doctor says there are two rules:

1. The bed is for two things, and two things only--sleep and sex. If I'm not doing one of those two things, I shouldn't be in the bed.

2. For the next six weeks I must go to bed at the same time every night and get up at the same time every morning.

Easy huh?

Well, except that I have to go with my earliest morning since I can't very well sleep through my career. And my earliest morning is 4:30am.  So instead of counting the days until I get to sleep in, I will be setting my alarm (Saturdays and Sundays too) for 4:30am every morning. Based on the fact that I'm sleeping 3 1/2 - 5 1/2 hours a night right now, bedtime will be at 10:30pm (I typically head upstairs between 9pm and 9:30pm when I have to be up at 4:30am).

The thought is that right now I'm spending 8 hours in bed, but I'm only sleeping half of that. So, no more than six hours in bed so my body can learn to sleep during that six hours. Once I start sleeping well for six hours, I can increase my sleep in 15 minute increments.

No reading in bed (currently, I read in bed every night). And if I'm in bed and find I can't sleep, I'm to get up and go to another room to read, watch tv, etc. If I wake up during the night (which I currently do all the time) and can't go back to sleep, I'm to get up and go to another room to read or something. In four to six weeks, my body/brain should be cooperating. And bed should = sleep.

If it means that I will eventually be able to get a good night's sleep, it will be well worth it. Because there are times I am so sleep deprived I feel like I'm losing my mind. Plus, my cortisol levels are so out of whack, the lack of sleep is making it impossible to take on weight. At 45, I really don't need any extra hormone imbalances.

So join me as I embark on this sleep program (I guess a bonus is that I have something new to blog about!) And with bedtime being only 6 hours out of a 24 hour day, that's 18 hours to accomplish other things! (When I'm not in a grumpy, comatose state).

So stay tuned for more on my sleep journey!

"O sleep! O gentle sleep!Nature’s soft nurse, how have I frighted thee,That thou no more wilt weigh my eyelids downAnd steep my senses in forgetfulness?"-Henry IV, Part 2 (Act 3, Sc. i), Shakespeare

Recipe Post: Spaghetti Squash "Chicken" Enchiladas--Veganized!

This recipe was definitely a winner in our little household--even the ferret was checking it out (she didn't get any). But first, let me give credit to the two sites that inspired the dish (check out some of the other spaghetti squash ideas): http://greatist.com/eat/spaghetti-squash-recipes and http://www.closetcooking.com/2013/12/chicken-enchilada-stuffed-spaghetti.html?m=1.

I tend to get into a spaghetti squash rut. I bake it, throw some marinara on it, and call it a meal. I've gone creative a few times, but I needed some new ideas. There are some great ones on the above sites! I took the chicken enchilada one and customized it for us (mainly making it vegan). We don't use the fake meats a lot, but I just had to try this recipe--and it turned out really well!

1 large organic spaghetti squash
1 can of organic black beans
package of meatless chicken of your choice
big handful of organic spinach
1 jar of enchilada sauce (I used Trader Joe's. The closet cooking site above has a homemade recipe. The jar was just a time-saver for me).
Daiya's Havarti with jalapenos

Other than the cooking time for the spaghetti sauce, this is quick and easy.

Slice the spaghetti sauce horizontally so you have to nice squash boats (once you remove the seeds). Bake the squash for an hour at 350 degrees.

Thaw the "chicken" strips. Drain and rinse the black beans. Cut up the big handful of spinach (removing the big stems). I also chopped up the "chicken" strips so they were a bit smaller. Put them in a mixing bowl. Pour in the enchilada sauce, and mix it all up.

Once the squash has finished cooking, fill the boats with the enchilada mixture.
(At this point, I had to head out for about 45 minutes. So, I turned the oven off, but left the stuffed squash in the oven while I was gone so that the mixture would get warm. Otherwise, I would simply stuff the squash, and put them back in the oven for 15 - 20 minutes until the mixture is heated).

Turn the oven to broil, and sprinkle pieces of Daiya cheese on the top. Broil until the cheese is nice and melted.

Enjoy! I have plenty left-over for another meal (Mark does not).

Some big changes for The Fit Life, LLC

Some big changes are being unveiled at The Fit Life, LLC this week!

First, is a new website. I no longer have the website that looks like it was put together in the early 90's by someone who has had one web design class (ummm...like I have...back in the early 90s). It's simple, but clean. And I believe all the information you need is there. The payment page is still in progress, but will be up-to-date very soon. I may continue to expand on it, but for now, it covers what I need. Please, check it out. (Let me know if you see any spelling or grammatical boo boos. I've been staring at it for too long). 

If you've ever wondered why I do what I do...what got me there, read the "About" page.

Some other changes...

Dog Fit!

You'll notice that Dog Fit! is no longer on my site. While I do still have a handful of doggy clients, I will no longer be promoting Dog Fit! as part of my business. I love my little canine clients, but between the hours I'm putting in at the Rec. Center, my personal training clients, and a host of other things (cost of gas), I just can't take on anymore canine clients at this time. 

And to be quite honest, with this career, my entire day is physical. By Friday, I'm simply physically exhausted. And since my hobbies are also very physical, it's starting to lead to injuries. So I need to watch how much more physical stuff I take on (for awhile, I was putting in about 8 miles a day of running/walking with canine clients. It was just too much). 

DoTerra Essential Oils

As a fitness professional, I have been approached by pretty much every supplement company out there to sell supplements: Advocare, Body by Vi, Beachbody, Amway, etc. And I have held strong to my conviction that I do not want to sell supplements. I just think if you want a nutritious shake, you should throw some organic fruits and vegetables in the blender...maybe a pure hemp protein without additives. If it has ingredients I don't recognize, I don't want it in my body. Plus, many contain sucralose (Splenda) which makes me violently ill. I just don't trust it. Others contain dairy--which I try to keep to a minimum in my life. Otherwise, talk to your doctor/nutritionist/hormone specialist about what you might need. 

Essential oils, on the other hand, are something I use on a daily basis to live a more natural life--free from harmful chemicals. I use them in making beauty products, cleaning products, for health and wellness. So I believe being a DoTerra rep. is a good fit for me. 

You will see, if you go to my DoTerra page, they do sell some supplements/vitamins/etc. And while you are certainly more than welcome to purchase them from my site, I won't be specializing in those things. I will focus my education on the oils (and that's what I will most likely have samples of if you wish to try them). 

What I Will and Won't Do as a DoTerra Rep

I will openly admit, I'm not a good salesperson. I hate high pressure sales tactics being used on me. They cause me to walk away and never come back. And I'll admit, when a friends post are constantly about selling products, programs, etc., I tend to hide them. So here's what you can expect from me with the essential oils.

I will not:

• Have parties where I ask you to come over and check out my products (and then you feel obligated to buy them).
• Constantly post stuff on The Fit Life, LLC page about buying my products
• Try to talk you into selling oils

I will:

• Continue to post recipes and wellness tips using essential oils (I do this already)
• Provide you with a sample of something (if I have it on hand) if you are interested in trying it.
• Let you know if there is a sale or something (but just through one short post). 
• Be happy to research oils if there's something you want to know about one of them. 
• Make time to meet with you if you would like to discuss or try something.

There's a lot to learn with the oils (even a certification course if I decide to take it), so I may have to do some research before answering your questions.

Of course, I hope this brings in a little extra income (who doesn't want extra income?), but the income is not worth becoming an obnoxious salesperson. 

So that's it for now. Please check out the new site. Let me know what you think of it!

Do you smell something???

Since both my hobbies and my career are very active, I often find myself sweaty several times a day. Too many times to actually grab a shower--I'd be averaging 6 or 7 showers a day! That's not good for the skin or the environment!

But, I don't want to be all gross and stinky around my clients and friends (although my canine clients don't seem to care). So, I've developed my own, natural body wipes. I can scent them myself--because sometimes you just don't want to smell like a baby's bottom! Plus, I know exactly what's in these (those who have read my previous blogs know I go all natural whenever possible).

I keep these in the car so that I have them whenever I need. They are also great for those outback camping trips that have no plumbing.

I use the gallon-sized freezer storage bags (If I could think of an alternative to plastic that wouldn't leak, I'd use it. I'm open to suggestions if anybody has one). You can fit quite a few paper towels in them.

I put about a 1/2 cup of water in the bag, and a table spoon of white vinegar (enough to kill germs and bacteria, but not enough to make you smell like sauerkraut all day). I add just a drop or two of tea tree oil (not only does it have a strong smell, but you don't want to put it directly on the skin undiluted--unless maybe right on a pimple!). Why tea tree oil? Like the vinegar it kills bacteria (which is what makes us stinky), it's also good to combat allergens, cuts, scrapes, bites, etc. Then I add a few drops of my favorite essential oil for scent. I usually go with lavender because it's also good for the skin and anti-bacterial. Sometimes I add a little eucalyptus because I love the smell and it perks me up a bit. There are some great essential oil blends out there. Be careful with citrus oils. They can make the skin more sensitive to sunlight. And be careful with the minty oils if you'll be cleaning the girlie parts!

Once my bag is ready, I just add high quality paper towels (the cheap ones will fall apart). As many as you want to put in there. Before I use the paper-towel,  I will wring it out so it's not all drippy. If I'm just using it to quickly wipe off my face and neck, I'll put it back in the bag when I'm finished. With the antibacterials in there, it will be fine. If I'm using it on other parts (arm-pits and more personal areas) I will throw it out.

It's nice to be able to freshen up between classes and clients. Or, after a race when there are festivities to attend.

An Instructor's Roll: Why Aren't YOU Doing This?

I'm feeling the need to address a comment I received while teaching class this morning. I don't mean for this to be a rant (even though I am a little irritated), it's meant more as an explanation.

This morning I was subbing a TRX class for another instructor. It's always a little awkward when you sub for somebody else because people get accustomed to certain instructors and tend to not like change. And all instructors teach a little differently. Even in choreographed classes like Body Pump or Zumba, each instructor's personality is bound to come out.

Class was going fine, and then after one particular move a patron (in a very snippy way) says, "Could you show me that move again? I'm not use to an instructor who does a few reps then quits!" I smiled, and showed her the move again. I then explained that at 12 classes in a week, it is not really possible for me to do every class with the patrons.

What I didn't explain is that that is not my job. My job is to show you how to do the exercise properly and safely, and then watch your form to make sure you are getting a good, injury-free workout. It's emphasized over and over again when we take continuing education classes--you are not in the class to get your workout in--you are in the class to help the patrons get their workout in.

The fact that this career is a physical one rather than a sedentary desk job is a bonus (Usually. Over-exercise and cortisone levels are a topic for a completely different blog). But I'm not there to workout with you--anymore than an English teacher is there to write the paper he/she assigned to the student. I'm glad that I burn calories while I work, but I then schedule my own workouts--that are geared towards my goals (i.e. running speed, endurance adventure races, upper body strength, etc.).

Sometimes I do jump in, for instance, in a boot camp class when we're doing partner drills and there are an uneven number of people. I'm happy to do so. But if I did every class I teach, not only would I not be able to pay attention to your form, I would be far too tired to do my own workout and reach my own goals (sometimes it's still a slippery slope).


So when my patrons ask me, "Why aren't you doing this?" when I'm teaching a boot camp. Or, "What gear are you riding in?" when I'm teaching cycling, I try to just laugh it off and change the subject--because I'm probably not working as hard as you. I'm watching your form, timing intervals, and trying to keep you engaged in your workout. I'll do my workout later.

Recipe Post: Vegan Faux Fredo with Kale/Walnut Pesto

You know I typically stick to simple, but delicious recipes because I don't like taking a lot of time to cook. But sometimes, when I have some extra time, I really enjoy tackling a higher maintenance recipe. Tonight was one of those nights. This is decadent, but still healthy! You will need a food processor and a high speed blender (or at least one of these--washing it out between uses). It is vegan and gluten-free.

I stole the original recipe from Healthy Recipe Ecstasy. So give that blog a read when you have some time. I'm posting the original recipe below, along with the changes I made (in red) to please our diets/palettes. It's always fun to add your own twist to recipes!

INGREDIENTS

• KALE PESTO:
• 3 cups kale (fresh with tough stems removed or frozen)
• ¼ cup raw walnuts (I could not find raw walnuts, so I used regular walnuts from the bakery section)
• 2 cloves of garlic
  
  
• ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil (I had some infused olive oils on hand so I did 2 parts regular olive oil and one part hot red pepper infused olive oil to give it a little kick).
• 1/4 cup of Nutritional Yeast
• Coarse salt & black pepper to taste
• PASTA ALFREDO:
• ¼ cup vegan margarine (I used 1/4 cup unrefined, organic coconut oil). 
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 4 cups canned white beans, rinsed and drained (Three cans of organic White Northern Beans)
• 1 cup low-sodium vegetable broth
• 1 tablespoon unsweetened soy milk (I used unsweetened almond milk)
• Coarse salt and black pepper, to taste
• 1 pound whole wheat penne pasta (I used my Mung Bean Pasta "go to" for this. See picture below). 
• Extra-virgin olive oil, for serving (I skipped using any extra oil).

INSTRUCTIONS

KALE PESTO:

1. Transfer the kale, walnuts and garlic to a food processor and pulse until coarsely chopped. With the motor running, add the olive oil in a steady stream and process to a coarse purée.

PASTA ALFREDO:

1. Cook pasta according to package. Drain and keep warm, retaining one tablespoon pasta water.(I didn't bother with the tablespoon of water).
2. In a large sauté pan over low heat, melt the margarine. Add the garlic and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring frequently.
3. Transfer the margarine mixture to a blender or food processor, and add the white beans, vegetable broth, soy milk and pasta water. Blend until completely smooth.
4. Pour the sauce back into the pan over low heat, then season with salt and pepper to taste. Cook until the sauce is warm.
5. Add the sauce to the pasta, and mix until all the noodles are covered in sauce. Divide pasta among 4 bowls. Top each bowl with 2-3 tablespoons kale pesto and some olive oil.
6. NOTE: At first, it may seem like you have too much sauce for the pasta, but the noodles quickly soak up all that sauce. To reheat leftovers, I like to slowly warm the pasta on the stove and add ¼ cup broth to help loosen up the sauce.

Look how creamy the white bean sauce is. It looks like we splurged on heavy cream, but this recipe gets rid of all of that unhealthy dairy.

Here's my pasta "go to" these days. It's packed with protein and fiber--and it's gluten/wheat free!

Recipe Post: Cauliflower and Cashew Fritters

I think this is my new favorite recipe! Healthy and delicious--and not too difficult. You do need a decent blender and a food processor.

This recipe came from Vegetarian Times. I will tell you the spots where I tweaked it to my liking.

Cauliflower-Cashew Fritters with Red Pepper Cashew Cream Sauce

Serves 6

30 minutes or fewer

Ground cashews help hold together these oven-baked cauliflower fritters.

Fritters

• 2 cups 1-inch cauliflower florets
• 2 large eggs
• ½ cup roasted and salted cashews (I used low-salt cashews from Trader Joe's)
• ½ cup Italian parsley leaves
• ¼ cup diced red bell pepper (I've done it with both red and green peppers--either work)
• 2 Tbs. corn flour (I didn't have corn flour, so I used garbanzo/fava bean flour)
• 1 Tbs. capers (I did not put capers in it, and they still tasted great)
• 1½ tsp. seafood seasoning, such as Old Bay

Sauce

• 1½ cups Cashew Cream. (I tend to just wing it on my cashew cream sauce. I soak my raw cashews (Trader Joe's) for at least a few hours. Drain them. Rinse them. Then I just toss them in the Vitamix with some unsweetened almond milk until I like the thickness). 
• ½ cup jarred roasted red pepper, rinsed, drained, and diced ( I used more--close to a full jar)
• 2 Tbs. lemon juice
• 1 Tbs. capers, rinsed and drained (Again, I didn't use capers)

I also added some red pepper flakes to the sauce because I like it to have a little kick. The first time I made it I also added a garlic clove. This time I did not. I liked it both ways). 

1. Preheat oven to 425°F. Line large baking sheet with parchment paper, and spray with cooking spray.

2. To make Fritters: Combine all ingredients in food processor, and pulse until ingredients are well-combined and no large chunks remain.

3. Use 1-oz. scoop or 2-Tbs. coffee measurer to portion Fritters onto prepared baking sheet. Lightly press down on each Fritter to flatten. Bake 8 to 10 minutes, flip with spatula, and bake 3 to 5 minutes more, or until browned on both sides.

4. To make Sauce: blend all ingredients in blender until smooth.

If you just can't get into the fritters, you must at least try the sauce! It's so delicious! I used some leftover sauce over Mung Bean pasta. It was fantastic!

One more step toward total freedom (or freakdom)!

So I've told you about the 10 "Weird" Things I Do for My Health. And, I've told you Why I Quit Using Lotion. Now, I've taken another step in my journey to cut harmful chemicals out of my life--and to become less reliant on modern conveniences like the supermarket. I've gone poo-less.

Now before you start thinking, "Waaiiitt....that's not healthy, everyone needs to poo!! It's part of good digestion!" That is totally NOT what I'm talking about. I've taken the next step in cutting chemicals out of my life by giving up my shampoo and conditioner. It took me awhile to get here. I have extremely fine, curly hair that tangles very easily. I just couldn't imagine not using a conditioner on it. I would never be able to get a comb through it.

I switched to the organic products a few years ago. At least they are clear of the cancer-causing sodium lauryl sulfate--and don't have quite so many foreign substances in them. But they are expensive, and the conditioners really didn't do much for me.  I kept seeing recipes for homemade cleaner and conditioner and thinking, "I really need to do that."

So why did I finally do it? I bought a new brand of "all natural, organic conditioner" (I believe it was around $5 for a fairly small bottle) because I just didn't like the smell of the one I've been using--and I had an allergic reaction. A red, bumpy rash broke out all over my neck. That seemed like the sign I had been waiting for.

So am I just letting my hair get all greasy and gross? Of course not! Here's what I'm using now:

Shampoo: ~ 1 part baking soda to 4 parts water, and several drops of essential oil
Conditioner: ~ 1 part organic apple cider vinegar to 5 parts water, and several drops of essential oil.

I've been using this method for about two weeks now, and I have to say I'm happy with it. Sure it's kind of weird to not have lather when you wash your hair. But my hair feels clean and soft. And the vinegar rinse actually detangles better than the organic conditioners did.

Here's the best part:

Baking soda: $1.20
Apple Cider Vinegar: About the price of one bottle of conditioner
Essential Oil: You just need a few drops...so not much at all/

And this is probably about a six months supply of shampoo and conditioner.

Now, time to make a new batch of deodorant!

India: The Finale

We’re headed into our last day in India. We’ll have the entire day tomorrow, and then leave in the wee hours of the morning for the airport—travelling back in time to the U.S. (at some time during flight, it will become a day earlier)!

I must admit as we end our retreat, I’m feeling calm and relaxed. I’m sleeping well. Other than one brief start of a migraine a few days ago—no headaches. And my complexion looks very nice.  I had my final consult with my Ayurvedic doctor this afternoon. She agreed I was pretty darn healthy (I saw a bit of her humor for the first time today—she’s not as stern as I originally thought). I leave with just one medicinal herb that is supposed to help with hormone balance (a non-ending struggle over the last four years or so). I actually lost a kilo (I think that’s about two pounds). I wasn’t attempting to diet or anything. In fact, I only had her re-check my weight because I’ve been enjoying the food so much here. 

I have gone ten days without alcohol or television—and both were hardly missed (doesn’t mean I won’t enjoy both in moderation when I return, but it’s nice to know they weren’t needed).  I’ve learned a lot about  Ayurvedic philosophies on body types and how to balance your own body type (Dosha). In doing that, I’ve learned that I could probably stand to slow down a bit—add a little yoga into my life—focus a bit more on what my body tells me it wants and needs. 

I’ve spent 11 days straight with my mother—first on an airplane and then in a small cabin—and we’ve gotten along really well. We typically do get along fairly well, but I’ll admit there was some apprehension about sharing a small cabin for that amount of time. I am simply a person who likes a fair amount of space and alone time. 

I’ve spotted two resort cats. I find cats everywhere I go—ask my husband. Sadly, they were not tame kitties, so I did not get my kitty fix while I was here. I did enjoy watching these tiny squirrels that are all around here scamper around the restaurant (open air restaurant) trying to find treasures to eat.

The people in our group (I believe 22 people in all) have been wonderful to meet—each adding a unique prospective to this experience. 

We’ve been immersed in a culture totally unlike our own, and it’s been an amazing awakening. I love to see and learn about other cultures. It makes me on one hand, appreciate my own a bit more, but on the other hand, yearn for something a bit different (which is one reason Mark and I are exploring retiring to another country at some point).  It can also be a little unnerving. You are a foreigner who does not know the language, who is unfamiliar with the religion, dress and culture. So if you’re a control freak (I do have some control freak tendencies) it puts you a bit out of your comfort zone. In fact, I deduced that that’s what made me so uncomfortable with the treatments here—the lack of control I felt. 

The part of the country we are staying in is primarily Hindu and Christian. We actually took a class on Hinduism and visited a Hindu temple during a holy ceremony. I am someone who has struggled with religious beliefs pretty much my entire life—and typically shy away from anything to do with religion. But here, religion seemed a much more beautiful thing. In the U.S. I associate religion with people telling you what the bible says is wrong (i.e. homosexuality, abortion etc.). Here religion seems to more about being loving, nurturing, accepting and thankful for everything the Earth has given you. It’s just a part of people here. It’s peaceful (well, until they get in a car—then it’s just insanity). 

So would I come back and do this again? (My Mom asked me this the other day). I’m so glad I did it, but probably not.  There are just too many other countries I want to explore and experience. And parts are sad—it’s over-crowded and so much poverty.  I do not enjoy bartering and pressure. And every shop you walk into here there is bartering and pressure. We visited one department store—no bartering there—but staff everywhere. When you started browsing through the clothing, they would stand right next to you picking things out and handing them to you. You literally could not just be by yourself and browse. That’s just too much for me. 

If I were having some chronic health problems I would definitely consider it. I do have strong belief in the way they heal here—using what nature gives us to create medicines/cures as opposed to the chemicals pharmaceutical companies in the U.S. try to put in us. I truly believe I am much less toxic than I was when I arrived (although compared to many, I lead a fairly toxin-free life in the U.S. I will continue to keep as many harmful things out of my body as possible).

And while I think yoga is a valuable practice—and can certainly be incorporated into my lifestyle—I still crave adventure and adrenaline. Yogis believe too much stimulation and excitement is harmful to our Doshas—that it causes imbalance. I believe it is part of what makes life worth living. That’s one I’m not willing to budge on.  How can something that makes me feel so alive be harmful? 

(I guess the fitness instructor in me has trouble believing that high intensity intervals can be bad for you, when they’ve done such good things for me!)

I miss my husband (this is the longest we’ve been apart since we met), and my furry kids, but I am not looking forward to the 20+ hour journey home. I dread it. But it will be nice to land in Columbus and see Mark. 

I will work on posting all my photos on The Fit Life, LLC facebook page. It may take me awhile to caption everything.  For now, I am signing off and preparing for departure.

Kerala, India Con't

Day four of our retreat. I've now gone through four days of treatments--I think I'm getting use to be naked and fondled...kind of. Actually, as I listen to others in our group discuss their various treatments, I feel pretty lucky that I'm very healthy. I've been assigned six days of "Rejuvenation Therapy". Those who have health issues are assigned "Purification Therapies"...and yes, they are probably the types of things you are imagining in your head right now--things that require close proximity to a bathroom.

You'll like this. I had a reaction to some of the oils they used on my face, so here it the medicine they put on to help it.

 

It's like I'm back home doing a mud race!

Today we finally took a little excursion to a beach town about twenty minutes away--Kovalum. It catered to tourists, but it was nice to see something besides the resort. The water was nice, and I picked up a few souvenirs. I'm guessing every article of clothing I've bought in Yellow Springs, OH was made here. I actually saw a top I own in one of the stores. Pretty stuff though--and so much cheaper than we pay for it in the U.S.

Tomorrow, it's morning yoga/meditation (unless I skip out for a run on the beach), a trip to the herb farm where they make all the natural medicines used here, treatment #5, and a trip to a Hindu temple.