Beach walk (Photo credit: ll_browneyes_ll)

“It is an interesting biological fact that all of us have in our veins the exact same percentage of salt in our blood that exists in the ocean, and therefore, we have salt in our blood, in our sweat, in our tears.

We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea–whether it is to sail or to watch it–we are going back from whence we came.”
- John F. Kennedy

Remember, today we begin to breathe in love and breathe out gratitude as part of the “Ring of Fire”  unity wave.  Yesterday I mentioned the gogratitude link, but you probably can learn more about this particular meditation by going to bloominghumans.com.  You do NOT need to send them any money and if you enter your email address you will get emails along the 42 days.  The intention of this project is to “Release our Past, Appreciate the Present and DreamSeed the Future…together!”

Every inhalation we think LOVE. Every exhalation we think GRATITUDE. Animation of a diaphragm exhaling and inhaling (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Having participated in other GO GRATITUDE group “experiments,” in the past, I always find their very simple meditations to be too easy and too good to pass up being a part of.  The newest project is so simple and focuses on only two words…two of my favorite words.  Love and gratitude.  Beginning May 20th, the GO GRATITUDE people are suggesting  we take time to do some deep breathing daily, for 42 days, focusing on the word LOVE with each inhalation and GRATITUDE with each exhalation.  Imagine the beautiful energy that can come out of huge numbers of people around the world breathing love and gratitude?  If you can, perhaps you would like to participate, too. With a loving heart and and an attitude of gratitude, all things are possible.  For more info, go to the GO GRATITUDE link right here at peaceandfitness.com. or visit them at gogratitude.com

–Unknown 64year old.

CUT THE LONG WAY INSTEAD OF THIS WAY!!! USE A VEGGIE PEELER...very easy and they are pretty, too! (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Ok, this one is also thanks to Kim Lyons.  Such a simple recipe but so satisfying, beyond what I imagined.  She suggested to the carb lovers that instead of pasta, we make ribbons of zucchini.  (Could go a step further and actually slice them into long noodle shapes but the wide ribbons were just fine for me!) Simply cut off the very ends of the zucchini and using a vegetable peeler, make thin ribbons of the zucchini.  I used 3 large zucchs and it made a nice big bowl of what I will now call zucch-asta.  I sliced up a clove of garlic and sauteed it in some oil (I used a mix of olive and grape-seed oils) and then added the zucchini ribbons and some sliced button mushrooms (my addition, as Kim’s recipe called for just the zucchini).  After just a few minutes I added some marinara sauce and served it with a salad and leftover soup.  I put out grated cheese for Mitch and nutritional yeast (which I always use in place of grated cheese) for me.  It was not only delicious and filling but it really did fulfill the desire for some pasta.  I highly recommend this easy, pretty, healthy, low-calorie, vegan dish as a main course or as a side dish.  Those trying to cut down on the “bad” carbs will love this pasta alternative.  I will definitely be making it again very soon and definitely will be putting it on the VFT menu soon, as well.  It’s a shame I didn’t have success growing my own, but there’s always next year.  Try it and let me know what you think!

Related articles

• Low Carb Zucchini Pasta (veggieeuphoria.com)
• Zucchini Noodles (thecooksnextdoor.com)

Cucumber slices (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

On a major mission to NOT throw food out (my mom must be doing a dance of joy…Mitch and I will always remember how upset she got when we tried to throw out the turkey carcass one Thanksgiving many years…what were we thinking?)  With some fruit leftover from the weekend, inspired by Kim Lyons (ex Biggest Loser trainer) recipe for a fat flushing water, I filled a pitcher with some cucumber slices, some fruit and a splash of fresh squeezed grapefruit juice and drank it down all day, and will be making a fresh pitcher this morning. Carole, you are right about the cucumber slices–they make the drink so refreshing!  Kim’s recipe, FYI, was for a pitcher of water, fresh cucumber slices, a slice of grapefruit, some slices of tangerine and fresh mint.  She recommends drinking at least 3 big glasses (1 before each meal) for 10 days as part of a fat flush or weight loss jump start.    I also made a smoothie before class using some almost ready to be trashed blueberries and pineapple, a half of a frozen banana (I freeze those whenever they are about to go bad, first peeling them, then breaking them in half and freezing in plastic wrap.)  I used soy milk as the base, but only enough to blend.  With some chia and flax seeds and just a little bit of peanut butter, it was a perfect snack before heading back to the gym last night.  Finally, I have been saving leftover scraps of veggies in the freezer….the stuff you trim and ordinarily throw out.  I made a big pot of veggie stock from it (cooking on the stove for about an hour and a half) and after straining, used half (about 4 cups, using another 4 cups of plain water) of it as the base for a barley/lentil and vegetable soup.  Busy in the kitchen a good part of the afternoon, I made a lot of food that would have otherwise ended up discarded.  It saved me a lot of money, was all low in calories and healthful and it just plain felt good!  Earth day is everyday.

***I have no idea why my blog isn’t showing up on some people’s Facebook walls.  I am sure it has to do with changes made to FB, preference changes, etc., but I am pretty clueless.  Will check into it.  In the meantime, you can subscribe to my RSS feed down at the very bottom of the page or just remember to check in at peaceandfitness.com.  If anyone FB or blog savvy can help me out on this one, I greatly appreciate. As always, I thank you for the read!!

In the same magazine I read a couple of great quotes about life.  A 13 year old said ” I’ve learned if you want to cheer yourself up, you should try cheering someone else up.”    A 65 year old said “I’ve learned that if you pursue happiness, it will elude you.  But if you focus on your family, the needs of others, your work, meeting new people and doing the best you can, happiness will find you.”

I am laughing thinking about attitude as I get ready to finish this blog and go walk bigred.  There is a chihuahua who lives a few doors down.  We often find him hanging out (off a leash) guarding his house and most of the block.  As with most dogs his size, apparently no one has told him (or he simply doesn’t want to believe it) that he is the smallest dog on the block.  He gives good self esteem all new meaning.  While it sometimes makes me pretty crazy that he is out without a leash (or a parent) he always reminds me that attitude is everything.

And finally, because attitude definitely IS everything, I share this…Friday night my very young friend (5) Nate told his dad he was “going to show up tonight,” before heading out to his basketball game.  Just to prove attitude is everything, he sure showed up, putting 22 points on the scoreboard.  Way to go Natey, and way to show us if we think it, we can do it!  Apple trees make apples.  Natey’s mom, Jane, showed me the “vision board” she made for summer vacation.  It is a visual reminder to accomplish the things she wants to do while on vacation from teaching this summer.  There were beautiful visions on that board that involved her own peace and fitness but also included helping those less fortunate.

So let’s all get out there with a little more attitude today that we had yesterday.  Set some goals and as my “adopted adult son,” Pete says, “let’s make sh*t happen.”

Baby-lifting-weights (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

If the local fitness business is any indication of what’s going on in our world, things are definitely looking up!  Congratulations to Debbie and her crew at Fusion Fitness and Yoga as they move into their new and larger space at 9705 and 9707 West Sample Road.  They will have many more options for classes and formats including a small boxing arena, small rock climbing wall, a mind body studio space for outdoor boot-camp programs including renegade and warrior workouts.  Congratulations, also, to Sherri and Craig at Orange Theory Fitness.  After a very successful opening in Parkland, they are opening their second facility in Weston.  I know the Parkland girls are all abuzz about their OFT workouts!  Down in Tamarac, we are busier than ever as Ron and Wendie continue to offer a variety of classes with well trained and experienced instructors who just love what they do!  Our SilverSneakers program celebrates our one year anniversary at this facility, this month and all is going very smoothly.  With Ellen and I both teaching, we continue to offer 8 classes designed especially for this group as well as class options that are for every age and every “body.”  While I took off a couple of sessions to spend time with forever friends, I will back to work today with classes at 8:30 and 11:30 this morning and look forward to my PT sessions as well.

A final congratulations goes out to the entire Antonetz family, for lots of great stuff going on there and to my delicious nephew, Aaron, who graduated with his MBA from Columbia yesterday.  Nice job, “kids,” and what great Mother’s Day presents for the mommas!

After way too much eating and drinking this weekend…which was all wonderfully fun, I will be cleaning out my fridge, clearing out the sweets from the counter tops today and flushing my body with lots of fluids, fruits, veggies and very lean proteins these next few days as well as getting back to all my workouts and getting back in the pool, remembering NOT to do more than makes sense.

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

“Mama exhorted her children at every opportunity to ‘jump at de sun.’ We might not land on the sun, but at least we would get off the ground.”

– Zora Neale Hurston, folklorist and writer

Wishing you a happy and peaceful Mother’s Day.   A huge thanks to all the mother’s who had such positive impact on me as a person, but especially as a mother.

Blender v2.42a,: Deutsch: Einfacher Walk-Cycle English: Simple Walk-Cycle (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

When you are having a tough time getting started or getting restarted on your fitness routine do something very simple. Walk in one direction for 15-20 minutes. Turn around and walk back home. Done. If your circumstances make that length of time too much, modify it. You don’t need equipment or special ANYTHING. If you are fortunate enough to have 2 legs that work, you have all the tools you need. Repeat this most every day for a week and you will find yourself feeling not only on the peace and fitness trail, but quite possibly looking forward to those walks that just a week ago seemed so hard to tackle.

–A.A. Milne, Winnie-the Pooh

Heading to the airport to pick up my “even longer,” friend.  Thanks for your forever friendship, Carole.

Debbie, those pistachio cupcakes you made for last night’s dinner were adorable and delicious.  Thanks!

Make it a fantastic Friday, everyone.