I am Still Just a Rat in the Cage

POP UP YARD YOGA this Wednesday evening at 6.  It’s a full moon this week (Thursday) so why not celebrate?   If you are local and would like to join us, leave me a message here or on Facebook.  There is room for a few more.  We work socially distanced so we do not need masks. I haven’t held one in over a month because of the holidays and the ridiculous Covid numbers, but…it’s a full moon and we have room to spread out.  The last time we were together, we came out of meditation to find a very curious and large raccoon a little too close for comfort.  This time I will let others meditate while I stay alert!

Last week’s blog about calories in vs calories out has inspired a lot of conversation.  Yes.  It is true that I often say weight loss starts with food.  That does NOT negate the importance of exercise.  What it means is you cannot eat crappy, fattening food and then think you can go workout and burn it all off (unless you are a very serious athlete).  It is so easy, and takes so little time to consume a few hundred calories and conversely so hard and takes so much work to burn them off.   DON’T BE THE RAT IN THE CAGE!

This is where “diet” and exercise forms it’s purposeful partnership.  Count your calories so you are taking in just enough to properly fuel your body and then get in a good workout to burn some of them so you create a deficit.  If you aren’t sure how to figure that out, just ask.

One of the most healthy, low calorie meals ever, is a salad.  Yesterday, my friend said she hates making them.  Many people feel that way.  I suggest you make a really big one that last for 2 days.  If you don’t put dressing on it will store well overnight.  For me, the lettuce is the hassle.  Sometimes, when I feel like that is keeping me from making them, I buy already washed greens.  I always add coleslaw for crunch and texture.  If you cut up a bunch of stuff and store it, you will have it readily available later in the week, making your next salad really easy!  Any protein you like will work great with it to make it a complete meal.

Since it IS meatless Monday, let’s just say adding some beans or chick peas and maybe some Gardein of your choice, or tofu, will give you more than enough protein.  The easiest way to approximate how much protein you need for the day is to divide your weight in half and you generally need a little less than that in grams.  If you are a bodybuilder or athlete you need to up that number.  Then divide it amongst your meals.  Even for a vegan or someone who thrives on a plant-based diet, it’s pretty easy to get enough.  Again, if you have questions about this, ask.

So I apologize if today’s entry is a bit redundant, but there were a few questions that came up that I wanted to address.

Can you believe this is the last Monday in January 2021?  Time seems to be traveling at a different speed since March of 2020.  Right now our planet is vibrating at a crazy rate–the good news is, it raises our vibration which helps our immune system.  We certainly need that right now.  Stay vigilant.  Wear your masks.  Get fresh air when you can.  Eat your veggies.  Keep moving.  Find some peace EVERY day.  Thanks for stopping in.