share worthy

I just stumbled across a FANTASTIC website that I must share:

Eat Right Ontario



That's right! This site is brought to you by the government of Ontario. Apparently the government felt it was finally time to educate the Ontario public that poutine is not a food group and we really should be consuming more water and less product from the Molson and Labatt breweries between meals! I jest. This really is a cool site.

The service was designed to provide easy-to-use nutrition information to help improve the health and quality of life of residents of Ontario (or anyone with internet access, really!) through healthy eating. The site includes a wealth of nutrition tools, and offers many additional resources to support you in developing healthy eating habits. All the material is provided by Registered Dieticians.

1. Featured Articles on Food and Nutrition
The site includes a wide range of interesting topics that are updated on a regular basis. FAQs ask the questions you should be asking.


2. Ask a Registered Dietician a question by email or phone
EatRight Ontario allows you to ask nutrition-related questions and receive feedback by phone or email from a Registered Dietitian. I gave this feature a test-run the other day. I inquired about serving sizes for the less common fruits (pomegranate, dates, star fruit) and was pleased to see a detailed response in my inbox within 3 days (including links to additional helpful articles on serving sizes).


3. Customized, Interactive Meal Plans
My favourite feature of this site! Enter your gender, age, and specify your eating requirements from a detailed list of options (including weight loss, athlete, or simply low-cost eating for 1 or 2!), and away you go....a fully interactive meal plan! The meal plan allows you to swap meals, get recipes in an instant and even create a shopping list in an instant.





It is so refreshing to see government and Big Business across the globe focusing on the issue of healthy eating. From Michelle Obama's ability to turn her White House garden to soapbox, to Walmart's recent announcement of healthy food options (though I'm still a little skeptical of this one!). Seeing resources like this available help knock down excuses and empower us to make better choices.

And now, a quick update on MOI:
Diet: average
Exercise: average
Weight loss: average (-2)
Running: nada (temps hit -24C or -13F last week and are just now warming up!)
Attitude: humble
Stress level: high

I'm looking forward to enjoying the weekend after a 70-hour work week. I'm going to use the time to recharge and get out there for a good run or two.

Have a good one!
Rae
xo

auto pilot

I feel a little like this woman lately.... Mindlessly going about my business. Not paying attention to what I'm doing...on auto pilot.

Do you know what happens when you cruise along on auto pilot!?...



FAIL!

My weight loss has been at a complete standstill this month. Being sick didn't help, but let's face it - I have stalled when it comes to exercise and eating well.

I am going to dedicate my weekend to getting back on track. Back to basics. This includes getting around to reading all of YOUR blogs.

I hope to have a good update next week - including some weight loss!

Have a good one!
Rae
xo

today

I stumbled across this image today and just had to share....

Today is going to be the day I get back on my feet (literally!) since being struck with a cold virus. I am a little dehydrated and my lungs feel almost asthmatic, but if I don't at least get a good walk in today, I think I'm going to go bonkers.

germs are not for sharing

Just as I was getting cocky about making it through the winter without illness, a cold has knocked me on my butt. I'm going to be MIA for a few days...at least. It isn't pretty, folks!

Why does this always seem to happen when I'm getting into my running 'groove'?

one year can change your life

I'm going to deviate from my usual cheery style today and start this post by admitting I hate New Years. It's not the celebration or spirit of the holiday and I detest, it's the plethora of empty promises it creates. You see, as I look back on 2010 I realize that I started my year with the usual promises of losing some weight and getting fit BUT the champagne-induced enthusiasm quickly waned and I watched the scale creep up to almost 310 pounds last year.

Like so many others, it seems a change of date on the calendar wasn't enough to get me started. Hmpf. Go figure.

Fast forward to the spring. As southern Ontario went through it's typical thaw, I began to see my neighbourhood come back to life as well. Joggers started to appear. First one or two brave souls, then a few regulars, then whole groups as the local running club hit the pavement. My thought process was simple: I want that!

My blog was born as a way to stay accountable and document my thoughts. I began this process with one simple goal: give myself one year to be able to run 5 miles comfortably and at whim. I figured I'd better keep things simple. I'd focus on running and let the rest fall into place.



As you can see, a lot changed around here last year:
- I managed to lose almost 50 pounds
- I can now run 3.5 miles comfortably and at whim
- I dramatically improved my diet
- I maintained this little blog and made many friends along the way

The biggest change I've observed in myself since last year is my new found confidence. I enter 2011 knowing I WILL DO THIS.

I'm filled with optimism about what's to come. My goal remains unchanged. I will be able to run 5 miles comfortably and at whim by my one-year anniversary in late May. Until then, I am setting mini-challenges along the way. I won't bore you with all the details, but they will include things like actual timed races and mileage goals.

Have you set goals or resolutions for the year ahead? Let's finish what we started!

Rae
xo

get out!

I went snowshoeing yesterday. It was the perfect day for it too. Not only was it an unofficial "team" exercise with my best work buddies, but it was warm enough to be comfortable yet cold enough for nice fluffy snow. We’re very fortunate to have some beautiful wilderness trails in our area.

Huffing and puffing our way up and down hills, we panted our agreement that we were having a great time. Being stuck inside the house/office all winter is boring and depressing and sucks, but if you can get out and enjoy everything the season has to offer, you’ll find that winter isn’t bad at all.

A lot of people say “I just don’t like the cold.” To those people I say, “Get over it!!"

As my husband is fond of saying, “There’s no such thing as too cold, just under dressed.” Once you get moving you’ll break a sweat no matter how cold it is. Grabbing some sunshine and fresh air is especially important at this time of year. It can really pull you out of your winter funk.

There are plenty of outdoor activities you can use to inject vitality into ho-hum winter days.

· Skating – inside or outside, it will get the heart pumping

· Downhill skiing – for daredevils

· Snowboarding – for über daredevils

· My personal favourite is cross country skiing

· Snow shoeing is fun and sometimes very practical

· Take the kids tobogganing

· Nobody’s stopping you from going for a run or a walk!

· Shovelling snow – it may be a chore but it’s a fantastic workout

Winter is long. It can be a waiting game until summer or it can be a whole world of fun. The choice is really up to you. Personally, I choose fun.

rae's super mega fantastic update

That's right folks, I said super Mega FANTASTIC.

(There is no font large enough or flashy enough to emphasize what a great week I'm having.)

1. I'm an Aunt....again!

My sister announced the arrival of my beautiful niece on Monday. Introducing Savannah Marie...

Welcome to the world, little one! I can't wait to meet you this weekend.

2. I am down 6 pounds from last week.

Winter running pays off! This may just give me the motivation that I need to continue outdoors now that we've been dumped on with over a foot of snow.

3. Blogger Secret Santa Exchange is in full swing

Jill over at Run With Jill has organized a massive secret santa operation. Yesterday I received a fabulous surprise in the mail...

It reads: I hope this gives you the inspiration to continue living a life of fitness and running!

Eeek! Thank you, thank you, my bloggy secret santa!!!! I can't wait to curl up by the fire with this book on the weekend. When I'm finished reading it, I'm going to lend it to my running 'partner in crime' so that she can enjoy it as well. It looks fabulous. XOXO Now...you didn't leave me with many clues to track you down, but I'm going to do some sleuthing! :)

4. Patrick at The Road has unveiled a new social network for athletes.

I'm a little late to the party (been meaning to join for a week now!), but I finally got around to it. The Endurance Athlete Project is a great source of inspiration for newbies like me. Go, now...check it out!

5. I got a promotion!

After nearly two months spent jumping through numerous HR hoops and hard negotiations, my promotion to Director was finally announced (& technically, the role created) yesterday. I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to continue developing professionally with a team that I respect and love working with every day. I'll be working through a transition period while I take on more planning and strategy work while stepping away from my client-facing work. My teammates were thrilled with the move, which is important given my peers will now be reporting in to me. It comes with more responsibility, more money and more work....two of three make me smile.

Have a great weekend everyone - be good!

Rae

xo