Snow, Here We are Again

My deepest apologies for the lack of posting.  Friday I was running 200 miles an hour, working, seeing the chiropractor for my back/neck and then getting everything done in time to meet my mom for dinner and take her to Riverdance.

That makes two times in two weeks I have had my mother alone, it was so nice.  She updated me on her work with our family genealogy.  It seems I am related to Richard Nixon, Lucille Ball and a number of other big names on my grandfather's side of the family.  Now mind you, we are probably all related in the end, but it was fun to hear of my distant cousins.

As for Riverdance, WOW.  It was amazing watching them dance without moving their upper body.  And they don't appear to sweat or breathe heavily.  I am sure they do, but they make it look so easy.  Plus, I think they must all be double jointed, the way they swing there legs with such liquidity is astounding.  I guarantee I would pass out after five minutes of attempting to dance like them, never mind surviving a whole show.  But then, they are trained athletes.

As for the weekend, I was tired.  I slept in on Saturday and still took a nap in the afternoon.  Sunday was work and dinner at mom's and errands.  As well as getting my roomie ready to head north for an extended stay.  She is up helping a family member who is ill and with the storm coming we made the call she needed to leave Sunday night, obviously we nailed that one.

Anyway, I am back in the saddle with posting.  Expect useful important things as early as this afternoon.  Stay warm!

Yours in Health,
Kate

Snow Good Workout

FB Friend Dave Corbett's Shot
from last winter - any excuse
to promote Dave's talent!

As I watched the snow fall this morning I fought the temptation to skip the gym.  I went and it was hard, but it was worth it.  Gwyn had me do a number of things that now have my shoulders almost unwilling to work.  Oh and my ribs hurt from some of the ab work.  But I learned a lesson.

That lesson is, snowy days don't seem so hard when you are hot coming out of the gym. :)  No really.  The rest of my day felt like it flew along and I was able to get a few things done.  If I hadn't gone?  Well, I forgot my super-healthy lunch at home this morning, so I probably would have split the pizza that always gets ordered in on days like today.  Instead I grabbed a healthy sandwich and some milk on the way back.

Tomorrow, even snowier.  I plan to go to the gym, it's pool day!  Unless we get more than expected and I have to stay at work or Gwyn can't get to the YMCA Healthy Living Center, I will be there.

Yours in Health,
Kate

!ntuition is in Bed, why aren't I?

We finished up all of the edits on the March/April edition of Intuition Magazine today.  The cover is just as beautiful as I wanted it to be.  There will be no mistaking - it screams SPRING!  The issue will hit stands starting March 11 and we wanted to give everyone hope that this winter will abate. 

When we had that original conversation, in October, we were thinking it would be just a couple of weeks to spring when the magazine hit stands.  Sadly we realized today that it's actually going to be at least a month, quite possibly six weeks before we lose the last of our snow.  Some of the snow the city of Des Moines has had to hoard away at their dry lake probably won't melt til June. 

This is crazy, I mean more snow last night?  And more forecast for tomorrow?  I was talking to my friend Amy Sweet today and we have decided it's time to just set the damn record already.  I mean, before last night's snow, we were about 15 inches away from the snowiest winter ever.  Now, we're about 10.5.  I would hate to have suffered this much without something to cling to. 

Look at it this way, if we do hit the record, our grand children will all get an earful of what our grandparents gave us - "You think this is snowy, well it's nothing like the winter of 2009-2010..."  I mean some things are meant to move through the generations right?  Of course, we can't really compete with the uphill both ways thing, but we can say cell phone reception was horrible and the satellite dish crapped out - that will scare future generations.

Oh dear, I just read back through that, I'm a little punchy...  I think it's time to make like Intuition and go to bed.

Yours in health,
Kate

Wow, what a winter!

Just like everyone else, I went to bed last night with visions of about an inch of snow greeting me this morning - boy was that wrong!  But kind of funny.  I mean it has been one of those winters where it's always something. 

Luckily today I came prepared with healthy foods, so there is no excuse for being bad.  In fact, yesterday, I stocked up for a few days, so that if this loveliness happened again I was prepared.  So I am ready for whatever the weather throws me this week.

BTW - I have a new exercise ball that is getting blow up tonight and a new yoga mat. (Someone borrowed mine and it never came back.)  So, I am going to try some new moves.

Stay safe,
Kate

Well, isn't this ice?

This has definitely been a winter.  Today it's an ice storm that has thus far dropped almost half an inch of glossy junk.  It's a mix of ice and frigid water at the moment, but tonight it will freeze into a rink - something to look forward to. :)

Of course, bad weather days generally mean crappy food for me.  I was able to plan ahead a bit this time and my snacks are all healthy.  The upside to a day like this is that I am so busy, I don't have time to obsess over food, which is my main problem.

I am a food addict.  Even as my weight rose this time, I knew what the problem really was.  I love food.  When I am stressed, I love food that is bad for me, because it is comforting.  When I am happy, I want 'celebration' food.  When I am sad, I want sugar.  So, not only am I a food addict, but I am emotional eater.  I figure it's like any duel addiction, because each issue has its own solution.

I am taking each day as it comes and trying to figure out solutions for each moment that tests me.  But like I have said before - I would take almost any other addiction, because you can stop alcohol or drugs, but you need food to live. 

Here's to a snow day without a trip to the vending machine.

Yours in health,
Kate

The Snow Party

We are having a kick-off party for the new Intuition Magazine!  We would love to have you at this FREE, family-friendly event!  It's fun outdoor activities, then inside for cookies, cocoa and s'mores (o.k., not healthy, but tasty) to unveil the magazine.

Please let me know if you can come!

Yours in health,
Kate

You Snow, it's best to have a good sense of humor...

Last week's snow storm snarled Des Moines and caused many to break their backs shoveling.  Including my Saint-of-a-Brother Gordon.  He went to our house when we weren't home and used a snow blower and shovel to clear our walks on our corner lot, our drive and around my housemate Lori's care - he is AWESOME personified. 

My only adventures were driving in the white stuff as I had to work long hours every day affected by the storm.  I didn't get a snow-induced workout.  However, on Friday it was time to shoot the cover for the January/ February issue of Intuition and it was fun.

Kari, the photographer, our model Christine Comito all tromped behind the Art Center to find virgin snow for our shot.  Trudging along seemed hard at first and I was easily winded, not a surprise since I haven't worked out since March.  But it was actually fun and made me feel good afterward.  BTW - Christine was a great sport, you'll see why when you see the cover!

The only thing I will say is that the colder weather has made my knee pretty angry.  That won't stop me from making the most of my upcoming vacation at Disney World with the family.  That starts Wednesday morning as we leave at 6 a.m. on a flight out of Des Moines International.  I'll keep you updated.

Yours in health,
Kate

Snow = Junk

I've been at work since 4:45 this morning.  Weather means work for me.  But it also means eating junk in between go-go moments.  I don't know what is for dinner tonight, but as long as it doesn't come pre-wrapped, I will be good.

At least I started well today with a half-cup of high fiber oat cereal and coffee.  It went downhill from there, kind of like the weather. :)  Oh well, as Scarlet would say, "Tomorrow is another day."

Yours in health,
Kate

Happy Made-Up Holiday

O.k., now that we have my cynicism out of the way.

I was going to blog yesterday, but as is typical in winter for me - snow screwed everything up. I was too busy keeping up with the national weather service and traffic to blog or workout.

I had it a heck of a lot better than my brother Gordon though, he got hit in the front of his truck and in the back by guys who couldn't drive in the snow. The one who hit him from behind was from Texas, so that's no shocker. However, the creep hit him and ran - low-life. I may look into weather the DOT may have tape of the incident to find the guy.

Back into the gym today though. Just like every other time I have missed workouts and returned to the gym, I was once again reminded of how good I feel after. The difference this time is, that until Tuesday, it had been months. Not anymore.

My knee brace is doing o.k. It shifts more than I would like. Plus sometimes I wonder if it's causing more pain than it relieves. It pinches and it doesn't allow a full stride. So my Achilles has flames again and the front of my ankle was cranky the other day. All of that said, it won't stop me from doing what I need to for me.

I plan to workout in the morning before heading to my mom's. We still have the biggest loser contest going on and this may be the first week I lose instead of gain. That would bring into numbers my new found readiness to get healthy again.

Yours in fitness, Kate

SNOW!!!!!!!!!!

It's getting to be a recurring theme - it snows, I don't get to go to the gym. Urgh. I am going home now to do core - so I can move in some way today.

I know I am in Iowa, but this is ridiculous. And contrary to what the people who think they are funny believe - THIS is global warming.

All right, stepping off my soap box now for something workout related - calories burned by snow. (Based on a 150 pound person)

Shoveling snow by hand - 408 calories per hour
General ice skating - 476 calories per hour
Skiing downhill light effort - 340 calories per hour
Cross Country skiing light effort - 476 calories per hour
Sledding - 476 calories per hour
Snowshoeing - 544 calories per hour

All nice burns and if you work more than a little the calories go up substantially. IF you have time to go - which I don't. (yes, I would like cheese with that whine)

Yours in fitness, Kate

Final Side Dish (#5) and more snow

Man, let me tell you, if I skied I would be rockin' this Iowa winter. Yes, it's coming down like the background of a bad holiday movie again. This time, the world isn't panicking though and there are very few delays and closings, it helps that school is out.

Me, I am getting ready to take Lori out to dinner at Dos Rios and to the play "The Santaland Diaries". I finally told her what her gift was this morning. She really liked it. But she liked it more that it turned out not to be too weird. I had her a little freaked out by asking her to dress nice.

The recipe today is mine. Everyone is a little suspect about the sour cream in this classic, but it gives it a nice zing. I throw in the peppers and mushrooms to sneak in extra veggies. The onions are not fried, my apologies to the traditionalists, but get real, there is NOTHING healthy about fried onions.

I do not have the nutritional break down on this, because I made it up. But it's not too bad, if you don't eat half a pan.


Kate’s Green Bean Casserole

Ingredients:
1 can (10 3/4 oz.) Campbell's® Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup (98% Fat Free)
1/4 cup milk
1 container low fat sour cream (if you’re in Iowa it can only be AE)
1 tsp. Worcester sauce
½ teaspoons ground black pepper
5 cups cooked cut green beans (start with fresh and blanch them or go with frozen and thaw them, because canned beans are full of sodium and frankly, soggy)
½ red pepper chopped
1 cup white cap mushrooms chopped (the ones you typically find in the produce section)
1 medium yellow onion thinly sliced or chopped very small

Directions:

For the onion topping:
Use parchment paper or spray pan onto a cookie sheet, spread onion thinly. Bake in 400°F oven until they begin to brown and crisp. Pull out and put aside.

For casserole:

MIX soup, milk, sour cream, Worcester sauce, black pepper in bottom of casserole pan until thoroughly mixed and smooth. Add beans, mushrooms and peppers and stir until coated completely.
BAKE at 350°F. for 25 minutes or until hot.
Pull out and sprinkle onions on top. Bake 5 more minutes.

Yours in health, Kate

Party Dish #2 & Stupid Snow

Urgh. Third time in three weeks the snow has impeded me from going to the gym. I am disgusted. I want to be sweating right now. I want to be working out my aggression toward this precipitation by creating my own. Instead I am at my desk waiting for closings and delays. Good thing I love my job.

I do plan to do some core work when I get home; it's better than nothing. You see, you don't need equipment to get started, just an urge to make it happen.

Now, on to happier things like your holiday party. You need healthier dishes and I am here for you. Today it's White Bean Hummus. One way to make this even healthier is to cut down on the olive oil. On the other hand, olive oil is exactly the kind of fat we want in our diet. So maybe cut the fat for the day somewhere else. As Lori always says, "Hummus is yummus."

White Bean Hummus

Ingredients:

1 - can small white beans (drained)
1/4 c - extra-virgin olive oil
2 Tbsp - lemon juice
2 - peeled cloves garlic
1/2 tsp - fresh thyme leaves
1 tsp - salt (always use sea or kosher, more flavor, less sodium)
1/2 tsp - fresh-ground pepper

In a food processor, combine all ingredients. Whirl until smooth.

Spoon into a bowl and set on a platter. Around hummus, arrange colorful vegetables such as sliced bell peppers, sliced carrots, and blanched asparagus spears and broccoli florets.

Makes 1 cup of hummus.

Per tablespoon hummus: 46 cal., 70% (32 cal.) from fat; 1 g protein; 3.6 g fat (0.5 g sat.); 2.7 g carbo (0.7 g fiber); 189 mg sodium; 0 mg chol.

This party option comes from Sunset magazine a couple of years ago. Enjoy.

Yours in health, Kate

Frackin' Snow

I have had to run around updating things in the building for snow. Live radio baby! So I am not able to blog right now, appropriately enough because I am due at the gym soon.

Yours in Fitness, Kate