Monday, September 27, 2010

President Clinton's Legacy?

President Clinton discusses his plant-based diet along with Dr. Esselstyn and Dr. Ornish.

Can you imagine if President Clinton became an advocate for plant-based diets? Very cool indeed!

- Kareen, RD

Sunday, September 26, 2010

Quick Motivation Post

One of the Under Amour commercials has caught my fancy. Strong females doing their thing to a great sound track:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wkt0Q6p33fo
 
I've already downloaded the mp3 file from underarmour.com. I'm going to make it the ring tone for my alarm. Great way to wake-up and get pumped in the morning.


It's along the lines of some of the great CrossFit videos I've been watching recently like this one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3Q4eQhFOKY

I'm so ready to be fit and fierce!

- Kareen, RD

What's Going On?

Wow! What a long hiatus. I can't believe my last post was the beginning of August. Yikes!

It's shortly after midnight and I just finished marking a pile of tests (more on that in a minute). I should go to bed but I really do miss blogging so I'm pushing out a post. It's a also a good time to let the valerian root take its effects (more on that, too).

A couple of months ago, I accepted an adjunct faculty position at the local community college to teach two evening nutrition classes. At that time, I could not have imagined two of the dietitians on my team of three resigning back-to-back. I could not have anticipated being tasked as a floor dietitian while my management tasks pile up on my desk. I could not have thought 12 - 14 hour work days would become the norm.

Teaching has been exciting and I'm enjoying the challenge. Prepping lecture notes consumes the evenings that I am not in class. I just have to hang on till December! I would definitely teach again but probably one class instead of two.

That's the cliff notes version of my chaos.

Life has thrown me a huge stress ball and I've just been holding on by my nails. My weight has remained stable which is a small victory. I'm still overweight. Actually, I'm obese but at least I'm not moving in the wrong direction. Exercise has been limited to weekend walks with my hubby.

Since I'm either thinking about work or school, restful sleep eludes me so I am trying valerian root. So far so good. Helps me relax but doesn't leave me feeling groggy in the morning.


Last week I realized (again) that while I need to honour my work responsibilities, I also need to honour myself. My body is suffering and I need to halt the progression of disease that is likely developing in my body. Being obese is not without consequences.

I know I've said it before, but I do have to keep moving forward. I have faith that I will reach my weight loss goals. The alternative is not an option.

The first step is a plan. I'm working on that but right now, I'm going to bed.

Sorry for the random, choppiness of this post but I just wanted to get something out there and it was slightly cathartic to spill my thoughts on the page.

Thanks for reading!

- Kareen, RD