healthy choices Archives

Yoga with Adriene – Energy (Fitness Friday)

December 20, 2024 No Comments

Today’s post is just going to be a little baby post. Just a little short one. Today was my last day in the office for 2024 – I’ll still be working on Monday and Tuesday morning, but from the comfort of my basement. We went for a cute lunch at NOtaBLE as an office to celebrate and I very well might never eat again. The food was so good and I had so much left over… I cannot wait until I decide that I must eat my leftover Stilton cheesecake in the middle of the night. So, as you can imagine, I’m thinking a lot about delicious food and also a lot about moving my body. Specifically, Yoga with Adriene – Energy.

Longtime readers will remember that I have sporadically in my life announced that I am going to do a Yoga with Adriene yoga journey. This announcement regularly appears in my Word of the Year posts, and usually I actually do complete the journey. Sometimes I complete it a few days into February, but I think Adriene would support that. She is all about honouring the journey that you are on and finding your way back to your mat.

So obviously, I need to be doing that again this January. Those days where it is dark outside when I drive to work and dark outside when I drive home from work so I just don’t feel like driving to the studio, I need something that I can do to keep moving. That thing, of course, is Yoga With Adriene. (And maybe some other YouTube workouts.)

But Adriene isn’t doing a 30 Day Journey this year! At least that’s what I heard! What to do!?

Not to worry. Yoga with Adriene – Energy has come to the rescue. Only the first seven days are new (a Pranayama practice), but that doesn’t matter. It’s still videos that I haven’t done often, if at all, and someone else is picking the video that I’m going to do for me. What else can I ask for?

I love not making decisions!

So there we have it. Who’s doing Yoga with Adriene – Energy with me? Most do-able workout challenge ever. Sound off in the comments!

Fitness

5 Fun Ways to Stay Active During the Holidays (No Workouts Required)

December 6, 2024 No Comments

The holidays are here, which means cozy sweaters, hot cocoa, and approximately a million things to do. For me, December always feels like a whirlwind, and sometimes it is truly impossible to fit in a formal workout. And if you read Wednesday’s post, you know I’m feeling guilty about that. And working on not feeling guilty about it. Because staying active during the holidays doesn’t have to mean hitting the gym or doing a 45-minute cardio session.

If you’re like me and need to make your holiday movement to feel festive and fun, I’ve got you covered. (Plus, even Harvard agrees with me that you’ve got to keep moving!) Here are five creative ways to stay active during the holidays that you’re probably doing anyway—or can start doing now.

1. Decorating for the Holidays

Holiday decorating is a sneaky way to stay active during the holidays. Pulling the box of ornaments out of storage? Strength training. Carefully balancing on a stool to hang garlands? Core work. Untangling miles of string lights? Maybe not a physical workout, but definitely a mental endurance test. Plus, once you’re done, your space looks festive and magical. Worth it.

2. Holiday Baking

Holiday baking isn’t just about the cookies (although let’s be honest, it sort of is). But if you’re feeling guilty, consider this: It’s about the movement—rolling dough, whipping batter, and crisscrossing the kitchen to grab ingredients. Add some upbeat holiday music, and suddenly you’re in your own baking montage. Staying active during the holidays can be as simple as dancing while you whisk frosting. Your arms might even get a little sore from all that whisking!

3. Playing in the Snow

Remember how much fun snow days were when you were a kid? Who says adults can’t join in? Go outside, build a snowman, or organize a friendly snowball fight. It’s like recess, but with mittens and hot chocolate waiting for you afterward. Running through the snow burns calories *and* boosts your mood. And happy people just don’t kill their husbands.

4. Volunteer Work

Volunteering during the holidays is a great way to stay active while giving back. Packing food hampers, sorting donations, or delivering meals to neighbors all require movement, and you’re helping your community while you’re at it. It’s a win-win that makes your heart feel as full as your gift bags.

5. Nature Walks

Sometimes, the simplest activities are the best. Taking a walk to admire holiday lights or enjoy a snowy trail gives you fresh air, gentle movement, and a little time to decompress. Throw on your coziest scarf and grab a warm drink to make it even better. Plus it’s warm in Calgary right now! Walking is a classic way to stay active during the holidays, and it’s easy to fit into your schedule.

Staying Active (and Festive!) This Season

The holidays are busy, but they don’t have to be sedentary. With a little creativity, you can stay active during the holidays in ways that feel festive and fun. Whether you’re dancing in the kitchen, climbing a ladder to hang mistletoe, or strolling through a winter wonderland, every little bit adds up.

I’d love to hear how you’re staying active this season! And why is it just sprinting across the room to your iphone so you can skip “Simply Having a Wonderful Christmas Time”? (The worst song.) Let me know in the comments below—and feel free to share your own favorite ways to stay active during the holidays.

Stuff About Me

Feeling Like Myself Again (Wellness Wednesday)

December 4, 2024 No Comments

This is an interesting post for Blogmas. It’s not very festive and I don’t know if it’s going to end up positive. I mean, it probably will end up positive, because that is my default, but who can say?

It seems appropriate, though. What I’m about to write about is what has been on my mind lately and this blog has always sort of been about vomiting what’s on my mind onto the internet. Blogmas wouldn’t be Blogmas without me writing a few posts that are weirdly and specifically personal.

I feel like I’ve recently gotten on a real wellness kick, without actually doing anything, during what is really the worst time of year. I’ve been thinking and talking a lot about my sleep hygiene. Things like getting into my bed earlier, putting screens away an hour before bed (which I’m terrible at), building a nighttime routine. I’ve also been thinking – and talking – a lot about paying attention to how I’m nourishing myself. Maybe tracking my food and how I feel as a result for a bit.

This all sounds good, right?

But I’m also catching myself feeling guilty when I don’t work out. (Which, honestly, I do need to do more, for my strength and for my sanity and for my sleep. The guilt just doesn’t help.) I’m catching myself feeling guilty any time I have a drink or eat pizza for the third week in a row. And all that guilt and self-flagellation is making my wellness worse because I just reach this point of paralysis and stress where I let my current habits completely take over.

So why am I putting myself through this at notably one of the most stressful times of the year? (So they say, anyway. I honestly find the holidays full, but not that stressful. Which I know may not be normal.)

I’m just ready to feel like myself again.

We worked on Riverona for so long, which took over a lot of my life. And then I travelled in October and have basically been sick since I got back into the country. And, quite honestly, I’m sick of feeling shitty.

I’m ready to start feeling good. And more importantly, feeling like me.

So that’s what Wellness Wednesdays are going to look like for the foreseeable future. Wanna join?

Life

“No Is a Complete Sentence”… Even During the Holidays

December 7, 2022 No Comments

It’s the first Wednesday of December and what does that mean? That means it’s time for a Wellness Wednesday. And, hoo boy, do we all need to remember to focus on wellness during December. The holidays are (to quote a yoga instructor I had once) a very full time of year. There are demands on our time, finances, emotional energy… no wonder we might need a reminder to centre ourselves sometimes. Which brings me to the core, the thesis, the theme of this post. No is a complete sentence.

Like, Grammatically?

Um…. the jury is out on that one. But I more so meant it symbolically. When have we ever cared about correct grammar on this blog?

Life

Add Something

November 2, 2022 No Comments

Does anyone remember in July when I confidently announced that I had set a goal not to eat out for the entire month? No? Well, that makes sense because that goal was wildly unsuccessful and, naturally, I never spoke of it again. And why was it unsuccessful? Because let me tell you, y’all.. What I needed to do was add something.

Fitness

Barre Body Studio – 8 Years

January 19, 2021 No Comments

I had a “What I Read in December” post all locked and loaded, ready to go today. And then, as it often does, real life intervened. (And by “real life”, I guess I mean social media? Yikes!) Today is Barre Body Studio‘s 8 year anniversary.

YYCEats

The Best Mocktail for This Holiday Season

November 21, 2020 No Comments

Don’t get me wrong, friends. I like a glass of wine just as much as the next totally independent and productive grown woman. (Side comment: I’m trying not to say “girl” as much these days. I’ve been trying for like a year though, so you can imagine how well it’s going.) I like to learn about wine. I like the ritual of selecting a bottle from my bar. I like having a special drink at the end of the day. But my pocketbook, internal organs and cognitive functions are not always there for a wine. And that is where this post comes in – the best mocktail for this holiday season!

And by “holiday season”, I mean “zooming with friends from our own homes while wearing fancy clothes”. Yet another reason to maybe not always reach for the wine.

Fitness

Elevate Barre Program

October 24, 2020 No Comments

Oof. Look at this girl go – restarting a blog and missing a week almost immediately. What can I say? I had a paper due last week. After doing a deep dive into reflexivity and the need for a community developed code of ethics for adult educators, my brain was toast. 3500 words is so many words. But anyway, I digress. I was gone, now I am back, and I want to talk about Elevate, a little program that I’ve been doing at my barre studio for the past month.

Fitness, YYCEats

Cherry Pit – One Day Juice Cleanse

July 6, 2016 No Comments

As those of you who follow me on social media have undoubtably already seen, on Monday I did a petite one day juice cleanse. With the Calgary Stampede looming on the horizon and a booze-soaked girls weekend in Kimberley behind me, it just seemed like a good choice to try to get my system a little bit back in line. (Why yes, we did purchase 11 bottles of wine for three girls. We didn’t drink all of them, though, I swear! Seriously. That sounds like a made up swear, but it’s true! Anyway… moving on…)

In the past, I’ve only done three day cleanses and the one day cleanse was a walk in the park, by comparison. I did take a late night “Barre, Core, Stretch” class at Barre Body Studio on Monday and, though I was a little bit hungry after Lindsay put us through an insane tricep/oblique series, it was so refreshing to know that I had a juice waiting for me at home and even if it didn’t completely quench my hunger it didn’t matter because I got to eat on Tuesday morning. I even did my meal prep for the week on Monday night and my food monster remained in check! So, without further ado – my petite review of my petite cleanse.

Where did my cleanse come from?
Great question! (That I asked myself… maybe I shouldn’t reveal the conceit. Anyway…) In the past, I’ve purchased three day cleanses from an old A Flimsy Plan favourite, Cru Juice, but this time I decided to go for something a little shorter and a little bit cheaper. The one day cleanse from Cherry Pit, located at The Calgary Farmers’ Market fit the bill – super easy to pick up since I was already there and only $40 for one day! Apparently you can also order cleanses ahead of time online by emailing in, but I am clearly far too impetuous for that.

8:00 am – “The Hulk”
Kale, Apple, Celery, Lemon, Ginger

Starting off my day with a glass of hot lemon water and a green juice felt oh-so-virtuous. I really think it set me up with a positive frame of mind for my day. This juice was sweeter than I expected (a nice surprise for a green juice!) and I could definitely sense the celery in the after-taste, though not at all in an unpleasant way.

10:00 am – “Tropical Paradise”
Green apple, Pineapple, Lemon, Mint

A variation of this juice seems to be a standby in most cleanses (Blueprint Cleanse calls it “PAM”, Cru offers the “Pumped Up Kicks” which is similar but includes aloe vera) and with good cause – it’s nice to have something a little bit sweet to help pump up your blood sugar when mid-morning hits and it suddenly becomes very real that you will not be eating today, my friend. My morning at work was quite busy and the juice was sweet enough that I was able to alternate this guy with sips of water and spread it out over about an hour and a half until it was almost time for the next juice!

12:00 pm – “Carrot”
Carrot, Orange, Apple

Again, in the fall, Cru Juice offers a similar carrot juice that I just do not love… their variation includes yam and a few spices that I can’t remember at the moment – so either I really like orange or I really don’t like the spice I can’t remember, because I loved this carrot juice! I also appreciate the vegetable based juices during a cleanse because they seem a little “thicker”, and therefore more filling, which this one definitely did. As a note, I was developing such a headache by this point.

1:30 pm

The headache was still there. Maybe it was a caffeine headache, as I had tried to be good and not have any coffee that morning? Maybe. I drank two cups of David’s Tea’s “Cream of Earl Grey” and it did help some. It was probably a caffeine headache.

3:30 pm – “Heart Beet”
Beet, Carrot, Apple, Ginger, Lemon

Can we talk about how cute the name of this juice is, even if it took me awhile to get it?
I am one of those weirdos who absolutely loves beets, but this was probably my least favourite juice of the cleanse. I know that beet juice is super good for you, but I just couldn’t get on board. Maybe my tastebuds were attuned to the sweet after my previous few juices? Maybe it was because I drank it during that dreaded late afternoon slump? I also drank it about an hour and a half later than the suggested time, so maybe that was a part of it? I’m not sure, but I just knew I couldn’t wait to be done with it.

5:30 pm – “The Popeye”
Spinach, Cucumber, Apple, Pear, Lemon

To be honest, I barely remember drinking this juice. I got home late from work because I had to run a few errands and I downed this guy while meal-prepping. I don’t remember anything distasteful about it and I do remember the cucumber taste being prominent. If you are looking for a standard juice to get a lot of nutrients in for very little work, I think this would do the trick.

9:00 pm – “Wonderwoman”
Watermelon, Pineapple, Coconut Water, Lime, Mint

Like the “Heart Beet”, I drank this juice waaaaay too late (the barre class! I have explained!) but unlike the “Heart Beet”, I loved it! It was like dessert! And it was brilliant, because the coconut water was the perfect thing to restore my water and electrolyte levels after the workout.

Final Thoughts?
I would absolutely do a one day cleanse again. I felt virtuous, I felt energetic, I was proud of myself. I also would probably have a cup of tea in the morning to stave off the headache.

The main difference I felt between the Cru Cleanse and this one, was the lack of a nut mylk included in the cleanse. I usually had the nut mylk after a workout to get some protein/sugar in as a recovery and I may have needed that if I did a more vigorous barre workout or continued the cleanse for longer. Cherry Pit juices are also more pure fruit/veg blends with less additional spices to add flavour.

I will note that I felt awful for much of Tuesday (the day after the cleanse). I went for a walk at lunch and almost passed out. This could have been a cleanse response, but it also could have been because I took an Advil that morning and I very rarely take any type of medication. I think I will have to do another one day cleanse, maybe after Stampede, and see how I feel the day after for comparison.

I loved the price of the Cherry Pit cleanse, I loved that I could purchase a day of juice and still be within my grocery budget for the week with a little clever finagling.

(Note from 2020 Erin: Cru Juice was acquired by Jusu Bar. I haven’t yet tried their juice cleanses… maybe time for some new content?)