Posts-I've-stolen-from-other-people

I'm figuring out different strength training routines and writing up stuff on different strength training moves (yes, I'm actually working on it - I finished a post yesterday, and considering how long my missives tend to be, that made me happy) complete with photo examples. In the interim, my goal of regular posting remains and so I figured that I'd pop up a post from a SparkPeople blog that resonates nicely with a fitness & self-image goals that I need to keep reminding myself about: being fit and healthy doesn't mean having a perfectly toned, cut, and lithe body like the girls in the fitness magazines.

Confession: I May Not be Perfect, but I'm Still Fit & Healthy

Nicole is fit and healthy. She has a lovely, strong and feminine body. Her physical capabilities more than prove she is a physically fit person. There is nothing revolutionary in her blog entry, yet most of us need reminding that fit does not equal perfect. I am quite lithe, yet I long for the sort of intense, glistening muscle definition that you see in the women's fitness magazines. This is despite having pretty darn defined muscles to begin with. Focussing on health is a much better goal, but it is hard to remember that we are looking to achieve what is healthy for our own bodies when leafing through publications that advocate a diet of processed protein shakes and absurd amounts of exercise every day.

Exercise is a joy, if not before or during, than after. Obsessing for perfection strips that joy away from it. Worrying about that stubborn little rope of genetically pre-destined fat immediately under my navel can strip the joy right out of a good dance session. Nicole admitted to being obsessed about perfection for a while, and she prefers her current outlook. And so do I.

Tail tucked

I have been dreadfully reticent in posting here lately, and for that I apologize. As I continue to slog through a very thankless job and contemplate near-future plans, most of my brain cells have been employed in getting caught up with profession-related literature and scheaming about how to inch my way towards newfound goals.

I was sick for the past couple of weeks. Mostly, my body was just flirting with illness, and then I spent two days in bed and was wrecked for a few days more after that. There wasn't much working out at that point. However, a dear friend of mine (who had the gall to move away because of "life" - pah!) would like me to put together a strength training routine for her to help with her running. This is a good thing, as it will get me researching weight training and coming up with fitness soloutions again.

Nutrition-wise, I've been both good and bad. Due to some unwise reading of bread bag labels, I've realized how horrendously our bread is packed with preservatives. the upshot of it is that I've started baking my own bread. 100% whole grainy goodness, fresh from the oven. I do it all by hand, no bread machine involved, as the end product is tastier and more attractive. Besides, kneading dough is both fun and cathartic. My condo smells like a bakery, and my husband is well pleased. Unfortunately, I've also succumbed to the delights of my freshly-baked bread and have been eating a little too much of it. After last night's batch, I packed back three good-sized slices slathered in honey with a bit of butter. It was heavenly. It was also a gigantic heap of carbs, which I didn't exactly need especially as I had just drunk two glasses of wine. I'm going to practice more self-restraint in the future. Happily, I've been getting accustomed to the bread baking, and slip-ups like this don't happen often.

That is all for now. I'm in a conference today, much to my delight, and only have a few more minutes before I need to dash to my Friday afternoon circuit training session (I missed the last two, thank-you-very-much worthless job) and then back to the conference.