Lets Make the Most of the Night

I don't know about you but my brain seems to run in a hundred different directions at a time. It's kinda like a magic eight ball being constantly and violently shaken with hundreds of answers, questions, criticisms, and concerns flying past the little opening at the top. Their are a couple of different remedies for an overstimulated mind, however the consumption of massive quantities of alcohol might be killing brain cells instead of relieving them. So like most people I keep myself overly busy in an attempt to direct the endless flow of thoughts from  consuming my grasp on reality. One of these activities is a Monday evening fitness club to encourage others to enjoy nature through exercise and maintain that firm butt God gave me. Occasionally my comrades in prolonged leg torture are busy with ridiculous things like jobs, family, studying; which leaves our mountain trail alone for me to conquer alone.

If you have been following along (I know its hard not to focus on that tight butt I mentioned earlier ;) then you may have connected the dots on why running by myself with no mental distractions (I don't like running with headphones) might be a potentially intimidating problem. A whole hour to just let my mind roam? why don't you just drop a crack addict into a coca field and see what happens.

But there I was, jogging down the trail, and somewhere between realizing I should have peed before starting, and that Kesha song stuck in my head (I was in traffic and it was on like every damn station, don't judge me!) there was..... silence. Sweet, sweet silence. A beautiful twilight zone where even the dirtiest Kesha hook couldn't invade my zone. In dragon ball Z terms, I think I went super sayain. I realized that while I am a people person and love being involved in as much as possible, a little silence to myself is equally important for sanity. A friend once said, "a little silence is better than sex". I always thought he just wasn't doing it right, but I think the truth behind that statement became a bit more clear that night. So, yes Kesha lets make the most of the night and enjoy time of silence and meditation.

Also, so everyone else can get this stuck in their head:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmV2zPXMzdI

What to do When Your Sick

It is now officially fall, even here in Georgia. I love fall it is probably my favorite season, but it also brings the terrible 'Fall Cold' everyone around you seems to have and chooses to sneeze on you. I currently have it, most of my friends either had it or are going to get it, and I'm sure my mother will get it conveniently when I'm home for Thanksgiving. (that turkey doesn't cook itself ma!)

The real challenge is how to maintain your healthy lifestyle when all you want to do is lay around and re-watch the entirety of Freaks and Geeks? Well depending on the longevity of your illness their are a few different solutions to your pumpkin flavored illness.

1. Get plenty of rest! This probably sounds redundant but give yourself a day off for goodness sakes. Skip a class, call in to work, say no to water boarding that new terrorist your boss just brought back from Syria. I know personally I tend to be a work-aholic who rarely says no to a good time. This works for me most of the time but the body needs time to recover and taking a day off to get plenty of sleep and a lil you time might be just what you need.

2. When it comes to working out unless you're totally bed ridden you don't have to stop. The body can handle a lot more than you realize, and exercise does help in detoxing and staying healthy. The trick here is to cut back on your normal workout. Don't worry about not reaching your 'usual' goals when you workout. Your 'usual' goals are just not attainable in the current state your body is in. Know that your body will thank you and recover quickly if you don't over-exert it during your recovery period. Save that for the following week when your at 100%.

3. Maintain healthy eating habits, possibly reduce caloric intake. If you are not already doing so try to eat a healthy and fully balanced diet. I know it is hard, I'm a poor college student who would love nothing more than eating pork belly and ramen noodles most nights. Do not fall into the trap that eating healthy is expensive. Don't try to eat like a movie star, they usually just pay a nutritionist to wake them up at 3am to eat a plate of plain chicken anyway. Fuck that. I want to eat at normal times, and with some flavor baby! When your sick your body needs fuel just like any other time so don't forget to fill it with good choices. However if your trying to lose weight and injured or on the sick side a reduction in what your eating may help maintain body and shouldn't screw up your metabolic rate too much. Besides most people have a reduced appetite when they are sick.

4. Don't be afraid of going to the doctor. I know health insurance is expensive and many young people do not have it but sometimes the best way to get over an illness is to nut up and visit the old white jacket. If you are a student most colleges offer free nurse visits with little cost. Also the rumored free or discount clinics do exist if you are willing to wait in line. If you are really that sick, be an adult and go to the doctor so you can get your life back on track.

Good luck to all with fall illness, I hope your pumpkin carving, cool morning jogging, and flannel wearing are not too interrupted!

Anniversary

Hooorray! It is finally October! I love October for the weather as well as the fall activities which seem endless. October holds a special significance to me because it was one year ago in October when I first started running. It was a rainy day, much like the weather we have been having recently. It was raining so much that I wore a raincoat on my first run! Yesterday I went running in the rain shirtless because of my new appreciation for rainy weather. That day one year ago I could have let the rain turn me away and say 'tomorrow' but something inside pushed me out into the balmy forecast and forced me to run that now pitiful 1/4 mile. I ran 7 miles in the rain last night.

I bring this up as inspiration, not just for bragging rights (I'm the humblest person here! no one is more humble than me!). My story is not unique, their are plenty of inspirational stories of people overcoming tremendous odds to lose weight and be healthy. Really all I am bringing to the table is an average Joe perspective that it can be done. People, including myself, are always seeking for the miracle exercise or activity which will make them look like Brad Pitt or Gisele Bundchen (I don't know ladies, is that a good example?). Well that secret exercise is hard work! It is hard losing weight, it is hard forcing yourself to get out and be active everyday, but the goal is lifestyle change not 3 month change.

While thinking about this anniversary running last night, I was reminded of the Biblical idea that your body is a temple. While you may view that principle differently according to your own beliefs, I really enjoy that concept that my body is a temple. Don't get me wrong not all temples are built the same or look alike, but every temple needs a caretaker who respects the grounds and keeps it clean and functioning. If your temple is in ruins who is going to want to go there? This does not have to mean living in a commune, giving up red meat, and never going out for a drink, it just means that we cannot neglect our bodies need for movement, and clean energy.

Whatever state your body maybe in you need to accept yourself and be secure in your own skin. If you do not like your temple at all then the problem lies deeper than just sweeping the floor. However if you are at a place where you are ready to clean house and make some changes for a better life than be encouraged sisters and brothers, go forth and move!

Happy Thorsday!

As my Thor training progresses I keep finding new motivations to keep putting one foot in front of the other. I finally returned to Facebook much to the delight of many close to me and to the dismay of a silent I'm sure. Going through some old photos I found some rather disturbing photos of myself from back in the day. Dang! I was a big boy! Now I'm not gonna rant about how disgusting  I was, it was a part of my life which is now behind me but it does give me endless motivation to get my butt out there and run everyday.

Another inspiration was a story I heard on the way to class listening to the Bert Show, about host Jeff Dauler who recently completed a triathlon and who's two main pieces of advice were:
 “In times of transition, keep moving forward.” It doesn’t matter how you do it, as long as you keep going forward.

And ”Remain calm. One step at a time is all you need to do.”

Hear more at: http://thebertshow.com/be-inspired-how-life-lessons-from-jeffs-triathlon-can-affect-your-life-now/

For anyone just starting an exercise regimen or facing any transition in life it can be easy to lay down and let life pass you by, but if you keep moving and taking everything one step, one day at a time anything can be accomplished. 

In a slight transition I begin my 'cut down' phase of my Thor regimen which means removing unhealthy items from my diet and increasing cardio workouts. *sigh* This is the hardest part for me solely because I love eating so much! I happened upon a friend going through food tumblrs the other day..... it was like torture for my belly. 

But I have to stick to it to arrive at the finish line. So here we go: The main carbs eaten by people are breads, potatoes and rice. This week I remove potatoes, next bread, then other negative aspect of my food group. It is these small steps in changing my diet for the better which will enable me to cross that finish line...... but in the mean time bruthas gonna need plenty of help! so if you see me downing hash browns knock that fork outa my hands! 

Happy Thorsday all!

A Body Like The Thunder God Himself!

Starting today I am revamping my workouts to prepare my body for Halloween. That's right folks, this year I am going balls to the wall in my pursuit of dressing up as Thor the god of thunder for Halloween. This is actually in partnership with a few friends who are all taking on different roles from the avengers (pictures to follow). But why Thor? why not the Hulk or Nick Fury?

I have had to finally admit to myself that while I always desired a tight, skinny jeans wearing emo kid body, in reality my physical shape is more conducive to body builder style exercises. *sigh* However instead of lamenting this fact I have chosen to embrace it fully and utilize it for an awesome costume this October. So for the next two months most of the posts here will be updates on my progress, workouts I'm using, and healthy food options that I'm using to reach my goal.

Now why not accept my current state of fitness instead of work my ass off for a costume I may wear only twice? Recently this project of mine came up in conversation when a friend/asshole pretty much said the equivalent of, "I don't think you can do it". .......... Clearly this person misunderstands my motivations, because I am a very competitive person and when someone tells me I can't do something I want to prove them wrong. As the saying goes, The best revenge is success. So to all the haters out there, enjoy dressing up as Loki, I'll be the one swinging the hammer. 

Feast on the Cheap

A quick divergence towards cooking again. I am a full time student with a full time job so eating well without frivolously spending money can be difficult. However, I have mastered certain basic principles which can be applied over and over which will keep your belly full, lips smackin, and wallet a little heavier so you can spend your money on true items of value..... like alcohol.

Lets be honest meat is rather delicious, and especially in America we have come to expect it to be a central component of every meal. This is a big one which you will have to strike from your prejudices about food if you truly desire to eat in a less expensive and healthier way, but still with plenty of taste. The trick is to find substitutes for protein which are more affordable. I'm not saying meat is bad, theirs nothing I love more than a good steak, or meaty pork ribs, but I don't usually have the time, funds, or energy to make such a culinary endeavor work.
This first recipe post will give some ideas for meatless, tasty substitutes low in cost and time to prepare:

I came up with this the other night after a day full of lifting weights and hiking/running up a mountain which left me famished and nearly passing out behind the wheel on the drive home.

For 2 people

4 medium sized red potatoes
1 can of sweet corn or substitute fresh corn if available
1/4 an onion
1/2 jalepeno pepper
3-6 pieces of okra or any other quick cooking vegetable to taste
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 cup of milk

Boil potatoes till soft, drain and remove from heat.
Chop onion, jalapeno, and okra and add to heated skillet with olive oil.
Once veggies begin to get soft add corn and salt and pepper. When all ingredients are acclimated to each other add the milk, stir till combined. On medium to low heat allow corn mixture to cook down till practically all the milk is gone creating a cream corn like consistency. Now while the corn is finishing take your finished potatoes drain, skin if you desire, and taking a spoon or potato masher quickly turn them into yummy lumps. Feel free to add a little milk or butter, salt and pepper to the mix to taste. When the corn is finished pour over your mashed potatoes and now you have potatoes with cream corn gravy!

Would you look at that, no meat, little fat, rather filling and you probably spent less 5-6 buck on the ingredients with leftovers for lunch. YO to the LO.

Ragu for me and you

Deep down their is a yearning in my soul for an old school Italian grandmother. This is not to say that my real grandmothers, proud Scottish women they were, were not good cooks; but lets be honest that deep seated stereotype of an Italian grandmother always cooking something delicious lingers in my thoughts like sand in your flip flops after a day at the beach. Well today I attempted to compensate for the lack of Italian grandmother in my life by making some old school Ragu sauce.

Forget the jar of Ragu you see at the supermarket, cause that ketchupey mess have no place in this old school cucina. I started this adventure knowing I wanted some tough pieces of meat with plenty of bone to flavor my sauce. While everyone may have a different interpretation of what Ragu is, I think of a meaty blend of pork, beef, possibly chicken or sausage, and of course lots of fresh tomatoes.

For the meat I decided to go a little easier on myself and shorten the potential cooking time and hassle by picking up some pork short ribs and chicken drumsticks. I skipped the sausage this time because I would have had to make an extra trip and it was hotter than dammit out so I went straight home to start this four hour process of deliciousness.

Chris's Italian (Faux) Grandmother's Ragu

2lbs of pork short ribs
2lbs of chicken drumsticks
4lbs of tomatoes (I used about 8 fresh tomatoes but if you want more or less sauce do it to taste)
1 yellow onion
3 cloves of garlic
1 carrots
2 celery stems
handfuls of basil, rosemary, oregano or whatever Mediterranean herbs you have on hand
salt and pepper to taste

Begin by knocking out the sauce part, dice up the onion, garlic, carrot, and celery then add to your sauce pan with a generous lug of olive oil. Salt and pepper and allow to sweat out their juices. Dice up the tomato  and herbs, add to onion mixture when the veggies look partially done. Allow the tomatoes and herbs to meld together and leave on low heat to allow everything to soak up each others flavor. After a while either in batches in the blender or with a hand beater, blend up the veggies into a smooth sauce and set aside on low heat.
In the meantime heat up the pan your going to be finishing your dish in, preferably a dutch oven or large pot. Add a dash of olive oil then add meat in batches to sear on both sides. Do not over cook the meat here the goal is just to flavor the pan and lock in the juices. Once all the meat has been cooked off and removed from the pan choose a deglazing medium. The best option to deglaze with is red wine but if none is on hand extra chicken stock or even just water will work. Scrape up the bits of meat from the pan with the deglazing liquid and allow it to simmer down. Once the liquid is reduced by half add the tomato sauce and mix in together. Add the meat back in and cover the pan on a low heat.
Now all that's left is to left it cook for about 2-3 hours and let the meat dissolve into the sauce. When the time approaches boil up some pasta and try to pick out any bones in the sauce. Mix together and enjoy a not so traditional but still Italian experience!