In the Beginning…there was beginning

January 15, 2013 by 2 Comments

I’ve been thinking a lot about being a beginner lately.

You see, I live a pretty conflicted life in this regard. For starters, I hate sucking at things, which is often my lot as a perennial beginner. That, of course, doesn’t work too well with my somewhat incessant drive to be starting something new. If I’m not taking a class in something, anything, sewing, running, improv, painting, moon-waling, anusara yoga, table dancing (not true, Mom, not true), writing and the list goes on, I generally feel like something is missing in my day-to-day.

I love learning new things, and in this sense I am proudly a dilettante. But, I spend a good portion of every class I take being a beginner…and beginning always sucks. Beginning means being self-conscious most of the time, afraid that I will be doomed to re-live some long ago playground horror. Will the woman standing next to me in Zumba pants me?

Probably not,

But the fear is still there.

As scary as it is, being a beginner is really important, because it’s in those first few classes/lessons/jaunts (or in the case of me and yoga—years) that our minds are rife to learn all the little nuance-y things that make up a skill set. It is in the beginning that my eyes turn to my instructor all big and scared and doe-eyed in search of help and maybe a little reassurance that one day I will not suck at whatever I am doing. And being a beginner is great because you have carte blanche to really fuddle things up, and still get an encouraging pat on the back.

Once that phase is over, you can bet that my generational ADD sets in; I stop paying all that much attention, and head into the task at hand with a cocky “I’ve got this.” I have nothing against cocky, cocky can be fun, and sometimes well deserved, but it takes a lot more effort to progress to a better level at this point, and so perhaps this is why I’m constantly beginning at something.

I am, currently, a beginner long-distance runner. I go to every running session I can, I stare at the pro marathoners with a longing that is probably a bit creepy. I don’t want their bodies, or fancy running clothes, I want their long strides and ability to be able to hold a conversation after mile one. I listen for running advice and find myself correcting my stride mid run, and remembering to re-fuel after mile five because that’s what my coaches told me to do. I take this all very, very seriously. Too seriously. I look forward to the day I feel like “I’ve got this,” but I need to be where I am first, huffing and puffing, and looking to escape after mile four. But that’s the beauty of it, everyone is still so excited that I finished my long runs. You can bet those pro-marathoners aren’t getting quite the parade of accolades at the end of their six/seven/eight miles runs.

Being a beginner is scary, but it’s also a really wonderful place to be.

Are you a beginner in anything? What’s your newest addition?

Breakfast


Raisin bran with banana

Lunch


Shakshukah (and salad that I forgot to photograph)

Dinner

Baked tofu with rice noodles and bok choy. I cooked the lot of them in mushroom broth and teriyaki sauce and ditched the oil.

Exercise: 60-minute yoga class, 60-minute spinning

Kim

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Yoga, hold the Profundity

January 3, 2013 by Leave a Comment

There are people in this world who look amazing contorting their bodies while donning skin-tight leggings and tank tops, and for whom remembering to breathe in through ones nose while stretching is not an epic feat worthy of the highest accolades. I’m not one of those people. I don’t aspire to be. I show up to yoga class well aware that I am not bendy. I am not graceful. Bow pose is akin to waterboarding on my list of things I love doing. But, in the end, I show up, tuck myself into the most corneriest of corners, and fight with my muscles to get them to unfurl themselves.

I’ve found that yoga has become more important than ever to my fitness regime since starting my half-marathon training. There’s something about the combination of cold and running that tightens my body up in a way that only a yoga class, as spastic and pained as I look doing it, can help me loosen to functional levels again.

There was a time when I went to a regular Monday night yoga class at a super-duper pricy yoga studio. In those days I clad myself in head-to-toe Lululemon, listened for nuggets of meaning in the stories my instructor would tell about the meaning of each pose, and practiced the lengthy chant recited at the beginning and end of class while I was at home so I looked like I had been a yogi for years when new people popped into class. These days I’m going to yoga classes at my gym, because $20 a class is a wee bit inexcusable for my budget. I’m still wearing my Lululemon pants, but they’re pilled from years of washing (I can’t believe I thought it was a good idea to spend $90 on spandex!). The yoga studio at my gym is separated from the baby-sitting area by a thin glass wall, and a shabby curtain. In a strange way, this makeshift style yoga kind of fits where my life is right now. I now see yoga as a functional practice to keep me on track in other endeavors. I’ve stopped trying to impress anyone, or pretend I’m anyone I’m not. I’m not bendy. I’m not graceful. And, oh lord do I hate bow pose…but it really does stretch out my quads after my long run days. Plus, I kinda think it’s funny hearing kids screaming during Savasana.

Breakfast


Whole wheat English muffin with tofu cream cheese and strawberry preserves
Pear

Lunch

The Fella and I met up with my cousins who were in town to see a show. We ate at Junior’s Cheesecake, where everything is super-sized.

When Roy and I ordered the potato pancakes we thought they would be normal sized potato pancakes—you know, like the size of a palm. These guys were the size of the plate. Not that I’m complaining. I do love me some carbs.


Followed by a salad chaser

Dinner


Trader Joe’s has a pretty tasty tofurky in a box with stuffing and mushroom gravy.

Exercise: Obviously tonight was a yoga night.


Kim

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Win a Box O’Fitness

January 6, 2012 by 34 Comments


One of my personal resolutions this year, one that I didn’t post in my New Year’s Resolutions post, is to get back to reviewing DVDs regularly.  My life has been all sorts of hectic lately, but I really do have a passion for home fitness.  I think exercise DVDs are the bomb-diggity, and a great option for people who don’t have a gym at their disposal.

Having said that: I have hundreds of DVDs, and I need to weed down my collection a wee bit.  I want to give someone a whole box of exercise swag. Yay for free stuff!!!!

Be forewarned, some of these DVDs I can’t vouch for because I haven’t done them, and some I have done, but probably only a few times.  I’m also throwing in DD Fitness yoga wedges for a less painful practice (if you’re like me and always end up with bruised knees and hip bones after a yoga class), and some resistance bands.

I’ll pick a winner via random number generator next Tuesday (January 10th), so to enter all you have to do is leave a comment telling me what your 2012 fitness goals are.

Kim

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December Resolutions

December 1, 2011 by 1 Comment

I’m going to go on record and say that November 2011 was the worst, most stressful, uncharacteristically miserable month I’ve had in a long time. I, for one, have never been more grateful for a new month. Welcome to my life DECEMBER!

Lots of good things happen in December: trees wearing lights, cookies as a major food group, my favorite Winter Blend coffee at Trader Joe’s, and an excuse to don velvet. December is good times, and well, it’s the last month of 2011–it would be a shame to let the year end on a cranky note. That’s why I’m resolving to uncrankify this month by:

  1. Budget gifting. Last year for the holidays I went the budget route of homemade blondie mix jars. This year I’m going to stick with the same budget friendly theme and come up with some sort of homemade, yet delicious, gift to bestow upon those I love.
  2. Get through the holiday season without feeling like crap. I don’t know about you guys, but by the time January rolls in my body has been through what I like to refer to as the fruitcake wringer. A solid month of holiday parties and birthday dinners (the anniversary of my entry into the world is in December) usually means tight pants, zero energy, and some serious feelings of self-loathing. This year my goal is this: be as healthy as I can be this month without depriving myself of holiday awesomeness. I’ll compromise by consistent gym going and clean eating between festivities.
  3. Get 9-5 with my writing self. This past month was a blur of failing miserably at my commitments. I missed deadlines, called out of work, ditched friends and family, and completely forgot I had a blog. I need to set office hours if I’m going to complete all of the assignments I’m working on right now. Now that my parents are moved, my friends are married, Thanksgiving has been had, and my book proposal is back in for review—I need to focus on paying my rent.
  4. Yogify my life. A few weeks ago I was gifted a month of yoga at a studio in New York. I can cash in the gift anytime I want, and I was thinking of waiting until after the holidays were over, but methinks a little time on the mat this month would be good for clearing the cobwebs of my head.
  5. Enjoy it. Despite the hustle and bustle of the season, the crowded stores, and packed schedules this time of year is all about love. It’s about taking stock of those that you love, spending time with the people you care about, and showing the people in your life how much you appreciate them. The cookies aren’t bad either.

What are you resolving this December?

Kim

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Kim vs. Yoga

September 13, 2011 by 6 Comments

Over the weekend my friend  made the ridiculous statement, “Nobody likes cardio.”

Pshaw!

Obviously I vehemently disagreed. This girl right here likes cardio. I will run, jump, step, dance, cycle, and jack happily for extended periods of time. You know what I don’t like?

Yoga.

I want to love yoga. I came very close to loving yoga when I found the Anusara style, and an instructor that I jived with. Unfortunately the studio that she works at keeps increasing their prices, and I just can’t afford to get bendy in her class anymore. I was in like with yoga, but not in like enough to pay $25 a class. Since then I’ve been on a bit of a Setu Bandha Sarvangasana stand still.

That changed tonight when I hit up a 90-minute hot yoga class at my gym. I made the resolution to get stretchy this month, and by golly I’m going to keep it for the sake of my poor shriveled hamstrings. Apparently taking almost a year off from any sort of yogic practice (give or take a few stray DVD sessions in the comfort of my own home) really effects the ole skill level.

Guys, I’m a spaz, it’s as simple as that. As soon as the heat kicked on (I didn’t know it was going to be a hot yoga class and I most definitely was not dressed or hydrated appropriately) the internal pep talk started, You can do anything for 90-minutes, followed closely by The heat will make it easier. Both were true, but I still spent the whole 90-minutes falling all over myself and sweating like a beast. Let it be said that I have my moments of complete and utter spazitude. Having said that…I’ll be back next week. My hamstrings really do feel better.

What form of exercise do you hate? Do you do it anyway or stick with what you like?

Breakfast


I parked my tuchus at an Argo Tea this morning and pretty much stayed their working all day.
Soy latte

Lunch


I did take a break for lunch at a local café though.
Whole wheat hummus and feta wrap
Root vegetable soup

Snack


I was feeling a bit faded before the gym and decided to try flavored kefir. I usually by the plain kefir and add my own fruit, but I have to admit the strawberry is pretty tasty.

Dinner


Grilled tilapia, brown rice, and grilled fennel
I also ate a string cheese while my food was cooking. The calories don’t count because I was standing up ;)

Exercise: 35-min jog, 90-minute yoga

Kim

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September Resolutions

September 1, 2011 by 7 Comments

Technically there’s still three weeks of summer left to be had, but let’s be honest here folks—summer ends on September 1.

August is summer, September is fall; that’s just the way it works. A lot of great things happened for me this summer: I started working at a fitness magazine, I took two writing courses to help me put my book proposal in order, and I met a pretty special guy. As good as it was, there were definitely things I won’t miss: being an icky, sweaty monster; heat induced appetite loss; and high electric bills for starters.

When I was a kid I would look forward to September as a fresh new start (much like I see each first of the month now). It was the beginning of a new school year and thusly the beginning of a new chapter in my life. I’m taking that school girl mentality with me this month. Here are my September resolutions:

  1. Finish editing sample chapters and send to my agent. I was supposed to have these for her by the end of August, but there’s a bit more editing I need to do. I’m hoping to get these done and delivered within the next two weeks.
  2. Work on date-life balance. Let’s face it; I’m still in the super giddy stage of my relationship which means I want to spend all my spare moments cuddling. I like cuddling, but I have a lot on my plate right now (see resolution 1), and I’m going to need to learn to prioritize better. It’s been a long time since I had a special man friend and the time sacrifice is something I’ve got to get used to again.  Something tells me this will be a wee bit easier once the fella heads back to grad school next week.
  3. More reviews/editorial calendar: My crazy summer schedule led to some serious blog neglect. Now that I no longer have the heat to blame I plan on being more ‘on it.’ My goal is to have at least one DVD review a week, and perhaps some additional editorial pieces.
  4. Stretch. T minus 11-weeks until Operation Hot Bridesmaid comes to a close, and I’ve definitely been upping my game in the gym in order to up my game in that dress! The one part of my fitness regime that I’ve been seriously neglectful of is my flexibility. I am not flexible and because I am not, I avoid stretching. It’s a vicious cycle, folks. While I’ve been dedicated to strength and cardio, I need to round out my workouts better, and take at least one yoga class a week.
  5. Buy a new gym bag. After many years of dutiful service I had to retire my gym bag. I need a new one. Any suggestions?

Now that fall is on the horizon, what are you resolving for September?

Kim

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Constant Cravings

August 15, 2011 by 1 Comment

As I write this it is 10:30pm and I’m trying to convince myself that I really want to do a yoga DVD before bed.

Do I really want to do a yoga DVD before bed? Probably not, but my butt and quads are super sore from my lunge-a-thon yesterday, and I may wake up tomorrow a lot less sore if I stretch those muscles out tonight.

I hate when I’m all convincing and stuff.

Lately I’ve definitely had some food obsessions. These happen every once and a while and I just can’t get enough of certain foods. Considering I finally have my appetite back for the first time in weeks, I figure I’ll just give it what it wants and hope it doesn’t rebel again. Currently I am obsessed with all things peanut butter, vegetable soup, and seltzer.

It could be worse; I could be craving a strict diet of gummy worms (it’s happened before).

Oooh, gummy worms.

I better get my downward dog on before I’m tempted to hit up a bodega for some tasty worm-like friends.

 

Any food obsessions rocking your world lately?

Breakfast


Ezekial English muffin with peanut butter
Apple

Lunch


Boca burger (slightly freezer burned) with avocado and hot sauce in a brown rice tortilla.

Dinner

Vegetable soup

Exercise: 50 minute yoga DVD…maybe

Kim

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All in a Day’s Work

May 24, 2011 by 1 Comment

Voila! A bundle of fit-friendly technology was messengered to me today to try out before my little segment on the news later this week.
On a personal note (and this is not a review) the things I’m most excited to try out are the scale (it emails your weight and body fat percentage to your iPhone!) and the ActiFry. Okay, mostly the ActiFry. I saw it in action last year at the Self Workout in the Park launch party, but I’m glad I get to get a second look. I’ll let you guys know how it turns out :0)

Today was all about running around, some of it for business, some for pleasure, but I was able to find a gym in the neighborhood I was in and pop in for an impromptu yoga class. I learned an extremely important thing: I like yoga when it comes in 60-minute increments. Usually the classes I take at the studio are 90-minutes long, and not being a natural yogi that’s a wee bit hard for me. I don’t have the attention span for it. As it turns out, this class was led by the same instructor as one of the studios I go to, but I liked the class so much more because it was only 60-minutes long. It may not be optimal yogification timing, but I’m all about working with your own natural preferences. I think I may just have found myself a new yoga class.

Between business obligations and yoga classes I got to catch up with a couple of friends. My friend Corey will have an essay published in the September issue of Marie Claire. I’m psyched for her. I’ve been boycotting that magazine since their blogger Maura Kelly posted an extremely weight biased post that I most definitely do not agree with. BUT I’m willing to break my boycott for this very special occasion. I also got to catch up with a friend from college who has recently relocated back to New York. In between it all I stopped for a sushi lunch at Whole Foods where I did a little studying for my spin instructor exam (which I took and passed tonight, yay). All in a day’s work. Now I think it’s time to collapse.

Breakfast


Oatmeal with sour cream
OJ

Lunch


Brown rice sushi with tuna and avocado

Dinner


Diet coke, vodka and lime. I’m pretty sure this cocktail is called a ‘Skinny Bitch.’


Spinach quesadilla

Kim

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Rainy Days and [Tuesdays]

April 5, 2011 by Leave a Comment

I’ve decided to blame the weather on my under productive day.

I don’t know about you, but when it’s gloomy and doomy outside my energy levels totally nosedive. All day I had that heavy eyelid feeling that means its nap time. I soldiered through my to-do list, albeit at a somewhat lethargic pace; all the while with that heavy eyelid feeling that precedes me falling asleep on the couch and waking up full clothed with drool covered pillows. I’m so ready for spring and sunshine and chirping birds!

If I could have napped all day I would have. Sadly, I didn’t.  I did, however, bypass the gym in favor of tried and true yoga DVD. I’ve upped my strength training sessions as of late and was pretty sorely in need of a good stretch. Stretching good, the hike to the gym—well, I just wasn’t up for it.

Speaking of home workouts, don’t forget to enter the 90 Supreme Giveaway. If you’ve already entered please remind me as to whether or not you’re a fan on Facebook, and if you follow me on Twitter. I’ve done my best to go through my followers and record you all for multiple entries, but I can’t always tell from screen names and handles and want to give everyone their due entries. I’ll be announcing a winner on Friday

 

Breakfast

It was a breakfast sandwich kind of day: bagel thin, egg, lite cheese, and veggie sausage
Strawberries

Lunch

Salad with lettuce, tomato, cucumber, carrot, sunflower seeds, goat cheese, grilled turkey breast, and oil & vinegar

Dinner

I hit up a restaurant in my hood that I’ve been meaning to try for a while:
Cuban sandwich
Plantain chips and apple slaw

Kim

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Henry Kissinger Style Yoga

February 9, 2011 by 2 Comments

Oh, hey, guess who’s no longer feeling bitter and cranky?

That would be me. Sometimes all you need is a special delivery of chocolate and a good yoga class to get your spirits up and running again.

One of the perks of food bloggery is that I get all sorts of yummy (and sometimes not so yummy, but those don’t usually make it to the blog) stuff in the mail.

Yesterday I got a chocolate delivery.

Since I’m currently single I’ve decided to make this chocolate my boyfriend.

The kind of boyfriend you gnaw on like a rabbid animal.
Should be a beautiful relationship.

Pure Dark (brand name) chocolate is 70% cocao, which makes it sweet at first then a bit bitter.  PERFECT.

This all happened at a serendipitous time because I had just been whining about the fact that I never have  junk food at home.  Seemingly a smart idea, except for those moments when you really want to make hot cocoa and have nothing to melt down.  Thank you Pure Dark for heeding my prayers.

My chocolate love fest was followed closely by a super nurturing yoga class.  A friend surprised me by joining me and we reveled in the happy yoga vibes together.

I’m one of those people that likes a moral to their yoga practice.  I like the theme talks at the beginning, the stretching just seems like a means to get to the conclusion of the lovey-dovey feelings at the final Savasana.

Last night’s theme: Self Acceptance.

Oh. My. God. I LOVE SELF ACCEPTANCE!

Well, in theory.  I am human, and therefore have wavering moments of self ridacule, but somehow when a yoga teacher, all clad in soothing tones and spandex, tells you that your only job is to accept yourself as you are, and that any effort to change yourself is really an act of self-aggression and hatred, it seems so pragmatic and important.

It actually reminded me of a quote that I love and keep with me at all times.

Accept everything about yourself–I mean everything.  You are you and that is the beginning and the end–no apologies, no regrets.

~Henry Kissinger

And so that is the mission of the life day; to just sit with myself and appreciate my strengths and accept my weaknesses.   Umm, not that I have any weaknesses ;)

On a less hokey note: I’m in the market for a new yoga mat. I’ve been downward-dogging on the same tiny purple mat for many years and it is starting to wreck havoc with my knees.  I think I need a slightly higher quality mat.  Any suggestions?

Breakfast

Egg sandwich: whole wheat toast, egg whites, avocado, and light cheese
OJ

Lunch

Sweet potato bisque
7-grain bread

Fruit salad

Dinner

Despite my noodle malfunction I think this vegan lasagna turned out better than the last time I made it.  The world is full of surprises.

I also ate three unpictured pickles as a side dish. Totally counts as a vegetable.

Kim

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