Is Sushi Healthy?

Run: 2 km

Monthly Total: 49 km

Bonus Activity: Ultimate Frisbee

I have been such a Sushi Monster this week. Wednesday night, the River City Sports crew got together to dine on all-you-can-eat sushi at Mooshiro Japanese Cuisine. It was glorious and we ate like there was no tomorrow. I had strategically ate light all day, so felt not too, too badly about myself.

Today, my co-workers decided to have a sushi date. Since my time is running out at my current business unit, I jumped at the opportunity for a groovy, sit-down lunch with my girls. I know. Twist my rubber arm for a second sushi date! We dined at Sushi Cushi. It’s quick and fun. Additionally, I ate a much more civilized portion. Go me!

Now, is sushi healthy? When you break it down:

fish (omegas) + veggies (complex carbs) = very delicious and nutritious

white rice (simple carbs) + soya sauce (sodium) + mayo (fats) = very delicious, but not so nutritious.

Conclusion? Sushi is pretty healthy, but best in moderation – like all good things in life. The whole sushi situation can be optimized with substituting in brown rice, skipping the mayo, using low sodium soya sauce, and going for the straight-up fish sans roll.

I still think worse things can be consumed. Sushi supports my pescetarian life style!

Motivational Factor

Walk: 3 km

Monthly Total: 47 km

I’ll admit my focus has been on work as of late – train all day and zonk out all night. I haven’t even started my NEW job yet! Oi! As a result, my exercise and nutrition levels have been subpar.

However, there is a change in the wind my friends. I am starting to feel some relief from my old job responsibilities, with my trainee beginning to take the brunt of it. Additionally, the weather is proving to be gorgeous, which is lifting the ol’ spirits. As Seinfeld is playing in the background, let’s insert an enthusiastic, “I’m back, baby!” a la George Costanza.

This morning I woke up in a sleepy, yet in a good mood. I built a lovely breakfast for two, consisting of fresh fruit, light yogurt, and a sprinkling of cereal. That along with a fresh ground cup of coffee and I was good to go! Lunch was a lovely salad, with an apple for desert. A co-worker fed me some Nibs, but trust me – this is plenty tame compared to what I’ve consumed lately.

After work, I planned on visiting our local running shoe store: City Park Runners. I have been concerned about running with my not-so-supportive sneaks all summer. I figured it was high time I treated myself of a new pair of runners. The service was brilliant and professional. I am now the proud new owner of a Saucony, Progrid Ride 3. Check it!

Yummy! I tried them out tonight during a quick 3 kilometer walk to return some movies. Comfy as all heck!

If a day like this doesn’t get me out of my funk, I don’t know what will!

Epic Urban Bike Tour

Bike: 37 km

Monthly Total: 37 km

Bonus Activity: Farmers’ Market

Happy Canada Day!

Jeremy and I bagan the day with a lovely Pescetarian Omelet Brunch: Salmon, mushroom, green onion, and a variety of spices (thyme, dill, paprika, and red pepper flake). It was a lovely Jeremy creation.

We then jumped on our bikes to head for the St. Norbert Farmers’ Market. The Farmers’ Market isn’t usually open on Thursday’s, but it’s Canada’s Birthday. It was all go. We rode in light traffic, even when our path took us down Route 90. It is quite a rush to pull a draft from a semi.

We arrived at the Farmers Market in good form. The temperature was super hot, my cardio felt fine, and my lower back had a slight twinge. Evan and Brandi met us and we proceeded to gather a bounty: asparagus, lettuce, spinach, onion, flax bread and potatoes. Oh yes, heaven.

We packed up our goods in my MEC pannier and headed for home. That’s when our adventure started to get interesting. While negotiating a merge on Pembina, my front tire blew – again. We pulled over, found some shade and Jere patched my tire. We had all the tools this time – fool us once, only! We headed off again. While pulling off of Bison Drive onto Waverly, my MEC pannier popped off the frame and very quickly a cord wrapped into the back wheel. Yow! Once again, we pulled over to crank out the cord and assess the wheel. We fixed it, I tied a knot in the cord, and were off again.

It was a hot ride home, but we still managed to finish strong. We took a more scenic route, biking through Assinboine Forrest and the park. We also got to see some crazy Canadians partying it up. Awesome atmosphere! We were greeted with some cold “Canadian Red” Gatorade, which super hit the spot. Very happy with our 37 kilometer urban bike tour. Now, I wonder if we should tackle the Epinette Trail. Similar distance with the added bonus of grass, hills and hardcore tree roots. Practically the same thing? I sense a challenge.

Detoxify and Cleansify Review

Over a week ago, I undertook the complimentary, no obligation U-Weight Loss Cleanse. Lisa tried it and reported fabulous results. She is a certified personal training with a degree. She must know what she’s talking about.

The D & C, as I like to refer to it, was an interesting experience. As I didn’t buy into the U-Weight Loss Program, they didn’t give me all their secrets. However, I picked up some tips and hints from their sales pitch and Lisa’s experience. The week woudl consist of a vitamin pack taken twice a day before meals (supplied by U-Weight Loss), low calorie meals (aiming at 1100 cal/day), foods higher in protein, and no booze. This last for 1 week, which ended on Sunday.

I personally didn’t count my calories, as I have pretty good awareness since using my “Lose-It” ap this spring on my iPhone. I am not an expert, but I do know that cheese packs more of a calorie punch then I like to let on! In addition, I kept up most of my fitness conquests, so 1100 calories really wouldn’t cut it. My meals were repetitive but satisfying:

• Breakfast: Vega smoothie conquation or Vega Straight up. (Vegetarian protein powder)
• Snacks: Fruit
• Lunch: Pesky Salad (chick peas, pollack, feta, and whatever veggies were in the fridge)
• Dinner: Fish, veggies, light portions of pasta – NO ice cream, no matter how tempting it looked in Jeremy’s bowl. (The man loves his sweets! He was super supportive throughout the whole experience, I might add).

Through out the week, I felt very drained of energy. Boot camp, ultimate, and biking were all very draining. I felt a little headachy and dizzy at the beginning of the week, which lessened my appetite and was supposedly an indication of toxins leaving the bod.

It wasn’t a fun or easy week. However, here is what I got out of it:

• Less cravings for junk food this week. It’s like I’ve reset for the moment, although I am not sure how long it will last. It may be all in my head, but – isn’t that where cravings come from?
• I lost around 5 pounds. Checking the scale a couple of days later, they have remained off – so, possibly a solid weight loss?
• I have new meals to the repertoire. I have always had breads, pitas, and wraps for lunch in order to compensate for my lack of meat consumption. The creation of the Pesky Salad is sweet and I can’t believe we didn’t think of it earlier. I’m still toting them to work this week – minus the pollack, but added artichokes and olives. Some other future variations may include black beans and corn.
• My energy spiked by Monday night – a day after the D & C ended. That’s when I got the bright idea to test my limits with the Mega Tuesday: 5 km run, bike to work, and ultimate. Wednesday I did feel it, but I definatley managed the boot camp session.

Nature’s Pasta is a Success

Quick note on the Nature’s Pasta. It was super delicious! Jeremy roasted up some tomato, zucchini and onion in the oven. In a pot, he cooked some olive oil and garlic, after which he added prawns and the roasted vegetables. He tossed the vermecelli in the oil and voila – delicious Pesce dinner! The curry and cilantro flavor of the past awas light and enhanced by olive oil and garlic. Jeremy also cooked up the farmers’ market asparagus on the side. We also enjoyed a slice of farmers’ market flax bread.

Unfortunately, I missed taking a picture of the masterpiece. The memory is very yummy and I know it will be made again. I know – I am a lucky, lucky lady.

St. Norbert Farmers’ Market

As this week has turned into a “rest week”, I have decided to explore the more nutritional side of this challenge – need some good eats and supporting habits to make it to 8 thousand kilometers!

For as long as we have lived in Winnipeg, we have never attended the weekly St. Norbert Farmers’ Market (or Le Marché St. Norbert).  I must say, I am in love. As a pescetarian foodie, I know the quality of the ingredients makes all the difference. Where else can you find better ingredients then a place that oozes organic, homegrown, local produce? There are 88 vendors displaying their goods ranging from fresh fruits & veggies to beautiful jewelry & purses. As we had limited time to spend at the market, we focused our efforts on the food. However, I could have stared and touched the jewelry all day. So pretty!

It is early in the season and it was surprising how much fresh produce was available. Go Green Houses!  Since it’s June, we saw lots of asparagus, salad greens, beets, rhubarb, onion, herbs, and peas.

We did well. We purchased homemade flax bread, tomatoes, asparagus, lettuce, and a half dozen butter tarts. All gorgeous!

Perhaps my most favorite find is Nature’s Pasta, Red Curry Cilantro Vermicelli. Nature’s Farm is located outside of Steinbach and are the producers of gourmet quality pasta. There is an organic line and a classic line, with many different worldly flavors. The pasta is sold all over North America and is accredited by professional chefs and foodies alike. The couple running the booth were super cool and encouraged us to try the flavored vermicelli. There is 8 lovely little bundles of goodness per package, which will also help with portion control. It’s on the menu tonight and I’ll be sure to comment as to whether it’s a hit or not.

(I have seen Nature’s Pasta on the shelf before, but it is somehow enhanced with representation and background explanation. Check it out, next time you’re the pasta aisle!)

Forced to Slow Down

Bike: 4 km

Monthly Total: 92 km

Bonus Activity: MissFit Personal Training Boot Camp

There is definitely something amiss. This morning, I dragged my butt through our circuit training session with my vision swimming. I know when my eyes act up, my body is not happy.

I may have underestimated this detox and cleanse. As Lisa chased me around the course, she added some validation to my state. She did the same U Weight Loss Plan and said she was zonked for that entire week. She felt like a superstar afterwards, but it was tough.

This didn’t stop her from playing a game of cat and mouse with me – guess who was the mouse? I squealed and poured it on, as she closed in. Thankfully, the time ran out and I didn’t have to endure the embarrassment of my little sister catching me. If Lisa’s goal was to scare me into speeding up, she was successful. Such mind games…

Corina inquired about whether this plan includes supplements are not. There are vitamins to be taken twice a day. The state they put me in actually reduces my appetite. Reduced appetite means less calorie intake, which equates to less energy for exercise. With Lisa’s results in mind, I am optimistic that this week of zonkiness will be well worth it.

I will have to do double the kilometers next week, is all.

Detoxify and Cleansify – Enter “Pesky Salad”

Apparently, Detox-Cleanse diets have been around since the 1930′s – the first diet supposedly being the Grapefruit diet. Today it is a widely discussed topic, what with all the toxins we consume in the food we eat, the air we breath, and our general surroundings. Jeremy has always been anti-air freshener, due to all the chemicals that are bound to seep into our systems. Picture the woman on the commercial happily spraying the freshener into the air, smiling as it falls down into face. Everyone has their bugaboo that they like to avoid. At the end of the day, you can’t avoid them all.

What I’m trying to get at, after this fluffy introduction, is that I’m doing a 7 day detox and cleanse. After receiving hundreds of U-Weight Loss fliers over the  years, I decided to pop over to receive my free, no obligation Detox kit. I did have to sit through the sales pitch and if I wasn’t on such a health high, I would maybe consider it. For now, I’ll pass on the program.

As a result, this week will be a no booze, low carb, and low junk food kind of week. With my pescetarian diet, I enlisted the help of my brilliant hubby chef to come up with a fabulous, protein rich salad. The result: The Pesky Salad. This nutritious and delicious salad consists of: lettuce, red onion, avocado (good fats), chickpeas (plant protein), feta, pollack (seafood protein), and a little bit of black olive & sun-dried tomato dressing. I’ll be adding other veggies, including cucumbers and mushrooms. This week is going to be sweet!

The Pesky Salad