Monday, September 20, 2010

Yoga and Chard


Today was one of those days where I got a lot done - except for the most important, time-sensitive stuff (aka Homework). This weekend was filled with friend/social activities - which I am glad about since I am just now seeing friends I haven't seen for almost four months. I believe that nourishment comes in many forms - food, drink, relationships, intellectual stimulation, exercise, and so on. This weekend, I nourished my relationships and social needs. Now time to focus on a big week ahead...

I've been pretty good about working out, and the eating out has been kept to somewhat of a minimum...had a great 7 mile walk around Sawyer Trail with Burn Fitness on Saturday, and a great Vinyasa Flow class tonight at Equinox. I have been staring at this amazing stalk of swiss chard that I have had in my fridge for a week. I swore to myself I could not let this go bad! So I looked up a new recipe, as per my new "one new recipe per week" rule, and came upon this recipe for Whole Wheat Pasta with Rainbow Chard and White Beans. I am enjoying it as I type - very proud of myself for not only taking the time and effort to prepare this delicious dish - but for holding myself accountable in so many ways, despite not doing the plan perfectly this weekend - I am starting the week off strong, focused, and very proud of my Yoga and Chard evening ;-)

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Channeling Mercado San Pedro

I think last night I had a dream about Mercado San Pedro...one of my very favorite parts of Cusco that I miss terribly. Mercado San Pedro is more than a locals market - it contains anything you could possibly need to survive, and at ridiculously cheap prices. There are different sections for fresh juice, cooked food, produce, dry goods, meats, artisan goods, and any service you can imagine. I got my backpack stitched up there for the equivalent of $1. The tradition of San Pedro is of course, JUGO (juice). There are several rows of juice ladies - all smiling down at you from their elevated platforms, smiling in an attempt to seduce you to their booth. Each one has their own special blend of fresh fruits, vegetables and secret ingredients - but my favorite gal was #56: Rina. Rina was the cutest little woman ever, and she always made way too much juice for any one person to be able to drink in one sitting, so I would usually share one with a friend - usually Aiden or Lulue.

Popping in for a jugo at Sen Pedro is one of the things I just can't seem to replace here in the states. I woke up and was delighted to discover the Papaya I had purchased last weekend in my fridge. So I decided to try to satisfy my San Pedro craving here at home. The result was a very inspired, delicious, and very nutritious breakfast.

My juice included:

1/2 Med. Papaya
6 Strawberries
1 Med. Banana
1 Tbsp. Raw Honey
1/2 C. Cultured Coconut Milk (Plain)



I am drinking my last few sips and tempted to make another batch...Mercado San Pedro it is not, but I got to nourish my soul, heart and body by preparing myself such a healthy meal, and giving myself a chance to reflect on such a beautiful part of my experience in Peru...more to come...

xo

Sunday, September 12, 2010

Homecoming

I know, I know...it's been awhile...

I won't bore you with excuses - truth is sometimes even the best intentions in life get sidetracked. So, I will just say that it has been a very full year and a half since my last post ;-) In that time, I was laid off from my job, traveled to Europe for the first time on a 10 day tour of Paris, started back at SF State to finish my B.A. in Marketing Communications, and I have been working on my own as a Marketing/Communications/Social Media consultant. For the past year, I have also served on the board of directors of Casa de Milagros, an orphanage in Cusco, Peru. As a result, I had the opportunity to travel back to Cusco two more times - this past January for one month, and recently for a three month trip that I just returned from in August. I am currently taking 5 classes at SFSU in an attempt to graduate (once and for all) this December...

Whew! I felt exhausted just writing all that down! ;-) It has also helped me again realize that - while I have yet to meet my fitness goals that I set out to accomplish at the onset of this blog - I have indeed been moving forward in other important areas of my life, and I am ok with that. However...since being back from Peru - I have to admit that I let my "vacation mode" go on a little too long, and as a result, have a few extra pounds to show for it. The challenges of traveling are many, and I know all too well the amount of physical, emotional and mental stress I have been through the last few months.

I am ready to reset, recharge, and regenerate!

This past week I have finally felt "settled", and more grounded than I have felt in months. I have reinstated some wonderful habits such as cooking at home, working out on a daily/regular basis, and clearing my calendar so that I can spend some time at home. I was also able to get in a couple of yoga classes - which truly are invaluable.

The thing I missed the most and which affected my nutrition greatly was not having my own kitchen and not being able to cook for myself for three months. So, yesterday I went shopping for some amazing organic produce, and last night I tried an amazing new recipe: Quinoa Carrot Zucchini Casserole It turned out so good that I am making a double batch again today so I can stock it and have it on hand for the week ;-) So much healthier, tastier, and cheaper than anything I could have eaten at a restaurant...

So - I AM BACK! ;-) Looking forward to wrapping up 2010 with a bang - stronger, wiser, and inspired from the lessons and experiences of the past year, and ready to kick my butt into shape!!