The NINJA
The Latest and Greatest in Creating Your Awesomeness
The Latest and Greatest in Creating Your Awesomeness
Here comes the Holiday Tidal Wave!
Before I write the next newsletter the holidays will be upon you, have you in a full tilt run from the holiday tidal wave of party to shopping mall to grocery store, and probably the liquor store and chocolatier too. And we know that's just the beginning, you'll be going to specialty stores for auntie so-and-so, baking up a storm (have I taught you nothing?!), and generally letting a lot of things you need to be taking care of go right out the window. The weekly updates on the blog will provide a full on survival guide, but here are the basics to carry you through the beginning stages. Something to keep in your back pocket.
FOOD & DRINK
1. Don't skip meals. You will not "save yourself" or your program by skipping meals before a bash. You might however end up starving by the time you arrive and making poor choices because of it. Same goes for if you're going shopping, for food or anything else, what you have to eat at a mall will not be as healthy as what you'd have eaten at home.
2. Do a Buffet Survey. When you do end up at that party (or several!) survey the buffet, what can you not live without? What won't you be able to resist? Go get those things. Have your favourites and make a couple of healthy choices too.
3. Savour instead of Stuff! This time of year we stuff ourselves but often are so caught up in the consumption we're not actually savouring all of the amazing food we or a loved one has spent a long time preparing. Take some time to really enjoy it... We'll talk more about that in a moment.
4. Count your apps. Appetizers that is, with most at 60 calories/bite that's easy to overdo. Think about it, as many as fit on a dessert plate is a meal's worth of calories. And let's face it, you're probably not stopping at the appetizers, so choose wisely.
5. Turn down desserts. Even if grandma made it, if it's not your fave don't bother. If there's insistence say "maybe later". But certainly don't eat high-sugar high-fat food you don't even really want.
6. Remember not to drink all your calories. We've all heard it, but many have never employed the one drink one water approach, and it's a real lifestyle saver! Overdoing the booze leads so many places that don't serve our goals: meals-worth of calories and often sugar too, less-inhibited food choices, and if really overdone missing the following day's workout due to feeling "ugh!"
EXERCISE AND WELLNESS
7. Get some sunlight and smell some citrus. These will both help to lift and brighten a dull wintry mood.
8. Keep your routine. Do your best to fit in the extras during your free time, or take some vacation time if you can, but letting your routine get all out of whack will keep you from healthy habits like exercise, making your lunches, and spending time with your family. While breaking routine occasionally can be fun, letting external circumstances of your life dictate your life right out of routine isn't fun, and will often ruin the awesome groove you have going on.
9. Don't overschedule, keep time in for yourself. We're taught that "yes" is the way to get by, we fear saying "no", we think we can do it all and fear disappointing. Well it's time to say it this holiday season when you can't fathom putting any more on your to-do list or schedule, just don't. Use tact, kindly decline. Or even easier book time in evey day for yourself, and if someone wants it you have an appointment. An appointment to take care of yourself means you can carry on taking care of all those around you too!
10. Gratitude. This time of year we'll often complain about Yorkdale's parking lot, how messy and unprofessional the staff Holiday party got, our in-laws, and about every other thing that is slightly aggravating. Remember to put it in perspective: you have a car to get frustrated about parking, you're warm and provided a party, and some people you know enjoy a party in a way that doesn't really suit you, but you got a party!!! And if you have in-laws, they're the family you actually picked and they raised someone you love to be pretty awesome. Keep in mind there's a lot to be grateful for this season!
BONUS TIP
Enjoy the Moments! Earlier in the article I mentioned savouring rather than stuffing, but this can be a message that carries through much of the season and also goes hand-in-hand with gratitude. Get out of your head and live right now, enjoy the moments; connections with family, people, pets, how fantastic you felt after your yoga practice, or how you enjoyed making that meal for friends. Whatever it is, you know when you've captured a moment. Remember to do it often!
Before I write the next newsletter the holidays will be upon you, have you in a full tilt run from the holiday tidal wave of party to shopping mall to grocery store, and probably the liquor store and chocolatier too. And we know that's just the beginning, you'll be going to specialty stores for auntie so-and-so, baking up a storm (have I taught you nothing?!), and generally letting a lot of things you need to be taking care of go right out the window. The weekly updates on the blog will provide a full on survival guide, but here are the basics to carry you through the beginning stages. Something to keep in your back pocket.
FOOD & DRINK
1. Don't skip meals. You will not "save yourself" or your program by skipping meals before a bash. You might however end up starving by the time you arrive and making poor choices because of it. Same goes for if you're going shopping, for food or anything else, what you have to eat at a mall will not be as healthy as what you'd have eaten at home.
2. Do a Buffet Survey. When you do end up at that party (or several!) survey the buffet, what can you not live without? What won't you be able to resist? Go get those things. Have your favourites and make a couple of healthy choices too.
3. Savour instead of Stuff! This time of year we stuff ourselves but often are so caught up in the consumption we're not actually savouring all of the amazing food we or a loved one has spent a long time preparing. Take some time to really enjoy it... We'll talk more about that in a moment.
4. Count your apps. Appetizers that is, with most at 60 calories/bite that's easy to overdo. Think about it, as many as fit on a dessert plate is a meal's worth of calories. And let's face it, you're probably not stopping at the appetizers, so choose wisely.
5. Turn down desserts. Even if grandma made it, if it's not your fave don't bother. If there's insistence say "maybe later". But certainly don't eat high-sugar high-fat food you don't even really want.
6. Remember not to drink all your calories. We've all heard it, but many have never employed the one drink one water approach, and it's a real lifestyle saver! Overdoing the booze leads so many places that don't serve our goals: meals-worth of calories and often sugar too, less-inhibited food choices, and if really overdone missing the following day's workout due to feeling "ugh!"
EXERCISE AND WELLNESS
7. Get some sunlight and smell some citrus. These will both help to lift and brighten a dull wintry mood.
8. Keep your routine. Do your best to fit in the extras during your free time, or take some vacation time if you can, but letting your routine get all out of whack will keep you from healthy habits like exercise, making your lunches, and spending time with your family. While breaking routine occasionally can be fun, letting external circumstances of your life dictate your life right out of routine isn't fun, and will often ruin the awesome groove you have going on.
9. Don't overschedule, keep time in for yourself. We're taught that "yes" is the way to get by, we fear saying "no", we think we can do it all and fear disappointing. Well it's time to say it this holiday season when you can't fathom putting any more on your to-do list or schedule, just don't. Use tact, kindly decline. Or even easier book time in evey day for yourself, and if someone wants it you have an appointment. An appointment to take care of yourself means you can carry on taking care of all those around you too!
10. Gratitude. This time of year we'll often complain about Yorkdale's parking lot, how messy and unprofessional the staff Holiday party got, our in-laws, and about every other thing that is slightly aggravating. Remember to put it in perspective: you have a car to get frustrated about parking, you're warm and provided a party, and some people you know enjoy a party in a way that doesn't really suit you, but you got a party!!! And if you have in-laws, they're the family you actually picked and they raised someone you love to be pretty awesome. Keep in mind there's a lot to be grateful for this season!
BONUS TIP
Enjoy the Moments! Earlier in the article I mentioned savouring rather than stuffing, but this can be a message that carries through much of the season and also goes hand-in-hand with gratitude. Get out of your head and live right now, enjoy the moments; connections with family, people, pets, how fantastic you felt after your yoga practice, or how you enjoyed making that meal for friends. Whatever it is, you know when you've captured a moment. Remember to do it often!
Don't miss out on the seasons bounty of unique flavours and textures, veggies so down to earth they're almost comfort food.
Roasted Autumn Veggies
1 acorn squash, cubed
1 large red onion, cut into 8 chunks
2 carrots, wide slices (or be brave and try parsnips)
1 bulb of celeriac, cubed (even more bravery!)
3 medium potatoes, cubed
3 small beets, cubed
1/4 cup olive oil
salt & pepper to taste
1 tbsp fresh chopped thyme
1 tbsp fresh chopped rosemary
2 cloves or garlic, chopped
Large Pinch of dried chilli flakes
1. Preheat the oven to 400.
2. Toss all of the chopped vegetables with the olive oil, salt and Pepper, reserving a spoonful and mixing it with the garlic and herbs.
3. Spread the vegetable mixture evenly in a roasting pan and bake for 25 minutes.
4. Remove the pan and stir the veggies adding the garlic and herbs at this time (this is the secret to those ingredients not getting so burnt and still adding their kick)
5. Put it back in the oven for another 15-25 minutes, depending on your oven. Check for doneness on a piece of squash by piercing to the centre of a larger piece with a fork, when it's tender they're all done!
6. OM NOM NOM!
Roasted Autumn Veggies
1 acorn squash, cubed
1 large red onion, cut into 8 chunks
2 carrots, wide slices (or be brave and try parsnips)
1 bulb of celeriac, cubed (even more bravery!)
3 medium potatoes, cubed
3 small beets, cubed
1/4 cup olive oil
salt & pepper to taste
1 tbsp fresh chopped thyme
1 tbsp fresh chopped rosemary
2 cloves or garlic, chopped
Large Pinch of dried chilli flakes
1. Preheat the oven to 400.
2. Toss all of the chopped vegetables with the olive oil, salt and Pepper, reserving a spoonful and mixing it with the garlic and herbs.
3. Spread the vegetable mixture evenly in a roasting pan and bake for 25 minutes.
4. Remove the pan and stir the veggies adding the garlic and herbs at this time (this is the secret to those ingredients not getting so burnt and still adding their kick)
5. Put it back in the oven for another 15-25 minutes, depending on your oven. Check for doneness on a piece of squash by piercing to the centre of a larger piece with a fork, when it's tender they're all done!
6. OM NOM NOM!
AWESOME EVENTS
Meetup and Workout
This Thursday evening (the 20th) there's a "Meetup" of "Positive Powerful Women" meeting at the CREATE studio for Dangerous Curves: Bootcamp & Bliss, in other words hard work and then some well deserved yoga stretching and relaxation. The perfect workout for business women and entrepreneurs who need to know they accomplished an excellent workout but also need to relax and chill out too!
This Thursday evening (the 20th) there's a "Meetup" of "Positive Powerful Women" meeting at the CREATE studio for Dangerous Curves: Bootcamp & Bliss, in other words hard work and then some well deserved yoga stretching and relaxation. The perfect workout for business women and entrepreneurs who need to know they accomplished an excellent workout but also need to relax and chill out too!
CREATE is Turning One & You're Invited!
Yes, she's still a young thing, and every baby needs to have a BIG first birthday party. All day there will be an complimentary workouts of all kinds, however if you'd like to make a donation proceeds go to Save the Children and War Amps Canada. In the evening we'll be having an all out blast! Tasty, healthy snacks and drinks for all (we might even share the recipes) and we'll be giving away some excellent prizes, raising funds for our causes (and giving away a special gift to our primary cause), and some friends will be featuring some very cool "stuff" you won't want to miss! Please RSVP to lisa@createyourawesomeness.com or 416.994.6267 so that we can plan this party for maximum fun!
Yes, she's still a young thing, and every baby needs to have a BIG first birthday party. All day there will be an complimentary workouts of all kinds, however if you'd like to make a donation proceeds go to Save the Children and War Amps Canada. In the evening we'll be having an all out blast! Tasty, healthy snacks and drinks for all (we might even share the recipes) and we'll be giving away some excellent prizes, raising funds for our causes (and giving away a special gift to our primary cause), and some friends will be featuring some very cool "stuff" you won't want to miss! Please RSVP to lisa@createyourawesomeness.com or 416.994.6267 so that we can plan this party for maximum fun!
Take part in the FIT BODY FAT WALLET CONTEST to get you and your friends fit and keep your wallet fat this holiday season!
All you have to do is Like or Follow us on any of our Social Media sites and then tell your friends and family about us. When someone who you referred signs up for any of our programs we'll send you up to $100 cash per referral or give you complimentary training. If you send us the most referrals throughout the month of November you win FREE Personal Training twice weekly for the month of January!
All you have to do is Like or Follow us on any of our Social Media sites and then tell your friends and family about us. When someone who you referred signs up for any of our programs we'll send you up to $100 cash per referral or give you complimentary training. If you send us the most referrals throughout the month of November you win FREE Personal Training twice weekly for the month of January!
QUOTABLE
Ensure even your thoughts are beautiful!
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