So this is another post in a long line of nutrition and health themed posts by yours truly. I finally broke down last week and signed up for the Lean Eating Program offered by Precision Nutrition:
http://www.precisionnutrition.com/
The reasons are numerous: I'd like to lose weight obviously, but more specifically lose fat and maintain muscle. I like the accountability aspect of the program, and the fact that they coach you for a year so you know this isn't another gimmick--they're by your side the whole time. And, if you follow the program 80% of the time and still don't see results you get your money back. Aside from all of those things...this is yet another experiment in self-love. See, I know my body and how it works, but I've yet to crack the magical code that gets my body to do what I want it to do. I feel like I'm so close. This is my trump card. I've made some pretty impressive strength gains in the gym, more than I ever thought I would and I'm still progressing which is awesome. One of these days I am going to do a one-arm pullup just to say I can. These are things I want besides an amazing six-pack. I'll keep posting about my progress over the next year. This is the first step on this journey.
Blessings,
Denora
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Thursday, July 19, 2012
The Obesity Discussion
I was perusing FB today as I normally do (who doesn't?) when I came across two separate articles:
The first is an article from the group I follow. It's an interview with Lyle McDonald--internationally recognized fitness guru and self-proclaimed jerk
http://body-improvements.com/articles/interviews/lyle-mcdonald-interview/
The second is a blog post on obesity versus body image in the Pagan community:
http://soulinteraction.com/2012/07/19/the-pagan-obesity-discussion-and-debate/
I present both cases because for me they represent two sides of the same coin. We are starting to realize on a national level that people in America (and now other countries who never used to have this problem) are obese. We are FAT. There is no way to sugar-coat the issue. But we seem to be in denial about the whole thing. In fact, we are still so much in denial that we will sit in front of our televisions streaming loads of commercials on sugar and fat-infested "food" while munching on said "food" while bemoaning the ever-increasing size of our thighs....then turn around and buy a shake-weight.
Someone. Please. Shoot. Me.
I am waiting for the day when we wake up and start taking control of our lives. Stop blaming the government, stop blaming popular media outlets, and for goodness sake stop blaming the marketing schemes that run rampant around every corner. If you can't leave the grocery store without buying half the cookies and chips in there then learn to just shop in the produce section. If you can't watch TV without seeing a pizza commercial and ordering a pizza then stop watching TV and go do something productive. If you're wondering how you're ever going to be able to see your toes again because your gut is in the way--start with the first step. But for heaven's sake DO something other than whine and moan and blame.
Humanity is beautiful. We are manifestations of the divine and we are meant to sing and dance and rejoice and celebrate. Why have we allowed ourselves to become slaves to our existence? Your body is a temple. Mind what you put into it so only the best may come out.
Blessings,
Denora
The first is an article from the group I follow. It's an interview with Lyle McDonald--internationally recognized fitness guru and self-proclaimed jerk
http://body-improvements.com/articles/interviews/lyle-mcdonald-interview/
The second is a blog post on obesity versus body image in the Pagan community:
http://soulinteraction.com/2012/07/19/the-pagan-obesity-discussion-and-debate/
I present both cases because for me they represent two sides of the same coin. We are starting to realize on a national level that people in America (and now other countries who never used to have this problem) are obese. We are FAT. There is no way to sugar-coat the issue. But we seem to be in denial about the whole thing. In fact, we are still so much in denial that we will sit in front of our televisions streaming loads of commercials on sugar and fat-infested "food" while munching on said "food" while bemoaning the ever-increasing size of our thighs....then turn around and buy a shake-weight.
Someone. Please. Shoot. Me.
I am waiting for the day when we wake up and start taking control of our lives. Stop blaming the government, stop blaming popular media outlets, and for goodness sake stop blaming the marketing schemes that run rampant around every corner. If you can't leave the grocery store without buying half the cookies and chips in there then learn to just shop in the produce section. If you can't watch TV without seeing a pizza commercial and ordering a pizza then stop watching TV and go do something productive. If you're wondering how you're ever going to be able to see your toes again because your gut is in the way--start with the first step. But for heaven's sake DO something other than whine and moan and blame.
Humanity is beautiful. We are manifestations of the divine and we are meant to sing and dance and rejoice and celebrate. Why have we allowed ourselves to become slaves to our existence? Your body is a temple. Mind what you put into it so only the best may come out.
Blessings,
Denora
Always More to Learn...
Despite the multitudes of individuals all over the world who utilize the internet for all sorts of awesome writing...
It turns out writing, like so many other things, is an art if you want to write well. And by well I mean for a theological education program. We had to take a check-up break and right our impressions on what we're doing well and where we need improvement. These were my observations:
I'm very grateful for the opportunity to take this course. Writing has always been something I've enjoyed, but not something I've received intricate instruction in. This course has enabled me to start looking at my writing from a functional perspective--something I can definitely appreciate, but also something that is difficult.
1) I believe my top strengths lie in my personality and my use of words. To expand on that a bit, I like to believe (perhaps incorrectly?) that my personality comes across in my writing fairly well depending on the occasion. I realize that journaling and other forms of free-writing will allow for greater levels of personal expression than academic writing, but I still try to maintain a certain level of "personality" in all of my writing. Also, my time in the military has made it necessary for me to become familiar with many different ways to say the same thing. One of the particulars of performance reports requires a certain level of creativity with words that I also hope carries over into my writing.
2) As much as I love writing, I have never been particularly strong in the mechanics of grammar department. My writing style is more free-flowing and I tend to go with what sounds or feels right rather than knowing the actual grammar rules. This has gotten several points marked off of my assignments in this course so far and tells me it is an area I need to work on. I also realize despite my best intentions I am not as organized as I want to be and this is also affecting my work quality.
3) Before taking this course I never realized how much writing is a necessary part of a theological education. My previous degree programs focused on writing, but never delved into the mechanics or focused on improving the quality of student work. I think in order to be successful I will need to tailor and polish my writing skills and I will need to focus on ideas revolving around writing much more than I anticipated. Additionally, I feel like I'm at a personal disadvantage for never having a formal theological education, so I will need to be more vigilant in my studies.
I'm comparing this process to baking a cake. Almost anyone can bake a cake in their own home, but only the best bakers learn how to make truly impressive edible works of art. I'm hoping one day my written works of art are that impressive, but for now I will continue to learn what I can.
-Denora
It turns out writing, like so many other things, is an art if you want to write well. And by well I mean for a theological education program. We had to take a check-up break and right our impressions on what we're doing well and where we need improvement. These were my observations:
I'm very grateful for the opportunity to take this course. Writing has always been something I've enjoyed, but not something I've received intricate instruction in. This course has enabled me to start looking at my writing from a functional perspective--something I can definitely appreciate, but also something that is difficult.
1) I believe my top strengths lie in my personality and my use of words. To expand on that a bit, I like to believe (perhaps incorrectly?) that my personality comes across in my writing fairly well depending on the occasion. I realize that journaling and other forms of free-writing will allow for greater levels of personal expression than academic writing, but I still try to maintain a certain level of "personality" in all of my writing. Also, my time in the military has made it necessary for me to become familiar with many different ways to say the same thing. One of the particulars of performance reports requires a certain level of creativity with words that I also hope carries over into my writing.
2) As much as I love writing, I have never been particularly strong in the mechanics of grammar department. My writing style is more free-flowing and I tend to go with what sounds or feels right rather than knowing the actual grammar rules. This has gotten several points marked off of my assignments in this course so far and tells me it is an area I need to work on. I also realize despite my best intentions I am not as organized as I want to be and this is also affecting my work quality.
3) Before taking this course I never realized how much writing is a necessary part of a theological education. My previous degree programs focused on writing, but never delved into the mechanics or focused on improving the quality of student work. I think in order to be successful I will need to tailor and polish my writing skills and I will need to focus on ideas revolving around writing much more than I anticipated. Additionally, I feel like I'm at a personal disadvantage for never having a formal theological education, so I will need to be more vigilant in my studies.
I'm comparing this process to baking a cake. Almost anyone can bake a cake in their own home, but only the best bakers learn how to make truly impressive edible works of art. I'm hoping one day my written works of art are that impressive, but for now I will continue to learn what I can.
-Denora
Saturday, July 14, 2012
Religious Diversity
I wrote this very short essay in honor of my friend Don Larsen for one of my classes this quarter:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pqSkr40y-vg6bOd-ZupilKwO5Xz0mwGTqFqhQQxwq9I/edit
If I had longer to devote to the topic I would have expanded on my feelings regarding religious pluralism. However, I will say this much...I feel it is essential that people of different faiths focus more on the similarities of their beliefs than the differences. We can spout about peace and love until we are blue in the face but we must ACT in order for it to become a reality.
"This attitude is essentially based on a non-literal view of one's religious traditions, hence allowing for respect to be engendered between different traditions on fundamental principles rather than more marginal issues. It is perhaps summarized as an attitude which rejects focus on immaterial differences, and instead gives respect to those beliefs held in common."
Bright Blessings,
Denora
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pqSkr40y-vg6bOd-ZupilKwO5Xz0mwGTqFqhQQxwq9I/edit
If I had longer to devote to the topic I would have expanded on my feelings regarding religious pluralism. However, I will say this much...I feel it is essential that people of different faiths focus more on the similarities of their beliefs than the differences. We can spout about peace and love until we are blue in the face but we must ACT in order for it to become a reality.
"This attitude is essentially based on a non-literal view of one's religious traditions, hence allowing for respect to be engendered between different traditions on fundamental principles rather than more marginal issues. It is perhaps summarized as an attitude which rejects focus on immaterial differences, and instead gives respect to those beliefs held in common."
Bright Blessings,
Denora
Sunday, July 8, 2012
The Perpetual Marathon
Let me start by saying I hate running. In fact, hate may not be a strong enough word to describe how much I loathe the act of running. "Well, why did you run a half-marathon last year?" you ask. Well for one, I wanted to prove I could do it. Just because I hate something doesn't mean I'm going to let it own me. Also, I had to define and realize for myself just HOW MUCH I cannot stand running. Ok, now that we understand each other on this point I will say that running provides the almost perfect descriptive scenario for my life right now.
First, you're super excited because you signed up for a race (in this case, a school semester or other such commitment) you train, get organized, and pump yourself up for the task. Then the day of the race is here and you're on the starting line...BOOM it's time to go. You start off strong--and then you hit the wall. I'm on month two and the combination of work, obligations, school, and life in general has drained me of all my well-intended energy. The intricate dance of life-balancing started off so perfectly only to be reduced to a mish-mash of desperate attempts to remain abreast of deadlines and goals and plans. I'm on mile 6.5 and we still have a few hills to climb but my lungs are burning and my shins are screaming. I NEED REST. But I will continue to run...I'm stubborn like that.
In retrospect this is sort of what I signed up for. You may or may not know that I already have a few milestones marked off my list. (other than a half-marathon) I finished my first master's degree in December of 2010--a feat that I had promised I would complete before ever thinking about procreating. So what am I doing now?? Why all the moaning about life being like a marathon?? Well, I sort of made this huge life decision to go to seminary, acquire a master's in divinity, and take my chances at becoming a Wiccan chaplain. Woah. What? Yeah.
See, I love being in the Air Force. It's awesome. But I've never quite felt super excited about my job. (shocker) And, to top it off I have all this random knowledge rumbling around in my head about biological processes and international trade agreements and national security policies (hello free education!) but NOTHING related to my "job" in the Air Force. I put "job" in quotations because many would argue that officership and leadership is job number one whilst communications is job number two. However, I have this insane need to help people. I like talking to people, I like listening to people, and I like helping people. Oh, and I am a Wiccan in the military helping other Wiccans who don't have a chaplain. I'm making this a lighter post on the subject, but the more I learn and the longer I pursue this goal the more I realize how important this is--and just how much I could fail. See, others have failed before me. Others who have lost their careers in the pursuit of ensuring religious pluralism is upheld. I refuse to fail.
This is my marathon.
For lighter reading I ask those who may be interested to check out this article about one of my personal heros and our struggle: https://docs.google.com/open?id=0ByAY6igmY7VRd0pydUdKZ2ZGOFU
Bright Blessings,
Denora
First, you're super excited because you signed up for a race (in this case, a school semester or other such commitment) you train, get organized, and pump yourself up for the task. Then the day of the race is here and you're on the starting line...BOOM it's time to go. You start off strong--and then you hit the wall. I'm on month two and the combination of work, obligations, school, and life in general has drained me of all my well-intended energy. The intricate dance of life-balancing started off so perfectly only to be reduced to a mish-mash of desperate attempts to remain abreast of deadlines and goals and plans. I'm on mile 6.5 and we still have a few hills to climb but my lungs are burning and my shins are screaming. I NEED REST. But I will continue to run...I'm stubborn like that.
In retrospect this is sort of what I signed up for. You may or may not know that I already have a few milestones marked off my list. (other than a half-marathon) I finished my first master's degree in December of 2010--a feat that I had promised I would complete before ever thinking about procreating. So what am I doing now?? Why all the moaning about life being like a marathon?? Well, I sort of made this huge life decision to go to seminary, acquire a master's in divinity, and take my chances at becoming a Wiccan chaplain. Woah. What? Yeah.
See, I love being in the Air Force. It's awesome. But I've never quite felt super excited about my job. (shocker) And, to top it off I have all this random knowledge rumbling around in my head about biological processes and international trade agreements and national security policies (hello free education!) but NOTHING related to my "job" in the Air Force. I put "job" in quotations because many would argue that officership and leadership is job number one whilst communications is job number two. However, I have this insane need to help people. I like talking to people, I like listening to people, and I like helping people. Oh, and I am a Wiccan in the military helping other Wiccans who don't have a chaplain. I'm making this a lighter post on the subject, but the more I learn and the longer I pursue this goal the more I realize how important this is--and just how much I could fail. See, others have failed before me. Others who have lost their careers in the pursuit of ensuring religious pluralism is upheld. I refuse to fail.
This is my marathon.
For lighter reading I ask those who may be interested to check out this article about one of my personal heros and our struggle: https://docs.google.com/open?id=0ByAY6igmY7VRd0pydUdKZ2ZGOFU
Bright Blessings,
Denora
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Defining the Writer (or other person) Within
This past assignment was appropriately labeled "Autobiographical Narrative of Self as a Writer" which sounds nice, but comes out as a huge mouthful that leaves you wondering how to digest it. Basically, the task was to analyze anything we may have written in the past, things we have yet to write, or our own personal writing style...etc.
I had to start with a simple list because my brain needed fodder. In this case I think the KISS principle applied: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pLRWULxUZY6uCvUvvjIESFk0MiCtZxVDgUPQicvc7w4/edit
Needless to say this was a nice exercise in self-awareness if nothing else. If you took at least five minutes to write down a list of items that describe you (it can be adjectives, or statements, or whatever else you wanted) what would you write? Would you like the things you had to say about yourself? This particular list focused on our writing, but I get the feeling if I expanded the list to include other areas I may find things I like about me and maybe some I need to improve.
I think the idea here without turning this into another self-love lecture would be to turn this into a self-awareness exercise. And if you happen to read this and think it's a great idea, then realize you may have more improving to do that you thought you can take a cue from ol' Ben Franklin: http://www.thebridgemaker.com/the-benjamin-franklin-13-week-self-improvement-challenge/
Cheers,
Denora
I had to start with a simple list because my brain needed fodder. In this case I think the KISS principle applied: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pLRWULxUZY6uCvUvvjIESFk0MiCtZxVDgUPQicvc7w4/edit
Needless to say this was a nice exercise in self-awareness if nothing else. If you took at least five minutes to write down a list of items that describe you (it can be adjectives, or statements, or whatever else you wanted) what would you write? Would you like the things you had to say about yourself? This particular list focused on our writing, but I get the feeling if I expanded the list to include other areas I may find things I like about me and maybe some I need to improve.
I think the idea here without turning this into another self-love lecture would be to turn this into a self-awareness exercise. And if you happen to read this and think it's a great idea, then realize you may have more improving to do that you thought you can take a cue from ol' Ben Franklin: http://www.thebridgemaker.com/the-benjamin-franklin-13-week-self-improvement-challenge/
Cheers,
Denora
Friday, June 29, 2012
The Long Road to Loving Yourself
This may be the first post in a long line of topics related to self-love...and I'm not referencing all-out narcissism or anything. Too many women nowadays are literally hitched to the self-loathing wagon and anyone who isn't seems to get the sharp edge of the hatred stick. By no means am I a perfect example--rather I choose to work at my relationship with myself on a daily basis. I read this article today from one of the groups I follow on FB:
http://www.jencomaskeck.com/2012/06/dear-self-you-look-damn-good-today.html
I had to laugh because subconsciously I do the exact same thing. I look at myself in the mirror, and I start to meticulously pick apart everything I don't like about my body. I wonder when this trend started to become second nature? When did women start reducing themselves to piles of sub-standard flesh? There's no doubt this practice is harmful in so many ways to our psyche, which is why I'm sort of rebelling against the societal norm in several ways. The first is diet related. After my month-long detox/fast I started an intermittent fasting protocol (don't freak out yet folks) which calls for a 6-8 hr eating window followed by fasting until the next day. This isn't much different than what people do everyday anyway (you don't eat while you sleep) but it just extends a bit into my normal day. The following websites are a wealth of information on the subject, but for now I want to focus on the idea of self-love:
http://fitnessbaddie.wordpress.com/
http://www.leangains.com/
I can tell you that since I have embarked on this journey of no longer hating my body every second of every day, eating large amounts of food I love, lifting heavy things and NOT running anymore (a subject I can go on about incessantly) I have felt a greater sense of relief and personal freedom. Even if I don't happen to hit some magical number on a scale, I have the proof of strength gains and more muscle which in aesthetic terms looks better to me than just a thinner version of myself. I've even caught myself looking at someone else and thinking "I remember when I wanted to look like that, but now I think I'd like to have more muscle."
I guess it just goes to show we can change our realities one thought at a time.
Blessings,
Denora
http://www.jencomaskeck.com/2012/06/dear-self-you-look-damn-good-today.html
I had to laugh because subconsciously I do the exact same thing. I look at myself in the mirror, and I start to meticulously pick apart everything I don't like about my body. I wonder when this trend started to become second nature? When did women start reducing themselves to piles of sub-standard flesh? There's no doubt this practice is harmful in so many ways to our psyche, which is why I'm sort of rebelling against the societal norm in several ways. The first is diet related. After my month-long detox/fast I started an intermittent fasting protocol (don't freak out yet folks) which calls for a 6-8 hr eating window followed by fasting until the next day. This isn't much different than what people do everyday anyway (you don't eat while you sleep) but it just extends a bit into my normal day. The following websites are a wealth of information on the subject, but for now I want to focus on the idea of self-love:
http://fitnessbaddie.wordpress.com/
http://www.leangains.com/
I can tell you that since I have embarked on this journey of no longer hating my body every second of every day, eating large amounts of food I love, lifting heavy things and NOT running anymore (a subject I can go on about incessantly) I have felt a greater sense of relief and personal freedom. Even if I don't happen to hit some magical number on a scale, I have the proof of strength gains and more muscle which in aesthetic terms looks better to me than just a thinner version of myself. I've even caught myself looking at someone else and thinking "I remember when I wanted to look like that, but now I think I'd like to have more muscle."
I guess it just goes to show we can change our realities one thought at a time.
Blessings,
Denora
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