Reading

Currently Reading:

Food for Thought...

Cover via AmazonI just got done reading Breaking Free from Emotional Eating by Geneen Roth (author of Women Food and God which I'm currently in the middle of now).

My brain has been racing with thoughts since reading it.  Not necessarily about the food aspect, but just a lot of really good points made and I thought I would share some of my favorite excerpts.

So many of my clients have expressed their struggles with eating and their relationship with food (as well as having my own struggles of course) that I just can't help but thinking about it. 

Here goes...

"We don't see the struggle of people we admire, the people we respect....We see them weel, sparkling, succeeding.   We can't look inside them.  But we are constantly looking inside ourselves, comparing our insides with their outsides.  And it's an unfair comparison."   

I was working with a client today and she made a comment about another lady that was very fit/super skinny working out next to us.  I continued our conversation by asking her if she liked reading, etc. and if she had heard of or read Women Food and God (since it's the "popular" book around right now) and she told me that she doesn't read nonfiction books, she has enough nonfiction in her life already.

"If you are looking with critical eyes, there is no such thing as an acceptable body.  Stop waiting for permission to like yourself.  No one can give it to you."  

Bam.  There it is.  Acceptance.  Such a simple word that we try to do everyday by accepting others, but how many people really are accepting themselves?  She goes on to challenge her readers to look in the mirror everyday and find three qualities that you love about your body.  I love this exercise, or maybe it's more of a challenge for some.  It's definitely a tough one that I will be challenging my clients to do in August.

And this last quote is still one that I'm personally digesting, but I still wanted to share it.
"When we get on a scale, we say, 'Tell me, machine, how I should feel about myself today.'  We've made the scale our symbol of authority, of worth, of truth.  If we've been "bad," there's no denying it because it shows up on the scale.  If we've been "good," getting on the scale will be its own reward.  The scale, like God, knows all.  A scale, however, is just a scale- a cold, lifeless piece of metal- until we give it its power."

I'm in the process of making a Fitness/Nutrition Wellness blog for all sizes, shapes, and ages.  Any suggestions, ideas of content you would like to see, or if it interests you, please let me know.

-J
 

The Omnivore's Dilemma

Disclaimer: It may be silly to do so many 'book reviews' on our blog, but the purpose of them is more for us.  

We have become library junkies lately.  Currently we have 50 books checked out.  Bryan and I both have had huge eyeopening experiences in the past few months.  After four years of college, we realized that a lot of the information we were given in classes was based purely on our professor's opinions but taught as facts.  It wasn't until we started checking out book in our areas of interest that we realized how many other points of view there are out there. 

I recently finished two books by Michael Pollan: In Defense of Food and The Omnivore's Dilemma.  Both of these books made me do some reevaluating and deep thinking.  If you haven't read them, I strongly encourage you to do so.  Fair warning- do not read before eating...

I want our children to know where food comes from.  As I was thinking, I realized something about my roots- as we moved across the country (literally), my dad would always grow something native of that state: Texas- peppers, cotton, & strawberries; Hawaii- Pineapple; Pennsylvania- tobacco.  Although we never used these 'crops' for sustainability, I think it must be deep in our genes.  Jordan & CJ now grow peppers and have joined their local CSA program which has been quite fun to hear stories about their random box of vegetables.   

As for us, we will slowly but surely be making some big changes over the next couple of years.  If we are going to make sure that our kids know how to grow fruits and vegetables, we need to figure that out as well!  I'm not sure how I feel about meat right now either.  Don't worry, I don't think I'm going to become a vegetarian any time soon, but where our food comes from will start playing an important role in our lives. 

 

And the quote that has been on my mind for weeks is: Shake the hand that feeds you. -Michael Pollan   

-J

Book Review

 I finished reading this book last night and highly recommend it for any woman who is not really serious about running, but wants a good read/laugh.  In fact, my husband stole this book from me after the first night because I couldn't get through the first couple of chapters without laughing out loud (he wanted to see what he was missing).   

 

Dawn does a great job of being real about marathon training.  She complains, is sarcastic, and has comments about every aspect of running.  She goes from not exercising to completing a marathon, and comes in first!  Ok, just kidding.  She definitely does not come in first which is why I liked this book.  It definitely isn't one of those crazy motivational books that you read and feel the need to go run immediately after.  Maybe I should read one of those too...   

I'll leave you with two of my favorite quotes from the book:

• I will wonder if it is physically possible for my breasts to bounce off my body...
• I'll tell you one thing: I was on about Mile 4 when that guy offered me the Bible.  Had he offered me his bike, I would have become a Mormon on the spot.
  

Let me know what you think!!
-J