Interval Training

A few years ago ... in April of 2000 I faced a health crisis in my life. I decided I needed to take better care of myself and I committed to exercise 6 days a week, resting only on the Sabbath day.

It was hard at first to keep to the schedule but over a few months it became easier and easier. I lost a lot of weight but that was never my goal. I just wanted to be healthy and have my heart last until I was tired of using it

After a couple of years I heard about interval training....a way to make your workouts even better without necessarily spending more time....I didn’t have more time to devote to exercise than the one hour a day I was already committed to.

Basically interval training is working at a very high level for a few minutes followed by a short period of less intense exercise. I found this worked well for me and again I lost weight and gained more energy. I felt stronger, and good about what I was doing.

The following year I was still using the “interval” training method but it became easy for me....I had obviously been doing the same thing for too long...even the “strenuous” periods were getting way too easy. It was hard to get my heart rate elevated....a sign that it had become very healthy and strong.


It was about this time that I read an article about cycling and how it is a great form of interval training if you can find a course with enough hills. Lucky for me I live in an area where I can make a daily 12-14 mile ride with lots of hills along the way. The first day nearly killed me!!!
In fact I only made it because once I was 5 miles from home I had no alternative but to ride back.

The last two hills before my house that day I had to “walk” my bike up....very embarrassing. The next day I barely made it up ....only by gearing my bike to the least possible amount of exertion. I knew that over time I would get stronger and then I’d be able to make it up the hills without using the gears for assistance.

Months went by....no matter how hard I tried the hills on the way home were just too hard. I could never make it to the top without shifting to an easier gear. This went on for almost a year and then I got a job as a teacher of teenage youth...an early morning class .... my class was smallish...only 13 students and I found I loved both teaching and being with them each day.

As I prayed for them each day, and for myself...that I could be a good teacher....I began to feel the weight of their problems and the difficulties they faced each day not only at school but at home and in other social settings. I felt a deep compassion for them and a desire to help. One day I was riding my bike....the normal 13 mile route....and I was thinking a lot about one of my students. I silently prayed to Heavenly Father that he would help this wonderful young person face the challenges they were having.....before I knew it I was home.....the first thing I thought to myself was “Hey, I made it....I never had to use my gears on the hills”. I was elated!!! I did it!!!

Later that day I was still thinking about how that had happened and suddenly I received the distinct impression that my Heavenly Father was teaching me something. Just as interval training can make our heart stronger....so can our trials, sometimes they will last for what seems to be an eternity but as long as we keep “pedaling” we are building strength slowly but surely and eventually we will be strong enough to make it all the way. Secondly I recognized that I was able to complete the ride with ease once I quit focusing on the hills! That day my mind had been focused on things of the Spirit....the physical pain had been non-existent as I spoke silently with my Heavenly Father.

I gained a great testimony that day of two things....it’s important to keep pedaling when the hills never seem to end, and ... if we focus only on the hardships we may never feel we have the strength to get through it and we’re in danger of giving up. I will always be grateful for that day and my newfound testimony of the Lord’s Interval Training Plan...

Still money for all the really good things....

Yes the economy is poor, my wallet is thin, and I know better (much better) than to spend unnecessary money on frivolous items. BUT THIS is not friviolous...it is absolutely, completely and totally necessary.

It began with my discovery of this site and her totally incomparable bread recipe, which somehow led me to this site where I watched a man (A MAN!!) make bread using the tool you see above. As he made it he barely even mentioned the cool little gadget but after the 6 minute video I was completely hooked and knew I had to have one for my very own (I know, what kind of sick person covets another person's whisk?)

Anyway, amazingly enough this wonderful little miracle only costs $8.00! However when I tried to order one they were completely sold out and I've been on a waiting list for two months. Today they e-mailed me that a new shipment of the Danish Dough Whisk (Large) has arrived....two are now on their way to my doorstep....

I've learned a lot over the past few weeks while waiting for my whisk to arrive. First of all that the "sponge" is the secret when making really fantastic 100% whole wheat bread, and second that his no-knead method is wonderful, and last but not least I am no longer a slave to my bread machine. I always thought if the electricity went out I'd have to do without bread (although we would have a myriad of doorstops). No more! This bread (using the recipe from the first site and the mixing method from the second site) is fantastic!

Feel free to ask for specifics if you feel so inclined....if not....order one of these just as a conversation starter....oh, and be sure to watch the bread video....it's inspiring!

The world is troubled...

But we need not fear...

Ever wonder how to handle today's problems? Sometimes we all do and this past few months has seen more world turmoil than we are used to. It's an unsettling time but thank goodness we can trust our Heavenly Father to give us help and advice whenever we are in need. As always if you watch the video scroll to the bottom of this page and stop the music player first (unless you like listening to two things at once).

Stole this idea from Patti!

What's the 4th picture in my fourth folder? Hmmmm.....let's see (I'm going to die if it's food! but here goes anyway.....)


Hey, at least it's a timely "fall" picture.....good grief my life is boring....who takes pictures of a pile of burning leaves.....and then actually SAVES it for posterity?!

Hot Chocolate I've dreamed of....

Quite a few years ago my sister Brenda gave my daughter a book for Christmas....The Polar Express. This became our favorite book to read on frosty wintry nights. The pictures are awesome and the descriptions are so vivid......I simply loved the story but what I dreamed about....what has haunted my thoughts night and day since the first day I read that book was the phrase "hot chocolate so thick and rich it tasted like melted chocolate bars".....since that first reading I have searched for this chocolate.

Today.....I found it!

Polar Express Hot Chocolate for 1 (or 2)

1 1/4 cups milk (I even used skim but I'm sure whole or 2% would be best)

1 egg yolk

1 Tbsp Cornstarch

Stir all above ingredients together in a glass dish and microwave one minute at a time for about 4 minutes until it is thickened slightly then add:

dash salt

1/4 cup sugar

Microwave again 1-1/2 minutes to dissolve the sugar completely then add:

Grated good quality unsweetened chocolate until you get the desired depth of flavor. You can use sweetened chocolate if you prefer but leave out the sugar in the above step.

Add vanilla, orange extract, almont extract, or peppermint if you want (I love it plain) and top with real whipped cream. It's the real thing!

WARNING! This is not your average drink, it really is kinda thick and very rich...it's a dessert in itself, not a beverage....you're gonna love it!!!!

(Note if you want to play the song "Hot Chocolate" below, scroll down to the bottom of the page and stop the song player first.....much better experience!)

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

(Wish I could say this was my front porch but ..... alas, it's from Martha Stewart's Halloween show....coool!)

I watched Martha's special yesterday and absolutely loved the pumpkin snake....it has a string of christmas lights inside to provide the perfect illumination. I would so love to do this next year (unfortunately I don't have an entire staff to hollow out 30 pumpkins of various sizes so it probably won't happen)....anyway, great idea.

Last night was "Trunk or Treat" at church. After looking for oh, about 29 days for a trunk decorating idea on the web I actually ended up with one of my own design, prompted by Afton's costume.....even at 16 her greatest dream is to be a princess .... in this case ... Mulan (on the left....she's so cute huh!?)

Sooooooo you know the saying "Behind every Mulan ....is a great MuShu!" Voila!

That was fun. Had I been thinking ahead (remember it took me 29 days to even get an idea) I would have gotten one of those fog machines and set it inside the trunk so MuShu would be showing his MoJo! Oh, and the best part!? We won most creative trunk!!!! Yay for us!!!!! (The prize......a two pound Hershey bar....Afton was stoked!)

Oh, and one more thing.....in case you were planning on making that plastic jack-o-lantern your "personal feed bag" (as "Hungry Girl" calls it) here's something REALLY SCARY for Halloween!

Tootsie Roll Midgee

1 Midgee = 23 calories, .5g fat

Milky Way

1 Fun Size = 75 calories, 3g fat
1 Mini = 38 calories, 1.4g fat

Three Musketeers

1 Fun Size = 63 calories, 2g fat

1 Mini = 24 calories, 0.7g fat

Individually Wrapped Twizzlers

1 twist = 40 calories, 0.25g fat

Smarties

1 roll = 25 calories, 0g fat

Mini AirHeads

1 Mini = 45 calories, 0.5g fat

It's all about attitude...

Sunday was a particularly trying day...disappointing since that's the day I look forward to ...just for some peace, uplifting thoughts, etc.







I know times are tough but does talking about how terrible it is really make any sense? I mean you can be financially strapped and grouchy or financially strapped and trying to see the good things in your life.....both are hard but one has significantly more appeal.....right?









Last night we had a family home evening and one of the quotes (attributed to "unknown") was particularly meaningful to me:



"From guidelines given to us in the scriptures and by the words of prophets, we learn that life is a teaching experience. Self-pity and discouragement do not come from the teachings of the gospel of Jesus Christ. But life can be both bitter and sweet. It is up to us to choose whether we want to reflect the voices of gloom or gladness."

Anyway, I agree times are tough, budgets are tightening, jobs are scarce, the land of plenty may be less plentiful but there are lots of happy things around also and I'm going to enjoy life regardless! (That's my vow and I'm sticking to it!)

Along that line I've been trying to think of how to save money....live with less, cut back, etc. After a long discussion with my wise daughter I think my first step will be planning meals.....this probably seems ridiculous to most.....(I know everyone else already does it but I'm not one of them). After reviewing slightly over a month of expenditures yesterday I discovered we spent over $1,000 last month on "groceries!" THAT has got to be a record. I mean it's not like we eat caviar for breakfast or anything. The biggest problem for me I think is just not planning what we're going to eat and then cooking based on the latest dish Food Network presents.

This morning I tried to make out a menu for a week.....so far I have two days and that was the two days we just passed......I simply don't know how people think up what they want to eat a week or even a day ahead of time......(sigh) it's going to be a challenge....