health

The China Study

On vacation I read The China Study by Dr. T. Colin Campbell and Thomas M. Campbell II. It links nutrition and disease, and claims that if we cut out almost all animal proteins (meat, fish, dairy, eggs) we could reduce our chances of getting multiple diseases and greatly lower our cholesterol and have far healthier hearts.

So my boyfriend, who could eat pizza every day of his life, has suggested we try to cut out all animal proteins and go completely vegan for one month. I am not looking forward to being a vegetarian again, but today we start a month-long plan of no animal products. I can’t believe we are doing this in the middle of summer when ice cream is at its best. This means I will have to go another year without trying the sunflower ice cream available for two weeks at Buttonwood Farm in Griswold. Bummer.

We had blood work drawn last week so we can compare now and then. Stay tuned to hear how it’s going. I for one anticipate […]

The China StudyMaggie Downie2017-09-12T19:31:51-04:00

Best Shape of My Life Challenge: Warrior Dash

So, I’m on this healthy lifestyle, right? I have a goal to get in the best shape of my life this year. The challenge started March 27th, and so far I’ve been sick about half the time. So what’s the lesson here? It’s a lesson, I’m pretty sure I don’t want to hear. It’s a lesson that created a debate in my house all last week.

This was the debate:

Matt: I don’t think we should go the Pennsylvania to do the Warrior Dash. You’ve been really run down and I don’t want to see you get sick again, especially two weeks before we leave for Switzerland.

Maggie’s Mind: Damn, he’s right, but it totally sucks.

Maggie Aloud: What do you want me to do, never work out again? I am feeling better. And, I really want to do the Warrior Dash. And I really want to see the friends we were going to see down there.

Matt: Me too, but is it worth it?

Maggie’s Mind: No, I don’t want to get pharyngitis again, but come on…this totally sucks!

Maggie Aloud: Let’s think on it and decide Friday.

(Note: this […]

Best Shape of My Life Challenge: Warrior DashMaggie Downie2017-09-12T19:31:53-04:00

Healthy Challenge vs. Pharyngitis

Am I on a healthy challenge? You could have fooled me. Technically this challenge is from March 27, 2011 to March 26, 2012 (based on my birthday instead of the year). I’d be doing great if it weren’t for a stupid problem called pharyngitis. (It shouldn’t exist, spell check doesn’t know what it is and no one has ever heard of it.)

I got pharyngitis on April 2nd, again on May 13, and again on May 27th. This has been conflicting with my workouts, by which I mean I really haven’t been working out that much at all. Last week I went an entire week without one workout (except a 10-minute pilates class I put myself through). Sometimes the body needs that, but I’m getting a little stir crazy. My next challenge, the Warrior Dash, is coming up in a week and I haven’t trained at all.

Ugh—the best laid plans, I guess. In truth, feeling crummy will only make me appreciate feeling good when I’m back to normal.

Personal Euphoria

Healthy Challenge vs. PharyngitisMaggie Downie2014-08-04T18:02:46-04:00

MY FOUR CHALLENGES!!!

I honestly can’t remember if I already announced my four challenges of the year. In case you haven’t seen some earlier posts, I’m challenging myself to get in the best shape of my life this year and part of that challenge it to participate in four (ideally one per season) physical challenges throughout the year that I’ve never done before.

I’ve decided that the year is March 27, 2011-March 26, 2012.

Here is what I’ve decided to do:

1) The Warrior Dash—a 3.5 mile run with an obstacle course.

2) The Ragnar Relay—a relay race done with a 12 person team from New Haven to Boston. Over the course of a 36-hour period I’ll run about 12 miles. (Some people on our team will run 20 miles, and I am grateful that they wanted to take the longer legs.)

3) Hike the Grand Canyon—this is pending a permit that I really hope I can get.

4) Participate in Cross Country Ski Race—I’m thinking of the one held at the Von Trapp […]

MY FOUR CHALLENGES!!!Maggie Downie2017-09-12T19:31:56-04:00

Food & Deprivation

I’m about to turn thirty and my official challenge of getting in the best shape of my life will be on full force. I’m completely confident I can do all my physical challenges (provided I don’t get hurt), but eating well is a little harder for me. I get three birthday meals and this is what I have selected:

1) Ham and Mac and Cheese
2) Fried Dough
3) French Fries (there will be other food there, but I really would be happy if there were only French fries)

And this doesn’t even mention the desserts that come after each meal. I know eating healthy isn’t about deprivation, but that’s what has always worked for me since I’m just not great at the whole moderation thing in anything I do. It is easier for me not to eat dessert for a month than to have a little dessert every day. I’m better at saying “no” than “a little.”

So any tips because by this time next week, I’ll be thirty and the challenge is on.

Food & DeprivationMaggie Downie2017-09-12T19:31:57-04:00