Badass Fitness

Badass Product Review: Gauging Muscle Gauge's label promise

Confession: I'm "that girl" who will sometimes take way too long to figure out what to order from the menu.

And my biggest disappointment comes when I order something, only to realize when it arrives, "Ugh, I ordered the wrong thing! I should have gone with what my instinct - and stomach - told me to order in the first place! I was overthinking again!"

In hindsight, I think this is what happened with me and Muscle Gauge. I ordered the wrong thing. And the thing I ordered is not, based on my research of other blogger reviews, their strongest product. (Insert my inner voice cursing myself: Damn! I did it again! Overthinking the menu!)

Here's the deal: Muscle Gauge sent me a free product in exchange for a product review, an opportunity that came as part of my work as a Fitfluential Ambassador. I was not paid for the review, but was given a chance to choose a free product from among Muscle Gauge's many protein powders, fat burners, multivitamins and other supplements.

I chose the Country Lemonade BCAA because I do so much intense training and teaching, and I regularly take branch-chain amino acids - as they support muscle recovery, the growth of lean muscle, and powerful performance during workouts. I also love all things lemon-flavored! So I figured, what a great chance to try a new brand of BCAAs! I was pumped!

My product arrived, and here's what the label promised: "amazing taste" and "instant mixing." Sweet, I thought.

But here's what my experience with the product was: It did not mix easily. BCAA powders tend to be somewhat clumpy, but this was much moreso than any BCAA's I have tried. No matter how I shook and stirred it with water, it remained clumpy like this:

And  even more important, the taste was more cough syrup-y than sweet lemonade. So much so that I could not get this down more than twice - not enough to tell you yet one way or another how much it did or did not aid my performance. That said, I am going to try and mix it this week with some Crystal Light Pure to see if that makes it a better taste. We shall see!

In the meantime, I was on a deadline to post this review. And I am being honest because that's what this blog is about. To be honest, I was disappointed. See, I wanted to love this stuff. I have read fellow fitness bloggers' reviews of the Muscle Gauge protein powders, and they were loving the cake batter and other protein powder flavors. In fact, the only potential downside I had read in a few protein powder reviews was "too sweet," which is a concept this girl doesn't even fathom! ;)

So here I am, yet again, coveting what other fitness bloggers ordered and kicking myself for not going with my gut instinct of: order the protein powder, even if it IS more "primal" than "paleo." #sigh.

I am actually thinking of ordering the powder myself, just because now I am so curious and fixated that I NEED to know. Crazy, right? But I've seen enough blog reviews of the powders - especially the cake batter flavor - to know I could make some mean smoothies, pancakes and other goodies with the stuff! 

But in the meantime, I also hope Muscle Gauge continues to work on its formula for the BCAA powder consistency and flavor. Both can use some work. Because the label promise of "amazing taste" and "instant mixing" are a stretch, at least in my experience. In the meantime, I'll work on perfecting my ability to trust my gut when looking at a menu!

PS: Have any of you tried the Muscle Gauge products? Thoughts? Likes and dislikes? I'd love to know!

Coming up: Pumpkin Chocolate Protein brownies so healthy AND delicious, they are Badass-Approved as post-cycling fuel - and result in my students demanding, "I need that recipe!"

A Halloween WOD to Make Your Muscles Scream, with Playlist!

Happy Halloween Eve!

Just for you all, I created a scary-but-don't-fear-it WOD and playlist to celebrate the goulish occasion! 

It's super challenging, as Badass Fitness workouts tend to be! But if it's easy, why bother? This also happens to be super-satisfying as you push through and feel those legs and glutes almost literally catch on fire -- like they've been hit by lightning and other scary supernatural forces!

So give this a try, along with the playlist below! I promise you this will make you feel better than raiding your kids' trick or treat stash;) So go ahead and #getafterit.

Badass Halloween 2012 Playlist 

1. Halloween Theme ( John Carpenter / MCA Music ), Halloween Scream Themes
2. Ghostbusters Dance Remix, The Hit Crew
3. The Beautiful People, Marilyn Manson
4. Scream, Usher
5. Everyday Is Halloween (Leather Strip Remix), Ministry
6. Thriller, Michael Jackson
7. Maneater, Nelly Furtado
8. Bad to the Bone, George Thorogood & The Destroyers
9. Bring Me to Life, Evanescence
10. E.T., Katy Perry
11. Maniac Mummy Move (Halloween Party Mix), Halloween #1 Hit Makers
12. The Boogie Monster, Gnarls Barkley
13. Bela Lugosi’s Dead, Godhead
14. Bloodletting (The Vampire Song), Concrete Blonde
15. Scary Monsters & Nice Sprites, Skrillex
16. Thriller (Tronix DJ Remix Edit), RagDollz 
17. Black Cat, Janet Jackson
18. Phantom of the Opera (Remix), Joe Burgess
19. Halloween (Halloween Club Remix), DiscoPhantom

Coming up: Chicken "fried rice" you can - and will want to - shovel in, forget the chopsticks!

Chili by Cavegirl Eats: A little sweet, a lot spicy, 100% delicious!

In hindsight, I shouldn't have made chili this past weekend when the temps dropped here in north Florida, the first real cold front of the 2012 fall season.

See, my guy makes chili so good it should be patented, sold and enjoyed by the masses. But work has him very far away. Making chili on my own just made me miss him more, realizing I won't get any of his chili this fall or winter. #sigh.

The upside, though, is that it forced me to experiment a little with a chili recipe all my own. And the results were pretty damn good! Not as good as his, but that's kind of a given. Mine mixed spicy with sweet - ya' know, kinda like this girl's personality! Wink!

 

But seriously...Cocoa powder, cinnamon and butternut squash blended with spicy Italian sausage, grass-fed beef, red wine, chili powder, cumin, red pepper and cayenne pepper in my slow cooker for seven hours - resulting in a Paleo chili rich with complex, hearty flavor. I served it over spaghetti squash for a Paleo, gluten-free, and low-carb take on chili the way firemen like it. Sooooo good! Not to mention low in fat and high in protein!

And of course the best part is, I get to enjoy leftovers all week that get better with each bowl, as the flavors meld even more. Here's the recipe. I guarantee it will become a cold-weather favorite!

Cavegirl Eats' Badass Chili

Ingredients

• 1 lb. grass-fed beef
• 2 large links spicy Italian sausage, removed from casing
• 1 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes
• 1 8-ounce can tomato sauce
• 3/4 cup red wine
• 1 cup diced butternut squash (I had half-baked it ahead of time)
• 16 ounces mushrooms, sliced
• 1 each red and yellow bell pepper, diced
• 1 Tbsp coconut oil
• 2 Tbsp. pumpkin seed butter
• 1 shallot, diced
• 5 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 Tbsp. cumin
• 2 Tbsp. chili powder
• 1 Tbsp. cayenne pepper
• 1 Tbsp. red pepper flakes
• 2 Tbsp. cocoa powder
• 1 Tbsp. cinnamon
• Sea salt, black pepper to taste

Directions

1. Saute the shallots, peppers, beef and sausage in the coconut oil over medium-high heat until tender and meat loses some of its pink. Drain off the fat.

2. Place meat, shallots and peppers in slow cooker. Add in all of the remaining ingredients. Blend together.

3. Cook on low for 6-7 hours, stirring occasionally. 

4. Serve alone, over real spaghetti, or as I did over spaghetti squash.  

Coming up: A Halloween "no fear" WOD and playlist, plus a core cross-training workout to make you stronger everywhere!

Sweet Potato Babies! Badass Fitness, Ginger Mantra Hit the Farm!

A redhead and a blonde walk up to a local farm where an unshaven organic farmer plays guitar.

Insert punchlines as you see fit, but my recent foodie field trip to a local organic farm with fellow blogger and SweatPink Ambassador Tammy Means (GingerMantra founder) was no joke!

Unbeknownst to us until our visit, this 10-acre gem of a place called Orchard Pond Organics sits just a short drive from where we eat, live, work, and workout daily. They raise grass-fed beef that is supplied to several local restaurants regularly.

They grow an amazing variety of organic vegetables, from red okra to lime basil and spinach. They produce honey.

Who knew?! Until recently, we didn't!

Finally, this past weekend, Tammy and I discovered Orchard Pond - and explored. (Read her post here.) 

I bought their organic honey. I cradled their massive sweet potatoes like a newborn baby. We walked the rows of crops, enjoying the pungent smell of lime basil and marveling at bright purple eggplants and red okra. We ate jambalaya cooked over an open fire in a big cauldron, like they used to way back when. We even picked okra -- which I promptly took home and stir-fried in coconut oil, pepper and sea salt for a dinner companion to my leftover Paleo chicken "fried rice." (recipe coming next week!)

And we walked away with information about joining the veggie co-op, where -- for starting at just $25 a week -- we can get all of these organic, locally grown veggies (and fruits and organic locally roasted coffee if we choose) for daily cooking and eating.

I share this because whether you are here in sunny Florida or thousands of miles from here, odds are you can find a similar organic or locally made offering in your community. I love Whole Foods and Trader Joe's and Earth Fare just as much as the next foodie. But I also loved eating that okra and knowing exactly where it grew, how it itched my fingers when I picked it, and how the soil felt under my shoes as I picked it.

I think it is important to get away from our busy rush-rush-rush lives once in awhile to remember - and discover - where our food comes from. I think we need to be more educated about how our food is grown, who grows it, and what they put on it. When one of the farm tour participants asked an Orchard Pond farmer what she does about pesky bugs on leafy greens, she replied, "We get in there and look for them and crush them with our fingers. And dish soap works, too."  That's it. No pesticides. No Franken-sprays. 

So here's my challenge to you: find something locally grown and raised where you live. Visit. Taste. Shop. Whole Foods and the like aren't going anywhere, which is a good thing! But it's also a good thing to visit the kind of farms that supply Whole Foods and other such stores. 

Friday TREAT alert: I am happy to be a #PoweredbyBits Energy Bits Ambassador, starting this week! For you all, it means you can enter "badassfit" when you buy any bag of algae power "bits" and get 15% off. (Read about them here.) Enjoy!!!

 

Coming up: Chicken Fried "Rice," and Yoga Stretches to keep you sane, and limber, on those upcoming Holiday road trips!

FEAR NOTHING: A Badass Playlist

A few hours later, I am still riding a wave of endorphins from this morning's cycle class. I had a new playlist, a tough ride profile, and a big class of students ready to #getafterit before dawn. #Badass!

I call this the "Fear Nothing" mix, because it's all about believing you CAN -- no matter how high the mountain gets, how heavy the weights feel, or how many miles you have left to run. For those of you teaching cycling, I have also posted the ride profile below. But this mix is just as good in the gym, in the CrossFit "box," or on a great run.

Enjoy it, and remember: The voice in your head telling you "can't" is a LIAR.

 

The Fear Nothing Ride:

Song 1: warmup (easy level)

Song 2: Moderate level and resistance w sprints on the chorus. Remember: you could have "piunded the alarm this morning, but you didn't! So #getafterit

Song 3: 30-20-10s, 4 loops. Take the last 30 seconds of the song to recover. Challenge: Go fastest and hardest on the last loop when your legs want to quit. YES you can.

Song 4: Tabata drills at moderate level of resistance.

Song 5: Straight uphill! Start at moderate, keep adding on resistance while maintaining pace every 30 seconds to end at breathless/anaerobic. On the "wobble" chorus, out of the saddle. If your legs feel "wobbly," you are right where you need to be! Working it!

Song 6: Take the first minute to recover at easy level from song 5. Then 30-20-10s, 4 loops, then another 45 seconds of recovery at the end of the song. Challenge: Take each section a little steeper than the first 30-20-10 song. The finish is in sight!

Song 7: Tabata drills at moderate level of resistance. The team behind you wants to win. Show them who's boss.

Song 8: This is our steepest, hardest push today! Start at the heavy side of "moderate" and every 30 seconds, add resistance. Do not let your pace wane. We are in this to win this.

Song 9: Take the first minute to recover at easy. We are in the valley, and the finish line is up at the top of this small mountain. Go from moderate to hard to anaerobic during the final 3 minutes.

Song 10: Cool down victory lap!

Cavegirl Eats: Chocolate Cravings, SQUASHed!!!

Going Paleo has made this Cavegirl adventurous.

Admittedly, not "go chase after wild boar" adventurous. More like "try foods and food combos you never would have before" adventurous.

Cauliflower curry "chicken fried rice"? Check! (blog/recipe on that to come!)Delicious pumpkin bread with not an ounce of wheat flour or dairy? Check! Spaghetti squash with a pumpkin-tomato sauce? Get in this tummy!

And while I haven't abandoned pumpkin as my fave fall gourd - that would just be wrong and foolish - I am discovering a second love in my Paleo eating adventures this season: the butternut squash.

Yeah, I know...Butter-who?!? But trust the Cavegirl on this one. Butternut squash is da bomb. And it is even more awesome when paired with chocolate. Go ahead, read back over that again. It is not a typo. Butternut squash + chocolate = a little taste of awesome on the tastebuds.

I recently tried this pairing two ways: hot and cold, liquid and pancake fluffiness. The butternut-chocolate smoothie was so good, and very similar to my fall pumpkin smoothie except it was heavier on the chocolate and the butternut squash lends a slightly different flavor than pumpkin. Ditto the chocolate squash pancakes, which I adapted from a basic Paleo pancake recipe by adding in squash just as I would pureed pumpkin.

Butternut squash is a lot like pumpkin in its culinary adaptability and high nutrition profile. In fact, you can substitute butternut squash for pumpkin in most recipes.

I am also embracing pumpkin's fall "cousin" for a few reasons:

• One cup of butternut squash has just 80 calories that are basically fat free and very high in fiber.
• One cup delivers almost half of daily vitamin C needs and more than 100% of daily recommended vitamin A (beta carotene). High beta-carotene levels help protect against age-related macular degeneration and some studies point to it for preventing breast cancer.
• It is so versatile in the kitchen. It can be baked (at 350 degrees for about an hour) and then used as I did in pancakes and smoothies, or pureed into soups and chilis. You can also mash it or cube and roast it with seasonings that are sweet (cinnamon, honey, etc.) or savory (garlic, rosemary, sea salt, pepper, etc.)
• For a quick dessert, I top a cup of baked butternut squash with cinnamon, a teaspoon of honey and almond butter or PB2 Powder and heat it in the microwave. Holy amaze-balls. Try it!

And the next time a chocolate craving hits, try one of these bad boy recipes below. They can be breakfast, lunch, workout fuel, or "breakfast for dinner"! (If you aren't sure where to get any of these ingredients, most health food stores have them or go online to Swansons. They have it all!)

Chocolate-Butternut Power Smoothie

Ingredients

• 1 cup chocolate unsweetened almond milk
• 1 scoop chocolate egg white protein powder (I used Jay Robb)
• 1/2 cup baked mashed butternut squash
• 1 Tbsp. cocoa powder
• 1 Tbsp. cinnamon
• 1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
• 10-12 drops liquid stevia
• 1 Tbsp. chia seeds
• 1/8 tsp. each xanthan and guar gum (all-natural thickeners)
• 1/2 cup or so of Ice cubes

Directions: Mix all ingredients into a blender, Vitamix, etc. for about 2 minutes until it is thick and frothy like a milkshake! SO good:)

Nutritional info: 200 calories, 7 grams fat (all good fats!), 18 grams carbs, 7 grams fiber, 1 gram sugar, 18 grams protein

Squash the Chocolate Monster Pancakes

Ingredients

• 4 Tbsp. coconut flour
• 1/2 cup baked mashed butternut squash
• 1/4 to 1/3 cup unsweetened chocolate almond milk
• 2 eggs, 1 egg white
• 1 Tbsp. agave nectar or honey
• 1/2 tsp. apple cider vinegar
• 1 Tbsp. cocoa powder 
• 1 Tbsp. cinnamon
• 1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
• 1/4 tsp. baking soda
• 1 Tbsp. coconut oil
• Toppings: sugar-free maple syrup, fresh fruit or your fave nut butter

Directions

1. Mix all ingredients together, stirring just until combined. Batter will be slightly thicker than regular pancakes.

2. Heat coconut oil over medium-low heat in a pancake griddle/pan. These pancakes will not cook properly at medium high or high, so be patient.

3. When the pan is heated, spoon the pancake batter into small circles. Let them set and flip once the bottoms start to brown, after about 2 minutes (these won't bubble up like regular pancakes).

4. Serve with sugar-free maple syrup, fresh fruit or your favorite nut butter. (Note: this makes 8 small pancakes, so I enjoyed half for breakfast and half for a mid-afternoon snack!)

Nutritional info (for all 8 pancakes):  400 calories, 18 grams of fat  33 grams of carbs, 14 grams of fiber, 4 grams of sugar, 29 grams of protein

Tell me what you think after you try these! And what other odd but awesome food pairings are you loving right now? Dish so that we can all dish!

 

Coming up: Holiday travel coming up? I've got some yoga stretches that can be done in your car!

Yesterday, you said tomorrow...make TODAY count.

Yesterday, you said tomorrow...But what would you do with today if that's all there was?

I woke up Sunday morning to learn that a friend, after a long fight with cancer, had passed. Steve was barely 45. He was a loving husband, father to two young children.

I first met him when I was a newspaper reporter covering the Florida Legislature. We were self-annointed July 25 "birthday twins," and whenever we saw each other at the Capitol, he teased me about my "guns" and promised me he was about to get back into shape. In more serious moments, we talked about how much we feared cancer. His had started as a mole on his back that he had removed and treated - he thought, for good. Mine started with a colonoscopy, fortunately was caught early, and hasn't returned. 

I remember Steve telling me how glad he was that the cancer was gone, how the birth of his children brought home how much he really wanted to live, and for a really long time. 

I share all of this with you because his death this weekend was one of those horrible pieces of news that you know is coming, yet when it does, it still startles and jolts. I just keep thinking how short his life was, how there are so many things he never got to do, how many tomorrows he will miss. It was a reminder to take every day as a blessing - because it is - and to respect and be grateful for our health and strength. Those are blessings, too.

People often ask why I am so passionate about fitness. Why I go full-throttle and encourage my students and clients to do the same. The answer: Because there were terrifying moments -- as I went through tests and poking and prodding and surgery -- when I thought, "What if this is really all I get? Just 30 years?" I know Steve had those moments, too. Too many of them.

I am fortunate enough to have emerged healthy. Workouts make me feel alive, vivid, strong. Will they keep every illness away? Will they guarantee that I never get full blown cancer, the thing I fear most in the world? No.

But while I am in the middle of a great class with awesome students, I feel invincible and love helping them feel the same. We are using the healthy bodies with which God has blessed us. We are making the most of TODAY. I wish Steve had another "today."

I challenge you to do the same. Whatever it is you've been putting off - whether it is your first workout in 10 years, your first 10k, or finally calling up that estranged friend or loved one - stop putting it off until "tomorrow."

Yesterday, you said tomorrow. TODAY is what counts.

 

Abracadabra, Abradacabra, Abraca-Badass Builder!

Badass CEO Confession: I am actually really self-conscious of my own Badass.

"Too bubbly, too big, not perky enough..." Seriously, these are the thoughts that go through my head fairly regularly. Yeah, yeah, I know, it is silly and totally NOT in keeping with my own Badass CEO mantra to love ourselves and embrace our strengths instead of focusing on what we think our flaws. Never mind the irony of this blog's name. Sigh. Being human is tough, right? Almost as tough as following our own advice sometimes! Double sigh.

But here's another confession: When that voice pops into my head, I give myself a mental slap in the face and remind myself of this: The gluteus maximum, minimus -- and the legs and hips to which they are connected -- are the all-powerful muscles that enable me to power through a cycling class,  run to the top of the football stadium, and run 400s at the track in under 90 seconds. So hey, so what if there's some junk back in the trunk? A little junk gives me a little oomph in my fitness performance! 

The WOD below is all about embracing your junk in the trunk and making it stronger -- and guys, this applies to you as well, because we don't like pancake booties! Lunges, bench step-ups, squats and deadlifts are all key exercises to building not just a shapelier badass, but a stronger one that will power you through those races, bootcamps, classes and hiking vacations.

I did this workout last week, and it took me about an hour. You go through the entire circuit below twice (or once if you are pressed for time, and it is still a great workout!) (This was adapted and inspired by a summer post from PurelyTwins, fellow Fitfluential Ambassadors, who are awesome and should be included in your bookmarked links!)

All you need is a bench with risers (I used 3 on each side, but do what works for you) and a set of dumbbells. Start with those 50 jacks as a warmup and also do 25 jumping jacks between every set to keep the heart rate (and metabolism, hence calorie burn) up. I used 15-lb dumbbells, but use whatever weight is challenging. From there, you get stronger and add on over time!

Now go on, #getafterit! Your badass will thank you!

 Coming up: How to Squash your chocolate cravings, and lessons from my organic farm tour with fellow SweatPink ambassador/blogger GingerMantra!

Cavegirl Eats...Frosting-topped cake bread for breakfast!?! YES. Yes, I do. #notsorry

When I was a little girl, I loved mornings with my Grandma. Always, they started with an Entenmann's loaf pound cake or a cinnamon crumble-topped coffee cake. My favorite was the cinnamon coffee cake. I saved the crumble top for last and savored every one. Somehow, it felt like we were doing something really special. Something I got to do only because I was with Grandma.

We were eating CAKE... for breakfast! 

It made every bite just seem more delicious.

I recently perfected a pumpkin bread recipe that reminds me of those mornings with my Grandma. It is moist, delicious, topped with frosting and coconut sprinkles...and also happens to be Paleo. That, I declare, is a foodie win!

This is super easy and quick to make, a total crowd pleaser. Just ask my bootcamp students and co-workers, who got a taste of the leftovers! This sweet bread is just as tasty in the morning as it is for a mid-afternoon pick-me-up or dessert. And if anyone asks, "are you SURE you want a slice of that sweet bread" with the tone that says, I am judging you for eating sweets, here is what you can say:

"Yes, actually, I am sure I want this slice. Because this pumpkin bread is Badass. It is packed with protein, fiber, and healthy fats. So I'm going to stuff this into my mouth, and you can watch if you want. But I am not sharing!" #BOOM

Because, seriously, look at this decadence. You know you want some!  The recipe is below, so give it a try!

Shannon's Cavegirl Pumpkin Bread

Dry Ingredients

• 1 cup almond meal
• 1/4 tsp. sea salt
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 2 Tbsp. cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp. cloves
• 2 tsp. nutmeg
• 1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice

Wet Ingredients

• 3 Tbsp. pumpkin seed butter **
• 1/2 cup canned or fresh-roasted pumpkin
• 2 Tbsp. honey or agave nectar
• 1 tsp. vanilla liquid stevia
• 3 eggs

Add-in

• 1 cup dried cranberries
• You can also add chopped nuts, chopped apples, banana, etc.

Frosting ingredients

• 1 scoop Jay Robb vanilla egg white protein powder
• 1 Tbsp. Cinnamon
• 1/4 cup almond milk, unsweetened, give or take until you get desired consistency
• 3 Tbsp. unsweetened flaked coconut

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a small, mini-loaf pan (I used coconut oil).

2. In large bowl, combine the dry ingredients. 

3. In smaller bowl, combine the wet ingredients.

4. Mix the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients for about 2 minutes. 

5. Fold in the cranberries or whatever add-ins you are using. 

6. Pour batter into pan and bake 35-45 minutes, or until golden brown and knife inserted comes out clean. Let it cool.

7. To make the frosting, mix with a spoon all ingredients except the coconut. Add milk until it is a frosting glaze consistency.

8. Frost the bread, then sprinkle the coconut over the top. Voila!

Coming up: Field notes from my trip with GingerMantra to a local organic farm, an Abracada-Badass sculpter WOD, and two recipes to SQUASH your chocolate cravings!

 

Badass VP Guest Blog: Diary of a Skinny Kid

Note from the Badass CEO: Recruits, there are many awesome things about Chris Turner, our "Army VP" who shared via this blog his awesome #360to30 journey beginning last year. He is funny, honest, smart, committed, and did I mention honest? Yes, Chris is great at bringing up for debate the topics we don't always like to discuss - a nod to his political junkie side. Today, he tackles an issue that he knows will elicit some "I am not sympathetic" eye rolls or outright "talk to the hand" face palms. But he raises very good points about the ways we tend to assume things about others based solely on appearance...including his "skinny legs." His guest blog is a reminder that being supportive of others on their fitness journeys is a must, regardless of size and body type. Read on, and I encourage you to read to the finish.... 

From Chris: In all the talk about fitness and eating healthy, people tend to push the discussion toward weight loss, or losing inches around our stomach, thighs, and arms. 

But I'd like to address the dark horse of the community, the thing we don’t see discussed much.  I’m going to say something that will probably have my tires slashed; tripwire and claymores placed in front of my door; and possible hits put out on my life: being skinny is tough, and not that great. 

OK, wait, wait. Before you organize the mob to come after me, please read on: 

Here are few things that we skinny-but-trying-not-to-be people want others to understand:

1. Listen, we know we are skinny. We know how small our legs are. We get it. 
2. Yes. That meal replacement shake is for me. No, I am not trying to make you look bad.  It’s because I burned 600 calories this morning in a spin class, or have a 30 mile bike ride this afternoon and I would rather not pass out while on it, and also I am trying NOT to lose any weight.
3. Yes, I know I know. I am lucky to be this small “naturally.” Can we leave the condescension at the door please? 
4. Some of us do try to put on weight. Peanut butter protein smoothies twice a day.  Heavy lifting three times a week. Nothing works. And when we do get that increase in weight, after a couple of bike rides or runs, it’s gone. This is not fun. It is frustrating. I may be skinny, but I want strong.

People see skinny as a goal.  But why?  Skinny isn't the same as "fit."  When students or friends talk to me about their fitness goals, I always try to steer them toward focusing on fit, not skinny.  When it comes to fitness, strong trumps skinny.  Look at the pictures of the recent Augusta Half-Ironman. 

Yeah, some of those people running around may not be the smallest people in the world, but they just swam 1.2 miles, biked 56 miles, and ran a half-marathon. They are strong, and beautiful, and they have worked for it. Some people are born a certain way, some bigger than others, some smaller than others. But everyone can accomplish a goal.

So how about we embrace all people of all shapes and sizes?  There is too much to love and enjoy about life without being concerned with how someone else looks in comparison to you, and yes I have accepted I will never have the “V” of Nathan Adrian.  So let’s all turn off the judgment for a little bit (me included, I have been just as guilty of looking at someone and making assumptions), and just be happy. 

If you see someone at Starbucks who, in your mind, is overweight and is ordering a sugary glass of sweet, don’t judge.  And when you see me walking by you, don’t offer me a milkshake.  Odds are, I have already had one for the day.

Coming up: Pumpkin cake bread that will make you want a second slice...and another; and a circuit routine to make your 'junk in the trunk' stronger!