New Month, New Challenge

What a great weekend! I am so sad to see it ending. There was a lot of snow up in Huntsville this weekend and we were able to do some cross country skiing, tubing and a little hiking. With the snow up to our knees and even higher in some places walking through the snow was pretty difficult! This was the first time I'd ever gone cross country skiing and I loved it! I had a hard time in the beginning and kept trying to walk with the skis but as soon as I started thinking about gliding and having the skis work for me I became a pro! Downhill skiing scares the bejesus outta me, so the little incline and declines in the x-country trails were just perfect for me. I loved the fact that you were on the trail and had the freedom to stop and look at things along the way, like the little creek that had not frozen over and the stable with horses (next time we're riding!).

All the activity was rightfully balanced by tv watching (we don't have cable at home so we were spoiled with the cable in our room!), drinking (have you had a rocket yet? Half a glass of your favourite beer mixed with half a glass of Smirnoff Ice. Trust me, it's delicious and works with cider too!) tasty treats (popcorn, chips and brownies) and yummy meals (quinoa and couscous salad, butternut squash soup, a Montana's veggie burger that was WAY better than you'd ever expect and all you can eat breakfast with buckwheat pancakes). 

Today I started my day right with an hour yoga class at the Toronto Reference Library for Power of Movement. It was an event put on to raise money to beat arthritis and other autoimmune diseases. It seemed to be a successful event with lots of people at all different levels. There were even some kids who really seemed to enjoy themselves. It was nice to get out of the house early and practice not only for me but for a good cause with some good friends.

Now that's enough fooling around! Now that the weekend is behind me and we are beginning March I've decided to set some new goals and start a new challenge. After talking with my nutritionist a few weeks ago she suggested I cut down on processed sugar, caffeine and gluten and that is what I am going to do. Starting Monday for 6 weeks I am going to cut out all the processed sugar, caffeine and gluten in my diet. I really got my fill of all that this weekend (except for caffeine, which I said I was going to cut this weekend and did!) so I think this first week might be a little difficult but as the days go on it should get easier, finger crossed. And this is going t be a great time to try out some new recipes, and give that graham cracker recipe another try.

I think this is really great timing as it is also the last 4 weeks of my bootcamp. I haven't really paid attention to my diet for the last 4 weeks and that really counter acts the work I've been doing at the gym. By getting my diet under control I will be more likely to see results from class and in turn more happy and proud of myself! And that is the whole point of taking care of your body, no?

To start my week right I've already made a batch of homemade, sugar-free salad dressing. In a glass bottle in the fridge this dressing should last at least week (thought the recipe says two months, I find the dry ingredients get soggy after a while) and is much better for me than the delicious dressing I buy from the grocery store. Yes, as you can see I'm already missing the store bought dressing but with so many recipes out there I'm sure I'll find a dressing I can make at home that really does it for me.

This Greek Style dressing is adapted from A Michigan Mom - At the Dinner Table.

Dry ingredients:

1 teaspoons of garlic salt1/2 teaspoon dried oregano1/2 teaspoon dried basil1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper1/2 teaspoon onion powder
Wet: 1/4 cup olive oil 

1/4 cup white wine vinegar 

1/8 cup water

Splash of cider vinegar 

Shake and use or place in fridge for up to 2 months.