Learning to Love Myself: One Step at a Time

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My sweet friend Sarah Kagan (who's becoming a regular contributor around here) has so kindly offered to step in today since I am rockin' and rollin' this week with health coaching and workshop prep!  She just spent the last few months dealing with a training injury that taught her a very valuable lesson.  Thank you, Sarah, for being brave enough to share your personal reflection with us today!

BY: SARAH KAGAN, CONTRIBUTOR

I decided I would run 1,000 miles in 2013. It was a respectable number, but one that would ultimately be more a test of my determination than my ability. I had been getting more serious about running over the last few months, and I knew I could physically handle it as long as I was committed.

In order to hold myself accountable, I started writing my miles down on a calendar. Similar to a food journal, I could see how many miles I had run and on how many days each week, and I kept a running total [no pun intended] at the top of each month to track my progress.  

At first, it was empowering to see my calendar littered with tallies. But then there were a few days of bad weather, followed by a few days I was on vacation, followed by a few days when I was just plain busy. I was slipping behind, and finding it increasingly more difficult to catch up.

So I ran harder. I was turning my rest days into run days, and even staying in on Saturday nights in order to get up early and log more miles on Sunday. I started to develop, by all accounts, an unhealthy relationship with my goal. No matter what number stared back at me, it never seemed to be enough. I pushed through pain and fatigue, determined to reach my benchmarks no matter what.

Until one day about two months ago, something happened. One minute I was fine, soaking in the early spring sunshine as I rounded the final corner towards home, and then just like that, I wasn’t. Within seconds, I found myself in more agony than I knew how to handle. And still, with tears streaming down my face, I ran. After what felt like an eternity, with pain radiating from my back, hip, and side, I hobbled through my front door, grabbed a pen, and logged my miles. I promised myself a rest day to follow, but assumed I would be back in my sneakers in no time.

Within two days, I was limiting my movement to accomplish only the bare necessities. And then I wasn’t really moving at all. And finally, when even the idea of moving brought me tears, I called my family for help. My brother drove up from Philadelphia and took me home to my parent’s house, which is where I spent two weeks laying on the floor, unable and unwilling to move.

Image via community.mainlinehealth.org

I was frustrated, confused, and angry. As a health coach and cooking teacher, I pride myself on being healthy. I know all the rules, eat a clean diet, and exercise regularly. Doctor after doctor, I longed for answers…. but somewhere between their indifference and my overwhelming frustration I knew exactly how this happened to me. The need to be seen as a runner, to align my own self worth with a physically demanding goal, to ignore my instincts and body for the sake of putting numbers on a chart is how this happened to me. I let running and meeting my goal become such a part of my identity that I stopped listening to my own needs, and stopped identifying with my body. It was a very, very painful reality check.

It took two weeks and an injection in my muscle before I was able to walk again, and it was another month before I finally laced up my sneakers. I never thought a mile could seem as far as it did that first day. But now, rather than beat myself up for not running farther, faster, or more often, I am celebrating myself for ever step. I am grateful for every minute I am able to spend outside, pavement under my feet, slowly building my mileage. I know that reaching my 1,000 mile goal this year is out of the question, and I am okay with that. But life is like that. Sometimes you reach the finish line, meet your ideal weight, or land your dream job… and sometimes just being able to put one foot in front of the other is enough.

Working as a chef on an organic farm in Costa Rica, Sarah Kagan discovered her passion behind the stove and around the dinner table. She moved to Brooklyn last fall and currently serves as the Director of Wellness + Food Education for Butter Beans Kitchen, where she teaches tiny tots the joys of getting messy in the kitchen. You can follow Sarah’s kitchen chronicles on her blog, www.beyondthebatter.org, or spend some one on one time with the girl behind the batter at a private cooking class or party. From pancakes to tier cakes, Sarah loves all things food related, and she loves sharing her passion with others.

Permission to Live a Little: Moderation is Best in Moderation!

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I'll be honest, last week's vacation was NOT a lesson in moderation, unless you consider drinking sauvignon blanc for breakfast 'moderation'. My breakfast of choice did, in fact, elicit some looks of disdain from my newly acquired fiancé, but I felt justified in pulling the 'Napa card'. It's not every day a girl's in Napa, celebrating her engagement and visiting a long lost friend. 

But it didn't stop there. What started as a liquid breakfast turned into a brunch fit for a queen (and all her subjects). We were very liberal with our order from the start, which was a HUGE mistake because our friend Kipp in the kitchen at Farmstead, being the nice guy that he is, took it upon himself to send us even more food. Can you say 4 appetizers and a basket full of cheese biscuits before we even touched our entrees and dessert?

So, needless to say, I was one big blob on the return flight. I think I had to unbutton the top button of my jeans. Hard to remember after all that wine.

But today, instead of highlighting my gluttony, I'd like to celebrate the fact that I could actually indulge a little, sans guilt! It's so important! There are a few people in my life who NEVER indulge (don't worry, I won't be naming names). These people eat clean all the time, never have more than one glass of wine per day, exercise religiously and honestly, don't ever have any fun! 

That's no way to live!

I spend a lot of time on my blog talking about the dangers of certain lifestyle choices, whether it be food, drinks, relationships, you name it. I fear that I sometimes come off as 'holier than though'. If not that, I may seem to you like some strange freak of nature with the willpower of a saint. But I'm here to tell you that I'm not always exemplary... and that's OK!

I'm old enough (yikes! let's not talk about it!) to realize that stressing over a little indulging is only going to affect you in a negative way. Indulging makes you human. It makes you balanced. Hell, it even makes you fun! 

So as we head into the weekend, have a little fun. Your Health Coach said it's OK! 

And now, for more California pictures, made slightly more hip with the help of Instagram! It felt like the California thing to do.

Spent our first afternoon at Cavallo Point, a beautiful hotel overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge.

A lovely drive to watch the sunset and check out more views of the city.

An impromptu tour of the marina's most interesting houseboats. I would live in this one, if only for the awesome 80's art.

The breathtaking view from Marissa's house in Sausalito. I will forever be jealous.

Exploring a different (and might I say, better?) Chinatown - no handbag solicitations AND tons of room to walk.

Afternoon tea and edamame at the Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park

Admiring the beautiful details of every single home. 

We went out hoping to find some seals, but they were too far away to see. Instead, I got a beach squirrel. He was pretty cute though.

A lazy afternoon nap in the park before hiking Land's End.

Our cute little AirBnB cottage in Healdsburg.

Joined a wine club at beautiful Dutcher Crossing Winery.

Being serenaded by our bartender at Lava Vine to celebrate our engagement.

We had to try out the polarized glasses they gave us for salmon sighting in the river! 

A gift from our friends at Long Meadow Ranch... I loved that the label bears my new initials!

A feast fit for a queen at Farmstead before flying back to NYC! We went from 80 degrees to 30 degrees in a matter of hours!

Leaving On A Jet Plane: Sunny California, Here I Come!

Image courtesy of mysweetprintsblog.blogspot.com

Hello, lovely readers! If the weather in NYC cooperates, I am headed to sunny San Francisco later today for some much needed R&R... and in honor of balance, I will be taking a week long hiatus from the blog. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend (and week), and I'll see you on the flip side with lots of California-inspired posts! I hear they're pretty healthy out there!

Farewell!

A Happy Balance: Look at Your Food with Love!

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Food is not the enemy. I repeat, food is not the enemy! Put your weapons down, people! Being a woman myself, I feel justified in making a generalization about my tribe... we tend to have a very warped view of food. We categorize it into good or bad, high calorie or low calorie, high fat or low fat. We're either reading the label for 20 minutes in the grocery aisle or spending 20 minutes feeling guilty for not reading the label and buying with abandon. Instead of looking forward to meal time, we've made it so complicated that it's no longer fun - counting calories, controlling portion sizes, making sure we have don't exceed our daily sugar limit. Even I'm exhausted! 

I'm here today to tell you that it's OK to enjoy your food. You can even stare at it longingly the way you'd stare at your 6th grade crush. I promise it won't bite (on the contrary, you'll be the one doing all the biting). Your body needs nourishment to function. It is wired to experience cravings. In fact, that's your body's way of signalling to you that you're lacking in something. 

You can leave the guilt at the door when you feed your body real food and understand that only real food will stifle these cravings. Here are a few tips to help you hone the mind-body connection at the dinner table...

Image via vegnews.com

EAT WITH JOY - We've all been there... there's a big test coming up or a daunting presentation at work and your stomach is in a big, fat knot. There's no doubt that your emotions have a direct impact on your physical state, especially digestion. Studies have shown that when you're sad or angry, your digestive system slows down considerably. On the contrary, when you eat with joy, your body will accept the food more readily and digest it properly. If you sit down to a meal filled with guilt, your body will take it's cue and respond appropriately, that's why it's so important to eat with joy and enjoy your food!

Image via vibincblog.com

JUST RELAX - Meal time in America is no longer a special affair. I remember watching Leave It to Beaver (man, I feel old) and everyone was dressed for dinner in their Sunday best. Now while there's no way I'm putting on pearls for spaghetti night (sorry, Adam), I do believe that this concept is reflective of a very healthy attitude towards eating. The digestive system is better equipped to do it's job when we are relaxed and focused on enjoying our meal in the company of our family and friends. Instead of having to allocate resources to other areas of the body as you eat 'on the run', the body can pay full attention to the digestive process, leaving you feeling nourished and satisfied.

Image via myessentia.com

STOP BEFORE YOU'RE STUFFED - As I've mentioned before, it's best to stop eating before you're stuffed. When you overeat, the body has to direct all it's energy towards digesting this massive line of food waiting to pass through the digestive tract. You know that feeling of stagnation and lack of energy you have after a big meal? Well, your body is using all it's energy to digest this massive quantity of food. Do you really expect there to be any left for you? Stop before you're stuffed.

Image via flickr.com

LISTEN TO YOUR BODY - When your body is lacking in a particular nutrient, it sends a message to your brain which in turn, results in a craving. Cravings are a biological urge to ensure that you get the foods you need. For example, when you're craving carbs, your body is telling you it needs energy. Stop feeling guilty about the craving and give your body what it wants. Just remember that your body is asking for good carbs like root vegetables or whole grains, not the kind with no nutritional value whatsoever - refined bread, white rice, etc. When you eat these things, your body won't be satisfied and you'll be right back where you started.

It's time we gave our bodies the love and respect they deserve. There's no complicated equation when it comes to eating. When you are eating real food and doing it in a relaxed, appreciative state, your body will take care of the rest! 

And just in case you wondered how I fared in Blizzard Nemo...

Minus the longest line I've EVER seen at Trader Joe's...

...and my complete inability to catch a cab home with my heavy load,

It turned out OK, when I woke up to THIS Saturday morning! Sooo pretty!

Weekend Wrap-Up: A Happy Balance

Image courtesy of carolynandersonmd.com

Maybe you've wondered why my blog is called Strictly Nutritious when a good bit of my posts are not directly related to food. I chose that name because I believe that nutrition is much more than the food you eat. Your nutrition depends on many factors that make up your lifestyle - physical activity, career, relationships and spirituality. When you're able to find a balance between these important aspects of your life (in addition to the food that you eat), then your life will be more happy, more healthy... more nutritious!

Sadly, though they help us nurture the area of relationships (hello, holiday parties), the holidays can be a bit taxing when it comes to the other areas of your life. It's pretty hard to feel spiritual when you're standing in line at Macy's with 5 trillion other impatient people and a few screaming children. I know I feel much less mindful when December hits and the subways become a bit more crowded than usual as everyone descends on New York to check out the Rockefeller Center tree or Central Park ice skating. On top of that, physical activity tends to take the back seat this month as time is limited and holiday goodies are flowing.

So what's a girl (or guy) to do?

I think the best way to have a successful holiday season is to remember to make time to nurture yourself. In other words, RELAX! The food will eventually get made, the presents will eventually get wrapped and the house will eventually clean itself (well, maybe I lied a little on this one). The important thing to remember is that your body still needs to be fed. It needs time set aside to relax. It needs time set aside to be still and recharge the battery. It needs time to remember what the holiday season is all about. 

And believe me... when you take time to nurture yourself you'll be much better equipped to do the same for others.

So what did I do this weekend? I took some time to relax and have a little fun!! A girl's gotta take her own advice every now and then!

Enjoy the pictures and remember to take a deep breath (and maybe a nap) this holiday season!

Taking in our first Brooklyn Nets basketball game at the new stadium in our neighborhood.
I don't mean to brag, but JayZ was there. I think I caught him looking at me. ;)

Documenting our great seats! Only 9 rows back. Thanks, bossman!

An early morning brunch with my bestie.

If you haven't been to Peels on Bowery for brunch, you should stop by and get a rosemary muffin. Heaven!

Walter prefers fresh, running water. What a snob!

Being the nerds that we are, we spent Saturday evening working on a puzzle. How old are we again?

Followed by some light reading straight from the Travel Essays section of B&N.
Dangerous reading for a girl that likes to travel.

Sunday morning at the Brooklyn Flea (housed in the old bank).

Check out that architecture!

If only there was a little nephew in my life to buy for. Hello, there's a ninja turtle figurine! AWESOME!

Check out these cool iPhone cases made from old vinyls.

A rainy search for brunch brought us upon this cool mural in Ft. Greene.

Rain, rain, go away!

Finally... a cozy spot at Franny's.

Followed by some marinated olives (a fan fav)...

... and a pizza (it was splurge day, ok?)!

Puzzle... complete!

Now don't we look well rested?

Saturday Splurge: Tacombi (Manhattan)

There's an unspoken rule on the subway in New York City... you should give up your seat to a pregnant woman. That being said, you know a restaurant's really good when you purposely allow your 'food baby' to stick out, in hopes of securing a seat on the train. Yes, I paraded my belly without shame and yes, I got a seat. Damn was that food good!

If you don't know this by now, you're just not paying attention... I love Mexican food. I'll wear a sombrero even, if that's what it takes to enjoy a taco al pastor or a bowl of creamy queso. So when Adam and I stumbled across Tacombi on Elizabeth Street, I had full confidence that this would be the beginning of a torrid love affair with some tacos.

Tacombi @ Fonda Nolita is what you call a 'taqueria on wheels'. Dario Wolos, a native of Mexico, opened Tacombi in 2010, after being 'discovered' by Food Network personality Aaron Sanchez while serving up tacos out of his Volkswagon Combi on the beaches of Playa del Carmen. Making sure not to lose the food truck appeal, Wolos opened up shop in a 2,100-square-foot garage and parked an actual VW Combi inside. The best part is... that's where they put the tacos together! The roof of the van lifts up, leaving room for at least 3 people to get in there and plate some tacos.

Even when it's crowded, they keep things moving. We got a table within ten minutes, but that didn't stop us from having a few drinks beforehand. The bar holds a colorful display of red and white sangria and a crazy little cocktail of horchata (a traditional Mexican drink usually made with rice, milk, vanilla and cinnamon) spiked with sake. Of course I went for the horchata. The combination was surprisingly delicious...and I'm not even a fan of sake!

While we were happily sipping our adult beverages, the food started to arrive. Wait!?! We JUST sat down! That was faster than a New York minute! We started with the corn esquites, which I can only describe as a steaming hot cup of goodness - toasted corn, cheese, chipotle mayo and lime.

For our taco selection, we went with the beef barbacoa, al pastor de puerco, zucchini and mushroom and maiz y poblano tacos. The tacos range anywhere from $3-6, which I found to be a little on the pricey side when you consider their size. I've eaten a lot of tacos in my life (obviously). I'm not going to say these are 'the absolute best' tacos I've ever had, but they are definitely a solid choice when you factor in the surroundings and the fun cocktails.

Tacombi makes you feel like you've temporarily escaped the tribulations of a hot New York City summer. You can almost see the glistening ocean waves. Did I just hear someone say, 'Which way to the beach, ladies?'?

And, as for the dress code, you might want to call them for verification, but I'm willing to bet your surf shorts will suffice! Surf's up, city folk!





TACOMBI @ FONDA NOLITA
267 Elizabeth St. (between Prince and Houston)
New York, NY 10012
917.727.0179
www.tacombi.com