Orange Wednesday

 Hey gypsies, it's been awhile but I'm another adventure and I'm making it my duty to write about it. As I travel the skies in my journey to DC, I thought I would battle strangers, canceled flights, and crying babies. Shockingly, it was an orange that attempted to slight me. I can still feel the prickly itching, the scratchy throat, taste of citrus in the still air. 

It all being in the ORD USO, while I was re-packing my suitcase and a young child began to eat an orange. So I left and sat outside with the regular folk and towards the end of Vampire Diaries , a man across from me began the peeling of his orange. 

Aghast I looked around, was i the only one in shock? Perchance did these oranges come from in late November????!!! As I again ventured from a comfortable chair, I met the eyes of man selling oranges at the Farmers Market below. I admit I glared. Sighing I went to my gate, boarded the plane, squeezed into the middle seat and as the computerize flight attendant told me about the exit rows.... A tingling sensation graced my shoulders, from beyond my row of 20 I heard the munching of another orange eater. We're I not to be free from this danger? 

I beseeched the irritable old bat of flight attendant: "ma'am could you make an announcement regarding allergies and ask the passengers not to consume oranges as my epipen is below." She gave me two options. 1) get off the plane 2) bare it. Later she came back and spouted off a few policies that ended with, "next time bring your epipen with you."

Clearly I felt aggrieved and still quite itchy. Popping an 800 ibuprofen I covered my face and forced sleep. I would note the dousing of whiskey I inhaled from my sleeping seat partner.... Who I have a sneaking suspicion unapologetically slept on my shoulder.

Lesson learned, in November it is not uncommon for individuals to consume oranges, completely ignoring the decency of eating bananas or apples during this fall season. 

I have no choice but to blame GMOs. 

Ok, this story is over... It's  time to visit the Smithsonian Institution 

30 day fitness challenge | Fitness Haul

So I've done it again, fallen off the wagon & SPLAT right back into fat! I mean there was less fat to deal with back in June.... so I'm doubling up and taping my mouth..

• The plan is to workout BEFORE work & after. I have T25 to assist me here because its only 25 minutes. My after workouts will be either at the Gym or at Home, I have Insanity, Turbo Fire, and recently acquired BodyBeast for the days I don't feel like going to the Gym or the WEATHER is awful and I don't feel like driving. Clearly the biggest struggle will be waking up in the morning. So I will try to be in bed by 9:30pm!
• No sweets & chips (not including tortilla chips)... Alcohol only ONCE a week. I have to preplan and only drink sparingly for that specific day.
• 80-120 oz of water is the goal!
• Maintain my calories of 1716!

To help me along in my journey, I went to the GNC and bought these (it was buy 1 get 1 50% off w/membership price:

C4 = $16.14, Wheybolic (protein powder) =  $35.99

Shockingly I also bought for $40.37 an appetite suppressant. (no judging)

So that's it for my Fitness Haul -- please no that I won't be sticking to just ONE or TWO workouts. I'm planning to get out my comfort zone and try some different workouts! It should be fun!

Make sure you follow me on Youtube & Instagram! 

http://youtu.be/jO3bhyhpsuc   http://instagram.com/87sfitclub

Crockpot Fish Stew w/ Red Wine

 Ingredients:

inspiration: http://southernfood.about.com/od/crockpotsoup/r/bl16c11.htm

• whiting fish (wild caught, store bought)
• olive oil
• 3-4 garlic cloves
• .5 purple onion, sliced
• 1 zucchini squash, sliced/diced
• 1 yellow squash, sliced/diced
• 1 can basil/oregano diced tomatoes
• shake in dried basil
• shake in dried oregano
• shake in salt
• shake in red cayenne pepper
• shake in pepper
• pour in dry red wine (I used Redwood Creek Rich Red Blend (Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah)
• pour in chicken broth -- maybe 1/2 cup

Preparation:

Combine all ingredients in crockpot -- try to spread the fish out--some at the bottom, some in the middle, and top. Stir gently. Cover and cook on HIGH setting for 3 to 4.5 hrs, the squash needs to be cooked well. You should hear the olive oil popping/zzing in the crock pot.

1200 Calories are Not Enough!

"What I do know is that 1200 is the general number of calories health professionals say women cannot drop below without suffering negative health consequences.

Interesting, isn’t it? 1200 calories. The line between health and what they call “starvation mode”. 1200 calories. The dangerous tightrope that many women are trying to walk, because they think this is how thinness is achieved."

I'm reposting this great blog post below. If you are on your fitness journey and it seems like your not losing weight and just maintaining. Don't give up. The link has some GREAT info!

It's a great read!

IF you have the chance visit a nutritionist to find out how many calories you should be consuming based on your Resting Metabolic Rate.

I found out today that based on my fitness activity I should be consuming 1716 calories a day!

crazy when I was steadily limiting myself to ONLY 1200 or less. smh If your on a Military base visit your Wellness Center, the testing is FREE!

Oh and I definitely encourage my female friends to begin weight training! Those inches are coming off bay-bee! :)

http://sophieologie.me/2013/09/26/1200-calories/

The Quest for Inclusion: Cultural Competency & K-State’s Women’s Basketball

Just a few minutes ago I received the following picture via the International Student Forum's list serve:

I admit I'm quite cynical yet as my friends and colleagues have stated, this is GOOD. I'm glad they are being proactive. I'm sure this will just be another notch on their belt. Some people may never know the reasoning's, but I'm glad they took it a step forward. Now let's hope some cultural competency trainings have occurred for students & staff!

Some people have stated:

"I appreciate them working towards inclusion. Thanks for the update!"
"Yaiiii"
"Way to go! It pays to voice your opinion in a civil manner"

I don't know if I ever admitted but I was SUPPPPPPPPPPPEEERRR nervous to even voice a complaint.

 

It was disheartening to hear from a colleague that, they thought I made the wrong move. That I was just stirring the pot. I should have been discreet with my complaints. That person even said they didn't wish to be associated with someone who was an activist.

 

That hurt.

 

a lot.

 

It was also crazy to hear a POC (person of color) say this but I tried to tell them, I wasn't stirring the pot.

 

Throughout this time, I've had many periods of regret and rethinking my actions.

 

Am I an activist? Am I a feminist? What am I? How did I get like this?

 

Isn't it crazy. The words people can say that makes you rethink your entire livelihood lol

 

I'm not over the comment the person made. I'm still confused.

 

I typically have a foot in either aisle. I like to be neutral but I do have a reputation for speaking out.

 

I just have to accept that people will always label me a certain way, depending on my words/actions.

 

So I might be an activist.

 

There are worse things I could be called.