How Marilyn Monroe Stays in Shape

Why do I have a feeling that raw eggs in milk was never part of Marilyn's diet?

Healthy?

I'll admit it. I clicked. Easy Healthy Homemade Pop-Tarts? Sign. Me. Up. 

I couldn't wait to see how they had been healthified. Whole grain pastry and a naturally-sweetened, fibre-rich filling? Quinoa sprinkles? Sounds great.

Nope. Gluten-free pastry made from rice flour, sugar and shortening wrapped around a sugar sweetened apple filling. And a sugary glaze. I think. I mean, I assume. I was already done with it by the time I got to that part. (And what kind of sociopath* leaves off the frosting?)

Seriously.

Let's start with the filling. It was actually pretty simple - a few apples cooked down with a half-cup of white and brown sugar. Based on my calculations, the tablespoon or so of filling that went into each tart contained a couple of teaspoons of added sugar. That's on top of the naturally occurring sugar in the apples AND the sugar in the pastry AND the glaze. My teeth are hurting just thinking about it. 

Having had a couple hours to think about it, I suppose the "healthy" part that they were referring to was the gluten-free pastry. That is, if you subscribe to the notion that just because something doesn't have gluten means it's healthy. Plenty of shit foods** are gluten-free. It's not like they remove the gluten and replace it with virtue.

Is a gluten-free homemade pop-tart better for you than a regular store-bought pop-tart? If you are living with celiac disease, then I would say yes...unless sugar is also a concern. Is it healthy? Ehhh... I think we can do better.

* "lifestyle blogger"

**Plenty of shit foods are vegan, dairy-free and/or fat-free, too. Just sayin'.

Note: Gluten aside, if we compare rice flour with wheat flour, there are a couple small differences. Yes, gram for gram, rice flour is slightly lower in calories, but it is also lower in protein and fibre. (Carbs and vitamins are about the same.) In this case, I can't see how swapping rice for wheat makes for a "healthier product." Fibre, people.

Keep it up!

Last year, I learned how to ice skate, surf, and stand-up paddleboard. My goal for this year is to get better at all three. 

Sure this might be a little self-indulgent, but I am going to come back to this image every time I need a little reminder that I can do some pretty awesome shit.

Rules of the Locker Room - #37

I can't figure it out. No matter how deserted the locker room is, or how far into its depths I go, I will always find myself jostling for space or getting trapped by someone who just so happens to be in the locker next to mine and shows up right after I get settled. 

A new year, a new blog

Have you checked out the 30 Day Motivation Challenge yet? I found it on my newfavouritewebsite, Greatist, and had to share it with you.

Ok, to be completely honest, I put it there so that *I* wouldn't forget to do it. It's my answer to not having New Years Resolutions this year. But, please, play along. Things like this are always more fun in groups. Or, at the very least, in pairs.

Speaking of pairs, this past weekend, I launched the Group Power January 2015 release at the Rehfit Centre. This release marks my fourth year as a certified Power instructor, so I was sad to see that I was scheduled to teach it on my own. Thankfully, one of the other instructors was willing to come out and team-teach with me on Saturday. To return the favour, I guest starred at her class on Sunday. And, the fun doesn't end there... I'm crashing a class on Wednesday night and I have a friend coming out to teach the Sunday class at Rady with me. Woot!

Anyway, back to the Motivation Challenge. Yesterday's challenge was to start small. I started a small fitness blog. So, there. Done.