Another product I love

I really don't like recommending products or supplements to my clients. It gives me an uncomfortable, unethical,  Dr.Ozzy feeling and I want no part of it. So that's why if I tell you about something, I promise it's only because I actually like it. I would also never claim something to be a miracle or magic bullet.

For years now, I've struggled to stay asleep all night. And I do everything I'm supposed to. I avoid caffeine, eat well, exercise, stretch before bed, keep a list of whatever may be playing on my mind and disrupting sleep. But still, when I wake in the middle of the night, I often stay awake for a long time.

Recently a friend recommended humic acid and fulvic acid.   If you search on Google, you see claims that it can heal just about everything. Here are a couple of links.

http://livewell.jillianmichaels.com/benefits-humic-fulvic-acid-5529.html

http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/natural-health/benefits-of-humic-acid/

Our friend was so impressed with the benefits that he has created a company called Humivita and now sells the product. My husband and I were skeptical (as with all things like this), but we trust our friend and both decided to give it a try. Within a couple of weeks we began to notice subtle changes.

For starters, I had no cravings. This is very strange for me, as I've spent my whole life having cravings. Sometimes for healthy foods, sometimes for less healthy foods. That seemed like it, but a couple of months after that I started sleeping better. Even if I was woken by a kid in the night, I'd fall asleep quickly and sleep hard until morning. I still wasn't totally convinced, but I recently ran out of the product and thought I'd stop taking it to see if I noticed any changes. It's been about a month since I stopped taking it, and I'm waking up again at night and staying awake. I also realized I hadn't needed to use the bathroom at night, which I have for decades. And now that I'm off it, I have to use the bathroom again. To me it is worth the price for how well rested I was.

If you want to try for yourself, you can visit www.humivita.com/greg

Disclaimer, my husband now sells the product, but no pressure to buy from him. I'm not Dr.Oz.

Crunchy Roasted Chickpeas with #Herbamare

This is almost too simple to call a recipe, but I know from failed attempts that getting perfectly crunchy chickpeas can be difficult.

1 1/2 cups chickpeas (or one can)
1 Tbsp olive oil, drizzled over top
Herbamare- any flavor- to taste (1/2 tsp)

Pat chickpeas dry and place in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet, or in a 9x13 cake pan. Drizzle oil over top, shake on Herbamare. Toss to coat. Bake at 400F for about 30 minutes, tossing every 10 minutes or so. Remove from oven and taste, adding more Herbamare if needed.

I enjoyed them over a salad and my kiddos liked them in their pasta.

Training Begins

I'm officially into week two of training for the Wine Country Half Marathon here in Kelowna.  With my husband away this week, I took advantage of a cancellation this week to sneak in a 14km run. Sunday was my 12km, so not huge distances, but big for me considering the last few months have been all about 5km runs. And with only three days between the two big efforts, I'm happy that my legs felt strong.

The Girls on the Run group I was assistant coach for wound up yesterday. So amazing to watch these girls finish the 5km event we put on for them. Watching them accomplish their goal after 10 weeks together was such a joy! If you aren't familiar with the program, check out www.girlsontherun.ca.

We are going to be going on holiday, just the four of us, at the end of next week. I'm extremely excited to have some down time with my three favourite guys. We're staying in a cabin by the ocean, cooking our own meals, and walking and running as much as we can. I've left the 10 days we're gone blank on my training schedule, but without other options, I'll be running shorter, more often.

When we return, it's back to training. Speed work and hills will become part of my weeks. Summer will be upon us, so fruit, raw desserts and lots of beach time will be too!

#Herbamare Bloggers Challenge

I'm taking part in a blogger challenge featuring Herbamare. If you aren't familiar with it, herbamare is sea salt infused with 12 different organic herbs and vegetables. It has great flavor and a little goes a long way. They also have a zesty option, which has horseradish in it, and a salt free version as well.

The question they would like answered? How do you like your #herbamare?

Well, answered quite easily. Any way. It's great on salads, popcorn, cucumber slices, in sauces, my kids like it on pasta...Where ever you would use salt, herbamare is great. You can use less because of it's great flavor and you can feel good that it has been processed without chemicals and that there are no additives, preservatives or MSG. It's also non-GMO and organic.

I think the real challenge would've been, How don't you like your Herbamare! This is too easy.

Most Delicious Kale Salad

Kale abounds at the market and in my garden. There is no shortage of praise for this leafy green, which is a great source of calcium, iron, folate, vitamin C, fibre to name just a few.  Kale is so delicious in so many ways, but this salad is a favourite!

1 large bunch of kale, tough stems removed

1/4 cup tahini (sesame seed paste)

2Tbsp miso paste

1 Tbsp lemon juice

1/4 cup warm water

Whisk it all together, pour over kale and massage into leaves.

Enjoy!