Category Archives: healthy eating

Foodie Friday — more than *just* a salad

Posted by Jess Sutera in foodie friday, healthy eating

Know what cliche I cannot stand? That women must eat *just* a salad in order to fit the sterotypical “healthy eater” mold.

However, I *do* dig salads…but not the boring ‘ol lettuce, tomato, cucumber side salad variety (though, those have a time and a place, I probably eat one of those almost every night as part of my dinner). What I’m talking about here are meal-sized salads that pack a protein boost along with lots of antioxidants and a TON of flavor.

With that, I welcome back Foodie Friday — the “more than *just* a salad edition.

Now that spring and summer weather is upon us, I’m back to gravitating towards salads for lunch or dinner. For some reason, in the winter months, I just don’t crave meal-sized salads very often. I usually steer for wrap sandwiches (which are still in heavy rotation right now!!) and warm foods and the thought of salad is somehow far less appealing until the seasons change.

But just this week, I re-discovered my love affair with a couple of salad concoctions I ate pretty often this time last year and thought I’d share them with you here, along with my “approach” to building the best damn salad around (if I do say so myself!).

First up – my lunch yesterday:

This was a mixed green salad with fresh sliced strawberries and cucumbers and leftover quinoa on top. We had quinoa the other night with dinner and it turned out so well, I was really glad I made extra! I sauteed garlic, onions, and jalepenos and then added the quinoa to the pan and used chicken stock to cook the quinoa in. Turned out super-flavorful with just the right amount of heat from the jalepeno. Such a good pairing on the salad yesterday!!

And then – this ended up being dinner last Friday:

Neither of us were in the mood to cook. At. All. We were tired, it had been a long week for both of us given I was away most of the week for work in Cali. BUT I was craving a homecooked meal after being away. So, Scott agreed to grill if I could figure out something easy to have with whatever he grilled. And this is how our new signature grilled chicken salad was born — I do believe it’s become our new Friday night dinner staple. Takes no time at all — just assemble the salad, grill the chicken and slice it up on top. Easy peasy! This chicken is Scott’s specialty – he takes lemon zest, fresh lemon juice, salt, pepper and a touch of cayenne and sort of makes a rub out of it to put on the chicken. Then he grills it up while I prep the salads – simply made with fresh baby spinach, tomatoes, cucumber and salt and pepper. I also like to add a sprinkle of grated parmesan cheese on top of my salad, adds extra flavor!

There are loads of other salads I could probably tell you about but I thought I’d share my most recent faves. My approach to building a meal-sized salad is pretty simple. I always include at least one protein source — hard boiled egg, chopped almonds (1 oz goes a long way), goat cheese, avocado…you get the idea. Then I’ll add a shitton of mixed greens or fresh baby spinach, plus cucumber and tomato and the sky’s the limit in terms of toppings I mix in. I love to pair strawberries or blueberries or watermelon with either feta or goat cheese – omg so good. Or strawberries/blackberries with avocado is equally delish. Black beans, corn and red onion is an awesome pairing for a southwestern inspired salad – with some queso fresco cheese and salsa as the dressing if you’re feeling really daring. ;-) I’ve also built a mixed green plate and topped it with fresh-made tuna or chicken salad which adds a giant protein boost. So yummy. And lately, using leftover quinoa or barley has been awesome as a protein/fiber boost.

So there you have it — some of my salad faves…something I’m sure you’ll see lots more of from me this summer as I continue to get creative in the kitchen, especially as locally-grown produce becomes available. I <3 summer!!

Travel notes

Posted by Jess Sutera in career, fitness, healthy eating

Un-routine be damned. I still got my workouts in this week, a big time travel week. Killer workouts, in fact.

…that hillier-than-hell rundate up Death Mountain for one.

…this yoga workout I haven’t done since before starting my barre n9ne journey (surprised me at how much better I was able to hold the various poses…felt damn strong afterwards.)

…a surprisingly sweatastic set of intervals on Wednesday *and* a sweaty (albeit fairly boring) session on the elliptical before my flight took off on Thursday to round out the week.

(post intervals – see? sweatastic!)

(post surprisingly good elliptical workout)

…still haven’t tried a barre studio out here yet though. Must get on that next time around.

I struck an awesome balance, healthy eating-wise while traveling. So difficult to stick to that when so many of my meals are out of my control (i.e. not home cooked!). I’m really proud of how I managed that this week. 

…I discovered a ‘stand-in’ for my beloved irish oatmeal with sautéed apples, cinnamon and peanut butter (and I owe it all to Naomi - again – for cluing me in!). Jamba Juice apple cinnamon steel cut oatmeal – OMGGG tasted like apple pie on top of oatmeal yumminess!

…and after a really big, heavy (but delish salmon!) lunch on Wednesday (a team celebration lunch), I chose a really light dinner that night in my room (my one “free” night all week). A fresh fruit platter with cottage cheese on the side. It was perfect. JUST what I needed. And very different than how I might have planned or chosen my dinner a year or so ago. I’ve come a long way in this mindful / intuitive eating journey of mine. Note to self…

And I survived the flight out and back. Barely.

…it was long. And not altogether fun on the return flight – sitting on the tarmac for an hour after an hour-long delay in the airport and landing at midnight on Thursday. No bueno.

…but seeing this smiling face waiting for me at the terminal? (he was waiting there from 9:45-midnight! He didn’t track my flight so wasn’t aware just how delayed it was. Only he would still be smiling after all that!!). But it was worth every long hour spent on the plane. He gives the best hugs ever. >3

(this is from last summer — hands down my favorite pic of Scott, his smile is so beautiful here. And let’s be honest, he looks hot. tee hee <3)

Packing wise – I did ok this trip too. Packed just enough without feeling like I had 6 lbs’ worth of dumbells in my carry-on (oh wait…that’s because I *did* pack those on my last trip, didn’t I? <grin>)

…however, I wish I had a change of clothes for the flight home. Dress pants, open-toed heels (that I wore *all* week out here, owww) and a collared top aren’t exactly comfy airplane-wear. I would’ve killed for my lululemon groove pants (thought about wearing the dirty pair from my suitcase but upon smelling them, I thought better of it…), my I Heart Sweat tee and my flip flops. Ohhh flip flops. That would’ve been a killer score.

All told? I give myself a solid A on travel acumen. I’m pretty darn proud of myself for both embracing un-routine, while also keeping a semblance of routine in the mix of things too. A new routine maybe, but a routine, nonetheless.

…now if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to face plant into my bowl of oatmeal. I think I’ve waited long enough for it. ;-)

On my mind.

Posted by Jess Sutera in fitness, balance, running, breathe, family, healthy eating, sisters, barre n9ne, career, Cox Rhode Race half marathon

On my mind…

My next trip for work. Booked for mid-May. At first I was feeling anxious about heading back into un-routine mode, but now I’m kind of looking forward to the change of scenery. It also helps that I now have coworkers that love to be healthy and fit like me (score!). I already have a trail run and a healthy dinner planned for one night while I’m there. However, I *will* be seriously missing my barre workouts though — so here’s my call for entries: who wants to meet up with me for a barre class while I’m in Cali? (ahem Naomi??) <—don’t all raise your hands at once now ;-)

A week, run-less. It’s happening. Probably the week after the half marathon. Or perhaps the week I’m in Cali for work. Though, I did just book a rundate while I’m out there. Fail. I guess the run-less week will happen the week prior then afterall! Note to self.

My Nonna. Her birthday is this week (today, actually). And the anniversary of her death is coming up this May. I’ve found my mind wandering to thoughts of her a lot more lately, particularly given the time of year. I had a dream about her the other night and woke up sensing her presence nearby. It was comforting. Everytime I see my little niece Isabel, my mind rushes to Nonna…she would melt in Isabel’s presence, I am sure of it.

*Updated*
One year of barre n9ne classes. Yep, today is also our one year barre-versary. The first day that my sis and I set foot in the studio for the very first time. Little did we know that just weeks later, we’d be embarking on the 60-day challenge and months and months later, our lives would be transformed in far bigger ways than either of us ever imagined. Stronger. Confidence blooming. And now, joyfully fulfilling our passion through teaching.
…one year later. Transformed.

Friends I adore. My friend from college (who is by far the funniest yet most loving and kind person I’ve ever met) just welcomed her first child into this world yesterday. I’m so happy for her and her husband – the two of them are going to be a riot as parents, I can’t wait! And another friend — a friend I met at work seven years ago and instantly connected with (one of those “I feel like I’ve known you since birth” connections) — has a birthday coming up. We’re celebrating the big 3-0 together this weekend. It’s going to be epic. I promised her that and I never reneg on a promise. ;-)

Sisters like mine. Jen is thisclose to defending her PhD dissertation and then graduating with her PhD in May. She’s in the final throes of it — all while raising the most perfect like 17-month old I have ever seen. I am constantly amazed by her. And my other sis Jo is constantly giving me the perspective I look for, the encouragement I need and the inspiration to dig deeper, push harder, reach farther. She’s come a long, long way over the past few years and sometimes I think I forget to tell her that. So this is my reminder to both of them — I am proud to have sisters like you. xo

A husband who gets me. Truly gets me. Who’s gonna push me all 13.1 miles in just over a week. Who I cherish date nights in with more and more each week. Who I can’t wait to celebrate our 8 year (!) wedding anniversary with in June. And who I *really* can’t wait to get back to wine country with at the end of June. It’s long overdue. We’ve earned this one. No doubt.

On my mind.

Work. Workouts. Friends. Family. Loves.
…totally not in order of priority either. ;-)

Tweaks in training, and mind/body connections

Posted by Jess Sutera in 60 day transformation, barre n9ne, confidence, Cox Rhode Race half marathon, half marathon, healthy eating, journey, running

This half marathon training cycle continues to feel very different to me. I’ve been thinking long and hard about why that is and I think it comes down to this – I’m a more seasoned runner this time around vs. previous half marathon training cycles.

A seasoned runner.
…me.

Yet, why do I have such a hard time wrapping my head around that concept?

It struck me this weekend that my brain hasn’t quite caught up with my body. And not just running-wise. But let’s tackle the running piece first, shall we?

This training cycle has been much shorter than previous half marathon training cycles. Previously, I would choose a half marathon in the late-summer/early-fall to train for and basically spend all summer loosely ”training” for it. So I had loads of time to get my head in the game on those longer and longer runs, so by the time race day rolled around, it would feel like “just” another long training run for me, mentally. And that worked really well for me, overall.

This time around? I have just 8 weeks to condition the body to run longer and longer distances. Which, quite honestly, hasn’t been all that taxing (‘cept for that snotty run on Friday, but I blame the cold on the ‘taxing’ part) – or at least far less taxing than I remember it being in the past. Which leads me to the whole ‘seasoned runner’ thing. I am proud of the fact that I was able to keep my base at around 7ish miles throughout the winter. Something I’ve never been very good at before…my base mileage in the winter would *really* dwindle and I’d find myself basically starting over in the spring, slowly building back up my run-durance.

So you’re probably wondering what exactly the problem is here then, huh? It’s simple, really. My brain is telling me “you’re not ready” to run 13.1.” Because well, my brain “knows” I’ve only just now hit the double-digits this past weekend. Which means I’m just three long runs away from the race. And my brain is telling me that that is just simply not enough.

But really? My brain is wrong in this case. My body is strong and conditioned and can handle the miles. My brain hasn’t quite caught up to that fact.

…which leads me to the whole “tweaks” piece I mentioned in the title of this post.

To get my brain to catch up a little bit, my next two long runs will be 12.5 miles (basically combining two of our favorite running routes into one long running route). Call me crazy, but I think this might do the trick. (I know, it’s a big jump in miles from my last long run). Instead of 11 miles this week, 12.5 miles next week and then dropping down to 10 miles as my last long run, I’ll do 12.5 this week and again next week and then close out with a 10-miler before a “mini-taper” to race day.

I think this little tweak to the schedule is what my brain needs to catch up to what my body is capable of. This goes back to the whole mind/body connection thing I’ve been all about this past year. Barre n9ne is all about the mind/body connection. My food log-filled journey this past (almost) year on my quest towards intuitive eating is all about the mind/body connection too. So it only makes sense that I continue to make those connections through running. Connecting my mind, to what my body is capable of doing, and trusting it to do just that.

(much more on the whole mind/body thing in a future post or two, especially as my sis and I inch closer and closer to our one year barre-versary, the date when our lives changed forever, thanks to the 60-day challenge and all that has fallen out of that, from re-learning how to eat mindfully, to working our butts off to re-shape our bodies, to paying all of that learning forward by teaching at the studio. Clearly, based on this little preamble alone, I have a LOT to say on the topic. So stay tuned, please. ;-) )

Foodie Friday – the “I’m a genius” edition

Posted by Jess Sutera in foodie friday, healthy eating

Ok, so maybe I’m not a real genius, but after coming up with the tastiest lunchtime concoction ever the other day, I kinda felt like one. Even if just for a split second. I even instagrammed and tweeted out my geniusness to that effect. ;-)

This baby is my version of a grilled cheese — it’s genius, I swear. I took a flatout wrap (best invention ever), smeared it with an herb/garlic laughing cow wedge, added a slice of lite provolone cheese (Trader Joe’s makes a really good one), some sliced tomato and fresh mixed greens — and then I folded it over and into the pan it went. I pressed it down (panini-like) until it was toasty on both sides. On the side was an orange and some fresh strawberries – this girl needed the vitamin C boost in a big way this week (notsicknotsicknotsick and all).

Another “genius” item for this week — this one goes to my sis who came up with a yummy alternative to my usual go-to PM snack (usually Chobani…unless I’m running shortly thereafter. Running + dairy + me = no bueno as we all learned last week!).

Into the bowl went cottage cheese and a perfectly ripe banana sliced nice and thin. You might spy some crumbles on top too — that’s from a failed attempt at Nicole’s no-bake chocolate chip “cookies.” (don’t worry Nicole, I’ll try again – for now, they are great as a topper to cottage cheese or yogurt!).  This was so yummy — definitely rotationg this sucker into my PM snack mix asap!

And finally – a new take on plain ‘ol water. Something I drink a ton of already, but drank even more of this week while warding off the sickies. I’m a big fan of selzer water (after I drink my allotted “regular” water for the day, at least 64 oz) – and like to spruce it up with fresh fruit whenever possible.

Well – I recently got a box of Vita Coco water to try out and figured I’d throw that into my selzer one day (I’m a fan of the pineapple infused vita coco but find the mango/peach flavor hard to drink on it’s own for some reason).

The result? A really refreshing and tasty, kicked-up selzer water. This one had fresh blackberries and pineapple, a splash of the Vita Coco mango/peach water and lots of ice. Super-duper refreshing…and for a split second, if I closed my eyes really tight, it felt like I was sitting on a beach somewhere drinking a tropical-infused drink. ;-)

So there you have it – a couple of new (and genius!) foodie finds for me this week. All very tasty, all very nutritious and healthy, and all very easy and fun to make (and eat!). God, I love food. ;-)

When it’s worth it.

Posted by Jess Sutera in Uncategorized, balance, confidence, healthy eating, body image, growth, barre n9ne, 60 day transformation

I had a moment the other night.
…where I questioned.

…why does mindless eating — or the simple urge to – (an old, a very stubborn habit of mine that now and then likes to try to rear its ugly head) throw me into a tailspin of doubt and frustration?

…why do I push myself to run harder, faster, longer? Do I do it because I love it or because I simply can’t stop doing, going, moving?

…why do I sometimes beat myself up in those rare instances where I don’t give my workout every last ounce of strength and energy I have?

…why do I feel the need to strive for perfection all the time?

The answer? Well, it took me a day or two to get here but here’s the bottom line in all of this questioning and wondering I’ve been doing.

And really, there are two “answers” to the why’s.
…First off – I have some work to do in terms of quieting the mind, of striving for excellence instead of perfection. Note to self.
…but secondly, (and more importantly?) I do, I am, I strive…

…because I’m worth it.

The nearly year-long journey I’ve been on to reshape my eating habits – towards fueling (and downright delicious) foods, eaten with a mindfulness I never posessed before (and sometimes still struggle with, admittedly).

Worth it.

The same nearly year-long journey with barre n9ne, towards reshaping my body — but even more importantly — reshaping my mind. Around the concept of working smarter, not harder. Of connecting my mind with  my body with every plie, every shoulder raise, every glute lift. Of learning to love the mind and body that stares back at me from the mirror every day.

Worth it.

The miles and miles I’ve put into training and running half marathons. That has lead me towards a bucket list item of mine. The elusive 26.2 miler. Just once. I want to do it, just once. It’s a huge committment, but it’s mine to make.

Worth it.

The hours and weeks spent training to become barre n9ne certified. Which meant saying “no” to plans with friends on weekends, and even less time spent with my husband (our time already so short during the week given work schedules and ‘life’ in general) while in training. But those hours sacrificed with loved ones? Equalled chasing and captured a huge dream of mine.

Worth it.

So next time I start to question my intentions in life — from the very smallest to the very largest — I’m going to think back to this post.

The day where I remembered that I’m worth it.

Because if I remember that I’m worth it?

I’ll be a better wife to my husband who I adore.

I’ll be a better sister to my beautiful sisters who are my best friends.

I’ll be a better friend to those who constantly lift me up and support me, loving me for me (quirks and all).

I’ll be a better follower of His word, a believer in Faith and all the blessings that come with that.

Because that’s what matters most.
(said far more eloquently by Lindsay in her post yesterday, a total must read. And even though I read her post after writing this one, where for a split second I wondered if my own post sounded too “me-centric” — I reconsidered. Because part of our life “resume” is about fulfilling your own dreams and self-worth and in turn, passing that “worth” forward through the actions and emotions you share with loved ones to, in turn, lift them up higher, higher, higher…)

Foodie Friday – random musings

Posted by Jess Sutera in foodie friday, healthy eating

Taking after my sister’s super-funny, rambly, “musing” style blog post from the other day, I thought I’d follow her lead with foodie friday.

We’re calling it Foodie Friday – random musings.

Why am I so obsessed with peanut butter these days? I seriously could eat it on a piece of cardboard and it would taste like heaven to me. I put that sh*t on everything, I swear (even my IRL friends are starting to notice this infatuation and have commented to that effect!)! When I saw Amy’s post with all sorts of PB-inspired goodies, I nearly drowned in my own drool. Truth.

<I just realized I’m down to my last half jar of peanut butter. This is cause for panic. Must hit Trader Joe’s asap today before this turns into all-out hysteria.>

Why am I so stubborn about trying new recipes? I guess it’s not really stubborness so much as sheer laziness (yes, I *do* posess a teeny tiny lazy gene, I swear). I look at some recipes and think “yum” but when it comes down to reading the recipe, buying all the right ingredients and THEN making it? I’m like “meh.” That is, unless the recipe includes items I already have on hand. Enter Janeetha’s protein pancakes. Genius. Ridiculously good. And guess what I put on time of my version? Wait for iiiiiit. Peanut butter (and bananas). Effing delicious. Note to self: stop being stubborn lazy and try more of your bloggy friends recipes, they are really, really, really, really good. Clearly way better cooks than I could ever be!

Protein pb&banana pancakes…<3

Smoothies. Hm. Another stubborn thing about me. I tend to avoid smoothies because I like to eat my calories vs. drink them (unless it’s wine and then all bets are off. wait. did I just say that out loud?).  Every little calorie is precious to me, what can I say? Anyway. After reading Lindsay’s post on smoothies, my wheels started churning a bit. Between her delicious looking concoctions plus Tina’s continued insistence that a post-long run smoothie is great recovery fuel, I’m starting to wonder if maybe, just maybe, smoothies are in my future. Especially as I start marathon training in June (I can pretend the smoothie is really a milkshake, right?).

So the point of this post, really? (and yes, I realize my “musings” weren’t nearly as funny as my sister’s post was…)

I love food.

And I think (and read) about it a lot. *And* ya’ll totally inspire me with your foodie finds. So THANK YOU for sharing them in your blogs. I promise to stop being all “meh” about trying new recipes I spy on your blogs. Rather than pin them to death, maybe, just maybe, I ought to try them, huh?

…and on that note – I’m off to find me some oatmeal. With peanut butter.
Obvs.

Foodie Friday – the (special) dinner edition

Posted by Jess Sutera in foodie friday, healthy eating

OMG am I the only one that is *really* happy that today is Friday??
<raises hand>

Longest week ever, I mean really!

Anyway — it’s Friday, yay. Which means two things: it’s Foodie Friday annnnnd I teach at barre n9ne tonight, whee!! (For those keeping track, I taught my first “real” non-demo class yesterday morning and it was SO MUCH FUN I can’t even stand it!).

Today’s theme is all about dinner — not just any dinner, mind you. But date night-in style dinner *and* sister-style dinner, too. Both of these occassions scream “make something special!!” — so that’s what these two meals are all about. Special dinners shared with two of the most special people in my life. <3

First up – date night-in dinner from last weekend. It was so effing good, I could hardly contain myself.

This is my favorite healthy appetizer ever. I still get my cheese “fix” without killing myself with a zillion extra calories, *and* I get the fresh flavor of sliced tomatoes, basil and bright, crispy yellow pepper strips. Thank you baby belle, you are a lifesaver. Truly.

This was a beautiful plate of food. But more importantly, it was freakin’ delicious. All thanks to the hubs who, for someone who doesn’t like fish, sure knows how to grill up a winner! This is a 5oz cod fillet that was grilled in a tinfoil packet while Scott grilled up his steak tips. In the foil went three slices of lemon as a “bed” for the cod; a “rub” of lemon zest mixed with minced garlic, a sprinkle of salt and pepper; and topped with fresh basil leaves and sundried tomatoes and a couple of capers, too. It. Was. Amazing. Light and flaky and SO flavorful! I made the roasted asparagus you see on the side – just simply dressed in salt, pepper and garlic, and a 1 tsp of olive oil. Such a yummy and colorful meal, if I do say so myself. ;-)

Sister dinner – and my first attempt at cooking barley!
Jo and I try to do sister dinner when we can – usually after a barre n9ne class since she’s in the area already so it’s easy to plan for. On Thursday, we hit up barre n9ne legs (killer goooood) and then came back to my house around the corner from the studio for dinner.

(What? You *don’t* drink sparkling water out of a wine glass??)

This was ridiculously good too. I’m clearly in love with food based on all the raving going on in this post! This salad conconction included a bed of mixed greens that I topped with cucumber, tomato, goat cheese (ohhh goat cheeeeese!), barley and 2 oz of sauteed shrimp. (It didn’t even need dressing with all of these flavor combos going on.) Yumtastic. Protein-packed. Delicious.

So now I gotta know — what do you cook when it comes to a special dinner with a loved one, with your girlfriends, with your family? Please share — I could use some fresh and fun ideas! :)

Foodie Friday – some simple faves

Posted by Jess Sutera in healthy eating, barre n9ne, foodie friday

This week I’ve been embracing routine, like whoa.

After last week’s long, long, LONG week in California for work, I fought to regain my energy and sense of normalcy at the beginning of the week. Feeling like a truck hit me, couldn’t clear the cobwebs, the whole nine yards. I guess it was jetlag (maybe?) combined with a jam-packed week of work and very little normalcy on the foodie front.

A very long, rambly way of saying – I am SO enjoyed being back in my routine this week, particularly on the foodie front. So today’s post is dedicated to a few simple favorites from this week. Nothing too crazy up in here, just honest-to-goodness delicious, nutritious, and energizing foods.

First up (surprise, surprise) - a giant bowl of oatmeal-y goodness.

But this wasn’t just *any* bowl of oatmeal. Nope. This was made by my sister after our fabulous (but uber windy) rundate on Thursday morning. She had the genius idea of using both chopped apple *and* sliced (perfectly ripe) banana mixed in with melty peanut butter. It was foodgasmic, to say the least. We both firmly admitted that yes, we do indeed, RUN for Oatmeal.

Next up – kicked-up tuna

I was looking for something super energizing and filling earlier this week (in fact, it was after that rundate, I was ravenous most of the day) so I settled on tuna, my go-to when I’m looking for lean protein and a great boost of energy as a result.

kicked-up tuna
one can tuna, packed in water (chunk white)
two baby carrots, shredded
three pickles, chopped
a bit of onion, chopped
one tablespoon of plain, 0% greek yogurt (in lieu of mayo)
salt, pepper

I combined that with my favorite flatout wraps, stuck a bunch of baby greens in there (even some sunflower greens I found at Whole Foods, so good!) and paired it with raw sugar snap peas (mm) and a sliced orange (latest obsession). It was amazing. The carrot in the tuna made it a little bit more moist and added a slight sweetness. I’ll definitely be making this one again!

Newest snack obsession (other than my beloved Chobani!) – cottage cheese with fresh fruit.

This week’s version has included fresh cut pineapple and a sprinkle of chia. <3

And finally – iced coffee has returned in full effect!

I’m usually a hot coffee drinker in the winter and will switch to iced in the summer but this week? It’s been in the 60s for the past few days and this girl? Well, she was itching for iced so iced she made! A perfect little pick-me-up before barre n9ne legs on Thursday night, I’ll say that. ;-) (ps. is it just me or does everything taste better with a straw??)

Now! If you’ll excuse me – I’m off to spend the day knocking things off the work to-do list while being completely pre-occupied thinking about tonight’s BIG DEBUT at barre n9ne. It’s my first class as instructor!! I’m equal parts nervous energy, excitement and adrenaline – and could use ALL the good vibes you can send my way. So please, don’t be shy. ;-)

And the next time you “see” me – I’ll be a barre n9ne certified instructor, yes indeed! (whee!!!) :) :) :)

Where did this passion come from?

Posted by Jess Sutera in fitness, family, healthy eating, sisters, barre n9ne, paying it forward

As I sat in Terminal B at Logan Airport yesterday waiting for my flight to San Jose to board, I flipped through blog comments from my post. I smiled at the words “inspiration” and “passion” that seemed to be popular themes among the comments.

…and, as I settled into my seat on the plane, I got to thinking.

Where did this passion (for healthy living) come from?

I mean, I know that passion tends to be ingrained, but it’s got to start from somewhere, or something, right? I sat and turned the question over in my mind and suddenly, my mind returned to a childhood memory.

Of opening my lunchbox to find applesauce and “ants on a log” (celery with peanut butter in the middle as the “log” and raisins as the “ants” – to this day, I still love this snack!) sitting there staring back at me. Looking around at my fellow classmates, who chomped on bags of chips and cookies, and I knew my snacks were “different” than everyone else’s but that was ok (mostly) by me.

I remember looking back at that time and thinking, “wow, my mom really buckled down on the healthy eating thing when we were little. I dig that.”

Fast forward to middle school.  My parents had split up. My mom was now raising her triplet daughters on her own. She did so with one income and not much in the way of child support, all while putting herself through college and working full-time. She was (and still is) supermom. I admire her strength, perseverance and commitment to giving us the best possible life she could at that time while working on giving us a better life by finishing her degree (she later graduated summa cum laude from Wellesley College – go mom!!).

But it was during that time, when money was extremely tight, that I first experienced what it was like to be unable. Unable to choose the healthiest and highest quality foods to eat. Unable to dedicate large chunks of time (and money) to physical activity (we weren’t the “typical” kids who were granted the luxury of taking ballet, dance, or gymnastics classes or participating in school sports).  Unable to do many of the “typical” things most kids our age totally took for granted,  having no idea what it was like to be unable.

It was also during this time, that I distinctly recall feeling extremely grateful. That I had a mom who worked her tail off to put food, any food, on the table for us. That we had incredible grandparents who routinely made us dinners and carted us around while mom was busy with school. That my sisters and I had each other – to look after one another every single day, taking turns making dinners (which is a whole post in and of itself, lots of funny stories from that time), and being our own mini-family when mom was in school or at work or at home but distracted with homework.

Sure, we didn’t have the best options for meals – Chef Boyardee beefaroni made regular appearances at the dinner table, as did Tuna Helper and other quick-fix meals that offered nourishment of sorts, but very little in the way of fresh, healthy, wholesome ingredients, to say the least. But at that point in time? We didn’t care – it was food, it didn’t matter where it came from or what was in it.

Fast forward to high school and then college. My mom finished her degree, got herself an excellent job at an area school as a technology director, and the money strain lessened a bit. Fresh ingredients returned to the table. I started going to the YMCA, and then the gym at my college, and I started to see just how incredible the world of healthy living was again. I had it as a child, missed out on it as a pre-teen/teen and had it back in my life in my early-20s and onward.  

…and the rest, as they say, is history. My passion for healthy living took center stage in my life for good.

I say all of this not to create some sort of pity party that we endured a bit of a “rough patch” growing up (because honestly, during that time my sisters and I didn’t really even recognize how tough we had it until years and years later and we looked back in comparison one day…). I say all of this, sharing this bit of history with you, because I now see that this is where my passion comes from.

I’ve seen both sides of the equation. The inability to choose to be healthy. And then the ability to make my own choices and to naturally find myself gravitating towards a  healthy, fit and energetic lifestyle. One that I completely credit to the early years when my mom insisted on raisins over m&ms, bananas over bags of chips and tree climbing and fort building outside over hours spent motionless in front of the TV.

This is why I am who I am.

Because I’ve seen both sides. Experienced both sides. And now I can fully appreciate the ability to choose healthy. Gratefully so. Yet another reason why this journey towards becoming barre n9ne-certified means the world to me. Just like I said before, it’s my chance to pay it forward. In way more ways than one.

So next time someone asks me: Where did your passion come from? I’ll say – it’s a long story, shall we chat over coffee? ;-)