Monday Morning

Isn't it great when Mondays start off with rain? Not!! Does anyone else have a gray haze clouding over their day? 

While looking for the positives of this weather, I realized the snow melting away down my driveway. Is it possible? Could it be? Is spring finally arriving? Then, I flicked on the local news and discovered it was going to be 9 degrees Celsius here today!! Nine whole degrees. Wowee!! For those of you in the US, that's 48 degrees Fahrenheit. I don't even know what to do with myself. Well, I guess the first thing is to strap on my runners and get outside for a jog with the dogs. I don't care if it's raining. I'm going to soak up this above-zero weather for all it's worth. Next, I'm going to put my winter coat in the back of the closet and dig out a spring raincoat. I haven't seen it in at least 6 months. Time to dust it off, especially since tomorrow's forecast is 14 degrees Celsius (57 degrees Fahrenheit). This is such a great motivator and it makes the gray sky much more bearable. 

For those of you going through the same bland day remember to look for the positive in this. The snow is melting, the sidewalks are clearing, the flowers will soon be blooming, and best of all yummy produce will be growing for great Clean Eats all thanks to the rain that's pouring down today.

From the Eat-Clean Lady Looking for a Ray of Light Through the Clouds,

Vacation Pics

Below are a few shots from my Mexican vaca on the Mayan Riviera. This was by far the best experience I have had in Mexico. Last time we were there my husband had $30 000 worth of camera equipment stolen and a taxi that lost its rear windshield!!! This was much more relaxing as you can see...

The shot above is of my husband, Robert, me, my mom, Tina, my stepdaughter, Chelsea, and my daughter, Kelsey-Lynn, before dinner one night. This was a few days into the vacation so we're all starting to show a bit of color. 

This shot is of me and my family at the Mayan Ruins in Tulum. These were the most amazing structures. Unfortunately, a lot of people took too many liberties and were walking all over them. Our tour guide became a little perturbed and had to tell them to get off! As you can see the sun was blazing that day, hence the cowboy hats for me and my hubby. My girls and I also had a few necklaces made with the Mayan alphabet. They were beautifully done, and I brought some home as gifts for my other daughters who couldn't join us on the trip.

 

This shot above is of me in one of the many pools at the resort. It was often too hot to lie in the sun for long periods of time. We were all slathered in super-high SPF. I use a product on my face called Elta Gold that has micronized zinc in it. It is amazing and I didn't burn at all. We spent more time at the pool than down at the ocean because there is a very strong riptide that makes the ocean swimming pretty dangerous. 

 
This is a picture of me and my husband at dinner one evening. As you can see, I'm indulging in a glass of red wine... my favorite! As much as I enjoy being the cook at my house on a daily basis, I'm sure you will agree with me when I say it was very nice to hang up my apron and eat a meal I didn't have to prepare on a plate I didn't have to clean! Same goes for sleeping in a bed I didn't have to make and soaking in a tub I didn't have to scrub afterwards. 

Now it's back to reality! Hope you enjoyed the shots. 

 

WellSpot 2008 - Toronto

This Saturday March 29th I will speaking at WellSpot 2008 at the Diesel Playhouse in Toronto, Ontario. Tickets are still available for the all-day event featuring a bunch of empowering women. Check out:

1. The WellSpot Website to see who else will be there and to get more info: http://www.wellspot.ca/

2. My Appearances section on The Eat-Clean Diet website to find out how you can get a special discount on tickets:http://www.eatcleandiet.com/Default.aspx?page=37

Can't wait to see you there!

Your Sister in Iron, 

Back from Mexico

I'm back!

And I'm raring to go!!

Vacation was truly a much needed break. I read trashy novels, tried scuba diving, caught up on sleep, and I even drank a few glasses of wine ;-)

Now I'm feeling wonderfully energized and ready for spring. It would be great if it would appear sometime soon. Anybody have any pull with the weather? I wasn't too thrilled to wake up to snow this morning. 

So if any of you are feeling discouraged about the lack of spring weather, keep your spirits up! Keep training, keep Eating Clean, and before you know it bikini season will have arrived. And you'll be in great shape for it. 

I have asked my daughter to send me some vacation pictures so I will post those for all of you as soon as I can. 

Have a great Clean-Eating day!

Seminar in Vaughan

On Wednesday night my friend Marilyn Cooper hosted a seminar in Vaughan, Ontario. I was really impressed by the turnout and enjoyed some delicious eats from the cookbook care of Marilyn and her dear friend Lisa and her daughter. 

The best part was... they gave me a mic! Watch out people because when I get a mic in my hand you're in for it. The ladies and gentlemen were rolling in their seats when Clean Eating topics, such as regularity and tushies and sex (who knew) came up. It was a great time. Thanks to all of you who came out to the event, including the ladies picture above who waited until the bitter end for me to sign their books and kick them into clean-eating action. We had just had another dump of snow overnight on Tuesday and into Wednesday and people still managed to make it out.

Now today I'm off to Belleville to pick up my daughter for March Break. We're headed to Mexico to bask in the sun and take some time off. Which brings me to my next point...

I'll be away from my blogger for about a week and a half. Bear with me. I'll have a lot to say when I get back, I'm sure! In the meantime, I thought I would send all of you off with some words of encouragement for the next few weeks...

We're already 2 months into 2008. Time is racing by faster and faster these days. How are you taking care of yourself? Are you sitting on the couch with a bowl of ice cream in your hand, or are you eating well and exercising on a regular basis? Are you watching your waist band grow and your health decrease as the months go by, or are you finally taking action and making progress? Change your mental attitude by avoiding those things that will set you back. That may mean leaving your regular lunch crew behind, or changing your route to the office to avoid the McDonald's and vending machines. It may even mean cutting off your cable so as not to binge eat all night in front of the tube. Whatever it is... do it and do it now! Don't let anymore time pass with your self-esteem in the toilet and your mind in the wastebasket. Take control and take a chance on YOU! Why? Because you deserve it.

More Arnold Moments

Here are some more shots from the Arnold. Don't forget to share yours with me (tosca@eatcleandiet.com).

Me and my good friend Elaine Goodlad.

Me, DeRon McIntyre, and members of his gymnastics team.

Signing a book for Eat-Clean Success Story, Kelly Mathew. Check out her story here.

After the Arnold

I am pretty tired out from the crazy week I had. What with book signings on Wednesday and Thursday and a whole weekend of Arnold Adventures it's no wonder I have lost my voice! I wanted to share a couple of photos with you of people I had the great opportunity to meet at the Arnold:

If I met you and you have a picture with me send it my way at tosca@eatcleandiet.com.