"Narrow is the Gate" Find the way to be encouraged.

We have so much to be thankful for.

I just "happened" upon this inspiring blog here today. It's from Therese at Beyond Blue or Beliefnet. The message contained is something of which I remind myself and others regularly. I say: "Step away from the self." It's so hard during life challenges when you think you are already maxed out, to reach within for more reserve. Yet, when we put our eyes & hearts back on our Source of Creation & Power, we know we were created to persevere. As a coach, I use fitness challenges to help others get stronger on many levels. You need a higher level of RPM,s to rev up your "gitty up" I think. This adding fitness to spiritual conditioning has worked well for me and others. Then, my setback, first day back home after being away from training and the clients I train. Don't you know, an accident, I hit a dip in the road, rolled my ankle and cut up my opposite knee. Holy Crap, as Frank Barone on Everybody Loves Raymond would say. The coach is the cripple right now. No idea just yet how bad. The fall happened yesterday, a Sunday. I am doing all the right treatments, RICE- rest, ice, compression (not yet), & elevation. Moving about is nearly impossible. The right knee is stiff and cut up. The left ankle is severely swollen and refuses to bear weight. Yet how can I complain? This too shall pass. I know that is the truth....somewhere. Anyway, thank-you all for sharing your challenges to remain "encouraged" in spite of the obvious discouragements. Your perseverance through adversity helped me today. You are doing the most and the best that you can right now. You can't beat up on yourself for not being able to do more, to provide more for others. I will have to do the same. May God bless you in your journey. If you have time and interest, you can read about how I came to this ministry of faith and fitness on my site: Read: Background.

Susan Kelly
Sporting Our Spirit, Coach & Founder

Sporitng Our Spirit Healthy Oatmeal for endurance training

Breakfast at home in Nova Scotia.

"Butt- kicking, butt blasting Oatmeal"

    Serves 2

1/2 c long cooking oats,
1/8 c red quinoa grain,
1 apple (Gala or Fiji) chopped finely,
1/8 to 1/4 c chopped dates,
3/4 c water,
1/2 almond milk (unsweetened)
1/2 c skim milk (optional, or can use another milk-like topper before serving)
2 TBSP raisins,
1 TBLS ground flax seed,
2 TBLS or about 10-12 whole walnuts,
2 TBSP real maple syrup (optional),
1 tsp ground cinnamon

In a medium saucepan, simmer the quinoa, chopped dates, and chopped apple in the water on medium, then, med/low heat for about 10 min.

Add in oatmeal, raisins, and almond milk. Cook & stir frequently until chunky but creamy, about 10 min.

Pour into bowls. Top with ground flax, cinnamon, almonds, syrup, & skim milk.

Lobster Fritata

10 June 2011


We are in Nova Scotia now. Our commitment this trip is #1 to healthy eating. Knowing that May and June are the two lobster months here concerned me. Butter is out of our diet for sure. Who can eat lobster without butter. Well, certainly plenty of Nova Scotians do.

Anyway, for our whole lobster meal, I sauteed a concoction of olive oil, tarragon, and a little garlic. Using only a TSP or so of this mix, I added it to fresh lemon juice in custard dishes for dipping. Very tasty. I saved most of my lobster tail to make a fritata for brunch the next day. I rarely am able to follow a recipe. But I was surprised at how well it turned out. So, I can only share general notions of how I prepared the dish. Hope you'll give it a go. I did everything I could to keep it low calorie.

Lobster Fritata
     Serves 2

Ingredients:
chopped lobster (could use shrimp, crab), 1 medium tail
4 eggs, 3 of them, just the whites, 1 whole, whipped up well
finely chopped fresh chives, about 1 tsp.
finely chopped tarragon, about 1 TBSP. Tarragon is vital to seafood
save a little of your herbs to add as garnish before serving
1 whole jalapeno pepper, seeded & finely chopped
1/2 oz. of goat cheese
a pinch of curry & cumin
season salt like Zatarains or Old Bay, to taste
pinch of cayenne
2-3 sliced mushroom (optional)
(optional) pretty sure, I might like a little chopped sun-dried tomatoes in this as well
1-2 capfulls of olive oil (about 1/2 TBSP) or use Canola Oil

Turn on the oven broiler to pre-heat for a final browning. Mix goat cheese into the egg mix & set aside. Use a good non-stick fry pan where the egg can spread out,  coming up slightly on the sides. Turn stovetop burner to med. heat. Saute spices & jalapeno pepper in oil about 1 min. Add lobster, cook about 1 more min, then egg mix, let it gel, as in set till almost firm. Don't stir it. When it's just about set, put it under the broiler briefly to brown. I leave the oven door open and the fry pan handle extended outside of opening. Warm your dinner plates ( 1-1.5 min. in microwave). Portion the fritata with spatula into half or quarter sections so you can get it out of the fry pan. Serve on warmed plates. Add garnish and enjoy!

Do let me know if you tried it and if you liked it, or other options for preparing it. :-)

June notes at Kelly's Retreat, Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia
June notes 2011
Finally made it outside to play. The dogs helped, not as much as the Sporting Our Spirit gang of Jacob, Jeanne, Jim, & Lenny, but still it's a start. I'd throw the ball down the hill, then head up the hill, get as much of a lead as I could on the retriever doing his/her job. Mace & Deacon don't fight much over the ball. MacE dislikes wet grass. So I alternate throws: grassy hill for Deacon and anywhere else for her. I sprint every time....uphill. Somehow, they always catch me. This we did for 35 min. They are crashed out now. I am watching the women's finals French Open in peace. It's 10:30 a.m. and 51 degrees. Of great encouragement was the fact that it felt good to run.