Is Nothing Sacred!?

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In recent months I have drastically changed the way I eat. To be fair – I have been making a slow change for years. Cutting out additives, synthetic ingredients, chemicals like aspartame. I made efforts to greatly reduce the amount of processed foods I eat. To look at the ingredients and cut out the demon high fructose corn syrup that everyone is so worried about.

Then I saw Food, Inc. And it really messed with my mind. I have never been a fan of industrialized agriculture and the affect it has on so many facets of our society – let alone the potential for inhumane treatment of animals on a mass scale, many times for that meat to just be thrown out because it isn’t moving off the shelves and goes bad. But regardless of how you feel about animals – it was hard to argue to damage it was doing to small regional farms, sustainable agriculture and our health in general. Who knew that the run off from cow manure in large slaughter facilities caused deadly e. coli outbreaks in our spinach? I didn’t. Until Food, Inc. And don’t even get me started on genetically modified soy beans and legal actions that target small farmers to put them out of business. Terrible stuff.

So after Food, Inc I started to pay attention to where my meats and vegetables came from too. I made efforts to buy locally. I paid attention to the type of beef and chicken I bought. Organic, grass fed, free range, velvet pillows. I paid upwards of $10 a pound at times because fortunately I could afford it. But I felt better. I wasn’t supporting big agriculture. I wasn’t destroying the world one burger at a time. And trust me, given recent revelations about ‘pink slime,’ I’m happy about that.

Then came Forks Over Knives. And the downward spiral continued. I am presented with case study after case study on why a ‘whole foods, plant based diet’ is the only one you can eat without killing yourself. They can’t call it vegan, because let’s face it, the word vegan just annoys us before we event get to the table. So there I am, beginning a crisis of conscience over the consumption of meat. I started looking at my meat and feeling….well, bad. Seriously. So I started to think. Could I cut meat out? If so how much? Just beef and pork? or could I cut out chicken too? What about fish?

Well, I worked at it. I made it psychologically off limits for myself. It required more effort than I thought but I managed to cut out everything but seafood. And I have stuck to it. And it isn’t always easy. Sometimes I really want a burger. Or a meatball. Or my old favorite – chicken fingers and ranch dressing at midnight after a night at the bars. But I have resisted. I went to Texas for a week and I resisted. I went to Lawry’s The Prime Rib and had a salad and a baked potato. I went to Fogo de Chao and had the salad bar. I mean, I have really done this. And sometimes I was sad about it.

Then, well…then I was watching 60 minutes. And some doctor came on and told me SUGAR is toxic. It is poison. It is killing us, giving us heart disease. It is fueling cancer. And instead of looking at the next great villain – the next item I need to scrutinize and phase out of my diet, I had a reaction that was quite the opposite. I actually got angry. I was fed up. It isn’t the doctor’s fault. He is just pointing out what science is telling him. But I can’t help but think in this day an age, and in the way we (commercially) consume food, NOTHING is healthy. And since I am not supposed to consume more than 100 calories a day in added sugar (less than what is in a can of soda) I KNOW I am missing the mark on this health benchmark.

Since I can’t wander the plains and pick berries off trees and occasionally have the treat of some sort of prairie animal killed by my mate and roasted over an open fire, maybe I have to live with love handles. Sometimes going hungry, sometimes eating things that tasted disgusting to survive in the wild like the folks did in ancient times, that is not my reality. So am I destined to be unhealthy? Unless I move to that prairie – or to a farm – am I destined to be at risk for these health issues? All I can say is I gave up my meat. I gave up most dairy. What I can’t give up? My cheesecake.

C’mon. It’s all I got!

Mission Accomplished

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Although Eye of the Tiger flashed through my brain many times as I trained, I didn’t train like Rocky. No raw eggs, no museum steps, no raunchy gym. Well – Gold’s in Venice could be described as raunchy – so 1 out of 3. What I DID do is accomplish a goal and achieve something many people don’t. I completed my first ever half marathon this past Sunday. 13.1 miles on my (very tired and very sore) stems. Whodathunk?

The first thing that comes to mind when I look back on last Sunday’s accomplishment is how hard it was. And how painful it was. And how I kept thinking over and over during mile 8 that signing up for this was a terrible idea. But let’s back it up.

Race day. First ever half marathon. Nerves, confusion, late start for the runners, lines 30 minutes long to use the restroom. Kind of a chaotic start for a rookie. I made my way to the starting area, number pinned, headphones on, ready to rock. It was surprising how slowly races start out. You kind of move forward to the starting line en masse in a massive blob. Slowly walking towards the huge banner that says ‘START’ and all kinds of impending hurt.

I was behind the pacers for a 2:45 race when I crossed the starting line and began my race at a good clip. I wasn’t exerting myself yet I was passing many of the runners on the road pretty steadily. That felt pretty good. It felt even better when I passed the 2:45 pacers and I vowed to never fall behind them that day – and I didn’t.

Mile 1: Awesome! My first half marathon mile marker ever! I just passed a bunch of people without even trying that hard. It’s cool and breezy. The road is totally flat. I feel great!

Mile 2: Woo hoo! Second mile achieved! I am pleasantly surprised to still be moving pretty quickly. Oh look there’s some water! Where’s the sports drink? Never mind, I’ll find it later.

Mile 3: Ok, it’s getting a little hotter, but I got this. Legs feel ok, cardio is strong. Not passing so many folks now, actually a few have been blazing by me but hey, that’s ok – I am doing the damn thing! And I just passed a guy who is running while balancing a watermelon on his head. WTF?

Mile 4: Holy crap, look at that HILL! Ok, no worries, keep calm. I can do this. Just breathe and take it easy, maintain a steady pace. Nothing crazy. Whew, there’s the water station – where the heck is the sports drink!? They can’t be out already! Oh well, I gotta concentrate.

Mile 5: WILL THIS HILL EVER END?! Yikes. I thought this was a flat race? Good thing I was warned about this bit going in. I know this will be through at mile 6 and it is smooth sailing on flat terrain again, right? My legs kinda hurt. It’s too hot. Mile 6, where are you?

Mile 6: Oh haiiii 6 miles! I still have energy after that hill! I could totally eff up a 10K, I should sign up for one after this. Maybe Hollywood? or is that too hilly? Definitely signing up for a 10K. I am melting from heat prostration. How are they completely out of sports drink?! At Mile 6! Vitalyte I hate you. I will never buy a bottle of your product, ever.

Mile 7: Ack, hitting a wall. This is getting hard. My hips are starting to ache and it’s way too soon for that. This is a mile 10 level hip ache at mile 7. What have I gotten myself into? If I jump the median and cut this race short will anyone see me? Probably. Better keep going.

Mile 8: HOW IS IT 80 DEGREES AT 10:30 AM IN FEBRUARY!? What if I drop dead because they are out of Vitalyte?!  Signing up for this was a terrible idea! I hate everyone who is already on their way back in. How did they do that so fast? I am so slow. Need to go faster. I’m just going to stop and walk for a second. Just a second. Promise.

Mile 9: I’ve been walking for what seems like an hour. Run, dammit! Also, ate some gummy blocks and feel a little less depleted and nauseous. My hips are screaming. The one bright spot? I have rounded the bend and am on my way in. I am pacing myself behind a girl who is 50 lbs heavier than me and wearing a sweatshirt and a backpack. Also, did a 90 year old just zoom past me?

Mile 10: Delirious. In pain. People passing me left and right. Absolutely no runners on the other side now. Street sweepers out. Can I even finish this? Is it 90 degrees now? It feels like it. I have stopped to walk what seems like 12 times in the past mile. This isn’t good.

Mile 11: I can do this. I know it feels like I can’t but I can. I really do have to stop walking so much though, my pace is gonna suck. Keep going. Where is that heifer in the sweatshirt? If she beats me I’ll be pissed! And a 10K?! Are you crazy? I’m never running again!

Mile 12: This is it. Last 1.1 miles to history. My hips feel like glass but I don’t care. Gearing up for the sprint. I am going to make this count.

Mile 12.5: I can see it. It’s right there. I’m going all in and you can’t stop me. I’m sprinting. Everything goes numb. People I don’t know are waving and cheering as I pass. This is almost over.

Mile 13.1: I win.

Mile 13.12: Things aren’t numb anymore.

Time: 2:36. Pace: 11:54.

Someone asked me why running? And I told them because it scared me. Because it’s hard. Because it’s not something everyone can do and because you have to work REALLY hard to get there. And I did work hard, and I got there. Mission accomplished.

Danger in Drinking Water

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As a beginner at the distance running thing I find myself doing a lot of research on what I should be doing. There are many different opinions and philosophies and sometimes what I discover totally surprises me, like today.

I was researching to make sure I knew how much I should be drinking for my first ever 12 mile run because after my first ever 10 mile run I had some trouble with severe nausea and wooziness. I figured it was because I under-hydrated but after some poking around today I discovered it could be the very opposite. That runners often over-hydrate putting them at risk for something called hyponatremia which I had never heard of. When runners don’t pay attention to their thirst and they drink more because they think they are supposed to they are putting their health at risk.

Also, things like drinking water excessively in the days before a race, taking NSAIDs for pain before and after your race and drinking lots of fluids immediately after (all things of which I am guilty!) can be dangerous, not helpful. I also learned that sports drinks truly are better for you than water (the doctor said so!) – so there will be Gatorade in my bottle today, not water!

Some info from the article to be aware of:

As marathoners, we’re all exercise scientists to one degree or another. We put a lot of time into our training, but also understand that we need to eat and drink optimally to perform our best.

1) Don’t drink obsessively in the several days before a marathon. Drink when you’re thirsty; that will get the job done.

2) Don’t take NSAIDs such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen sodium before, during, or immediately after your race.

3) Weigh yourself before the marathon, and write your weight on the back of your race number. If you need help at the finish line, the marathon medical staff will find this prerace weight very helpful when they attend to you.

4) During the marathon, drink when you’re thirsty, understanding that water, sugars, and electrolytes will help you feel and perform your best. But don’t force yourself to drink.

5) Be particularly careful if you expect to run over four hours, and if you have an unusually small or large body size. Drink less if you begin to get a queasy, sloshy feeling in your stomach.

6) Drink sports drinks rather than water. But don’t expect sports drinks to prevent hyponatremia. They won’t.

7) Don’t chug fluids immediately after the marathon. This is a time, according to a 2003 London Marathon report, when the risk of hyponatremia can be quite high, as stomach fluids are absorbed into the bloodstream. Nibble on solid foods and sip a variety of drinks slowly until you feel well recovered.

Endurance

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Had my first distance run yesterday. Well maybe not the first, I did run 8 miles last weekend. But I upped the game and went for 10 miles yesterday! Felt like such an accomplishment!

Things I learned:

  • I get really nauseous after long runs.
  • 10 miles is exponentially harder that 8.
  • Stretching works.
  • If you put your mind to something, you might be surprised by what you can do.
  • Super excited by all the extra calories I get to eat on long run days.
  • I feel very lucky to live a half a mile from the beach. Makes my runs so beautiful and enjoyable!

I am actually really excited for my first half marathon on February 5th. Bring it!!

Volunteering Does a Spirit Good

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Want to help out those less fortunate than you this holiday season? Me too! The great news is there are so many great ways to volunteer in the LA area!

Some of my faves:
LA Foodbanks
With high levels of community involvement, a broad base of volunteers, and food industry support, food banks typically leverage many dollars in food for every dollar received.

LA Mission
The Los Angeles Mission is a nonprofit organization serving the homeless living on the streets of downtown’s Skid Row. Faithfully, for 75 years, they have saved many lives and have had a profound impact on thousands of others by providing compassionate, humanitarian services to those in desperate need.

Midnight MIssion
Since its inception in 1914, The Midnight Mission has been providing basic subsistence to the region’s needy. While bringing comfort and arresting trauma is the immediate goal, supplying much-needed services actually starts building the trust necessary to bring people into their life-changing programs and services.

Happy holidays!

Rule of Law?

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15 years ago the state of CA passed a Compassionate Use Act to allow its residents access to medical marijuana. This was something I supported and still do. As someone who has had an eye on the ‘war on drugs’ for many years, I find myself increasingly alarmed at law enforcement’s focus on doctors, dispensaries, legal pharmaceuticals and other ‘light of day’ controlled substance enterprises at a time when illegal drug activity is as rampant and as deadly as ever.

I have recently seen the state of CA move in this disturbing direction as well, acting to close down commercial medical marijuana dispensaries because they are ‘dangerous’ and because the people who frequent them don’t really have illnesses. Really? Says who? This conclusion was reached by what process of investigation? But more importantly, when did illicit and illegal drug enterprises become no big deal? When they figured out there was no way to control them, no way to really stop them most likely. My question would be isn’t that your job? Instead of targeting physician and clinics whose lives are destroyed as they are thrown in jail and dragged though the courts. And all because law enforcement doesn’t agree with how they prescribe – is that upholding the spirit and intent of the law? These drug laws should be enforced as they were intended – not bent to create false winning statistics and target our medical professionals and legal dispensaries.

The California voters passed a measure to ensure that people who needed access to medical marijuana would be able to get it. If the state is unable to police or regulate that industry they should look to improve their policies and methods of bureaucracy – not to overlook state law and the intent of the citizenry who passed it. And we shouldn’t stand for it if they do.

In the era of tear gassing non-violent protesters, invasive security screenings at airports and constant privacy breaches in the name of ‘security,’ rule of law may have passed but I for one, hope not.

To Speak Up or Not to Speak Up

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That is the question!

I travel a lot for work. A LOT. When you spend so much time in airports and on planes you can see and hear some crazy things. And annoying things. Definitely annoying. But you also have the opportunity to experience things so many times it changes your perspective. Or reinforces it. And you always have to make a decision on whether something is so irksome you will suffer in silence or take the chance and speak up.

Kids on planes for example. I used to think all kids on planes were crazy jerks. Screaming and crying their heads off, kicking seats, pulling hair, staring at me with their creepy eyes. Then I started to see so many kids, in so many different situations acting the same way. And I started to understand something. As bored as I am on a plane, devouring magazines, racing through books, watching movies – they have got to be 100 times more starved for excitement. After all, they don’t have the same attention span. And landing? My ears? I can make efforts to manage the pressure, they can’t. They don’t know how. So they just feel the stabbing pain. And sit there and scream. I get it now, it doesn’t bother me anymore.

But outside of that? Well, that’s where the parents come in. I have watched parents deal with their children in a variety of ways. DVD players, books, toys, snacks, walks up and down the aisle. All of them trying desperately to entertain their kids, keep their sanity and avoid the death stares from passengers around them when the melt downs come. And they always come, that is inevitable. I think the art is in how you handle it.

I was recently on a cross country flight (warning, here comes the judgement) with one of the worst behaved children I have ever encountered. And her parents seemingly did absolutely nothing to stave off the awful, ear splitting tantrums that she was hell bent on sustaining for the entire 2,500 mile flight. And most people around them were angry. The woman in the seat next to me started talking to me about it. People turned around and stared, trying to signal to the parents that enough was enough and they should do something about it. And I started to think – do her parents have any obligation to try and manage this so the rest of us don’t have to suffer in silent misery? I think they do.

Now, to set the stage, this girl was one in a million. She screamed – at the top of her lungs – in a myriad of ways and for a plethora of reasons. Screaming because she had to leave her mothers lap and buckle up in her own seat. Wailing because her dad wasn’t giving her enough attention. Just plain screaming as loud as possible for…well, I’m not entirely sure what for – but she was going for the gold. Nothing would stop this girl, not that anyone was trying.

And that was my biggest problem with it, no one was trying. Her parents did nothing. I didn’t even hear them shush her, not once. They didn’t have toys, they didn’t have snacks, they didn’t have movies. Mind you, there was a perfectly quiet child in the row next to her, silently watching his DVD player for the entire flight. One of the flight attendants even gently suggested to the parent the they walk her up and down the aisle to help ease the child’s frustration. I guess they were fed up too. But the parents didn’t and the child continued to scream. Unchecked. For the entire flight. And I said…nothing.

Don’t get me wrong. I know children are a spontaneous and sometimes uncontrollable handful. And while I don’t have any, I try to understand this and be patient. But as a parent, if you are going to take your child on a plane, to a movie or out to eat – you do have some obligation to at least try to keep the commotion from destroying everyone else’s experience, don’t you? I would argue that you definitely do. And if you don’t, I must certainly have the right to express my feelings about it, right? Make the decision to speak up or not to speak up? I am still debating that one. And suffering in polite silence.

Relationships Matter

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Even though I recently left the recruiting profession it remains a topic on which I have strong opinions. I have worked as a staffing or ‘agency’ recruiter but I have spent the majority of my recruitment career as a corporate or ‘in-house’ recruiter. Greg Savage is a recruitment leader who heads up Firebrand, an agency that is a division of the company I used to work for as an agency recruiter. I follow his blog and he recently had a post that struck a nerve with me.

His post can be found here and was in reference to the ways that corporate recruiters may fall short, hence making things difficult for agency recruiters. You should probably read this first, or mine won’t make much sense.

My response is below, and it helped illuminate for me that almost any problem you have can be traced back to relationships and communication. Of course that is a huge generality and oversimplification of the zillions of details in between, but I think these two lists offer a nice juxtaposition of either side of the story, if I do say so myself.

Relationships Matter!

1.The defensiveness (or rudeness) might be frustration around the many agency recruiters who can give the rest a bad name. If you get 10 calls a week and 9 are painfully bad, then you can get short with people.

2. I know you are not competing with me, there is no competition. If you are quality, service and relationship focused, it won’t feel like a competition, ever.

3. An agency recruiter who feels the need to educate me on urgency doesn’t get it. If you think the 6 week wait times are because I am not looking at resumes, wrong. I look and forward to my hiring managers immediately. And then I wait. And by default you wait. This is a problem that doesn’t go away when you leave agency for in-house, it likely get worse. Strong relationships and communication will solve this problem between the agency and the in-house contact. Not a lecture on urgency.

4. I am paid to keep gates. When I feel there is value for both parties in opening that gate, I will. I want the role filled and I’ll always manage the process to that end. To say that a corporate recruiter lacks the knowledge to fully brief a partner on a search? I think a senior level in-house professional is, at times, better equipped to do this than any line managers would be.

5. Invest time in you? I invest time in relationships with smart, responsive and capable partners. Be that and I will. If you’re not, I won’t.

6. Delegated to the new kid? If we have a strong relationship – you won’t get the junior recruiter, you’ll get me. Focus on that.

7. No response? There is no excuse for not communicating and updating your trusted partners on status and issues. If you aren’t getting this, I’d question the strength of your relationship.

8. Finally and with due respect, listen to you? Ok, but you listen to me, too. While I know that agency recruiters have a general pulse on the market, talent and salaries, corporate recruiters have to worry about things like parity and salary ranges. Benefits and stock and retirement contributions. They have to make sure their junior designers don’t make more than the Sr ADs they work for. And that is important too.

Bottom line, we all have our perspectives and challenges. If the industry keeps high standards of service and quality, strong relationships and open communication – things might go a lot more smoothly. Many agencies tolerate and foster a culture of delivering much less. And that hurts everyone.

Young Guns

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Watched Greenberg with Ben Stiller today and he had an amazing quote about the young guns of today that particularly resonated with me:

“The thing about you kids is that you’re all kind of insensitive. I’m glad I grew up when I did cause your parents were too perfect at parenting- all that baby Mozart and Dan Zanes songs; you’re just so sincere and interested in things! There’s a confidence in you guys that’s horrifying. You’re all ADD and carpal tunnel. You wouldn’t know Agoraphobia if it bit you in the ass, and it makes you mean. You say things to someone like me who’s older and smarter with this light air… I’m freaked out by you kids. I hope I die before I end up meeting one of you in a job interview.”