Matt has been entering rooms calling me a duck because apparently I stand like one when no one is looking. Back arched, stomach out, butt out:
I guess I have bad posture!? Should I work on my core more? How do you guys stand when no one is watching?
And if I’m a duck, this is most definitely a turtle:
I was 100% in the mood to work out today so that’s what I did. Pretty sunshiney weather. I was SO HAPPY biking to the gym again!
Once there I did a bit of a medley of machines because my feet kept falling asleep in my new shoes!! First on the Stairmaster (I lasted 22 minutes) then on the Elliptical (I lasted 13). I know my shoes were not tied too tight and there is lots of room in the toe box. And a person who has ran 23 marathons evaluated my gait, so I’m pretty sure they are the right fit. Do you think my feet are just adjusting? I went outside and ran a half mile around the track and think they’re OK for running. I’m going to only use them for running anyways (just wore them today for the fun of it) but any advice would be appreciated.
While at the gym I read Cooking Light, which has recently undergone a transformation of new improvements. I really liked them! I think the design has change a little for the worse (the text/font/layout makes it seem like a magazine from the 90s?!), but the content is much more useful. Rather than reading a cookbook I felt like I was reading a magazine for foodies.
Loved the tomato sauce comparison
Always love to see new gadgets + products. I have that bowl on the left from Anthropologie!
And liked the restaurant health rater
I tore out a handful of recipes to put into next week’s meal plan!
Home = lunch.
Leftover baked beans cooked in a skillet with zucchini + red pepper served over romaine dressed in EVOO and vinegar.
And a Whole Grain Goodness bun drizzled with some honey!
This afternoon we might bike to hunt down a soccer ball. I still have that itch! Then tonight is playtime with friends at Brixx Pizza! A beer sampler is definitely on the radar.
Adios!
{ 63 comments… read them below or add one }
Wow! I’m the first to comment…that’s cool! Anywho, I stand the same way…I actually think it’s good posture…maybe? I don’t know, but it feels like good posture to me. Very creative way to use the leftovers of that bean dish. Have a fun night….beer sampler + pizza=yum!
i am always workin on standing and sitting up straight for great posture!
jenna
My husband and I call each other Mouse and Bear!
When I’m not paying attention I either stand at first position or cross my legs, students always used to ask if I was a dancer!
It’s probably a habit you’ve developed to balance the weight of your well-endowed bosom. (Bosom?! I sound like my grandma)
Funny, I walk the same way…but I do not have a well-endowed bosom. My husband calls me a penguin, and I always say that my belly is sticking out…but it’s just my posture.
Apparently, mine is from a slightly misshapen spine. Have you asked a doc or chiropractor?
I had always been a “duck” until I started taking Pilates last winter with the hope of eliminating the lower-back stiffness I’d noticed for several years, especially after exercising. (I’m in my mid-30s). Turns out the “duck” is a pelvis tilt that puts a lot of strain on your lower back. After about 1.5 months of Pilates once a week, my posture corrected itself and I feel taller and stronger than ever (a good feeling when you’re 5’1″), and my lower-back stiffness is completely gone!
This issue is superb (it’s the first issue using their new layout too) !! It’s too funny bc I did my last week’s meals inspired by this issue (& bloggie recipes) — I HIGHLY recommend the Chicken w/ Tomatoes & Olives (holy yum). Check out the post if you want – I tweaked the recipe a bit & it turned out amazing!
http://cookinfanatic.wordpress.com/2009/09/01/oh-cooking-light-i-love-thee-so/
I should clarify that I continue to take Pilates once a week, and I’ll probably continue for a long time! It took me about 1.5 months to notice the change in my posture, but I didn’t stop after 1.5 months.
I don’t know what I’d be called… I guess I look like a ruler when I stand, haha
LOL your stance is adorable! I probably stand like Quasimodo when no one is looking
Salad looks lovely. I’ve craving beans like crazy.
Jenn
I’m way too slouchy, that’s for sure!
As far as the shoes, (and I am noooo expert mind you – just sharing my experience!) I had that same prob with a pair of Nike runners and finally figured out that there was too much cushion for my feet. They felt so good when I put them on, walked around the store for quite a while and felt like I was walking on air. But, when I hit the treadmill or the elliptical, they would fall asleep and/or burn on the bottom of my feet. I tried loosening them, changing socks…no help. I took them back and switched over to an Asics pair that are awesome! Everyone’ s fit is different, but maybe that could be something to look into
Love the salad, as always!!
i don’t know how I stand, but now I’m wondering
enjoy your afternoon!
Kath — one of the worst things for posture is wearing flip flops – I am sorry to say but they make people stand and walk like a duck. See if you have the same stance when you’re in shoes or sneakers. Love your site and recipes. Thank you.
A duck doesn’t sound too bad. If someone had to characterize my posture via creature they’d probably call me Golem.
You definitely do not have duck posture miss lady!
Matt must be confused lol. That bun with honey looks amaaaazing. Have a great night! Sounds like fun woot woot.
It’s funny that you should bring this up today because I just went shopping with my husband this morning and he pointed out how much I was slouching three different times. I was walking around the mall trying to pull my shoulders back. Whenever my back is stronger I know my posture gets better.
I have poor posture. I know it and I feel it. I try to work on it but it is hard when you are nursing and/or carrying around an almost 20 lb baby. Hahaha. I really think I need to visit the chiropractor. You and your husband are so cute together though – I just have to say!
Oh – and I knew I recognized that bowl, I think it was in one of your posts the other day? Right? Hahaha – when I was flipping through CL I was thinking “Kath has that bowl I believe” Its so cute!
that bread looks AWESOME…nice and grainy
I love reading and taking recipes from Cooking Light magazine! I think I have “bad” posture like that too:)
Hey lady! That’s called hyper lordosis. It’s from weak abs and tight muscles. So it’s a postural & flexibility issue, as well as you probably having some muscular imbalances.
Tight hip flexors & weak/stretched abs cause your pelvis to be pulled forward. This puts too much of a weight baring load on your low back, bc your weight isn’t being evenly distributed amongst your abs(too weak) & back. This also weakens/stretches your glutes & causes tight hamstrings which prevents proper form during exercises like squats, lunges etc, bc your hamstrings/lowback will be working extra hard to compensate for your weak glutes. Really focus on stretching your hips and hamstrings, especially on days where you may be sitting for prolonged periods p
of time. Your also going to want to include more core work in your routine, reteach those abs how to work propery to support your lower back, as well as including glute work, to really fire up those muscles so they can really be activated when you are doing weight baring exercises like squats, or even running, to alleviate thr strain your low back is most likely taking. Birddogs and bridges are great exercises to rehabilitate your glutes! HTH!!
Oooh, I live near a brand new Brixx, I’m looking forward to hearing what you think about it!
Kayla pretty much said everything I was about to!
My husband pointed out that I stand the same way and have been trying hard to work on it!
The spine naturally has curves to it, so hopefully no one here thinks that perfect posture=a straight back, however, these curves can be increased. In your case, you have an increased lordosis in the lumbar spine.
Short and sweet on how to fix it: strengthen your glutes and abs, stretch your hammies and hip flexors. I tend to neglect the hip flexor part….
I loved the new Cooking Light layout! It was a fun read and I look forward to seeing some of the recipes that you make.
LOL! I stand like that too!
And apparently I walk like a duck, too, with my feet pointing outwards! When I was little, my sister used to quack at me.
i always stand with my feet in funny positions when people aren’t around-if you danced, we’re talking some version of 3rd/5th generally… when people see they think it’s weird…
I’ve been wearing the same type of running shoes for the past 3 pairs and periodically have had my gait evaluated to see what’s the best shoe….. and the same one always wins! Anyway, I also always have the tingling, “sleeping” feet feeling during the first few wears with a new pair, I think it’s just an adjustment to the firmer shoe.
I’m not expert, but my chiro WANTS me to walk more like you do. Perhaps a little bit less bootay sticking out, but definitely wants the chest out and shoulders back- kinda like in the army!!
Perhaps you can have someone evaluate it. I’ve heard it’s worse to do the opposite- where your shoulders cave forward.
LOVE that issue of Cooking Light! I have so many pages tagged!
And your salad looks like a great way to incorporate leftovers!
xo
K
Love the salad today!
As for your foot falling asleep, are you tying up to the very last lace hole? It may be higher or more into your ankle than your last pair, so it may help to not tie that foot all the way up. I have that problem on my left shoe all the time.
Looks like you have gotten some great advice on your posture! You are so lucky to have such knowledgeable readers!!
hope you are having a wonderful Saturday!
Haha, that’s too cute about the duck comment. I’ve actually heard that arching your back like that can be GOOD for your posture, but that’s just a theory. I tend to favor one foot over the other when I stand or stand on my tip-toes. Guess we all have our own habits!
LOVE that salad!!! Have a great time tonight!
OMgosh, that honey drizzzled bun looked amazing!
Yep, Kayla nabbed it.
What helps me is to visualize a full glass of water sitting right in my pelvis and to try to keep any of the water from “spilling ” out…so the pelvis should be pretty much neutral. Regularly stretching my low back and remembering to engage my lower abs helps a lot. If you can, I HIGHLY recommend pilates! I do reformer pilates 2-4 times per week and it’s incredible–best strength training I’ve ever done and it’s given me impeccable posture (which I’m assuming will keep my body healthy for many years!). Even doing a DVD or buying “The Pilates Body” book and doing exercises out of there would be very helpful.
I love Cooking Light! My mom and I usually buy it. I guess I will have to pick this one up!
I know I stand with my tummy out, and butt out too. Oh well.
I used to get made fun of by my friends for having perfect posture. I sit and stand straight up with my shoulders back head forward, back straight and walk heel to toe. It comes from years of marching band.
I’ll have to pick up the new cooking light. I didn’t like the old content so I might have to give it a try.
I’ve always found that my running shoes aren’t as good for machines as they are for running. I have two different pairs for this reason.
Finding new running shoes is hard. There could be a few reasons your feet went numb: shoes too tight, shoes too small, or may need to use alternate lacing to avoid a pressure point you’re having. I have tried many types of running shoes and keep going back to Asics, but everyone’s feet are different. Mostly depending on your arches (do you have flat feet or flexible arch) but seeing that you went to a professional it might just be your feet adjusting. It is normal!! Hope the shoes work out for you!
I’m definitely a duck as well – my lower back starts to hurt so much if I stand for long periods. Mmm enjoy that beer sampler!!
hehe you’re so cute! I stand with most my weight on one leg with the other leg bent. And usually my arms are crossed. My dad always got on my case about standing with my back bent inwards and stomach out!! I’m so excited that the magazine changed for the better! I just got it in the mail and I’m so excited to read it
I actually haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaate the new Cooking Light.
I don’t know, my favorite thing about it was that it was really geared to the home cook, and now they’ve cut out all the more personal articles (the farmer with the goat farm shares his recipes, stuff like that- it reminded me of food blogs!) and now is just like any other magazine full of uninteresting looking beautiful people.
And I actually especially disliked the restaurant section you liked- I know there’s lots of unhealthy food out there, but Cooking Light was a nice way to escape from the calorie-counting police. I just knew that every recipe in there was healthy, and I didn’t have to “worry” about it like I’m supposed to “worry” about the rest of the food out there.
My mom and sister stand the same way — and from reading the comments, I’ll have to pass some of that info along to them! My mom has always said she’s always stood that way…
Ducks are more lovely than turtles.
I just picked up that Cooking Light – can’t wait to look through it – the pizza on the cover looks fantastic!
I just wanted to comment for the first time and say I read everyday and just love how you incorporate leftovers into all different sorts of things. You’ve helped me be more creative in the kitchen and ultimately less wasteful – YEAH!
Cooking light is hands down my favorite cooking magazine – only Eating Well is a close second!
Jealous of your proximity to Brixx! It always looks amazing!
I loved that Cooking Light issue! I kept wanting the pizza on the cover the whole time I was reading it too!!
I stand with an arch in my back like that too!! I don’t know if it means that we have bad posture or just really cool backs!
dear Kath,
I have read great things about how simple and tasty it is to cook oatmeal in a rice cooker(also how easy it is for rice and I love brown rice like you!)
have you ever tried this method for oats?
If not, hope a rice cooker company will mail you one so you can try and review online,,,,,
I hear once one cooks oatmeal (and of course rice)in a good rice cooker, one never goes back!!!!
Let me know your thoughts please.
Thanks, Marla
The new Cooking LIght does look a bit like something from the 90s, but it’s the content that counts!
That magazine looks good. i usually stick with food netowkr and rachael ray but I might want to grab that now, too
I totally stand like you…..all the time! When I had 5 inches more around the ab, I looked like a lady pregnant in her first trimester….lol. My husband would remind me a million times to stand staright….he still does that sometimes because when I wear a loose dress, the dress hangs at the back and my tummy juts out giving the impression of being pregnant
I’m with Lele on the new CL. I hated it. I felt like the “tone” changed along with the design, and they’re talking down to the reader in ways they weren’t before.
There are some good recipes, and I *get* that they’re trying to keep people interested in a down economy, but the recipes in their budget section looked like crap and/or stuff that a high school home-ec student would be learning to make. With the exception of the butternut squash soup — that looked good.
I wasn’t thrilled with the new CL either, which was kind of a bummer because its always been one of my favorite mags.
I’m a newbie to your blog after having ti recommended to me by a friend, but am absolutely addicted already. I enjoy your enthusiasm – it is contagious!
Also, I’m curious – in Cooking Light, how did the Classico Tomato-Basil sauce come out in the ranks in the taste test article?
We have some here that I’ve not tried yet. Just tried their Red Wine & Herb sauce on a chicken breast though and it was DIVINE.
-Dee
Whoops, forgot to add that I too have odd posture when standing absentmindedly when no one is looking. Kind of similar, though I am larger (working my way down though) and end up looking pregnant! Eek!
-Dee
I think you have awesome posture! Aren’t we supposed to stand with our shoulder’s back? Years of dance couldn’t have taught you wrong.
I stand the SAME way. My sister used to call my PIGEON!
Ahh, I love Cooking Light- I wish I had a subscription!
Thanks for all of the duck advice!!!
I enjoyed reading your Cooking Light thoughts too. Good points. I do miss the old style a bit, but I like some of the new parts too. I preferred the old, but I never liked reading the magazine because it was all recipes, so I do think I’ll like this style more for a magazine. But I’ll miss the old one too.
Katie,
Thank you!
marla,
I don’t have a rice cooker
Kath
When I’m not paying attention, I hunch and my shoulder blades tend to stick out. It’s funny, because the lumbar region of your back seems perfectly – if not over – arched, which is odd because usually most people tend to slump.
I actually took a course on this kind of thing and the instructor (of 30+ years!) taught that superior posture was comprised of two things: (1) a slight pelvic tilt forward, and (2) the “Marionette Effect,” wherein one carries him/herself as if there is a string on his/her head, ever-so-lightly pulling the spine toward the ceiling.
Haha posture is one of my family characteristics–we all tend to stand with knees locked and hips forward.
I definitely have duck butt!!!
But a cute duck!! You have the best foods, I can’t wait to try some of the recipes!!
I agree about the layout/design of cooking light. When I opened up my issue it just seemed a little off. The content has improved though, so I guess there’s a trade off.
Every time I get a new pair of running shoes (and it doesn’t matter which brand) my feet fall asleep for the first few wearings. I just figure the new shoes are pressing on a nerve or two that the old shoes don’t…once the shoes are “broken in” the numbness stops. It only takes 3-4 wearings and it stops.
And I agree with all of your observations about the revamped Cooking Light. I love that magazine but there is something about the font/binding…something…that bothers me.
I totally stand like that too! I took Mitzvah Technique classes (like Alexander technique), and it definitely helped my posture…when I remember to think about it.
I am a massage therapist and do a lot of sports massage. Sometimes the reason people stand like you is that the psoas and illiacus are too tight. These muscles are deeper core muscles that tend to tilt the pelvis forward. I say get a good massage and stretch these muscles. Some exercises can also tighten these accidentally. Good luck.