Dear Angela,
I am anxious to hear how the new changes to your workout are going. Do you feel like more cardio is helping? Do you miss your former workout routine? How are you staying motivated? It is exciting to know you received outside input to help guide you. Good luck on hanging in there! Not to sound cliche but, I know you can do it!
To be honest, fitness and dieting has been far from my mind for the past few days. I've been out sick- sipping tea, reading, sleeping and daydreaming about warmer weather. My appetite has disappeared as well, which is a very strange turn of events. So, until I feel better I will just share some more fitness resources I've found around the web:
Rock My Run. Offers great running/work-out music (for free). In case you need some new tunes to spice up your work-out mix.
Get Fit Fast: Why 30 Minutes Is All You Need. "Our bodies are responsive to the intensity of the exercise, not the time."
Fitness First Bus Stop in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. I don't know how I feel about this. A part of me likes the ingenuity and another part of me feels insulted.
The Most Intense Work-Out of All Time. Puts a smile on my face.
Until next time,
Rachel
Monday, February 27, 2012
Friday, February 24, 2012
I Must Begin my Journey
Dear Rachel,
When I read the title to your post these lyrics from Stephen Sondheim's musical started to run through my head:
"Into the woods, It's time to go, I hate to leave, I have to, though. Into the woods--
It's time, and so I must begin my journey."
This is one of my favorite musicals ever. I even tried out for Little Red Riding Hood's part in a production of it once, but I didn't end up getting the part because...well... basically...my boobs were too big...more on that uncomfortable subject in a different blog entry though.
Anyway, as I told you in my last blog, my '40 miles into the woods' (or however many miles I've actually gone) is getting me NO WHERE. It's like I journeyed into the woods only to find darkness and I'm running around in circles until I come out of the woods in the same place I started...*sigh* but don't worry this isn't just another entry where I'm going to whine.
Today I had a fitness/wellness exam complete with consultation at the end. Turns out I'm pretty healthy my waist measurement is even where it should be, my blood pressure could be better...but my weight is awful. I knew what the results would be and yet getting them and talking about them with someone was still emotional.
"I've been trying so hard..." I said.
"For how long?" The wellness consultant asked..we will call him Dr. Derek for the sake of alliteration...
"About 8 weeks now..."
Then I proceeded to tell him I've been working out about 5 days a week and eating no more than 2000 calories each day...I have fallen off this routine/pattern a couple times, but not many for 8 weeks.
"I see," Dr. Derek said. "And what kind of exercise have you been doing?"
I told him I usually split time up between cardio and strength training for about thirty to forty-five minutes and that the cardio is usually high in intensity, like running.
"Okay," He said. "I'm routing for you...you seem to have a very athletic muscular build, so let's try something...most people get the best weight loss results with cardio. 30 minutes at least 3 times-should be 5 times- a week."
I blinked at Dr. Derek.
"Not high intensity, because high intensity burns carbs not fat, but moderate intensity on an elliptical or treadmill should start burning the fat. Do you think you can do that?"
Yeah, easy enough...but wait does this mean I've actually been working too hard at losing weight? I nodded at him.
"Okay," he said. "Let's write that down, your goal is to do 30 minutes of moderate cardio...how many days a week would you like me to put down?"
"Five." I told him, determined to do the ideal goal, not the slacker one.
"Five days a week it is then...eat healthy and hopefully by the end of the month you will have lost at least 4 pounds, if not we will go back to the drawing board."
I sat there and looked at the new goal Dr. Derek had written down for me. A new goal that may even work, the determination is on again. Just then a song floated back into my head, Into the woods it's time to go, I hate to leave I have to though, into the woods--it's time and so I must begin my journey...
When I read the title to your post these lyrics from Stephen Sondheim's musical started to run through my head:
"Into the woods, It's time to go, I hate to leave, I have to, though. Into the woods--
It's time, and so I must begin my journey."
This is one of my favorite musicals ever. I even tried out for Little Red Riding Hood's part in a production of it once, but I didn't end up getting the part because...well... basically...my boobs were too big...more on that uncomfortable subject in a different blog entry though.
Anyway, as I told you in my last blog, my '40 miles into the woods' (or however many miles I've actually gone) is getting me NO WHERE. It's like I journeyed into the woods only to find darkness and I'm running around in circles until I come out of the woods in the same place I started...*sigh* but don't worry this isn't just another entry where I'm going to whine.
Today I had a fitness/wellness exam complete with consultation at the end. Turns out I'm pretty healthy my waist measurement is even where it should be, my blood pressure could be better...but my weight is awful. I knew what the results would be and yet getting them and talking about them with someone was still emotional.
"I've been trying so hard..." I said.
"For how long?" The wellness consultant asked..we will call him Dr. Derek for the sake of alliteration...
"About 8 weeks now..."
Then I proceeded to tell him I've been working out about 5 days a week and eating no more than 2000 calories each day...I have fallen off this routine/pattern a couple times, but not many for 8 weeks.
"I see," Dr. Derek said. "And what kind of exercise have you been doing?"
I told him I usually split time up between cardio and strength training for about thirty to forty-five minutes and that the cardio is usually high in intensity, like running.
"Okay," He said. "I'm routing for you...you seem to have a very athletic muscular build, so let's try something...most people get the best weight loss results with cardio. 30 minutes at least 3 times-should be 5 times- a week."
I blinked at Dr. Derek.
"Not high intensity, because high intensity burns carbs not fat, but moderate intensity on an elliptical or treadmill should start burning the fat. Do you think you can do that?"
Yeah, easy enough...but wait does this mean I've actually been working too hard at losing weight? I nodded at him.
"Okay," he said. "Let's write that down, your goal is to do 30 minutes of moderate cardio...how many days a week would you like me to put down?"
"Five." I told him, determined to do the ideal goal, not the slacker one.
"Five days a week it is then...eat healthy and hopefully by the end of the month you will have lost at least 4 pounds, if not we will go back to the drawing board."
I sat there and looked at the new goal Dr. Derek had written down for me. A new goal that may even work, the determination is on again. Just then a song floated back into my head, Into the woods it's time to go, I hate to leave I have to though, into the woods--it's time and so I must begin my journey...
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Into the Woods
Dear Angela,
Your entry made me remember something a physical trainer told me years ago. I will try my best to paraphrase what he said.
I don't know if this is the most brilliant wisdom of all time but for me I appreciated the metaphor. I also like the reminder that I shouldn't fall victim to trendy diets or magazine articles that promise: "Bikini Body in 30 days!" I must accept the reality you don't get that bikini body in 30 days (unless of course you only have a few pounds to shed to begin with and are already chewing on lettuce in your free time).
Having said this, I am fascinated by trendy diets and diets of all kinds. I like the idea of the losing weight by drinking water diet, I was fascinated (in a sick kinda way) by the Victoria's Secret liquid diet and I have a friend who swears by her version of the Rotation diet. For some reason I just like knowing what is out there. For me, it is a shame no one has pioneered the following diet:
Of course, I could always name this diet now and put it out there for the masses. Except, I would be doing the world a great disservice because if you follow such guidelines your scale should probably just be thrown out the window.
Because we are on the topic of dieting I thought I would share a few resources I have found helpful.
MapWalk. This is for creating your own walking maps. Totally free. You can create your own maps as you please.
(Image Source)
Women's Health. This is my favorite work-out magazine. It puts Shape magazine to shame. I don't know how to describe my love for this magazine exactly but by simply picking it up I feel happier. (As a side note, I also enjoy reading Men's Health.)
Starbucks Nutrition. For people like me. If you aren't careful you can be the person putting on whipped cream (which can add up to 100 calories) or sipping an icy 1,000 calorie frappuccino on a hot summer day. As a general rule- I learn the drinks and then know how to modify them when ordering.
Pinterest. I browse this for both exercise tips and healthy recipes. A recent find includes this green monster smoothie that I plan on whipping up soon. Please note: I don't pay attention to all the thinspiration images that seem to flood Pinterest. I like the idea of healthy skinny but not rib-cages-poking-out skinny. I know for some people this might be their natural body type, which is something different than those who use extreme techniques to become rail thin.
Okay, that is my list of health and exercise resources for now. I will try to find more for the future and maybe you have some of your own you would like to share.
Until next time,
Rachel
Your entry made me remember something a physical trainer told me years ago. I will try my best to paraphrase what he said.
If you want to lose weight and get fit you can't trust any "get skinny quick" schemes. You have to realize it is 40 miles into the woods, 40 miles out of the woods. Meaning, if you have spent a lot of time not eating right and not working out then it will take time for your body to "get those 40 miles out of the woods." So keep going.
I don't know if this is the most brilliant wisdom of all time but for me I appreciated the metaphor. I also like the reminder that I shouldn't fall victim to trendy diets or magazine articles that promise: "Bikini Body in 30 days!" I must accept the reality you don't get that bikini body in 30 days (unless of course you only have a few pounds to shed to begin with and are already chewing on lettuce in your free time).
Having said this, I am fascinated by trendy diets and diets of all kinds. I like the idea of the losing weight by drinking water diet, I was fascinated (in a sick kinda way) by the Victoria's Secret liquid diet and I have a friend who swears by her version of the Rotation diet. For some reason I just like knowing what is out there. For me, it is a shame no one has pioneered the following diet:
Breakfast/Lunch: 1 Starbucks Latte (Medium size, 1 shot of espresso only, 1 flavor shot)
Dinner: Whatever you feel like eating.
In between: Whatever comes your way... so, say your coworkers bring in cookies? Why not! It would be rude to turn them down! (Actually, I feel like dieting in the workplace deserves an entirely different post... stay tuned.)
Of course, I could always name this diet now and put it out there for the masses. Except, I would be doing the world a great disservice because if you follow such guidelines your scale should probably just be thrown out the window.
Because we are on the topic of dieting I thought I would share a few resources I have found helpful.
MapWalk. This is for creating your own walking maps. Totally free. You can create your own maps as you please.
(Image Source)
Women's Health. This is my favorite work-out magazine. It puts Shape magazine to shame. I don't know how to describe my love for this magazine exactly but by simply picking it up I feel happier. (As a side note, I also enjoy reading Men's Health.)
Starbucks Nutrition. For people like me. If you aren't careful you can be the person putting on whipped cream (which can add up to 100 calories) or sipping an icy 1,000 calorie frappuccino on a hot summer day. As a general rule- I learn the drinks and then know how to modify them when ordering.
Pinterest. I browse this for both exercise tips and healthy recipes. A recent find includes this green monster smoothie that I plan on whipping up soon. Please note: I don't pay attention to all the thinspiration images that seem to flood Pinterest. I like the idea of healthy skinny but not rib-cages-poking-out skinny. I know for some people this might be their natural body type, which is something different than those who use extreme techniques to become rail thin.
Okay, that is my list of health and exercise resources for now. I will try to find more for the future and maybe you have some of your own you would like to share.
Until next time,
Rachel
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Off Again On Again
Dear Rachel,
I too would love to look like/wear what the girl in the black dress from your entry is wearing...and have her hair, teeth and smile....I wonder if she was air brushed and stuff?
I fell off the healthy eating train this week. I was just SO mad when I stepped on that scale to see that after working out, eating healthier and portion watching I had lost nothing, not one pound... after my sixth successful week!
I should've picked up that scale that and thrown it as far as I could!...but I didn't because I was at the gym and might've hit someone else in the locker room.
I worked out at least 3 times every week. I calorie counted. I got rid of most unhealthy food in my house, people say I should be proud of this new change, this is a triumph in itself...blah blah blah...I was frustrated and I went for it...
I ate away the pain by binging! I mean if I'm going to stay the same anyway...I'll eat yummy rice krispies! Cookies! Smores! Punch! to start with and so I did. Then I continued with wine and dark chocolate! The fattiest sandwich from a not-so-fatty restaurant! I followed that by ordering a burger for delivery when I was feeling lonely and instead of veggies let's shove those sweet potato fries in my mouth! Then I made burgers another night and somehow two more boxes of mac and cheese disappeared from my cupboard!
That's all I remember from last week, but I'm sure there was oh so much more to my junk food feast. I didn't gain or lose anything pounds wise. I was however, rewarded with a pounding headache for the next few days. I feel like a failure...but I'm going to start over again, because trying has got to count for something. Trying will make me feel better than giving up completely.
Tonight, I will make homemade tomato soup with laughing cow grilled cheese on sprouted bread. As soon as I gain the courage I will start logging my food again...one day there is bound to be results...I hope.
Doing more than hoping here,
Angela
Image credit: http://www.miller-mccune.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/mmw_faddiets.jpg
I too would love to look like/wear what the girl in the black dress from your entry is wearing...and have her hair, teeth and smile....I wonder if she was air brushed and stuff?
I fell off the healthy eating train this week. I was just SO mad when I stepped on that scale to see that after working out, eating healthier and portion watching I had lost nothing, not one pound... after my sixth successful week!
I should've picked up that scale that and thrown it as far as I could!...but I didn't because I was at the gym and might've hit someone else in the locker room.
I worked out at least 3 times every week. I calorie counted. I got rid of most unhealthy food in my house, people say I should be proud of this new change, this is a triumph in itself...blah blah blah...I was frustrated and I went for it...
I ate away the pain by binging! I mean if I'm going to stay the same anyway...I'll eat yummy rice krispies! Cookies! Smores! Punch! to start with and so I did. Then I continued with wine and dark chocolate! The fattiest sandwich from a not-so-fatty restaurant! I followed that by ordering a burger for delivery when I was feeling lonely and instead of veggies let's shove those sweet potato fries in my mouth! Then I made burgers another night and somehow two more boxes of mac and cheese disappeared from my cupboard!
That's all I remember from last week, but I'm sure there was oh so much more to my junk food feast. I didn't gain or lose anything pounds wise. I was however, rewarded with a pounding headache for the next few days. I feel like a failure...but I'm going to start over again, because trying has got to count for something. Trying will make me feel better than giving up completely.
Tonight, I will make homemade tomato soup with laughing cow grilled cheese on sprouted bread. As soon as I gain the courage I will start logging my food again...one day there is bound to be results...I hope.
Doing more than hoping here,
Angela
Image credit: http://www.miller-mccune.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/mmw_faddiets.jpg
Monday, February 13, 2012
Skinny Dreaming
Image source here
Dear Angela,
Thank god you put crash-dieting behind you. If given a choice between being skinny or tasting food I hope I would always select the second. This doesn't mean I don't ever have what I think of as skinny daydreams...
They go something like this for me, "If I had my skinny body back again I could walk into J.Crew, try on anything and look fantastic..." I don't have the bikini body fantasies or a desire to be rail thin to "get a guy" but clothing is an incredible influence for me.
Because once you gain weight clothes shopping becomes increasingly complicated. You are always trying to figure out: Okay, does this dress come in my size? And then, Does it work with my body type, or when I wear it will I end up looking like an elephant? I should also mention: there are many stores that are only interested in carrying clothing for the cute, petite girls of the world- forget it if you are a girl who is friendly with cupcakes and doesn't live on a treadmill.
But in my skinny dreams none of this matters and I can wear anything I want to. I can leave my house every day looking radiant and oh so très chic. This would be:
Image source here
Except I would probably change out the heels.
Until next time,
Rachel
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Crash Dieting...it Totally Screwed Me
Dear Rachel,
I must tell you that while I completely support your efforts to become healthier and teach your cutest-little-boy-in-the-world about nutrition, I was honestly sad to hear you say you might be giving up your Starbucks gold card. I mean, do you really have to give up that fancy flashy thing with your name on it? Can't you just start getting herbal tea or skim/skinny lattes instead?
While it may be the hardest thing in the world to find...maybe the key really is finding a balance between eating right and still being able to live life and enjoy things like Starbucks or cookies...if you or someone you know finds this balance please let me know, because the truth is I never could.
I lost weight in the past before, but one of my darkest confessions is I was never proud of the way I did it...throughout my teen years I was a crash dieter and I think this is one of the main reasons I have the health problems I have today.
Here's how it started:
As a teenage girl, especially a teenage girl that carried a few extra pounds on her, eating was never something to be proud of. Teenage boys can be ruthless in what they say about what girls look like and what girls eat. At twelve and thirteen they will say it to your face. These are the nicknames boys made up for me in middle school:
"Double D" later converted to "DD"
"An-jello"
"Fatass"
"Butch"
They would change the "Your mama's so fat..." jokes to "You're so fat...."
They would come and take food out of my lunch that they said was bad for me and eat it themselves (once they even broke into my locker for it).
A boy I liked said, "You'd be pretty if you were thinner."
I never told them that what they were doing/saying was wrong because as a kid I figured they were just telling me the truth. Most of the time I just nodded in agreement.
I think I began to gain most of the weight I put on around seventh grade. I'm not sure what caused this perhaps it was my parent's divorce or quitting soccer and just doing ballet to become more "lady-like" and less "Butch." Whatever the reason the teasing just got worse and the weight wasn't coming off...then a friend of mine got a lot of attention-particularly from boys- and began to drop weight by not eating at all and I decided to join her...in fact we made it a competition.
The rules to our competition:
1. In order to ward off parent suspicion when pushed we could eat one portion of one meal per day
2. We could have as many liquids as we wanted, but could not blend any food and call it a liquid
3. Other than that we would eat nothing and the first person to crack lost
and yes people...those boys...did place bets on us, most against me.
Now, I am proud to say that after about a month, I lost this competition. However, I was not proud to lose at the time. I lost because during the competition I was pirouetting in ballet and I blacked out, fell over and they had to feed me something so that I felt better.
I lost over 10lbs during this time, but let me tell you something very , very VERY important. With crash dieting once you're done dieting, you gain back more weight than you originally started with and so in the end I only ended up getting bigger when all was said and done.
The competition with my friend was one of the most extreme crash diets I went on. I did it throughout my teen years, but remember one other extreme time...before my senior prom. I had just seen Moulin Rouge. I thought Nicole Kidman was the epitome of beauty
and therefore had my heart set on a red dress like the one she wore in her elephant. I tried on red dress after red dress for about two months, went dress shopping EVERYWHERE to all the corners of the state and NONE of them fit.
I was also in the school play "Guys and Dolls" at the time and they could not find a beautiful twenties style dress in the costume shop to fit me...they ended up giving me a blouse that someone who played a grandma wore in the previous play.
At first I tried to eat healthy. I was constantly exercising at rehearsal for the play and dance, but when I still couldn't find a dress...I decided I wouldn't eat another bite until I fit into a dress. During lunch I did homework and I was never home for my mom to see I wasn't eating dinner.
This crash diet was self-inflicted, I was educated enough by now to know what I was doing was wrong and bad so I told no one...I only ate when I felt like I was going to pass out or started to black out. When this happened, I would get crackers out of a vending machine. However, once I only ate half the package because I felt like there was too much butter brushed on them.
I think because I was bigger no one ever noticed I wasn't eating and everyone kept saying how good I looked, one of my dance teacher's even gasped with excitement.
A week before prom and 30lbs lighter, I found that perfect red dress, but I began eating again immediately after prom and of course I found the weight plus a few extra pounds again.
I am proud to say, I have not crash dieted since I hit my twenties. On the other hand, I am disappointed to say I have never been as thin as I was on crash diets either.
Rachel my friend, I want to do it the right way this time. I want to lose weight because I became healthier, not because I stopped eating and am blacking out all the time.
Ultimately, I believe the crash dieting permanently slowed my metabolism and is the reason for my heart/high blood pressure problems and when it comes down to it...is what is screwing me now.
Signed,
Angela
I must tell you that while I completely support your efforts to become healthier and teach your cutest-little-boy-in-the-world about nutrition, I was honestly sad to hear you say you might be giving up your Starbucks gold card. I mean, do you really have to give up that fancy flashy thing with your name on it? Can't you just start getting herbal tea or skim/skinny lattes instead?
While it may be the hardest thing in the world to find...maybe the key really is finding a balance between eating right and still being able to live life and enjoy things like Starbucks or cookies...if you or someone you know finds this balance please let me know, because the truth is I never could.
I lost weight in the past before, but one of my darkest confessions is I was never proud of the way I did it...throughout my teen years I was a crash dieter and I think this is one of the main reasons I have the health problems I have today.
Here's how it started:
As a teenage girl, especially a teenage girl that carried a few extra pounds on her, eating was never something to be proud of. Teenage boys can be ruthless in what they say about what girls look like and what girls eat. At twelve and thirteen they will say it to your face. These are the nicknames boys made up for me in middle school:
"Double D" later converted to "DD"
"An-jello"
"Fatass"
"Butch"
They would change the "Your mama's so fat..." jokes to "You're so fat...."
They would come and take food out of my lunch that they said was bad for me and eat it themselves (once they even broke into my locker for it).
A boy I liked said, "You'd be pretty if you were thinner."
I never told them that what they were doing/saying was wrong because as a kid I figured they were just telling me the truth. Most of the time I just nodded in agreement.
I think I began to gain most of the weight I put on around seventh grade. I'm not sure what caused this perhaps it was my parent's divorce or quitting soccer and just doing ballet to become more "lady-like" and less "Butch." Whatever the reason the teasing just got worse and the weight wasn't coming off...then a friend of mine got a lot of attention-particularly from boys- and began to drop weight by not eating at all and I decided to join her...in fact we made it a competition.
The rules to our competition:
1. In order to ward off parent suspicion when pushed we could eat one portion of one meal per day
2. We could have as many liquids as we wanted, but could not blend any food and call it a liquid
3. Other than that we would eat nothing and the first person to crack lost
and yes people...those boys...did place bets on us, most against me.
Now, I am proud to say that after about a month, I lost this competition. However, I was not proud to lose at the time. I lost because during the competition I was pirouetting in ballet and I blacked out, fell over and they had to feed me something so that I felt better.
I lost over 10lbs during this time, but let me tell you something very , very VERY important. With crash dieting once you're done dieting, you gain back more weight than you originally started with and so in the end I only ended up getting bigger when all was said and done.
The competition with my friend was one of the most extreme crash diets I went on. I did it throughout my teen years, but remember one other extreme time...before my senior prom. I had just seen Moulin Rouge. I thought Nicole Kidman was the epitome of beauty
and therefore had my heart set on a red dress like the one she wore in her elephant. I tried on red dress after red dress for about two months, went dress shopping EVERYWHERE to all the corners of the state and NONE of them fit.
I was also in the school play "Guys and Dolls" at the time and they could not find a beautiful twenties style dress in the costume shop to fit me...they ended up giving me a blouse that someone who played a grandma wore in the previous play.
At first I tried to eat healthy. I was constantly exercising at rehearsal for the play and dance, but when I still couldn't find a dress...I decided I wouldn't eat another bite until I fit into a dress. During lunch I did homework and I was never home for my mom to see I wasn't eating dinner.
This crash diet was self-inflicted, I was educated enough by now to know what I was doing was wrong and bad so I told no one...I only ate when I felt like I was going to pass out or started to black out. When this happened, I would get crackers out of a vending machine. However, once I only ate half the package because I felt like there was too much butter brushed on them.
I think because I was bigger no one ever noticed I wasn't eating and everyone kept saying how good I looked, one of my dance teacher's even gasped with excitement.
A week before prom and 30lbs lighter, I found that perfect red dress, but I began eating again immediately after prom and of course I found the weight plus a few extra pounds again.
I am proud to say, I have not crash dieted since I hit my twenties. On the other hand, I am disappointed to say I have never been as thin as I was on crash diets either.
Rachel my friend, I want to do it the right way this time. I want to lose weight because I became healthier, not because I stopped eating and am blacking out all the time.
Ultimately, I believe the crash dieting permanently slowed my metabolism and is the reason for my heart/high blood pressure problems and when it comes down to it...is what is screwing me now.
Signed,
Angela
Thursday, February 9, 2012
The Danger of Stumbling into your 20's
Dear Angela,
Thank you for being so brutally honest about your weight and fitness journey. I know us gals can be timid about revealing numbers (which is exactly why you won’t find my weight written anywhere on this blog) but I admire your courage for being so open.
For me, I gained weight once thrust into the land of my 20’s. I started to eat out most meals (often picking the foods that were the most appealing rather than nutritious), I failed to create any kind of exercise routine and I basically went along blindly- feeding myself without much thought, living life caught up in college, friends and boyfriends- never stopping to realize what I might be doing to my body. I must have had some idea but Pumpkin Spice Latte anyone?
Or what about a plate of freshly made oatmeal chocolate chip cookies?
Um, heaven?
Yes, I happen to be a lover of food. I like the eating. I like the cooking. I like sharing meals with friends and loved ones. I also happen to be a Starbucks GOLD MEMBER, which means I am basically awesome and carry around a gold Starbucks card with my name engraved on it in order to prove it. It is a bit like being a VIP member to the hottest club in town, only 100 times more exclusive.
Along with my rather scandalous eating and latte consuming habits, I also have an amazing job but that job takes place in an office setting. Meaning, long hours sitting or being in one place. Meaning, sometimes I am so lazy at work I favor going up the escalator instead of the stairs. And, why, do you ask? Because somehow I need to rush to my desk where I can sit some more and continue to expedite my familiar but unhealthy lifestyle.
Please note, by now I have realized it is it is fabulous to walk into a restaurant and order to your heart’s content. However, it is incredibly NOT fabulous when it means you have to struggle into your jeans a day later. Or, worse yet, the moment when you realize, with horror, you must step it up to the next size of jeans and then suddenly you want to moan to the Gods of Weight: How did this happen? What did I do to deserve this torture?
I should also mention I am a mother to the most amazing toddler on the planet. This life-changing event happened sometime in my mid-20’s. Becoming a parent has forced me to do so many things. I sacrifice sleep, I become familiar with poop, I get thrown up on, I try to read to my child every single day… but a part of being a parent is to also model healthy eating habits along with a healthy lifestyle. Those two should go together and when my son reaches 20, 30, 40- all of it- I want to be there. And, better yet, I want him to have the understanding of what health means and to value its importance so he might have the good fortune of living to a healthy ripe old age himself. If that means I have to model to him that a diet does not consist of random foods stuffed into your body along with lattes, so be it. I would rather he learn the lesson now.
I admit, as of February 9, 2012 I feel like a complete novice when it comes to healthy eating and living. But I am anxious and excited to begin making the change- even if it means turning in my Starbucks gold card. I am willing to attempt it.
---
Image sources for this post: 1. Pumpkin Spice Latte / 2. chocolate chip cookies
Thank you for being so brutally honest about your weight and fitness journey. I know us gals can be timid about revealing numbers (which is exactly why you won’t find my weight written anywhere on this blog) but I admire your courage for being so open.
For me, I gained weight once thrust into the land of my 20’s. I started to eat out most meals (often picking the foods that were the most appealing rather than nutritious), I failed to create any kind of exercise routine and I basically went along blindly- feeding myself without much thought, living life caught up in college, friends and boyfriends- never stopping to realize what I might be doing to my body. I must have had some idea but Pumpkin Spice Latte anyone?
Or what about a plate of freshly made oatmeal chocolate chip cookies?
Um, heaven?
Yes, I happen to be a lover of food. I like the eating. I like the cooking. I like sharing meals with friends and loved ones. I also happen to be a Starbucks GOLD MEMBER, which means I am basically awesome and carry around a gold Starbucks card with my name engraved on it in order to prove it. It is a bit like being a VIP member to the hottest club in town, only 100 times more exclusive.
Along with my rather scandalous eating and latte consuming habits, I also have an amazing job but that job takes place in an office setting. Meaning, long hours sitting or being in one place. Meaning, sometimes I am so lazy at work I favor going up the escalator instead of the stairs. And, why, do you ask? Because somehow I need to rush to my desk where I can sit some more and continue to expedite my familiar but unhealthy lifestyle.
Please note, by now I have realized it is it is fabulous to walk into a restaurant and order to your heart’s content. However, it is incredibly NOT fabulous when it means you have to struggle into your jeans a day later. Or, worse yet, the moment when you realize, with horror, you must step it up to the next size of jeans and then suddenly you want to moan to the Gods of Weight: How did this happen? What did I do to deserve this torture?
I should also mention I am a mother to the most amazing toddler on the planet. This life-changing event happened sometime in my mid-20’s. Becoming a parent has forced me to do so many things. I sacrifice sleep, I become familiar with poop, I get thrown up on, I try to read to my child every single day… but a part of being a parent is to also model healthy eating habits along with a healthy lifestyle. Those two should go together and when my son reaches 20, 30, 40- all of it- I want to be there. And, better yet, I want him to have the understanding of what health means and to value its importance so he might have the good fortune of living to a healthy ripe old age himself. If that means I have to model to him that a diet does not consist of random foods stuffed into your body along with lattes, so be it. I would rather he learn the lesson now.
I admit, as of February 9, 2012 I feel like a complete novice when it comes to healthy eating and living. But I am anxious and excited to begin making the change- even if it means turning in my Starbucks gold card. I am willing to attempt it.
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Image sources for this post: 1. Pumpkin Spice Latte / 2. chocolate chip cookies
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
The Scale is a Scary, Scary Place...
Hello my dear friend Rachel,
I am just sooo happy that you have decided to join me on this journey to becoming healthier...and hopefully thinner. Perhaps this blog will be a motivator for us to stay on track!
Before when you asked me why I was eating healthier and working out more I told you it was for health, health and only health. I want to lower my high blood pressure, not have knee problems and not experience acid reflux on a normal basis...but to be completely honest I also have a secret motivation to not be afraid of a haunted place...the scale.
I have spent most of my life avoiding the scale. I think there were years I never visited that number on that thing I step on in the bathroom. Only when I visited the doctor's office did I find out what I truly weighed and I never found myself happy about it.
When I was a kid in elementary school I remember lying about my weight. In third grade, my boy cousin that was my age told me proudly that he weighed 80lbs...he was excited about gaining muscle at the time. My brother and I had just visited the doctor...Dr. Gender...for a check-up where I had found out that my weight was about 95-100lbs.
"How much do you weigh?" My cousin asked me his chest out to boast about himself a bit.
"The same." I told him...blatant lie.
His jaw dropped.
"What?" I said. "I weigh the same as you..."
"Yea..." he said. "But girls are supposed to be skinny..."
To this day I hate that society...and perhaps those small waisted Disney Princesses...told a bunch of eight-year-olds that.
Needless to say I avoided the scale for about the next four to five years, until I visited the doctor in eighth grade and the scale was pushed all the way to 160lbs...WTF happened to all the numbers in between?
I was a very active and very athletic child going to soccer 2-3 times a week and dance 4-5 nights a week. My mother monitored my food intake pretty well...a whole other issue in itself...so I don't really know how the scale continued to climb...
The scale continued to climb and I don't expect you to do this or anything, my dear friend Rachel, but I think perhaps it will help me to admit that since about my sophomore year in college I have weighed about 200lbs...give or take a few pounds here and there.
But I am telling myself, as I have told myself many times before that this time, this time, THIS TIME will be different. Others have done it and now so will I. With time and patience I want to make the scale not such a scary place.
I am just sooo happy that you have decided to join me on this journey to becoming healthier...and hopefully thinner. Perhaps this blog will be a motivator for us to stay on track!
Before when you asked me why I was eating healthier and working out more I told you it was for health, health and only health. I want to lower my high blood pressure, not have knee problems and not experience acid reflux on a normal basis...but to be completely honest I also have a secret motivation to not be afraid of a haunted place...the scale.
I have spent most of my life avoiding the scale. I think there were years I never visited that number on that thing I step on in the bathroom. Only when I visited the doctor's office did I find out what I truly weighed and I never found myself happy about it.
When I was a kid in elementary school I remember lying about my weight. In third grade, my boy cousin that was my age told me proudly that he weighed 80lbs...he was excited about gaining muscle at the time. My brother and I had just visited the doctor...Dr. Gender...for a check-up where I had found out that my weight was about 95-100lbs.
"How much do you weigh?" My cousin asked me his chest out to boast about himself a bit.
"The same." I told him...blatant lie.
His jaw dropped.
"What?" I said. "I weigh the same as you..."
"Yea..." he said. "But girls are supposed to be skinny..."
To this day I hate that society...and perhaps those small waisted Disney Princesses...told a bunch of eight-year-olds that.
Needless to say I avoided the scale for about the next four to five years, until I visited the doctor in eighth grade and the scale was pushed all the way to 160lbs...WTF happened to all the numbers in between?
I was a very active and very athletic child going to soccer 2-3 times a week and dance 4-5 nights a week. My mother monitored my food intake pretty well...a whole other issue in itself...so I don't really know how the scale continued to climb...
The scale continued to climb and I don't expect you to do this or anything, my dear friend Rachel, but I think perhaps it will help me to admit that since about my sophomore year in college I have weighed about 200lbs...give or take a few pounds here and there.
But I am telling myself, as I have told myself many times before that this time, this time, THIS TIME will be different. Others have done it and now so will I. With time and patience I want to make the scale not such a scary place.
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