Here I am...

Wow, it's been a minute since I've posted and as I read back through them, I'm taking stock on the various life differences in such a short time period.

BTW - I'm working! Woo hoo...To all my nay-sayers, folks who doubted I'd find a job, let alone a decent paying job within a month - I did...Oh and a certain med college can pucker up and kiss it. Pshaw, I say to you for calling me back on 4 jobs to say that you found a more qualified candidate. BS...ok, I'm over brooding about that especially since I received the job I wanted.

There were several reasons for me to keep this online journal - fitness/food, fashion, and money. Well, I'm still the soccer mom without kids and a mini van and probably will never fall into the fashion blog world. But I'm comfortable and have broken out of my mold on a few occasions. I'm still not rich BUT I'm no longer overspending (thanks to the cushion I now have) and not living beyond my means.

My main issue remains fitness. My fitness goals are out there in the ether but not on paper. I can continue to complain about the move and use that as a crutch or I can shut the hell up and make the best of it. I now have a decent schedule of 6 days a week encompassing 3 days of TKB, 2 days of body pump and 1 day of yoga. I am still toying with WW. I know some are having success and I know the program works. I also know I need accountability. I'm great Mon-Fri and now I'm back to food issues on the weekend, especially salt and not enough water.

So I will use my new paper journal to track my food and workouts. I will put my goals on paper and in full view. I will try to weigh once a week (Saturday mornings) to stop driving myself insane over the scale. I will work harder at making it to all 6 planned workouts instead of coping out for 1 reason or another.

That's the gameplan for now.

Looking the part - part deaux

I keep re-reading my last post and I don't think I expressed myself clearly (a reason why I wasn't on the senior debate team in HS - I can make an argument, but have difficulty expressing myself clearly without mulling over my viewpoint).  So here I am again with the issue.

Thinking about looking the part of what you're selling leads me to think about the issue of body image. Am I wrong to say that I wouldn't chose someone who appears to look unfit as my trainer?  Then why would my workout partner chose to workout with me?  Yes motivation is different than training, but she could just as easily pick someone who 'looks' fit as her source of motivation.  We are, however, constantly cheering each other on and making sure we don't pass out during some of the workout classes.

We both talk a lot about body image and acknowledge there are certain areas of our bodies that we would like to change and are working towards changing.  However, we both say we want to avoid being super skinny - that's not our idea of beauty. Lately there has been national discussion on the issue of super skinny vs curvy in fashion mags, including many of us who follow Mad Men's favorite character.  Did ya'll know Christina Hendricks measurements are 39D-30-39? And my idea of super skinny are the resurgent of models who are so thin, you see collar bones, hip bones, knees and are poorly underdeveloped to the point they appear to look like pre-pubescent boys. Even Rachel Zoe can appear to be too skinny. That is simply my opinion on the super skinny issue.

So again thinking of looking the part and body image, I would have to say, again, we are all at different stages of weight loss - some have made it maintenance, some of us are still trying to get past those first 10 lbs.  So if there is someone a little plumper than my ideal, who's to say that person isn't the trainer/motivator for someone else? Maybe I need to get over my idea of looking the part and work towards achieving it!

You gotta look the part...

in order to sell me the package.  At least that's my opinion when it comes to personal consultants: life coaches, AVON Reps, Mary Kay consultants and especially fitness trainers. 

I had this argument with my on/off workout partner. I said I would strive to be a fitness coach if I was in better shape. Her argument is that many ppl look fit but aren't. True enough. But that's not the point. If I am going to sell this, I gotta look like I know what I'm doing and talking about.

I am amazed that the folks at one of the gyms I visit has a good number of out of shape employees ranging from front desk check in to sales floor to the child care.  With a free membership as an employment perk, how could that be? I mused that I am surprised at the number of memberships this gym sells because their employees don't look the part of being fit. No, you don't have to be super thin to be fit and I realize you don't have to workout in order to sell me a gym membership.

But would you buy makeup from woman who never wears makeup or applies it in such a garish way that it screams Halloween each day?  Would you invest your money with an investment banker who is broke?  Would you pay for a life coach whose own life is out of sorts? 

When seeking out a fitness trainer, I want to see someone who appears fit, muscular with little to no jiggle. I want to train with someone who has a body shape similar to my personal goal. Yes, I would love to look like Donna Richardson Joyner! She can sell me a gym membership any day!



Photo from Cafe Mom

This is Why You're Fat

Because I've wasted more time reading the first 80 pages (out of 207, not including the index and appendices) of Jackie Warner's book.

Earth to Ms. Warner...You are NOT the biggest loser, or the next the contestant on the Price is Right, or providing us with any groundbreaking, earth-shattering new developments in the weight loss game. So please, oh for the love of Nutrisystem, please stop the madness (what the hell happened to Susan Powter anyway?).

I'm so delighted that I read Tosca's revamped Eat-Clean book before picking up what will now become my dumbbell alternative.  Essentially, This is Why You're Fat tells you to eat clean 7 days/week with 2 freebie meals on the weekends. Ok - fine.  TIWYF continues to hound suggest that you take additional supplements and lay off the cow's milk (no moo-cow milk?) because the pesticides and heinous methods in which veggies and animals are farmed deplete the body of the natural BCCAs, vitamins and minerals and cause our livers to be toxic. Um, ok. I can kinda see it.

And that's where I've ended. I can't get past her self-righteous writing (or ghost writing).  She touts this information as her own personal, new fangled diet that will work magic. Just use her 2-week jump start method and you're well on your way to being thin. The information I have gleamed in the first 80 pages is no different from the Eat-Clean Diet. As a matter of fact, it's about 90% identical. So contrary to what you believe, Ms. Warner, your book/information is not original.

Dude...I'm over this type of hype. I don't think I can read another page of "this is why my way" blah blah blah crap. At this point, her book will be useful performing tricep throws, bicep curls and I may be able to use it to work on my core balance. I will, however, stick to her workout DVDs. Those I like!

Do you read diet books, magazines?  What's your favorite source for health/fitness information?

Normalcy

Whew - the scale is back where it has been for the past few months, a number I can get with. Again, this does not mean I am giving up those AM workouts, I believe those are helping me with those digits on the scale.

This morning's DVD: TurboJam Fat Blaster - dropped 1 lb of water in 30 min!!!!

Granted water weight is not the goal. The goal is fat loss, but it was still exhilerating seeing the scale numbers back in range this morning.

Tomorrow's workout: TubroJam 3-T - time for some strength training.

Image courtesy of www.fitsugar.com

Can't possibly be 5 lbs of H2O

Ok, ok...my co-worker claimed that my weight gain woes were simply based on some water weight. That just can't be possible. I know what I put in my mouth over the past two weeks and I know I haven't been as dedicated to my workouts as I should be...so is it possible, that I retained almost 5 lbs (not the 1st reported 3.5 - hey, I had to come to grips with the gain) in water?

Regardless if the water gods saw fit to strike me down with the extra poundage, I know that it's gone. I am back to what I am used to the scale revealing. Granted it's still 10 lbs more than my goal which was set almost 6 months ago - but this is a work in progress.

This return to "normalacy" does not mean that I am dropping my 5 am workouts and skipping my off evening committments. In the short two days, I have found them slightly exhilarating and I am hoping that by next week, I wont be dragging my arse around by 4:30pm. Plus, I just ordered a new DVD and I can't wait to put this one into rotation.

Granted, it's only been 4 days (I'm counting Saturday's workout) and I know for me it takes 2 weeks to form a new habit, but I am optimistic that this will work. Yes, I need to keep my food journal - I still have issues writing that down - but I am mindful about what I pack for lunch during the work-week.

Here's the rest of the week's line-up:
Tonight is a 3-mile walk with The Fella, if the rain stops.
Friday - dancing
Saturday - Turbo Jam 3-T workout or actually making it to the gym for a kickboxing class
Sunday - hopefully I can find a yoga class at the gym

Woo hoo - accountability!!!!

Diet coke does not cancel calories

Contrary to popular belief, a diet coke or pepsi doesn't cancel out any calories. Granted there is some theory behind the exothermic qualities of diet coke, but it's not enough to burn all the calories consumed in one day. So what's a girl to do? Why exercise, of course.

I am posting early as a way to keep myself accountable since today is my evening workout day.

Yesterday's meal, on a scale of "right-on" vs. "whatchutalkingbout willis", I would have to say it was in the middle with Mrs. Garret screaming Tootie!. Because I know better. I did slack and tried to curb my sweet craving with bread pudding at lunch and a skinny chai latte during my 7pm class. I honestly think it has been these Starbucks drinks, skinny or not, that have added these extra pounds. So yesterday was the final day for anything delicious. Just kidding. I can't say that my eating plan is back on track since I had a whole wheat blueberry pancake for breakfast this morning - not over the calorie count and I know I have to watch the rest of the day. Thank goodness for packing my lunch.

So the saga continues...the woes and joys of eating and working out. But I know Chalene has something in store for me this evening and I am actually looking forward to slipping in the Turbo Jam Cardio Party DVD this evening.

Thanks for letting me stay accountable to me and for the mindless ramble!