Mood: Delighted
Weight: 150 lbs
Pant Size: 10/12
Today is Monday, December 12, 2011. Although my weight-loss progress is at a stand still, I'm overjoyed to announce that my brother & his wife have finally been matched with a child, a 6-month-old boy! It will still be another couple of weeks until I can meet him, but you better believe I'll be posting tons of pictures of him here.
In the meantime, here are some articles to keep you busy. I hope you like lists!
10 Worst Fast Food Meals
10 Worst Side Dishes
10 Guilty Restaurant Pleasures
10 Best Foods For Your Skin
10 Best Supermarket Lunches
10 Best Organic Cereals
10 Worst Healthy Foods
10 Cheat Foods Made Healthy
10 Food Label Lies
10 Dirtiest Foods
Monday, December 12, 2011
Monday, November 21, 2011
Day 173 - Level Up!
Mood: Hungry
Weight: 150 lbs
Body Fat: 40.1%
Pant Size: 10/12
Today is Monday, November 21, 2011. I'm halfway there! Yippeeeeeeee!
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Day 162 - Progress is Progress
Mood: Restless
Weight: 155 lbs
Pant Size: 12
Today is Thursday, November 10, 2011. It's been 42 days since my last
The past month was a mess of emotions. After the sudden death of a friend (we weren't close, but it was still a very shocking & terrible loss to everyone who knew him) and the end of a nearly 2-year relationship, I didn't give a fuck about my health. In some very brief dark moments, I didn't give a fuck about my life. I don't like admitting that, but it was true. Luckily, deep down I really do value my life & realize I was just feeling sorry for myself. It's another one of those bad habits I need to break.
In addition to all of that, I spent only a few hours out of the entire month at home. I house-sat for some friends which added almost 2 hours to my daily commute, and started working 10-hour days. I'm actually glad/surprised I didn't lose more than 5 lbs because it would surely been due to all the stress. I tend to not eat at all when I'm going through negative emotions & busy schedules, but somehow I kept from slipping too far back. Even though I ate fast food & hardly exercised, I didn't do so in the same unhealthy quantities as before.
Clothes are still getting smaller. My body-confidence & self-esteem are still improving daily. I'm determined to get back on track working out & building my energy level back up. I'm committed to losing another 30 lbs before the end of the year. That's more than 4 lbs a week! Do you think I can do it?
Well, thanks for reading, & if you have a moment I could really use your encouragement to get through this slump.
p.s. I finally own a plant! It was a gift from the people I house-sat for... Also, a good reminder to look for something that makes you happy today. I hope you do and are as often as possible. <3
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Day 120 - Weight loss doesn't require money
Mood: Strong
Today is Thursday, September 29, 2010. For the ways-to-workout-for-free ideas, scroll down to the bottom. For progress update on my health commitments, continue reading...
It's 4:44 am, and I'm not sleeping because I'm too excited. Well, ok, if I'm being completely honest I'm pretty sleepy, but the past few nights I've had wicked insomnia. My sleep schedule, plus a day off for fun at a Giants game, has put me slightly past the point of mini meltdown. I'm not particularly stressed out, but I have hit a bump in the road.
The past month (or two), I've been slacking majorly on the exercise portion of my routine. Actually, I let "being busy" become an excuse for not even establishing a routine. The first 6 weeks of my journey was hard in one aspect -- getting up at 5:30 every morning, busting my butt at boot camp sessions, counting calories, prepping meals, spending a lot of time thinking about food & my body, but easy in another aspect -- slept better, didn't feel guilty or unsure about what I was eating, had more energy, didn't stress over small things as much.
The only thing that hasn't suffered from this gradual slide off the wagon is my work.
I've managed to be very productive at work, which feels good. But I've also forgotten to take care of myself... some days I'm even so focused on a particular task that I forget to take a lunch break, or am so involved in proving myself to my boss that I stay late even when I don't have to, leaving me feeling a little extra tired when I get home. That's not to say that it hasn't been nice just hanging out, relaxing with my BFF over a glass of wine, enjoying the nice summer weather.
I do, however, need to mix it up again.
Luckily, there's always reality TV. WTF? Did she just say reality TV motivated her to get out of a lazy funk & start exercising again?! Yes. She totally did. :)
I've been watching The Biggest Loser for years. I think since the third season. My mom and I have sobbed during several touching episodes. We've laughed at how ridiculous some of the strategy players have been. We've seen ourselves in the guilt-ridden, unhappy faces on the screen that talk about how they long to feel good about themselves as much on the outside as on the inside. Because the ugly truth is that for some people, losing some of life's little victories can get a person down. For some it's a loss of a loved one, for some it's the loss of willpower when driving by the tantalizing smell of McD's (c'mon, you cannot tell me those fries don't smell good sometimes), and for ones like me, it's the loss of self-esteem from finding out you're not quite the person you thought you would be at this point in your life.
My good friend played a song for me the other day that really struck a chord in me. It was something along the lines of how disappointing it can be to not be the person you imagined you would be when you were younger. I remember being a little girl & thinking I would be a news reporter, or a writer for a teen magazine, or even a teacher. I had so many options & dreams & goals. And I made none of them come true. On good days, I'm really proud of what I have accomplished so far. So, I didn't become a news reporter. I don't have a house and two kids. But I had a lot of fun learning about broadcasting. I met a lot of great people while working in radio. I even made some lifelong friends who have given me some really amazing memories. I'm very proud of that. And I'm proud I enjoyed those moments.
On not so good days, I look back at the past and wonder what I could have become had I studied a little harder, dug a little deeper, or taken more chances on opportunities that came my way. Looking back on the past is one thing, but beating myself up about it is another. I realize now that part of the reason I'm overweight is because instead of the voice that pushes me to study harder, give more, dig deeper, in its place is a voice telling me I can't, I'm not the smartest, the prettiest, or even the most charming. That voice has been telling me that I'm mediocre, when it should be telling me I'm bound for excellence.
The big turning point for me when I started this whole process is that finally, somewhere deep within me, that voice started speaking up. The little girl from my past kicked in again and said, "Hey! I'm gonna be healthy when I grow up! I'm gonna get my life together, I'm going to make better decisions, take bigger risks, and feel better about myself. And it totally worked. Only two months into it, I got a promotion at work. Nearly four months has passed now, and I've dropped 22 pounds.
It's time to listen to the big, enthusiastic, hopeful little girl voice again & treat it like the strong woman it's becoming.
I can make a difference, not only in my own health, but in passing on what I'm learning to my parents/family, in being a source of motivation for my friends on similar journeys of self-discovery (remember, my failures are just as important as my successes because they lead me closer to finding the way that works for me), and by putting myself in the best possible position to live a fulfilled, meaningful life.
Ramon, on The Biggest Loser, said it best on this week's episode:
"I don't need to do this to look good, or to be the guy that gets all the chicks... I need to do this to live." To really live. That's all I want too. To enjoy as many moments as possible for as many days & years as I possibly can.
So, now that my tear-jerker, self-motivational speech is out of the way, how's about I clue you in on the title of this post. In my attempts to pull an all-nighter (which are working, by the way) I fired up Hulu.com & watched the most recent episode of The Biggest Loser. It fired me up seeing those determined & hard-working people in the gym, giving everything they've got, to prove that they are committed to changing their unhealthy habits.
Coincidentally, on Sunday I just so happened to pick up a FREE copy of The Biggest Loser's Yoga for Weight Loss DVD at my local library. At the risk of sounding like a commercial, I will say it's one of the most awesome things I've discovered yet. Not the DVD itself (even though it was a great workout!), but the idea of renting workout videos from the library. Did I mention it's FREE? All you need is a (free) library card! No expensive boot camps. No stinky gym locker rooms. It's one more way I can add variety to all the different methods of staying active & still be mindful of my limited budget.
Other workouts that are free or super cheap:
- Bike rides. If you have a bike, it's free. If not, you can find a decent one at a garage sale for fairly cheap. You get the awesome feeling of wind on your skin, a great lower-body workout, and a lot of core strength training as well. You can go at any pace, over any terrain, & as far as you want. My favorite time of day to go bike riding is about an hour before sunset. Right after work, before dinner. After the game on Sunday morning, before the game on Sunday night (for all you football fans!). Fun alone or with friends, with your honey or even with the kids. It's not just a good workout, it can also be really fun. An instant mood-booster in my book.
- Dancing. These days, you don't have to spend mucho dinero on cocktails at a club to work up a sweat while getting your groove on. As long as you have a radio & some floor space, you can have a good old-fashioned dance party for zero dollars. There are tons of free services on the web that allow you to create playlists (the "mix CD" of the new generation). We (my boyfriendguy and I) like Spotify, but there's also iTunes, 8tracks, blip.fm, and a myriad others. It can be as low-key as swaying to some slow & steady reggae beats, or as invigorating as shaking around to some high-intensity salsa. Just fit the music to your mood & get moving! Also, if you look really hard, you can find some free Zumba classes in your city. If you want to skip the uncomfortable heels (ladies), crowded dance floors, expensive mixed drinks (not to mention the extra calories), & the trouble finding a parking spot in the big city, you can still be the star of your own dance floor, in your PJs even, right at home with your favorite vinyl/CD/playlist. Tell me if that doesn't help you sleep with a smile on your face!
- Doing chores. A good soundtrack helps on this one too. The free versions of Last.fm & Spotify are also great for streaming hours of music based on a tag/keyword, artist, or genre. My suggestion is to put on whatever music gives you the most energy. For me, it's oldies. Old rock & motown are my favorite genres for feeling energetic yet focused. I listen to it while I'm washing dishes, or folding laundry, or swiffering my tiny kitchen. Bonus points if you scrub your shower/tub. I live like a hippie half the time & put off housework for as long as I can, but eventually it's nice to see that gleaming area of cleanliness & know that for every sparkle on the bathroom sink, you shed a few calories while singing along to "Love Shack".
A few other free or low-cost workout ideas: walking the dog (dog needs it, you need it, end of story), swimming at a friend's pool (if you don't have one, get one now), doing the humpty dumpty (giggity), hiking up a hill (another one of my favorites & self-explanatory), taking the stairs, playing catch (tennis balls are fairly cheap, as are baseballs), yardwork, running (I sometimes do laps on the track at a local high school), cleaning out the garage, hand-washing your car, and much more!
If you can think of any ideas I didn't list, please share them below in the comments section!
It's almost 6:15. The gym opens in 30 minutes. I think I better sneak in a workout before work. Otherwise I might just fall asleep & not wake up until noon! I hope I can stay awake at work! :)
Thanks, as always, for your support & encouragement. <3
Today is Thursday, September 29, 2010. For the ways-to-workout-for-free ideas, scroll down to the bottom. For progress update on my health commitments, continue reading...
It's 4:44 am, and I'm not sleeping because I'm too excited. Well, ok, if I'm being completely honest I'm pretty sleepy, but the past few nights I've had wicked insomnia. My sleep schedule, plus a day off for fun at a Giants game, has put me slightly past the point of mini meltdown. I'm not particularly stressed out, but I have hit a bump in the road.
The past month (or two), I've been slacking majorly on the exercise portion of my routine. Actually, I let "being busy" become an excuse for not even establishing a routine. The first 6 weeks of my journey was hard in one aspect -- getting up at 5:30 every morning, busting my butt at boot camp sessions, counting calories, prepping meals, spending a lot of time thinking about food & my body, but easy in another aspect -- slept better, didn't feel guilty or unsure about what I was eating, had more energy, didn't stress over small things as much.
The only thing that hasn't suffered from this gradual slide off the wagon is my work.
I've managed to be very productive at work, which feels good. But I've also forgotten to take care of myself... some days I'm even so focused on a particular task that I forget to take a lunch break, or am so involved in proving myself to my boss that I stay late even when I don't have to, leaving me feeling a little extra tired when I get home. That's not to say that it hasn't been nice just hanging out, relaxing with my BFF over a glass of wine, enjoying the nice summer weather.
I do, however, need to mix it up again.
Luckily, there's always reality TV. WTF? Did she just say reality TV motivated her to get out of a lazy funk & start exercising again?! Yes. She totally did. :)
I've been watching The Biggest Loser for years. I think since the third season. My mom and I have sobbed during several touching episodes. We've laughed at how ridiculous some of the strategy players have been. We've seen ourselves in the guilt-ridden, unhappy faces on the screen that talk about how they long to feel good about themselves as much on the outside as on the inside. Because the ugly truth is that for some people, losing some of life's little victories can get a person down. For some it's a loss of a loved one, for some it's the loss of willpower when driving by the tantalizing smell of McD's (c'mon, you cannot tell me those fries don't smell good sometimes), and for ones like me, it's the loss of self-esteem from finding out you're not quite the person you thought you would be at this point in your life.
My good friend played a song for me the other day that really struck a chord in me. It was something along the lines of how disappointing it can be to not be the person you imagined you would be when you were younger. I remember being a little girl & thinking I would be a news reporter, or a writer for a teen magazine, or even a teacher. I had so many options & dreams & goals. And I made none of them come true. On good days, I'm really proud of what I have accomplished so far. So, I didn't become a news reporter. I don't have a house and two kids. But I had a lot of fun learning about broadcasting. I met a lot of great people while working in radio. I even made some lifelong friends who have given me some really amazing memories. I'm very proud of that. And I'm proud I enjoyed those moments.
On not so good days, I look back at the past and wonder what I could have become had I studied a little harder, dug a little deeper, or taken more chances on opportunities that came my way. Looking back on the past is one thing, but beating myself up about it is another. I realize now that part of the reason I'm overweight is because instead of the voice that pushes me to study harder, give more, dig deeper, in its place is a voice telling me I can't, I'm not the smartest, the prettiest, or even the most charming. That voice has been telling me that I'm mediocre, when it should be telling me I'm bound for excellence.
The big turning point for me when I started this whole process is that finally, somewhere deep within me, that voice started speaking up. The little girl from my past kicked in again and said, "Hey! I'm gonna be healthy when I grow up! I'm gonna get my life together, I'm going to make better decisions, take bigger risks, and feel better about myself. And it totally worked. Only two months into it, I got a promotion at work. Nearly four months has passed now, and I've dropped 22 pounds.
It's time to listen to the big, enthusiastic, hopeful little girl voice again & treat it like the strong woman it's becoming.
I can make a difference, not only in my own health, but in passing on what I'm learning to my parents/family, in being a source of motivation for my friends on similar journeys of self-discovery (remember, my failures are just as important as my successes because they lead me closer to finding the way that works for me), and by putting myself in the best possible position to live a fulfilled, meaningful life.
Ramon, on The Biggest Loser, said it best on this week's episode:
"I don't need to do this to look good, or to be the guy that gets all the chicks... I need to do this to live." To really live. That's all I want too. To enjoy as many moments as possible for as many days & years as I possibly can.
So, now that my tear-jerker, self-motivational speech is out of the way, how's about I clue you in on the title of this post. In my attempts to pull an all-nighter (which are working, by the way) I fired up Hulu.com & watched the most recent episode of The Biggest Loser. It fired me up seeing those determined & hard-working people in the gym, giving everything they've got, to prove that they are committed to changing their unhealthy habits.
Coincidentally, on Sunday I just so happened to pick up a FREE copy of The Biggest Loser's Yoga for Weight Loss DVD at my local library. At the risk of sounding like a commercial, I will say it's one of the most awesome things I've discovered yet. Not the DVD itself (even though it was a great workout!), but the idea of renting workout videos from the library. Did I mention it's FREE? All you need is a (free) library card! No expensive boot camps. No stinky gym locker rooms. It's one more way I can add variety to all the different methods of staying active & still be mindful of my limited budget.
Other workouts that are free or super cheap:
- Bike rides. If you have a bike, it's free. If not, you can find a decent one at a garage sale for fairly cheap. You get the awesome feeling of wind on your skin, a great lower-body workout, and a lot of core strength training as well. You can go at any pace, over any terrain, & as far as you want. My favorite time of day to go bike riding is about an hour before sunset. Right after work, before dinner. After the game on Sunday morning, before the game on Sunday night (for all you football fans!). Fun alone or with friends, with your honey or even with the kids. It's not just a good workout, it can also be really fun. An instant mood-booster in my book.
- Dancing. These days, you don't have to spend mucho dinero on cocktails at a club to work up a sweat while getting your groove on. As long as you have a radio & some floor space, you can have a good old-fashioned dance party for zero dollars. There are tons of free services on the web that allow you to create playlists (the "mix CD" of the new generation). We (my boyfriendguy and I) like Spotify, but there's also iTunes, 8tracks, blip.fm, and a myriad others. It can be as low-key as swaying to some slow & steady reggae beats, or as invigorating as shaking around to some high-intensity salsa. Just fit the music to your mood & get moving! Also, if you look really hard, you can find some free Zumba classes in your city. If you want to skip the uncomfortable heels (ladies), crowded dance floors, expensive mixed drinks (not to mention the extra calories), & the trouble finding a parking spot in the big city, you can still be the star of your own dance floor, in your PJs even, right at home with your favorite vinyl/CD/playlist. Tell me if that doesn't help you sleep with a smile on your face!
- Doing chores. A good soundtrack helps on this one too. The free versions of Last.fm & Spotify are also great for streaming hours of music based on a tag/keyword, artist, or genre. My suggestion is to put on whatever music gives you the most energy. For me, it's oldies. Old rock & motown are my favorite genres for feeling energetic yet focused. I listen to it while I'm washing dishes, or folding laundry, or swiffering my tiny kitchen. Bonus points if you scrub your shower/tub. I live like a hippie half the time & put off housework for as long as I can, but eventually it's nice to see that gleaming area of cleanliness & know that for every sparkle on the bathroom sink, you shed a few calories while singing along to "Love Shack".
A few other free or low-cost workout ideas: walking the dog (dog needs it, you need it, end of story), swimming at a friend's pool (if you don't have one, get one now), doing the humpty dumpty (giggity), hiking up a hill (another one of my favorites & self-explanatory), taking the stairs, playing catch (tennis balls are fairly cheap, as are baseballs), yardwork, running (I sometimes do laps on the track at a local high school), cleaning out the garage, hand-washing your car, and much more!
If you can think of any ideas I didn't list, please share them below in the comments section!
It's almost 6:15. The gym opens in 30 minutes. I think I better sneak in a workout before work. Otherwise I might just fall asleep & not wake up until noon! I hope I can stay awake at work! :)
Thanks, as always, for your support & encouragement. <3
Monday, September 19, 2011
Hunger Challenge Recap
Last week, I participated in the Hunger Food Challenge, initiated by one of my favorite local charity-based organizations, San Francisco Food Bank.
By signing up to take the Hunger Challenge, participants like me agreed to spend just $28 per person for their entire food budget for the week of September 12-18. This is the equivalent of living on the same food budget as an average California food stamp recipient – currently just $4 per day.
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| Photo by nosha |
The Hunger Challenge is all about experiencing first-hand what it’s like to shop and eat on a limited budget, then sharing those impressions with others, which is why I'm mentioning it here. It's not just about eating cheaply, or being creative enough to survive cheaply, it's about acknowledging that proper nutrition & access to healthy foods isn't cheap at all.
I typically spend about $150 every month on groceries. That equates to a little less than $40 per week, or $6 per day. At first, the thought of cutting that number down to $28 per week / $4 per day didn't sound like much of a challenge, more like an adjustment. Then I realized I also spend anywhere from $50-100 per month on meals purchased from restaurants or eateries. This brings my estimated average weekly food budget to right around $60. The challenge became more evident. I'd have to cut my budget in half!
My first idea was to prepare meals from home for the week, but that soon became out of the question when I realized how busy my schedule was going to be. The first few days, I brought leftovers from home, keeping my total spending at $0.
The middle of the week, when work got more hectic than usual, I found myself craving things like coffee & restaurant foods. I managed to stick to home-brought foods & snacks until Thursday, when I broke down & spent money on lunch at a local restaurant. Boudin Bakery... the place that serves their steamy, delicious soup in a big bread bowl. I skipped the bread bowl & just ordered a cup of clam chowder. Total: $4.89.
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| Photo by riacale |
One item of food, no drink, not even what many would consider an entire meal, and already my daily budget was spent.
The next day, feeling more tired than usual due to the busy week, I bought a mocha from a local cafe. Total: $3.50. Not even enough left over to afford one can of soup for lunch or dinner.
People who rely on a very small fixed income for a basic necessity like food do not have the luxury of going back to their grande mochas or fancy bread bowl lunches after a week. They are forced to make choices of survival, rather than making choices that will benefit their health. If I had gone to any fast food joint with my $4, I could have had a much bigger meal from the various value menus than I did with my measly bowl of soup, but I'd be paying the price with my health.
I believe that the goal is not as simple as making healthy food cheaper and unhealthy food more expensive, but to put them on equal playing fields so that everyone, not just those who can afford it, can make decisions based on nutrition & quality rather than on cost & quantity.
I learned a lot about myself by taking this challenge. I learned that I'm lucky to have a flexible budget with which to nourish my body. I learned that I have more willpower than I used to when it comes to eating in restaurants. I learned that I'm far too lazy when it comes to attempting to make well-balanced meals using grocery-store ingredients which would not only be healthier, but would save a lot of money in the long run.
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| Photo by drooooo |
It also showed me that some people, myself included, are more gluttonous than they would like to admit. I'm not saying that spending money on a nice meal once in a while is unreasonable if that's the lifestyle you can afford to enjoy, but why wait until money is tight to cut back? Why wait until you need a handout to step inside a food bank? Why not pick up a few cans of veggies next time you're shopping for groceries & donate them to your local food bank? You could be helping a single parent feed his/her child for the day. You could be helping a senior citizen feed him/herself for the week. What is $4 to you? And how grateful would you be if someone offered to buy your next meal if you couldn't afford to buy it for yourself?
If you missed the hunger challenge, you can always try it on your own. Designate one week to attempt a $4-per-day budget, and share your experience on your own Facebook/Twitter/personal blog. It could teach you a thing or two about your own spending/eating habits, and it will definitely remind to be grateful for the many options available to you while others' options continue to be based upon help from others.
Please share this post with your friends if you would like to help spread the awareness & education of hunger problems in your own community. Thanks!
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Day 110 - Now & Then
Mood: Grateful
Today is Sunday, September 18, 2011. I'm sitting on my couch, having a breakfast of O.J. and instant oatmeal, thinking about how far I've come in the past four months, and looking forward to how far I will go in the months & years ahead.
I'm about 25-30 pounds away from my goal weight, which is almost halfway. This morning I weighed in at 156, which means altogether I've lost 25 pounds. But I'm not posting it as an official weight update because these last four pounds didn't come off intentionally, instead I believe they came off due to rather unhealthy choices. While I still maintain mostly healthy portion-control & continue to avoid fried delights, fast food, & other sinful snacking temptations, the truth is that I haven't been very careful about getting the right amounts of vitamin-rich ingredients that I should. I skipped or had a skimpy breakfast more often than not the past couple of weeks. I've also been lazier about packing a healthy lunch for work. I rarely eat a balanced dinner (and sometimes don't even bother with dinner at all).
On top of that, I haven't done much exercising on my own time. Bad Michelle, I know.
HOWEVER, I don't want to imply that I've fallen completely off the wagon, because despite all the shortfalls listed above, I've been able to keep from going back to most of my old bad habits and stay active enough to at least burn the calories I'm putting in. The only thing I'm pretty mad at myself for is skipping meals. I don't deprive myself though. I eat when I'm hungry and until I'm full. The simple fact is, I haven't had much of an appetite lately. Work has been more hectic than usual, personal life has been a tad tumultuous, and I've been busier than usual entertaining guests.
None of these are good excuses to pause in taking care of myself, but I'm working on recognizing that as one of the bad habits I need to break. Just as bad, if not worse, than stuffing high-calorie foods in my face every chance I get. Because not taking time to take care of myself is what lead to relying on high-calorie, starchy convenience foods all those years. And I'll be damned if I'm going to let myself make those decisions again now that I know better.
On a more positive note, here's what I've done exercise-wise since my last post: When my brother & sister-in-law visited a few weekends ago, we went on a hike at one of my favorite hilly spots next to the beach. When my parents visited last weekend, I took them on a nice long walk in Muir woods. I've also found more ways to be physically active at work. I find myself craving the oxygen & blood flow of physical labor. I enjoy using my body again. I walk a little taller lately, and I'm still finding lots of new ways, ideas, tricks, & habits to keep me on the right path.
Since I'm about halfway to my goal, I thought now would be a good time to check the visual results of some of my healthier habits.
The picture on the left was taken in April, after a week-long cruise to the Mexican Riviera. We'd eaten like kings (i.e. gluttons) during most of the trip, and the first thing we did when we got home was eat some big, fatty, greasy pastrami sandwiches at a restaurant called "The Hat". Probably not the smartest move, but like I said, we were still in full-on pig-out mode! The picture on the right was taken on Labor Day. We'd just finished a pretty healthy meal cooked on the backyard grill. Red snapper tacos, homemade Spanish rice, black beans, & all the fixings. Just enough to fill us up guilt-free!
Can you tell the difference between old me & new me yet?
Today is Sunday, September 18, 2011. I'm sitting on my couch, having a breakfast of O.J. and instant oatmeal, thinking about how far I've come in the past four months, and looking forward to how far I will go in the months & years ahead.
I'm about 25-30 pounds away from my goal weight, which is almost halfway. This morning I weighed in at 156, which means altogether I've lost 25 pounds. But I'm not posting it as an official weight update because these last four pounds didn't come off intentionally, instead I believe they came off due to rather unhealthy choices. While I still maintain mostly healthy portion-control & continue to avoid fried delights, fast food, & other sinful snacking temptations, the truth is that I haven't been very careful about getting the right amounts of vitamin-rich ingredients that I should. I skipped or had a skimpy breakfast more often than not the past couple of weeks. I've also been lazier about packing a healthy lunch for work. I rarely eat a balanced dinner (and sometimes don't even bother with dinner at all).
On top of that, I haven't done much exercising on my own time. Bad Michelle, I know.
HOWEVER, I don't want to imply that I've fallen completely off the wagon, because despite all the shortfalls listed above, I've been able to keep from going back to most of my old bad habits and stay active enough to at least burn the calories I'm putting in. The only thing I'm pretty mad at myself for is skipping meals. I don't deprive myself though. I eat when I'm hungry and until I'm full. The simple fact is, I haven't had much of an appetite lately. Work has been more hectic than usual, personal life has been a tad tumultuous, and I've been busier than usual entertaining guests.
None of these are good excuses to pause in taking care of myself, but I'm working on recognizing that as one of the bad habits I need to break. Just as bad, if not worse, than stuffing high-calorie foods in my face every chance I get. Because not taking time to take care of myself is what lead to relying on high-calorie, starchy convenience foods all those years. And I'll be damned if I'm going to let myself make those decisions again now that I know better.
On a more positive note, here's what I've done exercise-wise since my last post: When my brother & sister-in-law visited a few weekends ago, we went on a hike at one of my favorite hilly spots next to the beach. When my parents visited last weekend, I took them on a nice long walk in Muir woods. I've also found more ways to be physically active at work. I find myself craving the oxygen & blood flow of physical labor. I enjoy using my body again. I walk a little taller lately, and I'm still finding lots of new ways, ideas, tricks, & habits to keep me on the right path.
Since I'm about halfway to my goal, I thought now would be a good time to check the visual results of some of my healthier habits.
The picture on the left was taken in April, after a week-long cruise to the Mexican Riviera. We'd eaten like kings (i.e. gluttons) during most of the trip, and the first thing we did when we got home was eat some big, fatty, greasy pastrami sandwiches at a restaurant called "The Hat". Probably not the smartest move, but like I said, we were still in full-on pig-out mode! The picture on the right was taken on Labor Day. We'd just finished a pretty healthy meal cooked on the backyard grill. Red snapper tacos, homemade Spanish rice, black beans, & all the fixings. Just enough to fill us up guilt-free!
Can you tell the difference between old me & new me yet?
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Day 99 - Doing Just Fine
Mood: Happy
Weight: 160 lbs
Pant Size: 12
Today is Wednesday, September 7, 2011. I'm right where I want to be at this point in my journey. On my calendar I've placed mile markers to make sure I'm moving toward my health goals. On my calendar last week was "160 lbs", and I'm happy to report that I met that goal right on schedule. Which means, I've now lost a total of 21 pounds! It gives me confidence to know that I can and will meet my future goals.
For the past several months, I've had a sticker on my computer monitor that says "150 lbs". I'm only 10 lbs away from that being a reality!
Of course, weight is only one aspect of this challenge, as I've said before. But the good news is that the other aspects (healthier habits being the most important) have also improved tremendously. As mentioned in a previous post, I've been getting rid of a lot of clothes that have become too big or baggy on me. It feels great to shed these items from my world because I know what they represent. The old me.
One pair of jeans was particularly hard to part with because they were so worn in & comfortable, but they dragged on the ground because they sat lower on my waist. (Yep, I'm getting a WAIST!) The butt area had become saggy & unappealing. Luckily, I downsized & was able to buy some skin-tight jeans that show off my legs & butt! My wardrobe is starting to look "younger". Less drapey & flowy, more fitted & fashionable. It's kinda like being a teenager again.
I also have a very different relationship with food today than I did a few months ago. It's no longer my "friend". It's now my fuel. It's no longer my escape from stress or worry, nor is it my only form of celebration when I'm excited or happy. It's not how I cheer myself up. It's not what I (always) do when I'm bored.
Instead, food is becoming a tool. I'm starting to understand its role as one thing among many others that I use to supply my energy & compliment my lifestyle. Being that I've always had an active lifestyle, it didn't make sense to slow myself down with a heavy diet. While very active people usually need more calories to fuel their energy, the calories I was taking in weren't necessarily the most effective. Instead, I'm learning to get the most "bang for my buck" so-to-speak.
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| Photo by Muffet |
I'm still wildly enthusiastic about eating, but I don't show that enthusiasm with big quantities of food anymore. I show it in having a better appreciation for the quality, taste, & variety of each ingredient, as well as my own knowledge of how all those factors combined make it special, useful, or just plain delicious!
Even though I'm still on a fairly low calorie nutrition plan, it's not as strict as it was in the beginning. I learned pretty quickly how to accurately eyeball portion sizes, calories-per-serving, & content quality of what I'm eating at every meal. I study before I grocery shop. I bring pictures of recommended brands with me to the store so that I know before I even buy it what it will do for me & avoid the chances of buying the less healthy brands. If their numbers don't measure up to the brands tested & proven to be more nutritionally valuable, it's not going in my kitchen. Period.
Snacking with purpose is my new favorite habit. I love to snack, and I won't ever stop. It fulfills a few objectives: keeps my blood sugar level stable (diabetes runs in my family), prevents me from overloading on calories at regular meal times, and satisfies my cravings. I'm eating nuts (instead of chips) when I'm craving something salty/crunchy. I reach for fruit or yogurt (instead of candy or patries) when I'm craving something sweet or creamy. And of course, cheese is and always will be the best snack of all. I still indulge, but I choose those indulgences more carefully and see them as rare treats for treating my body well 90% of the time. My once-a-week cheat day has become a once-a-week cheat meal (usually dinner).
Complete meals are becoming less of a crisis/struggle because I am learning to eat more protein, which was never a concern in my past. When trying to decide what to eat for any meal, I first ask myself which protein base I'm going to work with. Example: For breakfast, do I want an egg, a protein bar, or peanut butter toast? For lunch/dinner, am I going to have fish, poultry, or beef? Usually, I'll eat protein 2 out of 3 meals a day. Or at one meal and one snack. I've also been incorporating protein in things like salads (nuts, egg, beans). It's an easy way to add protein without making it the focus of the meal. I'm learning to appreciate the fact incorporating protein usually leaves me satisfied longer & increases my creativity when it comes to putting together healthier meals.
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| Photo by Joost J. Bakker IJmuiden |
My next goal is to learn how to creatively add more fruits & vegetables into my diet. I do eat more whole fruits as snacks and have started to incorporate veggies (mostly fresh, some frozen, few canned) into my meals, but I'd like to increase my food-prep & cooking knowledge so that I'm more confident in portion sizes & nutritional content.
Even though I've slacked off on the exercising & have hardly worked out (except for Zumba & an occasional weekend hike), I'm feeling good enough about the changes to my eating habits that I know once I do get back on track, the positive results I'm seeing will only increase.
I think in the meantime, being able to take these small steps toward my larger goal is really boosting my confidence. The emotional reward of fitting better into my clothes & feeling better when I look in the mirror is the best part of it all. I'm happier with myself as a whole person, instead of just a body and mind separately.
The pieces of me are slowly starting to come together & take care of each other the way they were meant to, and it feels great.
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| Photo by Lars P. |
Thanks for continuing to care about my progress, and I appreciate all the encouragement I continue to receive along the way. Hope you had a great holiday weekend! <3
Monday, August 29, 2011
Day 90 - Education is Everything
Mood: Productive
Today is Monday, August 29, 2011. I want to share a list with you. It's a list of 20 habits that contribute to weight-gain & poor health.
I've been guilty of all of these habits at one point in my life, but that's gradually coming to an end. I can honestly say I've eliminated the majority of these habits from my regular routine (about 80%, or roughly 17 out of 20).
I'm not trying to brag or preach about diets. My goal is living well, & I hope yours is too! This list is a good reminder of things that DON'T contribute to that goal. :)
As with any important goal, educating yourself on what NOT to do is just as crucial as the good-for-you habits you learn along the way.
Feel free to leave a comment on the habits you've changed that helped make your life healthier! Or share experience with habits you're still struggling to avoid. I know I've still got some!
Today is Monday, August 29, 2011. I want to share a list with you. It's a list of 20 habits that contribute to weight-gain & poor health.
I've been guilty of all of these habits at one point in my life, but that's gradually coming to an end. I can honestly say I've eliminated the majority of these habits from my regular routine (about 80%, or roughly 17 out of 20).
I'm not trying to brag or preach about diets. My goal is living well, & I hope yours is too! This list is a good reminder of things that DON'T contribute to that goal. :)
As with any important goal, educating yourself on what NOT to do is just as crucial as the good-for-you habits you learn along the way.
Feel free to leave a comment on the habits you've changed that helped make your life healthier! Or share experience with habits you're still struggling to avoid. I know I've still got some!
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Reminder
Don't forget to take time to unwind.
This link is related to my last post about taking time out to do things that nurture your emotional & mental well-being. It's something I forget to do, but always seem to come back to when life reaches its boiling point.
Do something good for yourself today. Go ahead. You'll be glad you did.
It might be going for a walk after dinner. It might be vegging out in front of the TV for an hour instead of doing the dishes. It might be putting $100 into your savings account. It might be spending time with a good friend you haven't seen in awhile. Regardless of what you choose to do, do it for yourself & nobody else.
This link is related to my last post about taking time out to do things that nurture your emotional & mental well-being. It's something I forget to do, but always seem to come back to when life reaches its boiling point.
Do something good for yourself today. Go ahead. You'll be glad you did.
It might be going for a walk after dinner. It might be vegging out in front of the TV for an hour instead of doing the dishes. It might be putting $100 into your savings account. It might be spending time with a good friend you haven't seen in awhile. Regardless of what you choose to do, do it for yourself & nobody else.
Monday, August 22, 2011
Day 83 - All About Me
Mood: Centered
Today is Monday, August 22, 2011. I woke up a bit feeling frustrated. It could have been because a large cat was clumsily balancing on my head trying to peek through the window behind my bed before the sun was up. It could be the leftover emotional stress I've been carrying around due to recent woes with a loved one. It could even be that it's simply a Monday, and Mondays sometimes do that.
The first thing I thought about when the alarm struck at 7:00am was the goal I set for myself on Friday. I vowed to get back to my weekly workout routine. Still I hit the snooze button. It struck again at 7:10, and again I shut it up without sympathy. Finally, at 7:20, when it resurrected a third time, I gave up.
This is the conversation I had with myself:
"I need to walk today. Exercise. It's a new week. I can still squeeze a good 10-20 minutes around the neighborhood. GET. OUT. OF. BED. DAMMIT."
So, I got out of bed. But I didn't walk around the neighborhood. I didn't even walk around the block. I started getting ready for work. I took my time. I even did my makeup (which is more of a luxury than a necessity considering how rushed my mornings usually are). My heart just wasn't committed to tackling my weight loss goals today. I didn't even eat breakfast (BAD, I know).
But the good news is, I'm working on more important goals (for the time being). I'm taking one bigger step that I'd forgotten was a part of all this self-improvement. Time for myself. For peace of mind.
I guess the unintended result of all the attention I've been paying to my body is that I've been neglecting my mind/heart. I'm moving further away from a life I left behind -- it wasn't a terrible life, just an unhealthy one. And the more healthy my body becomes, the clearer the path to other aspects of me are becoming. I can see that I'm not as fulfilled as I used to be. I've been way too focused on eating right & looking better that I've forgotten to do things that enrich my spirit & make me feel good about the rest of myself, not just what I see in the mirror or on the scale.
Most importantly, I realized that I need to forgive myself for the neglect, and promise to maintain a level of self-care that should have been the first step in this whole process.
It took a wake-up call to figure this out. I was forced to spend some time alone this weekend, and I realized that I'd forgotten what it was like to do things because I wanted to, not because I was trying to entertain someone else or fulfill their needs.
I started on Saturday. I slept in. Did a little cleaning. Then went for a nice long hike, by myself. I stopped into a thrift shop, picked up some lunch, and went home for some relaxation, with myself. On Sunday, I took it easy most of the day, had a meal with good friends, then spent the night doing nice things, for myself.
It was actually really awesome to pay myself so much attention. I took a nice long bubble bath. I cleared my mind of as many frustrations, worries, disappointments, & fears as possible. I listened to the sound of my own breathing. I closed my eyes, put my head under water, and pretended I was floating in the ocean, far away from everything & everyone.
Then I started thinking about who I am. What do I stand for? What do I strive for? What do I need? What do I give?
To answer these questions, I created a map.
It's kind of a diagram of the answers to the above questions, and it serves to remind me that my physical health is not the only factor in my happiness -- something I already knew, but rarely took the time to assess. My map shows me who & what I need to supply myself with to feel balanced & whole (ex: family, friends, love, adventure, creativity, etc). There's a certain hierarchy to some of the components, but mostly I'm going to use it as a visual reminder of what to structure my life around. Instead of focusing solely on exercise & diet, I need to focus on social connectivity, intellectual stimulation, time for play, time for reflection, time for rest. Basically, time for me.
Right after my bath, I put this idea on paper. It was an interesting experience to once again see my values in black & white. Now I have something to reference when my life gets out of whack in certain areas.
I can look at that piece of paper and check off each thing to find out what's missing at that particular time: "Am I spending enough time outdoors? How long has it been since I've seen that friend? Have I checked in with any of my family this week/month? Am I going out to have fun or to avoid being alone? Am I taking care of my responsibilities? Am I taking care of me?"
I may not blog about all of the components on my map, but I will definitely inject thoughts about it here & there. My reason for bringing it up today is to make it clear that I'm serious about all aspects of my health, and that includes mental & emotional health just as much as it includes physical health.
Maybe I'm getting too "deep" into my psyche. I don't care. Actually, the point is I *do* care. It's time I started caring about myself on all levels, not just the exterior.
For the record, I know my friends & family love me to no end, and they are great at showing it. But occasionally I need a reminder that it doesn't matter how other people treat me or what kind of affection I might be longing for, I need to start loving myself first & foremost, and taking care of my basic needs is and will always be my number one priority.
Hopefully someday I will have learned to balance this so that it's second nature & not something I need a chart to remember, but in the meantime, I'm loving learning about myself again. It's like clicking the refresh button & getting a second chance to show myself how much I care, but it's also a good time to remember how *not* to treat myself.
And that's why I feel centered.
Thanks, as always, for taking time to read & connect with me through this blog. I hope you have a great week & find something new about yourself to appreciate. <3
Today is Monday, August 22, 2011. I woke up a bit feeling frustrated. It could have been because a large cat was clumsily balancing on my head trying to peek through the window behind my bed before the sun was up. It could be the leftover emotional stress I've been carrying around due to recent woes with a loved one. It could even be that it's simply a Monday, and Mondays sometimes do that.
The first thing I thought about when the alarm struck at 7:00am was the goal I set for myself on Friday. I vowed to get back to my weekly workout routine. Still I hit the snooze button. It struck again at 7:10, and again I shut it up without sympathy. Finally, at 7:20, when it resurrected a third time, I gave up.
This is the conversation I had with myself:
"I need to walk today. Exercise. It's a new week. I can still squeeze a good 10-20 minutes around the neighborhood. GET. OUT. OF. BED. DAMMIT."
So, I got out of bed. But I didn't walk around the neighborhood. I didn't even walk around the block. I started getting ready for work. I took my time. I even did my makeup (which is more of a luxury than a necessity considering how rushed my mornings usually are). My heart just wasn't committed to tackling my weight loss goals today. I didn't even eat breakfast (BAD, I know).
But the good news is, I'm working on more important goals (for the time being). I'm taking one bigger step that I'd forgotten was a part of all this self-improvement. Time for myself. For peace of mind.
 |
| Photo by law_keven |
I guess the unintended result of all the attention I've been paying to my body is that I've been neglecting my mind/heart. I'm moving further away from a life I left behind -- it wasn't a terrible life, just an unhealthy one. And the more healthy my body becomes, the clearer the path to other aspects of me are becoming. I can see that I'm not as fulfilled as I used to be. I've been way too focused on eating right & looking better that I've forgotten to do things that enrich my spirit & make me feel good about the rest of myself, not just what I see in the mirror or on the scale.
Most importantly, I realized that I need to forgive myself for the neglect, and promise to maintain a level of self-care that should have been the first step in this whole process.
It took a wake-up call to figure this out. I was forced to spend some time alone this weekend, and I realized that I'd forgotten what it was like to do things because I wanted to, not because I was trying to entertain someone else or fulfill their needs.
I started on Saturday. I slept in. Did a little cleaning. Then went for a nice long hike, by myself. I stopped into a thrift shop, picked up some lunch, and went home for some relaxation, with myself. On Sunday, I took it easy most of the day, had a meal with good friends, then spent the night doing nice things, for myself.
It was actually really awesome to pay myself so much attention. I took a nice long bubble bath. I cleared my mind of as many frustrations, worries, disappointments, & fears as possible. I listened to the sound of my own breathing. I closed my eyes, put my head under water, and pretended I was floating in the ocean, far away from everything & everyone.
Then I started thinking about who I am. What do I stand for? What do I strive for? What do I need? What do I give?
To answer these questions, I created a map.
It's kind of a diagram of the answers to the above questions, and it serves to remind me that my physical health is not the only factor in my happiness -- something I already knew, but rarely took the time to assess. My map shows me who & what I need to supply myself with to feel balanced & whole (ex: family, friends, love, adventure, creativity, etc). There's a certain hierarchy to some of the components, but mostly I'm going to use it as a visual reminder of what to structure my life around. Instead of focusing solely on exercise & diet, I need to focus on social connectivity, intellectual stimulation, time for play, time for reflection, time for rest. Basically, time for me.
 |
| Photo by Widerbergs |
I can look at that piece of paper and check off each thing to find out what's missing at that particular time: "Am I spending enough time outdoors? How long has it been since I've seen that friend? Have I checked in with any of my family this week/month? Am I going out to have fun or to avoid being alone? Am I taking care of my responsibilities? Am I taking care of me?"
I may not blog about all of the components on my map, but I will definitely inject thoughts about it here & there. My reason for bringing it up today is to make it clear that I'm serious about all aspects of my health, and that includes mental & emotional health just as much as it includes physical health.
Maybe I'm getting too "deep" into my psyche. I don't care. Actually, the point is I *do* care. It's time I started caring about myself on all levels, not just the exterior.
For the record, I know my friends & family love me to no end, and they are great at showing it. But occasionally I need a reminder that it doesn't matter how other people treat me or what kind of affection I might be longing for, I need to start loving myself first & foremost, and taking care of my basic needs is and will always be my number one priority.
Hopefully someday I will have learned to balance this so that it's second nature & not something I need a chart to remember, but in the meantime, I'm loving learning about myself again. It's like clicking the refresh button & getting a second chance to show myself how much I care, but it's also a good time to remember how *not* to treat myself.
And that's why I feel centered.
Thanks, as always, for taking time to read & connect with me through this blog. I hope you have a great week & find something new about yourself to appreciate. <3
Friday, August 19, 2011
Day 80 - The Weight of Two Babies
Weight: 165 lbs (another 9.4 pounds lost! 16.6 total!)
Pant Size: 12/14
Mood: Mystified
Today is Friday, August 19, 2011. Due to the craziness of my work & home life, I haven't exercised since trying Zumba 3 weeks ago... BUT I've still somehow managed to lose weight! Since June 1 (about 12 weeks), I've lost a total of 16 pounds, which is roughly the weight of two average newborns!
I know it's a weird analogy, but it means I'm still carrying approximately 4 more babies in my gut, thighs, arms, etc.!
So.... how have I been losing without putting in the effort of exercise or nutrition? Mostly stress. I've also been super busy, and less down time means less time to eat out of boredom. My appetite has also been smaller lately. I still eat when I'm hungry, but never to the point where I feel uncomfortably full. I still snack, but rarely binge.
Last weekend, at Outsidelands, each day I drenched my organs in alcohol and each night stuffed my face with a hot slice of pizza. Luckily, I also walked several miles each day (my calves were super sore & had me walking around the apartment like an old lady) which I think made up for the not-so-healthy activities.
My goal for the rest of the month is to get back into my workout routine. The one I posted over a month ago! I'm kind of embarrassed it's been that long and I still haven't even attempted to follow the routine, but no more excuses.
Also, if you want to help motivate me (because I definitely still need it) please consider sending me a text/Facebook post before or after your workout to remind me how good it feels & how necessary it is!
Needless to say, I love the way I'm starting to look. I've been throwing out clothes that are too big/baggy because they hide my body, and for the first time in awhile I'm actually proud to show off my curves again! My size 14 jeans (that I previously could barely breathe in after sitting down) are becoming more & more comfortable and were surprisingly easy to button this morning! :)
I might post an updated midsection picture soon because that's where I'm noticing most of the weight disappearing from. I will also try to get my body fat tested at the gym within the next week. My updates might be less frequent until life quiets down, but thanks for all the support & encouragement in the meantime. I'm so grateful that you all haven't let me give up yet!
Thanks for reading, & have a wonderful day!
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Day 58 - I think I'm in love...
Mood: Inspired
Today is Thursday, July 28, 2011. Last night I tried Zumba for the first time in a very long time. I only have three words to describe it: CRAZY. SEXY. COOL.
Ok, so did you really think I'd stop at 3 words? Didn't think so. Plus, those ones are already taken by the best all-female R&B/Hip Hop group of my pre-teen years.
Getting back to the point... Zumba was freakin fantastic. I was a little concerned about the class size at first. There was easily 40 people crammed into a 20x30 ft room. Luckily, the room had a window & really high ceilings or we'd all be choking on each other's sweaty air.
I chose a spot close to the window & wall on the far right-hand side of the room. While everyone milled around waiting for the class to begin, I noticed that it was mostly female participants (only 2 or 3 guys) and while it wasn't very diverse ethnically (most were Filipino or Hispanic) there was definitely a wide range of body sizes & age groups. Some women even brought their kids.
Finally the music started & in burst the instructor like a small young Asian glowing ball of fun. His smile cut through every particle in the room. I found myself immediately excited for what he had in store! He jumped right into the first routine, which was more of a collection of warm-up moves, but came guns blazing with enthusiasm. I couldn't help but smile. I could tell it was going to be fun before we'd even started any of the actual dance moves!
In just a few minutes I could feel my heart rate rising. The dances were fast-paced, but not difficult to learn. The instructor, Jeff, was careful to show us the steps repeatedly while still keeping up the pace so it was more about continuously moving rather than doing it perfectly. It seems everyone in the room was able to go at their own pace yet get the full-body workout that Zumba offers. Many of the moves required arm movements as well, which kept the heart rate up. Within 10 minutes, I was working up a good sweat.
The music was awesome. I felt like I was in a salsa club, strutting my stuff on the dance floor. Jeff enticed us to make noise & have fun! The guy smiled non-stop. I could tell he was genuinely having a good time too. He moved his hips better than most of the women in the room, but he had the energy (and hair) of Sonic the Hedgehog.
For some reason, I thought the class might only be 30 minutes long, but when that amount of time came & passed, I realized we were going to be there a full hour. Part of me was excited, but the other part of me (the part that hasn't had a truly good workout in almost 2 weeks) was wondering if I'd last the full hour!
But because I was having so much fun, I did make it the full hour. I went at my own steady pace when I got out of breath, and when I got a burst of energy, I danced with all the passion I had inside. I felt sexy. I felt confident. I felt like I did in high school when dancing was a daily thing for me. I got a little choked up at one point because I remembered how much I love to dance, and was sad that I haven't kept it as a regular routine in my life after becoming a busy "adult".
By the end of it, I was hooting & hollering & shaking my goods like I'd been doing it for years. I noticed some other women moving & smiling like they were having the time of their lives too, and that's how I knew I was in love with Zumba.
After the class ended, I approached Jeff & thanked him for such a fun & inspiring workout. I also met a woman who has been doing Zumba for a while. I think her name was Nancy. She pointed out that even if she doesn't lose weight by doing Zumba, she loves it because it always puts her in a good mood. We chatted for a bit, and I was inspired by her passion for Zumba & what it seemed to do for confidence/mood boosting.
Her: "I love dancing, but I don't really like going to clubs!"
Me: "I love dancing too, but doing it in heels is hard!"
***combined laughter***
That's when I realized this could be exactly what I was looking for!! Then I remembered, she and I weren't the only ones smiling during the class. Almost every single person in the room was having a great time. Not many workouts offer the same benefit.
I plan to make Zumba my official Wednesday & Friday evening activity. Knowing that I'll be in a good mood at least twice a week is something to look forward to, and knowing that it might actually help me shed a few pounds is even more awesome.
I owe a BIG thank you to my boyfriendguy for encouraging me to try Zumba again. Thanks babe! <3
If you have any other ideas for great dance workouts, please comment below or on my Facebook page! I'd also love to hear about your experiences, good or bad, with Zumba... places you've taken classes, where it's offered for free, etc. or if you are considering Zumba & have any questions for me, I'd be happy to answer!
Thanks for reading & have a lovely afternoon! :)
Today is Thursday, July 28, 2011. Last night I tried Zumba for the first time in a very long time. I only have three words to describe it: CRAZY. SEXY. COOL.
Ok, so did you really think I'd stop at 3 words? Didn't think so. Plus, those ones are already taken by the best all-female R&B/Hip Hop group of my pre-teen years.
Getting back to the point... Zumba was freakin fantastic. I was a little concerned about the class size at first. There was easily 40 people crammed into a 20x30 ft room. Luckily, the room had a window & really high ceilings or we'd all be choking on each other's sweaty air.
I chose a spot close to the window & wall on the far right-hand side of the room. While everyone milled around waiting for the class to begin, I noticed that it was mostly female participants (only 2 or 3 guys) and while it wasn't very diverse ethnically (most were Filipino or Hispanic) there was definitely a wide range of body sizes & age groups. Some women even brought their kids.
Finally the music started & in burst the instructor like a small young Asian glowing ball of fun. His smile cut through every particle in the room. I found myself immediately excited for what he had in store! He jumped right into the first routine, which was more of a collection of warm-up moves, but came guns blazing with enthusiasm. I couldn't help but smile. I could tell it was going to be fun before we'd even started any of the actual dance moves!
 |
| Photo by marfis75 |
In just a few minutes I could feel my heart rate rising. The dances were fast-paced, but not difficult to learn. The instructor, Jeff, was careful to show us the steps repeatedly while still keeping up the pace so it was more about continuously moving rather than doing it perfectly. It seems everyone in the room was able to go at their own pace yet get the full-body workout that Zumba offers. Many of the moves required arm movements as well, which kept the heart rate up. Within 10 minutes, I was working up a good sweat.
The music was awesome. I felt like I was in a salsa club, strutting my stuff on the dance floor. Jeff enticed us to make noise & have fun! The guy smiled non-stop. I could tell he was genuinely having a good time too. He moved his hips better than most of the women in the room, but he had the energy (and hair) of Sonic the Hedgehog.
For some reason, I thought the class might only be 30 minutes long, but when that amount of time came & passed, I realized we were going to be there a full hour. Part of me was excited, but the other part of me (the part that hasn't had a truly good workout in almost 2 weeks) was wondering if I'd last the full hour!
But because I was having so much fun, I did make it the full hour. I went at my own steady pace when I got out of breath, and when I got a burst of energy, I danced with all the passion I had inside. I felt sexy. I felt confident. I felt like I did in high school when dancing was a daily thing for me. I got a little choked up at one point because I remembered how much I love to dance, and was sad that I haven't kept it as a regular routine in my life after becoming a busy "adult".
By the end of it, I was hooting & hollering & shaking my goods like I'd been doing it for years. I noticed some other women moving & smiling like they were having the time of their lives too, and that's how I knew I was in love with Zumba.
After the class ended, I approached Jeff & thanked him for such a fun & inspiring workout. I also met a woman who has been doing Zumba for a while. I think her name was Nancy. She pointed out that even if she doesn't lose weight by doing Zumba, she loves it because it always puts her in a good mood. We chatted for a bit, and I was inspired by her passion for Zumba & what it seemed to do for confidence/mood boosting.
Her: "I love dancing, but I don't really like going to clubs!"
Me: "I love dancing too, but doing it in heels is hard!"
***combined laughter***
 |
| Photo by Pink Sherbet Photography |
That's when I realized this could be exactly what I was looking for!! Then I remembered, she and I weren't the only ones smiling during the class. Almost every single person in the room was having a great time. Not many workouts offer the same benefit.
I plan to make Zumba my official Wednesday & Friday evening activity. Knowing that I'll be in a good mood at least twice a week is something to look forward to, and knowing that it might actually help me shed a few pounds is even more awesome.
I owe a BIG thank you to my boyfriendguy for encouraging me to try Zumba again. Thanks babe! <3
If you have any other ideas for great dance workouts, please comment below or on my Facebook page! I'd also love to hear about your experiences, good or bad, with Zumba... places you've taken classes, where it's offered for free, etc. or if you are considering Zumba & have any questions for me, I'd be happy to answer!
Thanks for reading & have a lovely afternoon! :)
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Day 57 - Slow & Steady
Mood: Hopeful
Today is Wednesday, July 27, 2011. The past two weeks have been full of activity, but not the workout kind. Between family parties, concert date nights, musical theater-going, & neighborhood gatherings, I just didn't make time to follow the exercise routine outlined in my last blog post.
What exactly have I done? The day of my last blog post (7/13) I went on a 20-minute hike with some friends (very hilly, good for butt-sculpting!) and the following Sunday (7/17) I walked approximately 10K for SF AIDS Walk (and raised $1,300! Go me!). Other than that, I've been full of excuses & lazy habits.
Even though I'm disappointed by my lack of ambition & get-to-it-iveness regarding exercising, I'm slightly more forgiving because I know I've been making healthier food choices.
It might not sound healthy to "cheat" on a diet, but believe it or not it has taken some of the compulsiveness out of my eating habits (some, not all). I've designated Monday evenings as my cheat time because almost every Monday I spend a few hours visiting a friend downtown.
Another thing I've been better at is reducing portion size. I've learned that 9 times out of 10, I'm able to simply stop eating when I'm full. Sometimes this means food is wasted, but most of the time it just results in having leftovers as a meal on the following day/night. The upside is usually less calories and that light feeling versus "OMG. I'm stuffed & can't move for an hour."
Speaking of leftovers, I should point out that my neighbors & I love to have backyard BBQs. Our most recent one was on Sunday. Small victory: Instead of my usual homemade pasta salad, I made veggie kabobs & a fruit salad... two things I never would have thought of making as the "old" me! I have to admit, my veggie kabobs left much to be desired taste-wise, but the fruit salad was standard, and I felt good knowing I personally contributed to getting a few servings of good stuff in my diet that day!
So... little by little I'm making smarter, healthier choices. I said in my last post that I needed to work on getting more sleep & drinking more water, but those things are still problem areas. Drinking water at work isn't as difficult as it is at home. Perhaps I will start posting little reminders all over my apartment. And getting to bed on time is usually easier when I've worked out that day, but logical remedies aren't always the easiest to carry out. Still, I've got to get back into the habit of waking up early to get it over with, or devoting myself to nothing until I get at least a 30 minute walk in after work.
Tonight I'm going to try Zumba. I said that last Friday and then gave up because I couldn't find parking. I won't let that excuse stop me today. No sir!
Hopefully the next post will include a weight update, but for now I find victory in the fact that my clothes are fitting well (and in some cases, are *slightly* too big). I'm pretty sure I've lost another couple of pounds, but I can't know for sure since my scale isn't consistently accurate.
My energy level has been kinda low, but I've also been under some minor stress at work. Luckily that seems to have settled down for the time being, which means I'll be able to focus more on this stuff.
Until next time... thanks for reading! <3
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Day 43 - Hooray for me!
Day 43
Mood: Satisfied
Weight: 174.4 lbs (4.6 pounds lost!)
Body Fat: 40.2% (0.9 percent lost!)
Today is Wednesday, July 13, 2011. It's been almost one month since my last accurate weight update. The time in between has been a struggle, but I must have been doing something right because according to the scale, I've lost a few pounds. I actually weigh less than my drivers license weight for the first time in a looooooong while. Yay.
I was able to get another boot camp workout today, and it felt great. I may decide to continue my membership so I can go once a week, but I'm still considering cost vs. benefits. Is $50 worth it? That's a little more than $10 per class... Until then, my new workout schedule will be as follows:
SUNDAY- Choice between Walk (60 min) or Bike Ride (5 miles) or Rest
MONDAY - Morning Walk (30 min) & Choice between Workout Video or Weights or Yoga (30 min)
TUESDAY - Morning Walk (30 min) & Afternoon Zumba (30 min)
WEDNESDAY - Choice between Morning Walk (30 min) or Bootcamp (60 min) & Afternoon Zumba (30 min)
THURSDAY - Morning Walk (30 min) & Choice between Workout Video or Weights or Yoga (30 min)
FRIDAY - Morning Walk (30 min) & Afternoon Zumba (30 min)
SATURDAY - Sleep in / Rest
Even if I do the minimum on this plan, I'll still get at least 6 hours of cardio & 2 hours of strength training per week. I think it's sufficient for now, and I can always alter it later if I feel like I'm doing too little or too much.
I'm really looking forward to Zumba. Friday will be my first time trying it in over a year! Who knows... maybe if I get the hang of it, I will start my own backyard Zumba class for those who want to try it without getting a gym membership! :)
The biggest things I will need to re-commit to this week:
- Balancing a meal plan. I'm still struggling with eating often enough so that I don't binge or overeat during meals. I also need to re-commit to not bringing any new unhealthy snacks into my house. I seem to do well on breakfast & lunch during the week because I have a routine, but my evenings/dinners are less structured, so I'll have to think of some creative ways to either prepare meals ahead of time or create a weekly menu or something along those lines.
- Drinking more water. At least 64 ounces a day.
- Getting more sleep. This is something I have been struggling with since Day 1. My new bedtime will be 11pm, NO MATTER WHAT. I may not fall asleep until midnight, but at least I'll have a routine & hopefully my body/mind will eventually get used to shutting down around that time. The biggest problem I have with this is that I like to stay up later on the weekends, but until further notice, 11pm it is.
I'm extremely grateful to those who have expressed interest in this blog, and I look forward to hearing your comments & suggestions about anything health-related (your experience, things you've come across online, inspiring stories or quotes, etc.).
Thanks for reading! <3
Friday, July 8, 2011
Day 38 - Cleaning the Slate
Mood: Relieved
Pant Size: 12/14
Today is Friday, July 8, 2011. Today was my last day of boot camp. I was hoping for a weight update, but the instructor conveniently forgot the scale & body fat gadget, so it will have to wait until next week. My scale at home says 173, but I'm still skeptical about its accuracy, so that's not an "official" update until I step on the same scale I used before.
Today is Friday, July 8, 2011. Today was my last day of boot camp. I was hoping for a weight update, but the instructor conveniently forgot the scale & body fat gadget, so it will have to wait until next week. My scale at home says 173, but I'm still skeptical about its accuracy, so that's not an "official" update until I step on the same scale I used before.
The bad news: Today was the only day I made it to boot camp all week. My excuse on Monday was (obviously) the holiday. The rest of the week was just pure laziness. I've even gotten lazier about going to bed on time, which was a big reason I didn't get myself out of bed to workout.
More bad news: I've been eating like a teenager. Haven't felt like cooking. Lunches have been somewhat healthy, and snacktime at work hasn't set me back too far, but once I get home, I look for the worst possible thing in my kitchen & go straight for it instead of drinking water, waiting, & then deciding if I'm really hungry or just bored. The other factor in my poor eating habits is that we had a BBQ on the 4th & all the leftovers ended up in my fridge. Not smart!
The good news: I can't wait to start walking in the mornings. I did it a couple of times last week & absolutely loved it. I figure I can sleep in until 6 or 6:30am, walk for a good 30 minutes, then if I feel like it, do some light weight routines and/or yoga for another 30 minutes. I'm also looking forward to starting Zumba! Let's hope the free classes at the gym aren't over-crowded as usual.
The great news: I'm going on a nice long bike ride this Sunday on the Great Highway (See: Sunday Streets). Hopefully the weather will be nice & I'll burn some major calories.
I'm still a bit apprehensive about how to get my nutrition structured properly. I know exactly what I should be eating, but it's a matter of motivating myself to get back in the habit of prepping food, cooking, controlling portions, & cutting back on the less-than-healthy snack foods in my household. I also need to find a way to curb this silly diet soda addiction I've discovered. Coke Zero is the debble!
Also, this morning I cleaned out my closet & identified some clothes that need to be discarded (a.k.a. donated to Goodwill). Some of them were just outdated, but some of them were condoning my unwanted body shape. Goodbye zebra print. Goodbye anything frumpy. Goodbye cardigans & pull-over v-neck sweaters. You don't do it for me anymore. I hope you find a better home!
It made me feel good to know that eventually I'll be replacing those clothes with smaller, cuter, more form-fitting attire. *daydreaming*
Anyway...
If you have any tips for me on any of the things I mentioned struggling with above, please share! My willpower can't be trusted any more!
Thanks, as always, for your encouragement & feedback!
Monday, July 4, 2011
Freedom from Fat!
50 Ways to Fight Fat (Click Link)
Here's my own fat-saving snack idea: Raw carrots/veggies dipped in balsamic vinaigrette instead of ranch dressing. Tangy & yummy.
Here's my own fat-saving snack idea: Raw carrots/veggies dipped in balsamic vinaigrette instead of ranch dressing. Tangy & yummy.
*Weight Update Coming Soon!*
STIR FRY RIGHT
Let your vegetables stir-fry in their own moisture instead of an oil bath. Add a few drops of oil to start, & then use water rather than more oil as you’re stir-frying.
WARM UP YOUR OIL
Heat your skillet before adding oil, & less fat will be absorbed by the food. Warm oil cooks more efficiently; cold oil tends to soak into meats & vegetables.
SLICE YOUR STEAK, EAT LESS
Slicing thinly makes portions seem bigger & more satisfying. Japan
EMBARGO THE OIL
When grilling chicken, try this oil-free marinade: Combine 3 cups of apple juice & 2 cloves of pressed garlic with 1 cup of reduced-sodium soy sauce.
STUFF YOUR BURGERS
Scoop a hole in the middle of your burger before grilling, & fill it with olives, mushrooms, or any veggie you like. This makes the recommended serving of beef (3 oz) look & feel like a massive hunk of burger, when it’s much leaner than that.
CATCH UP ON YOUR LYCOPENE
Squirt some organic ketchup on that bun. Researchers at the Agricultural Research Service in California
CURRY FAVOR WITH YOGURT
Replace the high-fat coconut milk in your curries with low-fat plain yogurt. The yogurt adds that creamy texture without the extra fat from the coconut.
BUILD A BETTER PIZZA
Order 2 or more veggie toppings for every meat topping. Carcinogens in processed meats such as pepperoni & sausage increase your cancer risk with every serving (American Institute for Cancer Research). Load on veggies to protect against cancer.
BULK UP YOUR MEATBALLS
Grate carrots, squash, or zucchini into any meatball mixture. They add bulk, moisture, & vitamins but don’t alter that meaty flavor you’re after.
SWAP RED MEAT FOR RED LENTILS
To make a low-fat, antioxidant-packed lasagna, use half the usual amount of ground meat & make up the difference with red lentils. They’re protein packed, fat-free, high in fiber, & more filling. Their neutral taste means they’ll soak up the flavors in your sauce.
TRADE CRACKERS FOR OATS
In meat recipes that call for crackers or bread crumbs, use an equal amount of rolled oats instead. This ramps up soluble fiber intake, which can lower cholesterol. Use instant oatmeal, because it retains moisture well & doesn’t alter the meaty taste.
GO FRY A COD
To soften some of the damage inflicted by Britain
1. Buy fillets or loins of white fish such as haddock or cod, & cut into strips.
2. Make a light tempura-like batter by mixing iced sparkling water with self-rising flour.
3. Dust the fish strips with self-rising fl our and roll in the tempura batter.
4. Shallow fry the strips in hot canola oil, which is loaded with good fats: Fill one-third of your pan with oil and heat it to about 350 degrees F. (Use a thermometer!) Fry the fish until crispy.
5. For chips: Cut potatoes into preferred size & toss in 1-2 tbsp of canola oil with salt, herbs, garlic, etc. Then bake at 450°F for about 30 minutes.
2. Make a light tempura-like batter by mixing iced sparkling water with self-rising flour.
3. Dust the fish strips with self-rising fl our and roll in the tempura batter.
4. Shallow fry the strips in hot canola oil, which is loaded with good fats: Fill one-third of your pan with oil and heat it to about 350 degrees F. (Use a thermometer!) Fry the fish until crispy.
5. For chips: Cut potatoes into preferred size & toss in 1-2 tbsp of canola oil with salt, herbs, garlic, etc. Then bake at 450°F for about 30 minutes.
EAT THE CRUMBS
If baking with a topping of grated cheese, cut fat by replacing half of it with whole-wheat bread crumbs. This mimics the crispy texture of baked cheese & adds fiber.
KNOW YOUR DELI MEATS
The hierarchy of health, in descending order:
- Turkey
- Roast beef
- Ham
- Processed meats like salami, bologna, olive loaf
- Roast beef
- Ham
- Processed meats like salami, bologna, olive loaf
Instead of an Italian sub sandwich with cheese & cold cuts such as salami & bologna, choose a roast beef hero, & trim fat intake by up to 30%.
DON'T RUIN A TUNA
Instead of mayo, add pepper, hot sauce, & fresh lemon juice.
GET GRATER TASTE FROM LESS CHEESE
Grate a piece of Parmesan or other hard cheese on a sandwich. Add a sprinkling for flavor rather than an avalanche.
MAKE IT MEATLESS
Brown cubed eggplant pieces under a broiler with a little olive oil. Then mix with tomato sauce & capers. Place in a kaiser roll. Top with grated Parmesan. Fat savings: 18 grams.
SQUASH THE FAT
Replace half of the Cheddar in quesadillas, mac 'n' cheese, or grilled cheese sandwiches with pureed butternut squash. This significantly lowers the fat & calorie counts, won't compromise taste, & gives a slew of added vitamins & heart-healthy potassium.
PACK A PITA
Add extra vegetables to your next sandwich by packing them in a whole-wheat pita pocket rather than between conventional slices of bread. Pitas simply hold more.
WRAP MEATS IN GREENS
To cut carbs, ditch the sandwich bread & do as the Koreans do: Wrap spicy cooked beef or chicken with leafy greens. Try Chinese cabbage, bok choy, or romaine lettuce. Replacing two slices of bread with one large lettuce leaf saves you about 30g of carbs.
BE SLICK WITH YOUR OIL
Avoid splashing 'light' olive oils over your salads. Light varieties have fewer cancer-fighting antioxidants than the extra-virgin kind, plus they have a less intense flavor. Good-quality extra-virgin olive oil should have a fruity, peppery, slightly bitter taste & leave a faint burning sensation on the throat.
TURN YOUR SANDWICHES GREEN
Replace mayo with a spread of ripe avocado to moisten a dry sandwich. Avocados are packed with monounsaturated (good) fat to help lower cholesterol. Ohio State University
TRY THIS SPIN ON A GYRO
For a low-fat gyro, mix fat-free yogurt with chopped or sliced cucumbers, add a squeeze of lemon juice, & pour over a pita stuffed with grilled chicken or beef strips.
REVISE YOUR REUBEN
Replace fatty corned beef with turkey ham & top it with low-fat mozzarella, mustard, spicy shredded cabbage, & pickles. Slap on traditional rye bread & broil until the cheese melts. Fat savings: 10g.
SLIM YOUR CHICKEN SALAD
Use thick, Greek-style plain yogurt to cut down on the amount of mayo you need to make chicken, tuna, or egg salad sandwiches.
ADD CHEESE TO BREAKFAST
Grate hard, flavorful cheese, such as Parmesan, on hot cereals & oatmeal for added protein & flavor. The key is to add protein to all meals, as it fills you up faster & may help burn more calories.
GIVE YOUR PANCAKES A NUTRITIONAL BOOST
Replace 1⁄4 cup of flour with 1⁄4 cup of cornmeal. It'll give great texture, & the cornmeal will add extra fiber & magnesium to an otherwise nutritionally vacant breakfast.
LEAVE NO CHEERIO BEHIND
To get all the vitamins out of your cereal, drink the milk left in the bowl. Up to 40% of the vitamins in your cereal dissolve into that orphaned puddle of milk. Drink up.
FREEZE YOUR BANANAS
That way they will always be on hand for use in a smoothie. And because they are naturally sweet, you won't need any sugar.
MAKE LEANER BUFFALO WINGS
Cook up some spicy low-fat buffalo wings with skinless chicken-breast tenders. Marinate overnight in a mixture of hot sauce, olive oil, garlic powder, & red wine vinegar. Then roast the "wings" at 400°F for 15 minutes.
GIVE IN TO CHOCOLATE CRAVINGS
Shave dark chocolate into savory dishes like chili & barbecue sauces—you'll add a rich flavor along with flavonoids. They can lower risk of heart disease & keep cholesterol in check. Shaving ensures you don't go overboard on the dark. Or try this nighttime snack: Melt 2 tbsp of chocolate chips in the microwave & swirl into 4 ounces of vanilla yogurt. Top with a tablespoon of slivered almonds.
DO YOUR OWN DIPS
Make dips healthier by using fat-free sour cream or yogurt. Mix in an equal part of salsa, the hotter the better. Jazz it up with lemon, dried herbs, whatever.
CHOOSE THE BLUES
Use blue corn tortillas in nachos, fajitas, or quesadillas. Tortillas made from blue corn have a lower glycemic load than white corn tortillas do, so they won't raise blood sugar as quickly. The blue variety also has more protein & less starch.
SHELL YOUR NUTS
Buy nuts in their shells. More time shelling = less time shoveling handfuls into mouth.
...BUT BOIL THEM FIRST
Boil peanuts (in their shells) for about 3 hours. A popular snack food in China , Southeast Asia , Australia , & the southern United States
TOP A TATER
If you love baked potatoes, you don't have to give them up just because of their high glycemic load rating. Keep your blood sugar levels balanced by adding a topping, such as Cheddar cheese, mushrooms, broccoli, or spinach.
RINSE YOUR BEANS
Canned beans are a quick & easy way to add protein & fiber to your meals. But they can also spike your daily sodium intake, increasing your risk of stomach cancer & high blood pressure. Simply rinsing them will shed 1/3 of their sodium.
CREATE THE BEST STEAM ROOM FOR YOUR BROCCOLI
For perfectly cooked & nutrient-rich vegetables, rinse, throw them in a sealed container, & microwave for 3-4 min. Boiling, blanching, or oversteaming zaps vegetables of their nutrients—the only water you need is the drops that cling after rinsing.
REPRISE BLAZING SADDLES
If all you have is instant white rice, just add a can of beans. The beans lessen the effect that the starchy white rice will have on your blood sugar.
THICKEN YOUR SIDE DISHES
Replace whole milk in your mashed potatoes with evaporated fat-free canned milk – usually near the baking products. It's lower in fat & higher in calcium per cup, & still adds richness to your mash.
START A MEAL WITH A WATER APPETIZER
Drink 2 glasses of water before every meal. This will keep you hydrated & make you feel less hungry, possibly reducing your food intake & aiding weight loss.
ALWAYS SAY "ICED TEA"
When the waitress asks what you want to drink, always say "iced tea— unsweetened." You'll cut calories & earn a dose of antioxidants, which are crucial to your body's defense against heart disease, cancer, even wrinkles. A U.S. Dept of Agriculture study found that a serving of black tea had more flavonoids than a serving of broccoli or carrots.
GO HALFSIES
For buffet eating at a party: Fill half of your plate with vegetables & fruit. Fill the rest of your plate with equal amounts of whole grains & other high-fiber carbs, & lean protein.
SHAKE ON OREGANO
One tbsp of fresh oregano has the same antioxidant power as an entire apple, according to the U.S. Dept of Agriculture. Mexican oregano has the highest count, but Italian oregano & Greek mountain oregano trail closely behind. One of the most versatile herbs, oregano can be added to anything from noodles to meats to salad dressings.
BRING THE HEAT
Scientists found that overweight people are more likely to slim down after consuming a meal that contains chile peppers than after one that isn't on fire. Capsaicin, the chemical that makes chiles hot, may help the liver clear insulin—the hormone that tells your body to store fat—from the bloodstream after a meal.
KEEP YOUR ABS HARD WITH SOFT CHEESE
Use softer cheeses like goat, feta, & ricotta on pizzas and sandwiches because they're naturally about 1/3 lower in fat & calories than harder cheeses. When you need the full-fat cheeses, go for Parmesan, blue, & extra-sharp Cheddar—same taste, less cheese.
PREVENT BLOOD SUGAR SPIKES WITH VINEGAR
Start a meal with a salad or veggies drizzled with a vinaigrette dressing. Nutritionists believe that the acetic acid in vinegar interferes with enzymes that break down carbs. A few tsp of vinegar per meal can keep blood sugar levels from rising quickly.
KEEP A LITTLE SHRIMP ON HAND
Stock up on frozen shrimp. It defrosts in 15 min under cold running water. With the cooked variety, it’s an instant healthy snack. If uncooked, throw into pasta sauces, stir-fries, or noodle soups in the last 5 min.
POUR A SECOND ROUND
The typical bottled soft drink contains 2-2.5 servings. Cut your calories in half by pouring half the bottle into a glass to drink now & putting the rest of the bottle in the fridge.
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