I AM GOING FOR IT

A slippery slope

2010-04-14T16:20:00.000-07:00

   I've lost it...and this time I mean the POUNDS! I lost the 3 pounds I "found" during last week's Weight Watchers weigh-in...those 3 annoying pounds which caused me to cry for several hours, actually DAYS. Where the hell did they come from anyway? After talking to a good friend today about our struggle with losing weight, I reevaluated what I did last week. I ate right (whole grains, lots of veggies, fruit, lean, lowfat protein, water, yada, yada, yada) and exercised 5 days a week as usual. But then, I rewarded myself. I had the Margarita. And the Chips and Guacamole. I know the rules. I followed them. But then I treated myself. I can't do that. Not even 48 months after I started "dieting" because I haven't reached my goal. It's a VERY slippery slope and I have to remember that EVERY SINGLE DAY. That can seem distressing and daunting and unfair at times but then I have to remember there is a GOAL ahead, something I want to achieve. I have to imagine how it will feel to weigh in and officially consider myself "healthy" - having a normal Body Mass Index, or how it will feel to be in the next size jeans or look in the mirror during aerobics class and not cringe.

   I actually sat through the entire Weight Watchers meeting today (I usually duck out early because I have my two year old). My leader suggested that when I have a sudden weight gain, just walk away from the scale, be confident in what I did that week and where you're headed the next week and it WILL come off. JUST KEEP AT IT. Even though I'd been feeling strong bouts of fatigue, I ran on the treadmill 2 1/2 miles yesterday. I also recommitted to writing down my Points. After years of doing Weight Watchers I get a little cocky sometimes. I feel a sense of entitlement. Like writing down your points is for the "freshmen" and I'm a "senior" - I've been here forever. I have to get back to the basics of accounting for every little bite and rewarding myself in other ways. Let's see where that leads me this week.

How do you reward yourself or get through the "tough" times when all you want is your chips? or chocolate? Or wine?

Goin' With the Flow

2010-04-14T00:41:00.000-07:00

   This weekend I took some time to get myself together after Friday's weigh-in debacle. I decided I must recommit, relax a little bit and just move forward. I realize I can't abandon "getting healthy", it's really not a choice at all. I took a Yoga Flow class at my gym...and it helped me to focus, take long, deep breaths, concentrate on the strength that I have already built up in the my body and just feel a little bit better. At first, I found the class really easy but as usual, the next day I felt sore in those hard to reach places, the muscles I just can't seem to get to by running.

   In my effort to feel better, I bought myself a couple of new "warm weather" shirts and spent a considerable amount of time perusing the aisles in Trader Joe's. I actually find grocery shopping relaxing...when my husband watches the kids, that is! He was a saint, letting me have the entire day to feel better. I felt a sense of accomplishment in getting myself and the family set up for the week. I planned out Weight Watchers recipes and filled our pantry and fridge with low-Point food. I'm not going to let that damn scale win!

Inspired By: Rachael Wilcox-Periera

2010-04-12T13:38:00.000-07:00

I've had some setbacks, and I'm trying to recover emotionally from my recent weight gain. It's taken a toll on my motivation and dedication to getting healthy. To pick myself up, I've decided to look to someone who has always been an inspiration, a role model and a girl's best friend,

Rachael Wilcox-Periera

She has been a leader to me in athletics and has motivated me to move since we were on the high school soccer team together. She has shared with me (and now you) her secrets to staying fit and fabulous (and motivated!) while raising two beautiful little girls and obtaining her Master's Degree. Rachael truly inspires me to run a little further (even though I hate it!) and to push myself. I even got my butt on that treadmill for 2.2 miles today, thanks to her! Here's what she had to say:

K: How do you manage your time and fit exercise in?

R: Set realistic expectations and make it a priority!

Realistic expectations: I have exercised regularly since I was in high school. Ideally I’d like to work-out about five times a week but I can tell you that RARELY happens. I set realistic work-out schedules; best case scenario (5-6x/wk), likely (3-4x/wk) and worst (1-2x/wk). I’m usually between likely and worst case scenarios but I’ll take whatever I can get. As long as you maintain a basic level of fitness, you can pretty much bounce back into ideal shape whenever you can dedicate more time. I think many people give up if they can’t achieve the ideal work-out schedule. Anything is better than nothing! And health benefits occur with only 90 minutes per week (reduce blood pressure, reduce risk of diabetes, decreased cholesterol, etc.).

Make it a priority: Exercise is a priority in my life. Sometimes exercise takes a back seat to family obligations, school, work or unexpected events but other than that I make sure exercise comes first. Those closest to me know that it’s important and they respect my priorities.

I often try to combine exercise with socializing since I find it hard to have time for both. I enjoy the camaraderie of athletic groups and enjoy the relationships that I’ve established through them. It’s also a great way to surround yourself with others that share the same goals and push you to achieving them. Research shows that friends are the greatest influence of exercise and eating habits so find others that share the same goals and make it a priority.

K: How many marathons or half marathons have you run?

R: I have completed three 10 mile races, six half marathons, two full marathons and five 25K trail races. The half marathon is my favorite distance; you can be race ready in a short period of time as long as you run regularly and it doesn’t take a toll on your body or your life. Training for a marathon takes a much greater level of time and commitment. Life balance is important to me and I find it hard to commit to the time demands of training for a marathon without it taking a toll on my life. Check out Rachael's race times HERE.

K: What are your goals right now? fitness goals?

Personal/professional goal: Finish my master’s degree in Kinesiology with a focus on Sports Management, expected May 2010. I’d also like to continue with my education and pursue a Ph.D. But it will have to wait a few years, being that school has taken time away from my family and I don’t feel like it’s fair to them at this point.

Fitness goal: I just ran the Goofy Challenge (half and full in same weekend) so I’m trying to figure out what to do next. I’m always looking for a new challenge (time, distance or different type of race) since it keeps me motivated. I haven’t decided yet but I may try to improve my marathon time or try an ultra race.

I’d also like to get back into strength training. I haven’t had a regular routine in the last few years and it’s important for muscular strength. It’s also a great way to boost your metabolism. My goal for this year is to get into a regular routine and stick with it.

Goal setting is important; make sure your goals are attainable and realistic. For example, if you don’t have time to dedicate to training for a marathon, try a half marathon instead. Research on motivation for first-time marathon finishers’ showed that only 30% of people that had committed to the goal actually completed the six month training program and the marathon (Havenar & Lochbaum, 2007). Hence the importance of setting realistic and attainable goals.

K: How do you balance family with your fitness regime?

R: I run very early on the weekends, that way it doesn’t affect my family’s weekend activities. When I was working full-time, I used to get up early and run before work. It was hard getting into routine but once I got going, it was great to get it done early. My kids also understand the importance of exercise and a healthy lifestyle; I’m hoping they might want to run with me when they get older.

K: What is your fitness regime?

R: Usually running 4x per week. If I can get a day or two of cross training (biking) and/or strength training then I’m happy. Ideally, I’d do cardio 4x/per week, strength train 2-3x/per week and cross train 2x/ per week. But as I mentioned before, that rarely happens.

K: Do you worry about what you eat? What is an average day like?

R: Yes!

I usually gain about 5 lbs when I reduce my running mileage, even when I’m still running and cut back on calories. I would gain more if I stopped working out completely, but I won’t stop to find out! I’ve watched my diet since I was young but I’ve learned not to obsess about it. Moderation is the key; make dietary lifestyle changes that you can maintain and manage.

I eat frequently, probably six small meals a day. Foods that I eat frequently: almonds, cottage cheese, apples, bananas, lettuce, broccoli and black beans. I often take a snack with me when I go out along with a bottle of water. Eating out has gotten easier with healthier options as long as you are familiar with the nutritional content of food and conscious about portion sizes. Be conscious of beverages too, many people forget to take into account what they drink. It’s probably one of the easiest dietary changes you can make, switch to unsweetened beverages or water. And skip the specialty coffees; they are loaded with calories and fat.

Long distance running is great for weight management; I have to admit that I enjoy not having to watch my diet as closely when I run long distance. If I cut back on training then I’ll definitely have to cut back on calories. I’ll keep running!!

K: What motivates you to run?

R: Good question!

Research states that motivations for running a marathon are more closely related to intrinsic behaviors (personal achievement, goal achievement, enhancing one’s personal life, etc.). I would say I am now mostly motivated by personal achievement.

My personal motivation has changed over time. I started running in high school as a way to train for sports. I continued running since it was always the most efficient way to achieve my goals (weight management, sports training, stress reliever, etc.). Over the last several years, I would say that I’ve continued to run as a way of relieving stress and problem solving. I always feel better after a run; it seems to clear my head. Exercise metabolizes stress hormones; running seems to do that more efficiently for me that any other forms of exercise.

Running a marathon also made me realize that I am capable of so much more, as long as I was committed to my goal. People are more likely to adhere to fitness programs when they are intrinsically motivated (Weinberg & Gould, 2007). My best advice is to make sure you are doing it for yourself and you are committed to achieving your goals.

K: What advice would you offer those who are struggling with weight loss and fitness goals?

R:
Do it for yourself - I’ve talked about this earlier, you’re more likely to stick to your goals if you are doing it for yourself.

Find a partner or group – Surround yourself with people that influence you positively and will help you accomplish your goals. A partner or group will provide more support than anything else.

Make lifestyle changes – Make lifestyle changes that you can continue. Don’t give up foods that you love, just eat them in moderation. Otherwise you’re just setting yourself up for failure. Forget the fad diets; eat a balanced diet with carbs, protein and fats.

Don’t compare yourself to others – Everyone is different, don’t worry about anyone else. Focus on your goals and what you’re doing to achieve them. Everyone is different so each program must be customized to take your body type, goals and lifestyle challenges (work, family, etc.) into account.

Exercise MUST be included in your program – If your goal is to lose weight, you MUST incorporate exercise into your program. Dietary changes alone will not successfully help you lose weight and keep it off. Building lean muscle mass is essential for proper weight loss, it helps boost metabolism. Lean muscle mass burns more calories at rest, the more lean muscle mass you have the higher your metabolism.

Yo-yo dieting wrecks havoc on your metabolism. Every time you diet and lose weight by cutting calories, you are essentially tampering with your metabolism. As soon as you increase calories, you gain weight. When you lose weight without a proper exercise program, you are more likely to lose lean muscles mass. And if you regain weight, you are more likely to gain adipose tissue (aka fat). In essence, dieting makes you fatter. Make sure you incorporate exercise in your program to effectively loose weight and keep it off.

Books that have influenced my lifestyle

1. The New Fit or Fat by Covert Bailey – I first read his books back in 1995. I love Covert Bailey, he always
said, “Diets don’t work!” He has a passion for health and fitness and is an inspiration.

   2. The Zone by Barry Sears and Bill Lawren – first developed to improve athletic performance, use it as a
   guide not a literal way of eating. The important thing to remember is that you need carbohydrates, protein
   and fats in your diet.

3. Eating for Optimum Health by Andrew Weil – I love Andrew Weil’s books; he has an impressive background and covers all aspects of health. He doesn’t preach losing weight, rather eating for optimum health.

4. The Four Agreements by Miguel Ruiz – given to be by a coworker years ago, four guiding principles that everyone should live by. They are simple and the book is an easy read, this book changed my thinking.

5. Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman – something I think everyone should read.

6. The Power of Now by Eckert Tolle – I’ve read a few of his books. My thinking had already been

transformed but this book provided the context around my thinking.

Cry Baby

2010-04-09T11:50:00.000-07:00

I can't stop crying today.

I stopped in at Weight Watchers this morning with my two-year-old in tow. He was in his little car that I push and as soon as we got there he started to throw himself out of it and screamed for the granola bars that they sell there. I stepped on the scale at the front desk, which means I can't actually see the results. I have to rely on the woman behind the counter to tell me how I did.

"Were you expecting a gain?" she said.

Meanwhile, my baby was starting to rip open packages. And the fact that the Weight Watchers lady asked me that question completely irritated me. Of COURSE I didn't EXPECT it, or I wouldn't have had a smile on my face when I walked in the door. And I probably wouldn't have gone out of my way to come in with a two-year-old.

Enough lady! Couldn't she just cut to the chase? Did she have to tease me?

"How much?" I said.

"3 Pounds." She said.

Ouch.

"No, I wasn't EXPECTING that." I answered and peeled the granola bars out of the baby's hand which made him scream even louder. I could feel my body get tense and my eyes well up with tears and I shoved the baby back in his little car and strapped on the seatbelt, which of course, sent his scream up a few decibels. I was now "that" mom.

"Is it that time of month maybe?" Oh God. Now she was really getting on my nerves.

"No." I said flippantly. "Don't worry about it" and I tried to maneuver the stupid little car through people so I could get the hell out of there.

Once I reached my car I couldn't stop crying and neither could the baby. We were competing for who could shed the most tears. I called my husband, but he was not in a position to be consoling a psycho wife about her Weight Watchers results...he had important things to do. So through my tears, I navigated my way to the gym. My body fell weak and I felt hopeless. I was completely unmotivated despite my horrible results. But, I knew I had to move. No matter what. I had to get moving. So I hit the bike for 30 minutes and read an article about Jillian Michaels and how she weighed 175 pounds when she was just 13. It was sort of inspiring. Then I hit the treadmill for 15 minutes. It wasn't a lot but I couldn't go home and just sulk, or eat.

I felt so good about the workouts I put in over the last two weeks. I ran several miles, biked 5 miles, took a few different yoga classes including Sculptworks, and took a Total Body Sculpt class. My body is sore, so how can I be heavier?! Was I so distraught because my weigh-in's are the only objective results I have to the work I do each week? Was I irritated because I didn't exercise enough self-control with the guacamole? Or mad at myself because I filled our fridge with healthy food, cooked homemade Weight Watchers meals, but didn't take the time to count every single Point? I do know that I am absolutely exhausted by this process and trying to manage a family at the same time. And I'm thoroughly frustrated because in order to even MAINTAIN my weight, I have to be on a strict diet.

I'm on the verge on abandoning all of this. I essentially gained back all of the weight I've lost since November. And that just plain sucks.

Any motivation would be helpful! How do I get back to caring? How do I get myself back on course?

Holy Guacamole!

2010-04-08T13:21:00.000-07:00

My weakness is chips and guacamole. Once I get started, it's like an addiction. I can't stop. Especially when they're served alongside a hand muddled, house made margarita - I prefer the Fresco Pepino (Corzo Silver Tequila, English Hothouse cucumber, lime and cane nectar) from MUCHO ULTIMA MEXICANA restaurant in Manhattan Beach, California. And if you're not into cucumber, Mucho has plenty of margaritas to choose from -- a list of approximately 200 phenomenal tequilas.

The food at Mucho is made with the greatest love and respect for mexican cuisine. They use the freshest ingredients, including tomatoes and avocados that spend time in their "ripening room" before being served. Last night I ordered the Blue Corn Tortilla Crusted Mahi Mahi with nopales (prickly pear cactus) risotto, pepperjack rajas (roasted chili strips) and a pineapple black bean salsa. TO DIE FOR.

As for the attack of the guacamole -- At approximately 91 calories and 8 grams of fat per 1/4 cup, I probably downed about 400 calories just in guacamole alone. I know the rules, tell the waiter not to bring the chips. I tried. But this time, I just couldn't do it. Next time...

Definitely check out Mucho if you are in Manhattan Beach but beware:

The guacamole will take hold of you and won't let go.

National Start Walking Day

2010-04-07T10:24:00.000-07:00

FYI...It's NATIONAL START WALKING DAY...so GET MOVING!

LEARN MORE HERE

Why I Deserve A Sugar High

2010-04-05T13:01:00.000-07:00

   For moms with two-year-olds the world can be cruel and unsympathetic to our plight as we try to navigate our way through seemingly simple errands. Today I just wanted to drop my two "older" kids off at preschool, take my 2 year old to My Gym and have a prescription filled. Sounds easy, right?

Not so much.

  Since it's the first day back after Spring break, everyone slept in and we were running late. And it's raining in L.A., which makes our kids spazz out and have to put on boots and all kinds of extra gear. We got to preschool about 15 minutes late, which meant that we'd be late for My Gym. The two-year-old screamed the whole way because he wanted to play the "Ahh Ahh Game"...it's some stupid Monkey game on my iPhone...and I really don't know why the kid can't say the word monkey yet. He was being really irritating so I threatened not to take him. He screamed louder. Then I realized that that was actually punishing ME, not him. My Gym gives me an hour break from trying to entertain the little guy, plus, I get to socialize with my friend. Otherwise, it's just him and me at home the whole day and I wasn't going to have that. I NEED to see other people during the day or I'll go insane. So we went. Yes, I know, I made an empty threat. Save it, parenting experts.

   After My Gym I stopped at CVS, where I stood in line for 10 minutes only to learn I was in the "Pick Up" line, not the "Drop Off" line. Annoying. Then I stood on the red line for drop off's and waited for the couple in front on me to finish up their conversation with the pharmacist, which was in Chinese. It felt like it took about 20 minutes and I started to wonder if they were just gossiping. Meanwhile, Mr. 2 year old was in the process of pooping his pants. I started to get agitated and began to scoff at the length of time the couple was taking. I was hoping that the diaper smell would be so disturbing it would hurry them along. No such luck. The pharmacist FINALLY took my order and said "We'll call your name in about 20 minutes". So Mr. Poopy Pants and I picked out some diapers and wipes, I chased after him and reprimanded him for touching all of the breakable items in the store. And no, I couldn't put him in a cart because he'd scream on the top of his lungs, plus then he'd be sitting in his dirty diaper. We ate the bag of M and M's my 5 year old left in my purse and I opened up a bag of Smart Food. The Poopster dropped popcorn all over the carpet.  I picked up what I could and pretended not to see the rest. We continued to wait and the smell of the diaper was getting worse, but there was no way that I could leave and come back. Mr. Poops ran up and down the aisles and made me chase him, he was giggling, I was not. During all of this I had an intense sneezing/allergy attack so my nose was itching, eyes were watering and I was so tired! Finally, I took my little guy under my arm and marched up to the counter.

"Excuse Me." I said to the pharmacist. "How much longer will my prescription take?"

"Oh, you mean this one?" She reached behind her and grabbed the prescription that had obviously been sitting there for quite some time.

"You mean, you guys didn't even call my name? I've been standing here the whole time." I wanted to reach over the counter and tackle her.

"I don't know about that, I don't do that part". She seemed to take on a snotty, defensive tone.

"Well, he smells like poop. I wish someone had called my name."

"Well, I think he smells like popcorn" she said and smiled at him.

At this point, I envisioned myself leaping over the counter and rubbing the dirty diaper in her face.

I had about three other errands that I had planned to do, plus clean my house. I ended up buying some Benedryl, and all I can do is lay down now. The baby was throwing such a temper tantrum when I got home that I put him down for a nap without any lunch. What a bust. Sometimes it's difficult to see the accomplishments throughout my days. That's where food can be quite satisfying. For one brief moment, I feel really, really good. And don't I deserve to feel really, really good?

An M and M cookie and a chocolate brownie are staring me in the face right now....

Mac Attack

2010-04-01T22:35:00.000-07:00

It's been awhile since I've talked about Going for It. My almost-two year old son ripped six, very important letter keys off of my MAC which made my five year reprimand him and say "Look what you did, now mommy can't even blog!". Well, it did make it tough. Besides that, my three kids and I have all been quite sick. Seems to be the common story amongst moms these days which makes losing weight and feeling well pretty tough. But, I am proud to say, that, despite the laundry list of excuses, I stayed true to my goals. I've had plenty of set-backs and excuses but in between caring for the kids, taking temperatures, administering medicine and cleaning up vomit I was still able to lose 2.2 pounds this last week. I tagged-teamed with husband to get us both some exercise and time away from our own little "March Madness". I attended several yoga classes at Yogaworks, I've been eating right, and trying out several recipes since I've been stuck in the house. I plan on passing on some of the recipes that worked well for me and the family. Stay tuned...I'm back, ready to make up for lost time!

And how have YOU been doing? And speaking of Mac's -- who's getting an iPad?

Turning up the Heat

2010-03-12T13:14:00.000-08:00

This morning at 4:30 a.m. I woke up, put on my lightest workout gear, picked up my awesome friend Hannah and headed to Bikram Yoga. We entered a room that was 105 degrees with 40% humidity (and a little bit smelly) and I spread out my yoga mat, a little nervous and a little nauseous. This was my first time. Hannah had tried to drag me there several times and I finally took the opportunity to go with her. She whispered "the class is 90 minutes, by the way". "WHAT?!" I asked, but was interrupted by the instructor who commanded me to stand and then went on to speak like an auctioneer in a polite, but quick and very punctuated manner for the next...yep, 90 minutes. She literally walked us through every move with her words and descriptions of how to strike each pose. What an incredible workout, bending, stretching and stopping in between poses to rest in the "corpse position". I think I reached nearly every single muscle and all the nooks and crannies. According to this Bikram Yoga calorie calculator I burned a whopping 1191 calories! Now that's some bang for the buck. Strangely, I'm not a big sweat hog (I NEVER sweat) but I could actually feel a drip running down my back (That is progress! ) and I was shocked to see how others in the class were dripping wet. Besides the obvious physical benefits of releasing toxins, stretching and building lean muscle, I felt emotionally cleansed and ready to face my day head on. Of course, I popped a couple Tylenol to keep the soreness in check but besides that, I feel ENERGIZED for once!

Do you practice Bikram Yoga? Has it aided in your weight loss?

Mommyhood is hard.

2010-03-11T16:25:00.000-08:00

   Mommyhood has gotten the best of me. Never feeling like I've had enough sleep, stress, body aches, crying and all over fatigue is what I feel each morning and it all hits me again at 3 pm. I got focused this week on trying to feel GOOD, to calm myself, to take things easy and treat my body and mind right. Although I've started counting Weight Watchers Points again, my concern over weight loss has to take a back seat to getting through the day with a smile.

   I spent some time at Yogaworks where I took a Therapeutics 2 class. I wasn't sure this was the right class for me since I'm not suffering from any specific injury, just stress and all over body pain. But I'm really glad I went. I found the moves to be gentle but they help me align myself and feel stronger. We used a chair, a bolster, blankets and bands to stretch and pull and bend my body back into alignment. It felt really good. I followed that up with lunch at the Veggie Grill - a salad full of plant based protein that tastes amazing.

   I took Yogaworks' Yoga Blend I class on Tuesday which is fairly gentle as well but man, it works and my body felt so much stronger and leaner the morning after the class. I followed that up the next day with a trip to the gym. I eased into my cardio session with 10 minutes on the bike and jumped on the treadmill. Even though I had NO energy I was determined to run my heart out. "I HAVE to feel better, I have to get endorphins pumping and get my body moving, something has to work" is all I thought as I slowly walked to the treadmill. I completed a mile in 12 minutes and 19 seconds (down from a lousy 17 minutes) and then walked for the other 18. It sounds like I'm lazy but that's giving it my all. My body is just too tired to function as it should.

   I got the babysitter to help me for an extra day last week and this week and it made a big difference in how overwhelmed I felt. I called in recruits, my family and friends who don't have kids but enjoy being with mine and we booked "dates" for them to spend time together so I could catch a break. My girlfriends and I are planning to meet up to talk and to do some yoga together. It's truly amazing how much your mental health can affect your physical health and vice versa. Today I got a massage at Just Massage, an inexpensive remedy to easing body pain. This all sounds very frivolous, I know, and I feel a lot of guilt about that. I can't believe I need to do half of this stuff to feel good - it's shocking to me because I used to run myself ragged traveling for business and pleasure and going out at night. Times have changed. I have to look at things like I'm the foundation of the family and if I can't function, then I can't take care of anyone else. I have to think of these tactics as having medicinal values.

   For all of you coping with stress whether it's family or work or kids -- what do you do to calm yourself to make yourself feel better?

Wine-O!

2010-03-09T06:26:00.000-08:00

This might be good news ladies! Could it be true? Could wine actually make you lose weight? Or am I dreaming?

Check it out...

Women Who drink wine 'less likely to gain weight' - BBC

Poppin' Bottles All Night

2010-03-08T14:17:00.000-08:00

Saturday night my best friends and I had a "girls night out" in Hollywood. We rode in style in a stretch limo and for some reason whenever I get into those fancy cars it's like my license to GO FOR IT, to drink whatever I want. It's like the calories that are consumed inside that sweet ride don't need to be counted. I feel so safe and somewhat sophisticated in the dark with those pretty twinkling lights, all dressed up with no one watching but my closest, dearest friends who are toasting and drinking the same Red Bull and Vodkas.

After cocktail hour in the car, we visited the STK-LA steakhouse and ordered a few items for the table: the Diver Scallops with black truffles, corn and parmesan blinis, the Jumbo Lump Crab and the Tuna Tartare. I had just one bite of each...and it was all amazing. As an entree, I ordered the Snapper with the Ponzu Sauce and shiitake brown butter. Now that wouldn't be so bad, but we added in two side orders of the macaroni and cheese which was to die for. I felt pretty good about about my choices at dinner but we followed it up with "Bottle Service" at the club next door, Coco DeVille and we received a couple complimentary glasses of champagne for my friend's birthday. I tried to pace myself, drinking plenty of water throughout the night and spent most of the night on the dance floor, working it off. I think I actually felt worse the next day from all of the energy drinks I consumed and the lack of sleep than from the vodka. Plus, the next morning, I hosted a party for 20 four and five year olds and made it to church on 3 hours of sleep. Not exactly the most relaxing day after!

I needed that night to laugh and talk with my friends, to catch up and cut loose. I wanted to dance and have a couple drinks and let the stress out, but my body is rundown now. It's amazing how slowly I bounce back into shape these days. I'm taking today to regroup and am roasting vegetables in the oven as I type. I am back on it, planning meals for the family, setting up my workouts for the rest of the week, looking forward to a good nights sleep and focusing on feeling healthy again!

Spinning my Wheels

2010-03-01T15:54:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I faced one of my greatest workout fears: Spinning Class. I tried it in the past but couldn't get through an entire hour, I found it uncomfortable. Two years ago I bought a bike seat to ease the pain and I meant to go back. I never did. The Spinning room is kind of intimidating, all steamed up with super sweaty people walking out. Yesterday I felt like a freshman in high school, unsure of where to go and how to proceed. But I quickly met some nice folks who helped me put on my seat and set me up for success. I was thrilled to see there were NO mirrors in the room which has deterred me from participating in classes in the past. Seeing myself in the mirror, I compare myself to other people, which tends to be detrimental to meeting my goals. When I get a glimpse of a skinny girl in the front row, my own goals seems so far away and I start to give up mentally. Spinning class was devoid of the mirror --it was FUN and exhilarating with the intense music - from The Boss to Kanye and everything in between. I made it through and burned between 800 and 900 calories! And I felt results IMMEDIATELY in my butt, my thighs and hips.

After my week of counting every single calorie, I was really bummed when I weighed in at Weight Watchers today and found I gained 1 pound. Not what I was expecting. I'm just going to keep up the good eats, continue the workouts and try to rule out the "cheat" meals. I need to learn to eat before I enter that dreaded "Danger Zone"!

Here's the last two days of meals. I didn't have time to figure out and write all the calories down but here's what I've got:

Saturday:

1 Trader Joe's Wheat Free Waffle (115)

2 eggs with spinach (150)

1/8 cup of Whole Grain Organic Brown Rice (20)

Trader Joe's Chicken-Less Strips (150)

5 Cheezits

Szechwan Eggplant

Shrimp & Broccoli

1/2 cup Brown Rice

Wine - 1 glass

Vodka - 1 glass

Sunday:

Balance Bar

Cheese Stick

Mixed Greens, Olives, 1/4 cucumber, 1/8 cup Feta cheese

Cindy's Rosemary and Roasted Garlic Dressing

1/2 cup Szechwan Eggplant

Organic Fusilli, onions, spinach, tomatoes, olive oil, broccoli

2 glasses wine

The Dark Side

2010-02-27T15:22:00.000-08:00

I took a trip to the DARK SIDE last night and it was INCREDIBLE. I wasn't sure if I'd even come back. After a few days of healthy eating, I lost it. I drank and ate whatever the hell I wanted; Purple Cowboy Wine, Dreyer's Maxx ice cream (Nestle Drumstick Flavor), Makers Mark whiskey and Macaroni and Cheese. And not the healthy kind of mac and cheese...the nasty fake (but very, very yummy) Velveeta cheese that somehow isn't even sold in the refrigerated section of the grocery store.

The morning wasn't even so bad but once the sun went down, all hell broke loose. Actually, it was while I was grilling my healthy Weight Watchers halibut recipe. I just waited too long to eat dinner and it was too late. I was ravenous. Here's what I did until I turned to the other side...

Breakfast: 1 egg (75) and 1 slice of Trader Joe's French Villaage 100% Stone Ground Whole Grain Bread made with Soy and Flax Seed (100)

Snack: Chinese Tea

Lunch: The Chop Chop Chef Salad (with Tempeh, Veggie Steak, Veggie Chikn, green onions and roasted corn salsa with Chipotle dressing (250) and sweet potato fries (90) from my favorite place, the Veggie Grill

Snack: Carrots and Roasted Red Pepper Hommus (80)

Dinner: Halibut Kebobs with Spicy Pepper Sauce (150), a Weight Watchers recipe. While it was cooking I had a cocktail of diet coke and Maker's Mark (69). Next up was the left over mac and cheese (335) that I made the kids. The wine was next. By the way Purple Cowboy wine (200) is AWESOME (so awesome I had 2 glasses). I still had the halibut kebobs which were really delicious but not exactly satisfying on a Friday night. I didn't bother to make it with the brown rice as instructed because I already had my carbs in my mac and cheese. After the kids went to bed, I opened the freezer to find a half eaten container of Dreyer's Maxx ice cream (320) It must have been in there for awhile because it was freezer burnt and they actually don't even make it any more. But I had NO PROBLEM finishing it. If my math is correct, my visit to the Dark Side cost me about 1,669, which isn't a TERRIBLE amount of calories but it's the amount of carbs and sugar and fat that I'm not too proud of. I needed to be BAD, I needed to taste the sugar, the fat and all of the things I've been fighting against. I just can't let those things grab ahold of me, I have to stand my ground and be strong. Wish me LUCK! What's YOUR vice?

Jumping for Joy

2010-02-26T15:31:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I "worked out" with my kids and we had tons of FUN - I taught them how to jump rope. It had been a long time and I had them all fired up, counting how many times I could jump. It's sad to say, that I couldn't get more than 14 jumps in before I got tangled up in the rope. Then we played "snake", where you try to jump over the rope while two people are shaking it back and forth on the ground - even my two year old got involved. Next, I pulled out an old game from my days in the 70's - "School". The rope holders start with it on the ground and say "kindergarten" while the jumper jumps. The rope gets elevated each time the jumper successfully makes it over, and the holders move on to "first grade", "2nd grade", "3rd grade"...you get it. I think I only made it to 4th grade because the kids were a bit overzealous in raising up the rope. We even tried double-dutch but that was far too complicated.

Anyway, we had a lot of fun and I think I burned at least 300 calories. Supposedly ever 10 minutes you burn about 120. It was a good alternative to the gym and everyone in the family could join in. We were able to consolidate tasks of getting ourselves outside, exercising and laughing and spending time together.

Yesterday's news and things I love to eat

2010-02-26T15:18:00.000-08:00

Here's my menu for yesterday (calories are to the right)

Breakfast:

Coffee with soy milk (1/2) 14

2 eggs 150

Chinese Tea

Snack:

Chinese Tea

Lunch:

Kettle Cuisine Roasted Vegetable Soup (Gluten Free and Dairy Free) 140
Avocado-Cucumber Toss (a Weight Watchers Recipe 3 points) with cherry tomatoes, avocado and cucumbers 140
A few Trader Joe's Reduced Guilt White Corn Tortilla Chips 60

Snack:
Lowfat cheese stick 60
5 raw carrots and Cedar's Roasted Red Pepper Hommus 80

Dinner:
Trader Joe's Organic Whole Wheat Penne Pasta 250
Spinach, Roasted Red Pepper, Mushrooms, Onions, Olives 50
Rao's Homemade Puttanesca Sauce 1/4 cup 40
Feta Cheese 70

Dessert:

1 Michelle's naturally- Vegan Peanut Butter Apricot cookies. They are all Natural, no trans fat, organic and sweetened with fruit juice. 130
Chinese Tea
Red Wine - 100

Total: 1,284 Calories

On the Band wagon

2010-02-26T14:43:00.000-08:00

This morning I warmed up on the treadmill, running 1 mile in a whopping 17 minutes and 11 seconds. That's pretty embarrassing but I'm telling you, I hate to run and I'm not very good at it. I followed up my run with several strength exercises utilizing the Thera-Band- a system of progressive exercise. It's another alternative to the same old moves but incorporates a unique level of resistance to improve conditioning and build strength. The set of bands come in five different colors which represent various levels of resistance and they are available in latex and latex-free. I started with the red which is medium resistance and performed the following moves:

Shoulder Shrugs
Bicep curls
Bent Rows
Hip Adduction
Hip Abduction
Leg Press

I felt the effects of the bands right away and can already tell that it is challenging me, especially the hip abduction. I was able to hit my rough spots in a new way. They are easy to throw into your gym bag, use at home or on the road. Having the bands, there really is no excuse not to get some strength training in when you're traveling. The product is great, but the marketing sucks. I had to giggle at this photo. It just seems so silly...

Hat Trick

2010-02-25T11:55:00.000-08:00

Hats off to the USA Hockey Team who beat the Canadians 5-3 on Sunday night. What a show...the team accomplished what they never thought they could. I am proud to say that I had a hat trick this week. Three days in a row I met my goal but it felt like an Olympic sport, the time and energy that was consumed was extreme. I diligently recorded every single thing I ate; the calories, fat, carbs, fiber and protein. I worked out all three days and wrote down every move. I was still far from perfect but I'm proud to have taken this step after the weekend of debauchery.

Here's how it looked-the number to the right is the calories-and is an approximation given research I've done from packaging and online. I felt like it was a good idea to look at these numbers rather than Weight Watchers Points this week. I wanted a new perspective on things and how many calories I am really ingesting.

MONDAY:

Breakfast:

Soy Latte 1/2 grande 162

Snack:

Protein Pack from Starbucks (hard boiled eggs, apple slices, grapes, 1 oz. cheese, small whole wheat bagel) 290

Chinese Tea

Lunch:

Fresh Brothers Spinach and Mushroom pizza (2 small slices) 270

1/2 cup greek salad 105

Snack:

edamame 1/2 cup 120

Dinner:

Weight Watchers Portobello Mushroom Burger with basil mayo 288
Trader Joe's Organic Reduced Guilt White Corn Tortilla Chips 120
Red wine 100

TOTAL CALORIES: 1452

Workout:

Bike 30 minutes-5.5 miles
Jumping 3X12
Bicep curls 3x12 10 lbs.
Leg Extensions 20 lbs. 3x12
Leg Adduction 70 lbs. 3x15
Leg Abduction 50 lbs. 3x20
Run 10 minutes -.68 miles

TUESDAY

Breakfast:
Chinese Tea
2 eggs 150
Coffee with soy milk 14

Snack:
Bite of birthday cake 100

Lunch:
Ate at the Spot, a vegetarian restaurant in Hermosa Beach, California.
Vegetable soup with black eyed peas 80
Dear George - a dish with tofu and mixed vegetables in a "savory" sauce 128
Water

Snack:
Edamame 1/2 cup shelled 120
Yogurt covered pretzels 150

Dinner:
Weight Watchers Tortilla Pinwheels without the meat. Includes olives, light cream cheese, cherry tomatoes, spinach 247
Trader Joe's Organic Reduced Guilt White Corn Tortilla Chips 140

Wine 100

TOTAL CALORIES: 1269

Physical Activity:

Biked 2.5 miles 58 calories

Side step ups 3x12 92

Tripod dips 3x12 46

Bicep curls 3x12 41

Booty lift/crunch 3x12

plank/jacknife 3x12

leg lifts with ball 3x12

WEDNESDAY:

Breakfast:

Water and Apple Cider Vinegar 0

Snack:

Balance Bar 210

1/2 coffee with soy milk 15

Lunch:

Half Miso Salad from California Pizza Kitchen 580

Bites of my kids mac and cheese 150

Bite of my kids cheeseburger pizza 80

Water

Snack:

Cheese stick 60

Dinner:

Edamame 90

Dynamite: 187

Miso Soup 84

Hand Roll 117

Sushi Roll -various fish and some tempura 508

Beer 145

2 glasses red wine 170

TOTAL CALORIES: 2396

Workout:

With Trainer

Dead Bug leg lifts

Planks

Full situps 2x20

Ball Stretch

Ball Situps

Side Bridge

Bridges

Leg Lifts on side

(2 sets of each)

This has been a great test to see the differences between cooking and planning at home and eating in and going out. What I thought was seemingly innocent (a night out for sushi) actually sabotaged my day. Knowledge is power and I will move through the week with a bit more understanding of my diet and the consequences of stepping away from the rules of the game.

Calorie Counter/Dietminder

2010-02-24T15:14:00.000-08:00

I found a great resource to figure out how many calories you need a day in order to maintain or to lose weight. Check out the American Cancer Society's link below. It takes into consideration you weight and activity level and also has tools to figure out calories burned during various exercises. I hope you find it useful.

Calorie Counter

Also, the Dietminder Personal Food & Fitness Journal is a fantastic solution for journaling food and writing down your workouts. I have tried so many different types of journals and found that this one is the most inclusive and is laid out well. It has space to track meals and snacks, a place for calorie, fat, carbs, fiber and protein as well as supplements and physical acitivity. It even has space to do the "math". I found mine at Barnes & Noble but you can also order it here.

Sipping Cider Through a Straw

2010-02-24T14:45:00.000-08:00

Apparently apple cider vinegar a day keeps the fat away, one of many uses besides dying Easter Eggs and cleaning coffee makers. According to the book The Fat Flush Foods by Ann Louise Gittleman, apple cider "flushes the fat from every body". Apple Cider Vinegar became popular in the late 1950's when Dr. D.C. Jarvis talked about it in his best-selling book Folk Medicine: A Vermont Doctor's Guide To Good Health. It contains acetic acid which stimulates the metabolism and several qualities that create an ideal chemical balance for fat burning. To reap these benefits the apple cider vinegar should be organic and unpasteurized, with no chemicals or preservatives added. The vinegar should be a light brown color and have cobweb-like floating substances in it, which is referred to as "the mother". It doesn't sound too appetizing, I know. But used as a salad dressing or a teaspoon or two of it added to a glass of water doesn't taste bad at all. I had a glass today for breakfast and I was full all morning. After seeing the list of benefits, I found several Weight Watchers recipes that contain apple cider vinegar. They are listed below and hopefully, those of you who do not have Weight Watchers e-tools can see the links. If not, I can pass on the recipes. Gittleman's book suggests using it for a pH balancing bath or using it as a hair rinse. Who knew?

Benefits:
Acetic Acid-stimulates metabolism, lowers blood sugar by as much as 30%, keeps appetite in check-slows stomach emptying
Potassium - Releases toxic waste
Beta-carotene - Gets rid of free radicals that damage fat
Pectin - Scrapes the cholesterol off blood vessel walls
Enzymes/Amino Acids - Develops healthy proteins in the body, reduces cholesterol, slows the aging process, cleanses and tones the digestive tract, increases circulation, soothes achy joints/sore muscles, gives skin a healthy sheen

Recipes:

Portobello Burger with Basil Mayo (4 Points)
Tortilla Pinwheels (2)
Cobb Salad with Flaxseed Oil Dressing (6)
Avocado-Cucumber Toss (3)
American Potato Salad (2)
Sesame Ginger Cabbage Salad (1)
Halibut Kebabs with Spicy Pepper Sauce (6)

Palm DESSERT

2010-02-22T15:54:00.000-08:00

There's nothing like slipping into your bathing suit and sitting poolside in February to get you motivated or in my case, disgusted. I thought I felt pretty good about myself, but after I slipped off my shorts and tank top at the edge of the pool, I quickly realized that the cellulite and love handles were in full effect. My family and I vacationed at the JW Marriott in Palm Desert this past weekend and it was an amazing time filled with family and friends and plenty of eating and drinking. Things started off fairly innocent as we hit the brunch buffet at the LakeView Restaurant. I started with the egg white veggie omelet but somehow ended up with mini waffles covered in caramel sauce and chocolate chips. I literally cannot stop thinking about them even today. Decadent. Our crew had plenty of toasts to make at the bar - a surprise visit from my cousin, an engagement and a few birthdays to celebrate. That kept us all drinking and laughing and then late night eating - chinese food. I tried to stick with the vegetable dishes but a spring roll or two ended up on my plate. Throw in a pina colada and some cheese and crackers and we had ourselves a party. The final night we had my brother's engagement celebration at a fabulous Mexican restaurant, Las Casuelas Nuevas where we indulged in strong margaritas, chips and salsa, delicious cheese enchiladas and rice and beans. Of course, no engagement party is complete without a fluffy white cake, cream filling, complete with buttercream frosting. We ordered from The Pastry Swan and they did not let us down.

To say I was on a "diet vacation" the last few days would be an understatement. However, what happens in Palm Desert will stay there. I'm back in full effect today - I hit the gym, made a Trader Joe's run and a new notebook to write down everything I eat. No more dessert for me...I'm bikini bound now!

40 Days

2010-02-17T23:11:00.000-08:00

   It's "Ash Wednesday", the beginning of Lent for us Catholics. It's a time when we are supposed to reflect and incorporate prayer, fasting and almsgiving into our lives. These practices help Christians to take the focus off of ourselves and direct it toward God and others. It's a time for regaining good habits. Recently I have been asked to be my sister in law's "sponsor" as she becomes a member of the Catholic Church and I have been re-learning all of the things I was told as a child.

   Catholics are supposed to practice "Fast and Abstinence" which means eating one full meal plus two partial meals, together not equaling one full meal, and not eating between meals for all ages 18-60 in good health. Abstinence means abstaining from all meat for all ages 14 and over. All Fridays during Lent are days of abstinence. Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of fast and abstinence.

   I have decided to give up eating meat during the entire 40 days of Lent, not just on Fridays. I'm planning to find great vegetarian meals to make the family so I can offer them creative, healthy choices and I look forward to any suggestions you might have. I'm also planning to get myself and my family moving for at least 30 minutes a day and this can come in all types of forms. We're going to have fun with it! I just want to know we have each moved so our hearts and lungs and stronger and healthier and that we appreciate the bodies that God has given us. Lastly, and unrelated to physical health but probably my mental health, I've decided to stay away from gossip magazines.  US Magazine happens to be one of my guilty pleasures. Instead, I'm going to finish reading the books on my nightstand. I still have to finish "The Blind Side" by Michael Lewis and "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck. When I'm caught up, the next selection is "Wench" by Dolen Perkins-Valdez. Feel free to recommend any books you like too!

What are you giving up?

Let's Move with the First Lady

2010-02-15T17:16:00.000-08:00

   Michelle Obama worries about obesity too - childhood obesity. Even though she thought that she was doing all the right things, her pediatrician indicated that her daughter's BMIs were getting off course. In the past 30 years, obesity rates have actually TRIPLED and now two thirds of American adults and a third of American children are overweight or obese. Our country spends $150 billion every year treating obesity-related diseases, many of which can be prevented. Sadly, it's even affecting the strength of our soldiers as military leaders indicate that obesity is one of the most common disqualifiers for military service.

   To address these issues early on, Michelle Obama recently launched her Let's Move campaign to combat childhood obesity. It is a comprehensive approach to educating parents, caregivers, schools and children about the importance of eating healthy and will provide them with the tools they need and the nation's children's health foundations have come together and formed The Partnership of a Healthier America. Through the campaign, the hope is to do the following:

- Provide information to the consumer to make educated choices with the help of the food and beverage industries. Including Estimated Calorie Requirements for the whole family.   I am thrilled with this, since my own general practitioner could not tell me how many calories I am supposed to eat each day.

- Investing $400 million a year to reduce "food deserts" where people don't have access to nutritious foods by providing grocery stores and help convenience stores to carry healthier options.

- Provide monies to schools (requesting $10 billion over ten years starting in 2011) through the Child Nutrition Act to improve the quality of school breakfast and lunches.

- The American Academy of Pediatrics and other health organizations will educate doctors and nurses about Body Mass Index, BMI. They will monitor it and provide counseling for families early on, even providing prescriptions to remedy weight gain.

- The food pyramid will be revamped by the US Department of Agriculture and updated information and various tools will be available on MyPyramid.gov.

- The USDA will create a Food Atlas, an interactive database that will provide information regarding healthy food environments-identifying 'food deserts', high incidence of diabetes and other conditions.

- Let's Move toolkits will be available soon to parents to get them going. They will be made available on the "Let's Move" website.

- Increasing physical activity with the help of the President's Fitness Challenge, the U.S. Department of Education and clinics held by professional athletes.

Mrs. Obama believes that unlike diseases for which we are searching for a cure, we have the CURE for childhood obesity. Every day I worry about my kids, what they are eating and how what I serve affects them. This is true from my house to the White House. The Let's Move campaign has some valuable resources and as I incorporate some of the ideas into our lives I hope to keep moving myself. What are your thoughts on this campaign?

I heart my husband

2010-02-14T21:34:00.000-08:00

After years of dating the good, the bad and the ugly, and searching for that special someone, I can say God has blessed me with the most amazing man. "Skinny Hubby" planned a night out last night to celebrate Valentine's Day a little early. He booked the sitter and told me to be ready by 5 and dressed for...the gym. At first, I was a little bitter. I have officially fallen off the wagon, my motivation is down and working out was the LAST thing that I wanted to do on a Saturday night of Valentine's Day weekend. My husband insisted, we got in there and worked it out together. We ran, we did push-ups, planks, squats, sit-ups and stretched on one of those awesome foam rollers. It felt GOOD. At the end of the hour I was glad that we had taken the time to get in there together and focus on feeling better. That's not to say we didn't indulge. We followed the workout with a few cocktails and some awesome Mexican fare, but the fact that my husband truly thought about my HEART that night was endearing. He cares about me and my well-being and that date night said a lot. We've both decided that it's time to re-evaluate where our time is spent and make our health a priority again. It's something we can give to ourselves, each other and our kids.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Down to Urth

2010-02-11T19:09:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I had lunch at the Urth Caffe - one of my favorite LA spots, America's first exclusively organic coffee company which is also frequented by the hip Hollywood characters on HBO's "Entourage". Vincent Chase and his boys have had many pitch meetings at this hippy/trendy Beverly Hills spot and those guys are no dummies when it comes to fresh, organic, delicious salads and sandwiches. I ordered a half of an URTH SALAD - organic mixed greens, feta cheese, roma tomatoes, hearts of palm, garbanzo beans, Kalamata olives and pine nuts with the "Urth vinaigrette" and it was FABULOUS. Why can't my salads look that enticing and taste so amazing? My son had a grilled chicken quesadilla which he refused to share with his mom and a pecan chocolate chip cookie (did I mention the delectable baked goods that tease you at the counter when you order-particularly the small exquisite Oreo cheesecake). Urth also has unique entrees, paninis, soups and salads, made with all-natural ingredients and plenty of vegan options. It's not difficult to stay on a no or lo-carb diet at the Urth Cafe with so many fantastic, clean choices. If you are in the area, I HIGHLY recommend you stop in for a power lunch...you might even get a glimpse of the stars!

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