What is Measured IS Improved

So, as we know, Lent has started. We also know what I have given up. So far, it's been pretty easy to pass up everything. I think that's partially because I'm in crisis control mode. When I saw the scale tip at 135 the other day, I knew I had to get it in gear and start being accountable for my actions. When I weigh myself regularly, I stay in check. When I don't, it creeps up to a point where my pants have to start fitting snug for me to notice anything. When I'm this big, I don't even want sweets or fattening foods. So, it's good. I'm thinking that this kind of action plan will really help me truly realize when I 'm hungry and to eat what is healthy, not just eating something because it's staring at me in the refrigerator (e.g., the whipped cream at eye level on the top shelf). So, what is measured IS improved, and I WILL be living proof of it. Since lent started on Wednesday, I've lost four pounds. Granted, the first time I weighed myself was at night and that the first few pounds are water weight, so I'm certain it's not truly four pounds. But still, the number decreased, so I'm happy. I'm planning on weighing myself about two or three times a week and running a lot. My social butterfly personality may decrease; but that may be good. Maybe the "No Fucking Money Diet" is good for me!

I am fit.... or am I?

So, I was walking up to my friend's third floor apartment today and felt a little winded when I got up to the top. Not the wheezy feeling, just the increased heart rate feeling. I thought to myself, "What the heck? I teach spin classes twice a week." The problem with that mentality is that just because I teach doesn't mean I'm in tip top shape. I actually can't push myself as hard because I have to be able to speak clearly to the class. So, I think I'm going to need to up my workouts when I'm by myself to make sure that I'm training hard enough.

I bought some healthy food. thats a shocker.

So I went to Costco and instead of buying the croissants, I bought Four Bean Salad and some Stuffed Grape Leaves. I'm excited about the four bean salad. It looks loaded in fiber. The grape leaves look like they might not taste that good. But we'll see. I'm sure its better than my croissants (which I'm going to replace with whole grain bread). Looking at the nutrition info, I think the four bean salad has a little more sugar than the most ideal healthy food ... but I'm still excited about eating it. Should fill me up.

I was reading my Fitness magazine from March 2009 and it had a list of things to bring in your gym bag. Some of them I had never thought of. The following is a list of the few items I was interested in (ie, approve of):
~ Clean and Clear Makeup Dissolving Facial Cleansing Wipes - I think facial wipes of some sort are good to bring. Sometimes dousing your face with water doesnt really get the job done.
~ Dove Go Fresh Burst Body Mist - My main thing with body mists is ... dont make me smell like a grandma or teenager. Please.
~ Deodorant (duh)
~ Batiste Dry Shampoo (does this stuff really work?)
~ Goody Headband - Headbands are great at hiding hair disasters! I like the Ouchless under their Classic headband collections. Sarah Beth has some cute ones under Decorative that I think look fabulous post gym.
~ Colgate Wisp - These are supposed to be some kind of bristly thing that leaves your breath feeling fresh. I dont know though. For $8 seems like you could just bring a toothbrush/toothpaste?? I cant find a link to this product online and it's not on the slideshow (Fitness magazine website). I wonder if Colgate thought this was a bad idea too and pulled the idea since the magazine went to print.

If you want a link to the whole slideshow, here's a Link ... pop ups and all.

Enjoy.

Lent Begins

So, today is Ash Wednesday, which means it's day 1 of my journey of Lent. Each year, my mom gives up sweets in their entirety- no candy, no desserts, no nothin'. I've given up something each year, and most of the time, it works. I remember in high school I gave up gossiping and saying negative thoughts, along with cursing. It was quite challenging when I saw some awful outfits!

I tried giving up sweets last year in their entirety. Ummm... worked for about a week. As Homer Simpson would say, "D'oh!" So, this year, I've decided to try this again. I know I can have self control when God is in the picture. He knows if I'm cheating, so I better not.

Isn't Lent 40 days? Well, for 40 days, I'm cutting the following items from my diet:

-whipped cream
-icing
-cheese
-ice cream
-bread basket/chips basket at restaurants

This will not be easy. No one really understands just how much I adore whipped cream and icing. But, I'm willing to do it because I desperately need to lose a few pounds-- the current pants I'm wearing used to be much looser in graduate school (grrr!).

The No Fucking Money Diet

I guess I'm shit out of tips. And judging from the two cuss words in under 10 words of blogging shows I'm probably not in the best of happy, peppy, unrealistic tips mode.

But, I do think that having no money is really curbing me from doing things like:
- spending money and eating out with my friends instead of going to the gym in which i have a membership i'm not maximizing
- buying food at Subway (with real fucking mayonnaise) instead of eating a can of pineapple my mom got from the food bank
you know. things like that.

So, I'm pretty sure I lost a pound or two but I'm not weighing myself until the end of February. It's not like it fucking matters since I fucking gained 5 pounds anyways. So instead of my original 20 lbs, I need to lose 25. So even if I lose 3 pounds, I'll still be pissed off because I need to lose over 20 pounds still. I'm set up to lose even if I win.

Maybe March will end better.

PS. Fuck my Camry for running into that fucking cement pole. FUCK YOU CAMRY. FUCK YOU AND YOUR 2000 DOLLARS PLASTIC SURGERY I HAD TO GIVE YOUR DAMN BUMPER ASS.