Those of you who are following this blog, all six of you, know that I am taking part in the Columbia Slimdown Challenge. This morning, I decided to record my weight loss and was shocked to see that I've already lost 4% of my body weight! I'm off to a big start, and actually I'm hoping to lose another 3-5 pounds by my first self-declared official weigh-in on May 7.
One question you may be asking yourself is, how have I lost weight so quickly? That is particularly a good question if you've read my blog and you know that my weight has greatly fluctuated, even this week, as I continue my bad habit of weighing myself almost every day. But really, the weight loss was easy this week and I'll tell you my secret: calorie loading.
That's right, the week before the weigh in, I took in extra food, extra calories, and less exercise. I knew that I would put on several pounds and that as soon as I went back to my regularly scheduled program, I would drop the weight quickly. Hey, it's a competition. You can't tell me that the people on the Biggest Loser don't do the same. Natch, I'm not competing for $250,000 (if I were, I would have taken advantage of the closed eyes of my kiosk companions and held onto my diaper bag - and my toddler - while I was weighing in), but I have every intention of winning or at least making a good showing. If that means wearing my big girl shoes to weigh in and going barefoot to weigh out, that's what I'm going to do.
In all reality, I know that I don't have any chance of actually winning the grand prize for the slimdown. I'm short and small boned and every single pound shows, which is why I look at myself and still see a chubby, frumpy housewife. I could lose another 10 pounds easily. I could push it and lose another 15. Twenty? Probably not going to happen, and any more than that and I would start losing hair and teeth and stuff. However, I saw some of the other people who were weighing in. Many are already clearly very healthy and fit and are taking part in the challenge probably due to encouragement by a civic group or employer and not because they actually need to lose weight. Others have more weight to lose and will do so and honestly, good luck to them. Despite the fact that I stood around the kiosk talking to people weighing in about donuts (yes, I did), I do hope everyone who takes part in this challenge finds a way to get healthier and more fit.
In other news, I started using My Fitness Pal to track calories and exercise. Since I dropped Weight Watchers last month, I needed a new tool for tracking food. I was using a notepad and paper, but I decided to utilize technology again so that I don't have to manually calculate calories. It's a good thing, because this will keep me more honest with my snacks. I already found myself eating fewer handfuls of almonds and more closely monitoring the amount of olive oil I put on my veggies.
Speaking of veggies, I had a bit of an "unclean" meal last night. We stopped at Aldi to pick up milk and I found some very inexpensive frozen pizzas. I picked one up for myself that was made with spinach, mozzarella, and tomatoes. For only 175 calories a slice, I couldn't resist. I paired one slice of pizza with some veggies sauteed in olive oil and 1/2 cup of low-fat cottage cheese. Delicious!
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Friday, April 27, 2012
Really Boring Food Talk
Breakfast: Oatmeal with ground peanut butter and coconut sugar
Lunch: 1/2 of a Subway sandwich with vegetables - no cheese or dressing, apple
Dinner: Whole wheat pasta w/ plain sauce, Ezekiel bread, asparagus
Snacks: almonds, apple
If you look at my diet, it seems pretty healthy, right? There are no over-indulgences, no bad choices, and this is pretty typical of the way I eat in a day. I'm really pretty satisfied with my food choices and I think that, for the most part, I don't do poorly.
Why then, do I constantly feel the need to shake things up? It's an eating disorder of the non-fatal, pretty boring variety. As long as I avoid sweets, I stay well within my daily calorie range and as long as I include some protein and carbs, my energy level stays up. Clean eating is so easy for me now. In fact, it's too easy. I feel like I'm doing something wrong!
I need to continue to improve with my exercise efforts. I'm doing fine, but I need to ramp that up - I need to go from "fine" to awesome! I'm hitting the gym today and, in about two weeks, I'll be able to go every day if I want to because I'll have regular access to the car. Then I have all summer to decide if I'm going to cancel my gym membership, join the gym that's within walking distance but doesn't have childcare, or if I stick with the one that makes me angry on a regular basis.
Yep, that's it. As I said - this is really boring food talk. Nothing exciting. Move on.
Thursday, April 26, 2012
The Paleo Diet Disaster
I managed four days on the Paleo Diet, well, three and a half, and it was a complete disaster. I am not going to state that it is unequivocally a terrible plan, but I am going to state that as a vegetarian who also needs to eat two out of three meals very quickly, it simply doesn't work.
After shunning grains and dairy for four days, and basically eating just nuts, fruits, and vegetables, I spent two of those days with no energy at all. I had no ability to workout or even move off of the sofa without whining like a baby. Two nights in a row, I fell asleep at 9PM and was proud of myself for making it that long. I had hoped to make it an entire week to "jump start" my weight loss. However, not only did I feel terrible, but with two days of no exercise and relying heavily on fruits and nuts, I actually gained back some of the weight that I had initially lost.
So, yesterday, I gave up and gave in. I had gotten so deprived in a short amount of time that my hands were shaking and I had a severe migraine that wouldn't go away. At lunch, I had low-fat cottage cheese and a slice of Ezekiel bread. Within an hour, I felt better. I was even able to work in the garden and walk a couple of miles. For dinner, we went to Subway and I had a Veggie De-lite, no cheese, no dressing, and I was full of energy and could stay up to work last night.
I know that people survive and even thrive on extremely stripped diets, but it simply doesn't work for me. I'm going to go back to what I know makes me feel the best and gives me the most energy: clean eating, no cheating, and plenty of exercise!
After shunning grains and dairy for four days, and basically eating just nuts, fruits, and vegetables, I spent two of those days with no energy at all. I had no ability to workout or even move off of the sofa without whining like a baby. Two nights in a row, I fell asleep at 9PM and was proud of myself for making it that long. I had hoped to make it an entire week to "jump start" my weight loss. However, not only did I feel terrible, but with two days of no exercise and relying heavily on fruits and nuts, I actually gained back some of the weight that I had initially lost.
So, yesterday, I gave up and gave in. I had gotten so deprived in a short amount of time that my hands were shaking and I had a severe migraine that wouldn't go away. At lunch, I had low-fat cottage cheese and a slice of Ezekiel bread. Within an hour, I felt better. I was even able to work in the garden and walk a couple of miles. For dinner, we went to Subway and I had a Veggie De-lite, no cheese, no dressing, and I was full of energy and could stay up to work last night.
I know that people survive and even thrive on extremely stripped diets, but it simply doesn't work for me. I'm going to go back to what I know makes me feel the best and gives me the most energy: clean eating, no cheating, and plenty of exercise!
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
I’m a Vegetarian, Except I Eat Chicken
I have been a vegetarian for 18 years. I
decided to become a vegetarian during my senior year of high school. I was
taking a class that I believe was called “Contemporary Issues.” It was one of
those blow off classes that I switched to at the last minute because my math
course was taking away from my senioritis. In this class, we received copies of
Newsweek and each week we talked about the stories within. This was a busy
year. The semester that I had Contemporary Issues was the same timeframe in
which Lorena Bobbit Bobbit-ized her husband, the Menendez brothers Menendezed
their parents, and Nancy Kerrigan got Kerriganed by Tonya Harding’s ex.
During this semester, there was also an
issue about the antibiotics used in meat, and how this is a leading cause of
superbugs. The more antibiotics we consume, the more resistant viruses become
to them, thus they grow stronger and more difficult to fight. At around the
same time, I was reading the book “Alive” about the tragic
plane crash of an Uruguayan rugby team in the Andes. It is not a work of
fiction, but an actual account of how this group of survivors had to choose
between cannibalizing their fallen friends or perishing. Indeed, some chose to
die from starvation. Others very methodically ate those who had already died,
not barbarically, but in great horror.
Now I don’t believe the saying “A rat is a
dog is a pig is a boy.” I say it sometimes because I think it’s funny, but it’s
really not my belief that one is the same as the other. If I had to choose from
the list, I would definitely put the boy last. I mean, really, I shouldn’t even
have to say that. But this book did make me think about the choices people make when consuming food. Eating meat is easy, but is it necessary? Would I be able to survive if I chose not to kill animals to do so? The
more I researched the way animals are raised by corporate farms, not by the
ever-dwindling small farms that were around me at the time, the more horrified
I became. I learned about the environmental impact of keeping large numbers of animals
in one place and I found that I was appalled by the whole process – enough so
that I gave up meat for good.
It wasn’t easy becoming vegetarian in little
Lebanon, Missouri. Several times during that first year, people hid meat in my
food to see if I would notice or if I would like it so much that I would go
back to meat eating. For the longest time, people told me it was just a phase,
that no one stays vegetarian for long. I’ve heard all of the arguments – it’s
unhealthy to not eat meat, it’s unnatural, it’s just plain weird. And as it
turns out, it’s not just here in the Midwest. I am no world traveler, but I
have been throughout the U.S. and I pretty much have to “special order” meals
wherever I go. From California to Ohio to New York, people love their meat.
I don’t mind special ordering food and I
don’t mind going to friends’ homes when they have only meat on the menu. People
think I do and that is because vegetarians
are the worst. Over the years, I have met so many vegetarians that are
holier-than-though militants about their diet choices. I may have gone through
a phase like that for a brief period of time, but I learned quickly that it is
unpleasant and truly unnecessary to be a jerk about food. Mealtime with a mix
of meat-eaters and non-meat-eaters can turn into a hostile environment faster
than you can say texturized vegetable protein.
 |
| Not a vegetable. |
One of the worst parts of being a
vegetarian is having to deal with pseudo-vegetarianism with a straight face. I
can’t even begin to count the number of times someone has told me that they are
a vegetarian, except they eat chicken or bacon or the occasional steak. So, to
help these people out, I have made a handy guide for how to know if you’re a
vegetarian.
- If you eat meat, you are not a vegetarian.
- Chicken is meat.
- Bacon is also meat. In fact, all pork is meat.
- Vegans and vegetarians are not the same thing. Vegans do not eat any products that come from animals, including dairy, honey, and eggs.
- A vegetarian that eats eggs is still a vegetarian. A vegetarian that drinks milk is still a vegetarian. These are technically called “ovo-lacto vegetarians.”
- Some people who still eat fish call themselves vegetarians. You can do this if you want, but I will make fun of you often, both to your face and behind your back, but mostly behind your back.
- Telling me that you’re a vegetarian when you are not is not going to make me think that you are a better person or is going to make me think anything of you at all. Eat meat if you want to. Or don’t. I don’t care.
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Paleo Dieting and Self Discovery
I have recently heard more and more people going Paleo. Also known as the Caveman Diet, eating Paleo involves only eating foods that are consistent with those thought to have been eaten during the Paleolithic period. Naturally, the plants and wildlife that are accessible to people today are not the same as those that were around 2.6 million years ago, but the idea remains the same. People who eat Paleo concentrate on natural fruits, vegetables, nuts, and organic meat and fish. They are not allowed dairy, processed foods, grains, or sugar.
I am intrigued by the Paleo Diet not for health reasons but because of one of the worst books ever written, which is also the one book that I can state without a doubt totally changed the way I think I about the world: Daniel Quinn's "Ishmael." I am truly embarrassed by how this book changed my life. It's bad. It's poorly written, the philosophy is grade school level at best, and the whole thing is just garbage. And if you haven't read it, you totally should. The basic premise, or what I took from it, is that people should not farm. It leads to overpopulation, a false sense of power, and the destruction of the planet.
I think I was 23 when I first read "Ishmael," and I was very much reaching a turning point in my life. I was confused about my future, my place in the world, where I was headed, and whether I should focus more on what I wanted or what was expected of me. Somehow, in some way, when I read this book, everything was put into perspective. I began to think about how insignificant I am and how my choices matter so little in the grand scheme of things. More importantly, I truly realized, for the first time, that it wasn't my decisions or my actions that were making me feel unhappy and dissatisfied, and it also wasn't the people around me. Rather, it was my thoughts - my internal voice that was causing all of the conflict. Should I listen to my parents, my friends, my professors? Should I be looking for a husband and putting down roots? Or should I be exploring the world? What I wanted, what I was told to want, and what I thought I was supposed to want were three very different things. "Ishmael" gave me the chance to explore alternatives that I hadn't let myself explore before. Then I read the followups, "My Ishmael" and "The Story of B" and they were even more terrible, then I reread "Ishmael" and was just devastated by how lost I was that I could get so much out of a book that really could have been written by the gorilla who is the main character. But you know, I was young and dumb.
Now I'm old and dumb but at least I'm not confused about my place in the world anymore. I was reading yesterday from Tosca Reno's "Your Best Body Now," which I think has a lot of good information in it, but the whole first chapter is really about how women can focus so much on their families in their 20s and 30s that they forget to focus on themselves. They then become dissatisfied, even empty inside, until they can discover how to take care of themselves first. I can relate to this to a point - I definitely put my family first and sometimes forget about me. This is never more evident than dinner time when I make food for my husband and kids and then realize, once I'm putting plates on the table, that I forgot to make a main dish for myself. Before I started eating clean and really began focusing on food, this happened almost every night. However, I am not dissatisfied and certainly not empty, and I think that is because I did go through a period of self-discovery in my 20s. So many women marry so young, and they can be happily married, no doubt about it, but they find themselves 40 or 50 and realize that they never got to know themselves. This is what Tosca Reno was writing about, and this is something I can only laterally relate to. Because I was in my late 20s when I married and I didn't have my first child until I was 30, I had a decade to find the me part of me before I turned the majority of my thoughts and energy to my family.
Yes, the Paleo Diet takes me back to those early days of the real me. This is a food plan that shuns agrarian civilization, which totally would have rocked my world lo those many years ago. Now, I understand most people who follow the plan do so for health reasons, mostly because of allergies. I know a dear friend and a couple of acquaintances who have severe corn allergies and must go Paleo lest they end up in the hospital. Corn is in everything, which is a totally different subject (not that I mind going tangential, obvs). But I am going Paleo this week and this week only, really just to jump start my weight loss for the big challenge, but as a bonus I have a constant reminder of the life I once led, the questions I once had, and the great life I have now.
I am intrigued by the Paleo Diet not for health reasons but because of one of the worst books ever written, which is also the one book that I can state without a doubt totally changed the way I think I about the world: Daniel Quinn's "Ishmael." I am truly embarrassed by how this book changed my life. It's bad. It's poorly written, the philosophy is grade school level at best, and the whole thing is just garbage. And if you haven't read it, you totally should. The basic premise, or what I took from it, is that people should not farm. It leads to overpopulation, a false sense of power, and the destruction of the planet.
I think I was 23 when I first read "Ishmael," and I was very much reaching a turning point in my life. I was confused about my future, my place in the world, where I was headed, and whether I should focus more on what I wanted or what was expected of me. Somehow, in some way, when I read this book, everything was put into perspective. I began to think about how insignificant I am and how my choices matter so little in the grand scheme of things. More importantly, I truly realized, for the first time, that it wasn't my decisions or my actions that were making me feel unhappy and dissatisfied, and it also wasn't the people around me. Rather, it was my thoughts - my internal voice that was causing all of the conflict. Should I listen to my parents, my friends, my professors? Should I be looking for a husband and putting down roots? Or should I be exploring the world? What I wanted, what I was told to want, and what I thought I was supposed to want were three very different things. "Ishmael" gave me the chance to explore alternatives that I hadn't let myself explore before. Then I read the followups, "My Ishmael" and "The Story of B" and they were even more terrible, then I reread "Ishmael" and was just devastated by how lost I was that I could get so much out of a book that really could have been written by the gorilla who is the main character. But you know, I was young and dumb.
Now I'm old and dumb but at least I'm not confused about my place in the world anymore. I was reading yesterday from Tosca Reno's "Your Best Body Now," which I think has a lot of good information in it, but the whole first chapter is really about how women can focus so much on their families in their 20s and 30s that they forget to focus on themselves. They then become dissatisfied, even empty inside, until they can discover how to take care of themselves first. I can relate to this to a point - I definitely put my family first and sometimes forget about me. This is never more evident than dinner time when I make food for my husband and kids and then realize, once I'm putting plates on the table, that I forgot to make a main dish for myself. Before I started eating clean and really began focusing on food, this happened almost every night. However, I am not dissatisfied and certainly not empty, and I think that is because I did go through a period of self-discovery in my 20s. So many women marry so young, and they can be happily married, no doubt about it, but they find themselves 40 or 50 and realize that they never got to know themselves. This is what Tosca Reno was writing about, and this is something I can only laterally relate to. Because I was in my late 20s when I married and I didn't have my first child until I was 30, I had a decade to find the me part of me before I turned the majority of my thoughts and energy to my family.
Yes, the Paleo Diet takes me back to those early days of the real me. This is a food plan that shuns agrarian civilization, which totally would have rocked my world lo those many years ago. Now, I understand most people who follow the plan do so for health reasons, mostly because of allergies. I know a dear friend and a couple of acquaintances who have severe corn allergies and must go Paleo lest they end up in the hospital. Corn is in everything, which is a totally different subject (not that I mind going tangential, obvs). But I am going Paleo this week and this week only, really just to jump start my weight loss for the big challenge, but as a bonus I have a constant reminder of the life I once led, the questions I once had, and the great life I have now.
Monday, April 23, 2012
Slimdown!
I have not been eating clean or healthy or even good at all for the last few days and it is mostly due to the citywide challenge that I am taking part in. I wanted to start at a heavier weight so that I would have more to take off - not a ridiculously heavy weight - just a few extra pounds of padding. The other reason I have been letting it all go is because I wanted it out of my system - and out of my system it has gotten. I have no craving for sugary sweets, ice cream, donuts, french fries - nothing. I'm ready and determined to take off those extra pounds I added and then some. And then a lot more.
Today I weigh in and then I kick off the Slimdown with a reduced calorie, totally clean diet and 90 minutes of workouts each day. My goal is to lose the first 9 pounds in a week and a half, and then 1-2 pounds per week for the rest of the summer. I'll gradually add calories each week, depending upon how the weight loss is progressing.
I was kind of bummed out to learn that the grand prize is tickets to the MU football game. I care very little about MU and far less than that about football. However, I do understand that in a town like this, that is a very big deal. I don't really care what the prize is, I care that I win. That is all. And if I don't win, a team mate of mine is going to.
I met with my team members last week and I am really excited about the group that we have. Three of my team members are people who I have known for years, one someone who I have only spoken with casually, and one is someone who I met for the first time on Thursday. I am totally one to jump to rash conclusions and to judge people immediately, so I am able to say that after very little thought and conversation, I believe our group is the best group of all the groups in the slimdown. Of course, I don't know any of the other groups, nor do I care to, because they are all going down! Actually, that's not even true. I really hope that every single person who joins this challenge does well because the ultimate goal is to lose weight and to get healthy, and even if I don't win the ultimate prize (which I'm going to, GO TEAM!), I'm still going to lose the weight.
Today I weigh in and then I kick off the Slimdown with a reduced calorie, totally clean diet and 90 minutes of workouts each day. My goal is to lose the first 9 pounds in a week and a half, and then 1-2 pounds per week for the rest of the summer. I'll gradually add calories each week, depending upon how the weight loss is progressing.
I was kind of bummed out to learn that the grand prize is tickets to the MU football game. I care very little about MU and far less than that about football. However, I do understand that in a town like this, that is a very big deal. I don't really care what the prize is, I care that I win. That is all. And if I don't win, a team mate of mine is going to.
I met with my team members last week and I am really excited about the group that we have. Three of my team members are people who I have known for years, one someone who I have only spoken with casually, and one is someone who I met for the first time on Thursday. I am totally one to jump to rash conclusions and to judge people immediately, so I am able to say that after very little thought and conversation, I believe our group is the best group of all the groups in the slimdown. Of course, I don't know any of the other groups, nor do I care to, because they are all going down! Actually, that's not even true. I really hope that every single person who joins this challenge does well because the ultimate goal is to lose weight and to get healthy, and even if I don't win the ultimate prize (which I'm going to, GO TEAM!), I'm still going to lose the weight.
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Cupcake Chaos
I have only four days until the weigh in for the weight loss challenge, so I am taking advantage of all of the "naughty" foods that I might want for the rest of the summer. Fortunately for my weight loss efforts, the overly sugary foods are not holding that much appeal for me. I made chocolate chip cupcakes with fudge filling and marshmallow buttercream yesterday. Yeah, that's right. Actually, my daughter's second birthday is coming up and I wanted to make "practice" cupcakes to make sure that the flavor was right. I made three cupcakes - one for each child and one for my husband - and broke the rest up into crumbs for cake balls. I did have a taste and it was very sweet to me. In fact, it was too sweet to enjoy. I decided to eat an apple instead. The main problem is that I can't tell if the cupcakes really are too sweet or if they are delicious. According to my husband, who is naturally averse to frostings of all kinds, they are definitely too sweet. According to my son, there is no such thing as too sweet. According to the baby, cake is really unnecessary and I should just focus on filling her plate with icing.
I do have the desire to make "clean" cupcakes for the party along with the sugary ones that people may actually enjoy. I've attempted a couple of different versions of sugar free cupcakes and both have turned out decidedly tasteless. One recommendation that I see repeatedly is to use unsweetened applesauce in place of sugar. In my experience, this causes the cupcakes to taste exactly like unsweetened applesauce. I also have a recipe for sugar free, vegan frosting that is just about the worst thing I've ever tasted in my life. In the end, I may go with a different clean sweet treat or I may skip the clean treats altogether. After all, as of the beginning of the challenge, I am placing myself on a very strict, completely stripped diet for the summer. Everyone else at the party, I have to assume, is attending with the intent to enjoy cake and ice cream regardless of caloric content.
Other than the taste or two of cupcakes yesterday, I did eat clean without even really trying. I made vegan sloppy joes for dinner. Lunch was a big salad with apples and reduced fat blue cheese. Breakfast was an apple and a slice of Ezekiel bread w/ freshly ground peanut butter. Although I didn't get any traditional exercise, I walked three miles with the stroller - the big, 70 pound stroller - and felt I had an adequate workout. Today will be more of the same and tomorrow I will hopefully revisit the gym.
I do have the desire to make "clean" cupcakes for the party along with the sugary ones that people may actually enjoy. I've attempted a couple of different versions of sugar free cupcakes and both have turned out decidedly tasteless. One recommendation that I see repeatedly is to use unsweetened applesauce in place of sugar. In my experience, this causes the cupcakes to taste exactly like unsweetened applesauce. I also have a recipe for sugar free, vegan frosting that is just about the worst thing I've ever tasted in my life. In the end, I may go with a different clean sweet treat or I may skip the clean treats altogether. After all, as of the beginning of the challenge, I am placing myself on a very strict, completely stripped diet for the summer. Everyone else at the party, I have to assume, is attending with the intent to enjoy cake and ice cream regardless of caloric content.
Other than the taste or two of cupcakes yesterday, I did eat clean without even really trying. I made vegan sloppy joes for dinner. Lunch was a big salad with apples and reduced fat blue cheese. Breakfast was an apple and a slice of Ezekiel bread w/ freshly ground peanut butter. Although I didn't get any traditional exercise, I walked three miles with the stroller - the big, 70 pound stroller - and felt I had an adequate workout. Today will be more of the same and tomorrow I will hopefully revisit the gym.
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Up Six Pounds
I admit that I fell back on completely eating clean for a few days, but I had no idea it would make such a big difference so quickly. I was ill for almost two days after eating non-clean food. I had stomach cramps and migraines and just a general feeling of yuckiness. This morning I stepped on the scale and found I have gained SIX POUNDS! On my body frame, six is enormous. I realize the weight loss challenge doesn't start until May, but I am not happy with this development at all.
I have found that, challenging myself to drink water, I am constantly thirsty when I'm not drinking water. I would say this is a positive development, but I have no proof that it is affecting me positively. As I mentioned in an earlier post, I mostly just feel bloated.
In happier news, I am very excited about the Columbia Slimdown Challenge. I am determined to win. There are something like 800 people registered already, so I definitely have my work cut out for me. I have already made out my meal plan and exercise plan for the 12 weeks in order to achieve my 12% weight loss goal. I plan on weighing in on Monday and starting the plan immediately.
I have found that, challenging myself to drink water, I am constantly thirsty when I'm not drinking water. I would say this is a positive development, but I have no proof that it is affecting me positively. As I mentioned in an earlier post, I mostly just feel bloated.
In happier news, I am very excited about the Columbia Slimdown Challenge. I am determined to win. There are something like 800 people registered already, so I definitely have my work cut out for me. I have already made out my meal plan and exercise plan for the 12 weeks in order to achieve my 12% weight loss goal. I plan on weighing in on Monday and starting the plan immediately.
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
A Maher-velous Rant
Bill Maher is not a big fan of women in general, but as it turns out, he is particularly not a fan of stay-at-home moms. As a stay-at-home mom myself, you might not be confused by my outrage at his comments:
"No one is denying that being a mother is a tough job; I remember I was a handful," he said. "But you know there is a big difference between being a mother, and that tough job, and getting your ass out the door at 7 a.m. when it's cold, having to deal with the boss, being in a workplace, or even if you're unhappy you can't show it for eight hours."Pitting woman against woman is an excellent way to help us to avoid actual issues. Maher, being a comedian, has no real pull left or right. However, he does have an audience that listens to him. He does have the ability to raise money for a Super PAC to support President Obama. He does have a voice.
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/04/16/bill-maher-facing-bipartisan-criticism-over-ann-romney-comments/?test=latestnews?test=latestnews#ixzz1sIOVfj7k
What Maher doesn't realize, or doesn't care about to begin with, is that most stay-at-home moms have spent time in the workforce. Indeed, most stay-at-home moms carry jobs that we can do either in the evenings while the children sleep, part-time while they are in pre-school, or that we can do from the privacy of our own homes, squeezing in a few hours of work while the rest of the family sleeps. I will not argue that being a stay-at-home mom is harder than working a traditional job. But the thought that what we do is somehow easier is preposterous.
I was up at 5 AM this morning, as I am every morning - including weekends. I made two meals, cleaned the kitchen, unloaded the dishwasher, reloaded the dishwasher, ran a load of laundry, wrapped two birthday presents, pulled up research for two articles I am writing, went through all of my son's paperwork for school, checked my financial records to make sure I'm still on budget, emailed two clients, and then sat down with a cup of coffee to relax for a few minutes before getting back to work. It is currently 6:30 AM. This is my morning every morning. Okay, maybe the wrapping of presents is replaced with dusting, vacuuming, starting a meal in the slow cooker, but there is not a moment that is unaccounted for.
Do I have to get out the door at 7 in the cold? No. I have to get two children out of bed at 7 and make sure they are clothed, fed, teeth brushed, faces washed, medicine applied, bundled appropriately depending on the weather, that my son has his homework finished, lunch packed, and that the kids remember that, by the way, their parents love them. And then, every morning, we have to be out the door at 8:15. And instead of walking to my car and driving my son to work, I walk him to school. Unless it's below freezing or heavily raining, we walk the mile from our house to his school and I do so "even if [I'm] unhappy" and you know what else? Maybe I can show my unhappiness, there are days when I'm in a bad mood and I tell the kids straight up that I woke up in a bad mood and they'll need to cut me some slack. Still, if I let my mood affect them, I'm not just risking the possibility of angering a boss. No, I'm risking the possibility of screwing up my kids forever.
Do I have a boss to be accountable to? No. But that also means I have no one watching my back to make sure I accomplish all I need to do during the day. I am very fortunate to have a supportive, hard-working husband. He does not treat me as a subordinate but as an equal partner in our family. He is not telling me what to do. No one is telling me what to do. I have to make sure that I stay on task so that our kids can thrive. It's not as easy as Bill Maher makes it out to be. There is no part of my day that involves lounging on the sofa watching television while the kids sit in their underwear eating paste. The 15 minutes it's taken me to write this is the most relaxation I'll get today.
But the other part of this that is not touched upon by Hilary Rosen, Bill Maher, or even those who are actively speaking out against these types of comments is that this very hard job, this very important job, of being a full-time, stay-at-home parent is a choice that families make not because the moms don't want regular jobs but because we feel it is best for our children. Not all families reach the same conclusion that we did and that is okay. The same solution doesn't work for every family. However, we should not be made to believe that because the family next door has two working parents we are somehow better parents or I am somehow a lesser woman. We are all in this country together. We are living side-by-side, raising our families next to each other, and trying our best to make the decisions that will benefit future generations. If anyone thinks otherwise, I have to believe that the problem is with them, not me, not my family, and not the many people I know so well who work hard to raise their own families in the best way possible. Whether that means they have a parent at home or not, I have to believe that most of my middle-class cohorts care about giving their children a good start in life, which is really the most important job of all.
Monday, April 16, 2012
Why Bother?
I had a really unhealthy, mentally bad weekend. Robert Kennedy, the voice behind clean eating and healthy living, the man who really motivated me to start living healthier than ever, died from lung cancer last week. I didn't know him, obviously, and only knew of him for a few months. Personally, I'm unaffected by his death. Death is always sad and cancer is always horrible. Still, I wonder, if this man who is the picture of health and who never smoked a cigarette could perish in horrible pain from lung cancer, what is the point to being healthy? We're all going to die. I will die. My children will die. We will all die. Why not eat Twinkies?
I don't have an answer for it. I really don't. So, this weekend, I abandoned clean eating again and I ate frozen custard. I had pizza. I ate :gasp: a slice of garlic bread.
I was rewarded for my lack of clean eating with terrible stomach cramps. I felt like I'd been knifed in the gut for about two hours last night. I didn't overeat. I didn't gorge myself on cookies and candy and biscuits and gravy. I simply ate like I did a few weeks ago. I had brussel sprouts, because I love them. I had brown rice because it's healthier than white. I had half of a frozen custard because that's all I wanted. I had a piece of garlic bread because it's delicious. And yet, my body rejected some of this food. My body knows what it wants - and it does not want sugar or refined flour - not after just 10+ days of going without it completely.
So, maybe I'm eating clean for good, with a few treats here and there. I have a very "all or nothing" attitude about everything I do and it's difficult for me to say that I will allow myself to stray, but this time, I will. Because when I am faced with the thought that everything I do, all the workouts, all the eating right, may not be enough, I tend to spiral downwards. When I try so, so, so hard to do something well, I expect results that will last. But nothing lasts forever. On a long enough time line, the survival rate of everyone drops to zero. I guess what's important is that while on that time line, we make the best of it that we can.
I don't have an answer for it. I really don't. So, this weekend, I abandoned clean eating again and I ate frozen custard. I had pizza. I ate :gasp: a slice of garlic bread.
I was rewarded for my lack of clean eating with terrible stomach cramps. I felt like I'd been knifed in the gut for about two hours last night. I didn't overeat. I didn't gorge myself on cookies and candy and biscuits and gravy. I simply ate like I did a few weeks ago. I had brussel sprouts, because I love them. I had brown rice because it's healthier than white. I had half of a frozen custard because that's all I wanted. I had a piece of garlic bread because it's delicious. And yet, my body rejected some of this food. My body knows what it wants - and it does not want sugar or refined flour - not after just 10+ days of going without it completely.
So, maybe I'm eating clean for good, with a few treats here and there. I have a very "all or nothing" attitude about everything I do and it's difficult for me to say that I will allow myself to stray, but this time, I will. Because when I am faced with the thought that everything I do, all the workouts, all the eating right, may not be enough, I tend to spiral downwards. When I try so, so, so hard to do something well, I expect results that will last. But nothing lasts forever. On a long enough time line, the survival rate of everyone drops to zero. I guess what's important is that while on that time line, we make the best of it that we can.
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Cheat Meal
I am allowing myself one cheat meal per week on my clean eating plan. I took that cheat meal last night when I ordered a pizza. I ordered thin crust, light cheese, light sauce, and lots of vegetables. It's still not "clean," but probably the healthiest take out pizza I could get for free. It wasn't really worth it. Without all the cheese and sauce, pizza isn't really that good.
I also tried a Cadbury Egg that has been sitting around for a couple of weeks. I took a bite and surprised myself by not really caring for the taste. I even took a second bite to make sure, and yes, it was gross. The kids each had a taste or two of it, then we threw the rest out. I used to love Cadbury Eggs, but after going a couple of weeks completely sugar free, and a month before that mostly sugar free, it really didn't taste good at all. I'm sort of frustrated with myself because I really didn't enjoy the food and yet I wasted my cheat meal. I could have had ice cream or a beer or, you know, whatever. At least now I know.
The water challenge is not going well. I am forcing myself to drink loads of water and thus far I do not feel better at all. Mostly I just feel bloated.
I also tried a Cadbury Egg that has been sitting around for a couple of weeks. I took a bite and surprised myself by not really caring for the taste. I even took a second bite to make sure, and yes, it was gross. The kids each had a taste or two of it, then we threw the rest out. I used to love Cadbury Eggs, but after going a couple of weeks completely sugar free, and a month before that mostly sugar free, it really didn't taste good at all. I'm sort of frustrated with myself because I really didn't enjoy the food and yet I wasted my cheat meal. I could have had ice cream or a beer or, you know, whatever. At least now I know.
The water challenge is not going well. I am forcing myself to drink loads of water and thus far I do not feel better at all. Mostly I just feel bloated.
Friday, April 13, 2012
Water Challenge: Day 2 of 10
My newest self-imposed challenge is to drink 64 oz of water each day. On day one, I drank 16. For those of you who are not good with math, 16 is less than 64. I never realize just how hard it is to drink so much water until I force myself to do so. I have often gone through phases where I try to drink the "right" amount, then give it up because it just takes too much time and I don't see any benefits, except that I have to pee more. I don't know that that's a benefit, though.
Yesterday, I refilled a 20 ounce water bottle four times for a total of 80 ounces. I have my bottle at the ready now and I'm sure I will see another fun-filled day of running to the bathroom, screaming for children to get out of my way.
I am still eating clean and managed to get through a vigorous weights routine at home yesterday. As of this week, I will have completed my one month leg and back workout from Oxygen magazine that is supposed to totally sculpt my body. I have definitely gotten stronger, but I honestly do not see a difference in my appearance. I have lost two pounds and an inch around my waist, but I don't think it's from these particular workouts any more than from eating clean and now getting regular cardio. This doesn't mean I give up, but I do think my muscles have gotten bored with these particular workouts. Even though I've increased the weight, I'm not feeling it, so I will soon be moving on. Don't worry, I have plenty other workout plans to fall back on.
Yesterday, I refilled a 20 ounce water bottle four times for a total of 80 ounces. I have my bottle at the ready now and I'm sure I will see another fun-filled day of running to the bathroom, screaming for children to get out of my way.
I am still eating clean and managed to get through a vigorous weights routine at home yesterday. As of this week, I will have completed my one month leg and back workout from Oxygen magazine that is supposed to totally sculpt my body. I have definitely gotten stronger, but I honestly do not see a difference in my appearance. I have lost two pounds and an inch around my waist, but I don't think it's from these particular workouts any more than from eating clean and now getting regular cardio. This doesn't mean I give up, but I do think my muscles have gotten bored with these particular workouts. Even though I've increased the weight, I'm not feeling it, so I will soon be moving on. Don't worry, I have plenty other workout plans to fall back on.
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Benefits of Organic Milk?
A while back, I did some research into organic apples. After months of skepticism, I reached the conclusion that buying organic apples was worth extra effort it takes to find the best prices. Indeed, organic apples can be found for the same price as their non-organic counterparts, as long as you take the time to find them. This doesn't mean driving from one store to another. Thus far I have found, in three different markets, that the pricey organic apples take the main stage while the less expensive ones are hidden in the wings. Luckily for me, they all pretty much taste the same.
Many, or even most, of my friends buy organic milk and spend twice as much as I do to provide what they believe is the best possible choice for their families. Again, I am skeptical that this is necessary. From what I understand, organic dairy and meat products do not need to adhere to the same rigid guidelines as organic fruits and vegetables. Wearing my researcher's helmet, I chose to dive into the world of organic dairy and find out what all the fuss is about.
The first place I turned to in order to learn more about organic milk is the National Dairy Council. The National Dairy Council has no secret agenda as far as I can tell to promote one type of milk above the other. According to the National Dairy Council, all dairy is good. However, this document details the differences between organic and non-organic milk. If you don't feel like clicking on the link, I can sum it up: Organic milk is no more nutritious than regular milk. Regular milk has no more hormones or pesticides in it than organic milk. The main difference between the two is that organic milk is more expensive. The end.
Of course, I am not going to simply look at one page of information from one source and declare it the end of my research. I learned that pasture rule has only recently been put into effect. As of this past February, cows must be allowed to graze on grass for 1/3 of the year in order for their milk to be considered organic. Apparently, this is a big step up from cows simply having access to a pasture. This is supposed to be a big victory for proponents of organic farming because now the largest distributors of organic milk, who are corporate entities - not small farms, must change the way they feed their cattle, at least for four months, that is. But does this affect the quality of the milk itself? The answer, according to the FDA and the USDA, is probably not.
Furthermore, though the guidelines regarding the feeding of cows have been tightened, apparently the follow-up has not. According to an audit by the Inspector General, the process for detecting violations to organic practices is not followed and regular inspections are not taking place as they should. Furthermore, random inspections don't seem to happen at all. Organic milk is also often transported in tankers that are sanitized with the same substances as regular milk. This milk comes into direct contact with these unapproved chemicals regularly. What this means is, organic guidelines are in place, but whether they are followed is another issue. You can read the audit from the IG in its entirety here. Be warned: there are a lot of words.
It must be said that I stay away from blogs when I'm looking for actual information. Take a beat to enjoy the irony that I'm writing this in my own blog. However, I did look at a few blogs to compare the facts that are stated on each side of the equation. One organic eating blog that caught my eye told me that a study conducted at the University of Surrey found that organic milk contains more beneficial fatty acids. Of course, the blog failed to mention that the main findings of the study were that pregnant women who drink organic milk could be impeding the brain development of their unborn children (due to a lack of iodine). However, other studies have shown no issue with iodine and no reason for pregnant women to worry.
In the end, I have found no reason to switch to organic milk. I won't begrudge anyone else who decides to do so. However, for my family, traditional milk will suffice.
The first place I turned to in order to learn more about organic milk is the National Dairy Council. The National Dairy Council has no secret agenda as far as I can tell to promote one type of milk above the other. According to the National Dairy Council, all dairy is good. However, this document details the differences between organic and non-organic milk. If you don't feel like clicking on the link, I can sum it up: Organic milk is no more nutritious than regular milk. Regular milk has no more hormones or pesticides in it than organic milk. The main difference between the two is that organic milk is more expensive. The end.
Of course, I am not going to simply look at one page of information from one source and declare it the end of my research. I learned that pasture rule has only recently been put into effect. As of this past February, cows must be allowed to graze on grass for 1/3 of the year in order for their milk to be considered organic. Apparently, this is a big step up from cows simply having access to a pasture. This is supposed to be a big victory for proponents of organic farming because now the largest distributors of organic milk, who are corporate entities - not small farms, must change the way they feed their cattle, at least for four months, that is. But does this affect the quality of the milk itself? The answer, according to the FDA and the USDA, is probably not.
Furthermore, though the guidelines regarding the feeding of cows have been tightened, apparently the follow-up has not. According to an audit by the Inspector General, the process for detecting violations to organic practices is not followed and regular inspections are not taking place as they should. Furthermore, random inspections don't seem to happen at all. Organic milk is also often transported in tankers that are sanitized with the same substances as regular milk. This milk comes into direct contact with these unapproved chemicals regularly. What this means is, organic guidelines are in place, but whether they are followed is another issue. You can read the audit from the IG in its entirety here. Be warned: there are a lot of words.
It must be said that I stay away from blogs when I'm looking for actual information. Take a beat to enjoy the irony that I'm writing this in my own blog. However, I did look at a few blogs to compare the facts that are stated on each side of the equation. One organic eating blog that caught my eye told me that a study conducted at the University of Surrey found that organic milk contains more beneficial fatty acids. Of course, the blog failed to mention that the main findings of the study were that pregnant women who drink organic milk could be impeding the brain development of their unborn children (due to a lack of iodine). However, other studies have shown no issue with iodine and no reason for pregnant women to worry.
In the end, I have found no reason to switch to organic milk. I won't begrudge anyone else who decides to do so. However, for my family, traditional milk will suffice.
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Clean Challenge: Day 10 of 10
I did it! I made it through 10 days without cheating. I feel great. In fact, I feel better than ever. Husband and I were watching TV last night and a DQ commercial came on. I still love chocolate, will always love chocolate, but after 10 days without sugar or fried foods, it actually looked unappealing to me. Clean eating is helping to mentally change me.
Today starts a new challenge. As of today, I challenge myself to drink eight glasses of water each day. Eight glasses is standard but it's really difficult. I'll only get there if I know I am forcing myself to do so. I will also continue clean eating, but now I am going to allow myself to cheat - one cheat per week. That means if I have ice cream on Monday, no beer on Saturday.
Food yesterday was bad. I didn't feel like doing anything so I barely ate. I had Ezekiel bread with peanut butter and lots of fruits and veggies. That doesn't mean the food wasn't good for me, it was, but there was no creativity or even cooking involved. I also took a rest day yesterday. Monday was supposed to be a rest day, but I switched.
Today I hit the gym again and hopefully I get some of my energy back. I've been working some kind of long hours and I need to get more rest. Maybe that will be my next challenge. :)
Today starts a new challenge. As of today, I challenge myself to drink eight glasses of water each day. Eight glasses is standard but it's really difficult. I'll only get there if I know I am forcing myself to do so. I will also continue clean eating, but now I am going to allow myself to cheat - one cheat per week. That means if I have ice cream on Monday, no beer on Saturday.
Food yesterday was bad. I didn't feel like doing anything so I barely ate. I had Ezekiel bread with peanut butter and lots of fruits and veggies. That doesn't mean the food wasn't good for me, it was, but there was no creativity or even cooking involved. I also took a rest day yesterday. Monday was supposed to be a rest day, but I switched.
Today I hit the gym again and hopefully I get some of my energy back. I've been working some kind of long hours and I need to get more rest. Maybe that will be my next challenge. :)
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Stress Eating and Tangential Thinking
I, like many, find myself eating when I am stressed. If a difficult situation arises in my life, if I'm feeling powerless and out of control, if things are just not going the way I would have them, I can rely on food to make me feel better, at least for a little while.
I am learning how to handle stress differently. It's a process, not an overnight cure. I'm working on understanding my stress triggers, breathing techniques, and alternate ways of handling stressors, both large and small. By being self aware, I can begin to reverse some of these bad habits and hopefully teach my children how to handle daily stress in a more constructive manner.
Today's stress is brought on by school. There is a little girl in my son's class that is the "class bully" and, until recently, she had managed to focus her efforts on everyone except my son. As her latest target, Gus is understandably upset and quite shaken by being teased. Gus is outgoing and friendly. My husband calls him Will Rogers because he "never met a man [he] didn't like." However, getting on the bad side of a bad kid is to be expected. It happens to all of us. The hard part isn't even really teaching him how to deal with kids like this. He knows we are here for him and other kids in the class are rallying around him. I think he'll survive some teasing. The hard part, for me, is knowing why this little girl is the way that she is and knowing that her life is on a downhill spiral. And she's six.
I had considered, last night, talking to her mother. I thought about calling this little girl's parent to discuss the issues. I know these things never go well, but as a concerned, involved parent, I feel like I must step in some way. The school is well aware of her behavior problems as she seems to be in trouble more often than not. Unfortunately, I was easily able to find the mother's profile, which told me that her problems are far worse than this little girl's. Indeed, she was only 14 when the girl was born, and on her profile stated her affinity for open relationships and weed, with strong hints of prostitution.
This is just one example of many, I'm sure, but this is the one example we are faced with on a daily basis. Because of this little girl's home life, she takes her sadness and frustration out on those around her. We should pity the child, but to what end? How can we help her? Can we help her? If her homelife is as it seems to be, is she helpless? Is she hopeless? Signs point to yes.
There are those who may disagree with me. There are those who say that her mother may love her very much and is simply trying to get by. Agree with me or disagree with me, I'm open to your opinion. I've had actual, real conversations with this little girl and I can't even begin to touch the surface of what goes on in that house. I'm scared for her and sad for her, but I keep reminding my son not to give up on her. I may think her life is hopeless, but I don't necessarily want my son to think so too.
So, dealing with the reality of a situation that I already knew existed is more difficult in practice than in theory. There is nothing that I can do to alter this child's life. There is no amount of good vibes that will change her homelife or help her to overcome. Yes, there are exceptions, but by-and-large, the cycle continues. As long as we continue ignoring (or even supporting) those who make terrible life choices, they will continue making them.
But what does this have to do with clean eating? I'll tell you, I have the desire to drown my sorrow and frustration in ice cream. Cookies would be okay. Brownies? Why not. I'd even settle for a pizza or one of those subs from sub shop with all the mayo on it. YUMMMMMMMM. Though I know this would be a reaction to my inability for action. Because I have no power over this little girl's behavior, I want to take that power and transfer it into food. I know this, and I'm trying really hard to stop it.
Today is the last day of my 10-day clean eating challenge of no cheats. I have been 100% successful thus far and today I will not allow temptation to end a good run.
I am learning how to handle stress differently. It's a process, not an overnight cure. I'm working on understanding my stress triggers, breathing techniques, and alternate ways of handling stressors, both large and small. By being self aware, I can begin to reverse some of these bad habits and hopefully teach my children how to handle daily stress in a more constructive manner.
Today's stress is brought on by school. There is a little girl in my son's class that is the "class bully" and, until recently, she had managed to focus her efforts on everyone except my son. As her latest target, Gus is understandably upset and quite shaken by being teased. Gus is outgoing and friendly. My husband calls him Will Rogers because he "never met a man [he] didn't like." However, getting on the bad side of a bad kid is to be expected. It happens to all of us. The hard part isn't even really teaching him how to deal with kids like this. He knows we are here for him and other kids in the class are rallying around him. I think he'll survive some teasing. The hard part, for me, is knowing why this little girl is the way that she is and knowing that her life is on a downhill spiral. And she's six.
I had considered, last night, talking to her mother. I thought about calling this little girl's parent to discuss the issues. I know these things never go well, but as a concerned, involved parent, I feel like I must step in some way. The school is well aware of her behavior problems as she seems to be in trouble more often than not. Unfortunately, I was easily able to find the mother's profile, which told me that her problems are far worse than this little girl's. Indeed, she was only 14 when the girl was born, and on her profile stated her affinity for open relationships and weed, with strong hints of prostitution.
This is just one example of many, I'm sure, but this is the one example we are faced with on a daily basis. Because of this little girl's home life, she takes her sadness and frustration out on those around her. We should pity the child, but to what end? How can we help her? Can we help her? If her homelife is as it seems to be, is she helpless? Is she hopeless? Signs point to yes.
There are those who may disagree with me. There are those who say that her mother may love her very much and is simply trying to get by. Agree with me or disagree with me, I'm open to your opinion. I've had actual, real conversations with this little girl and I can't even begin to touch the surface of what goes on in that house. I'm scared for her and sad for her, but I keep reminding my son not to give up on her. I may think her life is hopeless, but I don't necessarily want my son to think so too.
So, dealing with the reality of a situation that I already knew existed is more difficult in practice than in theory. There is nothing that I can do to alter this child's life. There is no amount of good vibes that will change her homelife or help her to overcome. Yes, there are exceptions, but by-and-large, the cycle continues. As long as we continue ignoring (or even supporting) those who make terrible life choices, they will continue making them.
But what does this have to do with clean eating? I'll tell you, I have the desire to drown my sorrow and frustration in ice cream. Cookies would be okay. Brownies? Why not. I'd even settle for a pizza or one of those subs from sub shop with all the mayo on it. YUMMMMMMMM. Though I know this would be a reaction to my inability for action. Because I have no power over this little girl's behavior, I want to take that power and transfer it into food. I know this, and I'm trying really hard to stop it.
Today is the last day of my 10-day clean eating challenge of no cheats. I have been 100% successful thus far and today I will not allow temptation to end a good run.
Monday, April 9, 2012
An Easter Miracle
I managed to get through the entire day without touching one jelly bean, without nibbling a Cadbury Egg, and without breaking the ears from a chocolate rabbit. Easter success! However, the real test is today when I'm mostly alone in the house with the leftover candy.
Food yesterday was good, all clean, all sugar free. I made brinner last night, which is always a crowd pleaser. While the rest of the family chowed down on blueberry waffles and bacon, I shared their cheese omelet (made with aged cheddar) and sliced fingerling potatoes sauteed in olive oil. I also had the rest of jalapeno hummus, and now I need the ingredients to make more.
Exercise was not part of the Easter miracle. I had every intention of having a good exercise day, but time was not on my side. I did part of my weights routine - using 15 lb dumbbells with little difficulty - and ran the best mile ever. Instead of getting in my planned five, I asked Gus if he wanted to run with me. He was enthusiastic about it and battled through the first 1/2 mile but repeatedly struggled through the second 1/2.
There are a couple of reasons I wanted to run with Gus yesterday instead of training on my own. First, and foremost, I don't get a lot of one-on-one Gus time these days. His first four+ years, it was mom and Gus almost all the time. Once the baby came along, Gus and I have had to share each other. It's been an almost totally positive thing. I do think he's better for it, but I do also know that it can be such a joy just to spend an hour together where it's just the two of us. Second, and probably far more important, little Gus needs to be challenged. He is so bright and talented in many areas, but physical activity is not his forte. Gus, like his mother before him, has a defeatist attitude. And also like his mother, he would rather give up on something than fail at it. Those are two things that I personally know can be fought. The only way I really know to help him through it is to show him that things that are difficult are worthwhile. So we run a mile, and for him, that's pretty hard. I explained to him that I'll do that five times on a regular day and his eyes fell out of his head. I told him that my ultimate goal is to do that 50 times, which his brain can't even grasp. In fact, I'm not even sure mine can. :)
Food yesterday was good, all clean, all sugar free. I made brinner last night, which is always a crowd pleaser. While the rest of the family chowed down on blueberry waffles and bacon, I shared their cheese omelet (made with aged cheddar) and sliced fingerling potatoes sauteed in olive oil. I also had the rest of jalapeno hummus, and now I need the ingredients to make more.
Exercise was not part of the Easter miracle. I had every intention of having a good exercise day, but time was not on my side. I did part of my weights routine - using 15 lb dumbbells with little difficulty - and ran the best mile ever. Instead of getting in my planned five, I asked Gus if he wanted to run with me. He was enthusiastic about it and battled through the first 1/2 mile but repeatedly struggled through the second 1/2.
There are a couple of reasons I wanted to run with Gus yesterday instead of training on my own. First, and foremost, I don't get a lot of one-on-one Gus time these days. His first four+ years, it was mom and Gus almost all the time. Once the baby came along, Gus and I have had to share each other. It's been an almost totally positive thing. I do think he's better for it, but I do also know that it can be such a joy just to spend an hour together where it's just the two of us. Second, and probably far more important, little Gus needs to be challenged. He is so bright and talented in many areas, but physical activity is not his forte. Gus, like his mother before him, has a defeatist attitude. And also like his mother, he would rather give up on something than fail at it. Those are two things that I personally know can be fought. The only way I really know to help him through it is to show him that things that are difficult are worthwhile. So we run a mile, and for him, that's pretty hard. I explained to him that I'll do that five times on a regular day and his eyes fell out of his head. I told him that my ultimate goal is to do that 50 times, which his brain can't even grasp. In fact, I'm not even sure mine can. :)
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Chocolate Bunnies, Star Wars, and Willpower
We have never done anything to celebrate Easter. We're not church-goers, except for on occasion when we wish to expose the kids to something different. This year, Gus has decided that Easter is a holiday that we have to celebrate, and as with all important holidays, the best way to celebrate is with chocolate, right?
I went out yesterday morning after visiting the gym and bought Easter presents for the kids. We've never done baskets before, so I just went to Hobby Lobby and looked at their clearance items. I know, lame mommy. Unfortunately, I wasn't wowed even by the clearance prices so I bought all of the 40% off candy that I thought the kids would like, purchased some stickers and a couple of those lunch box carry all thingies (Star Wars for the boy, Princesses for the girl) and filled them up. It's a dangerous thing, people. Our house is overflowing with chocolate and none of it is part of my clean diet. Today will be the day that I not only allow but encourage my kids to eat all the candy. I can only hold out for so long.
Workout was really great yesterday. I'm up to the 12.5 lb dumbbells for my weights routine - don't laugh, I started at 2. Level 7 on the assisted pull up machine is getting easier. I should be able to move up to level 6 for half of my reps this week. I managed to get all the way through weights and cardio despite the music choices at the gym. I don't know who's in charge of picking the piped in music, but it's really killing me. I keep a workout journal and I like to stop and write how I'm feeling during a particularly grueling workout. It's usually just a brief "Feeling great!" But yesterday I wrote, "Gym music should pump me up, not make me want to slit my throat." I know the solution is to use my iPod, and I do somedays, but it gets in the way when I'm doing weights and since I'm weight training regularly now, it's more of a hindrance than a help.
Food was really good yesterday. Oatmeal for breakfast, black bean burrito for lunch, apples for snacks, and we went out to eat at one of my absolute favorite restaurants last night: Hu Hot Mongolian Grill. I had a big bowl of tofu, black beans, loads of hot peppers and cilantro, squash, and tomatoes with spicy curry sauce. I could eat a ton of it, it's so good. I need a wok so I can attempt to replicate this food at home. Everyone in the family, even the baby, eats well when we go there. The greatest thing for me is that you can be totally clean with your meal because you choose everything, right down to the sauce that the food is cooked in. You have to look for it, but you can pretty easily find the ingredients of the sauces, so it's easy to know which ones to choose. We're not investors in Hu Hot. We don't profit from the restaurant in any way, so just trust that I'm a big fan and not a salesperson - as if they need it. The place is always packed.
I have a five mile run scheduled for today and then my mileage increases this week. Frankly, I'm rocking my runs this week. I don't think I'm going to have trouble at all breaking my sad, slow PR. Hopefully, that is. I just have to finish in 2:57 to PR, which I should be able to do, right? Right?
Lastly, I just wanted to say that I'm surprised that people are actually reading my blog. Honestly, this is about 70% to keep me honest in my efforts and about 30% for my own sick amusement. I can't imagine there is one thing I say here that would be interesting to anyone in the world except for me. For that, if you are reading this, I apologize. I'll try to be a little bit more clever in the future.
Saturday, April 7, 2012
Clean Challenge: Day 6 of 10
I have nothing witty or interesting to say. I'm just reporting my stats from yesterday because that's my thang.
No workout to note. I started, but I fizzled. I have to blame baby. She's not slept well the last two nights and I was going on something like six hours of sleep in the last 72 hours. I literally fell asleep once on the sofa and once draped over the stroller. I did do all of my workout from yesterday this morning, though.
Food was good yesterday. I had oatmeal for breakfast, a black bean burrito and jalapeno hummus for lunch, and for dinner I made sauteed tempeh, Peruvian purple fingerlings, butternut squash seasoned with agave nectar, and starfruit. It was quite the lovely plate and too bad I didn't have the drive to snap a photo of it because it was something to be proud of.
I've put together a team for the Columbia Slimdown Challenge, which starts on May 1. It's a city wide contest to see who can lose the most weight. From what I can tell, none of the ladies on my team have a lot of weight to lose, which means winning is unlikely, but it's still a great motivator to get in excellent shape. I have told the girls that I would host a girl's night out or do gift bags or something if we all reach our goal weights as a way to keep us accountable to each other. I'm excited for it to start, though I do plan to continue working out and eating well until then. I may be down a few pounds by the time the actual challenge begins, but I'll always have plenty more weight to lose.
Speaking of weight to lose, husband and I are planning on purchasing our beach vacation this week sometime. As if I needed more motivation to be bikini ready, there it is! All signs are pointing to this being a buff summer, if only I could get my flab to agree.
No workout to note. I started, but I fizzled. I have to blame baby. She's not slept well the last two nights and I was going on something like six hours of sleep in the last 72 hours. I literally fell asleep once on the sofa and once draped over the stroller. I did do all of my workout from yesterday this morning, though.
Food was good yesterday. I had oatmeal for breakfast, a black bean burrito and jalapeno hummus for lunch, and for dinner I made sauteed tempeh, Peruvian purple fingerlings, butternut squash seasoned with agave nectar, and starfruit. It was quite the lovely plate and too bad I didn't have the drive to snap a photo of it because it was something to be proud of.
I've put together a team for the Columbia Slimdown Challenge, which starts on May 1. It's a city wide contest to see who can lose the most weight. From what I can tell, none of the ladies on my team have a lot of weight to lose, which means winning is unlikely, but it's still a great motivator to get in excellent shape. I have told the girls that I would host a girl's night out or do gift bags or something if we all reach our goal weights as a way to keep us accountable to each other. I'm excited for it to start, though I do plan to continue working out and eating well until then. I may be down a few pounds by the time the actual challenge begins, but I'll always have plenty more weight to lose.
Speaking of weight to lose, husband and I are planning on purchasing our beach vacation this week sometime. As if I needed more motivation to be bikini ready, there it is! All signs are pointing to this being a buff summer, if only I could get my flab to agree.
Friday, April 6, 2012
Clean Challenge: Day 5 of 10
I am half way through my self-imposed challenge. Ten days of clean eating, no cheats. I have to say, I feel really good. Mentally, I'm proud of myself for sticking with the plan. Physically, my body is definitely responding. I stepped on the scale at the gym yesterday and I am down two pounds. It wasn't my weigh in day, so it's not "official" but I looked down at myself and thought, "Hey! That lump used to be much larger." Indeed, some of my lumps are smaller now.
Of course, the weight loss cannot be attributed to diet alone. After a week of no exercise during Spring Break, I have stepped it into mega high gear this week. With the goal of a marathon before me, and a "someday" ultra marathon on the horizon, I have already put in more than 20 miles this week, and the week isn't over yet. I also adopted the insanely difficult Oxygen abs program, which I have yet to complete because it is so crazy hard, and am continuing with my weight training, both at home and at the gym.
A two pound weight loss in less than a week is not a sustainable rate of loss. I know that my body is just responding to some rapid changes in a positive way and that weight loss will become more and more difficult as I get smaller and smaller. Some friends of mine and I have decided to join The Columbia Slimdown Challenge. The team with the most weight loss after 12 weeks wins a prize. No idea what the prize is, nor do I care. As far as I'm concerned, the prize is motivation to get to my goal weight. That is, my new goal weight.
So back to yesterday. For meals I had Ezekiel bread with peanut butter for breakfast, a spinach and tofu sandwich with jalapeno hummus for lunch, greek yogurt and almonds for snacks, and dinner was a sandwich from Pickleman's. I had never been to a Pickleman's before. I honestly don't even know if it's a chain or what. Our goal was Jimmy John's, but I happened to be parked closer to Pickleman's and in a mad rush so I made the split decision to go there instead. I've heard people rave, but as far as I'm concerned, it was a big, giant flop. The sandwiches were yummy (I ordered a veggie on wheat, extra avocado, hold the mayo) but they were expensive and SUPER tiny. I had to come home and heat up the leftover mac and cheese to go with the sandwiches just so my husband and the kids wouldn't starve. I did fine just eating my little, sad sandwich but I was still crazy hungry all night.
I also hit the gym yesterday and managed 24 pullups on the machine at level 7. I cheated through six at level 6, but really it doesn't count. I did all of my weights and some ab work, and then I was just drained. I tried to do the elliptical but my body wasn't having it so I put in some cardio on the recumbent bike. I usually hate using the bike because it totally feels like cheating, but I really pushed myself hard and ended up a sweaty mess.
Of course, the weight loss cannot be attributed to diet alone. After a week of no exercise during Spring Break, I have stepped it into mega high gear this week. With the goal of a marathon before me, and a "someday" ultra marathon on the horizon, I have already put in more than 20 miles this week, and the week isn't over yet. I also adopted the insanely difficult Oxygen abs program, which I have yet to complete because it is so crazy hard, and am continuing with my weight training, both at home and at the gym.
A two pound weight loss in less than a week is not a sustainable rate of loss. I know that my body is just responding to some rapid changes in a positive way and that weight loss will become more and more difficult as I get smaller and smaller. Some friends of mine and I have decided to join The Columbia Slimdown Challenge. The team with the most weight loss after 12 weeks wins a prize. No idea what the prize is, nor do I care. As far as I'm concerned, the prize is motivation to get to my goal weight. That is, my new goal weight.
So back to yesterday. For meals I had Ezekiel bread with peanut butter for breakfast, a spinach and tofu sandwich with jalapeno hummus for lunch, greek yogurt and almonds for snacks, and dinner was a sandwich from Pickleman's. I had never been to a Pickleman's before. I honestly don't even know if it's a chain or what. Our goal was Jimmy John's, but I happened to be parked closer to Pickleman's and in a mad rush so I made the split decision to go there instead. I've heard people rave, but as far as I'm concerned, it was a big, giant flop. The sandwiches were yummy (I ordered a veggie on wheat, extra avocado, hold the mayo) but they were expensive and SUPER tiny. I had to come home and heat up the leftover mac and cheese to go with the sandwiches just so my husband and the kids wouldn't starve. I did fine just eating my little, sad sandwich but I was still crazy hungry all night.
I also hit the gym yesterday and managed 24 pullups on the machine at level 7. I cheated through six at level 6, but really it doesn't count. I did all of my weights and some ab work, and then I was just drained. I tried to do the elliptical but my body wasn't having it so I put in some cardio on the recumbent bike. I usually hate using the bike because it totally feels like cheating, but I really pushed myself hard and ended up a sweaty mess.
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Is it Yellow No. 5 or Yellow No. 6 That Makes it the Cheesiest?
Last night was one of those nights where I had to throw together the fastest meal possible to satisfy the brood. Also, I had to make it up to my husband that I had given him a craptastic lunch. So, I did what I thought would be well received: chicken wings, peas, garlic bread, and macaroni and cheese from a box.
Now, you should know, that even before I started my clean eating craze I preferred to make my own mac and cheese and most days I do a good job of it. However, my husband has been craving some boxed mac and cheese for a while and finally bought a "family size" portion of it the last time he went to the supermarket. I wasn't tempted to "cheat" and taste the mac and cheese, since it's disgusting, but I did take a moment to read up on all the ingredients inside. Most were unpronounceable. Big surprise. It was also a big hit with the kids and the husband. Absolutely no surprise there.
Because I was in such a mad dash to get all of the food made and the kids fed and all of us out of the door by 6, I didn't have time to make my own food. However, I did just happen to have a can of congee. I had bought it at the supermarket after writing an article about this popular Asian dish. I checked, double checked, and checked the ingredients list again before I decided it was okay for me to eat. It was my first and positively last experience. It wasn't the worst thing I've ever tried, but it was reminiscent of mucus with runny peas mixed in. Fortunately, after two or three bites, I found that I had overlooked the final ingredient, which was written in black type face on a dark background: sugar. No sugar for me, so I threw it out. Yay! Of course, then I was hungry, so I settled for more peanut butter and Ezekiel bread. Eh. Whatever. Those days happen sometimes and I can only combat them by having more clean foods on hand. That's not easy when your last shopping trip was to Aldi, where macaroni and cheese is king.
Because I was in such a mad dash to get all of the food made and the kids fed and all of us out of the door by 6, I didn't have time to make my own food. However, I did just happen to have a can of congee. I had bought it at the supermarket after writing an article about this popular Asian dish. I checked, double checked, and checked the ingredients list again before I decided it was okay for me to eat. It was my first and positively last experience. It wasn't the worst thing I've ever tried, but it was reminiscent of mucus with runny peas mixed in. Fortunately, after two or three bites, I found that I had overlooked the final ingredient, which was written in black type face on a dark background: sugar. No sugar for me, so I threw it out. Yay! Of course, then I was hungry, so I settled for more peanut butter and Ezekiel bread. Eh. Whatever. Those days happen sometimes and I can only combat them by having more clean foods on hand. That's not easy when your last shopping trip was to Aldi, where macaroni and cheese is king.
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Clean Challenge: Day 3 of 10
The third day of challenging myself didn't really bring any challenges. Eating clean is getting easier and tastier too. Regular breakfast, regular lunch, regular snacks. For dinner, I made sauteed tempeh and brussel sprouts with salsa. It was delicious.
My workout went really well yesterday too. To try to make up for lost time, I put in 1.5 hours of workout, including a five mile indoor run and a weights routine superset. When I popped on the Wii Fit, it gave me flowers for reaching my goal weight. Isn't that sweet?
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Get Out and Walk
Yesterday, my son and I made the news. Honestly, it's not a big deal. When you live in a town of this size with so many news stations, you can almost guarantee that you'll be interviewed about something at one time or another. In fact, I even said no thank you when they first asked if I could be interviewed. But then I relented and I'm glad I did, because Gus was so super excited when later they asked if he could be interviewed as well.
The fact is, I did give up driving five years ago and people think I'm insane because of it. I chose to stop driving for many reasons. Partly it was because of our location. We are walking distance from everything I need. I felt it was unfortunate to continue driving when it is healthier to get out and walk. Gus, as a baby, loved our trips in the stroller, and I could easily get to the supermarket with him in tow.
For the last year or so, I started driving more and more for safety reasons. I joined the gym - the only one within close proximity that has childcare. It is close enough to walk to, but it is also located on the other side of a narrow bridge with heavy traffic and no sidewalks. I could walk there myself, in fact, when I was marathon training years ago it was part of my running route, but I would not push a stroller there and risk the life of my child. Therefore, to go to the gym, to become healthier, I have to give up walking. Is that irony?
I have decided to quit the gym once my contract is up and the summer is over. I am tired of driving and there are some internal issues that I don't want to get into. But it is important that our city have sidewalks so that children be safe as they walk. We are an incredibly pedestrian friendly city, and I'm pleased that the City Council has chosen to acknowledge the need for safety.
The fact is, I did give up driving five years ago and people think I'm insane because of it. I chose to stop driving for many reasons. Partly it was because of our location. We are walking distance from everything I need. I felt it was unfortunate to continue driving when it is healthier to get out and walk. Gus, as a baby, loved our trips in the stroller, and I could easily get to the supermarket with him in tow.
For the last year or so, I started driving more and more for safety reasons. I joined the gym - the only one within close proximity that has childcare. It is close enough to walk to, but it is also located on the other side of a narrow bridge with heavy traffic and no sidewalks. I could walk there myself, in fact, when I was marathon training years ago it was part of my running route, but I would not push a stroller there and risk the life of my child. Therefore, to go to the gym, to become healthier, I have to give up walking. Is that irony?
I have decided to quit the gym once my contract is up and the summer is over. I am tired of driving and there are some internal issues that I don't want to get into. But it is important that our city have sidewalks so that children be safe as they walk. We are an incredibly pedestrian friendly city, and I'm pleased that the City Council has chosen to acknowledge the need for safety.
Monday, April 2, 2012
Clean Challenge: Day 2 of 10
Yesterday I challenged myself to follow the clean eating lifestyle completely for 10 days with no cheat days, cheat meals, or cheat snacks. Ten days is much easier to mentally handle than a lifetime or even a month. I think of a 10 day challenge as something anyone can do, and after the 10 days are over, I re-evaluate my choices.
Breakfast was so long ago that I don't really remember what I ate. I'm thinking there was an apple involved. Lunch was a bit more exciting than normal. Last Friday, I sauteed some veggies, whisked some eggs, and baked them together in a muffin tin to create a handy-dandy, all-in-one, easy to grab lunch food. I put my fork into one today and the inside was green. But I mean it was GREEN green. It was like food coloring green. It definitely was not mold. I think that the pre-chopped frozen green peppers that I used were maybe treated with dye? That's my best guess. I mean, green peppers wouldn't naturally do that, right? Whatever the case may be, I threw it out and then I threw the rest of them out. Instead, I opted for a lunch of celery sticks, guac, dates, and almonds. It doesn't sound like a lot, but it's well balanced and I enjoyed it. Dinner was black beans, sauteed tempeh, zucchini, and stewed tomatoes mixed with wholewheat bread crumbs, agave nectar, flax seed, and lots of spices. It was super yummy.
Sidebar: Last weekend, my kids and I had a playdate with some friends when one of them suggested I use agave nectar in place of sugar. I told her that I didn't use it because some book told me not to. When she asked why, I told her I didn't know, I was just following the guidelines. Dude, that is not me. I'm the person who scrutinizes and asks questions. I hated hearing that come out of my mouth, so I went out an bought agave nectar. It's healthy, it's clean, and I'm using it.
Breakfast was so long ago that I don't really remember what I ate. I'm thinking there was an apple involved. Lunch was a bit more exciting than normal. Last Friday, I sauteed some veggies, whisked some eggs, and baked them together in a muffin tin to create a handy-dandy, all-in-one, easy to grab lunch food. I put my fork into one today and the inside was green. But I mean it was GREEN green. It was like food coloring green. It definitely was not mold. I think that the pre-chopped frozen green peppers that I used were maybe treated with dye? That's my best guess. I mean, green peppers wouldn't naturally do that, right? Whatever the case may be, I threw it out and then I threw the rest of them out. Instead, I opted for a lunch of celery sticks, guac, dates, and almonds. It doesn't sound like a lot, but it's well balanced and I enjoyed it. Dinner was black beans, sauteed tempeh, zucchini, and stewed tomatoes mixed with wholewheat bread crumbs, agave nectar, flax seed, and lots of spices. It was super yummy.
Sidebar: Last weekend, my kids and I had a playdate with some friends when one of them suggested I use agave nectar in place of sugar. I told her that I didn't use it because some book told me not to. When she asked why, I told her I didn't know, I was just following the guidelines. Dude, that is not me. I'm the person who scrutinizes and asks questions. I hated hearing that come out of my mouth, so I went out an bought agave nectar. It's healthy, it's clean, and I'm using it.
6 Moves for a 6 Pack
My dear friend, Oxygen Magazine, has promised me that in four weeks, I can have bikini ready abs. Okay, Oxygen, I'm ready to call your bluff. 6 Moves for a 6 Pack is a routine that looks difficult but not impossible by any stretch of the imagination as I've already been loosely following a different ab routine already. The routine does mention that in order to be successful, one must eat clean and take part in regular cardio exercises.
Frequent cardio is not going to be a problem at all anymore, now that I'm dedicated to a race. My husband and I worked out a plan that will allow me to go for runs twice a week and hit the gym twice a week, so my time management is less of an issue.
Eating clean is, of course, a challenge some days. However, I have embarked upon a 10 day quest. For 10 days (starting yesterday) no cheats, nothing "unclean." I had my first big test last night when I sent the husband out for pizza. I reminded him, before he left, not to get a pizza for me (we usually get one vegetarian for me and one with as many dead animals as possible for the rest of the family). He asked what he should pick up for me and I replied with, "Nothing." I had some leftover vegetarian sloppy joe on sprouted wheat bread and a stalk of celery. Yummy. I don't mean that sarcastically, it was actually really god.
Also really good are Larabars. I could live off of them. They are very high in fat but low in calories and as long as you read the ingredients and don't accidentally get one with added sugar (like I did this weekend), they can be part of a clean eating regimen. I am going to attempt, this week, to make my own version of some of my favorites. I'll let you know how that turns out. So far, I've found that I'm not quite as talented of a chef as I hoped I could be.
Frequent cardio is not going to be a problem at all anymore, now that I'm dedicated to a race. My husband and I worked out a plan that will allow me to go for runs twice a week and hit the gym twice a week, so my time management is less of an issue.
Eating clean is, of course, a challenge some days. However, I have embarked upon a 10 day quest. For 10 days (starting yesterday) no cheats, nothing "unclean." I had my first big test last night when I sent the husband out for pizza. I reminded him, before he left, not to get a pizza for me (we usually get one vegetarian for me and one with as many dead animals as possible for the rest of the family). He asked what he should pick up for me and I replied with, "Nothing." I had some leftover vegetarian sloppy joe on sprouted wheat bread and a stalk of celery. Yummy. I don't mean that sarcastically, it was actually really god.
Also really good are Larabars. I could live off of them. They are very high in fat but low in calories and as long as you read the ingredients and don't accidentally get one with added sugar (like I did this weekend), they can be part of a clean eating regimen. I am going to attempt, this week, to make my own version of some of my favorites. I'll let you know how that turns out. So far, I've found that I'm not quite as talented of a chef as I hoped I could be.
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