Break-ups to Make-ups

Well me and my current love interest, the Treadmill, decided to take a break from each other for a few days. I think he was feeling that I wasn't giving it all that I had, and I felt he was pushing me too hard. So we took a couple days to get our bearings back, think things through, and we both realized, in the words of Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock that "it takes two to make a thing go right...it takes two to make it out of site." Honestly, I'm glad we are back together...he brings the best out of me, and though some days I love to hate him and his calories per hour, he pushes me on word and up word at an incline of 7.0%, in the end he has my best interest at heart (literally). I'm happy to say that I've reached one of my goals...that is I can walk a mile in 17 minutes at a 3.5 mph.

GIRL SCOUT COOKIES ARE THE DEVIL

Not only do I have to be worried about being attacked by Reese's Eggs, Peeps and the Cadbury Bunny, but I have to see those cute little girl scouts with puppy dog eyes asking me to buy their devilishly good treats so they can win a iPod at the front of the grocery store. My neighbor informed me to stay away from the grocery store because they were representing...in numbers...of cookies and brownies that is. All last week that's all I had visions of dancing in my head was boxes of Somoas, Peanut Butter Patties and Thin Mints. You'll be happy to know that I didn't fall trap to the sad puppy dog eyes and the delectably coconut and chocolate drizzled delicacies. I plan on trying to devise a plan to get into the grocery store by a secret co-op mission that doesn't include walking by that table. If I do me and some Shortbreads will Do-Si-Do.

SUBLIMINAL FORTUNES...what does it all mean?

On Sunday, I was paying for my Saturday night of fun at the Irish American Club of the East Side of Cleveland. Saturday night alone I blew my work out on Saturday...but it was well worth it. Then on Sunday I paid the price for the Irish fun I had on Saturday. On Sunday, I decided I'd get some Chinese food. I haven't had this for like a year...and well to be honest, Sunday's are hard days for me. Sunday's are usually spent with family, and since I live about 4.5 hours away from mine, I usually spend my Sundays doing miscellaneous things and working out. Any who, I digress...when I got back to the Mansion I decided to see what my fortune was, and over the past few weeks I've had a lot to think about and reevaluate in different aspects of my life ... but what this tiny high-fructose cookie had in store was definitely a subliminal message (that about 8,000 other people probably got too) and that was "Believe it can be done." I know it's foolish to look for answers in fortune cookies, and not that this was an answer I was looking for, but more something I needed to see and be reminded of. For all those reading going through hard times or needing that extra push just remember "Believe it can be done!"

SHAKE WHAT YOUR MAMA GAVE YA

Songs to make part of your next work-out routine:

La Roux - Bulletproof (Foamo Dubstep Remix)

Lady GaGa feat. Beyonce - Telephone (Crooker's Remix)
Ludacris - Bad Chick

Black Eyed Peas - Rock that Body

T.I. - I'm Back

Jay-Z - On to the Next

Three-Six-Mafia feat. Sean Kingston - Feel It

Pitbull feat. Akon - Shut it Down

Flo ri da feat. Nelly Furtado - Jump

What songs do you listen to to get that workout going?

Books without Pictures

I was never a reader. When I was younger I was but the older I get the more I depend on publications that are nothing but pictures. Sad isn't it? Some might be thinking it is the poor eye sight I might of inherited. I got that corrected with Lasik, so all I can chalk it up to is my mild case of adult ADHD with a pinch of laziness. I thought the older I got the more I'd enjoy reading. I don't even enjoy reading the washing instructions on my clothes. I think Communication Law and HTML 1 turned me off to reading. Those two particular classes took me to far away "I don't understand WTF this is saying" world. But times are a changin' and I've decided to once again try to overcome my lack of patience with reading.




As the book turns...
As the page turns, I've decided to give this particular literary goodness a hearty go... Mindless Eating by Brian Wansink, Ph.D. It explores the psychological aspects of overeating to explain why we do in fact consume more than we believe we do. I'm game for expanding my cranium and not my waist line. Apparently this book and it's scientific findings have helped pave the way to a "less is more" campaign with the likes of the 100 calorie packs and the use of taller, etched glasses for alcoholic beverages. I sure hope I can channel some patience and make it through this!



Dropping pounds like Vanilla Ice burning MC's like a pound of bacon
On a lighter bite, I've dropped 3 lbs this week so far! Pretty stoked about that considering I took the weekend off from my work out routine and Wednesday I won't be able to work out because I have a photo shoot to attend to and dinner with a friend. I'm hoping by Friday I can drop 2 more for a total of 5 lbs this week. That would rock because next week I'm sure I will gain it all back when "mother nature" turns it's evil head. I wish guys had to put up with all the "womanly" things us ladies have to. The only thing they get to experience is a sympathy belly used to show what it's like to be pregnant, and I'm sure that's not what it's like to be pregnant.

Gonna make ya sweat till ya bleed!
I'm still plowing through a pretty intense workout of 1 hour on the treadmill, 15 on the elliptical, 20 on the bike, rotating weights and 30 day shred every other day. I'm thinking about taking karate kickboxing class. I need to get ready for 5K season. It's definitely nipping at my heels, and I would like to eventually walk a 17 or less minute mile. I'm almost there! I can walk a mile in 17:38. My treadmill routine is pretty grueling I must say, but it's definitely helping with my stamina. I start out with a 2.5% incline at 3.2 mph for 10 minutes, then move to a 6.0% incline at 2.9 mph, then to a 6.0% incline at 3.2 mph for 10 minutes, then back to 6.0% at 2.9 mph for 10 minutes, then back to a 6.0% at 3.2 mph for 5 minutes and finish it off at a 0% incline at 3.4 mph for 15 minutes. Did you follow all that? The only thing missing is lap around the mulberry bush and a mad dash to grandma's house.


Diet Pop Cake experiment
So next week my friend Candy (minus the suga) will be visiting! I'm so excited I can hardly stand it! I'm planning on making Diet Pop Cake. Has anyone ever made this before? Word on the streets is it is very tasty, moist, low in fat and calories. If you've ever made this give me the 411. I would love some feedback before Cookin' with Phat Girl burns down the kitchen...and the mansion!