I Didn't Lose 50 Pounds Sitting on My Butt...Right?

Well, well look who's back blogging. I apologize to my readers ... unacceptable I know, but in good old excuse fashion things have been busy. I can point the blame at all sorts of things but the problem is there are three fingers pointing back at me! Where to begin...let's recap the past five months...

1. I moved back to my hometown of Cincinnati, Ohio
2. I took a position with a company I use to work for
3. I've immersed myself back into a schedule that is just as busy as an A-list celebrity on a movie junket
4. Oh and the fun part...I've gained back 10 of the 50 pounds I lost

Where does this leave me you ask. It leaves me with a feeling of failure. Failure in letting old habits creep back in; Failure in resisting temptation; Failure in my own free-will of this journey I'm on. Falling off the wagon isn't easy...I take that back it is. All it takes is one damn Reese's Tree and that leads to the whole damn forest (not that I would know that or anything). Falling off wagon also hurts...not that I would personally know what actually falling off a wagon would be like, but I'm sure it would hurt like hell...especially on a gravel road. Ouch. Falling off the weight loss wagon sucks...it's the worst feeling in the world, right up there with a power outage right in the middle of the 24 hours of A Christmas Story. I can look at it as only 10 pounds...but that's 10 POUNDS! 10 pounds of blood, sweat, tears, blisters, swollen ankles, sore muscles, bruises, and cutting calories that for what...for what! To think I can just sit back and be OK with that...hell no.

So right here, right now is my pledge to make it through this journey. Not only to lose the 10 lbs I gained, but also to drop another 50 by September 2011 (which would make my grand total donated to Susan G. Komen $100).

I'm not waiting for the new year to start to declare my war on weight ... I actually started this week. I've worked out every single day this week, replaced my carbonated beverages with water and tea, upped the ante on eating breakfast in the morning and packing balanced lunches instead of running through the drive thru. I've also signed up for kick boxing again which starts January 3, and welcome back with open arms (OK maybe not so much) the 30 Day Shred. You maybe exhausted just reading this, hell I'm exhausted just typing this, but it is necessary that I commit to this promise, not only for myself, but a better and healthier life. I'm not as young as I use to be!

Who's with me in 2011!?

Welcome Back...

Wow no post since June...I really suck at this blogging thing. Life has taken many twist and turns since the last post....

I've relocated back to my hometown of Cincinnati, Ohio (very exciting I must say :) ), with that means moving back in with the rents (very exciting I must say...), starting new but old jobs, picking up bad (eating) habits, joined a gym...oh the joys of life. When it rains it pours I guess. Why is it that we are always so hard on ourselves. I've criticized myself more over the past month and half for not getting totally back on my game when I've not only been settling back in but taking on more responsibility. Sometimes I wish I wasn't my own worst critic...but then again it's better than being up against the panel on American Idol. But currently that panel just consists of Randy, so he would totally be my dawg and give me criticism followed by props. Once can dream right?

I must admit I've fallen off the band wagon of healthy eating and working out ... temporarily. For one, I have a full pantry at my expense for the first time in 2 years. Moving back in with the 'rent's for the past couple of months has not only help me save in some areas, but gain in others (like my waist line!). I guess when you are just one, single serving gal you never have a full pantry. The one thing I have noticed that I've been consuming a lot if is diet pop. I gave up pop over a year ago, and I use to have every once and a while, but since moving back home I drink it like it's going out of style...like it's air. Seriously. So this week I'm back on my no pop drinking rule, protein shakes, yogurt, fruit and mini snack kicks.

I think sometimes I need to remind myself how far I've come...I don't even give myself credit for that. Another bad habit I've picked up ... fast food. I admit it ... I suck at getting up early, packing a delicious and nutritious lunch and snacks. It only takes one day of poor decision making for me to ruin the next four. Sometimes I wish I could just walk around in the part of my brain that thinks about food. Is there a round table of chemicals and food sitting around in my brain betting on what will be the next thing I eat? And do they gang up with my hormones and emotions to cause an overabundance of feeling like I'm going to die with out pretzel m&m's?

How is everyone else doing out there!? Everyone surviving!? I'm glad fall is here...I love fall. Bring on the apple picking!

Can You Focus on This Article?

So I was reading this article on MSN where they interviewed Jillian Michael's about her new show where she lives with families, flips their world up-side-down and helps show them the "healthy" way. Seriously...can you really focus on the article with DiGiorno Deep Dish Pizza surrounding an interview about healthy eating and transforming the dietary lives of people? I gained 5 pounds just looking at the screen...

Happy Wednesday.

Fat Tuesday Recap ... Emotional vs. Physical Hunger

It was a bad day folks in the soup de jour department but a break through in the emotional eating department. Yesterday was a good and bad day. Good because there is a lot going on in my life right now I am excited about, bad because I feel like I can do better and haven't when it comes to this weight loss journey (I know so vague). One thing I never really thought about until recently is the disaster that can happen when food and emotions mix. I got to thinking that we eat when we are happy, we eat when we are sad, we eat when we feel nothing at all, we eat when we are stressed and why is that? In my quest to feed my need for knowledge I came across an article in Today's Diet and Nutrition about emotional hunger vs. physical hunger.


I've noticed I do two things when emotions come into play in my diet: I either eat or I don't eat. Weird right? Most emotions and celebrations involve food - a graduation, a party, showers, funerals. Even rewards can be centered around food when we do well and excel at something. When we are kids and we get hurt sometimes we are given a Popsicle or ice cream to sooth in our comforting. How do we break a learned behavior such as emotional eating?

As I've learned throughout this journey so far you have choices. Choices for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks. Choices for exercising. Choices for if today you will put off what you should've done yesterday. Choice to eat balance meals or skip a meal here and there. I wish I had a new word for choices, and options really isn't that much better! These choices are at times dependent on the situations we find ourselves in daily. For example, if we have a bad day at work we have a choice to take that day home with us or leave it in the office. How we deal with that bad day is when emotions come into play. I don't know about you but when I use to have a bad day in the office I would eat, go home and site on my couch and let that day fester until I decided I was ready for bed. Most times I was so busy at work I wouldn't eat and when I got home I would eat whatever I could, and eat to the point where it would hurt. Yup hurt. Not emotionally but physically. It's not the best feeling in the world folks, I don't recommend it!

Now the question becomes what is the solution to these learned emotional behaviors that have lasted all these years, that have been there through thick and thin and that I've relied on so much through good and bad times? For one, it's finding other ways to deal with these emotions instead of dealing with them through the use of food. For example, instead of taking out your bad day in the office out on your fridge, take it out in the gym, the sidewalk, reading...the list is endless. I've been making a list of all the things I CAN do: go for a walk, create a piece of artwork, sketch up a new jewelry design. And while this is going to take some time to get use to, it's necessary to. I can't let my emotions get the best of me because I worked too damn hard to be where I'm at today. I don't want to walk down that path again, so something has to change!

Sorry for the one way ticket to Debbie Downerville. It's all part of this journey I suppose, and whether or not I like it, I'm going to have to deal with it. Hope all is well with everyone! Keep fighting the good fight everyone...WE ARE IN IT TO WIN IT!

Jackie Knows Fat the Best?

So Jackie Warner, celebrity trainer and star of the Bravo (non-hit) series "Workout," just dropped this book. Apparently she knows why I'm fat and she will teach me the ways of getting thin for life. I like Jackie Warner, I've seen her show, I've seen the results she has helped people achieve, and from what I've read this book has gotten mixed reviews. Not only for the content inside, which apparently it doesn't tell you anything different than anything us weight watchers don't know, but it's also getting flack for using the "F" word.
(side note: I should probably read the book for my own assessment and I plan to do that after pay day next week...book review to follow).

My fellow bloggers over Fit Bottom Girls posted this about the book. I have to agree with Jenn on some of her points. The use of the word "fat" is definitely sensationalized on this cover, and many will buy this book and be forever changed by Jackie and her fitness knowledge. After reading the article I started thinking about the "F" word, how I use it and how I hear it used around me. Back in the day the word use to make me uncomfortable, so much I would feel sick at the sound of hearing it. No one wants to be called names, especially the "F" word. The "F" word is like an elephant in the room ... everybody sees it, everybody is thinking it, and some may even say it. Some how over the years I suppose I've embraced the word to the point it doesn't bother me. Maybe I've become desensitized by it, maybe I see it for it is, or maybe it's just always "there."

I will admit, I jokingly use that word when I talk about myself, and I probably shouldn't do that, but I'm fat so I can, right? Probably not, but it comes with the territory of being the funny, fat girl I suppose. But does the fact that I use that word referring to myself reflect poorly on me? Some say it might, but I never viewed it like that because that's what I do but maybe I should start viewing it as a poor reflection on my views of myself. The way I talk about myself sometimes I would never talk to a best friend, my sister, or family member like that.

From this point on I vow not to use the "F" word when I talk about myself, because in all honesty I don't view myself as that word and the negative connotations that can come with it. So good bye fat...HELLO phat :)

The Evolution of Weight Loss (and gain)

I've been slacking lately...not only on my blogging, and my accountability, but on my healthy eating. No excuse I know because slacking is partly the cause of my demise a year ago. My workouts lately have been sporadic. I've only been averaging three workouts a week versus the six that I was doing, and with summer travel and meetings it is getting harder to fit it in. I find myself consuming empty calories of coffee and an occasional carbonated beverage, which I haven't drank consistently in over a year, but somehow over the past month they've crept their sneaky way back into my life. I know that this is just a tiny, minuet bump in the road, but I don't feel very good about it. How can the one thing that I have control over suddenly go out of control? While I encourage those on their wellness journey, I sometimes forget that I too need to encourage myself, and keep up with all the blood, sweat and tears that got me to this very point.

So in order to remind myself that, baby, I've come along way I would like to present to you the Evolution of Weight Loss and Weight Gain (aka The Evolution from fat to phat). This starts all the way back my first summer in Cleveland in 2008 up to May 2010. As you can see my butt wasn't the only thing that was expanding...look at that hair!?

To my readers, supporters and fellow weight loss aficionados:

How do you fit in your healthy life style when life goes hay wire? What are your secrets to your success?

The Exception to the Rule

Rules: some say they were meant to be broken, others follow them religiously and some are the "exception" to it. When it comes to weight loss is there the exception to the rule? This all started a couple weeks ago when I was watching "he's just not that into you" and I started thinking about exceptions to rules. For example, you can wear white except for white shoes after Labor Day; The 'i before e' except when after 'c' rule when writing; at my job we have casual Fridays for the three summer months where you can wear what you wear during the week with the exception that you can wear khaki's but you can't wear anything "casual" (no jeans, no tank tops, no casual business shorts...); when you think about all the exceptions to rules you might as well have a handbook about them and throw colored little flags if you are causing any offense to them.

 

I started thinking about all the rules that "are a given" when losing weight:

• Eat fruits and veggies
• 8 glasses of water a day
• Adding more fiber to your diet
• Exercise at least 30 minutes a day for three days
• Wheat and whole grains
• Limited quantities of complex sugars and carbs
• Incorporating additional protein to diet
• Eliminating soda beverages or replacing them with "diet" ones
• Limiting sodium and fat intake
• Limit intake of alcohol
• Portion control and moderation

 

I started thinking of all the "exceptions to the rules" to losing weight:

• Food restriction
• Dietary supplements
• Diet/Fad programs
• Water pills and Laxatives
• Over-excessive Steam Room/Sauna
• Over-excessive Exercise
• Certain kinds of Cosmetic Surgery

I've come to the conclusion that when it comes to weight loss there are no exceptions to the rule. The rule is to eat right, exercise, portion control and moderation. Unfortunately, I've learned my lessons the hard way...more than once, but no more I say! I use to think there were exceptions to the rules of losing weight; and it got me back to where I was and then some. Not proud of it, but I learned from it, and I hope to educate others about the dangers of the exceptions because of the unhealthy consequences that happen from our weight loss choices.

Lesson Learned: Work smarter not harder is what someone told me once; and I plan to apply this to my weight loss goals but I will have to work hard to get to them. It's not how I get there, but the journey that I embark on when I finally do get there!

 

Half-Way to the Finish Line!

So I haven't updated this thing in a week...but I have to tell all my fans, readers and supporters! I'M DOWN 50 LBS.! More to come...I should probably get back to work or something...

Girl Get Yo Mind Right!?

Ahhh...Monday...how I don't love thee, let me count the ways...Why are Mondays one of the most dreaded days of the week? What if Monday's were actually Friday's and Friday's were Monday's? There's the deep thought for the day. I dread Monday's for two reasons: a) 9:00 a.m. meetings and b) Monday's usually set the tone for the week. Right now, it's hot in the dungeon (I work in a basement of a 151 year old building that doesn't have central air), and my ion standing fan has just bit the dust. Guess this is what it was like 151 years ago, minus the computer, CS5, scanner and printer ... and overhead lighting ... email ... 9:00 a.m. meetings ... man they had it made back then. All they had to worry about was who was churning the butter and piano lessons.

This week I think will be a breaking point for me. I'm six pounds away from losing 50 pounds. In retrospect I'm six pounds away from losing a 1st/2nd grader. That's mind to the blown. That sounds kind of sci-fi like I'm The Fly or The Blob...some crazy scientific experiment that went haywire. Part of me KNOWS I'm going to take it to the house and drop these six pounds like Ali vs. Foreman. But there is a part of me that is uncertain of it. Part of me is ready for what is about to come after this half-way point and part of me is scared sh*tless. I know that sounds stupid right? I should be ecstatic that I've lost as much as I have over the last 7-8 months. While I am happy with progress, I'm still not satisfied with it to a degree. I feel like I've not lost enough over the last 7-8 months. While I've maintained over the holidays, and have minor 3 or 4 pound set backs, maybe I'm still salty at myself for having to go through this all over again and then some. Maybe I'm not ready to let go of who "Emilie" use to be and who she has become throughout this process. It's not like I'm this drastically different person. I'm still the same ol' G as the kids would say. It's easy to get stuck in that "safe" place, but I've never been one to just settle or play it safe (OK to a degree like when it comes to diving off cliffs or something), and I think going through this journey a second time has really showed me that settling is never an option. I should always want better for myself, and by darn it I'm worth it! We are all worth the opportunity for something better!

So this week it's on like donkey kong. Mario vs. Luigi. Nas vs. Jay-Z. Obama vs. Palin. East vs. West...you get the picture. I've signed up for a month of fitness kickboxing and added an additional weight circuit to my normal workout. It's time to do work son!!! The big five-ohhh won't know what hit it!

By the way...fitness kickboxing was the best $50 I've ever spent. It was intense but hitting and kicking that punching bag and imagining certain people's faces on it...PRICELESS! It was loaded with kicks, punches, ab work, weight work and a ton of cardio. I highly recommend it if you are looking to add a roundhouse workout to the mix. I can only imagine what I'm going to feel like in the morning (because on top of 45 minutes of kickboxing I did an hour of cardio before that...crazy...I think so). Sorry Chuck Norris...you ain't got nothing on E NERL!

In the ring, right corner...weighing in at...(wait don't ask a lady that!)...is THE BEAST OF THE EAST!
The challenger ... holdin' on to water, fat and free radicals is ... 6 pounds from 50!

READY...LETS GET IT ON! LET'S FIGHT FAT!
(ding, ding!)

My Humps...My Humps...My Lovely Lady Lumps

I'm sure there are some ladies out there that can agree with me on this, but why do our lovely lady lumps always get in the way! Seriously, sometimes trying to do crunches or even push ups is like trying to bench press bowling or boccie balls on your chest. I'm lucky when I'm on the treadmill that I don't leave the gym with a black eye. Thick Chick was telling me she knows people that wear like three sports bras to work out in. That's like a human breast band aid. I mean, three sports bras? Really? Is that necessary? So I took the liberty of snapping the snap with one hand and doing some research on some over the shoulder boulder holders. My good friends over at sparkpeople.com had these things to say when it comes getting the proper sports bra.

Studies have shown that between 70% and 80% of women are wearing the wrong size sports bra, and therefore, they may not be getting the benefits of support and comfort from their fitness wardrobe. Keep in mind most department stores will do a fitting for you (or your boyfriend, hubby, or significant probably wouldn't mind subbing in to help with the measurement either.). But if modesty is a concern, you can take your own measurements before leaving home. Measuring can save you lots of time and aggravation when choosing the right bra.

Take your own measurements

1. Use a tailor’s tape or cloth measuring tape when taking your measurements.
2. Stand up straight, preferably in front of a mirror.
3. Wear a normal (non-padded) bra, not a sports bra, when taking your measurements.
4. Find your bust measurement. Measure the fullest part of your chest by loosely wrapping the tape measure around your chest, making sure the tape is straight in the back and front. Once you get a number, round to the nearest whole number to get your bust measurement. (For example, if your bust measured 38.5 inches, round that up to 39 inches.)
5. Find your band measurement. Measure your ribcage just under your breasts, making sure the tape is snug (not tight) and not lower in the back than in the front. To get obtain your band measurement, take the actual number of your ribcage measurement and add 3 inches. If this number is odd, you need to add 1 inch to make it an even number. (For example, if your band measured 32 inches, you'd add 3 to get 35 inches; because it's an odd number, you'd add a 1 to get 36 inches.)  
6. Find your cup size. Subtract your band measurement (step 5) from your bust measurement (step 4). Use the chart below to determine which letter is your cup size. (Using the same example above, you'd subtract 39-36 to get 3 inches, which is a C cup, according to the chart.)

Types of Sports Bras

• Compression Sports Bras (the one piece style that you pull on over your head) are by far the most popular sports bra construction. This bra compresses both breasts against your chest allowing for minimal or no-bounce movement. These bras are generally a pullover style without fasteners. This style is most suited for women with small to medium sized breasts (A-B cups). These tend to come in general sizes, such as small, medium and large vs. band/cup sizes. Most major manufacturers, including Champion, Moving Comfort, Under Armour, Reebok and Nike, carry a wide variety of compression sports bras from which to choose.
  
• Encapsulated or Natural-Shaping Sports Bras are best suited for larger breasted women, usually a C-cup or larger. These bras look more like a normal bra with fasteners in the front or back, and may come with or without the underwire. This style encapsulates each breast in an individual cup instead of compressing both breasts together as in the previous example. The encapsulated sports bra is the best choice for larger-breasted women (C-cup and up) or plus sized women. One of the most popular manufacturers of this style is Enell. Their bras have received rave reviews from women who require greater support and control. But other manufacturers, including Moving Comfort and CW-X, also provide a nice selection in these sizes.
  
• Compression/Encapsulation Sports Bras are a combination of the previous two bras. They encapsulate each breast and compress the breast tissue against the chest. They can be pulled over the head or closed with fasteners. This style is ideal for women with medium to large breasts, usually C through DD cups.

Now you probably have a good idea about the construction style that is best for you. Now comes the fun part—considering the individual features (including colors, styles and design details) of your sports bra. While fit should always trump style, here are some construction details to look for:
Moisture-wicking fabrics, such as Dri-FIT and CoolMax, pull sweat away from your skin to help keep you cool and dry (and minimize chafing). Avoid all-cotton bras—especially if you sweat heavily or exercise in hot, humid conditions—because this fabric tends to remain wet and saturated even after your workout is over.
Minimal seams or covered seams, especially in the cups, to prevent chafing and irritation. Every seam on a sports bra could rub against your skin, so the fewer seams the better.

Wide straps that do not dig into your shoulders. Many women, especially runners, prefer the popular razorback style since this design allows for greater arm movement and provides greater support. However, a traditional scoop style is a readily available alternative for women who find the razorback style uncomfortable.

A snug fit around the rib cage allows for minimal movement, but the band should not be so snug as to keep you from getting good lung expansion during your activity. Your sports bra should feel snug—not tight.

Deep armholes to minimize chafing yet allow for good range of motion.

Finding the Right Fit

It is very important to try on a sports bra before you buy it. Most experts recommend that you take a minimum of three sports bras with you when heading to the fitting room. You should bring the size you measured, along with the next size up and the next size down. Because sizes can vary between manufacturers, it is important to try on many different brands and styles in order to find the optimal fit. You know you've got the right size, style and fit when:

The straps fit snug against the skin, but aren't so tight that they dig in to your shoulders. You should be able to slide two fingers underneath the straps—from the front to the back of the straps with ease.

The band lies snug and flat against around the front, sides, and back of your ribcage. It should not ride up. You should be able to slide one finger easily under the band.

Your breasts fit within the cups. In other words, any bulging from the top or sides is an indication that the cup size is too small.

The fabric does not "gather" in the cup, especially on top. Excess fabric bunches are usually an indication that the cup is too big and will not provide adequate support and comfort. This can also cause chafing during activity.

Once you've tried on a bra that fits your requirements, test it out in the fitting room! Do some movement drills such as jumping jacks, running in place, and raising your arms overhead to make certain the bra provides the control, support, and comfort you are looking for without rubbing you the wrong way. But remember, a good sports bra will fit more snugly than a regular bra—just not so snug that you cannot get one finger under the band and slide it easily.

While most experts suggest trying a sports bra on for the first time, some women may have a difficult time finding their true size on the store rack. Luckily, there are a few Websites to guide you along. Many of the sites provide instructions for how to find the right bra for you as well as customer service phone numbers you can call for assistance. The following sites provide a wide variety of sport bra apparel for women of all shapes and sizes:

HerRoom - www.herroom.com

Just My Size - www.JMS.com
title nine - www.titlenine.com
Road Runner Sports - RoadRunnerSports.com

Old Navy - www.oldnavy.com 

Weight Loss Expectations + Reality + Roadblocks + Detours = Frustrations

It's no secret...weight loss can be an added pain in the arse. What your expectations of what you think you are capable of doing or losing and to what the reality of those expectations are sometimes, well a bit skewed. I went into this thinking I'm going to drop weight like Brody Jenner drops girlfriends, and that's far from the case. While I make healthy food choices and get in a daily workout, I often wonder why the weight isn't dripping off me like diamonds off Liz Taylor. For starters I know I have unrealistic weight loss goals. Thinking that I could drop 100 lbs in less than a year (particularly by my 30th birthday, which is only a month and a half away!), was pretty ambitious (so instead I hope to lose 100 by September 25, the day of the Susan G. Komen Race in Cincinnati). I must've been smoking the peace pipe when I came up with that goal, but I have to take what I can get. Also, watching Biggest Loser doesn't help either. While they are an inspiration to people who are slugging it out with their weight loss journey, losing that much weight at one time puts everyone in a tizzy.

So what should realistic goals be? Anyone, anyone? Bueller, Bueller? And what are good goals to strive for?
Various research bodies—including the American Dietetic Association, the American Heart Association, and the National Institutes of Health, with its national obesity guidelines—recommend aiming for conservative weight loss of 5 percent to 10 percent of your current body weight. Not only is this achievable, overweight and obese people who can lose up to 10 percent of their body weight can see significant improvements in their health risks. For example, the American Heart Association 2006 Diet and Lifestyle Recommendations point out that even modest weight loss of just 5 percent to 10 percent can have a positive impact in diabetes risk and management.

Check out the charts below for examples of what it means to lose 5 percent to 10 percent of your current body weight:

How does this relate to how fast you can drop it like it's hot? How fast can you drop pounds? Most guidelines recommend that you take up to six months to reach a 10 percent weight loss goal. That’s because, even if you can lose it fast, it’s easy to gain back once you go off your program. It’s better to lose a small amount and maintain it, than to lose and gain large amounts yo-yo style. When a person frequently loses and gains, each new dieting attempt takes longer to lose the same amount of weight, and it is more quickly regained. This may be the body’s way of preserving energy during what it senses as an energy-deficient state.

The USDA Dietary Guidelines recommend aiming for slow weight loss by eating fewer calories while maintaining an adequate nutrient intake and increasing physical activity. So aim to lose from one-half to two pounds a week—or, more commonly, one to two pounds a week—by reducing calories by 500 to 1,000 per day.

(figures and stats were brought to you by MSN health article)

Until that miracle pill that you can take with an 8 oz. glass of water comes along, keep fightin' the good fit fight with portion control, moderation and exercise!

SHAMELESS PRODUCT PLUG

My fellow blogger, Tiff , over at the 365 Project was talking about Naked Juice's Green Machine and since I had to hit up the grocery store I thought I get a couple and see how naked juice can be. I got the Red Machine and Green Machine (they were on sale 2 for $5!). At first I was kind of skeptical about how they would taste (so far I've only had the Red Machine), and how they fit a pound, yes a pound, of fruit into a 16 oz. bottle! To my surprise, it was very tasty, and filling. I actually supplemented my breakfast with it this morning (Red Machine was 170 calories and 4.5 grams of fat per serving and there are two servings per bottle). The great thing about Naked Juice is that it allows you to get in your fruit and veggie serving for the day. Every bottle has over three servings! So in this case when in Rome...go get naked people!
 
 
 
PHAT SHOUT OUTS
I would like to give a shout out to all my readers! Thanks for the comments and the continuous support! I also want to give a Phat shout out to Jen C.! Jen C. has put me to the challenge! She will match me minute for minute, work out for work out! She's been doing great, so keep up the good work Jen C.!

Fat Tuesday: What's up Chicken Butt?

Gooooooodddddd Mooooooorrrrrrning Blogggggies!!! Welcome to this edition of Fat Tuesday. I'm fighting Fat Tuesday with a 3 mile jaunt around campus, followed by 15 minutes worth of weights and crunches this morning (this isn't even including my evening workout!). Time to bring back two-a-days. I will admit, I've slacked off the past three days, and while I can blame it on traveling, which I did a impromptu trip to the Queen City, doesn't mean I should've fallen into the deep valley of laziness. While I digress, today is a brand new day, and it's time to saddle up ol' blue and get back up in dis cut as the kids say.

Let's take a look at the latest cluck to hit the coop. KFC's Double Down Sandwich. I don't know if you've seen this monsterwich but it's the big chick in town.

KFC's Double Down Sandwich, an double fisted collection of bacon, cheese and Colonel's Sauce snuggled between two fried chicken "buns." Granted from our friends over at Thirty Five Eight: Politics Done Right's recent article it's not the unhealthiest sandwich but it sure is holding its own right next to the Triple Baconator from Wendy's, Hardee's Thick Burger and Burger King's Whooper with cheese.

Let's take a more in depth look at the Double Down...

KFC Original Recipe® Double Down
540 calories, 32 grams of fat and 1,380 milligrams of sodium 

KFC Grilled Double Down
460 calories, 23 grams of fat and 1,430 milligrams of sodium

While both versions aren't as bad as other choices on several menus (some would call this lite!), those 540 calories contain 145 milligrams of cholesterol (more than twice that of the Big Mac and about half of the USDA's daily allowance) - along with 1,380 milligrams of sodium (the USDA recommends no more than 2,400 per day) and 32 grams of fat (65 will keep you slim, says the government). So, for getting only about one-quarter of the calories that you need in a day, you're exhausting about half your budget of "bad stuff".


Who wants to exhaust your food intake budget on this!? Think twice before you bite!

Purrrrfect Zen...

"I meditate, I do yoga, I chant.. and I still want to smack someone!"

My mom sent me this card, and I found it to be phat girl blog worthy! Thanks Mom!

Happy Monday :)

Have you tried Zumba?

For the past few weeks, I have been attending Zumba class two times a week. I can't rave enough about it!

I would define Zumba as a type of dance, using Latin inspired moves set to upbeat music. The class uses intervals, pairing certian moves with slower beats to warm you up and then kicking it up a notch using faster music and more difficult combinations.

While you may think you are just jumping around and having a good time, the different steps and combinations target specific areas of the body. The best part is, you may hate doing ab work, but there are moves in every combination that work your abs without you really knowing it. I just took a class last night that apparently targeted arms because my arms are a little sore today, like I lifted weights last night instead of Zumba-ing.

If you are interested in checking out Zumba, visit the official website, http://www.zumba.com/. The website has a list of locations where Zumba is offered. Zumba is a great way to mix up your workout. Try it - I promise you won't be able to stop moving!

These are the days of Phat Girl's life...Before meets After

OK so I've been thinking (and promising) that I need to show progression pictures. This isn't a full body shot...sorry fellas, I know I'm just a tease...but the next best thing...(no) double chin pictures!

This was me on one of my visits home right after moving to Cleveland...

This is me today, right after I walked 60 minutes on the treadmill,
20 minutes on the elliptical and Level 1 of the 30 Day Shred
(sorry for the crazy eyes...that's what walking for 60 minutes listening to B.E.P's will do to you)

Still have a long ways to go, but so far have come along way :)

Fat Tuesday - GOT BEEF?

Welcome to the first edition of Fat Tuesday. I will be your hostess today...minus the hurricanes, elaborate parade with beads and king cake! In this edition of Fat Tuesday, brought to you by Eat This, Not That, we are going to delve into the meaty goodness of the good ol' hamburger. Let's take a meaty look at the top 15 worst burgers.

Worst Burger Kids Meal - Burger King Cheeseburger and French Fries (small)
680 calories, 33 g fat (10.5 g saturated, 0.5 g trans), 1,360 mg sodium

Worst Cheeseburger with Everything - Wendy’s Double with Everything and Cheese
700 calories, 40 g fat (17 g saturated, 2 g trans), 1,440 mg sodium

Worst Burger and Fries - In-N-Out Burger Hamburger and French Fries
790 calories, 37 g fat (10 g saturated), 895 mg sodium

Worst Plain Burger - Five Guys Cheeseburger (plain)
840 calories, 55 g fat (22.5 g saturated), 1,050 mg sodium

Worst Double Meat Burger - Whataburger Double Meat Whataburger
870 calories, 49 g fat (18 g saturated, 1 g trans), 1,510 mg sodium

Worst Burger Breed - Carl’s Jr. Six Dollar Burger
890 calories, 54 g fat (20 g saturated, 2 g trans), 2,040 mg sodium

Worst Thick Burger - Hardee’s Original Thickburger (1/3 lb)
910 calories, 64 g fat (21 g saturated), 1,560 mg sodium

Worst Chicken Burger - Red Robin California Chicken Burger
946 calories, 57 g fat, 2,002 mg sodium

Worst Turkey Minis - Ruby Tuesday Turkey Minis (4)
1,058 calories, 58 g fat, 79 g carbohydrates

Trans-Fattest Burger Combo - Jack in the Box Bonus Jack with Small Fries and Small Coke
1,061 calories, 48 g fat (17 g saturated, 5 g trans), 1,609 mg sodium

Worst BBQ Burger - Red Robin Whiskey River BBQ Burger
1,114 calories, 69 g fat, 1,805 mg sodium

Worst "Healthy" Burger - Ruby Tuesday Avocado Turkey Burger
1,130 calories, 68 g fat, 62 g carbohydrates

Worst Fast Food Cheeseburger - Burger King Triple Whopper Sandwich with Cheese and Mayo
1,250 calories, 84 g fat (32 g saturated, 3.5 g trans), 1,600 mg sodium

Worst Mini Burgers - Chili’s Big Mouth Burger Bites (4)
1,580 calories, 97 g fat (28 g saturated), 2,930 mg sodium

Worst Burger in America - Chili’s Smokehouse Bacon Triple Cheese Big Mouth Burger with Jalapeno Ranch Dressing
1,901 calories, 138 g fat (947 g saturated), 4,201 mg sodium

Now what makes most of these beefy beauties "worst" is the fat and sodium content (and for some calories). Keep in mind for a woman who consumes 1,500 calories the recommended fat intake is 50 g, and for a man who consumes 2,500 calories the recommended fat intake is around 70-80 g. As you can see MOST of these burgers are either at or well over the recommended fat intake per day. Even those labeled "turkey" or "healthy" still have red flags that fly high above the pretentious patties! I will admit, ain't no shame in my game, but I have eaten a couple of these monstrous mammoths before. And while they are tantalizing tasty to the taste buds I never knew the evil that lurked below that secret sauce.
 
When you are thinking about beef for dinner just keep in mind that making simple swaps with sides, condiments, buns and toppings could make a world of difference!
 
Happy Fat Tuesday!

No Pain ... 4 Pound Weight Gain

I can't believe I gained back four pounds. UGH! I hate seeing that number go back up on the scale, and even more getting discourage over how much I've busted my butt over the last two weeks only to be given four pounds slapped right back on. I am so close to a 50 pound weight loss I can taste it! Now instead of 5 pounds to lose to 50 I now have 9 pounds to lose to 50! Now I have to bust it twice as hard this week to shed those pesky four pounds. Even though it feels quite the set back (which I shouldn't be crying over but its a low blow), I'm not going to let it get to me. Just means it's a last chance work out every single day this week. Once mother nature makes some weather decisions I'm thinking about picking back up two-a-days with walking. Three miles in the morning, and three in the evening. I've now decided to work in more of an incline with my treadmill walking. Now I go from a 6% incline for 10 minutes, to a 7% incline for 10 minutes and then a 8% incline for 10 minutes, all at varying speeds. Let me tell you...that 8% is brutal. I'm waiting for the treadmill to throw me off of it one day. I bet it gets tired of being walked all over...ha ha...OK bad joke.

Five new goals for the month of May. Let's see if I can keep these goals on track...

• Try one new recipe a week - I think this is do-able...Rachel Ray eat your heart out.
• Incorporate more strength training into weekly workouts - I suck at this right now. For some reason I'm cardio driven and lack the need for strength training. I need to incorporate this to boost optimal caloric bad ass burning.
• No purchasing of goldfish or any other chip like product (unless I have company) - I've come to realize that those damn Goldfish crackers and Baked potato chips are a trigger for what I like to call "one more servingitis." Anything chip related is just a bad news bear for me. All I want to do is eat them till they are all gone. No joke, I totally took down the gigantic milk carton of Goldfish crackers my mom bought me...two weeks ago. Not good, not good...and now I know how I gained back those four pounds.
• Eating fruits and veggies twice a day - I'm sure that this is less than what a person should be doing, but I've noticed lately I haven't even been eating enough fruits or veggies a day.
• Start a weight loss support group - I keep reading that it's better if you have a work out buddy or a group of people who are in support of your efforts, and while I have friends and family who root me on, I want to do the same for others.

While I've had a minor set back, I'm enjoying the fruits of work out labor by purchasing smaller clothing. Nothing beats the feeling of dropping two to three sizes. I can't wait to buy a pair of Gap jeans...it gives me chills ... just like the premier of the Ricky Martin "La Vida Loca" video... ey papi!

While at the grocery store...
I will never go grocery shopping on a Sunday again...I barely made it out alive let alone with all my fingers and toes. People are ruthless! I about had a throw down with Grandma Jenkins over some 100 calorie Jell-o Pudding cups. That's right...I will fight a Grandma for some pudding cups...pinkies up bitches!

I decided to try out the new Yoplait Smoothie packet. Haven't made it yet, but plan to wake up everyone in my apartment building sometime this week when I hook that bad boy up and serve up some fantastic fruity smoothie sensations! So far reviews have been pretty good about this, but I was disappoint on the price. You only get two servings and it cost damn near $4 bucks.

Also new to the E NERL Pantry is Wheatable Nut Crisps crackers. I have a feeling...that these will be just as addicting as Goldfish crackers. I had some with roasted red pepper hummus the other night...nut crisps take me away!

BETTY'S BUSTY BUDDIES! Walk, Run, Support for a cure!
Update on the Breast Cancer front...many of you know I started this healthy life style change not only for my own general good health, but also to support a very dear cause. For every pound I lost I donate a dollar to the Susan G. Komen Cincinnati foundation. If you are interested in walking, running or supporting this cause please visit.... I would like to give a very special thanks to all my family and friends who have and are supporting this great cause! It means a lot!

Question of the day to my readers...how do overcome minor setbacks? Any strategies?

Who's Bad!?

I've had one of those weeks were it's a face off between me and my enemy in a dark garage and we are about to rumble into a dark, wet ally way with my extremely tight red leather coat, black tapered pants, white socks with black shoes and a glistening coif of curls. My enemy is something evil...evil yet delicious and totally semi-bad for me...so bad for me I will be guilt ridden for days even though it is "baked". My nemesis...meet baked Cheetos. As of yesterday I vow not to buy these things anymore. I can't have them in the mansion. They beacon to me like a college party beacons to Michael Phelps. I grow weak at the knees when I see that cute cheesy cheetah and his too cool for school sunglasses. No more I say to the crispy, abstracted puffed corn! I don't care if you're baked, delicious and half the fat and calories of regular potato chips.

I've been really slacking on the food journal lately. I need to get back into that. It really helps to see where I'm lacking and what I'm not getting enough of. I'm also trying to think of five different things I can swap to help with my battle of the bulge. The top contenders fighting for the top five spots:

Baked Cheetos (obviously) - I think I'm going to replace this with carrots. They are still orange, maybe not as tasty, but can be paired with a variety of dips (hummus, fat free ranch..) to tantalize the taste buds.

Eating out - I probably go out to eat two to three times a week. Most of the time, and I emphasize "most," I do eat sensible when I go out. But occasionally there is a Mexican restaurant involved and I might as well as say gracias to sensible eating that day. I plan on buying with my amazon gift card the Biggest Loser Calorie Counter book (which came in the mail yesterday!). That way I can make sensible swaps and have the hard facts staring back at me.

Clothing/Jeans - I need to get rid of my old jeans and clothing and get super hot new ones. I'm reluctant because I've had these jeans for the past year and a half and they fit me like a glove...well now they fit like an old, worn out glove. The crotch is down to my knees and I think it's time to retire them. I think it is important to find good jeans that fit so that way I can see and feel the difference of the new vs. the old.

Workout - Even though I think my workout is working out, I think it needs a little sumpin' sumpin'. Next month I'm going to start fitness kickboxing. It's a 45 minute workout which consists of kickboxing on punching bags, light weight training for strength, and calisthenics for conditioning and toning. My plan is to do this three times a week and the other three to four days at the gym doing my usual treadmill, elliptical, stationary bike, weights and 30 day shred routine.

(last but probably not least...)

Cooking - my idea of cooking is throwing a lean frozen meal in the microwave and then dressing it up a little with additional veggies and light toppings. I need to turn up the heat in the kitchen and start making fresh, healthy meals. I just got my copy of the Biggest Loser's "6 Weeks to a Healthier You" in the mail and they have some kick-ass recipes in there that I can't wait to try. It's time to put the frozen meals back in the freezer and start sharpening my Cutco knives! Watch out Emeril!

What are sensible swaps you have made or are making to keep you on the straight and narrow healthy road?

The Point of No Return

Losing weight was so much easier when I was younger. Oh how I miss my kick-ass metabolism. I got to thinking about this whole life style change process and the fears behind it that fuel me (and others) to keep doing this day in and day out. I've been reading in many of my other "get fit bloggers," talking with others about fears of life style changes and the point of no return that set the wheels of healthiness in motion. As I've learned over the past few months there is a fine line between point of no return and obsession. The point of no return has become my new obsession. How does one not obsess over calories consumed, calories burned, miles walked, steps taken, strides per minute, number of fruit and veggies consumed, good choices versus bad...the list is endless. While my new obsession maybe a healthy one, it can become unhealthy. Right now I can honestly say I'm bordering a healthy yet unhealthy obsession with the healthy life style change.

I can say without a shadow of a doubt that my point of no return was the horrid scary number that I saw on the scale, and not to mention that I was pre-diabetic...two things that put the fear of God in me (or that 5th grade nun I had as a teacher in elementary school). I know that pounds aren't going to melt off over night no matter how hard I work out, nor will any amount over 8 glasses of water help speed the need to rid calories, but why can't I stop thinking about pushing myself even harder than I am. Is it the competitive side of me vs. me coming out? Is it the "number" I'm focusing on too much? I'm seriously trying to wrap my shrinking head around it, and all the while still trying to keep my eye on the prize (which by the way is NOT a Reese's PB Egg...). Some days are harder than others I will admit, but who doesn't have days when someone in the office doesn't bring in those sugary delights with holes in the middle of them. Who doesn't have days when they are faced with a chocolate mousse shooter from Applebee's and feels the pressure that "well I had a under 550 calorie meal and everyone else can, why can't I?"

At the end of the day it's how you react to "unhealthy" situations and turn them into manageable healthy situations. It's OK to have things in moderation and to have a cheat day, because with out them you are more likely to rob a 7-11, or ransack the Easter candy aisle. Even though a "cheat day" is such a light bulb concept, why do I still feel bad doing it! It's like getting caught stealing condiments from a fast food joint. As one of my fellow fit bloggers Jack Sh*t, Gettin' Fit said this whole process is mental, and if we can get that under control, the power of weight loss is ours (btw, check his mind games to ponder on successfully dropping some lbs!).

READERS...What is your "point of no return?" How do you stay focused and motivated in your journey to a healthier lifestyle?

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?

The Weekend

I had a kick ass weekend and can't believe it is already coming to an end. I hate Mondays. I never despise Mondays more than I do now. I don't know if it's because I'm getting older and I know I have PLENTY of Mondays left in my working life, or if it's the 9 a.m. meetings I have every Monday, or if it's the fact that I have to face that wretched bitch of a scale to see what havoc ended up on my thighs from the oh sweet treats from Lil Italy. But none the less I'm already coming on with a case of the Mondays.

Lets reminisce for a minute shall we? I had one of the best weekends ever so far for 2010. One of my bestys came in town, and we had a ball. It was nice to have a little piece of home for a couple days I must say. Friday night we chilled at the Mansion, ordered pizza and caught up over the past couple of weeks. Saturday we got up, ate some diet pop cake (recipe and review below) and got ready. We did what every girl on a girl's weekend must do...we got beautified. We decided to go over to Regency Beauty Institute and get our nails and brows done. As always nothing but shenanigans ensued as we had supervised students training in cosmetology working on our precious piggies. Overall I had a great experience, and not to mention we were helping out someone in their dream of becoming the next Sheer Genius. Heightened levels of fear began to overcome us as we were getting closer to the brow portion of our Regency experience. But we were relieved to find out that a certified educator of cosmetology was going to shape our brows. Watch out ANTM...we are back...and the runway ain't ready for this! Grrrr...

After spending 2 hours at the beauty institute we mozied on down to Coventry for an early supper at Winking Lizard, followed by drooling at all the delectable pastries in Lil Italy. Then we headed to Beachwood Mall for a little shopping with our final stop at Harry Buffalo for a night cap. It was really nice to have a piece of home for the weekend. I haven't been back to Cincinnati since the end of December. You never realize how much you miss and appreciate your hometown until you've been away from it for some time.

Sunday I decided to get out and enjoy the nice weather with a five mile walk around Painesville and snap some pictures of some of the crown jewels of the town. I was never a picture person up until this year, and I might as well as submit for my paparazzi license. Hopefully over the course of this year I can save for a really sweet ass camera like they use for National Geographic pictures.

DIET POP CAKE REVIEW

As most of you know, I decided to make diet pop cake. You are probably wondering what is in diet pop cake...hence diet pop. All you do is buy cake mix, your choice of diet pop, and fat free cool whip for icing and wha la! Diet pop cake! I used devil's food cake mix and Diet Pepsi. Some recipes say you can use an egg white to help hold the cake together more, but that's optional. I how ever did use an egg white. At first I was pretty skeptical about how this would turn out...seriously, diet pop and cake mix? The verdict...deliciously moist and fluffy! You could taste a hint of the Diet Pepsi, but it wasn't over powering, and the cool whip made a nice frosting! I do advise that if you are making this, it won't last more than a day. The cake did start to dry out after we cut into it. I think the next one I make will be something fruity and I will deck the top out with strawberries for a light, cool springy treat. Nutritional info...roughly 180 calories a slice and under 5 grams of fat!

MARCH GOALS

I probably should start posting my monthly goals on here...I should probably keep them on a piece of paper and cross them off.

Goal 1: Lost 20 pounds for a total weight lose of 50 pounds. I know this is going to be somewhat ambitious, but my goal is to be down another 20 before I visit home in April. Which means I have to lose about 4 to 5 pounds over the course of the next 5 weeks.

Goal 2: Increase veggie and fruit intake by one a day. This will be a huge challenge. I eat a fair enough veggies and fruits during the week but I could really amp that up a bit. My goal this week is to eat at least 5 salads...in the long run, this might be a bad idea...

Goal 3: Step up to Level 2 of the 30 Day Shred. I've gotten so use to Level 1 that I fear what Level 2 will have me do. Level 1 was no walk in the park, but I'm getting into my groove with it. My goal is to alternate Level 1 and 2 every other day. Lord, pass the icy hot...

Goal 4: Take a new class. I've been tossing around the idea of doing kickboxing over the last month. I inquired with a couple karate places. I think I need to start mixing it up some because my attention span is starting to shorten.

Goal 5: Finish Mindless Eating book. I'm terrible when it comes to finishing reading books. I'm bound and determined to finish reading this book. So far it's kept my attention span for 63 pages.

I think five goals is enough to start with. I'm sure I will be adding to this list as the month goes on.

Food...Now and Then

Over at Allison's blog Doublechinned, she was discussing foods she use to love and foods she now loves. I thought this was a good idea, so I stole her post idea that she stole from someone else.

FIVE FOODS I USE TO LOVE

Doritos - who could resist that crunch...those zesty flavors...and all that...powdered cheese! I must admit...I had a love affair with a triangle...not that kind people...the Doritos kind. Alas, our love has faded into a mere memory. I'm not sad about it...but I'm sure the manufacturer probably is.

Carbonated, caffeinated beverages - I use to start everyday out with a bottle of regular pop. The thought of it now makes my teeth (and kidneys) hurt. I once read that if you replace one 12 oz sugared beverage a day with water you trim 50,000+ calories a year from your diet. I'm lucky if I even drink one diet soda a week...or month now. Empty calories say what?

Fast food - meals of champions, especially when you work crazy hours and are always on the go. I probably use to eat fast food at least two to three times a week. The thought of it makes me want to grab an Activia! I'm not saying I've totally given this up, but I probably only have fast food once a month if that and that's usually if I'm hitting' the road back to the nasti 'nati. My old staples of chicken nuggets and fries are now replaced with grilled chicken wraps and side salads.

Bread - I don't discriminate, I regulate...especially when it came to the carbs. Oh bread...how I loved thee, let me count the ways...garlic, toasted, buttered and jammed...

Ice cream - I think if I was ever reincarnated into anything it would be a connoisseur of ice cream. I would have to say out of the entire realm of all things that are sweetness this is my weakness. Nothing beats a two scoop raspberry chocolate chip dish from Graeters, or a Cookies and Cream chocolate milkshake from UDF. As the hot summer months approach one thing other than staying cool is on my mind...and that's staying cool in moderation!

FIVE FOODS I NOW LOVE

Veggies - who would ever have thunk that soy beans would taste so good? Not me. I remember when my grandmother use to make me eat asparagus...it wasn't going to move off my plate and the only reaction she was going to get out of me was a gag as I tried to force every stalk down. Now I can't get enough of veggies!

Crystal Light - I use to never like this stuff. I use to think it tasted like a lame version of Kool-Aid. I must say, Crystal Light has made some tantalizing changes to their array of powdered 5 calorie goodness and I no longer keep anything BUT this in the Mansion.

Boca burgers - some might consider this a mystery meatless item, but I heart them! Veggie burgers have come a long way, and now with an array of flavors they are better than ever. Viva la Boca burgers!

English Muffins - how can one resist the nooks and crannies? It makes me feel British just thinking about them! Even though they are smaller (and just as filling as two slices of bread), I've started replacing sliced bread with 100 calorie English Muffins. Not only are you cutting carbs, but calories!

Smoothies - I can't live with out my smoothies! Smoothies make great meal supplements when you're in a jam, or trying to get in your fruits and veggies for the day. Smoothies, smoothies all the way!

Wednesday Morning Breakfast...brought to you by VitaTops

I know you are all anxious to hear how my Deep Chocolate VitaTop breakfast went. At first I was a bit skeptical of this so called delicious vitamin treat...

On first bite I wasn't thrilled. It reminded me of something that my grandmother made me eat at one time or another...you know that "health" food that is suppose to taste bad for you good but it just taste...healthy... and the undertones of oat bran and fiber are more prevalent than the so called "chocolate" goodness that awaits...
Then the more I made my way into the center of the VitaTop I finally got to the chocolate morsels and it hit me why they call this DEEP CHOCOLATE!

Overall...WHO'S THE PHAT GIRL APPROVED! First bite wasn't that great but once you get past the outside the chocolaty center makes up for it. Maybe I will give the other flavors a chance.

DAAAAMMMMMMNNNN!

Tonight is the first time, in a LOOOONNNNGGGG time that I walked past the mirror and said "DAMN GIRL!" I lost 2 more pounds since last Wednesday making the total to 35 (which I can't believe even after THIS past weekend...USA! USA!). If I can lose 2 more this week I will be a happy camper and right on track to be down 50 by the time I go home to Cincy to visit in April. I've also joined the Reading Rainbow club and now have a library card. Honestly, I haven't had a library card since like the summer of '84 (OK more like 2002). I'm in the midst of reading Mindless Eating and it has opened me up the world of how I use to eat and how easy it is to mindless eat in certain situation. I'm looking forward to getting my psychology food science on.



I plan on getting before and after pictures up this week. Oye vey...before and after pictures. I cringe at the thought, but it's good to see progress. It will be a good reminder of how far I've come in this journey to beat obesity! I just sounded like Oprah...



JEANS...AND NOT THE ONES MY MAMA GAVE ME

So as I observe the world that turns...or the world that doesn't turn as fast as it so happens that the quake rocked the earth so hard it's off it's axis ... I often wonder why plus size clothes makers want to put plus size women in the most obnoxious patterns ever. The last time I checked plus size women need trendy clothing love too...we don't want to look like the "other" Brady Bunch kids. I'm quite peeved I must say...Lane Bryant is discontinuing my FAVORITE jeans. This is like throwing me two big ol' birdies and telling me to suck it! From what I hear they are "re-branding" the line and going back to their original size chart and more "slimmer" fits. Now, I don't know if Lane Bryant, THE plus size powerhouse of clothing for the large and in charge know this, but most women who have junk in the trunk and treasure in the chest don't necessarily want to have to feel like they are wearing wearable bondage. I'm not a "slim" jean type of gal...because if it ain't gettin' over Mt. Everest then it ain't for the rest of us.



HI HO HI HO IT'S OFF TO THE GROCERY STORE WE GO

Why are people always in a hurry at the grocery store? And what the heck is up with Aldi charging people for a cart? I've never paid a quarter to get a cart to go grocery shopping. WTF is the purpose? This was my first experience at Aldi's and I'm not sure how I feel about it yet. While I felt their selection was pretty good for only having off brands, I'm not sure overall how I feel about my shopping experience. I'm still stuck on the quarter for a cart thing...do they really think I'm going to run down Mentor Ave with a grocery cart? I guess anything is possible, but you wouldn't see my sorry ass rollin' down the street with my grocery cart...unless of course I was dared to and there were margarita's involved.



Hungry Girl has been promoting the crap out of VitaTops. I'm eager to try these since they've been promoting them hard core over the past couple of weeks. I got the Deep Chocolate flavor ....get your mind out of the gutter...DON'T even think of going there because I just did...! From what I've read they only have 100 calories, high in fiber and contain 15 minerals, vitamins, soy and oat bran. I will let you know how this goes. Fiber and oat bran don't normally mix well but maybe the fact that it is masked by this Deep Chocolate flavor will help ;)


I was also saddened to see that all the Jell-o Temptations Mousse was sold out! Word must have spread fast or everyone saw my glowing review of this heavenly treat.


So apparently college's have spring break, and ours happened to be this week, which brings sweat to my forehead because I only get to do half my workout in the gym! UGH! Way to set me back LEC! Just when I'm hitting my stride you go and throw a spring break in there, and close the gym at 6 p.m. every day. Looks like I'm doing the 30 day shred extra this week to make up for an hour lost at the gym.


I'm officially four months away from a milestone birthday...the one...the only...the big...THREE-OH! I'm not sure how I feel about turning 30. Everyone is saying 30 is the new 20 and if that's the case then I'm in for a rude awakening! Any other 30 somethings or 30 somethings of yesteryear's have anything to say about this...words of wisdom? Thoughts to live by? Your expertise advice is needed...