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!

I Don't Wanna...

Honestly, I'm not in the mood for it today - not in the mood to eat healthy and not in the mood for my rigorous work out. For a brief moment today I was swimming in a pool of sugary awesomeness and had to literally throw myself a life preserver. For a week now all I can think about is sweets, and today my prayers were answered. My besty sent me a late valentine's day present :) Oh and you know it was filled with some sweet thangs from the nasti 'nati. There was two busken cookies (which equates to frosted happiness), a 6 pack of Reese Hearts (which I like just like my men...chocolate, rich and delicious!) and Heart Peeps! Well, you already know how this story is going to end ... the busken cookies...gone...Reese Hearts...I ate 2...and now I wish I would've just either had one or the other or just one of either the cookies or the hearts. My body is rejecting itself right now. That's what I get I guess, and I've officially have learned my lesson (for now ;) ) We all have minor set backs, and we all have our days. I guess I can chuck it up to being human.

Since last Thursday I've been going hard core at the gym, working out roughly two hours a day. Yesterday I didn't go. I just felt like I got out of the ring with Mike Tyson, but the exception was my ears were still intact. So I took an off day yesterday, and I want to take another "no gym" pass today, but I can't let myself do that. I know you're wondering if I made it to the gym...well I did the usual routine ... 1 hour on the treadmill, 15 on the elliptical, and 20 on the bike.

Here's proof that I did...

I don't know if it is the winter weather, where I am in my life, the lack of sunshine, the fact that I can't drink at work ... I just can't pinpoint it. I've been reading in many of my fellow weight loss bloggers that they are looking for a change, even beyond the obvious. I'm a notorious change lover. I love change. I welcome it with gift baskets, lean cuisines and open arms. Now I'm starting to wonder how good is too much change? There has to be something wrong when you are constantly changing something, right? Over the last, I'd say 15 years, I would have to say I've had about 50 odd some different hair cuts and colors, have already gone through a career change, moved to a different city, experienced the quarter life crisis, am ready for another career change, and some how still don't feel satisfied with life. I haven't experienced that Jerry McGuire "complete me" moment. It's like I have this urge, this burning (and no not THAT one), to try every single thing on the planet. Like one day I will want to start a village and the next open my own shop. I'm starting to think I have ADHD for adults.

Check it out...

So tonight on campus in celebration of BHM (black history month) I heard the sweet pipes of Darnell Levine. He has one of the best voices I've heard in a long time, and the fact that he got to play in a venue like Morley was icing on the lyrical cake. Levine did a musical journey through the decades. His rendition of Stevie Wonder's My Cherie Amour and Seal's Kiss from a Rose was phenomenal. This is someone you will want to keep your eye on...and well, he's easy on the eyes so it's not that hard too.

Damn you Dolly (and not the Madison kind)!

I wish they never ever tried cloning. And why try it on a sheep first? Why not use me? As long as I get a paid for participating in a break-through science measure I don't mind. Plus, I could put my clone to work. I bet scientist can clone people out of play dough now. If God can make people out of clay and earth elements, then I know scientist can make people out of play dough and touch of glitter.



I can't ever say it enough, there isn't enough time in the day (seriously...time!). I have so much I want to accomplish in 365 days that there is no way I can accomplish what I want in that time frame...I need a new word for time. It's like it is haunting this blog entry from the last one.

GOT LENT?

Oh and did you know...LENT is next Wednesday! A big WTF for that! It crept up on me like Mike "The Situation" in Karma on the Jersey Shore. I'm no where ready for Lent. I have no idea what I want to give up, especially since I gave up everything that is remotely tasty (just kidding, though some days it feels like it...just being honest!). Last year I didn't give up anything. Instead I vowed to do one nice thing a day (depending on the person...again just kidding...but not really). It worked out OK, but when you've been participating in Lent for 20 odd some years of your life what else can you do!? What are you giving up for Lent (if you practice)? Thoughts, comments and concerns are welcomed...

Wha Wha...
So yesterday I was a slacker and didn't work out. I know, I know, BUT it was mist snowing like mad outside, and I didn't want to play Monster Truck trying to get my car out of the Mansion driveway. Our drive way is what I like to call a little log flume minus the splash going down the hill.

BUT today on the other hand was last chance work out ENERL style. 1 hour on the treadmill (420 calories burned), 15 minutes on the elliptical (120 calories burned), 20 minutes on the stationary bike (130 calories burned), 20 minutes of various weight machines (not sure what I should assume calories burned is), and lastly 30 Day Shred DVD for 20 minutes (safely say 200 calories burned). Total calories burned today was probably near 900-1000. I know, ridiculous right, but 5K season is right around the corner. It's time to get the party started!

As far as the soup de jour today...

Breakfast: Bowl of honey nut Cheerios w/ skim milk

Lunch: 2 boca burgers (120 calories each) with organic mustard (50) and ketchup (15) and a cheese slice (cut in half; 80); 15 baked lays chips (140) and a glass of water

Snack: Banana (100) and a granola bar (90) and a bottled water

Dinner: It's like 9:17, so I will probably grab a bowl of cereal.

Work Hard. Work Out Harder.

I've been hitting the gym like it's nobody's biznass, and I think it is finally paying off! I weighed myself tonight after a rigorous work out of 1 hour on the treadmill (burned 417 calories), 15 minutes on the elliptical (burned 125 calories), 20 minutes on the stationary bike (burned 125 calories) and 20 minutes of Level 1 of the 30 Day Shred (I'm going to assume at least 100, probably more calories). Total calories burned 800 (give or take a few).

I got on the scale, and I'm now 2 pounds away from losing 30 pounds! I know it's early in the week and things may fluctuate, but I'm so ecstatic. I think I'm finally over this plateau I've been on for weeks now. Over Christmas I kept it steady and didn't gain nor lose any, but just maintained, which is a miracle in itself if you ask me.

As I'm going through this healthy life style transformation, part of myself is pissed that this is the second time I'm losing all this weight ... the first time I lost a lot of weight (I lost 70 pounds) was when I was 14 years old going into the 9th grade. I dropped 70 pounds in 6 months. Yeah mind blowing isn't it. At 14, I was years beyond my age, and yet I digressed (and then some, which I'm not proud of believe me). I can put the blame on everything under the sun, but the only person I can blame is myself. What can I say ... life happened, and boy did it happen. When you're 14 the only things you should worry about is what you are wearing to the mall on Friday night, who may ask you to dance at the middle school dance and whether or not the Aqua Net is going to hold your mile high bangs. BUT I was worried about counting calories, dropping 5 pounds a week, running a steady mile and purchasing the new MTV Party-to-Go for getting down and dirty on my stepper. Seriously ... no joke.

I have learned valuable lessons from the first time to now the second round. Eat right, exercise, portion control and moderation. These friendly reminders often get tossed to the side when consumed by "the number." The number is what haunts every person losing weight, and as I know all too well, the number is the only thing to focus on, which I soon became obsessed with. I don't want to do that again. Obsessing over the number caused me to lose sight of what it's all about, and caused unhealthy habits of binging, binge exercising and not eating for weeks which in essence took a toll on me and my body. The thought of doing that makes me sick to my stomach, but it's the reality of what young girls do to get to "that number."

I've learned that you have to make the time. Time is a funny thing. It's always there but why does it feel like it's never on your side? Everything takes time ... damn that time! It gets you every time ... okay 'nuff with time, because now it's time to sign off. But not before a small recap of what was on the menu today...

Breakfast
Small banana (100 calories) and a Special K protein shake (190 calories)
A bottle of water

Lunch
Pita Nachos with chicken, tomato's, garlic spread and cheese (these were probably arty clogging and totally bad for me, but I couldn't resist. My cheat for the week)
Two glasses of tea with sweetener

Snack
60 calorie Jello Mousse
A bottle of water
Hot tea (with a splash of skim, sweetener and a dash of honey)

Dinner
Wasn't hungry for dinner so skipped it (bad I know, especially after the sermon I just gave)