chaychay

That’s right.  Japanese food.  Stop right now.  I know what you’re thinking.  You’re thinking I’m about to tell you that the 2 hour binge known as Hibachi Grill is the best thing for your diet.  While I would like to say “YES!” - I mean who doesn’t love that huge pile of food - I do not mean hibachi.  I mean sushi!

I am a huge sushi fan, so it’s not unusual for me to go grab a sushi lunch and “indulge.”  Well, I went for a sashimi combo today and realized this stuff is really not bad for you.  Appetizers were miso soup (see last blog), salad with ginger dressing, finished up with pieces of fish and white rice.  As long as you go slow on the soy sauce, it’s really not a bad lunch.  Full of protein that fills you up, it’s a delicious alternative if you’re getting sick of the same old same old diet food.

Make sure you spring for a FRESH sushi bar if you are in unfamiliar territory here.  Ask around.  Read reviews on citysearch.com.  Find a place that is reputable and serves nothing but the best.  Avoid buying just sushi ROLLS as they contain a lot of rice.  Don’t order the deliciously deceptive rolls that contain fried fish or fried vegetables.  Although they taste good - they are full of calories.  Go for sashimi - just the fish, or a small roll with tuna, shrimp, vegetables, etc.  It will be delicious and you’ll feel culturally aware.

Enjoy!  Have a great Thursday everyone.  Friday’s just around the bend.

Soup Nazi.  Love it.  Anytime I have soup, the Soup Nazi comes to mind.

Well, I’m here today to say the Soup Nazi will be taking a bigger stake in my health.  I had a huge bowl of soup for lunch today and it felt good to not feel like a fatty after lunch.  You know how the Mexican and the Italian meals make you feel like a bowling ball after you’ve scarfed down the carb-a-licious meal?  Well… I’m going to avoid that.  Better choices.  Fewer calories.

I’m digging the heels in this week.  I’ve got a tiny hunger pain right now… but I’m learning to hit pause on those little tummy grumbles.  My body needs to get used to smaller portions for now.  Lord knows I won’t run out of body fat anytime soon.  So sit on that, body!  Don’t starve yourself, guys.  But don’t eat EVERYTIME you get a grumble.  That next meal is worth waiting for.  No need to blow your day with a bag of Fritos just because you’re a TAD hungry.

I’m about to leave the office and I’m already thinking about how I can manage a healthy, cost effective dinner.  It feels good to plan ahead.  I’m going to keep this up.

Hope everyone had a good day today.  Till next time…

So I admit… I have been lax over the past 14 days. Why 14 you ask? Well… let’s just say life has been a little rough over the past 2 weeks. I did the math this morning and I haven’t been to the gym in 13 days. The funny thing is… it doesn’t even seem like that long. I’ve been playing tennis on and off… but that pretty much just keeps me in enough back pain to prolong the break from the gym.

Long story short, I dragged myself back down to the gym today after a long day at work. I had to work through lunch and the afternoon, so I made the trip to the company gym at 3:30 to catch up on Rachel Ray and potentially see the beginnings of Oprah. The gym is lovely when there are only 3 people there. I didn’t kill myself on the workout, but I gave it a go and I even stretched. Hooray.

Feeling encouraged, I hopped on the scale post work-out. Wouldn’t you know I have lost a few pounds! I think the scale isn’t the most accurate in the world, but I’m claiming this loss. Who knew going through hardship would curb your appetite and make you lose weight. Regardless of HOW I lost this weight, it has encouraged me to keep going. There’s no need to stop.

So… plan to see more of me on the blogs. I’ve been too far gone for far too long. That doesn’t mean I’ve stopped thinking about all my weight loss pals out there, though! Keep up the good work folks. More to come soon…

Ever been to McDonalds overseas?  Notice how their “large” is our “medium?” Their “small” is the kiddie size.  The combos come in SMALL first… then you upgrade from there.  No automatic supersize over in Europe.

I may be generalizing here, but when it comes to portion sizes in the United States, we certainly believe bigger is better.  Bigger houses.  Bigger cars.  Bigger gas tanks.  Bigger plates.  Bigger buffets.  Bigger waistlines.  Bigger heart attacks.  Bigger health concerns.   Why is that?  Why are we convinced that more is better?  That we are deprived and depraved until we have plate overflowing, and belly filled to capacity?

These are some questions that cross my mind every now and again.  Did your mom tell you to clean your plate when you were growing up?  Did she ever substitute fat free cheese for the full fat kind?  Did she refrain from frying vegetables every chance she got, or skip on the fast food because it’s exactly that… fast?  I’m not pointing blame and mom - for goodness sake, of course not.  My mom went through phases of healthy eating and working out.  She forced that on us every now and again.  But it wasn’t necessarily a recurring theme.  Sports weren’t a huge part of our family life.  Eating was.  Grilling out on Sunday is what we do.  Eating meat and delicious sides is FUN!  And who wants to miss out on that?

One thing I challenge everyone to do - including myself, because I’m downright horrible at this - it to reduce the AMOUNT that you put on your plate and the AMOUNT you put in your mouth.  Sure - go for that delicious burger.  But make it a smaller burger.  Cut it in half.  Make the patty smaller before cooking.  Skip the cheese and bun.  Try salsa and fat free sour cream!

Enjoy a dessert - but go for the Skinny Cow ice cream bars, or just eat a tiny slice of cake.   Don’t deprive yourself.  Ever wonder why diets never work?  Because you feel like you are limiting your choices.  You probably love to eat.  How else did we all get here?  We enjoy eating.  Don’t deny yourself that joy - just make sure it’s only every now and again that you indulge.  And, when you do, try to keep the portion size down.

Ideas for portion control?  Here goes:

1 - portions of protein should be no larger than the palm of your hand, or your fist

2 - pile on the veggies if the smaller portions leave you hungry!

3 - order a Kid’s Meal when you’re on the go.  Substitute fries for salad or fruit.

4 - when you snack, pull out a SMALL amount and put the rest AWAY.  Don’t sit in front of the TV with an entire box of Cheese-Its or Triscuits.  That box will be gone in no time.

5 - try following the REAL serving sizes listed on boxes.  3/4 cup of cereal isn’t that much… but when you measure it, you understand the true value of those calories.  “Eyeballing it” doesn’t cut it.  Your eyes are bigger than your stomach.

Today, challenge yourself to leave a little extra on your plate.  Heck - buy smaller plates to trick yourself into thinking you’re eating a TON!  Whatever you do - make sure you are watching the intake.   Weight loss is simple math - burn more calories than you eat.  So let’s get going on eating HEALTHILY, less frequently, and in smaller portions.

Good luck to us all!  Now if I could only take my own advice all the time!!

Have fun working out and making your lives stronger and healthier today.

In order to divert attention away from my negative feelings of “loss” after not having “lost” any weight… I’m concentrating on the healthy changes I have made in my life.  The fiber post yesterday was a good start.  Today, let’s talk about water.

Water…

Fun to swim in.

Fun to splash around in.

Fun to run  in  (when it’s raining).

Fun to drink in huge amounts…

Okay so maybe it isn’t FUN to drink water in huge amounts, but it IS fun to see the results when you DO drink water over and over and over again.

Benefit number one?  It clears your skin up.  You look more well-rested, less tired, and overall, more fabulous.

Benefit number two?  More potty breaks.  Sounds awesome, right?  But, really.  Think about how many more times you walk to and from the restroom when you are gulping down huge glasses of water.  Anyone wearing a pedometer?  You’ll see a huge increase in the amount of steps you’re taking when you’re guzzling the good stuff.

Benefit number three?  Detox.  Ever felt sluggish and overweight and just blah?  Water helps move those baddies out of your system.   BE GONE!

Benefit number four?  Buoyancy.   Yes, with an increase in your water intake, you WILL float.  Okay, maybe not, but it sounds fun.

Benefit number five?  WEIGHT LOSS.  Everyone who has been on the diet or Weight Watchers or workout circuit knows drinking water helps cut the pounds.  Ever see those ridiculous people at the gym with their 1 Gallon water bottle?  They don’t seem so ridiculous now, do they?  Don’t be afraid to look like a dork.  Gulp it up!

I think five benefits are enough for now.  Instead of that Coke, grab a water.  It’s free (most places) and it’s delicious.  If you’re sick of the taste, try adding lemon, lime, or orange slices.  Delicious!  Hate the plain water?  Try Canada Dry’s spritzer water that has NO caffeine and NO sodium.

Feeling refreshed already?  Me too!  I’m off to buy a big bottle and hit the gym.

Have a super Tuesday!

Just a quick “shout out” to fiber.  I see a lot of people on the site getting excited about exercising, but haven’t seen a whole lot of info recently on diet choices.  So… a couple of ideas to get your fiber intake UP so you can get your weight DOWN!  Fiber is awesome for feeling full, moving food on out of the body, and overall, feeling healthy and slim.  Try some of these:

Fiber One cereals -  not like what Mom used to eat!  They now have great tasting options like these French Toast looking thingies and Honey Cluster flakes.  SO GOOD!  And… they work almost immediately and cover about 30-50% of your daily requirements

Fiber One Yogurts - same sort of concept.  Delicious treat without even knowing you’re eating fiber.

Fresh veggies - salads, cooked carrots, tomatoes, zucchini, eat ANY and ALL.  Yummy.

Fruits - The watermelon and cantalopes are ripe as can be right now.  Pick a few up at the grocery store and then EAT them.  You replenish your natural water reserves, get a natural sugar high, get some fiber, and they taste SO good, you’ll even FEEL skinny.

I’m really concentrating on the fiber right now, hence the post.  I actually ditched my Weight Watchers subscription today - I think Buddy Slim is way better - but it’s one of the big things about WW.  The more fiber you eat, the better your body gets at digesting, and the quicker you are able to drop pounds.  Not to mention you feel full and healthy.

I’m off for my Monday workout soon.  Then, it’s tennis with Steven tonight.  We have joined a mixed doubles league, and my swing is getting much stronger.  Can’t wait to kick some ass on the courts soon!!!

Until then… stay healthy!  Happy Monday, everyone.

Mexican lunch specials…

Severe indigestion…

Holy never overeating again…

Trying to commit this sense of grossness to memory so I don’t eat 1,000 chips and almost an entire portion of fajitas again anytime soon. Anyone got some tums?

For those of you who grew up in the 80s, or for those of you who simply are Janet Jackson fans… I have one lyric quote for you today:

What have you done for me lately
Ooh ooh ooh yeah

As I was walking in the cafeteria at work today, post workout with my hot pink gym bag on the shoulder and my salad and banana in hand, I saw larger woman look at me like “good for you!”  That song lyric jumped into my head.  What has SHE done for HERSELF lately.  She was sitting in front of a half-finished fried meal and looked like she hadn’t touched the gym in ages.

Now, I realize this blog may be unfair.  Just because you’re overweight doesn’t mean you have completely given up and haven’t set foot in a gym in months.  Let’s be honest - I probably surprise people when they find out I am working out 5-6 days a week, twice a day when I can.  My adorable little “tum-tum,” as I lovingly call it, is not necessarily indicative of a hardcore workout schedule.  But — I’m making progress.

What have you done for me lately?  What have I done for me lately?  Well - today I can honestly say I put in a good, solid 30 minutes of calorie blasting, ate a salad for lunch, and am having a banana for dessert.  I’m helping myself.  I’m doing this for me.

Yesterday I was feeling a little down on myself.  Someone posted pictures on Facebook from a girl’s weekend that took place a few weeks ago.  Let’s just say I wasn’t looking as glamorous or slim as I felt.  It’s downright disappointing… so I’m trying to focus on the positive.  I’d much rather be the chubby girl with the gym bag who KNOWS she’s making an effort, than the larger lady sitting in front of fried food, thinking all hope is lost.

Happy Hump Day to everyone.  Keep motivated.  We can all do this - it will just take TIME and PATIENCE.  I keep saying… one day at a time.  Focus on one day at a time.

If you weren’t aware… part of the reason I am kicking my ass in the gym and in the food aisle at the grocery store, is to get my blood pressure down.  Last year I was told I needed to go on high blood pressure (HBP) medicine.  I was 24.  That’s terrible news and could only lead to worse news if I didn’t do something about it.

So here I am - no excuses.  I’m doing it.  And this time it’s for the long haul.  I’m not setting a specific date to lose 20 or 30 or 40 pounds by.  That would only frustrate me to the point of giving up.  I’m taking it slowly and seeing where this goes.

I am happy to report that today, before my 30 minute workout that burned 445 calories, I checked my blood pressure.  Today I forgot to take my medication, so this is the honest to God reading.  My own body produced this result.

Drumroll please….. despite all the stress at work right now, I have moved OUT of the “LOW HYPERTENSION” zone and down into the “HIGH NORMAL” zone.  Reading was 135/85.  I was so excited.  What a way to start the workout out.  Actual, physical proof that my work is paying off.

I hope you all have similar triumphs today!  Keep truckin’  

This weekend I drove up with some college friends to visit ANOTHER college friend who lives in Brevard, NC.  It’s a tiny little mountain town with gorgeous scenery and a super cute downtown area.  When I was a kid living in Charlotte, we would make trips up to the mountains during the summer, so anytime I can make it back, I try my very best.

The weekend started out badly - I admit - I had Waffle House for dinner on the road.  Funny how that works.  You decide you want a healthy option for dinner, and you end up at Waffle House.  Based on the brown lettuce in the fridge - I dare say NO ONE in the history of Waffle House has actually ordered the salad.  I went for it.  I ordered the Country Ham breakfast.  I figured….. ham has protein, right?  I will say I held back on getting tons of extras on the hashbrowns, but that hardly justifies my visit to Ye Olde Grease Pit.

So for the rest of the weekend, I repented.  I didn’t eat the bread on my sandwich.  I ordered corn instead of fries.  I ordered salads with fish on top.    I had wine - no beer.   I was good.  I walked as much as I could.  I went outside to watch a softball game.  Does sweating in the heat count as exercise?

This week I find myself wanting to get BACK to basics.  Let’s get BACK to eating salad at lunch and working out in the evening, no matter what.  I realized in the dressing room at a store this weekend that I am still very far from my goals.  I would like to be able to zip a pair of pants from J.Crew at some point.  Apparently you have to have tiny, tiny hips to wear their things.  That, I will never have… but I can at least slim down what I DO have.  With the excitement, and the disappointment, and the excitement, and the disappointment, I need to remember that this is a process that will take time.  I will be stuck in 2nd gear for a while.  And, that’s okay.  What matters is I am changing my habits for the better.  I am making a huge improvement on my health and my outlook on life.

I will conquer this bulge.  It will take time.  It will take DEDICATION, CONVICTION, and PERSEVERANCE.   It will take patience… I was not born with this attribute, so I need to concentrate.

Here’s to a new week and new opportunities to be good and eat healthily.  The mini vacation is over.  Time to buckle down and enjoy being dedicated to healthier life.

PS - For those of you with children, I thought the Washington Post had a worthwhile feature on it.  Go to http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/health/childhoodobesity/index.html

There are some truly disturbing (and touching) stories of youth with massive obesity issues.  It makes you want to run over to the families feeding fried chicken, fries, and dessert to their overweight 10 year olds and YANK the fork out of their mouths.  Steven and I watched a table full of overweight women order 3 courses of fried JUNK for themselves and their children the other day.  All you can think about is the massive heart attack that’s in store for one of them.  And how unfair it is to these children that they have never been taught better habits and never encouraged to resist food.  Everyday I am amazed at how FAT children are these days.  Saying “obese” masks the reality.  They are FAT.  I am so grateful to websites like BuddySlim that are addressing the issue and driving awareness.  It keeps us all accountable to ourselves and our children.  Please… teach the same great lessons you are teaching yourself right now.  It’s only fair!

That’s my soap box for now.  I really couldn’t believe how that table of overeaters affected me last night.  All I could think was “just stop!”  Those women are killing themselves and killing their children.  I never want to be like that and I know joining a site like this and staying in touch with my buddies will help us all lead healthier, more responsible lives.  In the end… you are responsible for your own happiness.  I think that is SO important.

Have a great day everyone.  Sorry for the ramble.  I’m feeling uber scatter brained today.