I'm reformed...

I've decided to dedicate this week's blog to the exercise that I NEVER thought I would be able to do but now I LOVE. I had heard of Pilates before. In fact, when I was younger I was in gymnastics (oh so long ago) and we did a lot of those exercises as warm up. What I never thought I'd be able to handle was Pilates done on a reformer machine.

The reformer machine looks like a torture device from some century where they didn't have indoor plumbing but instead had the plague. I had always wanted to try out a class but was always a little intimidated. I had a bad aerobics class experience where I was told by the instructor that I wasn't working hard enough in front of the entire group. Maybe that works for some people, I don't like to be criticized in front of a bunch of people. Turns me off. But anyhoo...

A friend from college contacted me about a year ago and let me know that she was teaching a class on these machines so I jumped at the chance. I'm so glad I did. It is AMAZING! First of all, you exercise while lying down and that speaks to every lazy bone in my body. Second, she was so patient with me and every newcomer to the reformer world and treated everyone in her class like individuals. I never felt embarrassed if I wasn't at a certain level or if I physically couldn't do an exercise (I have knee issues). I'm hooked!

I currently do it once a week but if I could afford it, I'd do it every day. Maybe I'll save up enough money and trade in my bed for a reformer machine. Ok, maybe I'll just stick to my weekly session with Anne!

xoxo
Charlene

weight: 243.8 (down 4/10ths of a pound this week...) :0)

Goals

We all have goals. My immediate ones I tend to list here. Some I achieve, others not so much but I try. I think that all of my goals are healthy, as most people's goals are.

I read an article about a woman who's goal is to get into the Guinness Book of World Records as the fattest woman. She weighs 600 pounds and is going for 1000. At first glimpse, of course, I'm jealous. Now THAT would be a goal I could easily achieve. Can you imagine the endless hours of pizza and donuts---good LORD! Diabetic coma aside, that would be AMAZING!

But really, she makes me sad. At what point did she just give up on herself? She's already the fattest pregnant woman according to the record books. Did she go for that record or was that honor thrust upon her and now she figures she may as well just go for the gold. I think I'm more concerned that she has the full support of her husband (who is thin).

There has been much said about how she makes the money to pay for the hefty grocery bill. She lets men watch her eat, in all her glory, on the Internet for money. (Damn! I should have thought of that!!) Many people are offended by this. I say to each their own but there is a child involved and what that child is experiencing sucks.

Should someone intervene? Would her husband be so supportive if her drug of choice was not food, but vodka or meth? Is this a choice on her part or is there something wrong with her mentally?

I don't think I'd even give her a second thought if she didn't have a child. Hell, she might even be my hero.

Have a great week everyone and as far as my goal is concerned: I'm down 2 pounds this week!! YAY!!

...but it's a good fat....

Well my friends, I'm up 1.4 pounds this week. I was devastated. I did a smidge extra exercise this week and I was eating very healthy. VERY HEALTHY. I wasn't writing anything down, but I knew I wasn't going crazy on anything that I shouldn't be. I've been cooking with olive oil. I've been putting olive oil on my brown rice instead of Earth Balance. I've been dousing my tuna with olive oil; bathing in it... (not really, but pretty close!)

It's the good fat, right?

Did you know olive oil has 120 calories per tablespoon? I didn't. I didn't look. It's not that I didn't think to look. I'm sure deep down inside I just didn't want to know.

It is the good fat. According to the Mayo Clinic Website: Olive oil contains monounsaturated fat, a healthier type of fat that can lower your risk of heart disease by reducing the total and low-density lipoprotein (LDL, or "bad") cholesterol levels in your blood.


I really felt good eating it and I have high cholesterol that I’m trying to control with diet and some medication so it was bad for the waistline but not so bad for my heart or cholesterol. I just need to find that happy medium.

I'll cut back on the olive oil this week and actually track what I'm eating. Journaling is something I've never been consistent with so I'll see if I can get more disciplined in that respect.

Have a great week everyone!

Satan's Little Helpers

Every year around this time they come out. You can't resist. Girl Scouts are the workers of the devil himself. They come into your neighborhood, into your job and sell crack in the guise of Thin Mints and Tag-A-Longs. This year I bought 3 boxes: 2 of the Daisy Go Rounds (100 calorie packs) and 1 Thin Mints. In the past, I could down two boxes of Thin Mints without blinking. I stared at my boxes wondering "what the hell was I thinking?! I ordered THIN MINTS!?!" Luckily some of my co-workers also ordered crack and I had one. I gave the box I purchased to my boyfriend to give to his co-workers and keep them out of our apartment. Yes, he's the mule and I'm the pusher now. I managed to get through this year only eating one Thin Mint.

I only bought the three boxes but let me tell you, these minions of Beelzebub are everywhere! Grocery stores, gas stations, every street corner! Ooooh and let me tell you how their eyes light up when Jovian and I walk in their direction. They think they've hit the jackpot! But I say "Back Mephistopheles!! I will not give in to the temptation of your chocolaty minty goodness!!"

I have had a little help with this Girl Scout season. Weight Watchers 2 point Chocolate Mint Bars. They're super duper expensive so I know I'll be very conservative in my snacking and they squash that Thin Mint craving.

I managed to lose 1.6 pounds this week putting me at 244.8. Goals this week: exercise even more, drink more water and more sleep. Hmmmm how am I going to manage ALL THAT!? :)