Bulgur

YOU GUYS! I must admit, I don't like rice. Why? I don't exactly know.  So whenever I see recipes that call for brown rice, I usually turn away. Not anymore! I have found my perfect substitute: BULGUR. I am obsessed with it right now. I like the texture more than quinoa and found it is even a great couscous replacement.

Bulgur is a quick cooking form of whole wheat. Bulgur is commonly used in European, Middle Eastern, and South Asian cuisine. It is high in fiber and low in fat. So go on--try it!

Do Nothing?

My boyfriend recently made a joke about how I do nothing with my time, and it hurt my feelings so, so much. I have a tendency to let people get the best of me; it's like I give others permission to make me feel bad, to disqualify things I've actually done or changed. WHY? My father once told me, "You can't let people live in your head rent free," and I thought it was one of the most poignant things I'd ever heard. Why would you walk in and make fun of me for sitting at the computer relaxing after a long day of work? I don't know, I suppose we have different ideas of what "funny" is. But the real question is, why do I place so much value into those words? Why should I LET someone else choose the way I feel? Am I doing nothing right now? Yeah, I'm pretty much defining laziness in my sweatpants catching up on Mad Men reruns, but that's okay! I am OKAY with that.

This interaction made me think of something else that happened recently, earlier this week, at work. All of my co-workers know I've been participating in the AAY! Nutrition Program, and they are all fully aware how much I work out as I am constantly late to work because of boot camp (oops!). A gal I work with asked me the other day if I was still doing the program, and I told her I was, and had just about a week left. She kind of paused, then delicately asked, "But you haven't lost any weight, have you?" I was STUNNED. It felt like someone had shot me. I was MORTIFIED. What was I supposed to say?! "Yes, you're right, it didn't work for me." OR "Nope, still pretty miserable in my body." OR "Yeah, I cheated a few times and look where it got me!" OR "Yeah, I failed." WHAT WAS I SUPPOSED TO SAY?! I just kind of shrugged and busied myself with work. It hurt so much to know that other people noticed I hadn't lost weight. I felt so ashamed.

But why should I let that affect the way I am living? Why does what one girl think matter so much to me? Should I just give up my journey now because people notice I'm not there yet? Why do the thoughts of others bear so much weight (pun intended)? I'm learning to let it go. I'm not very good at it yet, but I am trying. And really, it is NO ONE else's business, my body, myself.

I feel better writing this but would be lying if I said I'm not still depressed that people know I'm still unsuccessful with my weight loss. But it is what it is and there's no use being dishonest.

Avocado!

Just wanted to give a shout out to avocados--you are oh so tasty!

Take A Hike!

The other day I had to open at work, which meant I could not make it to bootcamp. I brought my gym clothes with me to work so I would be more motivated to get my exercise on afterwards. It was such a beautiful day out, I decided I should go for a hike instead of going to the gym. Let me tell you: best idea!! I did some great uphill hiking and that fresh air really did me good. It made me think of home, back in southern Illinois, where we have so many great hiking trails and hidden nature spots. I think maybe I will take another hike tomorrow!

Progress.

Progress not perfection is a mantra I keep chanting to myself. Some days I do awesome, I feel great, I think I look thinner! Other days I really struggle and beat myself up and can hardly stand to look in the mirror. But we all have different journeys we must take, right? The program is nearing its end and I am so glad I chose to do it! Even if it hasn't yielded any weight loss results for me, I've still made a lot of positive changes.

I'm trying to make my blog posts more positive, so, here's one of my favorite quotes to end with:

What Doesn't Kill You..

After this rough, rough week (and I mean in both terms of eating and just life in general!) I decided to get back to basics. With the love and care and assistance of Nar, I've moved myself back to the menus from good ol' phase one--remember way back when?! They are just so simple and straight forward and I think just a retreat back to clean, easy eating will be beneficial in my life.

I've also really been trying to amp up my exercise. While I already spend at least 7 or 8 hours a week working out, I've been trying to focus this week on getting the most out of that time. Yes, I can walk for  7 hours a week, but that really isn't going to produce the types of results I am looking for. Today I had a great strength training gym session, followed by a breezy jog outside. I'm sore already, but feeling good about myself, which is rare for me!

Cheesy as it may be, I must admit I've listened to this song like 19 times today. Great anthem for pushing yourself to go a little harder, to be a little better!!

A Quiet Mind.

Thanks to everyone who offered me support after that last post. Really, it means so much! This just hasn't been my week, but at least today it's not because of eating poorly!

Elaine suggested this to me and I just wanted to share it with everyone else: the 21-day mediation challenge. It's an Oprah/Deepak Chopra thing, they send you little emails and have a different meditation every day for about 15 minutes. I just started today and it's great, really. I've never been into meditating but I found the one today to be super great. I highly suggest it to anyone who is wanting to take baby steps into meditation like me! After this hell week I seem to be experiencing, it's really refreshing.

https://www.chopracentermeditation.com/Bestsellers/LandingPage.aspx?BookId=178

Some Days Suck.

Today has been awful. I am feeling terrible, I am feeling irritable, I am feeling like a failure. I have eaten so much today, almost all of it off my menu plan. Pastries and bread and yogurt and cereal and even five bites of cheesecake. I cannot describe to you how it feels, beyond saying AWFUL. I feel ashamed, I feel devastated, I feel further from reaching my goal weight than when I started this program. To say I am struggling would be the understatement of the year. To say I need a miracle to make this work would be putting it lightly.

Why is it so hard for me to do this right? Why do I do this to myself? No one is forcing me to eat these high calorie foods, and they don't even make me feel good--in fact, they make my stomach turn and give me the worst cramps ever. I promised myself I would be honest with this program, so this is me admitting my mess-up and taking full responsibility for it. I can't stop crying because I just have no faith in myself today. Why do I keep putting so much distance between where I am now and my goal weight? How many times do I have to say, "Yes, I messed up today but tomorrow I will be perfect," before I realize that perfect isn't happening for me?

I feel as though I have tried a million different ways to stay on track with my menus, and I keep coming up short. Some people think it's weird for me to have such a difficult time with this, some people think I must not truly want it because I'm not just doing it. Food and I have a torrid relationship and today it is showing its worst side.

This is hard. I knew it would be hard, but the difficulty is even more intensified by the fact that try and try and try as I might I still have not lost more than two pounds and I still have many days where I screw up.

I have really been trying to look to the positive, to see the bright side, but today I just can't. I am so disappointed in myself, truly disappointed beyond belief. I can't keep doing this. I am envious of everyone else's amazing progress and just want to be there with them. Of course, what works for one person might not work for me, but why does it feel like NOTHING will work for me? I put so much time into failing.

I am so tired of saying tomorrow will be better, tomorrow I will start anew, tomorrow this will work. I never stop giving up, but how many times can I let myself down before I will?

I just want to be in a body that I love and respect. Today it seems impossible.

Get Up And GO!

One of my lovely lady friends from the AAY! Nutrition Program, Leslie, took me on an amazing walk this morning. We wound through the hills and climbed some crazy stairs in Echo Park, and had a nice time just gabbing as we worked up a sweat. Working out with a partner is SO GREAT! We hoofed it for an hour and a half and the time really just flew by.

One topic of conversation while on our early morning power walk was the idea of exercising as a part of your life, as a WAY of life. I'm from Southern Illinois, and, while I don't like the make blanket statements, I can say from my 24 years of experience there that people tend to be a bit sedentary. I can remember when I first started really going to the gym, the FIRST time I was on a weight loss journey, oh, I must've been about 19. My friends mocked me! People would ask me what I was doing there all the time, people would think it was a lame excuse as to why I couldn't hang out that afternoon. Were they mean? No, not really, but let me tell you, it can be hard to keep doing something that NONE of your friends are, and that NONE of your friends think is cool. At this point, I could care less, but it never ceases to amaze me how many people I know, both here in Los Angeles and back in Carbondale, that NEVER go to the gym or go for a run or lift weights. Also--how are they not all 500 pounds?! Even before the program started I was working out upwards of five hours a week just to maintain my weight!

I've been trying to get my Mom to hop on the exercise train for a couple of years. Dad rides his bike sometimes, and she used to belong to a gym, but then it went under and she just never found another one. She is extremely busy, especially for being 60--wakes up at 3:45 in the morning and starts working from home, leaves for her job as a physical therapist at 7 and drives all over Illinois seeing patients, sometimes not to return home until past 7 that night. So I get the excuse of not having the time, but I so worry about her health. I thought maybe if I looked up some benefits of exercise, beyond the ones I already know and have experienced in my own life, I could share that knowledge with her and inspire her to join a new gym.

Here's a few perks of exercise you may or may not be aware of...
-Exercise helps diminish depression
-It increases growth factors in the brain, which are chemicals that help us learn
-Researchers of Alzheimer's have found exercise to be one of the best combatants of the disease
-Exercise can boost bone mass and keep muscles strong
-Can help prevent heart disease, arthritis, type 2 diabetes, stroke, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and even boost your immune system
-Helps remove toxins from your body
-Assists with weight loss
-Exercising regularly helps reduce the amount of stress hormones in your body

It is an amazing feeling to accomplish a great workout--so go out and do it! If you need me, I'll be at the gym.

A Stand Still.

So, lately I have been feeling, I don't know, a little stuck? It's so hard to describe, to put into words exactly what it is that I am feeling, or, maybe, not feeling. It isn't that I am burned out on the program--yes, it IS a lot of work to plan ahead and prepare in advance for meals, but that is really becoming a habit that I don't want to break. Maybe I feel a little left alone. I think for some of the other participants, this is the point in the program where they have lost their ten pounds and now can just focus on maintenance. OR, maybe they haven't quite lost that, but they are well on their way, and are just able to go on auto pilot. Unfortunately, this is not the case for me.

I have a month left with the AAY! Nutrition Program (ROUND ONE of what I'm sure will be many!) and I have so far to go. I haven't actually LOOKED at my weight recently, but last I checked I'd lost two pounds. Total. In two months. Which is extremely disheartening, but what am I going to do? Just give up? Two pounds is better than none. And, yes, I have had MANY STRUGGLES throughout the past two months. But I am working the program and I am learning A LOT; about eating, about health, about nutrition, and, most importantly, about myself. And how amazing it is that even with such a menial weight loss, I keep going. A couple of years ago, hell, even a couple of months ago, I would've just given up.

But, you see, the point is that I am NOT READY to just float along in this program, I'm not ready to just go through the motions. I want to get the most out of this I possibly can; I want support! I want communication! I want to have a sounding board for when I eat an extra 300 calories! I know, this all sounds very ME ME ME! But I think that is what it will take for me to lose weight in a healthy fashion.

SO what do I do? I ask for help. I ask others to try and get the most they can out of this last month along with me! Let's do some extra workouts! Let's challenge each other to stay on plan! Let's applaude others for reaching their goals and hug those who haven't gotten there! I want this. So badly. And I ultimately know that IT IS UP TO ME--but it was really nice back in the beginning when I didn't feel so alone, and I'd really like to experience that again.

Not A Diet!

I'm getting SO SICK of people asking me how my diet is going. IT ISN'T A DIET!!! Lifestyle change, people!

But, to be honest, even though I wasn't supposed to, I DID kind of view it as a diet as well for a bit there. I thought things like, "Oh, I can't wait til this nutrition program is over so I can have dessert!" and  "three more months til pizza!" and "I should save this Splenda until the end of the program". What a totally negative outlook! WHY should I be looking forward to foods that aren't healthy or good for me or that help me to reach my goal? The program is a stepping stone toward a healthy LIFE, not a 10 pound weight loss challenge. I haven't even come close to my goal yet, so I cannot just throw nutrition by the wayside after 12 weeks! Even though I often feel like this is so hard for me and get really discouraged because even when I am succeeding at the plan, I'm not losing any weight, I feel like this is  truly becoming a way of life for me---okay, I wanted to make the joke "weigh" of life, but maybe I just think that's funny because it's so early in the morning.

In all seriousness--I am glad I've been on the journey. It really has been life-changing for me, and it feels good to believe now that this is something I can carry on for a long time. Over halfway done! And, yes, it stinks I haven't lost the weight, not even a quarter of the weight, and I'm happy (and jealous!) for those who have, but I just have to remember that everyone's journey is different. Mine just takes longer, and hopefully that means when it finally goes away, it's gone to stay! See? POSITIVITY!

Keep working hard. Keep believing in you. It doesn't matter if anyone else does, you know.

Kick Butt!!

Today is two months without a cigarette for me! My dear friend Brad sent me these in honor of the occasion. So excited for the next boxing class!!!

Lift Your Spirits!

Sometimes, we all need a little inspiration, a little motivation, a litte help. I need this a lot! Over the past few weeks I've been collecting a lot of quotes, reading a variety of articles, and smiling at many pictures that give me hope and motivation and inspiration and the desire to be better, and sometimes just make me happy. Cheesy? Okay, maybe, but whatever works! Here's some of my favorites--hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

"What we achieve inwardly will change outer reality."
-Plutarch

"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit."
-Aristotle

"The world is all gates, all opportunities."
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Salty Dog

I just read this great article in my Cooking Light magazine, all about salt! While I have this really bad habit of focusing on the negative, I have lately (okay, for like 3 days..) been trying to focus on things I've done RIGHT! And one of those things is that for 6 weeks now I have totally laid off the extra salt--haven't added any to my food! A big deal for me, a gal who was always pretty liberal with the salt shaker.

This article de-bunked some salt myths and talked a bit about the pros and cons of added salt--check it out if you want! One of the things I found most interesting was the part about whether rinsing canned beans helped lower sodium levels or not. The answer? YES! In fact, the beans they tested lost 40% of their sodium when rinsed. WHOA. Never not rinsing again!!

The Truth About Salt In Your Food

Salad party!

The good news about this program? I am now craving salad everyday!!! And like HARDCORE craving it. Currently really into mixing it up by adding shredded cabbage and fresh basil!

Burn It.

Okay, so, for the most part, I LOVE working out, especially when I go to bootcamp classes--they keep me motivated and are always switching things up so I don't get bored. But sometimes, exercising can be a struggle--I'm tired, I don't feel good, my feet hurt, I don't want to drive to the gym, it's so freakin' early, oh, you know all the excuses.

I think I play this trick on myself where I feel like I HAVE to be at the gym or in a class to be getting a good workout or ditching any of those unwanted calories. FALSE! Recently, I've discovered the joys (yeah, "joy" is pushing it..) of running outdoors, but there are so many other things one can do to burn calories, too!  I started brainstorming this afternoon, thinking about both ways to get a good workout without a gym membership, and also just ways to burn a few extra calories each day, and here's a little list I've compiled, entitled:

OLIVIA'S LIL LIST OF WAYS TO BURN CALORIES WITHOUT EVEN REALIZING YOU'RE WORKING OUT, WHICH IS AWESOME:

1. Dance! Put on some great music and get weird in your living room. I prefer to do this when I am home alone, and just hope and pray the neighbors don't complain about how loudly Whitney Houston is playing.
2. Take the stairs as much as you can. I live on the fourth floor, and it is so much easier to just hop in the elevator, but I try to fight it! Even if I've got two bags to carry, it is manageable!
3. Exercise while watching TV! I like to keep my eight pound free weights handy and do things such as bicep curls while I am watching a show. Or, if you have actual television and not just the Internet like me, do crunches during the commercials! Try it! It takes nothing away from the entertainment--in fact, I like doing this because it makes me forget I'm getting a workout!
4. Walk your dog! Run with your dog! Play with your dog! Or, if you don't have a dog, borrow a friend's! Or go volunteer at a shelter and play with those doggies!
5. See how quickly you can clean the house--and scrub those floors on your hands and knees! I live in a studio, but am surprised how dirty it can get! A good, thorough clean always makes me break a sweat.
6. Challenge some friends to a game of bowling! Yes--it's a sport! It's so funny, but the last time I went bowling, we played two games in a row, and the next day my arm was sore from lobbing that weighted ball!
7. Take a hike! Grab a pal, or significant other, or coworker, and make them go with you. Torching calories is fun in a group!
8. Turn everything into an excuse to workout! I do calf raises while washing the dishes, squats while drying my hair, and lunges while brushing my teeth. Why not?!

Maybe some of these will work for you! Now that I've written this silly little list, I better stay true to them. Okay, NO ELEVATOR FOR ME TOMORROW. I'm off to brush my teeth and do some lunges...I better practice what I preach, right??

I'm a big proponent of the get out there and play with your dog idea. Here's me and my dog, Barkminster Fuller! He still lives in Illinois for now, because I don't know where I'd put a 70 pound pup in our studio. I miss him tons, but my parents are really good dog sitters. Plus, he is such a good exercise buddy--he never stops going!!

Write On!

I stumbled across the interesting article about keeping a food journal today and thought I'd share. While jotting down everything you eat can seem like a tedious task, studies show over and over that it works! Then again, what works for one person may not work for another, but it never hurts to try something new, right? I've logged my calories for years, but I definitely know when I start slacking on it--you know, not measuring things out, just guessing how many calories are in that peanut butter cookie instead of actually looking it up--that's when my pants start fitting a little tighter and my mind starts racing about the weight I've gained. A food journal can be good because it can keep you accountable and honest. Of course, you have to be honest with yourself for it to work! I have had calorie counters on my phone, and sometimes I'd eat, say, a cup and a half of cereal, but only count the calories in a cup. WHAT!?? There was something about it where looking at the lower number made it seem better--but that was just me lying to myself and it was a form of self-sabotage. SO BE HONEST! Sometimes it can be a harsh reality, looking at what you truly are consuming, but the very first time I kept a food diary, and was 100% honest, it was so eye-opening--it changed my entire life.

REMEMBER! I am not advocating anything, and have no formal training in nutrition (aside from many collegiate courses!), these are just some ideas and things that have worked (or not!) for me!

Here's that article. Really neat stuff!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/judith-j-wurtman-phd/food-journal_b_2689087.html?utm_hp_ref=healthy-living

Exercise Your Ears.

Sometimes my weekend trips to the gym are nearly too much to handle. People are packed in there like sardines, everyone vying for the one open treadmill, gym rats asking you, "How many more reps you got?", it can be a truly stressful and often annoying experience that I endure because I need the exercise. Okay, I'll be fair, sometimes it's not half-bad! But quite often, the only solace I find it escaping into my headphones. Good music really makes a workout WORK for me. It helps me stay motivated when I am feeling tired, pushes me to go a little bit harder when I feel like calling it quits, encourages me to keep a steady pace, and, of course, drowns out the rest of the people!

Recently I looked up exercise and running playlists and found a few good ones, so I thought I'd share!

NPR Ultimate Workout Mix

2012 Huffington Post Running Playlist

The Ultimate Workout Playlist

Good Housekeeping Jogging Playlist

I got a lot of really great song ideas off these and am now working on creating my own amazing playlist! I hosted a radio show for nine years and really miss selecting music for everyone to listen to, so when I finish my own I'll post it and everyone can enjoy!!

This song is the one I ALWAYS put on when I need a good jumpstart. Happy sweating!

Veg-Head.

We all know that we need to eat at least three to five servings of vegetables a day--which can sound like a lot, but in reality it can be so easy to achieve! One of the most useful things I've been doing since I started the AAY! Nutrition Program back in January is chopping up and bagging my veggies for the week every Sunday night. It is amazing how much time it cuts down on later in the week--and I've found when I have pre-cut red bell pepper to reach for when I'm hungry, it is so much easier to surpass that bag of chips on top of the fridge.

Vegetables are also super versatile and can be thrown into so many everyday recipes. People think vegetables are boring or not very tasty, but they don't have to be! Here's some things I like to do to ensure I'm eating enough veggies, and enjoying myself while doing so:
-add kale or spinach to smoothies (yes, it turns the frozen drink a sort of ugly green color, but you cannot even taste a difference)
-add shredded cabbage to salads
-sprinkle baby carrots with cinnamon (okay, this sounds weird, but I swear, they're delicious!!)
-steam cauliflower and then mash it--it's better than potatoes!
-make zucchini chips (one of my most brilliant finds to date!!)



WAIT, CHIPS?! That's right, CHIPS. Healthy! Homemade! On my nutrition plan! How do you do it, you ask?! Let's begin..

I had a leftover zucchini from a 3-pack I'd bought and I noticed the other morning it was starting to look a little sad. Better use this tonight, I thought. Zucchini is one of those veggies I tend to overlook--it's not bad, but it is kind of dull. When I got home after work that evening, I was HUNGRY. Too hungry, you know what I mean? The kind of hungry where you want to eat every piece of bread in the house and you need sweet and salty and definitely something crunchy to go with that. I opened the fridge and saw that little zucchini, and figured I should find a way to make it taste delicious. So, I turned on the oven to 425 and sliced the zucchini into thin rounds using the mandoline. I put a piece of parchment paper on a cookie sheet and sprayed it with olive oil and then laid the zucchini rounds down so they weren't overlapping. I gave them a little spray of oil and crushed some black pepper on top. Then I let them bake for about 15 minutes, flipped them, baked another 10 or so, and they were done. PERFECT! Okay, like two of them burned a little, but the rest were ah-mazing. Crunchy like a chip, but healthy like a vegetable, because, oh right, that's all they were! One cup of zucchini only has 20 calories.  Which means I had my "guilty" pleasure snack for only 20 CALORIES. I was so proud, and am so looking forward to making more!

TRY THIS! You will not regret it. You can also do it in the microwave--I learned this the next afternoon when I just had to have more! Put a piece of parchment paper on a large plate, spray with oil, lay the rounds down, spray, top with black pepper, and microwave for around 6 minutes. BUT BEWARE. There is a really fine, delicate line between done and burnt when you microwave them, so I kept checking to make sure they were okay.

Now you know all my secrets. I hope you love 'em, too!!

One run at a time.

The other day I had a particularly awful shift at work. People were being negative, being mean, being aggressive. As much as I just wanted to go home and curl up in bed, I knew my gym clothes were waiting for me in the car. So I sucked it up and went running at the Silverlake Reservoir. It's a nice little loop, something like 2.2 miles, and I've only ever run it once before--I've really never been much into outdoor running, I'm usually a treadmill type of gal. But it was perfect, just what I needed: some fresh air, some good music on my headphones, and some heavy breathing. Of course, there were points when I thought, "Am I actually running right now? Is this too slow to be considered a run?" So, let's be fair, perhaps I was JOGGING. But I was doing something!

I went home, and, feeling the high of exercise, sat down to eat my snack. And then I just wanted to keep eating and my mind was playing tricks on me, giving me the thoughts of, "Oh, you went running! Treat yourself!" This is SUCH an easy trap to fall into. I've done it millions of times. But it is so utterly counterproductive! I ate too much and felt heavy and full and disappointed. I didn't want to sit with this feeling, so what did I do? I put on my shoes and went running out the door. What?! I have never, ever in my life done this--especially not at night. Sure, I've taken walks--power walks even--after dinner or when I'm feeling antsy or like I need to indulge in a little self love, but I've never gone running. It felt so good! Of course I'm not proud that I was driven to do this thanks to overeating, but I think it's a GIANT LEAP in the right direction. I am not sure how far I went, but I think it was about 3 miles, and I cannot tell you how good it felt.

...and the next day I felt like my legs were going to fall off.

"A bear, however hard he tries, grows tubby without exercise." 
-AA Milne

Cute Organics

I think this is such a cute little chart--useful, too!!

I think I can, I think I can..

I've been doing a lot of research on WILLPOWER lately. Sometimes it feels like I don't have any! Some days I succumb to all the temptations around me. Well, I'll be fair to myself, I don't really eat ALL the things I sometimes want to, but I have had moments of mishap.

Here's a list of ways to increase willpower that I am finding helpful during this journey:
*NOTE: these are in no way, shape, or form the RIGHT things to do, they are just some things that might be helpful methods of strengthening your willpower muscle...

-anticipate roadblocks and plan for these problems
-eliminate negative influences
-avoid temptations whenever you can
-make small, manageable goals and remind yourself constantly how important these goals are to you
-set up a rewards system for yourself for achieving even the most minute goals (but FOOD IS NOT A REWARD!)
-commit to your goals verbally to as many people as you can--it helps you stay accountable
-use keywords and little phrases to keep you motivated and working toward your goal--say them over and over in your head when you are feeling weak
-just as we utilize rewards when we do something good, remember that there are consequences when you make negative choices--for me, I tack on extra workout hours, but not as a punishment, just as a consequence for not sticking to my plan
-be kind to yourself, and don't just give it all up because you ate poorly one day, or didn't exercise enough one week--it takes time to get where you want to be!!

Okay, so I'm still working on ALL of those (errr, especially that last one about not beating yourself up!), but I'm getting there.

To be or not to be...

Sometimes I struggle harder than other days. Sometimes I tell myself I'm doing awesome, when, really, that's a lie. Sometimes I am too hard on myself. Sometimes I'm easy as hell. But I keep trying, I keep going, and I'd like to think that in the end that is what matters most.

My boss told me I was going to get super fat when I quit smoking cigarettes. Then the other day he commented that I hadn't even gained any weight yet. I was proud to tell him I lost--even if it is only a very few pounds--but it was one of those times I wanted to say, "Haha! Proved you wrong!"

One time I asked a therapist if I was bipolar. She said if I was that aware of my feelings, probably not. Do you think sometimes labeling things is actually counterproductive? Like, if you say you're not good at math, then you just keep believing it, and, maybe, you stop trying to improve, because you've said you aren't good at it. Or, maybe, you have to prove, in a sense, that you aren't good at it. So you don't really try at math anymore. Or you avoid it as much as you can. I don't want to do that with weight loss and getting healthy and fit. I don't want to keep saying it is so hard and that it's never going to happen to me, because I fear it'll turn into a self-fulfilling prophecy. I fear it already has.

For me, it's a lot bigger than the food itself. It is way more than just eating less and working out more. It runs deeper, courses through my veins, my very being, consumes me. It is my addiction. It is my prison. It is my life, though, and I really have to just

Sometimes, well, a lot of the time, I tell myself to fake it 'til I make it. This might be one of those times.

Abs-olutely!

Tomorrow is Monday which means weigh-in day. I loathe the scale, I dread the scale, I fear the scale.

I confided in my boyfriend my fears about tomorrow. While I had a pretty good week, and really worked my butt off exercising (eight and a half hours worth!!), I don't know, I just don't feel like I lost anything. And my usual reaction when I get on the scale and see a number that hasn't budged, or, even worse, one that has gone up, is to cry and feel like a failure.

And, come on, I know I shouldn't. There are SO MANY factors that go into your weight on any given day, and, hey, maybe I am actually gaining some muscle! But I know myself, and I know the shame spiral those trivial numbers send me into.

So Bryce suggested I do some ab work to make myself feel better. No, I don't think that fifteen minutes of crunches is going to help me drop more weight by 7 AM, but it most certainly was good for my mental health.

And he even held my feet down for me..

Mar-tea-ni.

Not drinking alcohol hasn't been too hard, especially because I have an AMAZING boyfriend who also stopped drinking--it's like we're in this together! So instead of sipping on Grand Marnier after dinner (also, how old am I?!), we've been downing cup after cup of tea. I gave up coffee about two years ago--my poor stomach just couldn't hang--so tea has been a part of my daily routine for a while now. But with the AAY Nutrition Program I've really upped my tea game!

There are heaps of different tea flavors out there, and to keep myself from getting bored--as I tend to oh so easily--I've been trying and buying a wide variety. Bryce (my man friend, we can maybe give him a name at this point other than just "the boyfriend") is really into Orange Spice right now, while I'm loving Honeybush Caramel (Revolution Teas) and this one I tried at our last nutrition meeting, Strawberry Chocolate (Republic of Tea). I ordered some of the latter last night and cannot wait to receive it!

Have a favorite tea? Let me know in class, or an email, or, hey, share the love and bring some!

Adam and the Rants.

It seems like all I do is talk about how hard this is, eh? Well, here we go again, because, guess what?? IT IS HARD.

I love when people think losing weight is easy. And, hey, if it truly is easy (and still healthy) for you, then dang, I'm just jealous. But for the rest of us (we are the 99%!!), it is a laborious endeavor. The wonderful trainers send out all these emails, which I love, as they serve as little reminders to keep going, and recently I opened one about what to expect at our week two weigh in--which happens tomorrow morning. The quick note mentioned how common it is for people to lose up to 5 pounds their first week on the program, and to not feel discouraged when this next weigh in isn't as bountiful.

GREAT.

I lost 1.6 pounds the first week! Nowhere near five! Or even four! It might be less this week? I mean, I know that's the reality, and I just have to be okay with it, but why can't I lose more?! I know this isn't real life, but in my wildest dreams I just wish I could see results quicker. But isn't that one of the things that makes weight loss so challenging? Actually sticking with it when you don't see any change for a while, or, at least, you think you don't.

I am so happy for the people who DID lose the five pounds, or four, or three, or two, or one--it's everyone's separate journey. But sometimes it feels so frustrating and like I am the only one who isn't getting there. I know! I'm only two weeks in! But why can't it come easier for me?

The first time I lost weight, I was meeting with a nutritionist at the college I attended in Southern Illinois . We talked meal plans and caloric intake and exercise and all the good stuff, and for the first time in my life I counted calories and really paid attention to what I was eating. I skipped the afternoon margaritas in favor of the elliptical. I portioned out pasta instead of eating half the box at once. And I only let myself have dessert once--okay, twice--a week.

And I literally did not see weight loss for TWO MONTHS. A pound or two shaved off that number on the scale, but for two months it hovered right between 170 and 178, my highest weight ever.

I wish I remembered my feelings about this better. I know I wasn't nearly as strict as I have been with this--for example, my one dessert a week? A gigantic piece of carrot cake from Denny's! (Don't judge me, I lived in a pretty small town and still love Denny's) But I kept working on good habits and not overeating, and it felt like one day I couldn't lose any poundage and the next day it had suddenly all fallen off. Was that just my perception? Absolutely, and, in looking at old pictures now, I'm able to see a steady progression of the decline of my weight over a series of months. But it took time. SO MUCH TIME. And while I keep trying to remind myself of this, sometimes it's hard. Sometimes it's hard to watch people who don't push themselves as hard in class losing more than you. Sometimes it's hard to see your boyfriend eat whatever he wants and just keep gaining muscle. Sometimes it feels unfair.


My clothes are still tight! My thighs are still terribly large! My energy is still zapped! But I'll just keep trying.

Starting point.

So, here's my "before" pictures. They were definitely eye opening for me. Sometimes I think I see one thing when it is really another. I'm glad I have these so I'll be able to see how far I've come a few months from now!

Miles to go before I sleep.

Nutrition program, week two is off to a rocky start. I had a good Monday! I had a TERRIBLE Tuesday, complete with something like 400 extra calories of peanut butter---had a little binge moment, am trying to forgive myself and move on. Having a decent Wednesday! Took an extra bootcamp class this morning to make up for overeating yesterday, and, whoa, are anyone else's calves on fire?! I'm already plotting ways to get the boyfriend to give me a massage when he gets home--I think if I offer him money it might work!

I am so tired. On the message board for the nutrition program, someone posted about having all this energy, meanwhile I'm struggling to keep my eyelids pulled up--at 11 in the morning! I. Am. So. Tired. Today is my day off work (!!) and all I've done is lazed around, reading, and catching up on TV shows and, as always, chopping more baggies of vegetables. I feel like such a bum. I usually fill my free days with cleaning and laundry and errands and walking and all sorts of other seemingly mundane but necessary things. Not today, no no, it has been a lay in the bathtub reading "Blood, Butter & Bones" for an hour (if you're a foodie like me and looking for a great book, try it). I just do not have energy. I'm totally zapped.

I think it's just my body adjusting to all these changes--better eating habits, more intense workouts, not smoking (three weeks down, a lifetime to go, thank you very much!)--all very healthy and positive changes, but I'm really putting myself through the ringer and I do think it's taking a toll. So I'm going to lay here in bed, blogging and watching reruns of Six Feet Under, and, yes, I will probably feel a little guilty about being so lazy, but maybe I've earned a day off! And, hey, at least I'm not sitting here digging into a bag of potato chips. My love handles are going to thank me one day.

Teddy Roosevelt said..

Go-go-yoga!

Napoleon Bonaparte once said, "The best cure for the body is a quiet mind."

After a few days of beating myself up for having a misstep (or two, or three, or, dare I say, four..) during the first week of the nutrition program, I decided I needed to really relax and reflect and try and quiet my chiding mind. So I decided to take a yoga class at the gym I belong to on Sunday.

To be honest, I always kind of scoff at yoga. I like the idea of stretching and being more flexible, but I never really considered it a legitimate form of exercise. Plus, the idea of shutting my mind off, while enticing at a glance, seems impossible. The very few times I've had a professional massage, I spent 40 minutes just trying to relax my brain, and the last 20 minutes beating myself up for wasting the massage! Am I too hard on myself? Well, maybe...

So I put my notions about yoga aside and rolled my purple mat out alongside men and women of all shapes, sizes, and skill level. And you know what? It was, of course, just what the doctor ordered. Though I never did quite fully still my mind, I did find a bit of peace within myself. Just slowing down and taking the time to collect myself, trying my damnedest to leave negativity at the gate and just appreciate the steps I have taken, and the little progress I have made, it granted me a sense of accomplishment I so desperately needed. Someone very smart (Elaine) once told me, "Even if you take two steps forward and one step back, you're still making progress."

And let me just publicly redact my statement about yoga and it's legitimacy as a form of exercise. Holy cow, my legs were shaking for two hours afterwards!

Bad Habits...

...we all have them. And not just one! No, no, we all have LOTS of them. Like I used to bite my nails--for years! I actually didn't even stop biting my nails until about a year ago, and that was after many, many attempts to quit. And, yes, occasionally when I am extra nervous, I find myself chewing on my thumbnail even now.

One thing I've learned during this, the first week of my nutrition program, is that habits are not easy to break. It became a habit because you did it over and over and over again, so it is amazingly hard to just try and stop that behavior. Once I read somewhere that if you do something for eleven days in a row it becomes a habit. Sometimes it feels so hard, though, and I question my resolve, my willpower, and just how far I am willing to go to get what I want. But then I remember all the other bad habits I've overcome through the years.

I have these bad patterns when it comes to eating and I am working to overcome them. I am not there yet, but I am striving to give more of myself and I believe that I can do it. Well, maybe I'm not FULLY behind that statement yet, but I'm just going to fake it 'til I make it.

I don't want to settle anymore. I deserve a better life and I am the only one that can go and make that a reality.

Mistake Number One.

Yes, I messed up my plan already. I wasn't thorough enough in reading my menu this morning and ended up eating almost 150 extra calories worth of protein at snack time. And I feel AWFUL. Guilty doesn't even begin to describe it. I suddenly feel so discouraged. If I hadn't been rushing to get to work, maybe I wouldn't have slipped. Part of me feels like this is just never going to work for me. I felt so inspired and empowered my first two days on the plan, and today I just kind of feel hopeless. I know, I know, it's only day three! And, though I wish it wasn't true, I understand that weight loss and body resizing takes a lot of time--but today I just feel down. I don't want to feel like I am failing, and one misstep isn't reason to give up, right? On the plus side, I worked two days in a row without touching any desserts or breads or anything! Just keep trying to look at the positives. I feel like I'm not doing everything right, even though (aside from this slip-up) I am actually doing everything right. Maybe I just feel a little overwhelmed. Maybe I just want this so badly I'm afraid I'll disappoint myself. Okay, time to suck it up and eat my carrots. Breathe in, breathe out.

Water, water, every where..

...and I drank ALL OF IT.

Fun facts about water:
-pure water has no smell or taste, and a pH level around 7 (I only know what half of this sentence means)
-water covers roughly 70% of the Earth's surface
-approximately 70% of the adult body is made up of water (!!!!!)

Okay, facts about water aren't really that fun, but it is essential for healthy living! I am supposed to drink 10 glasses a day (80 ounces), and while it sounds like a big number, I already drink a lot of water every day, so I figured I'd be fine.

I did a little experiment today, just to ensure I am getting enough of that good ol' H2O, and measured and noted every cup I swallowed.

BY NOON I'D ALREADY DRANK 100 OUNCES!!

Is it possible I'm drinking too much water?! I read somewhere than a healthy adult can safely drink THREE GALLONS of water per day. Okay, I'm not quite there yet...

Bored with water? My favorite ways to jazz it up:
-warm it up for a minute in the microwave and squirt a little lemon juice in it
-put fresh cucumbers and mint in it
-fresh ginger in an ice cold glass of water

Boring? No way! Day one is treating me pretty well..

Don't stop believing..

Posted the quote below on the cabinet door to stay positive.

Day one! Only three months--and twelve pounds--to go! Yes, I set myself a realistic goal to say "see ya!!" to twelve pounds over the next three months. Had my first weigh-in this morning, and, okay, let's be honest, am I the only one who frequently cries when they pop on the scale? So I spent all last night preparing myself. Yes, I indulged over the holidays an took two weeks off of bootcamp while I was back home, so, am I going to weigh the same as I did back in late October (which was the last time I cried on a scale)?? No, I'm thinking not so much. You know how people always tell you to pay attention to signs OTHER than the scale when trying to lose weight? Are your clothes looser? Do you have more energy? Do you find yourself craving healthy snacks? Well, let's just say my clothes still fit but there appears to be more of me in them lately, and the cookie I had for dessert last night surely did not help! But we all have to start somewhere, and this is my jumping off point. And I could take that number and feel sorry for myself OR I can do something about it, like following my meal plan and exercising.

Feels good to be in control. I know my bad habits got me to this point, so I believe a change in attitude--and a whole lot of hard work and willpower--can get me back to where I'd like to be.

Motivate Me.

It just takes time.

Pre-game.

Why am I not losing weight? How many desserts is too many desserts? If I look at myself from the side in the mirror can you tell a difference yet? If I pull this apron up higher on my waist maybe no one will look at me. If I have this one croissant and skip dinner does that still count as dieting? Does my boyfriend think I'm fat? Maybe I should go gluten-free, it worked for so many of my co-workers. Why doesn't anything look good on me? How many calories are really in Splenda? How many snacks have I eaten today? If I run after work then I can definitely have this little muffin. No, thanks, I'm on a diet.

These are all actual thoughts I've had and phrases I've said--and we're only talking about today. Someone recently said to me, "Olivia, you love to diet." Repulsed at this statement, I shot back, "You're crazy!" But I kept thinking about it, and realized I must love it because I've been doing it since I was 12. My weight has fluctuated from the way-too-highs to the way-too-lows; my eating habits have ranged from bingeing on breads and cereals to starving on Diet Coke and sauerkraut. I have tried it all: low carb, high protein, liquids only, online trackers, in-house meetings, fasting, feasting, ARGHH IT'S JUST TOO MUCH!!

So, I signed up for the AAY! Nutrition Program in hopes that I can lose the unwanted pounds in a healthy way. I started attending bootcamp classes back in the early summer, and loved how working out finally became fun! I also realized how important it is for me to be held accountable, and I've seen just how motivating it can be to exercise with others, because, trust me, if you're working out with a group of 24 other people, you don't want to be the slacker in class!! I like that there is this same idea in place for the AAY! Nutrition Program: a support group of other people on the same journey, and someone to answer to if I am not sticking to the plan. Maybe I need some tough love! Or maybe I just need to be honest with myself. Crash diets haven't helped me thus far, so I'm trading them in for a better lifestyle!

I'm going to document my journey over the next 3 months on this blog--and while I cannot guarantee it will be pretty (also, I'm known to cry a lot, so, get the Kleenex ready), it will most certainly be honest.

Alright, good night, good luck, and thank god for those little 35-calorie cheese wedges.


Oh, did I mention I also stopped smoking cigarettes a week ago? After 10 years? My body is going to love the hell out of me this year!!!