Truth is, I have never made a New Year's Resolution. I have made resolutions, or decisions, or commitments to myself, whatever you'd like to call them, just never on December 31st.
But I like the idea of the New Year's Resolution. I like the psychological mind trick of an official "start date." I like the gravity of what seems like such an important promise. I like the aspect of making a public declaration of your intentions.
I also think that all of those things just mentioned can make it all too big. Too overwhelming. Too all or nothing. Too easy to give up on because, hey, no one sticks to their New Year's Resolution, right?
So here's my advice if you think you want to, or need to, make a commitment to get healthier in 2013.
1. Make it about being healthier, not about being skinnier. Skinnier will happen as a byproduct of healthier. And being healthy sounds like a more attainable goal. It means any steps you take toward better eating or more movement "count" and you get a check in the win column, fueling your desire to continue. If, conversely, you want to get skinnier and don't lose anything in the first two weeks or lose very few, your head starts doubting and that spells disaster.
2. Make small, achieveable goals. You are highly unlikely to go from no working out to a two-hour session, seven days a week. But would 30 minutes three times a week seem more doable? Would parking in the farthest spot in the parking lot be OK? Would 10 minutes of butt lifts fit in during 30 minutes of sitcom watching? I think so. Would two days a week of healthier meals with reasonable portions work? Would cutting out fast food for one week feel possible? Would saving sweets for weekend be feasible? It just sounds easier.
3. Write it down. Or share it with someone. Better yet, find someone to be your partner in crime. Declare it here in the comments section! It's not quite as real if it lives only in your head.
4. Understand that there will be ups and downs. You will fall off the proverbial horse. Prepare yourself for WHAT YOU DO NEXT, because that's what counts. Tell yourself now that you are going to climb right back in the saddle and do it. The shorter the distance between the fall and the back on your feet, the greater the chance you have of succeeding.
5. Do more of what makes you feel good, REALLY GOOD, and less of what makes you feel bad. Eating a cookie every now and again feels good because you know it's a treat, you've earned it, and it's not hurting you. Eating cookies every day makes you feel like you failed and it leads to you beating yourself up. You know the difference. Getting up at 5 a.m. to take a walk can sort of suck because who doesn't want to stay in bed? But two hours later, that early rise and activity will make you feel 10 times better than the flipping, flopping and regret that comes with the extra 30 minutes of sleep.
My resolutions are in the comments. Feel free to add yours. We won't tell a soul if you don't want us to, but we'll support you all the way there.
Happy New Year!!!!
Monday, December 31, 2012
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Simple Chip Dip
We're having some people over today and I needed some munchie stuff to go along with the main-event pizza. The credit for this one goes to my sister. Again. I've adapted it a bit, but the core idea is hers.
She whipped it out at a lovely graduation picnic for a certain Venezuelan friend years ago and I had almost forgotten about it until I was standing in front of my fridge this morning, scanning its contents, hoping for inspiration.
This is easy, fast, yummy and not so horrible for you.
Jalapeno Dip
1 8 oz. package of reduced fat cream cheese (Neufisoithghagal or however they spell that), at room temperature
1 jalapeno pepper, finely diced
2 or 3 big spoonfuls of light sour cream
1t-ish garlic powder
Mix. Eat. Of course you can use full fat or 0 fat cream cheese and sour cream. You can serve it warm in one of those little crock pot things, but I like it at room temp. You can skip the sour cream altogether, but I like it because it loosens up the mixture a little and doesn't break a Jay's chip when you dunk it. Serve with straight up potato chips or pretzels or raw veg, if you like.
Saturday, December 29, 2012
Mexi-Side Chopped Salad
Those of you who know me or have been to my house know my fall-back meal for entertaining, particularly for a crowd, is some sort of Mexican taco bar. Sometimes it's straight-up American-style tacos, sometimes it's Tinga and one of these days I'm going to tackle carnitas.
And while I love the ease, convenience and deliciousness of Mexican food, I struggle sometimes with what to serve WITH it. Yeah, I made guac and salsa. And there's always rice and beans. But that's all so heavy and not-so-good for you. As such, I'm always looking for a veg-based side that "matches" the Mexican idea. (My resident Mexican expert says vegetable side dishes aren't as prevalent in her mother-in-law's kitchen as they are in typical meat-starch-veg American meals, complicating the mission.)
So when I ran across this recipe, I marked it. Then made some tweaks. I made it yesterday and like it. Better for summer than winter, to be sure, but still good.
Mexi-Veg with Lime Cilantro Vinaigrette
Salad:
2c corn kernels
1c chopped jicama
3/4 to 1c chopped red onion
1c chopped red (or yellow or green) pepper
1/2 c black olives, chopped
1c crumbled queso fresco
1 jalapeno, seeded, finely chopped
1 avocado, chopped
Dressing:
1/8c freshly squeezed lime juice
Zest of 1 lime
1/8c rice wine vinegar
1/4 to 1/2c canola oil (Classic oil to vinegar ratio for a simple dressing is 3:1, but I think it's too heavy for this dressing. So this is a 1:1 or 2:1. But you know what you like ... adjust to your personal tastes.)
1 to 2T minced garlic
1 to 2T minced cilantro
1t salt
1t sugar
Dump all the chopped salad stuff in a big bowl. Add other veg if you like them or take away what you don't like. Celery or even water chestnuts would be a good swap for the jicama, but I prefer the jicama. I keep an old salsa jar and mix the dressing in that. Shake, shake, shake to mix. Adjust the salt and sugar to taste. I don't always need all of the dressing ... but if you make the salad a day ahead, having a little extra dressing on hand is good because sometimes you need to add it before serving.
And while I love the ease, convenience and deliciousness of Mexican food, I struggle sometimes with what to serve WITH it. Yeah, I made guac and salsa. And there's always rice and beans. But that's all so heavy and not-so-good for you. As such, I'm always looking for a veg-based side that "matches" the Mexican idea. (My resident Mexican expert says vegetable side dishes aren't as prevalent in her mother-in-law's kitchen as they are in typical meat-starch-veg American meals, complicating the mission.)
So when I ran across this recipe, I marked it. Then made some tweaks. I made it yesterday and like it. Better for summer than winter, to be sure, but still good.
Mexi-Veg with Lime Cilantro Vinaigrette
Salad:
2c corn kernels
1c chopped jicama
3/4 to 1c chopped red onion
1c chopped red (or yellow or green) pepper
1/2 c black olives, chopped
1c crumbled queso fresco
1 jalapeno, seeded, finely chopped
1 avocado, chopped
Dressing:
1/8c freshly squeezed lime juice
Zest of 1 lime
1/8c rice wine vinegar
1/4 to 1/2c canola oil (Classic oil to vinegar ratio for a simple dressing is 3:1, but I think it's too heavy for this dressing. So this is a 1:1 or 2:1. But you know what you like ... adjust to your personal tastes.)
1 to 2T minced garlic
1 to 2T minced cilantro
1t salt
1t sugar
Dump all the chopped salad stuff in a big bowl. Add other veg if you like them or take away what you don't like. Celery or even water chestnuts would be a good swap for the jicama, but I prefer the jicama. I keep an old salsa jar and mix the dressing in that. Shake, shake, shake to mix. Adjust the salt and sugar to taste. I don't always need all of the dressing ... but if you make the salad a day ahead, having a little extra dressing on hand is good because sometimes you need to add it before serving.
Friday, December 28, 2012
Holiday Carrots
I made these for the first time Tuesday and really liked them. They're a little more special than everyday glazed carrots and would be good, I think, for Thanksgiving/Christmas or Easter holidays.
Orange Ginger Maple Glazed Carrots
1 lb. baby carrots
1/2 cup fresh orange juice (though I'm sure regular orange juice from concentrate or a bottle would work) ... this worked out to 1.5 naval oranges for me, BTW
Zest from 1 orange
1 T (or a big spoonful) of grated ginger (I keep a jar of prepared stuff in my fridge ... it's sold by the chopped garlic in a jar in my grocery store)
2-ish T of real maple syrup
1-2T butter
Salt to taste
In a large, shallow skillet, dump carrots and cover them with water. Bring to boil and let them bubble away until they're done to the texture you like. I like mine with a little snap in them. My mom likes hers mushy. Drain. In the same pan, add juice, ginger, syrup and butter. Let it bubble away and reduce. As it reduces, the liquid gets more syrup-y and glazes the carrots. Add the zest about halfway through. Before serving, add some chopped fresh parsley to make it pretty.
Orange Ginger Maple Glazed Carrots
1 lb. baby carrots
1/2 cup fresh orange juice (though I'm sure regular orange juice from concentrate or a bottle would work) ... this worked out to 1.5 naval oranges for me, BTW
Zest from 1 orange
1 T (or a big spoonful) of grated ginger (I keep a jar of prepared stuff in my fridge ... it's sold by the chopped garlic in a jar in my grocery store)
2-ish T of real maple syrup
1-2T butter
Salt to taste
In a large, shallow skillet, dump carrots and cover them with water. Bring to boil and let them bubble away until they're done to the texture you like. I like mine with a little snap in them. My mom likes hers mushy. Drain. In the same pan, add juice, ginger, syrup and butter. Let it bubble away and reduce. As it reduces, the liquid gets more syrup-y and glazes the carrots. Add the zest about halfway through. Before serving, add some chopped fresh parsley to make it pretty.
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Tired of Eating
It really is a good thing the holidays come but once a year.
As Jim and I were cleaning up the remnants of our big family meal last night ... after all the company had left, after all the leftovers had been tossed, frozen or repackaged, after all the dishes were done ... I asked him what he wanted me to bundle up for his lunches.
His response?
"Nothing. I'm tired of eating."
I couldn't have said it better myself.
The fridge is stuffed to overflowing, as is the freezer. There are still cookies in Tupperware in the garage. And none of it even sounds good anymore.
Today was a welcomed day of clean eating. Had to get it in before the weekend fires up with more merriment. It just feels good to feed your body the stuff it needs. It helps put your head in the right spot ...
Feeling good about what you did today makes tomorrow easier.
As Jim and I were cleaning up the remnants of our big family meal last night ... after all the company had left, after all the leftovers had been tossed, frozen or repackaged, after all the dishes were done ... I asked him what he wanted me to bundle up for his lunches.
His response?
"Nothing. I'm tired of eating."
I couldn't have said it better myself.
The fridge is stuffed to overflowing, as is the freezer. There are still cookies in Tupperware in the garage. And none of it even sounds good anymore.
Today was a welcomed day of clean eating. Had to get it in before the weekend fires up with more merriment. It just feels good to feed your body the stuff it needs. It helps put your head in the right spot ...
Feeling good about what you did today makes tomorrow easier.
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Merry Christmas, CC Readers!
I hope your stockings were full of the things that matter: love, family, friendship, laughter, hope and faith.
And I hope your bellies were full of the wonderful, delicious things that come around once a year (and should be enjoyed as such).
Like gingerbread. And red wine. Yum.
(They both tend to make all that family and love stuff even more bearable. KIDDING, family and loves! KIDDING.)
And I hope your bellies were full of the wonderful, delicious things that come around once a year (and should be enjoyed as such).
Like gingerbread. And red wine. Yum.
(They both tend to make all that family and love stuff even more bearable. KIDDING, family and loves! KIDDING.)
Sunday, December 23, 2012
Muscle, Man
Confession: I have changed my early morning TV habits. I used to watch Charlotte and Starbuck on the CBS early morning show. But when I'm on my bike, I have to put the closed caption on and read the dialogue and it loses some of its charm that way. So I discovered The Nate Berkus Show, Rachel Ray and Oprah reruns on OWN, beginning at 5 a.m.
What does this mean to you?
Unfortunately it means that I see more of Dr. Oz than is probably healthy. He' s a frequent guest on Rachel and Oprah.And he's full of tidbits that may or may not be horribly helpful ... but they're occasionally interesting. Which means I have snippets of information to regurgitate to you.
Feel free to groan.
Here's something I learned yesterday.
The question was posed, "Why do men lose weight more easily than women? Why does it seem like they can lose it faster? Is it a myth or is it true?"
First, Dr. Oz says it's true. Men do lose weight faster and easier. And it happens because they have more muscles. Muscles "burn" more calories than fat.
In other words, if there's a muscle-y person and a fat person, sitting still, side by side, DOING NOTHING AT ALL, the muscle-y person will burn more calories while just sitting there than the person with a higher percentage of body fat.
So you're following, right? Men have more muscles than women do. Therefore, they burn more calories doing absolutely nothing than we do.
The lucky bastards.
The good doctor also went on to say that lifting weights is so important for women of a certain age. (Like, say, mid 40s, ahem.) That's when your metabolism starts slowing down, when you stop making as much testosterone. More exercise and eating right can't compensate for that slowdown, which is why it's so hard to lose weight after 40. But strength training can help offset the slowdown.
So, I'm upping my strength training. I'm choosing to view it as "extra credit" ... something that works for me after I've quite working out. More reps. More weight. More days per week.
(And for the record, lifting weights will NOT make you look like this. Steroids and complete obsession makes you look like this. Or worse ... Google female body builders images sometime. Downright freaky, IMHO.)
What does this mean to you?
Unfortunately it means that I see more of Dr. Oz than is probably healthy. He' s a frequent guest on Rachel and Oprah.And he's full of tidbits that may or may not be horribly helpful ... but they're occasionally interesting. Which means I have snippets of information to regurgitate to you.
Feel free to groan.
Here's something I learned yesterday.
The question was posed, "Why do men lose weight more easily than women? Why does it seem like they can lose it faster? Is it a myth or is it true?"
First, Dr. Oz says it's true. Men do lose weight faster and easier. And it happens because they have more muscles. Muscles "burn" more calories than fat.
In other words, if there's a muscle-y person and a fat person, sitting still, side by side, DOING NOTHING AT ALL, the muscle-y person will burn more calories while just sitting there than the person with a higher percentage of body fat.
So you're following, right? Men have more muscles than women do. Therefore, they burn more calories doing absolutely nothing than we do.
The lucky bastards.
The good doctor also went on to say that lifting weights is so important for women of a certain age. (Like, say, mid 40s, ahem.) That's when your metabolism starts slowing down, when you stop making as much testosterone. More exercise and eating right can't compensate for that slowdown, which is why it's so hard to lose weight after 40. But strength training can help offset the slowdown.
So, I'm upping my strength training. I'm choosing to view it as "extra credit" ... something that works for me after I've quite working out. More reps. More weight. More days per week.
(And for the record, lifting weights will NOT make you look like this. Steroids and complete obsession makes you look like this. Or worse ... Google female body builders images sometime. Downright freaky, IMHO.)
Friday, December 21, 2012
Internet Diagnosis
I love the World Wide Web. You can learn so much. Tonight I set out in search of the cause of my knee pain.
And I have diagnosed myself with Chodromalacia or patello femoral pain syndrome or runner's knee. I believe the ligaments aren't moving properly over my kneecap, causing pain. The pain is worse when I'm sitting with my knees bent or lying down with my legs curled up, and honestly not that bad when I'm actually running.
Treatment? Rest, ibuprofen and quad strengthening exercises. The good news is that you can't really hurt it more by running.
So that's that. I ran 4 miles this morning, the farthest I've gone for a few weeks. And it felt so good. I'm paying for it now, but them's the breaks. Who needs kidneys? There are people at the Advil factory that are very happy to have my support.
And I have diagnosed myself with Chodromalacia or patello femoral pain syndrome or runner's knee. I believe the ligaments aren't moving properly over my kneecap, causing pain. The pain is worse when I'm sitting with my knees bent or lying down with my legs curled up, and honestly not that bad when I'm actually running.
Treatment? Rest, ibuprofen and quad strengthening exercises. The good news is that you can't really hurt it more by running.
So that's that. I ran 4 miles this morning, the farthest I've gone for a few weeks. And it felt so good. I'm paying for it now, but them's the breaks. Who needs kidneys? There are people at the Advil factory that are very happy to have my support.
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Southwest Turkey Meatloaf and Mexican Fried Rice
We snuggled in today; watched it snow. Also made the mistake of making the Caramel (Crack) Chex Mix and frosted some cut-out cookies.
After a day of eating sugar, it seemed like a healthy spin on a wholesome comfort food was in order for dinner.
Here's what I came up with. Best of all, Jim loved it. "I haven't eaten anything since breakfast, you know," he grinned by way of explaining why he went back for seconds.
Southwest Turkey Meatloaf
1 lb. ground turkey
1 small red onion, finely chopped
1/2 can drained black beans
Cumin, Tajin, salt to taste
Taco or enchilada sauce
Mix everything except for the taco sauce together and put it in a small loaf pan or just make a pile on a cookie sheet. Spread the taco or enchilada sauce on top (as you would ketchup on regular meatloaf.) Bake at 350 degrees until internal temp reaches 165 degrees. You could add an egg and whole wheat bread crumbs if you wanted. But I didn't.
Mexican Fried Rice
Olive oil
1/4-ish cup diced onion
1t minced garlic
1t to 1T diced jalapeno
Leftover rice (brown preferably)
1/2 can black beans
1/2 cup frozen corn kernels
1 small tomato, chopped
Leftover Taco sauce thinned with water
Pepperjack or queso fresco
This is a chop and drop. Olive oil in pan, onions in first until translucent. Then add the garlic and pepper. Season with salt to taste. Add the rice and let it heat through. Put enough of the taco sauce in to make it a little juicy. (I used store bought taco sauce and don't like all the salt in it. So I use just a little and then add some water to help it along.) Add the beans and corn, letting it heat through before you add the tomatoes. I also tossed in a smidge of pepperjack in at the end, but you don't need the cheese at all.
After a day of eating sugar, it seemed like a healthy spin on a wholesome comfort food was in order for dinner.
Here's what I came up with. Best of all, Jim loved it. "I haven't eaten anything since breakfast, you know," he grinned by way of explaining why he went back for seconds.
Southwest Turkey Meatloaf
1 lb. ground turkey
1 small red onion, finely chopped
1/2 can drained black beans
Cumin, Tajin, salt to taste
Taco or enchilada sauce
Mix everything except for the taco sauce together and put it in a small loaf pan or just make a pile on a cookie sheet. Spread the taco or enchilada sauce on top (as you would ketchup on regular meatloaf.) Bake at 350 degrees until internal temp reaches 165 degrees. You could add an egg and whole wheat bread crumbs if you wanted. But I didn't.
Mexican Fried Rice
Olive oil
1/4-ish cup diced onion
1t minced garlic
1t to 1T diced jalapeno
Leftover rice (brown preferably)
1/2 can black beans
1/2 cup frozen corn kernels
1 small tomato, chopped
Leftover Taco sauce thinned with water
Pepperjack or queso fresco
This is a chop and drop. Olive oil in pan, onions in first until translucent. Then add the garlic and pepper. Season with salt to taste. Add the rice and let it heat through. Put enough of the taco sauce in to make it a little juicy. (I used store bought taco sauce and don't like all the salt in it. So I use just a little and then add some water to help it along.) Add the beans and corn, letting it heat through before you add the tomatoes. I also tossed in a smidge of pepperjack in at the end, but you don't need the cheese at all.
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Jealous ... and Ridiculous
My lovely neighbor is having knee surgery tomorrow. Arthroscopic, to repair or remove torn cartilege in her knee. She hurt herself at work a couple of weeks ago and will be off for six more for recovery.
Knee surgery sucks. Recovery sucks. (And to be honest, it couldn't come at a worse time with the snow they're predicting for tonight.)
But I have to admit to being a little bit jealous.
She's going to get "fixed."
How ridiculous is that?
Knee surgery sucks. Recovery sucks. (And to be honest, it couldn't come at a worse time with the snow they're predicting for tonight.)
But I have to admit to being a little bit jealous.
She's going to get "fixed."
How ridiculous is that?
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
New Year's Diet Plan
I have a full-proof system for not overeating on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day!
After breaking a corner off a lower molar last week, I went to the dentist today. It might take a filling to fix. Or it might take a root canal. And the sooner we can get it taken care of the better.
The earliest available appointment? Yup ... 8 a.m. New Year's Eve.
Guess that will prevent over-snacking.
After breaking a corner off a lower molar last week, I went to the dentist today. It might take a filling to fix. Or it might take a root canal. And the sooner we can get it taken care of the better.
The earliest available appointment? Yup ... 8 a.m. New Year's Eve.
Guess that will prevent over-snacking.
Monday, December 17, 2012
It's Been a While Favorite Things
1. Gingerbread men, from UBakeIt, frosted with melted white chocolate.
2. Pointy toe cowboy boots
3. Venison landjaegers from County E Locker, Albany WI
4. Ruby Red grapefruit
5. Extra-Strength Advil
2. Pointy toe cowboy boots
3. Venison landjaegers from County E Locker, Albany WI
4. Ruby Red grapefruit
5. Extra-Strength Advil
Sunday, December 16, 2012
I'm Tired of Being Hurt
I must be doing something wrong.
I finished my half last spring and felt pretty good. Training wasn't as tough as I thought it would be. I took a week off and thought I'd hit it again.
And life hasn't been the same since.
I spent the summer battling freaking bursitis. I waited too long to go to the doctor thinking the pain would go away with rest. Once I finally did go, I followed doctor's orders and tried PT first. By the time I got the cortisone shot, the summer was over. But it worked. My hip felt good.
The biking and swimming I was doing to give my joints a break seemed like a good idea. But they just were not as enjoyable or as effective as running. They helped me burn calories and stay sane, but they didn't make me happy in the way running did.
So I started slowly, gradually building my miles up. I was trying to be smart. I didn't want to risk not running again. I made sure my form was good. I made sure I only added 10% a week. I was faithful to my PT exercises. I continued swimming and biking to give my joints a rest.
And I felt really good by the time we went on vacation in November. I ran a lot. Six miles a day. By mid-week, my knees started to hurt. So I backed off again. My "bad" knee, the left one, responded well and was ready to go. The right one, however, had other plans. It was killing me. It was wake-me-up-in-the-middle-of-the-night pain. FML.
So I took last week off from running. I medicated with inflammation reducing OTC meds. I stretched. I slept. And by Friday, I felt really good. No pain when I stood up. So I walked 3.5 miles on the treadmill.
And, yup. Pain is back.
I'm so pissed I can't tell you.
Am I being a wuss? Is my head playing tricks on me because I don't "want" to exercise? Should I just suck it up? I don't go to the doctor. Ever. And I've been there more in the past year than I have in the past decade.
Am I going to be able to do this long term? Do I have to give up running? Am I being dramatic? How do you know when it's a "real" issue? I hate feeling like I'm not strong enough to grin and bear the pain. I hate feeling like a complainer. I hate limping to the bathroom in the middle of the night.
Every single person I know who runs says their knees hurt. How do you know if what you feel is a real problem or one you just have to tough out?
I finished my half last spring and felt pretty good. Training wasn't as tough as I thought it would be. I took a week off and thought I'd hit it again.
And life hasn't been the same since.
I spent the summer battling freaking bursitis. I waited too long to go to the doctor thinking the pain would go away with rest. Once I finally did go, I followed doctor's orders and tried PT first. By the time I got the cortisone shot, the summer was over. But it worked. My hip felt good.
The biking and swimming I was doing to give my joints a break seemed like a good idea. But they just were not as enjoyable or as effective as running. They helped me burn calories and stay sane, but they didn't make me happy in the way running did.
So I started slowly, gradually building my miles up. I was trying to be smart. I didn't want to risk not running again. I made sure my form was good. I made sure I only added 10% a week. I was faithful to my PT exercises. I continued swimming and biking to give my joints a rest.
And I felt really good by the time we went on vacation in November. I ran a lot. Six miles a day. By mid-week, my knees started to hurt. So I backed off again. My "bad" knee, the left one, responded well and was ready to go. The right one, however, had other plans. It was killing me. It was wake-me-up-in-the-middle-of-the-night pain. FML.
So I took last week off from running. I medicated with inflammation reducing OTC meds. I stretched. I slept. And by Friday, I felt really good. No pain when I stood up. So I walked 3.5 miles on the treadmill.
And, yup. Pain is back.
I'm so pissed I can't tell you.
Am I being a wuss? Is my head playing tricks on me because I don't "want" to exercise? Should I just suck it up? I don't go to the doctor. Ever. And I've been there more in the past year than I have in the past decade.
Am I going to be able to do this long term? Do I have to give up running? Am I being dramatic? How do you know when it's a "real" issue? I hate feeling like I'm not strong enough to grin and bear the pain. I hate feeling like a complainer. I hate limping to the bathroom in the middle of the night.
Every single person I know who runs says their knees hurt. How do you know if what you feel is a real problem or one you just have to tough out?
Saturday, December 15, 2012
Out of Control
I'm eating.
A lot.
There are times I feel positively possessed. Like I simply can't stop myself from feeding my face. As I'm shoveling it in, my logical brain is thinking about how I shouldn't be doing it. But there's some other part that keeps my hand moving to my mouth.
I like eating. I like everything about eating. I like the process of it ... making it, serving it, moving every bite to my tongue. I like the taste of it ... sweet, salty, spicy. I like the feel of it ... crunchy, smooth, hot, cold.
My defense against this behavior is exercise. As long as I'm moving my ass, I feel almost justified in consuming vast quantities of calories.
This morning I didn't work out. And today, I'm having an eating attack. Not a great combination.
As I eat, I feel such a mix of emotion. Shame, guilt, fear. They consume me.
I know it's an addiction. I know what I'm supposed to do to change the course. I also know how much I hate it. I hate that I have to deal with it. All. The. Damn. Time.
I want this to be easier.
A lot.
There are times I feel positively possessed. Like I simply can't stop myself from feeding my face. As I'm shoveling it in, my logical brain is thinking about how I shouldn't be doing it. But there's some other part that keeps my hand moving to my mouth.
I like eating. I like everything about eating. I like the process of it ... making it, serving it, moving every bite to my tongue. I like the taste of it ... sweet, salty, spicy. I like the feel of it ... crunchy, smooth, hot, cold.
My defense against this behavior is exercise. As long as I'm moving my ass, I feel almost justified in consuming vast quantities of calories.
This morning I didn't work out. And today, I'm having an eating attack. Not a great combination.
As I eat, I feel such a mix of emotion. Shame, guilt, fear. They consume me.
I know it's an addiction. I know what I'm supposed to do to change the course. I also know how much I hate it. I hate that I have to deal with it. All. The. Damn. Time.
I want this to be easier.
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Look Out, Eric Heiden!
OK, my pants are too tight. But I have a theory.
If I'm biking more, a lot more, really, my thighs could be getting bigger for good reasons, right? Do you remember Olympic speed skater Eric Heiden?
Yeah. I'm going to go with that for now.
Though you and I both know it's totally not true.
Eric Heiden's Thighs
If I'm biking more, a lot more, really, my thighs could be getting bigger for good reasons, right? Do you remember Olympic speed skater Eric Heiden?
Yeah. I'm going to go with that for now.
Though you and I both know it's totally not true.
Eric Heiden's Thighs
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Passed by a Goat (Sort of) Again!
If you have been sort of terminally bored and, as such, accidentally wandered into the deep, dark archives of this blog, you might have stumbled upon this post: We Just Got Passed by a Goat.
(Carsick Caravan was originally started to narrate a one-week trip in a big rig. Hence the name.)
In it, we were sitting in traffic on the interstate and a perky little goat scampered past us.
We should have been rolling along at 70 mph. The goat should have had a top speed of 15 mph or so. And yet, there it was. Leaving us in the dust.
I felt that way tonight.
I know you're probably getting tired of me whining about how slow I am in the pool. But tonight I got passed by a guy walking.
WALKING.
With shoes on. In the pool. I'm not making this up.
The shoes were black with neon green stripes on the sides. The guy was doing laps, taking big steps and ...
... moving faster than I could swim. I could not keep up.
He got out of the pool before I did. I half expected to look up and see a goat in the lane he vacated.
(Carsick Caravan was originally started to narrate a one-week trip in a big rig. Hence the name.)
In it, we were sitting in traffic on the interstate and a perky little goat scampered past us.
We should have been rolling along at 70 mph. The goat should have had a top speed of 15 mph or so. And yet, there it was. Leaving us in the dust.
I felt that way tonight.
I know you're probably getting tired of me whining about how slow I am in the pool. But tonight I got passed by a guy walking.
WALKING.
With shoes on. In the pool. I'm not making this up.
The shoes were black with neon green stripes on the sides. The guy was doing laps, taking big steps and ...
... moving faster than I could swim. I could not keep up.
He got out of the pool before I did. I half expected to look up and see a goat in the lane he vacated.
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Protein
I'm thinking a lot about protein. Here's why:
Now, I'm not sure any of the above are "good" or right. Here's my take on them:
- I talked to a guy at a party this weekend who lost 45 pounds in 50 days on an intense diet plan. Eating 1000 calories a day, less than 35 grams of fat and 28 grams of carbs a day. No extra exercise.
- I checked out this site: Ripped Planet Eating Plan. A R.I.P.P.E.D. class is coming to the fitness center at work on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The workout sounds like a "The Biggest Loser"-made famous cross-training type. But the nutrition part interested me.
- I heard somewhere that eating four walnuts a day will make you smarter.
Now, I'm not sure any of the above are "good" or right. Here's my take on them:
- I can't imagine eating only 1000 calories a day and essentially no carbs for three days, let alone seven or eight weeks. And, seriously, who wouldn't lose weight on that little food? I'm sure pounds come off, but those extreme and nutritionally unbalanced plans give me pause. You just can't eat like that forever, so do the pounds come back if you don't learn how to eat properly?
- This plan says eat something BEFORE you workout in the morning, which I never do. Should I? And it says eat every few hours. I like that. I wonder if the time you eat and the order in which you eat matters? This, too, is heavier on protein that I eat now. I wonder if just switching up my eating schedule could have a positive effect, even if I didn't change the actual food that much?
- There's a bowl of walnuts on my counter now. Just in case this one is true.
So I think I'm going to up my protein a little. And do my darndest to cut back on the carbs, but I find that very difficult.
Have you experimented with eating like this? What's your protein plan?
Monday, December 10, 2012
A Red Headed Whore ...
That, and a bottle of whiskey, is what it would have taken to raise a ruckus at the pool today. (This is a favorite saying of my father-in-law. I mean no offense to redheads, whores or whiskey.) There was NO ONE there. Well, except me.
Note to self: Monday at 4 p.m. is prime swimming time.
And yes, I'm off schedule. Monday is supposed to be a rest day. But I have some holiday festivities to attend later in the week, which necessitated a little calendar shuffle.
Note to self: Monday at 4 p.m. is prime swimming time.
And yes, I'm off schedule. Monday is supposed to be a rest day. But I have some holiday festivities to attend later in the week, which necessitated a little calendar shuffle.
Sunday, December 9, 2012
Seven Eating Events to Go
Today is my extended family's Christmas celebration. One of the approximately 12 Eating Events of my holiday season.
(Ironic, right? But I counted and that's where it ended up.)
After today, I'll have six more to go. You know what I'm talking about ... parties, get-togethers ... sometimes an actual meal and sometimes just a few hours of nibbling and drinking.
They're hard to navigate for me. I want to sample a little of everything and my control isn't very good, so a sample is never just that.
My plan for this day is to avoid as many carbs as possible. Wish me luck.
(Ironic, right? But I counted and that's where it ended up.)
After today, I'll have six more to go. You know what I'm talking about ... parties, get-togethers ... sometimes an actual meal and sometimes just a few hours of nibbling and drinking.
They're hard to navigate for me. I want to sample a little of everything and my control isn't very good, so a sample is never just that.
My plan for this day is to avoid as many carbs as possible. Wish me luck.
Friday, December 7, 2012
The Skinny on Skinny Jeans
I tried to go Christmas shopping tonight.
I was by myself. Had a list. And the intent was to start checking things off with great efficiency and speed.
I ended up getting MYSELF three sweaters, one shirt and I tried on approximately 832 pair of skinny jeans.
Have to be honest. I'm not sure I "get" the skinny jean.
They're tight. Really tight. And the tight doesn't get better as you go up sizes. The waist gets bigger, but the calves and thighs do not. Which means they make you look sort of like a sausage, no matter how big or little you are, and they are super hard to take off. They end up inside out every time.
Now, for my money, if something is going to fit like leggings or running tights, I want it to be soft. Jeans aren't soft. They're stiff. Crunchy, almost, by comparison.
Once they're on, they look like you'd expect them to ... super tight jeans.
I'm pretty sure I'm too old to dress this way. So I left them at the store.
Along with my good Christmas shopping list intentions.
I was by myself. Had a list. And the intent was to start checking things off with great efficiency and speed.
I ended up getting MYSELF three sweaters, one shirt and I tried on approximately 832 pair of skinny jeans.
Have to be honest. I'm not sure I "get" the skinny jean.
They're tight. Really tight. And the tight doesn't get better as you go up sizes. The waist gets bigger, but the calves and thighs do not. Which means they make you look sort of like a sausage, no matter how big or little you are, and they are super hard to take off. They end up inside out every time.
Now, for my money, if something is going to fit like leggings or running tights, I want it to be soft. Jeans aren't soft. They're stiff. Crunchy, almost, by comparison.
Once they're on, they look like you'd expect them to ... super tight jeans.
I'm pretty sure I'm too old to dress this way. So I left them at the store.
Along with my good Christmas shopping list intentions.
Thursday, December 6, 2012
There's Floaties in the Water
All of a sudden, the pool is grossing me out.
The water is just warm enough to encourage bacterial growth and I see floaties in it. The locker room is carpeted, harboring heaven knows what. You aren't allowed to wear shoes and have to traipse a flight of stairs to get to the pool.
Oh, and snot comes out of my nose when I'm swimming; so I imagine it works that way for others, too. Which is only really gross when you consider that water inevitably goes in and out of your mouth when you're taking a breath.
It doesn't help that the PA at work just told me the itchy, flaky patch on my swollen eyelid was due to a fungus.
Wonder where that could have come from?
Feel free to tell me I'm being ridiculous. Or I may never go back again.
The water is just warm enough to encourage bacterial growth and I see floaties in it. The locker room is carpeted, harboring heaven knows what. You aren't allowed to wear shoes and have to traipse a flight of stairs to get to the pool.
Oh, and snot comes out of my nose when I'm swimming; so I imagine it works that way for others, too. Which is only really gross when you consider that water inevitably goes in and out of your mouth when you're taking a breath.
It doesn't help that the PA at work just told me the itchy, flaky patch on my swollen eyelid was due to a fungus.
Wonder where that could have come from?
Feel free to tell me I'm being ridiculous. Or I may never go back again.
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
'Scuse Me While I Fartlek
(While it's true that I have had brussel sprouts for the past two evenings, that's not what I'm talking about. Man, I LOVE brussel sprouts! I can't tell you how much I adore them. I buy them frozen, cover them with plastic wrap in a microwaveable bowl and nuke/steam. Add a little butter and a little salt and pepper. So good.)
Fartlek means "speed play" in Swedish. And it's a style of interval training that helps you increase aerobic and anaerobic fitness.
You know what I mean by interval, right? Let's say you're running down the road. You pick a mailbox and that's the starting point for running faster. Then you pick another mailbox and that's the end of running faster and you slow back down to regular pace.
Apparently, you burn more calories this way because 1) you're simply going faster and 2) your body doesn't get accustomed to a speed or a distance, so you keep it guessing and it has to keep adjusting.
The key is that the intervals are random. They don't occur at the same mailbox every day, in our example. Your interval can be distance (mailbox to mailbox) or time (60 seconds of fast, three minutes of fast, etc.).
I've started using this method in my swimming and bike riding, too. In the pool, I pick a random five or ten lengths and go hard. On my bike, I pedal like hell during commercials as I'm watching TV.
And, I gotta tell you. Those AARP and Colonial Penn reverse mortgage ads between 5-7 a.m. are LONG ones.
Do you fartlek? With or without brussel sprouts?
Fartlek means "speed play" in Swedish. And it's a style of interval training that helps you increase aerobic and anaerobic fitness.
You know what I mean by interval, right? Let's say you're running down the road. You pick a mailbox and that's the starting point for running faster. Then you pick another mailbox and that's the end of running faster and you slow back down to regular pace.
Apparently, you burn more calories this way because 1) you're simply going faster and 2) your body doesn't get accustomed to a speed or a distance, so you keep it guessing and it has to keep adjusting.
The key is that the intervals are random. They don't occur at the same mailbox every day, in our example. Your interval can be distance (mailbox to mailbox) or time (60 seconds of fast, three minutes of fast, etc.).
I've started using this method in my swimming and bike riding, too. In the pool, I pick a random five or ten lengths and go hard. On my bike, I pedal like hell during commercials as I'm watching TV.
And, I gotta tell you. Those AARP and Colonial Penn reverse mortgage ads between 5-7 a.m. are LONG ones.
Do you fartlek? With or without brussel sprouts?
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Go Gore-Tex!
Think it gets too cold in Wisconsin to run outside in winter?
You're right ... there are a few days that are just too windy and too chilly. But in my opinion, as long as the sun is out, the wind is light, the snow is plowed and the temperature is above about 28 or 29 degrees, it's warm enough.
Long tights, sometimes two pair. Layers of shirts in wicking fabrics. A windbreaker-type coat. A hat. Gloves.
I can keep everything warm except my toes.
My Brooks Ghost running shoes are meshy (yes, that's a word ... well, it is now) and the wind just howls through them. Occasionally I actually put plastic Baggie-brand bags over my socks in an attempt to keep the heat in and the cold out.
It's an old trick I learned from my mom. Anyone else remember bread bags and winter boots or ice skates?
The smart people at Brooks were a step ahead of me on this one. Who knew that they made shoes specifically for winter/wet running?
I'm now the proud owner of a bad ass pair of Gore-Tex Ghosts:
So they aren't insulated or anything, but they keep water out, which means they should also keep wind out and keep heat in. I'm so excited to try them! Also think they look tough as hell.
I'm not actually wishing for low temperatures and snow, but if it happened sometime soon, I wouldn't be disappointed.
Monday, December 3, 2012
I'm Out of Pretzels
Oh, the horror!
You're well aware of my addiction to pretzels by now. I simply can't help it. Well, that's not true. I could. But I choose not to.
Because I LOVE them.
In an effort to curb my carbs, I did not buy any this last grocery trip.
And I'm paying for it now. I need something crunchy and there's not a crunch-producing snack in sight. I have already made -- and ate -- pita chips. I have made it through one wax paper package of graham crackers. And what was left of one box of shredded wheat.
I even ate leftover taco shells.
(Not all in one day! But I have eaten all these things since the decision to not buy pretzels.)
It's ridiculous.
What's your obsession food?
Saturday, December 1, 2012
How Many Horsepower Am I?
Apparently more than three.
You never know what you're going to find in my little town. On my run this morning, there seemed to be an overabundance of pick-up trucks with trailers. And boats.
But I digress.
As I neared mile three of my intended six, I came up on the following grouping on the other side of the road:
Each girl was on horseback. The third horse was all tacked up and being ponied off of the lead horse. (Ponied means loosely tied to another horse ... as if to learn how to ride along.) The Australian Shepherd was wearing a hi-viz orange "vest" and just moseying along the side of the road with its posse.
I passed 'em all.
But I bet they'd beat me in quarter-mile sprint by quite a bit.
You never know what you're going to find in my little town. On my run this morning, there seemed to be an overabundance of pick-up trucks with trailers. And boats.
But I digress.
As I neared mile three of my intended six, I came up on the following grouping on the other side of the road:
- Two girls
- Three horses
- One dog
Each girl was on horseback. The third horse was all tacked up and being ponied off of the lead horse. (Ponied means loosely tied to another horse ... as if to learn how to ride along.) The Australian Shepherd was wearing a hi-viz orange "vest" and just moseying along the side of the road with its posse.
I passed 'em all.
But I bet they'd beat me in quarter-mile sprint by quite a bit.
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