Salad Days

Today I start a new job. Scary! I will be doing a lot of eating 'on the run'. This means I need fast and healthy solutions. I am a 'whole food' eater so I see no other option than the good old salad.

I seem to, however, have a habit of falling into salad ruts. I seem to end up eating one of the same three salads every day: spinach with reduced fat feta and tomatoes with balsamic vinegar and olive oil, a standard mixed veggie affair with mixed greens and tofu and italian dressing, or chickpeas and spinach and tomatoes with a yogurt tahini dressing. I am starting to believe that I am made of these ingredients... not so terrible, but a girl needs variety.

Fruit? I am thinking maybe I can liven it all up with fruit? Other protein sources? I am not really doing meat these days so I need to find a way to expand beyond tofu.

Help? Help? Sugestions?

4 a.m. Wows.

The issues in my last post have been resolved. I tried to things. I am not sure which one did the trick so I decided to institute both changes instead of taking my chances with the terrible faintiness again. I have given up most (well, not chocolate) forms of caffeine and have upped my carbs (not refined... I still eat little to none of those). I pair my lunch salad with whole wheat toast, etc.

This resolution of the consta-spins has me back at the gym in full force. I have been getting up at 4 and heading over at 4:15 four out of five week days. On weekends I go around 7 or 8 or in the afternoon.

I feel AWESOME. Seriously. Anyone who is a mom knows how those little alone moments at strange times of the day can be oddly meaningful. Delivery trucks and a few commuters, all of the downtown lights still blinking reds...

Anyway- I get myself on that elliptical around 4:15 and gradually increase the resistance. I get about 20 minutes (roughly 200 cals) in. I then hop on the treadmill and walk a few minutes until taking off into a two mile run. This takes about 25 minutes all together (about 250- 300 calories). I then sit and drink some water, enjoy my mp3 player and then head over to the arc trainer or the rowing machine and put in about 10-15 at a VERY LEISURELY RATE (about another 100 cals).

Oops. I forgot to mention that between elliptical and run I stretch and do sit-ups on the damn ball. Yup, that too.

So I get home and take a shower and fall back into bed for about an hour (I have yet to fall asleep during this time) and listen to the radio until my hubby and son wake up.

This is hard work, but I am getting immediate results (esp. in the last two weeks). My ultimate goal is to just stretch then run straight 3-5 miles 5 or 6 days a week. It seems like a great way to start a day?
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This morning we had my healthier version of eggs Benedict. Pretty quick to make, by the way, since I don't even attempt to bother with anything like Hollindaise Sauce.

1 toasted piece of wheat toast

1 poached egg (the fresher the better it will hold together)- crack egg into simmering water, leave for three minutes then remove with slotted spoon- easy

cheese- I cut three little strips of low-fat swiss with a vegetable peeler- a good way to manage the size and thickness of the slices.

1.5 slices lowfat smoked turkey (of the sandwich meat variety, thin sliced)

Dijon (or yellow, your choice) mustard

2 thin slices of tomato

spice/herb of your choice

Bring water to boil and toast bread at the same time. Add egg when water is barely boiling and time three minutes. While egg is poaching spread mustard on bread. place turkey slice(s) tomatoes on bread. When egg is finished remove with slotted spoon, drop on top of tomatoes and add cheese to top of egg immediately (so it will melt). Sprinkle whatever seasoning you want on top (I use a garlick-y salt free shake and some paprika).

It is pretty satisfying and gives you a good shot of protein first thing in the morning. I recommend strawberries or melon on the side.
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I Wonder What the Problem Was?

Hmmm. This is exactly the place to write about this. How convenient? Anyway- earlier another 'Fitwit' had the same type of problem. We should look into this and how to prevent it? I am not sure what I did wrong.

I have been working out EARLY in the morning, still. I alternate between a 4:30 a.m. trip to the gym on MWF and 5:30 on TTH. Weekends I work out in the afternoons. In general I skip one or two days (they change every week).

Soooo... Sunday I did an hour of cardio (with some resistance). I did 20 elliptical, ran for 20 (well, more like 15, really, walked 5) then did the arc trainer for a solid 20. After this I returned home and cleaned up I ended up going for a long walk with my hubby and tot.

Monday I was up at 4:15 and only did 45- all cardio. Tuesday I did an hour... same as Sunday.

I stuck to a rather rigid (not really on purpose, though, it's just sort of become habit) eating regime: bowl of Kashi (Heart to Heart) with yogurt and a little fruit in the morning, a huge salad... I mean loads of veggies in it.. with a piece of toast for lunch then, you know, lean protein (about 4 oz) 1/2 cup brown rice, 1 cup of cooked veggies and then another heaping salad for dinner.

I got up yesterday morning fully intending to do the gym and just felt really, really, really beat. I went back to bed. At lunch I ate about a cup of raw broccoli (other stuff, too, don't worry, but this in particular is where things started to go wrong) and started to feel really light headed.

And sort of sick to my stomach!! I felt dizzy all afternoon. I was SURE that if I remained standing I would faint.

I sat down and had about 1/4 of a bar of dark chocolate and a drink of milk (I think I was looking for a good excuse anyway) and just sort of stayed sitting for a couple of hours (a real feat with a toddler in the house). I had really no appetite for dinner but had beans and, uhm, 'ployes' (if you know what those are, buckwheat pancakes of sorts) just to be safe.

I fell asleep the minute my head hit the pillow: still dizzy and beat.

I am feeling fine this morning. I DID NOT go to the gym today. I have opted to take it easy today. I am trying to make a point to drink a lot of water and get in a bit more in terms of carbohydrates.

I emailed a fitness guru of sorts and he told me that I am doing a little too much cardio a little too often, maybe I should do the every other day cardio mixed with weight training. I am too embarrassed to tell him that I have been doing weight training, too.

The other person I talked to is a runner. She runs ALL THE TIME and is no worse for the wear (well, I suppose her knees would disagree) she told me to get some solid advice on the diet but really, if I am eating whole grains and veggies and lean protein I can just up the amount and everything will even out.

But this seems difficult for me.

Less exercise or more food? Maybe it is another factor all together? All I know is that I felt REALLY terrible yesterday. Feeling pukey-fainty for hours is one of my least favorite feelings.

I checked my bp and my bloodsugar during this little interlude and they were both fine.

Oh yeah... did I mention again that ibuprofen and a little sleep did wonders?

Thoughts?

dance party, the ultimate mix

I figured the best way to recover from the sedentary two weeks which made up Jeremy's vacation was to make an extra-awesome Dance Party mix. And it's not confined to the iPod - it's a CD. It starts out calm...some swaying, head bopping, warm-up stuff...and turns into the rockingest dancefest ever imagined. Here I will share the playlist, and if you like, I'll burn copies (though I know not everyone is as blessed with Dance Party space as I am).

Here (song, artist):
Do Anything- Natural Selection
Sister Jack - Spoon
If Looks Could Kill - Camera Obscura
Mendocino - Bottle Rockets
Miracle Drug - AC Newman
Hey Ya - Outkast (I never claimed there weren't obvious selections)
I Believe in a Thing Called Love - The Darkness
Dreaming Of You - The Coral
Modern Love - David Bowie
Rock and Roll is King - Electric Light Orchestra
I Want You to Want Me - Cheap Trick
Ti-Na-Nee-Na-Nu - Slim Harpo
Marvelous Error - The Faraway Places
I'm the Leader of a Gang (I Am) - Gary Glitter
Move Your Feet - Junior Senior
Ladyflash - The Go! Team
Tonite - The Go-Gos
Simply Irresistable - Robert Palmer
Caravan - Santo & Johnny
Wake Me Up Before You Go Go - Wham!
Try A Little Tenderness - The Commitments (starts slow, but climaxes for a rockin' finish)

Could be tweaked, but is a strong compilation as-is.

Okay! Time to get to it!

Fellow Fit-witters?

Just checking in. Y'all alright????
Check in:)

Best Week in Recent History!

Five gym visits (2 of them at 4:45 in the morning)
Solidly planned meals
30 push ups and sit ups each day
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Here is something else of note:
Other than the stomach/girlie difficulties I have from time to time (that are not viral/bacterial)- and Joe's kidney stone passing (which is again, not the work of anything infectious) we have not 'come down with anything' since the first week of MAY.

Last winter (Annie may recall) we were always fighting something off around here. We started eating whole foods and cutting out the processed food? Two drinks every other night (well, not the tot)? I don't know.

Joe mentioned this to one of his co-workers. She told him that she started eating whole foods (and healthy ones) about five years ago and has had one cold since.

We have been in contact with lots of people who are always coming down with things. Joe is in sales, he goes all over and touches all sorts of doorknobs, etc. Sooo...
I am just saying... maybe there are more perks to what I have been doing than I originally considered.

A two year old who breathes well and has no allergies is a really good thing.

something i "stumbled" upon

Literally. We've been internet-obsessed since finding Stumble, a program that allows you to choose topics of interest, then zips you to various related web pages. Anyway, as part of a lengthy Stumble session last night, I found this. Part of me feels upset by how unhealthy this probably is (50 lbs in three months? too much, right?), but part of me thinks that this makes sense. If you can't eliminate the bad stuff, be smarter about it...which is my philosophy for fitness this year. The No McDonalds resolution came crashing down around me. But it's far less frequent than it used to be. And of the three times we've been budgetarily reduced to fast food, two of my meals were salads. That's somewhat less fatty than a quarter pounder and a shitload of fries. At least, I assume as much.

So check that out. I'm curious as to what you think.

4:45 a.m., Beverages, Friends(?)

Oh my. Know what I did this morning? I got up at FOUR THIRTY so that I could work out at 4:45. I would like to report that it was GLORIOUS. Yes! I mean, it was sooooo cold. I was very tired (my two year old was up three times last night for some reason). It was great anyway. It made me feel like I have hope to do this. If I can get up and work out before my day even begins AND ENJOY IT, then I can certainly reach my goals. My end of the day exhaustion need no longer hinder me. I can sit back and have that glass on wine and anticipate my much deserved downtime.

Speaking of drinking... anything. The coffee thing did not work for me. Neither did various Splenda (tm) drinks I tried to use as replacements for calories. I started snacking more. My stomach started hurting. I read a study that drinks sweetened with artificial sweeteners (especially aspartame) make people crave more carbohydrates. Hmmm. Anyway- its water and wine for me. I am too much of a wimp for coffee. It has always made me jittery and antsy... not pleasantly perky like our friend Annie here.

Last bit o' business: peer relation discouragement. Yes. So. Sunday I had a hell of a work out. Seriously. I felt great... and exhausted. Later I saw a friend and mentioned how absolutely worn out I was from my work out- she asked me what I did. I told her that I ran a few miles. She stepped back and looked me over and said 'oh, I hadn't noticed anything, I didn't know you worked out." Oh. Well. My spirits, my confidence.... everything!!!! How could she!

I ran it by my nearest and dearest and got the following perspective: It is a fact that I am wearing pants almost three whole sizes smaller than I was at the end of the summer. It is a fact that I have great endurance and strength now. It is a fact that I had to buy new underwear 2 times to keep it from falling off throughout the day. Why should I be so crushed by another person's observation... or lack of observation? What was also pointed out to me was that this person is condescending to a lot of people as of late and has been rather competitive in general.

It made me realize something. People need positive feedback!! It is easier to give up or not even start than it is to work on any sort of self improvement. Chicks should show each other the love, man!!!

Anyway, have a great week fellow fitwits!!!

2 Things: 1 great, 1 humiliating (but still kind of great)

1- This morning I put on a pair of pants that I have not fit into since 2000. Yes, 2000. I bought them the day before the big ol' y2k ordeal. I remember shopping for them with my then best friend right before we all went out on the town with my now husband (sigh). I also remember that in 2003 I tried them on before going to meet my now husband at a bus station and not being able to fit them over my butt.

2- Last night while in the produce section of the grocery store I frequent I nearly tripped over my skirt (purchased in August 2006) that had fallen around my ankles. I was wearing tights and a long sweater but OMG. People standing around me did indeed see that my skirt was on the floor. Humiliating? YES. Yet... a little thrilling. My clothes is literally falling off of my body.

Ugh.

If we were indeed doing the weighing thing I don't think I would be reporting any sort of success this week. I have yet to show up at the gym bright and early as planned. I worked out there three times over the weekend- each time a 400 cal workout with a little weight training. I have been eating healthy food... just maybe not a very regulated amount of it. Oh yeah- yesterday I shoved about a quarter of a 'whoopie pie' in my mouth... don't ask.

I had been quite encouraged... for weeks and weeks. This week marks the first real week of doubt that I have had. I think it has to do with 1) our schedule and 2) the weather. I am a list person. I like to number my lists.

Joe has been very busy with his two jobs and other work related endeavors. This leaves me alone with the tot from 7-7 or 8:30, depending on the day of the week. This is our decided division of labour, not a problem... but it is now very, very cold outside. The baby guy and I like to spend our days outside and would normally racking up many, many, many steps on the ol' pedometer. Instead we are spending a lot of time on 'paint' or actually painting or spelling words with raisins. Ug. When 'Da' is home and frees up the car it is cold and dark and I am pooped. I would be rushing to that gym in the morning but, uhm, at 5am it has been something like 5 degrees and my bed and hubby are so warm and comfy and zzzzzzzzz.

This morning I woke up and did 30 sit ups. I am going to do a little hip-hop dancing (ha ha ha) when the tot is napping. We played a game this morning called "Dance! now Hug!" where the two of us dance like maniacs for a few seconds then pause for a little hug... repeat seemingly endlessly. Fun? I am trying to get the activity in! There is no doubt in my mind that I need to get back to the distance running and do it at 5 am about 5 days a week. When I was on that path I dropped two sizes so rapidly. Now I am sort of hovering in the same place.

Now on to the thing I am talented at:
This is terrifying, isn't it? I know, I know-- I am such a dork. What are they? We like to call them my 'quality control chicken meatballs' (copyrighted to me by the way, if I see 'em up somewhere readers, I will get mad).

Why are they quality control? Well... if you buy ground chicken you can't be sure 1) what part of the chicken it comes from or 2) just how fatty it will really be. I always imagine all sorts of terrible things are mushed up in there. That is why I do my own chicken selection and grinding. I am not a big fan or eater of poultry. It is the only meat I do eat, other than the occasional fish, so I am a nut about making sure it is not 'icky'.

This is a very low-fat/high-protein recipe. It can be tweaked to suit your fancy.

Chop 1.5 lbs of chicken breast into smallest pieces you can. I like to do it when still slightly frozen... easier to get smaller pieces without handling slime. I buy my chicken from a local butcher so I have to freeze it before. I know, whacky me.

Put chicken in moderate to large size food processor and whir the hell out of it until it is a nice slimey. Add one cup whole wheat bread crumbs, 1/2 cup egg whites (liquid), 1 tsp each: basil, marjoram, oregano and one clove garlic.

Roll into ball size of your choice. If they feel like there is too much liquid carefully add a bit more bread crumbs. Bake on cookie sheet at 375 for about half an hour. Check that middle of one ball is cooked through before serving! It is poultry people!

Some additional spicing suggestions? Instead of the Italian spices I like to use paprika, garlic, and a pinch of sage. How about dill and low-fat feta with chives?

where i first attempt the balance ball

My current indoor fitness routine is 25 push-ups, 25 crunches, and 25 squats. The only part that's been giving me any real challenge is the push-ups, but that's primarily because I've always lacked upper body strength. As a result of entertaining the child I baby-sit most afternoons, I finally pumped up the balance ball Jeremy gave me for my birthday. It's big and green and fun to dribble. Not until this morning did I actually incorporate it into my "workout".

According to Joan Pagano (as well as just about any other fitness-minded individual you can Google), using the balance ball helps you isolate muscles better. The pictures of ladies doing crunches looked comfortable enough! And as far as squats are concerned, I can get further down without bending my knees beyond a 90 degree angle.

It's funny to think that before today, I worried that perhaps I wasn't challenging myself enough.

I started with the twenty-five push-ups. I can get to 17 or 18 before I get off rhythm. The last five are always the most pathetic ones, so pathetic that I feel that despite the burning, I'm somehow cheating. I'm not, I assure you. Last year I could barely squeeze out ten, so I'll accept that progress has been made. Then came crunch time. Positioning myself onto the ball was easy enough. I segued into my first crunch. "Wow! I can lean all the way back, and my neck isn't doing the brunt of the work!" I thought to myself. Unfortunately, then came crunches two, three, and four. By crunch five, I had the burn of having already completed 25 floor crunches. There was also the surprise of "productive" pain in my lower back, which before today I could've sworn housed muscles. Unhappy and freaking out at my lack of tone and fitness, I threw the ball out of my way and tried to finish the crunches on the floor. They were even harder than the ones on the balance ball! Defeated, I brought the ball back, and in the worst form speed would allow, finished my crunches. Clearly I was doing something wrong until now, because it's like my abdominals were in a coma, and a machine has been guiding me through the motions of sitting up and lying back down. The squats didn't traumatize me the way the crunches did, but then, I've always had strong legs. I found the ball beneficial in that instance.

It's like a shitty new beginning. Hooray, I'm going to work my abdominals.

idol inspiration

Not long ago I caught a few minutes of Extra, the craptastic entertainment program I try not to watch. In the moments I saw, they were talking about Jennifer Hudson's descent from a size 16 to a 12 in three months' time. Every day she did 25 sit-ups (or crunches - I forget now), 25 push-ups, and 25 squats, combined with running suicides (not sure the regularity of that one, but I imagine it was close to, if not actually, also a daily ritual.) So my thought is maybe while I'm stranded in the house (we got another four inches of snow last night, to top the six inches we got the other day), maybe I could make Ms. Hudson's workout my own. I don't really have room to run suicides, but I could walk up and down the stairs a bit.

I haven't done a whole lot of movement this week. Time to explode out of my rut full-force!

#$@*&^$%@#@ COLD

yeah. I have not been to the gym since Sunday. It is DAMN cold and I don't feel like leaving the house. I have been restricting calories carefully, but I am sure my non-working out metabolism is frightfully slow.
COLD. It is 5 degrees right now.

Sighs

yummy- yucky

I have been doing so good- and so, uhm, not good!

I am reflecting on the last few days:

good:
-worked out a total of 2.5 hours in 3 days
-according to my pedometer I average 18,000 steps a day outside of my workouts
-I have added the arc trainer and the rowing machine to my cardio workout

BAD-
-i have had a small addiction to a bag of dark chocolate hearts we have in the freezer
-i think that I shove stuff in my mouth when I cook for my guys
-one word: ALCOHOL

hmph.

I chose the "New Mediterranean Diet' plan because I am at heart a 'foodie' and have a real, deep, heavy love of wine- pinot noirs, cabernets, riojas... well- a huge array of 'em. We consume something like 4 bottles a week! I had been limiting myself to one or two 3-4 ounce glasses every other night. I noticed that lately the hubby and I have been, more often than not, opting to swig off of the bottle these days. Par example: Thursday night: took showers, got in jammies, turned on television, sit on bed and pass a bottle of pinot back and forth (while sucking on dark chocolate hearts), make a million jokes- you know... marital bliss!!

What should I do??? Give up the beloved sauce of my life?

I will not defend the dark chocolate. You know, they are saying it is good for you, what with the anti-oxidants and all. I think 'they' are referring to having a little piece here and there.

Now to address the good-cookery. I love to cook. I love to cook healthy food, but somehow I wonder if I eat more than would if I was not cooking so often? I mean, we eat much better than most people we know in terms of getting our RDA and fiber...
The weekend's entrees included the following:
smoked salmon and tomato fritata
indianish potato patty things with garlic ginger dahl
spicey turkey burgers with sweet potato fries-

we eat these meals with a co-ordinating salad. We eat 'big-salads' with lite balsamic dressing for lunch, we eat 'kashi-heart to heart' for breakfast (religiously)

So why and how do I end up eating too much? I think I have a bad habit of stuffing things in my mouth. I have a nutrition tracker through ediets.com but I noticed that at the end of the day things go 'off record'. Last night I noticed that when my tot was done eating I was shoveling little chunks of his dinner into my mouth instead of the trash....

like those dark chocolate hearts.

I think I would have an easier time identifying my diet failures if I was eating straight up bad food. Its a lot easier to say 'cut out the chips' than it is to say: 'a little lighter on the garlic-ginger dahl'

There- I have blogged my little bit about the eating thing.

GAH!!
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Back to the positive:

I have worked out a new work-out solution (get it? worked out the work-out...) My husband works Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday evenings so I have been working out Thursday through Sunday (at the gym) I do interesting sorts of work outs at home but they are not really providing real cardio so much as they are just about more general sorts of fitness (like belly dancing and yoga, as I have mentioned. I have decided to do something drastic.

Starting Wednesday (when the storms have subsided) I will bet getting up at 5a.m. and dragging my ass to the gym to run SIX DAYS A WEEK. Seriously. I don't know how I will convince myself to do this? I will try!

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a recipe for the world- an Emily exclusive!

this recipe is high in calcium, protein, potassium- has turmeric which is being proven to prevent aging in the brain!- it is filling but remember, POTATOES ARE HIGH IN CARBs so.. you know, follow the suggested serving of 2 patties and you have yourself a low-fat not too high in calories super food!

Indian-ish potato patties!

2 large-ish potatoes

2 tbsp skim milk

1/2 cup chickpea flour

1/3 cup liquid egg whites

1 large onion, diced

2 cloves garlic, diced

1/4 tsp ground coriander seed

1/4 tsp turmeric

1/2 tsp cumin

1/4 cup cilantro

Peel potatoes and cut into four pieces each. Bring to boil in saucepan in about 3 inches of water until tender (about 20 minutes) Drain and rinse.

Lightly coat skillet with olive oil (or cooking spray) saute garlic, onions, and spices on medium heat until onions are soft and translucent.

Mash cooked potatoes in a large bowl with milk. Add liquid egg white and chickpea flour. Stir in cooked onion and spice mixture. Add cilantro.

Form into small (two inch) patties. Dust lightly with additional chickpea flour.

Brown both sides in skillet (with olive oil or cooking spray).

Garlic Ginger Dahl-

1 cup cooked lentils (just boil some lentils, any type, drain, measure out a cup)

1 large onion, diced

2 TBSP fresh ginger- diced finely

3 cloves garlic- diced finely

salt and pepper (to taste)

1 tbsp water

1/4 tsp ground turmeric

1 cup non-fat plain yogurt

Saute onions (again, with small amount of olive oil or a cooking spray) and garlic and ginger in skillet. Add turmeric and salt and pepper. Add water and lentils. Continue cooking for a few minutes. Add yogurt, mix until smooth... voila!

Use to top potato patties.

brain fitness and road blocks.

Not only am I trying to get physically fit, but I'm attempting to dust away a few mental cobwebs. The single awesomest podcast I've found this year is the BrainReady BrainCast. I want everyone to experience the awesomeness.

I'm finding that without reason to leave the house, I tend not to. When I don't leave the house, my steps don't exceed 1,500. The cold weather is a total buzz kill. And Dance Party, my "cardio", is not fun every day. I walk up and down the stairs a few times, but my heart rate doesn't feel that much higher for the effort (and my thighs are constantly on the verge of giving out). That's my current challenge.

Today is going to be arms and abs, maybe a few trips up and down the stairs too.

go, go, go, go, go

hmmm.... I was never a coffee person before...
not only was I not tempted to eat more than I had planned for
I did a giant mountain of housework.

Thanks coffee!! Thanks fitness blog.
If only I could stop moving around!

Health, Health, Health!!!

Thank you so much for inviting me to this little fitness team! I guess my first entry should be a sort of introduction to what I am doing. I don't get to share this very often since I assume most people are not really interested in hearing about this sort of thing. I talk my husband's ear off about it... maybe this will give him a much deserved break?

I am breaking my entry down into three parts- 1) my goal 2)my plan 3) my obstacles.

1) MY GOAL- I let my 20s get the better of me physically. At the age of 20 I was a buxom size 10 who could out-run/out-lift/out-last all of my male friends. At 30 I was... well.. beyond 'buxom' tired out housewife. After a blood pressure scare and hearing the news that three of my old classmates had already died of heart attacks I decided that I would finally get to the place I always meant to go and do the work I always hated doing.

I have already fixed my vitals and got back in the swing of healthy living. Now I am working on the thing I never dared do: look as good as I want to look! My goal? One size below the one I was happiest at. I want to be a size 8. Can it happen? I don't know, but I should try! Baby steps. I am already partway there!

My more immediate goal is to be comfortable in a bathing suit this summer. My husband and I spend a lot of time at the beach with our toddler and I REALLY WANT to stop feeling like a freak in layers as I chase my little tot around!

2.) I am currently on the New Mediterranean Diet. I eat 1200-1500 calories a day and workout four or five days a week. I was on a running program but an old skating/soccer knee injury is keeping me from the long distance training I have been working on. To date I have lost between 30 and 40 lbs and am at 10 lbs less than I was before I got pregnant.

3.) My obstacles? Hahahahahaha. My husband loves food. He loves my healthy cooking but every night at 8pm he starts searching the house for cookies. Another obstacle is that bad knee. Running has really been all I know in terms of a fitness plan. I am also trying to get in more workout time at home.


So. That is me and my little fitness story. Today I planning on doing some belly dancing. Seriously. I try to keep my non-gym days interesting with things I actually feel like doing. I take a 60 minute walk in the morning (with the added challenge of a 30lb tot affixed to my back) and then try something like yoga or dance or pilates
Pilates has not gone well.

Anyway- that's it for me.

I want to end with a question for the other two of you. I have not been a coffee drinker but lately I have had a cup or two and it has (unintentionally) been quite an appetite suppressor. Is this perk temporary or does coffee indeed keep one's hunger down?

today, the day.

Today we're adding a new Fitwit, Emily. Because she's as ridiculously enthused about fitness this year as we are. If there's anything I like more than enthusiasm, it's ridiculous enthusiasm.

Today I find myself with a day off, and the plan is "cardio", quotation marks because I can't be sure what I plan to do will technically count as cardio. I call it Dance Party, where I spend a large chunk of time dancing crazily to upbeat music. I spent a fair portion of yesterday and will today finish putting together the music. Maybe I'll clean while I'm at it...but only if the movement encourages it. My dancing becomes 46% less aerobic when I wash dishes, or start a load of laundry.

Dance Party is not about dancing beautifully. It's about shaking limbs in any and every direction, as dictated by the music. It's exhausting, but more fun than anything else in the world. Literally!

I'm also thinking about my pedometer, and putting it to use. I read somewhere (if I can remember where, I'll credit it here later) that for optimum health one should walk 10,000 steps per day, though for the average American, even getting up to 6,000 would be something. I don't know how many steps I take each day currently, but I'd be lucky if I crack 1,000. Pathetic, yes. But that will change!

Foodwise, things are healthier already. My New Year's resolution to eliminate fast food from my diet (McDonalds in particular, as it's right across the street) has held. Ten days might sound weak, but it's a bit of a record. I've also been faithfully taking a multi-vitamin, to make up for the stuff I'm not yet getting from the food I eat. I do have one other thing to cut back on: beer. It's not that I currently ingest beer in large quantities. It's more a matter of frequency. We generally have a six-pack on hand, and it's usually the best option for dinnertime beverage. Last night I had two, and was fully aware that one was probably enough. Something to work on. Not that I plan to fully eliminate it - that's unrealistic. It's about balance.

Already I've spent too much time writing. Time to dance!!!!!!!

the fitwits begin!

What makes this year so special? Why is this the year physical fitness will be rocked to it's core? It's the awesome vibe 2007 gives me, coupled with having more reasons to get fit than ever before (also, suddenly having more fat than any other year on record could be a prime motivator.) We have no experience with fitness or healthy diet. What we DO have is motivation. Starting a blog will not only help chart progress; it'll keep us motivated. If anyone else gets any good from it, then all the better. Lorrie and I will post regularly about anything that seems relevant.

I started yesterday by weighing myself and taking my measurements. I will not go near the scale or tape measure for another two months. That way, mild fluctuations won't affect my drive. With the help of Joan Pagano's Strength Training for Women (which I took out of the library almost a month ago), I attempted some "core" moves. Good stuff.

More tomorrow!

-Annie