Saturday, September 19, 2009 by Dea.

I have always wanted to do yoga and pilates, but have felt like there are no classes for people like me.  I’m somewhat clumsy, and I have really bad core strength.  Pilates and yoga are great for getting that core strength, but much like searching for a job, it seems like all the classes I’ve seen offered are “some experience required,” types of things.  It was getting very frustrating, to be honest.

Our new gym room is great.  It does not, however, have a television.  So videos are a bit of a hassle, since I’d have to move furniture every time I want to do one.

I found the solution, though.  Two great books.  One is on yoga, and one is pilates.

First, there’s Yoga for Wimps: Poses for the Flexibly Impaired.   This is a complete book of poses, shown with fantastic modifications for those of us who would fall over if we tried to do Downward Facing Dog during our first stab at it.  All of the modifications are done using things around the house - chairs, towels, books, and old ties, for example.  The instructions are clear, concise, and I was able to do yoga within minutes.  It’s nice to have this ultra beginner instruction.  I highly recommend this book!

Second, there’s The Book of Pilates.   This is also a very good beginner book.  There are a lot of instructions, including how to breathe, how to position your body, and when to inhale or exhale.  There are also three levels of exercises, which is very nice.  There’s Introductory Level exercises (where I am right now) and it shows modifications for doing these exercises without having the balance and strength necessary to do advanced moves.  The next level is Beginner Level, which shows slightly harder moves and different modifications for this level of strength and stability.  Finally, there’s Advanced Pilates.  These are the moves you see in classes and on a lot of videos.

These gradual progressions of both of these types of exercise help to build the core strength and balance required to do the advanced moves.  The modifications are a nice touch, as sometimes, people just can’t figure out how to do a move in an easier way.  This leads to feelings of failure - which obviously leads to quitting the exercise.  These are both such important and beneficial exercises.  These books really help get you to your goals.

Posted in Health, Fabulous Finds, Favorite Things, Exercise | Print | 1 Comment »

Wednesday, September 16, 2009 by Dea.

What’s the number one, best reason to have a home gym?  No, it’s not being able to work out whenever you want.  It’s being able to work out wearing whatever, even just your sport bra and bike shorts.  If I wore just that to my old gym, as some women there actually do, there would have been mass hysteria and riots.  People would have rushed towards me with towels to cover all my glaring white flesh.

At home, though, no one cares what I look like.  I’m not roasting when I’m on the spin bike because the only shirt that I felt comfortable wearing in public is two sizes too big and the sleeves go past my elbows.  I can pin back my hair at absurd angles, worrying only about comfort, and not how I look.

I had forgotten how absolutely wonderful it was to just do 20-30 minutes of exercise when I feel like it.  I always felt like I needed to put in 2 hours at the gym because of the stress and difficulty in getting two children and myself ready and out the door and through the 20+ minute drive.  Now, I can just hop on my bike for 6 songs, do some crunches, and leave.  I can go back later to do squats and push-ups.

It is so completely freeing.  I was so self conscious at the gym.  I felt like people were looking at me funny, or pitying me.  I actually had one woman in a spin class that I took regularly, where she was the new person, turn to me and ask me if this was my first spin class.  I was aghast!  I’ve done spin since my 5 year old was born, and had done it regularly at least once a week for a  year and a half at that point.  She assumed that because I was heavy, I was out of shape.  After that day, I felt even less comfortable at that gym.

I love my home gym so much, I don’t even miss my office.  I’m happily sharing an office with my husband.  I can’t wait to try out the Pilates book I found.  I’d always been too intimidated to go to a Pilates class because of how tiny and lean the women who went were.  I do miss my Wednesday night spin class (taught by a good friend of mine) - but other than that, I am just so happy to be free and comfortable in my work outs again.

Posted in Encouragement, Body Image, Exercise | Print | 1 Comment »

Sunday, September 13, 2009 by Dea.

I had lunch with Becca yesterday, and she made me a Morningstar Farms Spicy Black Bean Burger.  I am not normally a fan of the veggie burgers, I will admit that!  I figured, however, that I’d give it a try.  If Becca will eat it, I will most likely like it.

These are fabulous!  To me, they tasted like a cross between a falafel and black bean dip.  We had them on the Slimwich bread, with a slice of reduced fat cheese, and they seriously needed no condiments beyond that.  I’ll be grabbing these myself for lunches or quick dinners.  Each patty has 120 calories, 4g fat, and 4g fiber.  And they’re very filling.  A nice, fast meal - that’s also surprisingly tasty!

Posted in Fabulous Finds, Deceptively Delicious, Healthy Eating | Print | 1 Comment »

Thursday, September 10, 2009 by Dea.

So, in case anyone was doubting the power of the mini-goal (read: me), here’s proof that each mini-goal achievement is priceless!  I just hit my 10 pound goal!  I also feel like a million bucks. 

I set ten pound goals as I lose weight.  I like nice, round numbers, for one thing.  And this feeling, this exuberance and walking-on-air, this is the best reason of all for setting mini-goals.  

I may only be 1/7 th of my way through my weight loss, and I may still have 60 pounds to lose, but reaching this goal makes me feel like I’ve conquered something.  I feel like I look better in my clothes than I did yesterday.  I feel more energetic.  I feel, in short, fabulous.

So here’s to setting those mini-goals.  You’ll be glad you did when you get to have this mini-celebration!

Posted in Encouragement, Body Image, Success, Weight Loss | Print | 1 Comment »

Wednesday, September 9, 2009 by Dea.

I was reading an article Becca sent me that opened my eyes.  I had never really thought about how many extra calories are in those mouthfuls of food that I don’t necessarily keep track of throughout the day.  A little taste here, clean off a plate there - and according to the article, it can really add up!

The author suggests keeping track of just those tastes, bites, and gulps you take when cooking or clearing the table.  It came out to a whole day’s worth of calories extra over the course of a week for the author.  That shocked me.

As other moms know, kids don’t always finish their meals.  It’s tempting to finish it, to clean the plate, in order to not waste food.  Is it really better, though, to allow that food to hit your waist?

So the moral here it try to be more aware.  I think I’m going to keep track of those morsels I pop into my mouth as I prepare dinner and pack lunches.   I also want to pay attention to those moments when hunger strikes - and I’ve only stocked the car or my purse with those treacherous kid snacks.  One whole day’s worth of calories a week - that I do not need!

Posted in Tips and Tricks, Weight Loss, Healthy Eating | Print | No Comments »

Tuesday, September 8, 2009 by Dea.

As everyone can see, it’s been a busy few days around here.  I haven’t been on the internet much at all, and keeping up here was - well, it was nonexistent, right?

There is one thing I noticed during my frenetic schedule this past week.  I ate less.  Not just a little bit less - a whole lot less.  I was shocked when I was finally able to input my foods in my tracking site.  I hadn’t snacked more than I should, I hadn’t wound up eating a huge lunch.

I tried to think about the differences between this week and a normal week.  I was busy helping at the school book fair, which means I was out of the house and didn’t have time to eat.  We had a bonfire and went to an apple orchard, so we were busy carrying wood or driving in the car.

So what do all the things I was doing this week have in common?  I was out of the house, and I was busy doing a lot of physical things.  So the main lesson I need to take away from this is never go home?

Well, that’s not possible.  I think, though, that if I concentrate on doing projects that aren’t near the kitchen, that might help.  I also want to get my workspace set up for my computer.  I sit on the couch right now to use my laptop.  And the couch is awfully close to the refrigerator and pantry.  If I have a designated work space, I think this will help avoid the computer-time snacking!

So here’s to Distraction Dieting.  Eating less through keeping busy means less obsessing.  It seems to work fairly well!

Posted in Tips and Tricks, Weight Loss, Healthy Eating | Print | No Comments »

Wednesday, September 2, 2009 by Dea.

I was reading this article about worst pizzas in America, and I came across this - the WORST Pizza in America.

1. WORST PIZZA IN AMERICA
Uno Chicago Grill Chicago Classic Deep Dish Individual Pizza
2,310 calories
165 g fat (54 g saturated)
4,920 mg sodium
120 g carbs

This is an individual pizza.  It contains more calories than I allow myself in an entire day - in supposedly ONE serving.

How on earth do they get  nearly 2400 calories in a single-serve pizza??  I can’t get over it.  Do they top it with lard?  Is there a layer of butter between the crust and the sauce?

We’re talking a bread-like substance, tomato sauce, and cheese.  I can make a normal pizza that would feed two people with a crust from a mix and regular cheese, and it STILL wouldn’t have this many grams of fat.

None of the options at the restaurants listed in the article are better than what I could do at home!  I do believe I’ll stay in next time I’m craving pizza.

Posted in Temptation, Healthy Eating | Print | No Comments »

Tuesday, September 1, 2009 by Dea.

I’ve been following a blog by Lisa Johnson, and today I saw this video on getting celebrity arms:

I’m going to try this for the next three weeks, since that’s when we’re heading to St. Croix.  Maybe I’ll have less jiggle in time for the trip?  I’ll keep you posted!!

Posted in Exercise | Print | No Comments »