Even the Dog Said, "Ewww" to Tofu!

To prevent myself from buying fast food when I was starving yesterday whilst out running errands, I grabbed some food (if you can call it that)from our local health food store’s refrigerator–Sweet and Sour Tofu.

You see, my friend LaVender once made me a delicious tofu burrito with onions and peppers and salsa–it was awesome–so I thought, this should be good. Wrong! The first thing that struck me when I opened the little container was the aroma; it didn’t smell like any sweet and sour food I’d ever had. The next thing was the appearance; it sort of, kind of, looked like chicken but something just wasn’t right. After that came the feel, I can’t quite describe it; it was a cross between jell-o and silly puddy. Finally, the taste–it was horrid, not to mention the “jellpuddy” texture. My 11yo dd tried it too and snarled her nose after a tiny bite.

After my daughter and I finished discussing this disgusting, so-called food, I tried to give some to our Boston Terrier, Pugsly. I threw a piece on the ground. He sniffed it and ran backwards and then he walked towards it again with caution, made a small “woof”, backed-off, and then finally ate it. LMAO!

25 Pounds in One Week?

Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE The Biggest Loser but vehemently disagree with how contestants on the show lose weight. One man last night hopped on the scale and lost a total of 25 pounds for one week–good for him, but is it healthy? As an overweight woman who has been battling the bulge since my pre-teens and as someone who has taken off the same pounds over and over again, I can say, “No, this is not healthy!”

Throughout my entire life, I was able to lose weight quickly (for me a big weekly weight loss has been 7-8 pounds) but you know what–it always came back and with more weight to boot. It’s easy, you practically have to starve yourself or go on a fad diet like Atkins (although you lose uber amounts of weight it is not a healthy plan) in which fruits and veggies are restricted.

The Biggest Loser Contestants not only eat a low cal diet but they have personal trainers and workout from six to eight hours a day! This explains why so many Biggest Loser winners end up gaining tons of weight back almost as soon after the finale’–most of their weight loss from loss of water and explains the extreme loose skin factor. Also, the workout program on the show is not something most people can keep up with once they go back to their jobs and family–and there are no trainers or cameras anymore.

Though my weight loss has never been that extreme in the past, it’s the same concept; most of my loss was due to water–not this time. On average, since December of 2008, I’ve steadily lost 1-2 pounds a week. I’ve cut out junk food (except on occasion), workout from 30-50 minutes a day and have upped my intake of fresh fruit, vegetables, beans, whole grains and water. I don’t starve myself but I don’t overeat either. This is the first time I’ve made a lifestyle change with eating and exercise that is slowly but surely becoming a habit.

I LOVE working out with my Biggest Loser Cardio and Sculpting dvds EVERYDAY and I LOVE how I feel by eating healthy foods. Yeah, the weight is coming off painfully slow but everything I read says the people who are most successful at keeping weight off do it slowly and by making gradual changes–is it any wonder though? After all, if it takes a year or more to lose 40-100 pounds, you’ll have developed healthy habits that will last a life time versus quick weight loss at the expense of extreme workout and calorie restriction that when finished–most won’t be able to maintain and, therefore, the weight will come back just as fast as it was lost.

Finally, Well Enough To Workout And Introducing Melody Polakow

I still have a lingering cough but the cayenne powder, cider vinegar and honey keep it at bay, not to mention that me getting a full nights sleep has helped tremendously–and without sleeping pills! 

This morning I did the beginning and intermediate cardio blast from my Biggest Loser DVD and boy did it feel good. However, Jillian’s segment is still very hard for me, especially the “burpies” (sp) which is when you bend over, walk your hands to push-up position, walk your hands back, stand-up, jump, and repeat for what seems like an eternity. Man, I huffed and puffed the whole ten minutes but I did it.

Now it’s time to refocus on eating healthier again because for some odd reason, when I’m sick I decide to eat what I shouldn’t. How silly is that? I know that if I hate super-dee-duper healthy meals that the bronchitis would leave within a day or two, so I need to buckle down and make it happen.

A wonderful woman by the name of Melody Polakow shared her blog with me at a mom’s board online and it’s amazing. She’s a single mother and currently layed-off vegan chef whose teens live with her part-time. Her blog is called MELOMEALS and she shares not only how to eat spectacular vegan meals for $3.33/day, she also shares her financial and weight battles. I absolutely ADORE this woman and am looking forward to trying her recipes.

Be sure to pop-in and take a gander at her site, she photographs her amazing dishes and shares the recipes too!

Blah

That is how I’m feeling this morning after a horrible night’s sleep. Also, I’m sore as heck from pushing myself yesterday in cardio and not taking in near enough calories–it made for a long night.

The weight is practically falling off me this week but yesterday was the first day that I missed my early morning meal and it messed everything all up. We were out of milk, our son was sick, and the kitchen was a freakin’ disaster upon rising. Due to busying myself trying to get all of that done, by the time I got home from shopping it was nearly ten o’ clock a.m. before I had breakfast; starting my small meal eating ‘ritual’ at that time of day threw me all out of whack.

Yesterday morning I did my beginning 20 minute cardio segment and added in Jillian’s 10 minute segment and did the Zumba video. However, unlike my first attempt this week adding in Jillian, I kept up better but am now paying the price! My feet hurt like heck.

Another blah moment came when I had my first bubble bath (I’m a shower gal) for the first time in years. There’s no hiding bodily flaws in the bathtub, that’s for sure. Instead of having a nice relaxing soak, I sat there looking at my fat rolls and found myself getting angry (with me) for allowing myself to get so damned big–it was just like my shopping trip a couple of weeks ago.

I emerged from the bathtub a bit grumpy and then took my pissy attitude out on my husband, who was eating huge bowl of Breyer’s chocolate ice cream with syrup and whipped-cream on top, even though earlier I said, “Sure, you can buy some ice cream, it won’t bother me a bit”–Pffft!

Alright, I’ll focus on something more positive–I love my forearms, they’re beautiful, roll free and contain zero cellulite–and I don’t have cankles (whew!)

Food Log (30 Minutes of Sculpting)

Morning – Smoothie w/GV organic soy milk, blueberries, one banana, an orange, and a good handful of baby spinach

Mid-Morning – three eggs w/four pieces of turkey bacon, jalepenos and salsa.

Lunch – A big salad with red wine dressing

Midday- A mint choco square

Dinner – I don’t know yet

Glass of red wine

Holy Calories!

Yesterday my daughter’s Girl Scout troop went to lunch at Chili’s while on a field trip…which meant I went too. I ordered the endless potato soup and salad lunch (with honey mustard dressing) but had one serving of each. THANKFULLY, I prepared for what I knew would be extra calories by only having a bowl of cereal for breakfast because that meal alone contained 884 calories and over 55 grams of fat!

Also, because I knew I’d be going to Chili’s for lunch I did two sculpting workouts and cardio earlier that morning. Later that evening I did a few push-ups, squats and crunches with a medicine ball for about five minutes and cardio for ten by walking up and down on a workout step.

Out of curiosity, I hopped on the scale this morning and saw the needle on 222…Yay me!  It isn’t my official weigh-in day though so it doesn’t count, but I’m happier than a lark that I didn’t gain and instead dropped two more pounds!

For dinner last night I had a BLT w/light mayo and five pieces of bacon and french fries (baked)…I had my chocolate square too. However, due to eating heavier foods, I didn’t eat 6 small meals. That’s okay though, I think you have to allow yourself room for ‘off days’ by eating less and making sure to workout a bit harder to make up for it.

Oops, can’t forget about today’s food log:

Morning – orange and 1/4 watermelon

Mid-morning-blueberry whole wheat oatmeal

Lunch-a huge salad from Ruby Tuesday with peas, chickpeas, lima beans, spinach, purple lettuce, green peppers, onions, carrots (no cheese or croutons), black olives, and topped with light ranch dressing

Midday-chocolate mint square

Dinner-homemade chicken noodle soup

Glass of Red Wine

Woo...I Feel Good

My body was ready to go this morning even though my brain said, “You don’t have to workout today”–I ignored my brain and pumped out three cardio workouts for a total of a 50 minute workout. I have no clue what came over me, but damn it–aw heck, I’ll let James Brown speak for me…

Food Log

Morning – Half a cantelope

Mid-morning – fruit smoothie w/spinach

Lunch-big salad

Midday-Chocolate square

Dinner – I don’t know yet

Snack-Orange and/or Banana

Late night-glass of red wine

Heart Healthy Friend's Advice

The other day I spoke with a really good friend of mine who is 40 years old and has the cholesterol levels of a healthy 25 year old–what a great inspiration!

She works out 4-5 times a week, is fit as a fiddle and eats healthy. She also allows herself to eat food she likes from time to time like a Coke, fries, etc. After inquiring more about her healthy lifestyle, I’ve decided that I’ll try to implement a bit of what she does.

I’ll be having one square of dark chocolate a day and a glass of wine at night (unless I treat myself to a Pepsi or Coke). She says that by allowing herself one ‘treat’ a day, that she doesn’t have the urge to splurge on a chocolate bar. She does not ever eat crunchy snacks like chips, cheetos, etc. because she, like me, cannot ‘only eat just a few.’ Lastly, eating every two to three hours, having a salad as a meal (careful not to go over 7 grams of fat on dressing), and getting in 35 grams of fiber a day.

I’m going to try my hardest to incorporate her wisdom.

That said, here is the beginning of today’s food log:

Breakfast- Half a Cantelope

Snack-Banana

Mid-morning meal-Kashi Blueberry Cluster cereal w/1 cup of GV Organic Vanilla Soy Milk

Snack-Orange

Lunch-Big Hearts of Romaine Lettuce with 1 tomato, onions, jalepeno peppers, and 1tbsp of red wine vinegar dressing

Snack-60% Caco Dark Chocolate Square

Dinner-Fat Free Bean Burritos w/onion, lettuce, tomato, jalepenos, 1tbsp of hot salsa, 1tbsp of sour cream, and one large tortilla

One glass of red Pinot wine