Ticker

Monday, August 30, 2010

Oh Muscles, Why So Wimpy?

I've noticed something that bothers me just a tad.

Each week I do three interval classes (Step and weights combo), one or two Power (BodyPump) classes, one Yogalates, and a Step class. Every now and then something comes up, but that's my usual routine. During the Interval and Power classes, we invariably work most muscle groups, including the biceps.

So why are my biceps not getting stronger? I've increased my weight for all other exercises, but I struggle like crazy with my biceps. They are bulkier, that's for sure, but what good is the bulk (which I could do without) without the extra strength?

Are any of you muscle-people who can offer some sort of advice or info on the subject?

In other news, I think my hip may be on the mend. I may have to test it with a 6 mile run just to be sure, but if all is well, I will be one elated lady!!

Monday, August 23, 2010

Fat Day

Have you had one of these? A day or time that you felt SO MUCH BIGGER than you really are?

I'm having one of those. I didn't step on the scale (I'm usually a daily weigh-er) today because I know I'm too vulnerable to that number, whatever it might be. So I'm avoiding the device for the next few days, while I carefully watch all that I eat, and get in my usual exercise classes.

I know why I feel so big: my food for the last few days has been less-than ideal. Lots of calories have been devoted to chocolate and useless carbs. I think it's time to get all of the chocolate I own out of my reach :) I usually can have it in the house without it causing problems for me, but lately, not so much.

If I could blame my poor choices over the last few days on something, (other than myself!!) it would have to be a lack of sleep. I've been up way too late reading very good books, but still have to get up in the morning for various reasons (kids, church, kids, and kids) so I've hit some days with a sleep deficit.

What's more fun than taking a nap for a nice recharge? Why, chocolate, of course. So Dove has been my pick-me-up. And she's truly let me down. So far down, instead of feeling like 158 pounds or so, I feel like 180 or more. And that just doesn't make a whole lot of sense. Unless, like me, your fat is not just on your limbs, but also in your head.

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Have You Lost Weight?


I've gotten this question now from about everyone at church. Some ladies phrase the question more enigmatically, almost like I'm supposed to only understand the question they're asking if, in fact, I have lost weight.

But the few stranger-ladies at the gym who have asked? Well they just get right to the point. No minced words in group fitness at Gold's gym.

I guess they noticed because I switched my schedule around and wasn't going to a particular Zumba class on a regular basis. When I came back for a visit with some friends, these ladies popped out of the wood-work (it's a HUGE group) before class, and just fired away: "Have you lost weight? How much? How'd you do it? Are you buying new pants anytime soon? Taking donations?"

Okay, so the last two questions weren't really posed, but I can read minds :)

I was flustered, and I passed up a golden opportunity. In my surprise (yes, here in the South random people are known to make friendly conversation, even in regards to somewhat personal information. But I'm still stunned that people notice any changes in my form) I just rattled off the basic information, and when it came to the "how" question, I brushed it off with an "eating less, moving more" response.

So I drove home feeling like I'd failed. Because one of the ladies was well into the obese category, and really seemed to be looking for some advice. And I wish I'd had several hours to sit down with her and go through it all: I blog and read inspirational blogs. I don't eat out much anymore. I don't eat 'junk' but once in a blue moon. I don't keep junk in the house at all. I like the security that counting calories gives me. I track all food and exercise and stay within a daily calorie budget. I try never to say, "I blew it". I try to eat every 3 to 4 hours....

The list goes on and on, and all of this is the result of learning some hard lessons over the 20-odd years I've struggled with food and my weight. But Zumba was starting, and I was flustered. And 'what works' for each individual (in my opinion) is as different as we are unique in our person hood.

How do I fit all of that into a pre-Zumba nutshell?


Now on to why I have that Happy 101 button up at the top of this post...

A lovely fellow-blogger, Blessed Mama, over at Blessed Vegan Life, passed along this award to moi! I will in turn, list 10 things that make me happy, and then 10 blogs that do the same:

  1. Hanging with the ladies who are in my discipleship group from church
  2. Cuddling with my girls and husband
  3. Driving home after a good, hard, workout
  4. Iced green tea
  5. Seeing a new low on my scale :)
  6. The change of seasons, especially Fall and Spring
  7. Sinking into my comfy bed after a busy day
  8. Remembering what it was like to feel my girls kicking and rolling around when I was pregnant with them
  9. Reaching a goal I've set for myself
  10. Remembering the hope in all of God's promises to me

And here are just a short list of the many blogs that make me happy:

  1. Diane at Fit to the Finish
  2. Keelie at Real Fat
  3. Lynn at The Banded Blubbery Blogger
  4. Karen at Real Food Rules
  5. Kim at To Dream the KIMpossible Dream
  6. Lindsay at PancakesNPajamas
  7. Chris at A Deliberate Life
  8. MrsFatass at Did I Just Eat That Out Loud
  9. Heidi at One Step at at Time
  10. Syl at Live, Smile, Run

Take a look at their blogs and enjoy, along with several others in my blog-roll. I truly get so much out of keeping up with all of the bloggers on my roll!!

Friday, August 13, 2010

New Blog Title, and Pics!

I'm so excited!! I've decided on a new blog title, thanks to some gentle but firm opinions that I avoid the "fat pig" territory. Now that I know my impressionable girls glance at the computer while I'm blogging, I've realized how foolish it was to even consider name-calling (myself!) that way. SO, Foodie Gettin' Fit it is.

Ironic that I'm splaying pics of chips all over today's post, but they're SO GOOD (tasting), and not horrible (nutrition-wise). I don't eat chips often, but I made my Trader Joe's/Whole Foods run today, and everyone in the house loves these chips, so I picked up a couple of bags.

Next to these lovely crunchies, is my favorite guacamole in the world. I could smell the chopped cilantro wafting through the air as I walked through the produce section of Whole Foods and wasn't sure what contained the most of it, so I bought both. One small container of the fresh guacamole, and one large container of the pico de gallo hopped a ride in my cart. The pico is quite spicy, especially when you pile a tablespoon on each chip ;) But, it hurts so good, if ya know what I mean.

I tried to find the Carrot Cake Larabar that I saw mentioned on Amelia's blog, but our Whole Foods must not carry that flavor, so I went to the bakery and picked up a container of chocolate almond biscotti. One piece has 25 calories, and it's pretty low in sugar, so that's my treat for a while. This biscotti is SO crunchy, my teeth couldn't handle eating more than a few, so it's not a food I have to worry about over-doing.

When I look at the pic below, a song pops into my head. Anyone? Anyone? If I Like Big Butts coursed through your synapses as well, then we might be on the same page. Suffice it to say, I will not be getting a butt enhancement anytime soon. (Still can't believe that's truly a surgical option, but it is, and there's a billboard on 75 stating that, "Size Matters" referring to ladies' derrieres.

There's a spoof on that song, by the way, that my husband and I came across, and we get quite a good chuckle. This version is safe for the kiddos!

On to my rear-end shot. I have to admit, making my blog debut backside first is kinda odd. I'm still face-shy...but I'm coming around. In the meanwhile, I wanted to make a record of where I am right now: these pants are a size 12, and I bought them a few years ago. I've never actually worn them, and I actually may never do so in public! I've not worn shiny pants before; perhaps 'shiny' shouldn't be donned by a butt bigger than a size 8 or so?

We can all plainly see that I'm not a size 12 yet. The saying, "Just because you can button it, doesn't mean you should wear it" fits perfectly here. Could the seams of my underwear be any more obvious?? My big plan is to put these bad boys back on in a couple of months to (hopefully) see a nice change; and less of both my rear end and the underwear that covers it ;)

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Fat Pig to Fit Chick

Is that too harsh?

I'm not satisfied with the title of my blog anymore, and I need a change. I don't have 100 pounds to lose anymore!! I am more than half-way there, and I want a makeover for my blog.

As I was trying to fall asleep the other night, Fat Pig to Fit Chick was all I could come up with. I thought I'd even use a couple of farm animal graphics (trying to be creative here...), but I really don't want to offend others who are struggling with their weight.

"Fat Pig" isn't exactly a term of endearment, and I wouldn't want to be called one. In fact, I shouldn't even refer to myself that way, because it's just not very nice...but it kinda fits where I was last year. (And pigs have their cute days too, right?).

So, I need some thoughts. Am I gonna send other bloggers out there into a fit of tears by referring to my 220 pound former self as a "fat pig"?

Edit: Okay, how about Back Fat to Fit Chick? I remember the moment that I was really and truly disgusted with how big I'd gotten, and that was in the shower one day when I could feel my back fat touch itself without my even bending to the side much. Ick. Perhaps that title would be a little less harsh than Fat Pig.

Saturday, August 7, 2010

Granola, Past and Present


I haven't made it in a long time, but I like to read about the chow over at Pancakes and Pajamas, and Linday posted a recipe of some granola she'd made. What I noticed first, was that this was not my mother's granola!

Mind you, I LOVED the granola my mom made while I was growing up. Her recipe was loaded with oats, wheat germ, sesame seeds, honey, oil, nuts, and dried fruit. My favorite part was getting a big clump of oats and honey. Yummy!

But I have to say, Lindsay has solved one of the problems I had with that recipe: I don't want to load my family down with sugars (from that honey), nor did I want to pour oil in just to get those clumps. And clumps make the granola, if you know what I mean.

So, (if you haven't already looked at that recipe!) I switched to the use of nut butter!! What a genius idea. Lindsay, if you're reading, THANK YOU!!! I can't add wheat germ unless I want to poison my gluten-free husband, so I use ground flax seed instead. In place of the maple syrup (which I bet tastes SO good), I'm using some chicory root extract for natural, no-sugar sweetness. I throw in chopped walnuts, cinnamon, and raisins. And, ta-da! I have a granola that my girls and husband love, and it's loaded with crazy-healthy stuff.

I tossed some on top of unsweetened Greek yogurt and had a nice little snack the other day. I imagine some berries would make it perfect. If this batch of granola lasts long enough, I may have to run and pick up some blueberries to add to my next bowl of Greek Granola Goodness.

Monday, August 2, 2010

Nothing's Broken But my Pride

I'd be a wealthier woman if there'd been a video camera at our gym today...

I went for an Interval class with an instructor who finds great pleasure in driving a group full of sweaty people hard for an hour. Don't even think of picking up a water bottle for a quick swig; she doesn't stop, and she doesn't wait. And we pay her for the pleasure.

Back to my episode. Ironically enough, I crossed paths with a blog today that mentioned embarrassing gym moments. Little did I know, I could have planted my little mishap smack-dab in the middle of her post.

Our interval class involves the use of a Step for the cardio portions, combined with sections using hand weights, resistance bands (an evil device), and a weighted body bar. Sometimes the use of these tools is combined with balance exercises on the step, or simple tapping up and down on the step while doing upper body strength training.

Toward the end of the class (and after a particularly grueling round of lunges and squats) we were doing sets of soccer-drill-like-thingies that involve hopping from side to side over the narrow section of the step. Quickly.

I have done this particular move in the past, with this same instructor, during this same class before with no trouble. Perhaps the lone protein bar I'd eaten all day (4:15 pm class) wasn't cutting it for fuel. Or maybe I just got lazy. Or the tread on my shoes grew an inch while I was mid-air.

Whatever the case, I caught my right foot on the step as I was leaping over the step to the right side. My right food trapped my left foot, leaving me essentially foot-less, and 161 pounds of momentum kept the rest of my body moving at a nice clip. To the right, and toward to floor, where I landed on my right hip (the sore one, of course) just to the left of a nice lady who asked if I was alright. I'm so very thankful that I wasn't next to Big Sweaty Man today; because chivalry is not quite dead, and with my luck, he would have offered a drippy hand to help me up.

Did I mention that I howled? I screamed like the girl that I am on the way down. Not than anyone but the nice lady next to me could have heard me over the loud music. For once, I'm glad that our instructor plays the music at a decibel level that will probably bring on deafness in my 40's.

On the bright side, I got a very nice workout in, and my food was glorious today. And even better, my hip seems to be no worse for the wear.