That Which Jiggles is not always Jolly....

While running my 5K this morning and listening to the Black Eyed Peas...I had time to reflect on all the parts of myself that jiggle. Here's a list of my jiggly parts: underarms, upper inner thighs, belly, and back. My boobs jiggle too, but I figured that is just part of the "I am woman" deal. I guess my toughest question is how to get rid of the jiggle I want to lose? Hours of toning?Yeah....THAT'S how I want to spend my evenings...being sweating in odd positions so that my my skin will shrink wrap and fit- a tight fit. However, I wanted to figure out some ways I could work on the tone without feeling like I am getting nowhere. PLUS- who wants to feel sore all the time?

So while working on this new and exciting problem, I discovered lots of 15-20 minute workouts that tone and most of them have to do with a movement called Pilates.The Pilates method seeks to develop controlled movement from a strong core and it does this using a range of apparatuses to guide and train the body. In contemporary Pilates other props are used, including small weighted balls, foam rollers, large exercise balls, rotating disks, and resistance bands.I just bought a pilates workout video by Denise Austin, the perkiest trainer on the planet...BUT...of each of the three 15 minute workouts is pretty good and focus on my jiggly parts.

Of course, I am still trying to push the cardio and keep up the intensity, which is tough. I am worried about what will happen as time goes on- how do I follow a "normal" routine and keep the weight off? Making a lifestyle change is tough...too bad fried chicken isn't fat free...I might be okay! However, I feel good knowing I am not on an expensive weight loss system and I am not spending loads of cash on food- I have only changed the foods I was buying. Also, I wanted to share that yesterday, I ate a do-nut (if I was a guy, I totally would have had a woody..) and I didn't feel bad at all. I really think it tasted BETTER because I am not overeating and I knew I was going to the gym.The only piece of this journey that feels EASY is trading foods off- it feels like a challenge, which I LOVE...

So...all in all...the weight loss is going well, but I have a feeling that I will have some gain along with the loss as I adjust to a new lifestyle, not just a new diet!

Signing off,

Miss Mad

Double Digit!

Yes- that's right! I have lost 10 pounds! I am so excited and proud and happy and hungry and....relieved! Before I got on the scale today (and I try to use the same one so I can get a decent reading) I was nervous; if my weight stabilized, then I needed to amp it up...if I gained weight, then I would feel so discouraged...but losing another 3 pounds this week really boosted my motivation...cause I just don't have time to work out more. Unless I start doing lunges while I teach...or invent a home liposuction machine...

What makes this so exciting for me is I have only been "healthy" for the past three weeks...pretty good, huh? And in those three weeks, I have drunk wine a few times, I have eaten Italian food, I have eaten two small bite sized pieces of chocolate almost EVERY day, and I still have sugar in my coffee and hot tea. So...it can be done!

Now that I have finished my update and covered what up....let me share some foods I am really enjoying at this moment in time...that means this week:
1. Ancient Red Peppers....taste just like red bell peppers...awesome snack!
2. Individual cottage cheese cups- 90 calories baby and low fat!
3. Beets...from a can...with salad dressing....YUM...
4. Green beans with water chestnuts....try it, I assure you- you will enjoy...
5. Brown rice with a little Terryiaki sauce...Amy Chun makes a sprouted brown rice- find it in the organic section- and it is delish...and pre-portioned!!

So...I guess you get the idea? A good point to make, however, is not to eat or buy things you won't eat. I LOVE all the foods I mentioned, so spending money on them makes sense because I will eat it...losing weight really isn't hard...motivation is hard! But once you hit a few pounds, you just feel soooo much better!! Hopefully next week I will see another few pounds go...10 down, 17 to go!

Signing off,
Miss Mad

The Naked Truth

I do not look at myself naked. I do not like for my husband to see me naked. I do not like to think about my body naked and I am fearful if I ever have a car accident, I will frighten the doctor who may have to see me naked. I do not like to feel my body jiggle when I walk (I have more jiggle than Bill Cosby in a room full of Jell-o)...so WHY should I look at myself naked?

I have spent a significant amount of time sitting in front of my closet crying about my weight and I have pitched fits and once actually ripped a shirt I was so upset about how I looked in it. Usually, I pull and shift my clothes because I WILL NOT wear something I feel might even remotely show a hint of fat or muffin top. This has cost me many a good moods; I think what is most difficult is realizing the mental state BEHIND the weight. I have really been searching into why I feel so obsessed by my weight- my mother never berated me, my friends never teased me, and I don't really remember being called fat (and I was a CHUNK!) The more I  think about it, the more I realize that it is an image issue and even Heidi Klum has issues with her body and she is THE body. I have come to the conclusion that I must take my journey one day at a time and that sometimes you have bad days.

I do have to say that one of the changes I have decided on is not to follow The Dukan Diet. I just don't think I can continue the diet forever so I do not want to start it, but the changes I am making now I feel like I can continue. I feel like I can commit to the gym 2-3 times per week, and maybe shrinking my portion sizes. I am really excited to say I have LOST 7 POUNDS and it feels great. I can tell a big difference in not only my clothing, but in my attitude. No to say that I do not have moments of weakness. I still have little individual chocolates at my desk and I usually eat one or two each day. I still have a little ranch dressing ON THE SIDE to dip my veggies in. But the difference is I am taking in probably half the calories I was a month ago.

Just one month has made such a difference- I actually made myself look at me naked....and it wasn't as bad as I thought! I still hated it, but it wasn't as bad as I thought. And maybe I will look again in another month.

Eating out is tough when your body shouts at you....

And what exactly does my body shout at me, you ask? It screams...a minute on the lips a lifetime on your hips! However, while my head tries really hard to keep up with my stomach, my stomach is a LOUD party animal and frequently drowns out my head. So I have been working on dealing with not only eating healthy and exercising, but also dealing with the voice in my head that constantly whispers "eat".

Controlling the voice at home has not been as hard as I thought, but last night I went out to eat with my cousin and her son. We went to Depalma's, a popular Italian eatery in Athens. PANIC! PASTA! CREAM SAUCE! Sweet Jesus....help me say no. But what I discovered is this: it is okay to eat a "celebration meal." It is NOT okay to gorge until you feel like you should push your car home. Just remember to balance out your meals. And in case you are wondering, I ate half a cesar  salad, and about three quarters of lasagna. However, for breakfast that morning, I had a smoothie and for lunch a salad with lots of veggies. I also spent an hour at the gym and drank about 3 liters of water during the day. So what is important is the balance you have in your diet; when you add something on the "yummy junk food side" you have to add something on the "health and exercise" side.

Observations on Dieting...

Okay, friends...progress update first, then we will get to observations. I have lost about 5 pounds, which didn't feel like much until I opened my freezer and looked at 1 POUND of meat. WHOA MAMA! Fat adds up, so I feel pretty good so far and I have noticed that my clothing fits better. So...what is my secret? A sensible diet and exercise. A sample daily menu may include: a smoothie for breakfast (made by my sweet husband who uses frozen or fresh fruit, honey, yogurt, and juice); a snack around 10:00- usually a plum, apple, or yogurt; for lunch, a salad with cottage cheese and maybe some grilled chicken or fish; a afternoon snack- repeat from morning snack; and for dinner something sensible. The biggest difference is that I am trying to avoid refined sugars and carbs. So no soft drinks and around 2 liters of water per day.

Okay....now that I have shared my personal journey, here are my observations so far on dieting:

1. Water is very satisfying, but I hate having to go to the bathroom ALL THE FREAKIN' TIME.

2. Skinny people must be miserable 85% of the day because they do not eat chocolate...or bread....or butter...or gravy...my apologies if you are tiny and reading this and NOT hungry....liar,liar, pants on fire.

3. Even though I enjoy the foods I AM eating, it is no fun to eat your cold salad with no cheese and low fat dressing while your friends eat a hot Chic-fil-a sandwich and delicious french fries...there really is just no way to get over this.

4.Eating right takes a lot of work! Planning the meal, having a variety of snack foods on hand...I spend lots of time just planning the meal and cutting up veggies....

Of course, while being on a diet stinks, I am seeing the results! And that is worth all the "hardships" I can see in my dieting future.

Signing off, Miss Mad

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly...

So far, so good! Well....maybe a few bumps along the road. I broke down on Saturday night and had potato chips with a hamburger (no bun), BUT...today I had whole wheat cereal (Kashi Berry Blend), some corn chowder for lunch (about a cup), and a salad with salmon for dinner....pretty good huh? AND...I felt satisfied all day! In addition, I went to the gym today, but did NOT go all weekend...not good.

I wanted to draw attention to some articles I saw on Yahoo today- it chronicled eight people  who blogged about their weight loss! If you’re trying to lose weight, health experts recommend writing down what you eat. Why? Because it works! A Kaiser Permanente study found that those who jotted down their intake lost twice as much as those who didn’t. Here is a sample from the article:


Blog: RonisWeigh.com; Total Pounds Lost: 70
How I Did It: I finally realized that not everything revolved around how I looked in a bathing suit. I stopped seeking some insane vision of skinniness and joined Weight Watchers with the intent of learning how to eat, not reaching a certain size. The small shift in focus made all the difference for me.
How My Blog Helped: I decided to post a weekly update on my blog to report my progress. This small commitment to post the good, bad and ugly was a huge part of my success. It gave me a place to face the emotional side of weight loss: I celebrated my losses, cried about my gains and vented when I felt like whining.
Top Tip: Set non-weight-related goals to build your confidence. Sometimes the scale will not be your friend, so you should set goals that are within your control: Sign up for a 5K, start a food journal or blog and commit to it, ditch the diet soda, have a four-day-a-week walking goal. Declare the goal, reach it and then set another.

 I can completely relate to her struggle with the shift in focus on the attitude of "getting healthy". It is a daily struggle with me on "am I trying to be healthy....or skinny?" So writing it down for everyone to see really helps me be accountable to myself. It is amazing to me how many of the people featured changed their food habits first, then added in the exercise. It takes time, but after a while, you feel so much better when you eat good, whole foods. OF COURSE, I will still eat McDonalds.....but ONLY rarely. Of course....I will still have Coca-cola- but only 1-2 a month. I have surprised myself that I am still really enjoying eating all the raw veggies and salads, etc. It has really been easy to cut out the refined carbs and processed foods. YES...it does cost more, but my health and weight are worth it. Besides, do I REALLY need another pair of shoes? I wear sneakers to work, so I can do without new shoes for a while! 

I hope that you all are enjoying following my weight loss journey. I will be weighing in tomorrow to see how much I have lost. At my last weigh in, I was down four pounds. hopefully more!! And on a side note, I am still waiting on my diet book- The Durac Diet. I also have a doctor appointment tomorrow to discuss options and make sure this diet is a good choice. I want to keep the weight off this time!


Hoping you all have a great week!
Miss Mad

Surviving "Snow-Palooza"

Living in Georgia, we are not used to regular snow showers, so when we are gifted with a snowstorm, Southerns basically go into hibernation for a few days. Of course, with each day being stuck in the house, my vow to not snack and eat "healthy" felt like a chastity belt around my mouth. So...how did I handle no regular cardio and my eating?

Well, to begin with, I planned; the weather was going to be bad, so I made sure I had healthy snacks- no, mom, not tofu, but snacks I enjoy like dill pickles, apples, sliced veggies, cheese, etc. AND...the best part is that most of these foods come in individual packages, so the measuring is already done! If you are counting calories, this is extremely helpful. According to my Dukan diet (which I am STILL waiting on the book, AMAZON!!!), as long as foods are zero carbs, zero fat, and zero sugar, you can have as much as you want! Happily, this is where dairy fits into the diet. So I stocked up and got ready for a few days of snow. Of course, what we thought was a few days turned into an entire week, so how can I fit in some exercise? Easy peesy! For starters, I have two videos that I try to participate with at least once a week. One is Jillian Michaels "30 Day Shred" and the other is Denise Austin's "Daily Dozen". I try to incorporate these into my weekly routine because both use strength training, so I get some weights into my exercise plan. Plus, both videos are quick and easy to follow! BONUS!

Now...I did snack some but I tried to be cool about it- if I had a glass of wine, then salad for dinner it is and my salads are delish! I use LOTS of colorful veggies and usually choose two different dressings to use, so I am not bored (and those salad dressings are on the side). In addition, I ADORE potatoes, especially fries and chips, so I tried Veggie Chips (found in the organic section) and I really enjoyed them! As for fries...I just don't think there is a low fat option, so I just have to think of fries as Brad Pitt and adore them from afar.

Overall, I feel pretty good about the week- I am still not tired of salads, but I have nixed the lettuce and just started to eat lots of raw veggies...really good! And maybe I should go ahead and throw this out there- for about the past 7 years, I have only drank about 2-3 carbonated beverages per month, usually none. Water, water, water, people!! And since giving that up and sucking down the H2O, my bowel movements have really become regular! Thank you, Lord!

I was able to incorporate exercise and I ended up at the gym twice and walked around 'hood a few times. In addition, I pulled out the hands weights, then tried some old fashioned push-ups and planks. So...truly there is no reason that exercise can't be incorporated into the day and with videos as short as 11 minutes....just do it!

Miss Mad, signing off....

It's time to come clean...

Okay...I admit it...I want to be a size 4. I have always said that I just want to be healthy and I only want to lose a few pounds, but the truth is, I hate my body. When I look in the mirror, I hate the parts I can see...my flabby arms, the extra pounds around my middle, the pieces I can pinch on my back. However, when I reflect on this, I realize that it is unhealthy to wish to be that small. With my bone structure, I would look like something out of a Dr. Suess book....or Stephen King, depending on your literary flavor.

So, I am coming clean and admitting it out loud.And now that I can admit it to everyone, how do you change that image? Because I love magazines and T.V. and I don't see too many "hefties" on the boob tube. So what is the first step to improving my acceptance of myself?

First of all, being healthy doesn't equate to skinny. Many health professionals agree that health is a cultural problem. We are a "grab and go" society, always moving, never stopping- unless it involves our couch and T.V. And the moves we throw out aren't the right ones- otherwise gym dues would be included in our health care plan, right? I wish!

So here are Miss Mad's tips for being healthy:
1. Don't be sedentary- it is linked to disease. Walk around every hour, even if only for five minutes.
2. Get at least 7 hours of sleep each night, unless you can't. Then talk to your doctor cause you are weird.
3. Eat fewer packaged foods- and don't throw the "expense" excuse. you don't have to have fresh blueberries every day, but you can buy fresh veggies and fruits like apples and oranges inexpensively. Money is better spent on good food than expensive face cream....
4. Have breakfast- not McDonald's, either...it is not hard to grab some yogurt or oatmeal...and they do make a whole grain waffle.
5. Dump the five food felons: saturated fat, trans fat, added syrups, simple sugars, and any grain that isn't whole grain (took that from Dr. Michael Roizon).

Ultimately, I know I will always battle not my weight, but my PERCEPTION of myself. But I also know the more information I have and the harder I work to be healthy, not skinny, I can win the war. I don't want to mold myself into something I am not; it is an unnatural state to be skinny, shaved, waxed, Botoxed, plucked, and have no hips....it's stressful for the mind and body and will never create happiness in life.

So my struggle goes on, but I feel a little better putting it out there that I will not give in or give up on myself in my journey toward loving myself and being healthy. Top that, Gisele.....

The Fall?

Before I begin my usual post, I would like to comment on the number of people at Kroger this morning. I saw a woman with four gallons of milk and another with three loaves of bread. Seriously, people, we are not going to be cut of from civilization for the next month! It's just a snow storm. I promise by Wednesday you will be able to make it to Kroger. Calm yourself....

Now, onto my favorite subject- dieting! It SUCKS.....and it is hard. Trying to avoid fatty foods, carbs, increase protein, and balance a gym schedule....I want to pull my hair out while I rock back and forth in the fetal position. And then I want to eat an entire bag of potato chips...

Seriously, it isn't THAT bad, but it is tough to maintain a diet. I am trying to lower the portion size and cut the snacking with fatty, gross food. But actually cutting carbs is hard. Like Chinese arithmetic hard. I finally caved today and bought some bread (whole wheat, 35 calories per slice) and had a grilled cheese with soup for lunch. With the increase in working out, I feel like decreasing my carb intake is not the best idea, so how can I make things work for me, yet still be healthy? Well, limiting my carbohydrate intake to a better level, but not completely limiting them. Maintaining the gym time (this past week, I went 5 days!), and increasing the healthy snacks ( apple with peanut butter- Better n' Peanut Butter is my fav).

And most importantly, telling myself I AM WORTH IT! Seriously...it is time to believe it!

Let her eat cake....

So here I am on Friday afternoon and I am feeling nervous. Why, you ask? Weekends are tough on me...food-wise. I have an easy time not snacking when I am working, but Saturday and Sunday afternoons, I feel like snacking. Dieting is hard work, and I really want a reward! However, I thought the only type of cheating to feel quilty over involved a man that you were NOT connected to....but cheating on your diet is planty bad! And for the record, I ADORE my husband.

So, here are Miss Mad's tips for beating the weekend snack attacks:
1. If you need a "free meal" have two other healthy meals during the day. For instance, I am married to a man that could whip Bobby Flay's ass, so I will eat yogurt for breakfast and a salad for lunch. That way, I can enjoy my dinner. In addition, I am also going to the gym, so I can have added peace of mind.
2. If you have to have something crazy, cut the calories somewhere else. Have some chips, but drink water.

One thing I know FOR SURE: I will not deny myself. It just isn't going to happen, so I am trying to be smarter about the choices I make for myself. And for the record...I lost FOUR PUONDS ALREADY! Don't hate me cause you ain't me, just get on the treadmill beside me.

Well....here's the menu for the day: Greek yogurt for breakfast, spinach salad with salmon for lunch, and a piece of chocolate pound cake for snack (it was a friend's birthday- WHAT? Like I can say no to birthday cake?). Dinner includes some of my left overs from last night.

So...have a GREAT weekend! I know I will!

Signing off,
Miss Mad

Jillian Michaels must die....

Don't get me wrong, I love everyone, but Jillian Michaels is trying to kill me with her squat thrusts and walking push-ups. No matter the wonderful results that you WILL get if you continue trying, I have a physical reaction when Jillian tells her viewing audience they will look like her in NO TIME. This, to me, is like saying "Size 6 is only 54,763 miles away so start running." It just doesn't happen in no time, Jillian. Liar, liar, pants on fire...

So...in trying to organize my workout schedule I have tried to increase cardio to 40-50 minutes at LEAST 3-4 times per week and throw in weight training at least twice. Did you know that you burn up to 50 MORE calories per hour with toned muscles? Hello?? That adds up...

Also, wanted to throw out my menu for the day: fruit smoothie for breakfast, spinach salad for lunch, mushrooms for a snack with balsamic dressing and just a TOUCH of ranch for a snack. Tonight I am actually cooking dinner; I have chosen a chicken stir fry with fat free terriayki, incorporating mung beans, mushrooms, onions, and water chesnuts. Sounds yummy huh?

Miss Mad, signing off....

The Plan

I weighed myself today for the first time since last week when I went to the doctor's office- I still don't understand why they INSIST on weighing me. I never though I would share my actual weight with the world, but my weight is....YEAH, RIGHT! Like I am ever gonna share that. But, for the sake of my blog experience, let's say it is somewhere in between 150 and 250....and for the love of GOD, do not guess and post that number. So I am sure you all wondering- what exactly IS your plan, Miss Mad? Let me share...

Trying to decide what diet to try is like walking through a clearance room of Jimmy Choos- you have to look at each one, try it on, and make a tough desicion on whether you really want to pay  your mortgage or buy shoes. However, in the world of diet, time is money. If you don't lose weight, your motivation will dwindle. So...I came up with several points to consider when picking out the right diet for you:
1. Easy- DUH! Mama is not a chef and I sure ain't gonna buy some crazy food. This eliminates Nutri-system and Slim fast, both of which I saw commercials for while at the gym today.
2.Quick weight loss- I know my motivation and I would like to see some pounds drop quickly to keep me interested. Could Atkins be the right move?
3. Will this diet help me change my eating habits- I want a diet that has a LONG TERM plan built in so sorry Atkins, you are not for me.

Now, I have considered several diets and when I visited Barnes and Noble, there seems to be a plethora of choices, some of which GUARANTEE to make your ass disappear. I am wondering if they were written by the Wizard of Oz.

So...which diet did I choose? The Dukan Diet; currently, it is not available in the U.S. until May, but people in France and Englad have experienced this for years. So I had to IMPORT my book....hence my 45 days- 15 days to start and then 30 days to begin implementing my new eating plan. Here's the skinny on The Dukan Diet:

There are four phases: Attack, Cruise, Consolidation, and The rest of your life.This diet works for me because it uses low-fat protein and dairy, leafy greens, and lots of water, all of which I love. And, it meets my three criteria in a major way. Now, I am waiting on the book to get the specifics, so I will fill you in later.

So....my plan is to begin trying to cut down on portion size, eat more veggies, and get my white ass back in the gym for 15 days...so when I add the diet, I won't feel like I have committed myself to 45 days of misery.

So...today is day two. I had a fruit smoothie for breakfast, a banana for a snack, a salad for lunch with low fat balsamic dressing, an apple with peanut butter for a snack, and I haven't decided on dinner. This is accompanied by 3 liters of water. AND...I went to the gym and glared at the tiny little blond girl who doesn't sweat. For 50 minutes. I have been a good girl today....

Signing off,
Miss Mad

Is today the day?

Do you know the saying "A minute on the lips, a lifetime on the hips"? Well....for me....it is more like "A second on the eyes, a lifetime on the thighs"....depressing, right? I have never thought of myself as fat, just plump, maybe chunky; I was once called "fluffy". Fluffy is only nice if someone refers to your hair. A few years ago, I started going to the gym and spent the equivalency of a year in a private school on a trainer. Naturally, I lost weight. However, I got married....and gained the weight of my wedding dress. So...yes...I am now- officially- fat. And I hate it. The problem certainly is not my ability to get off my couch. No, no! It is my love of food- specifically potatoes, wine, pasta, and sauce. Just typing it makes me want some...in my bathtub so I can luxuriate in it!

This is where the diet comes in- I have never tried to diet. I have never believed it could work because eventually you will have to go OFF the diet, thereby changing your eating habits toward being a slob. However desperate times call for desperate measures and I have decided that perhaps if I try, I just might make a good change and lose some pounds in the process. Or it will kill me.

So I have decided to chronicle my journey and share it with whomever wants to read...and probably laugh at me. Enjoy my pain as I give up potatoes, wine, pasta, and sauce- for 45 days. Well...maybe not wine COMPLETELY...