Day 25 Update! And...Organic Raw Protein?

25 days until the photo shoot!

Exercise:
Sweatbox (step box) Circuit with Jump Rope Intervals (50 minutes)
Abs and Arms (25 minutes)
Zumba (25 minutes)

Eating:
5:30am Banana and 12 almonds
8:00am ¾ cup almond milk, 1 scoop of protein (18 g), and 5 frozen strawberries
11:00am Green salad with baked chicken, red peppers, green peppers, green onions, grape tomatoes, avocado, drizzle of EVOO and Red Wine Vinegar
2:30pm Grape tomatoes, 9 almonds, 1 oz chicken breast
6:00pm 3 oz baked chicken, 1/2 cup of Crystal's Sweet Potato Delight!, green salad (everything above minus avocado)

Drinking:
144 oz h20
¾ cup almond milk

How I feel:
I feel so-so. Maybe it’s the weather and the fact that it’s SNOWING again! Sigh, it is winter so I guess I shouldn’t complain.

In other news, I am trying another protein power: Organic Raw Protein made by Garden of Life. I decided to try this because the whey protein I usually use has dairy in it. I don't experience any side effects, but I wanted to see if changing to a non-dairy protein powder would make any difference. I have enough to last about a month, so I will let you know what I think of it, in comparison to the Whey Protein I usually use. This Organic Raw Protein is dairy and gluten free. I will try this for one month (really 27 more days) and if after that, I don't like it, I will switch back to the Whey (with dairy) that I usually use.

I am still experimenting with mix-in options. Today, I just mixed in frozen strawberries, as usual, but the strawberries alone didn’t quite hit it—still a chalky, cardboardy taste. Tomorrow I am going to add 3 frozen strawberries and half a banana and see what happens.

Here’s the description of the protein from Garden of Life:

"Offering high quality, plant-based protein plus live probiotics and enzymes, fat-soluble vitamins and nutrient Code Factors™ such as Beta-glucans, SOD, glutathione and CoQ10 for overall health and vitality,† RAW Protein provides the following benefits:

• Provides RAW organic sprouted protein and live probiotics and enzymes
• Excellent source of protein – 18 grams and 35% Daily Value
• Contains Vitamin Code RAW Food-Created Nutrients™ with their unique Code Factors™ intact, enabling natural recognition by your body
• Increases the protein content of meals – just add to food or beverages
• Suitable for vegetarian and vegan diets
• Good for those on low carbohydrate diets
• Alternative to soy and animal protein powders
• Good for those with gastrointestinal sensitivities to milk, whey, soy and other protein sources
• Easily digested – supports digestive health and function with live probiotics and protein-digesting enzymes†
  
• Mixes well – great in shakes, smoothies and other beverages
  

It’s not only what RAW Protein contains, it’s also about what it doesn’t contain – there are no fillers, no artificial flavors and no synthetic ingredients. It is gluten-free and dairy-free and contains no soy allergens."

Day 26 Update! And, Social Justice Activism REQUIRES spiritual, mental, and PHYSICAL efficiency!

26 days until the photo-shoot! :)

Exercise:
Kettle Bell Boot Camp (50 minutes)

Eating:
5:30am ¾ cup freshly squeezed OJ, ¼ cup h20, 2 tbsp gelatin
7:45am ¾ cup almond milk, ¼ cup h20, 1 scoop protein powder (24 grams protein), 5 frozen strawberries
11:45am Melon and 12 almonds
4:00pm 2 oz baked chicken, 10 almonds, and 12 grape tomatoes
7:00pm 3 oz baked chicken, 1/2 cup of Crystal's Sweet Potato Delight! [boil 6 sweet potatoes, peel, add cinnamon and nutmeg to your liking (I love NUTMEG), 1 tsp of pure vanilla extract, 1/2 tsp of stevia, 2-3 splashes of almond milk for consistency, mash], green salad

Drinking:
142 oz h20
3/4 cup almond milk
3/4 cup fresh squeezed oj

How I feel:
It terms of eating, definitely too much time between meals 2 and 3 and 3 and 4. Four hours is usually the upper end of how long I want to go before eating again. 3-3.5 is a good range for me.

OooWeee, today’s workout was a DOUSY, y’all! It was a kettle bell, cardio, marathon! Oh so hard during, but felt so good after! Just a little description: Teams of two, 6 kettle bells per team (two 20lbs; two 15lbs; two 10lbs). Start at opposite ends of a long room, all kettle bells on one side with one partner. One partner starts with one kettle bell, both partners race to the middle of the room, kettle bell is exchanged. Both partners race back. Repeat until all kettle bells are on opposite side of the room. Do that for three rounds, as many times as you can in each round (one 5 minute round, one 4 minute round, one 2 minute round) WITH stair climbing (up and down 2 flights 3x) in between and what do you get: PURE MADNESS! Who gets up, willingly, at 5am, to do this? Uh, that’d be me. I’m officially crazy. It’s ok.

Today’s class, because of the celebration of the MLK Holiday was small. 9 of us in a class that’s usually nearly 30. My trainer jokingly said, “Dr. King would have wanted y’all to be working out!” Though she was joking, there is some truth to what she said. As a historian who studies civil rights movement history, I KNOW social justice activism is not for the weak—you have to be strong spiritually, mentally, and PHYSICALLY. In a biography of one of my favorite activists, Chana Kai Lee recounts the story of Fannie Lou Hamer, a leader in the Mississippi freedom struggle. Many know Hamer’s famous line: “I’m sick and tired of being sick and tired.” Hamer worked 40 years on a plantation before joining SNCC when they came to her town in the 1960s. For nearly 20 years, she worked tirelessly on behalf of poor people in Mississippi—at the expense of her health. Her life is an example of how this country NEGLECTS those who need them most—she couldn’t afford health care. There was no HMO for civil rights activists. Additionally, our health care system proved just how valuable African-American life was by sterilizing her against her will. Towards the end of her life, she decided to organize a farm, what she hoped to be a self-sustaining farm, but it was ultimately unsuccessful. Hamer passed away from breast cancer in 1977.

All that to say—social justice work takes a toll on you on many levels. This fact, coupled with the health care system we have in the United States, can make for a very lethal combination. So, on this MLK day, let’s not just recognize AND DO what we can do to make this society a better place for our children’s children, let’s try to make it a healthier place for us, too, WHILE we are living. The work is hard, no doubt, but who said sustaining a revolution would be easy?

Day 27 Update! And, Potluck vs. Me? Who Won????

Day 27 Update! And, Potluck vs. Me? Who Won???

Exercise:
Waking up, getting out of bed, and putting my clothes on! LOL—Sunday’s my day of rest.

Eating:
6:33am ¾ cup almond milk, 1 scoop protein powder (24 grams protein), 5 frozen strawberries
10:45 am 2 egg spinach and green onion omelet
1:15pm melon and 12 almonds
4:30pm Chicken veggie soup, salad with peppers, onions, tomatoes and 1 tbsp balsamic vinaigrette (homemade)
5:30pm More salad (above), 3 bean chili (2 tbsp), and pear walnut gorgonzola salad (I hope I don’t get the bubble guts! LOL I think only two small pieces of gorgonzola ended up in the serving I had.)

Drinking:
128oz h20
3/4 cup almond milk

How do I feel?
Today, I went to a POTLUCK, y’all! Potlucks, to me, are usually synonymous with starchy carbohydrate overload! To prepare, I actually ate a small meal before the potluck and drank 16oz of H2O. At the potluck, to be quite honest, there were very few items that appealed to me enough to venture out although I was intrigued by the pear walnut gorgonzola salad and did have some. Of course, there was an over abundance of dips, chips, and desserts, but those really didn’t tempt me. I was a little nervous about the potluck and thought it would take me down, but it was actually o.k. Hehehee! I WON!

Plan recap AND ONE MORE THING I WANT YOU TO KNOW! :)

So after three days of an overflow of info, here's my plan, pint-size edition:
1) exercise—vary it up and make sure there is a good mix of cardio, weight training, core work, and stretching
2) eat—close to the source. Lean meats and veggies. Protein + carb + fat=fuel
3) drink—all-you-can drink h 2 da izzo fest!

Now, that you understand the three components of my strategy, I want you to understand one last thing. If I lose no weight or any inches, I am ok with that! I published my stats because if the numbers do change, that’s great, but that is not my sole intention. For me, this is about the journey. Also, I wanted to challenge myself to go a little higher/harder with my efforts. In the grand scheme of things, I only added one additional day of exercise and am COMMITTING to water intake and NOT EATING OUT. So, really no biggie, right? Right! LOL Let’s see what happens! Thanks for coming with me on this journey!

Day 28 Update! And, the Importance of H 2 da izzO!

28 Days until the photo shoot!

I need to apologize for the diarrhea of the mouth I experienced in the last two posts! Once I got started, I couldn’t stop! Today’s post is shorter. And, I decided to put the update FIRST so you don’t have to read the entire post (if you don't want to).

Day 28 Update

Exercise:
Pilates—25 minutes (core work)
Zumba —50 minutes (cardio dance class)

Eating
7:45am—Sautéed spinach and green onions in a two-egg omelet, 12oz herbal tea, ¼ tsp stevia
10:45—1/2 cup melon, 12 almonds
1:30pm— ¾ cup almond milk, 1 scoop protein powder (24 grams protein), 5 frozen strawberries
3:45pm—15 grape tomatoes, 12 almonds
8:45pm—2 Chicken Lettuce Wraps (lettuce wrapped around 3 oz baked chicken breast [about 1.5 oz of chicken in each wrap], cucumbers, red peppers, green peppers, green onion, avocado, cilantro with a drizzle of EVOO and a sprinkling of freshly ground pepper and garlic powder)

Drinking
128 oz h20
12 oz herbal tea
¾ cup almond milk

How do I feel?
Zumba was so much fun today! My trainer takes it really seriously--like we're in a dance class! She tapes the dances and posts them on youtube/FB. LOL In an upcoming post, probably Tuesday's, I will share with you one of the videos she has uploaded. It is pure cardio comedy! Other than that, I feel good, y'all! My body has come to expect to eat every 2.5/3 hours, so that's great. It can also so be not-so-great! This afternoon, I went out fully expecting to be home by dinner time, but you know what happens when a girl goes to a mall...Uh-oh. Though I packed my afternoon snack, I spent way to much time in the mall and as such, ending up having to eat a later dinner. On the bright side, I can now add another store to my "new-found favorites" list: EXPRESS! This was my first time EVER buying something out of Express that I could actually WEAR and that wasn't a purse. LOL Now, though I was ravenous, that made me feel good. Go Me! :) Oh, and I have to admit, because I was hungry, my sense of smell was heightened but I was never tempted to eat mall food. Interestingly, all I could think of was getting home and eating my chicken lettuce wraps. :)

Also, I have already planned AND went shopping for my meals next week. I will be eating chili (no beans), sweet potatoes, and chicken lettuce wraps, as well as oranges, bananas, and melon. Can you tell I really like the chicken lettuce wraps? They are so EASY and TASTY! I think its the cilantro, which is my FAVORITE herb. Also, I tried the almond milk in my smoothie today and it was alright. There was a sharp after bite from the almonds that I wasn't expecting, however it wasn't too bad.

On to today's topic: The Importance of H 2 da izzO!
Today, I will discuss the last part of my strategy to get “photo-shoot ready”: drinking--which is basically an "all-you-can-drink" water fest! Why so much water? I'm glad you asked! First, my general plan for liquid intake:

Drinking Plan
128oz of H2O (required)
Herbal Tea
Milk (now, Almond Milk)
Juice (Because I’m human, I’m changing the rules and allowing myself the option of ½ cup of fresh squeezed juice for my pre-workout energy blast. I FOUND a juicer, so I can juice my own oranges and not have to worry about additives like sugar, etc.)

No pop, kool-aid, or alcohol. Why? They = artificial sugar. Artificial sugar is a no-no. See my post on eating.

Why so much H2O?
“The body's need for water is second in importance only to the need for oxygen. In fact, humans survive longer without food than water.” From “The Importance of Drinking Water”

"A good estimate is to take your body weight in pounds and divide that number in half. That gives you the number of ounces of water per day that you need to drink. For example, if you weigh 160 pounds, you should drink at least 80 ounces of water per day. If you exercise, you should drink another eight-ounce glass of water for every 20 minutes you are active. If you drink alcohol, you should drink at least an equal amount of water." From “Drinking Enough Water”

Using the procedure above, I should be drinking:
½ my body weight—99.5 oz (I’ll round up to 100oz)
8oz for every 20 min exercise (I exercise about 70 minutes a day, on average)—28oz =128oz!

I plugged in my info into a water calculator, and got the following: 122 oz (taking into account the weather is extremely cold in Chi-Town and because of this, we need less water?) Also, got this “If you eat a healthy diet, about 20 percent of your water may come from the foods you eat. If you eat a healthy diet you can drink 98 ounces of water today, or 2.9 liters.” I’ll stick to 128oz, though! What’s an extra 6oz?

Supplements/Add-Ins

Gelatin—Gelatin is a protein source, which comes from collagen. The collagen is purified and what results is a soluble, flavorless powder that can be mixed in drinks, soups, etc., to give an extra protein boost. Gelatin is also proven to help with osteoarthritis—helping to rebuild cartilage that has been worn away, causing joint on joint contact. This product is NOT FOR VEGETARIANS as the gelatin is an animal product. I order gelatin from a company in Illinois, Gelatin Innovations. I use gelatin in my pre-workout energy blast drink as well as in tea when I need more substantial energy and when I buy store-bought soup, which usually doesn't have enough protein.

Protein Powder—After working out, you need to help the muscles you just used heal. Protein in an isolated form helps them heal and grow. There are vegetarian-friendly alternatives to try. I buy protein powder from GNC. I buy Optimum Nutrition 100% Whey Protein (Isolated Whey Protein) which has 24 grams of protein per serving and very few carbs. It does have some artificial sugar—1 gram per serving. An even better alternative to the brands sold by GNC is offered by a company called pro/grade.

Stevia in the Raw—This is a natural alternative to sugar that comes from a plant. It has no carbohydrates, calories, and is extracted from the leaves of the stevia (rebiana) plant. I don’t usually sweeten things, but sometimes I do like to add ¼ tsp (this is about 10x as sweet as sugar) of stevia to tea.

So, that's it, folks! If you decide to drink as much water as you need to, please be aware that it WILL result in you going to the bathroom A LOT more. Do yourself a favor and don't drink 32oz of h20 right before going to bed. You'll be up all night. Trust me on that one, folks. :)

Day 29 Update! And, re-thinking my relationship with food!

29 days until the photo shoot, but who’s counting??? LOL

Today, I want to spend a little time talking about another piece of the strategy I am using to get “photo-shoot ready”: EATING!

First things first, I AM NOT ON A DIET! I can eat ANYTHING I WANT, ANYTIME! However, I CHOOSE to eat what is good for me and what will, ultimately, help me live longer. It took a long time to get to where I am, but the habits I have developed are sustainable for the long-run.

While beginning an exercise program brought me to the start line, it was changing my eating habits that have actually given me the strength to START and CONTINUE the race! However, for some of us, and for me in the past, my eating habits disqualified me before I even got to the start line. Before I committed to healthy eating as a LIFESTYLE, I would try to work out everyday at the gym but still go out to eat and rationalize it with, “well, I just worked out or I will work out, so that balances things out.” WRONG APPROACH! Also, I ate out way too much. Even if I chose healthy options, I was still eating out A LOT, using the excuse that I was too busy to cook. I had to TOTALLY RE-VAMP my relationship with and understanding of food. For me, food was eaten to satisfy a craving, to have some enjoyment, or to treat myself. While this is ok, every once in a while, it is this relationship that leads to overindulgence. Because, why should a hard worker such as myself not treat myself? I had to learn that food is FUEL—no more, no less. When I began to understand and ingest this concept, my relationship with food changed.

I need to eat. I need food. Why? Because I need energy. And, I need lasting energy so that my body can function properly as well as fight the toxins in this polluted environment we live in. I don’t want to go into a long dissertation on the kind of food that is best. Fact of the matter is that WE ALL KNOW what we should be eating. I didn’t lose 80lbs by eating potato chips and twinkies. I lost 80lbs by eating fruits, veggies, chicken, fish, eggs, yogurt, and whole grains—all in moderation. I don’t put restrictions on myself, either. If I want a piece of chocolate, I have it. If I want some fried chicken, I have it. The thing is, before, I used to crave these things, now I don’t, so it is a rare occasion when I feel like I HAVE TO HAVE a certain food. The only thing I feel like I HAVE TO HAVE is FUEL!

And, fuel for me can come in some weird and wacky combos because I have come to understand that in order to be fueled properly, I need the correct combination of macronutrients—protein, carbohydrates, and fats. Consuming these in the correct combination stabilizes my blood sugar, slows digestion (so I’m not hungry two seconds later), and provides me with the energy I need to LIVE! When I first began Fit Fun Boot Camp in January 2010, we were provided with a food plan that I have pretty much stuck to, with a few modifications. I do not count calories, instead, I count grams of protein, carbs, and fat and go by this general rule for daily totals: Total Carbs = 126 grams (Starch = 60 grams) Protein = 130 grams Fat= 40 grams. Another rule I live by: no starchy carbs after lunch (Starchy Carbs are the ultimate fuel and if they are not burned off, they turn into fat. Unless I plan an evening workout, I usually stay away from starchy carbs after lunch).

When I started. I measured EVERYTHING! Now, I know what I like and have memorized the nutritional value for various food items. For example, I know that 1 oz chicken breast has about 9 grams of protein. If I want about 26 grams of protein, I eat about 3 oz of chicken breast. Also, one regular size orange or apple, has about 12-15 grams of carbohydrates. 12 almonds has about 8 grams of fat. 1 tbsp of olive oil has about 14 grams of fat. I memorize these things and the correct quantities. When its all said and done, I try to get at least 25 grams of protein, 12-15 grams of fruit/veggie carbs, and 10-15 grams of fat in each meal—which usually totals to about 300 calories a meal, about 1500-1800 calories a day.

But for me, that gets to be too much math, so I like I said, I memorize things and just know that generally, my plate needs to be filled with more veggies (and fruit) than meat and that I can’t forget my good fat. If foods get too complicated, I don’t go for it, especially since I cook everything now.

Also, I have been gluten-free and dairy-free (mostly) since November, 2010. This means that I don’t do wheat products and I don’t do milk, cheese, and yogurt anymore (I used to LOVE GREEK YOGURT so this was especially hard.) Sometimes I will have yogurt or something with gluten and I will get bloated and feel icky inside. To remedy this, I just go back to gluten-dairy free and feel MUCH better. Prior to going gluten and dairy free, I had a good time at Trader Joes. They have the CHEAPEST 16oz container of greek yogurt and the BEST sprouted wheat bread that has only 7 grams of carbs a slice! Also, they have a wonderful low fat sliced white cheddar cheese –didn’t taste low-fat at all.

Things I avoid like the plague: SALT, SUGAR, AND FLOUR! I avoid salt because I have a history with hypertension and my doctor cleared me in October, 2010 to stop taking medication for this. I avoid sugar because really, who needs it? Fruit is naturally sweet and I’ve never had a sweet tooth really (although I LOVE BAKING, go figure!). Also, it leads to other bad habits. Processed white flour is a no-no as well. IF I HAVE RICE, it’s brown. And, since I am gluten-free, I don’t do whole wheat pasta, although I do understand there are awesome gluten-free pastas that, maybe, I will try one day, maybe.

Because, food is fuel, I eat about 5-6 small, no more than 300 calorie, meals a day. I try to eat high quality, non-processed foods. This may sound difficult and like I am restricting myself but really, I don’t feel that way. Also, though I am a person who abhors leftovers, I can eat the same combo of food everyday, as long as it’s prepared fresh that day. Something about reheating food (except for soup/chili) grosses me out. When I reheat, I like to re-heat in the oven.

So, that’s my “eating” in a nutshell (LOL, big nut, huh?) I feel like I left tons out and could go on forever, but I’ll stop here.

On to the daily update!!!!

Day 29

Exercise: Boot camp (50 minutes)

Eating:
5:30am Pre-workout energy boost: ¼ cup fresh squeezed orange juice, ¾ cup h2o, 2 tbsp gelatin (11 grams protein)
7:45am After workout breakfast shake: ¼ cup soy milk, ¾ cup h2o, 1 scoop protein powder (24 grams protein), 5 frozen strawberries, 9 almonds (not blended in shake)
10:45am Banana, 12 almonds
1:45pm Homemade Chicken Veggie Soup
3:45 pm 1 orange (This was not substantial enough because I was hungry a little while later. I was out and forgot to pack some almonds.)
5:45pm 2 Chicken Lettuce Wraps (lettuce wrapped around 3 oz baked chicken breast [about 1.5 oz of chicken in each wrap], cucumbers, red peppers, green peppers, green onion, avocado, cilantro with a drizzle of EVOO and a sprinkling of freshly ground pepper and garlic powder)

Drinking:
128 oz h2o
¼ cup soy milk
12 oz herbal tea sweetened with 1/4 tsp stevia in the raw

Day 30 Update! And, why so much exercising?!?!?!

First, I want to say thanks to you all for reading this post! When I started my blog, I didn’t intend it for public consumption, however, as I go along this journey I am learning that writing about and dialoging with others about my experience has helped push me further. Community is key and I am grateful for the online community this blog provides. Second, I will write daily updates about how my day went and try to have them posted by 9pm or so. Before each update, I might spend a few sentences talking about an issue/idea/challenge related to health/nutrition/etc.! Third, please feel free to comment, ask questions and otherwise make this a dialogue! Fourth, I’ll try to make the posts brief—no one wants to read a dissertation in one sitting (or ever)! LOL

January 13, 2011

First, Happy Founders' Day to all my SORORS! Alright, back to the topic at hand! :)

Second, some of you may have looked at my plan and said—“wow, that’s a bit much!” Exercise six days a week, no eating out, a gallon of water daily! Whoa! While I do not feel that I NEED to explain my choices, I would like to discuss why I think they are important—not just so that I can get ready for the shoot, but for life. The fact of the matter is I already had been exercising 5 times a week, drinking water and eating out minimally. I am just ramping it up a notch to see what happens! Therefore, over the next few days, before my update, I will share a little bit about my choices regarding each of the three areas: exercise, eating, and drinking.

Today, I want to begin with EXERCISE! I begin with exercise, not because it’s the MOST important, but because exercise is where many of us get hung up, get our feelings hurt, quit, and otherwise have a bad relationship.

When I began my lifestyle change a year ago, I started with an exercise program not with the immediate goals of losing weight. I started because I felt like everything in me had stopped moving or was having a hard time doing so. I also knew that I had to change my eating habits, but I couldn’t quite fathom that, especially with all of the conflicting advice circulating. So, I did what I thought was best: I joined a boot camp program and went as many times a week as I could—5x a week for three weeks! After my three-week trial period was over, I decreased it to 3-4x a week. During this three-week period, I drastically changed what I put into my body (more on that tomorrow). This, coupled with exercise, allowed me to begin to drop some weight! (Not very much initially, though.) My trainer, Dustin Maher, told me straight out, exercise is only one part of the equation, and a small one at that. 80% of weight loss is what you eat while only 20% is exercise.

So, if this is the case, why am I exercising so much now???

Honestly? (And, in this blog I feel l can be honest.) It’s because it makes me FEEL SO DARN GOOD! I like to sweat. I like being presented with a challenge and SUCCESSFULLY completing it on my own terms. I like seeing my progress—like going from only being able to do knee push-ups a year ago, to doing 15 full push-ups now.

Also, as a graduate student who spends my days writing my dissertation, mostly alone, especially during the week, it provides me with a community of like-minded people who aren’t afraid to work hard, grunt, and sweat it out! These people have seen me at my worst: just waking up at 5am, to get to class by 6am! Some of them wouldn’t recognize me at my best! LOL I found that I like to exercise in community. Before I found my current fitness facilty (D3 Chicago), I went to the South Side YMCA (a great facility) and I found that as I would work out on a machine or use the selectorized equipment I would strike up conversations with people—I love to talk fitness! Others’ enthusiasm encourages me!

Additionally, exercise motivates me to make healthy food choices. (More on that tomorrow)

Lastly, exercising, working my muscles, and engaging my cardiovascular and respiratory systems, makes me strong! And, that’s what I want to be. I am beyond the point where I simply want to lose weight. Yes, that will come with continued healthy choices. I am at the point where I want to be stronger. I want to do a bicep curl with a 25lb weight or lift a 30lb kettlebell; I want to outrun, out-jump, out-squat—MYSELF! Continued use of my muscles will get me where I want to be strength-wise.

So, that’s it folks! That’s why I exercise. When first starting my lifestyle change, I exercised because I felt I had to—it’s what all the experts said I had to do. Now, I exercise because I LIKE IT! Weight loss is a by-product.

Enough ranting, on to the update!

Day 30 (I'm counting down, folks!) update:

Exercise:
Boot Camp Class 50 minutes (Full body workout)
Glutes and Leg Burn Class 25 minutes (concentrated on specific areas)
Cardio P90X 45 minutes (Overkill for the day, yes, but I have a group of friends who I work out with every Thursday. I didn't want to skip my morning workout because we were testing on strength exercises we did a month ago and today was follow-up. Even though I worked out today already, I didn't feel tired or sluggish during Cardio P90X.)

Eating:
5:25am Banana (pre-workout)
7:45am Protein Shake (with ½ cup soy milk, 5 frozen strawberries, 1 cup h2o) and 8 almonds
11:45am Banana, 2 oz chicken breast, 10 almonds
2:35pm Apple, bowl of homemade chicken veggie soup (with a tablespoon of gelatin for protein boost—I’ll talk more about this tomorrow.)
4:35pm Apple, 10 almonds
7:45 pm: 3 oz chicken breast and cabbage sautéed in 1 tablespoon of EVOO with onions, garlic, and red pepper

Drinking:
128 oz h2o!
½ cup soy milk (in smoothie)

How do I feel?
I feel GOOD! I finished Cardio P90X, which is hard, about an hour ago. Still have energy though its the end of the day. :)

Help me get "photo-shoot" ready! :)

Late last year, I was notified that I was selected, along with 24 other women, to be profiled in a fitness/health how-to book which, among its many goals, will feature stories about women who have successfully transformed their lives and bodies by changing their health and nutrition habits. Along with my fitness story (UPDATE: up to 80lbs lost) the book will also include before and after shots of me. I have tons of BEFORE shots, but on February 12, 2011, I will take my official AFTER shot! The official after shot will be a photo of me in athletic wear.

So, here’s where I need your help, friends! I was notified about the date of the after shot photo shoot two weeks ago, and as of today, I have ONE MONTH to do as much as I can to be “photo-shoot-ready!” I already eat clean and work-out, but I thought I’d enlist your help to keep me accountable! I am going to post DAILY updates (how I did with my eating, exercising, stressing, etc.) to my blog and if you could check them out and cheer me on, that’d be great!

So, here are my current stats:
Height—5’2.5” (that ain’t changing! LOL)
Weight—199lbs
Bust--39
Waist--37
Hips—44

I'll post an update to these stats the day of the photo shoot! :)

Here’s my plan of action:

Exercising: Exercise Monday-Saturday at D3 (Dre’s Deisel Dome). Workouts include Boot Camp, sweatbox circuit training, kettle bell muscle (weight-lifting) classes, Zumba (dance), and Pilates (core). Sunday is a day of rest! :)

Eating: Eat Clean. No eating out. Make sure appropriate levels of carb, protein, and fat are consumed at each meal. Eat 5-6 meals a day. Fruit/Veggie with each meal. One protein shake/supplement daily.

Drinking: 128oz (1 Gallon) of H20 Daily. Soymilk and herbal tea only.

To the left is a photo of me in November 2009 (this will be one of my BEFORE pics):

Below, are current pictures of me in the athletic gear I plan to wear during the photo shoot. I am going target a few areas (Arms, Abs, and Legs) with a few specialty classes that focus on these areas.

Let’s see where I am on February 12, 2011!

Help me get "photo-shoot" ready by reading about my progress and cheering me on! :)

When the “fat” girl is no longer “fat.”

I don’t have to turn sideways to walk down most aisles, but I still do turn sideways—out of habit.

I don’t have to worry about sitting on the bus and spilling over into the other seat, but I still do worry—out of habit.

I don’t have to shop at Lane Bryant, Ashley Stewart, or the “Women’s Plus” section of most stores anymore, but I still do go into these stores and these sections—out of habit.

Although I have lost 80lbs and currently wear the average size of American women, I still find myself doing things I used to do when I was morbidly obese. And I keep asking myself why. Although I have lost the weight, something still has not clicked, fully, in my brain.

I have been blessed to workout with some of the best trainers in this country: Dustin Maher, Abby Brockman, and Andrea “Dre” Nichols Everett. They have taught me all I know about health, nutrition, and the role of exercise in a healthy lifestyle. However, none of these trainers have ever been morbidly obese (at least not to my knowledge) and so for all the preparation and knowledge I have received regarding getting to where I am today physically, I have not been prepared to deal with this new me. Nobody told me that there would be a mind-body disconnect. What I mean is that some days I have to remind myself that I am no longer morbidly obese. While I have not reached my goals as of today, I know I no longer weigh nearly 300lbs and I will never weigh nearly 300lbs again. Physically, I know I have lost weight; I know I look different; I feel different; I am stronger. However, mentally and emotionally, to be quite honest, some days I still feel “fat.”

I feel this way because as much I would like to say I am not influenced by society, I am. And, how could I not be? For as long as I can remember, I have been treated differently because of the weight I carried. Additionally, I remain aware of how people who are overweight are treated. I see the glances given by some when a person who is overweight comes down the aisle. I hear the self-deprecating remarks. I see the despair in the eyes of those who have tried to lose weight but have been unable to do so. I have been the comic relief, hoping to deflect attention away from myself. I have been the person who preferred to go shopping alone because my less heavy friends drove me crazy going into ALL of the mall stores when there were only two “specialty” stores for me—these friends were usually oblivious to this fact. I have owned the labels “fat” and “plus-sized,” lest I give someone else the opportunity to label me in these ways, first, without my permission. I have said that I am ok in my skin, when in reality, I’ve always dreamt of being healthier and…smaller. I have secretly wished to be on the Biggest Loser show because I felt I could not lose the weight on my own. I have felt all and done most of these things in the recent past. And yet, though I have lost a significant amount of weight and dress sizes, sometimes I still feel “plus-sized.”

How does one rid herself of this feeling? Of 27 years worth of “the presence of fat=bad” from her psyche? I replace these falsities with TRUTH. I am fearfully and wonderfully made. The hairs on my head were determined before I was conceived. When God created me, God smiled and said, “She is good.” I know this. I believe this. I walk in this knowledge. I look in the mirror and marvel at the shape of my face; the complexion of my skin; the fine curls that frame my face; my one eyebrow raised in quizzical expression; and my mocha colored eyes. I am awed when I realize my physical strength: when I see the definition of my calves; when my biceps and triceps lift weight the equivalent of what I have lost; and when my cardiovascular and respiratory system propel me up 2,109 steps. And, doing these things does not make me conceited or arrogant.

I am learning to love me—all of me! Not just my intellect, or my wisdom, but also this vessel God has made me a steward over. As I learn more about the human body and all of its capacity, I realize what a wonderful opportunity we have all been given. I spent most of my life misusing and abusing this opportunity. Yet, the moment I made a conscious decision to start appreciating and honoring my body, my body responded—and it keeps on responding. I am amazed by the complexity of the human body.

I know NO ONE personally who has naturally lost the amount of weight I have. We are inundated with how-to guides, manuals, books, and new diet plans but no one has written the book on what happens after—probably because the health/nutrition industry is booming and most investors don’t really want people to lose weight—it has turned into a profit industry. And, if the problem of obesity were solved, what would people like Jillian Michaels do for a living? However, for all the information we have about physically losing the weight—these “experts” are not prepared to teach about the emotional and spiritual ramifications of weight loss. Perhaps, that’s why most people re-gain the weight they lost. Though the pounds have disappeared, the pain is still present and most are not adequately prepared to deal with this.

So what do you do?

What do I do?

I A.C.T.:

A= accept who and where I am. Accepting who and where I am allows me to honor myself in my present moment. To do this I reflect on where I have come from and the lessons I have learned. As I am a perpetual planner, I tend to sometimes live in the possibilities of the future. However, I am learning to be in the moment and appreciate the joy and importance of each moment I have been given.

C= create healthy communities of support Close friends who believe in and who remind me of who I am when I have forgotten help me grow. They also push me to go beyond myself and seek help when I need it.

T= tell my story This has been difficult because I am an intensely private person. I don’t volunteer personal information about myself. I can let an entire conversation go by without volunteering my personal experience—although I never fall short on giving advice or doling out an intellectual perspective. I am beginning to feel comfortable talking about my past and my current life journeys. I know my walking in power and freedom will help somebody else to do so. Despite how hard it is; I keep putting one foot in front of the other.

So what happens when the “fat” girl is no longer “fat”?

She rids herself of society’s falsities. The definition of “fat” is an ever-changing, media-driven, social construction. Defining oneself by this term can only lead to emotional crisis.

She replaces false constructions with TRUTH.

She A.C.T.s.

She hopes, prays, and tries to make this world a place where being overweight and/or obese does not wreck havoc on the mental and emotional well being of those who live with this condition.

Most importantly, she CONTINUES to loves herself, all of herself, unconditionally, knowing that despite the new position in which she finds herself, the essence of her spirit, GOD, has remained unchanged.