Daily Fit Tip: Hair?

Recovery has shell shocked me back almost 5 months. Although I am sticking to my diet, and VERY happy with the results of my reduction. I had no idea one could sit with no back support for more then five minutes and not have screaming pain down their shoulders, hmm. Moving along aside I have not put my running shoes on in over a month! It's odd how something that was my daily focus is now in the back of my closet. I know that if I push myself now I will pay for it later and truth be told a little break feels needed. I am holding onto my final goal and am giving myself into the new year to complete it: just eight pounds to go coffee and all.

Although I am not running on the daily I am receiving daily pop up reminders of the fit life. I subscribe to several email newsletters about what sponsored publications have to say on the getting in shape topic. One in particular I don't read too often although the subject line always tickles a little, and today it just made me give the, "huh?" face to my computer screen.

It read, "Daily Fit Tip: How To Tame Hair Frizz"

I was not aware until this morning's enlightenment that taming frizzy hair was on the daily fitness agenda! That is surely not going to help motivate me into getting back out there. As a woman I am surrounded by headlines every day shouting about the right skirt for your hips, how to make your eyelashes longer, how to eat carbs and not see them in your a**. I am sad to see that also being a woman who cares about her body and is aware of her own personal health and well being means being confronted with making my hair look better when I am pooling in sweat during a run. Food for thought as it were.

xoxo,

A vice is oh so nice.

As I saunter down the road to recovery it is getting hard to keep my head from filling up with ridiculous ideas. Like that I have gained everything back plus at least ten pounds, or that I will never get to run again. A little drama is what got me into this in the first place. I have in fact not gained anything back and I will hit the road in the next couple of weeks with my running shoes.

Another interesting part of playing in the recovery field, my diet seems to be justifying a little bit more then before. Case in point my best friend turned frenemy: coffee. We used to be so close, the mornings were all about us. Now the coffee beans sit on the other counter and although I can daydream I am not to venture to that side of the kitchen. Then a peculiar thing happened, I ordered a latte. And it was like heaven. Heaven in a cup. It was not even the best cup of coffee, but that is not the point. It had that aroma that sparked so many happy memories and as I carried my unoriginal cup of coffee around I felt a little bit more like me.

This is one vice I am not so sure I want excommunicated from my life. I am going to find a small place for it not in the everyday but every once in awhile. It could be a worse vice, like donuts.

Power of Protein

One of my favorite eating habits I have obtained is adding some sort of protein to just about everything I eat. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and each of my snacks have a protein component. I kept hearing, "are you getting enough protein?" and my reaction was always, "why?".

Turns out protein in your diet breaks down into amino acids and glucose which is basically sugar for the body and that sugar is energy. This is different then carbohydrate energy because protein helps your body build and maintain muscle. And building muscle is a good way to burn fat in addition to cardio. I have lost a fair amount using cardio but feel even in my 6 days a week running routine my body is sticking at its current weight and look. I want to push farther and know that doing strength training is going to be my break through. I am not talking mad muscle building, rather simple core strengthening tools that don't always require weights, just resistance bands.

So eat your protein with every meal! Here is an example of a day with protein added (protein is in green):

Breakfast: Whole Grain toast with almond butter, 2 Egg whites with sauteed spinach, and fruit

Snack: Greek Yogurt with flax seed granola and honey topped with berries

Lunch: Spinach salad with almonds, black bean and brown rice burger (no bun!), fruit

Snack: Protein Bar and walnuts (make sure your protein bar has at least 10g of protein and fiber, less then 25g of carbs, and little to no sugar.

Dinner: Baked salmon with red pepper, spinach, and asparagus satuee, quinoa cooked in low-sodium veggie stock.

Post Dinner: Don't eat and let your body rest but do enjoy green tea, it helps digestion!

Happy Protein Eating!

The Skinny On: Carbs

Carbs are not your diet's enemy! Carbohydrates turn to glucose in your body, upping your blood sugar and that is essential energy. But thanks to the one hit wonder diets such as The Zone, Atkins, and well just about anything with the sub-title, "low-carb" followed by "diet" many of us trying to get thin folks have been scared into close to carb-free corners in pantries all over. I was no different. I banned all bread, pasta, rice, and cereal from my cupboards and made my room mates keep their ration on the opposite side of the kitchen. I have since let a few of these back into my life but in moderation. When letting the bread basket back into my kitchen I took some control that I had been led to believe I didn't have before. I added some time to my grocery excursions so that I could read the ingredient list of just about everything I placed in my basket. This includes bread & pasta!

A Few Bread Tips

Number 1: No white flour! Step one is finding wheat bread, but not just lonesome wheat bread, only buy Whole Wheat.

Number 2: Venture into other flours such as spelt, buckwheat, oat, or quinoa.

Number 3: Bread is a simple food. Do your body a favor and keep that simplicity and get choosy about what you eat. Ingredient lists should not be longer then maybe 5 things.

Number 4: Ration your portions and watch your toppings. Breakfast- add a single piece of toast and skip the butter. Lunch-if it's all about the sandwich try it open faced. Dinner- Skip the bread. Get full on something with more flavor.

Number 5: As calories become precious be mindful of what your bread is adding to your meal. Stay under 120 calories per slice.

Once I was more comfortable eating bread carbs I re-introduced pasta back into a few meals. Since I am anti-white flour I looked for whole wheat pasta. I have fallen in love with rigatoni whole wheat pasta because the smaller pieces cook a little nicer and are less dense. When eating pasta make it a side dish and skip the heavy sauce. Try a handful of pasta with fresh pesto.

Last use carbohydrates to your advantage. Eat more with your breakfast and eat little to none with your dinner. You need energy in the morning and will burn up all that good blood sugar through out the day. Later in the day or at night you don't need carbs. They will turn to sugar and not get used up so skip the late night snacks. If you are going to the gym up your carbohydrates, your will need the boost.

xoxo,

Martha vs. my treadmill

No Kidding Real Brownies You Can Eat

It is pouring down rain outside, not exactly the motivational weather to compliment any walk. Instead I was rummaging through a few of my favorite web hot spots today looking for inspiration and found this recipe I just had to share. I am finding that I don't have to give up baking, which has been a favorite hobby of mine for many years. I just had to learn how to substitute, what are good substitutions, and to not eat more then one at a time. This recipe needs just one alteration and introduces an ingredient you should have on your shopping list: sweet potatoes. The sweet potato is full of complex carbohydrates, protein, fiber, and vitamins B and A. Basically, eat them! Or as used in this recipe as almost a total substitute for eggs which makes for a healthier binding ingredient. Also, switch out the cup of sugar for 1/2 cup of light brown sugar! Thanks Martha.

Ingredients

• 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
• 2/3 cup natural unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/2 cup whole-wheat pastry flour
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup sugar
• 2/3 cup sweet-potato puree
• 1 large egg
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon instant coffee powder

Directions

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Butter an 8-inch square pan; set aside. In a medium saucepan over low heat, melt butter. Remove pan from heat, and stir in cocoa. Let cool slightly.
2. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
3. Stir in sugar and sweet-potato puree, then egg. In a small bowl, stir together vanilla and coffee until coffee is dissolved; add to cocoa mixture.
4. Add flour mixture to cocoa mixture and stir until no traces of flour remain. Spoon into prepared pan; smooth the top. Bake until surface of brownies looks barely dry and an inserted knife comes out with a few moist crumbs, about 20 minutes. Cool to room temperature before serving.

Happy Healthy Baking,

Andrea

64,000 Question

What is the secret? Eating is the secret!

Abstaining from food is not the way down to your next jean size. Consistency and creating a new habit take time to get used to but these two things will serve you in the long run. In just recently having surgery I have not been able to be more active then a casual walk a day for the past week and will not be wearing my running shoes for another month. Exercise was one of my losing weight keys and now I am a bit worried without it, except that I have my eating down. Whether it is three meals at the same time every day or six keep it similar. I could say watch what you eat, but what should you watch for? If I am in doubt I think about what I have eaten that day already: bread, cheese or coffee? Skip the afternoon latte and scone and grab that apple or protein bar. Whole foods are packed with energy not derived from corn syrup so your body may actually get some use of them. Don't skip a snack, eat a heavier breakfast then dinner, and lay off the midnight toast. Eat your way into happiness, seriously.

xoxo,

B-Day plus three

Well, my breast reduction surgery was Tuesday and I am in day three of my recovery. It is going great! The pain is minimal. The drugs they pumped into me on the operating table are still finding there way out of my body. My anti-inflammatory diet has come in handy in the past week and swelling was little to not existent. In the end my surgeon removed just over 1.3 pounds total. That is a lot to have just be gone! It took me from that E cup to about a C cup. I am still in a little bit of shock that this is really all happening but I will wrap my head around it eventually. In the meantime I can't run (darn!) and get to eat some comfort foods like bagels. But not forever, it is back to my anti-inflammatory way and long walks the start of next week. Oh and I can see my feet now when I look down! It is glorious. Thanks for all the support. Once I get to shower again I will bring myself out into public. Photos soon!

peace and love,

Andrea

Table for One

The luxury of eating out became a tease. No breadbasket, no wine, no pasta, and no dessert. I found most menus to have at least one thing I could accommodate to my diet but it always took some finagling. I have become quick with substitutions and discovered that there are some delicious dishes out there already perfect just as they are. It is difficult to stand alone in your eating convictions when the rest of your party at the table asks for another serving of that fresh bread, but it doesn’t mean having to dine totally alone. Here are a few tips I have taken under my belt so that I feel good about eating out and don’t have to give up the experience all together:

• Only drink water with your meal. Red wine can be ok, but don’t order that second glass!
• Scoot the breadbasket to the other side of the table. If you must have a slice skip the butter and ask for a side of olive oil and balsamic vinegar for dipping.
• When ordering make sure your dish is not mainly a carbohydrate (ie. pasta, pizza, or a sandwich)
• Make sure your meal has a vegetable and a protein involved (ie. chicken, fish, or tofu are common at most restaurants)
• Skip the red meat
• Most restaurants add more salt then is needed during the cooking process, taste your food before grabbing for the saltshaker.
• Take your time! Eat slower, you may be the last one standing but it takes time for your body to know you are full. Left overs are the best part!
• Dessert is tempting and for good reason! If your sweet tooth is pressuring you make sure to order a dish made up of mostly fresh fruit.

Happy Dining!

xoxo,

Fall Into Baking

Although the weather around my fair city is resembling mid-July I am no fool and know that fall is just on the cusp; seeing my breath in the air during those morning runs, red flanked maple trees, and everything and anything related to pumpkin spice and apple butter. I may be restricted in how many slices of pumpkin pie I may indulge in but I am determined to enjoy my favorite seasonal foods, substitutes and all. I baked my first loaves of Pumpkin Spice Bread for the looming autumn and found subbing a few ingredients easy and encouraging. I've listed the original recipe below and my version as well. This is a great addition to breakfast with a little apple butter accompaniment.

Pumpkin Spice Bread

3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (*See Substitution below)

2 1/2 cups sugar (*See substitution below)

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1 can (16 ounces) pumpkin purée

1/4 cup vegetable oil

4 eggs (*See substitution below)

Grease and flour two 9x5x3-inch loaf pans. In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, salt, baking soda, cinnamon, and nutmeg. In a separate bowl, stir together the pumpkin and oil.

Beat in eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.

Make a well in the center of the flour mixture; add pumpkin mixture. Stir just until dry ingredients are moistened. Pour batter into prepared pans. Bake at 350° for 1 hour, or until a wooden pick or cake tester inserted in center comes out clean.

Makes 2 loaves of pumpkin bread.

Try this version instead for a healthier treat!

• Substitute All-Purpose flour with one of your favorite flours: oat flour, buckwheat, whole wheat, or spelt flour. I am hooked on oat flour and used that with the same measurement.
• Substitute the white sugar for something less likely to store away in your tummy. I used Organic Light Brown Sugar (2 cups only). Also try raw sugar, rapadura, or maple sugar. Check out this handy sugar alternative chart here!
• I followed the recipe as written from there. If you don't eat eggs substitute apple sauce for eggs but keep an eye on the bread's baking time!

xoxo

,

BreadPhobia

Word does not recognize that breadphobia is a word, however if you have ever changed your diet in an attempt to shrink your waist you have probably put your breadbasket in the compost first. Bread is the most common simple carbohydrate and most trend diets have a flashy tendency to blame carbohydrates as the only culprit to double-digit dress sizes. I took all bread or bread like forms out of my diet immediately and have only recently reintroduced them to my morning breakfast routine, but it has come with a mental struggle. It was not the carbohydrate factor that scared me out of my morning toast it was the gluten, which is in just about every over the counter bread.

After a three-month moratorium on bread I decided breakfast was in dire need of its tasty presence; I bought my first loaf like some recovering addict and did so with such trepidation. I realized that over the past few months I had developed a case of breadphobia. Not only was I nervous about white flour, now I didn’t want the additional carbohydrates to hold me back. I have learned that not all bread is bad, but reading the ingredients is key! Bread is a simple thing really so when the ingredient list reads like a short story leave it on the shelf. Look for words like whole grain and stay away from enriched and white flour.

I have fallen in love with some local bakeries that make excellent whole grain breads with alternative flour such as spelt, quinoa, oat, and buckwheat. Can’t find what you want at your local store? Get out the baking pan and create your own. Here is a great recipe from the newest edition of Living Without:

Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free Oatmeal Maple Bread MAKES 2 LOAVES

No kneading. No proofing the yeast. No problem! This bread has great texture, perfect for sandwiches or toast. The maple syrup does double duty, adding flavor and activating the yeast. Rolls have a thick, crispy crust with an airy, slightly chewy interior.

2 cups brown rice flour, preferably super-fine grind


1 cup gluten-free oat flour 


1½ cups sorghum flour or millet flour


1 cup tapioca starch/flour


½ cup potato starch


½ cup sweet rice flour


2 packages (2¼ teaspoons each) active dry yeast 


1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon xanthan gum 


1 tablespoon salt 


5 eggs, room temperature


4 tablespoons maple syrup or amber agave nectar


½ cup shortening or non-dairy margarine, melted


2½ cups milk of choice (rice, soy, hemp, nut milk), warmed to 110 to 120 degrees


1 egg white, lightly beaten with a fork (to brush tops of loaves)


½ cup gluten-free oats

• Prepare two 9-inch bread pans (or two 8-inch bread pans and 6 muffin tins) by greasing well and dusting with brown rice flour. Set aside.
• Place brown rice flour, oat flour, sorghum flour, tapioca starch/flour, potato starch, sweet rice flour, dry yeast, xanthan gum and salt into the mixing bowl of a stand mixer with a paddle attachment. Mix on low for a few seconds just to combine ingredients.
• In separate bowl, hand whisk the eggs, maple syrup, shortening and milk.
• Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix until combined. Then mix for 5 minutes on medium-high speed. Batter will resemble a very thick cake batter.
• Spoon batter into prepared pans. This recipe makes two 9-inch loaves or two 8-inch loaves plus 6 dinner rolls. To make the rolls, use a large ice cream scoop to portion the batter into 6 standard-size muffin cups; then divide remaining batter into two 8-inch bread pans.
• Using a pastry brush, lightly brush the top of the dough with egg white. Sprinkle gluten-free oats on top.
• Let dough rise in a warm place for approximately 40 minutes or until nearly doubled in size. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Place bread pans in preheated oven and bake for approximately 30 (for rolls) to 40 minutes (for loaves). Bread is done when internal temperature reads 200 degrees on an instant-read thermometer. Cool bread in pans for 10 minutes. Remove from pans and cool on a rack.

Each serving contains 150 calories, 5g total fat, 2g saturated fat, 0g trans fat, 35mg cholesterol, 231mg sodium, 24g carbohydrate, 1g fiber, 3g protein.

Recipe by Diane Kittle.

peace and baking love,

My Life on the E List

I stuffed my bra once in sixth grade, lots of rumors spread and that was the end of my wanting big boobs. Be careful what you wish upon yourself. I turned 16 and in the course of a year went from a B cup to a C cup and the next thing I knew I was an E cup. E! That is a letter off the charts, and Victoria’s Secret has kept me out of the loop for years. To top it off I am a 34 around, have been since that very same year I ventured into the fifth letter of the alphabet. 34E, the hardest bra size to find next to 36A.

I have been told I should be thrilled because most women would love to be well endowed. I will let you in on a little secret, when they are naturally that large they are not perky, they weigh a few pounds, they enjoy spilling out of any attractive bra, and love leaving dents on the tops of your shoulders. I am 25 and have never worn a bra that is not a nude color (large busted women don’t enjoy pretty bras, naturally) or one that has straps that are at least 2 inches thick. I can’t wear strapless anything or straps that resemble spaghetti, forget comfortable sports bras, and don’t get me near two-piece swimwear. Oh but they do come with fun nicknames, my personal favorite from high school was big boobs McGee. Teenage boys should not be given so much testosterone. After almost ten years I decided I was not going to cry over spilt boobs anymore.

I had played with the idea of a breast reduction since the day I put on my first grandma bra at the wise age of 16, but being that I was still growing it was not an option. Just about anyone who knows me will remind me I have mentioned the words, “breast reduction” at some point in our friendship and when I began my body transformation I knew the idea was creeping up again.

Why don’t I lose the size when I lose weight? Excellent question! You can burn fat, you cannot burn off glands and my breasts have little to no fatty tissue in them. Through my freshmen fifteen and back again I never saw a difference in their size, no bigger but no smaller.

Long story short: my surgery date is September 22. That is a mere 13 days and counting until these suckers can no longer be stubborn. More on the road to surgery in the next post, it was not as simple as making a cleaning appointment at your dentist. But I am in the home stretch and nothing is keeping me from this finish line.

xoxo,

Framing Your Body

This title is what originally inspired starting this project, but of course there had to be a lead up to this conclusion that eventually dawned on me: how to frame your body. In the beginning, and for the past few/ten years, I would look in the mirror and with my hand imagine what I would look like with a flat stomach by pressing the excess against my body. Sounds like a highway to body issues but really it was my , "what if" statement for my visual peace of mind. In the beginning of this transformation I would do the same exercise and imagine that this time it could be a reality in six months or so.

I have just entered week 15 and that flat stomach is surely not going to happen! But that's an ok thing because it is just not how I am built beneath it all, that flat stomach doesn't have a place on my frame. After losing about 15 pounds (and gaining 5 pounds in muscle) I saw a few changes staring back at me in the mirror I was not prepared for. My face thinned out, my bra hugged my body a bit differently, there are these little pointing hips started to peak through, and the tire has almost finished deflating around my lower back. And my stomach is stubbornly holding onto a couple inches. I started to see my frame underneath it all.

My frame (I am talking at the core, my skeletal and muscle structure) is not narrow, slender, tall, or petite. My frame is a medium build, wide and high hips, short torso, and muscular legs. Layered upon this may be lean muscle but also elastic skin (weird, I know) which means even if I lose more then a healthy amount of body fat I will still maintain a small buddha belly. No one felt it necessary to tell me that working off 15 pounds would not turn me into Giselle Bundchen. Sounds logical to not think that but when I was working my core to the bone, literally, I felt that was a fair result. Then it finally hit me, I have to be realistic about my frame. My very own personalized one of a kind frame. As soon as I let this idea sink in I stopped having jealousy over other women's bodies and stared gaining appreciation for the frame they are carrying around.

This is what Original Diet is all about: finding comfort at the heart of who you are underneath it all and creating a tailored way to wellness that only you can maintain for yourself.

Much peace and love,

Andrea

The Naked Truth

I know, I promised to write about framing your body but this is just too good to not acknowledge! Turn to page 194 in the most recent issue of Glamour and meet Lizzie Miller; she is a model, and she is a size twelve. She seems to have hit home with every woman who has seen her photo for the article on loving the skin you’re in. I heard the uproar before I had a chance to see her photo and I could easily see why there is a lot of talk about her very real self. She represents the size and shape of the average female today and only makes up one single page of the magazine. A magazine that is creating the image we read to be the average.

I celebrated the advance as we are making progress, but disappointment loomed its little head. A friend and I found sadness in the over enjoyment of Lizzie’s pic. Sadness in that our excitement shows how infrequently this average image actually gets to the surface of a camera lens for millions to see; and sadness for the image being in a magazine with a size four on the cover.

Lizzie commented that she has succumbed to her body type and realized this is the frame she is meant to fit and has fallen in love with every inch of it. This is what framing your body is all about! See yourself through your own lens and not the one that does not fit in your closet or your mirror. Not the one looming in the checkout aisle covers or even in the term, “skinny jeans.”

This picture found a place in me as I am dedicating a piece to its presence on my blog. It also reached each woman in my life today, it was the topic of gossip throughout each conversation! And that made its mark in herstory.

xoxo,

The Skinny On: The Scale

First of all, get off of the scale. Second, keep it in an appropriate place, like under the bathroom sink and not next to your bed. Third, they are just numbers in the end and how you feel about your body should have more influence then those numbers.

My experience: I was weighing myself almost weekly before I started this whole makeover and sad with the weigh in results each time. I am 5' 6" (I like to think I am closer to 5' 8", but alright.) and have been hovering around 150 lbs. for awhile now. Since high school I have gone from a size 6 to a size 12 and back down to a size 6. I rarely saw the difference until I looked at photos. I am not obese nor ambitiously overweight, but I have been unhappy with the skin I am on for ten years and that was reason enough for me.

Several online calculators said I was within my healthy range, but barely. Based on height and body type I decided I wanted to weigh in at 130 lbs. I will write on framing your body in the next post, and important reminder in creating your body type in your head. My 130 lbs is another woman's equivalent to my 150 lbs. And my 150 lbs is another woman's 130 lbs. Stop comparing!

As far as that scale haunting your bathroom, use it as a tool but use other tools to measure as well. A scale does not factor water weight, menstrual cycle, muscle gain, or what time of day it is. In addition to weighing in also measure around! Measure your waist, hips, and under your bust but not everyday. I lost my first ten pounds in almost eight weeks, that is quick for being half my total loss. I saw a difference just about every week, so the end of the week is a good time to take some notes. And as far as climbing onto that scale? Once every three days, at the same time every morning. Consistency is key! In total to date I have lost approximately 13 lbs. and gained around 3 lbs of muscle. My scale not knowing the difference has me believing I am stuck when really I can see in my reflection I am well on my way.

peace and love,

Multi-What?

The current issue of Ms. magazine reads, “Mom, 2.0” with several arms reaching for not only her child but her iphone to update twitter and of course her blog about homemade baby food. I have yet to buy the issue but its graphic forges a good point: how much is taking on too much? I am not a mother and will be writing strictly from the twenty-something, living with roommates, not working her dream job, and attempting to accomplish life perspective.

My day starts around 7 each morning and I, although exhausted, am happy to get into bed before eleven these days. That is 16 hours awake each day. 16! Half are taken up at my day job and I must say that darn job gets the best hours! But since it is paying for all the not so cheap but good for you foods stocked in my fridge and my water tank full of hot water I keep it around. The rest of the day is torn between running, cooking, writing, laundry, cleaning, being creative, the occasional social hour, and my favorite, being in love. Most of the time I think I am not doing enough and still I am writing two blogs, maintaining a worn out small creative business, cooking, daily runs, and a relationship (which tends to be the most sane part of my day, more on that another post). Those are the minimum tasks too. Notice there is no rest scheduled. Even as I write this entry I am watching the green beans boil, waiting for the salmon to get done in the oven and also sorting a late night laundry load. I would vent about needing more time except I don’t feel the need to be active for more then 16 hours a day, that is plenty!

Perhaps it is my perspective that needs a little time adjustment. And I know I am not the only one.

I know few women with less then half of a full plate. From small handmade business’, masters degrees, full time day jobs, getting in shape, being social, and enjoying the loves of our lives from family, to friendships, and partners, and of course blogs for each (breath). When did this generation become multi-tasking super women? I am proud of it all but I think I should add mindfulness in there too, just for good measure.

Take a moment and congratulate yourselves, please! You do more then enough and remember there is always tomorrow.

xoxo.

Walk It Out

I didn't start to see my weight loss solely on the food I changed but it was a more then crucial piece. The other crucial step: exercise. I have enjoyed running for several years but I am by no means someone who calls herself a "runner". I run up to six times a week and am lucky if I break 2 miles. But I have learned that because I love it and am motivated to continue to run, the mileage doesn't mean a thing anymore.

Once I got my new eating habits on a self regulated course I turned my focus over to exercise. I was already running at my convenience which was shaping up to be 2 days out of the week. I didn't make time for this, I added it whenever I felt it was needed. I don't regret my approach, after all remembering to eat every two hours and to have it planned down to every protein and complex carb was enough on some days. I worked my way into my current schedule and also changed it up.

I started with 20-30 minute jogs, resting every

5-10 minutes with a brisk walk. I rarely ran in the mornings and often forgot to stretch. At the five week mark I decided it was time to amp it up. I made the intention of running 5x a week. I even created a section in my day planner and would plan my running days out in advance.

Few things I learned the hard way:

1. Good shoes are key! If the shins start to flare up take a look at how old your kicks are.
2. Your muscles have great memory and can convince you of getting lazy: mix up your routine whether with time or with the route you take
3. Wear a watch. It may feel like twenty minutes when it fact it was closer to eight.
4. Take a day off! Your muscles also need to repair themselves so you can tear them up again on your next run. I like 3 days on with a day off. I have heard this is quite popular.
5. Don't love it? Find something else.

If you love biking, swimming, the gym, or even walking enough to spend 30 minutes being active with it a few times a week, do it!

Lastly, stretch when you are warmed up. Stretching gets your blood circulating more and can loosen up those rigid spots, it also helps to repair damaged tissue quicker and that process is what builds muscle, and more muscle means less fat. Tah dah!

peace and love.

A New Normal

I was continually asked how long until the detox was over and I could go back to “normal” foods. My elongated stare told them they should know better, this was my new normal, and clearly I was ecstatic about it. Sarcasm aside, before I knew it a month had passed and I did start to feel well. I started to feel great actually. I started tasting food and not condiments. I was no longer tired in the morning and my personal favorite side effect, my sense of smell got stronger. I felt this huge weight filled mostly with guilty pleasures was lifted minus one tiny drawback: I hadn’t lost any weight. Are you kidding me? I have been craving toast, coffee, pasta, and ice cream for four weeks and all I have to show for it is a better sense of smell? Not exactly the trade off I was aiming for. This brings me to my next battle: a sense of time.

For the first four weeks my weight would drop, climb, drop, climb, etc. It didn’t help that I was getting on the scale several times a day (big no, no!) and after a solid few weeks my frustration began to mount. My overall goal is to lose 20lbs. This is still my goal (don’t fret, I am 8 lbs away!) However the flash of “lose 10 lbs in 4 weeks” that seemed to find its way to the cover of at least five magazines in my weekly checkout aisle had burrowed its way in, even when I knew better. This does not take into consideration body type, overall goal, weight lose method, or your health. I set my goal with the intention of allowing 6 or more months to deflate that tire around my belly, but I was ready for a seeable result.

Week five came and my body just seemed to catch on to what it was I was trying to do. Most importantly, I was consistent. I may have been frustrated and a bit confused but I kept at my new normal eating style and trusted that eventually I would start to see the light.

What I wish someone had told me: Not only is weight loss not going to happen over night, it is not going to happen over a few weeks and it is not supposed to! Fast weight loss does not give your body or your mind the learned capability of life change versus diet. Diet screams restriction and as soon as that restriction ends there goes all the hard work. My new normal in addition to eating was my acceptance of a time frame that belonged all to me. Every body will adapt differently, listen to it, after all it is just trying to look out for you.

xoxo

To eat, or not to eat?

There I found myself a short seven days into my new eating style and I was starving! Not to mention the lack of coffee for the first time in oh, ten years, was wreaking havoc on my head and the withdrawal aches and pains were making themselves quite known. I thought I was going to instantly feel better, a sense of overnight success for taking on the big D-tox. Wrong, oh so wrong. The first two weeks were rough, no sugar coating here, couldn’t have sugar if I wanted it. I say this not to cause hesitation if you choose to change your cupboard’s stocked shelves, I say this because it is not about over night success and it should not be. Take your time and allow your mind and body to adjust in good time! You will know when you are feeling better.

If you decide to take on a radical shift no matter the intensity give yourself some breathing room. Perhaps it is time to cash in on a couple of sick days and let your body recharge. Don’t forget to conserve your energy! It will take more of your new foods refueling action to keep energized then what you were comfortable with before. Not ready to deplete so much from your diet? Try this variation and maybe work your way into some new eating habits, you may find with time that you like the new way.

Instead of taking to the trash all of the previous post list, start with these 5 foods: white flour (ie. white or wheat breads, pasta, and those coffee bar baked goods), white sugar (ie. baked anything, processed foods/the boxed foods, soda), dairy (ie. milk, cheese, ice cream, creamer, some yogurts), red meat (including pork!), & non-water beverages (ie. soda, coffee, tea (except green!), matte, juice, or alcohol)

Stopping cold in your tracks may not feel so great, give yourself at least a week to take these things out of your daily diet, but don’t forget to replace them with the good stuff! What is the good stuff? Plenty of the following:

Water

Green Tea

Vegetables (especially spinach, broccoli, red peppers, kale, cabbage, asparagus, celery, and cucumbers)

Fruits (darker the color the better, such as strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, cherries, blackberries, also melons, peaches, plums, kiwi, apples & bananas)

Rice or Almond Milk

Whole Grains (the term “whole” should be present or it is a trick! These can be whole grain brown rice, whole grain spelt flour, basmati rice or my favorite quinoa)

Organic Eggs (excellent source of protein and energy)

Seafood (not farmed! Look for terms like “wild” and stick with these

fish: salmon, cod, halibut, tuna, and trout)

Good Nuts (these include almonds, cashews, and walnuts but make sure they are raw)

Oatmeal

Olive Oil

Honey if you are having a case of the sweet tooth

Get down to the basics and give yourself a full fourteen days, then start to rebuild. (More on that rebuilding process to come.)

Oh and one last thing, the skinny on the O word: Organic! The more organic the better, especially with fresh whole foods like fruit and veggies. If it is not organic you don’t know what it has come into contact with and that means one more unknown thing your body has to detox. And you thought losing the coffee was bad, well I did.

Peace and much love.

Detox

The trendy word detox can also be a dirty little word with enough hype to peak your interest. When I decided to do what I thought was taking the plunge, you know, get right down to it I knew I had to start with the foods I ate. I ate breakfast, I thought, I had an adequate lunch, I thought, and never ate dinner too late. So what was the problem? Why was the scale climbing? I was baffled until I wrote it all down. Now this bordered the edge of too much but I just wanted a visual. There it was, the truth I couldn’t erase. Now it was not terrible, no fast food, no soda, mostly organic, and small portions. I alsoseemed to forget fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, good carbohydrates, and water. (More on that to come). I was drinking plenty of coffee though!

My first step was not intended to be a detox, it just turned in that direction as soon as I also listed all the foods I was erasing from my daily list. How did I know what to take out and what to add? I tacked myself onto the Anti-Inflammatory Diet and have since added the term “Clean Eating” as another guideline. There is limited information on the Anti-Inflammatory Diet, however its principle is to stray away from foods that can cause inflammation in your joints, muscles, and belly and replace them with whole foods pumped full of anti-oxidants and other usable traits. So what did I delete? (*heavy sigh*):

white flour

white sugar

dairy

coffee

alcohol

nightshade plants (ie. potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant, green peppers)

citrus fruits

peanuts

gluten

wheat

shellfish

red meat

I didn’t know at the time what was left but I sure felt it as these foods left my diet. The first two weeks were bumpy! Before I knew it I had entered full on detox moratorium. Why so drastic? I knew my body was comfortable and I needed to take it out of its comfort food zone. I will write on the enlightenment at the end of the tunnel another day. The moral of this entry: let your body have a chance at a clean start and a fresh break. See what happens after no morning latte and scone, or your nightly glass of red wine. There are many detox plans and books out for the looking. My warning is this: if your body has never gone through a detox be nice to it! Wean yourself off and allow a few weeks to completely take foods out of your diet. Your body has attachments and will need to adjust. It is not about starvation, it is about rejuvenation.

peace and love.

Original Diet

Welcome to my new project: Original Diet. In the coming posts I will highlight elements of my ongoing journey of finding love in the naked self. I started my quest almost three months ago because I had finally exhausted my criticism for a body I feel is too young to be so sad over. In the creeping weeks towards my 25th birthday I revamped my diet, upped my love for exercise, and found a support network to rally me on.

Original Diet is my dedication to myself and to women all over who have stared too long at the images we are suppose to posses. In this ongoing project I will write about detox, framing your body, being realistic, and all the little pieces that are helping me achieve something I never thought I could do. Please note: I am not an expert! I am just a girl in her mid-twenties that would have loved some of this advice three months ago. You are all beautiful!

peace and love.