Even if you’re not on a “diet”, read your labels!
February 13, 2010 by Cindy · Leave a Comment
I think I’ve written before about the BodyMedia system I’ve been using since Christmas to track my exercise, sleep efficiency, food, etc. It’s really fantastic, especially if you have wonky sleep like I do, AND really want to see how active I am, etc. Part of this system requires that you log your food when you sync the device. (Even if you don’t use this, it is really an invaluable tool if you’re trying to lose weight or eat more healthily, to just log your food- amazing what a little self monitoring will do!)- A great tool (that’s also free) is www.dailyplate.com. You can just plug things in and it has listings for over a half million foods. So easy, fast, and again- free!
At any rate, sorry, I digress. I’ve been doing the usual- multi tasking, selling real estate, along with manning my vendor table at the Kids Layne consignment sale, which spans pretty much all day. Really, without planning (which I always encourage, but don’t always manage) it’s hard to prepare for a 10 hour day out of the house/ office, etc. I ended up grabbing something from QDoba when someone was going out for lunch. I really do try to eat well, and not eat junk. I confess that I really did think QDoba was somewhat healthy. Not HEALTHY, healthy, but better than most (which it may still be, horrifyingly).
In the grilled chicken tacos that I had, there were (in a serving of 3) 1080 calories, 2280 mg of sodium, and FIFTY ONE Grams of FAT! WHAT????
If that’s not proof to read your labels, I don’t know what is. That is definitely something that is somewhat touted as healthy, so you can only imagine what the things that are not “healthy”!
On much brighter news for this week, Jamie Oliver won the TED Prize this week- “Wishes big enough to change the world”
His wish?
“I wish for your help to create a strong, sustainable movement to educate every child about food, inspire families to cook again and empower people everywhere to fight obesity.” Get more info about Jamie’s plans and dreams here:
http://www.tedprize.org/jamie-oliver/
It’s important enought for us as grownups (alarming news that Time reports the life span in the US is below that of virtually every other developed country- hmmm…anything to do with our lifestyle and diet here?)
The moral of this rambling really is to just simply say, there are way too many things out there touting health benefits. Way too many. Unfortunately, you have to be ever vigilant about what you’re putting in your body. It’s not just calories, but everything, and just because someone says it’s healthy, doesn’t mean it is, and certainly doesn’t mean it’s healthy for your child!!
So tired of the snow!
February 2, 2010 by Cindy · Leave a Comment
I have never been so ready for spring, I think, in all my life! With nearly 14 inches of snow over the course of the weekend (VERY unusual for Richmond!) I have been holed up for far too long! Though I did finally get out for the first time yesterday evening, and today was relatively normal, minus the 2 hour late arrival at school. At any rate, once you’re used to working out 3-4 hard hours a week (still crazy to think that), you start to feel like a caged animal when you’re stuck in the house.
I’ve heard from so many people on Facebook and Twitter who have been eating all sorts of junk while they’re stuck at home, and it’s definitely easy to fall into that. Have I done that? NO. Because I don’t buy it. I do hold to Michael Pollan’s quote from “Food Rules” saying, “Eat whatever junk food you want, as long as you make it.” So, if you want cookies, bake them. From scratch. You’ll probably eat them less. The same holds true with pretty much any junk food. So we don’t have it in the house. I’ve also used my Wii Fit to get quite a few good workouts in- another thing I’ve tried to do is use alot of the things we’ve done in Boot Camp (that don’t require equipment) and use those.
Not only have these things managed to keep me from totally turning Jabba the Hut, but they’ve done wonders to keep me sane! With a ridiculous amount of snow, and the forecast looking somewhat grim for the weekend, these are some good things to remember.
If you find yourself stuck inside, Whit’s going to post some of the things you can do (especially if you’re thinking of snacking!) – hopefully they’ll help keep you a little more fit, a little more sane, and maybe even a little more ready for the spring/ summer when they finally do roll around!
Making Progress
January 29, 2010 by Cindy · Leave a Comment
Down 11 pounds! Still QUITE a few more to go, but I’m feeling terrific, and really do miss it when I don’t work out. I NEVER thought I would say that!
As far as my diet, just in case you’re wondering, I’m not on a “diet” per se.
As you read if you saw my last post, I’ve just finished Jillian Michaels’ “Master Your Metabolism”, hot on the heels of Michael Pollan’s “Omnivore’s Dilemma” , “Food Rules” (the newest- HIGHLY RECOMMEND!), and I have really, truly eradicated processed food from my and my family’s diet, and we are really quite focused on WHOLE foods (not the store- at least completely! 
) Whole grains, greens, more vegetables, really focusing on where the meat we eat comes from and how it’s processed, and trying to eliminate as many refined flours, sugars, etc. from our diet. The more I do this, the more yucky I feel when I do eat the stuff that I know is bad. Your body does really tell you what it wants and needs- once you tune out all the “fast food/ frozen food/ processed food” noise. You just have to listen. I’m listening now, and feeling better.
Happy New Year, New You? Definitely New Me!
December 31, 2009 by Cindy · Leave a Comment
Well, if you’re anything like me, you probably start every year with a nice, unnervingly long list of things you want to stop doing or stop doing, do better or more often, or do less. This year, I decided to go a different route.
Rather than giving myself a list a mile long that is almost scary to start, I’ve already started with my working out, so just have to continue. Check! One thing off the list already, and 2009 isn’t even over yet!
Another thing on my list: continue eating more healthfully (and try harder to keep my husband and son doing the same!!). Have you checked out this month’s (well, January) Richmond Magazine? There’s a great piece on the Fit Menus that Whit has worked with local restaurants to create, so it’s just that much easier to go out now (to cool places) and eat without feeling like you can’t touch anything for fear of gaining five pounds! Check them out at 3 Monkeys, Europa, Starlite, and more, and click here for a demo: Whit\’s Fit Menu at 3 Monkeys.
I’ve also just started reading Jillian Michaels’ new book, “Master Your Metabolism” and so far, I’m just blown away by it- I know that’s going to have more of an impact on me this year. The great thing about this book is that it talks not just about the perils of eating frankenfoods, and crazy sugar/ fat/ carb free things, but also about the endocrine disrupters with which our bodies are bombarded. I’m pretty well versed on both of these things, and have read loads on each- to have the information all put in one place, and to have someone show how to use the information is even better, though!
So what are you doing? Do you want to get fit? Eat better? Get healthy? Just look better, or more importantly, feel better? The most important thing about making any resolution is definitely the follow through (just take a look at the inside of any gym anytime in January, compared to February or any other time of the year!). You’ve got to just make it happen. No one is going to do it for you. But you can do it. Just watch me!
Tracking Food and Progress So Far
December 23, 2009 by Cindy · Leave a Comment
So, I got measured the other night, and weighed, of course. I must say that the weighing part was quite disappointing. Only 3.5 pounds?? Are you kidding?? I’ve been working my butt off! (or so I thought!) However, after the measuring, it appears that I have actually lost nearly 5 inches from my waist. Now that, I can get on board with. I know I just need to keep working, and I certainly need to get back to physical therapy and work on my knee. The brace, the tape, the pain. I’m TIRED of it!! I know I would feel better, and lose more, if I was able to walk without a limp. BUT, I definitely generally feel better, and that’s HUGE. I’m tracking my food daily on the LiveStrong Daily Plate application (totally free, by the way, and a bargain at twice the price!)
