Saturday, August 7, 2010 by Dea.

Seriously, some days I really hate having a lawn.  I’m considering paving the whole yard.  Of course, then I’d have to do something else annoying as upkeep!

I try to remind myself that I burn 833 calories per hour pushing that lawn mower around.  I’m sure it goes higher or lower, depending on how long or wet the grass is.  It was long and wet, so I burned easily that 833 calories!

That means my day is off to a very good start.  So I’m looking on the bright side of it, and reminding myself that I enjoyed listening to my iPod, I burned all those calories, and I got fresh air.

But, yeah - I still would love to mulch the whole yard and use RoundUp in vast quantities!

Posted in Silliness, Exercise | Print | No Comments »

Wednesday, August 4, 2010 by Dea.

I had pulled out Tilapia to have for dinner the other day, and my usual method of cooking fish fillets is to bread and fry.  Since we’re striving for better foods, I threw this together - and it was wonderful!

1 orang, peeled and separated

2-3 tilapia fillets

Soy sauce

In a baking dish with a cover (I used a clay pot cooker), place orange wedge.  Set rinsed fish fillets on top of the oranges (this will prevent sticking).  Sprinkle with pepper to taste, and then shake on light soy sauce, approximately 1/4 cup.  Cover and place in a 375 degree oven for about 20 minutes, or until fish is done (this will depend on the thickness of the fish).

I served with leftover pasta salad, but my husband said it would be delicious over rice!

Quick, easy, tasty - and healthier than fried!  Less mess, too, actually!

Posted in Deceptively Delicious, Recipes, Healthy Eating | Print | 1 Comment »

Monday, August 2, 2010 by Dea.

I was just reading a story on Yahoo about moms who were in better shape post-baby than before they ever got pregnant.  All of the women mentioned their children and staying fit for them as their major motivation.

It’s an interesting topic, really.  I’ve allowed my kids to learn unhealthy habits from me.  That makes me both sad and angry, and it’s all directed at myself.  I know that you can’t change your lifestyle JUST for someone else, but how did I not realize how much harm my junk eating and couch sitting ways was causing?

It’s a wake up call, that’s for sure.  I got vaccines for my kids to protect their health, I take them to doctors and dentists to keep them healthy.  But I’ve dropped the ball on the most important part of their health.

I have many motivations, and I think I’m going to make a list and hang it in my house.  This one, albeit a new one, will be at the top of the list.  Our health, as a family, has to be priority.

Posted in Motivation, Health | Print | No Comments »

Friday, July 30, 2010 by Dea.

Or does Drew Carey look less healthy than he did before he lost the 80 pounds he’s reportedly lost?

It looks like he’s ill in the second picture.  I couldn’t figure out what it was that bothered me so much about the second picture, but then I landed on it.  It’s the way his hair and skin look.  He just looks off.

The way he lost it?  A strict no-carb diet.   When I read that, it made sense.  He won’t even eat beans, no starches of any kind.  That’s just not healthy.  Good carbs are essential to our health!  Not to mention, it’s next to impossible to never eat carbs for the rest of your life.  Everyone I know who has done a no carb diet has bounced right on back to eating normally and gained back more than they lost in the first place.

Kudos to him for trying to be healthier.  I just wish he looked healthier.

Posted in Uncategorized | Print | No Comments »

Thursday, July 29, 2010 by Dea.

My lovely husband is reading a book about insulin resistance, weight loss, etc - mainly about the glycemic index.  It’s sounds like an interesting and informative book.

I did get a laugh about one of the examples they gave.  We all know that a can of coke is basically a big pile of sugar, empty calories.  In terms of glycemic load and your insulin response, it’s a high glycemic index.  The book said that adding enough spoonable fiber powder to the  glass of pop, you could change it from a high index to a low index food, and it wouldn’t cause all the turmoil that straight sugar does.

My brain, of course, took me to the mental picture of tonbs of fiber in a glass of coke, and the aftermath of that much fiber.  I truly have a sick mind.  Maybe I should try it, document it for posterity…..hmmm….

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Wednesday, July 28, 2010 by Dea.

I tried out the evening water aerobics class at my gym last night.  I really liked the teacher and the other ladies in the class were very nice.

I was really nervous about going to the class.  Most aerobics classes are somewhat intimidating, since the same people take them each week, and become friends.  It was like being the new kid at school.  Do I have the right swimsuit?  Am I in the right place?  Which are both silly questions, obviously, since first off, the pool at our gym isn’t so big I wouldn’t be able to quickly find the class, and secondly, it doesn’t matter what suit you where in all honesty!

So there I was, nervously waiting the 15 minutes until class because, of course, I’m ALWAYS early places.  I didn’t want to get into the hot tub or the therapy pool because I knew that water was going to be cold.

I remember making fun of my mother and aunts for how long it took them to get into the pool.  Now I know that it’s because as adults we have more skin, and out “parts” are much much more sensitive to temperature.  It’s just not right that it’s so hard to get used to the water.  Let’s just say I let out an unladylike word, but thankfully that was underwater, so no one heard.

It’s a good thing the water is cooler, though, because halfway through the class I was WARM.  I’d forgotten how easily you can get your heart rate up in the water.   I’d also forgotten how tough some of those moves get when you’re trying to stay upright or afloat!

I was nice and fatigued when I finished.  The best part, though, was my knees and ankle were not hurting.  So nice!  I even woke up pleasantly sore through the abs and arms this morning.  That’s the sign of a good work out, to me.

So I do believe I’ll be heading back on Thursday!  The strengthening will only speed up my healing and help with the weight loss.  And the more I lose, the better all those “bad” parts will feel!

Posted in Exercise | Print | No Comments »

Tuesday, July 27, 2010 by Dea.

One of the better carbs to add into your diet to reach a healthy weight (and maintain it) is rice.  Brown rice is the best for you, and has that wonderful nutty flavor.  But I’ve always had issues with under done, over done, and ALWAYS sticking rice.  There’s a simple way to avoid sticking and under/over done batches every time - and it involves your oven!  My husband attended a cooking class at a local restaurant and  learned this unique way to cook rice.

First, preheat your oven to 350 deg F.  Put a small amount of oil in the bottom of the pan.  Yes, oil adds fat - but heart-healthy olive oil will add benefits AND flavor!  Heat the oil over high heat, then add the dry, uncooked rice.  Stirring constantly,  cook the dry rice until the color changes from translucent to opaque.  Add the water (2 parts water to 1 part rice, so if you’re cooking 1 cup dry rice, add 2 cups water).  I add salt and/or turmeric to taste.  Bring the water and rice to a boil.  Place the lid on your saucepan, and transfer the whole thing to the oven.  Cook in the 350 degree oven for 18 minutes.  That’s it - pull it out, transfer to serving bowl - and you have perfectly cooked, no-stick rice!

Posted in Tips and Tricks, Healthy Eating | Print | 1 Comment »

Friday, July 23, 2010 by Dea.

Today is hot.  And humid.  So was yesterday, for that matter.  Yesterday we (we being me and the kids) went to the county fair and I’m proud of us for that.  We could have just said forget it, and seen a movie.  Keeping active despite the weather is hard, but doable.

Today we were supposed to hang out with Becca , go for a nice hike and have a picnic.  But with temps in the upper 90’s, she and I decided we’d rather not have any cases of heat stroke on our hands.  So we filled up a bunch of water balloons and super soakers and waged a battle with the kids.  It was tons of fun, we were active, and we cooled off.  Yeah, it’s not hitting the gym.  But it’s a lot better than sitting on our butts, like we could have done.

So no excuses!  Find a way to stay active and cool at the same time.  We wound up having an awesome time doing it.

Posted in Encouragement | Print | No Comments »

Thursday, July 22, 2010 by Dea.

Plus sized model Crystal Renn is livid - and I don’t blame her.  She’s a gorgeous woman, and she’s overcome anorexia and exercise bulimia to become one of the world’s premier plus sized models.  That’s her at the left, a NORMAL, curvy shaped woman.  She’s a size 10, actually, but we’ll discuss how in the world size 10 is plus size in a minute.

A recent photo taken of her shocked the world, however, with how emaciated she looked.  My husband and I were stunned when we saw the photo.  We thought she’d starved herself again.  I, for one, was horribly disappointed.  She’s beautiful with her curves, with a full, healthy face.

Now we come to find out that that isn’t even her in the picture.  Well, it’s her.  But once again, the beauty industry decided to improve upon (and I use that phrase sarcastically) nature.  They somehow were disgusted by her natural, healthy shaped.  They decided not just to smooth a wrinkle - they changed her from a size 10 to a size 2.  Once again, the fashion and beauty industry shows their utter contempt for women.  They reveal their disgusting ideal that skeletal and emaciated is somehow sexy.  I can’t figure out how we women allowed them to change the ideal on us.  Words like zaftiq,  reubanesque, and even plump were descriptions of the ultimate in beauty.  So we’ve gone from epitomizing health and plenty to desiring starvation??

Here’s the two versions of Ms. Renn’s photo.  I still can’t figure out what was so very, very “fat” about the original.

Of course, I can’t figure out how in the hell a size 10 is a plus size anyway.  They sure as hell don’t sell a size 10 in any plus size section or store I frequent!  Of course, I was just thumbing through the Avenue catalog today, and I thought to myself that the models were so skinny, they must have had to tailor every single outfit for the photo shoot, since the clothes start out at a size 12W.

Yes, I want to lose weight.  Yes I’d like to be smaller.  I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t at all for reasons of vanity. But my goal weight, and goal size, aren’t unrealistic, and they are, in fact, above the “desirable” weight on the chart.  So three cheers for Crystal Renn.  She’s beat eating disorders, and she’s had a more successful career because of it.  And three cheers to all the photographers who’ve left her pictures alone, in all their curvacious and beautiful glory.

Posted in Shame on Them, Body Image | Print | 2 Comments »

Wednesday, July 21, 2010 by Dea.

I’ve decided to fight back against my traitorous joints, but sometimes that is easier said than done.  Last week I tried to swim as a work out, and wound up with my neck all jacked up and a horrific migraine.  That’s not exactly positive reinforcement, if I think about it.

I used to teach water aerobics, back when I was a babe of twenty years.  I really enjoyed it, and even had a few “tough guys” from our gym try it, and pronounce it much harder than they’d thought.  That’s what they get for making fun of me for water aerobics!  So water aerobics is a no-brainer.  I enjoyed it, it’s a good work out, and it is virtually no impact at all.

Of course, it helps to have available water aerobics classes.  At my current gym, it’s a pretty sad offering.  I found a plethora of them offered at a different gym, including ones specifically geared towards my specific body problems.  Only problem with that is it’s an expensive place, it’s a pain in the butt drive, and I already belong to a gym.

So I do believe I’ll give the meager offering at my gym a try.  I can always do harder moves if I find the class too easy.  In the long run, it’s better to give it a try.  And it’s less likely to cause negative feedback from the ol’ body.  I’ll keep you posted.  Who knows, I might just go get re-certified and create some new classes at my gym!

Posted in Exercise | Print | No Comments »