http://www.jointhereboot.com/groupreboot/
... LET'S DO IT!
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Thursday, January 26, 2012
The Blame Game.
Why being unsatisfied with my weight was everybody else's fault except my own:
Let's blame...
1. My parents. Sorry mom and dad, but growing up on food that was sugar-free, fat-free and taste-free has left it's mark. I remember a Christmas video of my sister and I decorating the tree, and I excitedly informed my younger sis that as soon as we were finished we would be rewarded with a piece of sugar-free Extra gum.
Really, guys?
I definitely, definitely took advantage of the foods I had missed out on growing up, but to the extreme. See? Not my fault.
2. Sydney. I love you, but having a child has screwed up my metabolism. Not my fault.
3. Weston. I love you, too. You are my enabler. I can cry "food addiction" and beg for help until I'm blue in the face, then turn around and convince you that YES, pizza is definitely the best option for dinner because yaddah yaddah yaddah, excuse excuse excuse. So, YOUR fault.
4. My friends and family. If I were a drug addict, would you still offer me drugs after I've complained about how miserable they make me? When I recieve an invite for a girl's wine and cheese night, or a family breakfast that is bound to include bacon, sausage, eggs and cheese, do you really think I would say no? See? It's your fault.
5. Myself. I have aches and pains and health issues and (ALTOGETHER NOW!) yaddah yaddah yaddah. I can't exercise like everybody else. I can't diet because I have to eat certain foods at certain times. Not my fault.
Wow. That sounded a bit more snarky than I intended it to be, but for the sake of fairness I've written this like TWICE and my computer keeps freezing and deleting my posts.
I guess my point is that YES, you are responsible for your health, but I truly believe you have to hit some sort of "bottom" to get the motivation that changes your life.
NO, I am not saying that every overweight person is just lazy and making excuses, this is just MY experience and I am trying to come to terms with the fact that I've been doing it for so long, I actually have to change my ENTIRE mindset to get back on track.
And, mom? I really did enjoy those fat-free Entenmann's pastries you used to buy. But not the Snackwell's. Gross.
This would have been a miracle in my childhood.
Let's blame...
1. My parents. Sorry mom and dad, but growing up on food that was sugar-free, fat-free and taste-free has left it's mark. I remember a Christmas video of my sister and I decorating the tree, and I excitedly informed my younger sis that as soon as we were finished we would be rewarded with a piece of sugar-free Extra gum.
Really, guys?
I definitely, definitely took advantage of the foods I had missed out on growing up, but to the extreme. See? Not my fault.
2. Sydney. I love you, but having a child has screwed up my metabolism. Not my fault.
3. Weston. I love you, too. You are my enabler. I can cry "food addiction" and beg for help until I'm blue in the face, then turn around and convince you that YES, pizza is definitely the best option for dinner because yaddah yaddah yaddah, excuse excuse excuse. So, YOUR fault.
4. My friends and family. If I were a drug addict, would you still offer me drugs after I've complained about how miserable they make me? When I recieve an invite for a girl's wine and cheese night, or a family breakfast that is bound to include bacon, sausage, eggs and cheese, do you really think I would say no? See? It's your fault.
5. Myself. I have aches and pains and health issues and (ALTOGETHER NOW!) yaddah yaddah yaddah. I can't exercise like everybody else. I can't diet because I have to eat certain foods at certain times. Not my fault.
Wow. That sounded a bit more snarky than I intended it to be, but for the sake of fairness I've written this like TWICE and my computer keeps freezing and deleting my posts.
I guess my point is that YES, you are responsible for your health, but I truly believe you have to hit some sort of "bottom" to get the motivation that changes your life.
NO, I am not saying that every overweight person is just lazy and making excuses, this is just MY experience and I am trying to come to terms with the fact that I've been doing it for so long, I actually have to change my ENTIRE mindset to get back on track.
And, mom? I really did enjoy those fat-free Entenmann's pastries you used to buy. But not the Snackwell's. Gross.
This would have been a miracle in my childhood.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Shopping Cart Workout.
A good friend of mine (who used to manage the daycare at my gym) now works at the market down the street from our house. I bumped into her while it was pouring rain and she was bringing in the carts. I commented on how much exercise she must be getting (trying not to make it obvious that she must be MISERABLE lugging shopping carts in while it was freezing and raining. And dark.). Her eyes lit up and she told me that she had lost TWO pants sizes since starting this job.
Well, hello!
Thus, I began my SCAW (shopping cart and workout) research.
1. Park as far away from the entrance as you can (unless, of course, it's night and you have kids with you... obviously).
2. If you don't have kids with you (and it's daylight), DON'T park near a cart return. That way, you still have to push the darn thing back. And if you don't, then you deserve that guilty feeling of leaving your cart in the empty space next to you. I've never done that, of course...
3. Grab a cart from the parking lot, preferably one with a wonky wheel (hey, working ONE side of your abs is better than nothing!), so you have to push it all the way to the store.
4. Use a cart, even if you only have a few items on your list. If I remember correctly, a grocery cart weighs about 50lbs (sound heavy? My toddler weighs 26lbs!).
5. Don't follow your list in order. For example, I usually write my grocery list as things run out. By the end of the week, I have a big messy list that runs me all over the store. Granted, it may cause problems if you keep passing the chip or cookie aisles, but if you stick on some running shoes (because, HEY, this is a workout), you may be able to stay a bit more focused!
6. Ditch the running shoes, wear heels. I know it sounds REALLY stupid (and I don't even like that word), but I can speak from experience. I lived in Virginia for a few years, and right down the street was a Wegmans.
Wegmans.
Why does it look like a church? Because it's meant for people who take food just as seriously as religion. Well, that's what I like to think. :-)
The pictures may not do it justice. It's like Disneyland for foodies, seriously.
Anyway, people treated this place like you were showing up for the red carpet. I would only buy groceries on the days I had actually tried to get ready, and I was almost always wearing heeled boots or high heels (no, not stipper heels, just NORMAL heels). I would leave Wegmans with a full cart and burning calves. Win-win.
Charlize...
Well, hello!
Thus, I began my SCAW (shopping cart and workout) research.
1. Park as far away from the entrance as you can (unless, of course, it's night and you have kids with you... obviously).
2. If you don't have kids with you (and it's daylight), DON'T park near a cart return. That way, you still have to push the darn thing back. And if you don't, then you deserve that guilty feeling of leaving your cart in the empty space next to you. I've never done that, of course...
3. Grab a cart from the parking lot, preferably one with a wonky wheel (hey, working ONE side of your abs is better than nothing!), so you have to push it all the way to the store.
4. Use a cart, even if you only have a few items on your list. If I remember correctly, a grocery cart weighs about 50lbs (sound heavy? My toddler weighs 26lbs!).
5. Don't follow your list in order. For example, I usually write my grocery list as things run out. By the end of the week, I have a big messy list that runs me all over the store. Granted, it may cause problems if you keep passing the chip or cookie aisles, but if you stick on some running shoes (because, HEY, this is a workout), you may be able to stay a bit more focused!
6. Ditch the running shoes, wear heels. I know it sounds REALLY stupid (and I don't even like that word), but I can speak from experience. I lived in Virginia for a few years, and right down the street was a Wegmans.
Wegmans.
Why does it look like a church? Because it's meant for people who take food just as seriously as religion. Well, that's what I like to think. :-)
The pictures may not do it justice. It's like Disneyland for foodies, seriously.
Anyway, people treated this place like you were showing up for the red carpet. I would only buy groceries on the days I had actually tried to get ready, and I was almost always wearing heeled boots or high heels (no, not stipper heels, just NORMAL heels). I would leave Wegmans with a full cart and burning calves. Win-win.
Charlize...
Monday, January 23, 2012
Housewife, I am not.
Yikes. Why do my posts keep beginning with "imperfect" and "not". Way to be a Debbie Downer, Kristen!
But seriously, I'm a stay-at-home mom, NOT a housewife. If I were the latter, I would have dinner planned and cooked in the evening. My laundry would be done and not in piles (albeit clean piles, but piles nonetheless). My kid would be dressed every day, instead of being in jammies about 2-3 days a week... ALL DAY.
Picture the sun setting. It's about 6pm, and it's family time. You're playing on the floor with your tots, and your spouse is relaxing. Then, the question. The Question. "What should we do for dinner?". We look at each other and say in unison "Pizza? Pizza.".
That was before the juice cleanse. Today, my caveman hubster is happy with a little piece of steak and garlic bread, or a burger. Or hot dogs. Or anything else containing meat. Or PIZZA.
My Achilles' heel.
If you are reading this blog, you are either considering a juice cleanse, being judgemental about other's cleanses, ON a juice cleanse, or you like reading about healthy experiences and REALLY like pictures (I admit, I like blogs better when they have photos... really!).
Changing your life is HARD. Especially when you are an addict. It can be drugs, alcohol, sex, caffine... or food. My way of thinking after completing this cleanse has changed for the better, and I HATE it sometimes. I don't crave junk food, but I don't necessarily like the taste of healthy dishes. I have spent many sleepless nights thinking about recipes I used to enjoy and tweaking them significantly so they are healthy.
I thought juicing was tough, but the aftermath is a bit tougher.
One good thing (besides GREAT health!) to come of my recipe experimentation? THIS recipe! Enjoy hot, tasty bruschetta? This recipe is the bees knees! The only thing I change is the rosemary. I don't like spices I can feel with my tongue (ever watch Shallow Hal? I'm the best friend, but instead of being picky with women, I'm THAT picky with food). I use dried rosemary, put it in a zip-loc bag and smash it into powder with a hammer. Then I cut the amount in half and voilà! Delicious hot tomato goodness!
But seriously, I'm a stay-at-home mom, NOT a housewife. If I were the latter, I would have dinner planned and cooked in the evening. My laundry would be done and not in piles (albeit clean piles, but piles nonetheless). My kid would be dressed every day, instead of being in jammies about 2-3 days a week... ALL DAY.
Picture the sun setting. It's about 6pm, and it's family time. You're playing on the floor with your tots, and your spouse is relaxing. Then, the question. The Question. "What should we do for dinner?". We look at each other and say in unison "Pizza? Pizza.".
That was before the juice cleanse. Today, my caveman hubster is happy with a little piece of steak and garlic bread, or a burger. Or hot dogs. Or anything else containing meat. Or PIZZA.
My Achilles' heel.
If you are reading this blog, you are either considering a juice cleanse, being judgemental about other's cleanses, ON a juice cleanse, or you like reading about healthy experiences and REALLY like pictures (I admit, I like blogs better when they have photos... really!).
Changing your life is HARD. Especially when you are an addict. It can be drugs, alcohol, sex, caffine... or food. My way of thinking after completing this cleanse has changed for the better, and I HATE it sometimes. I don't crave junk food, but I don't necessarily like the taste of healthy dishes. I have spent many sleepless nights thinking about recipes I used to enjoy and tweaking them significantly so they are healthy.
I thought juicing was tough, but the aftermath is a bit tougher.
One good thing (besides GREAT health!) to come of my recipe experimentation? THIS recipe! Enjoy hot, tasty bruschetta? This recipe is the bees knees! The only thing I change is the rosemary. I don't like spices I can feel with my tongue (ever watch Shallow Hal? I'm the best friend, but instead of being picky with women, I'm THAT picky with food). I use dried rosemary, put it in a zip-loc bag and smash it into powder with a hammer. Then I cut the amount in half and voilà! Delicious hot tomato goodness!
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Gym Tunage.
I have a pretty extensive playlist for my gym time, but these songs make me want to fist pump on the treadmill with no shame.
Open up your iTunes, and sample these ditties.
1. Tarzan Boy by Baltimora (great warm up song while you walk on the treadmill).
2. Africa (Claudio Tignanello Club Mix).
3. Bulletproof (Manhattan Clique Remix Radio).
4. Let It Be (Beatles cover), album is "Hits of the Beatles (Non-Stop Mix for Cardio Workouts, Treadmill, Walking, Jogging, Elliptical and Stair Climber)".
5. Don't Stop Believing (Workout Remix).
Yeah, save that Journey song for last, it is SUCH a pump-you-up song!
Open up your iTunes, and sample these ditties.
1. Tarzan Boy by Baltimora (great warm up song while you walk on the treadmill).
2. Africa (Claudio Tignanello Club Mix).
3. Bulletproof (Manhattan Clique Remix Radio).
4. Let It Be (Beatles cover), album is "Hits of the Beatles (Non-Stop Mix for Cardio Workouts, Treadmill, Walking, Jogging, Elliptical and Stair Climber)".
5. Don't Stop Believing (Workout Remix).
Yeah, save that Journey song for last, it is SUCH a pump-you-up song!
Friday, January 20, 2012
I'm SO [im]perfect, It's not even funny.
I'm not skinny, and I'm not going to pretend to be.
Yes, when you look at my before and after pictures, the difference seems VERY dramatic, but would you like to know how much I weigh?
140lbs. I am still curvy, and I will probably ALWAYS be proportioned this way... but I love it.
My goal for the juice cleanse was not JUST to lose weight, but to get my body healthy from the inside as well. It sounds cliché, but it's the truth. What kind of life can you live when you don't want your own husband to touch you, especially when he's a ruggedly handsome dude?
I've also never let the scale rule my life. Ever since I hit puberty, I've had some va-va-voom hips and a booty to match. In 8th grade, I won "Biggest Appetite" in the yearbook. My jeans size would always surprise my friends, because I carry my weight pretty well.
These classic lyrics define my body shape to a T: Baby Got Back. Ha.
Anyway, I think the main point I am trying to get people to realize is that I still look like a normal woman, and I have not suddenly transformed into some kind of Super-Healthinator. I still juice daily and eat WAY better than I ever have in my life, but I have my moments of weakness. My battle with food will be an ongoing conflict that I will probably have to deal with for the rest of my life.
So, for the readers who keep asking me "How much weight did you gain back?" and "What do you eat when you end the cleanse?", here are some additional Questions Answered, Part Deux.
1. Don't you just gain all of the weight back? Um, NO! 60 days gave me quite a long time to learn how to listen to my body. Going through this cleanse was like having an epiphany about eating. It didn't matter how many hours I spent at the gym, or how hard or how long I ran, because my diet stayed the same so my BODY stayed the same. My weight fluctuates about 5lbs both ways (which I think is the norm, right?). I am happy to say that I have a closet full of new jeans and I am lovin' the way they fit. :-)
2. What did you eat after the cleanse ended? Like you may have seen in a previous post, I had a fish taco as my first meal. I wish I could say I weaned myself back into solid foods by eating fruits, veggies and smoothies (as recommended by the Reboot team), but like I said... I am totally addicted to food. Once I knew my juice cleanse was almost over, my brain became FIXATED on fish tacos. The only other time I remember craving something that bad was
A. When I worked at Hooters (yeah, yeah, I know.) and I couldn't get enough of the hot buffalo shrimp. Those things are NO JOKE. Thank God I had a high metabolism.
B. When I was pregnant and I seriously could not get enough Pepsi into my system. I don't even DRINK soda (or coffee!), but if I could have safely absorbed Pepsi intravenously, I would have.
Folks, listen to the experts. If I could do it over again, I would have eaten raw foods. Unfortunately, I am impatient and imperfect, so I went as healthy as I could while still making something that would make my mouth happy. My stomach didn't hurt or bloat or anything similar (until I ate cheese), but I may have just been lucky...
3. I can't find the 60-Day program on the site...?? They don't actually have the 60-day cleanse that Joe Cross completed in the documentary as a program option on the Reboot website. It is a potentially risky, VERY difficult fast, and they probably want to play it safe by offering shorter versions. AGAIN, before diving headfirst into the full 60 days...
... TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR.
4. So, wait, you STILL aren't a doctor? Erm, no. As I said before, I am not a doctor, dietician, or nutritionist. All I can do is explain what worked for me, and back up my information with some linkage.
I don't know how to end this, so I just want all of you to know...
...that...
...I bought a Shake Weight.
Let the judgments begin. :-)
My most recent pictures are in the "Boudoir" post (that's all you get, ladies and gents)... healthy and working on myself. :-)
Yes, when you look at my before and after pictures, the difference seems VERY dramatic, but would you like to know how much I weigh?
140lbs. I am still curvy, and I will probably ALWAYS be proportioned this way... but I love it.
My goal for the juice cleanse was not JUST to lose weight, but to get my body healthy from the inside as well. It sounds cliché, but it's the truth. What kind of life can you live when you don't want your own husband to touch you, especially when he's a ruggedly handsome dude?
I've also never let the scale rule my life. Ever since I hit puberty, I've had some va-va-voom hips and a booty to match. In 8th grade, I won "Biggest Appetite" in the yearbook. My jeans size would always surprise my friends, because I carry my weight pretty well.
These classic lyrics define my body shape to a T: Baby Got Back. Ha.
Anyway, I think the main point I am trying to get people to realize is that I still look like a normal woman, and I have not suddenly transformed into some kind of Super-Healthinator. I still juice daily and eat WAY better than I ever have in my life, but I have my moments of weakness. My battle with food will be an ongoing conflict that I will probably have to deal with for the rest of my life.
So, for the readers who keep asking me "How much weight did you gain back?" and "What do you eat when you end the cleanse?", here are some additional Questions Answered, Part Deux.
1. Don't you just gain all of the weight back? Um, NO! 60 days gave me quite a long time to learn how to listen to my body. Going through this cleanse was like having an epiphany about eating. It didn't matter how many hours I spent at the gym, or how hard or how long I ran, because my diet stayed the same so my BODY stayed the same. My weight fluctuates about 5lbs both ways (which I think is the norm, right?). I am happy to say that I have a closet full of new jeans and I am lovin' the way they fit. :-)
2. What did you eat after the cleanse ended? Like you may have seen in a previous post, I had a fish taco as my first meal. I wish I could say I weaned myself back into solid foods by eating fruits, veggies and smoothies (as recommended by the Reboot team), but like I said... I am totally addicted to food. Once I knew my juice cleanse was almost over, my brain became FIXATED on fish tacos. The only other time I remember craving something that bad was
A. When I worked at Hooters (yeah, yeah, I know.) and I couldn't get enough of the hot buffalo shrimp. Those things are NO JOKE. Thank God I had a high metabolism.
B. When I was pregnant and I seriously could not get enough Pepsi into my system. I don't even DRINK soda (or coffee!), but if I could have safely absorbed Pepsi intravenously, I would have.
Folks, listen to the experts. If I could do it over again, I would have eaten raw foods. Unfortunately, I am impatient and imperfect, so I went as healthy as I could while still making something that would make my mouth happy. My stomach didn't hurt or bloat or anything similar (until I ate cheese), but I may have just been lucky...
3. I can't find the 60-Day program on the site...?? They don't actually have the 60-day cleanse that Joe Cross completed in the documentary as a program option on the Reboot website. It is a potentially risky, VERY difficult fast, and they probably want to play it safe by offering shorter versions. AGAIN, before diving headfirst into the full 60 days...
... TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR.
4. So, wait, you STILL aren't a doctor? Erm, no. As I said before, I am not a doctor, dietician, or nutritionist. All I can do is explain what worked for me, and back up my information with some linkage.
I don't know how to end this, so I just want all of you to know...
...that...
...I bought a Shake Weight.
Let the judgments begin. :-)
At my most miserable. No, Kristen! Don't eat the cake!
At my most memorable. Just a reminder that thin ≠ healthy.
My most recent pictures are in the "Boudoir" post (that's all you get, ladies and gents)... healthy and working on myself. :-)
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Comments Now Welcome!
I never thought I would have very many followers on this blog, and the only reason I had the old layout is because I thought it was lovely, but the catch was that no one could leave any comments!
Anybody should now be able to comment on posts, but let me know if it STILL isn't working!
Oh, and I made THIS and THIS and THISSSSSSS for my sister-in-law this evening, and once I perfect them I'll snap some pics and post the recipes (I always tweak them to my liking). The stuffed tomatoes were DIVINE, and the chip-filled raspberries were delicious AND a great little treat without overdoing it on sweets!
Anybody should now be able to comment on posts, but let me know if it STILL isn't working!
Oh, and I made THIS and THIS and THISSSSSSS for my sister-in-law this evening, and once I perfect them I'll snap some pics and post the recipes (I always tweak them to my liking). The stuffed tomatoes were DIVINE, and the chip-filled raspberries were delicious AND a great little treat without overdoing it on sweets!
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