The holidays.

Food. That's really all I think about during the holidays. I mean, there's presents and family and Christ's birth and everything too, but it's all centered around food! One of the doctors I work with was talking to a patient last week and I over heard their conversation. The patient was talking about trying to lose weight and how it wasn't working, no matter how much she exercised. Then, the doctor said something we've all heard before: "it's all about your diet". She said that if you really want to lose weight, watch what you eat. That's so hard during the holidays!!! 

My husband, Danny, and I are going to my family's house in Wyoming for Christmas. There's not a ton to do in Wyoming, as one might imagine. So, all we really do is watch movies and EAT! A whole week of eating is what I have to look forward to. 

I had a friend present an interesting idea to me as I was complaining about the week of eating. She suggested that it might be a good time to get a head start on those New Years resolutions by doing some sort of detox or cleanse during the week. I'm not working, I have no place to be so being in the compromising position of removing toxins from my body might not be as incovient. It's a thought. 

I feel like every year, I tend to go a bit overboard with the eating during the holidays because I plan on starting a diet on January 1st anyway. Maybe this year will be different? What does your diet look like during the holidays? Any tips or tricks? 

Mid-Winter Motivation

Basically, I have no motivation in the middle of the winter. Its cold and dark and all I usually want to do it get home, eat, and snuggle up with my book. Even though I have work out facilities at work and plenty of time to exercise at work, I still don't do it. All I can think about is the fact that I'll probably sweat, then I'll have to take a shower. Do I really want to take a shower in the middle of the day with my co-workers and patients right outside the door. No. In the summer its not that hard around here to get a bit of exercise in during the week. We've always got friends inviting us to go hiking or water skiing or swimming or biking. Fun exercise, not "I have to exercise now" exercise. So, How do you motivate your self to exercise during this time of year?

My husband and I bought a house and just moved in this weekend! We are so excited about it!! Its big and beautiful and my parents keep telling me that its time to fill it up with babies. As I was unpacking last night, I came across the swimsuit box. Yikes! There's your mid-winter motivation right there! Just looking at them was enough to convince me that I didn't need to eat that cookie after dinner. I wasn't even brave enough to try any of them on.

Let's motivate each other! Help!

In the past...

If you, like me, have obsessed over your weight for years, its possible that you might have tried some questionable diets in order to drop a lot of poundage quickly. I mean, that's all we really want right? To lose weight quickly and easily. Honestly, think of how many diet companies now boast that their product makes you "lose weight fast without changing your diet or exercise program!" I've tried them. They don't work. (Unless your idea of "working" includes pooping your guts out for 3 days and losing 4 pounds only to gain it all back the day after you get off the diet.) 

My workplace sells a detox system. The goal of the detox it to literally remove all the access toxins from inside your body. Here's an outline of the program:

21 days total

Days 1-7 fruits and veggies ONLY+ cleanse supplement 7 pills taken 3 times daily + powder concoction in a shake 3 times daily. 

Days 8-10 continue with fruits and veggies ONLY and powder shakes adding a different pill supplement

Days 11-15 Slowly add up to 35g of lean protein daily while continuing to eat mostly fruits and veggies +powder +pills

Days 15-21 This is your new life, get used to it. + powder +pills

By day 21, the goal is to be free of most toxins in your body, no longer be addicted to salt, sugar, fat, carbs and everything else tasty, and to never desire to eat anything but organic fruits and veggies and the occasional lean protein ever again.. 

Its hard. I did great on days 1-2. After that, it went downhill. I truly believe that this system could work but it is not a weight loss program; its a detox with a possible side-effect of weight loss. I was in it for the wrong reasons. While I did lose about 6 pounds in those first few days, I didn't reap the benefits intended by the plan.  I was looking for an easy way to lose a few pounds. It was too hard, so I gave up. 

I've decided to wake up from this idea of finding a magic pill. I've wasted years looking while I could have just been eating healthy and exercising. I do have a goal of completing the detox someday, but I'd like to have healthier eating habits down before I start so hopefully its easier not to cheat. 

What diets have you tried? Results? Goals for the future?

My Co-Workers

I work at a wonderful place filled with wonderful people. I can truly say that I love my job. How many people can honestly say that? I work at a Sports Rehab and Chiropractic facility in Seattle Washington. That's right, sports rehab... 

This means that most everyone I work with is very active and very healthy. I love it! But I also hate it. I sit here, at work, drinking my double shot, soy, no water, chai tea latte feeling awesomely guilty. Why? Well, because I feel like I have to hurry and drink it before a certain doctor gets here and chastises me about how much better a smoothy would be for me than a coffee for breakfast. This is the number one reason I don't like "healthy" people. For some reason, they tend to have this need to share their infinite wisdom with every poor pudgy person they come into contact with. 

There is definitely an optimistic view of working where I do. I mean, it really does make me want to be healthier. Besides wanting to get out from under the pudge cloud that hangs over me, and only me, at work, I get to see the ill effect of access weight on our patients every single day. We are, first and foremost, a chiropractor's office. Chronically overweight people experience chronic pain. Back pain, knee pain, hip, ankle, and foot pain, poor circulation, respiratory problems, and a whole slew of other problems that can only be treated here, not fixed. And right now, my back hurts...

What is the point of talking about where I work? I suppose its to point out that those who suffer from a poor self-image are surrounded by reminders every day. It doesn't matter what you don't like about yourself, or where you work or who you hang out with. I know that you compare yourself to anyone and everyone who walks by. I know because I do it too. 

If you're taking the time out of your day to read this blog, it might be because you can identify with what you're reading. Perhaps you desire change and improvement as much as I do. Maybe you're looking for a friendly stranger you can be accountable to just like I am. Don't be shy. Join me. If you're like me, you've started at square one a hundred times over when it comes to healthy living. Let's start at square one together. I promise I will cheat. But I will be honest, positive, and as entertaining at possible. 

And please, enjoy the stupid latte.  

So, there's this break-out new blogger...

Every blogger hopes to be a famous blogger with millions of followers, tweeters, pinners, re-bloggers, likers, sharers, and otherwise tech-savvy, social media addict readers. I don't count myself out. Tons of the most famous bloggers in the sphere are wise-cracking, tell-all types with a talent for pointing out the ugly truths about all sorts of subjects. I don't count myself out of this either. There are countless concords of fitness and nutrition blogs that talk about the authors' recent, successful journey to a healthier, happier and skinnier life. This is where I digress. 

I'm still fat. 

Fat is such a subjective word. We all know that one girl who says she's sooooo fat but clearly she's not. (If you're that girl, go away. ) I think I'm fat but for the interest of correctness, we'll say "overweight". 

I'm 5'4, 24 years old, female and 175 (give or take) pounds. I'm actually quite average in the grand scope of America. I'm not delusional. I see other people and think, "thank heavens I'm not THAT fat" or "sheesh, I better not look like that from behind". 175 pounds is a large shirt and size 12-14 jeans. Average. 

This is me this past summer hiding behind a baby... Isn't the baby so cute!?

This blog is more about being accountable than sharing all my secrets to getting skinny. Clearly, I have no secrets. This is where people can come, identify, advise, lament, laugh, or struggle along side me. If no one reads this... Oh well.