The Next Hundred Pounds

DRAGGING

I am ever so slightly bummed this morning, because I gained back a little from yesterday. Now, this is perfectly normal, and I have been losing steadily for the last several days, but still, we don’t like to see the scale go up even a little. But as Beck says, a variety of factors go into those numbers every day, and you can’t let a little up-and-down upset you.  So I say to my scale, “Feh. I hope you’re in a better mood tomorrow!”

The real reason I am a little bummed is because today is the last day of February (Leap Year, y’all!) and thus my last chance to record weight loss for the month.  So I have to hope that as of tomorrow, that little bit extra is off. It may seem silly and obsessive, but it’s also a game, and making it into a game is one of the ways I motivate myself.  So stay tuned for the big report tomorrow (also, new picture time).

For the last several days, I have felt uncommonly tired. I know I haven’t been getting enough sleep; my hotel room faces a major highway located about two hundred feet away and despite my ear plugs, the traffic noises regularly wake me up too early. Also, my calls so far have all been in the late afternoon and evening, just when my energy typically sags. 

Yesterday was particularly difficult.  I was tired when I got up in the morning, and had to drag myself to the gym, where I chose to do one of my less strenuous routines so as not to tire myself further. The workout did perk me up a bit, but after lunch once again I felt like I just couldn’t get going. The staging is very active, so it takes a lot of energy. I wonder if I’m not getting enough protein?  Dragging through the afternoon rehearsal, I decided that maybe I was experiencing low blood sugar (which is unusual for me with my current diet), so I went ahead and had my planned snack, a protein bar, and did feel better.  I guess that while I am here I may need a little pick-me-up in the afternoons. That, and a nap! Since today’s schedule is not at all strenuous, I plan to save the workout for late afternoon, and also to eat just a little more protein and see if that helps. 

The good news is that I have not given in to any of my weird cravings, and they seem to be dying off, just a little. It’s just the whining of bad old habits, sensing a familiar situation and trying to reassert themselves.  Thanks to Beck, a new, stronger habit has taken their place, and when the litany of unhealthy desires begins its insidious song, it says sternly, “We don’t eat like that any more. We don’t even WANT to eat like that any more. Move on!” And it works.

I know that when you are mired in food dependence, it doesn’t seem like a few mere words could make a difference. I know, because I have been there, watching the people who have lost a lot of weight and people who were never fat to begin with talking about how they got it off, and thinking, "Yeah, that worked for you, but it would never work for me!" , as if I were such a special case.  But I also know that you can establish new, better habits to take the place of old ones, and that when you do practice those habits, a few of the right words said to yourself when you need to hear them make all the difference in the world.

URGES

For the last couple of days I have been tormented, off and on, by a brief and restless desire to eat something icky.  The road trip made me want to eat. We passed through Fredericksburg, cute little German town in the Hill Country, and even though I wasn’t hungry I fantasized about pulling off at one of the many bakeries that line Main Street for some delicious German pastry. (OK, Fredericksburg pastry does not, in fact, fall in the “icky” category. It falls in the “dangerously good” category. Just for the record).

Every convenience store where we stopped to get gas beckoned me with craptastic candy bars and low rent baked goods. Maybe it was the boredom of the drive --- maybe I just wanted to eat to entertain myself. I was perfectly happy with the picnic lunch we brought, and didn’t even eat all of mine.

Fort Stockton made me want to eat. It’s a depressing little desert town somewhere between San Antonio and El Paso, and let me tell you, it’s got a whole lotta nothin’ going on. We pulled off to get gas and coffee, and there was the Dairy Queen staring me in the face, beckoning me with its attractively packaged high-fructose corn syrup and artificial flavoring. I actually wanted some, for about five seconds. Then I realized that Fort Stockton was exerting some kind of evil depressing influence on me, and the only reason I wanted cheap soft serve ice cream was to MAKEITGOAWAY for the minute and a half it takes to eat a Dilly bar. I paid for that coffee pronto, hit the gas pedal, and laid down some rubber getting out of town.

El Paso makes me want to eat. Three or four times today I have wanted to pull over for fast food, or to buy ice cream. I don’t even like fast food. I’m not hungry. I can have ice cream as long as I plan for it. Besides, I have plenty of good food to cook at home, and I am hardly depriving myself. Hello, ginger chicken with stir-fried veggies and peanut sauce? Hello, my new love Dagoba dark organic chocolate with lavender and blueberries, or rose hips and raspberries? Hello, my favorite spinach salad with goat cheese and maple pecans? So not starving here.  So not deprived.

These urges have been so surreptitious and sneaky, that it wasn’t until today that I realized what was going on. Clearly what is happening here is an urge to emo eat, and I think it’s due to 1) the stress of singing for a new company and 2) the relative bleakness of the environment. El Paso is a desert city, sprawling below bald mountains, and to put it delicately, I have yet to see the pretty part of town. Reason Number 3 might be the echoes of old habit trying to reassert itself due to the familiarity of the situation. It might even be a presentiment of loneliness, since Eric goes home tomorrow.

I am not concerned that I am going to lose control. That particular Hyena of Doubt has pretty much had its furry butt kicked and sent back to the cave. But it’s important for me to acknowledge that these cravings are going on, to see them for what they are, and to understand why they are happening. They come out of the blue, not when I am actually confronted with food. So here’s my plan for handling these urges:

1.  Acknowledge that they are cravings inspired by emotion, not by a real desire for a particular food.
2.  Pinpoint the emotion that is triggering them, if I can, and address it.
3.  Distract myself from the idea of eating. (When in doubt, go work out! ;)
4.  Focus on my goals for the El Paso Challenge, and my progress so far (a real deterrent to unplanned eating)!
5.  Plan some treats this week to make sure I don’t feel deprived.

 When all else fails, I will chant one of my mantras: it’s just food. There will be more. I can have some another time.

Shoot, maybe I’ll even have a little bit of ice cream.

THE EL PASO CHALLENGE

Before and After --- the first picture is me at the beginning of October, en route to New Orleans.

And the second is me two days ago, en route to my next singing engagement.

Click on either picture to open it in a larger format!

For the next three weeks, I will be in El Paso, home of some very fine Tex-Mex (which happens to be one of the yummiest, fattiest, highest-cal and –carb cuisines) and a whole lot of chain restaurants from which the opera company I am singing for has generously solicited vouchers on the behalf of the singers. The hotel in which we are staying is like a scaled-down cruise ship, feeding people all the time. It offers a breakfast buffet, a manager’s reception with booze and snacks in the evenings, and dinner on weeknights --- all included in the price of your stay. The opera company is extremely hospitable and has volunteers bring quite a spread of snacks to rehearsals. And of course, there will be the usual round of parties, late night post-rehearsal debriefings-cum-munch sessions, and crazy schedules like the one I have today, 5:30 – 10:00 p.m. This is not Florida, people! Who eats dinner at 4:30?

There is also the challenge of long hours alone in a hotel room, far from loved ones and the distractions of home. There is the stress of the job. All of these can and do lead to emo eating.

But one thing I am coming to grips with is that this is my life. It is not an exception to the rule. It is not vacation, it is not a nonstop party, and above all, not one of the items listed above is a reason to eat poorly or overindulge. In my old way of life, they would have been.

Lately, however, I have noticed more changes in attitude. I still like to eat, and I will always like to eat. But I no longer have to eat. People who have never been troubled by eating disorders, regular emotional eating, or the inclination to overeat --- people who have never been fat and have never been ruled by food --- will probably not understand the significance of not having to eat. Some of them will think, “What’s the big deal? You’re not hungry, you don’t eat.”  That’s not how it works on Planet Plus. Fat people will instantly “get it”.  But they may not feel that it’s attainable for them. I’m here to tell you that if I can do it, anyone can.

Today, I refused to eat pancakes that weren’t up to par. I asked for toast instead, and I was happy with eating toast while everyone else around me was having fancier things. Tonight for dinner, I had a protein bar and an apple in order to accommodate a rehearsal schedule that went over the dinner hour. I prefer to have a hot dinner, especially when singing, but it just wasn’t possible and it wasn’t a big deal. I did not prowl around the goodie table at rehearsal, making eyes at the cookies and chips.  I didn’t even think about having a piece of cheese.

That’s the big point. I didn’t even think about it. That’s the proof that I really have changed.

Anyway, the El Paso Challenge. Since I am here for three weeks, I think a seven pound weight loss is a reasonable goal. I also am setting new exercise goals. These are: cardio for 30-60 minutes five to six times a week, with three of those being harder sessions on the elliptical or treadmill, and three being walks. Strength training three days a week.  One day completely off. I’m using a free program you can sign up for at Fitness Magazine --- there are several to choose from.  Special bonus: the opera company has gotten us free passes to a real gym, which means I’ll only have to deal with the wobby, waily elliptical provided by the hotel if I get in a bind. They take care of you in El Paso!

A new goal requires a new ticker! I invite you all to set your own three-week weight loss and exercise challenge. What will YOU do to attain your goals?

COOKING ON THE ROAD

Crunch time, my friends. I leave for El Paso on Sunday, and as always when preparing for a month on the road, there is much to be done. It’s about a nine-hour drive, and it’s always nice to have your own car (plus, you can TAKE MORE STUFF), so Eric and I are planning to drive.

Life on the road is a special challenge to those watching their weight, trying to eat healthy, and maintain an exercise routine. Restaurant food has a lot of hidden sodium and fat, even when you ask for special preparations (which I do). When you’re in a strange place, commonplace tasks like grocery shopping and laundry are just a little bit harder. You may or may not have reliable transportation. You don’t know where anything is, and maybe you can’t find the brands you prefer and are used to. You may be under time constraints due to the work you are there to do.  And if you’re a singer, you’re always looking out for the voice.

When you can take a little bit of home with you, it makes life on the road much easier. Luckily for me, this time around the opera company is housing us in a business hotel which features a full size kitchen.  I will be able to take a few good quality tools, including things like my little food scale and my small food processor.

My concern now is where I will shop. As far as I can tell, there are very few natural food stores in El Paso, and certainly nothing along the lines of Whole Foods. There’s a Sun Harvest, which is very much inferior; Albertson’s is probably the “nice” grocery store in town, and may carry a few organics. There are also some farmer’s markets; who knows what they have available in February.  I plan to play it safe; since I’m driving, I have the luxury of bringing goodies from home. I’ve already shopped for staples, and tomorrow morning will buy some organic produce, eggs, dairy, and frozen goodies which I’ll pack in a cooler.  Some of you are probably reading this and thinking, “Damn, she’s obsessive” but this is part of what I do to make my lifestyle changes work for me.  I have lost over seventy pounds, and I plan to lose more while I’m in El Paso.

Now, all of this is well and good, but what do you do when you can’t haul your groceries and favorite cooking utensils with you? Well, first of all, I have a kitchen box that I can mail to myself for gigs in which the hotel doesn’t have cooking facilities. It includes a single electric burner, which you can buy for about $10, and an electric skillet, as well as some small pots and pans and other needful. I am always careful to clean, unplug, and put away my cooking supplies before the maids come, since you never know if hotel management will object to your cooking in your room! I’ve never had a problem, but I’m also pretty careful.

Refrigeration is always an issue. Many hotels have minifridges that they will lend or rent you; I always ask ahead. If they have a minibar, I ask them to empty it and use that. My newest strategy is to check out Craigslist in any town I may be spending a lot of time in, and simply buying one of those little fridges. You can usually find them dirt cheap --- it’s worth $25 to have food storage for the month I’m there --- and at the end of the run I would simply donate it to the opera or to someone local. In a pinch, I’ve used ice chests. They are a pain, and you have to shop for your perishables every day, but it’s doable.

Also, if the hotel has a restaurant or room service, I’ve been known to borrow a couple of place settings for the duration.

It won’t always be possible for me to cook for myself on the road. I have a concert gig coming up that’s just too short to bother hauling all that stuff with me. Room service and eating out get awfully expensive, though, both in price and in calories. It’s better to find a grocery store and stock up on things that don’t need refrigeration (or that you can refrigerate overnight in the ice bucket; I’ve done this with things like yogurt, cheese, and hard-boiled eggs!).  Allow yourself one or two solid meals at a restaurant, but the rest of the time snack like a little kid. Carrot sticks can survive a couple of days without refrigeration, as can pears, apples, and bananas. Nut butters are always a good choice. Buy a couple of rolls or a loaf of bread, and vacuum packs of tuna. Take along some protein powder to mix with water or milk, or some high-quality protein bars. If you have a coffeemaker in your room, it will work just fine to heat soup, beans and other canned goods, or oatmeal.

It takes some creativity and determination, but you can eat well on the road.

Now, send me strength to survive, health intact, in the land of Really Good Mexican Food!

RECIPE OF THE WEEK: GUACAMOLE CON PICO DE GALLO

Since I was stuck in airport limbo on Sunday, I offer the Recipe of the Week a little late!

My one sure-fire anytime, anywhere hit is my homemade guacamole. People can’t get enough of it, and it is SO simple and healthy, especially if you use it to dress a salad of fresh greens or eat it with jicama instead of chips. Start with a batch of homemade pico de gallo, which is also a healthy way to spice up your morning eggs! I can’t eat my Thursday morning breakfast taco without it.

PICO DE GALLO

For all you Yankees out there, pico de gallo (translates as rooster’s beak!) is similar to salsa, but it’s chunky.

2 fresh tomatoes
1 large yellow onion
1 bunch fresh cilantro
1 fresh jalapeño pepper
½ fresh lime
Salt and pepper

Roughly chop the onion and tomatoes into small cubes about ¼ inch in diameter. Wash the cilantro thoroughly, chop off the stems close to the leaves, and process in a food processer until roughly chopped (or chop  with a knife). Combine all ingredients in a small bowl.

Clean, seed, and mince the jalapeño. If you’re not sure how spicy to make your pico, start with about one quarter of the pepper and add from there. The spiciness will increase slightly after the flavors have a chance to marry, so be conservative. Be careful not to touch your face or eyes until you’ve scrubbed every trace of the pepper juice from your fingers. Add the pepper to the bowl. Squeeze half a lime in. Salt and pepper to taste and mix well.

Allow the pico to rest at room temperature for a couple of hours to allow the flavors to marry.

GUACAMOLE

2 large avocados
½ bunch fresh cilantro
½ fresh lime
Salt and pepper
½  to ¾ cup fresh pico de gallo

Halve each avocado, discard the seed, and scoop the meat into a small bowl. If you prefer your guac crudo, mash with a fork. If you want it creamy, use a food processor and spin until smooth.  Chop or process your cilantro fine, and add it to the bowl. Add the pico de gallo to taste, then squeeze half a fresh lime over the guac, mixing well. Salt and pepper to taste.  Fresh guacamole should be served immediately; however, if you need to keep it for a short time, be sure to cover well with plastic wrap and give it a good stir before serving. It will keep for a day or two in the fridge. The top will oxidize to a repulsive brown color, but just mix it up and add a little more lime juice, and it will still be yummy and edible.

CROSSROADS

Hi-ho the glamorous life … this is coming to you live from the La Quinta Inn at Houston Intercontinental, where we have taken refuge after missing our connection. Continental lost our luggage (so much for Priority Handling) and we got ripped off by the surly Houston cab driver, but hey! We’re here, there's a bed, and there’s internet access! And since I’m totally wired now, you get your regularly scheduled post, which I wrote on the plane. See how much I love you? I like YOU the BEST. ;)  Now, down to business.

***

I was loose with my eating this weekend. I’ve done so well this whole time I’ve been doing Beck, and this weekend I really feel I fell off the wagon in a major way for the first time. It’s a bit of a landmark, really, because now I am at the crossroads. Now is the time I have to make a conscious decision to get back on track --- fully on track.

First, the confession. Bless me, Judith, for I have sinned: I ate too much of indulgence foods; I substituted items willfully on my food plan; I emo ate; I made excuses; and I strengthened my giving in muscle instead of my resistance muscle. (BTW, I read today on the CNN website that there really, truly is such a “muscle” in the brain. Who knew?).

The truth is, although I enjoyed the food, and I did employ some restraint as well as some of my indulgence rules (adding extra exercise being a biggie), I don’t feel so good about it now. I am dreading getting on the scale tomorrow. I am kicking myself for so easily failing to employ the techniques I’ve been learning for the past five months.

And of course, kicking yourself is just what you should NOT do under the circumstances.

What you should do is shrug, tell yourself, “Ugh. Well, that was stupid and unpleasant, so let’s not do it again, righto? Now, see that wagon over there? Just march yourself right over and haul your lumpy ass up on it. There’s a good girl.”

And that is what I plan to do. For the next several days, I am on the austerity plan. Mostly veggies and fruit, with some lean protein and a tiny leeettle beeet of carb and fat. I will be hitting the gym AND walking the dogs. Drinking as much water as I can choke down.

And I will take my medicine and get on the scale. I will not beat myself up about what I see there. If it goes up, I will stand there and wave and say, “Hi, calamari. Hi, lamb tatine. Hellooooo cheesecake!” It’s important to greet them. I will not be seeing any of these dear friends again for some time to come.

And now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to lace up my jogging shoes. I have a wagon to catch.

 

TRAVELOGUE AND FOOD DIARY

Just a brief update and report. Eric and I have been in New York since Valentine’s Day, and we find ourselves assailed by delicious options on all sides. We were too exhausted from our V-Day travels to do any fancy celebration, so instead we went to my favorite neighborhood diner for lunch. I had one of their terrific salads (too big to finish!) and Eric enjoyed a succulent lamb sandwich. Then it was a trek uptown for my voice lesson. For dinner, we went to my favorite Greek restaurant, Niko’s, and shared calamari, taramosalata, lamb shank corfu, and giankopita. Needless to say, that was an indulgence meal!

Yesterday we ate lighter, and did a lot of walking around town and in Central Park. I had a coaching and also did a consultation. Eric strolled around Central Park while I did that. We visited my favorite spots for terrific cheap bling: Leila Rowe and Backwoods. My mom loves the chunky necklaces I bring her, and I scored an armful of sparkly bracelets, a couple of funky necklace and earrings for myself, and some goodies for Mom as well. We’d hoped to pick up some last-minute tickets to the Met, but with Fleming singing, they were sold out of all except the Average Person’s Mortgage Payment Seats. So, we went  across the street and had a wonderful sushi dinner at Sushi-a-Go-Go instead.

Today we had planned to have a substantial breakfast (which we did) and a very light lunch of protein bars and nuts as we hiked around Fort Tryon Park, but after my voice lesson, my agent wanted to take us to lunch, so we again went to a neighborhood diner. I stuck to my salad and felt good about it. Then we headed uptown. We did a great deal of walking up very steep hills in the cold at Fort Tryon Park, and enjoyed beautiful views of The Cloisters and the Hudson River in the late afternoon sunshine. Then it was time to meet friends for dinner, so we walked 10 blocks to a fabulous little unsung gym, Park Terrace Bistro (close to 207^th and Broadway). I’ve eaten there a couple of times and am always pleased by the beautiful Moroccan décor and menu, and the attentive waitstaff. The food is always terrific, too. We started with a mixed appetizer plate consisting of small bowls of hummus, roasted red peppers, roasted eggplant, falafel, lamb sausages, and pita. Eric and I split the goat cheese almond salad with orange honey vinaigrette while our friends opted for the feta-poached pear-candied pecan salad. They shared a dish of 15^th Century Cous-Cous, which features tender shrimp and scallops over tiny pasta pearls. We had the lamb tatine, which was similar to the Greek preparation we’d had at Niko’s, but with very different flavors. Both are cooked in a clay pot (the Moroccan one is rather spectacular looking, with a tall triangular “chimney” for a lid), but the Moroccan version is seasoned with stewed prunes and raisins, among other delicious things. For dessert I had a tiny chocolate cake (rather like those “volcano cakes” that have a warm, chocolately filling) and a scoop of homemade ice cream. Eric enjoyed their delicious pear tart. We were very happy we’d shared the appetizer and entrée!

Although neither of us had overeaten, we really felt a need for more exercise. So, we got off the subway two stops early and walked thirty blocks home. I have no idea whether I’ve gained or maintained while here --- certainly I’ve had some indulgences but I have also really tried to balance those with light eating on other days and a lot of walking --- but the truth will out Monday morning!

While I give myself credit for not overeating (and for turning down free cupcakes at Starbuck’s THREE TIMES), in the interests of honesty and facing my food decisions head on, I must acknowledge that I’ve been looser with my eating on this trip than I would like. Therefore, we are passing up another feast opportunity that’s been offered for tomorrow, and plan to eat modestly (and do a lot more walking). I have a response card for this:

It’s just food. There will be more. I can have some another time.

EXHAUSTING THE DACHSHUNDS

Amy wrote, “So, I'm going to ask a question which I hope you can answer. How did you turn the corner about making exercise not a choice? I am in an incredibly stressful day job at the moment, and can barely drag myself home, let alone go to the gym.”

Amy, I am not a natural gym bunny. I am not an athlete. On my list of fun things to do, sports are right on up there with mathematics and dentist visits. I know there are people who do them for fun, but I’d rather have a Brazilian bikini wax without Valium than run a marathon, attempt to solve an equation, or get a cavity filled.

For people like me, in order for an exercise program to stick, there are several basic requirements:

1. You have to make time for it. Regular time, carved out of your day. This might mean giving up some couch potato time. We make time for the things that are important to us. Furthermore, it’s not enough to simply say to yourself, “I’ll TIVO ‘Desperate Housewives of Orange County’ and spend that time at the gym today.” You have to schedule it. Write it into your weekly calendar. Program it into your PDA and set the alarm.
2. You have to find something you like, or at the very least can tolerate. If the thought of working out at a gym brings back humiliating memories from high school, buy a couple of exercise DVDs and some barbells and work out in the privacy of your home. If you like to walk but live in a climate where many months of the year the weather will be too miserable to be outside, consider finding a place to climb stairs, invest in a mini trampoline, join a class at a community gym (as opposed to a commercial one; there will be more soccer moms and grannies, and fewer gym bunny hardbodies), or find some DVDs you like. Plug: I am partial to Petra Kolber. Fun dance workouts that anyone can do; and unlike some of them, she gives step by step instructions.
3.  It has to be easily accessible. You are not, on a regular basis, going to drive to a gym or a park that’s more than ten minutes away. You’re not going to rearrange your living room furniture every time you want to do your DVDs. You’re not going to haul dusty equipment out of the closet  under  the stairs or remove the load of dirty clothes from the handles of your treadmill. So when you’re choosing your exercise and scheduling time for it, also schedule time to research, clean up, or create a physical space in your life and your home to exercise.  There are several ways you can do this.  First, and easiest, simply choose a form of exercise that requires nothing more than exiting your front door and getting on your bike, or leashing up the dogs and walking the neighborhood. If you plan to do indoor exercise at home, take the time to clear a space which you can enter directly begin to exercise. Make sure you have everything you need there, all the time, so you don’t have to go looking for a DVD or your yoga mat. Store it in the room where you plan to exercise. If you plan to work out at a gym, choose one that’s close to home or work. Keep your gym bag packed with everything you need. Do it nightly and set it by the door so you won’t forget it. At first it may seem like a time-consuming chore, but as you get into the routine of it, it will no longer be a big deal.
4.  You have to have the proper clothing and equipment to make it enjoyable or at least doable. This means good shoes; clothing that fits well, moves well, and breathes well; any equipment you plan to use (such as a bike, DVD player, treadmill, dumbbells, etc.) in good repair and easily accessible. Splurge a little on the good quality stuff; it will make your workouts more enjoyable and therefore more likely to happen. And don’t wait until you lose twenty pounds to get new togs; you need nice ones that fit well, look good, and suit the workout right now. Again, you’ll be more likely to do it if you’re properly outfitted and feeling good about yourself.
5.  You have to have entertainment , if you are one of those people who find exercise for the sake of exercise boring. In this case, you need a workout partner with whom you can gossip; a music device loaded with tunes that get your blood pumping and make you want to shake your booty; an engaging Podcast (This American Life is my fave) or book on tape; a cell phone so you can talk while you walk (not for gym use, please, unless you’re actually hoping one of your fellow patrons will brain you with a dumbbell and put everyone out of your misery); a good book or newspaper to read on the treadmill or elliptical or bike.

When you’ve taken care of these basics, exercise will be much more intuitive, easy to do, and enjoyable. You may not make the mental connection at first --- it may be a chore for quite some time --- but eventually, it will be routine and I’m willing to bet by that time you will secretly enjoy it and miss it if you go too long without what my friend MezzoE calls a Moving of the Butts.

Personally, I  love the outdoors. I don’t mind moving my body if there are interesting things to look at. I like to bike. I like to hike.  Walking is good, easy, and cheap. Also, I own Dachshunds. Highly energetic, active, opinionated Dachshunds who have no compunction whatsoever about loudly announcing that it’s time to go on a walk, and keeping after me up until the moment the door opens and we go out. Did I mention they like to jog, and appear to share ancestry with sled dogs? Who knew thirty pounds of Dachshund could nearly pull a grown, overweight woman off her feet?  So this is where I started, just walking the dogs. Pretty soon, a new game emerged: Exhausting the Dachshunds. If I could exhaust Les Saucisses before they exhausted me, it was a satisfying workout.

After a while, it wasn’t enough to Exhaust the Dachshunds. I rejoined the gym so I could use the elliptical, which I also enjoy when I have some obnoxious, bass-heavy, 80’s rock-n-roll to keep me moving. The more I do it, the more I need longer workouts, greater resistance. Now I’m looking into personal trainers, to add some strength training into my program. The great thing is that, at least for me, I’m ready to add something new just about the time you’d expect the old workout might be getting stale, or my metabolism might need a boost. It’s important to me for the whole thing to be intuitive.

So this is where you start, if you are a couch potato. What do you like to do, or what did you used to enjoy, when you were a kid? Before adult responsibilities consumed your life? What can you envision yourself doing for half an hour, three days a week?

And if you really, really can’t see yourself doing a regular 30 minute routine, start even smaller. Load up your CD player with some dance tunes and climb up and down your stairs, or jog in place, or dance, for three songs. Then go about your day. Do it again later. Or do as our friend Twyla brilliantly does --- drop and do pushups or jumping jacks while you’re waiting for the washing machine to finish up. Jog in place during the commercials. Set your kitchen timer for five minutes and skip rope.

Finally, making exercise not a choice is a product of logical thinking, as any cognitive therapist would tell you and Beck certainly does. If it’s still hard for you to make the leap, I suggest writing some reminders for yourself. I have a couple that say things like, “Exercising and eating healthy on a daily basis are ways I show love to myself.” “Daily exercise is a non-negotiable part of my plan to stay healthy.” And even, “Exercise makes me look and feel great! I like it!”

Now. Get out there and exhaust your Dachshunds, everyone!

DON'T WAIT TO FEEL GREAT!

I am feeling extra sassy today, because I had my hair cut by the fabulous Jean Barton at Path Salon. Not only does she do a fantastic job of cutting it, she styled it up all purty. I needed a party to go to after that! (I only went to the grocery store and gym. But I was SASSAH)!

Feeling so good made me think. When I was heavier, there were long periods of time when I did not bother to dress up, put on makeup, or style my hair. This was not because I felt bad about myself or had some idea that I didn’t “deserve” to look nice or even that I was incapable of it; I have never equated my weight with my self-worth. I just got lazy. Unless I am singing, I do a lot of my work from home, and it’s easier to throw on a t-shirt and jeans than to get all dolled up.

And there’s absolutely nothing wrong with being comfortable, especially when you’re working around the house, except that after a while, sloppiness in dress leaks over into sloppiness in other parts of your life. Furthermore, sloppiness gets to be a habit. It seems like a lot of work to dress up, and before you know it … YOU ARE A SCHLUMP, sitting around in your pajamas until after noon and running to the grocery store in a stained t-shirt and the bra that makes you look like you’re wearing a couch cushion under your shirt.

Here’s the thing, though: looking nice makes you feel nice. It’s worth taking a little extra effort to wear a well-put-together outfit, a little makeup, and hair that you’ve done more than run a brush through. Not only will you look better, but you will feel better. And that little boost will carry over into everything else you do.  When I look and feel like a million bucks, the last thing I want to do is eat. I’m too busy being Fabulous and having a Fabulous life.

So, if you’re hard at work changing your lifestyle to look and feel healthier, don’t wait until you reach your goal to start upgrading your hairstyle, your makeup, your wardrobe! Especially if you’ve had that same hairstyle for more than three years, it’s time to think about a change. It needn’t be drastic, but it’s definitely time to freshen up. Same goes for the makeup --- do you apply the same colors the same way every day? Do you wear a lot, or none at all? Try taking a full-length photo of yourself every day for a week. Do you like what you see? Does that outfit really flatter you? Is your favorite pair of jeans starting to look a little ratty?

Give yourself a boost right now , and fix yourself up a little. Wear a cheery color tomorrow. Spend a little extra time on your hair. Try a new lipstick color.

You might be surprised what it does for your diet!

YOU LOOK MAHVELOUS MONDAY!

Introducing a new feature here at The Next 100 Pounds! Do you look mahvelous? Send me a pic and tell me about your outfit! What about it makes you feel mahvelous? I’ll post your pic on Monday.

 Here’s mine:

This is a red satin trench coat from Jones NY, paired with a JTB cream and black tank top, black knit bootcut slacks from Lane Bryant, and mules from The Avenue. The necklace and earrings came from Steinmart.

The trench coat is a new look for me, and one I never thought I’d embrace. But since Tim Gunn listed them as a fashion basic, I decided to open my mind and at least try one on. Turns out it’s a flattering look for me. And you don’t get much sassier than red satin! Plus, it fits one of my other diehard fashion rules: it was on sale. Big sale. Ka-ching!

Now it’s your turn … share your fashion finds and favorites!