This Winter Layer Ain't Cashmere

Brought out your fat pants yet?  I have.  I'm having a real problem, not just in the wardrobe department, but with food.  It just tastes so damn GOOD.  Thanksgiving through New Year's should just be called Food Season.  I even insisted we go with the shorter, wider Christmas tree this year just so I can stand next to it and look lithe and wonderful.  Ha!  Hopeless, I know.

I also fell off the workout wagon.  A couple months ago I sprained my right ankle, then a couple weeks later I sprained my right big toe pretty badly.  Then of course there was the big blistery burn I got when I dropped boiling spaghetti sauce on my right foot, and the possible fracture I sustained when I tried to catch a full *glass* jar of peanut butter with my right foot.  Toes don't like being smashed like that...they're still talking about it.  Sorry, right foot.  I didn't mean it.

It was easy to justify not working out when I couldn't do half the workouts in my classes, but despite my foot's propensity for injury, I haven't gone back now that I'm pretty much healed and fully capable.  At this point it is just laziness, though the couple of pounds I've put on isn't motivating me to go out in public in stretchy pants, either. 

This time of year there is some magical, mystical force that forces us to shove food down our throats when it isn't physiologically necessary.  I have succumbed to the force...even joined the Dark Side.  We're putting on our winter layer.  No, truly, we are putting on a winter layer of fat as insulation, to acclimatize our bodies.  Your body wants you to gain weight.  It's for real science, dude.  Hormone regulation and fat storage are way different in winter than in spring or summer.  Your body's production of Leptin gets all screwed and your body thinks its starving.  I know, right?!  WTF!  So your body produces appetite stimulating hormones so you eat more.

Its a goddam biological conspiracy!

I'm not saying this weight gain is healthy for us, no no.  Let's not get carried away.  I'm just giving an excuse for the lapses in judgement we suffer when standing in front of a table full of luscious, ooey gooey chocolately fruity frosted cream filled desserts.  Science.

With all the holiday gatherings going on, it's easy to load up on all the appetizers, booze, rich foods, booze, desserts, boozy desserts, dessert-y booze... and it's adding up.  FAST.  What's a fatty to do?!

My big idea is to eat healthier at home between all the parties.  I tried not eating at all and ended up binging at the end of the day, so I scratched that plan.  Of course working out at least a little bit would help compensate for the 7,000 (so I heard!) calories I consumed at Thanksgiving, and in leftovers every day thereafter for at least 4 days.  Yesterday at the grocery store I bought the monster pack of salad for $5, hoping the price would inspire me not to let it rot in the produce drawer of my fridge.  We'll have to see about that.

I'm so not going to get all preachy on you and say this is the perfect time to start some insane workout program, but if you're suffering like I am, here's a couple things to think about doing for damage control:

1.  Lighten the f*ck up.  Stress is one of the biggest factors in weight gain.  Need some help?  STRESS RELIEF.  It works.  I take it A LOT.  Also, levels of seratonin drop in the winter, causing you to experience all kinds of bullshit.  Try some Vitamin D!

2.  Take only cash to the grocery store.  This will (hopefully) force you to forego the junky empty calorie snack foods which tend to be kind of pricey.  *Disclaimer:  Do NOT go to the store with 400 bucks in your pocket. 

3.  Go walk around the block.  Just once.

4.  If you're at a food holiday party, have your steak or other main protein course, but go waaaay light on the creamy side dishes.  Load up on the cleanest-looking vegetables on the table. And eat them first.  The veggies will take up some valuable real estate in your stomach and keep you from overeating the bad stuff.

5.  Last but not least, when you're out shopping and get hungry do NOT swing into the nearest fat food joint.  Throw a protein meal bar or snack bar and a bottle of water in your purse.  It's enough to hold you over till you can get home and eat some of that $5 salad.

Don't forget...stuff like B vitamins regulate your blood sugar and keep cravings down and energy up.  My suggestion is to take two every morning.  If you like hot or cold tea, try this...a little caffeine + hunger suppressant = happiness.

Now go get 'em, tigers!

Thanks Be To Dog

Ever heard that owning a pet can be good for your health?  It's so true.  There have been actual scientific studies done that prove that having certain pet-friends will actually reduce stress and blood pressure in owners, increase longevity in those who've had heart attacks, and even relax and improve the appetites of Alzheimer's patients.  I've been trying to get numerous family members on the cat bandwagon for years, but they all resist (of course).  Pshaw.

It appears that pretty much any stress-related disorder, or any condition/sickness/disease/whatever that is affected or aggravated by stress can be helped by having a pet.  Isn't that amazing?  It makes so much sense.  If you have a pet, go love it up for a minute...it's a total stress reducer!  And they love you back so unconditionally, you can't help but to feel better.  

More than 57% of American households have pets of some sort.  And many of those have more than one.  That's 57% of people that are benefiting from having animals in their lives.  Personally, our zoo consists of one dog, two cats, a guinea pig, and a rat.  There was a toad, but I liberated him recently. 

Aside from the cleaning of cages, discoveries of chewed items, stepping on cold hairballs first thing in the morning, wretched dog breath, barf, pee, poo, hair, etc., our pets have made a big difference in our house, especially for me.  You may have seen my previous blog about pet products, highlighting the beauty queen that is our dog, Stella.  She makes me happy.  She makes me laugh.  We spoon.  She keeps me warm.  She gives me warm fuzzies.  She knocked me down once and I sprained my ankle.  I can hug her when I'm sad, and when I'm raging one look at her goofy face will always make me crack.

Further proof?  I sure will be sad when she dies. 
See?!  Pet = happy.  No pet = sad.

It's a well known (and glaringly obvious) fact that walking your dog every day will help get you active.  How much more true could that be?  If you don't have the motivation to get up and out by yourself, and as long as you would love and take care of it, why not get a dog?  I suppose you could walk a cat, but really if you know anything about cats you know that won't work.  Cats have their own agenda.  Of course there are those that put their pets in special pet strollers.  Hey, if it gets you out and active, I'll try really hard not to think you're weird.

Getting your pet (and yourself) out the door everyday is helpful in other ways, too.  When you're out walking your dog and getting exercise, you run across others doing the same.  You may socialize with these new folks that you may have never seen before if it wasn't for your walks.  New friends - new outlook - exercise and fresh air - better mood.  Dogs can help socially anxious people break the ice.

If you don't have the schedule, availability, or home available to be a dog owner, then volunteer to walk someone else's!  Or see if your local pound would let you walk dogs daily or weekly!  Hey, 57% of your friends and neighbors are pet owners, you know.

Pets can also prevent loneliness.  The majority people who have pets consider them a companion instead of property, and 97% of those people admitted to talking to their pets.  The other 3% lied, cause they totally do too.  They should just admit it.  I talk to the dog and cats constantly, especially when there's no one else home. It's just as good as talking to yourself.

So, there you have it.  Improve your overall health with a pet.  As long as you're not allergic or terrified of animals.  I don't think having a pet and being terrified of it will help you in any way.  If you're considering a pet for any reason, be sure you have the time, resources, and living conditions to provide the care they need and deserve! 

Who are you, anyway?

As many are, my business is about people.  I also like to get in other people's business, but that's neither here nor there.  My business is to help people get as healthy as possible, educate them so they make better choices, and heckle them incessantly until they listen to me.  FYI, I like being listened to.

Part of the social marketing training process is to figure out your 'sphere of influence'.  This is anyone and everyone that you 'touch'.  NO, you perv, not literally.  If your life touches their life in some way, they can be counted in your sphere.  Most of us have several hundred people we can count, whether we realize it or not.  Family, friends, co-workers, those are just the obvious.  The ones you might not think of...the lady at the post office, the one that stands behind you at Body Pump and admires your triceps, the cashier at the grocery store.  People that you don't even know their name, or in some cases, what they look like. Lots of people, lots and lots, influencing each other all over the place.

What we directly or indirectly influence people to do is a big part of who we are.  So, who are you?  And, now that you know that you have the potential to influence so many...what would you influence them to do?

Be trendy and wear particular clothes, or a particular bag.  Use a particular type of cell phone.  Wear a particular brand of work out clothes.  Walk a certain dog wearing a certain sweater on a particular street?  Maybe, but these things we can do without trying, and without making the other person's life any better or any worse.  I'm not a big fan of small dogs so I'd have to say maybe in the case of the dog it would be worse, but whatever.

How about if you set out specifically to influence people to only buy certain types of food or start a healthy eating plan?  Or to start a workout program?  It would probably improve the person's quality of life, and there you go being influential in a GOOD way.  Nice job, you!!  Doesn't it feel good?!

That's why I do what I do.  It makes me feel good.  It's part of who I am and I spread it around like butter, on everyone and everything I touch.  Shut up, that's not gross.  Our sphere of influence grows and changes all the time.  The opportunities that come up with these changes are invaluable to us, no matter what we are influencing.  I want to be sure that I am influencing positively, and I hope you do too.  Of course, being in business, there are business aspects to influencing my sphere too.

I was at a Shaklee event this past weekend where there were 12 guests, all part of my sphere.  They listened and learned, and bought a bunch of stuff that will improve their quality of life.  I'm influencing people in a very positive way that makes them feel good and be healthier. They will tell their families and friends, go to work and tell their co-workers, and onward and upward it grows and grows.  That's how I've grown my business as much as I have and have the success that I do, and you could too, by the way.  Sphere of influence!  And I can say with satisfaction that I'm a pretty darn good influence.  Who. I. Am.

So, have you figured it out yet?  You've got to be careful with this, cause it's a powerful tool - use the power of your sphere for good not evil!  If you would...think about it.  Then answer the question, and be sure to tell me cause inquiring minds want to know.

Who are you, anyway?

Mummy Dearest

We all know that processed convenience foods are not good for us.  Right?  RIGHT?  Of course we know that.  One of the reasons...as if we needed another...is preservatives.  What I'm about to tell you, be it hearsay or not, may convince you to never eat another 'preserved' food again.  Apparently, Americans consume so many preservative-laden foods each and every day that when we die, our bodies are not decomposing like they should.  Everything about that is just GROSS.

Did you know that typical grocery store brands of vitamins are so full of synthetic ingredients, that when port-o-potty companies clean them out they find whole vitamins in the holding tanks?  Those aren't the kind of vitamins I'd want to take.  I mean, what's the point?  I've heard the ridiculous argument before about why you shouldn't bother paying more for quality vitamins...the only difference it makes is that you have expensive pee.  I guess the port-o-potty findings take that to a whole new level.

You know all those food packages and signs at fast-food restaurants that claim 'No Trans Fats!'?  I'm sure you've seen them and been comforted by their presence.  Did you know that when you eat a food that contains hydrogenated oils that when your body processes them they get turned into trans fats?  Did you know?  Well you do now.  Nice marketing ploy guys, but we're on to you.

Don't fall for these advertising scams that claim 'corn sugar' (high fructose corn syrup) is a natural product.  No it's not!!  By whose freaking dumb ass standards???  Since HFCS has gotten such a bad rap, industry will try and cover their asses by changing the same to something so harmless sounding as 'corn sugar'.  How dumb do they think we are?  At this point I would hope that we are all aware of the damage that HFCS does to our bodies.  If not, read up folks.  Educate yourselves.  However natural the (GMO, but that's a whole different blog) ingredients used to make HFCS or corn sugar started out, rest assured that by the time they make it onto the shelf in the grocery store they have been processed beyond the point that they can be recognized as a natural food item.

I repeat, educate yourselves.  The government is not looking out for us.  The FDA and USDA have taken on a whole new meaning in my vocabulary, and those letters stand for something I shouldn't write here.  The best we can do is arm ourselves with knowledge.  We can all be healthier, and it really doesn't mean making huge extreme changes.  Pay attention to what you eat.  Read labels in the grocery store and have a list of ingredients that you avoid.  If that's too much work, then at least stick to the outer rim of the grocery and skip all the processed stuff in the middle.  None of us needs it.  I may have eaten a big, fat, beautiful reuben sandwich yesterday, but you bet it was organic pumpernickel bread, and organic 1000 Island, and organic sauerkraut.  Maybe the ingredients aren't the healthiest to begin with, but splurging on a less than ideal meal once in a while isn't going kill you as long as you put it together with the best ingredients you can. 

A friend of mine posted a blog today about how important it is that we take care of ourselves and I couldn't agree more. You're the only one of you there is and you've only got one body and it shouldn't end up mummified because of your diet.  No one else is going to take care of it for you, so get to it!!

How Not to be a 3-Weeker

I pulled up at my health club first thing Monday morning to find that the parking lot was packed with cars.  Oh yeah, all those New Year's resolutions put into effect, everybody's at the gym.  After my fitness class, my friend and I were walking out into the bitter cold and commenting on how unusually full the parking lot is, and how it will be a relief when all these '3-weekers' drop off so we can have our old parking spots back.  Yes, of course I know that's not very nice.  Sorry. 

Later the same day, I overheard a conversation where someone was commenting on how so many people join health clubs the first week of the new year, work out for three weeks, then fall off the wagon.  In the past two days I have heard or seen at least half a dozen other references to these poor folks who just can't seem to keep up with what they've committed to.

This got me to thinking.  What makes people drop off after 3 weeks or so?  Health and fitness is my business, so how can I help?

As someone who has been steadily working out for quite a while now, it is easy for me to say that I can't or won't go a whole week without working out, I love it too much, and I get off on the way it makes me feel.  But not everybody is like that.  And believe me, there are many days that I don't want to peel myself off the couch and away from the Hershey kisses and go out in the cold to the health club where I'm just going to do a bunch of stuff that makes me want to vomit.  Hey, I'm normal.  Relatively...

I think the key to sticking with it is getting visible results.  When you work out for a couple weeks and one day you're at home and happen to catch a glimpse of a tricep you didn't know existed other than to cause you pain, or your significant other says something like 'Boy, they really work your ass hard in those classes, don't they? I mean your ass is literally hard.', or you run up the stairs and aren't heaving at the top...now those are good feelings.  Those feelings make you want to work out more, right?  Hopefully!

If you've got a long road ahead of you, the results you get in those first couple of weeks may not be significant enough to keep you coming back for more.  So how do you get the bests results you can?  Lose weight at a healthy rate, build muscle, get stronger, fitter, healthier?  AND KEEP AT IT?!

1. Keep your eye on the prize.  Find a picture of someone with your body type who is fit and healthy looking.  Cut it out and post it up.  Or a swimsuit, or dress you want, or some reward you will give yourself when you reach your goal.  And don't make your goal something insane...set small goals to reach in a certain time frame.  'I will lose 10 pounds by March 1'.  Realistic!  Then when you reach that goal, go another 10.

2. Accountability is the word of the day!  Find a partner, and hold each other accountable.  A little friendly competition never hurt anybody!  I have a couple workout partners, and there are many days that they are dragging me to the gym, and vice versa!  But the thing is, we go.  We motivate each other, hold each other accountable, and we go and we do it and we complain the whole time, but we are getting the results we want.

3. Evaluate your diet.  By now we are all aware that McDonald's is not health food.  But other than cutting out the obvious - fast food, soda, sugar, etc., what else can you do?  Depending on how you shop, you may have to reprogram your brain.  Don't buy products that contain hydrogenated oils, high fructose corn syrup, or more than 20 ingredients - and that's being generous.  Keep it simple - the less ingredients, the better.  Add more alkalizing foods to your diet, and add more natural sources of Omegas, including a pure supplement (Shaklee, of course).  Start your day with protein, and I don't mean bacon.  Vegetable protein!!  Soy is your friend.  I have a protein shake or bar every morning, and I won't go without it.  My energy level all day is waaaay better when I start my day with a protein shake (Shaklee, of course).  Plus, the Leucine in Cinch shakes will help you lose fat while you retain muscle, among a million other awesome health benefits.  Don't fall for stuff like Vitamin Water.  Scam!  Muscle Milk.  Scam!  Slim Fast.  Scam!  These products are full of synthetic ingredients, hydrogenated oils, and SUGAR.  If you need more info on what foods are alkaline, go here www.energiseforlife.com for a free, printable list of alkaline foods.  If you need more info on the Cinch line of products, CLICK HERE .

Whatever you do, just get out there and do it!  It's the time for new beginnings, so make your fitness and health a priority and rework your schedule to make time to take care of yourself.  You've only go one body, and no one else is going to do it for you! 

P.S.  Because I would be doing you a disservice if I did not add this; Shaklee has an amazing Cinch offer right now through January 31...join membership, buy yourself a box of Vitalizer (or place other $70 order), and get over $100 worth of Cinch products for free to get you started.  Includes:  full size can of Cinch, full size box of Cinch tea, full size box of peanut butter snack bars, plus a pedometer, program guide, and 3 month subscription to cinchwellness.com.  Ya, I know!!  AWESOME!!!  http://greengiraffe.myshaklee.com

A Stiletto To The Heart

This entry has nothing to do with being green.  It has everything to do with me being the occasional mildly selfish fashion victim.  Though I will mention exercise briefly later on, so let's go ahead and loosely put this one under the heading of 'fitness'.

There's nothing wrong with being fashionably selfish once in a while, is there?  My fashion consultant would answer with a resounding NOOOOO.  I love my fashion consultant.  As a treat for you, here are some more of her words of wisdom; 'He knew I liked to shop when he married me.  This should come at no surprise.' and 'He wants his wife to look good, right?!'  Does that sound like a wise woman, or what?  Ya, you know it does.

So, my husband and I were invited to a wedding of an old friend this past weekend, a guy my husband used to be in a band with.  We knew about this wedding for months.  So naturally, I prepared.  I shopped for the right dress, shoes and accessories.  Needless to say, I'm a good shopper.  I found an awesomely hot, yet sophisticated dress for a steal, accessorized it (with the help of an anonymous former bridal consultant who happened to be on the other side of the jewelry display at just the right time for me to glean her opinion), and of course...the shoes.  Oh, the shoes!

Did I find the most wickedly fantastic black stilettos!!  They're gorgeous, even sitting in the box all packed in foam and tissue.  Boy was I looking forward to wearing them.  My feet would have died a thousand deaths, but damn, my calves would have looked goood.  I was so prepared, I even did extra crunches to look good in the dress.  Crunches blow.  Twenty-four feel like a million.

The dress, the shoes, the jewelry, the handsome and well-dressed husband.  The flu.

You better believe it.  I got the @##$%^& flu early Saturday morning. How can it be?  I rarely get sick, I take my Shaklee vitamins everyday, eat right and exercise.  I don't get the flu!  I'VE GOT THE WHOLE DAMN OUTFIT, THIS CAN'T HAPPEN, I HAVE TO WEAR IT!

Needless to say, there was no gorgeous outfit to celebrate a happy occasion, seeing some old friends and being happy for the couple who got married.  No, it was all laying in bed between trips to the bathroom and trying to sleep while dreaming of vomit.  Poor husband had to go himself.  Granted, he had a good time, but still.

And now he wants me to return the shoes.  It's like sacrilege!  A TRAGEDY.  Return the shoes?  But honey, did you SEE THEM???  He made a good point though, when the next occasion comes around I will be up for another excursion with my fashion consultant for a little retail therapy.  And giving up these amazing black stilettos is deserving of some therapy.  So I will do it.  This time.  Next time, the flu can bite me!!