Why Skinny Chick on a Diet?

I had some people ask me about my blog address and the truth is “skinny” and “diet” are those words that offend people and get them to raise their eyebrows. It is probably the reason you clicked on my blog in the first place (lets just be honest). Why does it seem like all the skinny people are always on diets? Maybe that is a question that I just have asked myself. I have been a waitress for a while and it is always the skinny ones that are eating the salads with the dressing on the side and stuff. My thought is “really come on, you are already skinny.” The reality is that skinny chicks live a lifestyle where it seems to most of the world that they are on diets, but to them that is how they live and that is why they are skinny. I would consider myself one of those annoying persons. My lifestyle some people call a “diet,” but from my point of view I say “healthy” and the results are being skinny, thin, fit or whatever you want to call it. So really a better name might be "Being Fit is the Result of an Active Healthy Lifestyle,"but that doesn't sound as appealing or something one would actual "Google" search. So yeah, I might change it in the future, but maybe not. What do you think? What is your natural response when you read the title of my blog? And then your reaction after reading the content of my blog?

Being Able to Get Up and Go

The other day my husband and I did a 135-mile bike ride. We are not bikers, but we use bikes as a means of transportation. We thought it would be fun to go from Chicago to Indiana Dunes and camp. So within 30 hours we spent 16 of them biking. The longest we biked before was one random 60-mile ride from Crystal Lake to Chicago. 

The nice thing about being in shape is that you are able to do almost anything. I like the idea that you can get up and just go. We took our camelbak packs, tiny sleeping bags, hammocks, and left. 

We camped on top of the dunes and enjoyed a nice sunset and sunrise. We were prepared for the trip, but biker shorts and shoes would have been a good idea. We ended up eating mainly oatmeal, so when we left we stopped at this random Bar and Grill and ate burgers and fries. I rarely eat burgers and these looked like doll food. By this I mean it looked fake- something that would not rot for a few years. I guess every once in a while it won’t kill you. It was the first time I ever went into a bar where people still smoked inside and started drinking before noon. Yes, it was like something out of the movies. Overall it was a great trip, but there is something nice about coming home from being away even if it is just for a short time. 

Are Workout Videos Really Helpful?

Workout videos can be really helpful if you are the type of person that can push yourself. I have found doing workout videos are nice when I don’t have a class at the gym to go to or I don’t want to pay for a gym membership. I have also found that with workout videos it is easy to cheat and be lazy. When I do it by myself, I find myself taking more water breaks and rest breaks. It is helpful to do them with a friend that will push you to do a good job. It is also a good idea to have a mirror in the room so you can see your form. Mirrors help you evaluate how you are doing and may push you even harder when you can see your muscles working. The hard thing about workout videos is that it is easy to procrastinate because you have to option to do it whenever you want. I suggest planning ahead when you are going to do it and stick to it. What has your experience been with workout videos? 

Does Counting Calories Really Work?

Lets be honest, counting calories can be a pain in the butt. If you are a grazer, counting all those calories is the last thing you want to do. I think counting calories is a great tool to let you know where you are at. I have used dailyplate in the past to count calories. It has helped me learn how much I SHOULD actually be eating throughout the day and how much I ACTUALLY eat. When you start counting your calories, don’t change your eating habits, simply count what you eat in a normal day and then compare it to how much you actually should be eating. When I first did it, I was shocked. I could not believe that I actually ate that much. A lot of times it is easy to forget what you ate earlier in the day if you are not being intentional about it and it is easy to eat sweets after every meal rather than just one. I learned that it is important to pay attention to the quality of your food. For example if you are drinking a soda, you are fueling your body with empty calories that could just turn into fat. I think counting calories is a good thing to do for a period of time until you get an idea of how much you should actually eat, but I would not live my it. Of course you are going to go over some days, so start out each day fresh. Once you get an idea of the average amount you should eat you don’t have to worry about counting as much. It is just a tool to help you put your portions into perspective.

It was not until I started counted calories, that I actually started seeing results. A year before my wedding I workout five days a week doing P90X at 6am and cardio a few days a week for a whole semester, but at the end of the semester my weight did not change at all. I was very disappointed. Once I started counting calories, I realized that I was eating way more than I should if I wanted to lose weight, so I started eating smaller portions. The next semester I continued to do P90X, cardio and added counting calories. I finally was able to see results. It was very rewarding in the end. After I met my goal, I stopped counting calories, but I am still cautious about the amount I eat. You will learn that you can eat all the lettuce and veggies you want if you feel like grazing. Overall I think it is a great tool to use for a period of time until you have met your goal, but don’t stress out about it. What are your thoughts or experience with counting calories? 

Getting Back Into It

The best advice I can say to you on a Monday is, just do it. Get moving. Mondays seem to be the day where I get it in my mind that I need to start off strong on my exercise schedule for the week or it is not going to happen. I am usually working the whole weekend so it is easy for me to compromise working out. I am not going to lie, sometimes I just need to drag myself to the gym even if it is the last thing I want to do. It is usually the first 15 minutes for me that are the hardest but then it gets easier and I feel much better after it is over.
How do you get back into it after a few days off?

Sprinkles and Their Free Cupcakes!

http://www.suddenlyslimmer.com/blog/?p=658

For someone who lives walking distance away from Sprinkles, you can probably relate if you like to get something for free, especially when it is food! Sprinkles gives away at least a 100 cupcakes a day at the Chicago downtown location. They give away 50 around 11 to 12pm and another 50 around 4pm. This can be torture for someone who is trying to meet his or her goal. I love getting free stuff. It doesn’t matter what it is or even if I end up giving it away after I get it. The idea of just getting something for free gives me a boast. When I am on a good day tempted by Sprinkles, I maybe will get one and then give it to a friend. But then I am in this battle of why would I be supporting someone else to not meet their goals (if they have any). So then I feel bad for wanting to do something nice. Maybe you have had a tension similar before?

I tell my husband, the fact that I don’t bake him sweets everyday is evidence that I love him. I love to bake and I know that he and I both have our own health goals, so I at least wait to go to an event to start my baking frenzy. If it is a rainy day, then I might make an exception. What do you think about giving sweeties as an act of kindness? To be honest, I think that the fact someone has thought about me is a nice feeling and even if it does make me compromise a little. Although, if I know someone has a special goal, I will modify my actions. For example, I led a small group and brought sweets, but I made sure to have some healthy options as well so I am not outing anyone. What are your thoughts on someone giving you a free treat?

Can girlfriends be your enemy when it comes to food?

          Even if your girlfriend doesn’t say anything, you maybe telling yourself what you are thinking. To be honest, sometimes I get nervous hanging out with girlfriends when I know it involves food, especially because I am already what people call “skinny.” Maybe of times I will be told you can eat that because you are already so skinny. Yeah, I can, but I don’t want to. The battle within your head is that you don’t want to make the other people feel like fatties when they are indulging and you refraining. 
          A lot of times when I hang out with someone we may be cupcakes and coffee, frozen yogurt, a drink, a meal, or etc. I love hanging out with people, but I don’t like thinking I am being judged because of my decisions.  Why does being social seem to involve eating or drinking? The truth is that it doesn’t, you can go for a powerwalk, run, shop or tan together, but these things are harder to make them sound appealing. Yes, I get excited to go out, but I don’t want people to think- “Why is she eating so healthy, when she doesn’t need to lose weight?” Maybe they aren't thinking that at all, but it is something that I judge people by or I have heard others judge others for, so of course people are judging me too. I am the type of person that doesn’t try to make a big deal about my diet. I try my best to eat healthy and I don’t like to flaunt it. Sometimes I think of Snookie from Jersey Shore and how she says that there are always going to be “haters.” Maybe she did not say that, but it sounds like she would say that. You just need to realize people gossip and what not, so you just need to think maybe it them who have the problem and don’t let that stop you from accomplishing your goal! What are some pressures you feel when you are around your friends?