Whole 30, Awesome-ized

Starting yesterday, I embarked on a Whole 30, which is basically a 30-day whole foods cleanse based on a primal or Paleo diet (check it out here). Anyway, I knew right from the start that I was not going to have a perfect Whole 30. I know me, and I know that I tend to strive for perfection, then dump the whole project if I mess up even a tiny little bit. So, I decided straight up that I wasn't going to be perfect and hopefully this will make it more sustainable for me.

Yes, I'm a wuss...plenty of people do a Whole 30 without cheating at all, but I do not have that kind of willpower or stick-to-it-abilities. I know that about myself, so I'm doing the cleanse in a way that I feel can be sustained for a whole thirty days. Basically my planned-cheats are a daily cup of coffee with a bit of stevia and cream. Though last night I did have a small dessert (I know....one day and I go off the wagon!)...but the husband had friends over and they brought dessert and I didn't want to be rude (I promise, I just had a tiny bit...and YES, I paid for it later....bloating, tummy upset, blech!)

To prepare for the cleanse, I made a menu for the week (something I've never done) and went grocery shopping for the specific items on the list. Usually I just wing it and thus end up with things I never eat, or a bunch of random stuff that doesn't go together into anything resembling a meal. This will be better. The fridge is packed to the gills with produce, so it's my challenge to eat it all by the next shopping day. I hate throwing out food, so that's even more reason to stay on plan :-)

Here is what my menu looks like, complete with assignments for prep work in the far right column....this comes in especially handy as I head into my work week (Friday, Saturday night).

So, there you have it folks...we'll see if I can keep this up. I know I definitely need to lose weight, but I am going to try to focus instead on how I feel and hope that weight loss is an added bonus. I am also going to try to incorporate more exercise, which will be a combination of barre workouts, cycling and ramping up my Cough-to-5K running again. Stay tuned and stay awesome!

I hurt all over...

Just checking in to say that the Callanetics video kicked my bootie. My body hurts from head to toe...well, from neck to thighs. Went on a bike ride today for 90 minutes and thought that would help...I suspect I will be even more sore in the morning.

Callanetics Experiment Part II

The reason I thought the "Great Callanetics Experiment" sounded familiar was probably b/c I keep stopping and starting these "experiments." Not sure why I do that since I am notoriously bad at finishing things...great at starting things, crap-tastically cruddy at finishing them.

Anyway, I am once again embarking into the world of Callanetics. I always peter out right when I'm starting to see results AND I HAVE NO IDEA WHY!!! Probably some weird psychological weirdness, but that's for my future therapist to figure out.

So this experiment entails completing 50 Callanetics workouts by my birthday in 15 weeks. That's 3-4 workouts a week. And because I love rules (as long as I'm the one that makes them), I have come up with some rules for this experiment...I'm calling it the "Fabulous by Forty" experiment. Catchy, eh?

1) If I do 4 workouts in a week, then 1 of them can be one of the short 15-minute workouts (hips or legs) and one of them can be one of the Bar Method videos...don't want to get too bored!
2) Stick as closely to my vegan diet as I can...I'm at about 80% compliance (it's the darn cheese that gets me!)
3) Drink 64 oz of water each day...this is probably a 50 oz increase over my usual water intake.
4) 3 glasses of wine each week (instead of 2 glasses each day...can you say hellloooo to herbal tea?). I expect this little rule by itself to result in a few pounds of weight loss all on its own.
5) Use my whitening toothpaste 2x a day.
6) Never ever ever go to bed with makeup on. Ever. (this is a tough one for me)
7) Deep condition hair once a week (also a difficult one for me to stick to)
8) At least 5 servings of fruits and veggies each day (this one is also tough for me)
9) 2-3 cardio workouts each week...either a walk or bike ride. Running is out d/t my old lady hip issues I've had off and on since I was 30.
10) Measurements and pics after each block of 10 workouts. Oh the shame. Oh the humiliation.


Week 1, Day 1, Callanetics 1:
I did the original Callanetics video today. Not so bad, except I petered out on the first leg exercises and the blasted, evil pelvic rotations. I also had to support my neck during about half of the ab exercises, but I suspect I'll only have to do this for the first 4-5 workouts or so. I was supposed to go on a bike ride, but my friend cancelled and since I can't be trusted to do anything like that on my own, I went shopping instead. Plan for tomorrow is either a bike ride or a walk in the morning. Leaning torward an hour long walk, b/c I have got to get back home and start studying for my Peds exam coming up on Friday. Oh, and I measured...but I'm not posting the numbers until they shrink a little. It's too horrific and this is a family show (ha!).

3rd Callanetics DONE!

Here's an update on the official Callanetics Experiement. I have completed the workout three times and have already seen a half inch decrease in my waist! Yippee! I took a few other measurements, but it's so hard to remember EXACTLY where I put the tape measure, so I'm not trusting the other measurements just yet. I think there could have been a half inch or quarter inch drop in the thighs, but until it's down a full inch I can't be sure I'm measuring in the same spot. But all in all, this is very promising!

Yesterday I did the workout without the video, and I have to say it was MUCH less boring! I just printed out the sequence and watched something interesting instead. In general progress:

-I didn't have to take a full break in the first leg exercise, but this is probably because I was able to pause when things got hairy. Granted, I paused in the plie, so it wasn't a full pause!
-I felt like I curled up higher in the ab exercises...yay!
-The pelvic rotations hurt, but I didn't curse at anyone this time.
-I swear that I can see a "line" defining my quadriceps from my leg fat...in the right lighting, of course...but still!!!

My goal is to do the Callanetics workout 18 times in January, which will bring me up to a total of 20! So far, I have done 2 of those 18. Go me!

The great Callanetics experiment

Have I started a Callanetics experiment before? It sounds so totally familiar, but even if I did I am SURE I did not finish it as that would go against everything I believe in. Ha!

Callanetics is a form of deep-muscle exercise developed by Callan Pinckney way back in the 80s as a way to alleviate her severe knee and back pain. The exercises are rooted in ballet, but are actually very unique and INTENSE! She has a book that I read back in high school (so it must have just come out actually...see what a trendsetter I am?) called "Ten Years Younger in Ten Hours"...the routine takes about an hour to do, hence the name.

I have the book (I think I do anyway...will have to search the bedroom closet after hubby gets up) and three of the videos: Callanetics (which is based on the book), Quick Callanetics for Hips and Behind, and Quick Callanetics for Legs. I have started and stopped this routine several times, but I'm not sure why. Whenever I take body measurements after 3 or 4 sessions there is always a loss of inches. SO, I am going to STICK TO IT for 10 whole sessions over the course of the next 2.5-3 weeks and re-measure after I have completed by 10th session of the one-hour program (I'll count each Quick video as half a lesson).

The reason I am tracking this experiment on this blog is A) I'm bored and on summer vacation, and B) while there are a lot of snippets of Callanetics anecdotes out there, there isn't much in the way of following someone through their experience...and since that's what I was looking for, I thought I'd just do it myself. (Geez! Do I have to do EVERYTHING???) :-)

So, my recap for Session 1: I found that I was really glad the ab exercises are toward the beginning of the video, because I always dread those and they're over before you know it! I'll also have to FORCE myself to do the entire warm-up, but I can see how that could get skipped by someone if they are short on time. But, in the interest of being experiment-y, I will do the warmups. They're just kind of boring, but they must be there for a reason. By far the hardest things for me to do are the leg exercises...I can't do all the pelvic scoops without stopping several times and the pelvic rotations make me want to hurt someone.

All in all, I felt pretty good after the workout...though my legs were a wee bit wobbly. Today I feel slightly sore all over, but nothing horrendous that will keep me from popping in a Quick video for later tonight.

One down, nine to go! (And yes, i took measurements...SCARY STUFF, so I won't post it here)

Algebra miracles and sore buns

You might want to sit down for this. OK, are you ready? Here goes...yours truly, a self-proclaimed number phobe, got a 96% on an Algebra test.

(brief pause while you sit in shocked silence).


Yes, it is an Algebra Miracle...and just in time for Spring Break! I am off school this week and am spending today preparing my taxes and the rest of the week working on the yard and studying bones for my A&P test.

Speaking of school, I am having some school anxiety...I just want to get into a nursing program already, and the more I think about it the more I want to get a second bachelor's since I know I'm going to want an advanced degree at some point. So, my plan, at least for now, is to apply to the ADN programs that start in January and commence with school this fall as though I won't get in (which I very well may not, the programs are totally impacted), and then apply to a BSN program (Sac State has one, and so does Samuel Merritt if I want to cough up oodles of dollars). In fact, some BSN programs are accelerated and I could maybe even finish another Bachelor's in the amount of time it would take me to get an Associate's Degree (or close to it.) Anyone have any thoughts on this?

In order to apply to one of the accelerated BSN programs I need four additional courses...Organic Chemistry, Pathophysiology, Pharmacology and Statistics. Think that's even possible in one semester? Oh god...it sounds insane...probably because it is insane .

Anyway, that's the school thing...now on to the sore buns.

I am seriously needing to do something about the enormity of my butt, so I started doing my Bar Method DVDs recently as well as Callanetics. Stay tuned for updates...I will probably measure the mass in a couple of weeks. My first impressions are "ouch"... which is a good thing when it comes to exercise, right?

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!!

Science Experiment #2

In accordance with my now honored tradition of conducting science experiments on myself, I am embarking on The Great Isometric Experiment!!!

Currently, I own three different exercise videos that are based on isometric exercise...Chicometrics (see my "Got Flab" link to the right), The Barr Method and Callanetics. I am going to cycle through all three (to prevent the major boredome that will ensue if I stick to just one for months on end), recording my measurements (not my weight, mind you!) along the way (yes, I will have to come to direct terms with my fatness).

I have heard really astonishing things about each of these programs...mainly Chicometrics and Callanetics...I think they may be a bit more intense. I will let you know!

Here is my schedule...I will do each video 2-3 times per week for two weeks and then switch to a different video to keep the Boredom Monster at bay:

June 11-23: Chicometrics
June 24-July 7: Bar Method
July 8-July 21: Callanetics
July 22-August 4: Chicometrics
August 5-August 18: Bar Method
August 19-Sept 1: Callanetics

I will take measurements after each two week period so stay tuned!

In other news...Science Experiment #1 is going OK...we had to go to the store last night because Tom refused to eat whole wheat pasta, and I went to the store today while at work because I had a hankering for miso soup. Plus we ate out a lot (at Whole Foods mostly) while we were in Vegas. The Whole Foods in Henderson Nevada is orgasmic...dessert bar, chocolate fountain, tapas bar, asian bar, grilling station, a taqueria...the list goes on and on. Did you catch that...A DESSERT BAR!!!! Of course, I didn't have any of the dessert, but it was comforting and exciting just to know it was there.

I've Got Better Things to Do Than My Hair

Well, after months of suffering through the dreaded "grow-out" stage, I have whacked off all my hair once again. Here is a not-so-great picture of me...I should've taken the time to put on some lipgloss. The great thing about short hair is the freedom factor and the fact that it always looks good, no questions asked. The downside is that I can't leave the house without lipstick and earrings, or else I look like a boy.

Other items of self-interest...I have recently started using my Bar Method and Chicometrics exercise DVDs. I will take measurements and try to keep track of the horror as it lessens over time. I've read some pretty amazing testimonials about both videos, especially Chicometrics (www.chicometrics.com). The guy on the videos is funny in a folksy kind of way...keeps me from taking it too seriously. I decided since I've got a birthday (36...yikes!) and a wedding coming up I'd better start getting serious about losing some flab. Besides, I've got a ton of cute clothes that I can't squeeze my tushie into...time to change all that, for the sake of fashion if nothing else.

The wedding is less than four months away, so I figure it's probably time to start doing some planning. The trouble is, we have no idea what our budget is and never know how much money we're going to make. Ah, the joys of being self-employed. So far we do know it is August 19th in Gold Beach, Oregon. Stay tuned for more!

Goals today: No more chocolate (I've had my share...twice!)
Goals this week: Get all files off my old computer so I can be a single-computer gal, throw out old clothes & organize closet.

Good kitty: Exercised this morning :-)
Bad kitty: The cookies at the office :-(