The View

Today I was watching The View hot topics segment and something Whoopi said made me have to make a comment. They were talking about how the American Medical Association is all mad because they are showing cigarette packs in a new movie. Whoopi made the comment that what gets her more than that is them showing people in bars, alcohol ads on tv, people drinking and then driving. I feel the exact same way and have always wished someone would say that.

Cigarettes are not the best things in the world, but alcohol is far worse in my opinion. Of course you always have the reply - cigarettes have second hand smoke - yada,yada. If anyone cared to do their homework they would see that alcohol's secondhand effects are far worse than those caused by cigarettes. Drunks drivers are more dangerous than smokers any day.

I think this country has a big problem with focusing too much on smoking because it is cool to hate smokers. It is legalized discrimination. All these smoking bans have legalized segregation again. Think about it because it is scary.

You can justify it however you want. I have read some alarming things about the so-called facts about smoking and second bans smoke. What the media fails to tell you is when these break through studies fall apart. Many of the 'facts' you rely on have actually been disproved. All these bans were brought through on unreliable information. Ignorance is rampant.

I will get off my soap box now. I just wanted to express my feelings about how crazy this country is and that at least one other person, Whoopi, can see that.

Let's Take a Look

Despite the many set backs this week, the lack of will power and the addiction to Pepsi, I have still managed to work my body. As I said, I think exercise is the only thing keeping me from ballooning up and busting my jeans at the seams. I have to think it is having some benefit.

So, let me check in. The Shred ended a couple weeks ago on the 13th. We have already talked about that so let's not open old wounds.

On the 16th I started The Firm with a lot of hassles and bumps in the road. My workout buddy and I have struggled with illness at both our houses which has meant we have not worked out much together. That has not stopped me, though.

I log my exercises everyday - online and offline. I have only missed one day of working out in the past 11 days. That is pretty good considering during the last 2 weeks of the Shred I missed 6. The one day I took off this time was a much needed day of rest. I have decided to not push myself hard core every day. There is a reason for this - I have knee issues and if I keep pushing too hard I fear an injury that will have me sidelined.

I have done circuit training, step aerobics and other cardio. For the past week or so I have been doing a 20 minute strength training workout to target my arms and abs. I love it! But I think I mentioned it before.

I have worked out anywhere from 20 minutes to 85 minutes. I bought some quick workout downloads that run 20 minutes for days when I am sore from The Firm or when I am super busy and need something fast.

I am pretty proud of my workout schedule. I got into a slump there, but I saw the error of my ways and I moved on. I have found out that my workout buddy will be taking off near the end of March and that is when I will start up the Biggest Loser workouts for their 6 week program. I think by doing The Firm I am getting myself well prepared for that. I can't wait.

I am focusing on the positive and trying to make good choices when I eat (and drink) without forcing change on myself. Positive thinking can be great...right?

I'm so Lost

I really can not keep up this week with anything. My kids have been sick and I have been loaded down with work. I am doing good to just keep going.

I have gotten in working out. Not as much as I wanted. I started a new arm and ab workout in addition to my other workouts. It is killer and I love doing it, actually. I like to push myself. I do have to have rest in between, though, because it makes me so sore. I do it every other day. I have done The Firm a couple times and a quick step workout this week, too. I am doing good with my fitness.

I do not even want to talk about my diet. There is none. I have got to get it together or I will never lose weight. I realized that working out is really just keeping me from packing on the pounds. If I didn't work out I probably would have gained a ton of weight these past few months. I really hope I can find a way to kick myself in the butt and just stop drinking Pepsi. Like I've said, food is not my issue. I really do not eat excessively. It is the pepsi that is killing me.

At least I recognize my problem. Now I just have to do something about it.

Trying to Make Amends

I am trying to make up for my fall from grace. I did 75 minutes of cardio today plus some arm and ab work. I felt the need to push myself. It felt good, too. I am a little sore in the arms because I am doing such an advanced level with heavy weights and high reps, but it is a good hurt, you know.

I have been downloading workouts from ExerciseTV too. These are usually no more than 20 minutes. They are cheap too. I can combine a few. i really love their strength training workouts - they seem to push your body. I also love their cardio for a quickie workout in the evening. I know I always talk about them. I wish I could make money doing it -lol. Anyway, it is well worth checking out. I workout using my computer as a monitor more than using my DVD player and TV, so these workouts are perfect for me. You can burn them to a DVD, though, once you buy - legally. I have a new one I am downloaded now - a step aerobic one. Some days all I want is a quick step workout but all the ones I have are 45 minutes or more. This is a 20 minute and it looks fun!

Anyway, just throwing out ExerciseTV again for anyone who hasn't seen me talk about it before. They have free workouts, too. And seriously, I do not get paid to tell you about them - I just love ExerciseTV.tv.

To get more exposure I am thinking about joining some blog contests, so you may start to see some different content - it will still be centered arund losing weight, but you may see recipes for healthy foods, crafts for making new workout gear or something along those lines. It is something I am thinking about doing if I can get a free minute or two.

Better Mood

There is a perk to these The Firm workouts - you can choose a full length or quick workout for each one. I like that I can not use no time for working out because I have many options, from 20 minutes to 55 minutes. I can fit it in no matter what. That is a good thing because I start back to school tomorrow - getting my bachelors :)

As for the eating, I am going to stop trying to change my whole life at once. Diets do not work because they are too much to handle at once. Instead I am opting for working out more and making small changes in my diet. I know I went on and on about how working out really doesn't help you drop weight, but I am at the point now - after about 8 months of steady working out that I have built some great muscle and I would like to keep working on it. My arms and abs would be so hot if I lost the layer of fat over them!

The first few changes I want to focus on are using smaller plates, not eating everything on my plate (these two things were proven to work, check out neversaydiet.com to see the article)and cutting my Pepsi consumption. I tried cutting it down to only three a day, but that only made me really sad. So, with that said I want to try for 6. I know that is a lot but it is actually not very much compared to my usual day. I think 6 is doable. I need to increase my water anyway. I can not wait for warm weather to get here because then I actually crave water and not pepsi, so it would be easy to cut back then. I think that is why I gain over the winter months.

Anyway, that is the plan, man.

Bummed

Not only have I fallen off the wagon, but I am totally bummed. I should probably be banned from Googling. I have been researching losing weight and exercise and diet and all that crap. What I found bummed me out.

Pretty much the unanimous word is that exercising doesn't make you lose weight. I know, seems weird since all you hear is workout, workout, workout. Basically, if you do no exercise at all and just eat right you will lose weight just as well, if not more than someone who is exercising and dieting.

Basically, we are all busting our asses for no reason whatsoever. The real reason to exercise is just to get healthier. Not that it is a bad thing, but for those of us who just want to lose weight, wasting time stressing about exercise seems stupid.

No matter how "healthy" you get from exercising, if you are still fat then you are still unhealthy.

This whole crazy weight loss cycle is really bumming me out. No wonder I am so stressed and the scale has not budged since fall. Yes, you heard it right - no weight loss since September!!! That includes the 3 months I spent obsessing over every calorie and getting one and a half to two hours of cardio exercise per day.

I am about ready to throw in the towel and pronounce losing weight to be impossible.

There are just too many variables and it seems I can not get the right ones to work in my favor. Maybe I am genetically destined to be a fatty. Perhaps I should go right now and throw out all my skinny pants. Maybe I should just face facts.

I know everyone reaches this point in their weight loss journey. I know if I just get my butt in gear that I can get back on track. The true question I have here, though, is what will make me happier?

Living the life I want, enjoying the food I enjoy or being skinny?

I hate the idea of having to count every calorie until I die. I hate that I fear a can of Pepsi. I hate that I keep pulling muscles because I push myself so hard when I work out. I hate that my ass won't get any smaller no matter what I do, but that my boobs have no problem deflating.

AHHHHH!!!!!!!

Losing weight sucks.

Here are some links to prove my point about exercise:
http://consumerist.com/303880/exercise-doesnt-necessarily-make-you-lose-weight

http://www.kuro5hin.org/story/2007/9/25/10120/4942

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/12/health/nutrition/12brody.html?ei=5090&pagewanted=all

http://nymag.com/news/sports/38001/

http://www.thefactsaboutfitness.com/articles/aerobicexercise.htm

I Fell Off the Wagon

I probably should not toot my own horn - ever. I fell off the wagon (metaphorically, not literally). I had a bad day with the Pepsi yesterday. I knew I should not have it in the house and if I did only in moderation. I didn't listen to my reasonable inner voice and I got myself in trouble.

I feel so bad. I feel like a puppy who peed on the carpet even though he knew it was wrong, but I just couldn't help myself.

Go ahead and smack me with a rolled up newspaper and rub my nose in some Pepsi (I will not refrain from trying to lick it up, though). I am bad.