Back in skinny jeans

Humor: Why we shop on Saturdays

This just made me laugh because it reminds me of how consumerism has turned us into money spending drones. That's not always bad. Who can live without the occassional retail therapy? ;-)

Cartoon by Dave Walker. Find more cartoons you can freely re-use on your blog at We Blog Cartoons.

The Leather Jacket Metaphor: How flaws make us more interesting

Over at Comrade GoGo, I was writing a comment in reference to the notion that no one wants "problem people" aka people who are not perfect or acceptable some how because they have been damaged, flawed, or "wrecked" in some way. For years, I didn't date because deep down I thought what guy is going to want let alone love some girl who's been raped, been dealing with bulimia for years, been on anti-depressants, has stretch marks from being overweight, and constantly has a muffin top that just won't go away.

Sounds completely absurd on the screen, but this is what lived in my head for years and kept me single. I chose to be single over being intimate with another human because the fear of rejection and judgment was debilitating.

The Upside to Pain
But somehow I got over it because I had a greater fear of dying a spinster alone in a cold apartment with no love anywhere just because I was afraid to give love a chance. If I ended up being that spinster alone on my death bed I wanted it to be because of choice or because I gave it my best shot and it just wasn't in the cards, not because I was eh-scared to even take a chance in the first place.

It never occurred to me that all that tragedy in my life also made me a more empathetic, compassionate, and an evolved human being. This blog exists today because of those experiences. Behind every enlightened wise human is also a life of tragedy, trauma, and loss. You cannot grow without pain.

The Leather Jacket Metaphor
But put simply, some guy told me this metaphor years ago about flaws. He said that people love old leather jackets because over time the jacket becomes more interesting and full of character after years of the leather being beaten up, abused, and weathered. The jacket feels more real and soft over time. Who wants a brand new, shiny, stiff, leather jacket? The imperfections is what makes the distressed version more desirable. Same thing with jeans and that favorite t-shirt.

That metaphor stuck in my head for years, and has helped get over feeling like my flaws are "bad" things. Around the same time, I learned how scars make better tattoos. The flaws are what make me interesting, and when I really started to embrace that I got to experience my first great love. He loved ALL of me.

Your Two Cents: Larry the Cable Guy for Nutrisystem, Brilliant or Head Scratcher?

This weekend I saw the new TV commercial for Nutrisystem featuring Dan Marino and Larry the Cable Guy. I had to do a serious double take because I would never have expected to hear "Git-R-Done" and Nutrisystem in the same sentence. Larry has shed 50 lbs and I have to say that he looks much healthier. You can see the commercial here at USA Today.

Larry the Cable Guy as a weight loss spokesperson is definitely thinking outside of the box, and showing Nutrisystem's ability to have a sense of humor. I have to say that a "Git-R-Done" workout t-shirt would be hilarious.

Larry was brought on to pitch Nutrisystem's Men's Plan, and from the looks of it, to speak to the crowd that normally would drink beer and eat nachos while watching Dan Marino. So, time for you all to weigh-in...

Your Two Cents: Is Larry the Cable Guy as a weight loss spokesperson a brilliant idea or an idea that makes you scratch your head in confusion?

Quote on perfection

Weigh-in Wed: "What your books reveal about yourself"

In today's video, what the books in your bookshelf can reveal about yourself. I think this is an interesting exercise in learning something about yourself. I saw something new in myself. Is it true for you? (video 1 min 50 sec)

Upside: Gas prices above $4.00 can help us drop some pounds

I nearly freaked out when I drove up to the gas station near my gym and saw these prices. Can you believe gas is over $4.49? Holy shazizzle!

As much as the skyrocketing gas prices pisses me off, I try to think of an upside to all this gas inflation. {So, okay, I may be pushing it in the optimism department but play along.} The thing that first came to mind was weight loss. Perhaps because that's what I write about all day long, but really, here are some of the ways soaring gas prices can help us shed pounds:

• When people have to cut money from their budgets, food is always one of the first things to cut, and when you cut from food, the first things that have to go are non-necessities like junk foods and eating out every night. When you cook at home, you have more control of what goes into your meal. You're also burning more calories moving around the kitchen cooking and cleaning up after.

• Watching food expenses will also make you more conscious of the quantity of food you are eating. When the food budget is tight, you'll have more incentive to watch the intake thus lowering the opportunities to over eat.

• You may decide to give less of your money to the oil companies which means you'll either start car pooling or taking public transportation to work. If you start taking the bus, train, or ferry to work, there will be more walking involved which will help you burn more calories during the day.

• That bicycle is looking way more attractive now, and since Spring is here with the warmer weather, cycling to work sounds like an even better idea if you live close enough. Riding the bike is fantastic exercise.

• If you work at home, the higher gas prices may incent you to not go anywhere, so be sure to make an effort to take a walk or get some kind of exercise. If you have a dog, take Fido for a jaunt around the hood. It will be great fun and exercise for both of you.

When gas hits $5 per gallon, which could be sooner than later here in the Sand Francisco Bay Area, I think I'll be investing in a bicycle to get around town.

No wonder Oprah didn't share Mariah Carey's weight loss stats

Last week, I spoke of how lame (to be frank) I thought it was that Mariah Carey and Oprah had to focus on her weight loss before talking about Mariah's accomplishment of beating out Elvis in #1 singles, and her new album,  E=MC2. I did think it odd that the two didn't get into Mariah's "stats", but US magazine did, and I read the article after writing my blog post.

zOMG! I cannot believe what I was reading. Did any of you read the US article on Mariah's weight loss?

According to the article, here's some of Mariah Carey's weight loss stats:

• Mariah shed 20 lbs.
• She went from a size 8 to a 2 on her 5'9' frame and she says, "It may only be going from a size 8 to a size 2, but that's kind of huge!" She mentions that she can wear a size 0 if it's made out of stretchy material.
• Her "diet" consisted of 1,000-1,500 calories per day and exercising up to 1-1/2 hours per day up to 7 days a week doing mostly workouts in the pool with her trainer/personal chef Patricia.
• The famous person who told her she needed to lose weight was Vogue Editor-at-Large, Andre Leon Talley.

See, I'm telling you. Vogue really is horror science fiction and they are evil space beings trying to single handedly take over women's minds using psychic manipulation and photoshop. Call me a crazy conspiracy theorist, but Sculley and Mudler would no doubt have my back.

{Back on planet earth}

How the frickin' hell is a size 8 a zaftig woman who needs to lose weight?!? Why does a 38-year-old woman need  to have "her teenage body back?" So, all of Mariah's song & dance about "healthy living" is really about how to get to and stay at being a size 2 like a teenager?

And worse yet, why did Mariah Carey believe that wretched space alien? And why Oprah, did you give this story center stage and neglect to tell the audience that Mariah's big weight loss was to go from an 8 to a 2. Lemme guess. Hmmm, is it because she knew we'd all go ballistic!

Getting into a size 2 pair of jeans from a size 8 is more important than beating Elvis Presley in #1 single hits.

*Major sigh!* I am so verklempt I cannot begin to tell you. My respect for Mariah and Oprah frankly has taken a serious blow over this, and it does break my heart because I do think both women are extremely talented and accomplished women. Yet, even these two superstars cannot break away from the tryanny of thinness. For Pete's sake, why ladies? WHY?!?!

Seriously, I'm really wondering if Oprah is in some alternate universe because of the Vogue space aliens because I cannot think of any other logical explanation for this. Can you?

"Two Tiny Changes": 5 eating tips + update

Last week's tips were on how to help yourself get motivated when you don't feel like exercising, today, I thought it would be good to offer up some eating related tiny changes tips.

If you're like me, the Inner Resistance Monster really kicks in whenever we tell ourselves that we need to start cutting back on the calories. Mine really gets into major back peddling when he hears the word "diet." Oh see, his ears just perked up. No mind, here's some tips related to eating wellness:

• The letters in the word "diet" also spell the word "edit." Instead of looking at cutting back on calories as "dieting", this week, tell yourself that you are editing your meal choices to ones that will create a healthier, slimmer you.

• Spring is here with some new vegetables in season. Try one new begetable this week, that you haven't eaten in months. Have you tried Kale? It's one of my faves.

• See if you can go this whole week or at least 3 days without having any food or drink that has an artificial sweetener in it, and see how your body feels at the end. Day 1 and 2 you might experience some withdrawl symptoms, so drink lots of water.

• Cook one meal this week (if you never cook) or one more than usual (if you do cook). Eating out all the time can cost you calories, fats, and money. When you cook, you have better of control what goes into your dish, plus you're most likely to have leftovers which you can eat for lunch the next day.

• Many of us skip breakfast because of time, but really breakfast is very important because for one, it will help keep your blood sugar steady until lunch time. Make some time this week, and eat breakfast at least 2 times more this week than you normally do.

What I did last week:

• I did three days of sprinting where I'd run as fast as I could for about 3 minutes, and then walk 2 minutes. I did the cycle until I got to 35 minutes total time. I haven't done sprints in awhile, and my body loved it.

• On my birthday, I told myself I could have whatever cake I wanted and be completely guilt free. I ended up opting for a slice of green tea cake, and was fine with just that one piece. I told the bod that it could have more and whatever it wanted, but I think just because I gave my body the opportunity to have anything, it chose enough just to satisfy the sweet tooth. Sometimes, I think I overeat simply because of the mental "No, can't have that..." game. The cravings take over out of spite. May sound silly, but that's how it feels sometimes.
  

Quote on expectation

We're gonna party like it's my birthday...

...because it is. Yo folks! It's my birthday this weekend so I'm taking off Friday and Monday. Will be back on Tuesday. Gonna relax and have some fun and continue to detox from the Internet. I am going to eat cake, and enjoy every bite of it like this kid.

One thing I like to do on my birthday, is to remind myself of what I have to be grateful for, and the "gifts" that I have received during the year. Sometimes those gifts can initially show up as loss, but I believe that everything that happens is meant for your growth and for our highest good. So, here are some of my gifts during this past year:

• I'm 20 lbs lighter than I was on my last birthday. My goal was to shed 25lbs starting last June, and I did reach that goal in January. I've been gaining some weight because of the insomnia, but I'm not freaking out. My body is just telling me that I need to get back on track. Woo-hoo!
• Back in Skinny Jeans grew 48% Page Views wise which I believe is mostly due to my new perspective of focusing on being "Uplifting."
• I came out about my relapse with bulimia and the kindness and support I received from you my beautiful readership far exceeded my expectations, and truly helped me get through that hard time.
• Noshtopia is back and the new focus on eating wellness is proving to be popular.
• I'm living in a new place that is bright, uplifting, and has a view of a lagoon. I'm in this place mainly because Matt and I broke up in August, but he and I are still good friends (for real). He took me out for my birthday yesterday and it was great laughter and warmth.
• My parents are helping me make my dream of owning a thriving business a reality. They really believe in me, and their love and support makes me feel like I won the parent lottery.
• My triplet nieces (they have their own blog) are starting to talk in understandable words now, and they are so personable. They are going to be 3 in August, and considering that they all weighed less than 2lbs at birth (nearly 3 months premature), it is a testament to their desire for life. They inspire me!
• Blogging, twittering, and hanging out around the web has brought so many wonderful, kind, and supportive people into my life this year. Socializing on the web has taught me how really connected humans are and can be.
  

So, let's party! For all my pa-pa-party people, here's the video for the new Nelly and Fergie song Party People.