Back in skinny jeans

Quote on Gratitude & Our Light

Guy's perspective: Comparing yourself to others may make you vain or bitter

Since you all enjoyed pal Nathan the last time he posted here, "Guy’s perspective: The Skinny on Botox, Boobs, and Chicken Breast", I invited him back. I'm trying to convince him to be BISJ's "Jake" ala Glamour as I think it's good to have a male voice around the house. You should hear some of the convos Nathan and I have. We're always in stitches! But today, Nathan's gonna get a little more introspective and thought provoking.

At the end, continuing our birthday week celebration, you can enter to win a pair of Joe's Jeans, Steaz Organic Teaz, or Sephora "Skinny Jeans" nail polish.

-----------------

The Desiderata hung above my father's bed for many years and was subsequently passed down to me sometime during my teens. Throughout the years I have tried to integrate as much of it's teaching as possible into my perception of life.

That specific line from the Desiderata has always stood out to me as one of the most important of its teachings. In society we are in constant competition with one another for things such as jobs, money, sports, and in just about every aspect of life. Culturally, most of us are trained us to be in constant judgment of ourselves based on our self-perceptions formed by our own beliefs of how we compare with others outwardly. Here's a perfect example...

Better Than Nothin': You'll be okay. You have support

Today's post is special because you could win a pair of Joe's Jeans. Read on...Better Than Nothin' Tuesday is the day when we hip-hip-hooray for making even the smallest of changes or steps towards your health goals.  You see doing something teensy even if it's just having one less negative thought, or doing cardio for one minute extra is still better than zero. Little changes count because they add up over time.

Support is all around you

Today is all about support and remembering that you are never alone. Now, you may have times where you feel alone or you think you're alone and no one would understand, but I'm here to tell you that that is only true in your head. In reality, there are many people out there, complete strangers in fact who indeed are kindred spirits, have been where you've been, and have even been worse off than you, and want to and will be there for you if you ask.

Yes, it is possible to be worse off than where you are, so even if things totally suck right now, it's temporary. During my downest days when I felt rock bottom, the one thing that kept me hanging on was the knowledge that I got no where to go but up. It may have been a far road up, but up is still better than down, and that one positive thought was better than nothin'.

You'll be okay with some help from the interwebs

This is why I love the Internet. I've met complete strangers online who I've had more in common with in an instant than with some people I've known for years. Physical presence does not always mean closeness if you know what I mean, but that's okay. The web is a place where you can start finding kindred spirits or people who are going through or have been through what you are dealing with right now. All you have to do is start surfing and reaching out. Start slow if that makes you feel more comfortable but applaud yourself every time you do make some small step because you're taking action, and that's good!

Here's some inspiration in Ingrid Michaelson's "Be OK" video in the end where she shows what it's like to be supported by others when you're trying to mend the "broken parts." Love this song! 

Ingrid Michaelson BE OK

So, for those who have found wonderful help and support online, what's one piece of advice you'd give to those just starting out?

Everyone who comments on this post til Sat Nov. 22, will be entered to win a pair of Joe's Jeans. Here's details on prize and entries are US residents only.

Swirly fit links from healthy living bloggers around the skinnysphere

• Susan is a runner who runs for her 7-year-old friend Elijah, a two time cancer survivor who is unfortunately amidst battle number three. She spent most of 2008 recovering from a torn Peroneal tendon but is back running/walking for two. Baby's due in about 3 months. Recently she got to cheer on her running coach in one of his races. See trainers, teachers, coaches appreciate the cheering too. There's some great race day photos here! [I Run For My Life]

• Have you heard of nutrient timing? Susan is a certified Fitness Nutrition Coach and she sheds some light on a topic that's new to me. Nutrient timing basically identifies a time span during which nutrition will impact your ability to improve endurance, reduce muscle damage and improve recovery. It's also a way to change body composition. Will it help me blast that muffin top? Okay, I digress....but will it, huh? [Catapult Fitness]

• Thomas is starting a new “Body Transformation Course 2.0 Challenge” on November 17 with a bunch of people so he started a blog to track his progress. He's discovered that there are plenty of people on Twitter who are into fitness and living healthier lives. There really is a very supportive community on Twitter to help you stay focused and motivated. Twitter is my 2nd online home after BISJ and Noshtopia. See what Thomas is doing on Twitter. [A Dawgs Life]

• When Deb needs some extra umph to get through her treadmill cardio interval workouts, she imagines a bear chasing her. Even if imaginary, I think I'd start picking up my stride too. I'd probably imagine Yogi chasing me down with a pic-a-nic basket. In reality to Deb, the bear represents "other things: she’s heart disease, she’s Alzheimer's, she’s all the physical and mental impairments that come with aging. In my family, you die from heart disease or Alzheimer's." I can see how the bear metaphor works! [Weight For Deb]

• Kelly is re-reading the book "Intuitive Eating" which is basically a book for the recovering dieter, and how you can enjoy foods again without all the deprivation, "rules", and judgmental no-no's we attach to certain foods. Kelly is at the point in the book about eliminating restrictions, and allowing yourself to eat whatever you want. Yes, the idea is enough to cause anxiety for many, but the point is to start trusting your body and yourself. Kelly shares how she's been dealing with her obsession with Oreo Cakesters and her love of Olive Garden bread sticks. Oh my, I love those OG bread sticks too! [Aim High]

Note: All of today's bloggers are Twitter followers of mine. Seriously, get on Twitter people, and add moi, Skinny Jeans. Besides, fun and useful tidbits, M-F twice a day I do a hydration reminder as a way to get more people to drink the water your body needs.

What I've learned in 3 years of blogging about healthy living

 

Woo-hoo! Back in Skinny Jeans celebrates her 3rd birthday and post #2,043. Wowza! We are so grateful to still be going strong and better than ever. Really, because in interweb time 3 years is like 24, we added one more than dog years.

This week is going to be all about celebrating, dancing like Ellen, and having a good time. I am so grateful to you my readers that every day, M-F, there will be some fabulous giveaways we will be gifting to lucky readers this whole week from the wonderful folks at Joe's Jeans, Steaz, and Sephora. Here's all the giveaway details.

So, here are some of the highlights of what I've learned in 3 years of blogging:

Enter to win fabulous giveaways from Joe's Jeans, Steaz, and Sephora during BISJ Birthday Week!

 

Back in Skinny Jeans celebrates her 3rd birthday and we would be nothing without you our fabulous readers. To show our gratitude in a FUNTASTIC way, this whole week, Nov. 17-21, we're giving out some fabulous giveaways to some lucky readers, thanks to the graciousness of these awesome sponsors whom we love and use too!

The folks at Joe's Jeans not only make some of the hottest jeans on the market, they have given us 5 pairs of jeans to giveaway this week in Women's & Men's styles. Sweet! Best yet, if you win, YOU get to pick whatever style you want from their online Joe's Jeans store. Here's Women's and here's Men's. Oh yes indeedy!

In all the BISJ birthday shots, I am wearing a pair of the Cigarette cut because I have a boyish slim cut, and lemme tell you, in these jeans your bootee will be bangin'! The jeans come with this really cool dog tag, which I think is so cool that I've been wearing it as a fun necklace as seen in the BISJ birthday ad above. And heavenly, the denim is soft and stretchy & Steph likey very much :) You can enter to win a pair of Joe's Jeans each day this week, M-F, look for details.

The folks at Steaz have got to be some of the nicest people I have ever met, and check out this awesome basket with teaz and swag, they are gifting 3 lucky winners. Steaz has a new line of Organic Teaz featuring the fair trade farmers they do business with on the can which I reviewed on Noshtopia. Part of the proceeds from the sale of Steaz beverages benefits the Sri Lanka Foundation to rebuild homes and lives in the tsunami ravaged region. I love businesses who do good! If you want to try the new Organic Teaz now, you can get a coupon here for buy one get one free. You can enter to win a Steaz gift basket, M,W,& F, look for details.

Sephora, my "other" candy store, must have read my mind when they created this color "Skinny Jeans" for their new line of Sephora by OPI branded nail polish. You know this nail polish is awesome because OPI is the brand the Pros use when you go in for that fabulous mani/pedi at your favorite salon. I love that slick feeling! And now, 3 lucky winners will have a chance to bask your lovely nails in "Skinny Jeans" blue. You can enter to win a bottle of "Skinny Jeans" nail polish, M,W,& F, look for details.

Details on entering

All winners for all prizes will be picked randomly. To enter to win any of the Joe's Jeans, Steaz, and Sephora giveaways this week, you only need to submit a comment in the specified post of the day. You will see the details at the end of the post. So check each day this week, M-F, Nov. 17-21.

You can enter every day this week but only one entry per post. All designated giveaway posts will remain open for comment entries until midnight PST Saturday Nov 22. You will need to use a valid email to win. And as per respect, your email will remain between you and BISJ. We will not do anything with your email without your permission.

All winners will be announced on Monday Nov. 24 on Back in Skinny Jeans. The giveaways are open only to U.S. residents. Much apologies to my international readers. When I have more money and can afford international shipping, I'll have giveaways for you too.

Friday Fun: Guess which one of these things Steph wasn't

For some light Friday fun and to get to know a bit about my past, I thought we could play a round of that drinking game where you have to guess something that someone was not. If you guess wrong, you have to take a symbolic drink. Please no boozing til at least Happy Hour. It's Friday so you know what I'll be doing. Woo-hoo!

So okay then, when Steph was in high school which one of these things was she NOT:

• Student Body Officer
• Cheerleader
• Homecoming Court Attendant
• Officer of the Girls Jock Club
• Member of the Math & Science Club

Right answer after the jump...

In pictures: Having an oatilicious time with healthy living bloggers

Thanks to Quaker Oatmeal and their Living Proof blogger event, not only did I get to eat and learn more about oatmeal than I could have ever imagined, I got to finally meet in person some very cool rock star healthy living bloggers whom I, and you all, mingle with quite often in the blogosphere. And before I forget, Quaker has nicely offered up some coupons for you all to have your own oatastic oatmealpallooza.

This was my first time to the windy city of Chicago, and it wasn't windy, but it was surely frickin' cold for this admittedly spoiled Californian. I really am a cold wimp people. In fact, there was some beginnings of a Charlie Brown Christmas snowfall.

But instead of typing more, let me illustrate some of the trip with pictures. I'm kinda bummed because many of my pics came out blurred so here were the ones that came out the best. First, here I am trying to make out with "Larry" the Quaker man. Really, that is what they call him internally. All I could think is "Larry the Oatmeal Guy: Git-er-done!" Seriously though folks, I need some major help finding a new squeeze because now I am resorting to coping a feel with statues of mascots of cereal. You gotta admit though that the puffy shirt action is kinda hawt! And, who doesn't love a man with a tray serving you breakfast in bed, yes?

Without further adieu, above is Anne of Elastic Waist who sat next to me, Jason from Twit2Fit with his synopsis (and I give Jason serious props as the solo male blogger amongst all that estrogen), Jennette of Pasta Queen who happened to take a cool shot of the faux snake skin lounger in our hotel rooms along with a shot of the other side of the room with the other bloggers, Mo Pie of Big Fat Deal, and Roni of Roni's Weigh who took some great pics too.

So, let me show you some healthy living bloggers actually working out...

Quote on achieving

Heartalicious super pokes from healthy living bloggers around the skinnysphere

I'm still recovering from the cold/flu-ish thing dearies, so while I'm getting back up to speed, please enjoy these healthnormous vibes from fellow healthy living bloggers:

• It's really refreshing to know that men too can feel the freak-outishness of mysteriously gaining 3lbs in a week especially when it follows a giddy week of dropping below a plateau number. Charlie drew this delightful graph to illustrate the change. Boy did I laugh cuz it's so true. [Back to the Fridge]

• Heather read an article about how negative thoughts can affect your workout, so she contemplates about positive people, the kind that are amazingly upbeat as she would like to be more positive in her daily life. I totally agree with her in that what you put out is what you get back. [Hangry Pants]

• And speaking of positive people, you all need to meet Nick Vujicic. This man has no arms or legs yet do you think that has stopped him from living an abundant life? Oh hell no! Nick gives motivational talks to high schoolers, he can do a wicked techno DJ, and he even golfs. The part in the video where he shows us the meaning of getting back up moved me beyond words. Everyone is hugging him and I totally would too. What an inspiration! [Jungle of Life]

• Here's some beneficial perspective, Hillary is choosing to view herself as "an awesome body that needs a little remodeling" instead of focusing on "the fat" and the weight she'd like to shed.I likey! She also went to the KY Muscle Show and took pictures of some pretty fit ladies. Wowza! [Health Girl]

• Rachel talks about her most coveted pieces of fitness gear and asks us the same. These are the pieces of clothing, shoes, and gear we'd use til they've either disintegrated, we've duct taped, or sewn patches to prolong life. I'm telling ya, I cannot live without my Adidas sweats particularly for pro blogging which I consider extreme sports. Something about the 3 stripes that hypes me up for my best blogging. [Fitness For Mommies]

• Tricia shares some life wisdom she learned from watching The Bride in the Kill Bill movies. I have to say that this is a pretty damn good summary. My fave of the whole list, "Even if you're buried alive, don't give up: just punch your way to freedom." What I come away with this is that seemingly impossible situations will show you what you're made of. No more studying. It's time to apply the learning in real life situations. Below is the scene to remind you that impossible just means "i'm possible." [Girly Jock]