Happy All Hallow's Blog!!

A blog will quickly turn you into a fool, but who cares?

I gotta make this quick cuz I gotta be in the valley in, like ... two minutes ago.

So I ate 1250 calories yesterday and I'm gonna say that's pretty good. What I would LIKE to say is that it was a breeze. And part of the truth is that it WAS a breeze for the bulk of the day. Then I worked out for an hour on the treadmill and it was dinner time and from then until I fell asleep around 3 am I was hungry. That's the weird catch 22. When I don't work out I can make that 1000 - 1200 calories work for me much easier. When I work out I get HUUUUNNNNGGRRYY.

I don't know what the answer is cuz I can't take appetite suppressants cuz of my blood pressure concerns. I guess I'm gonna have to do what Bob Greene says on Oprah. I'm gonna have to get comfortable with hunger. I don't really care for that Bob Greene. I don't really care for feeling hungry. But, do you know anybody like my fella? I'll ask him if he's hungry and he'll tell me he is. But he hasn't made any moves to go to the kitchen. He hasn't really made any efforts to get food to put in his belly. He just ... sits with the hunger. Not ALWAYS but many times. How do people do that? When I'm hungry ... I can't concentrate. I can't think of anything else. It consumes my brain. I work really hard to distract myself. I'll go online or play a simple video game on the computer while watching TV. I read a book or find a chore to complete. Doesn't work. All I can think about is being hungry. That's why I suggest people stay ahead of the hunger. (that's what I wrote on the website)

Oy. I wish I could give you a more completely successful story and tell you it was a breeze and angels surrounded me and lifted me up and carried me though the day sprinkling me with fairy dust and sunshine. But it was a bit of a struggle. WORTH IT. But not easy.

Okay. I'll work on changing my attitude and approach. Get off my back! (how'm I doin' so far?)

Holy cow! And by that I mean I saw myself on video last night and think I look like an unholy huge cow!

I'm sure that's not ENTIRELY true as I have set up that I have issues not the least of which is that I think I look like crap when I look cute AND ... vice versa. However, as I mentioned, I was in my acting class and it was scary movie night. We filmed it and watched it back. I saw myself on film, walking trepidatiously into the room and I was STUNNED that my belly preceded me into the doorway. Holy cow. I had worn black for the season and I thought I was not only adequately camoflauged but stylish and adorable. And maybe I was but it sure didn't look like it on film ... to me.

Now, that being said, I was fine with my performance. I should really focus on that since that is the purpose of the class. And I DID take that away with me. But... I looked like I had four stomachs. And they were all full. Of cud.

How do I turn this into a plus? Here's how I'm gonna do it: I have been feeling really irritated about needing to/having to count calories. It's been bugging me. Partly because I'm already going to GREAT lengths to eat all healthy and whole, so to have to count calories atop that has been bugging me. Not so much after last night. Oh no. NOW I am all, like, determined and shit. I'm pissed off. I didn't do years of work and research and sacrifice (of calories) to have a big ole belly that isn't proportional to the rest of me. Unsightly. That's some bull. So I am going to staples and buying a couple of cute little notebooks that I will enjoy writing in and I'm gonna write down every motherf'ing thing that goes into my mouth. I am going to make SURE I get my freakin' water allowance. I'm gonna get this belly in tow.

Here's the thing ... when I was on the weight LOSS plan (not the maintenance plan) I went three pounds SOUTH of my goal but that's because I got the stomach flu. Over the few weeks following that I gained those three pounds and about five more and I stayed there for a year. I was FINE with that body but I wasnt' working ... as an actress. So I decided I could hover 8 - 10 pounds up from goal, work in my category and still be healthy. AND sitll be cute. It's a comfortable weight to maintain, also. It works on every level.

Well, right now the SCALE is saying one thing but my body and my BELLY are saying something else. So I am determined to get this under control. And get this ... I HAVEN'T HAD BOOZE IN 10 DAYS! That usually helps with the bloat. But not so much last night. Which, of course, makes me want a drink. HA!

Anyhoo, I'm fighting this belly in the next few days along with my no bad stuff plan. I'll be honest with you about it. I will.

Damn belly!

Sorry I missed yesterday. This morning is my deadline to get all the new stuff, the November stuff, to my designer/computer guy for the website. So yesterday I was in an all out sprint to finish it all up. I am pretty sure I'm done. It should all be up and running and ready for your perusal on Nov. 7th.

So the update is that neither Matt nor I have cheated even one time on our "no bad stuff" program. I mean, it's only for two weeks. I feel like I can do just about anything for two weeks. Except maybe temp. I have NOT been so good on my calorie count. I have been eating closer to 1600 calories a day. Now, that's not bad. The average woman eats 1800 to 2000 calories a day. But, sadly, I'm not an average woman. When I am MAINTAINING I am only supposed to eat 1400 calories a day. So I'm actually eating enough calories to GAIN weight. Oy. I've been working out so I haven't gained weight but I also haven't lost any. It's a pain in my backside.

My blood pressure seems to be in check and that's really great news. That was the REAL goal. But I need to drop a few pounds. Seriously. I need to drop at LEAST three pounds.

Now ... I remember when that used to inFURIATE me when girls would complain about gaining five pounds. But it makes a difference. It's a hard thing for me to admit since that was a source of mocking for so many years. But five pounds makes a difference now. DAMMIT!

So the fight against calories continues. I will keep you posted. DAMN CALORIES!!

Train your blog from day one

Let me talk a little bit about Weight Watchers.

Now, I think WW is a fine organization and a good plan and all that. It didn't work for me and here's why: If I am on a point system and I get, say ... 15 points in a day then what I will do is eat 4 points all day and save 11 points for my evening meal. Okay so that might actually work for some folks but since I have this weird whacked out adrenal situation, I didn't lose weight on that program. Not only did I not lose weight, but i would often GAIN a tenth or two tenths of a pound. And I was REALLY disciplined. If I had 15 points I would eat 15 points. Sometimes I would eat 14 points and save points for the weekend and ... look, I followed the program - is what I'm saying and it didn't work. I still suggest giving it a try if you haven't because it might work for you.

All of that mumbojumbo being said, WW has some ROCKIN' cookbooks. I have two now and I am diggin' both fairly largely. The latest one I got is called Weight Watchers 20 Minute Recipes and on the front ... a gorgeous picture of a stack of chocolate cookies. RIGHT?! And here's the thing, at the end of every recipe they have listed the points AND the calories and fiber and fat and all that. I am interested in calories and protein and so it works VERY nicely.

Here's the best thing though ... the recipes don't taste like they are low cal and so my honey eats them also. Night before last I made Salisbury steak with gravy. Oh ... you read that RIGHT, gang. GRAVY! And I ATE it. I don't even EAT red meat. But I used sirloin and it was only 7% fat and it was 217 calories per. I am NOT shitting you! I served it with seasoned snap peas and it rocked.

So I'm doing VERY well with the "no bad stuff" task, but I don't think I'm doing as well calorically as I want to do. That's okay, though cuz I got really serious about it yesterday and I did okay (1150 calories). I'll let you know as I go but in the meantime think about picking up that cookbook. The recipes are quick and easy, tasty and low cal and when YOU are doing the cooking you control the "bad stuff" quotient.

I hope I can maintain my excitement for the full two weeks. Anyone wanna wager?

Good blog. Gooooood bloooog.

I am now starting day four of my two week moratorium on bad foods. Now, what I think it is important to say (in order to remind myself) is that there are a lot of really delicious food that is either organic or a whole food or ... whatever. So for ME, eating healthy is not enough. So as of today I am also counting my FREAKIN' CALORIES!

By this afternoon I will have changed my attitude and I will make it an exciting challenge. But right now I'm just facing the day and feeling like I need more flexibility. I'm feeling a little bit chained up and chained in. That is not the case, but that's how I'm feeling.

Allow me to report, however, that it has not been a problem to eat healthy for three days. You laugh at that statement, as you should, but I thought it might be. Matt is doing it with me and it is much harder for him. But I've been cooking and ...

I have to run, but I'll tell you more about meals and make some suggestions tomorrow.

1,000 to 1200 calories. 1,000 to 1200 calories. That's plenty. Right?

An honest person is not the worse because a blog barks at him/her

As I've said several times before, I don't want to make this blog at all political. That's not what it's about. I'm only posting this video because it's my friend Danica and I think it's really funny and good. Here's the blurb she sent me:

"I was asked to be a part of this improvisational project (envisioned by Ron Howard) and I think it came out pretty well. There are 7 spots in the 'campaign'"

Here's the video:



If you wanna know more about Danica, she did TWO videos on my site. Go to Imperfect10.com and then click on the Body Language button. I think you may find you relate to her and she's pretty eloquent about the topic so ... go check her out.

A blog chasing it's tail only ends up back where it started

Hey kids! I started my two week moratorium on bad stuff yesterday.

My blood pressure is up. I haven't had it officially tested yet but I know the signs. I get a ringing in my ears. I get blurred vision. I get sharp, pointy headaches at the base of my skull that come and go that feel like I'm about to have an aneurism at any moment. But mostly, I'm tired ALL the time. It's impossible to work out and take care of yourself when you are tired all the time. So I knew I had to get things back on track. Lesley, the gal I check in with once a month, told me all I needed was two weeks. Two weeks of eating right and exercising would get my metabolism back on track and get things all lined up again. So I decided to do it.

Now, the trick was talking to my fella. Cuz here's the thing, I need his help. He eats poorly and drinks regularly and that is very hard for someone with food issues. You know? It's like asking an alcoholic to make drinks everynight but not to partake. Does anyone REALLY think that if there are brownies in the house for a week that I'm not gonna even TASTE one? Or Reese's Peanut Butter Cups? Or Salt and Vinegar potato chips? Come on. I'm only human.

Anyhoo, he agreed to go on this thing with me. No bad food or booze for two weeks. It's not forever, right? It's not even that long. Right? So ... WHY DOES IT FEEL LIKE AN ETERNITY?!

I have to remind myself that I was on liquids for three weeks. Oh hell YES I was. If I can do that, I can do anything.

Two weeks. I'll keep you posted.

Oh, hey. I want to be clear about why I don't allow posts or responses here on the blog. 2 reasons. 1) I don't have time to check it daily to make sure no one is leaving dirty limericks or calling me a lipstick wearing pig. You know? 2) If you want to say something to me, I would prefer you write me on the site. Just go to Imperfect10.com and go to the contact page and write me there. This blog is really about the site and not vice versa. So If you wanna call me names or tell me I'm full of it or write me a love poem, please do it there.

Cool?

We often relate to blogs more than to any human being.

The blog is the god of frolic

I saw a great show last night. And listen, I was A) struggling with a heavy ... flow (I'm trying to be delicate), and B) my ER episode was on last night and I went out to the show anyway. Right? Those were two huge obstacles. Okay so ... yes. I was able to Tivo my episode and watch it when I came home but ... I still get points. Right? Would YOU have gone out to a show if your ER episode was airing? Okay then.

I'm really glad I went. SO fun and so enjoyable and entertaining. It's called Women's Night Out. If you are local or near local here in the greater Los Angeles area, you should by all means check it out. I'm not sure the BEST way/place to find info but it's probably here:
http://www.myspace.com/womensnightout

It's at M Bar on Vine once a month so the location would probably also have info.

M Bar
1253 N Vine St
Los Angeles, CA 90038
Phone: (323) 856-0036

Here is a fun video about waxing that Alicia did for the show. She bleeds for this show. And I mean ... literally.

Blog Schmog

Periodical alert! Periodical alert! And I don't mean People Magazine.

Oh girls. Oh my goodness, girls. I got my lady time last night with no warning and it's a pisser this month. I don't know if "pisser" was the best adjective to use there, but you get my meaning.

So I'm a mess. Now I understand why I have been craving CRAP for the last week to 10 days. Now I understand why I'm retaining so much water. Now I understand why I'm tired and my blood pressure is up. This would be so much easier if my "visitor" was regular. But she ain't. You'd think I could kinda figure it out. But I cain't.

Anyhooo, I have to go now and find some comfy clothes that won't be binding all freakin' day long. (cue music) I love bein' a girl!

I am because my blog knows me.

It's Hump Day. Right? I'm looking at my calendar and I have a pretty packed week. So I'm gonna give you another video to enjoy to get you over the hump. Here is the commercial and the product that claims that Dove and it's Campaign for Real Beauty ripped them off. I've been ripped off so many times I have lost count so I say ... when you figure out how to get justice for that, call me.

Oh and ... Dove did it better. At least they cast people who aren't TV gorgeous in their spots, unlike the following.

Blog time is real time

I may have spoken about this before but I think it's a good time to bring it up again. It's this thing that I have also been experiencing ... the "I don't have time" thing. Mostly I think that's true for most of us if not all of us. But let's look at it just a little closer. Here's why...

I find ... I always have time to talk to my girlfriends on the phone when they have a problem. I find that I always have time to watch Oprah. I find that I always have time for lunch. I find I always have time to take a class or go to the movies or read the Twilight series of books by Stephanie Meyer. But I always seem to have trouble finding time to work out or cook or count my calories. Does that sound familiar? Anyone?

So ... make the time. Make the time to work out and to count your calories or carbs or points or protein or whatever it is you need to count to make a change in your life. Adjust your view on it. Convince yourself it's something you want to do as badly as watching Oprah and make the time. I often combine my Oprah watching WITH my working out and kill two proverbial birds. Because I'm GONNA watch my Oprah.

And how PISSED were LA residents when Oprah's show with Suze Orman got preempted for fire coverage? ONE HOUR OF FIRE COVERAGE! Listen, I understand the fires are real and important news but after the first segment it was the same info over and over and ... I WAS MISSING SUZE!!

Okay, I need to let it go. Oprah will rerun. And rerun and rerun. And I will ALWAYS be able to find the time to watch her. Which brings me back on track.

You know you can find the time. You know you can make the time. You know you can. So ... do it. You'll feel better.

A busy blog is a happy blog

Sorry kids. My mornings have been taken hostage by life and I haven't been able to blog as regularly as I would have liked.

I didn't eat well at all over the weekend if that's at ALL on your minds. I sort of tried to keep track of my calories and I DID work out, but ... that's it. I didn't eat on a schedule or drink enough water. I didn't eat more protein than anything else and, of course, I drank. Cuz ... it was the weekend. Right?

Anyhoo, tomorrow. I PROMISE. If I have another demanding morning I'll either post late the night before (meaning tonight) or I'll get up early. OY.

A blog turns three times before laying down

Sorry so late in posting. I am either coming down with a cold or I'm having a crazy allergy attack. Didn't sleep and I'm not feeling ... perky. It's probably because I'm not eating enough, right? HA! I joke.

I ate 1255 calories yesterday but I only drank 7 glasses of water. That's a problem when I work out cuz if I don't drink enough water when I exercise I retain water. When I retain water I don't "flush" effectively (go number 2) and I bloat and ... it's fun. And when I get sick nothing works right. Ugh.

So I'm gonna go take my miracle drug for colds, Antronex. I'm gonna Neti Pot and then see if I can actually face my day. But if I feel like this throughout the day, I will NOT be treadmilling. Sorry treadmill. I know you will miss me and feel neglected but I gotta knock this coldish thing out. I gotta kick this coldish thing's HIND QUARTERS! I gotta give it the boot. I've gotta hand it it's walking papers. I've gotta show it the door. I've gotta retire it early. I've gotta cut it loose just like Footloose. Please, Louise, pull me off of my knees.

A blog should be regularly fed

Okay so yesterday I ate 1280 calories. So ... less than 1400 but more than 1000. Makes sense, really. I have a rebellious nature and I can sometimes start to feel really restricted and constricted by too many rules. So right in the middle is perfect for me.

Did I follow my plan? Let's look:

1) 80 ounces of water — Check. I kept a tally of every glass of water. And to be ABSOLUTELY accurate, my glass holds a little more than 9 ounces of water so ... I had 88 ounces of water actually. Nit picky. I know. But I have to cling to my successes. That's an extra glass of water, people.
2) 6 small meals — Check. I have these products I use during my periods of weight loss. The products I use are VHP (very high protein) and ProtiDiet and ProtiSnax — soups, bars, shakes, etc. They are all super low calorie and super high in protein. I find them mostly pretty filling. You will probably only find them online or in a specialty type store. (www.tristarmedical.com)
3) Each meal has more protein than anything else — Check. See number 2.
4) No more than 1400 calories and preferably 1000 — Half Check. I ate no more than 1400 but didn't meet the ultimate goal of 1000 in a day. Doh.
5) Exercise — Check. I did an hour on the treadmill. ACTUALLY ... I did 65 minutes on the treadmill. That's five minutes MORE than and hour. Yup. I can do math like that. That's a long time on a treadmill, people. However, I didn't do a HARD workout. I did a moderate workout. That's why I stayed on for an hour. Because I was walking at a moderate rate, I only worked off about 450 calories. I watched Tru Blood and a little bit of an old Oprah. I know that's not pertinent information but I think it makes it clearer how I could stay on that dang thing for so long. Good TV. Yes, it is! I don't want to argue about the shows I like!

Okay so ... I forgot to tell you one REALLY important rule for my weight loss. And I didn't do this yesterday so now I have to get on it. I have to eat a salad a day. I do.

I have discussed this on the website. There are a couple of schools of thought on this. I consider vegetables a NEGATIVE CALORIE food. What that means is, due to the high fiber content, it takes more calories for your body to process vegetables than vegetables have in them. I don't think I said that well but I hope you're getting the point. There are those who disagree vehemently. All I can say is ... when I eat a salad a day I lose weight faster. I have a great salad recipe on the site if you go to the Tragically Lazy Foodie page.

I didn't step on the scale today because that would be foolhardy and obsessive. I'll do it tomorrow. ;) I'll keep a li'l journal here for the next few days to let you know how many days in a row I can actually stick to my plan. That'll be fun for you, huh?

If you wish a blog to follow you ... feed it.

So the month of indulgence is over. My anniversary, birthday with a couple of dinners and my gal pal's birthday dinner have NOT been kind to my hind quarters and mid section. I have decided to stop looking away and get bizaaay! That rhymes.

I have to stop making like I can eat what I want and drink to excess and never see the pounds on the scale. I have to stop kidding myself. You know how tiresome it is when someone is constantly teasing you anyway. Right? I sort of wanna punch myself in the lower mandible right now.

If you are interested, here is the plan:

1) 80 ounces of water a day - pure water. Not tea or coffee counted in. 80 ounces of water straight up, not shaken NOR stirred.
2) 6 small meals saving the substantial meal for the evening. I know it's the opposite of what you have been told for a million years, but that's what works for me both physically and mentally.
3) Each meal has to have more protein than anything else.
4) No more than 1400 calories in a day but preferably 1000 a day during the losing portion. That means writing down EVERY ... SINGLE ... CALORIE I consume.
5) Exercise ... every day. Carrying laundry baskets up and down the steps doesn't count. Picking up my 10 pound cat several times in a day, not in the exercise column. 45 minutes of sustained walking for me, you do what you want.

So instead of dreading it, I'm choosing to look at it like this wonderful thing I'm doing for myself. I'm viewing it as a fun challenge. It's a project. I am a project. I am an ongoing, neverending, all consuming project. I am that kind of project where, like, some days you look at the project and feel very proud and pleased and other days you look at it like there is still so much work to be done. But you wanna do the work because the project is special. You also know ... you will never finish it. And that's okay on some days cuz you like having projects but it can also occassionally feel exhausting. I am choosing to not be exhausted by the project that is me. Not this week.

I'll let you know tomorrow if I was able to get through even one day following all the rules. Wait, I'm gonna choose to call them guidelines and suggestions. That's one great thing the Republican party has taught me. Rules are sort of ... liquid.

Blog Tired 2

The vice-presidential debate and subsequent ugly fights between friends after has exhausted me. I will check in on Monday.

A blog loves you more than you love yourself.

Sorry friends. I have been remiss. Time constraints and all. Here's a short video/advertisement I love. I'll get chatty again tomorrow. Cool?