Do clothes make the workout?

I admit it.  I have a workout clothes/shoes fetish.  I have an entire dresser devoted to sportswear:  tops, shorts, capris, cargos, hoodies, ball caps....even jewelry.

I guess it started when I began teaching fitness classes at the gym.  When I trained for Bodypump, we were told what colors to wear (red, black, white or gray) and that our job was like any other - look professional and "put together".  Then came Zumba.  OYE!  Let me just say, these are smart cookies these zumba people.  Their zumba wear line shouts "Party!"  Funky colors, crazy styles, fun accessories that make you want to workout.

Think about it.  When you wear a super cute outfit, you feel better about yourself.  You want to go out and about in your new threads.  So, if this is what it takes to motivate you to move, then what's the harm?  Why not reward yourself with some new gear when you meet a goal?

And while we are thinking about gym clothes....here it is - Audrey's what NOT to wear list:

Guys:
1.  Sleeveless muscle shirts are great, as long as you don't have a jungle growing out from under your arms or on your back.

2.  No short shorts!  That 70's basketball short is best left in the 70's.

3.  Tanks or tshirts that boast your attributes:  "Welcome to the gun show" etc. .....unless of course there is a gun show to see.

4.  Sweat pants that are 3 sizes too small.  Just don't.

Gals:
1.  Shorts/pants etc. that are so tight that they require a dusting of talcum powder to pull on or off.

2.  Ditto on the tops.

3.  Bra tops are for those that have earned the right to wear them.  (Ab-alicious chics only)

4.  Excessive perfume, makeup and coiffed hair.  We're here to workout right?

I'm all about trying to look your best - even at the gym- as long as we don't forget why we got all gussied up in the first place.

"Go sell crazy somewhere else, we're all stocked up here"

I wish wish wish exercise was all it took to lose weight.  I've got that covered!  I am one of those people that enjoy and look forward (most of the time) to working out.  Exercise is a key part of the weight loss equation. However, your eating habits carry far more weight (pardon the pun) in your weight loss success.  I was reading one blogger's review of diet plans and scams and I was ashamed to realize that I have at one time or another tried a majority of them.

It began with the Slim Fast plan.  It was mid-80's so the convenient premixed cans weren't even around yet.  You got a shaker and the powder.  I remember holding my nose in an attempt to squelch the taste of it going down.  Over the years, I've been foolish enough to try some crazy diet scams.  The Carbohydrate Addicts Diet.  Heard of this one?  You basically eliminate all carbs during the day.  Then for one hour at night you are allowed to eat whatever you want.  ONE HOUR.  On your mark.....get set......gorge!!!  Let me just say that I had that one meal planned to a "T".  And heaven help the person that got in my way in that 60 minutes.  Luckily,  my daughter was still pretty young at the time....so she won't be scarred with visions of her mother scarfing down plates and bowls of food before the buzzer went off.  Fast forward to the Atkins Diet.... Xenedrine pills....Metabolife.....Alli....and my personal favorite:  the banana/hot dog/boiled egg diet.  Now, I can't claim to have actually done this one.  But, I have seen it in action...(if "you" are reading this, "you" know who you are).

Live and learn,  right?  What is that saying?...."Everything you need to know, you learned in kindergarten".  Well, I'm not sure we learned about the Food Pyramid when we were 5, but if we did, then that saying holds true. To think, the dieter's holy grail has been right under our nose all this time!  I know deep down that this way of eating is what works -- I do admit that temptations for the quick and easy fix has gotten me under it's spell on more than one occasion.  Did I lose weight?  Yes.  Did I gain it back?  Yes. 

Every time I have  tried to recover from one of these crazy plans, I fall back on the one sure thing I know.....eating "clean".  I must continue to remind myself to stay strong and guard myself against the lures of the quick fix.  Summer is coming....I've got my game face on.

*  I encourage those that are not sure of good nutritional guidelines to check out "Why Weight?".  It's a nutrition class offered at my gym.  If you look at the blogs I follow, you can see their blog for more information.

* Also, a friend and personal trainer recommended a good book you should read - "The I Can Do This Diet" ....check it out.

I'll take an order of endorphins please.....

My day kicked off to a great start -  Zumba this morning with a room full of fun, energetic people.  It's when I left the gym that things slid downhill.  We've all had those days where nothing seems to go right....where you feel as though surely there's a hidden camera somewhere and Ashton Kutcher is gonna pop out any time and tell you you've been Punk'd. 

I am generally a type A, OCD personality ...a little high strung by nature.....NOT a good foundation for things to go wrong.  All I can say is hallelujah for endorphins and exercise therapy.  There's something about taking that one hour - or however long - and devoting it completely and selfishly to yourself.  Mix in something you enjoy, people you love, good music, laughs and alotta sweat and you have yourself a prescription that no pharmacy can fill.

It's gonna be a long day.  Thank heavens I have another Zumba class to look forward to tonight!

Krispy Kreme Burgers anyone?

I just read a friend's facebook post about a new "vendor treat" for an upcoming public event:  Krispy Kreme Burger with a side of chocolate covered bacon.  Wow.  Did you feel your arteries clog just now?  Besides the fact that the nutritional content is horrendous, the food combination is a bit bizarre.  Makes me wonder, who knew that peanut butter and jelly...or candy corn and peanuts would taste so good together? 

Throughout the years, I have also enjoyed some strange combinations of food:

* cubed chicken, cubed golden delicious apples, spicy brown mustard mixed and wrapped in lettuce leaves
* cottage cheese, unsweetened cocoa, caramel stevia (you can also throw this in a blender, add a bit of water and some ice and freeze.  Tastes like a fudge pop)
* saltines and fat free mayo or saltines topped with grape jelly
* sliced pepper jack cheese wrapped around a carrot stick
* celery dipped in salsa...or better yet- celery dipped in salsa/cream cheese/greek yogurt
* peanut butter and cool whip mixed together and chilled

I suppose we all have our own unique little taste bud quirks.  Undoubtedly, I will never try the Krispy Kreme Burger (simply because of the nutritional make-up), but I am not opposed to putting good things together to make something great!   To each their own, Bon Appetite!

Peanut Butter Obsession

I'm not sure when my obsession with peanut butter began - maybe it was when I was a child and my dad made the most amazing peanut butter and jelly sandwiches - mixing equal parts of two simple ingredients and slathering 3 inches worth between two fluffy pieces of "light" bread.  That was just the beginning.....
peanut butter and jelly....peanut butter and nutella.....peanut butter and apples....peanut butter and celery..... peanut butter and cool whip (yes, cool whip).....but best of all - straight out of the jar.

Unfortunately, peanut butter cannot reside at my house.  You wouldn't set out a bottle of vodka in an alcoholic's kitchen right?  Same thing.  Peanut butter is not a bad thing, it just is for someone like me that wants to demolish the whole jar.  So, it's best that I not tempt myself with its presence. 

Now, all of that to tell you this - my wonderful little discovery at the Natural Food Store.  Btw - I love love love this place.  I am constantly finding little treats in there that make eating clean enjoyable.  I went in for my weekly shopping spree to pick up caramel flavored stevia (YUM!), baked apple chips (Mmmm! Mmmm! Mmmmm!), and fruit strips (my husband refers to these as fruit jerkey) ....when I spied a tiny bottle of liquid flavoring - PEANUT BUTTER FLAVORING.  Mind you, there were other flavors, but I couldn't even tell you what they were.  These were tiny drops to add to your food.  0 calories, 0 sugar, 0 carb, 0 everything.  Add it to yogurt, cottage cheese, oatmeal, smoothies, baked apples....the possibilities are endless!  They may not spread well on a sandwich, but I'm willing to overlook that :)

Balancing Act

Balancing is not easy for Type A - OCD people like me.  It is one of those things that I must continually work on.  My mom's favorite thing to say to me growing up was "you are gonna go, go, go until you collapse."  Turns out she was right.

About 5 or 6  years ago, I felt like I was at my fitness peak.  My bodyfat was down to 7% (not healthy by the way) and I was working out like a crazy woman.  I ran EVERY day without fail, I taught multiple fitness classes  and I was eating so clean you could hear me squeak when I walked by.  Eating clean was not bad, however; I was not taking in enough calories to support the insane exercise routine I was keeping.  In my mind, I was a fitness machine.  Then one day, my machine finally broke down. 

I remember sitting on my couch on a hot summer day under a thick blanket.  I was shivering and burning up at the same time.  I called my sister to come over because I literally could not support my own weight to move off that couch.  When she got there, she immediately took me to the ER.  At this point, I was not functioning well at all.  My temperature was 104 degrees and I could not stop shaking.  I was admitted and given an IV to put fluids back into my body.  I had let myself completely dehydrate.  My over-zealous fitness regimen had finally taken its toll on my body.  Too much of a good thing really can be bad.  There is such a thing as exercise addiction.  This is going above and beyond what is considered healthy.  This experience was the eye-opener I needed.  My husband (boyfriend at the time) had been warning me that this was coming but I wouldn't listen.  I have always had body issues and have always had to struggle with my weight.  At the time, I thought I was invincible. 

Today and every day I struggle to maintain balance in my fitness/eating routine.  There are days that I fail miserably.  I know how hard it is to get back up, dust off and try to hop on a moving train.  So, my number one fitness goal?  Lose 10 pounds?  Nah......Run a marathon?  No......
At the end of the day, I want balance.  I want to accept my failures, learn from them and move on.  I want to do my best to eat healthy and exercise, but not go completely overboard in either direction.

Birds of a Feather

Today is my wedding anniversary.  Four years married to the most wonderful man in the world.  I am a very lucky woman!  We actually met 6 years ago at - big suprise here - the gym.  I can remember seeing him there but being too shy to actually go up and speak to him.  Plus, it seemed very cliche to try and "chat up" someone at the gym.  Turns out, he was a little shy as well, so a mutual friend set us up on our first date. 

One of the many things that attracted me to my husband was his value of health and fitness.  Like me, he has struggled with his weight from time to time and knows how important exercise and a good diet are to being healthy.  Together, I hope we are instilling these values in our daughters.  They are both very active and hopefully will continue to be throughout their lives. 

I've had relationships in the past with people that did not share my value of fitness.  It can be difficult and sometimes even destructive.  I can remember being belittled and berated by my EX husband for spending time working out.  It is important to surround yourself with people that are on the same fitness page.  We need them for support and encouragement.  Some of my best friendships are ones that have grown from this common thread. 

I thank my husband today for his support and encouragement throughout the years.....for being my voice of reason when I tend to go overboard......for enduring countless hours of me practicing class choreography in our living room.....and for loving me no matter what I look like, or how many pounds I have gained or lost.