3pm Chocolate Cravings/ TV Show Commentary

While trying to kick my cravings – I have taken to writing down every single thing I crave in a memo on my BB (it’s getting ridiculously long). Tuesday at 3:15pm I was overcome with a craving for chocolate. I ALMOST broke down…but wait, I have NO snacks at my desk! Now, I normally keep a plethora of stuff at work…but I have recently been infiltrated by an angry mouse.  He destroyed all my snacks (probably with friends). To make matters worse, he shit on my popcorn. Asshole mouse.

Anyways, so my desk is barren of snacks. I REFUSE to go to the vending machine. Refuse.

I dig in my purse. Surely I have something I can appease myself with right?? Enter: Extra Dessert Delights Gum.

SCORE!

I got these in my stocking for Xmas. Mint Chocolate Chip, Strawberry Shortcake and Key Lime Pie.

I tried the Mint Chip. It’s AMAZING. Craving – conquered!!!!!!!!!!! Fuck yeah!

I always laugh when I watch Biggest Loser and Bob goes on and on about gum. Who thought gum could curb a craving?! Not me.

Of course, I’m not thrilled with the idea of sugar-free (because of all the additives) – but if it prevents me from eating something I shouldn’t, I’m all for it!

I wonder if someone from Wrigley’s will see this post once I’m skinner and want to endorse me? I could totally be a Wrigley’s girl – I’m way less annoying than the Orbitz girl! Dontcha think?

Now, I have been religiously watching “I Used to Be Fat” and of course “Biggest Loser” and I figured I should post my 2 cents at some point.

I loved the first episode of “IUTBF” with Gaby, but I HATED Marci. I wanted to slap her for being so damn whiny. She looked amazing at the end, and I loved her trainer – but I still wanted to slap her. I also was disappointed that her focus was cute clothes at a snobby boutique. Really? I denno – I guess I need to remember what it was like to be 18.

The third episode was Dominick – and in case you didn’t see it, I won’t spoil it. I liked him, he reminded me a lot of someone I know (who shall remain nameless). I could relate to his mom wanting to make people happy with food. I can’t even think of how many times I have made someone cookies when they’ve done me a favor. In retrospect I think most of my life I have though of food as love/appreciation. Hmmmm! Anyone else have this problem??

Now, let’s chat about “BL”. My BFF Jewels and I love this show – but she’s been on vacation in Hawaii (that bitch!) so I have only had my mom to gossip about it with.  So, this season has (in my mind) much more likable people. It also has two of the fattest contestants ever (Courtney and Arthur). It’s scary when you look around a grocery store or the mall and realize just how much of the population is overweight. How did we become the fattest nation?!

The “twist” this season is there are 2 sets of trainers. Bob and Jillian…and “the unknowns”. So NBC is being a bit dramatic. The “unknowns” haven’t been introduced and are training in a secret location in Malibu. Of course, being as nosey as I am – I Googled it to find out who they were:  Cara Castronuova and Brett Hoebel. Thank you to Lisa Johnson for the info! Both seem like interesting choices. From what I’ve heard (sound-bytes from the show etc.) – they’re both very no-bullshit, which is good.  However, I do wonder if Cara has any training at all….but, either way I’m excited for a new twist. I’ll be interested to see what happens next season since Jillian Michaels is leaving the show. One/both of them must be staying right?

Sidenote: Anyone else remember Kim Lyons? I hated her on the show. She annoyed the crap out of me.

Anyways, enough gossiping – back to the point! The contestants are way more likable, and they all seem to be pretty driven. I’ve noticed them using equipment I’m dying to try – but they don’t have at my gym – including Jacob’s ladder, a hand bike (I think that’s the right word) and they’ve worked a lot harder than I work. Now, I know they exercise as a job and are competing for money…but it forced me to remember to step my game up.

Arthur is 5’8″ and 507 pounds and this past episode he RAN for 30 seconds on the treadmill. If he can do it, I can too. I have no reason I need to wait until I hit a magic number to start pushing myself on the treadmill. If I’m planning to jog a 10K by October I better be putting in some serious work starting NOW.

Oh, and this season’s contestants have already started using the spin bike and having a Bob spin class! I have been talking about trying spin forever, but I keep saying I’m not strong enough. Maybe I need to bite the bullet and try?

OK – so the goal for the rest of the month: get my butt on the treadmill and jog for 30 seconds a few times!

February’s goal:  spin bike!

 

“I Used to Be Fat”

Happy New Year everyone!!! Can you believe it’s 2011?! It just seems crazy.

I am happy to say I have already gotten an amazingly kickass workout in and I’m starting on a new challenge. 30 DVDs in 30 Days. I have WAY too many DVDs and I figure it I try one each day I can do a little give-a-way in Feb. of the ones that are not for me. Additionally, having a DVD challenge will help me when it’s hella cold and I don’t want to go to the gym. I have new kettle bells from my bro and a yoga mat – I have NO excuse not to rock and roll this winter!

I have mentioned before that I am a self-proclaimed weight-loss show junkie right? Well, I’ve been sucked into a new one. “I Used to Be Fat” premiered on MTV last week and follows an 18-year old as they lose weight the summer before college. I can relate to this desire – I remember graduating HS being well over 200 pounds and wishing I could reinvent myself before starting college. I went to a small, artsy school and I have often wondered how different my life would have been if I started school at a normal size and not so obese. But, alas…I didn’t and here we are discussing it 10 years later.

So, the first episode of this show followed Gabriella – you can read all about her here. She kicked ass. In 111 days she lost a PERSON (90 pounds). That’s amazing. It took me 365 days to do that – so I was certainly inspired.

A few things that I loved about the show: while she had a trainer, it was a very no bullshit trainer. Several times the trainer said “this is hard, if it was easy you wouldn’t be here“. Amen sista! Gabriella had to learn how to eat right, and how to co-exist with a family who ISN’T eating right. Just because you’re losing weight doesn’t mean the world is going to stop to accommodate you!  I also loved that she had a goal and counted down to it. Each day she ripped a giant poster-board sized calendar (starting at day 111). I think I need to implement something like that! So, I’m going to be counting down to Tribal Fest  and as of today I have 132 days. I’m not sure I can lose another 90 pounds….but I think I could rock out for sure. Actually, maybe I could….that’s only an average of 5 pounds a week! Hmmmm!

One more thing I liked about the show – she made sacrifices to reach her goal. She said herself – most people are partying and living it up during the summer after senior year. She was exercising every day and eating right. It might have been hard, but hard work pays off! You watch her sweat, cry and struggle through the emotional part of losing weight (like learning to stand by to her overbearing mother, who I wanted to bitch slap).

Here she is before and after:

Amazing huh?!?!

Anyone else watch the show? Do you find weight-loss shows to be motivational?

There’s another on A&E starting soon, “Heavy” – I’ll DVR it for sure and report back on my opinions!

Have you guys started working on your resolutions yet?? I hope so – no time like the present!

XO

*S