I met Clara in the spring during the Problogger 31DBBB – not only did I learn a lot, but I met great blogging buds! Clara and I were teamed up as blogging buddies.
Clara blogs over at Just Chick Flicks, a topic that is near and dear to my heart! She is currently writing a great series on old move classics that has made me realize there are still a ton of movies I need to add to my Netflix list!
As a change of pace, Clara wanted to blog about something more personal that would normally “off-topic” on her own blog. I was happy that she wanted to share here. Today Clara is blogging about weight loss, something nearly ALL of us struggle with (I know I do)!
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As the New Year approaches, I feel the need to start 2010 fresh, new and with an ambitious list of goals. It is my New Year’s Eve tradition to stay home alone and reflect on the past 364 days to see where life has taken me. What have I accomplished? What have I learned. And most importantly, how much weight have I lost (or unfortunately, gained). I should have goals to be a better person, live debt free, recycle 100% of my trash, read a book a week. Yes, they are all noble goals. But weight loss is always numero uno on the list. The one thing that plagues me year after year is my goal to lose 20 pounds. OK… maybe some years it 30 pounds.
I suppose I should be a better person and just love myself the way I am and accept the fact that I come from long line of tall voluptuous women. That would be fine, but I also come for a long line of diabetics, with high blood pressure and heart problems. I would just like to be the one person at the family reunion not on insulin. So my battle of the bulge continues. Its for my health. Yeah, that’s right. Health. Not because I want to wear cute clothes and have young guys whistle at me.
Goal #1: Lose Weight & Get Healthy
Actually, four years ago I was able to finally cross this off the list when I lost 48lbs the hard way. By eating right and exercise. It was almost impossible not to stay on my fitness plan, because I had help in spite of myself. I was fortunate enough to work in an office building that had a free gym for the employees. (Darn, can’t use that excuse about not being able to afford a gym membership). I asked one of the personal trainers for some advice and before I knew what hit me, I had a personal trainer. Karl is a big muscular guy who looks a lot like the actor Michael Chiklis, (The Fantastic Four, The Shield).
Anyway, this man tortured me with free weights, intimidation and cardio. If he found out I had eaten anything with sugar, he added another 15 lbs on the Leg Curl Machine. One day, I was minding my own business, eating a really delicious apple danish, Karl walked by, picked up my danish and threw it in the trash! When I once told him I wanted to have a body like Beyonce (which is pretty ambitious, since she is like 20 years younger than I am) and he looked me straight in the eyes and said, “you’re going to have to work a lot harder”. He was horrible and I loved him for it. I lost weight, felt great and looked good too.
My daily lunches were sabotaged as well. By Lorri, the woman who ran the office building’s cafe. She made an incredible sandwich and until she found out I was on a diet, I was getting warm croissant sandwiches with turkey, bacon, melted cheese and chipotle mayo. Sounds wonderful doesn’t it? Yeah…It was My Sandwich. She actually put it on the menu and named it after me. But when she got the word from Karl that I was on a diet, I could order my special sandwich, but what I got was tuna on a bed of lettuce and a boiled egg. The horror…the horror!
But Karl moved to New York City. And I got a new job in another building, without a free gym and where the people in the cafe gave me exactly what I ordered. I gradually stopped working out and all my clothes mysteriously started to shrink. I also picked a very bad habit….Pancakes.!
We all have our food obsession. Some of us go crazy for chocolate or pizza or peanut butter. For me, its pancakes. I love pancakes! Let me say it again. I LOVE PANCAKES! It could be classified as some kind of an addiction. I might actually be eligible for some sort of pancake-related 12-step program. I really enjoy going out for breakfast on Saturday mornings with my friends.
At my regular weekend spot, The Original Pancake House all of the waiters know me by name. When I sit down, they automatically bring me an iced tea (I drink lots of iced tea-no sugar, no lemon). I don’t even need a menu because I usually order the same thing; the Pecan Pancakes with a side of yummy bacon. Ohhh baby, that is bliss!
Just Do It!
Out of concern for my health and my weight, I am giving up the pancake habit cold turkey. I have also enrolled in a martial arts aerobics class that should put me on the right road. But we all know that it is easier said than done. I have the best of intentions when it comes to exercise, but it seems as though something always gets in my way… Working late, can’t find my yoga pants, reruns of Law & Order or Monk. There is always an excuse. But then I remember how I did it four years ago.
Not by myself. Not on pure and hard-to-come-by will power (which I am convinced does not exist), but with encouragement and the help of friends. With Karl, who threw out my apple danish and Lorri who would not let me have a sandwich on a croissant and other friends who complimented me on every lost ounce. So, that’s how I will have to do it again. With a little help from my friends.
As for my other goals for 2010, I will be sitting on my sofa on December 31st, sipping a lovely glass of Cabernet making the list of things that will challenge me, make me a better person and make this the best year ever.
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Oh no. I can’t say no to sweet food.
No diet for me. haha.
Clara,
I’m looking forward to your blog.. love movies.
I had a “Karl” once, his name was Justin.. he made me work til I was on the very of vomiting and if I complained he’d just smile! I miss him. Weight has always been a challenge for me and for health reasons is on the top of my list for 2010 as well…………AGAIN!
What a great article…very well written and funny but painfully true at the same time. I feel your pain, Clara!
Thanks for your kind words of encouragement. And thanks to Andi for allowing me to be a guest on her blog.
FYI–I had my final (and wonderful) plate of pecan pancakes last Wednesday. That is just the 1st step in breaking my addiction to sugar. So no more pancakes (which includes french toast & waffles), cakes, donuts, or pies.