Archive of ‘Exercise’ category

Title Readers, Skimmers, Background GI Info & Bye Bye Shred on Demand

I’ve realized that there is a specific type of blag reader out there — the “Title Reader” or the “Skimmer”. Not a problem — until the confusion begins. Title Readers read only the names of the blog entries and believe they have all the information contained within.  Skimmers, well, skim the entry and believe they too know all the information. This has caused some confusion between me and those types of people.

Title Readers and Skimmers all believe I am pregnant.

I am not pregnant. I do, however, have a GI condition that causes my tummy to expand in great amounts. This in turn creates the need for me to purchase maternity pants (or, as I have referred to them — my all time low). So I just want to say it clearly – I am not purchasing maternity pants because of maternity; I am purchasing maternity pants because I have GI problems.

Why do I have these GI problems that make my stomach blow up to the size of, well, a pregnant lady? It is not a food allergy or intolerance, as many of you have suggested. Food intolerances don’t have a specific start date. My problems do.

It is believed that after an infection that I had in August 2007, the antibodies that attacked the infection also attacked certain nerves and/or muscles crucial to the GI process. After the infection went away, nothing was the same  for me again. I seemed to simply stop functioning normally. And I felt awful. I gained weight immediately, stopped being able to eat normal meals and started feeling uncomfortable and sick all the time.

As I said, this is not because of any specific food or allergy — but certain foods do make my problems much worse. These foods are vegetables, fruits, whole grains, oats, bread, rice and anything high in fiber. I avoid these foods so I can feel as comfortable as possible. I also want to add that I have been under the care of doctors for this since November 30, 2007. I have had countless tests, procedures, treatments and doctor visits. We know what it isn’t. This is what we believe it is.

Please feel free to comment or contact me if you’d like to know more.

Bloating is fat

The 30 Day Shred Level 1 is NO LONGER on Exercise on Demand
I woke up today ready to get back into the Shred after oversleeping yesterday — and it was gone! As I mentioned, I haven’t figured out how to set up my DVD player at the boy’s. Once I discovered the Shred is free On Demand, I stopped trying. This morning, the Shred Level 1 was not there! And I didn’t have time to start playing with the DVD and TV settings, so I did Level 2 — which is still there. Uhhhh…. it was HARD. And because I didn’t know what eksusizes were coming next I couldn’t set up the living room properly to accomodate them, so I wasn’t able to do everything full out. But I never did any strength training before Level 1 and I only did Level 1 about 8 times. I simply was not ready for Level 2. Not that I couldn’t do it — I could. I just would prefer not to until I am more comfortable with Level 1. Also, Level 2 is LOUD – I fear my feet banging the floor with these plank jumping jacks and all would wake up sleeping people!

I must say – Plank JUMPING JACKS??!! Jillian Michaels, are you insane?

I can’t even imagine what Level 3 must be like.

Needless to say, tonight I will be working hard to try and set up the DVD player. If I still can’t, it is back to Level 2 tomorrow – but let’s really hope I can! I have attached the yellow wire from the DVD player to the cable box. Is there anything else I need to connect?? Help!

Lastly, in Bethenny’s Naturally Thin footsteps, look what arrived yesterday – ramekins! Now I can attempt to portion out ice cream and other treats should I decide I want them. More thoughts on Naturally Thin coming soonI promise!

RamekinsRamekin for size

OIKOS Greek Yogurt Review Part 1, Workout Dilemma and Tidbits

 A big thank you to Kristina at Oikos Organic (Stonyfield Farms) for free yogurt coupons! As Kristina explained, Oikos is organic which gives it a bit of an edge over Chobani in these organic times of ours. Even though I have lots of sale Chobanis to get through, I was too curious last night at Jubilee to pass up the chance to taste an Oikos. I picked up a 5.8oz Vanilla.

This morning I mixed in my pumpkin butter… and…. MMMMM. Creamy, tart and delicious! Now the question is, which yogurt do I like better?

OIKOSChobani

Let us compare.

Size: The Oikos I had today was 5.8 oz while my Chobani yogurts are 6.0 oz. Close, but Chobani wins this category.
Price: Oikis was $2.59 at Jubilee while non-saletime Chobani is $1.99. Chobani wins this category.
Consistency: Oikos was a bit thicker than Chobani. Oikos wins this category.
Taste: This is only for Vanilla. I just love my Chobani so very much, but I thoroughly enjoyed Oikos today. I would like to do a taste test, side-by-side. For now, I will give this to Chobani, but be on the lookout for my taste test post where I decide for certain. I would also like to try Oikos honey, plain and blueberry. Final results TBD.

I understand that Oikos is more expensive because organic foods are more expensive. Makes sense. Both yogurts are a delicious, healthful treat and right now I recommend both — but my heart is with Chobani until the taste test.

Spin:
I went to spin at my gym last night. Ahhhh. So nice. The teacher was a sub and I don’t know who he is but he was wonderful. I thoroughly enjoyed the class, my breathing room, clear mirrors and a bike without things sticking out all over that poke me in the legs.

Workout Dilemma – Any suggestions??
As I mentioned, I will be going to hypnotherapy every other week for 14 weeks to help deal with my GI issues. It starts on Monday, March 30. I will have a bit of time between work and therapy — not enough to go all the way uptown to my gym, but just enough to work out near the psychologist’s office or work. There is a New York Sports Club 2 blocks from her office and I inquired about doing a guest pass type thing for these 7 days. They said I would have to join for $89 a month. Um, what! That is 3 months. $267 for 7 workouts??! NO, THANK YOU, NYSC.

I told them I’d get back to them. Hehe. So my question for all of you is — do you have any suggestions for how I can get in a quick workout on these days? I could take walks but I tend to get bored. Running outside isn’t possible because I will have all my stuff with me from work. There are no pay-as-you-go gyms or spin studios or pilates studios in the area. Kinespirit is around the corner — and very affordable, plus I have a free pass thanks to Melissa, but they don’t have a class at the right time for me on Mondays!

I do have a free guest passes to NYSC through the company I work for that I can use at the location near hypnosis one time and 2 different locations near work — resulting in 3 free workouts. Even more if I have time/am willing to venture out. I plan to do this if I can’t find a better option. My issue with jumping around like that is not knowing where anything is in the gym and having to take the time to figure it out and the changing room situations and all. I can do it — and I probably will. But I would prefer to visit the same place each time.  Not a huge deal, just something I’d be more comfortable with. So let me know if you have ideas!

No Workout Friday: I thoroughly enjoyed my very first No Workout Friday! Delicious dinner ordered in from Josie’s (Blockheads didn’t happen, the boy was sick), no stress, no guilt!

30 Day Shred: I set my phone as my alarm as I have been doing lately for the 30 Day Shred, only I put it on “All Sounds Off” rather than “Alarm Only” — so I overslept and missed today’s Shred! Oh, well. But when the boy goes away for a week (starting 3/26) I won’t be able to do the Shred since I have no floor space in my apartment. This is no exaggeration. I do plan on going to my mom’s for that weekend so I will be able to do it Saturday and Sunday, but otherwise my Shredding will slow down a bit at this time. I plan on going longer than 30 days for this reason — I want my time to count! And maybe I will stick with it indefinitely. It might be in my head, but I feel leaner!

Santana is much better at pushups than I am:

Santana pushup

Random Tidbits: I have a lot to say about Bethenny’s book Naturally Thin and I will get into that at some point soon. I am also planning a post about the language my brother and I have with each other. Good times ahead!

My birthday is on Saturday and the boy and I are going to the Russian Tea Room! SO excited!.Also excited for the NYC Blogger Meetup Brunch on Sunday! As you all know, I love me some french toast! And I will be taking Bethenny’s words with me. Some of them. More TK.

My friend Missy was leaving work during her lunch hour and the maintenance lady asked her where she was going. “The gym,” she replied. The lady said, “You don’t need it.”

Um. Since when did anyone NOT need exercise? Everyone needs exercise (aside from those with or recovering from some illnesses). And I don’t think the lady is an authority on exercise, but if she is, I would love to hear her credentials and her theory for why Missy didn’t need to exercise? My opinion is that she is not an authority on exercise and was referring to the fact that Missy is in excellent shape. All the more reason to exercise — stay healthy, strong and live a long life! Don’t ever let anyone tell you that you look good so you “don’t need” to exercise — do it for yourself, because you want to do something positive.

A woman in Jubilee accosted me and asked if I like oranges. “Umm.. sure,” I said. “Then you HAVE to buy these!” she said, leading me to some oranges. She went on to say they are the best oranges of her life and only 4 for $1 so there’s no reason not to get some. I felt awkward and didn’t want to refuse because she was obviously so passionate about these oranges. She said she has been buying and eating them nonstop. So I  took 4. I could have put them back later but I was intrgued — were they really that good?

Tasted one today. It tastes like a regular orange.

orange

…and threw it out since I can’t exactly eat fruit anyway!

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