Post 50 - And Another thing!

Hello, everyone!

I know, I know, "What's this? Two days of blogging in a row?" Sorry about that - I left out so much good information in that ridiculously long blog of mine last night and I didn't want to let another day go by without writing it down and sharing it with all of you. I'm sending out a special "hello" to all of my friends at Yelp for inspiring this blog post today!

I've - once again - received so many wonderfully encouraging words from SO many of you. And with those words of encouragement, I've also been asked many questions. Hopefully, this blog post will answer some of them.

To begin with, I want to share the following changes I've made to my daily living:

Exercise

1. Zumba - two or three times per week at Dance SPA, depending on my work schedule.
2. I walk home from work (three miles) on the days I don't go to Zumba.
3. Ab Lab twice per week.
4. Strengthening/toning every other day.

Food

• For the most part (there are a few exceptions), I try not to buy anything with ingredients I can't pronounce.
• I plan my snacks. I spend part of my day cooking for others. It's been too easy to just pop a taste of whatever I'm cooking into my mouth. New rule - if it isn't a calorie I can and will track accurately, I won't eat it.
• NO MORE BUYING POTATO CHIPS. I am addicted to them. ADDICTED, I tell you. When I eat potato chips, forget portion control. I literally zone out and then suddenly come back to reality with absolutely no clue how this empty potato chip bag got in my hands. The nutritionist I met with said this "zoning out" I described is VERY common, even among people who aren't overweight. Well, that's simply not acceptable. I'm through with this zoning out business! I won't eliminate them from my diet completely but I will keep my exposure to them at a minimum.
  
• When I eat at a restaurant, I do eat fries. I won't stop eating fries. Not completely anyway. So here's what I've started doing instead. As soon as my plate comes, I remove 1/2 to 2/3 of the fries and hide them so I don't even see them. This has a dual effect. First, I do tend to be "out of sight, out of mind" about them. However, even if I still find myself wanting them... they've been removed from the warm plate and hidden in a napkin somewhere. This makes them cool off faster and everyone knows cold french fries are just nasty.
• I've also cut my bread intake (which wasn't terribly huge to begin with) in half. No white bread (except the occasional restaurant burger bun if there are no other options).
  
• And one of the biggest changes I'm just now learning to make is that I'm increasing my water intake by, like, a million oz. Okay, not really a million but, after a lifetime of NEVER drinking water (I've hated it my whole life), I'm learning to be friends with H2O. No, drinking coffee doesn't count, darn it. Water is one of the most important gifts I can give my body and, I think, this must be especially true for those of us in the "over 40" crowd. So I'm on my third 12 oz glass of agua as I write. Cheers, everyone!

This week, I'm going to learn about the food pyramid. I mean, we all learned about it in grammar school but I'm 99.9999999% sure I've been doing it wrong most of my life. So I'm going to see where I went wrong and figure out some fun options for getting myself back on track. I also want to post some sort of exercise/calorie tracker and a food chart here on the blog. I'm not sure exactly what I want to do about that. On the one hand, I do want to post this information because I think it's important. On the other hand, I don't want this blog to start looking too cluttered. So if you have any cool widgets you can share with me, please let me know!

Last but not least, I forgot to mention yesterday that Joe and I have started recording our vlogs. Our approaches are going to be a bit different - like our personalities - and I think that's PERFECT! His, of course, is going to be artistic, fun, and focused on what his body looks like and moves like as he dances his way down to where he wants to be. Mine is more focused on the information I'll be providing. Imagine me actually talking to you and saying everything in my blogs instead of writing it all down. Yeah. Like that. Once we're ready to start posting our vlogs (not for another couple of months, I think), I'll share them with you -- I'm so excited about that!!!

That's it for now -- and don't forget to watch our friends Michael, Adamme, LaToya, Corey and Stephanie on Dance Your Ass Off tonight; it's Vegas night as the contestants travel to Sin City! Can't wait to see what transpires - I'll see you all at the Live Chat; tonight's hosts are LaToya for the east coast chat and Stephanie on the west coast!


Thank you all for keeping me accountable, my virtual friends and family!!

Kelley
xoxo

Post 47 - When Life Hands You Lemons, Make Sure You Have Water and Sugar If You Want Lemonade

So this morning, when my precious boyfriend (whom I adore) and my sweet friend (whom I also adore) both texted me cheery "get up and go" messages, let's just say I didn't use my most lady-like language. I was full of vinegar and NO sugar whatsoever. Let me explain!

I worked a 65 hour week last week. Add to that, the 6 hours of work-related travel time and... we're talking more than 70 hours of work, including two back-to-back work shifts on Thursday and Friday. Exhausting, to say the least! I got home from work just before 1am this morning. Soaking wet because of the rain storm last night (which I actually loved). I peeled off my clothes, threw on some jammies, washed my face and collapsed in bed. I woke up when the alarm went off at 7:15 this morning and used extreme self control in not hurling it across the room. Part of my motivation here is that I use my cell phone as my alarm clock. No alarm clock = no telephone = no good. So I was just relaxing thinking the usual: you know... I can miss JUST ONE DAY. It's raining. I don't want to ruin the studio's floor with my wet shoes. It's just one day! Marc and I were having some lovely little virtual snuggling when I mentioned the word "Zumba." FTW! My loving boyfriend instantly turned into drill sergeant from hell!


[7:53 AM] Marc: hellllooooo!
[7:53 AM] Marc: mmmuah and good moorning!
[7:53 AM] Kelley: mmmmf
[7:54 AM] Marc: i did not want to wake you...I KNEW you had your mobile on alarm i
[7:54 AM] Kelley: one eye half open here
[7:54 AM] Marc: turn and sleep another few minutes!
[7:54 AM] Kelley: mmmmf
[7:55 AM] Kelley: I'm not going to zumba - it's in an hour and I'm too worn out
[7:56 AM] Marc: no way!
[7:56 AM] Marc: YOU
[7:56 AM] Marc: GO!
[7:56 AM] Marc: UP WITH YOU, LAZY ASS!
[7:56 AM] Marc: NOW!
[7:56 AM] Marc: I did not know you have zumba
[7:56 AM] Marc: UP!
[7:56 AM] Marc shakes your bed
[7:58 AM] Kelley *whines*
[8:00 AM] Marc: hop hop!
[8:00 AM] Kelley: i didn't get home til almost 1am
[8:01 AM] Marc: no excuses! you can rest when you are back home! just... DO IT!


At this point, my phone buzzes again. It's Joe (of course):

[8:03 AM] Joe: I'm at Western. Text ya later and get ur ass over here!
[8:03 AM] Kelley: grrrr. Okay! *goes back to sleep*


Back to Marc:

[8:03 AM] Kelley: who to kill first? marc? or joe?
[8:04 AM] Marc: hey, c`mon
[8:05 AM] Marc: its just an hour
[8:05 AM] Marc: if you skip it once, you will skip it more and more


(I think to myself, "*swear word* I hate when he's right and has a good point")

[8:06 AM] Kelley: i hate mornings now more than ever
[8:06 AM] Marc: are you going to zumba?
[8:07 AM] Kelley: *swear words*, YES
[8:07 AM] Marc: gooood girl!
[8:09 AM] Kelley: if you could see the look on my face you'd be very glad you're 4500 miles away right now
[8:09 AM] Marc: i LOVE that face!


So, pissing and moaning, I got up to go to Zumba at Dance Spa. In the rain. After 6 hours of sleep, I might add. Now THAT'S dedication. Okay, well sort of. I still need someone to kick my butt out of bed on Saturday mornings but Rome was not built in a day, people! Anyway. I get up, get out, get to the bus stop and...............................................wait.

And wait.

And wait.

40 minutes later, I was still waiting. The bus tracker said the bus would arrive at 9:27. For a 25 minute drive. Which would get me to class at 10:00-ish. Class begins at 9:30. You see where this is going, right? After much cursing and glowering at buses on other routes, I said to myself, "well, I'm out of the house now, *swear word* so I might as well do something, *swear word!*" And with that, I walked up to Caribou for a medium coffee and 7 grain oatmeal. Might as well at least eat something healthy, right?

As I sat there, I started feeling kind of guilty. I mean, Marc and Joe both really, really mean well and want good things for me. And I kind of felt like I let Christa and everyone else down a little, too. I'm doing this blog. Hundreds of people are reading it. I keep going on and on about how this is going to be a life-changing experience and what do I do? Skip a class? Okay, granted, it wasn't entirely my fault. I was up and ready to go in plenty of time but did I really try my hardest? Was I determined to get there, no matter what?

I tend to beat myself up a bit if I don't give 100%. It's okay. I work better that way.

After a while, I thought, "well, okay. I blew this class - I know it wasn't my fault but I wasn't there. And I'm sure, even with the weather, other people made it." (turns out 22 people made it - wow!!) "So what can I do to turn this into a positive thing?" and with that, I decided to go for a long, long walk. It took me an hour and a half but I walked 4 miles before the sauna known as "Chicago post-rain-storm" got the best of me. My legs feel like rubber. I hope to do two more miles tonight before bed. So there you have it. My own little version of life lemonade.

It's afternoon now. I've had a little rest. My Jilly Bean needs to go out. Maybe I'll see how far we can go before we have to come back...


Love and Life Lemonade,

Kelley
xoxo

Post 45 - Skinny Jeans and Soul Food Brunch

Hello, hello!

So Saturday morning was, once again, Zumba day at Dance Spa South. I'd like to say, "Saturday morning was Zumba day as usual," but let's be realistic - I haven't even done this for two weeks straight yet and, since they say it takes 30 days to form a habit, I think I have about 2.5 more weeks to go before I can officially declare "I went to Zumba as usual!" But, semantics aside, I went to Zumba after my usual morning wake up routine that goes like this:

7:45: *alarm clock rings*
Me: #$%&*!! ...need. coffee.

The next hour is pretty much me arguing with myself like this:

Me: Whyyyyyyy?
Me2: We'll be fine!
Me: But whyyyyyyy?
Me2: Because this is good for us.
Me: I juh-huhst wah-hahnt to sleeh-heep ih-hih-hih-hih-innnn!
Me2: Get up, take the dog for her walk, make some coffee, post to everyone that you're going to Zumba. And. Then. GO. (sometimes I have to be a little stern with myself)

So I got up, took the dog for her walk, made some coffee and while I was sipping it, I posted on Facebook that I was heading out to my Zumba class. Ever the faithful friend/support person, I got my Saturday morning text from Joe as I was on the bus:

Joe: I'm on the train almost there. Let's do this!!!!
Me: *swear words* how are you so *swear word* perky in the mornings????????
Joe: I'm an internally perky person.

That's pretty much how it always goes. So, like I said, I made it to Zumba - on time, even - and another milestone was achieved: I got through the whole class without needing any pee breaks! YEAH! (this is important stuff, people) I am, however, still looking at the clock every five minutes going "what?? I still have 40/35/30/25/etc. minutes of this to go???" but Rome was not built in a day and, given the fact that, during my first class, I went, "what?? I still have 57/55/53/51/49/47/etc. minutes of this to go???" I see my current class-clock-watching as a major improvement already. And I believe I *will* reach that day when I jump out of bed to say "woohoo! Saturday morning! Zumba, let's GO!" (Even if you know me well enough to know that I will never jump out of bed happily on my day off from work to do anything (except maybe shuffle to the kitchen for coffee), shhh, let me have my fantasy, please and thank you!)

After that, I kind of lounged around. I don't know about the rest of you, wherever you are, but it is ridiculously hot and humid here in Chicago right now and it's difficult to get the motivation to go anywhere or do much... so bleah.

On Sunday, I was faced with yet another food challenge - SOUL FOOD *dun-dun-DUN* I've been getting firmer in some very good places so I decided to try on a pair of jeans in my closet that are one size smaller than what I usually wear. They don't quite fit yet. Well, they do kind of. But they look like skinny jeans (they're not supposed to) and, hello, does the word "muffin top" mean anything to you? Muffin tops belong in bakeries, not on my waistline. And I was a little worried about what could happen to the button on these jeans if I wore them to the soul food restaurant. I mean, seriously, how does one even LOOK at soul food without gaining 10 lbs.?? Well here's the thing about this: I've seen plenty of skinny people eating soul food so I decided to go straight to the source, Velvet Daniels, mama to DYAO Season 2 Contestant, LaToya James. Velvet knows soul food and she's about the size of a toothpick (with hips and boobs) so I just asked her what to do and here's what she told me:

"When out remove the skin from the fried chicken. Eat white meat not dark meat. Greens cooked with turkey not pork. Stay away from the Mac and cheese and if your like me and can't do that eat just enough to satify ... See Morethat taste bud. You know what? Just eat very small amount of everything that looks good to you. i would take a half table spoon and sample everything I like but I load up on my greens and cabbage. Cabbage is a great fat burner."

So that's exactly what I did. While wearing my old, baggy jeans. And it was delicious! I had a taste of mustard fried catfish (literally, two bites from my dining companion's entree), turkey tips (my entree), green beans cooked with ham and some red beans & rice. I skipped the sweet potato pie, the mac & cheese and the cornbread stuffing so I am really, really proud of myself! Dessert came with the meal and, since nearly everything was bready, doughy and loaded with fats, I ordered the key lime pie. But you know what? I was so busy talking and listening to everyone that I forgot to eat it so I had the server pack it up to go.

Since I knew I was going to be eating a big meal at the soul food restaurant, I decided to keep dinner to a fresh salad. Lettuce, tomato, onion, a lot of salsa and a tiny bit of cheese... oh, and i did eat the slice of key lime pie. I *think* that's okay but I'm not quite sure. How am I doing?? I think I might be ready for that pair of jeans in my closet soon if I keep this up!!

One negative to report for the weekend: I really needed to go walking last night. It's part of the routine I'm trying to establish but, dang it, it is SO hot outside I just.. meh. Didn't have the energy. So I sat in the air conditioning and read instead.

I'm thinking about adding a third Zumba class and a strength training class to my week. Oooh! That reminds me! Before I forget - if any of you are reading and you happen to live in Chicago, Dance Spa South (in Bucktown) is running a special, beginning August 1, 2010!! For just $249 (payable in three equal installments of $83 per month), you get to have *gasp* UNLIMITED Zumba dance classes, Bollywood dance classes with Ajanta Chakraborty, and strength training classes - how unbelievably cool is THAT??? Joe and I are so all over that offer. You have no idea. There might even be some sort of contest involved - if that materializes into something specific, I'll be sure to let you know! Plus, don't forget: Join Christa South on Tuesday nights at 7pm from July 20th-August 24. In just 6 weeks you will learn the basics of Ballroom dancing and be ready to set the dance floor on fire! No Partner needed!! $72 per person or $135 when two people sign up together.


Also, speaking of ballroom dancing, don't forget: tonight is STRICTLY BALLROOM ON DYAO!!! If you'd like to join the live chats, tonight you can visit with Erica on the east coast or Katie on the west coast - see you there!

One more thing before I end this post: If you're reading my blog - periodically, regularly, for the first time, whatever - will you please do me a favour and leave me a note in the comment section of this post? It's difficult to know how to direct my posts if I don't know who I'm talking to and get a little feedback. Also, if you like reading what I wrote, I hope you'll consider becoming a follower of my blog - if you have a blog of your own, let's link up! It's easy, free and (most important), it won't cause you to receive spam mail!


Love, laughter and healthy soul food ~winks~


Kelley

Post 44 - One Week Down... However Many It Takes To Go!

Wow, it's been one, full week since I've really committed myself to a change in lifestyle that includes consciously making healthy food choices and working out regularly, including two power-Zumba classes at Dance Spa with owner/instructor/official butt kicking power dancer and motivator, Christa South! Joe and I are so proud of ourselves - we're doing it, we're doing it, we're doing it!!!! Once again, I owe big, big thank yous to Joe for motivating me - I'm honestly not quite sure where my motivation would be this early in the game if it weren't for his text messages pushing me along! I literally ran out the door from work at 5:40pm, caught the bus, got home at 6:25, hustled the dog out for a 30 second potty break (poor thing), ran her back inside, told her I'd be home after class and then ran back out the door. I got on the bus at 6:40 and had 20 minutes to get to class (impossible). I did make it there by 7:10 and I think that's okay because I actually had to speed-walk almost a mile to get to class so no worries! Can't you just imagine me hustling on down the sidewalk thinking with each step, "crap, crap, crap, I'm late!" as I go? I wish I could get there earlier but there's just no way without paying $15 for a cab and... I just can't justify that. I *will* however, be right on time for Saturday's class!

Anyway, Zumba! Tonight marked a special milestone for me - this is the first class I've attended in which I actually made it through the whole class without any breaks (minus a very quick power pee break - but the bathroom's *makes hand gesture to the left of her body* right over there, just off the dance floor, so it's no biggie). Also, I'm starting to get to know some of the moves so I don't feel quite as ridiculous as I did at first. That's a VERY good thing. And at the end (this is my favourite part) - we do this cool down routine that involves punching into the air over and over again. This probably isn't the most lady-like confession I'll ever make but here's what I do: Every time I punch, I think of someone who told me I'm a bad person, a failure, or that I wouldn't ever be anything on my own. Take THAT, exhusband! Take THAT, jerk-ex who stole $20,000 from me and left the country! Take THAT, person who told me that fat people look like beached crustacians! Take THAT everyone who I've ever let make me feel bad about myself! Pow! Pow! Pow! I love that part!! It makes me feel incredibly empowered - is that bad? I hope not... because it really gives me motivation to excel! At the end of class, we're all little more than walking balls of noodly legs and sweat (gross, I know. Sorry about that but it's true) but we all feel GREAT and we know we just had an amazing work out!

What about food choices? This week has presented an interesting challenge for me. I eat my meals at my clients' houses. That's just the arrangement - how it's always been. Until this week, that's been totally fine. My clients choose really healthy, organic foods - heavy on the fruits and veggies so I thought "no problem!" about the diet. Well. Wouldn't you know it? This week, they didn't buy any fresh vegetables at all and only a couple of fruits. Instead, they bought all kinds of bread. And we're not talking 12-grain stuff. They bought raisin bread, blueberry bread, wheat bread (not the good kind) and tortillas. Oh, and hot dog buns. And cheeses (three kinds). And crackers. Again, three kinds. And they bought something they have never, ever, EVER had in their house (except at Christmas) since I've been working with them: cookies. WHAT??? I could hear them calling me so we had to have a little chat, cookies and I. It went like this:

Cookies: Keellleeyyy.....
Me: *ignoring the cookies*
Cookies: Keeeeellllleeeeyyyyy.....!
Me: *ignoring the cookies*
Cookies: KEEEELLLLEEEEYYYYYY!!!
Me: "Cookies! LOOK. I am TRYING to lose weight. You are NOT part of the process, now please! Leave me alone!"
Cookies: Oh, come on, Kelley! We're old friends! We mean no harm - just one bite for old time's sake!
Me: No!
Cookies: Come on.... you know you wanna!
Me: NO!
Cookies: But we're so creamy... and you haven't had one of us in a while. Come on...!
Me: *sigh* Fine. FINE! But only one!

...and I ate one - I don't think I even tasted it; just threw it down the hatch because it was an old habit. Then I reached for another one. But before I ate it, I twisted it in half (it was a vanilla sandwich cookie) and gave the non-creamy half to Stella. This time, I stopped and tasted the cookie. And I thought, "meh. really wasn't that great. and sure not worth blowing my progress over!" and I put the rest away. Ta-da!! YAY, ME!

I have so much more that I want to say but, to be honest, I am thoroughly exhausted - I'll add more about food choices on Thursday's blog!

This has been a week of much progress - I've made some amazing new friends *waves at Michael, Kiki and Corey* and I know with their encouragement, with Joe's faithful friendship, with the support of my wonderful boyfriend, Marc, and my own determination, I AM GOING TO ACHIEVE THIS GOAL. END. OF. STORY!

Now get up and dance with me - if I can do this, you can too!!!

Love and booty-shaking Zumba moves,

Kelley
xoxo

Post 41 - ZUMBA!

Okay, now that Joe and I have definitely signed our names on the dotted line (so to speak), our first, specific action plan was to sign up for a dance/exercise class. Enter Christa South, owner of Dance Spa South in Chicago's Bucktown neighborhood. How to describe our experience? Well, why don't I just walk you through our first day?

After discussing available class times, Joe and I agreed that the 7pm class on Wednesday was the best time for both of us. When we arrived at the studio, we were greeted by this peppy, little ball of pure energy and smiles named Christa. After explaining the basic premise of the class and telling us a little general information about her studio, Christa brought us over to meet the rest of the class. Joe and I were so pleased to see that the other students came in all shapes and sizes (we have to admit, we were a tiny bit self conscious at first about being on the bigger side). Everyone was so warm and friendly and we immediately felt at ease.

Suddenly it was time to get started! Eager to be the "good student," I ran right up to the front of the room. Joe (who, in retrospect, I think made the smarter move) lined up toward the back of the group. Christa explained that she would not talk through the class but would indicate a change of motions by either pointing, turning her head or making an exaggerated gesture so we knew something new would be coming. She also told us not to worry if we didn't get the move right away - we should watch, follow and just keep moving. "Sounds doable!" I thought to myself... once the music began, we launched into a series of stretches and warm-up work that felt easy enough. The music was fun and made you want to get up and move... "so far, so good!" ran through my mind. When the second song started, we got moving. Big movements, wide steps, arms up high! After that song was over, here's a play-by-play of what went through my mind:

7:07 (second song ends) WOW! That was GREAT! What a workout! Woooooo! (then I look at the clock) What? I still have 53 minutes to go?? Crap.

7:15 Okay. I'm doing it. My GOD, it hurts, but I'm doing it!

7:16 I can't do it. I just can't!

7:17 I'm still doing it. This suuuuuuuuuuucks..... but I'm doing it!

At 7:30 I can feel my face is flushed and I start feeling a little light-headed so I take a five minute break. I think I peed a little (way tmi, I know, but ladies, I know I'm not the only one!)... then again, hell, for all I know, I'm just sweating in places that aren't supposed to be sweating! So I go into the bathroom, make sure the bladder's empty (no more of those worries, please and thank you), splash some water on my beet red face and walk around a little to keep my heart pumping without feeling like I'm going to faint.

7:35 Back in I go. Woooo! (I'm not feeling "woooo" but I force my brain to tell my body that's what we're feeling anyway.)

7:45 15 minutes to go - I'm going to make it! Oh dear Lord, I'm going to make it!

At 7:50, Christa shouts happily "Come on, everyone! In a great big circle!" and the group starts doing some running this way/dancing that way/waving arms and jumping thing.

7:51 Okay, this looks like it should be really fun. I'm exhausted. My body doesn't want to do this. But I'm going to make myself do this and we're going to have fun doing this, even if my mind has to beat my body into submission! *gritting teeth in what I hope looks like a smile*

At 7:55, Christa brings us back to our original places and we begin to cool down. It feels wonderful to stretch my body and feel my heartbeat slowly come back down to its normal speed. I begin thinking about my goals. How I got to be overweight. How I'm determined not to make this my legacy. How I want to be proud of myself for this and how much I want to help others who are just like me succeed, too. And I begin to cry. It finally occurred to me: after years and years of saying "I'm going to do this; I'm going to get back in shape and I'm going to feel good about myself inside and out," I'm finally doing it. And it's an overwhelming sensation that's difficult to put into words. So I just cry quietly with a smile on my face (hoping, of course, that no one notices it's tears running down my face and not just sweat!).

After the class ended, Joe and I talked with Christa about our goals. What a wonderful person - she is so excited to be a part of our new beginning... and she made us even more excited than we already are.

Guys, I don't know who's reading this blog but I want you to know something important, okay? Everyone has challenges that hold them back but you know what? Life is so, so short and so, so precious. Don't waste another minute wishing you had the energy and determination to change on your own - you can do this. You can! If you're overweight like Joe and like me and like thousands of others, don't wait another day to make this change for yourself. Just get up and move. Find a class, go for a walk, take a bike ride. But get up and move. I'm doing it. Joe's doing it. The contestants on Dance Your Ass Off are doing it. I learned that even Mel B. did it! We're all just regular, everyday people who have decided we are finished with our old habits and we're determined to become the very best we can be. You can do it too. And I'm going to be right here cheering you on!

Much love and laughter,

Kelley
xoxo