The ELFF Diet

Full Fat, Low Fat, or Non Fat?

Over at Blogher, there's an interesting discussion going on.  Alanna asks, if you are trying to cut your calories, which option do you choose?  The Full Fat version of products, eating less?  The Non Fat version, so you can feel virtuous and eat as you did before you began to diet?  Or is it Low Fat all the way for you?

For me, it varies.  Most of the time, I choose the full fat version.  I use butter in my house - occasionally, I'll buy a tub of Spreadable stuff, but I'm not in the habit of that.  I don't cook with and try to avoid eating Splenda, Nutrasweet and the like.  Except for my protein powder - I can't seem to find one that doesnt have that stuff in it. 

I do buy some lower fat stuff, though.  I always buy low fat sour cream and cream cheese, and my coffee every day has the low fat Land o Lakes half and half.  We use 1% milk.  I never thought I'd say that, but we began with whole, stepped down to 2% and now 1%.  I don't care for skim milk - it has a weak mouth feel.  My brother in law uses 1/2%, but it's hard to find. We don't eat much mayonnaise - maybe once every six months - but that's the low fat version as well. 

What about cheese?  I've never found a fat free version of any of it that's worhtwhile, but the Kraft 2% cheddar is pretty good.  Most of the time, I get the regular stuff, but looking at the labels, I see that the mozzarella I buy says part skim. 

What about you?  What choices do you make for your family?

You Say Tomato, I Say Delish

I love summer tomatoes. I eat and eat them until I feel like I'll turn red from more than the sun. I mourn the end of summer tomato season - although I do like fall for many other reasons. Winter tomatoes look pretty most of the time, but taste like stale cardboard.  Not that I would know what stale cardboard tastes like, but I'm betting winter tomatoes taste JUST like that. 

I saw this recipe in Fitness magazine and am anxious to try it out. 

Slice tomatoes, toss with a little olive oil and place in a baking dish.  Roast in the oven at 400 degrees for 15 or 20 minutes.  Finish by drizzling the tomatoes with balsamic vinaigrette or sprinkling with Parmesan cheese and topping with a dash of salt and pepper. 

Twisting Planks of Torture

(Try it - it is MUCH tougher than it sounds!)

Get into push up position. Lift right leg and try to bring knee up and touch your left elbow.  Return your leg to beginning position and then repeat with the other leg.  That's one.  Now, do 3 sets of 10.  I promise you will feel it in your obliques in the morning.  Don't rush it, just take your time.  Ow.

I saw this exercise in one of those "How to have Abs like xxx", with names like Jessica Biel and Britany Spears and Pink.  I've done it daily for a week and it's kicking me down.

How was week three of the Ab Challenge?  Anyone still hanging in there?

An Exhibit

My Green belt test - try to forgive how lame I look - for whatever reason, I was nervous as hell:

Too, Too Tired

I took a Muay Thai class and then did kettle bell work - kind of like Crossfit stuff, but not quite that intense - and now I'm so, so exhausted I can't see straight.

So, tell me this - what's the most exhausting exercise you've ever done?

What's Your Choice?

There are lots of ways to exercise.  Lots of ways to get it done, lots of ways to make sure you get your body moving, your heart pumping and your blood moving.  If you really, really HATE running - and I'm not such a fan of it when it's cold outside - then don't.  No one says that you have to run. 

Some people really like to swim.  I don't.  I can, but I just don't enjoy it.

My husband loves to play tennis.  I never did, but this past week we got new tennis rackets and I was surprisingly, not quite as sucky as I once was.  Not even remotely good, by any stretch of the imagination, but it was fun.  (Don't tell him that I said so - he'll never let me forget it!) It wasn't a huge amount of exercise, although I know it can and will be in the future, but I was moving around and not sitting on my behind, watching it grow.

I do love my Muay Thai and Capoeira classes.  I also love weight training at the gym - it's the getting up at 5 I can do without.  I have taken aerobic classes in the past, but now I don't think I'd enjoy them.  Same with bike riding - I'm not there.

What about you?  What are your preferred methods of exercise?  What do you hate?
___________________

It's been three weeks of sickness for me - at least three days each week I've been sick, and the sit up plan has fallen dismally by the wayside.  I'm back for more.  I'm not giving up.  I'm going to do it again and again until I get it, and myself, moving in the right direction. I AM going to DO IT.

Thanks for the prodding.

High Fructose Corn Syrup

Is it of the devil or the greatest invention ever?

I think the former, but it was brought to my attention this past week whilst away that many people LIKE the stuff and feel like it is not at all bad for you.

Well, way to get MY dander up. I planned to write a wonderful post about it.

But, THEN, I got sick AGAIN.  Seriously, WTH, body?

So, in the absence of my words of wisdom, Julie has done an amazing set of posts about the dangers of HFCS.  I'd implore all of you to go and read it.  Part one is here, Part two is here, Part three here, and Part four here, with more to come in the future.

Read it.  I promise you will be riveted and informed.

Pick Yourself UP, And Start Again

I have failed at the 200 sit up challenge. 

I did not do it at all last week, thanks to the trip and getting so sick while away and then the HUGE muscle cramp - which is mostly gone today, thanks to the wonderful massage that I got last night - Doreen (greatest masseuse ever) spent just about 45 minutes solely on my right leg.  I could barely walk when she was finished, but today it was much better.  And I'm convinced that I was seriously dehydrated, because I have been draining my water bottles dry and going back for more all day long. 

So. I was to start on week three, due to the number of sit ups I completed on the test.  But since last week was a bust, I'm doing week three again.

Check in with me.  How was your first and second week?  Did you complete both?  Were they tough?  Too easy?  If you really struggled, do the same week over. 

I'm still hanging in there.  You with me?