The ELFF Diet

And The Winner Is...

Wow.  Lots of you like Weight Watchers.  With more than 60 entries, the competition was stiff, but the Random number Generator has spoken.  I have spun the wheel of fate, and the winner is #40 - Sarah Bell.
Sarah, please contact me to get your code. 

Exercise in SF is going well.  I walked four miles on Thursday.  Friday I did nada.  Except eat two cupcakes.  Today I walked two miles down to a park in Chinatown and jumped into a group of elderly Chinese women line dancing in the park.  THAT was fun.

What's up with you?

Staying Cool in the Pool

It's hot here. Brutally hot and muggy and humid and just, well gross.  Too hot to run comfortably, unless one was to go at 04:30.  And I'm not going to get up that early. 

So we've been doing a lot of swimming.  Not wanting to spend all my time floating around, I started doing some lunges and calf raises, squats and dips off the stairs, and pull ups on the diving board.  Those things will wear you slam out. 

Here are a few more moves that raise your heart rate and work your muscles, all the while keeping you cool.

• Scissor kick - holding on to the side of the pool, extend your legs behind you.  Keep your legs straight and kick for a minute.  Flip over and kick facing up.  Aim for five sets.
• Side Leg Raises - standing on one leg, holding the side of the pool, lift the outside leg to the side until you form a 90 degree angle.  Bring the leg back down and cross it over the standing leg; repeat ten times.  Turn around and exercise the other leg. 
• Front Leg Raises - back against the pool, lift one leg straight up in front until it makes a 90 degree angle.  Lower leg and repeat ten times.  Change legs.
• Pool jog - Jog the width of the pool ten times.

What works for you?

It's a Giveaway!

So, while I'm convalescing from my surgery, which is way less fun than I always thought it'd be, it occurs to me that I have a book on hand that would make an awesome gift for one of you.  I was given a brand new, still in shrink wrap, never opened or smelled or spilled on, copy of Cooking Light Complete Cookbook: A fresh new way to cook.

It's close to 300 pages, ring bound - which means that it lays flat on the counter, a must for me - and chock a block full of great recipes.

 

Want it?  Leave me a comment here.  I can only ship to the United States - sorry, but this thing is heavy.  Contest is open until Tuesday, May 27. 

Well, I did say I wanted a challenge

And wow, what a challenge it was.

Tuesday night, I took the introduction to Muy Thai - Total Defense - Thai Boxing.  It goes by many names, but all of them to me signify one thing - kick my booty.

The intro class was only about 30 minutes long, and I learned the four basic punches - the left and right jab, the cross and one other whose name I have forgotten.  I also learned two basic kicks, which are almost exactly like two of the kicks we do in capoeira.  I felt more than a bit stupid, seeing as how my punches resemble baby taps rather than full on, shake an assailant in their boots, wowie kazowie punches.  The instructor was great - all of the instructors there are, the owner really has a lot to be proud of with these guys.  He reassured me and invited me back, and so I agreed to come in on Thursday at 12.

A funny for all of us

I've had a hard week and I'm wiped out.  I thought I'd share this set of funnies with you.  Enjoy!

Q:  I've heard that cardiovascular exercise can prolong life; is this true?

A: Your heart is only good for so many beats, and that's it . .. . Don't waste them on exercise. Everything wears out eventually. Speeding up your heart will not make you live longer; that's like saying you can extend the life of your car by driving it faster.  Want to live longer? Take a nap.


Q: Should I cut down on meat and eat more fruits and vegetables?

A:  You must grasp logistical efficiencies. What does a cow eat?  Hay and corn. And what are these? Vegetables. So a steak is nothing more than an efficient mechanism of delivering vegetables to your system. Need grain?  Eat chicken. Beef is also a good source of field grass (green leafy vegetable). And a pork chop can give you 100% of your recommended daily allowance of vegetable products.


Q:  Should I reduce my alcohol intake?

A:  No, not at all. Wine is made from fruit.  Brandy is distilled wine, that means they take the water out of the fruity bit so you get even more of the goodness that way.  Beer is also made out of grain. Bottoms up!


Q:  How can I calculate my body/fat ratio?

A:  Well, if you have a body and you have fat   your ratio is one to one. If you have two bodies, your ratio is two to one, etc.


Q:  What are some of the advantages of participating in a regular exercise program?

A:  Can't think of a single one, sorry.  My philosophy is:  No Pain...Good!


Q:  Aren't fried foods bad for you?

A:  YOU'RE NOT LISTENING!!! . . . .  Foods are fried these days in vegetable oil.   In fact, they're permeated in it. How could getting more vegetables be bad for you?


Q:  Will sit-ups help prevent me from getting a little soft around the middle?

A: Definitely not! When you exercise a muscle, it gets bigger. You should only be doing sit-ups if you want a bigger stomach.


Q:  Is chocolate bad for me?

A:  Are you crazy? HELLO  Cocoa beans! Another vegetable!!! It's the best feel-good food around!


Q:   Is swimming good for your figure?

A:  If swimming is good for your figure, explain whales to me.



Well, I hope this has cleared up any misconceptions you may have had about food and diets.

And remember:
"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways - Chardonnay in one hand - chocolate in the other - body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO, What a Ride!"

AND . . . .. . ..

Having a little fun

Today I had some fun in the name of fitness.

I have to pick up my five year old daughter at preschool, and usually, my four year old daughter and I just stand there and wait for her to come out of the building.  Not today, my friends.  I decided to be a four year old. We played hide and seek around the poles, skipped back and forth and jumped on and off the curbs.  I threaded through the bushes and cut her off, scooping her up and twirling her around. 

We ran around and around, jumping back and forth and warming up the blood.  It was a GREAT cardio workout, and I felt the effects of the energy course through my system.  We continued for about fifteen minutes, which was a wonderful change from just standing around and being cold.

I probably looked like a fool, but I don't care.  It was good for me. 

What kind of exercise can you get in an unorthodox manner?

In which I am outed as a show off

See, here's the thing. 

(I know, some of you have sent me questions. I pinky promise to answer them tomorrow, but I really wanted to show you all this cool picture.)

When I was heavier, I never really wanted to do difficult stuff.  Not only did I not want to do it, I never thought I could.  Which is why this picture, from tonight's Capoeira class, makes me so happy. 

I think this is called a hollowback.  The object is to hollow your back out, and try to get your feet close to the floor.  The guy helping me is my way cool instructor. I love this picture - it shows me that I can do anything.  I never thought I'd be able to do this, so what other things will I be able to conquer?

Hello, I didn't forget you!

Yes, I know. I posted an exercise challenge and then disappeared. Mea culpa.  I didn't forget you, and I didn't forget the challenge. 

I brought in the New Year the same way as last - I ran a 5K, appropriately named "The Hair of the Dog".  The story behind the run was, um, interesting.

I had originally signed my son up to run with me.  He joined the cross country team in September and has been running well, and he expressed an interest in running with me.  So I ponied up the money for both of us - it wasn't cheap either, $50.  But my husband is, shall we say, a bit of a control freak, and he'd had us all up until the ball dropped New Years eve, and then woken everyone at 5:45 to go to 7 a.m. Mass.  (Yes, he's a sadist and trust me, I've received AMPLE promise that this list of events will NEVER EVER be duplicated.)

So, Nik - and most all of my other kids - went back to bed and I went to the race.  I was sure that I'd run a horrid time.  I had a cold, I was exhausted, my legs ached in that way peculiar to lack of sleep, and I was, shall we say, pissy.

I know, hard to believe.

Anyone up for a Challenge?

So, the New Year is coming up in a bit more than two weeks.  New Year's Resolutions are special to me.  I was thinking that it'd be a good time for a challenge.  Anyone up for that?

Should we do an exercise challenge?  A food challenge?  A running challenge?  A weight loss challenge? 

Who's in? 

Rewards - a reader question

The Gifted and Talented Ashlee asks:

Do you have any ideas on how to reward yourself for working out that don't involve food treats (I know the reward of a healthier life is already there, but sometimes I need a little more!)? Also, money is pretty tight, so something cheap would be helpful too:)

Audience?  Do you have any ideas for Ashlee?

Are we talking long term or weekly?

If it's a weekly deal, what about a pedicure?  A manicure?  New book or magazine?  A trip to the movies?  You could save those things up for once a month, if you wanted.  New clothes in a smaller size don't necessarily have to come from the chi-chi stores - what about a weekly trip to a  thrift store in your area to scour around for a great pair of smaller pants?

As far as long term goes, I gave myself the gift of a tattoo when I hit 70 pounds.  I might get another, since I have made it all the way to 80, but I'm not certain. 

What non food rewards have you guys found helpful?