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March 17, 2007

29 Days: Day 29

Today is the 29th day of being a health nut! I had been hoping to lose five pounds over the course of this 29-day project, and, unless something drastic happens today, I'm two pounds shy of that goal. But I have tightened up a bit, and can see evidence of some arm muscles and back of the thigh (what's that called? hamstring?) muscle. Yesterday, while practicing shaving my legs above the knee in preparation for my trip to Cancun, I noticed that I have defined hamstring muscles, at least, they looked huge as I craned around for a better look. This isn't as great as it may seem, because now it is very clear what part of my leg is muscle, and what, well, isn't. You know, I probably shouldn't be telling you all this, for the next time you see me, you'll be wondering about my hamstrings and trying to get a better look at my haunches. Am I ready for a bikini? I doubt it, but we'll find out in the next two weeks!

The most difficult thing about the past 29 days was fitting an exercise regimen into my daily schedule. However, now it is part of my day, and if I skip it, I feel anxious, out-of-sorts and guilty. I hear that it takes about two weeks for something new to become routine. I'm going on vacation for two weeks, so I'll probably fall out of the daily exercise routine. I hope to get back into it when I return, and to keep practicing food portion control, but I'm looking forward to adding some treats back into my diet.

By the way, happy St. Patty's Day! Because I'll be approaching Mexico at dinnertime tomorrow, I'm making our Wandering Gullet dinner tonight, and it is, of course, Irish. I'll post the recipes and our review later tonight, after dinner. If I remember.

Getting to Know All About You: What one food item could you never give up?

Posted by Blue Artichoke at 03:04 PM | | Comments (3)

March 14, 2007

I Will Use My New Arm Muscles to Punch Taxes in the Face

I'm a terrible health nut this week. Sunday, I was too busy to do yoga. Monday and Tuesday I did my cardio exercise, but, you know, things came up and I ran out of time or opportunity to do my weight-lifting workouts. And today, I didn't do anything physical, unless running up and down the stairs to the basement fifty times counts (it doesn't). Today is the day I set aside to do my taxes. Last year, I started my own business, so taxes this year were more complicated, and I got so convoluted with numbers, dates, and deductions that I actually ended up measuring the dimensions of my house with a tape measure to calculate home office percentages. Ugh. After spending almost five hours sorting through tax crap, I erased my return and started all over. I finished, mostly, but I don't like the way it ended up, so I might try for a better return later.

I have actually missed my workouts. I hate my weight-lifting workouts while I'm doing them. I'm pretty sure that if you watched me work out and also watched a hyperactive ADHD kid play after eating lots of candy, we'd have a lot in common. I take lots of little breaks and get sidetracked by distractions. Between reps or sets, I'll go outside to check the mail, straighten a crooked picture, play with Fat Larry, vacuum the rug, fiddle with the radio, or just lay moaning on the floor and curse the cheery instructor on the video or picture in the magazine. I also stop a lot to pull up my shirt and examine my stomach or arms for signs of emerging muscles. Sadly, no stomach muscles yet, but I can start to see a slight bit of definition in my arms if I hold them just right in light that creates a shadow just so. Progress! Last weekend I played disc golf for the first time since last autumn. Though I hadn't played in several months, I could rip a drive much further than I ever could, even when I played fairly often. I attribute that to my new arm muscles. I want to keep up with the weight training, but this week is so hectic. I'm leaving this weekend for Mexico, and there are too many loose ends I need to tie up before I go. Being a health nut should be my top priority; after all, a completed tax return won't make me look good in a bikini.

Getting to Know All About You: Do you do your taxes as soon as possible, or wait until April 14th and scramble to finish?

Posted by Blue Artichoke at 11:52 PM | | Comments (3)

March 09, 2007

Jazzercise is Dead. Danciptical is Born.

Week 3 of the 29 Days of Being a Health Nut is coming to a close. Are you guys as tired of this as I am? Whew! Actually, I feel good about this week, much better than stupid last week. My workouts are a bit easier as my stamina is improving. I have to work much harder to achieve the state of a shaking puddle of sweat, so I've got that going for me. I think my workout music has something to do with it. I created a new playlist, taken largely from Fitness Magazine's Top 100 Workout Songs. I had to delete some songs from my playlist -- Coldplay just doesn't get the legs pumping or the heart pounding. I tend to keep pace with the music, so when a ballad comes on the mix, I lose all momentum. My favorite song is "Fat Bitches" by 50 Cent. The background chorus of "Fat Fat!" and the encouragement for the fatty in question to go faster on the stairmaster gives me the extra oomph I need to pick up my pace, so I won't also become a fat bitch. The problem with all these club songs is that they make me throw my hands in the air and wiggle my hips, a precarious feat while perched upon a beastly elliptical. After a week or so of practice, though, I've invented a whole new fitness system -- Danciptical. It's fun to do, but probably awkward to watch. Low ceilings are especially problematic, but it's an adaptive fitness system.

Getting to Know All About You: What's your favorite workout song?

Posted by Blue Artichoke at 11:06 AM | | Comments (4)

March 08, 2007

Wandering Gullet: Sweden

Last weekend was True/False, our town's film festival. GC and I went to the closing movie on Sunday night, American Shopper. It hasn't been released for distribution yet, so won't be playing in a theater near you for a while, but when it does, see it. I laughed throughout the movie, several times to the point of tears. It was filmed here in Columbia, MO, and chronicles the first national championship of a new sport, aisling. Hilarious. Anyway, we were laughing into our popcorn Sunday night instead of eating some foreign delicacy, so the Wandering Gullet got pushed back a day. Then, Monday, the universe conspired against my health nut workout. I prevailed, but only at the expense of our Wandering Gullet dinner, which got pushed back another night. Finally, Tuesday night, we had Køttbullar and Risgrynskaka, otherwise known as Swedish meatballs and rice pudding. Both of these recipes came from a Norwegian cookbook, but I assume that, being neighbors and fellow Scandinavian countries, the Norwegian version of Swedish food is much more accurate than, say, the Chinese version of Mexican food. What sets Swedish meatballs apart from "regular" meatballs is the seasoning; nutmeg and allspice make it taste just like Sweden.

Some of you might raise an eyebrow at my inclusion of the rice pudding and question my commitment to being a health nut. Calm down, and listen to my justifications. Last week was difficult being a health nut because I felt so deprived of everything good, and cheated big time. This week, I'm trying something new: allowing myself a small treat at the end of the day - a chocolate truffle, a few dark-chocolate coated almonds, a small portion of rice pudding. And it works! I'm able to avoid all temptations throughout the day, knowing I have a treat waiting for me later. So, back off! Jeez.

Swedish Meatballs (Køttbullar)

Munsen, Sylvia. Cooking the Norwegian Way. Minneapolis: Lerner Publications, 1982.

I halved the recipe, for we are but two mouths and stomachs to fill. I also used homemade whole-grain whole-wheat bread (no Wonder bread for a health nut!). I served the meatballs with the gravy, egg noodles and peas. I liked the meatballs a lot. The spices, to me, are holiday spices, so this would be a great dish to be served in November or December, though it's great in March too!

4 slices white bread
¾ c. hot milk
2# ground beef
½# ground pork
2 eggs, beaten
¼ t. nutmeg
¼ t. pepper
1/8 t. allspice
½ c. chopped onion
2 t. salt
2 t. shortening

Brown meatballs in 2 t. hot shortening, ~2 minutes per side. Reduce heat to low, cover pan, and simmer 8 minutes. Remove meatballs and pour off fat, saving drippings in skillet for gravy.

Swedish gravy:
1 c. light cream
1 T. cornstarch
2 T. cold water

Add cream to drippings in the skillet.

Blend cornstarch and water. Add to skillet mixture. Stir over moderate heat until mixture comes to a boil. If necessary, season with s/p. Serve gravy with meatballs.

Serves 10.

Swedish Rice Pudding (Risgrynskaka)

Munsen, Sylvia. Cooking the Norwegian Way. Minneapolis: Lerner Publications, 1982.

I also halved this recipe; this makes large portions. I've never made rice pudding before, and haven't eaten it very often, so I don't know what it is supposed to look/taste like. We made it once at the restaurant

Posted by Blue Artichoke at 10:41 AM |

March 01, 2007

February and March Team Up to Make You Healthier

February was National Heart Health Month; February is over, so go ahead and forget about your heart health for another year. Welcome to March, National Nutrition Month! What? Nutrition and heart health sort of go hand-in-hand, so I think February is getting more than its due. Of course, it got screwed by being the shortest month and having that confusing leap year day to contend with, so I guess this evens things out a bit. Either way, the 29 Days of Being a Health Nut overlaps both months, which was unintentional but fitting.

So far, I've been feeling pretty good about the 29 Days. Today is Day 13, and today is rough. Week 1 was OK, I kept up with my exercise program and ate healthily but for a half-slice of coconut pie. Week 2 began with an illness that kept me from any exercise for two days and light exercise for three days, and involved a chocolate meringue pie and a baby-shower piece of cake (well, two half-pieces, really. I had to try both the chocolate and the vanilla cakes. I liked the vanilla better).

Today is a cold, dark and drippy day, the kind of weather that sends me into the kitchen to bake up a ray of sunshine. I miss baking. The Banana Bread Snackdown is on hold, with only three more recipes to try (!), and cookies, brownies and other quickbreads are no-nos for a health nut. I did make a loaf of bread (in my bread machine) that is packed full of good things like whole wheat flour, cracked wheat, oats, wheat germ, oat bran and flaxseed. I made grilled cheese sandwiches with it today for lunch, but that still doesn't ease my desire to bake. GC just discovered that our basement flooded last night, so that'll keep me busy for a while, but it'll also keep me from a good cardio workout on the beast elliptical, which has been temporarily moved to higher ground. It's rough being a health nut.

* March is also

* National Caffeine Awareness Month®
* National Flour Month
* National Frozen Food Month
* National Noodle Month
* National Peanut Month
* National Sauce Month
* UK: National Veggie Month

so be sure to eat your frozen British veggies with noodles in flour-thickened peanut sauce this month, and be aware of the caffeine in the soft drink you wash it down with.

I think I'll go make some granola.

Getting to Know All About You: what are your thoughts on mayonnaise?

Posted by Blue Artichoke at 04:32 PM | | Comments (3)

February 27, 2007

Feed a Cold? Or Starve It?

I read somewhere that it's ok to exercise when you're sick, as long as the illness is confined to your head (congestion, headache, sinus pressure). Or perhaps it was if it is in your body (fever, aches, chest congestion)? I can't remember, but right now it seems important to know. I can never remember when it is OK to drink moonshine either... you're supposed to light it and if the flame burns blue (or is it orange?), it is safe to drink. And do you run from a black bear and flail your arms to look bigger while maintaining eye contact with a brown bear, or is it the other way around? These are all really important things to know, but only the first one has minimal consequences if you choose unwisely. I decided to start exercising yesterday, but slowly. Instead of a heart-thumping, sweaty workout on the beastly elliptical, I had a nice easy jaunt on the Gazelle while watching a movie. I toyed with the idea of lifting weights, but got distracted before I made a decision. Today I feel much better, so I'll get back to my usual workout, though I'll probably take it easy on the beast.

Hey, do you ever have trouble picking a restaurant for lunch? Too indecisive? Well, now there's the Wheel of Food to make the decision for you! If only it could order for me too...

Getting to Know All About You: What is your favorite lunch restaurant?

Posted by Blue Artichoke at 11:04 AM | | Comments (4)

February 24, 2007

29 Days: Week 1

After a week of regular exercise, I am hobbling around with sore muscles at exactly one pound lighter. Muscle weighs more than fat, but also burns more calories, so I'm hoping that muscle gain will accelerate weight loss in the next 3 weeks. To celebrate surviving my first week as a health nut, I got my hair cut (finally cutting out all of the remaining underlying green hue that took almost 2 years to grow out). And then I got sick. I started feeling not-so-hot last night, and woke up this morning feeling worse. So, instead of a light workout on the gazelle and some sit-ups, I've spent the day sitting on the couch wishing I felt well enough to do things like cook, get dressed or work out. GC is taking good care of me, maybe too good care. He went out to the store for drugs and Kleenex, and came home with a chocolate meringue pie. Oh, cruel treat, tempting me when my defenses are low. For a store-bought pie, it is surprisingly good. But, still, I feel the need to make my own, for comparison. Perhaps when I feel better, and am no longer a health nut.

Getting to Know All About You: What's your favorite kind of pie?

Posted by Blue Artichoke at 05:54 PM | | Comments (6)

February 21, 2007

Crazy Fitness

The weather has been so nice these past few days that I decided to take my fitness downtown. I laced up my sneakers and plugged into my fauxpod and walked briskly through downtown to the library, where I returned a book and checked out two more. I stopped off at the post office on the way back home. Now, in the winter, I don't leave my house unless I have good reason to. When the weather is nice, I wander around all over the place, just to be out enjoying the day. Today I felt like people were looking at me weird. I wondered if it were because of my pasty-white skin slathered in sunscreen, or maybe they were impressed with my new health nut image, or maybe I was shouting obscenities or sticking my tongue out of my mouth without realizing it. Do you ever wonder if you're acting inappropriately and don't realize it? People with Tourette's know they have it, and know their yips, shouts, flaps and jerks are unusual. But do crazy people do these things without even realizing it? Am I crazy? I think because I wonder at my sanity, that proves I'm not crazy. Crazy people don't wonder if they're crazy; they think they're normal, and that's why they're crazy. Maybe I got strange looks just because I wore my bikini to the library, working up the nerve to wear it to the gas station...

Getting to Know All About You: What's the most embarrassing thing you've done in public?

Posted by Blue Artichoke at 04:17 PM | | Comments (4)

February 20, 2007

Happy Fat Tuesday!

And a fat Tuesday it is indeed. Four days into the 29 Days of Being a Health Nut, I am back where I started, after losing (and gaining right back) 0.8 pounds. The toasted coconut pie might have had something to do with that, but I'm hoping that it's because I'm building muscle. I must be, because they're complaining loudly, especially the ones involved in sitting, standing and walking.

My Health Nut plan is to eat a healthy breakfast, lunch and snacks, with a reasonable dinner in a proper portion size, and exercise. We got some gym equipment from my dad and his wife for a wedding present: a weight bench that I never use because of our cramped and low-ceilinged basement, and an elliptical that I have just returned to using because the basement is a comfortable-chilly now instead of a frigid, burn-your-lungs-with-icy-air chilly. To begin the new year, I bought a Gazelle elliptical, which is a low-tech, low-impact machine that we keep upstairs in front of the tv. It doesn't give nearly as good of a workout as the basement elliptical, but we can use it while watching tv, which is better than just sitting on the couch. So, my exercise schedule is as follows: four days a week on the downstairs beastly elliptical followed by weight training (upper body two days a week, lower body two days a week); two days a week on the upstairs low-impact Gazelle followed by an abs/core workout; yoga on Sundays. I vary my weight training exercises weekly, to keep from getting bored and to keep challenging my muscles. This week, I'm doing a weight training program from Cooking Light.

To help keep me motivated, yesterday I bought a bikini. I haven't worn a bikini since 8th grade. And for those who know me and are worried about running into me prancing about town in a bikini, it's motivation. I kept all the tags and the receipt.

Getting to Know All About You: Prefer beach or pool?

Posted by Blue Artichoke at 02:02 PM | | Comments (7)

February 16, 2007

29 Days of Being a Health Nut

Did anyone watch 30 Days, the tv series by Morgan Spurlock, the guy from SuperSize Me? If you aren't familiar with the show, it's about people trying something new, or living a different lifestyle, for 30 days. I'm going to try my own version, called 29 Days of Being a Health Nut.

When Chandra Levy was in the news, the media kept reporting that she was a fitness nut. I made Blue Grilled Cheese promise that if I ever were to go missing, she was to say that I am a health nut. I don't care if that means I won't be found, I just don't want the media to report that my hobby is eating. Anyway, I'm going to make good on that claim, for the next 29 days at least, so as to not make BGC a liar. Not that I plan to go missing, no, I'm going to the beach for two weeks. In 29 days.

My plan includes healthy eating, portion control, no fried foods, only one can of diet soda per day, no desserts (which is difficult because we have boxes of Valentine's candy stashed around the house to taunt me), healthy Sunday muffins, and an hour of exercise every day (yoga counts as exercise, but only for one day a week). Starting tomorrow. Today I'm polishing off all the candy I can find.

And, in case you were wondering, yes, I tried on bathing suits today. No, I didn't buy one. Too soon.

Getting to Know All About Those with a TypeKey Account Who Can Post Comments: If you were to go missing, what would you want the media to say about you?

Posted by Blue Artichoke at 04:00 PM | | Comments (3)