Everyday I'm Hustlin'

Its Been Awhile and My Newest Diet Endeavor

2009-08-05T14:23:00.020-04:00

Do you ever get so discouraged that you would rather not talk about the issue at hand? Well, that's what's happened to me over the last few months. After my failed attempt at jolting myself out of my plateau with the Columbus Fitness Bootcamp, I just lost the motivation to keep on keepin' on with this blog. The bootcamp was amazing and really helped my stamina and built muscle I didn't know I could build, but it just didn't get me out of my rut.

So what do you do when nothing else is working? Go to the extreme! No, I'm not talking about an eating disorder... I'm talking about the South Beach diet!!!

I believe this diet has been given a bad wrap. Notorious for being one of those "low-carb diets," unlike the Atkins diet, SBD actually encourages healthy eating. It is broken in to three phases which is where the similarities to Atkins end. On the SBD in phase 1, which lasts two weeks minimum, you will cut out all bad carbs, fats and sugars by taking in alot of fresh veggies, lean meats and healthy fats such as nuts and olive and canola oils. Things you can't eat in phase 1 are fruits, sugars and starches.

The first week was a real rollercoaster for me. I wanted to eat carbs but couldn't. But that feeling went away quickly, like in the first three days. I lost eight lbs in the first week, five of them being between the fourth and fifth days of the diet. At that point, I had barely any appetite at all. That weekend I snacked on a few too many nuts and gained one pound back but hit the ground running in week two, worked out a few times and lost another four lbs. With the exception of two meals, I adhered to the diet faithfully. I had a short-term weight goal of 240 in mind and, with the success I was having, decided to stick it out another week. Today is the last day of phase 1 for me.

After losing 14 lbs in three weeks, I consider phase 1 of the South Beach diet to be a success. Phase 2 will involve slowly readjusting my body to carbs. I will be adding 1-2 servings of fruits, unprocessed starches or whole grains per day. Each week I will add another serving or two of these good carbs until I'm comfortable with the amount of carbs/complex sugars I'm taking in while still losing weight.

Wish me luck!

Candice K.
240.6 lbs

Boot Camp Olympics Tonight!

2009-03-05T16:21:00.004-05:00

Tomorrow is our last night at boot camp. *tear* I will admit that I have loved it. I never could have figured out these workouts on my own. I used to just wander aimlessly around the gym but now I think I have some direction. Past all of the pain, injuries, sweat and sighs, I think it was a big success. And I finished something I started. Write it up: Me - 1, World - 0

We are doin big thangs at boot camp tonight. Main focus is back/shoulders/abs. However, we will also be engaged in a little friendly competition.

Tonight we will be doing our Boot Camp Olympics. The events will be:
1. Jump rope x 1 minute (count total number of jumps)
2. Crunches x 1 minute (count total reps as shoulder blades must clear the ground and return to the ground each rep)
3. Static hold in push-up position until failure (count total seconds)
4. Body weight floor dips (count total reps as backside lightly touches the floor every rep)

We will also have a class picture I'll post up here soon.

Tomorrow night will be the final push-up test. I did 22 the first week. Let's see how I do in comparison.

I will also try to get ahold of my before and after measurements to put some results in perspective.

So for now, adieu.

Candice K.
I will find out the poundage soon enough.

Homemade Favorites

2009-02-25T09:22:00.003-05:00

As most everyone in the world, I'm in love with pizza. But those pizzas you get from Pizza Hut and Donatos just won't fit in to my diet or budget. So Chuck and I decided that it was time we started taking matters in to our own hands... literally. I spotted some Trader Joe pizza dough on a visit there a couple of weeks ago and grabbed it. Here's a nice little review: http://www.yumm.com/2009/trader-joes-pizza-dough/. We picked up the herb dough and some toppings like pizza sauce, onions, tomatoes, banana peppers and mushrooms in addition to 2% italian blend cheese and turkey pepperoni. I love turkey pepperoni. We decided that because our tastes are so different in pizza, we would make our own personal-sized dishes. It was hilarious watching us both flour our hands and half of the kitchen as we stretched the dough in to not-so-circular shapes. They only took about eight minutes to bake. However, with all of the toppings, the crust on that side had some difficulty baking.

Because we split the bag for the first batch, we decided to have pizza again the next night. I baked the pennant-shaped pizza for a couple of minutes before we topped it to get that top side good and done then brushed on a little olive oil. It was so good. I'm craving it right now.

Keeping in the swing of things, we make homemade egg rolls last night using chopped grilled pork chops left over from Monday nights dinner, cole slaw veggies and onions. Again, slam-dunk. We deep-fried them but because the wrappers aren't grease-soakers, it keeps this meal low in fat. They were done in 20-30 seconds and it was hilarious watching Chuck throw stuff in there like banana peppers.

I really recommend making things like this at home because not only is it more healthy than store-bought varieties, it's less expensive and you get to do something fun with the people you love... or people who don't mind you throwing flour on them. Same dif.

Candy K.
My clothes smell like fried food today. Gross.

Boot Camp: Week Two Wrap Up

2009-02-23T14:07:00.004-05:00

The workouts have gotten more intense but the soreness is relatively gone. We will be tight when we really get a muscle-blasting exercise. My favorite exercises at the moment are the ones done on a device called the TRX (see: http://www.fitnessanywhere.com/). A bracket is attached high on the wall with straps hanging from it. At the end of the straps are handles where we grab on for dear life and, using our body weight and angle as resistance, perform different exercises.

Week Three we are beginning more intensive circuits. Focuses such as "killer legs" and "killer arms" are being introduced. Most of us are working on incorporating 8-lb weights in to the exercises when possible. I really need to buy a new set. I have metal 5-lb weights and I'm deathly afraid that I will end up dropping a sharp metal edge on my person. Also, when they've been sitting in my car for 24-hours, they tend to be 30 degrees colder than the actual temperature outside. Makes for an interesting workout.

I've been doing spectacular on my eating thanks to my fellow bootcamp ladies and Chucky. At work we are watching each other like hawks. It also makes things easier when you aren't the only one making a lifestyle change instead of watching co-workers smother their toast with globs of butter or mayo all day. I come home and Chuck is working on a healthy dinner and I'll make us some salads... which he is actually eating! I'm so proud of him.

I'm avoiding the scale at this point so that I don't become discouraged if I haven't lost any weight. I know things are already fitting looser but I can also tell that I've developed a lot of muscle especially in my thighs.

Looking forward to next week.

Candy K.
Hustlin'

Day Two of Boot Camp: The Next Morning

2009-02-11T09:35:00.004-05:00

9:36 AM - I got home last night and took a shower, had a bit of leftover spaghetti then hit the hay. Had a lot of problems going to sleep and then once I got to sleep, the achy muscles woke me up every time I turned over. It was awesome dripping with sarcasm. I took Tylenol before bed and again at 3:30 am. I'm not gonna lie, the aches and pains are the worst part.

The focus for last night: legs and shoulders. We really had a good workout. If this were an hour and a half session, I would have thrown-up. A lot of leg exercises, running and hurdles. In the oh-so-true words of Terra, "We didn't pay for nothin'."

Tonight's focus will be cardio and abs. My abs are so weak. I don't put any work in to them because out of all of the fat parts of my body, my stomach is the least of my worries. I always gain in my mid-section last and lose it first. This isn't to suggest I shouldn't exercise my stomach, I just have more pressing matters on my mind, like the fact that my right arm is a full inch larger around than my right.

All in all, things are going well. I feel great because I'm accomplishing more than I thought I could. Nicole walks up to me and goes, "I feel good. The only part that really hurts is from my shoulders to my knees." My sentiments exactly.

Candice K.
No weigh-in until the end of camp.

Day One of Boot Camp

2009-02-09T20:46:00.006-05:00

8:21pm - Chuckles made me a nice dinner for my first day at boot camp; salad (so weird for him), spaghetti with sweet rosemary spaghetti sauce and low-carb noodles and breadsticks. It was tasty and I totally appreciate coming home to a warm, tasty dinner. As it was, I couldn't lift my arms very much. They were like jelly.

So, our first day. The theme was chest/back/arms. Going in to it, I wasn't sure what to expect. It is difficult to imagine how so many people of different sizes, fitness levels and age could all converge and work out at the same time.

We could instantly tell who were the veterans and who were the newbies. The vets had their mats rolled out against the wall and were sitting waiting for the session to begin. So we followed suit. After a quick intro, we were down to business with the warm-ups; a little jogging in place, jumping-jacks and other things to get the blood pumping. All the things that let me know I need a better sports bra.

Then we began doing exercises that focused on our arms. We broke in to groups and did a circuit of different exercises including push-up, tension band curls and pulls and kick-backs. We did each exercise for 30 seconds then rotated. On the third time around, we were DYING! We had a small water break and continued. The rest of the class we focused on standing and mat exercises mixed with some cardio. We were definitely feeling the burn.

Tomorrow, we hope to be outside to enjoy the slightly warmer weather and to get a little cardio in. Hopefully, it won't be raining too much.

Candice K.
Official Boot Camper

Today is the Day! Boot Camp!

2009-02-09T11:13:00.005-05:00

I will be keeping a journal of our days at camp. Complete with the pre- and post-feelings of the day and the workouts. We are SO looking forward to this. I NEED this.

11:25 am - The girls and I are starting the Columbus Fitness Boot Camp today. We will be taking some before pictures during lunch. I am personally quite freaked out because Terra saw Desperate Housewives this weekend and they went to boot camp. I guess they had some sort of a drill sergeant... We have a personal trainer running this. I met her Tuesday. She's very nice, but she's there to push us so I hope I don't bring out the mean in her.

On the agenda for today: Chest/Back/Arms along with a timed mile run/walk/jog and counted push-ups. This will be fun b/c I totally have NO upper-body strength. I'm pretty sure my arms are fat attached directly to the bone... no muscle in there... just fat. Fat that jiggles whenever I wave, laugh or have a good idea. Doesn't take much.

I'm ready and equipped with my Tylenol Back and Body. Let's see how this goes.

Candice K.
251 lbs.
Ready to Rock and Roll... lots of rolls; belly rolls, crescent rolls... I must resist the crescent rolls.

A Little Off-Topic RAGE for Anyone Paying Attention

2009-01-28T09:22:00.008-05:00

My new bfff, co-worker and Buckeye fanatic, Nicole, sent me this email detailing her morning commute here in Columbus, OH. She uses a little choice language but hey, who can blame the girl? Please read and enjoy.

So we are at a level 2 snow emergency. That means that you should only be on the roads if you have to be. I feel like this is put into effect because Columbus doesn't know how to plow roads. Granted it has been snowing for eight hours +/- 2 days so there wasn't much notice so I understand. Maybe I'm just salty because it took me 25 minutes to chip all the ice off of my car. Maybe I'm salty because while I was doing that, my PJ pants froze to my parking lot. Really, who knows?

... and then there are the lovely drivers of central Ohio... I know it sucks out and it's scary to drive in the snow but give me a break. Some guy peeled out in front of me last night causing me to lose all control of my car. My options were a.) hit the asshole b.) hit the awful green minivan that was parked on the street c.) hit a nearby street sign which would not slow me down, possibly causing me to run into a house d.) hit a pedestrian. As I was screaming and sliding I picked the pedestrian (hey, he was skinny. I figured he wouldn't do much damage) but managed, by the grace of God, to stop before I hit any of the options. I get driving slow when it's like this, but is 15 on the freeway necessary? Oh and then when we see a car that wasn't driving carefully and ends up in a snow bank in the median, let's all slow down even more and stare. We aren't going to help but we just wanted to see what happened so that we can chitchat with our coworkers about "that car on 270 that was fine but was in a snow bank in the median." Very interesting. Or, better yet, lets slam on our brakes when we get close causing more people to slide. Ya, I like that option. What I love about this "accident victim" is that they were in the median, up to their ass in snow, quite obviously not moving AND not in anyone's way but they put their hazard lights on. Right. Important. Good thinking. It was those quick wits that got them into that situation in the first place.

Now, as I was gawking at said car with the flashing hazards my windshield wipers froze causing them to wipe all areas of the windshield clean except for that little square that I needed to see out of. My visibility became zero. I began to laugh. I also began to wonder why I don't keep alcohol in my car for the AM drive.

May I also mention that today is only the third time in 35 years that THE Ohio State University has cancelled classes. THE THIRD TIME IN 35 YEARS!!! This means that the weather is awful. I went to OSU for 4 and a half years and there were plenty of times where I should have had a sleigh and some reindeer to go to class... or maybe one of the dog sleighs that compete in the Iditarod... either way the snow was bad and we still had school. OSU takes this shit seriously. If OSU is closed because of a snow emergency then the entire STATE should be closed. Just a thought.

The first snow day that I was a part of was the first snow day in 30 years. This was January 2003 (aka my freshmen year). The snow was up to my eyeballs. I got drunk and went to a boys house to play beer pong, have a snow ball fight and then... Just how every snow day should be. The second time was last year which I also got drunk and played beer pong, weird. Numero tres is January 28, 2009. That's today people. I am sober. I am not playing any kind of pong... not beer, not ping, not even pong for Atari. And I am at work. I am not a happy camper. I might throw a hissy fit.

It took me 40 minutes today to drive what normally takes me 15. I've had a lot of time to think about this. That also meant that I checked my phone 40 times to make sure I didn't miss the "Hey, Work is Closed" call. This also gave me 40 full minutes to get even more furious about actually going to work. Then I realized that I had been on 270 for several miles with my right blinker... I am an asshole...

Candy K.

Where Have All the Good Salads Gone?

2009-01-26T11:20:00.003-05:00

First, let me say everyone needs to get hip to Eat This, Not That: http://www.menshealth.com/eatthis/index.php. It's astonishing how much saturated fat, calories and sodium is in the food served up by many leading restaurants. For example, it is better to eat a Big Mac than a Whopper. Save yourself 220 calories and 18 grams of fat by making this swap.

Now begins my story followed by RAGE! Last week, Ashley, great friend and fellow dieter, sent me the Salad Hall of Fame according to Eat This, Not That as seen here:

Salad Hall of Fame

- McDonald’s Premium Asian Salad with Grilled Chicken

300 calories

10 g fat (1 g saturated)

890 mg sodium

- Panera Classic Café Salad

400 calories

11 g fat (1.5 g saturated)

270 mg sodium

- Au Bon Pain Butternut Squash Salad

280 calories

6 g fat (4 g saturated)

570 mg sodium

- Jack in the Box Southwest Chicken Salad with Grilled Chicken Strips

310 calories

12 g fat (5 g saturated)

840 mg sodium

-Carl’s Jr. Charbroiled Chicken Salad

330 calories

8 g fat (3.5 g saturated)

580 mg sodium

-Denny’s Grilled Chicken Salad Deluxe

290 calories

10 g fat (5 g saturated)

770 mg sodium

- Arby’s Martha's Vineyard Salad

272 calories9 g fat (4 g saturated)

609 mg sodium

No surprise to me that McDonald's Asian Salad with Grilled Chicken tops the list with a scant 300 calories and 10 grams of fat. This is a salad that I've lived and died by; delicious edamame, sliced almonds, mandarin oranges, mixed greens, snow pea pods, bell peppers and Newman's Own Sesame Ginger dressing (not included in the fat and calories but one packet at 90 calories and 2.5 grams of fat is more than enough to drench the salad). That is, until McDonald's DISCONTINUED the Asian Salad in the Columbus market. I've already emailed McDonald's for some sort of explanation. Just tell me the ingredients are too expensive and I'll pay MORE. Tell me the demand isn't high enough and I'll advertise! No, all I received (and why would I expect any more) was a form letter explaining how they cycle out the old for new, exciting product and they will contact the manager of my region. Who is this manager? Where is his office? Can I make an appointment to visit him? I've got the time. So my plan for bringing back the asian salad is in the works. Stay tuned for that. I might need your help.

Ashley and I were planning another one of our Sunday Bloody Fundays aka SBF. The plan: get in a good workout and do a good lunch to follow up. The only other salads that are available to us here in Columbus is the Panera Classic Cafe and Arby's Martha's Vineyard. So we planned on the Martha's Vineyard. We get to Arby's... NO MARTHA'S VINEYARD! What is going on? Am I in an alternate universe and I am receiving Salad Hall of Fame's from the other universe I'm not a part of? I feel like I'm taking crazy pills! Thus, left with no option, I ordered the *NEW* Italian Chopped Salad and Ashley, the *NEW* Turkey Chopped Salad. I find that my salad comes filled to the brim with pepperoni, salami, banana peppers, tomatoes and a balsamic vinaigrette. Awesome dripping with sarcasm. Looking at the nutrition info, it's way more fat and calories than I wanted to take in. With 282 calories and 18 grams of fat before dressing, I could have gotten a regular roast beef and been happier. Ashley did smashingly with her 95 calories and 11 grams of fat and using fat-free dressing she had at home.

All I know is that I've been burned. The great loves of my belly are disappearing and a few of them I really need. I lost 30 lbs. with the help of that asian salad. Every person I know who tried this salad fell in love instantly. Damn you, McDonald's! You broke my heart... and my diet.

Candice K.

Applebee's Got Served and a Little Soapbox Action

2009-01-26T08:59:00.009-05:00

Is it REALLY four points?

The truth shall set you free! OR cost you several million dollars. As is the case with Applebee's and Weight Watchers. A lawsuit has been filed against Overland Park, the parent company of Applebee's and Weight Watchers for allegedly conspiring to dupe consumers in to eating from the former's Weight Watchers menu that advertised considerably less calories and fat than they actually contained. Analytical Labs of Boise, Idaho found that the Garlic Herb Chicken advertised as having six grams of fat actually contained 18 grams of fat. See this link for the full story and details on becoming part of the class action suit: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28586980/

I am a Weight Watchers customer and advocate. However, to hear this news saddens me. I am always scouring the "Eat This, Not That" website and Weight Watchers Online points tracker for acceptable meals to fit in to my diet. With the Applebee's Weight Watchers menu being backed by Weight Watchers, I always considered it a reliable menu that will fit into my diet. With the way Weight Watchers point system works, the fat content being tripled in some cases would only make a 1-2 point difference. However, when you are only dealing with 29 points, that can be a HUGE blow to your day. That could be my mid-day or evening snack; the two Oreo's that I allow myself to indulge in on a given day.

When one is losing weight not only to look and feel better, but to improve their health, this type of thing can shatter someone's outlook on dieting. As we all know, I have been struggling with a serious plateau. It's been very difficult to take off my honeymoon/holiday weight. This sort of thing makes me so angry. Twelve "hidden" grams of fat that is in the Applebee's Garlic Herb Chicken are 12 grams that I didn't even know I had to burn. It's ridiculous. I know it's hard to make things taste good without a little butter here or a little sugar there, but as dieters we've learned to sacrifice some taste for a smaller waistline. Just be honest, Applebee's. That's all we want. America is the fattest country in the world bar-none and it's not ok. But no wonder with the serving sizes that have become the norm. We have to stop this, people. Seriously.

Candice K.

253 lbs.

Weigh-in Wednesday

Plateau Buster: Boot Camp

2009-01-20T13:27:00.008-05:00

In the never-ending battle to get fit, we find ourselves spending more time and money figuring out ways to do it. I am no exception. While I have a free membership to a gym, I feel it's only right to consider that a credit I can spend on other types of health-related expenses.

After a favorable review of a program from the friend of a co-worker, several of us decided to embark upon the most frightening of all workout regimes: the boot camp. Yes, yes, I know what you're thinking. Am I crazy? Suicidal, perhaps? No, just fed up with the way things are currently going and I'm ready to take some responsibility for my current state, which is Ohio and it is technically number 17 on the State Rankings of Obese Adult Population (please see: http://calorielab.com/news/2008/07/02/fattest-states-2008/).

The camp will go from February 9 - March 7. We will be going Monday-Thursday at 6pm and Saturday at 9am for a grand total of 20 glorious gut-busting, brain-throbbing, heart-popping hours. If you are in the Columbus area, please visit: http://www.columbusfitnessbootcamp.com/index.html for more details.

So the ladies and I are pretty stoked to be doing this. We are compiling our required gear such as a mat, 5, 8, and/or 10 lb weights, RUNNING (not walking or cross-training) shoes, water bottle, etc., etc., etc. We will be hitting up Play It Again Sports in the coming weeks. We are also planning pre- and post-celebrations to give us something to look forward to. Nothing too crazy. We don't want to demolish the progress. I feel if we can enter this thing and make it all the way through, we will be ready to take on anything.

I'll keep you posted on the experience.

Candice K.

253 lbs.

A Month Older.... A Pound Heavier

2009-01-14T17:11:00.003-05:00

I am still having issues getting out of this plateau. I've worked out 4-5 days per week for the last three weeks and sticking to the Weight Watchers diet as stringently as possible. Because of this, lots of things have been running through my head;

"I've been on a diet since I was 10"

"Should I get bariatric surgery?"

"I don't want to be this way anymore."

"Will I ever lose this weight?"

It's a rough place to be and I can either decide to quit or keep on truckin'. It is so easy to quit. I really want to get on with my life without worrying about every little thing that passes my lips. The only problem with that instant gratification is I'll just come back to this place. So I really don't have a choice.

Losing weight is the most difficult thing I've ever had to do... That's not saying much as I have led a fairly sheltered life.

But no one said it would be easy. I know that just as well as anyone.

Candice K.

252 lbs

I'm SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder)

2008-12-16T13:37:00.007-05:00

Recently, I've been extremely exhausted to the point of almost passing out in the middle of a work day, I've been sleeping for 9-11 hours a night and I have had frequent headaches. Oh, and I CAN NOT STOP EATING! This is really putting a damper in the progress I have made in my diet. People would ask, "are you pregnant?" I would answer with, "No, Mom. I'm not." There is another explanation, however. During the winter months, a lot of us mid-western folks are prone to suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder or "SAD."

SAD is a form of depression brought on by the shortening of autumn days in to the dark days of winter. More information on the different types of SAD can be found here. Traditional SAD symptoms as stated by the Mayo Clinic include: fatigue, oversleeping, headaches, carbohydrate cravings, loss of interest in activities one once enjoyed, and weight gain.

This article is VERY helpful in understanding SAD from a woman's perpective.

Now, how does one get over the winter blues? Well, we begin with what we are lacking when the sun isn't shining as much; Vitamin D. Our body produces vitamin D with the help of ultraviolet rays. When we aren't getting UV rays, a vitamin D deficiency can develop. Most people who get a good amount of sun during the summer months usually stock up enough vitamin D to make it through winter. But sometimes, we don't. One way to replenish your vitamin D "stock" would be to eat foods rich in vitamin D such as pink salmon, sardines and mackerel. This would explain why my husband doesn't have this problem; he loves salmon. I hate fish, so let's move on. Getting some sun can help. I could start tanning again... hmmm. But the most realistic option for me would be to pick up some vitamin D supplements from my local GNC/grocery store/pharmacy.

Another cause of SAD is the pure fact that our days are shorter and thus, throws off our sleeping pattern. Light therapy is used to treat seasonal affective disorder. It simulates sunlight to allow your body to realign with its natural patterns.

Exercise is also recommended. This is extremely difficult for me right now as I can barely find the energy to roll out of bed in the morning. But if I'm going to get down to 165 lbs. and take that trip to Vegas, I need to get on it.

Candy K.
251 lbs., 86 lbs. to goal weight.
Weigh-in tomorrow.

Craving of the Day

2008-12-16T09:37:00.004-05:00

Chinese Food

Preferably sesame chicken. Damn you, tempura chicken! You are the bane of my existence!

Candy K.
251 lbs.
Today, I will drink 60 oz. of water.

Fit Mag's Body Type Analysis and Diet

2008-12-08T14:55:00.014-05:00

I subscribe to fitmagazine.com and they are always sending me some GREAT articles on fitness.

This article covers the body types that there are, their benefits and drawbacks, and a diet and fitness plan geared toward getting rid of pounds where you want to get rid of them.

I am a "pear" shape. I wear a 12 or 14 top but I wear an 18-20 in pants. This is a rough spot to be in because I can't typically shop in the same section or even the same store to find an outfit. Most plus size stores such as Lane Bryant only go down to a 14/16 which is too large for me, and regular stores, such as Old Navy or the Limited, have an 18 or 20 but they usually run small. I guess you could call me a tween... just on the larger side of the spectrum.

I am pretty much on the low fat diet that they recommend and the majority of my workouts are done on treadmills and ellipticals. However, the education they provide on the body types are pretty fascinating to me.

Apparently, being pear-shaped isn't as bad as I thought it was.

Candice K.
249 lbs.
Today, I will play Wii Sports for an hour.

Exercise Obsession of the New Year

2008-12-02T15:49:00.008-05:00

My Big Ol' Booty

If you've met me, you know that I hold one thing above all else to be true: big girls are coming back en vogue.

I'm not saying that 250 lbs. (ie. Me) is coming in to style anytime soon. But I do believe a healthy set of curves is going to be the best ass-et you can have in the years to come. So, the one thing I think I have going for me is my bodonkadonk. I've seen it; the silhouette of my butt in a nice pair of jeans. It's there. I just need to work on it, sculpt it, mold it... oh, sorry. Too graphic.

Well, I found an awesome workout at fitnessmagazine.com. This one has Jackie Warner's Stamp of Approval and believe me, it's crazy difficult. Balance is a must for most of the intermediate moves. But it's totally worth it.

Another thing that has REALLY helped shape my derriere is the elliptical. Depending upon the elliptical, the optimal incline for ideal gludiusmaximus strengthening can be rather low or extremely steep. My favorite elliptical is a front-drive with adjustable motion. This means that there is no incline selection but your stride can change from a walk to a jog to a full on run based on how far you push the petals. This site has a pretty good elliptical guide if you are in the market.

I'm really down with having a nice butt no matter what I weigh. So as long as I stay focused, I think I will be able to handle it, no problem.

Candice K.

250 lbs. (weigh-in tomorrow)
Today, I will eat a nutritious dinner.

Today's Weigh-In: Success!

2008-11-26T09:14:00.002-05:00

Lost 1.8 lbs! I'm loving my Wii. Now lets see how quickly I can demolish this weight loss with Thanksgiving.

Coping with Thanksgiving

2008-11-25T08:56:00.004-05:00

Ok. So, I'm pretty sure that the early settlers devised a master plan when they sat down with the Native Americans and created a little national holiday called Thanksgiving. That plan; to keep Candice fat until the end of her days. Those settlers brought food, watched football and went to sleep at 4pm. Also, I don't appreciate the fact that its so close to Jesus' birthday. You know wherever there's a birthday, there's cake... or pie... or ham.

This year, I'm trying to keep things a little healthier than in years past. I will be making half of the dishes to be served this year and I am looking to reduce fat and calories wherever I can, if at all possible. You see, the half of the menu my mom is making will be laden with butter and wonderful, delicious, goodness. The recipe I just printed for her: Paula Deen's Gooey Butter Cake. Seriously, I love Paula Deen. She's a good Christian southern woman, but I don't know how much longer she'll be with us if she eats half the stuff she makes on that show. With all of the carbs and sugars on this Thx-giving menu, Chuck will be on the floor having a diabetic seizure. I'll keep a spoon handy.

So, these are the items on my menu this year and how I'm attempting to do some damage control:

Red Skin Garlic Mashed Potatoes - I'll be using buttermilk and using as little light margarine as possible.

Baked Macaroni and Cheese - reduced fat cheeses only, whole wheat farfalle and a saltine crust

Sweet Potato Casserole - I am going to try this recipe.

Dad's Birthday Cinnamon Streusel Bundt Cake - It's my Dad's 50th birthday tomorrow! He's needs some meat on his bones so I'll leave this one alone.

Mom's menu doesn't exercise any restraint at all and obviously, she has a sweet tooth:

Rotisserie Chicken - not really a menu item as it's store-bought but hey, she's buying it. Meijer has some REALLY tasty rotisserie chicken.

Dressing and gravy- homestyle

Roasted potatoes - the kids prefer these over the mashed

Pudding Pies - my little brother will be making these. Graham cracker crust, Jell-o pudding mix and whipped cream. Simple and delicious.

The occassional vegetable - in a butter sauce no doubt.

Paula Deen's Gooey Butter Cake - Yeah.

From-scratch cookies - undoubtedly, she will double the chips called for in the recipe. A bag of chocolate and a bag of butterscotch... but she always makes me a few with JUST chocolate chips.

So things are basically traditional but I have no doubt that I'll eat a lot more than I should. All I can do is try to call on my will power to push me away from the plate. I won't have the turkey to knock me out early. Dammit.

Deuces

Candice K.

252 lbs. (weigh-in tomorrow)

Guest Blog Post

2008-11-24T12:44:00.000-05:00

Please visit my friend's Foodie blog where I guest post.

My latest contribution to her blog: http://beatsandeats.blogspot.com/2008/11/sakura-koi-ponds-eastern-beauties-and.html

Craving of the Day

2008-11-24T09:15:00.003-05:00

Barbecue

Anything barbecue.

Getting Back to the Gym: A Procrastinator's Story

2008-11-23T14:57:00.003-05:00

So I haven't worked out in a gym for a month. I was going everyday religiously but with the wedding planning, I got lazy. Everyone in our office received FREE passes to the gym IN OUR BUILDING a few months ago. Let me say that again, the gym is in the building in which I work. I do not have to go out in the cold to get there. I do not have to drive there. I simply hit a button on the elevator and I'm there.

Last week, I made a commitment to myself every evening, "I will workout tomorrow." And everyday I welched on said commitment, "I have to go get something for lunch. I won't have time," or "my gym bag still has wedding stuff in it and I don't have time to clean it out. Guess I'll get to the gym tomorrow." Well, everyone. THE BUCK STOPS HERE! Not that I was passing the buck. I was simply putting the buck off for a while. I will work out at least four days this week. This is a promise I am making to myself.

Man, being fat is the worst.

Candice K.
252 lbs. (weigh-in Wednesday)
Today, I will not eat until I'm so stuffed I can't move.

I'm Gonna Need Wiihabilitation...

2008-11-19T14:27:00.001-05:00

That's right. Chuck went out and purchased us a Wii last night. My plan is to use the Wii as a tool in my weight loss. I had been obsessed with it since I went to a friend's house and played Wii Sports. The fixation only worsened when I again visited said friend and this time, I played Guitar Hero. This prompted me to download Guitar Hero to my cell phone... Please believe me when I say it is not easy to hit one button per column of numbers on a cell phone with two fingers, let alone when you have artificial nails which I do at the moment.

I don't plan on solely working out with Wii Sports for fear of developing Wii Elbow. I am also getting Wii Fit as a supplement to my normal workout at the gym. This video is the reason Chuck encourages my decision to get Wii Fit. I found out that on Thanksgiving, Meijer is selling the Wii Fit ($89.99) with the Wii Workout Kit included FREE (including one 56" non-skid textured workout mat for your Wii Balance Board, one rechargeable battery pack and charging cable, two soft grip 2 lbs. dumbbells, one workout towel, two wrist bands, and one water bottle to keep you hydrated). So I'm gonna get on that.

On a somewhat related note. If you are able to get out on Thanksgiving and/or the wee hours of the morning that Friday (also known as Black Friday) and Saturday, there are alot of great deals this year. Just visit The Official Site of Black Friday 2008. If you are looking for a wiidiculous price on Wii's, most places have them right now for $250 which includes Wii Sports and one controller and nunchuk. I would caution people to research bundles before purchasing them. Retailers can really gouge you on those.

Also, I weighed in this morning and unfortunately, I did not lose any weight. However, I didn't gain anything, either. I think that in itself is a success. If I could pass on a word of advice to dieters, it would be that you have to take diets one day at a time. If you binge or don't exercise one day, that shouldn't suggest your whole week, month, year or millenium is ruined. Just make a commitment to yourself that you are going to do better tomorrow. Eventually, you'll find that you don't put as much on your plate or you are kind of wanting to work out. I know, my wisdom is so powerful it moves you.

So, just to round out this post nicely, please enjoy a few Wii-tastic words courtesy of UrbanDictionary.com:

Wii-lationaship - a relationship developed over the Wii internet

Wiidoken - the act of swinging your Wii remote with such force as to break the wrist strap resulting in the destruction of expensive electronics and/or injury of personal friends

Wiigwam - a room dedicated to the use of the Nintendo Wii

Wiiologism - any word made up in reference to the Nintendo Wii

Candy K.

252 lbs.

Today, my goal is to drink 60 ounces of water

Back on the Wagon: First Weigh-In 2mro!

2008-11-18T23:19:00.003-05:00

My first weigh-in since I got back on the Weight Watchers wagon will be tomorrow morning. I did meh on points today. I forgot my afternoon snack and binged a little when I got home. I counter-binged by exercising this evening, so I might be ok. Check back tomorrow. I'll tell you all about my most recent weight-loss tool.

Alrighty.

C-Dice

Craving of the Day

2008-11-17T11:12:00.002-05:00

Subs

Carbs. Holler.

Note: This is a Jimmy John's sub. The J.J.B.L.T. to be exact. So fast, you'll freak. Very popular on OSU campus.

Honeymoon is over! This is real life, son!

2008-11-17T10:14:00.002-05:00

Ok, ladies and gents. I'm SO sure that you have been waiting with bated breathe for me to create a blog. Little did you know, it would be a diet blog. However, I request that you at least feel it out before heading back over to the Beats and Eats blog. Also, I apologize in advance for the length of this post. They all won't be this bad. I promise.

I will begin this post with a bit of a back story on your girl.

Candice was born on a hot July day to Kimberley and Robert. Kimberley, a beautiful creature, thin and lovely, had just been blessed with a lovely baby girl and was filled with jubilation.... and about 5% body fat. Robert, a genius by ANY standards shed a tear or two but could never shed a pound as he stood 6'1", 150 lbs.

As a baby, I never took to the teet. Some researchers suggest that not breastfeeding your child could lead to obesity, heart disease and stroke. Which may very well be the case. What I can tell you is it didn't help that I developed a love for food early on, demanding my three square meals a day. Mom and dad were always light snackers but never denied me a hearty meal. Not saying it's their fault and I wasn't turning down a nice slice of pizza.

By the time I hit puberty, I was a size 26 pant. No idea what my weight was, but it was probably more than I weigh now. The summer between 7th and 8th grades, I lost a ton of weight bringing me down to a size 20. I did this with EXTREME calorie counting and exercise. I longed for that kind of weight-loss success for the rest of high school, remaining on a never-ending string of diets until this day.

I've done 'em all; Grapefruit juice: Didn't work too well as I HATE grapefruit, Deal-A-Meal: didn't get it, Ephedra: I totally miss that stuff. It worked but I only took it long enough to lose about 10 lbs. before it was banned.

I've also tried the "Terrible Boyfriend" diet. You know, the one where you can't eat or sleep because you are obsessing over the loser who you never really liked in the first place but were just convinced that he could be a better person if you treated him well even though he doesn't like you all that much and makes no qualms about it but still uses you because you let him? *crickets* Anyone? Just me? Ok, then. Well, that one worked really well.

Then, I met the man of my dreams. Hefty, hairy and horny. Hands off, ladies. I was in such a lovelorn state that I ate and ate without thinking. I went from 216 to 275 in about a year. I literally looked at my clothes one day and said, "Dude, when did my clothes shrink?" Obviously, they didn't. I expanded.

So now, I've moved on to the Weight Watchers program. And I must say, it works. Seriously. To date, I've lost 30 lbs. on this diet.

However, I came back from my honeymoon last week to find that I'd gained 8 pounds! So now, I'm getting back on the wagon. This blog will hopefully keep me motivated and on track. I will end every post with a current weight and daily goal, just to keep my mind right.

Thanks for reading. Catch ya on the flip.

Candice K.

252 lbs.
87 lbs to goal of 165
Today, I will eat no more than one snack between meals.

Working on it...

2008-11-14T10:26:00.000-05:00

I will have a legitimate post up Monday. Please believe me.

In the interim, please enjoy this picture of my friend, FlyerAsh, in a banana costume.

Mehr.