Jump Start- Stop- Fail.

  Weekly Weigh- In: April 6th (I was home sick!) -2.4 lbs, April 13th -.6 lbs. Total: -17.2 lbs!

The Lansing Area YMCA offers what is called a "Jump Start" program. It's a  "free opportunity to meet with a Wellness Coach to discuss your goals and jump start your quest for a healthy mind, body and spirit. You will meet with your Coach for three separate sessions, an initial health assessment, an equipment orientation, and a 45 minute seminar on exercise." I did this about 3 years ago, and I got my trusty (XXL) t-shirt that I work out in. The nice part is that, once you finish the Jump Start session, you can keep coming back to do the health assessment, called a "fit test." Over the last 2 years, I've done 2 other fit tests with the YMCA. When cleaning my room last weekend, I found my results. I called the Y and scheduled a fit test, thinking, "heck yeah I've improved. I *got* this!"

                                                                  Boy, was I wrong.

The fit test measures a bunch of things- your BMI, your blood pressure, stretching ability, strength, balance, hip-to-waist ratio, resting heart rate, and a vOx test (tests the oxygen levels in your blood- makes sure you are getting enough Oxygen while working out). Now, not all of it is accurate-- for those kind of results, you would have to go to a doctor's office. But this was a general assessment. Either way, I've been feeling great, dropping more weight and wanted something on paper to prove that I'm kicking some ass.

My blood pressure was "optimal"- how that happened, I will never know (seeing that I came right from work to do the test). My resting heart rate was a little high, but my Wellness Coach attributed that to the fact that I walked to the gym from work instead of driving the half mile. My upper body strength was average for a woman of my age (shut it...). My BMI has gone down- I've gone from a "Grade 4" Obesity level (in 2008) to "Overweight." I'm happy... there's measurable progress being made!

Then... the measuring tape comes out. My hip-to-waist ratio was never good. I carry most of my weight around my midsection. It's no secret that I have a perma-muffin top. My ratio has actually gotten *worse* over the last 3 years. I start deep breathing to calm down- how am I wearing smaller pants but my ratio is sucking?? The Wellness Coach explained that my body is losing fat in other areas and the fat that is left wants to "hang on"- best place to hang on in a woman's body is in her midsection. She told me that my ratio will probably get even *worse* before I get to my optimal weight. Awesome. Something to look forward to.

Then, we go to the treadmill to do the vOx test. The test can be done on one of two treadmills- on one, the (walking) test is 12 minutes long, starting at a level 1 incline. You go up to level 12. If your heart rate gets too high (based on your age and weight), the test stops. On the other treadmill, the test is 5 minutes long. You start at level 3, and go up to level 9. The test does not stop- it assumes you're ok and keeps running the track. Of course, I get to use the 12 minute test machine. 5:17 into the test, the machine decides that my heart rate is too high (it's at 150- but I'm not even breaking a sweat) and says "FIT TEST FAILED" in big bold red letters. That's a self-esteem booster.

Dejected, I talk to the Wellness Coach and she assures me that I have made improvement and to keep at it. I don't see it after this test, so I go and stop by Wendy's work (54A baby!) to vent- it was either that, or I was going to buy french fries. She talks me down, gives me a lean "cookie" protein bar and sends me on my  way. I went to the gym that night and tried the fit test on the 5-minute machine. I complete the test, but find that my vOx is still in the 30th percentile. Not great, but at least I didn't make the test stop...? I felt a little crappy, but Wendy was a huge help in reassuring me that I did a great job and  that the improvement in my body and my health hasn't gone unnoticed. "Screw the machines- you look awesome!" or something like that was uttered.

I was angry. So, I ran. I ran for 15 minutes (2 minutes running at 5.6/ 1 minute walking at 3.6) instead of my normal 10. My legs felt like lead when I was done - and I still had weights to do. And I was yawning. How does someone yawn while working out? I don't get it. On my way out of the gym, I asked another Wellness Coach about the yawning. She said that there have been studies done showing that there is nothing in your body really triggering the yawn as people exercise, but that some people just look exhausted and audibly yawn while exerting themselves.

There has to be a reason.

Runners World's and other online exercise forums mention possible reasons for yawning is:
1) not enough oxygen getting into the system (which makes sense),
2) being dehydrated (I could use more water),
3) it's a natural way for your body to cool down (when you yawn, you're tired- when you're tired, you sleep. When you sleep, your body temp drops)
4) Your muscles are stretching: "When you stretch, muscles contract, squeeze and replace blood in veins with new oxygenated blood. Your body has an increased need for oxygen when you exercise, and yawning might be a way if giving your body what it needs by stretching."
5) Could indicate a heart problem (vasovagal- heart rate and blood pressure issues).

All of these, of course, are theories. There is no hard evidence either way why people yawn when exercising. Either way, it's something I'm going to have to deal with... and I wonder if anyone else has had this issue too..?

On the grillz

Yesterday was a *gorgeous* Michigan day. Mother Nature decided to give us a reprieve and send us temperatures in the low 80's-- a rare April treat. Of course, everyone and their mother is "grilling out" today. It's time to dust off the grill tongs, hide the tarp, and get cooking. I *love* grilled food. It keeps so much of the food's natural flavor while giving it a ..crunchy exterior. 

When I grill, it usually involves a burger of some sort. I like grilled chicken and LOVE grilled shrimp, but nothing- absolutely nothing- beats a burger fresh off the grill. Turkey burger, veggie burger, traditional beef burger-- doesn't matter to me, just get it in my belly! I have a crap ton of turkey in the freezer- I keep thinking I'm out, and *surprise!* I'm not-- so I wanted to make a turkey burger. The problem is, what do you eat with burgers? Fries. YES. Crispy, oily, fatty fries. I don't have those at home, and the budget says hell no to me running out to the store and picking up a bag of Ore Ida fries or tots.

I run through the week's grocery store visit in my head- I have red skinned potatoes! Foil covered red skinned potatoes are a staple in my parent's home during the summer. Every meal that starts with the propane tank turning involves red skins and pita bread (flavored with some garlic infused oil/sauce stuff). I dice the potatoes up, add some garlic (2 cloves), a little onion, some fake butter, and wrap them in foil. In 60 minutes time, I have soft red skinned potatoes, beautifully flavored. *Much* better than fries.

Used the foil, and still got desired crispiness!

Then I get crafty. I realize that I picked up asparagus this week while it was on sale. Can I grill asparagus? In the vein of trying new things, I gave it a whirl. Cooks.com says you add some olive oil, some salt and pepper, and grill for 2-3 minutes.  I can handle that. I spritz on the oil, dash the Crazy Jane's Mixed Up Salt...presto! Tasty asparagus. It was awesome. So awesome, in fact, I asked my mom when she called to brag about her dinner at Xochimilco's in Detroit why we never had when I was a kid. Her response? "You never ate asparagus. Your dad and I had it all of the time." Oops.  Cooks.com also say you can put it right on the grill, but I don't see that until after I split the asparagus in half. I put some foil down on the grill and put the asparagus on top, and it worked just fine.

For dessert, I go a little crazy and go with strawberry shortcake- fresh strawberries, lightly dusted with Splenda... add a little dessert shell, some fat free whipped cream, and presto! Low point dessert! Of course, I was so stuffed after dinner that I had to wait 3 hours to have dessert... oh, the prices you pay while at a cookout.

Couldn't finish the 2nd "mini" burger... Too full of awesomeness!

Yes, this food was all for me. I invited some of my friends over to join in the fun- actually 3 of them- and NONE of them showed up. In fact, 2 of them didn't even respond to the invite (meanies!)- though I did get an apology this morning. The other one... yeah. He got distracted by a movie. I'm ok with this though- because I have plenty of leftovers for tonight's meal :-)

Hungry Girl has some other BBQ ideas that I want to try- Like the grilled pineapple with dip, and the "I cant believe it's not potato salad." So, when's the next cookout...?

Being Cultured

Why not go out on a limb?  Isn't that where the fruit is?  ~Frank Scully

Weekly Weigh In = +.2 lbs (total = -14.2 lbs)

My friend Trish, who has finally re-emerged from the evil world of auditors and work, suggested awhile back that I try new food and "review" it. I've been thinking about it over the last 2-3 weeks-- what would I try? I've tried almost every fruit and vegetable Horrocks has to offer. I've tried tofu. I've tried soy. We're trying dark chocolate-bacon-jalapeno candy bars this weekend (yeah... that's another story). There doesn't seem like there is a lot left *to* try.

Here's what I came up with to try: different fish (I've had tilapia and salmon, but I know there is more out there), kale (I have a recipe for kale chips), baby bok choy- or just bok choy in general, rhubarb that is not put inside a chicken schwarma sandwich... and that's all I've got so far. 

Today, I'm trying Greek yogurt for the first time. Now, I know I shouldn't be having too much dairy, but I figured in this small amount, I would be ok. Especially since I've really limited the amount of dairy I've had over the last few weeks. I know Greek yogurt isn't a new food for most people (I can hear you laughing!), but I've always steered clear of it. I've heard its thicker than regular yogurt, that it's fat free and "flavor free," and... good lord, it's expensive! What do they put in there, flecks of gold!?

Here I sit, with my little container of Yoplait Greek- Honey Vanilla yogurt, and a little side container of fruit. I Google the ingrediants and nutritional information since Yoplait doesn't put the nutrition information on each individual container... and WHAT? This isn't real "Greek" yogurt?! Oh come on.

Greek yogurt is strained to remove much of the watery whey.  This concentrates the milk solids and results in a thick yogurt that is packed with protein.Traditional Greek yogurt is made with whole (fat) milk, so it usually has a higher fat content, however, companies such as Fage have been able to make a Greek yogurt with low and no fat milk while allegedly keeping true to the Greek yogurt method.

Yoplait has as their ingredients: Cultured Pasteurized Grade A Nonfat Milk, Milk Protein Concentrate. Contains less than 1% of: kosher gelatin, Vitamin A acetate, Vitamin D3. As one blogger puts it, it's just "plain old Yoplait yogurt with added protein powder and thickener."

Real Greek yogurt (Fage) has as its ingredients: Grade A Pasteurized Skimmed Milk, Live Active Yogurt Cultures (L. Bulgaricus, S. Thermophilus). That's IT. 2 ingredients.

Hestia, Greek Goddess of the hearth and home

First attempt at trying a new food-- semi-fail. I'm still new to this kind of Yoplait, but now I know it's not real Greek yogurt. So...what is it? It's not worth the $1.09 I spent on it (it was $2.09, but I had a $1 off coupon). I bought the Honey Vanilla flavor, thinking it would taste like... honey and vanilla. It tastes like "expiration date" vanilla yogurt, and a substitute sweetener after taste. And the thickness that everyone talks about- I didn't mind it too much. I added some fruit and it was tolerable, but it's nothing I will eat by itself again. I can see how it would be great to add to a smoothie (extra protein!), but just to eat it plain...? Nope. Never again. And, for the entire container, it's 3 points. I guess that's ok, assuming it actually keeps me full, but only time will tell...

I made one of my law clerks, Nicole, try it with me. This morning, she bought a 0% fat Chibani Greek yogurt from our cafe. She loves the stuff. Granted, it's $2 a container (for 7 oz), but she buys it most mornings. I wanted her to try the Yoplait stuff to compare the "fake" Greek yogurt to the "real" stuff. She took one taste of the Yoplait and said, "yup, get the stuff downstairs."

A disappointing breakfast and a pimple to boot. Here's to trying new things...!