In this blog I hope to track my adventures in fitness, food justice, gardening and body acceptance. I will do so with a critical eye--examining how anti-fat bias, economics, class, sexism, urban (suburban and rural) development deprives us of satisfying movement, and how health is collective and personal.
"The other day I realized as long as I'm in this business, I'm going to be hungry. The camera really does add 10 pounds. I'm trying to stay under the weight I want to look like on TV. It's a good incentive to stay slim..."
--Kristin Bauer, "Pam" on True Blood
I really do appreciate it when actors tell it like it is. Instead of saying "Oh, I love pizza and french fries, but to balance it all out I take my puppy for a stroll on the beach a couple times a week and try to fit in yoga." Kristin Bauer is putting it out there: "I'm hungry."
True Blood is seemingly everywhere this summer--as it well should be, its a great show and I love Charlaine Harris' books, on which the series is based. The very dim Jason Stackhouse is portrayed by a very bright actor, Ryan Kwanten. Mr. Kwanten talks to Muscle & Body magazine about living a healthy and balanced life, which for Mr. Kwanten involves a healthy dose of Vinyasa Yoga.
He says:
“I think it’s important to get your sweat on and to not just limit yourself to one particular sport,” he says of his varied fitness interests. “To do nothing but lift weights to me would be a quick death. Life has too many great things to offer in terms of physical exertion. I think you always need a sense of clarity, whether you get it through meditation or going for a hike, when it comes to bettering your life. It may not work for everybody, but it does for me. I come from a somewhat of a macho background when it comes to sports,” says the former boxer. “When a friend of mine suggested I try yoga to help with flexibility, I said, ‘No, that’s more for the girls. It’s not my cup of tea.’ But I tried it and it beat me up. That first class I was looking across the room and seeing girls and even guys putting their feet behind their heads, and I thought, Wow, that’s where I want to be. And I’m sort of naturally competitive, so once I sink my teeth into something I’m not going to let go.”
Being firmly rooted allows for more fearless inner exploration. As Ryan states at the end of the interview:
“To be a man means more than having muscles; there’s so much more to being a stand-up guy,” he explains. “I always loved that Ralph Waldo Emerson quote: ‘What lies behind us and what lies before us is small matter compared to what lies within us.”
Personalize your goals. Set goals that are within your capabilities and take into account your limitations.
Aim for realistic weight-loss goals. Healthy weight loss occurs slowly and steadily. Aim to lose 1 to 2 pounds a week.
Focus on the process. Make your goals "process goals,"
Think short term and long term. Short-term goals keep you engaged on a daily basis, but long-term goals motivate you over the long haul.
Write it down. When planning your goals, write everything down and go through all the details.
Start small. It's helpful to plan a series of small goals that build on each other instead of one big, all-encompassing goal.
Pick a date. Timing is crucial, often making the difference between success and failure. Choose a definite start date and don't put that date off for anything. Be sure to account for life circumstances that might hamper your efforts, such as work or school demands or relationship problems. You may need to resolve some issues before starting.
Plan for setbacks. Setbacks are a natural part of behavior change. Everyone who successfully makes changes in his or her life has experienced setbacks. Identifying potential roadblocks and brainstorming specific strategies to overcome them can help you stay on course.
Evaluate your progress. Review your goals each week.
Reassess and adjust your goals as needed. Be willing to change your goals as you progress in your weight-loss plan.
1. Personalize: Lose 10 lbs in 7 weeks. End date 2-10-10. 2. Realistic: That is 1.4 lbs per week. 4. Think Short & Long Term: Short term maintain my Jump Start losses when I return to school. Will do another Jump Start in the Summer. 5. Write down when planning: I track my progress at www.diettalk.com and WeightWatchers.com 6. Start Small: Track all Eating. Do purposefuly exercise 7. Set Start Date: 12-30-09. 8. Plan for Set-Backs: I didn't chose to lose 14 lbs in 7 weeks. I gave myself "wiggle room". 9 & 10 Evaluate & review Progress each week; Reassess & Adjust Weekly: : Every Wednesday I track my weight, set new goals, and measure the success of previous goals.
Thealogian: Goals and Progress Updates
Recommendations from the Mayo Clinic:
1. Personalize: Shed 50lbs by my birthday July 8, 2010. 2. Realistic: That is 2lbs per week, I have successfully lost 3.3lbs per week in the past, so with systematic exercise regime, 2lbs is realistic for me. 3. Progress Goals: Exercise 4-6 days per week, don't obsess on food. 4. Think Short & Long Term: long-term, exercise 4-6 times per week; short term, go to gym Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday this week, do pilates or yoga Friday & Sunday. 5. Write down when planning: I'm doing that now (and in a journal); I will also eat Greek Yogurt/granola (measured) for breakfast & Turkey Chili for lunch Mon-Thursday; crackers/2% cheese snack & raw veggies. Dinner will be lean protein with veggies & one piece of dove chocolate for dessert. 6. Start Small: Pack exercise bag & prepare Breakfasts/Lunches for week Sunday night. 7. Set Start Date: TODAY, Jan. 3, 2010. 8. Plan for Set-Backs: I wanted to exercise this weekend, but it was too cold to walk outdoors (I tried), the treadmill is on the frtiz and the gym is closed; I couldn't do yoga or pilates because I pulled a muscle in my back, but that's mostly worked out now (thanks to my sister in law's massage knowledge and nursing skills). Despite all this, I was able to eat non-neurotically and I cleaned out the fridge and organized my bedroom, plus dusting, vaccuuming. So, set back #1 dealt with compassion for body. 9. Evaluate & review Progress each week: each Sunday, I'll do a status update here, in this window. 10. Reassess & Adjust Weekly: Come back to this window to check out weekly goals.
Goals Jan. 4th-10th Exercise at Gym Mon-Thurs; Pilates or Yoga Friday and Sat or Sun. Eat pre-packed breakfast/lunch Meditate 5-10 minutes per day
