THE ADMISSION: So quite frankly Social Gals and Gents, in the past little while, what with the action-packed lead-up to the launch of the latest edition of the magazine and celebratory vibe of the holidays, I’d somehow fallen off the health wagon I was proudly living on for quite some time and gotten in the very bad habit of not only not working out, but not getting on the scale regularly and skipping meals while eating one big late dinner, usually swimming in gut expanding egg noodles (aka my happiest comfort food).
Needless to say, I was deep in denial for weeks, succumbing to the seduction of stretchy safe clothes, convincing myself that hey, just one major meal a day (and no exercise) couldn’t possibly be doing That. Much. Damage.
Well helloooooo reality check! After mustering the courage to step on the scale two Mondays ago (it was the first Monday of the year!), I was rapidly shaken from my fool’s reverie by some pretty clear and terrifying data: I had slowly, insidiously GAINED over 10 pounds, a boatload for my small-boned 5’4 and a half frame (hardly vertically gifted Naomi Campbell territory where a couple don’t show).
RAW HARD TRUTH: It wasn’t pretty. No wonder so many were asking if I had ‘done’ my boobs. They were bigger alright but not thanks to Dr. Karl Schwarz’s mastery, but rather to my slow and steady fall off the wagon. I was simply bigger … and so were they.
WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT: Action had to be taken, serious action, in light of the fact that I was not only looking far from Social Gal-worthy with an action-packed spring social season on the horizon but most importantly, feeling lousy and lethargic, and certainly not embracing the kind of healthy inspiring lifestyle and spirit I had come to love and live and relish sharing with others.
ACTION TIME: Fueled by the sobering (literally) dose of reality and promise of a brand New Year and the transfomative change it could bring, I made a list of some make-it-happen commitments:
1. RETURN TO CLEAN GREEN ORGANIC LIVING WITH ONE CHEAT DAY A WEEK.
2. START EACH DAY WITH A POWERFUL JUICE OR SMOOTHIE, PREFERABLY GREEN (See recipe below).
3. DRINK NO MORE THAN TWO GLASSES OF WINE PER WEEK.
4. EIMINATE BAD CARBS AT DINNER WITH A FOCUS ON GENEROUS SERVINGS OF COOKED VEGGIES, SALADS, AND FISH PROTEIN, PREFERABLY ORGANIC OR WILD.
5. EXERCISE AT LEAST THREE TIMES A WEEK FOR ONE HOUR.
6. DRINK A MINIMUM OF EIGHT GLASSES OF WATER A DAY.
7. GET ON THE SCALE EVERY MORNING!
Et voila, the sexy seven. How’s it going so far? Pretty darned well overall:
The organic AM juices and smoothies from my favourite juice and salad bar, Bio Source in Westmount Square, are incredibly satiating and tide me over well til lunch when I usually dig into a colourful salad with a delish basil vinaigrette, also from there, with a protein thrown in for good measure, be it beans, tuna or quinoa. (Btw, you should check them out; the well-stocked salad and juice bar is totally organic, fresh, and well-priced and no, they don’t pay me to say that; I do it with passion ’cause I sincerely love the joint).
As for the workouts, that’s still a work in progress and I have yet to nail the more rigorous regimen I have in mind for the long term (two spin sessions a week tempered by two hot yoga glasses at Happy Tree Yoga) but note to our very human selves: Rome wasn’t built in a day and we do have to go at a manageable pace, reasonable for long term goal implementation non? 😉
However, what’s been really effective thus far is the morning scale weigh-ins which, while at times despiriting when the downward motion is lacking, do play a pivotal role in keeping me honest about the realistic focus and stick-with-it-ness required to achieve ultimate goal fulfilment.
So there you have it Social Sisters and Bros, my current rededication to healthy living and lifestye and embracing my best self. I’ll definitely keep you posted re: progess here in Diaryland and look forward to any tips and insight you might wish to share.
OOPS: With all this raw sharing, I almost forgot the recipe for today’s …
MEAN GREEN MACHINE SOCIAL GAL SUPERJUICE
Ingredients
(makes one large juice, best to go organic)
1 cup of greens, preferably Kale and Spinach mix
1 large lemon
1/2 cucumber
Large piece of ginger
A few dashes of cayenne pepper and Stevia to taste
How-to
Add all ingredients to juicer. Pour into favourite glass or cup. Fire up the machine! 😉