Things that make you go...

 

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It's that time of the year, again.  It's time to face the holiday weight gain and make a change.  I'm starting with the (wo)man in the mirror, I'm asking her to change her ways...sorry.  Within the last few weeks I've relaxed my rigorous gym routine and loaded my diet with tempting treats.  Now I must brace myself for the crowds at the gym and toss out all the merry crap in my pantry.  I like to do a little twirl as I say 'au revoir' to the Christmas cookies and their sugary friends.

I, along with the rest of America, turned on the television this morning and was bombarded with commercials for weight loss.  It's shocking to realize most of us are in the same (over weight) boat every time this year!  You'd think we would prevent this, or at least switch it up.  We are like cattle!!  Moo.

This morning I turned on the TODAY show and I counted 20 weight loss ads within a 30 minute spread.  TWENTY!!  There's the 'Special K' diet, some program called 'Genovine' that ships meals designed for your individual DNA, Jennifer Hudson is doing a duet (with her former fat self) for Weight Watchers and of course 'Bally's' has models (never fat a day in their life) suggesting the gym will produce buns of steel.  One can only hope.

Amidst all the ads telling us we're fat, I have to say...Hmmmm?  Will eating a Special K diet really work?  Should I really eat this, and not that?  Will pre-packaged food seriously shrink my waist line?  It's the things that make you go Hmmmmmmmmmm.  

Do I need to pop on Amazon and order Jillian Michael's new (insane) work out dvd?  The answer to all of the above is a big fat N0!  The only thing truly worth trying out is fewer calories in the day and more physical activity.  I wonder if I could create a sexy ad for the truth.  I need to eat what God made, and his stuff does not last on shelves for weeks and weeks.  I need to shake what my mama gave me, more than usual.  If I follow these two simple rules, I will be ok.

I need to hold steadfast to what I know and not be suckered into these fad diets.  Prepare yourself for a whirlwind of things that will make you go Hmmmmmm.

Eat. Pray. Gorge.

Nothing says Christmas like a diabetic coma!  'Tis the season to binge, hoard and over indulge.  If I get one more box of chocolates I can officially open a small candy business.  Folks say "I'm thinking of you" with sugar.  Why, as a society, is this left unchallenged?  I, like anyone else, can easily justify giving into my sweet tooth because it's the Holiday and everyone knows we'll all get back on the horse next year.

At the stroke of midnight on January 1st, we all collectively vow to hit the gym.  We fight and hustle just to get a spot in a Zumba class and sweat our (big) booties off.  For most folks, it'll last for two weeks and then people remember how much they hate exercising.  They start crossing off goals clearly too ambitious to accomplish.  And the cycle continues and we watch our midsections slowly creep into larger pant sizes.  We slip into elastic waist band pants and forget our resolutions.  

It's too late for this savvy foodie to admit to sticking to her savvy ways, I've tasted the sugar and it's good.  But, I still get my bootie to the gym and I try and cut corners when I can.  I'm just like everyone else, but my happy place has (hand to God) become the gym.  So I'll see you in my Zumba class next year, just try not to step on my toes ;)  

Be kind, rewind

If time travel were possible, I would want to rewind and reverse the technological advancement that is photoshop.  Photoshop enables celebs to be void of bloated tummies, cellulite, acne, flabby arms...you know all the stuff EVERYONE has.

Frank Micelotta/PictureGroup

I saw this picture yesterday and thought the actress (Blake Lively) might be sticking her tummy out a bit.  I read the article and learned these two are a new pair (I really don't care who floats their boat).  The article highlighted the events of their 'first date'.  They went out for ice cream (in that tight blue dress???).  Readers are allowed to post their thoughts on articles.  One person said, "Blake, lay off the ice cream your stomach looks huge in that shot."




Two thoughts popped into my   head -- could the angle not be photoshopped?  How unbelievably excruciating it must be to be in the spotlight.  I cannot tell you how many pics exist in my library where I look less then slim!  Fortunately, I trust they will either be deleted or never posted on a public site where I will be judged.

We all think celebs have access to the best trainers, personal chefs, designers and spas.  Indeed this may be true, but they are still human.  Photoshop may alter their appearance to such a degree they no longer resemble human beings...but they still are.

As the new year rapidly approaches, most of us are thinking about things we'd like to change about ourselves.  Just as predictable as morning following night, these same people will most likely fall off the wagon come February.  I'm striving to be savvy and have it show in photos.  I'm tired of editing myself.  I want to like the way I look in photos and not say, "Whoo!  Looks like I'm preggers there!".  I'd also like to read less of People.com.  I want to be savvier about my literature and I want to read less negativity.