Last week it was Lululemon. This week, Hungry Girl. I hate her. I mean, I guess I have nothing against her in general, but I hate the concept and the fact that it's being validated by multiple books and a show on Food Network.
I subscribe to the e-mails. I read them, because I'll read anything to avoid work. I rarely find anything of use in them because I've gotten off the processed food bandwagon, and it's what she seems to entirely subsist on.
I have one of the books. I have made stuff from it. It is rarely good. I will give her credit for introducing me to the whole pumpkin+brownie mix = delicious concept, but that is it. Mostly she has all these two or three ingredient things, and I look at the recipes, and I'm like, none of these things are delicious individually, I do not see how combining them is going to help me.
And seriously about the processed foods. She loves fat free sugar free anything, which basically means you're eating chemicals. I have stopped buying fat free cream cheese because everything in it sounds TERRIFYING. I'd like my cream cheese to just have cream cheese in it, thanks. If I'm eating cheesecake, I really don't care about saving 100 calories out of the 1000 I've probably already committed to.
Rant over now.
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Friday, December 2, 2011
I'm boycotting Lululemon
So I'm in desperate need of new running clothes, because apparently all cotton does not cut it. I don't want to spend an arm and a leg, so lululemon is probably out anyway, but I thought I'd check their sale site, just in case.
And then I remembered. I'm boycotting lululemon. And not because they're overpricing what should be really accessible sports. It's their new bags that offend me. "Who is John Galt?" That's your slogan? Really?
I hate Atlas Shrugged. I really, really hated it. And not just because I hate the philosophy (which I do). No, I hate the fact that I read like 9000 stupid pages of that book waiting for stupid Dagny Taggart to have sex with stupid John Galt and when they did, it was the most disappointing thing ever. It's exactly how I felt about the sex in Twilight. And if I'm comparing a book to Twilight, it's not a book that has quotes that should be gracing the bags of your store. That is all.
And then I remembered. I'm boycotting lululemon. And not because they're overpricing what should be really accessible sports. It's their new bags that offend me. "Who is John Galt?" That's your slogan? Really?
I hate Atlas Shrugged. I really, really hated it. And not just because I hate the philosophy (which I do). No, I hate the fact that I read like 9000 stupid pages of that book waiting for stupid Dagny Taggart to have sex with stupid John Galt and when they did, it was the most disappointing thing ever. It's exactly how I felt about the sex in Twilight. And if I'm comparing a book to Twilight, it's not a book that has quotes that should be gracing the bags of your store. That is all.
Slippery slopes
Charity is a slippery slope. As a result of my inability to get people to donate to my cause, I had a newfound respect for other people who try to raise money for good causes, which is why I donated a dollar to the Salvation Army guy instead of ignoring him and actually talked to one of those volunteer guys with clipboards. He wanted me to sponsor a child and I said no, but at least I talked to him instead of just ducking my head and making a run for it. And that's just two causes from two shopping trips. The amount of problems out there in the world is large. And it gets really overwhelming if you think about it at all. I was having a conversation with someone the other day about choosing to be happy, which I'm trying to do more, but there's also a lot of badness out there in the world and if we all choose to ignore it because it's ugly, then nothing's ever going to change. So I'm trying to figure out the line between ignoring things and wallowing in them, and trying to make a difference where I can.
Also a slippery slope is eating. My frustration also sent me running for any food in my kitchen, and then any food at the grocery store. Things I don't even usually enjoy, like potato chips and bad candy. And I'm in that mode where I don't get full and can just keep shoving things in my face for forever. I don't want to be there, but I'm not entirely sure how to get out.
Also a slippery slope is eating. My frustration also sent me running for any food in my kitchen, and then any food at the grocery store. Things I don't even usually enjoy, like potato chips and bad candy. And I'm in that mode where I don't get full and can just keep shoving things in my face for forever. I don't want to be there, but I'm not entirely sure how to get out.
Frustration
So, the running aspect of Team in Training has been going well.
The fundraising aspect...has not. I am still over $2000 away from what I'm supposed to raise before January 10.
It's really frustrating. I came away from my first TNT even filled with faith in humanity, excited that in a world of selfish and self-centered people, there was this group of people who were out there to do something to fight cancer and also do something for themselves in the process.
And now I'm losing that faith. Asking people to donate, inviting them to events, and having people be like 'meh.' Like, really, you can't spare the $5 you'd spend on a coffee or the $10 you'd spend on one drink? Nothing? It's not like this is for me, it's to fight cancer, for crying out loud. It's annoying, it's disappointing, it's so, so frustrating. And I have no idea what to do about it.
The fundraising aspect...has not. I am still over $2000 away from what I'm supposed to raise before January 10.
It's really frustrating. I came away from my first TNT even filled with faith in humanity, excited that in a world of selfish and self-centered people, there was this group of people who were out there to do something to fight cancer and also do something for themselves in the process.
And now I'm losing that faith. Asking people to donate, inviting them to events, and having people be like 'meh.' Like, really, you can't spare the $5 you'd spend on a coffee or the $10 you'd spend on one drink? Nothing? It's not like this is for me, it's to fight cancer, for crying out loud. It's annoying, it's disappointing, it's so, so frustrating. And I have no idea what to do about it.
Monday, November 21, 2011
Breaking routine
Trying something new this morning - getting up, making a smoothie, reading fitness blogs, going for my run, then going to work where I will be super productive as soon as I get in (ha!).
Highlights from the rest of my weekend:
Highlights from the rest of my weekend:
- What to do when your Saturday night date cancels on you? Stay home and watch Gossip Girl with your cat whilst cleaning your apartment. No, seriously, this might have been one of my best Saturday nights in awhile. Hm.
- Sleep > spinning and yoga. Oops.
- I am terrible at dating. How long am I supposed to keep seeing a guy I am merely 'meh' about?
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Trust the training?
We had our second official Team In Training practice this morning and it was not entirely what I expected. Today's special topic was walking technique, which I assumed would be irrelevant to me since I am (trying to become) a runner. However, as I learned this morning, apparently we're training with the run/walk technique, which they explained at length results in less injuries and faster race times, but somehow still feels like a cop out to me. But, I signed up to a program with coaches for a reason, so I'm going to trust them.
After kicking the pace assessment's ass (5k in 29:14) last weekend, I was surprised to see that my pace group was going to be training at 13 minute miles, in a 3:1 run:walk ratio. I guess we're just starting out and this is going to increase, but this seems way slow and way low compared to what I can do. Again, I know it's my first race and my goal should be to not be injured and to finish, but I guess I was hoping for a little more of a challenge? I was scared when I saw we had 45 minutes on the schedule today, but it flew by and felt pretty easy. I am doing my best to resist the rookie mistakes of starting out training too hard and then hurting myself as a result. I'll be out of town for next week's practice, which means a 60 minute run on my own, so I'll try and pace myself appropriately.
I also wanted today's practice to feel a little bit harder because I've been feeling like Chubby McChubster lately (translation: my scale reads 6lbs higher than usual and 13lbs higher than I'd like it to) due to spending the past two weeks subsisting largely on wine and cheese (which, incidentally, is why I think my 29:14 last week would have been way better had I actually been, you know, eating real food and hydrating ever). Someone at practice called me 'naturally slender' and I forced myself to just take the compliment rather than be like a) "Seriously? I feel like a fatass right now." or b) "Natural? Do you know how many bacon cheeseburgers I've had to turn down in my life to continue looking like this?" But for now, my serious White Girl Problem of not being skinny enough in my own head will be an issue for another time.
However, because of my flabby feelings and because my hips were uber-cranky, I also went to pilates for the first time in what feels like months. I won't lie, I did pretty much go through an entire abs class just for the hamstring stretching series, but whatever, my abs do need the work as well. Oh boy do they need the work, as the class was way harder than it has been in the past. It's weird, since my abs actually look some of the best they ever have (thank you, three months of Bar Method), but I guess they've only gotten good at those specific exercises. So, things to work on: core strength.
And now, to shower for the date I may or may not have this afternoon (he got called in for a work emergency, and I would secretly rather stay home and clean my apartment and watch Gossip Girl with my cat. I am wildly cool.).
Any advice/opinions on run/walk vs. just running training would be welcome and appreciated. Also advice on dating and apartment cleaning, as I am terrible at both.
After kicking the pace assessment's ass (5k in 29:14) last weekend, I was surprised to see that my pace group was going to be training at 13 minute miles, in a 3:1 run:walk ratio. I guess we're just starting out and this is going to increase, but this seems way slow and way low compared to what I can do. Again, I know it's my first race and my goal should be to not be injured and to finish, but I guess I was hoping for a little more of a challenge? I was scared when I saw we had 45 minutes on the schedule today, but it flew by and felt pretty easy. I am doing my best to resist the rookie mistakes of starting out training too hard and then hurting myself as a result. I'll be out of town for next week's practice, which means a 60 minute run on my own, so I'll try and pace myself appropriately.
I also wanted today's practice to feel a little bit harder because I've been feeling like Chubby McChubster lately (translation: my scale reads 6lbs higher than usual and 13lbs higher than I'd like it to) due to spending the past two weeks subsisting largely on wine and cheese (which, incidentally, is why I think my 29:14 last week would have been way better had I actually been, you know, eating real food and hydrating ever). Someone at practice called me 'naturally slender' and I forced myself to just take the compliment rather than be like a) "Seriously? I feel like a fatass right now." or b) "Natural? Do you know how many bacon cheeseburgers I've had to turn down in my life to continue looking like this?" But for now, my serious White Girl Problem of not being skinny enough in my own head will be an issue for another time.
However, because of my flabby feelings and because my hips were uber-cranky, I also went to pilates for the first time in what feels like months. I won't lie, I did pretty much go through an entire abs class just for the hamstring stretching series, but whatever, my abs do need the work as well. Oh boy do they need the work, as the class was way harder than it has been in the past. It's weird, since my abs actually look some of the best they ever have (thank you, three months of Bar Method), but I guess they've only gotten good at those specific exercises. So, things to work on: core strength.
And now, to shower for the date I may or may not have this afternoon (he got called in for a work emergency, and I would secretly rather stay home and clean my apartment and watch Gossip Girl with my cat. I am wildly cool.).
Any advice/opinions on run/walk vs. just running training would be welcome and appreciated. Also advice on dating and apartment cleaning, as I am terrible at both.
Friday, November 18, 2011
Just do it
I went to yoga today for the first time in what is apparently almost a month. It's weird how something can be a total part of your routine, and then a few little changes happen (a trip out of town, work gets busy, someone reappears in your life for a limited amount of time) and then suddenly it's not routine anymore. Suddenly, the idea of going back to something you used to do all the time seems intimidating.
I had a good half a dozen excuses for why I didn't have to go to yoga this afternoon (rest day on the schedule, needed to work, needed to clean, etc.) but I sucked it up and went. It was not as bad as I feared it might be, and I certainly feel better for having gone.
It's moments like these I'm tempted to re-overcommit and say I'm going to try and go every day, but I know that won't happen. I'm going to try at least every other day, until Thanksgiving.
And now, back to cleaning my apartment, which I desperately need to do.
What about you? Do you ever fall out of a workout (or any!) routine and find it difficult to start again?
I had a good half a dozen excuses for why I didn't have to go to yoga this afternoon (rest day on the schedule, needed to work, needed to clean, etc.) but I sucked it up and went. It was not as bad as I feared it might be, and I certainly feel better for having gone.
It's moments like these I'm tempted to re-overcommit and say I'm going to try and go every day, but I know that won't happen. I'm going to try at least every other day, until Thanksgiving.
And now, back to cleaning my apartment, which I desperately need to do.
What about you? Do you ever fall out of a workout (or any!) routine and find it difficult to start again?
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