Oh boy....

I'm eating a bacon, egg, and cheese as my tummy falls over my pants, remembering when there was a goal to not do this anymore. How easily I forget when there is change or stress at work. Well, I have remembered. Once I finish this delicious bacon, I will be back to my intentions of good health and eating only when I am hungry for food.

Hiatus

So, it appears that many of us have taken a hiatus from Fab & Fit.

Life was crazy for me for the past month, but I feel like I can commit to going for the next week. Next Thursday I leave for CA and Mexico City so I will have to recommit once I'm back.

Today, however, I went to the gym and then walked home which was probably about a 25-30 minute walk. Feelin' good about that!



Also, I made my lunch on Monday and Tuesday . . . not too shabby!!

Hope everyone else is doing well!

help!

i've gotten so off track due to traveling and friends being in town. I've gained 2 lbs and I'm pissed. I can actually feel it. i feel sluggish and my jeans are not as comfy. there have been constant brunches, lunches and dinners out and it's not going to stop for a while. this is the first day in a while that i've actually had a chance to go to the gym!

i think my goal for this week, with looming graduation lunches, cocktails and parties followed by a 5 day trip to Colorado for a wedding....is to be more present and conscious in my ordering and snacking. Salads instead of grilled cheese, lay off the crackers and cheese and cake, drink more water, utilize the hotel's gym, walk as much as I can. i have a tendency to want to really celebrate with food and go buck wild....but my body can't handle it! WATER!!!

at least i eat less when its hot

doing ok with the exercise...my new motto is "whatever works"...back in my marathon training days (which i admittedly still miss), it was all about getting in at least an hour run every day. now, i just try to fit something in whenever i can, even if its a long walk or bike ride to run errands. the other day i barely got 25 min on the elliptical, but i figure it was better than nothin.
PLUS! when its warm, i am less of a weeny about riding my bike, and i tend to eat less when it gets toasty. i am going to look at beach house tomorrow i might rent, so i am hoping that if it works out, i will be more diligent about biking/running, and that being in the constant presence of girls in bikinis will motivate me! the newest dilemma is this: should i work out at the gym on campus, or suck it up and get a membership off campus? my fear is running into my students, esp in the locker room. what say you?

Seven for 7

Seven wine nights. That's right- i drank wine all 7 nights last week. (I am supposed to have 3, mind you). I didn't gain or lose any weight, so that's good. Part of it had to do with the fact that I was on vacation. Oh- and I only went to the gym once. Bad! Bad! Erin!

So now, entering week 7, (OMG!), I promise to stay on track! On my way to the gym now.

Move it AND Lose it

I'm ready to get back on track!

School is over and now I need to focus on exercising again. Since friends and family are coming in this week it might be a little difficult, but I'm going to try to get to the gym at least 3 times. And, lift those weights (3 times this week) that keep taunting me!


Hope everyone has a great week!

Flab and Fat

oops.
pancakes and beer? i mean really?

but school's almost out for summer and forever, so i'll be back on the horse in no time!

portion control what?

Hi Briana! I'm Shannon, Erin's cousin in Cali
I think that if we could merge my workout habits with your diet, we'd be perf.
Unlike Briana, I can sleep through anything, & seem to be able to get my workouts in pretty well, but cant kick the cheese and carbs to save my life! and i have been cursed with the "you gotta eat everything on your plate...!" mindset.
take last week - did pretty well. Ran/biked/hiked 6 days of the week.
Then today my friend took me to Chez Panisse for lunch, and I had a pretty nice meal. Then we met some friends for dinner, and I decided I wasnt really hungry (plus i hate ethiopian food!), so I just had a "flax seed shake". Came home, and wasnt hungry at all, but since i "hadnt had dinner", i felt like i had to eat something. SO, I had a bowl of cereal. That would have been fine enough, except for 20 min later I decided I was still hungry, and ate a bunch of rice crisps and cheese. Then, decided I needed some vegetables, and made a salad - which I covered in more shredded cheese! Geez! So there went whatever benefit from rocking the bike for 45 min at the gym today.
(sigh...) goal this week: work out every day AND! stop eating so much damn carbs and cheese.

Umph.

I'm discouraged. I worked out harder than usual 5 days in a row last week and didn't lose a pound!

bah humbug. damn pancakes.

it's a wine night.

Back in Action

OK, so I'm ready to get back on track this week. Last week was brutal, but that is in the past!

For this week I'm going to try to get to the gym 2-3 times (last week of school/internship so time is tight).

I'm also going to lift weights 2-3 times this week.

I've also been starting to get off the subway a stop early to walk a little extra.

Work it!

Week 6...AHHH!

So week 6 is upon us, ladies! I can't believe it.

I have to say....I was pretty damn good last week. I went to the gym 4 times (my goal) and did the machine EACH time for 45 minutes plus (my goal!). Then one day I did the Revlon Walk for Breast Cancer (a 10K) and ran the last 2 miles with Andrea. And I only had beer/wine 3 times (my goal).

The only thing is, is that last night I ate a lot of pancakes and drank a lot of beer at the "Pancakes and Beer Party", and then I topped it off with croissants (yes, plural) this morning. I'm just hoping that my extra exercise made up for some of it. We'll see tomorrow at my Monday weigh-in, but I do have to say I feel better (albeit a little sore)!

Goals for this week:
-Add 2 weight lifting days to my routine. I leave to go out of town on Friday, so I need to get in 4 workout days before then! (each with 45 minutes on the machine)
-Go to bed by 1am, wake up b y 9am. EVERY DAY! (i work from home, people)
-Get a photo published in the New Yorker!

Day from Hell

So, it's taken me a day to recover and I feel like I can share now.

A couple of weeks ago my trusted chiropractor suggested I try this "fitness program" that she and many of her patients were doing. I thought, you know, I've never done one of these things and I totally trust my chiro, so why not?

. . . now I know why not.

OK, so yesterday was my first day of the diet--Medifast. The idea is that you eat 5 Medifast meals and make your own dinner.

I began with the peach oatmeal. It took me over 30 minutes to eat it and I gagged twice.

2-3 hours later I ate the oatmeal and raisin bar . . . no gagging.

Later I made the soup which was bearable. I was beginning to think, hey, maybe I can do this.

Since I have a late class I met Andrea for a salad around 5pm and of course it was amazing because it was real food. I then went to class and sat for 2 hours of torture (but that's another story).

Innocently enough I boarded the 1 train at 116th Street. As the train was moving along I noticed that I was beginning to feel a little nauseous. I thought that once I got off the train at 96th Street to change to the 2/3 I would have a moment to regain my sea legs --maybe it was just motion sickness?




As I walked out of the train I realized that I was going to be sick . . . I ran to the trashcan at the 96th St. station and vomited!! And, let me tell you, those subway station trashcans are very high!! Oh, and don't worry, the station platform was PACKED, but at least I made it to the trashcan. Feeling miserable I decided that I could not get on the train right away. I left the station and called my mom. I always get so upset when I vomit --I think that's a psychological issue though!

OK, so my mom convinces me to take a taxi home to Brooklyn. It killed me, but I just couldn't imagine getting back on a train.

Around 84th Street I had to ask the kind cabby to pull over because I was going to be sick. I puked on 84th St. and I believe on Lexington Avenue (I wasn't really concentrating on street names).

I regained my composure and thought I would be fine.

This was the longest trip of my life. Suddenly on the Brooklyn Bridge I begin to sweat and feel really nauseous, but there is NOWHERE to pull over on a bridge. So, being resourceful, I remembered that I had a bowl in my backpack (from the soup) . . . uh, yeah, I puked like 4 more times in the bowl.

I finally got home, puked, and went to sleep.

Needless to say, my cabby was a saint and I will never eat that crap again.

someone stop me

good news: i ran today for about an hour
bad news: i am eating cheesy toast as we speak

Some General Tips and Ideas

No one likes to feel like they're on a diet. And being on a diet doesn't have to mean you just eat salad, either. It's about finding new healthy recipes and choices which will make you feel better on a daily basis, have more energy and in turn, lose weight.

I feel like I'm a pretty experienced dieter. Growing up, my mom was always on a diet, and I feel like I've been trying to do some sort weight loss/maintenance since high school. I'm pretty close to my goal weight now, but I work at maintaining it. I have succumb to the fact that I need to watch what I eat for life to feel good. And that's OK! There's plenty of healthy choices out there to keep things interesting. And you know me...I'm all about treats and food related celebrations. But for all the other days of the month- the regular routine work days- it's good to try to change your habits.

Some basic tips that have helped me in the past to jump start my weight loss:

*lower your processed carb intake. Don't buy bread, and try not to have it all the time when you're eating out. Don't have pasta as often, when you do, make it whole wheat.
"Good Carb" Alternatives to Bread and Pasta that will fill you up:
beans, carrots, quinoa, brown rice,
sweet potatoes (better than the white ones)
butternut squash, polenta

*Start your day with 2 scrambled eggs instead of a bagel or pancakes or toast. Add some (veggie) sausage if that's not enough. Add spinach or a veggie to make a scramble if you have time. If you don't have time for Bfast, hard boil a couple of egg the night before and keep them in the fridge for morning.

*Beer and wine are hi-calorie. I try to have these only a couple nights a week. hard alcohol like vodka, gin and whiskey are carb free. Don't mix these with juice or soda (too much sugar) but try seltzer water and a slice of orange or lime. you'll get used to it...it's not bad!

*Coffee. Stay away from flavored lattes with syrup (hi sugar) and mochas. Try a plain latte (with no sugar packets) or just a cup of coffee with milk only.

Being on a diet doesn't mean you have to just eat vegetables. Here are some lo-carb or lo-fat recipe ideas:


Spinach Egg Frittata


Scramble 5 eggs in a bowl with a 1/3 cup of milk. Also add a half cube of firm tofu you've mushed up with your hands into the egg mixture. Add a large handful of freshly chopped spinach and a half onion, chopped (and any other veggies you like). Toss in some salt and pepper and any herbs you have. Pour this all into an oiled casserole dish. Bake at 350 for about a half hour or until edges are slightly browned and the egg in the middle is cooked solid.

*this is a great thing to make ahead. You can easily cut a cube of it and take it to work.

Celery Root and Cauliflower "Mashed Potatoes"

Many of you have probably never heard of celery root. Here's what it looks like you can get it in most grocery stores.


Take 2 celery roots. Cut off all the gnarly outer part (you don't have to totally skin it). Cube it up. Throw it in a big pot of boiling salted water with one head of cauliflower chopped in big chunks. You can even use a lot of the stems.

Boil these til they're soft, drain and run under cold water, then transfer them to your food processor. Process them til soft like mashed potatoes. Add a bit of cream or milk to moisten them (1/3 c?), and -here's the key- a half stick of butter. Whatever, it's low carb. Something's gotta give, right?

Out of the food processor, put them in a bowl, warm them more if need be, add salt and pepper to taste and more butter to melt on the top if you're like me. Here's an alternate recipe that includes some potatoes, if you like.


Stir Fry

This is an easy thing to make after a long day. Just toss big chunks of red bell peppers, green bell peppers, carrots, snow peas, broccoli, and onion with a little oilve oil in a wok or big frying pan. Toss in some cubed firm tofu or chicken. Add teriyaki sauce, or sometimes I make a sauce from combining a half can coconut milk, soy sauce, Tbs peanut butter & curry powder. Try not to put it over rice, but if you must...make it brown rice.

Week 5! Steppin' it UP a notch.

I can't believe we're already entering week 5. I am a little frustrated that I haven't dropped any poundage, but I will keep on keeping on! Apart from getting sick, I've felt better overall and have been getting up earlier (which is hard for me since I work from home!)

Last week I drank wine/beer one too many nights (damn karaoke byob!). By Sunday night I found that I'd only gone to the gym twice, so I went and did and HOUR on the elliptical instead of my normal 30 minutes to try and make up for it. And you know what? It actually wasn't that hard.

My goal for this week: Do 45 minutes on the elliptical/bike 4 times this week (intstead of the 30 I usually do). Plus 2 days of weightlifting. I'm no grandma, I should be able to do this!

Go me! And GO YOU!!

fab-n-fit in santa cruz?

ok, so i know i am late to the game guys, but after an inspiring last few days of living in park slope (which included 2 trips to the amazing ymca - love those little TVs, and a nice little run- aka getting lost meander- in prospect park). now i am back in the bay, and my workouts are getting away from me.

so, here's the plan: gonna try to get a run in at least 3x a week
the other days: either rocking the bike at the gym, or the elliptical
wishful thinking: NYC marathon in Nov. - but we'll see how my body holds up.

ok, now that i have the exercise plan - here's the bigger problem: cheese and bread.
my constant battle.

evil temptations: tortillas, white pasta, chips in the sandwich, and crackers (with cheese of course), and good ol' sharp cheddar on just about anything.

i will let you know how it goes....

ready....go!

Chicky-check yo'sef befo' you wreck yo'sef

This was not a great week. With the end of school I've found that working out is not my priority. I only have 2 more weeks of grad school and then it's all over!!!!

I did, however, decide that I would begin to walk home from work when possible. I managed to do this 3 out of 4 work days so that's a start.

I was not able to avoid coke this week --it got me twice.

Generally I'm eating more veggies so that's a plus.

I plan to begin swimming again this week--I'm hoping to make it at least 2 times this week.

Good luck to all this week!

(Oh, and because I'm the ultimate anal nerd, I have made our Fab and Fit blog one of my tabs on my tool bar. It totally reminds me of my goals and reminds me to read and post on the blog).

Confession

My confession is that I was invited to this blog about 3 weeks ago and am finally getting here. Needless to say I put things off. In particular taking care of myself. Why is it so hard? Formerly a modern dancer and currently a dance teacher, I know the value of health and nutrition. Living it is entirely different.

My goal is to tone and tighten up. I'd like to do this by changing my eating habits. I completely eat for comfort because it's easier to feed myself food than what's needed in life. I take in way more calories than I need. I'm pretty good about packing healthy salads for lunch. It's the afternoon snacks of lattes and chocolate and the late night food that kills me. I also LOVE cheese and wine. Ideally I'd like to work out because it feels good. Not because I'm playing chase from yesterday's calories.

So, now begins the journey to the freedom of fabulousness. Glad to be sharing it with you wonderful ladies!

Come on last 5

So I am new to this, hi ladies (friend of Sarah and Andrea's). Let me tell you- I lost 35 pounds, and have really struggled with the last 5 I want to drop. Do you know what it is like being a Home Ec teacher and being surrounded by chocolate chip cookies and pizza all day every day? So I am trying to avoid snacking in class. Next year will be different and I can actually teach nutrition (I just took over in March until the end of teh year. Not my curriculum plan). So starting Monday I am going to ride my bike the 4 miles to work (and 4 iles back, of course) at least 3 days a week, if I can. And one of the other teachers and I started to walk on our prep hour because it is exactly 1 mile around the school property. Maybe that will help. Problem is teh AZ heat starting to rise. It's tough to walk at 10:30 a.m. when it is already 95 degrees. Yikes! Walk on, though, walk on........

Week 4

Welcome to week 4!

Ok, I'm a little discouraged. I gained back the 2 lbs I lost. Bummer. I do feel better though, so I am trying to keep that in mind. I think Passover over the weekend did me in. 2 nights full of wine and lotsa matzah set me back.

I went to the gym 4/4 times last week, but had wine 4/3 times. I promise to only have wine 3 times this week!

I do OK when I'm at home, but I have a hard time with social eating, going out to dinner with friends etc...I seem to get off track, so my goal this week is to try to order more lo carb options when out.

I can't believe it's not sexercise!

it's almost as good. i had an urge to run on the beach today--later i realized it was earth day, and i think that's why. but i took the train to coney island and went for the most awesome run, in the middle of which of course i decided that i had to swim in the ocean. so i stripped down to my sportsbra and underwear (which were a little too see-through, but i had already run by all the hasidic jews who apparantly celebrate passover in droves on the beach at coney island, and the only person really close by was the russian lady who looked like she might actually be a good candidate for fab-n-fit, and who was already swimming in the ocean in her too-small bikini, so i thought we'd make a great pair). after an invigorating swim, i decided i had to run back barefoot in the water. i passed by russian broad--also on her way back--and she smiled and said something in russian that i had no idea whatsoever. it could have been you stupid hussy, i could see right through your underwear, or isn't it a pleasant day for a swim? so i just smiled and said, yeah it's so nice. as i was sitting on some giant rock jetty thing, taking nerdy cell-phone self portraits, i realized 1) that my profile is really weird looking, and i'd rather not see it ever again, let alone have it recorded in jpegs, and 2) that i need more exciting fun workouts like this, to keep my fabness and fitness up to par--there's so much stuff that really makes me feel alive, and is great for me too, so this week i'm focusing on what i need more of, rather than what i need to go without.

Newbie!!!!

Hello ladies....

I am the friend Andrea was referring to. We go to the same school/program and I am so glad she told me about this space to connect, share and support each other around wellness goals. I've never really been part of anything like this but of course I've counted on girlfriends many a times to keep me focused on my health targets. So, I'm excited to start blogging and thank you for inviting me to join.

Umm a little about myself....I have always struggled with my weight...and needless to say I have a rather unhealthy relationship with food. I have gained and lost 20-30 lbs multiple times and this time i want to slowly build change into my life so its sustainable. My eating habits especially in the last two years of working and studying in New York have really deteriorated. Major culprits: sweet tooth, carbs and alcohol. On the up side I quit a 10 year habit of smoking which I am very proud of but I have also gained a few more pounds as a result.

So, the plan....is to become healthier and lose 10-15 lbs before my trip to Europe in August.
Goals to begin with:
-Drink more water throughout the day
-No croissants and muffins in the morning, instead have fruit or cereal bar
-Alcohol strictly three or less times a week
-Exercise i.e. run/walk on the weekend and try to do squats, situps and arm exercises at least twice a week (because realistically speaking i just dont have time to go to the gym).

I'm going to start with that and keep you all updated how it goes :) All tips and advice are welcome.....Best of luck everyone!

Aamnah

Bessie Scott:

I guess I can take time from hanging with my baby daddy to write some shiz out!

Go to the gym four times this week.

Stretch every morning for ten minutes.

Bring my lunch to work this week, save that money!

Drink more water this week. It does a body good, son!

Courtney Beirne:

So, unfortunately I was neither fab nor fit this week. Monday I woke up and my back had gone out --so frustrating. Anywho, I went to the chiropractor and am hoping to go to the gym this week.

I did, however, resist the evils of Coca Cola this week!!

Dr. Oz says . . .

Found this info on www.Oprah.com.

Just something to think about:

"You don't need balls, mats and elastic bands to get a great workout. Dr. Oz says there are only four exercises that you'll ever need to know—and none require fancy machinery!

First, Dr. Oz suggests that people walk for at least 30 minutes each and every day. "Walking is the foundation for all other exercises because it increases your stamina and prepares your body for strength training," he says. You should strive to walk 10,000 steps a day.

The second step is to build muscle by lifting weights for 30 minutes a week. You can lift a dumbbell, a gallon of milk or your toddler…just start lifting!

Now that you're on the right track, Dr. Oz says you have to work up a sweat for about an hour a week. "The number one predictor of how long you're going to live is how well you can exercise your heart," he says. "If you can push yourself to sweat for an hour a week, that's great. You can break it down into three little segments of 20 minutes each."

Finally, you have to stretch so that you don't get hurt. Dr. Oz likes to do yoga, but he says you can get the same benefits from stretches you learned in high school gym class.

There's one secret fat-burner that you can do anywhere—fidgeting! Most of the one million calories you consume every year are burned without you ever thinking about it. Only 15 to 30 percent of calories are burned through intentional physical activity, so minor additions like being fidgety helps keep off the pounds!" --who knew?!!

Carb Free Spaghetti!

Andrea just made us the best lo carb dinner! Just bake a spaghetti squash, cut it in half and fill it with a fresh veggie chunky marinara. Sprinkle with parmesan and enjoy!


here's what it looks like:

belated check in and welcome new member

this week i remembered my gym lock combination. i went running yesterday and swimming today. i've stuck to the 1 piece of bread about 6 out of 7 days each week, and kept up the sex as much as possible. also i've been drinking lots of water and keeping to the 3 wine nights action. i think i'm already starting to feel a little better! this check in is really the main thing that keeps me going--thanks!!

also, i want to welcome my friend Aamnah, who will be posting soon!

Take Shape for Life Part Deux

Just want to let everyone know that Erin and I will be attending a meeting about the Take Shape for Life program next Monday, April 21 at 7pm. It will be held at my chiropractor's office on the Upper West Side. If you are interested in coming please let me know so I can reserve you a space.

Here's the website again if you are interested.

http://www.drcoyne.tsfl.com

-Court

Rewards

Ladies, I've decided we need some sort of reward system for all our hard work. Any ideas?

I think I'm going to tell myself I can have a mani/pedi if I lose 4 more lbs. That would be a treat for me, as I never buy myself those.

I'm trying to think of non-food related rewards. Although, if I lose my goal of 10 lbs, I am definitely having a croissant for breakfast and padthai for dinner! With a lot of wine!

Welcome to Week 3!

Goals Check-in:
I was doing so well last week until I got sick over the weekend.

-WINE: I stuck to 3 nights of wine (which was actually kind of hard for me! I used them up Mon,Tues & Wed!).

-GYM: I went to gym 3 times instead of 4 (sick), but did manage to do 2 days of weight lifting.

-WEIGH-in: I weighed myself this morning, and I did not lose any more this week, but kept off the 2 lbs I lost in the first week.

I had to measure myself this week for a brides maid dress, and I have written down those measurements on my little chart. I think this may be a better way of gaging my loss than the scale. I'm going to re-measure in a month.

Overall, I feel myself being much more aware of what I put in my body and my exercise. At brunch one day, I split a croissant with andrea instead of eating one myself. On the morning after a big night out when Jack got a bagel and cream cheese, I opted for scrambled eggs instead. And when Jack and I went out for Thai food, I really wanted pad thai and wine, but i ordered tofu vegetable curry and a vodka soda. I would have NEVER done these things had it not been for fab-n-fit, so this is good. I also feel better I think (apart from being sick) and have been waking up earlier and have had more energy.

Ciao for now, my fabulously fit friends!

Goal-a-licious

Briana Gordon:

This week started strong, but fizzled a bit. Nothing horrendous but I need to step it up next week!

1. I cheated a couple times and had some sugar...need to work harder to detox fully before I can cheat like that.

2. Good...stuck to my whole grains.

3. Went to the gym 3 out of 4 times. I'm no math genius, but I think that means I have to go one more time next week. The more I get back into the gym, the more I remember why I used to like it. Basically the less out of shape I am, the more I like the gym. Ha!

4. Fruits and veggies, check! It helps when they're yummy. Strawberries and sugar free cool whip is my new fave.

5. I think at the end of the week I averaged 7 hours a night, so I'll give this one a check too.


Courtney Beirne:

1. Got to the gym 3 times this week.

2. Used weights 3 times this week.

3. Didn't do so great on eating at home this week

4. Drank lots of water.

5. Had 1 coke and 1 sprite this week which is less than normal, but wanted to do better. I had one day without caffeine and it was miserable --I think I have an addiction!!

6. Need to work on packing my lunch

**lost 2lbs (probably within the last 2 weeks)

Week 2

Welcome to week 2, ladies! I started a little chart in my bedroom that's helping me. Basically each week I have to check off how many times I went to the gym and how many nights I drank wine (my 2 major goals). Then on Mondays, I've been weighing myself, and writing it down too to see my progress. 2 lbs lighter than last week!

I see this little chart every morning when I wake up and I think it's a good motivator. You might want to do one too!

Weekly Recap

Accomplished goals for the week of March 30, 2008
(and some amendments!)

I just want to say that we all kick some major ass!!! See below and I'm sure you'll agree.

Andrea:
1- successfully drank lots of vodka sodas (only had wine once, but oops i had quite a few beers this week. better add that into my goal)
2-s to the e to the x!!!
3-had no pasta
4-had 2 pieces of bread one day--but all the others i stuck to one!
5-only went to the gym once--i think i'm modifying my goal to 2x/week until i finish school. needs to be doable.

Bessie:
I accomplished my goals for this week, I had two lattes. I went to the gym four times.
Next weeks goals:
Gym four times this week
No more lattes, instead tea in the mornings
Arm exercises, every other day
Eat out no more than twice this week
Stretch every day for ten minutes

Courtney:
Definitely feeling more motivated to go the gym and more inspired in general!

1. Went to the gym 4 times this week. Will continue with my goal of 3-4/wk.
2. Didn’t actually use my new 5lb. weights (funny how that happens!). Maybe I’ll shoot for using them 2-4 times this week.
3. Upped my veggie intake and ate out less, but could do better.
4. Had only 1 coke this week and 1 day completely without caffeine.
5. I need to try harder to pack my lunch –I may have only packed it 1-2 times this week. I have been eating breakfast regularly :)
   

Erin:
So during week 1, I did go to the gym/exercise 4 days like I'd hoped. But I had wine 4 nights instead of 3. And since I was out of town for a long weekend, I ate out and had more bread than I should have, so I hope to be better about that next week. Except for my 7-dessert mishap, I stuck to the one dessert a day pretty well, and didn't have any croissants.

I am doing Monday morning weigh-ins- so we'll see how I did tomorrow!

I am so happy everyone is contributing to the blog...it really makes me feel like I need to stick to my goals since I know on Sundays I'm going have to report back. It also makes me be more cognizant of what I do/eat!

Julie:
I've been really bad about setting my goals. I promise I'll get on this. However I did make my self salad for lunch 4 out of the 5 days this week! Yeah for greens! I hope everyone is well on their way to fabulousness!

Massage or Masochism?

So in keeping with my goals - I went and got a massage this morning.  I was happily sitting in the waiting room when they told me I was being switched to a different massage therapist - ok I thought, since I've never been here before one is as good as the next.  So I got a really cute little girl, she must have been 20 and probably weighed 90 lbs (skinny bitch), who informs me that her specialty is most definitely not Swedish, but Deep Tissue.  No problem I think, that will probably be good for me.  Ninety minutes of immeasurable pain later I limp out and proceed to tip the girl who informs me that I can just put ice packs on any areas where I have pain and bruising.  How can someone THAT LITTLE inflict that kind of pain?  Four hours later I have regained use of my limbs and expect to be fully functional soon.  The good news is that when I start to feel my back again I expect it to be very loose and relaxed.  And I thought Massage was going to be the easiest of my goals to keep!

Newbie

Hey Gals,

Just want to introduce our newest member, Ms. Briana Gordon. Ms. Gordon hails from Manhattan, however, currently lives in Sleepy Hollow . . . yes, it's a real place in Westchester, NY.

Please join me in welcoming Briana.

Holla!!!!

Big Strong Feelings

Hello All,
I am checking in to report that I have gone to the gym twice this week so far, and I sure hope it gets easier. I am checking in to share my feelings. I am trying to come up with ways to exercise that do not consist of walking on the treadmill, or hating the elliptical machine (because I can only do it for 3.5 minutes). Ummmmmmmm, I want to have big strong feelings of love for exercise, but I know that walking on the tread is going to make me dread. Has anyone done anything fun with their workout, or can offer ideas to spruce it up? I plan on being Fab and Fit in twelve weeks regardless, but it would be nice to shake it up, ya know!!

P.S. the Prevention website is very useful and fun when you actually have information to report, like amount of time exercising, etc., because it calculates your progress, and other useful information like BMI, for you as you go along, and the site charts your progress for you based on the info that you put in. It is nice to see your progress, so in twelve weeks, you can see how far you have come.

Starting Small but Achievable

Sarah's Goals

On Exercise:  work out 3 to 4 times a week - preferably sneaking off to the gym in my office building during work hours, why not get paid while working out?  I call this multi-tasking, it's all the rage in the business world.

On Eating:  more veggies of course, and no more skipping breakfast before work because I like to sleep in.  I feel guilty every time I see those breakfast commercials, how do they know I always skip breakfast?

On Drinking:  stock my fridge with Pellegrino instead of juice or soda, way better.  Not giving up the wine though.

On Attitude:  stop cursing people skinnier than me...skinny bitches...hey, it's a process.

On Feeling Good:  reward myself with a monthly massages - that has to be good for me right?

Take Shape for Life

So I went to my chiropractor tonight and she told me about this diet program that she and many of her clients are doing together (of course I told her about Fit and Fab!).

Anyway, this could be just another weight watchers/slim fast kind of thing, but I have to say, my chiro is looking good. She said that everyone is losing weight and feeling really good. The main thing is portion control. The program is based around a 5 & 1 plan which consists of 5 Medifast Meals and 1 Lean and Green meal daily (you make the lean and green meal). Oh, and she said that it costs about $9/day --not so shabby. Now, if you are a food lover, this could be too brutal, but for those of us who hate to cook (that's probably only me in this group) it could be worth a try.

Anywho, I think I'm going to go to a free lecture when I am notified (I'll let you guys know too) and see what it's all about.

Here's the website if you are interested in taking a look:

www.drcoyne.tsfl.com

Let me know if you are interested!

-Court

Score

I've decided to add lots of sex to my fitness goals. It's good for the mind body and soul ladies, and why not overlap fit&fab with a little FHHGDC action (straight up MICA style courtney).

And fyi, i have been to the gym zero out of 3/4 times. but other goals on track. drinking vodka as we speak.

7 Desserts

First off- Court - thanks for the prevention link and the goals. Great!

I had a little mishap today with my goals. I did go to the gym (for the 3rd day this week!) but then I ate 7 desserts. Not one (like my daily goal), not 2, but SEVEN. Occupational hazard, ladies. I photograph food for a living. I went to this great new dessert bakery in the West Village called Batch and just had a gay ol' time. Click here to read all about it and see what I ate.

Still, I've only had 1 wine night this week and I'm drinkin' a vodka soda right now. Saving up for wine and cheese extravaganza during a 3 hour train ride to Washington DC with Jack tomorrow evening. I got a screw top bottle and sliced cheese in a tupperware for the journey.

Until then, I'm drinking as much water as I can and having A LOT of veggies for dinner. Kale, lots of KALE!

Toodles!

Goalllllllllllllllllllll!

Court's Goals:

1. Go to the gym 3-4 times/week

2. Use new 5lb. Free weights (just purchased!) 3-4 times/wk

3. Cook and eat at home more (more veggies)

4. Drink more water

5. Drink less Coke (and less caffeine in general)

6. Pack lunch more frequently (2-3/wk --gotta work into this one)

Prevention

Hey Ladies,

Thought I'd pass along a little info. Bessie and I have been tracking some of our health goals for the past couple of months on:

www.prevention.com

Once you sign-on you can keep track of how much you exercise, what you eat, etc. -just go to the "Health Tracker" section.

Court

carboBYEdrates

Here are some of our GOALS for the next 12 weeks before summer:

ERIN:
big goal- lose 10 pounds. My clothes would just fit better.
gym 4 days a week (try to include weights 2 x a week, which I NEVER do)
wine only 3 days a week/ vodka soda's OK (carb free)
try to cook more at home (veggies!)
when eating out (and in), try to avoid carboliscious things like bread and pasta.
only one dessert a day (this one is hard)
no bagels or croissants at the coffee shop. ok, maybe on weekends.

ANDREA:
carboBYEdrates!:
1 erin, i can commit to the same wine/vodka soda regime with your support
2 no pasta
3 only one or less pieces of bread/day
4 cook and eat at home more

YMCwho?:
back to the gym 3-4 times/week


BESSIE:
Gym four times a week (this should be ten times a week, cause I'm a chocolate drop, but a sista needs to ease into it, OHHH-Kaaaaayyyyyy!)
No more lattes, except on weekends (ok, this might be hard.)
Add a vegetable to every dinner (easy)
Eat out no more than twice a week
Cut down on whites in my diet
Pack my lunches at home the night before, so that i wont grab fast food
Get my stretch on, every day for ten minutes

Fab and Fit Team Members

Meet the team!

Vanessa, Brooklyn, NY
Andrea, Brooklyn NY
Courtney, Brooklyn, NY
Erin, Brooklyn, NY
Julie, Brooklyn, NY
Bessie, Washington State
Sarah, Denver Colorado

Invite your friends... The more the merrier!

Rodarte Sisters

Today I read an article in Vogue about these 2 sisters (the designers behind Rodarte) who went on a diet together and journaled about it. They each lost about 25 pounds in 4 months just by exercising more, eating fewer carbs/sugar and more vegetables. Their doctor told them they had to get in shape for stress relief and more energy, and they did, and it worked. Granted, Vogue gave them trainers and meals delivery, but still kind of inspiring!
for the whole story, click here.

Top 3 Goals

Alright, Fab-n-Fit-ers,

Vanessa shared with us a goal sheet out that her trainer had her fill out. A sort of 12 week contract with yourself. I think it would be a good idea if we all filled one out and put it up in our rooms or wherever. We're looking at April, May and June. I like Vanessa's list because it's a mix of life goals and fitness goals- overall well being.

If everyone could think of 3 top goals they'd like to share with the group, please post them. (It may be really interesting to look at this list again in the end of June!) It can be anything from how many pounds you want to lose, to toning your flabby arms, to just walking more places, to not eating white bread....whatever you think will make you feel (and in turn look) better.

It's day 1 and I already had wine and chocolate. Only 2 more wine nights this week! But I did go to the gym, and I only had one (albeit drawn out) dessert. Tomorrow's another day!

xo
erin

12 Week Plan: April, May & June 2008

Hi ladies,

As the weather gets warmer, I am reminded of the padding I've put on over the winter, which I'd like to shed before summer. When I was just in California my mom and I were talking about how we always say we want to drop a few pounds, but this time we really want to try and motivate each other to do it in time for my cousin's wedding in May. She got an excercise bike in the living room and I've ordered her "Six Feet Under" on netflix, hoping she'll get addicted and start pedaling more often. We always talk about this and never do it, but this time, I really hope we do. I think it's all about the encouragement and checking in with each-other...team support!

So, as Andrea suggested, I've started a blog so that we can have a little get-fit-and-support-each-other-fun. Maybe with not all the emphasis on weightloss, but also on motivating each other to eat better and exercise more to *feel* better. Because girls, you know I love my dessert. And wine. And I'm not giving them up. Maybe just cutting down. But I know I should try to eat fewer carbs and more veggies. (Vanessa- I know you have a South beach membership with lots of lo-carb recipe ideas...there was good stuff in there!)

So what I'm thinking is that whoever's interested should set some goals (Columbia ladies, you've taught me well). And then we'll try to support each other in reaching them. I feel like maybe if I say them to you I'll have a better chance of sticking to them. My time frame is between now and June. (12 weeks: April 1 - June 30)

I'll post weekly to check in on each other's progress. Everyone else is invited to post as well. I know it might motivate me to go to the gym more often if I have to fess up to how many times I actually went! Maybe Sunday night check-ins or something?


Ciao,

erin