As many folks know, sugar has become something of a problematic commodity.
It's said that the American diet includes up to 22 teaspoons of sugar a day--more than the recommended amount, obviously.
But as John Oliver has pointed out in his expose-like segment on sugar, courtesy of his show "Last Week Tonight," the measurement of how much sugar is in an item is measured in grams, which is part of the metric system.
Unless you live in continental Europe, or are a scientist, it's not likely you'll understand how to convert metric measurement to Imperial (cups, tsps, Tbsp, etc).
But watching the segment, it got the scientist--and budding fitness geek--in me very, very curious. I can easily obtain a digital kitchen scale, and find out precisely just how many grams of sugar, give or take, are equal to 22 teaspoons.
And once I find out, I'll report back. And if necessary, I will keep "bumping" this blog post or whatever to make sure that this post gets seen by as many people as possible.
...speaking of sugar...
You know how I've been keeping a food diary of what I eat and what kind of exercise I do, even if it's just a walk around the block--and the kinds of pics I used to inspire me?
Well, again, the pics I chose seem to be working their delicious magique de le Fantome, because yesterday I had an urge to go up and grab the last ice cream bar from the freezer. So I went upstairs to the freezer and grabbed it. But then the pics of Ramin as Erik, and Ramin (w/o Erik's costume on), shirtless, popped into my head. And I actually asked myself: Is this something Ramin would likely eat if he wants to keep that sexy physique? Is this something I can keep eating and still expect to look fit like that?
The answer to both questions was definitely a big no. So I put it back.
I try to keep my soda consumption to something of a minimum, and I'm allowing myself one last Doctor Pepper before I do the sugar equivalent fact-finding mission.
That said, I'm cringing at the 40 g's of sugar present in a mere 12 oz can of Doc P.
I'm thinking of the fruits I can get during the winter that will be delicious to eat--and I'm thinking dates, definitely, though they are expensive. Dates are sensual as all-get-out, and they are so sexy-delicious! Pair them with other fruits like plums as well as nuts, and ohhh, yeaaahhh! ;-)
Yes, I am definitely thinking of a new mantra. Instead of "exercise is only for jocks," which Ramin Karimloo has completely busted, disproven, and out-and-out kicked to the curb (thank you, sweet Ramin!), my new mantra is the following:
"Good Nutrition is sexy, and Abundant Health is Pure Wealth."
Okay. So it's a tad "corny." And the last bit I rephrased from Dr. Bronner's Soap labels. But you know, I think I'd rather have a "mantra" like that be somewhat "corny" and be memorable enough to keep me on track (along with my fave pics to inspire me) than have a piece of disempowering, health-destroying BS running through my energy field.
Heck, just looking at Ramin-as-Erik feels good. For some reason, I feel this surge of beautiful, primal power running through me looking at him. I think, "Damn...so his face is messed up. So the hell what? The rest of him is so. Freaking. SEXY!!! What do I need to do to get my own body like that? Erik can be my personal trainer any day--music AND exercise-wise!" (and I admit I've been entertaining fantasies of doing a bit of belly dancing for him...hoo boy...I better stop--I've got Fiverr stuff to do!)
Okay, I'm going off on a tangent. I always do when it comes to him...but see, that's why I named my blog the way I did.
So, it will likely be another two weeks before I can post about the grams-to-teaspoons conversion, since I need to either find a formula online or a scale. I'd rather have the scale so I can really give portion control a go.
But then if I plan on exercising, portion control may not be a problem if I stick with lean, protein-dense foods.
Anyway, that's another subject for another time.
Until Later,
Kat ^.^
Saturday, September 5, 2015
Wednesday, September 2, 2015
Stumbling Along
Well, so far, I seem to be stumbling along in my efforts to record what I eat and how much I exercise.
I sometimes remember, but then there are days I forget.
That being said, knowing what is in my journal so far makes me cringe.
Especially since I have both pics of Ramin AND Ramin-as-Erik in my front cover. (As I've said before: MAJOR YUM!)
Oh, hell, I might as well go up and grab it right now...it's become a bit like taking my medicine: if I remember my meds and don't take them, it always feels like there's something missing.
Which means having the pics of delicious Ramin Karimloo in my diary is WORKING!
There are certain details I wish to record, and I tried doing that all at once for a couple of days, but then it got to be too much. So I'm thinking: "Let me get into the habit of actually writing things down, and then let's keep track of the numbers, one nutrition fact at a time."
The thing I'm figuring out, though, is that when you're eating out, it's a bit difficult to keep track of what's in each dish. There's one dish at Perkins, for example, I know I'm not going to eat ever again--it's chock full of salt and grease and it really doesn't make me feel all that good.
Contrast that with the salmon dinners I like to make, with or without pasta: Serious, serious YUM! And serious, serious nutrition content!
Anyway, going to go plan a bunch of stuff, including blog post ideas. :-)
Later,
Kat ^.^
I sometimes remember, but then there are days I forget.
That being said, knowing what is in my journal so far makes me cringe.
Especially since I have both pics of Ramin AND Ramin-as-Erik in my front cover. (As I've said before: MAJOR YUM!)
Oh, hell, I might as well go up and grab it right now...it's become a bit like taking my medicine: if I remember my meds and don't take them, it always feels like there's something missing.
Which means having the pics of delicious Ramin Karimloo in my diary is WORKING!
There are certain details I wish to record, and I tried doing that all at once for a couple of days, but then it got to be too much. So I'm thinking: "Let me get into the habit of actually writing things down, and then let's keep track of the numbers, one nutrition fact at a time."
The thing I'm figuring out, though, is that when you're eating out, it's a bit difficult to keep track of what's in each dish. There's one dish at Perkins, for example, I know I'm not going to eat ever again--it's chock full of salt and grease and it really doesn't make me feel all that good.
Contrast that with the salmon dinners I like to make, with or without pasta: Serious, serious YUM! And serious, serious nutrition content!
Anyway, going to go plan a bunch of stuff, including blog post ideas. :-)
Later,
Kat ^.^
Saturday, August 29, 2015
Beginning Hints...
Hey there!
You want to know something that might change the way you think about how you treat your body?
If you turn against your body, your body, after a fashion, turns against you. It's not exactly personal. It's just a chemical reaction to what you do to it.
When you turn against your body, it's a larger symptom of the fact that you've turned against yourself...
If you hate or loathe yourself, your life--and this might be due to how you've been taught (often by other people in your life) to treat yourself--you're going to end up doing things, however unconsciously, to shorten it.
More later...
Kat ^.^
You want to know something that might change the way you think about how you treat your body?
If you turn against your body, your body, after a fashion, turns against you. It's not exactly personal. It's just a chemical reaction to what you do to it.
When you turn against your body, it's a larger symptom of the fact that you've turned against yourself...
If you hate or loathe yourself, your life--and this might be due to how you've been taught (often by other people in your life) to treat yourself--you're going to end up doing things, however unconsciously, to shorten it.
More later...
Kat ^.^
Inspiration Needs No Preamble
Normally I start my new blogs off with some crazy rambling pre-amble about the intent of the blog, but for some reason, I'm not feeling it with this one.
Because the intent is right there in the title and blog description for everyone to see.
It's hard to ignore. Just like the inspiration that's fueled my own personal desire to get fit and healthy and stay that way.
So, what's the inspiration?
First off, I do not come from an exercise-and-healthy-diet kind of family. I come from a family where treating themselves like crap on the inside and covering up all the emotional crap with crappy food and not exercising is the norm. Yes, dysfunctional emotions reign supreme on both sides, owing to various forms of abuse heaped on sensitive souls who didn't know how to fight back.
Yes, myself included--or at least, I've had to deal with the fallout, manifested in my own unhealthy attitudes. My parents, though they love me very much, have been less healthy examples and more "excellent warnings."
My mental switch to wanting to eat healthy has been a long time in the making, sped up by various healing sessions involving work on the astral realms among other alternative modalities to get some patterns unstuck.
But what's got the inspiration flowing for sure? What's got my juices flowing and determination to apply some good old-fashioned discipline (which I've sorely needed)?
It's not coming from anyone close by, I can tell you that.
It's because of my long-time love for a musical whose main character is someone I identify with deeply. Someone who's a musician like me, and from whom I would love to take any kind of musical instruction. Someone who haunts the underground portion of the Paris Opera House...yeah...him...Le Fantome de L'Opera...L'Ange de Musique...Erik...he represents the discipline I need.
That's the first layer of inspiration.
The second layer comes from a man who, in recent years, has donned the mask, hat and cloak and possesses a voice that, to my ears, heart, and soul, sounds precisely how I think Erik might have sounded. (John Owen-Jones of Wales sounds fairly similar, so he's my second-fave, but I'll save talk of Erik and his various "incarnations" for my other new blog.)
His name: Ramin Karimloo. He's my age (born in Sept. of 1978--you do the math), and he's the most stunning version of 'Erik' I have ever heard or seen. Not only does he look smashing in the 'Phantom' costume (would that I could have been the one to kiss him at the end of that scene where Christine FINALLY gets a clue about how hard Erik's life has been), there is a pic of Ramin floating around the internet where he's shirtless.
My reaction when I saw that? Two words: "Oh. DAMN!" Yeah...he's seriously fit. Not overblown, like "Ahnold," but balanced-looking: decently muscular and with nicely defined abs. But not super-extreme.
Picture Erik's mask over the right side of his face and you can get a decent idea of what kind of thoughts were going through my head...yeah, best saved for my new blog. ;-)
The point here is: if Ramin can look like *that* at 36, almost 37, then what the heck is *MY* excuse? Sure I'm a female, and hypothyroid to boot. Yes, it will take me longer to lose weight than other women, let alone the opposite gender.
But damn it--I want someone like that. Someone who sings like an angel--or a god (which is how many peeps writing Phantom-based fan-fic describe Erik's voice), but takes care of themselves with no apology.
Ramin is living, breathing proof that just because you're a musician doesn't mean you have to be lazy about your health. Just by being how he is, Ramin disproves every line of BS I heard about "exercise is only for jocks," or some such nonsense.
So both that pic of him shirtless, AND a pic of him dressed as Erik, have earned a place of honor: in the front cover of my new food and exercise journal. Just looking at both pics sends thrills through me that I can't explain. That gorgeous, raw, primal energy is delicious to feel, and I LOVE it.
I look at both pics and think: If I wanna look like that--or at least a female version of it--there are just certain things I need to do or eliminate. There's no question about it.
"So," you're likely thinking, "What's with the dark red?"
Red is the color of the first chakra for starters...
I won't elaborate on that too much more, at least not at this point in time. This is only the first post.
But let's just say, for now, that I feel the dark red works.
Anyway, I'm off to enjoy some healthy delicious food. ;-)
Later,
Kat
Because the intent is right there in the title and blog description for everyone to see.
It's hard to ignore. Just like the inspiration that's fueled my own personal desire to get fit and healthy and stay that way.
So, what's the inspiration?
First off, I do not come from an exercise-and-healthy-diet kind of family. I come from a family where treating themselves like crap on the inside and covering up all the emotional crap with crappy food and not exercising is the norm. Yes, dysfunctional emotions reign supreme on both sides, owing to various forms of abuse heaped on sensitive souls who didn't know how to fight back.
Yes, myself included--or at least, I've had to deal with the fallout, manifested in my own unhealthy attitudes. My parents, though they love me very much, have been less healthy examples and more "excellent warnings."
My mental switch to wanting to eat healthy has been a long time in the making, sped up by various healing sessions involving work on the astral realms among other alternative modalities to get some patterns unstuck.
But what's got the inspiration flowing for sure? What's got my juices flowing and determination to apply some good old-fashioned discipline (which I've sorely needed)?
It's not coming from anyone close by, I can tell you that.
It's because of my long-time love for a musical whose main character is someone I identify with deeply. Someone who's a musician like me, and from whom I would love to take any kind of musical instruction. Someone who haunts the underground portion of the Paris Opera House...yeah...him...Le Fantome de L'Opera...L'Ange de Musique...Erik...he represents the discipline I need.
That's the first layer of inspiration.
The second layer comes from a man who, in recent years, has donned the mask, hat and cloak and possesses a voice that, to my ears, heart, and soul, sounds precisely how I think Erik might have sounded. (John Owen-Jones of Wales sounds fairly similar, so he's my second-fave, but I'll save talk of Erik and his various "incarnations" for my other new blog.)
His name: Ramin Karimloo. He's my age (born in Sept. of 1978--you do the math), and he's the most stunning version of 'Erik' I have ever heard or seen. Not only does he look smashing in the 'Phantom' costume (would that I could have been the one to kiss him at the end of that scene where Christine FINALLY gets a clue about how hard Erik's life has been), there is a pic of Ramin floating around the internet where he's shirtless.
My reaction when I saw that? Two words: "Oh. DAMN!" Yeah...he's seriously fit. Not overblown, like "Ahnold," but balanced-looking: decently muscular and with nicely defined abs. But not super-extreme.
Picture Erik's mask over the right side of his face and you can get a decent idea of what kind of thoughts were going through my head...yeah, best saved for my new blog. ;-)
The point here is: if Ramin can look like *that* at 36, almost 37, then what the heck is *MY* excuse? Sure I'm a female, and hypothyroid to boot. Yes, it will take me longer to lose weight than other women, let alone the opposite gender.
But damn it--I want someone like that. Someone who sings like an angel--or a god (which is how many peeps writing Phantom-based fan-fic describe Erik's voice), but takes care of themselves with no apology.
Ramin is living, breathing proof that just because you're a musician doesn't mean you have to be lazy about your health. Just by being how he is, Ramin disproves every line of BS I heard about "exercise is only for jocks," or some such nonsense.
So both that pic of him shirtless, AND a pic of him dressed as Erik, have earned a place of honor: in the front cover of my new food and exercise journal. Just looking at both pics sends thrills through me that I can't explain. That gorgeous, raw, primal energy is delicious to feel, and I LOVE it.
I look at both pics and think: If I wanna look like that--or at least a female version of it--there are just certain things I need to do or eliminate. There's no question about it.
"So," you're likely thinking, "What's with the dark red?"
Red is the color of the first chakra for starters...
I won't elaborate on that too much more, at least not at this point in time. This is only the first post.
But let's just say, for now, that I feel the dark red works.
Anyway, I'm off to enjoy some healthy delicious food. ;-)
Later,
Kat
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