Phantom Fat!

I heard on the radio that there is a "disease" called phantom fat. This is really the same idea as a phantom limb (where people who have lost limbs still have phantom feelings for that leg, where it may seem to itch or hurt etc as if the limb were still there). Well the idea of the phantom fat is that even after people lose weight they still perceive themselves to actually be fat-- you worry about all the same things that you used to when you were over weight, like knocking things over, being too heavy to sit on certain things, thinking you can't fit into clothes, being too wide to fit in seats etc. They said that this "phantom fat" typically occurs in people who have either lost significant weight in short period of time (typically those who have had bariactric surgery) or people who have simply been overweight for a long time.

This makes me wonder if I might actually have this when all is said and done. Even now I don't really see that much of a difference in myself from where I started. Having been overweight my entire life--- I wonder how I will perceive myself when I hit my goal weight (which I've never weighed that little in my entire adult life). Not that phantom fat is really a serious matter it's just really being accustomed to how your body has functioned for a long time.

In this same news report they said that people who have lost weight are actually more self-conscious or self-aware than people who are overweight that have never attempted to lose weight. I think it's also interesting that they stated people who have lost a lot of weight are also more conscious of what they look like than people are in thin. I would probably assume this has a lot to do with being aware of what you look like now and what you looked like THEN. Looking at where I'm at when I hit my goal weight and comparing that to what I looked like at my heaviest is motivation enough to keep going to the gym and make sure I keep the weight off!

Happy 4th! ---241

Happy 4th of July!

Just a Little Work Out Tip 240.5

I recently heard on the radio that when you're working out you should try to sing as loudly as you can. What this basically does it tighten up your abs while you work out. Since I work out at a gym, I didn't think people would appreciate me singing at the top of my lungs.. so instead I basically lip synced.

Having being in choir for a few years I know you're supposed to sing with your gut, basically pushing down your diaphragm-- as I lip synced I pushed as if I was singing really loudly and let all the air come out as if I was singing just avoiding using my voice box. I have to say it actually worked really well. I've been having a really hard time getting my stomach to be sore, even with the ab crunch machine at the gym-- and this actually did the trick! Try it out! If you're brave enough to sing at the top of your lungs while at the gym, please let me know the reaction of your fellow gym mates :o)!

The best way to bring work out cheer is singing loudly for ALL TO HEAR!

Dance Your Ass Off -242

I don't know if any of you have had the chance to catch Oxygen's new TV show, Dance your Ass Off. I actually find it to be quite entertaining. The premise of the show is basically Dancing With the Stars (minus the stars) combined with Biggest Loser. While admittedly I don't watch either of the afore mentioned shows, the general idea is the same perform, lose weight or GO HOME!

Each week the contestants are given a "theme" of dance and with a professional dance partner they rehearse all week. Each conestant weighs in at the beginning of the week and then again at the end of the week. Constestants are scored based on the percentage body weight lost + the average score given by the 3 judges-- the contestant with the lowest score goes home!

I think it's genuinely pretty interesting. Through the week each contestant has access to a doctor, nutirionist and professional dance partner. The daily routine includes work outs and 2 hours of dance (so it's no wonder some of these people are losing 10+ lbs in a week). This is weight loss the RIGHT way-- and I think that's awesome (and it looks so fun too!!)

Although so far I really like the show, my biggest pet peeve reamins with the host, Melissa Jaret who it is obvious they have stuffed into a gurdle (being a plus sized woman herself). What kind of message is it that the host of the show is overweight (while all contestants themselves are losing weight and she remains the same) AND the fact that not only is she plus sized but they try and make her look smaller by smoothing out the problem areas and stuffing her in to skin tight dresses.

The other beef I have with this show is the costumes designed by "professional designers" are incredibly skimpy. All women are in short shorts or short dresses/ skirts and with the exception of ONE woman and ONE man-- the guts are fully exposed. While I understand the logic behind this (the less clothing the more we can see "progress")-- I think it's a bit degrading and distastful. Although I suppose if you're competing to lose weight and WIN 100 grand, you don't mind sharing your weight and your body with the entire world.Anyway give it a try-- tune in and see what you think. The show has really inspired me to consider joining a dance class for exercise-- something I've actually been thinking about on and off for a few years.-- who cares if I lack rhythm-- lol.

Better Late Than Never! --241

Ok so here are a couple of photos left over from my New Orleans trip (back just before Easter).In other news I've started back to the gym after about a two month hiatis. On Sunday I worked out for about 1.5 hours (all cardio)-- while I've been at a relative standstill for weight loss, I know I need to keep going! I was so distraught (which I know sounds stupid) when I lost 50lbs, it was such a huge milestone-- and fear really took over me. I'm trying to kick it back into high gear.

I've had to put my house hunt back on hold due to some issues with my employer. I don't want to get into it too much at this point (but I'm sure eventually I will be blogging about it and much much more). If anyone knows of jobs in the Cincinnati/ Dayton area please let me know ASAP. So house hunt gone-- replaced with job hunt!

I'm still working on this little side business for jewelry-- still in the process of setting things up and building a base of work-- I promise as soon as I get it up and running I'll be sharing it with you guys!

Look for a blog post tomorrow--- I have one in mind! :o)

I'm 28 *party favor partied out* -243

soooo today's my 28th birthday. I can't help but feel old.. lol (I realize I'm going to get backlash for that statement from the 30 + crowd) This is actually the first birthday I can remember spending alone.. like.. not going out with people... perhaps this is the turning point where people start to "forget" their own birthday on purpose. lol who knows. It's sad in a way.. not having a special someone to celebrate with.. but I'm just going to digress on that point...

Anyway.. on that note.. I did some shopping this weekend..,. and when I say SHOPPING.. I mean SHOPPING! this weekend I bought 3 dresses, 2 pairs of pants (this is really out of necessity for work since I can't get my old work pants to stay up) 3 lips glosses (I got this for free from sophora for my BIRTHDAY! YAY!) 3 bras (it's the victoria's secret semi-annual sale don't you know) a calendar/ card rack (from Pier 1 that is going out of business which I plan to use for craft fairs.. selling cards and pieces of artwork) and finally a nice pair of fuschia flats. lol so when I say shopping.. now you know what I mean! So.... without further aduie here is some photos of the dresses and the shoes (what I'm most excited about!!)

242.5-- It's a John and Kate + 8 Thing!

Hi Everyone! Sorry for my long absence.. things have just literally been so crazy for me. I've started up a house hunt again-- I've been working on a new "money scheming" adventure (for those of you who don't know I really have a desire to work from home for myself-- preferably making artwork but that hasn't had much success.. so I've been dabbling in different forms of "Art" to try and "MAKE A HIT"). Anyway my new "money scheming" adventure is actually making jewelry-- and what I really mean by that is "beading".

I was introduced to beading by my best friend, Amber when I was out visiting her in San Francisco/ San Diego. I ended up investing about $300 in beads/ supplies while I was out there.. I'm using only high quality stuff-- ie sterling silver .925-- NATURAL gemstones and semi-precious stones.-- I'm working on getting some "dummies" so I can display the necklaces nicely and take some photos of them in my attempt to sell them online. Stay tuned for photos to come!

Anyway what I really wanted to write about is John and Kate + 8 and their "announcement". I've been an avid watcher of this show since it started really. Initially I think the motive of John and Kate was to satisfy the daunting task of affording the family they never intended to have. I also think that allowing all the cameras into their life was a way of not only providing but also squandering all the baby crazies out there from seeking them out in person to ask questions etc.

I must admit that here recently (especially this season) it seems like the family is just really in it for the stardom-- and what a tangled web they wove. It seems like each new episode this season is filled with celebrities or some sort of gift they have received being flaunted. It's gotten so commercial. Now I know there are rumors flying about unfaithfulness and the greedy and over zealous Kate, but what TLC has done is created a monster in ratings-- and perhaps of the parents themselves. While I hate to speculate on all of these rumors I do know a few things for fact. While John and Kate's parents have never been featured on the shows-- they did have brother/ sister-in-law AND a couple of friends who have all but disappeared from the show. I think this is not a result of "business" but more as a result of burning bridges.

But regardless of all of those things it's really the kids who are suffering. While Kate is out doing her "job" giving speeches and seminars on"family" and John is off going out with friends etc-- the children are at home with nannies-- you note also that as a family they have gone away from the whole "organic" realm of things which seemed to always be the forefront of every meal in past seasons. The family also always made church a priority, driving an hour each way to church. A family that was always so centered on "time outs" as opposed to "spankings" has now been caught by the paparazzi doing just that. (Actually I'm a whole hearted supporter of spanking but my point is here that the core values of this family seems to have changed drastically). It seems to me the more the fame grew-- the further apart the family has grown.

As difficult as Kate is to deal with-- I really hope for the family's sake that John and Kate are not getting divorced. What I really hope and pray for is that this huge announcement is not for a divorce but the decision that the show will end. As much as I love seeing the children and how they grow-- I think the priorities have gotten all out of whack and I hope that John and Kate have done well with saving and investing the millions of dollars they have already made from the show.

While the show has really benefited this family I think it's really hurt it in a lot of ways. The possibility of divorce and the fact that the children are constantly being "raised' by someone other than their parents really speak to that. On the show John and Kate have revealed that the cameras have never left their house since the second "one hour special"-- the now 9 and 5 year old have never known anything else- how strange is that? These children need to be kids and not TV stars.

It will be interesting to see in years to come what these kids have to say. I'm sure at that point you'll hear some of the things that went on that weren't the most pleasant things-- and there is bound to be at least one or two kids who are really resentful for the entire experience.

So Monday will tell the "future" for this family. I really hope and pray that this is the end for the show out of love for the family.