My genius coiffeur has been a friend of mine since 8th grade, and she informed me that our HS Alma Matter has planned the 10-year reunion. The same people that brought you embarrassment, disillusionment, insecurity, and a general feeling of loathing toward your formative teen years will now present the adult version of High School that is guaranteed to bring up all those dusty feelings of hatred and jealousy toward your fellow school chum. Not to sound cliche cynical, but I really don't want to spend $50 on an evening rehashing the major points of my last 10 years to people who just don't give a shit. (Funny, because I'll do that right here in a minute...) I'm no where near my weight 10 years (hell, even 5 years ago), still don't have my BA, no kids, I'm not in any kind of career, and the things I'm taking steps to do sound like rainbow and unicorn fantasies.
I'm definitely NOT going -- but it's got me thinking about:
1. Why have I been doing the last decade?
and
2. Why don't I have an answer when someone asks me what I've been doing, lately?
I was recently at a good friend's grad party and realized I had very little to say when people I've known for years asked me what I've been doing lately. I just have no answers.
I mean, I graduated in 2000. I immediately enrolled in Community College and shortly thereafter started working for an optometrist -- where I stayed in both places for 4 years. I earned 3 AA's that mean a lot to my sense of accomplishment, but not a whole lot to the world at large. I had already changed my major from Engineering (yeah... no surprise there, right) to French and was itching to live abroad. So, I quit both the Dr. and CC and worked as a cocktail waitress at a casino where I made $$BANK$$! Paid off my debt, save a little, met my future husband, and applied for an assistant-ship program through the French Ministry of Education. I got accepted, went to France where I lived and traveled for 10+ months. My man came over after 2 months, proposed, went home, came back 2 months later and stayed and traveled with me for the next six months. We bought a car on eBay for 300 euros, drove 14,000 miles through 11 different countries, and ultimately our lives were changed. (I'll have to post sometime about my experiences there -- it was pretty amazing, and I highly recommend it.) It was the summer of 2006. Everything thus far in my life is divided "before" or "after" France.
Coming home, I decided to go something "practical" so I joined back up at the CC to study accounting while getting a temp-perm position as a receptionist for a sales office. After completing all the pre-business requirements, I transferred back to CSU (I'd gone previously, withdrawn, gone back... nothing really accomplished) and started the business program. With two+ years left to finish, I changed my major again to English. It only took 9 years, but I finally figured out where my educational passion lays. Teaching, editing, writing... whatever. I have a passion for literature and writing and now film. Not very "practical" but if it's the path I'm supposed to be on, then it will work out - so I'm told.
On the personal side, my fiance and I were engaged for over two years because we were both converting to Catholicism. Yup, people actually DO join the Catholic church, not just fall away from it. I was very zealous for the first couple years. I lost friends, estranged family, and probably gave the world a very bad taste of Christians - as most zealous hypocrites do. I had to really learn to curb what I say and change how I view the world. Not everything can be categorized right/wrong. I'm a firm believer that binary opposition leaves out a world of possibility. I'm still a traditional Vatican-Catholic, but I haven't been to Mass since Easter and know I'm in a deep need of confession. What stops me is that I'm not particularly spiritual as logical about my faith (doesn't that sound contradictory). Logically, the Catholic church has been presented to me in a way that IF there is God - then Catholicism is the fullness of that Truth. Miracles, acts of faith, prayer -- these have all been "proof" to me that God exists and the Church is Truth. Faith, however, is low. Maybe I've hit a spiritual desert. Maybe I just need to start praying more.
For two years, I planned my big Catholic wedding (which was awesome and a HUGE blast!), went to school full-time, worked full-time, and my fiance and I lived with my parents. Our honeymoon was a Euro cruise and 4 nights in Rome. In 2008, after the wedding, we bought a house, settled into home-ownership. Bought a dog -- a GORGEOUS Irish Setter named Lady. Both of us changed majors to English. We joined a couple wine clubs. And have spent the last two years going to and being in all the weddings of our other friends. We're just at that age. Kids are next, but we're waiting until after graduation when we come back from our 3rd Euro trip for Oktoberfest 2011.
But what have I been doing lately??
Well, got on the Paleo kick and started Intermittent Fasting. Went into therapy to iron out past wrinkles. I'm in a film class for the summer. I'm 6 classes from finally getting my BA. We "adopted" Chess -- a wonderful long-haired Chihuahua from my Aunt. I'm over the love-affair with my job but feel obligated to stay.
Basically, I'm "waiting" for the next phase of my life to happen. In the mean time, I'm enjoying my Adult Beverages, cursing my gardening/home-maintenance attempts, loving and fighting with my husband, and visiting family and friends every chance I get. I'm also practicing for my American Idol audition every morning in the shower. Maybe I'll memorize that last sentence and tell people that. Or maybe I'll just keep answering, "Oh nothing much. Just work and school, as usual."
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Intermittent Fasting -- The beginning
A few weeks ago I *discovered* Intermittent Fasting (IF) as a way to control insulin levels, lower the risk of heart disease, and improve upon general health. I saw it as a practical way to reduce calorie intake and jump start my weight loss.
I started this experiment at 175 lbs, three weeks ago (June 15th). Yikes! This is by far the heaviest I've ever been (5ft 7) and my size 14 jeans were growing uncomfortably smaller. I decided that I'm not going to wear a 16 -- that's my catalyst for change.
I started by accident really: I had eaten a sandwich Tues @ 2pm, and when Wednesday 10am rolled around -- I realized I hadn't eaten anything in 20 hours. Excited by the thought, I decided to wait until 2pm to eat again. This I ate over the next 24 hours until 2pm Thurs, then fasted until 2pm Friday. I'm not going to say it was a breeze, but it was MUCH easier than I thought it would be. On my fast mornings, I'd have my usual coffee (low fat creamer, no sugar and I'd drink LOTS of water. Each time I felt a hunger growl, I'd get up and get another glass of water. That first week I shed a lot of water weight, since I'm normally perpetually dehydrated. (I enjoy an Adult Beverage with frequency.)
When it came time to break the fast, I had read on Mark's Daily Apple and on "Free The Animal" that high protein can help to slow the body's breakdown of carbohydrates into sugars. Also, high carb diets tend to make us crave more carbs and sugars. These blogs focus on the Primal/Paleo diets, and while I think the science supports their claims, I just can't imagine my life with out beer, pasta, and rice. Sorry. But I do love the ideas behind it.
Speaking of beer... that first week on my fast days, I didn't drink any Adult Beverages (ABs) because I had school from 6 - 10pm after my 9 hours work day. Normally, I'm a get home, get into PJ's, grab a glass of something and plop down. I have an extreme aversion to exercise, which explains why I'm 30 lbs. overweight. But I'm a drinker, and I'm not going to stop that 'till pregnancy becomes a realistic goal. And booze + exercise = puke in my mouth (which I avoid at ALL costs). In the mean time, even when I fast I'll usually have a drink or two. I notice that it does increase my appetite, so I've got to watch out for that, but I become a real cheap date, and can actually share the 12-pack in the fridge with my husband. (Kidding...)
That first day I spent about 5 hours learning all about fasting for health, metabolic rates, cleansing and re-setting the body. In an article explaining the "Biochemistry of Fasting" by Ralph Cinque D.C., "After eight to ten hours one-half of muscle fuel is from fatty acids." So, the longer we can go after 10 hours -- say another 14 hours -- the more fat stores will be broken down and converted and burned. BTW - this is an outstanding article on fasting for health. He is essentially talking about a week long fast, but the information applies to the 24-hour or Alternative Day Fast (ADF).
However, the body will begin to breakdown muscle also. This is why breaking the fast with high protein is essential. I'm a HUGE fan of beef jerky (yeah, yeah I know store-bought has lots of sugar, but it's low calorie, low fat, high protein, and DELICIOUS). Some jerky and then a peanut-butter snack!
Some other aspects I've discovered:
1. I'm not "addicted" to food. I don't think about it as often. I don't crave it as often. And on days when I do eat, I eat when I'm hungry -- and I don't over-eat (since my stomach has "shrunk").
2. The psychological effect also is that I'm more conscientious of what I am eating and doing. After three weeks of IF, I'm more inclined to go for a walk and I've entertained the notion of some yoga and weight training. (When I actually pick up a weight, I'll let you know....)
I've heard that you can "break" a carb craving after 3 weeks of a high-protein diet, and right at the end there, I snapped and fell into a carb frenzy. So, here's the breakdown of weight:
Week one, started @ 175.xx lbs.
Week two, started @ 171.4 lbs.
Week three, started @ 169.4 lbs. (SUPER excited here!! Very noticeable to my friends/family.)
Week four (today) -- 174.5 lbs.
WOAH! What happened? Well, I only fasted twice last week, while I've been pretty diligent about ADF previously. I've been boozing it up pretty heavy for the last 10 days: Wine pairing party w/ friends, graduation party, a "good" Friday night, trip to Reno... And of course, when I'm hung as f*** fasting is the last thing I'm thinking about. So, dehydrated, carb pig-out, retaining water -- yeah... two steps forward, 1.5 back.
I know that a whole lot of water will help get rid of the dehydration effects, and getting back on the IF consistently will get me right back where I want to be. Even though I haven't gotten down to a size 12 jeans, and I'm convinced that I'm not entirely back to square one. The mental part has changed and that's always the most important step.
I started this experiment at 175 lbs, three weeks ago (June 15th). Yikes! This is by far the heaviest I've ever been (5ft 7) and my size 14 jeans were growing uncomfortably smaller. I decided that I'm not going to wear a 16 -- that's my catalyst for change.
I started by accident really: I had eaten a sandwich Tues @ 2pm, and when Wednesday 10am rolled around -- I realized I hadn't eaten anything in 20 hours. Excited by the thought, I decided to wait until 2pm to eat again. This I ate over the next 24 hours until 2pm Thurs, then fasted until 2pm Friday. I'm not going to say it was a breeze, but it was MUCH easier than I thought it would be. On my fast mornings, I'd have my usual coffee (low fat creamer, no sugar and I'd drink LOTS of water. Each time I felt a hunger growl, I'd get up and get another glass of water. That first week I shed a lot of water weight, since I'm normally perpetually dehydrated. (I enjoy an Adult Beverage with frequency.)
When it came time to break the fast, I had read on Mark's Daily Apple and on "Free The Animal" that high protein can help to slow the body's breakdown of carbohydrates into sugars. Also, high carb diets tend to make us crave more carbs and sugars. These blogs focus on the Primal/Paleo diets, and while I think the science supports their claims, I just can't imagine my life with out beer, pasta, and rice. Sorry. But I do love the ideas behind it.
Speaking of beer... that first week on my fast days, I didn't drink any Adult Beverages (ABs) because I had school from 6 - 10pm after my 9 hours work day. Normally, I'm a get home, get into PJ's, grab a glass of something and plop down. I have an extreme aversion to exercise, which explains why I'm 30 lbs. overweight. But I'm a drinker, and I'm not going to stop that 'till pregnancy becomes a realistic goal. And booze + exercise = puke in my mouth (which I avoid at ALL costs). In the mean time, even when I fast I'll usually have a drink or two. I notice that it does increase my appetite, so I've got to watch out for that, but I become a real cheap date, and can actually share the 12-pack in the fridge with my husband. (Kidding...)
That first day I spent about 5 hours learning all about fasting for health, metabolic rates, cleansing and re-setting the body. In an article explaining the "Biochemistry of Fasting" by Ralph Cinque D.C., "After eight to ten hours one-half of muscle fuel is from fatty acids." So, the longer we can go after 10 hours -- say another 14 hours -- the more fat stores will be broken down and converted and burned. BTW - this is an outstanding article on fasting for health. He is essentially talking about a week long fast, but the information applies to the 24-hour or Alternative Day Fast (ADF).
However, the body will begin to breakdown muscle also. This is why breaking the fast with high protein is essential. I'm a HUGE fan of beef jerky (yeah, yeah I know store-bought has lots of sugar, but it's low calorie, low fat, high protein, and DELICIOUS). Some jerky and then a peanut-butter snack!
Some other aspects I've discovered:
1. I'm not "addicted" to food. I don't think about it as often. I don't crave it as often. And on days when I do eat, I eat when I'm hungry -- and I don't over-eat (since my stomach has "shrunk").
2. The psychological effect also is that I'm more conscientious of what I am eating and doing. After three weeks of IF, I'm more inclined to go for a walk and I've entertained the notion of some yoga and weight training. (When I actually pick up a weight, I'll let you know....)
I've heard that you can "break" a carb craving after 3 weeks of a high-protein diet, and right at the end there, I snapped and fell into a carb frenzy. So, here's the breakdown of weight:
Week one, started @ 175.xx lbs.
Week two, started @ 171.4 lbs.
Week three, started @ 169.4 lbs. (SUPER excited here!! Very noticeable to my friends/family.)
Week four (today) -- 174.5 lbs.
WOAH! What happened? Well, I only fasted twice last week, while I've been pretty diligent about ADF previously. I've been boozing it up pretty heavy for the last 10 days: Wine pairing party w/ friends, graduation party, a "good" Friday night, trip to Reno... And of course, when I'm hung as f*** fasting is the last thing I'm thinking about. So, dehydrated, carb pig-out, retaining water -- yeah... two steps forward, 1.5 back.
I know that a whole lot of water will help get rid of the dehydration effects, and getting back on the IF consistently will get me right back where I want to be. Even though I haven't gotten down to a size 12 jeans, and I'm convinced that I'm not entirely back to square one. The mental part has changed and that's always the most important step.
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