Saturday, August 29, 2009

Will that be Coffee to Go, Or Coffee Has to Go?

Well, one of my late-night research sessions has certainly paid off. While looking for more information on how to lose belly fat, I came across my interesting, albeit disturbing information.

Apparently, not only do I  have to give up Doritos, donuts, and late-night binge eating, but also coffee? Say what? Coffee is what all the skinny people drink, and eat. Who doesn't have a strung-up looking friend who never eats and drinks continuous cups of java, smoking something, all the while saying she's getting fat? 

Coffee is the drink of the creative types, the artistes ... gaunt, slight scary-looking folk who hang around cheap coffee joints and drink coffee because that's all they can afford. 

How in the world did coffee become something that can make you fat? As my gorgeous husband would say, it makes no sense!

 What is it about coffee, then, that it makes it something I should avoid? Well, coffee increases the stress levels of our bodies, literally, by increasing stimulation. That is why you can't sleep for half the night after having that late-night coffee date!

And that stress on the body can lead to an increase in cortisol, which, we know, may cause exhorbiant amounts of belly fat to be distributed on one's said abdomen.

Here's a link that explains the phenomen, a great webite strictly devoted to losing belly fat! Woohoo! Just what I need!
http://www.loss-bellyfat-stay-slim.com/Caffeine-belly-fat.html

Well, I am going to try to give up coffee, but I  have to say, that's a hard one for me. In a way, it's not that surprising ... something that good can't be all good for you! And somewhere inside, I had a feeling that coffee wasn't good for my weight. But I conveniently avoided that nagging feeling and kept right on enjoying it. Even if I don't cut coffee out 100%, I know I will have to cut back, to ease my conscience, if nothing else.

Timmie's anyone? I am going to try out that new steeped tea!

Friday, August 28, 2009

Did Pilates Yesterday

Well, yesterday, I did Pilates. Wow! What a great workout. I felt so amazing after doing this workout ... I didn't know exercise could feel that good. I really believe that Pilates are going to help a lot in getting my body into alignment and into shape.


I also walked yesterday, and ate healthier. I am already starting to feel better, and my gorgeous husband said that I feel a bit smaller, too. Today, he walked with me to the dump road ... it was great to  have his company. Walking has already helped to feel more optimistic about my life overall.

"They" say that exercise helps to boost your endorphin levels, and I believed it, but now I am experiencing it. I just have to keep going. Have to get and stay organized, in order to be able to keep it up. I am writing this blog to try to motivate myself, and to feel less alone in the journey. Even if no one is reading my journal, I can somehow pretend that I writing to an audience out there. And that motivates me.

Today I feel better than I have for a long time. I think this is way we are supposed to feel!

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Is My Job Making Me Fat? Well, Actually, it's the Stress!

Well, I have been saying for years now that my job is making me fat. Sound crazy? Well, bear with me. It is a well-known fact in the fitness/nutrition world that too much stress creates an excess of cortisol, which in turn creates an excess of fat centered around the abdomen. It is true ... my job is making me fat! Well, unfortunately, I can't place the blame entirely on my job.

Other factors come to bear, as well, like overeating, of course, and not enough exercise (sigh!) But I do believe that stress is definitely a factor in my excessive weight gain. 

Teachers are known to have one of the most stressful jobs out there, and I am a teacher. So, what to do? Quit teaching? I have, a couple of time, exactly for the reasons that I have been describing. But I have an education degree, a passion for kids, and even what I believe is a calling on my life to teach. 

It's what I do, and love to do. But it cause me stress, and my body does not handle stress very well at all. My body, by all appearances, seems to go nuts with cortisol when I am stressed.


So, I have been constantly on the lookout for more information about how to stop this pattern. I found an interesting article that talks about the stress-cortisol-body fat connection that I would like to share:
This articles emphasizes the importance of de-stressing in different ways. As a Christan, I should not be so stressed. The Bible says to "fret not," but I do not obey that one. I do fret, a lot. 

And that is why I went back to teaching. I realized that the stress is primarily from my own lack of coping skills with life ... and that I need to overcome this, no matter what my profession. Yes, teaching is stressful, but so is being unemployed, or underemployed, or employed in a career that I despise.

So, I will continue to try to understand the whole process of how my body and mind work. And trying to get healthier, and thinner.

Beautiful Curves -- On Polyvore

Despite my goal to lose weight, I also want to look my best now. Here is a collection of sets from Polyvore which show how beautiful us bigger women can be:



View 'Beautiful Curves' on Polyvore


Included in this collection is the "Designer Curves" series, in which I highlight clothes from the "Designer Curves" website. It's a bit expensive for me to order in Canada, but it gives me great inspiration. Here's the link: http://www.designercurves.com/

Now, is that beautiful or what?