Here are my progression pictures at 0 sessions, after 20 sessions, and finally after 30 sessions:

 I have lost a total of 11 inches- 5 of them coming off my waist!  I even gained another 1/2 inch in height!  I hadn’t anticipated the amount of change in the last 10 sessions.  Everything improved: my posture, my shoulder placement, my rear end is higher and smaller (yea!), and I have a waist again! 

 I am such a proponent of Pilates, that I have decided to become a Certified Instructor.  I will continue to share my story and help others acheive a their fittest selves.

What I ate today:
Organic French Vanilla Yogurt with Raisin Bran
GoLean Crunchy! Chocolate Peanut
Luna Smores
Apple
Sugar Free Crispy Bite Size Pecan Chocolate Chip Cookies
Buffalo Jerky
Spaghetti with Meat Sauce
Newcastle Ale
 

  Fat – 14.8% (25 grams)
  Protein – 16.6% (64 grams)
  Carbohydrates – 62.2% (239 grams)
  Alcohol – 6.3% (14 grams)
  Other – 0.0%

Daily Sodium Intake – 1,616 mg
Daily Sugar Intake – 74 grams
Daily Cholesterol Intake – 45 mg
Daily Saturated Fat Intake – 10 grams
Daily Fiber Intake – 23 grams

Session: 18

I had another duet session, and it was NOTHING like my first.  While my mates were pretty advanced, they were all working the same exercises together, so it wasn’t at all confusing or frustrating.  I was able to keep up and get an amazing workout.  It was great!

I have been having my Pilates sessions first thing in the morning at 7am.  Since I have begun a Traditional Diet and have been working out regularly, I have had much more energy throughout the day and have had no problem getting up early.  I’ve never been a morning person, and yet I find myself getting up before my alarm goes off so I end up playing with my kittens until it finally does.  And not only do I prefer to start my day earlier, my days are longer and I have more energy throughout the day.  This has been a change for the better.

 My friends are starting to comment on my body.  My sister recently returned from being gone for a month for work.  The first thing she said when she saw me was, “tell me what you’re doing, because I need to start doing it too.”  She was a vegan doing the Body for Life challenge and had seen results, but not as quickly as I had.  Even my friends that I see weekly have been asking if I’ve lost weight, or said that I looked great.  I already felt amazing, but it was nice for others to notice a positive change as well.

What I ate today:
2 deviled eggs
carrots
Light garlic and herb cheese wedge
Kombucha
Buffalo Jerky
Cheeseburger with Muenster cheese (no bread)
Mushrooms
Chocolate Chip Cookie 
4 Bass Ales
Chicken Fricasse
Cod Liver Oil

  Fat – 33.3% (77 grams)
  Protein – 17.1% (89 grams)
  Carbohydrates – 23.8% (124 grams)
  Alcohol – 25.8% (77 grams)
  Other – 0.0%

Daily Sodium Intake – 2,063 mg
Daily Sugar Intake – 34 grams
Daily Cholesterol Intake – 745 mg
Daily Saturated Fat Intake – 32 grams
Daily Fiber Intake – 7 grams

Meat Lasagna

Serves: 6

1 lb ground beef
6 slices Trader Joe’s No Boil Lasagna Noodles
1 jar (16 oz) Trader Joe’s Organic Chunky Marinara
4 oz Whole Mozzarella Cheese
1/2 cup Whole Ricotta Cheese, divided in thirds
1/4 Whole Parmesan Cheese, divided in thirds
1 cup Chopped Button Mushrooms
7 1/2″x 9 1/2″ baking dish

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Brown ground beef over medium heat
3. Add chopped mushrooms and marinara sauce
4. Put 2 noodles on bottom of baking dish
5. Layer a third of the ricotta cheese on top, then sprinkle a third of the Parmesan cheese on top
6. Layer a third of the meat sauce on top, then sprinkle some mozzarella on top
7. Repeat steps 4-6 until all ingredients are gone, add the majority of mozzarella to very top layer
8. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes

Serve with a mixed greens salad tossed with a flaxseed oil/apple cider vinegar homemade dressing.

Nutrition Information:
242 grams
410 calories
18 g fat
11 g saturated fat
107 mg Cholestorol
1047 mg Sodium
33 g Protein
24 Carbohydrates
2.7 g Fiber
6 g Sugar
Vitamin A 6%
Vitamin C 25%
Calcium 40%
Iron 19%
Thiamin 12%
Niacin 5%
Riboflavin 5%
Folic Acid 10%

Nutrition Info:
Fat – 43.6% (20 grams)
Protein – 32.8% (33 grams)
Carbohydrates – 23.6% (24 grams)
Alcohol – 0.0%
Other – 0.0%

UPDATE:  I am gluten free now and am finding many positive changes, both in the way I look and feel.  To make this a gluten free recipe, substitute gluten free pasta for the no boil noodles.  My favorite is Trader Joe’s brand spiral noodles.

Day 37: April 4, 2008

I took a Kettlebells class two days ago, and I’m feeling it. 

Immediately after taking the class, I ate 2 oz of beef jerky to facilitate an influx of protein into my torn muscles.  The reason for this is that I was told that the first 30 minutes after a strength training routine is the window to get as much protein in your body (up to 25g) because the floodgates are open and it will go into your muscle to help rebuild it.  This also decreases lactic acid which is what causes the stiffness and pain the next couple of days after a workout. 

The next morning I felt a little sore, but not too much.  I had even considered taking another Kettlebells class that day.  But as the day went on, my muscles grew more tight and sore.  Sitting and standing is when I felt it the most, but it wasn’t terrible.  I love feeling sore- as long as I can still function.

Today is day 2, and I’m really feeling it now!  I woke up and had breakfast (deviled eggs and a banana) and walked around a bit to try to loosen up the stiffness.  I know that had I not eaten that beef jerky, I would be in A LOT more pain.  This really isn’t that bad considering the workout I had.  However, I don’t think I should be working out again quite yet, so I cancelled my 17th Pilates session (gasp!)  I am going to go in to the studio tomorrow and take a Pilates Mat Class instead. 

What I ate today:
4 deviled eggs
Cod Liver Oil
Banana
Chocolate Chip Cookie
Lasagna
2 Miller High Lifes
Coconut Oil
Avovado and Tomato with Flaxseed Oil and Apple Cider Vinegar
2 Bass Ales

  Fat – 47.7% (114 grams)
  Protein – 10.4% (56 grams)
  Carbohydrates – 26.4% (142 grams)
  Alcohol – 10.4% (32 grams)
  Other – 5.1%

Daily Sodium Intake – 1,430 mg
Daily Sugar Intake – 44 grams
Daily Cholesterol Intake – 613 mg
Daily Saturated Fat Intake – 47 grams
Daily Fiber Intake – 23 grams

So, this was my bad day.  I am going to try to keep these at least one week apart from now on.  Every week I lose a pound or two, and gain one back over the weekend.  Ahh… beer and cookies… mmm… mmm.  At least my percentages look good.  VERY BAD: My carbs are DOUBLE what they should be and my sugar intake is too high.

Day 35: April 2, 2008

You have to have cardio in your workout regimen.  I know it and you know it.  Cardio has always been tough for me since I dislike so many cardio exercises.  I hate elipticals, stairmasters, stationary bikes (especially spinning classes), running and walking on treadmills, and any other indoor cardio machine.  I like being outside, so I’ve purchased jump-ropes, in-line skates, and running shoes for exercising at a nearby park.  Unfortunately, there are only so many hours of daylight, and being outside after dusk can be scary, especially in my neighorhood.  Also, it rains outside.  And it’s too cold many months out of the year.  My last gym had exercise classes that I enjoyed, like step, boot-camp, strip-tease, and hip-hop cardio, so I would attend those whenever I could.  I’m already at the studio 3x/week for Pilates, so I no longer want to pay for an additional gym membership.

I had promised myself that I would walk a couple of day a week in addition to my Pilates sessions, but that only lasted the first couple of weeks.  However, the studio offers Russian Kettlebell classes several times a week…

So, I tried it.  I had been warned that it was intense, and that I would have trouble walking the following day, and an invalid the next.  I pretty much knew that I’d love it since I enjoy intense work outs and desperately needed some cardio to burn off my spare tire.  There are gorgeous abs under that flab and I want to see them!

Kettlebells are cannonball looking weights that have a handle on them.  You pick them up, put them down, and swing them around.  It sounds easy enough, but it is a KILLER workout.  For most of the exercises, you are squatting down to get the momentum to swing your bell upwards, using your arms as a pendulum.  On the way back down, your arms bounce off your upper thighs, sending the kettlebell up again.  It’s bizarre.

Most of the exercises work out your inner thighs, quads, and gluts, with some ab work and, too a lesser degree, yours arms, shoulders, and back.  It felt great!  When I didn’t want to pass out that is…

The best thing about kettlebells is that it is interval training.  You’ll do a set, get your heartrate up, and just when you feel you are going to pass out, you take a rest.  Every 5-10 minutes you rest.  You get some water, breathe, and then, another set.  It’s wonderful.  You sweat, strength-train, and get your cardio in a 50 minute class. 

I know I got a great workout.  The goal is to do this twice a week, in addition to Pilates 3x week.

What I ate today:
2 hard-boiled eggs
Cod Liver oil
Boston Market Meatloaf meal with
Creamed spinach
and Green Beans
Coconut Oil
2 oz Buffalo Jerky (Trader Joes)
1 Miller High Life

  Fat – 57.8% (90 grams)
  Protein – 21.5% (76 grams)
  Carbohydrates – 19.4% (68 grams)
  Alcohol – 0.0%
  Other – 1.3%

Daily Sodium Intake – 2,421 mg
Daily Sugar Intake – 19 grams
Daily Cholesterol Intake – 668 mg
Daily Saturated Fat Intake – 46 grams
Daily Fiber Intake – 9 grams

What I ate April 3:
2 hard-boiled eggs (they are just so easy and portable)
cod liver oil
Huge carrot
1 oz mozzarella
2 slices uncured nitrate-free bacon
Spinach, onion, cream cheese scrambler
Miller High Life (4)
2 deviled eggs (see recipe)
Lissette’s Lasagna (see recipe)

  Fat – 40.9% (62 grams)
  Protein – 22.1% (76 grams)
  Carbohydrates – 18.9% (65 grams)
  Alcohol – 16.4% (32 grams)
  Other – 1.9%

Daily Sodium Intake – 1,878 mg
Daily Sugar Intake – 14 grams
Daily Cholesterol Intake – 1,190 mg
Daily Saturated Fat Intake – 27 grams
Daily Fiber Intake – 5 grams

I was getting sick of hard-boiled eggs every morning, so I made a batch of deviled eggs to eat in the mornings.  They weren’t pretty but they sure tasted good!

Weight: 134.8 – still losing!

Day 35: April 2, 2008

Session: 16

Today I worked with a new instructor.  She wasn’t new, I just hadn’t worked with her before.  She was aware that I had taken on the 30-day Pilates Challange and that I had been coming 3x/week, but still she was surprised at how advanced I was.  I was stronger than I looked (a well-known benefit of Pilates) and had mastered transitioning pretty much without any assistance.  Another thing she said to me was that I was “connected”.  I had to ask around what that meant.

In Pilates, being connected means having a mind-body connection.  For example, the instructor verbally asks you to perform an exercise, then verbally asks you to adjust yourself to perform the exercise correctly.  While performing an exercise, she may say all of the following:

• scoop your naval
• now exhale
• lift with your hips
• create separation between your ribs
• grow taller through the crown of your head

This sounds like a lot to keep in your head, especially while doing the exercise, but as you take more sessions, these things become more like reminders than instructions.  Being “connected” helps because when an instructor says to engage your core, you know where it is and what to do with it.  Same goes for your feet, hands, fingers, toes, inner thigh, glutes, etc.  Knowing where your body parts are seems like a give-in, but it really isn’t. 

Before I starting Pilates apparatus sessions, I was a clumsy person.  I was forever stubbing my toes, jamming my fingers, knocking my knees into things, and so forth.  I had always assumed that this was due to a high-center of gravity, my long limbs, or some other physiological scapegoat.  But I’ve been living in this body for 24×7 for 28 years and I still haven’t gotten used to it!  How long is the learning curve to compensate for whatever body-weirdnesses I have? 

As it turns out, I just wasn’t connected.  Getting connected doesn’t happen right away either.  For example, during my first few sessions, the instructors would ask me to do something, perhaps scoop my navel (this was the toughest concept for me to grasp), and I would toughen my abs like I was about to take a punch.  They would have to physically put their hands on me to get me to do what they were asking.  Same with other exercises.  If I were asked to create separation between my ribs, I’d try, and I’d think I was doing it, but I wasn’t.  I needed tactile direction.  It was like, “Okay Lissette, here are your ribs.  I’m touching them.  Separate them like this.  Good.  Now hold that and continue the exercise.”  All along I’m thinking, “I know where my ribs are!”, while I clearly did not. 

Some clients need a lot of tactile instruction, which is why private instruction is so important with Pilates.  Going to Pilates mat classes are beneficial, but you can’t get all that you can out of them unless you know how to perform the exercises properly.  Connection is needed for that.  And I have it!  And less bruises to prove it!

What I ate today:
1 tsp cod liver oil
2 hard-boiled eggs
Boston Market Meatloaf, creamed spinach, and green beans
1 tbsp coconut oil
2 oz Buffalo Jerky Sweet and Spicy
Miller High Life
Total Calories: 1,404

 Fat – 57.8% (90 grams)
 Protein – 21.5% (76 grams)
 Carbohydrates – 19.4% (68 grams)
 Alcohol – 0.0%
 Other – 1.3%

Daily Sodium Intake – 2,421 mg
Daily Sugar Intake – 19 grams
Daily Cholesterol Intake – 668 mg
Daily Saturated Fat Intake – 46 grams
Daily Fiber Intake – 9 grams

Except for the sugar intake, this is a pretty good day.  My boyfriend has been out of town, and since I hate cooking for one, I have been eating Boston Market.  The portions are large, so I eat half for lunch and half for dinner.

April 1, 2008

Here is what information I have used to tweak my diet thus far:

• Eat as little sugar as possible
• Eat only 72 g of carbohydrates/day
• Have a tsp of cod-liver oil before breakfast
• Have a 1- 1 1/2 tbsp of coconut oil 20 min before eating every meal
• Only eat 3 meals/day
• Eat your last meal at least 3 hours before bedtime
• Eat organic produce
• Eat only pasture-fed meats, pork, and poultry that have not been given hormones or anti-biotics
• Avoid foods with preservatives or additives
• Drink kombucha
• Consume raw dairy products (milk, cheese, yogurt)
• Reduce consumption of wine, beer, and spirits
• Diet that is 60% fat, 30% protein, 10% carb (or 72g)

I spoke with Davidson about my feeling under the weather yesterday and explained what I had eaten the 2 days before- the only days of a truly high-fat, low-carb diet.  He told me that I should EASE into the diet instead of changing from a diet consisting of 40-60% carbs to one of 60% fat. 

According to Davidson, my body has to adjust to eating all this fat, and change from burning carbs to burning fats.  Since I am carrying some extra fat around my midsection, I am willing to stick this out, even if I feel a little weird for a couple days.

Until then, I am going to change a few items from this list to make it a more sustainable and enjoyable diet for me.  This is what I plan to adhere to:

• Eating as little sugar as possible (which still means eating cookies for me, I’ll just cut down)
• Eating only 72 carbs a day
• Having a tsp of cod-liver oil before breakfast
• Having 1 tbsp of coconut oil/day (that’s it)
• Eating only 3 times a day
• Eating 2 hours before bedtime
• All organic, pasture-fed meats and poultry
• Avoiding foods with additives and preservatives
• Drink kombucha in moderation (2 bottles a week- that’s it)
• Consume raw dairy products whenever possible
• Drink un-pasteurized beer whenever possible- it’s unlikely I will reduce consumption

If I haven’t mentioned it before, I have a beer and cookie problem.  However, if I drink unpasteurized beer, and eat only homemade cookies (see recipe) it’s better than drinking cooked beer or prepackaged cookies.  At least I’m moving in the right direction.

Weight: 135.2

What I ate today:
2 Hard-boiled Eggs
Raw Almonds
Cod Liver Oil
Boston Market Dark Meat
Creamed Spinach
Green Beans
Cornbread
Cookie
Miller High Life (2)
Total Calories: 1,847

 Fat – 44.3% (106 grams)
 Protein – 16.7% (90 grams)
 Carbohydrates – 27.3% (147 grams)
 Alcohol – 4.5% (14 grams)
 Other – 7.2%

Daily Sodium Intake – 4,536 mg
Daily Sugar Intake – 30 grams
Daily Cholesterol Intake – 858 mg
Daily Saturated Fat Intake – 44 grams
Daily Fiber Intake – 13 grams

Always with the cookies and the beer.  I really wouldn’t be a happy person if I couldn’t have cookies and beer, so I have to find an exercise regimen and diet that allows for it.  P.S. Other in this pie-chart is alcohol.

Weight: 135.2 – I’m losing again!

Day 34: March 31, 2008                                                      

Today marks the halfway point of the Joseph Pilates 30-session Challenge.  I did some exercises using the Magic Circle for the first time.  The Magic Circle is a circle that is placed between my ankles during some of my exercises.  When working with this device you have to squeeze your legs together while doing the exercises, working you out in an additional way.  I also learned how to bring some of the usual exercises up a notch.

I am a bit fatigued, which is always a great feeling.  It’s always nice to know you got a good workout.

Food:
It’s day 2 of the high-fat diet.  I have no problems taking the cod liver oil in the morning, but I sometimes forget to eat coconut oil 2o minutes before meals.  I am also not so keen on the coconut oil.  I have been just eating it off the spoon, but I think that it’s time to get more creative with how I take it. 

Eating a high fat diet means breakfasts of bacon (organic, nitrate-free, preservative-free) and eggs fried in the leftover bacon grease.  It’s strange eating such fatty foods, especially since I’ve trained myself to avoid them.

Update: 
Around 6:30 today, I started feeling weird.  I felt a little nauseous and had a burst of energy even though I hadn’t eaten since 12:30.  The energy burst felt like I had just drank a cup of coffee or Coke- not the good kind.  According to the books I’ve been reading, going from a low-fat diet to a high-fat diet can be unpleasant at first.  Your body needs a chance to adjust. 

The nausea could be from the kombucha I drank.  Kombucha is a beverage that is made from fermenting SCOBIA.  It is chock full of probiotics that assist in digestion and weight control, boosts metabolism and immune system, among other things.  It takes kind of yeasty, like beer, so I can drink it by the barrels, like beer.  It also has a bit of a vinegary taste, and I love vinegar.  And it is naturally effervescent, so it reminds me of that Diet Coke I miss so much.

What I ate today:
2 slices Bacon
2 Fried Eggs
Coconut Oil
Cod Liver Oil
Meatballs in Marinara
Coconut Oil
Avocado with Oil and Vinegar
Coconut Oil

 Fat – 80.7% (146 grams)
 Protein – 11.5% (47 grams)
 Carbohydrates – 7.8% (32 grams)
 Alcohol – 0.0%
 Other – 0.0%

Daily Sodium Intake – 1,425 mg
Daily Sugar Intake – 7 grams
Daily Cholesterol Intake – 559 mg
Daily Saturated Fat Intake – 65 grams
Daily Fiber Intake – 14 grams

Day 34: March 30, 2008

As I mentioned before, I recently read Eat Fat, Lose Fat by Dr. Mary Enig and Sally Fallon.  The authors stress the importance of drinking raw milk and eating raw cheeses and yoghurt.  Raw milk is milk that has not been pasteurized or homogenized.  Raw cheeses and yoghurt are made from raw milk.  In the U.S. it is illegal to sell raw milk for human consumption so you will not find it in any grocery stores, even specialty stores.  In order to purchase raw milk, you have to find a nearby farm that sells you milk under the guise of purchasing for animal consumption. 

Milk that has been pasteurized and homogenized is robbed of its nutrients and the milk that remains is actually harmful to your body.  The authors state that if you are unable to find raw milk, to not drink milk at all.  That’s a pretty bold statement.  My boyfriend goes through a gallon of milk by himself every 5 or so days, so it’s about time to get some of the real thing.

I went to www.westonaprice.org to see what raw milk providers were nearby.  This website, started by SallyFallon, contains information about health and diet following a Traditional Diet, and information to help people obtain raw milk.  I found a farm in Tennesse that is on my route to Huntsville, Alabama.  I travel to Huntsville often to visit my boyfriend’s parents, so this was perfect.  The farm also makes a trip to Atlanta once a month to sell pre-ordered animal products.  The next scheduled trip isn’t until April 19th, so I will most likely make a trip to Huntsville before that time and pick up some milk (and a couple steaks) on my way home.

What I ate today:
Lasagna
Cod Liver Oil
Smoked Salmon with Cream Cheese, Capers, and onions
Tomato with oil and vinegar
Coconut Flakes
Meatballs (purchased from TJ)
Organic Marinara
Coconut Oil
Mozzarella Cheese
Beer

 Fat – 59.7% (115 grams)
 Protein – 19.7% (86 grams)
 Carbohydrates – 14.9% (65 grams)
 Alcohol – 5.6% (14 grams)
 Other – 0.0%

Daily Sodium Intake – 2,596 mg
Daily Sugar Intake – 19 grams
Daily Cholesterol Intake – 354 mg
Daily Saturated Fat Intake – 56 grams
Daily Fiber Intake – 5 grams

Additional Exercise: I spent some time walking around downtown today searching for a governmental building.  3o minutes total, brisk walking, up and down hills.

Day 33: March 29, 2008

There is no doubt that I am stronger and more flexible due to my Pilates regimen.  Unfortunately I can’t see my new abs of steel through the layer of fat that clings to them.  I haven’t been walking like I had originally planned, so I need stricter eating habits to expedite my fat loss.  Dieting is difficult for me since I love food.  The moment you tell me I can’t have something (like cheese), it is all that I can think of and I’m miserable until I have it. 

I have been trying to eat a Traditional Diet, but have been confused as to what it is I can, and can not have.  Danielle, the owner of Studio Lotus, lent me some books so that I could have a better understanding of the Traditional Diet.

Eat Fat, Lose Fat by Dr. Mary Enig and Sally Fallon is the first book I picked up.  It states that a diet high in saturated fat is the healthiest and most sensible diet for a human being.  This goes against everything I have ever heard in the past, but after reading the book, I am convinced that the rise in heart disease and obesity in America is the result of low-fat, processed, genetically altered foods.  The book recommends a traditional diet that consists of animal products and organic produce.  In a nutshell it is what you would eat if you lived on a farm- beef from pasture-fed cows, eggs and poultry from pasture-fed chickens, pork from pasture-fed pigs, raw whole milk, raw whole cheese, raw whole butter, lard, etc.

Eat Fat, Lose Fat strongly suggests taking cod liver oil supplements every morning and 1 tbsp of coconut oil 20 minutes before eating.  I found the cod liver oil and coconut oil at Whole Foods.  Trader Joes generally carries coconut oil, but my local TJ does not.  Cod liver oil supposedly boosts your metabolism.  Fine by me.  The coconut oil is another fat that, when eaten throughout the day, tells your body that it doesn’t have to store fat since its getting plenty.  Over time, my body will begin to shed the fat it has been storing, provided I do not overload myself with carbs that would be burned off first. 

I just had my first tsp of cod liver oil and it wasn’t bad at all.  I was expecting a very fishy tasting oil, but instead it had a mild fishy aftertaste.  No biggie.  I also ate a tbsp of extra virgin coconut oil straight off the spoon- yum.  I love coconut, so this was no problem at all.

Life Without Bread by Christian B. Allan, Ph.D. and Wolfgang Lutz, M.D. gives scientific backing to the low-carb diet.  This is a great read for anyone who needs solid evidence before changing their eating habits.  The authors discuss many modern ailments, including obesity, heart disease, and diabetes, and how a high-carb diet like the FDA’s recommended daily intake, is the reason so many people suffer from these diseases.  This book is more technical, discussing how the human body creates and uses energy, and why certain food products are better suited then others to faciliatate this creation and use.  The provided research and technical aspect of the book was refreshing after reading Skinny Bitch by Rory Friedman and Kim Barbouin.  I would recomment this book to none.

Life Without Bread recommends eating 72 grams or less of carbohydrates daily.  So, now I will be paying close attention to my total daily carb intake as well as total daily sugar intake. 

I will be eating a low-carb, high-fat diet, which is exactly the opposite of the FDA’s food pyramid, which says to consume 8-11 servings of Carbs a day and to use fat sparingly.  Interesting…

What I’ve been eating:
Day 31: March 27, 2008
2 Hard-Boiled Eggs
Carrot
Grapes
Burger with Muenster Cheese (no bun) garlic and onions
Tomato with oil and vinegar
Beer
Fried Plantains
Chili Cheese Tater Tots (just a couple)
Meatball Sliders (Pint and Plate)
More Beers

 Fat – 50.0% (147 grams)
 Protein – 22.0% (146 grams)
 Carbohydrates – 28.1% (186 grams)
 Alcohol – 0.0%
 Other – 0.0%

Daily Sodium Intake – 3,684 mg
Daily Sugar Intake – 62 grams
Daily Cholesterol Intake – 844 mg
Daily Saturated Fat Intake – 58 grams
Daily Fiber Intake – 13 grams

Day 32: March 28, 2008
Hard-boiled Egg
Carrot
Chocolate Chip Cookie
Burger with Muenster Cheese on spelt bread, with garlic, onions
Sauteed Spinach
Cranberry Juice
Tomato with Oil and Vinegar
Avocado with oil and vinegar
Spelt bread with hummus, roasted red peppers and olives

 Fat – 50.6% (106 grams)
 Protein – 17.0% (80 grams)
 Carbohydrates – 32.4% (153 grams)
 Alcohol – 0.0%
 Other – 0.0%

Daily Sodium Intake – 1,573 mg
Daily Sugar Intake – 58 grams
Daily Cholesterol Intake – 415 mg
Daily Saturated Fat Intake – 36 grams
Daily Fiber Intake – 34 grams

Day 33: March 29, 2008
Cod Liver Oil
Coconut Oil
Hard-boiled Egg
Bacon
Fried Eggs
Buffalo Jerky
Lasagna (recipe)
Coconut Oil

 Fat – 60.6% (83 grams)
 Protein – 24.6% (76 grams)
 Carbohydrates – 13.6% (42 grams)
 Alcohol – 0.0%
 Other – 1.2%

Daily Sodium Intake – 1,675 mg
Daily Sugar Intake – 18 grams
Daily Cholesterol Intake – 843 mg
Daily Saturated Fat Intake – 43 grams
Daily Fiber Intake – 4 grams

Day 30: March 26, 2008

Session: 13

Weight: 134.4

6 days ago, I weighed 133 lbs- the lowest I’ve weighed yet.  Then I was bad and ate a huge piece of lasagna, 3 pieces of bread with olive oil, and some chocolate zuccato cake from Maggianos, a local restaurant with the most mouth-watering Italian menu in Atlanta.  I had salad too.  This, and some other snafu’s brought my weight back up to 135 lbs.  I got back to my diet… for awhile, then I passed Chipotle, where I ate a carnitas burrito with all the fixings.  This morning the carb cravings set in, and the memory of that lasagna became too strong.  I went to Whole Foods this afternoon and ate another HUGE piece of lasagna.  I am now feeling guilty because it wasn’t nearly as good as the one from Maggiano’s, not to mention, I feel like crap.  Too many processed foods for my nearly toxic-free body.

Pilates are going extremely well.  I’ve moved quickly into Intermediate exercises and have become even strong and more limber.    The instructors continue to comment of how well I am doing and on the aesthetic improvement of my body.  I am absolutely addicted and have considered going the gamut and getting certified.  We shall see.

The sessions continue to challenge me.  From talking to the instructors, I now know that how much a person gets out of a session has a lot to do with the client.  Those who come to workout, get a workout.  If you puss out and give up during the exercises, you won’t reap the many benefits of Pilates.  The real results happen when you push yourself when you want to give up.  This is something I always think to myself when I can’t take it any longer- THIS IS WHEN I GET RESULTS. 

Next week I will begin taking kettlebells classes.  Kettlebells is a cardio and strength-training regimen that whips you into shape.  I decided to start these classes since I haven’t been walking for cardio.  I am going take classes twice a week to start and see if I can handle it.

What I’ve been Eating:

Day 25: March 21, 2008
Meatloaf with Tomato Sauce
Hard-boiled Egg
Orange
Green Beans
Miller High Life
Chocolate Chip Cookies
Meatloaf with Tomato Sauce (again)
Total Calories: 1,268

Fat – 35.2% (50 grams) Protein – 27.7% (88 grams) Carbohydrates – 30.5% (97 grams) Alcohol – 0.0% Other – 6.6%Daily Sodium Intake – 2,063 mg Daily Sugar Intake – 41 grams Daily Cholesterol Intake – 540 mg Daily Saturated Fat Intake – 25 grams Daily Fiber Intake – 12 grams

Day 26: March 22, 2008
2 Hard-boiled Eggs
Orange
Strawberries
Avocado, Tomato with oil and vinegar
Bass
Popcorn
Total Calories: 1,257

Fat – 35.9% (50 grams) Protein – 9.1% (29 grams) Carbohydrates – 38.0% (120 grams) Alcohol – 0.0% Other – 17.0%Daily Sodium Intake – 509 mg Daily Sugar Intake – 21 grams Daily Cholesterol Intake – 424 mg Daily Saturated Fat Intake – 11 grams Daily Fiber Intake – 27 grams

Day 27: March 23, 2008
2 Hard-boiled Egg
Carrots and Hummus
Mango
Chicken and Mushroom Lasagna
Chocolate Zuccato Cake
3 large pieces of Bread with Olive Oil
Total Calories: 2,074

Fat – 41.9% (97 grams) Protein – 19.8% (104 grams) Carbohydrates – 38.4% (201 grams) Alcohol – 0.0% Other – 0.0%Daily Sodium Intake – 2,913 mg Daily Sugar Intake – 42 grams Daily Cholesterol Intake – 606 mg Daily Saturated Fat Intake – 33 grams Daily Fiber Intake – 25 grams

Day 28: March 24, 2008
Meatloaf with garlic, onion, parmesan, and parsley (recipe)
Tomato
Corn on the Husk
Guacamole
Spelt Bread and Butter
Beer
Meatloaf again
Total Calories: 1,219

Fat – 38.4% (52 grams) Protein – 22.5% (69 grams) Carbohydrates – 28.5% (87 grams) Alcohol – 0.0% Other – 10.5%Daily Sodium Intake – 829 mg Daily Sugar Intake – 22 grams Daily Cholesterol Intake – 225 mg Daily Saturated Fat Intake – 25 grams Daily Fiber Intake – 12 grams

Day 29: March 25, 2008
Hard-boiled Egg
Strawberries
Apple
Asiago Roast Beef Sandwich (Panera)
Wine
Carnitas Burrito (Chipotle)
Total Calories: 2,204

Fat – 35.0% (86 grams) Protein – 21.1% (116 grams) Carbohydrates – 38.7% (214 grams) Alcohol – 5.2% (16 grams) Other – 0.0%Daily Sodium Intake – 4,800 mg Daily Sugar Intake – 19 grams Daily Cholesterol Intake – 463 mg Daily Saturated Fat Intake – 34 grams Daily Fiber Intake – 18 grams

Day 30: March 26, 2008
Spelt bread with Hummus and Olives and Roasted Red Pepper
Mixed Nuts
Meat Lasagna
Wine
Chocolate Chip Cookies
Total Calories: 1,404

Fat – 40.1% (63 grams) Protein – 13.8% (49 grams) Carbohydrates – 35.3% (125 grams) Alcohol – 10.8% (22 grams) Other – 0.0%Daily Sodium Intake – 2,139 mg Daily Sugar Intake – 23 grams Daily Cholesterol Intake – 101 mg Daily Saturated Fat Intake – 25 grams Daily Fiber Intake – 11 grams

Day 24: March 24, 2008

I am 1/3 of the way through the Joseph Pilates Challenge, and I’m already seeing results.

Remember, Mr. Pilates promised that after 10 sessions I’d feel a difference, after 20 sessions I’d see a difference, and after 30 sessions I’d have a whole new body.  Well, after 10 sessions I’ve lost 7 lbs and I feel fantastic.  If I could do Pilates everyday I would.  I’m sure that I would have a body like Madonna’s (who also does Pilates) if I did.  Doing Pilates 3 times a week for a little over 3 weeks now has definitely changed me for the better.  I am more flexible now then I have ever been.  I am strong too, and getting stronger every session as I’m learning to do intermediate exercises, which also focus on the extremities while continuing to work out my core.

Food intake:

Although I have lapsed a bit on recording my experience, I have remained diligent when it comes to tracking my food intake.  I have given up sodas completely and most other drinks besides water.  I have been drinking Trader Joe’s Blueberry Green Tea, around 8-10 tea bags a week.  It tastes great, is rich with anti-oxidants, and I have found it to be an appetite suppresant as well.  Davidson, my Pilates instructor, would prefer that I drink Green Tea without any added flavoring, but for now its better than Diet Coke. 

Speaking of Diet Coke, I recently had one accidently.  My friend has asked me to take her to and from a surgery she was having, and while I packed snacks, I forgot to bring water.  About an hour into the surgery I was thirsting to death, so a nurse directed me to a soda machine that had water in it as well.  It was the only one in the hospital (or so she said), and when I pushed the button for Dasani, it was SOLD OUT.  I stood in front of the machine for a whole minute before deciding that something was better than nothing, and reluctantly bought a Diet Coke. 

BIG MISTAKE.  I felt completely cracked out on the caffeine, only to crash later.  Also, for the remainder of the day I felt like complete crap.  Like I had poisoned myself or something.  It was awful.  On a positive note, it was the negative reinforcement I needed to kick the habit for good.  I no longer long for Diet Coke as I had been.

Weight:
March 10, 2008 – 135.6 lbs
March 20, 2008 – 133 lbs (yay, skinniest I’ve been yet!)

Here is what I’ve eaten since I had last written:

Day 14: March 10, 2008
Apple
Tomato
Moroccan (not sure what this is- but it’s how I recorded it)
Chocolate Chunk Cookie
Chili Dogs (no Buns)
Corn on Husk
Total Calories: 1,262
$(document).ready(function() { $(“a.tooltip”).Tooltip({ delay: 0, showURL: false }); });

Fat – 32.7% (47 grams) Protein – 23.9% (77 grams) Carbohydrates – 43.4% (139 grams) Alcohol – 0.0% Other – 0.0%Daily Sodium Intake – 2,169 mg Daily Sugar Intake – 41 grams Daily Cholesterol Intake – 161 mg Daily Saturated Fat Intake – 19 grams Daily Fiber Intake – 19 grams

Day 15: March 11, 2008
Baby Carrots
Orange
Go Raw Trek Mix
Spelt Bread and Peanut Butter
Southwestern style Chicken Wrap
String Cheese
Corn on the Husk
Hotdog
Salad
Samoa
Beer
Diet Coke- awful!!
Total Calories: 1,688
$(document).ready(function() { $(“a.tooltip”).Tooltip({ delay: 0, showURL: false }); });

Fat – 44.5% (87 grams) Protein – 13.1% (57 grams) Carbohydrates – 31.3% (137 grams) Alcohol – 11.1% (28 grams) Other – 0.0%Daily Sodium Intake – 1,877 mg Daily Sugar Intake – 39 grams Daily Cholesterol Intake – 90 mg Daily Saturated Fat Intake – 23 grams Daily Fiber Intake – 28 grams

Day 16: March 12, 2008
Baby Carrots
Go Raw Trek Mix
Rotisserie Chicken
Sauteed Spinach
Wine
Beer
Tomatoes with olive oil and vinegar
Yellow Curry Chicken
Total Calories: 1,181

$(document).ready(function() { $(“a.tooltip”).Tooltip({ delay: 0, showURL: false }); });

Fat – 42.0% (55 grams) Protein – 17.6% (52 grams) Carbohydrates – 24.1% (71 grams) Alcohol – 14.7% (25 grams) Other – 1.6%Daily Sodium Intake – 1,066 mg Daily Sugar Intake – 32 grams Daily Cholesterol Intake – 167 mg Daily Saturated Fat Intake – 15 grams Daily Fiber Intake – 9 grams

Day 17: March 13, 2008
Boston Market Meatloaf
Boston Market Mashed Potatoes
Boston Market Green Beans
Boston Market Cornbread
Total Calories: 930

$(document).ready(function() { $(“a.tooltip”).Tooltip({ delay: 0, showURL: false }); });

Fat – 47.0% (51 grams) Protein – 15.3% (37 grams) Carbohydrates – 37.7% (91 grams) Alcohol – 0.0% Other – 0.0%Daily Sodium Intake – 2,060 mg Daily Sugar Intake – 23 grams Daily Cholesterol Intake – 160 mg Daily Saturated Fat Intake – 21 grams Daily Fiber Intake – 7 grams

Day 18: March 14, 2008
Crab Cake
Mixed Greens with oil and vinegar
Bread and butter
Bison Meatloaf with Gravy
Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Pickles
Squash Casserole
Key Lime Pie
Total Calories: 1,804

$(document).ready(function() { $(“a.tooltip”).Tooltip({ delay: 0, showURL: false }); });

Fat – 44.5% (89 grams) Protein – 20.0% (90 grams) Carbohydrates – 35.5% (161 grams) Alcohol – 0.0% Other – 0.0%Daily Sodium Intake – 4,574 mg Daily Sugar Intake – 50 grams Daily Cholesterol Intake – 354 mg Daily Saturated Fat Intake – 28 grams Daily Fiber Intake – 16 grams

Nutrition Grade

Day 19: March 15, 2008
Ham and Cheese Omelette
Bacon
Beer
Gin and Tonic
Brownie
Stuffed Portabello Mushrooms
Crab Dip
Arichoke Dip
Bean and Cheese Dip
Shrimp with Cocktail Sauce
Pimento Dip
Triscuits
Tortilla Chips
Total Calories: 2,890

Fat – 35.1% (113 grams) Protein – 15.4% (112 grams) Carbohydrates – 29.3% (212 grams) Alcohol – 20.2% (83 grams) Other – 0.0%Daily Sodium Intake – 4,243 mg Daily Sugar Intake – 11 grams Daily Cholesterol Intake – 292 mg Daily Saturated Fat Intake – 26 grams Daily Fiber Intake – 8 grams

Day 20: March 16, 2008
Shrimp Po’Boy with Remoulade
Celery and Blue Cheese
Wings
Glazed Donut
Beer
Total Calories: 1,483

$(document).ready(function() { $(“a.tooltip”).Tooltip({ delay: 0, showURL: false }); });

Fat – 44.4% (73 grams) Protein – 13.4% (50 grams) Carbohydrates – 22.5% (84 grams) Alcohol – 19.6% (42 grams) Other – 0.0%Daily Sodium Intake – 1,652 mg Daily Sugar Intake – 14 grams Daily Cholesterol Intake – 349 mg Daily Saturated Fat Intake – 14 grams Daily Fiber Intake – 4 grams

Day 21: March 17, 2008
Rotisserie Chicken
Potato with Butter
4 squares Milk Chocolate
Whole Wheat Pita Pizza
Tomato with oil and vinegar
Light Garlic and Herb Cheese Wedge
Blue Moon
Total Calories: 1,385

$(document).ready(function() { $(“a.tooltip”).Tooltip({ delay: 0, showURL: false }); });

Fat – 36.7% (56 grams) Protein – 24.6% (85 grams) Carbohydrates – 32.6% (113 grams) Alcohol – 0.0% Other – 6.2%Daily Sodium Intake – 1,249 mg Daily Sugar Intake – 16 grams Daily Cholesterol Intake – 225 mg Daily Saturated Fat Intake – 23 grams Daily Fiber Intake – 6 grams

Day 22: March 18, 2008
Baby Carrots
Cashews
Orange
Spelt bread with Hummus and olives
Blue Moon
Chicken Mexicali (see recipe)
Corn on Husk
Homemade Choco Chip Cookies (see recipe)
Total Calories: 1,244

$(document).ready(function() { $(“a.tooltip”).Tooltip({ delay: 0, showURL: false }); });

Fat – 35.9% (50 grams) Protein – 20.5% (64 grams) Carbohydrates – 37.9% (118 grams) Alcohol – 0.0% Other – 5.7%Daily Sodium Intake – 1,190 mg Daily Sugar Intake – 37 grams Daily Cholesterol Intake – 164 mg Daily Saturated Fat Intake – 18 grams Daily Fiber Intake – 14 grams

Day 23: March 19, 2008
Apple
Tomatoes
Cashews
Carrots with Hummus
Chicken Mexicali (recipe)
Hard-boiled egg
Eggplant Parmesan (just 1 bite)
Chocolate Chip Cookie (recipe)
Total Calories: 934

$(document).ready(function() { $(“a.tooltip”).Tooltip({ delay: 0, showURL: false }); });

Fat – 44.6% (46 grams) Protein – 25.5% (60 grams) Carbohydrates – 30.0% (70 grams) Alcohol – 0.0% Other – 0.0%Daily Sodium Intake – 533 mg Daily Sugar Intake – 22 grams Daily Cholesterol Intake – 377 mg Daily Saturated Fat Intake – 19 grams Daily Fiber Intake – 8 grams

Day 24: March 20, 2008
Strawberries
3 Hard-boiled eggs
Tomatoes
Mixed Greens with oil and vinegar
Blue Moon
Miller High Life
Total Calories: 739

$(document).ready(function() { $(“a.tooltip”).Tooltip({ delay: 0, showURL: false }); });

Fat – 39.2% (32 grams) Protein – 13.9% (26 grams) Carbohydrates – 22.1% (41 grams) Alcohol – 0.0% Other – 24.7%Daily Sodium Intake – 278 mg Daily Sugar Intake – 8 grams Daily Cholesterol Intake – 636 mg Daily Saturated Fat Intake – 8 grams Daily Fiber Intake – 4 grams

Day 9: March 5, 2008

Session: 4

I asked for it.  I had said that I wanted to have my ass kicked and I did.  What’s crazy is that for 30 minutes of the 60 minute session I hardly moved.  I spent the whole time doing mat exercises: articulating my spine, doing planks, etc.  It was killer!  I loved it.

I was dropped off at the Studio so that I could walk home, which is about 5-6 miles.  Since my workout finished at 6pm, I really had to book it so that I’d get home before dark.  I sped walked for 1 hour and a half. 

Davidson gave me some pointers for my diet, like

• No sugar
• Atkins had the right idea about low-carb
•  If I have to eat bread, make it spelt bread
• Your carbs should come from veggies
• The first thing you should eat in the morning is Fat and Protein
• Eat Fruit early in the day.  Beer, too.

What I’ve eaten:
Go Raw Trek Mix
Strawberries
Baby Carrots
Taco Salad
Orange
Tuna Salad
Blue Moon
$(document).ready(function() { $(“a.tooltip”).Tooltip({ delay: 0, showURL: false }); });

Fat – 22.9% (33 grams) Protein – 24.0% (77 grams) Carbohydrates – 44.5% (143 grams) Alcohol – 0.0% Other – 8.6% Daily Sodium Intake – 1,798 mg Daily Sugar Intake – 43 grams Daily Cholesterol Intake – 132 mg Daily Saturated Fat Intake – 6 grams Daily Fiber Intake – 19 grams

Day 10: March 6, 2008

Session: 5

Had my ass kicked again today.  I learned a few new exercises, which was great.  Today I used leg and arm springs, which work you more in your extremities while still working out your core.  So far the springs are my favorite.  I am learning to transition between exercises by myself, so I should be ready for duets soon.

What I’ve been eating:
Go Raw Trek Mix
Baby Carrots
Apple
Milk
Pepperoni Pizza
Chicken Salad with Asparagus
Beer
$(document).ready(function() { $(“a.tooltip”).Tooltip({ delay: 0, showURL: false }); });

Fat – 23.8% (46 grams) Protein – 16.5% (72 grams) Carbohydrates – 40.7% (178 grams) Alcohol – 0.0% Other – 19.1% Daily Sodium Intake – 1,626 mg Daily Sugar Intake – 59 grams Daily Cholesterol Intake – 153 mg Daily Saturated Fat Intake – 15 grams Daily Fiber Intake – 13 grams

Day 11: March 7, 2008

What I ate today:
2 hard-boiled eggs
Bacon
Baby Carrots
Mini pizza
Baked Potato with Butter
Wine
$(document).ready(function() { $(“a.tooltip”).Tooltip({ delay: 0, showURL: false }); });

Fat – 22.9% (29 grams) Protein – 14.7% (42 grams) Carbohydrates – 35.8% (103 grams) Alcohol – 26.6% (44 grams) Other – 0.0% Daily Sodium Intake – 1,569 mg Daily Sugar Intake – 12 grams Daily Cholesterol Intake – 495 mg Daily Saturated Fat Intake – 11 grams Daily Fiber Intake – 9 grams

Day 12: March 8, 2008

I went to a yoga class today and found out that the yoga teaching is resigning because she became a grandmother.  I was a little bummed since all 4 times I’ve been to her class, I left feeling awful.  I was really cleaning out those toxins…

What I ate today:
Tuna Salad
Spelt Bread with Goat Cheese and Olive Tapenade
Baby Carrots
Spaghetti
Beers
Tequila shot
Gin and Tonic (it’s Saturday)

$(document).ready(function() { $(“a.tooltip”).Tooltip({ delay: 0, showURL: false }); });

Fat – 17.7% (40 grams) Protein – 11.2% (57 grams) Carbohydrates – 29.0% (148 grams) Alcohol – 31.0% (91 grams) Other – 11.1% Daily Sodium Intake – 1,726 mg Daily Sugar Intake – 15 grams Daily Cholesterol Intake – 94 mg Daily Saturated Fat Intake – 11 grams Daily Fiber Intake – 12 grams

Day 13: March 9, 2008

I can’t stop eating these damn Chocolate Chip Cookies.  They are Trader Joe’s Chocolate Chunk, are 190 calories a piece and are loaded with sugar and wheat carbs.  If they are in the house, I eat 1, sometimes 2, everyday.  I need to stop this.  I wouldn’t buy them, but my boyfriend loves them.  He eats like crazy to try to PUT ON weight.  Right now I hate him.

What I ate today:
Milk
Chocolate Chunk Cookie
Rotisserie Chicken
Tomatoes
Chili Dogs (no buns)
Corn on husk
$(document).ready(function() { $(“a.tooltip”).Tooltip({ delay: 0, showURL: false }); });

Fat – 29.6% (41 grams) Protein – 38.7% (120 grams) Carbohydrates – 31.7% (98 grams) Alcohol – 0.0% Other – 0.0% Daily Sodium Intake – 1,660 mg Daily Sugar Intake – 37 grams Daily Cholesterol Intake – 312 mg Daily Saturated Fat Intake – 18 grams Daily Fiber Intake – 15 grams

Weight: 137 lbs

Today I feel fine.  I am not sore at all.  As a matter of fact, I suggested to my trainer that we amp it up and really work me out hard tomorrow and he stated,

 ”Just because you don’t feel it doesn’t mean it’s not working.” 

 I trust him.

I’ve noticed is that I am much more aware of my body since beginning Pilates.  I find myself sitting taller and standing straighter.  I also try to keep my core engaged more of the time, especially when I’m walking while carrying something heavy, like today when I walked to the grocery store for an 8 lb bag of catfood. 

I have also noticed found that eating organic whole foods allows me to feel much more full while eating less calories.  I suppose foods that haven’t been manipulated in any way are more filling, which makes sense to me.  I purchase most of my groceries from Trader Joes.  Whole Foods is another place you can find orgnanic foods, although it is much more expensive.  The items I can’t find at the smaller TJ, I can find at Whole Foods.

What I ate today:
Bananas (2)
Go Raw Trek Miz
Smoked Turkey Kielbasa
Potato and Cheese Perogies
Burrito (ground beef, salsa, taco sauce, black beans, tomatoes, lettuce, flour tortilla)

Total Calories Consumed: 1,343
$(document).ready(function() { $(“a.tooltip”).Tooltip({ delay: 0, showURL: false }); });

Fat – 25.2% (38 grams) Protein – 26.5% (90 grams) Carbohydrates – 48.4% (164 grams) Alcohol – 0.0% Other – 0.0% Daily Sodium Intake – 2,080 mg Daily Sugar Intake – 46 grams Daily Cholesterol Intake – 186 mg Daily Saturated Fat Intake – 11 grams Daily Fiber Intake – 8 grams

Additional Exercise:  I walked for about an hour today to, through, and back from, Georgia Tech University.  Then I walked down to the grocery store for the catfood (2 blocks).

Day 3: Februaray 28, 2008

Session: 2

Weight: 138

I am still a bit sore from the first session, but mostly I’m feeling great.  We did most of the same exercises as we had during my first session, only I was working with a different instructor, so some of the language was different.  This did not make it more confusing, but better clarified what the goal was during each exercise.  Since Pilates concentrates on strengthening your core, engaging your abdominals for the entire 60 minutes can be difficult to do, at least properly.  After this session I have a better idea of how to do it. 

What I’ve eaten today:
Instant Oatmeal
Banana
Spaghetti
Chocolate Chunk Cookie
Smoked Turkey Kielbasa
Potato & Cheese Perogies
Beers (3)

Total calories consumed: 1,542

$(document).ready(function() { $(“a.tooltip”).Tooltip({ delay: 0, showURL: false }); });

Fat – 9.5% (16 grams) Protein – 7.5% (29 grams) Carbohydrates – 27.7% (107 grams) Alcohol – 6.3% (14 grams) Other – 49.0% Daily Sodium Intake – 540 mg Daily Sugar Intake – 32 grams Daily Cholesterol Intake – 35 mg Daily Saturated Fat Intake – 6 grams Daily Fiber Intake – 7 grams

Day 4: February 29, 2008

It’s Friday and I don’t work today.  A friend of mine flys in tonight and we’ll probably go out and get some beers while she is visiting.  I am a little sore in my abs and back.  My rotator cuff and my quads are also sore.  My next session is Monday, so I have plenty of time to recover if I have a few too many cocktails tonight and tomorrow night.

What I’ve eaten today:
Banana
Milk Chocolate (8 squares)
Whole Wheat Pita
Garlic Hummus
Go Raw Trek Mix
Multi-Grain Pasta w/ Flax
Meatballs
Organic Marinara

Total calories consumed: 1,412
This does not include the alcohol I consumed in the evening.  By the time we went out Friday night, it was midnight, so technically it was Saturday. 

Fat – 33.2% (58 grams) Protein – 22.8% (89 grams) Carbohydrates – 44.0% (172 grams) Alcohol – 0.0% Other – 0.0% Daily Sodium Intake – 2,586 mg Daily Sugar Intake – 42 grams Daily Cholesterol Intake – 141 mg Daily Saturated Fat Intake – 16 grams Daily Fiber Intake – 13 grams

Day 5: March 1,  2008

It’s Saturday and I’m a little hung over.  I am going to use my friends visit as a freespace and allow myself to indulge in the empty carbs and sugars that you’ll find in Corsendonk and Grand Marnier.  I haven’t gone out like that in a while and my body isn’t too happy about last night.  A bunch of us got together again today for lunch at a local sushi bar and had rolls and sake bombs.  It continued like this until about 4 am, so my calories are not logged accurately today. 

What I’ve eaten today:

2 sushi rolls total - there were 9 of us that shared in all the rolls, so I had a total of 2 rolls, but from 9 different types of rolls.  Only 1 roll was fried.  All the others were basic rolls (spicy tuna, candy maki, etc.)
A chili cheese dog- this was around 1am Saturday night after my inhibitions and will power had taken a backseat to my hunger and love of chili dogs.  I have no idea went into making the dog, but it wasn’t nearly as good as the heathier ones I make at home.
Lots of beer, sake bombs, and shots- bad news for tomorrow

Total calories consumed:  No idea.  Maybe 3,000.
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Fat – 0.0% Protein – 0.0% Carbohydrates – 0.0% Alcohol – 0.0% Other – 0.0%

Day 6: March 2, 2008

Ahhh… a day of recovery.  I sleep most of the day away.  I need to prepare for my session tomorrow, so I do a whole lot of nothing.  I spend time with my friend, and drink a glass of Chimay (hair of the dog…)  I go to bed early as well.

What I’ve eaten today:
Homemade Burrito (ground beef, salsa, lettuce, tomatoes, black beans
Taco Salad (no taco shell) with Ranch dressing
Beer (3)
Fat Free Pudding

Total calories consumed: 1,486
$(document).ready(function() { $(“a.tooltip”).Tooltip({ delay: 0, showURL: false }); });

Fat – 30.9% (51 grams) Protein – 25.4% (95 grams) Carbohydrates – 33.2% (123 grams) Alcohol – 0.0% Other – 10.5% Daily Sodium Intake – 1,334 mg Daily Sugar Intake – 28 grams Daily Cholesterol Intake – 232 mg Daily Saturated Fat Intake – 13 grams Daily Fiber Intake – 12 grams

Day 7: Moday, March 3, 2008

Session: 3

Weight: 136

For this session I worked with an apprentice.  An apprentice has been trained in Pilates Instruction, but is still earning her 600 hours necessary to be employed as an Instructor.  Most of the exercises we did today I had familiarity with, but again the language was a bit different, so it was easier for me to add her expanations to the existing ideas I had.  All in all, I am getting better at engaging my core, lengthening my body with each exercise, and controlling my movements.  Pilates is all about slow, controlled movements.  You are working yourself hard, but not vigorously.  The training is difficult, but never straining.  After every session I am drenched in sweat from slowly using resistance and opposition with my body to build long, lean muscles. 

Having one-on-one instruction is necessary when you are beginning Pilates.  The instructors are making sure you are getting the most out of each exercise.  Once I am familiar with transitioning between exercises and I am holding proper form during exercises, I can begin working out with another client, so that there will be two clients and one instructor.  The ultimate goal for there to be 3-4 clients per instructor.  It takes a while to get to that point, but once you are capable, it says a lot about how far you have come.

What I’ve eaten today:

Banana
Edamame (2 servings)
Sourdough Roll
Olive Tapenade
Goat Cheese
Go Raw Trek Mix
Boars Head Ham
Wheat Wrap
Provolone
Beer (3)
Cilantro Yogurt Dip

Total calories consumed: 1,389

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Fat – 36.6% (57 grams) Protein – 17.7% (62 grams) Carbohydrates – 30.9% (107 grams) Alcohol – 7.0% (14 grams) Other – 7.8% Daily Sodium Intake – 1,798 mg Daily Sugar Intake – 29 grams Daily Cholesterol Intake – 98 mg Daily Saturated Fat Intake – 20 grams Daily Fiber Intake – 19 grams

Weight: 139 lbs

Today I woke up easily, feeling good.  I was a bit sore today, mostly in my abs and back.  The soreness wasn’t annoying or debilitating like it has been in the past when I began working out after a hiatus.  Most of the time I didn’t feel a thing and was able to go about my day with no problems.  Occasionally when I’d move in a certain position, I’d feel a dull ache slight fatigue in my muscles.  I could feel it in my arms, quads, abs and back especially.  It was nice to know that I had worked my muscles, but will have no problem working out again tomorrow. 

 Tomorrow is Session #2.  I can’t wait!

Daily Food Intake:

Oatmeal and Bananas for Breakfast
Oats, Regular Quick
Bananas 

I made spaghetti and meatballs for lunch… mmm mmm good
Beef, Ground
Parmesan, Grated Cheese 
Bread Crumbs, Dry, Grated, Seasoned 
Organic Family Marinara Pasta Sauce 
Spaghetti, Whole-wheat
Extra Virgin Olive Oil   
There was garlic, egg, and parsley in the meatballs too, but in such small amounts I didn’t record it

Ham and Cheese Roll-up for Dinner
Classic Whole Wheat Tortillas 
Provolone Cheese 
Black Forest Brand Smoked Ham
Tomatoes
Lettuce

And that blasted cookie I love
Chocolate Chunk Cookie 
Total Calories Consumed: 1,774

Fat – 30.5% (44 grams) Protein – 22.7% (74 grams) Carbohydrates – 46.8% (152 grams) Alcohol – 0.0% Other – 0.0%Daily Sodium Intake – 2,503 mg Daily Sugar Intake – 42 grams Daily Cholesterol Intake – 150 mg Daily Saturated Fat Intake – 19 grams Daily Fiber Intake – 21 grams

 Additional Exercise:  I walked the 2 blocks to the grocery store to pick up parsley and more bananas.

Below is a list of my problems:

• Flat feet, pronates – meaning that the inside arch of my foot falls in.  This has something to do with my not liking my hips, therefore being emotionally detached from them, making them weak and ultimately causing my inside arches to fall flat to the ground.  I know, I said “Whaaat?”, too.  Oh, and this arch has something to do with my adrenal gland, so once its corrected, I should have as much energy as everyone else walking around on arched feet.  I had no idea I was being jipped my whole life, and I’m ready for the onslaught of energy!
• Weak shoulder girdle – no clue what a shoulder girdle is
• Scoliosis – this isn’t the kind that the nurses/cafeteria workers checked for in middle school.  They were checking to see if your spine curves like an “S”.  The type of scoliosis that I have goes from back to front, instead of side to side.  Its still an “S”, but one that would be drawn when I’m standing with the side of my body facing you.  I’ve known about this for quite a while.  I was supposed to do exercises as a child to correct this, but I was more concerned with playing, so I never got around to it. 

Davidson is the Power Pilates instructor that will primarily be training me throughout this process.  He is an expert and has assured me that he can fix all of these problems with Pilates.  Rock on.

Davidson also took my measurements and Before Photos.  Awk-ward.

• Bust: 36″
• Ribline: 30″
• Navel: 34 1/2″
• Trocanter (waistline): 41″
• Top of Thigh: 24
• Arm at bustline: 11″
• Calf at widest point: 13″
• Height: 5’6″ -I’ve shrunk a 1/2 inch.  Boo.

On to my first session:
About 3 minutes into the session I exclaimed, “This is hard!”  Davidson replied, ” And it never gets easier.”  Okay…

FYI: I am a hater of ab work.  In the past during a workout class, I usually left during the last 10 minutes allotted for abdominal work.  If I stayed, I half-assed it or used the time to stretch out and plan my grocery list. 

FYI: A Pilates session is a 60 minute ab workout. 

The reason why I think that Pilates is so hard is because you can’t cheat.  There is an instructor there to make sure you are isolating your core (that would be that middle section I hate to use) during every exercise.  The exercises themselves are great.  You do a lot of stretching to increase your flexibility that also feels oh so good.  There are also strengthening exercises that work pretty much every muscle in your body.  The only problem is that the entire time there is this guy making you isolate your core.  When you try to cheat, he’ll stick his fingers right into your gut, making you contract your muscles for fear that he may poke an organ.  Since he figured out early that I’m a pumpkin-eater, he pretty much kept those fingers in my abdomen the entire workout.  I was pretty sure I’d have a bruise, but turns out he did me no harm.

On a more positive note:  This summer I will be wearing mid-riff shirts for the first time since I was a teenager.  Thanks Davidson

Immediately following the session:  I was exhausted.  It felt like I had worked out harder and longer than I actually had.  Kudos Joe Pilates.  So far, I’m impressed.

5 hours after the session:  I am feeling all-over soreness.  It’s nothing compared to what I’ve felt the first day back to the gym after a hiatus.  It’s more a faint fatigue.  It surprisingly covers more of my body then I’d thought I’d worked out.  I’m sure it’s because my abs were screaming so loudly at me I didn’t hear when the other muscles making noise.  It feels good.  Very good.

What I ate today:
(items put into www.caloriecount.about.com to obtain daily nutrition info)
Banana
Trail Mix
Carrots
Chicken breast
Mushroom Herb Risotto
Chocolate Chunk Cookie
Potato & Cheese Perogi
Smoked Turkey Kielbasa (2 servings)
Another Chocolate Chuck Cookie
Total Calories: 1,426

Fat – 23.2% (37 grams) Protein – 23.7% (85 grams) Carbohydrates – 53.1% (190 grams) Alcohol – 0.0% Other – 0.0%Daily Sodium Intake – 1,554 mg Daily Sugar Intake – 62 grams Daily Cholesterol Intake – 178 mg Daily Saturated Fat Intake – 13 grams Daily Fiber Intake – 10 grams

 

The Pilates Promise:
” In 10 sessions you’ll feel a difference, in 20 sessions you’ll see a difference, in 30 sessions you’ll have a whole new body.” 

Let’s see if that’s true.
Subject: 27 year old female who is currently 10-15 lbs over goal weight
Program:  3 60-minute Pilates sessions a week for 10 weeks, totaling 30 sessions.
During the Program the subject will be cataloging the following:

• The Day, The Date
• Session Number
• Weight
• Daily Food Intake
• Total number of calories consumed per day
• Daily Nutrition information
• Additional Exercise – if applicable

From the subject’s mouth: 
Hi, my name is Lissette.  I am committed to getting healthy.  I have always worked out, but in that infrequent way where several times a year I’d suffer through the first 2 weeks back in the gym, feeling like crap, not being able to walk or sit down without wincing, only to fall off the wagon again and stop going for a few months at a time.  No more of that.  Instead I am going to make working out and eating healthy a lifestyle change. 

I thought that being around like-minded people might help with this life-changing decision, so I got a job at a Studio Lotus, the Premier Pilates Studio in Atlanta.  I had never done Pilates before, but I quickly noticed that all the regulars looked fabulous, so I thought, “what the hell, I’ll give it a shot.”  Besides, I’ve always wanted to touch my toes.

I started researching Pilates online, which is where I found the above quote by the big man himself, Joseph Pilates.  While interviewing for the position, I suggested that Studio Lotus put their money where Joe’s mouth is and sponsor someone to go through a 30 session program.  Joe’s promise was to do 30 sessions in 30 days- which is a little unrealistic for most people these days, both financially and time-wise.  I suggested 30 sessions over 10 weeks time, averaging 3 sessions a week.  Totally doable.  The owners liked the idea and asked if I’d be interested in being the guinea pig.  I hoped that they would.  As soon as I was hired I began the challenge.

As for diet, I have been asked to follow the Traditional Diet as closely as possible.  Basically I will eat whole foods- nothing in a can, sealed package, or containing preservatives.  No low-fat or fat-free items at all (YESSSSS!!!!!!) and lots of protein and fat- especially within 30 minutes of completing a workout.  I will be getting most, if not all, of these items from Trader Joe’s, a local market that has many organic and whole foods at affordable prices.  As I learn more about the Traditional Diet I will try to tweak my diet to more closely resemble it and will keep you posted as to what I learn and from where I receive my information. 

Needless to say, I am excited at this opportunity and looking forward to the end result… and just in time for bathing suit season!

Please use the links on the right-hand pane to follow my experience chronologically.