Scare of the week

With a diet comprising primarily fruits, vegetables, soymilk, Cheerios, whole wheat bread and hummus, it’s no wonder I like to indulge in candy corn, dark chocolate Hershey Kisses and Tasti-d-lite on occasion. While I beat myself up after devouring a fro-yo, I know that things could worse. A lot worse.

Take, for example, the blog This is Why You’re Fat. Its title and tagline (Where dreams become heart attacks) say it all, and its submissions are simply shocking. Snacking on a Strudel Circus Stack may sound like a delicious way to spend 10 minutes of your day, but just think of what “Nutella and strawberry jam sandwiched between two Toaster Strudel Pastries topped with icing, cherry pie filling, whipped cream, sprinkles and a drizzle of honey” can do to your arteries. That’s right – clog them.


If ordering the Fat Bastard Burger with triple beef, triple bacon, triple cheese and caramelized onions sounds like a dandy idea at first, just remember who it’s named after. Yup, this guy:

Please people, be good to your body and it will be good to you. Next time you see something called The Widowmaker on a menu, for the love of God, keep on browsing. One and a half pounds of ground beef, one package of bacon, one package of Italian sausage, a box of hot pockets, and a half of a package of fried onion strips between two pepperoni pizzas topped with Velveeta cheese and marinara sauce may wind up costing your other half 10 grand in funeral costs.

Summer pressures = healthy improvements

In exactly two months, Jackie and I will be rappelling down waterfalls, scaling up a volcano and kayaking through mangroves in beautiful Costa Rica. And month after our Costa Rican adventure, we will be sunning ourselves like iguanas on rocks in the Hamptons. These summer activities are synonymous with skimpy clothes and bathing suits, which is enough of a motivating factor for any woman to want to lose a few pounds.


It is with this in mind that I registered for Self Magazine's 2009 Self Challenge. This program allows you to track your eating habits and workouts online for free. There are also tools and resources to help you lose those L-Bs and tighten those abs and gluts. While my vegetarian and active lifestyle is generally very healthy, I've recently accumulated a few extra pounds on my 5' 3" frame and would love to get rid of them ASAP. The food and exercise logs are key for me as they allow myself to really examine what I eat and how efficient my activities are in burning those kcals. I've only been enrolled in the Self Challenge for a week, and I am already making minor changes to my lifestyle. For example, I have recently added more strength training to my workouts and I have started eating more during the day and less in the evening. I'll keep you updated on my progress and will let you know when (positive thinking here!) I reach my goal (drop a dress size/lose 5-7 pounds).