I've been very good about eating organic, eating fruits and veggies, and staying away from processed sugar. In fact, the last time I had a fast food meal was Normal Medieval Faire! So, I decided to splurge, because it couldn't hurt, right? Um. Wrong. So very wrong.
Yesterday was nuts. Work was crazy. After work, I took the Terror to her anger management class (dog obedience), I did a Zumba medium intensity mid-length class, went hunting for hat supplies, and went to Wholefoods with the roomie. By the time we got done at Wholefoods, it was 8:00, and I didn't feel like going home, making a meal and eating at 9:00 or 9:30, so we stopped at Long John Silver's. I was really looking forward to the greasy chicken-y goodness that is LJS chicken planks. I substituted corn on the cob for fries and ignored my coleslaw as though it were the plague in the hopes of making the meal a little less horrific nutritionally.
When we got home, it was just wonderful as I imagined it would be. However, 45 minutes later, I was hating myself. I had intestinal cramps for the first time in recent memory. I felt horrible all evening. For me, it just hit home how much I don't need that crap in my body. I'm good with the foods I've been eating. I have more energy, and I'm in a better mindset. I think I'll just stick with it and not splurge anymore.
Friday, April 27, 2012
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Zumba Fever!
My roommate has jumped on the Zumba bandwagon! I was going to say that I couldn't express in words how excited I am, but I am one of the most verbose people I know, so that would be a lie. My glee stems from the fact that I finally have a fitness partner. I'm one of those people who needs outside motivation, and having a person spazzing and flailing beside me makes the experience so much more enjoyable.
He's been such a trooper! He's been doing Zumba for all of four days, but he is right there beside me during my mid-length class (11 songs). And for someone who doesn't have my background in dance, he is holding his own!
So, why all the fuss about Zumba? For me, it's fun. The sets are dynamic enough to keep me interested. While I may swear at various instructors because they do complicated moves unavailable in tutorial mode, I can hold my own quite well. If an activity can't keep me engaged, I'm not going to do it. With Zumba: Rush for Xbox Kinect, you don't really have any idea what songs are in the classes you pick, because there is no set list.
Zumba articles:
http://www.zumba.com/about/
http://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/features/zumba-fun-is-secret-ingredient-of-latin-dance-workout
http://burrridge.patch.com/articles/zumba-fitness-bringing-sexy-back-to-exercise
http://voices.yahoo.com/10-reasons-cant-live-without-zumba-fitness-4102825.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/05/healthy-eating-and-zumba-classes-helped-natasha-lose-125-pounds_n_947365.html - This is a great testimonial!
He's been such a trooper! He's been doing Zumba for all of four days, but he is right there beside me during my mid-length class (11 songs). And for someone who doesn't have my background in dance, he is holding his own!
So, why all the fuss about Zumba? For me, it's fun. The sets are dynamic enough to keep me interested. While I may swear at various instructors because they do complicated moves unavailable in tutorial mode, I can hold my own quite well. If an activity can't keep me engaged, I'm not going to do it. With Zumba: Rush for Xbox Kinect, you don't really have any idea what songs are in the classes you pick, because there is no set list.
Zumba articles:
http://www.zumba.com/about/
http://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/features/zumba-fun-is-secret-ingredient-of-latin-dance-workout
http://burrridge.patch.com/articles/zumba-fitness-bringing-sexy-back-to-exercise
http://voices.yahoo.com/10-reasons-cant-live-without-zumba-fitness-4102825.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/05/healthy-eating-and-zumba-classes-helped-natasha-lose-125-pounds_n_947365.html - This is a great testimonial!
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Eating organic...
In the past decade, we've been hearing how wonderful it is to eat organic foods. We hear talk of pesticides and other chemicals that pollute our bodies. We hear about growth hormones that affect our own hormones and throw the thyroid off kilter. We hear all of these things, but we ignore it because organic produce is more expensive. In fact, any produce is more expensive than the quick, prepackaged processed crap we can find at Walmart.
I've been eating mostly organic produce for a little over a year now, and I can definitely tell when I'm eating organic produce vs non-organic. I love bell peppers. I will eat a whole red bell pepper over the course of a day. I went with my mom to Sam's a couple of weeks ago and bought a bag of six Dole bell peppers (red, orange and yellow). I sliced them up to bring to work with me, and when I bit into them, I noticed a slight chemical taste. Not only that, but they lacked the overall flavor of the peppers I usually eat. Being used to the unhindered sweetness of the organic bell peppers I get from Wholefoods, I was slightly disappointed. In the end, I threw away the remaining three peppers, because they were just blah.
Why go organic? It's not just a earth loving, tree hugging hippie thing. I just like the way I feel when I am eating organic. I have more energy, my mind is clearer and more focused, and I tire less easily.
If you are considering going organic, here are some articles to help you get started:
http://www.thedailygreen.com/healthy-eating/eat-safe/dirty-dozen-foods#fbIndex1
http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/eating-organic
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/04/health/04iht-snparker.1.18329349.html
http://www.organicconsumers.org/organlink.cfm
I've been eating mostly organic produce for a little over a year now, and I can definitely tell when I'm eating organic produce vs non-organic. I love bell peppers. I will eat a whole red bell pepper over the course of a day. I went with my mom to Sam's a couple of weeks ago and bought a bag of six Dole bell peppers (red, orange and yellow). I sliced them up to bring to work with me, and when I bit into them, I noticed a slight chemical taste. Not only that, but they lacked the overall flavor of the peppers I usually eat. Being used to the unhindered sweetness of the organic bell peppers I get from Wholefoods, I was slightly disappointed. In the end, I threw away the remaining three peppers, because they were just blah.
Why go organic? It's not just a earth loving, tree hugging hippie thing. I just like the way I feel when I am eating organic. I have more energy, my mind is clearer and more focused, and I tire less easily.
If you are considering going organic, here are some articles to help you get started:
http://www.thedailygreen.com/healthy-eating/eat-safe/dirty-dozen-foods#fbIndex1
http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/eating-organic
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/04/health/04iht-snparker.1.18329349.html
http://www.organicconsumers.org/organlink.cfm
Monday, April 23, 2012
What's healthy?
I really don't understand why the desire to have a healthy, balanced diet is met with such derision. Why do people look at you like you just got off the train from Crazy Town when you carry in a smoothie packed with the majority of fiber, antioxidants, omega3 fatty acids and B vitamins you will need for the day? It's a hell of a lot better than that Egg McMuffin you're scarfing down, and it will keep me fuller longer.
A coworker mentioned how foul my smoothie looked this morning. Granted, it is more puce than green, but I assured him it was very delicious and told him what was in it. Another coworker was walking through the office and (ever the one to put her opinion in when it is unsolicited) said, "Yeah, she's going to turn green." in her snotty way. What does that even mean? You are on a more restrictive diet than I am, lady. At least I can eat all of the things I love without sticking to only protein rich foods. Yes, protein is a staple of my diet, but I get to eat all of the foods you are depriving yourself of (with the exception of red meat, which unfortunately makes me very sick). I get to eat rice, bread and other carb-y foods. I just understand the concept of portion control.
She also injects herself with a pregnancy hormone in order to kick-start her weight loss. I know quite a few women who are doing this, and while they are seeing amazing results, I can't see how it can be completely healthy. For one, it's a hormone found in a pregnant woman's urine. Ew. Secondly, the diet requires that you eat 500 calories a day. o_O That's one third of the recommended daily intake for the average inactive female. One third! I couldn't subsist on 500 calories a day. I realize that the hCG suppresses your appetite, so you can get by on the 500 calories, but I don't see how consuming so few calories can provide you with enough energy to get through the day. Not to mention that the injections are expensive. What happens when you decide you can no longer afford them and the weight piles back on?
I understand the desire for a quick fix. I have often found myself staring at a sea of fabric, wishing my hats would make themselves. However, when it comes to losing weight, I don't think a quick fix is the way to go. It can't possibly be healthy. Modifying your diet by substituting lean, grilled meats for heavily breaded fried foods and fresh fruits and veggies for french fries and potato chips can go a long way. Figure out what an actual serving size is for the food in question and adhere to it. Add a 30 minutes of exercise of your choice to that three times a week, and you're on your way to a fitter you. You will see slower results, but at least you won't be starving yourself to get there. Then again, I'm not a nutritionist.
Articles about the hCG diet:
http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/truth-about-hcg-for-weight-loss
http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2011/03/10/hcg-diet-pregnancy-hormones-and-500-calories-a-day/
http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/QAA400413/Pregnancy-Hormone-for-Weight-Loss.html
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-20066096-10391704.html
http://www.abc4.com/news/local/story/ABC-4-Investigation-Pregnancy-hormone-for-weight/jUZY95Pok0u83IRWEU-hrg.cspx
http://hcgdietinfo.com/
Today's Smoothie:
1/2 c Kefir
1/2 c Greek Yogurt
1 whole leaf green Swiss Chard
2 whole leaves Kale
1 c Spinach
1/2 c Pineapple
1/2 c Strawberries
1/4 c Wild Blueberries
1/4 Raspberries
4 Peach slices
Add honey to taste (I didn't today, but sometimes I need a sweet fix.)
A coworker mentioned how foul my smoothie looked this morning. Granted, it is more puce than green, but I assured him it was very delicious and told him what was in it. Another coworker was walking through the office and (ever the one to put her opinion in when it is unsolicited) said, "Yeah, she's going to turn green." in her snotty way. What does that even mean? You are on a more restrictive diet than I am, lady. At least I can eat all of the things I love without sticking to only protein rich foods. Yes, protein is a staple of my diet, but I get to eat all of the foods you are depriving yourself of (with the exception of red meat, which unfortunately makes me very sick). I get to eat rice, bread and other carb-y foods. I just understand the concept of portion control.
She also injects herself with a pregnancy hormone in order to kick-start her weight loss. I know quite a few women who are doing this, and while they are seeing amazing results, I can't see how it can be completely healthy. For one, it's a hormone found in a pregnant woman's urine. Ew. Secondly, the diet requires that you eat 500 calories a day. o_O That's one third of the recommended daily intake for the average inactive female. One third! I couldn't subsist on 500 calories a day. I realize that the hCG suppresses your appetite, so you can get by on the 500 calories, but I don't see how consuming so few calories can provide you with enough energy to get through the day. Not to mention that the injections are expensive. What happens when you decide you can no longer afford them and the weight piles back on?
I understand the desire for a quick fix. I have often found myself staring at a sea of fabric, wishing my hats would make themselves. However, when it comes to losing weight, I don't think a quick fix is the way to go. It can't possibly be healthy. Modifying your diet by substituting lean, grilled meats for heavily breaded fried foods and fresh fruits and veggies for french fries and potato chips can go a long way. Figure out what an actual serving size is for the food in question and adhere to it. Add a 30 minutes of exercise of your choice to that three times a week, and you're on your way to a fitter you. You will see slower results, but at least you won't be starving yourself to get there. Then again, I'm not a nutritionist.
Articles about the hCG diet:
http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/truth-about-hcg-for-weight-loss
http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2011/03/10/hcg-diet-pregnancy-hormones-and-500-calories-a-day/
http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/QAA400413/Pregnancy-Hormone-for-Weight-Loss.html
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-20066096-10391704.html
http://www.abc4.com/news/local/story/ABC-4-Investigation-Pregnancy-hormone-for-weight/jUZY95Pok0u83IRWEU-hrg.cspx
http://hcgdietinfo.com/
Today's Smoothie:
1/2 c Kefir
1/2 c Greek Yogurt
1 whole leaf green Swiss Chard
2 whole leaves Kale
1 c Spinach
1/2 c Pineapple
1/2 c Strawberries
1/4 c Wild Blueberries
1/4 Raspberries
4 Peach slices
Add honey to taste (I didn't today, but sometimes I need a sweet fix.)
Friday, April 20, 2012
Slug brain and Zombie girl
For the last week, I have been making smoothies in the morning instead of running by the convenience store to pick up a doughnut or a package of Twinkies.The smoothies are great, because they are giving me the nutrients I don't usually get from the foods I eat. I find that I've had more energy, even after a Zumba class.
The downside to the smoothies is that I am not adding any processed sugar. It's a completely organic, chemical free smoothie. No processed sugar = hellacious sugar cravings. Hellacious sugar cravings = slug brain/zombie girl. Slug brain/zombie girl = dumb girl who forgets to bring healthy snacks to substitute for the peanut M&Ms she so desperately wants to scarf down at an alarming rate.
I am more slug brain/zombie girl today than I have been since I started this whole shebang. Today is worse because it is gray outside. I'm very much a solar powered person. No sun = slug girl who doesn't want to do anything. So, imagine my surprise when I made it to work armed with an arsenal of sweet peppers that I plan to keep within reach of my sugar-seeking hands. What is more impressive is that I did not cut a finger off cutting the peppers into manageable bites.
Today, I am prepared for the sugar cravings. When I start fixating on the aforementioned M&Ms, I will reach for a healthy, tasty snack instead. This is the plan, anyway. This plan is already looking much better than not bringing any snacks and thinking about those damned peanut M&Ms for the last two hours I was at work yesterday. It was miserable. Never. Again.
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Crabby girl is crabby
I fell off the no-sugar wagon a while back. Hard. Binging on sweets is not usually my thing. I just got to the point where I stopped fixing my own meals. Wait. No. That's a lie. My brain conveniently forgot that a week ago today, I was sitting at this same desk noshing on a breakfast of Twinkies and chocolate milk. I don't have any excuses, really. I just wanted sugar and didn't care that it would completely undo all of the work I'd been doing mentally and physically. I stopped cooking at home and went back to eating fast food and at restaurants more often. It's so much easier.
This change in habits only created a downward spiral. Not eating as well gave me less energy, which made me want to work out less. Working out less gave me less energy and resulted in me sitting on the couch playing video games for hours at a time. I became a lethargic, video game playing slug.
Just yesterday, I was sitting here eating a small portion of a giant shortbread cookie from Panera. I was just going to have a little of it and leave the rest for the rest of the week. Yeah, right. I started having a sugar craving and ate the whole thing in the space of a minute. I was left feeling more than a little disgusted with myself and completely unsatisfied.
When a sugar-craving hits all I can do is fixate on obtaining something sugary. If I know there are peanut M&Ms in the accounting office, it is darn near impossible to keep my behind in my seat. I walk back to accounting and just stare at the jug of peanut M&Ms longingly before I walk back to my office and sit back down. This dance continues for a good fifteen minutes before I am opening the container and digging out a handful of chocolatey, peanuty goodness. And perhaps I go back for a second handful.
I've gained six pounds since my plummet back to Earth. You may scoff at six pounds, but six pounds of fat (because it is certainly not muscle) on my frame is very noticeable. Again, I'm not saying I am fat. I am saying I put on six pounds of fat. I don't want to be an emaciated skeleton of a girl. I want to be me, with a little less jiggle in my wiggle. I am currently at the heaviest weight I've ever been, and I would feel better if I was at this weight with good muscle tone, rather than the wiggly, jiggly stuff that's going on right now. I like my booty. I even like my thighs. I just don't want the cellulite and pudge that goes along with them.
I never realize when I am jumping back on the no-sugar wagon until I start having crazy mood swings. I was a raging beast yesterday (at least in my head). I'm sure my Boston Terror thinks I'm a raving lunatic when we are home alone and I am growling and grumbling out loud to myself as I stuff things into the dishwasher or washing machine, slamming doors as I go. I paused yesterday, wondering why I was so crabby. It dawned on me that I had gone from eating a very sugary cream-filled donut or set of Twinkies for breakfast to eating a smoothie made with organic yogurt, kefir, fruits and veggies and a bit of honey. I was essentially cutting out my biggest sources of sugar.
Fortunately, I just started taking birth control again. At least my hormones are fairly regulated where as in my last battle with sugar, I was suffering from both hormone imbalance and withdrawal. What's super fun is that the roommate and I are both going through sugar withdrawal and are both fairly crabby. It makes things exciting around the house. According to the roommate, he's been stomping around his shop much like Godzilla, breathing fire on anyone who looks at him the wrong way. He didn't say that, exactly, but it's what I imagine it would be like.
My problem is this: Not only do I have to fight against cravings and food behaviors I've had since childhood, I also have to fight against my own personality traits. I get bored very easily. When I get bored, I switch focus. I can't get bored with this. If I want to feel better and have more energy, I have to follow through with this diet plan. Yes, I used the word "diet." I don't use the word "diet" in order to signify a way of eating that is depriving me of essential nutrients in order to lose weight. I use the word "diet" in that every one has a diet. If you have a diet of fast food and candy, that is still a diet. I just have to make that distinction, because people get the wrong idea if a thin girl uses the word "diet." Their minds immediately go to starvation diets. Nope. Not happening. I love food. I'm just going to start putting better foods in my body. Again. Oy.
Being an aspiring baker, this is going to be a monumental challenge. I don't generally binge on the sweets I bake, but a baker does need to make sure their creations are edible. According to the articles I've been reading, any bit of refined sugar can be detrimental to someone who is struggling to abstain from it.
I am going to research baking with raw sugar and honey rather than refined sugar. I may have to grind up the raw sugar to get it to the texture I would need for baking, but I would feel better about providing customers (and myself) with sweets that weren't full of refined sugar and empty calories.
Edit: I've been researching the differences between refined sugar and raw sugar. The sad thing is that the two don't seem to be very different at all. However, the sugar producers sure want you to think there is a difference. Raw sugar is less processed, but it is still processed. It is still stripped of its essential nutrients and results in empty calories. Boo.
Some reading material:
http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/sugar-problem/refined-sugar-the-sweetest-poison-of-all - Another "evils of refined sugar" article. I'm not sure how much stock to put into it. The language used is very slanted. I need to find a good article from a neutral party. If anyone knows of any good articles, please leave the link in the comments.
http://www.joyofbaking.com/sugar.html - How sugar is used in baking. Doesn't really go into processed vs raw sugar, but it is good information to further my understanding the science of baking.
http://myyearwithout.blogspot.com/ This is an excellent blog with ideas for sugar substitutions. Also very helpful for people who are trying to find packaged foods that do not use processed sugars.
http://thenourishingapron.blogspot.com/ - No sugar sweets recipes!
This change in habits only created a downward spiral. Not eating as well gave me less energy, which made me want to work out less. Working out less gave me less energy and resulted in me sitting on the couch playing video games for hours at a time. I became a lethargic, video game playing slug.
Just yesterday, I was sitting here eating a small portion of a giant shortbread cookie from Panera. I was just going to have a little of it and leave the rest for the rest of the week. Yeah, right. I started having a sugar craving and ate the whole thing in the space of a minute. I was left feeling more than a little disgusted with myself and completely unsatisfied.
When a sugar-craving hits all I can do is fixate on obtaining something sugary. If I know there are peanut M&Ms in the accounting office, it is darn near impossible to keep my behind in my seat. I walk back to accounting and just stare at the jug of peanut M&Ms longingly before I walk back to my office and sit back down. This dance continues for a good fifteen minutes before I am opening the container and digging out a handful of chocolatey, peanuty goodness. And perhaps I go back for a second handful.
I've gained six pounds since my plummet back to Earth. You may scoff at six pounds, but six pounds of fat (because it is certainly not muscle) on my frame is very noticeable. Again, I'm not saying I am fat. I am saying I put on six pounds of fat. I don't want to be an emaciated skeleton of a girl. I want to be me, with a little less jiggle in my wiggle. I am currently at the heaviest weight I've ever been, and I would feel better if I was at this weight with good muscle tone, rather than the wiggly, jiggly stuff that's going on right now. I like my booty. I even like my thighs. I just don't want the cellulite and pudge that goes along with them.
I never realize when I am jumping back on the no-sugar wagon until I start having crazy mood swings. I was a raging beast yesterday (at least in my head). I'm sure my Boston Terror thinks I'm a raving lunatic when we are home alone and I am growling and grumbling out loud to myself as I stuff things into the dishwasher or washing machine, slamming doors as I go. I paused yesterday, wondering why I was so crabby. It dawned on me that I had gone from eating a very sugary cream-filled donut or set of Twinkies for breakfast to eating a smoothie made with organic yogurt, kefir, fruits and veggies and a bit of honey. I was essentially cutting out my biggest sources of sugar.
Fortunately, I just started taking birth control again. At least my hormones are fairly regulated where as in my last battle with sugar, I was suffering from both hormone imbalance and withdrawal. What's super fun is that the roommate and I are both going through sugar withdrawal and are both fairly crabby. It makes things exciting around the house. According to the roommate, he's been stomping around his shop much like Godzilla, breathing fire on anyone who looks at him the wrong way. He didn't say that, exactly, but it's what I imagine it would be like.
My problem is this: Not only do I have to fight against cravings and food behaviors I've had since childhood, I also have to fight against my own personality traits. I get bored very easily. When I get bored, I switch focus. I can't get bored with this. If I want to feel better and have more energy, I have to follow through with this diet plan. Yes, I used the word "diet." I don't use the word "diet" in order to signify a way of eating that is depriving me of essential nutrients in order to lose weight. I use the word "diet" in that every one has a diet. If you have a diet of fast food and candy, that is still a diet. I just have to make that distinction, because people get the wrong idea if a thin girl uses the word "diet." Their minds immediately go to starvation diets. Nope. Not happening. I love food. I'm just going to start putting better foods in my body. Again. Oy.
Being an aspiring baker, this is going to be a monumental challenge. I don't generally binge on the sweets I bake, but a baker does need to make sure their creations are edible. According to the articles I've been reading, any bit of refined sugar can be detrimental to someone who is struggling to abstain from it.
I am going to research baking with raw sugar and honey rather than refined sugar. I may have to grind up the raw sugar to get it to the texture I would need for baking, but I would feel better about providing customers (and myself) with sweets that weren't full of refined sugar and empty calories.
Edit: I've been researching the differences between refined sugar and raw sugar. The sad thing is that the two don't seem to be very different at all. However, the sugar producers sure want you to think there is a difference. Raw sugar is less processed, but it is still processed. It is still stripped of its essential nutrients and results in empty calories. Boo.
Some reading material:
http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/sugar-problem/refined-sugar-the-sweetest-poison-of-all - Another "evils of refined sugar" article. I'm not sure how much stock to put into it. The language used is very slanted. I need to find a good article from a neutral party. If anyone knows of any good articles, please leave the link in the comments.
http://www.joyofbaking.com/sugar.html - How sugar is used in baking. Doesn't really go into processed vs raw sugar, but it is good information to further my understanding the science of baking.
http://myyearwithout.blogspot.com/ This is an excellent blog with ideas for sugar substitutions. Also very helpful for people who are trying to find packaged foods that do not use processed sugars.
http://thenourishingapron.blogspot.com/ - No sugar sweets recipes!
Monday, April 16, 2012
Zumba: Rush
Even though I had major issues with Zumba: Fitness I decided to download the demo of Zumba: Rush for Xbox Kinect. I surprised myself by not hating it! It seems like Majesco Entertainment really took what people had to say about Zumba: Fitness to heart and fixed some of the major issues with the interface.
What I Liked:
In Zumba: Fitness, I couldn't distinguish my instructor's body parts. This made it extremely difficult and supremely frustrating while I was try to learn the dances. When the character was doing a more intricate move, I was not able to tell precisely what the legs were doing, because it was one big, orange blob. In Zumba: Rush, they took a page from the Dance Central game book and went with instructors that look like real people.
I get a calorie scorching workout! I can tell my heart rate is up, because I'm sweating like...something that sweats a lot. When I work out, I'm hard pressed to break a sweat, even in the dead of summer. It's just nice to know that they $50 I spent on a silly fitness game was actually money well spent.
Repetition. Many of the dances incorporate some of the same moves. They may not be in the same combinations, but at least you can identify a move and say, "Oh, hey! I've done that one before!"
It's fun! Even if I'm not doing so well on a dance, I'm still having fun. I laugh at myself all the time, because I know how ridiculous I must look flinging my arms and legs about like a flailing thing.
What I don't like:
I only have two problems with Zumba: Rush. The first is that the tutorial is lacking. It has a set of four tutorials, each with four basic moves. If you have ever done Zumba, you know that there is no Zumba dance in existence that contains only four moves. The four moves they give you are very basic, so when you get to a full song, you are completely unprepared for some of the off the wall moves they throw at you. If I did not have 16+ years of dance training, it would have been daunting. That's not say that the tutorial has not improved at all from Zumba: Fitness. In Fitness, even with my dance background, I wanted to throw my sneaker at the television. I knew very well that I was not performing the moves the way the AI was, but she kept telling me what a great job I was doing. It drove me batty. At least in Rush, they give you a rating of Nice, Hot! or ZUMBA depending on how well you are performing the moves.
The second problem is that there is no preparation before they launch you right into a song. During the song, a graphic pops up to notify you when they are changing from one combination of moves to the next. It would be very helpful if there was a graphic at the very beginning to tell you which move you were starting with. It gives the feeling that you are always fighting to catch up.
All in all, Zumba: Rush is a huge improvement over its predecessor. I am in love with it, and I burn far more calories in a 20 - 30 minute session than I would with Dance Central. Don't get me wrong, I still love Dance Central, but where it is a dance game, Zumba: Rush is a fitness program disguised as a dance game. I don't think I've sweat so much at one time. Ever. And that tells me that I'm getting a decent workout.
What I Liked:
In Zumba: Fitness, I couldn't distinguish my instructor's body parts. This made it extremely difficult and supremely frustrating while I was try to learn the dances. When the character was doing a more intricate move, I was not able to tell precisely what the legs were doing, because it was one big, orange blob. In Zumba: Rush, they took a page from the Dance Central game book and went with instructors that look like real people.
I get a calorie scorching workout! I can tell my heart rate is up, because I'm sweating like...something that sweats a lot. When I work out, I'm hard pressed to break a sweat, even in the dead of summer. It's just nice to know that they $50 I spent on a silly fitness game was actually money well spent.
Repetition. Many of the dances incorporate some of the same moves. They may not be in the same combinations, but at least you can identify a move and say, "Oh, hey! I've done that one before!"
It's fun! Even if I'm not doing so well on a dance, I'm still having fun. I laugh at myself all the time, because I know how ridiculous I must look flinging my arms and legs about like a flailing thing.
What I don't like:
I only have two problems with Zumba: Rush. The first is that the tutorial is lacking. It has a set of four tutorials, each with four basic moves. If you have ever done Zumba, you know that there is no Zumba dance in existence that contains only four moves. The four moves they give you are very basic, so when you get to a full song, you are completely unprepared for some of the off the wall moves they throw at you. If I did not have 16+ years of dance training, it would have been daunting. That's not say that the tutorial has not improved at all from Zumba: Fitness. In Fitness, even with my dance background, I wanted to throw my sneaker at the television. I knew very well that I was not performing the moves the way the AI was, but she kept telling me what a great job I was doing. It drove me batty. At least in Rush, they give you a rating of Nice, Hot! or ZUMBA depending on how well you are performing the moves.
The second problem is that there is no preparation before they launch you right into a song. During the song, a graphic pops up to notify you when they are changing from one combination of moves to the next. It would be very helpful if there was a graphic at the very beginning to tell you which move you were starting with. It gives the feeling that you are always fighting to catch up.
All in all, Zumba: Rush is a huge improvement over its predecessor. I am in love with it, and I burn far more calories in a 20 - 30 minute session than I would with Dance Central. Don't get me wrong, I still love Dance Central, but where it is a dance game, Zumba: Rush is a fitness program disguised as a dance game. I don't think I've sweat so much at one time. Ever. And that tells me that I'm getting a decent workout.
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Green Smoothie...
Since my last post (which I will admit was quite some time ago), I have gone back on the pill. Unfortunately, for me, it is a medical necessity. It's nice to be able to go through a menstrual cycle without being sick and bed ridden. It is also nice not to have crippling pain caused by ovarian cysts. Yay!
An odd thing has occurred since I started Mononessa. Instead of my appetite increasing as most women have reported, my appetite has decreased. My roommate has noticed my dramatic decrease in appetite and expressed his concern that I was not getting enough nutrients. He suggested using Slimfast as a supplement. However, I remembered a recipe for a green smoothie that I had seen on Pinterest. I decided I would try it, since I have a fondness for the Naked Green Machine smoothie.
The roommate and I made a trip to Wholefoods and stocked up on green smoothie ingredients. Unfortunately, when I woke up this morning, I found that the link had been removed from Pinterest. Now, I had to wing it. Winging recipes always gives me a sense of trepidation, but I girded my loins and soldiered on.
Ingredients:
1/4 c. organic kefir
1/4 c. organic Greek yogurt
1/2 c spinach leaves
2 large red chard leaves
3 stalks of kale (leaves only)
1/2 c. frozen pineapple
1/2 c. frozen strawberries
1 frozen or fresh banana cut into chunks
2 tbs honey (optional)
I mixed the kefir, yogurt and greens together in a blender and gradually added my fruits. The honey was the very last thing to go in, but I think it would have been just as good without it. Makes 2-3 8 oz servings.
The end result was a delicious smoothie that is good for breakfast on the go, or a replacement drink after a workout. At 133 calories per 8oz serving, this smoothie has a total of 1g of fat, 9g of protein, 79% of your vitamin A, and 98% of your vitamin C, this little smoothie packs quite a punch!
An odd thing has occurred since I started Mononessa. Instead of my appetite increasing as most women have reported, my appetite has decreased. My roommate has noticed my dramatic decrease in appetite and expressed his concern that I was not getting enough nutrients. He suggested using Slimfast as a supplement. However, I remembered a recipe for a green smoothie that I had seen on Pinterest. I decided I would try it, since I have a fondness for the Naked Green Machine smoothie.
The roommate and I made a trip to Wholefoods and stocked up on green smoothie ingredients. Unfortunately, when I woke up this morning, I found that the link had been removed from Pinterest. Now, I had to wing it. Winging recipes always gives me a sense of trepidation, but I girded my loins and soldiered on.
Ingredients:
1/4 c. organic kefir
1/4 c. organic Greek yogurt
1/2 c spinach leaves
2 large red chard leaves
3 stalks of kale (leaves only)
1/2 c. frozen pineapple
1/2 c. frozen strawberries
1 frozen or fresh banana cut into chunks
2 tbs honey (optional)
I mixed the kefir, yogurt and greens together in a blender and gradually added my fruits. The honey was the very last thing to go in, but I think it would have been just as good without it. Makes 2-3 8 oz servings.
The end result was a delicious smoothie that is good for breakfast on the go, or a replacement drink after a workout. At 133 calories per 8oz serving, this smoothie has a total of 1g of fat, 9g of protein, 79% of your vitamin A, and 98% of your vitamin C, this little smoothie packs quite a punch!
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