Where has time flown?

WOW, I have not updated my blog since June! I have been very busy, traveling making a few trips to DC, New York, Chicago, St. Louis, Freeport Bahamas and Los Angeles. So you are probably wondering how well my diet has fared during these excursions? Well, all I can say is what diet?

Yes, I have maintained my 200 lbs, but not with a diet. Nope, I have had a sinus infection, a cold and a cough all brought on by allergies after each trip. Therefore I could not eat or taste the sumptuous food I yearned for, which was good, I mean why waste money of a meal if you can't enjoy it? I ate basic foods while traveling. With the exception of the Bahamas, I did eat at two great restaurants, and ate some conch stew and fritters. I did have a great time! No cold stands in the way of fun! The cold and allergies allowed me to eat properly and not overeat. Is having a cold the new diet break thru? Only time will tell.....

Next goal is to break the 200 barrier! Wish me luck!

Jogging Queen

Its hot here in Charlotte, I mean HOT! But I have managed to jog 1.5 or 2 miles every day. How does one jog with an heat index of almost 100? I do it at sun down, yep its still hot, but its not blistering and I enjoy my runs.

I love the way my legs are forming. I get a kick out watching the fat melt away. I am loving how my body is toning up and I lost more weight. Yes, I am at 200...been here for awhile but I am okay...because I am losing inches instead of the pounds and its is nice to see clothes hang propery on me! I also am doing 100 situps in the morning and eating healthier.

Ron is gone, so you can say I lost another 190 lbs of dead weight. He was causing more drama in my life. With school, a full time job, real estate investments to manage and trying to live a peaceful life...his personal crisis and unnecessary drama was adding to my stress. I moved here to have a stress free life. A simple life free of chaos and drama....however, I realized that I have a codependent nature, yes, folks I am an enabler. Therefore, folks who need to be help in their lives gravitate towards me. I am learning to let go and let others deal with their own problems. Life is too short and people have got to own up to their own sh*t. I can't help or save them, they have to do the work necessary to save themselves.

I used to cook for Ron, stuff that he liked and wanted to eat. I love to cook, but I was not cooking healthy meals for me. It was heavy West Indian foods 3 to 4 times a week. Now that I am just dating, I am back to cooking healthy meals for me and when I dine out. I eat salads or just a small appetizer. Its amazing how being an enabler can sabotage the work and effort you have put into yourself. Well, let this be the last time his name is said out loud. While we are still friends, I am doing what I do best....I am loving me and taking the time out to take care of me. Every jog is a victory towards getting back to the healthy and wonderful me!

Next goal....The bathing suit photo!

So I broke the 205 weight barrier

Yes, I did it! I broke the 205 lb barrier! I know I had not posted in a while, I felt bad, but with school, work and life it was a little hard. Okay who am I kidding? I just could not come to terms with why this was happening. Even though inches melted away, I stayed a consistent 205. Well, I lost another 5 pounds since my late March post. All my pants are much loser and for the first time in a long time, I need a smaller belt and I am wearing some of my older pants.

What did it take to get to this point? 3 times a week workouts, mowing my own lawn, watching what I eat and what time I eat it. I still have a long way to go, I want to tone my muscles and for the cravings to stop. Yes, I still crave hot dogs. Giving up beef and pork was like giving up smoking for others. In still can't be in the company of a beef eater! I salivate....

Ron is still here and he can be more of a pain than an encourager. He always wants to cut my lawn, damn him its my exercise tool, why would he deny me that? Then he says "Did you do your abs today?" "No knucklehead....I didn't because I was too bummed because you snuck over to cut my grass. Gosh!" I told him twice now, "I love cutting my grass it is a great workout!" He is about to get his head hit on a curb. Last time he came over with a riding lawn mower. What a cheater!

He is annoying, and drags me to Panera Bread, knowing damn well I am watching my carbs. Every Saturday, it is torture. Anyway, I think he has issues because he ex wife is a BEAST! I mean she is FAT. But no pressure on me! I am 6 ft and at 200 I am just above my ideal weight. So by the end of the summer, I should be back to normal! ; )

In the end, it is my life and my way to approach my eating healthy. I should start another yoga class. Hell, I should teach yoga! Okay, yoga is the best way for me to stay active, it is calming and I get a great workout.

Hmmm...Maybe I should look into this more? Any thoughts?

Ex Foodie On The Edge Of The Weight Plateau

I am stuck! Yes, I have reached a plateau...I am can see the mountain top, but I have been stuck at 205 lbs for 9 days. I weigh myself daily...it keeps me focused on my end goal! The last nine days my scale has maintained a steady 205 lbs. I know I should be happy...I know, I do and I am happy to be able to wear some of my size 14 clothes again. So please bear with me...let me just grieve for this moment....for just one post.

What happened? As a foodie I gave up all that I love! Last weekend I went to DC with Ron and I did not indulge in my favorite restaurants. I even exercised! For crying out loud I ate nothing but veggies, no rice, no bread, nada...nothing I loved. I drove past my favorite old haunts...Butterfield 9, Zola’s; I did not go to Tara Thai's, which is my all time favorite! I sacrificed! I avoided Adams Morgan, Bilbo Baggins in Old Town and B. Smiths in Union Station. Folks I suffered! I helped my friend Tanya with an estate sale, I carried boxes and worked hard. Plus, I walked the entire perimeter of Hains Point in the cold, which should given me a pound off! Why I am still at 205 lbs? Okay, I am losing inches...but that is not as gratifying as seeing the numbers drop off the scale!

I have to lose 1 lb this week or I am going to make reservations at the Palm and eat an entire side of cow with a huge baked potato! I have been eating the equivalent of grass for weeks now! That alone should have helped me drop a few extra pounds. I go to the gym 3 times a week and I work out 1 day with a cute (albeit high priced) trainer. Hell, if I don’t lose a pound this week Amen the gorgeous trainer may get bitten. He does remind me of a filet mignon with a side of steamed broccoli...tempting and healthy!

What should I do? Please help...


Signed foodie on the edge of the weight plateau

The March 10 weigh in...Whoa!

Started at 221 and I now weigh 208. Not bad for 6 weeks? With only 2 weeks of solid workouts. Well, the majority of the weight came off with the change in my eating. I had on a pair of pants this week that once was once tight, now I have room in the thighs and waist line.

I will admit I did cheat. I went to a Bobcats game earlier this week and they did not have anything appealing to eat. Now as a vegetarian, I could have eaten nachos, pretzel or some other dish. But, I opted for a hot dog. A foot long .....Yes, that’s right 12 inches of Nathans finest, topped with chili, Cold slaw and onions! When Ron and I were ordering it slipped off the tongue as if I did not ban meat from my diet. Ron was taken aback by my bold declaration. I simply stated 1 coney dog....but it echoed and reverberated loudly. Ron nicely said..."Sara, are you sure?" I was like huh....sure about what...I was oblivious to what I had ordered. He gently reminded me by whispering in my ear..."sweetie, that is meat and you are now a vegetarian" I was like oh....Oh. By the time I opened my mouth to say no, the hot dog was in front of me. What could I do? I handed over the $20... (You know sinning is not cheap, especially in a major stadium!) and headed towards the mustard. Ron shook his head and gathered the change from the bewildered cashier. He politely told her I was recovering Hot Dogolic. She giggled and said oh that is why she had a glazed over look in her eyes!

By the time I put the mustard on my dog, guilt was setting in. I have even encountered a little angelic cherub sitting on my right shoulder, who said. "All that hard work, changing you’re eating habits, enduring a colonic and exercise is now going back to your inner tube that you were trying to get rid of...tsk tsk tsk!" I was shocked...I stood there in the middle of Bobcat Arena rationalizing why I ordered this hot dog. I looked down at the hot dog and said to Ron..."Why did I order this?" Ron being the polite potential boyfriend, stated, "Sara you don't have to eat it. Toss it" Now I am a member of the clean plate club, yes, my mother God bless her soul, taught her 6 kids not to waste any of the food she and my father worked hard to provide us with. Therefore, I have always cleaned my plate, no matter what was on it. Trust me, I have eaten my way around the world and I have a cast iron stomach. So tossing food is not part of my being. I mean for goodness sake, I ate mopar caterpillars in South Africa! I was a survival instructor and have eaten worse than a Coney Island dog!

So we walked slowly back to our seats and with each step the hot dog got heavier, it felt like a brick. As we sat in our seats, the 12 inch hot dog now weighed 5 lbs and looked unappetizing. I could not bring myself to eat it. Then as magically as the angelic cherub appeared, a little devil appeared on my left shoulder and said "Eat it, you deserve it and 1 little hot dog is not going to hurt you." I took a bite, it was tasty but not as tasty as I imagined. The normal euphoric feeling I get from food was not there. The hot dog was a little salty, slightly undercooked and the chili was bland, cold slaw had too much Mayo and the onions over powered the entire taste. The mustard was that cheap yellow brand, with no muster. It was messy to eat with the dog slipping and sliding out of the bun. I was like damn what a mess! After 3 bites...I was disappointed and looked at Ron. Now Ron was watching my reaction to my hot dog. "Not good? Not what you expected? Well, sweetie you can toss it" he said. I wearily shook my head in agreement and he took the hot dog, got up and tossed it. Did I mention Ron has the makings of a GREAT boyfriend? He arrived moments later with the cheese pizza and a bottle of water.

God bless that man! I did pay for my 3 bites later on in the evening. Let's just say there was a nuclear meltdown and fumes erupted for about 30 minutes. Thank goodness it was after Ron had dropped me home. I am not sure if I have the makings of being a GREAT girlfriend for Ron. He must think I am a nut! LOL. If he does he has not said a word. Just that I am beautiful and fun to hang out with. Note to self; don't tell someone you are a vegetarian until I work out all the kinks. I will post a picture of myself later today.

I must say I am proud of myself and how I handle my moment of weakness! I did learn a lesson....something’s are better left to the imagination!

My March 1st Workout! I never thought I could smile so hard during a workout!

With 2 weeks of eating nothing but vegetables and 2 successful colonics. I was ready for my first session with my new trainer. Let me first tell you that my trainer is a fine specimen of a man! I will refrain from using his first name to maintain his anonymity (that is until he allows me to use a photo of him on this blog). So until then, let's just call him Amen. Amen has an 8 pack, lovely pecs and gluts that would make you want to run to the gym every day. I was saying Amen to myself everytime he was within my eye sight. I have not smiled so hard since I was a teenager running for some small town beauty pageant.

Amen is a striking man, not only due to his gifted physique, but his personality is great. He is attentive and very good at motivating me. As if I need motivation to get to the gym for our date...oops I mean our workout. Yes, the workout...I digressed. Amen worked out my trouble areas and trust me he has his work cut out. I have more than a few trouble areas! He showed me various techniques that we will use to get rid of the inner tube around my waist.

I will be working out once a week with him because a trainer is expensive and going to the gym on my own twice a week. I think its a great start. Especially with my new lifestyle. I refuse to call this a diet. It is a lifestyle change.

My lifestyle change was put to the test this past weekend. With the CIAA in town, I had friends visiting. Now we all know when friends visit, diets go out the window! My new lifestyle change was put to the test and I passed. I ate reasonably only having 2 small desserts and I did not eat meat or anything fatty. I ate fish and a lot of vegetables. I did prepare brunch on Sunday and had to cook bacon, sausages, biscuits and French toast. But I also prepared fresh fruit and a lighter egg dish for myself. I made sure all the fattening dishes were eaten by my guests and all leftovers were discarded immediately. Later after my guest departed, I got on the treadmill and ran like the wind. I waited to weigh myself and did so this morning, I did not gain a pound! All the walking we did this weekend worked to my benefit!

Today is my second workout with Amen and I think he will be proud that I did not gain weight after my great weekend. So the lesson learned is stick to your routine, even if you have guests or you travel. You don't have to compromise or feel guilty. There are tasty alternatives!

You are going to put that tube where? What? Back there?

No Pictures for this blog - too graphic!

I approached my first colonic hydrotherapy session with plenty of research and armed with knowledge. I found interesting articles about the pratice and researched the perfect therapist. Okay, in North Carolina there are few people in this profession. Lets face it....who wants to look at someone butt all day and the sewage that comes out of it. But I wanted someone I felt comfortable with. So I kept calling and asking the right questions. I wanted an experienced person, with over 10 years and preferably a female. I also wanted a person of color, Asian, Hispanic, African American or Indian. I wanted to feel comfortable. I hit the lottery with Bobby, she is a nurse and has been doing colonics for over 15 years. She is also African American and well versed in nutrition.

Here is an interesting fact:

• Did you know that in one form or another cleansing of the large intestine (bowel or colon) has been practiced since 1500 BC?

Well, off I went and I was scared. Now those of you who know me, know I do not scare easily. Even with all my research I was still fearful. I called my friends the morning of to say good bye. In case I died on the table. I know funny, what a way to go! I even called Monique a new friend that morning to say I was off. I think she now knows I am certified....LOL. She was like okay, you will be okay. I drove to the location and sat for 4 mins...Just pondering what in the hell did I get myself into.

Then Bobby came to the office door and waved me in...Damn she saw me! I could not pull away. She invited me in her office and we discussed the procedure, the benefits and if there was any reason for me to be so nervous. She took me into the procedure room that looked so innocent, with a wonderful calming smell and soft music playing. I was like okay...this may not be so bad. She directed me to undress and what position to lay on the table. In order to relax, I took out my Palm to play solitaire while I waited. I undressed as instructed, got on the table and started a fierce game of Solitaire. Bobby entered into the room and started discussing what would happen next. She showed me the packaged tubes, I jumped up and said "You are going to but that tube where? What? Back There? I was half way off the table and reaching for my sweats. In my research I thought the tube would be the size of tubes used for IVs. Yes, folks....I did. I envisioned a smaller tube in my mind. Bobby in her calming voice explained that size tube would get clogged and could not be used.

Folks, I am a virgin! Okay, Okay! Well, I am there...and that tube looked big to me and I was worried! I was saving that for marriage. It was the least I could offer! Okay I know TMI!

So I took a few minutes to calm myself and to ask a few more questions. Like why that size? Is that industry standard? Do men complain about the size? Boy I had some funny questions. I eventually allowed her to begin the process. Now everyone thinks that their stuff does not stink. I am here to tell you mine does not! Especially when its contained in a tube and goes thru a machine. It was a weird experience, but worth it! The system used purified warm water to clean my colon and push out impacted and old stuff. She massaged my stomach and that seemed to help get some more out of me. After it was done, I weighed a whopping 4.5 lbs less. I was amazed at how clear my thoughts were. Initially after I had one craving for oysters. I had some and then my cravings were gone. I have not craved since then. My skin looks good, it is glowing.

I went for a second session and I love it! I am eating nothing but veggies and I did have turkey meatballs one day, but they upset my stomach so much, I have opted to eat only fish. My third session is on March 1st and the very next day I train with my new trainer.

You will have to read my next blog for up to date pictures and to get information about my new trainer. Who is FINE! That's right ladies get a fine ass trainer. It is motivation to go workout with a fine man. My trainer has abs and a cute hard butt! I know because I accidently elbowed him there and hurt my funny bone!

Off to the gym!

My Small Steps - My passionate good byes

So before I start on my vegetarian experience I had 2 cities to visit. One was Toronto, it was not a scheduled trip, I confess it was last minute. But hey! I was entitled to one last hurrah and Toronto has great restaurants. Thank goodness the cold weather kept me from roaming the streets for food. I did have a few great last meals there! What a way to divorce meat, with a one last romance in a foreign city that is known for their diverse restaurant. I had one last good bye to duck, a wonderful rib eye and baked pork chops with sweet carmelized onions and this heavenly apple ragout. I need to upload pictures from those meals!

Then I was off to St. Louis for a weekend with Shantel and her cute daughter Ilana. That is Ilana in the middle wearing pink. She is only 2 but she knows fashion and she loves pink! Drea is behind her and Chi Chi is to the right. Chi Chi is Shantel's sister, who got Shantel to move to St. Louis. While in St. Louis I had a BBQ sandwich that delicious! And I said farewell to hotdogs, yes folks, I have had a torrid romance w/hot dogs. Yes, I know they are not healthy for me. I realize what they are made of and quite frankly I did not care. I loved the flavor, the savory taste when coupled with mustard. Not just any mustard, as a foodie, I only wanted the best. I loved Dijon mustard with my hot dogs. So, Shantel took me to my favorite place where I ingested 2 foot long hot dogs. I am ashamed, but I needed to overdose on hot dogs. What I did not confess to Shantel that weekend was that I had 2 hot dogs while waiting for the plane. I know...I know...but I got rid of the craving for hot dogs, at least that weekend!

When I got back, I realized I had one more weekend trip to take. A visit my Aunt Pat, who can out cook Emril and out dress the best. Cooking and fashion are her passions, she has more shoes than she can count and a cult following in Atlanta. She cooks every day, thank goodness she is naturally skinny so the weight she put in in her later years just fills her out and makes her look normal instead of the model size she used to wear. I put in my request of dishes, and folks it was time for me to say good bye to pork. Yes folks, ribs - Love them!!! I even eat oh...lets just say. From the rooter to the tooter, I ate it all. Aunt Pat obliged my wishes and Nicole came to town to make sure I did it in moderation. I was in hog heaven! Fresh Virginia ham, bacon, ribs, pig feet and you know what else. I said farewell and happy trails to pork. Thank you Aunt Pat! Thank you Atlanta for showing me a new lifestyle and having all the provisions so I could say good bye to pork.

The good byes were done! Now I had to schedule my first colonic hydrotherapy, especially after eating all that meat! 3 weekends of a meat fest. I needed to cleanse my system and get on with the program. Read my blog about "You are going to put that tube where? What? Back there?"

The background - What got me here.....

This photo to the left is AOL's 2005 Holiday party. I would love to say this was the last "Meat" supper. But NO, it was not. Before having my ephinany, I hit a few more parties and a few more cities where "meat" reigns supreme. Read below to discover how I got to this decision:

Okay, I decided to become a vegetarian. I was once a healthy vegetarian 10 years ago. I was physically active and I did not have a problem finding great vegetarian dishes. I lived in DC, with access with many cultures that shared the vegetarian lifestyle. I used to live on Connecticut Avenue, right down the street from a small health food store. In my neighborhood, I could get dim sum, Thai food and the city offered so many diverse restaurants. It was so easy!

Why did I go back to the meat road? Hot dogs, ribs and my mothers pot roast.....But I can't blame my mother's delightful pot roast, I just love to cook and thought I could eat anything. My philosophy was if I could cook it, then I should eat it. I guess I should remind folks I had a catering business....Elegant Expressions. Nicole T, my business partner had great restraint, she only ate the fish and barely touched chicken. She was just becoming a vegetarian. While I admired her resilience, someone had to taste our dishes to ensure they were up to our standards. Also, our clients were people with the means to hire a caterer for almost every event. So our menu was extensive and delectable. : ) I took cooking classes to keep our menu updated with new ideas and dishes.

Also as a traveling woman, I learned about other cultures thru their food. If I was in Argentina, a good steak and a bottle of red wine would be consumed. Barbados - fried flying fish was my downfall, in Germany - I ate pork shanks that was so delightful. In lovely Jamaica - Curry Goat and ice cold beer. South Africa - I ate everything presented to me, I even ate catepillars. There are many more countries, and I have scrapbooks full of pictures of scenic, architectural landmarks and of my favorite dishes. I consider myself a true adventurous foodie. I thought of starting a Foodies Travel Guide, but was consumed with my travels and eating I did not have time to write.

Now 10 years later and we won't even discuss how much weight I have added on. What prompted me to go back to being a vegetarian? My good friend Nicole T (from Memphis, TN) asked me to come to her graduation. She has been touting the benefits of being a vegetarian for years. She was attending the Living Foods institute in Atlanta, Georgia. I thought it was some yoga and meditative retreat and I was prepared to do my down dog and clear my mind. However the Living institute is a center where they teach folks how to live a raw food lifestyle. First let me tell you I was very skeptical. Until I saw Nicole! Nicole is about 5'10 and used to wear a size 10-12. Now she is a size 6, if that!. I had not seen her in 1.5 years, since her move to Memphis. I know she had changed her eating habits, she gave up dairy and cooked foods. I did not comprehend what that meant until I sat thru the presentation and then ate some of the dishes. My goodness, I never knew raw vegetables could be so versatile and delicious! I had a mock salmon dish that was better than salmon. I had a raw lasagna dish that would make you wonder why isn't this on every Italian restaurants menu! The Rejuvelac champagne calmed my thirst better than any drink I ever had, with the exception of water.

That weekend, Nicole introduced me to another world. She took me around Atlanta to co-op markets, the Whole foods store and showed me the beginning stages of eating healthy.

Now I had to decide what to do and how to do it. Read my small steps blog.

A weighty issue

What happened to the picture of the lady in my profile? That picture was taken 1 year ago, at Shawn's birthday dinner and here I am below, one year later with a inner tube around my waist and one size bigger. I am so ashamed....I have gained the weight after a wonderful year of relaxation and travel. Now I am back to work and with additional weight on me.

The two lovely ladies are my former co-workers and friends Tanya and Lisa. I attended AOL's holiday party, after a year away from my old company, Lisa invited my back to DC and to the party. I thought it was a great way to catch up with my old friends all at once. I was told "You look great, " "So relaxed" and various other great compliments, but I know I have gained weight and thought to myself...Okay Now that you have conquered the work life balance.

Now it's time to conquer the fat.

Rod a good friend at AOL, with potential to be more ;), suggested I start blogging and putting up new photos of my lifestyle change. Now please remember folks this weight did not just accumulate over the past year (the inner tube did) but the weight part came over a period of 2.5 years. Part of it was because of a stressful lifestyle and my bad work habits. I was a work-a-holic! With my 2 hour commute to work and back, I stopped working out and focused on my career. There just was not enough time in the day and something had to fall off. It wasn't until a health scare and major surgery that I decided to move and to live a less chaotic life.

This past year has been filled with traveling, spending more time with family/friends and decorating the new house. Now that I am settled into a nice rhythm, I have more free time to work out. Now is the hard part....How do I motivate myself to go to the gym consistently?

Read my post to find out my baby steps.....