Pilates and P90X: Confessions of a Plump Pilates Teacher

I can hear the faint sound of screaming from the Pilate's community. Nothing could be further apart in strategy and sensibility than Pilate's and P90X. In the beginning of my learning about Pilate's, I was excited to know that I could work out in a no to low impact way, actually reshape my body in the most beautiful way, and lose the aches and pains of aging. The idea of a hard and fast exercise plan repulsed me as I fell deeper in love with Pilate's. For a while, I got into fantastic shape and stabilized my weight because I had healed the mind body connection. But then it happened. At 55, I began the serious entry into menopause. I didn't start yelling more, crying at the drop of a hat, or any of the other imbalances in attitude and behavior expected. I did start to hold weight at an alarming rate. In six months, I gained 30 pounds. What the heck?! Frustrated and humiliated, I kept trying to get it under control and I couldn't. At the same time, a relationship stress issue aggravated some deeper inner turmoil that I thought I'd dealt with.  Teaching Pilate's or any other exercise with extra weight is anathema to any instructor. Because of the peace I'd developed in the mind/body place, I never thought of just hanging up my career although there was a time when I would have. I do love and trust my body so I knew it had it's reasons for the way it was responding to life.

In the meantime, my dear friend, Sara (in her 30"s), had begun using P90 and turned into a super model. Yes, I paid close attention to that and the other changes she was making in her life. She got off sugar (with few exceptions), started eating clean for a lifestyle, and seemed happier than ever. I love a good success story especially if I see it unfolding right in front of my eyes. Knowing what her weight had been before she started, I figured that if she could do it, then so could I. I never have had the sense to stay away from some big challenge that obviously seems impossible to someone my age. So I started working out with her 1- 2 times a week. God knows, I looked so goofy and weak.

I kept on with my goofy self and sure enough I started to get stronger. Lesson: when you have nothing to lose but weight, goofy doesn't matter. Plus, my workout partner was so gracious and has some pretty funny memories. Can I tell you how much more motivated I am when I work out with her? Little things like that make alot of difference.

Because I know I can do it now, we start P90X on April 1, 2012. This Friday, we photograph (good for her, so sad for me), weigh , and measure. I forgot that she's entering us in a contest. Eeek!

The food plan won't start until Sunday but I went ahead and got off sugar. I use Tim Ferris' Slow Carb Plan from his book, "The 4-Hour Body." It's simple and finite. From being on it for only three days, I am down four pounds. I like the food, too. My body is so relieved to be off sugar that it began stabilizing right away. Go check this out for your self.

I recently read the quote: "You crave what you eat." That is so true.

Now, I still had to deal with the relationship stuff. I have some skill in this area but I'll admit I couldn't fix this one. I felt both terrified and so very angry. God had already planned my rescue. On Sunday, I had my hysterical crying fit where He showed me that I hated Him for allowing yet another sick person into my life. I had to admit it before I could quit it ( and ask for forgivenes). It brought up a level of pain that I didn't know was there. It was hard but necessary to admit I had these awful feelings. They were driving my desire to eat the very things my body reacted to with weight gain. I had tried in vain to soothe them away with the wrong food. It wasn't alot of food all the time but it was simply wrong for my aging, sugar-sensitive body.

So what about Pilate's and P90X?  That's what so wonderful...when I do a P90X workout and then do Pilate's behind that as I teach the next class, Pilate's undoes all the bad body sensations caused by the very strenuous P90X exercise. Pilate's has that magical ability to heal the body from so many things. I now have the best of both worlds working for me.

We will blog our progress to help any other takers on the P90X on a new blog. I'll give you the new link in the next post.

Hey, always remember to bring your own sunshine with you wherever you go...

Monday Happies

TodayI have some "happies" for you. a couple of my friends were discussing or rather complaining about bras. We don't like them. they start to really bug as the day ages to the point where we just want to rip them off. Enough already! I browsed the aisles of Target to find a way to unload some cash (that's mindless wandering, looking for who-knows-what) and I found the Genie bra. I remember seeing it on TV and totally mistrusting it. But I did have some cash so I paid $20 for two: nude and black. they come with pads that can be added or not. From the first time I put it on, it felt so comfortable. It looked pretty good, too. I adjusted the pads for that pleasant shape and Voila! I like them so much and I hope you'll drop a cool $20 to find out for yourself. If you don't like them, return them. I found them at Target and Bed, Bath, and Beyond. Here's a pic...

Oh, yes, the next happy is a drink from Whole Foods from the CalNaturale Co. Get a load of these honeys...

They had me at "Hello, beautiful". These drinks have only 9 grams of sugar, 16 grams of protein, and a delightful taste. Who wouldn't feel just a little special and somewhat thinner drinking one of these?

I was helping a friend of mine deliver some gorgeous frames she made to Terri Hannah Home and Garden in Germantown, Tn. We walked in, set the frames down, and were chatting when I spied these very pretty saltines in a glass jar. I opened the jar and took one out. It was love at first bite! I'm not much on saltines but these were marvelous.  By the time I had my second cracker, I knew I couldn't go home without those crackers. Turns out they are made with a seasoning called The Original Savory. It is a seasoning blend in a small bag. Here is the really interesting part. You mix them with oil in a baggie the set them out to dry. No baking or mess. Until you have tried one, you'll never know how good good can be. Get on over to Terri's adorable store, grab some Savory Saltine Seasoning, and look around. You'll leave with more than a great start for your next party.

Well, that's all for Monday happies. Step out of the box and try something new. I'm glad I did...







Pilates and Low Carb

Susan Lucci inspired me to begin Pilates. Between her love of Pilates and he commitment to low carb eating, she has managed to achieve the most amazing physcal beauty and health. When I want to have what someone else has, I find out what they do and try it. After testing out the Dukan diet, I realized that there was not enough flavor to interest me, nor enough vairety. The first week of Dukan, I was tired everyday. Atkins was always a great plan for me but now in my mid-life, I find that eating all the fat I want makes it too hard for me to lose weight.  Suzanne Somers has a pretty good plan for hormonal weight loss but she adds too many carbs. What to do? I think I'll keep the low carb but cut away as much fat as I can without losing the flavor and some needed energy.  I love food and I always will. My taste buds enjoy bright flavors. I actually know some people whose tastebuds are nearly comatose. It never natters what they eat bacuase they don't really like food (no reference to anorexia). It's pretty easy to lose when you don't really enjoy food. My buds will always need good, flavorful food. Dukan is done. Low carb, lower fat, reasonable portions sounds really good to me. Here's what is for Brunch on Saturday with chicken sausage...



Caprese Baked Eggs



Cooler with a chance of rain? Try out this grouping from oldnavy.gap.com...

Today, for breakfast, I had a spinach, roasted red pepper fritatta with swiss cheese melted on top. It was as tasty as it was pretty to look at. I have enough servings left over for a light lunch or a snack. Extra portions made ahead helps to keep me on my plan. If I get too hungry and have to decide what to eat, I tend to choose the wrong food.  Emotions drive my eating behavior so I have a friend who has overcome emotional eating that I'm checking in with daily.  She knows what I need to know and understands my challenges. I only have to choose the next right meal and I'll be alright.

So there you have it. No matter what kind of day it is outside, always bring your own sunshine with you!

Carbs vs. Pilates Abs

On my blog, suzuspetals.blogspot.com, you'll find my daily experience with the Dukan Diet.  The first week, I lost six pounds. No kidding, all of it has come off my belly. That's just more proof that too many of the wrong kind of carbs messes up gorgeous Pilates Abs.  Because Pilates is the only true core exercise discipline, once you strengthen your abs the Pilates way, they stay flat even when you aren't working out, unlike the ususal sit-ups, crunches and what have you. But if you over-eat carbs, any of them, your belly will be the first place the fat attaches to. Eating too much fat will also hide flat abs. That's what makes the Dukan Plan so smart.  Dukan helps you to lose water weight. I always smirk when I hear someone complaining about only losing water weight. Well, would you rather keep it? Seriously. It creeps up blood pressure and makes you look bloated and awful.  Too many carbs creates water weight gain.  The formula for gorgeous abs:  Pilates - carbs +  a daily liter of water. Try it for a week and test it yourself. Send me your observations. Week 2 of the Dukan Diet begins today.  Follow my progress on http://suzuspetals2.blogspot.com/.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Smoothie

Is there anything better than peanut butter and chocolate? Pause and ponder that. For me, the answer is no. but I choose not to indulge in just any peanut butter and chocolate thing.  I have a delicious tasting alternative to fattening shakes. Today's recipe is for a protein packed, scrumptious power smoothie. I had one last night for a bedtime snack. The creamy texture and bright chocolate peanut butter flavor satisfied me completely. The protein sustains me to keep my blood sugars stable so that I don't crave other kinds of sweets. There is a secret ingredient that you mustn't leave out: a tablespoon of cream cheese. If you a re low-carbing it, choose full fat. If you are on Dukan diet, choose low fat. If you are on low calories, choose fat free. Here is the recipe:

One scoop of chocolate Shakeology (see link on right side of page) or a scoop of EAS low carb Vanilla protein powder (Costco has this for an excellent price)

2 tblsp of good cocoa (not the kind with sugar in it it, just plain cocoa)
1 tbsp. peanut butter
1 tbsp cream cheese (makes the texture unbelievable creamy)
Splash of vanilla
Sweetener to taste ( I like Sweet & Low)
8 oz water ( I don't use milk because I don't want to cut the brightness of the flavor)

Throw all this into a bullet blender or regular blender and whiz until the cream cheese is smoothly incorporated. Then add ice.  Continue blending and the pour.

Let me know how you liked this or your own favorite versions of low carb smoothies. I have many other recipes for power hsakes and smoothies on a board of the same name at http://pinterest.com/.