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!

Perfectly Lovely

For the first time since I began teaching Pilates, I gained significant weight. If you know nothing about that, I both hate you and want what you have. Teaching with extra weight makes it  harder to do all the moves I want. My clothes don't fit nicely. These things, added to an already intense fear of being fat, can cause me to think in a very different and negative way about myself. Before Pilates, I'd panic and do something rash to get rid of it and, that will bring the weight back on  faster that not dieting. There is a difference in the way I feel about my body now. I'll  never forget the moment when I began to love and appreciate my body. After six months or so of  regular Pilates, I had an epiphany. I suddenly realized that I loved my body. I'd seen it change and strengthen but it was more than that.  In Pilates, I had to apply my mind to the work my body is doing so the mind/body connection had healed. My mind was no longer working against my body. Now, the extra weight I carry doesn't make me hate my body. I still don't like it but I feel more patient and caring towards me.  I wish this for every woman on the planet. Other forms of exercise are effective but only on Pilates can you heal the rift between and mind.  I feel perfectly lovely and I like it.