unlimitz-deactivated20120618 asked: How is your weight loss coming?
… slowly. very very slowly. but! it’s been … 10 weeks? on weight watchers? and i’m still in the red, so that’s better than about 80% of the time before.
thank you for asking though, so sweet of you!
Yeah. I’m with you. PLANKS SUCK!!! But you know what? They’re dead useful, in that they not only work like, every muscle (if my amount of soreness has anything to do with it) but you can do them quite literally anywhere.
See: last year’s planking meme.
Anyway, I can’t describe planking as well as a video can, so here ya go:
As they say - start with 15 seconds. I actually started with 10 seconds, 3 times, every other day. I’m not that far from it, but my goal is eventually to do 1 minute planks, 5X, every other day. Cause dudes. That’s a crazy workout, and it’s only 5 minutes! Plus recovery, so more like an hour. Or something like that!
dailyish dose of curvspo - hollywood works out! sometimes we see these actresses looking effortlessly glam at premieres and forget that in fact, it requires a SHIT ton of effort. that’s why today we’re looking at a bunch of stars in different shapes/sizes rocking their workout.
dailyish dose of curvspiration - Octavia Spencer! i have to admit i haven’t (yet) seen the help, but of the things i’ve seen her in (this is an embarrassing list and it includes win a date with tad hamilton, seven pounds, never been kissed, etc) she’s always made an impressive impression on me. more importantly, i think there’s a lot you can tell about people by whom they surround themselves with and some of her besties - Allison Janney and Melissa McCarthy, specifically - are some of my abfaves in the entire world. for curvspo, Octavia is a great model - she wears things that flatter her body, doesn’t shy away from color or statement clothes, and also? she’s frank, awesome, and not at all ashamed of her shape. GO OCTAVIA! I will see the help and I will love you in it and also, you’re amazing.
I hate running. I’m not ashamed to say it. It makes me all flemmy when it’s cold out, and sore no matter what, and I look like an asshole doing it.
Yet?
I know how good it is for me because I FEEL so much better when I’m running. And long runs - for me, even 6 miles is a long run because I’m so slow - are fabulous. Just past the 3rd mile is when I start to like running, and around mile 5 is when I “get in touch with myself”.
Not TOUCH myself. IN touch WITH. Hehe!
Seriously though, sometimes you just don’t have the time or the mental ability to deal with a 6 (or more) mile run. On these days, I like “track” workouts. Track workouts are designed to up speed, but even if you’re not super hardcore, they’re intense and short bursts of energy for a short period of time. Everyone has 30 minutes! And this is what I do when I can’t make room for more:
This way, you’ve done 3 miles, which isn’t something to sniff at (and not taken forever). But instead of just jogging for three miles on the treadmill (booooooring) you’ve also done a SUPER great, intensive workout that helps your heart AND your speed.
The best thing?
No matter how fast (or slow, if you’re at all like me) you run, this workout works! Just make sure to find YOUR “sprint” and recovery paces! And don’t walk. Because that’s no fun.
Besides it takes longer, and who likes THAT.
dailyish dose of curvspo - TOPANGA! Or Danielle Fishel, i know. but when i was growing up, her character on boy meets world was… just? an inspiration to be smart and true to yourself no matter who that displeased. and so when i came upon a story of her dramatic weight loss and then (some) re-gain, and her struggles with weight, and her just awesomeness in general i was like TOPANGA! yes yes - Danielle!!
cakesandcarina-deactivated20120 asked: your blog is just perfect <3
aw!! thank you so much!! i’m so terrible at posting. i will be much better again, i’m sure of it.
dailyish dose of curvspiration - ADELE! clearly, the queen of the grammy’s (where btw did you see the music industry fall all over themselves to celebrate a woman-beater?) has taken hits for her weight, but as all can see, she’s is GORG. especially compared to (cute!!) Selena Gomez. beautiful women come in all shapes.
I know this sounds like a total cop-out, but here’s the thing. I’ve been feeling (and I bet I’m not alone in this) NO motivation to work out lately. Between the weather and the holidays and the hangovers FROM the holidays, I just want to nap when I’m at home. You know what running is? The opposite of napping.
Well. Ok ONE of the opposites.
Anyway, times like these call for a supportive network! I know I talked about them on my post about my half marathon, but I just want to reiterate how important it is to have people with whom you have NO BAGGAGE be a part of this network. My friend Caroline, for example, and I have been friends for a long time and she’s never once played any role in making me feel fat or unworthy or out of shape. So when I say “I don’t want to run” and she says “you’ll feel better if you do” I know she means it (even if it sounds delusional) because why else would she? She doesn’t worry about my weight, she’s not seeing me naked, she’s not my mom.
Those are all separate people, btw. In case you were weirded out.
The point is, when the going gets tough, the tough have a bunch of people cheering for them on the sidelines to make sure they get going. So whether it’s your best friend, some of your family, coworkers, or strangers (on say, DailyMile or MapMyRun), make sure you have people in your life who have no motives other than keeping you happy.
