So today? Wendy and I showed up for 4 p.m. Spin and we were, no joke, the only ones there besides the instructor.

And he was so sweet and so fun AND? Despite the fact that the gym requires a minimum amount of people to be in the class in order for class to take place, Brent -- our fabulous instructor -- went ahead and held a class JUST FOR OUR ASSES. He asked us what we wanted to do, what we liked and didn't like, and tailored the fucking thing to our liking.

It was hard -- neither Wendy nor myself ate much of anything today -- but we had a good time. Sweated our asses off. We had a nice steam bath -- TOGETHER, oh yes -- afterwards and then went shopping and had Starbucks. Big fun. All around.

And Wendy promises to go with me again. I doubt we'll have that kind of luck again, but you never know. Damn I love Spinning. Big fun.

Carry on, sistas. Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Yeah. I'm not sure how I feel about the plus-size teen stores either. Mixed feelings. Kind of like when I saw the Oprah episode that focused on some obese women who wanted doctors to just leave them alone about the whole weight thing. They said they understood the health risks, but it didn't matter. They were comfortable with their bodies so, pretty much, f*ck everyone else. And while I could understand their point of view somewhat, I couldn't help but be annoyed. I think too many doctors skirt the whole weight issue. Which is really important. I mean, really, who wants to have a triple by-pass at age 50? (Not to mention what obsesity is costing our healthcare system).

On the other hand, I've never been that obese so I can never truly understand how those women feel. At my largest (175 lbs -- which I considered hefty), I was told many times by women larger than myself that I should be happy with where I was. So, are plus-size teen stores teaching young girls that it is okay to be overweight or are they just giving them an option they didn't have before for cute and hip clothes? I guess I'd have to pick the latter. But I still think it is sad that it has come to that.

I'm spinning with Erin today! I'm spin-ning with Er-in! Yay. Thanks for calling, and no, I wasn't going to forget!

Today will make it the third time I've been to the gym this week, which I guess I'm pretty proud of, since it was a hellish busy week. I was shooting for 4x, but yesterday, as I slogged through two huge traffic back-ups on the way home from work, I felt myself falling asleep in the car and while I knew the workout (and the steam) would feel good afterwards, I felt like I just couldn't stand finally getting home at 8pm. So instead I ate a conscientous little dinner and rested.

I've been thinking about your post about the plus-size teen store and I have some of the same mixed feelings--on one hand, the increase in options for plus-sizes is sort of a nice thing just in terms of basic fairness, but on the other, what does it mean that this demand exists now to such an extent? And maybe it's more than a coincidence that not too long after the movement for a bigger range in sizes for fashion started, the whole "oh my God, Americans are getting too fat!" outcry began. I understand both sides of the issue and I can't stand fully for either.

A couple weeks ago I saw one of those Torrid stores for the first time--it's a teen mall store that has plus-size hootchie and goth-y and rave-y clothes (by the same folks who do the Hot Topic stuff). It felt a little strange, being there. And when I think about how it was to grow up chubby and tall, I remember how often I was mistaken for being older than I was, and I think that a lot of those overweight teens are also the ones who go through puberty earliest (this is just based on my own observation and experience, and I have nothing to back this up). I wonder whether it is better or worse for these girls to be able to dress in ways that express their sexuality.

Oh, and what gets me is the way most of these plus-size stores rarely carry workout stuff--because why would they? They don't want their demographic to lose enough weight to go to Old Navy. I mean, that winds up being kind of the message here--oh, honey, just wear something cute and that's all that matters.

I had to laugh this morning. I was sitting in the waiting room at the car mechanic's place thumbing through the Nov. 2002 issue of Fitness magazine (which amazed me -- a waiting room with a current (even new) issue?!). And I was reading the article about "Targeting Troublespots" (a must for every fitness mag) and they were talking about flabby thighs, jiggly triceps and (yes) the dreaded Buddha belly. I'm sorry. Am I the only person who had never heard (pre-Erin) "the Buddha" as slang for a gut?

I guess so. I just thought it was funny.

I think I'd rather post here--I hate the navigation on the Yahoo Groups site! Just my two cents.

God. I'm having a really frustrating day. I'm just posting this because I am doing what I can to not honk down on the coffeecake they have lying around here.

That is all.

Hey! Go check out the Random Link Of The Day! I swiped it from our fellow LTB posted, Wendy of Poundy. This woman is pretty cool! I'm shooting for HER body in a couple of years!

If I could just stay away from the occasional processed sugar!

All kidding aside, I've been reading what she has to say -- she's smart, well-researched, and gives out some pretty sound advice. For instance -- you know how people tell you to keep track of your food? I think I've found one of the best reasons why:

I eat, generally, a low-calorie diet. I make fairly decent food choices and only eat when I'm hungry. But, if you look at my FitDay Diary, over the past couple of weeks, you'll see a diet pretty high in carbohydrates -- both the good and bad kinds. For weight loss and muscle-building -- both of which I'm going for -- she recommends eating 100 grams or less of carbs. And that seems reasonable to me. I'm pretty much averaged to 150-170 grams, and I think I can safely but back on about 50 grams a day if I'm smarter about my choices and try not to make my diet so reliant on carbs.

But it's hard -- when you're hungry, carbs satisfy that hunger faster than most things. I do know, however, that protein can satisfy as well. And? If I switch to a 5-to-6 meal-a-day plan, I may be able to do it -- and only eat when I'm hungry.

If I can tell you guys ANYTHING, it's this: keep track of what you put in your mouth. There is NO SHAME in eating. NONE. I don't lie to you on what I put in my piehole. I mean, I could have left out that I ate all that Mickey D's the other night, but I didn't want to cheat myself. The most important part of keeping track is not become obessive about what you're eating, but to examine your habits and start making healthier and better decisions for yourself.

Sure, you're more conscious of it. Today? I grabbed yogurt and a granola bar rather than the muffin that I wanted b/c I knew in the long run, having begun to track the food, it would help me to see if that actually WAS a good choice. I already know the processed-laden crap fest that is those damn Banana Nut muffins are bad choices. I still adhere to indulgence to reach a goal -- but I think if you're given a better choice for yourself, and become conscious of that choice, you're apt to make the right one.

Or something. I'm off to read more.

I don't know where the comments are for this thing, so for now? Just post a new, um, post! I'll find them!

Um, I guess they're here! Man! I thought I posted this earlier this morning!

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You guys can post in the blog, the comments -- anywhere you damn well please. It's your board, too. If you see something you want to share, SHARE! Doesn't matter what it is. This may but down on the email a bit! I may go back to me being the only one in the email but keep this thing open. What do you think? Post it here in the comment session!!

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So, my mom is giving me a bunch of CookingLight receipes tomorrow. I will be sure to share them with you guys when I get back. I'm really looking for cool receipes -- Heather of Funnymoods is a vertible treasure chest of them. The girl is all about cooking low-fat, healthy, low-calorie ... she's the master. Cook anything she recommends! I think eating is a lot about making the time to cook right for yourself. I know this Sunday I'm going to be pre-cooking chicken and pasta and the like b/c my problem has always been having the time to eat right.

I'm off to bed. Happy posting, gang! Let's here how you all are doing! Workouts! Anyone doing anything cool? I know some of you are doing some cool things -- Dani, how's your challenge been this week?

Wow! Hello all. This is the blog thing, huh? Just a question, Erin. When we want to answer posts do we put something in the comments area? Or do we write a whole post like this one?

Oh, and Erin? I have an appointment with Patrick next Tuesday a.m.! Woohoo!

Oh, man. Erin! Are you trying to show me up? I go and add comments to my site today. Then you have to set up a WHOLE BLOG for your people. Aren't you fancy?!

Seriously, though. This is cool. And just so my post isn't completely useless, here's a yummy recipe. I actually made this for 100 people once and am still not sick of it.

OK. I think is ready to go. I'll probably change the font and colors and whatnot around, and maybe host it on my site, but for the time being -- here we go!

Testing ...