Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.

I watched a movie a few weeks ago called "Food, Inc." about the food supply in America and all the things most consumers do not know or understand about where it comes from. It was interesting so I decided to read one of the books recommended on their website called, "In Defense of Food" by Michael Pollen.

Here's the deal...he begins with the punchline- Eat Food. Not Too Much. Mostly Plants. That's it. That is the answer to all our dietary woes, right? After reading 150 pages of background info he finally gets to the good part. Some rules to live by:

1) Eat food

- don't eat anyting your great grandmother wouldn't recognize as "food" (I guess than means those yummy fruit roll-ups are out of the question)

- avoid foods that contain ingredients that are unfamiliar, unpronounceable, more than five in number, or include figh fructose corn syrup.  (damn near impossible)

- avoid foods that make health claims (do the "got milk" commercials count??)

- shop the peripheries of the supermarket and stay out of the middle (got it, everythng in the middle was diqualified in the first, second, and third points)

- get out of the supermarket whenever possible

This is a lot to digest (hehe)...I'll get back to you later with points 2 & 3 (Not too much; Mostly plants). Anyone think they can follow step 1 for a week?

Results Matter. Here are mine.

In September I started P90X ...which hence the name should have taken me 90 days. It took me about an extra month. I did the "Lean" version which is slightly less intense than the classic version. Drumroll please............

Results matter. My results from the past few months are not very impressive. So, to make a better story I will start back in 2005 when I graduated from college. I had maintained my weight around 130 for most of previous seven years (yea, it took me awhile to graduate). Here I am at my graduation party with my nephew.

Then off to Ohio for a real J-O-B. Between 2005 and 2007 I gained 10 pounds. Thus, I decided I needed to lose the weight. I decided to do "Body for Life" and took my before photos in October 2007 and measurements. Here they are along with a couple other of my favorite (fat) photos. I remember looking at this one from the Red's game and thinking, "OMG, I look pregnant! &%$#^*!!". Something needed to be done.

October  2007 Measurements:
Weight: 139
Body Fat 30%
Bust: 35"
Waist/Navel: 34"
Hips: 38"

Between then and June 2008 I really did not make much, if any, progress. I still weighed about 140, had not  significantly changed my diet and did not stick to an exercise program. Here I am as a bridesmaid at my friends wedding.

I suppose I just needed an incentive that would motivate me to change my lifestyle. It came on July 18, 2008. Matt proposed! I had 11 months before the big day. Here is a photo from the night in Chicago just minutes after he popped the question.

I lived in DC by myself while Matt was in school in Cincinnati until his December 2008 graduation. I started sticking to a healthier diet and exercising more (jogging, workout videos, etc.).  I made some progress. I probably lost about 5 pounds in 6 months. We had some engagement photos taken in October and here is a photo from Matt's graduation in December.

Luckily when Matt graduated he moved to DC and was willing to become my personal trainer. He worked out with me 4-5 times a week and we ate MUCH healthier together. We were not, however, following any commercial diet or exercise program. We cut all white bread/rice from our diet, ate mostly lean meats and a lot more veggies, drank more skim milk....you know, all the stuff we should have been doing all along. We used the gym in our apartment building, jogged around the national mall, and planned a wedding. Whew....it was exhausting :-) But it worked!!! Here are some of my favorite pics from the best day of my life:

And the Honeymoon!!!

So here are the facts. May 2009 Measurements:
Weight: 119 (-19.8 lbs)
Body Fat 20.2% (-9.8%)
Bust: 34" (-1")
Waist:/Navel 30" (-3.5")
Hips: 33.75" (-4.25")

Not bad, eh? Well, this brings us back to reality. We returned to DC, back to our real lives and back to old bad habits. After a few months I started to gain the weight right back so I decided to start P90X.  Here are my starting measurements:

September 2009:
Weight: 123 (+4 lbs)
Body Fat: 24.3% (+4.1%)
Bust: 34 (n/c)
Wasit/Navel: 31 (+.5")
Hips: 33.5 (-.25")

And finally the moment you have been waiting for....
December 2009:
Weight: 127 (+4 lbs)
Body fat: 24.5% (+.2%)
Bust: 35 (+1")
Wasist/Navel: 33" (+2")
Hips: 34.5" (+1")

WHAT WENT WRONG?? I have lots of excuses:
1) I did not stick to the exercise routine, especially when traveling for work/holidays
2) Did I mention holidays?
3) I have been much less strict about my diet

So, it is time to regroup and try again. I have decided to do P90X again, but this time the classic version (http://www.beachbody.com/). I started on January 1 (yes, after a night of partying...now that is dedication). I am also going to do the Abs Diet (http://www.absdiet.com/). Here are my goals:

1) Measurements:
Weight: 122
Body Fat: 22%
Bust: 34"
Waist: 31"
Hips: 33"

2) Strength: 1 FULL PULL-UP!!!

3) Endurance: I am going to run in the St Patty's Day 8K

To help me stick with it this time I have enlisted the help of a "coach" (Thanks Jeff!) and I am looking for anyone who wants to be my workout buddy (virtual that is....). Just let me know!

My little man.

I may never understand why grown men love video games so much.

I am not Looney.

When you see the word "Fun" you say "FUN"

When you see the word "Sun" you say "SUN"

When you see the word "Run" you say "RUN"

______________________________

So why, when you see the word "Lun" do you say "LOON"????

672 Lurkers?

Lurker Definition = "A lurker is one who sits in an internet chat room, message base or newsgroup, but does not participate."

Could 672 of you be lurking around Madilun's Memoirs and not leave even ONE comment??!! Or, is the commenting function broken? Just wondering...

Multiple personalities

Woo hoo! I finished my website....check it out at:

http://www.madilun.com/

I have finally gotten a few volunteers to be models (see the "personalities" link in my gallery). Any more volunteers? I need practice.

Anyone want some free photo prints, photobooks, etc?

I have found a great deal with lots of freebies for those of you interested in prints of your photos and other personalized items like photobooks. Use this link to check out ArtsCow.com:

http://www.artscow.com/?Ref=714682 

Registering is free and I just did it last night and instantly got 1200 free photo credits ans 3 free 8x8 photo books. If anyone uses the link above to join I get another 200 credits. Not bad, eh?

It looks like all you have to pay for is shipping (they have to make $$ somehow).

I am going to try to order a few things now....I'll let you know if it's a hoax! Ha.