blue artichoke

And a fat Tuesday it is indeed. Four days into the 29 Days of Being a Health Nut, I am back where I started, after losing (and gaining right back) 0.8 pounds. The toasted coconut pie might have had something to do with that, but I'm hoping that it's because I'm building muscle. I must be, because they're complaining loudly, especially the ones involved in sitting, standing and walking.

My Health Nut plan is to eat a healthy breakfast, lunch and snacks, with a reasonable dinner in a proper portion size, and exercise. We got some gym equipment from my dad and his wife for a wedding present: a weight bench that I never use because of our cramped and low-ceilinged basement, and an elliptical that I have just returned to using because the basement is a comfortable-chilly now instead of a frigid, burn-your-lungs-with-icy-air chilly. To begin the new year, I bought a Gazelle elliptical, which is a low-tech, low-impact machine that we keep upstairs in front of the tv. It doesn't give nearly as good of a workout as the basement elliptical, but we can use it while watching tv, which is better than just sitting on the couch. So, my exercise schedule is as follows: four days a week on the downstairs beastly elliptical followed by weight training (upper body two days a week, lower body two days a week); two days a week on the upstairs low-impact Gazelle followed by an abs/core workout; yoga on Sundays. I vary my weight training exercises weekly, to keep from getting bored and to keep challenging my muscles. This week, I'm doing a weight training program from Cooking Light.

To help keep me motivated, yesterday I bought a bikini. I haven't worn a bikini since 8th grade. And for those who know me and are worried about running into me prancing about town in a bikini, it's motivation. I kept all the tags and the receipt.

Getting to Know All About You: Prefer beach or pool?