It's so easy to forget.

I've been doing some thinking lately.  I realized that my weight has fluctuated up and down within an 8 or 9 pound window since November, and it really started to piss me off.  I was beating myself up about it, and allowing my mind to slip back into the negative self talk I was so used to 20, 30, 40 pounds ago.

Then I remembered how I felt when I hit the 180 mark, and when I hit the 175 mark.  I felt so happy.  I had accomplished something amazing!  Why don't I still embrace that fact today?  It's amazing that I can look in the mirror, and see only the negative things in my mind.  I look at my arms or my stomach, or the water retention in my face, and feel fat.  I go back to long sleeved shirts and covering up, and hiding from the world.  Why?  When I first hit that 175, I put on some skinny jeans and a tight t-shirt, and flaunted my hot ass around!  ...And still today, I'm struggling with my body image.

I look at my dear friend Beth who has lost right around the same amount of weight as I have (A little more, I think,) and she's looking wonderful.  She doesn't whine about the extra 10 or 15 pounds she might want to lose.  Nope.  She's started a new healthy eating blog about her approach.  She treats her body with respect and balances her life with a positive outlook and feeding her family healthy foods.  She embraces life, and rejects negativity.  She's my fucking hero.

Then today I heard from my friend Danon (also known as the Insatiable Host.)  She's doing a pinup contest at her blog, and it's awesome.  Send in a picture of yourself all gussied up like a pinup, and you could win something very cool.  (Go check it out for yourself.)

"Now that's a thought," I thought.  Here in this dieting, working out, weight obsessed world we all live in, both of these women are taking an active role in making sure we focus on the positive.  Reminding me about agave nectar and green smoothies.  Giving me an excuse to wear a sexy dress, do my hair, and put on some freakin' red lipstick.  I can't wait.

I encourage all of you guys to examine how you're feeling about yourself.  I hope you're feeling good.  If not, take this next week with me, and really treat yourself to some fabulousness.  Take a hot bath and exfoliate.  Paint your nails.  Deep condition your hair.  Get a facial.  Ask your husband for a back rub, for goodness sake!  Have a margarita if you want one.  And look in the mirror.  Look, and love.  Eyeball those sexy eyes and give yourself a kiss, dammit.

You're worth love... especially from yourself.

~Jenn

Busy, Busy Bee.

Hey lovelies!

I just wanted to pop in to apologize for how crazy my schedule has been, and for the sporadic posting going on.  I thought I'd come over and let you all know what I've been up to!


Today I had a maternity shoot with Sandra and Leo.  Click HERE to check out those photos! :)




I just got back from another trip to Denver where I shot my good friend Rico's wedding.  It was so much fun!  Click HERE for those photos.





My last day in Denver I also participated in a Westboro Baptist Church (WBC) Counter-Protest at Boulder High School.  You can check out the photos I took there in the album on my Facebook profile here.  While you're at it, feel free to add me as a friend on Facebook. ;)

I also did a fashion shoot with my friend Dani, so you can check out those images HERE.



Prior to these I shot Courtney and Jon's wedding, those images HERE.




Also, don't forget about my other, newer blog about my dreams, Tantrums of the Mind.  Come visit, and follow!!!  I totally need some insight, 'cause I'm pretty sure I'm not the only woman who dreams she has a penis sometimes.  I'm also pretty sure I'm not the only person who dreams about celebrities, or regularly dreams about water.  I'm looking for some dream interpretation, and general thoughts.  Also it's a pretty decent way to keep track of themes in my dreams through tags!

That's it for now, all.  :)

~Jenn

Curves are Back!

I saw today that Christina Hendricks was voted Best-Looking Woman in Esquire magazine.  Woo-hoo!

Y'all, she beat out Megan Fox, who (don't get me wrong,) is gorgeous.  But Christina has some curves.  Yes, her boobies are ginormous, but not only that... she's not stick skinny.  Yes.  Thin women are beautiful too... but this is the first time in a while I've seen the beauty of a curvy woman celebrated in a major way.

Here's to hot and sexy curves!!!

Eat. Stop. Eat. Update and Questions

Okay y'all.  So, I got a lot of different responses from you all when I announced my participation in Eat. Stop. Eat.  I'm talking WIDE variety of opinions.  It was pretty amazing to see how many of you were supportive, curious and also how many of you are already on the program, or some other eating style where you incorporate fasts.

On the other hand, there were a few readers who were skeptical, unsure, and some of you were downright against the idea.

I want to talk about a few things today.  First, I'm gonna give you a little update on the program and how it's working for me.  Secondly, I want to talk about restriction in eating plans, and what's the deal with that?

So.  Update.

I started out really well with the "Eat" part of Eat. Stop. Eat.  I mean, I kicked ass at it.  I ate and did it well.  Big salads, a hot dog, some delicious ice cream, chicken, milk, cereal, whole wheat bread.  I didn't restrict my eating and it was amazing.  But then I realized I'd forgotten something crucial after a few days.  The "Stop." part.  I was enjoying eating freely, and forgot I was supposed to schedule in my stops.  HA!  So.  I did my first 24-hour fast on Tuesday and it was amazing.  9pm-9pm, y'all.  (I have a really late schedule, so for most of you normal people that'd be more like 6pm-6pm, dinner hour.) 

I didn't feel cranky, light headed, or shaky.  I felt sort of hungry after being awake for three or four hours, but the feeling passed.  I got another slight wave of hunger another four or so hours later, but for the most part it wasn't bad.  I drank water and diet soda and I was fine.  Then, 9pm came and it was time for dinner, and I had chicken, a little bread and some mashed potatoes.  (Had no salad in the house and it was too late to go to the salad bar at the grocery store.  I'll be better prepared next time.)

So!  Overall I'm looking forward to my next fast (which is right now, actually.  No food until 10pm tonight.)  It feels amazing.  I feel empowered and freed.  Which leads me to my next topic:  Restriction.

Here are some of the comments I got on the post I did:

Fasting two days a week is not sustainable.  Why?  Lots of people do it.  Dan's grandfather has been doing it for 30 years.  I have stacks of books on the subject.  It might just not be sustainable for some people, and that's cool. 

It seems like a modified version of anorexic behavior.  Anorexia is not a behavior, it is a sickness.  This program is specifically for healthy adults, and is not for anyone who has eating disorder issues.  Fasting has been practiced for centuries.  We're just not used to it here because we think we are supposed to eat three to five times a day. Breakfast (break-fast) breaks the fast after we sleep, right?  Well, the word dinner actually ALSO means "break fast."  And lunch?  Didn't even exist until ladies tea became "luncheon," became a full meal we eat sitting down.

I wasn't aware that restricting your food was criteria for a healthy diet.  It absolutely is.  It's scientific, actually.  Eat less, lose weight.  I don't get why people are so freaked out by the idea of food restriction.  It's not a BAD thing.  (If you have eating disorder issues or tendencies, obviously I'm not talking to or about you.)  But for those of us who struggle with weight... restricting food (and exercise for those who exercise) is the only way to lose weight.

Not fasting to allow us to make poorer choices on the days we can eat. It just doesn't sound healthy to me.  For me, it's not about "poorer" choices.  It's about freedom from food psychotic behavior (which is a term I apply to myself and my obsession with numbers, calories, carbs, and the guilt and head issues I get about food.)  This week for the first time I actually felt GOOD.  I didn't feel guilty when I ate mashed potatoes.  I had a Subway sandwich and didn't feel like crap afterward because I ate bread.  I made Dan banana bread, and I actually had some of it myself.  This program is about allowing me freedom to enjoy food, instead of feeling guilty if I "mess up."  It frees me to live my life and not worry about what I'm going to order at a restaurant, and if there's a dry chicken breast and steamed broccoli available or not.  It allows me to not sit and loathe and be jealous while I drink a bottle of water at a baseball game as my friends have hot dogs.


The entire time he was knocking other diets and counting calories and such saying that "they wont work."  I'm pretty sure he wasn't.  In fact, I'm pretty sure he said any of those ways can be good ways to lose the weight, and that there's not a "right way" or a "wrong way."  He DID point out how frustrating those other programs can be, and I personally agree.  I do not want to be counting points for the rest of my life.

Not once in the video you linked did it say "how" it is supposed to work, only that it will.  That's because if he explained all of the how, he wouldn't be able to sell the program.  I bought the e-book and I have all the information I need.  Can't fault him for not giving it away, can we?

I think you will be upset if it doesnt work and/or you come off of it, and gain it all back.  Absolutely!  Just like I've been disappointed when I've gained weight back after Atkins, counting calories, doing Weight Watchers, and being a Vegetarian.  But all of those options are also fully valid, fantastic eating programs that are totally sustainable and life-changing for some people.  It's all about finding the program that works for you as an individual.

I hope this is an april fools joke. Of course a diet like this will work since basically you will eat less, a lot less.  ... No, not an April Fool's joke.  And yes, diets where you eat less, are the ones that will work.  That's the point.  Eat less, lose weight.  Calories in, calories out.  If you think the formula is different from that, you're mistaken.  It really is that simple.

I sincerely hope I am wrong in thinking this diet is a great way to start a serious eating disorder.  This has actually given me freedom from food issues, and I've seen that feedback from several people who fast.  Fasting does not equal anorexia.  Seriously.

If you don't like calorie counting then try weight watchers?   Weight Watchers IS calorie counting.  It's just modified into points.  The numbers are smaller but it's the same idea.  It's great for some folks, but it just didn't work for me personally.  :)


Umm.... why not just eat what you want to eat in moderation and exercise??  I did that for five months and lost five pounds.  Literally, was under 1700 calories a day and worked out for an hour three to five days a week.  My body needs a little extra boost.  Oh, and I hate working out.  That too. :)


So for me, here's the thing.

I don't understand why someone who counts calories or points all week, digs into their little bags of celery or noshes on their delicious rice cakes... can say they're not on a restrictive diet.  Ummm, you are.  In fact, you're restricting your eating all week.  AND you're counting numbers while you're doing it.  In fact, it doesn't even have to be that kind of an example.  Do you sometimes want to eat chocolate cake at a restaurant after your dinner?  Do you sometimes say, "Nah, I probably shouldn't." ?  That's restricting your intake.  That's saying, "Yeah, this probably isn't the best choice for me." 

This is just a different approach.  It's more flexible so I do NOT have to count points or calories or carbs.  I simply cut two days out.  So instead of watching my intake all week, counting calories, skipping desserts, staying away from bread, and at the end, having cut 30% of my calories for weight loss... I'm eating what I feel like eating when I feel like eating it (yes, still in moderation,) skipping food for two 24-hour periods, and coming away with a 30% deficit of calories at the end of the week.

Personally, I like option 2 the best.



On another note, I'm going to be in Denver for the next week but I'll try to do a few updates while I'm there!

~J

Bridal Bootcamp

Hey everyone!

I wanted to take a quick minute to let all of you know about this great new program Fitness Magazine is putting out.  It's been dubbed a "Bridal Bootcamp."  Honestly, it's a great idea if you're a Bride to be, but ANYONE can take advantage of the program.

For many women, their wedding day is one of the of the most important events in their life.  To help with this momentous occasion FitnessMagazine.com has developed a six-week fitness boot camp perfectly timed for spring and early summer brides.

The highlights of the program are:

Bridal boot camp workout videos - everything from specific toning exercises, such as the balance arm curl, to nutrition tips. Most of them about one minute in length

Extra moves for specific dress types -  targeted workouts for brides with strapless, backless, form-fitting, or short styles.

Finally, because brides tend to be extremely busy, Fitnessmagazine.com has created a 20-minute circuit workout for buff brides. Between dealing with caterers, booking the florist and attending dress fittings, now any bride will be able to fit in cardio, strength training, and interval training in just over two hours a week.

I'll be back later this week with some updates on the studio.  Tomorrow:  Paint!

~Jenn

Updates!

Hey everyone!

I wanted to stop in really quickly and update you guys.  Things have been super busy... I'm moving into the new photography studio and there is SO much work to be done.  Be sure I'm burning about ten thousand calories this week with all the cleaning, sweeping, mopping, painting and moving stuff.

Here are some pics I snapped while we were working today:

I'm tellin' ya, my hands are hurting me today.  It's a real mop.  Heavy, mannish.  And I'm girlie.  The person who was in this space before me was a potter, so that first photo is what's COVERING the entire studio.  Walls, floors, everything.  Dust, clay, crumbled crud.  It's like... when you're doing hard-core spring cleaning in your garage and you blow your nose and it's all dirty?  Yeah.  It's gross.

So all my stuff is quarantined in the side rooms for now... we're doing half, then moving stuff, then doing the other half.  And despite that, things are totally getting dusty and dirty.  I'm going to have to clean everything.  It would have been ideal to clean, then move... but it didn't work out that way.  Too bad for "as-is" spaces.  Why couldn't they have just cleaned it themselves, the lazy bastards!?  -- I'm telling you guys, I don't think these potter people cleaned EVER while they were in this space.  Eeeww.

No fear, I will be updating you guys on the Eat Stop Eat program, and I'll also be posting a few thought provoking things in the next few weeks.

So, anyone wanna come help clean? ;)

~Jenn

Eat. Stop. Eat.

Alrighty then.

So, way back when, I told you guys that I was researching a new eating plan.  I wasn't sure, but now I'm pretty much POSITIVE this is going to be amazing.  I found this plan called Eat Stop Eat.  Yes, I know, the website totally looks like a gimmick-y, rip-off type of site.  But I'm telling you, it isn't.

It was developed by Brad Pilon (Nutritionist, Supplement Analyst, and other awesome things) - and it's really simple.  It's backed by hard-core, bottom-line, scientific facts.  You don't change how you eat, in fact, the plan works for anyone.  You can eat low carb, low sugar, high in whole grains, vegetarian, vegan, whatever.  All you do is fast two times per week, for 24 hours at a time.  And don't worry about the whole "starvation mode" thing.  That is a line of bull pucky invented by the food and diet industries.  (Your metabolic rate doesn't change even with 24, 32 or even up to 72 hours of fasting, so 24 hours is NOT going to change your metabolism a bit.)

Intermittent fasting.  For example, you start fasting at 6pm, and then begin eating again at 6pm the next day.  There's the beauty of it.  You don't go any day without eating... just a 24-hour period.

Now, it won't work if I decide to go nuts and gorge myself the following day, or if I decide I can eat every horrible thing for me on the days I'm not fasting.  It's a way to mimic the eating patterns of our ancestors.  Eat.  Then there's no more food, so it's fasting time.  Then, eat again later.  I could try to cut my calories (which I've done, and it was successful but not so maintainable) and eat tons of salad and skip desserts, and cut my sugar intake by 30% by feeling deprived... or I could do Eat Stop Eat, and still be able to eat what I enjoy, and cut my intake by the same amount.  It's intuitive and simple.

I can't go too much more into it because it wouldn't be fair to Brad.  What I can say is this:

I'll be doing this for the next 60 days.  It just so happens that the book comes with a 60-day guarantee, so that should be enough time to figure out if it works for me.  The research I've done, reviews I've read and testimonials I've seen are all pointing in a really positive direction.  I'll let you guys know how it goes.

~J