yeah.....

.....so the last time I wrote was a month ago. I am on the 3rd week of the Abs diet, and I'll tell you the truth, I know I'm not sticking to it so well... at least with the whole eating 6 times a day thing. I just can't get myself to wake up in the morning to eat breakfast. And the book stressed so many times how important breakfast is. I haven't made any of the smoothies yet either, which was also stressed. Oops. But I really am eating healthier foods. That is a big change for me. I don't know if I'm eating everything I'm supposed to according to the book, but I've definitely changed in what I choose to put in my body. And it feels kinda good. I prefer not to eat fried or fatty foods anymore, and if I had to (like today at happy hour, we ordered some calamari to share) I would eat only a little. I am more aware of what I am eating and I pay attention to the nutrition labels on whatever I buy now. It feels good to be more health conscious. This week I started the circuit training part of the program (even though the first 2 weeks are supposed to be for getting used to the diet, which I never really got a full hold of....) I'm a little sore today, but I can't wait to see how the excercises will change my body. A lot of reviewers of the book said they saw results after the first 2 weeks. Although I haven't seen any changes, maybe I'll start to see them now that I'm doing the excercises.

The Abs Diet (for Women)

I got my book in the mail today and read some of it. So the title of the book is actually and acronym for the types of foods that you should be eating every day, called the Abs Diet Power 12.

A - Almonds
B - Beans
S - Spinach

D - Dairy
I - Instant oatmeal
E - Eggs
T - Turkey

P - Peanut butter
O - Olive oil
W - Whole-grain breads
E - Extra protein (whey) powder
R - Rasberries

I looked at this list and it seemed kind of random to me. I feel like the writer picked those specific items just so they would fit neatly into his motivating acronym. But you know, acronyms do work. HOMES for the Great Lakes. Mmm... can't remember any others.... The book is supposed to be a 6 week program you don't have to start working out until week 3. Hmm... interesting. So today is the July 9th... let's see how I look on August 20. Also, you're supposed to eat 6 small meals a day and drink lots of smoothies. Sweet! I love smoothies! Then I looked at the smoothie recipes in the book.

Abs Diet Ultimate Power Smoothie:

1 C 1% milk
2 T low-fat vanilla yogurt
3/4 C instant oatmeal, nuked in water
2 t peanut butter
2 t chocolate whey powder
6 ice cubes, crushed

Wtf, oatmeal?? How do you drink oatmeal? And what does it mean to nuke oatmeal? And with peanut butter? I dunno, but oatmeal peanut butter smoothies don't sound so good to me. Theres another smoothie recipe that calls for 1/2 C All-Bran Extra Fiber cereal. These smoothies don't sound very drinkable... But I found one that sounds pretty good.

Summer Smoothie:

2/3 C frozen strawberries
1 banana
1/2 C cubed honeydew melon
4 oz. low-fat vanilla yogurt
3/4 C 1% milk
2 t vanilla whey powder
3 ice cubes, crushed

Mmm.... that sounds like my kind of smoothie... except I have no idea what whey powder is and where I can find it. But I think this is one I'll definitely try. So, we'll see how my Abs Diet goes!

Erika tries to get fit!

I bought "The Abs Diet for Women" from ebay and Billy Blanks Tae Bo Cardio from Ross (only $5!).



I am not going on a diet. I'm going to have a "lifestyle change" in order to have a healthy and long life. I look at the mirror and can't believe how big my stomach has grown, my jeans are too tight, and I hate how I look in a bikini. Before, I could eat whatever I wanted and how much I wanted and I wouldn't gain a pound. I would finish like a whole big bag of Cheetos in two days by myself. I'd snack on greasy potato chips at 3am and go right to sleep. I'd slather an inch of butter on my bread and pour salt all over my food. I didn't have to think about it because after all that, I still looked good. But when my favorite jeans no longer fit me, I realized something very sad. I am getting older, and my genetically blessed fast metabolism, which allowed me to indulge in all these bad eatings habits, is slowing down, causing me to gain weight.

I complained and complained to my boyfriend, but never did anything about it. I started buying flowy shirts that hid my belly. No one believes me, but I have a huge belly hiding under there! My arms and legs look the same, and I guess my face is a little fuller. But instead of being equally distributed, everything has gone to my belly! Sucking it in used to help, but it's getting harder and harder to keep it all in. When I wore a dress to a dinner and used my coat to hide my huge belly after the big dinner, I decided I really needed to do something. I found this website http://www.flat-stomach-exercises.com/tips-for-thin-people.html which suggested doing cardio and changing my diet. So, I'm really going to try to change into a much healthier lifestyle. Not only to lose the belly, but also to.. just be healthy. My mom has high blood pressure and my dad and other family members have diabetes. These are preventable by eating right. I guess it's better late than never, and hopefully my bad habits won't catch up to me to give me any of those diseases!

Today was my first day trying the Tae Bo dvd. It wasn't that bad and was a good cardio workout. It got me sweating and my heart pumping, but I didn't feel like I was going to die like I've heard of some kickboxing classes. I'm going to do it everyday until it feels too easy for me then I'll have to move up to a more difficult workout dvd. And then I'll do that everyday! I think it's better for me to have to follow someone than to get a gym membership and go on those machines because it's very hard for me to motivate myself. I also thought writing about my my plan to get healthier will help me to stick to it, leading to my new blog! Maybe I'll write about other stuff too.. we'll see. Oh, and "smers" is a nickname I had in high school. It was first "Erika smells" which was shortened to "Smerika" which was shortened again to "Smers." I love my friends. Oh yeah, and what else motivated me is a Vegas trip next month. I want to look good in my bikini!