Turkey skin is good for you? Really?

I just read an article on CNN that says eating turkey skin isn't so bad for you. I have to admit, I love the crunchy, golden brown skin on a turkey. It's so flavorful, and with a mouth full of yummy like that, I just assumed it was a cardiac-event waiting to happen. Not so says a gal from the Harvard School of Public Health.

Check out this article that spells out the truth about the food you'll be eating tomorrow:

http://pagingdrgupta.blogs.cnn.com/2010/11/23/turkey-skin-more-good-fat-than-bad-and-other-thanksgiving-truths/

First Day at the New Gym

I'm baaaa-ck!! On two accounts really...back to blogging (and so sorry for the hiatus) and back to the gym. With the move to Virginia, and all of the prep that went into it, I found myself having little time to devote to my blog (which probably accounts for why I didn't notice someone had wripped off the name of my blog, but that's for another post). And since we moved from Edgewater in mid-October, I have not worked out at a gym, save for 2 Zumba classes with my friend, Jodie, last month.

So, it was with a little trepidation, and a lot of enthusiasm, I joined a gym nearby - Sport & Health. The place is nice. It's certainly not the lush spa-like locker room of a Can-Do. Or the multi-level facility with monstrously large fitness room of a Can-D0. Then again, the monthly price tag is not that of a Can-Do either. But, the Sport & Health does have it's perks - amazing monthly rates (coming from NYC area it feels great), a large children's play center, and the classes I am interested in, like spin, kick-boxing, Zumba and Body Pump.

I started yesterday. The class was called Muscle Up. With a name like that I guess I expected to see an instructor with...uh...muscles. Nope. Skinny little woman in yellow shorty shorts. She was a good instructor however, and counted out every single rep. And she didn't rest and watch us, like some instructors might after having taught the class before. Not that there's anything wrong with that. I like when the instructors take a break and really focus on the classes' form.

It was really your average toning class. While my body did feel a tad weak from being away from bootcamp class for so long, I never experienced the near-neausea or muscle burn that I got from Shannon's class at Can-Do. I know, I know...stop comparing them. I told myself that too. But, I was hoping for some really cool, new exercises I've never seen or tried before.

Unfortunately, it was your run of the mill bicep curls, hammer curls, upright rows, overhead press, squats, lunges, and crunches.

This morning I am a little sore. Mostly in my quads. And I expected that - like I said, it's been a month of no gym. Hopefully it won't take long to get back into it - with muscle memory and all.

In a couple of hours I am taking a kickboxing class there. That's truly my favorite type of cardio workout, so I am really excited about it. That might account for why I am up before 6 am blogging! I'll try to post about it later, and give you my dime-store opinion.

Overall though, I am hopeful this gym will be all that my last was too. I talked to 2 friendly women before class, and that makes me hopeful that I'll make some good friends there too.

Now, if they could just get a little booty-popping guy in there named Omar, who I could dance with, I'd be one happy girl.

Lamenting the Loss of my Gym

As my time winds down here in Bergen County, I find myself beginning to already miss my fabulous gym, Can-Do Edgewater. With under 3 weeks left as a member each experience now feels so close to being the last. Today in my Full-Out (latin & hip hop dance) class, I thought, "damn, where am I gonna have this much fun and still get a workout that leaves my hips aching at night?" I can already hear the snickers from those of you reading...

At any rate, as I gathered up my belongings from my locker after class today, I looked around the very spa-like locker room. I doubt I will find a gym in my new neck of the woods that offers the same luxurious amenities. Ladies - there's nothing like the showers at Can-Do: tiled stalls with multiple shower heads for a full body massage. H-E-A-V-E-N.

But for all of the high-end goodies I could mention about the facility, the thing I am going to miss the most is the wonderful people who I've come to call friends. I have met so many great members, instructors and trainers. Going in there every morning is like seeing your co-workers each day (except I like these people...just kidding Fox Family). I genuinely enjoy their chit-chat and the motivation they bring to me in class. That's the real bummer about moving I suppose. Now, I have to start over, and make new gym friends.

Fortunately, I've managed to Facebook with a lot of my current gym friends, so we'll be able to stay in touch. And the true beauty of friends - you don't have to sweat next to them, to keep them. :-)

Right? You Can-Do bitches better stay in touch!

Labor Day and Grilling Out

Today is Labor Day, and I am kinda thankful that my family and I are not attending any picnics or cookouts. Why? Because I always have a tendency to go overboard at those shindigs, and eat too much. How can people resist all the delicious dips, desserts and chili-covered dogs? I can't.

So, we are chilling at home this year, and will likely grill something in the backyard. That's my answer to easy meal-making during the summer and warm weather. When in doubt - grill it. Chicken mostly, but we also like to cook burgers, steak, and sausage on the grill too. And the best part of cooking on the grill, other than the taste, is that grilling tends to keep the calorie count at meal time lower.

In honor of all the backyard-barbecues taking place today, I thought I would share some healthy recipes for the grill. Check out this link to the Eating Well website. They have lots to choose from, and the filet kabobs look pretty good! Enjoy your day!

http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes_menus/collections/grilling

Happy Anniversary!

Happy 1 year Anniversary to the Muscle Maker Grille in Edgewater, NJ!!

If you haven't checked them out yet, they have great healthy menu items. I love their wraps!

You can find them in the Trader Joe's shopping center. Delicious!

Do you remember your school lunches?

With school starting for so many of my friend's kids this week, it had me reminiscing about those days of lugging around an overstuffed backpack (on one shoulder of course), and rushing from one class to another before the bell rang.

I also got to thinking about lunchtime, and the food we were served 20 years ago. Chicken nuggets, the mystery-beef patty thing smothered in gravy, bad grilled cheese sandwiches, tepid milk in a box, and horribly overcooked carrots. Those are just a few of the items that have never left my memory.

How about you? Can you recall the gems you were fed during school lunch? I bet they are not what we today would call nutritious, huh?

What are kids being served in school these days? Chime in my teacher friends...can't wait to hear!

Cute toning sneakers??

We've all seen the commercials on TV for the toning sneakers - the ones with all the chicks in itsy-bitsy Daisy Duke shorty-shorts. You know, the girls whose asses are smaller than my 3 year olds? At any rate, they splash the screen with image after image of tight, lifted buns and sculpted thighs. Why you ask? To divert your attention away from the butt-ugly shoes they are trying to promote! Those toning sneakers are hideous. They look like something Frankenstein might have worn, with 2 inch thick soles. Seriously, every time I see them, I have to wonder if something is tucked up inside the sole, like little roller skate wheels (another ugly pair of shoes in my opinion).

I rant like this for a reason - today I saw another TV commercial for a pair of toning shoes - and guess what? They're reasonably cute! They're from New Balance, and almost look like everyday running shoes. They supposedly have hidden the "balance ball" technology that caused the other shoes to be so unattractive. They claim that the balance ball technology activates your glutes, hamstrings and quads, which in turn burns calories. Hmmm...

The last thing I need is another pair of shoes. But, I would be curious to try these. And see if all the hype is legitimate. Then when I walk back and forth to the refrigerator, I can feel less guilty, because I am burning calories!! ;-)

If anyone has any experience with these shoes, I'd love to hear about it!

Down 14 pounds

It's been a while since my last post, but I didn't want you to think that I've given up on my dieting and exercise. In fact, I'm still hard at work, and was pleasantly surprised when I got on the scale this morning at the gym, and saw I had lost a few more pounds. So, now I am down a total of 14 pounds!! That's exciting, considering I really thought that I might have put a few pounds back on since the end of the official Velocity plan.

Since that month ended, I have tried to modify the plan to make family life a little easier, and quite frankly, to make eating more enjoyable. I still strive for 5 small meals a day (every 3 hours), and I try to eat veggies with each meal. I also try (not always successfully) to avoid starchy white carbs, and sugary crap. Unfortunately, Coke Zero and cool ranch chips have a direct line to my brain, and I find myself craving them now more than ever.

Exercise is going well. I went back to doing cardio classes, as Jonathan suggested, to give my body another shake-up. After a month of personal training bootcamps with him, the classes feel like a breeze. I've added in weight-training, and find my arms are looking more toned.

But, I do think I should shock the body once again, and go back to the treadmill regimen I had been doing before. Sprints, and that kind of stuff. It really was good for getting the heart rate up, back down, and back up again quickly. Those intervals are supposed to be good for fat-burning.

Well, folks, that's where the progress stands for now. I am hoping that in another few weeks, I can share more good news. Hope your progress is making you smile too!

Dieting is hard when away from home

I've been out of town visiting family for a week now, and I am feeling very guilty over my eating habits since we left our apartment with a fridge stocked full of vegetables, lean proteins and other items I'm supposed to eat while on the Velocity plan.

It's friggin hard to be strict when you're eating at other's peoples' houses! I can't be rude and pass on a meal made because its not in my eating plan. And I don't want to be one of those people who ask for a completely separate meal, and inconvenience the host or hostess. Fortunately, we stayed with family who are trying to eat healthy, so there was a wide variety of fruits, yogurts and bottled water in the fridge.

Nevertheless, I still had pizza, pasta and fast food this past week. Uggh, I feel fat!

I can proudly say that Damon and I did manage to go to the gym while we were in Ohio. Three days straight, and good workouts too - sprinting on the treadmill, and I shared a lot of the exercises I learned from Jonathan with Damon. He was impressed. He called me a PT machine!! :-)

And the best part of the gym visits? I stepped on a digital scale they had, and saw I was down another 5 pounds. That makes my weight loss since I started Velocity 10 pounds total. In a month and a half. Not too shabby.

Tomorrow I am hitting up my old stomping grounds - a gym now called Hardkohr Fitness, that I used to belong to for a number of years. Going to take Zumba with one of my favorite instructors, Jodie. So looking forward to a good sweat. It will be a great workout and do wonders for my mental state, and alleviate some of the guilt I am harboring after this week away from my normal routine.

I gotta say, its nice to go away, visit family and vacation. But, I am seriously looking forward to getting home and picking up where I left off. I felt like I was making headway, and now feel like I just took a few steps back after this week.

Surely, I'll feel better about it all after I dance my ass off tomorrow.

How Would You Label the Caloric Content of Fast Food?

Seems the government is looking for comments from the average Joe on how we would like to see the caloric content of food reported on labels at fast food restaurants.

I can think of a simple way to classify fast food items:

A) Fat Ass

B) Fatter Ass

C) Fattest Ass

Who needs to see calories? We all know that bacon-double-cheeseburgers go straight to our butts, right? And thighs in my case. Seriously, for those folks who eat these colossal burgers that so wonderfully come with large fries, do they really care how many calories are in them? Probably not.

BUT, if you are concerned about knowing how many hours you'll have to sweat at the gym to work off your whopper, and have a great idea on how the restaurants should report the info, visit this website to chime in:

Go to Regulations.gov electronically

1. Choose “Submit a Comment” from the top task bar
2. Enter the docket number FDA-2010-N-0298 in the “Keyword” space
3. Hit “Search” button

Who Inspires Me? Jodie the Bejeweled Fitness Instructor

In this installment of "Who Inspires You," I introduce the most accessorized fitness instructor I've ever had the pleasure of exercising with- Jodie Strausbaugh! She not only teaches a whole slew of group fitness classes, but also runs her own successful Silpada jewelry business. Hence why she always looks so uber-cool pumping iron in her bangles, rings and other sparkly gems.

I met Jodie several years ago, when I started taking her step classes. She also teaches yoga and the really-popular Zumba dance classes. Last year I was in town when she taught Zumba and she invited me to give it a try. LOVED IT!!! Jodie is a fabulous instructor - she calls her moves in advance, so following her is a breeze. And she has a great nature - encouraging, supportive, motivational, and so likable. I can't imagine anyone not loving Jodie and her classes.

And for what must be now over 6 years (if my math is correct) Jodie has been growing her Silpada business. I remember when she first started the business. She was a natural sales person. And today, Jodie has a large team of women working under her, who help her meet challenging sales goals (that earn her big rewards, like trips).

In addition to all of her working, she makes time for fun with her hubby and grandkids. She finds a way to do it all - she's another one of the Super Women I know! Her lifelong commitment to exercise has always inspired me, and continues to. You're awesome Jodie!!

Photo caption: I asked Jodie for permission to use one of her Facebook photos. I couldn't find any of her alone (not surprising considering Jodie is such a people person). So, here's one of her and a gal she befriended during a vacation. I like it because she looks great! Thanks Jodie!

Down a few more pounds!

Hi everyone. It's been a few days since my last blog, so thought I would report back on how everything is going since the end of my official month on the Velocity weight loss plan.

Since then, I've been sticking with a modified version of the eating plan. Jonathan, my trainer during the program, changed the diet to include more carbs, especially fruits, like berries. He gave me a recipe for a fruit and vegetable-based shake, that really keeps me feeling satisfied and energized. While I am not as strict as I had been with the diet before, I am definitely still eating 4-5 times a day, eating lean proteins, vegetables, and avoiding junk as much as possible.

My trainer also suggested I go back to doing my old routine of cardio classes, to give my body a nice little surprise. So I've been doing kick-boxing again, spinning and dancing. Lots of fun to be back in the classes with friends.

We left Friday to go out of town for a week. In fact, I am in Ohio as we speak. When I am away from the gym, I tend to go outside for walks or a run. Today, however, I was fortunate enough to attend a local gym here as a guest. I had a great sprint session on the treadmill, like I had been doing on the Velcoity program. Then I showed Damon some of the exercises I learned from Jonathan, using the Bosu and med. ball. It was a great workout. And I think we're going back there the rest of the week.

The best part of visiting the gym? They had a digital scale...I stepped on and to my pleasant surprise, I lost more weight. I am now down 10 pounds since began Velocity - 7 weeks ago.

It's really working!! I had been wearing a size 12 pants before this all began, and now my size 10's are too big. I think in another week or so, I will pull out some 8's and see how they feel! (I have a whole gamut of sizes in my closet, all the way down to 2.)

So, I think by the time we move to Virginia, I'll be a whole new person. I can't wait!!

And the Velocity Results Are In!

It's been a long month, but the Velocity weight loss program has officially ended. As you recall, the program included 1/2 hour personal training sessios 3x a week, a training and non-training day cardio program, and an eating plan. The workouts with my trainer, Jonathan, were intense, high energy sessions that introduced me to all kinds of new exercises and really got my heart rate up. The cardio plan included intervals, sprints and steady state sessions on a treadmill. And the eating plan, well, that takes more than a sentence to sum up. But, if you've been reading this blog, you've probably heard more than enough.

Today I was weighed, remeasured and had my body-fat retested. I was a little surprised to see that the scale did not drop anymore from 2.5 weeks ago when I got on. So, in all I lost 5 pounds. I swear folks, I thought it would say I had lost 10 pounds. It "feels" like I lost 10 pounds. I look much slimmer, especially around my midsection, and I'm able to go down a size in my pants.

The same thing goes for my body fat percentage - it too only dropped a half a percentage.

Jonathan explained that both these things would drop slowly for me, because I started this program already physically fit. (He called me a "gym warrior." hee hee) If I were morbidly obese and had never exercised before, then yes, I probably would lose 10 pounds in a month.

And while the scale and body fat monitor didn't make me smile, the measurements we took with a tape measure did. I lost the following number of inches from my body:

-Chest: Lost 1 inch

-Waist: Lost 2 inches (two inches folks!! whoo-hoo)

-Hips: Lost 2 inches (again, whoo-hoo!)

-Arms: Lost 1/2 inch

-Thighs: Lost 1/2 inch

Calves: Lost 1 inch

So, there ya have it. The numbers may not be astronomical, but they have made a very real physical appearance change. And mentally, I feel a whole lot better about how I look.

Now, for the next 2 weeks, I am going to give the ole body a shock again, and switch up the diet, at my trainer's suggestion, by adding in fruit, more carbs, and one fewer meal a day.

I'll also go back to taking my regular routine of classes, with light follow-up work on the treadmill. After two weeks, I'm going to go back to training a couple times a week with Jonathan, and re-evaluate how to best get to my goal weight.

I promised some before and after pics. Sorry, these photos are not the best quality. I had my husband take them with my phone. I'm hoping to get some better photos over the weekend.

Who Inspires Me? Jonathan Lee, My Personal Trainer

This installment of Who Inspires You introduces Jonathan Lee. He's my trainer at Can Do Fitness here in Edgewater. He's also a martial arts expert, who competes, and is training for the Olympics. When he's not in the gym, he's also busy studying to further his education, modeling/acting, and getting a business off the ground. This man is busy and motivated!

I can honestly tell you that as a trainer, he is the perfect blend of "push hard, without acting like a drill sergeant." He introduced me to new exercises that really worked my balance, stamina, strength, heart and concentration. And I enjoyed him. He has a nice personality...not intimidating like some built-up guys can be, and not an ego-maniac like some gorgeous women can be. I always enjoyed my personal training sessions with him, and hope that I can continue with another package. Today I get my results (weight, body-fat, measurements) after a month of Velocity training with Jonathan. And I know I will be happy.

So thank you to Jonathan, who inspires me to work harder at the gym. If you are looking for a new trainer, I highly suggest Jonathan Lee. He's the greatest!

And I am hoping to post some videos of this guy in the gym doing exercises that will make your jaw drop. Just having technical issues right now. Stay tuned!

Are You Going to Watch HUGE?

ABC is launching a new tv show tomorrow night at 9 pm, called Huge. According to ABS's website, Huge follows the lives of seven teens and the staff at a weight-loss camp, as they look beneath the surface to discover their true selves and the truth about each other. It stars Nikki Blonsky, who you might remember from as the chubby, chestnut haired cutey in Hairspray.

Check out this video from the show:

So what do you think? Will this show be good for teenage self-image issues? Will it encourage obesity in kids? I guess we'll have to wait and see. But, I am really hoping the message will be acceptance of people, no matter how they look. And I hope it encourages a healthy lifestyle. I'm sure it will find its critics, every new show does. Let's talk about it on Tuesday!

New York City Triathlon - July 18

I'm reading about the folks who are preparing for the upcoming triathlon in NYC on July 18.

And I really admire those folks - wow, what preparation it must take to run 6 miles, bike 25 and then - the toughest part in my opinion - jump into the Hudson river and swim a mile!

I walk by the Hudson river on at least a weekly basis, if not more often, and I have to say, that water looks disgusting. I've heard its toxic. I won't even let my dog swim in that nastiness - I couldn't imagine diving in myself! Christ, what if a few drops got into your mouth?? Imagine what you might wake up with the next day!

Seriously, can someone tell me that an expert or someone tests that water in advance, and finds it safe for swimming?

At any rate, for all of those triathlon contenders, you deserve big praise for your level of fitness and endurance, and a big medal for bravery! Have a nice swim.

One more training session left

Monday will be my last training session for the Velocity weight loss program I have been following for nearly a month. I'm sad to see them end. The workouts with Jonathan have been intense, challenging and really have increased my strength, and metabolism.

Today we did work on the box - jumping with two feet on top and back down, going across the box (imagine going across a step in step class), and pushup jumps on the box. I also had to hang off a chin-up bar, with my knees tucked in toward my chest. Damn, my hand strength must not be very good, because I felt like I was slipping the whole time. We also went to the boxing room to do squat kicks with the bag. That was fun!

So, next Wednesday I'll be weighed, remeasured and have my body fat retested. I'm very anxious to see the results on paper. I definitely see the results when I look in the mirror. My hubby even bought me some new, smaller workout clothing yesterday! That felt great! And today, I snuck into the dance class for the last 15 minutes when I finished personal training, and a gal I see around the gym came up to me and asked me what I am doing, because "you are shrinking!" Awesome!

I have 5 days to stick to this routine, and eating plan. I'm hoping to see great results (10 pounds would make me happy). When Thursday rolls around, I am going to try like crazy to stay motivated and true to the plan, so that I can meet my goal weight. I know if I stick with this for a couple of months longer, I'll get there. But, I will say, that come Wednesday I am celebrating with something delicious. Not sure what yet, but its gonna be good!

Who Inspires Me? Paul, Master Trainer for BTS

Who Inspires You? Meet Paul, a longtime friend, personal trainer, group fitness instructor and a Master Trainer for Body Training Systems.

Like so many of my inspirational friends, I met Paul in York at a gym I was attending there. It was Paul's classes that really allowed me to lose some mega weight back in those days, and discover a newfound love for fitness.

Especially his kickboxing class. I've taken a lot of cardio kickboxing classes in my years, and no one conducts a class like Paul's. His enthusiasm, passion and ability to motivate is fierce. You really feel the need to kick, punch and almost kill someone when you're following Paul! And no where have I participated in a class where the students were so vocal - obviously enjoying themselves!

Paul also is very dedicated to his fitness. He's trained for marathons, weightlifting competitions, and more. He's also spent several years traveling the country to train other trainers. He teaches group fitness instructors how to teach their programs. I'm sure his frequent flier miles are up there!

He now works at the Maryland Athletic Club in Timonium, MD. If you are looking for a good workout, I promise, you'll find one with Paul! He'll inspire you to work hard!

The Eat-Clean Diet Recharged review

I promised a review of this new book after meeting it's author, Tosca Reno, at Book Expo America. She was so wonderful, and stood for what seemed like a gazillion photos, because the guy in her booth didn't know how to use my I-Phone!

At any rate, I am so grateful for the comp copy of Ms. Reno's new book. It really has changed how I look at eating. Normally, I am not about diets. I find them difficult to manage, and especially maintain. However, the eating plan proposed in this book really isn't a diet, its a lifestyle, that frankly, doesn't seem too hard to accomplish.

She proposes eating 6 small meals a day, and never missing breakfast. She says you should eat lean protein and a complex carb at each meal and 2 healthy fats a day. Drink lots of water (ok, every health guru says that.) Pack your clean foods with you each day so you're never stuck making bad choices, and watch your portion sizes. Avoid sugar, white carby starches, and over-processed foods. So far, so good.

I liked this book, because it wasn't written like a nutrition book. It was easy to read, without a lot of lingo meant for doctors. The book is full-color throughout, with lots of photos, so it really kept my interest too. And who wouldn't be inspired by the photos of Tosca, who is fabulous for a lady of her age (not sure if she is in her late 40's or early 50's). Whatever - she looks better than I do!!

The book includes a typical day of what Tosca eats, and many, many delicious recipes for complete meals, like Thai Basil Chicken Fried Rice and something she calls Chicken Explosion. I haven't made it yet, but I bet there's an explosion of flavor! Or the photographer is really good, because it LOOKS wonderful.

Since I've been trying to eat clean for this Velocity program I am currently on anyway, this book really resonated with me. It seems easy enough to do, and for once, I was able to finish this book. (unlike some books by other fitness celebs who think I can master my metabolism when I can't muster enough enthusiasm to get through the first 3 chapters)

If you're interested in eating better for a permanent lifestyle change that will help you lose weight and feel better, check out this book.

Photo caption - Tosca Reno posed for a pic with me at this year's Book Expo America in NYC

An ice cream substitute that is so good!

I discovered an absolutely yummy substitute for ice cream the other day, and just had to share it with you. Breyers makes yogurt, and they have a mint chocolate chip flavor that I swear is to die for! I took my first taste, and honestly, said out loud, "Damn. This is good."

With only 140 calories, and 4 grams of protein, this is gonna be my new go-to for a sweet snack.

Who Inspires Me? Mindy, the owner of Phases Fitness

This installment of "Who Inspires You?" features a great woman whom I've known for several years. When I met Mindy, she was working at a gym in York, teaching group fitness classes and providing personal training. She was a new mom, wife and friend to so many. I immediately liked her.

After spending time with Mindy outside the gym, at various social events (see the pearl-wearing pic of us together at a wedding), I decided to start training with her. Her amazing physique always inspired me, and I wanted to see results that I knew she could muster. She was a great trainer - fun, yet seriously challenging. I remember her reaction the first time she saw a vein on my bicep - it was a huge accomplishment! I was probably in the best shape of my life back then.

Since those days Mindy has done so many things that inspire me. She has won fitness competitions, opened her very own gym in York, PA, called Phases Fitness where she offers personal training and now, group fitness classes (wish I still lived there to take her classes).

She is raising a handsome young son, who has a budding modeling career, taking care of a husband and home, and staying true to her deep spirituality.

She has so much going on in her busy life, yet finds time to do them all so well. What an inspiration! Congratulations Mindy!

He Inspires Me! My husband

After I finished writing yesterday's post about Kim, the first person in my "Who Inspires You" series, I began to think about who I would include next. Immediately I thought of my husband. While he won't let me post any pics of him (not sure if its modesty or anonymity driving that) I thought I would still give all the reasons he inspires me.

Throughout his life he's always been physically fit. He played college basketball, and went on to join the marines. 'Nuff said about the fitness you have to be in to get through bootcamp! He spent several years in the Middle East fighting the good fight, and after 4 years were over, he went back to Iraq protecting America's political VIP's for another 4 years. During that time, we exchanged lots of photos, emails and calls and I always knew he was working out hard. And what great shape he was in! He once sent me this photo of him shirtless holding a huge gun, and I couldn't get over how hot he looked! hee hee

Since then, my husband trained for a new gig with the government, and of course, it required daily running, exercise and physical training tests. He has to stay in shape. So, he hits the gym everyday, in addition to working very long hours. And it always amazes me how he can pretty much eat whatever he wants and still maintain his fitness. Guess when you have lots of muscle, you can burn off all that stuff.

The other day we traveled back to PA, and I had to get up early and go outside for a run, in order to keep up with my Velocity training schedule. I was so surprised to see him get out of bed (when he didn't have to) and come along. He's so tall, that I was struggling to keep up with his pace! He was very encouraging too. And that's one of the reasons my husband really inspires me - he is my biggest supporter. He goes out of his way to ask lots of questions about my workouts, to exercise with me, and to just be there for me.

Thanks to my husband, who inspires me like no one else!

She Inspires Me: She's a Mom, Actress, Model and Business Owner

The first person to be featured in my new series, "Who Inspires You," is Kimberly Kerr.

I've known Kim for what feels like forever. We met at a salon 8+ years ago, where she was working, and she's done my hair ever since. She even did my hair for my wedding. Today, she owns her own salon in York, PA, called Salon Synergy. And I must say, I have access to some fabulous establishments here in NJ/NY, and I still prefer to drive back to PA and have Kim do my hair!

But, the real reason Kim inspires me is her endless energy and enthusiasm for so many things in life. Especially fitness. For as long as I know her, she's always been in great shape. She exercises regularly, and keeps busy with her daily life. In addition to working full-time, with her business, she also has a daughter, a husband and home to care for. As if that were not enough, Kim is an aspiring actor. She's had several roles in movies, TV and commercials, and travels to read for parts. She's also worked as a model too. I love sitting in her chair as she foils my hair, and listen to the latest role she is working on! (Secretly I worry that she'll make it to the big screen, and I'll be forced to find someone else to do my hair! Just kidding, Kim.)

Recently, she even made the time and commitment for a fitness competition. This is no easy task. It meant clocking hours at the gym everyday, and preparing a special diet of food to take along to work, and at home. And as you can see from her photos, she looked amazing! Like I said, Kim has always looked great, but when she was preparing for this competition, she really changed her physique. She cut weight, and her muscles were ripped. I remember walking into the salon a few weeks before the show, and her back was so awesome, I couldn't stop staring!

She inspires me because she is always striving for greatness, and isn't afraid of trying new things. For instance, she is now going to begin teaching group fitness classes at Phases gym in York. What class you ask? I think it's called "Ladies' Night Out," and is going to be a "sexy dance class." Sign me up!! If anyone can teach ya to throw on the sex appeal, it's Kim. And dancing is such great exercise, that it's a recipe for results and fun!

So folks, the next time I am feeling too tired for the gym, I will think about Kim and get my ass moving. If she can do manage all of this, I can surely work a little harder too.

Thanks Kim, for always making me feel great after a new do, and for inspiring me to be better!!

Velocity workout with Jonathan today

I can hardly believe it...I only have 3 more sessions with my personal trainer, Jonathan! This month of Velocity training is flying by, and I'm sorry to see it end. Well, I'm hoping that maybe I can buy some more sessions and continue on, but that is yet to be determined. At any rate, the sessions continue to be ball-busters, and each time I feel fabulously exhausted.

Today we used the TRX straps and did some jumping squats, one-legged squats and chest flies.

We also used the kettle bells for some shoulder presses, and these swinging arm things that I can't remember the name of. I did pushups, mountain climbers, and some fun stuff in the boxing room. I layed on my back and did leg presses by pushing Jonathan (who was protected by a punching pad) away from me with my feet. It was a great, sweaty time as usual. And afterward I completed my 40 min of post-workout cardio on the treadmill. Walking at 3.5 on an incline of 6. Since I've started this program, I now use earphones when on the treadmill, and can honestly say I am addicted to the Wendy Williams show! Her gossip cracks me up!

Stay tuned for more updates on these workouts. The next one is Wednesday!

Who Inspires You?

I just had a brilliant idea for my blog while I was taking a shower. (some of my best thinking is done in there!)

I'm going to start a new series on this blog, called "Who Inspires You?" And in this series, I will introduce a new person who has inspired me. So many folks have inspired me over the years, and for various reasons. Since this is a weight-loss blog, many of the men and women you'll see on my list are working in the fitness industry, and have touched my life in one way or another. But, other people might be regular guys and gals, like you and me, who have struggled with challenges and overcome them. Who knows, I might just be inspired by the guy who invented fat-free cookie dough ice cream, and blog about him!!

I think it will be fun to meet interesting people, with great stories. And I hope that you'll all feel compelled to share stories about the people who inspire you.

Look for my first "inspiration" tomorrow!

A challening weekend for staying strict to the diet

I learned this weekend that it's pretty difficult to strictly adhere to my Velocity plan when away from home. Up until now, I've been home the first 3 weeks, and didn't have an ounce of stuff getting in the way. On Thursday of last week, we took a trip, and I found it much more challenging to stay on track.

I trained on Thursday morning before we left, so thankfully, I got that taken care of. And I packed a healthy meal to take along and eat in the car. The ride was about 3 hours, so immediately after getting to Lancaster (my in-law's house), I had to eat again. That's where it got tricky. My mistake was not packing enough food to get me through the weekend. And I never told my family about this diet, so they had no idea. However, my mother-in-law eats really well, so I knew she would have protein and veggies. Finding food wasn't really the hard part - it was avoiding the stuff she makes that I love. Like homemade cookies, brushetta, and avacado dip. Everytime I turned around there was some scrumptious plate of goodies on the table. Walk away, I told myself.

And so I did. I managed to avoid everything but a diet soda over the weekend. And I did miss a couple of my meals when we were out and about. But, I think overall I did okay. Friday morning my husband and I got up early and took a run through the countryside. That was nice - so pretty outside. But, damn, I hate running, especially outdoors. They live in the hilliest development, so it was really tough. A few sprints up hills and I was toast.

Later that day we drove into Virginia. Gorgeous!!! And the following day we all went to Dutch Wonderland. Talk about a lot of walking! We drove back to Jersey that evening, and since the gym was already closed, and it was getting close to dark, I exercised in my bedroom, to some 90's tunes on tv. I did a lot of bursting plyometric stuff to get my heart rate up for 20 seconds at a time, and then rested for 40 secs. Tried to repeat that for about 30 min, and then did a few ab exercises. I felt satisfied with the workout. Without it, I would have layed in bed feeling guilty about not exercising. Sunday morning I hit the gym again for a treadmill workout.

And so here we are, on Monday morning - ready to start the last 10 days of Velocity. I am praying the weekend didn't throw my metabolism off. We shall see. I'll keep you all posted on my workouts with Jonathan as we near the finish line. And of course, I'll share my results when we're all done. I'm hoping to get some new pics up here, and that you can "see" the difference!

I'm a "Supertaster!"

Know anyone who really loves salt? Like the pours-it-on-everything kind of love? I do - me. Salt and I are connected at the hip. Even the finest fare requires salt when I am dining out. If you've ever wondered why you might have a hankering for salt more than the average person, here's an interesting new study that sheds some light. And kinda makes me feel like a Wonder Woman...I'm a "Super Taster!"

This story on www.cnn.com claims some folks have a higher sensitivity to salt, and therefore need to taste it in order to reduce the sensitivity to other things, like bitterness in foods. Pretty interesting stuff! Check it out at:

http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/06/16/salt.taste/index.html

I lost 5 pounds!!

Well, closer to four pounds and some odd ounces, but saying 5 makes me feel better!

I'm almost 2.5 weeks into my Velocity training, and I would say its going pretty good. I feel stronger, and am beginning to look leaner too. My upper body is especially trimming down.

I'll be anxious to see how my body fat has dropped at the end of this program.

Today's workout with Jonathan was great. The hardest part that really stands out in my memory was when we wrapped a weight belt around my waist with a band, and I drug him behind me as I ran across the room four times. Whew, I mean that was some serious resistance! I was breathing so hard I sounded like some pervert prank phone caller! I stopped long enough to catch my breath and then we did it again. Other than that, we did a lot of work with the medicine ball, and a bunch of ab and butt stuff.

Since I will be away from the gym on Friday, I am doing another round of personal training again tomorrow. Lordy, my body is going to be sore this weekend! But, its worth it, if I can lose another 5 or so pounds in the next 2 weeks. I would be happy to have lost 10 pounds during this Velocity training challenge. I'll keep you posted!!

Looking forward to weigh-in!

Another week is over. And I am so done with this eating plan. Honestly, I can't wait for the month to be over, so I can modify this eating to a lifestyle I can live with. I don't plan to give up all of the good habits it has taught me, like eating 5 small meals a day, or having a protein with each meal. But, I am sick of eating so many damn vegetables. And don't get me wrong, I love vegetables. Just 2 cups with each meal (that's 10 cups a day folks) is too much for me. And it would be different if I could slather butter, or some fake version of margarine on them, but I can't. The diet doesn't allow for it. At any rate, when the month is over, I won't go crazy stuffing my face with whatever I can get my hands on, but I will chill out a little.

I am really excited to see if all of this hard work and sacrifice the last 2 weeks is paying off. Wednesday is the day for remeasuring and weighing in. I feel like the scale has to have moved a few pounds in the downward direction. God I hope. This coming week takes the eating and exercise up another notch. I now will exercise 7 days this week and next week. And the eating plan changes again (mostly just moving the foods around based on which meal of the day it is). The last 2 weeks are go or go-home weeks. So, I am really hoping to see results then.

I'll be sure to keep you all posted!!

It's like a lightbulb has switched on!

This morning I jumped out of bed. Maybe that's a bit of an exaggeration, but it felt easy to get up and at 'em today. I was able to easily prepare my Velocity breakfast: a greek yogurt for protein (Trader Joe's makes a brand I can choke down), 1 cup of baby spinach & 1 cup of grape tomatoes for my veggie, dressed with 1 tablespoon of olive oil for my good fat. Even though this wasn't so much a breakfast I might truly enjoy, I busied myself at the computer while I ate and looked at this meal as fuel for my upcoming workout this morning.

And then it hit me - I feel really good. Super good. And I truly think it has to be this new way of eating. I've always worked out. Anyone who knows me well, knows that the gym and I have always been best buds. BUT, dieting and I are pretty much strangers. I don't like to diet. I don't like to count calories, weigh food, and cut out anything. It's too much work. Some people can do it - but I'm not one of them. Or so I thought. But, in starting this Velocity program, I am looking at things differently now. It doesn't have to be so hard. And it's not. I can do it. I am doing it. And I feel so friggin good!! I wish this enlightenment had found me a long time ago!!

But now that the light bulb is bright, I can clearly see the benefits and more importantly, FEEL the benefits of proper eating. And it feel's awesome!

Day 8 of Velocity

So a week has finally passed since I began this new weight-loss program. I have no idea if I have lost any weight yet (my scale is on the blink). But, I feel good. The intense hunger I was feeling a few days back has subsided. And today I began a new phase of the eating plan, in which I eat 5 meals a day, with the plan dictating which pools of food (protein, veggies, carbs and fats) I can eat each meal. So far, so good.

I trained again with Jonathan today. It was going like gangbusters until the last couple of minutes. He had me running in place, pushing my hands against his hands for resistance. I pressed back hard with my left heel and felt an all-too familiar strain in my calf muscle. Ouchh! This damn calf has been giving me problems for almost 3 months now. It felt really great for the last 2 weeks, without any pain whatsoever, so I was psyched that I could start Velocity with no hinderances. At any rate, Jonathan showed me some techniques for cooling down after exercise to increase blood flow to my leg muscles, esp that calf. I hope its feeling good by Friday, when I train with him again. Hell, it has to feel better by tomorrow for another day of cardio.

I've begun reading a good book, called The Eat Clean Diet Recharged, by Tosca Reno. I'll be honest - I don't enjoy reading diet books. Most of the time the writing is dry, and saturated with test study findings, clincial bla-bla-bla, and a lot of nutrition stuff that only a nutritionist need know. So, when I began reading this book I was pleasantly surprised that it was written for the average Jane. And I love that the book is full color throughout, with lots of photos, tables and illustrations. Each page is printed on glossy paper, so it almost feels like I am reading though a magazine. And here's the best part - this "lifestyle" seems really quite doable. Maybe that's because this Velocity eating plan that I am currently on incorporates a lot of the Eat Clean philosophy. In essence, as long as you eat whole foods, avoid chemically processed foods, and have a balance of protein and good carbs, you can get down to and maintain your ideal weight. There's plenty of recipes and suggestions for meals in the book too. I've ear-marked several pages so that I can work them into my eating once I am done with Velocity.

I even went so far as to purchase ground flaxseed!! If you are asking what flaxseed is, I honestly don't know. But Tosca eats it on her oatmeal everyday, so I'm gonna give it a go too!! If some flaxseed, bee pollen, and wheat germ give me a banging body like her's, I'm all in!

Velocity still going strong! And Boxing now too!

Today marks the 2nd week of Velocity training. And I am proud (and a little bit surprised) that I can claim to have not cheated once! What I am trying to say is that I haven't eaten any carbs in 6 days. SIX DAYS!! Folks, that's like a smoker giving up the cigarettes for nearly a week. Not easy. I love potatoes, pasta noodles, bread, etc. And to not have any in almost a week is a big accomplishment for me.

But don't fret all of you "balanced diet" people reading this and shaking your tisk-tisk-tisk finger at me...the diet plan only removed starch carbs during the first week while I was acclimating. In a few days I begin the next phase, which allows for certain kinds of carbs (the not-yummy kind) to be had during certain meals of the day.

At any rate, I am eating 5 small meals a day of protein and veggies, with a fruit here and there.

It's been fine, but I was pretty hungry this weekend. I think it was my body wanting to fall into usual habits more than true hunger. It was hard not to eat popcorn with the family in front of the tv, or enjoy a frappuccino straight from our blender.

The workouts have been good and intense. The training with Jonathan continues and gets harder each session. Today we boxed. I loved it but was spent after throwing combinations. Jonathan is a martial arts trainer, so I was grateful to learn from him. After that we went back to the wonderful TRX straps. More squats, and other goodies that work the whole body. After the training was over, it was time for my post-training cardio. Today I tried the step mill. It's like a moving staircase that never lets you get to the top. After twenty minutes I concluded it wasn't my cup of tea. I much prefer the treadmill or ARC Trainer (like an elyptical).

So, overall I am happy with how this is going. I feel confident that I am making progress, and should have good results when the month is up. If I haven't lost at least 10 pounds, I'm going straight to the all-you-can-eat chinese buffet to drown my sorrows in brown sauce and fried rice!

Day 3 of Velocity

I'm three days into this diet and exercise program. How do I feel? Pretty crappy! My whole body is sore, and I am hungry. I don't know if it's my body or mind that wants food, but I am definitely feeling less satisfied than I had a couple of days ago. Maybe that means my metabolism is kicking up a notch?

Today marked my 2nd training session with Jonathan. Good Lord, that man really introduces my poor body to new exercises that "wake up" the muscles. We used those wonderful TRX straps again today for bicep curls, a chest pull, and these abdominal exercises that had my feet in the straps, and my butt barely off the ground. Whew! Tough stuff!

We also used the kettle bells again for jumping squats, and as markers for sprints across the room. Then he brought out the big guns - a heavy ball, or mediciene ball. I had to bring it up over my head in a standing position and use my entire body to slam it to the ground in front of me, catch it and repeat. Then I did the same thing on the right left side of my body, really working those obliques. Another killer exercise for me was jumping onto a bench that as about a foot and half off the ground. I stood in front of it, and had to jump up onto it with both feet, and then back down. Later I did one foot at a time, and followed with mountain climbers on the ground.

As challenging as these sessions are, they are only 30 minutes. So, the time goes quickly, and before I knew it today, we were done. After my time with Jonathan, I ran (okay, I didn't run exactly) downstairs and finishes the last half hour of my usual Friday dance class. Whoa - shaking my moneymaker was a whole lot harder than I remembered! My arms and legs literally felt like they were wrapped in cement blocks. After dance class, I still had to work in my "post training cardio" session. That's 20-30 minutes of low-intensity walking on the treadmill. I set it to 3 for speed and 6 for the incline. That felt like a walk in the park!

I had a protein shake after my workout. It was just fat-burning protein, water and a banana. Not bad-tasting, but certainly not good either. It did the trick though - got me through the next hour while I hung out at the playground with Saxon.

Tomorrow will be day 4 of the program, and the eating plan changes a bit. Stay tuned!

Peanuts banned on airplanes??

Have you heard this news story? Apparently the DOT is considering banning peanuts on airplanes for folks with peanut allergies. You pretty much get nothing on flights anymore without paying for it, except the little bag of nuts. Oh and a dixie cup of beverage. So, to say they are removing peanuts from flights seems like yet another way for the airlines to save a few pennies.

If it's truly in the best interest of those with allergies, why not just leave it up to those with the allergies. They know they can't eat peanuts, right? So don't eat them. Is it necessary for a government body to regulate it?

It's just like the story I heard recently about the city in California that was banning toys from Happy Meals. Are you serious? The only reason my kid wants a happy meal is for the toy! Guess Big Brother felt it would keep childhood obesity in check. Haven't they heard that happy meals come with milk, and apple slices now?

I guess I just don't like someone taking away my choice to enjoy peanuts or happy meals. And doesn't goverment have bigger issues to deal with?

Day 2

It's nearly 3 pm, and I am feeling pretty good about my self-control and this Velocity program.

I have eaten properly all day, and don't feel hungry. And I got through today's workout, which was 40 minutes of intervals on the treadmill (run for a minute, walk for a minute). My only complaint would be how utterly sore my body feels after yesterday's personal training session. Good God, my glutes hurt!!

Tomorrow it's back to personal training again. I saw Jonathan at the gym this morning and he asked how I felt. When I gave him the report, he smiled and said, "Good." I gave him the thumb's up, but really felt like using a different finger! Seriously though, if he get this stubborn weight to come off, I'll sing his praises forever.

I hate greek yogurt!

As you know, I've started this rapid-weight loss program at my gym yesterday. With an intense exercise program also comes the part I was really interested in: the diet!

The Velocity Eating Plan is unlike anything I've tried before. The first 3 days are acclimation days where I have to cut out caloric beverages, like soda, ice tea, smoothies (say it isn't so), etc. I also can't eat sugars (sweets, candy), and white carbs (potatoes, rice, bread, etc).

So yesterday wasn't too bad. I followed the plan to a tee - even remained vigilant when my son wanted me to make popcorn and a fruit smoothie.

Days 4-6 takes it to the next level. I will have to eat 5 small meals a day. Every 3 hours or so.

Every meal requires a protein and vegetable, and fruit if still hungry. And I need to get 12 glasses of fluid a day.

If I survive by day 7 I can reward myself with whatever I want to eat!! (only 6 more days to go)

After that the rest of the month gets interesting. The plan provides 4 different pools of food (protein, veggies, good fats, and carbs) to choose from, with each meal spelled out for you. There's pre and post workout meals, as well as 3 other small meals. The plan offers examples of the types of food and portion sizes you can eat. Example, the protein pool includes a can of tuna, 1 turkey sausage, 3 oz ground turkey, 1 cup of greek yogurt, etc. Can I just tell you - I HATE greek yogurt. I just tried my 2nd brand of that stuff, hoping it might be better than the first nauseating cup, and guess what - it's not!! That will be crossed off my list for sure.

So, once I get to day 8, I will begin this type of eating. Good thing I work from home, because I could see this meal preparation being difficult if in an office.

Last night I snacked on celery with a wedge of weight watcher's cheese, and my husband asked if I was hungry. (evening snacking is our big downfall) I really wasn't hungry. All I could think about was how sore my body was becoming from that day's training. So apparently pain supercedes hunger.

Now, I am off to the gym, and to buy a food scale. As if one scale in the house isn't enough!

Day One of Velocity Training

Yesterday officially began my Velocity training. I met with Jonathan, my new trainer, for a half hour of seriously intense exercise. He introduced me to a lot of new tools for getting the most out of your body. We used TRX straps. Have you heard of these? I hadn't either. Apparently they are popular and used by Navy Seals. All I know is that they seem very complex to rig up - with lots of hooks and stuff. He attached the straps to a machine thankfully, because if left to my own devices to get them set up, I'd have likely strangled myself with them! (see the pic above)

At any rate, we did lots of exercises with them, like pushups. Let me tell you, I am usually pretty good at pushups on the floor (on my toes, not girly style). Pushups with these straps is another story. So difficult! He also had me use them for pull-ups, chest flies, etc. Whew, each exercise was tough, and felt awkward. But, eventually it all came together.

We also used kettle bells for several exercises. Like squats where I swung the bell with one hand out in front of my body to chest level. And a lot of arm exercises pressing the bells overhead.

I also did several types of bursting cardio exercises that really got my heart rate up: jumping up and down off a step bench, sprinting side to side, going over the bosu side to side, you get the picture. And I couldn't forget the lunges, ab stuff, and butt kickers.

Here's how it worked: Jonathan had me do sets of 3 exercises, each set 2 times. I rested for about 30 seconds between each set. It kept me moving the whole time, and my heart rate was up there. A friend asked me if this was harder than bootcamp class. (we have a weekly interval bootcamp class at Can Do) I don't know if it was harder - it was just different. BUT, I do know this, taking Boot Camp for months now has definitely prepared me for this Velocity training. I felt good during the training. I felt strong, and best of all capable.

I'll be doing this training 3 times a week through the month of June. The plan also calls for me to do 20-30 minutes of cardio on the days after I train with Jonathan. These post workout sessions should be low intensity and can be walking on the treadmill, using the stepmill or arc trainer. Yesterday I walked on the treadmill at a speed of 3 and incline of 6. Between that and all of the exercises, today my body is really sore. Especially my butt and shoulders!

The rest of the week I am supposed to get in 3 additional cardio sessions. These have to be done on non-consecutive days that I don't train. I can choose from a sprint session on a treadmill. I run as fast and hard as I can for 20 seconds. Then I get off the treadmill and rest for 40 seconds. This is repeated for 25 minutes.

Or, I can do an interval session on any cardio piece of equipment. During this session I set the machine to high resistance for 1 minute and the low for 1 minute. Ex, jog on the treadmill at 5 speed for a minute and then another minute walking at 2.5. Repeating all of this for 40 minutes.

The other type of cardio session is a Steady State session. I can choose to do a cardio class that keeps my heart rate at a steady state (vs. intervals) or pick a machine and set it to fat burn for 50-60 minutes.

And that was just for Days 1-7!!! The following weeks call for increasing the number of sessions. I'm sweating just thinking about it!!

So, if you're still interested in hearing about the diet portion of the Velocity program, stay tuned. That's coming up in my next post!

Training begins tomorrow!

Tomorrow marks the first day of my new training program at the gym, called Velocity. In a nutshell, this diet and exercise program is supposed to help me shed booku pounds. Dear god, I hope so!

My new trainer, Jonathan, called me today to confirm I would be ready for his session tomorrow. He sounds nice on the phone. I'll let you know what kind of punishment he doles out when I crawl home, and get enough strength in my forearms to type.

And as soon as they send me my diet and cardio requirments, I'll share those with y'all too.

In the meantime, I'm sharing a recipe with you that I found for grilling tuna on CookingLight.com. Sounds delicious!

Grilled Tuna Sandwiches with Onions, Bell Peppers, and

Chile-Cilantro Mayonnaise

The tangy citrus quality of the mayonnaise pairs well with the grilled tuna--a favorite of Marianne Legato. When the weather is nice, prepare this on the grill. Red bell peppers are a good source of antioxidant beta-carotene, and the amount of bell peppers in just one sandwich delivers almost a whole day's requirement for vitamin C.

Yield: 4 servings (serving size: 1 sandwich)

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
• 6 tablespoons low-fat mayonnaise
• 1 teaspoon ground ancho chile pepper
• 1 teaspoon grated lime rind
• 1 teaspoon fresh lime juice
• 1/4 teaspoon ground chipotle chile pepper
• 5 teaspoons olive oil, divided
• 4 (1/4-inch-thick) slices Oso Sweet or other sweet onion
• 1 red bell pepper, seeded and quartered
• 1/2 teaspoon salt, divided
• 4 (5-ounce) tuna steaks (about 3/4 inch thick)
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 4 (2-ounce) sandwich buns
• 4 red leaf lettuce leaves

Preparation

Heat a grill pan over medium-high heat.

Combine first 6 ingredients in a small bowl.

Brush 3 teaspoons oil evenly over onion and bell pepper; sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon salt. Place onion and bell pepper on grill pan; cook 3 1/2 minutes on each side or until tender. Remove from pan; keep warm.

Brush 2 teaspoons oil evenly over tuna; sprinkle with remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt, cumin, and black pepper. Place tuna on grill pan; cook 3 1/2 minutes on each side or until medium-rare or desired degree of doneness.

Split buns in half horizontally. Spread mayonnaise mixture evenly over cut sides of buns. Top bottom half of each bun with lettuce, 1 bell pepper quarter, 1 onion slice, and 1 tuna steak. Cover with top halves of buns.

Nutritional Information

Calories:

434 (24% from fat)

Fat:

11.7g (sat 1.8g,mono 5.8g,poly 1.6g)

Protein:

38.9g

Carbohydrate:

41.8g

Fiber:

3.4g

Cholesterol:

64mg

Iron:

3.4mg

Sodium:

888mg

Calcium:

119mg

Get your reading glasses on!

So as some of you know, I exhibited at the Book Expo America in New York City the past few days, with the publisher I work for. For those not in the know, Book Expo America (BEA) is the biggest annual publishing show in the country. Publishers large and small exhibit their newest titles, and bookstore buyers and librarians swoop in to grab as many free books as they can stuff into oversized tote bags. For those who love to read, it's like walking into a candy store, and sampling a gazillion sweet treats. Really. Its. That. Good.

This year I was drawn to the self-help books. Seems every Tom, Dick and Harry is publishing a "how-to-lose-weight" book this season. And I wanted every single one of them! While that wasn't going to happen, I did manage to scoop up a couple of books I can't wait to read and tell you all about. I plan to give you a quick and dirty summary, and my honest thoughts on them.

That way you can decide if they make sense for your own libraries.

Here's a list of what you can look forward to:

-The Eat-Clean Diet Recharged! by Tosca Reno. Ms. Reno has sever 6 other books in the Eat-Clean series and is a well known fitness and health celebrity. I had the opportunity to meet her, and she graciously posed for over 5 photos with me, until the guy taking the shot figured out how to use my I-Phone. She's even more stunning in real life. (that's she and I in the photo above)

-What the Yuck?! by Dr. Roshini Raj, M.D. The subtitle is The Freaky & Fabulous Truth About Your Body. It's about the embarrassing questions you wouldn't ask a doctor. Can't wait to unfold some truths in this book!

-And this is one I plan to read first...Why Do I Still Have Thyroid Symptoms When My Lab Tests Are Normal by Datis Kharrazian, DHSc, DC, MS. I still contend that I might have some thyroid issue, even though my doc felt most of my problems were due to low B-12 and malabsorption. I hope to learn more from this book, and seek out a new doctor who can get to the bottom of my symptoms.

There's also a yummy cookbook that provides simple recipes for homegrown foods, called The Heart of the Artichoke. I'll share some of the author's treats with you too.

Another book that's been on my shelf waiting for a read is by Jillian Michaels: Master Your Metabolism. I promise to go that a review in the near future too.

So, there ya have it, a few titles to savor and learn from.

Let me know if you've read any great books lately too. We can spread the gospel!