I’m on day 4 or is it 5? of my smoothie concoctions to help get my cholesterol down…. and I have some good news. But that will have to wait a day because I also ran into an email I wrote to someone who was unhappily fat, 4 or 5 years ago when I was exercising daily. (Is there a ‘happy fat’? Well, that’s a blog for another day). Back to my friend: She was thinking about fasting. But I told her no. Exercise. It’s key.
I mean, can you imagine? I traveled the world for THREE YEARS, eating and dining in England, France, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Bangkok, Sydney, Auckland, and I DID NOT GAIN an ounce? I just enjoyed……..and developed my palate, experienced incredible flavors even paired with wine, without the poundage.
So this blog is an homage to myself. A reminder of where I have been and need to go again. But this time around, I feel differently about food and the importance of feeding myself things that are good for my body. Hey. None of us are getting any younger. And if we feed ourselves right most of the time, we can indulge with small portions of things that bring inflammation, like sugar. lol And make it cane or maple sugar! lol
Enjoy reading,
Chef Marian
Note to my friend: Fasting ? I want to tell you, with all the diets, fasts and things that seemingly kept me yoyo-ing weight wise my whole life (remember I’ve had TWO, one after another, each time putting on at least 100 pounds) I can honestly tell you the solution is Aerobic exercise, starting up at 5 minutes a day, working up to 40 minutes a day, every day. My knees used to hurt. My ankles. My back. You remember I had a slipped disc, right ?
Now, after missing only 10 days in 365, I am firmer, tighter, my clothes fit better, people think I am ‘hot’ looking even without showing cleavage, my knees, ankles and back do not, I repeat do not hurt anymore (and keep in mind that when I lived in Beverly Hills, I went to Liza Minelli’s knee doctor – she was there when I went, so I know this was a top surgeon, and he said I absolutely needed surgery – which I never had, and am JUST FINE now, due to exercise). I can eat pretty much anything (however, I don’t eat volume anymore). And I don’t feel deprived. I play a cool game with myself. Especially for dessert. One bite “my that’s good”, two bites (yes, it really is yummy), third bite (now, I’m being naughty). And that does it for me. I get all the flavor and only a third of the calories.
I’ve also added more veggies and fruits, in addition to lots more water. I was kidding myself, saying “I drink a lot of water”. 48 ounces is a minimum. That’s two large bottles of water a day, or more. And with all that daily exercise (you can watch Denise Austin on Lifetime from 7am-8am and you’ll get in yoga, aerobics and stretches, all without even leaving your bedroom – I know there’s a joke in there somewhere), kick up your metabolism and be able to live and eat, without it being an ongoing issue in your life.
I say the New Year is the right time to really address this. And trust me, exercise is KEY.
Mind you, I hate exercise. But I do like the results. I only have a tiny bit to go and I’m good. Really, solidly good. And that’s something that won’t fluxuate back and forth. I mean, can you imagine, I went through the holidays, ate my face off (only tastes) of a box of See’s candies, and all kinds of yummy stuff and I did not gain an ounce. It’s the exercising. Once you are seriously, daily exercising, you do not gain weight. And that’s the key. First, stop the increase, then start the toning. Don’t make it about weight anymore. Make it about health and how you feel about yourself.
They say that people come into your life for a reason. Maybe you need to hear this. Maybe you don’t, and that’s ok too. But if you do, I am glad to help. I’m happy to be your cheerleader !
Happy Eating,
