I'm the fatty at the gym. :)

My sister and I are not thin. Really... we're not... Our mother is not thin and our other sister is not thin, either. My sister's daughters who are 12 and 13 are also not thin. For any of us to be thin we would have to have a gastrointestinal bug that lasted approximately 2 years. Then we might be thin... maybe... but we'd gain it all back within a month of becoming unsick. Women in my family just aren't thin. Ever.

I'm not sure how much of it is genes and how much of it is the fact that my mother taught us all that baked goods should be made frequently and can solve any problem. We love chocolate and cake and chocolate cake. Cookies, brownies, and pies, OH MY! Our husbands are happy men, though.

I won't say anything for my sister but I could safely lose 100 pounds. It would not land me in the hospital, either. It would not cause anorexic teenagers to envy me.

My sister and my niece's and I have all started going to the gym together. We've been going pretty regularly, too. Three times a week we've gone and kept it up going on our third week now. Are you proud? I realize I'll have to step it up for my AT goal but for now I think we're doing pretty well.

We all line up on a row of treadmills and walk away the pounds together. We talk and laugh and have a great time doing it at our different paces.

Then we venture over to this circuit training section that our gym has where we do a Curves like workout together.

We cool down on the stationary bikes.

I catch people staring occasionally. Younger, blonder, thinner women stare sometimes. Men who wear shorts so tight it makes me want to cover my niece's eyes if she dares to look their way stare sometimes, too. I can't be sure what they're thinking but it's probably not positive.

When we all started going together I was pretty self-conscious of these stares. Now I really can't wait to get to the gym and laugh along with my sister and my nieces. I'm truly starting to look forward to the gym. Crazy, huh?

I urge everyone who is having a hard time making it to the gym to grab a buddy and go together. For once I think I'll stick to a workout regimen and actually meet a goal or two. Rock on.

Not Fasting

To answer Robin I have to say "No... the juice fast does NOT make you stop being hungry."

I was doing great. Really, I was. Just sipping my juice, feeling great, ignoring my hunger. Until it came time to make dinner. This is where the fasting always bites me in the butt. I was weak, I was starving.

I decided to make them all Chicken Piccata on homemade pasta. I was doing okay as I added the eggs and flour into the mixer to make the dough. I was fine all the way up until I cut those beautiful strips of soft pasta. Oh pasta, how I love thee.

They were so very soft, such a beautiful light tan color, so very perfect were my strips of linguine.

And then came the chicken. Browned so perfectly on the stove, even the fact that I am a practicing vegetarian didn't stop my mouth from watering. I could smell the lemon sauce, the butter... I think one of the capers winked at me.

It was the garlic rolls that put me over the edge. They were glistening in the oven, wafting a luscious garlic into my nose and tempting me... teasing me... I swear, I think I may have been drooling.

Before I knew it I was heating up some fake chicken strips and fixing myself a plate. I was on autopilot... and I ate... and it was so good.

So yes, Robin, I was still hungry. I failed in my juice fast... and I think I've learned a lesson. You see, I've been studying Buddhism so much lately and have specifically focused on The Middle Way which to me, is really the foundation of Buddhism. It smacked me in the face after I sat on the couch, my belly full of scrumptious linguine and Chik'N... fasting is not The Middle Way. Fasting is an extreme. Fasting is not what my body wants, it does not make me strong, it does not help me.

So I'm not fasting anymore... I'm just plain going to eat right. I haven't outlined my plan completely yet... but I will soon and I'll post my guidelines. :)

Fasting

Have you ever seen a picture of yourself and been shocked at what you saw? Today I did.

The Man's cousin sent me a picture that had been taken of us together on a recent vacation and I was shocked. I have gained a TON of weight.

Not that I haven't noticed it. I have. Like many women I have clothes in my closet that span about 6 sizes. When the biggest size stopped fitting comfortably I sort of got the hint. However, it wasn't until I saw this particular picture (which I will not be posting here, thank you very much) that I REALLY noticed.

The fat stops here. I swear it... I proclaim today that it will stop. I'm done.

Today I started a 2 day juice fast. Just a little boost to help kick start me and reduce my cravings. So far it's 4 PM and I'm doing well... but that chicken salad I made for everyone for lunch looked REALLY good.... but it's just two days and I can do it.