The Happy Healthy Spot between Diet and Exercise Neurosis and Not Giving a Damn

Friend 1: “I have sugar-free, fat-free, gluten-free, salt-free wheat-free, nut-free, dairy-free, real food free, flavor and texture free, eco-friendly protein bars for every meal because I’m saving the animals and saving the plants because they have feelings too, but being this fabulously thin is just a lucky side effect.”

Friend 2: “Oh yeah? I’m on day 89 of the annual 100-day peanut butter and duct tape dress size 14 to zero cleanse and I’m in a great mood because I’m rid of all those deadly food toxins that had accumulated in my liver! Seriously, I’m not cranky.”

Friend 3:  “Umph, that’s nothing!  I’ve completely switched to the raw vegan organic sticks and igneous ancient European cave stones Hollywood celebrity lifestyle and I’m losing 46lbs every 8 days!”

Friend 4:  “Oh please.  I woke up at 2am and bench pressed my car, did 5,000 sit ups and 18,000 jumping jacks before dawn, all this before running a full marathon. I can eat whatever I want. Remember, muscle weighs more than fat!”

Friend 5 (me): “Whateva man, I guess that means you all won’t be interested in Sunday brunch at my house–spinach frittata, fresh broccoli salad, smoked salmon, berry and dark chocolate fondue, whole grain apple nut muffins and passionfruit mimosas—followed by some serious dance game shenanigans…” [Read more...]

Me, My 41st Birthday, Raw, Uncut, Xtra Juicy, and in a Bikini! (Plus a Bonus Bellydance Video)

Oh boy!  It’s me, all the way live! Go Lisa, it’s ya birf-day, Go Lisa…  Last year I was 40 and fabulous, but then came the plantar fasciitis, runner’s knee, and (unrelated) surgery.  Compared to before, right now I am out of shape. I thought I was just crazy because I was having such a struggle during recovery but I recently found out from my physical therapist that general anesthesia can stay in your system for several weeks after a procedure and wreak havoc cardiovascular strength!

Thankfully though, today, at 41 I’m healthy, happy, and oh sooooo juicy.  (Photo is recent, me in December 2010) I love my body and am so grateful for it having the ability to dance like a maniac but things kinda got out of place for a minute.  We already talked about this so I won’t dwell.  I gotta tighten it up real nice for the spring.   I was recently super-inspired by a fellow bellydancer to work on some new dance performance projects.   Weeeee-hooooo!  Thanks S. B.! Another fantastic reason to step up my wellness plan.

I started this weekend with the nutrilicious brunch I made for my friends: spinach and feta fritatta, smoked salmon, broccoli salad,  whole grain banana blueberry walnut muffins, and fresh melon.  Bellydance is the perfect fitness tool at the same time as being an incentive (to look great in the costumes) to get your ass [Read more...]

Lifestyle Change, What is it exactly?

You’ve heard it on Oprah.  You read it in a book by Dr. Oz.  You’ve seen it thrown around year after year like a rag doll.  Let’s just stop the b.s.  Is it a real lifestyle change that you can live with, or just a perpetual diet, based on the premise that you’d rather be miserable than overweight?  Like the woman I know who works at the weight loss clinic I used to go to, who only eats 10 foods, all low carb fruits and vegetables all week long only to “treat” herself with pancakes on the weekends?  She’s shaped like a skeleton and rarely smiles.  Or like the gung-ho gym guy who told me that if I wanted to slim down and maintain it I’d never be able to eat another cookie again for the rest of my life?

Stop Stop Stop!!!

Lifestyle change is perpetual, ongoing, forever.  But it’s not a diet! [Read more...]

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