Book review – Stiff

Just finished reading this book, Stiff  The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers, this week, and learned if you are fat, no one will probably want your body even if you donate it to science after you die. I bought it used at a fundraiser, based on a friend’s recommendation. It was written by Mary Roach, published in 2003, and made the NY Times Bestseller list.

I’ve always marked “organ donor” on my driver’s license, and have thought I’d want cremation after I die. I also have thought it cool that some people donate their bodies to science, but after reading this book, it looks like the anatomy labs wouldn’t want me.

An anatomy lab is as choosy as a pedigreed woman seeking love: You can’t be too fat or too tall or have any communicable diseases.

Oh, well. There goes my donation to science.

But then reading along further in the book, it looks like are other options besides burial, cremation and donation, you can be recycled! Wow, how cool is that?

In Chapter 11 she writes about composting bodies and new methods that can help compost a body better than just burying it in soil and turning it occasionally (which would take about a month and a half to return it to the soil). The author visits Sweden where an entrepreneur and environmentalist came up with a way to freeze dry a body, break it up, and then bury it to turn into compost.

If an anatomy lab won’t take my body because I’m too fat, maybe I’ll be recycled, the environmentally friendly way to dispose of my body after I’m gone.

It’s a fascinating book, and I recommend you read it.

First spin class

At my gym, we have to call and sign up for the spin classes, I suppose because they are very popular and can fill up fast. Last night I called the gym, and put myself down for a spin class, my very first session. If you are new to the class, they ask that you arrive early for set up. How hard could this be, I thought?

So, after getting my hair cut this morning, I take my daughter against her will to the gym. I bribe her with a promise of a trip to the mall afterwards.

I arrive about 5 minutes early to class, and learn how to properly set up my bike.  The instructor helps me and gives me pointers while adjusting the bike. Seat should be about level with my hips height wise, when I sit my knees should not be bent in an angle greater than 2-3 degrees, and my knees should be above my ankles. She also says I may want to raise the handle bars since I’m new. Sure, why not!

She then shows me how to adjust the resistance and gives me a scale for 1 being the easiest, and a 5 about to the point where I need to stand up. We, the three of us students, start at a 3 for a warm up, and then about four other students show up. 

After setting up my bike, I place my pedometer on my shoe to count pedals. When on a bike, your hips don’t move much at all, so it won’t count like it should. Of course, you only get half the amount of steps in this way, but it’s better than nothing! And I’m not cheating, I read this tip somewhere.

We warm up sitting for a few minutes, then the time comes to stand up at a level 5. This is harder than it sounds. I try to stand up while pedaling, but it doesn’t work that well. My legs stop pedaling, and I just stand trying to push the pedals. Eventually I get going, but it’s not pretty. Luckily the room we are in is dark and only lit with black lights, and my bike just happens to not be in front of a mirror.

Then I learn I’m not standing right, I guess there are different levels of standing, and my butt needs to be almost touching the seat. It was much easier when I was just standing up. My thighs are burning less than 10 minutes into class, and my calves and feet follow soon after. I keep looking at the clock wondering when it will be over, but I know it’s an hour long class. I ran out of water about 30 minutes into class.

The instructor goes through several calls for us to do things, but I only understand a little bit of the terminology like climbing a hill and recovery. Oh well, I manage to do ok and follow along. Then we form “teams” and are racing with groups of us pulling the team along by standing. I’m drenched in sweat and dripping over the bars. This was a bit difficult, but I tried to keep up with my team and stood as much as I possible could. 

Neighbor asks if I’m having fun. Honestly I answer, “No.”

I’m looking at the clock and we only have 15 minutes left, yes! But not so fast, then we get to do these fabulous resistance drills that will build up our endurance. We push up the dial, stop pedaling and stand up, then have to start pedaling really fast then we can sit down, but have to keep pedaling fast.

The end of class didn’t come fast enough, but its finally over, and we cool down pedaling, stretch our upper bodies on the bikes, then get off the bikes to stretch our legs. I didn’t think I would be able to walk, but I survived.  My pedometer counted 4,300 “steps”. We’ll see how I feel tomorrow, and if I get delayed onset muscle soreness again.

My instructor was cool, not like this one at all, and at the end she said I did a good job for my first time.  I’m glad I stayed for the full hour.

Nice cover Time Magazine

I saw this cover two weeks ago, but have been too busy to comment on it. I like it of course, since I am using the Rosie the Riveter image in my own way with my big boned blog logo and “Can We Do It?” phrase. I read Newsweek, Business Week, Wired and Weight Watchers magazine, but haven’t read this issue.

I am thinking of making a t-shirt and stamps out of my logo, if I can ever find the time to sit down and design (outside of work). I’m also hoping one day to have some nice looking arm muscles (instead of my flab) where I can have someone photograph me in the styling of this iconic poster from WWII.

I show off my little biceps and triceps to family members, but am not at the point where I can model my arms just yet. Lifting my 39 pound daughter does helps build up my muscles even if I can’t always exercise.

Anyway, nice cover Time.

I miss exercise

Had a rough week at work, several days stuck at work later than usual with some last minute (surprise!) projects. Monday and Tuesday nights I have grad classes, but I did get to the gym Monday and walked on the treadmill for 2 miles.

Tuesday, no gym, Wednesday got stuck at work, Thursday was busier than hell and I missed my step class. Today, Friday, I was going to go to body pump, but after the week I had, went to happy hour with a few coworkers. I didn’t drink, but I did eat a few wings and some crab & artichoke dip with bread.

Frankly, I miss exercise. Never thought I’d say that, but I do. I have a busy day tomorrow, but I’ll try to get into the gym at least once this weekend.

Hopefully next week won’t be as bad with the work load, and I can get back into my exercise groove. Who would have thought I would ever miss exercise?

Queen Noor and ten thousand steps

It’s not everyday that you get to see and hear a Queen. Yesterday I saw her majesty Queen Noor of Jordan at a woman’s conference sponsored by Congressman Jim Moran. She was lovely and her speech was eloquent and relevant. I’ll have to get her book at the library sometime.

I took a few pictures, but it’s too bad I didn’t have as nice a camera as the professionals. They served pastries and bagels for breakfast and Pizza Hut pizza for lunch. I had two pastries and two slices of pizza.

Today I did over 10,000 steps according to my pedometer. Not surprising since I took a Step Interval class this morning.

What was even more surprising to me this week was that I did over 13,000 steps on Thursday! I think that’s my highest day yet.

Thursday is the day of my normal step class, and the day I usually hit 10K, but I must have done more walking than I thought. I went out for lunch and did a little walking, and my step class was about 5,000 steps itself. Then I took my daughter out for dinner and we did a little walking around from the grocery store to the restaurant.

In the past month, there have only been 7 days I’ve racked up over 10,000 steps. My daily average is about 8500, and on the low end of daily steps I get at least 4500 a day.

Husband and daughter went to pick apples yesterday at Homestead farm in Maryland. They brought back a huge bag, so today we made apple pie. I used Betty Crocker’s recipe, but used half sugar and half splenda. It’s delicious, and that’s what I ate for dinner.

Although, the apple pie probably cancels out my ten thousand steps for today.

Weight Watchers at Work

Today was the first session of Weight Watchers at work, but I did not join.

I feel a little bit bad, but I really don’t want to waste my money when I’m not following the program anyway. I’m mostly writing down what I eat, except when I overeat and don’t want to see how many points I have actually consumed.

I am exercising pretty regularly these days, so my weight is staying about the same despite my tendency to overeat on my daily and weekly points.

I’m doing the best I can, but I don’t want to spend my money on something I’m not going to follow.

School started up last week, so my exercise days have changed a bit. I find I can’t exercise on Monday and Tuesday, so I’m going Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Today I did about 30 minutes of weights, and took a walk during lunch. Then we went to our newly refinished tennis court after dinner. I tried to hit a few to my husband, and juggle entertaining and trying to teach the three-year-old how to hit a tennis ball.

Tomorrow I’ll do my step class, Friday my Body Pump class, and Saturday one class or another depending on how I feel. I was too sore for Boot Camp, so last Saturday I did kickboxing, Tae Bo style. I asked, “Why no fans?” as I was totally drenched in sweat and my neighbor said, “Because she wants you to FEEL it.”

Oh I felt it all right, and it was nasty. I hate sweating, but this was miserable.

So no Weight Watchers for me right now. I’m trying to count points and eat well, but some days are harder than others.

Not my day

Today was not my day. It started off early this morning on my way to work. Nothing too terrible, but I hit a huge pothole. Hoping my car wouldn’t fall apart, I made my way to work.

Then at lunch time, I took two co-workers to the grocery store to get subs for lunch in my car. On the way back, I almost hit a pedestrian in a cross walk because a hotel shuttle bus, truck and car were to my left turning into a parking lot, and I was in the right lane. Luckily I didn’t hit him, but he scared me to death, and I hit my breaks and proceeded to slide across the wet pavement.

After work I head to the mall to walk around before class. I walk around the interior of the hallways, then through Sears, then the hallways, then head towards Macy’s women’s department and spot some sales. I start browsing through the clearance items; drop a shirt I’m holding, and my pants split.

That’s right, the seam on my rear end splits, half an hour before I’m due in class. I’m wearing black pants with periwinkle blue underwear, with a three inch hole in them now. Thankfully, I was in Macy’s, so I dashed to the dressing room to access the damage. Not too noticeable, so next line of business is to find some pants before my class!

I grabbed a few black slacks and two pairs of black capris off the clearance rack, and proceed to try them on. A little boy shopping with his mother peaks under the wall to spy on me. He’s only 5 or so, no big deal.

I settled on a pair of capris, originally $46, which I purchase for the bargain price of $12.99.

This is not the first time I’ve split my pants. The one I remember most vividly when I was working one summer in a camera store with my brother-in-law and bent down for something on a shelf or to pick up, when my pants split. I’m sure he got a kick out of it, however I was mortified. I was much larger then, but still.

I wondered what else bad would happen to me, but drove to class thinking the food gods were telling me I had too many frosted animal cookies today, or that the exercise gods did not want me to stop walking to shop.

Tomorrow I’m going to eat better, and hit the gym after work.

Bran Muffin Recipe

This is a recipe from my mom, but I lightened it up a bit. It tastes much better than the recipe on the side of the Kellogg’s All-Bran box. It was my first time experimenting, so I know it can be reduced more points wise, but I got each muffin down to about 2 points each, actually 2.1 points each.

I used 1% buttermilk, but have seen fat free buttermilk before in the stores, and used egg beaters in place of the eggs. I also used slightly less than the 1/2 cup of shortening called for, but next time I may reduce it further and use some applesauce too. I used white flour, but may try some wheat next go around.

Bran Muffins

1 cup splenda	1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup sugar	2 1/2 cups flour
2 eggs (1/2 cup egg beaters)	1/2 tsp salt
2 cups light buttermilk (1% or lower)	2 1/2 tsp baking soda
3 cups All-Bran cereal	1 cup boiling water

Cream sugar, splenda and shortening with mixer. Add eggs mixing well. Add flour, baking soda and salt, followed by the buttermilk. Pour the boiling water over 1 cup of All Bran and let stand until cereal has absorbed the water. Blend this mixture into batter. Add remaining 2 cups of All-Bran. Mix thoroughly.

Batter may be stored for up to 5 weeks in refrigerator. When ready to bake, dip spoon into batter without stirring. Pour into muffin tins or use paper liners.

Bake in pre-heated oven at 400 degrees for about 20 minutes. Makes about 3 dozen muffins, for 2 points each.

Eat yogurt and help the Earth too

I tried organic yogurt recently, primarily because it was on sale. I really only buy whichever yogurt is on sale for the week because I’m cheap, and hate paying more than $.60 for a small cup. One day while in Whole Foods I saw their Horizons organic yogurt was on sale for half price, two for $.99! I bought a few. The points values were a little higher than I like for yogurt, about 3-4 per cup, but whatever, they were on sale.

Then one day while shopping at Giant Food, I found Stonyfield Farms “All Natural” fat free yogurt on sale for $.50 per cup too. I bought a few cups for my refrigerator at work, but then noticed the lids, and the promotion they have going on. You can save the lids, clean them, send them to Stonyfield, and they will donate $100,000 to 3 organizations. It’s called “Bid With Your Lid” and I saw one of my favorite non-profits, The Center for a New American Dream on the lids!

You can vote online for your favorite non-profit and you will also get a coupon for a free yogurt too! I love coupons too (‘cause I’m cheap).

Anyway, I went back to Giant and bought around 20 yogurts to save and mail in to get a gift.

Unfortunately, I tried to use my coupon back at Giant Food, only to learn that they DO NOT accept online coupons anymore!

Due to an increased number of fraudulent Internet coupons in the market place, Giant no longer accepts Internet coupons for free items. At this time we are still accepting Internet coupons for cents off. This change has only occurred recently. We realize that many customers receive these coupons over the Internet and believe they are legitimate. Unfortunately, in many instances they are not. Also, the manufacturers have told us that they won’t reimburse retailers for them if we do accept them. Here is a link to a website that explains this in more detail. http://www.cents-off.com.

I thought about a boycott of Giant due to this fact, but yet I shop there when they have my favorite stuff on sale, so nevermind.

My favorites are the Lotsa Lemon for 2 points and the Strawberry Raspberry for 2 points. I found the Chocolate Underground to be less than desirable taste wise and 3 points.

I’m still a few lids short of my 30 lids to the organic cotton tote bag, so let me know where they may be on sale before October.

My first $50 reward

This week I earned my first $50.00 reward through Virgin Life Care, my employer’s health and wellness program. You can turn the money into gift cards, so I got $30 in a Blockbuster gift card, and $20 to AMC Theaters. Not that I have much time to watch movies, but hopefully I will soon.

I did end up renting and watching 3 movies over the long Labor Day weekend, Miss Potter, Dreamland and The Last Kiss. The last movie I saw in the theater was Ratatouille with my daughter. And a date night…can’t remember the last time we went out on a date, although my husband did watch the movies with me at home.

Classes started last night, so for the next eight weeks, my weekends and Monday and Tuesday nights are shot. The upside is, after these 8 weeks, I’ll be done with my masters!

Probably no more movies till November, but I’ll try to keep up my exercise routine so I can earn my next reward, $75.