So, Spring has just begun, thus I've decided to start a new blog that isn't just about my music stuff. As most of you may or may not know, I am a professional performer and singer/songwriter. Of course I already have a blog that centers around that part of my life, I decided I wanted have a fun blog that just talks about stuff I'm into "at the moment". Whether it's a specific song, food, place, artist, whatever! I wanted to try and start blogging more regularly, and if I'm being honest, blogging about my music allll the time gets kind of boring. And I thought it would be fun to have a page where I could blab on and not feel like I had to word things perfectly and think in that marketing mindset, like I do with my music blog. Plus, blogging about my music career, makes me anxious at times! SO, enough with the anxiety, and on with the fun. What am I into At The Moment?
Currently, I've been doing the South Beach Diet for the past week and a half...For those of you who don't know what the South Beach Diet is, in a nutshell, it's a 3 phase diet that was created by doctors to help patients eliminate unhealthy cravings, kick start weight loss, and create better eating habits. In turn maintaining a better, cleaner way of eating and living.
So the first phase is the toughest because it lasts 2 weeks, and you have to eliminate ALL caffeine, sugars, alcohol, and any starchy carbs. Now, at first thought, you might think what I thought, "that sounds rather do-able". Well, once you actually begin the diet, you realize just how much your day to day diet is actually centered around alllll of those things you now have to cut out, and suddenly, it feels like it might be impossible. However, I have attempted this diet at least 3 different times over the past 7 years, and each time I've gotten better at it. The first time, I lasted about a day and decided I would just work out more...ha! The second time I tried it, I lasted about a week, and decided I needed to just skip ahead to the second phase early. But now, you know what they say, Third time is a charm. I have been able to last on phase one for a full 12 days and I only have a couple days left before I can begin reintroducing things like Oatmeal, and whole wheat crackers and bread, and even an occasional glass of red wine! Yesss! Still no caffeine, but I'll probably manage fine without that because at least I'll have more of the "good carbs", fiber and protein back in my diet, which will help my energy. The 2nd and 3rd phases are really just "maintenance phases" that are designed to help you make lifelong choices to better eating and exercise routines. Wow...do I sound like I'm a spokesperson? Well, I'm not. Alas, this has been ruling my thoughts for the past couple weeks, because it's forced me to pretty much think about my food, and activity level non-stop. One of the hardest parts has been the fact that they make you eat 5 times a day. I know this is an age old method that "fit people" seem to live by, but for me, if I'm living instinctively, I'm not one of those people. I wish I was! Alas, I am an add minded, sometimes spacey personality, that likes to eat when my body tells me it's hungry. I've always been the type of person that will eat a light breakfast, then sort of forget to eat all day until around 6 or 7, at which time I snack a little because I begin to feel like I'm starving. Then by dinner time, I will eat a BIG carb filled dinner around 8 or 9...which is not smart. So, I felt this might be a challenge, and I still do actually. However, it's actually been an eye opening experience. It really does help control my appetite, and usually, by dinner, I find myself getting full! Which makes me feel like I've really gotten something useful and helpful out of this diet. I have lost about 8 or 9 lbs...and I've been working out on the elliptical every other day because my energy levels have been so low on this diet. It will be interesting to see if I can maintain the weight loss into phase 2. I have read that most women on this diet tend to gain some of the weight back because they're gaining muscle as part of their work out routines. I just want to fit into my "healthy weight cloths" again. About 2 years ago, I was diagnosed with Hypothyroidism, meaning my thyroid is sluggish, which unfortunately slows the metabolism and effects your weight. When I realized that my thyroid was partly responsible for my weird weight changes throughout my life, I realized that since I was in high school, my body had gone through so many crazy weight gain/loss phases, that it got to a point where I began saving all those cloths and categorizing them into 3 groups: 1. The "To skinny phase" 2. The "Healthy Weight Phase" and 3. The "Bootylicious Phat Phase". Thus, if you're a woman reading this right now, you totally understand the love for the second phase of cloths. We all want to be in that zone! Some people might vie after the "too skinny cloths" phase, however, I really don't miss that phase. The only times I've been too skinny have always been times of HIGH stress and anxiety, where it hurts to sit on the floor because you no longer have a built cushion on your bum...it's like losing a close friend or something. No matter what the body phase though, time has taught me to appreciate my body regardless.
Part of the reason this third try at the South Beach diet phase 1 has been so successful, is because I decided to start searching the web for other options and ideas for some of the meals and snacks. You would be surprised at how many great ideas and tips there are out there too. I found so many awesome alternatives, that in my next entry, I'll have to post the recipes and pictures I used and tired just in case reading this entry somehow inspires you, and you're interested in hearing about some of those ideas! Just to give you an idea though, there were recipes for things like carbless pizza, carbless oatmeal, carbless cheese crisps, chocolate mousse...the list goes on! Clearly, I have been consumed with it for the past 2 weeks.
I have also been able to really listen to some of my favorite artists and bands more thanks to the elliptical time. Music is the only thing that gets me through the boring cardio hamster wheel workout! So, let me share and give some shout outs on records or artists you should check out:
1. Mavis Staples most recent release, You Are Not Alone:
This record is SOOOO good. Jeff Tweedy of Wilco produced it, and a fine job he did, might I say. It's like a gospel country rock record...but not like a goofy white baptist church kind of gospel rock. NOT that there is anything wrong with that, but if you're reading this blog, I think you probably def. know what I mean. (; The whole album is my favorite.
2. Chic Gamine's new release, City City:
This record is the bands 2nd record, and is very good. Even though at first I felt that as a whole, I liked Chic Gamine's first record more, this record has many beautiful songs with rich depth and emotion that show a warm and vulnerable side to the group that I might not have seen on the first record. So in a way it's only grown on me with time. Three of my favorites tracks on the record that you should check out are: 1. Don't Think That I Can Stay , 2. Take All The Time You Need, and 3. Closer
3. The Wood Brothers, Smoke Ring Halo:
I cannot say enough good things about this group and the album. I am such a Wood Brothers fan, and love Oliver Wood's songwriting and tone quality to his voice. This record is a fun one. Some friends of mine love it, and some of my friends don't seem to be as impressed. So it is def. a taste thing I suppose, but you should still check it out regardless. I don't have just one fav, so listen to them all! Maryanna, Shoefly Pie, & Make it Up the Mountain are especially fun tunes though if I had to pick a few for you to check out first...
SONGS that have been popping up on Pandora or my phone while on shuffle, that I've been saving and favoriting include:
1. Awake My Soul - Mumford and Sons (it's a great first song to get your workout going)
2. Hells Bells - Cary Ann Hearst (sounds like whiskey and fried chicken on a summer day)
3. Cee-Lo Green - Closet Freak (a. it makes me feel cooler just listening to it. and b. it'll give whoever is near you a good laugh when you start singing along to the chorus while listening on your headphones...the chorus is wildly hooky! Go figure)
4. Beggin' - Madcon (good for middle of work out)
5. Aloe Blacc - Loving You Is Killing Me (I like all Aloe Blacc songs, especially the dolla song, but this one came on the other day and it was a good work out tune)
Well, I feel like I've probably blogged on plenty for one entry. I hope to get better at this as I go too...so bear with me! I will be TRYING to blog once a week, and more if I can...but we shall see.Till next time!
