#also i have those light & fit greek yogurts | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

solarisposting · 3 years

Text

will be ruminating on very decidedly unhealthy ideas about body image, weight loss, disordered eating, etc. below the read more.

whenever I start choking on shame for whatever reason, or whenever I get overwhelmed with everything around me, I return to the now-defunct thinspo and fitspo blogs I used to frequent almost obsessively from ~2010-2015 or so, and fitspo was just thinspo with extra disclaimers about why it wasn’t bad like thinspo.

in that period, I would comb through endless infographics about caloric contents, and fitness challenges, and before-and-after shots to show that you can do it too, you sad lonely fat girl, and gif sets of strong beautiful adult athletes and personal trainers doing so-called beginners’ workouts that I was never able to accomplish. I voraciously consumed the gospel of simple rules like fats bad, white rice bad brown rice good, bread pasta carbs bad, roasted broccoli baked chicken breast with a little salt and pepper on a bed of brown rice as the ultimate healthy meal, chew gum or work out to curb cravings (which was coincidentally a popular piece of advice on “pro-ana” blogs and websites I would sometimes come across, though I want to emphasize that I never had a full-blown, serious eating disorder - just disordered eating problems, which aren’t to be minimized by any means), couch to 5k couch to 5k couch to 5k, drink chocolate milk after runs to help your muscles recover but also lay off the dairy fatass, if you want chips eat carrots with hummus but only a small amount of hummus because it’s 70 to 90 calories per two tablespoon serving and if you want candy or chocolate or desserts then eat fruit dried fruit fresh fruit fruit and PLAIN GREEK yogurt with a little honey if you REALLY need additional sweetness, bananas as the core of every healthy diet and recipe, replace sour cream and heavy whipping cream with plain greek yogurt replace ranch and other dipping sauces with lightly seasoned plain greek yogurt thinned out with water or low fat milk, three ingredient protein pancake three ingredient protein pancake three ingredient protein pancake!!! (it’s just scrambled banana eggs with cinnamon and it’s disgusting), banana nice cream if you want a treat :-), 70 ish calories in an egg 100 ish calories in that one brand and size of tortillas you like but why are you eating tortillas when you could be be doing lettuce wraps instead coffee as basically calorie-free and then if you’re light with the NONDAIRY LOWFAT or else CREAMER then it’s almost guilt free!!

and on and on and on forever and ever.

that shit, which I intentionally and willingly sought out and consumed, damaged me so badly for years before a therapist I saw briefly in college pointed out that actually, I did have eating problems and actually, I should see a campus nutritionist because it was not normal to not eat for a day and a half and then eat as much as possible in one sitting so that it caused immense amounts of pain and emotional distress and the pain of eating too much and the pain of not eating at all being used as forms of self harm is supremely concerning actually and actually being ashamed to order food and too anxious to order food and too uncomfortable to purchase food on a daily basis when you’re a college student using a meal plan that necessitates those things is a huge worry and really, you deserve better and your body and mind need better to keep running and no you don’t have a full blown eating disorder and no you’re not in need of hospitalization and yes it’s good that no matter how many times you’ve tried you can’t make your body purge after you binge it’s concerning that you try but you aren’t a failure for being unable to purge.

I can barely understand what I was trying to write at first lmao but basically I still look at my old sources of obsession, blogs that haven’t updated since 2013 or so, blogs with ultra damaging and unhealthy rhetoric and because these other teens were victims of the neverending machine of diet diet lose weight diet that I was and still am. I saved probably over a hundred graphics from one of these blogs when I got my first laptop in 2013 and they’re still on my computer now, four laptops and eight years later, all saved in a word document titled “this is why” that I still refuse to delete and that I look at a couple times a year because I get so sick of myself, my weight gain, even when I was 145 pounds and objectively thin for my body type for the first time in my life and gained back five pounds going into college, and end up trying to trigger a period of this awful unhealthiness where I fixate obsess ruminate on and on over numbers exercise to the point of hurting myself (whether I get to that point or not) unsatisfying so-called healthy meal substitutions and truly try and brute-force myself into the same awful mindsets and behaviors that used to rule over me years ago. it’s like unhealthy and damaging and self injurious behavior is the only way I know.

#cw body image #cw disordered eating #cw eating disorders #idk i'm just guessing on these tags. i never had an ED but they're mentioned #and honestly this shit - which should admittedly be a private journal entry lmao - is just trigger city #i'm doing pretty all right actually because I chose to write this out after about ten minutes on one of those old blogs #seeing all the shit I soaked in back in the day and still choose to hold on to #and basically remind myself that all of that is miserable and HARD and isolating #so now i'm gonna go to the fucking grocery store and use my stupid coupons and get shitty drive thru coffee on the way home #and probably a pastry from the co op because i did a difficult yoga practice last night and i'm hoping to run tonight and i deserve #whatever foods are healthy in moderation and okay for me because i'm alive and have a body and don't need to punish #myself to live in this body no matter how fat and big it may be and i am allowed to exist like this without caveats #and sure i'll spiral because i'm pendulum swinging from spending an hour to write about disordered eating and steeping in those seemingly #inescapable thoughts and feels straight over to 'i can exist in my fat body i am allowed to do that and i can eat foods that aren't healthy'#but i'll weather it however i can

7 notes · View notes

1dffchallenges · 4 years

Photo

I Hear A Rhapsody

Written By: @sunsetter96

Characters: Anne/Niall

Summary: Anne is a struggling actress trying to advance her career in Los Angeles while making ends meet financially. When she meets Niall, he introduces her to his love and world of music, but they struggle to create a balance between their relationship and their desire for success.

Author’s Note: This is the first chapter to the first story I am writing. Please let me know what you think :)

Warnings: alcohol

2014 —

It was June, and I'd never felt anything like it before.

Weeks before, I had been driving to an audition for a role in a movie my friend had told me about just a few days prior, and I was in my car, in the middle of possibly the worst Los Angeles traffic I'd ever experienced.

"Please don't tell me it's true," I said to my phone. "Please don't let this be real," I continued, practicing my lines over and over again into the receiver, speaking as if there really was someone else on the line, as if there really was someone there to connect with.

I hadn't had much time to practice in the past few days, only because I'd been so busy with moving into my new apartment. There was that, — and then there was having to start work at the new bookstore location. They had made me acting manager for the first few weeks. I had a long list of things that I had to do in order to help set up the new location, and I think the worst part of it was accounting and payroll. I'm just terrible with numbers.

"Fuck," I said, realizing I had come to a stop in the middle of traffic while rehearsing my lines. Cars were honking like crazy, as if that would somehow make the line move faster, and the man in the car behind me was going wild over the fact that I had come to a stop. I guess it was my fault for being distracted, but at the same time, those 20 feet that were between me and the next car really couldn't have saved us even a marginal length of time with the amount of traffic there was.

When there was enough of a gap to cut through the left lane, he merged and cut me off aggressively before pulling off at the next exit after a few minutes. I was so fucking late, and this guy was pissing me off.

I got there just minutes before my audition time and almost ran to the door of the building. I think my audition was one of the last ones of the day, so I was lucky they'd even let me in to go through with it. But I went in and made my audition, albeit without enough time to mentally prepare beforehand.

It went well enough, but I could sense right away that I wouldn't be getting a call back from them. I guess it's true that I didn't fit the role as well as I could have. The listing had called for a girl between ages 18-24, for a supporting role in a movie about a group of girls that went to summer camp and did all of that teen stuff, like fall in love and drink and smoke. I did look like a teen, but I suppose I was already on the back end of that age range considering I was 23. I also didn't look like many of the girls that were there for the audition, too — blonde, tan, and skinny — and maybe that's what they were looking for. I was a thin person but not nearly as skinny and fit as some of the girls there, and I had brown hair and brown eyes.

I guess it didn't matter, because I'd find a role that would suit me eventually. At least I hoped so.

Later that day I came home feeling like shit, and I didn't even feel like eating or working out. Thankfully I had the day off the next day, so I just laid in bed looking at social media and watched Netflix until I fell asleep.

My roommate woke me up the next day with the sound of her using the blender. I turned around in bed and saw the time. 7:00 a.m. It was too early for this, but I figured it would be worse for me to be depressed and lay in bed all day.

"Cecilia?" I called out after coming out of the bathroom. "Why are you using the blender so early?"

"Sorry dude," she responded. "I'm going out for a run at 8:00, but I wanted to eat something light beforehand, so I made myself a smoothie."

"Oh, that sounds good," I told her. A run actually sounded good despite my tiredness. "Can I come with?"

"Sure," she said. "Let me make you a smoothie, too."

I went back to my room and washed my face and teeth before putting on some workout clothes. Cecilia had made me an icy blueberry smoothie with greek yogurt, and it was absolutely delicious. I think I've always been in love with liquid food (like smoothies or margaritas), because they're so easy. I have a sensitive stomach, but somehow her smoothies have always soothed me, physically and emotionally.

Maybe I'm just a little bit intense, but I think that's also what drove me to want to act. All of the things that I feel — that emotion and the intensity I seek with others and in simple, everyday tasks — that's what engrosses each line that I act and every character I play. And I hoped in that moment that I could transfer that intense energy to my acting, and maybe one day be recognized for it.

Cecilia and I drank our smoothies and talked about our plans for next weekend. We had been invited to 70s themed party where there would be a live band and an open bar. It was pretty exciting, especially for her, because the guy she had been sort of dating invited her to come and bring a friend.

"His name is Louis," she smiled. "He's a producer, and his company has themed parties sometimes, kind of to help artists network and to celebrate a new release."

"Oh, I see," I said. "Well, I'm just happy that you're enjoying yourself with him. Let's see how this party goes. I'm so excited to get our outfits together and dress 70s style," I laughed.

"I knew you would love that idea! You've always loved 70s rock, so that's right up your alley," she says.

We left the house and ended up running to the park near our neighborhood. I'm actually glad she woke up early that morning, because it forced me to get out of the depressed mood I was in.

We talked more about what outfits we would wear to the party as we ran, and she decided that she would dress disco themed, while I wanted to wear something more hippie style. My hair was long enough to do the hair style, but I thought it might look nice if I straightened it and wore a flower crown.

"Anne," she said. "I think we should use this opportunity, this party, this experience — to have a lot of fun. It's been so long since we've done something crazy. So yes, we will be drinking margaritas and we will be taking shots this time."

"Okay," I laughed with her. "I'll try to keep up, but it's been a while since I've drank."

We came to a stop at the end of the trail going around the park, and leaned against the rails, looking back at the playground, across the grassy field. In the distance, I could see a couple walking their dog together, holding hands and laughing together. I looked over at Cecilia and she was looking at them, too.

My mind took me back to our past relationships in that moment, and I remembered how it felt to hold someone else's hand like that couple. I remembered that feeling of warmth and security when you held the hand of someone you knew well but also that clamminess you felt when you would first hold hands with someone because you were nervous. I missed that feeling, and I could tell Cecilia felt the same.

We were like that when we were together sometimes. We thought so alike that I felt like she was my other half, and even my soulmate in some sense. I had never felt that for another man, but I did for her, even though I wasn't romantically attracted to her.

Last year both of us had broken up with our boyfriends within months of each other, and we had decided to move in together after our leases ended. It was interesting how we had both started dating our exes at the same time, when we were just 19, and how we had both spent those three years spiraling in abusive relationships.

It was sad to think, but somehow I felt that our respective heartbreaks had brought us closer together. We had drifted apart when we got into those relationships, the first long-term relationship we both had ever had, but their ending is what helped our friendship grow even more. She was always there for me when I was grieving, and perhaps it had been destiny that led us to this very moment in time.

You could argue that this moment wasn't anything special, but it was small moments like these that I would always remember.

"I'm so happy you're coming with me to this party," she smiled. "And maybe we'll be able to meet some cute guys there."

"That's true," I laughed at her comment.

We were both looking forward to the party, not just to have fun but to use it as an opportunity to let go of our past, including the pain we had felt for so many years. While Cecilia had dated on and off in the past few months, I couldn't bring myself to open up to anyone yet, especially not to any stranger at a party. It had been months since I had talked to a guy more than casually or as a friend.

"Honestly, I'm just ready to get drunk and forget everything, my inhibitions, all of it," I breathed out.

"Okay, Anne," she laughs. "I'll make sure to be the drink police for you all night. If I don't see a drink in your hand, you'll have to take a shot with me. It's the law — no fighting me and no questions asked!" she points at me.

We both started laughing and talked for a few more minutes, allowing our heartbeats to slow down as we relaxed from our run. When we got home, I spent the rest of the morning relaxing and cleaning up my room and around the house. Cecilia had left for work at 11, so I looked online for more auditions and recorded one video to send to a casting agent for review.

While I was settling down that evening to eat my dinner, I got a notification from Cecilia on instagram — it was a picture of some guys standing together.

Hey dude, this is the band that's going to play at the party. Louis told me that they're really good.

Thank you <3 I'll check them out, I told her.

I looked up their profile, and they were called "The Breakers." From the picture, I could see that guy Louis had been tagged, and he was posing next to a couple of guys, one of which I guess was the main songwriter who had worked with him. The picture was of them at their studio, celebrating the completion of their debut album.

I ended up looking them up on Spotify and listened to a few of their songs — they were definitely my type of music. I could hear various elements of classic rock and psychedelic music in their melodies, mixed with a bit of pop and even jazz.

That night, I went to bed listening to a few of their songs through my headphones, letting myself get lost in the melodies, just as I would do when in character sometimes. It was interesting how music informed a lot of my life, and I think if I hadn't gone into acting, I probably would have tried to be an artist.

If there was one thing I was sure about, it's that I needed to start taking my acting career seriously. I had already been in Los Angeles for four years, with nothing coming to fruition, and I just hoped that destiny would take me where I needed to be, soon.

#1dff #movies challenge #niall

24 notes · View notes

brynnmck · 4 years

Text

Tagged by @agirlnamedkeith, @pretty--thief, and @samirant, thank you! <333

What is the colour of your hairbrush? Mostly black, with a green ring on it.

Name a food you never eat: I have quite a few foods I can’t eat anymore thanks to some random health issues I developed a few years back (friends, aging is great from a mental/emotional perspective, Not Great from a physical perspective) but in terms of voluntary stuff, green peppers. I’ve outgrown a lot of my childhood food dislikes but that one is in my SOUL.

Are you typically too warm or too cold? Too cold, definitely.

What were you doing 45 minutes ago? I was in a boring meeting!

What’s your favourite candy bar? Probably Snickers? I really like 100 Grand too, though. And Butterfinger. And Twix. And I want Claire Saffitz to make all of them for me.

Have you ever been to a professional sports game? I’ve been going to Major League baseball games since I was a kid (it was my dad’s favorite sport), and the past few years, I’ve been to 20-30 games a season. I usually go for my birthday, too, which is in a couple of weeks, and it’s just kinda sinking in that there will be no birthday baseball for me this year. :(

What was the last thing you said out loud? Just saying hi to my husband.

What is your favourite ice cream? Coffee Heath Bar Crunch. I can’t have caffeine anymore so this summer I’m gonna try to make a decaf version for myself. (WHY IS ALMOST ALL COFFEE ICE CREAM CAFFEINATED. There are so many reasons people can’t have caffeine! Sigh.)

What was the last thing you had to drink? Water!

Do you like your wallet? Sure? It’s a nice blue and it holds my stuff.

What was the last thing you ate? Fruit and Greek yogurt for breakfast.

Did you buy any new clothes last weekend? I didn’t! I actually ordered a couple of soft bras from TomboyX on Monday, but nothing on the weekend.

What’s the last sporting event you watched? A replay of an old Mariners game a couple of nights ago. If we’re talking live sports, I watched about half of a Korean baseball league game a few nights back, which was delightful.

What is your favourite flavour of popcorn? Butter!

Who is the last person you sent a text message to? @ajoblotofjunk

Ever go camping? Not in a long time. My husband has been getting the urge to go lately, though, so maybe we will!

Do you take vitamins? I take supplements due to the aforementioned health issues. And vitamin B.

Do you go to church every Sunday? Lol no. My mother is very Catholic and she brought us to 6 am Mass every weekday when I was a kid. It was well-intentioned (her dad had a pretty volatile temperament and she always felt safe at church, so she subconsciously wanted us to feel the same way) but it did not sell me on the experience! Heh.

Do you have a tan? I live in the Seattle area and it’s May, so... lol no. I’m also pretty pale so I don’t get that tan anyway, but. I usually get a little something going in the summer, enough to have tan lines anyway.

Do you prefer Chinese food or pizza? Tough call, but I’m going with pizza.

Do you drink your soda through a straw? I don’t drink soda anymore (though I drink a LOT of carbonated water), but I’ll drink my drink through a straw if I get it at a fast-food place. Otherwise I don’t usually use one.

What colour socks do you usually wear? Most of my winter socks for work are black. Otherwise it’s a pretty random selection of colors.

Do you ever drive above the speed limit? Sure. Usually 5-10 miles over, rarely more (or less) than that.

What terrifies you? Climate change. Global pandemics. You know. Just generally suffering (both mine and other people’s).

Look to your left. What do you see? Through window of the room I’m sitting in: my neighbors’ house, and a cherry tree in their yard.

What chore do you hate most? Cleaning the bathrooms.

What do you think of when you hear an Australian accent? The hot Australian woman who’s been on Gold Rush recently, or a dear fannish friend of mine I haven’t talked to in years who is actually from New Zealand and I KNOW IT’S VERY DIFFERENT but it’s close enough to make me think of her!

What’s your favourite soda? I used to drink a lot of Diet Mountain Dew. I really miss ginger beer, too. I love a good spicy ginger beer. Root beer too.

Do you go in a fast food place or just hit the drive-thru? Drive-thru all the way. Isn’t that part of the advantage of fast food?

What’s your favourite number? I don’t really have one!

Who’s the last person you talked to? My husband!

Favourite cut of beef? Boneless ribeye. I finally bought a propane grill a couple of years back and I have now learned to make a badass steak, if I say so myself.

Last song you listened to? Eve 6 - Inside Out. A few months ago I suddenly remembered that this song existed and so I bought it and now I have to listen to it at least twice every time it comes up, ha.

Last book you read? An as-yet-unpublished Rose Lerner novel, because I am very lucky! (It’s a wlw Gothic. SUCH A GOOD CONCEPT.)

Favourite day of the week? Saturday

Can you say the alphabet backwards? In this economy??? Idk, I could probably figure it out, but it would definitely be work.

How do you like your coffee? I love a caramel macchiato, especially iced so you get those weird globules of caramel coming up through the straw. But a nonfat decaf double latte with a little bit of some kind of syrup is my go-to these days--hot when it’s cold out, iced when it’s warm out.

Favourite pair of shoes? I have these 40s-ish heels that tie over your instep with a little bow and I love them. I also have some extremely cool red velvet with black cording peep-toe Louboutins that I bought off some discount site years ago, except I can’t wear them for long because they’re about a half size too small. But they’re SO PRETTY.

Time you normally get up? In isolation, I’m discovering that my natural sleep schedule is about 2 am - 10 am. But I have a daily meeting at 9:30, and I try to get my workout done before that, so I get up at 8-8:30ish. I am discovering through this meme that SO MANY of you are morning people! What is that like???

Sunrises or sunsets? I love sunrises but I am not remotely a morning person, so. I see a lot more sunsets, and I love them too!

How many blankets are on your bed? Just one duvet.

Describe your kitchen plates. We have some with blue perimeters and kind of a white/oatmeal middle that we inherited from my in-laws, and the ones we actually bought on purpose are white on top and either sage-y green or charcoal black on the bottom.

Describe your kitchen at the moment. Somewhat messy, or at least there are dishes to do. I made some pretty epic cauliflower mushroom risotto with shrimp last night, though, so it was for a good cause.

Do you have a favourite alcoholic drink? Perfect Manhattans with rye are my go-to, or a Quebecois, which is basically a perfect Manhattan with a little bit of maraschino liqueur added (and ideally a lemon twist, though we’re usually too lazy for those). In the summer, I’m getting really into gin these days: either gin and tonic, gin and some kind of citrus spiked seltzer, or a Last Word. I also really love a good craft beer, and sparkling wine too.

Do you play cards? Not really. We used to play a shit ton of gin rummy in high school, but I haven’t really played cards much since.

What colour is your car? Blue!

Do you know how to change a tire? Theoretically yes, though the one time I actually tried to do it myself, I had a hell of a time getting the lug nuts off. I was fortunately in my driveway at the time (good place for a flat tire!) and my neighbors kept coming by and offering to help, and I was like NO I WANNA DO IT. I think I did need help eventually, though. Stupid pneumatic tools at tire installation places!

Your favourite state? That rare, usually-brief phase of writing where everything seems to fit and flow and you’re a genius and you understand all the secrets of the cosmos. Also Washington.

Favourite job you’ve had? My current one. It’s not my dream job, but it pays well and I like my team and I get to learn new stuff fairly often and I can work from home in the midst of all this, so. I am very lucky!

How did you get your biggest scar? The summer after my freshman year of college, I was part of a summer stock theatre troupe, and we performed half the summer at my college, and half the summer in a very small town in eastern Oregon that had an outdoor stage. One of my entrances involved running over the grass to get to the stage, and one night the grass was wet, and my costume involved ballet slippers, and I slipped and fell onto the stage stairs in front of the whole audience. It hurt SO MUCH that I got very light-headed onstage while I was trying to get through the scene, lol. Anyway, my costume also involved harem pants that had elastic around the calf/ankle area, and I got a friction burn from those, which ended up scarring because the skin over your shins is very thin! (I also got a few massive bruises on my leg that didn’t go away for weeks, so eventually my mom nagged me into going to the doctor, who promptly started gently hinting to see if my boyfriend at the time was responsible for the injuries. Which was actually pretty cool of the doctor! But then I was like, lol no, trust me, a hundred people saw me bite it, this is 100% dumbass mistake.) And that’s my scar story.

Tagging, if you want to do it: @ajoblotofjunk, @snowymary, @halcyon-red, @it-may-be-dull-but-im-determined, @unadulteratedkr, and anyone else who feels like doing this!

#meme me

20 notes · View notes

hoper5x · 4 years

Text

Fitness

‪This was the end of last week after a week & a half of scarfing down whatever I felt like eating. Cleaning up diet again this week & I’ll update the photo again next week. Sometimes you have to take a break. Don’t punish your body for enjoying life. I learned that the hard way..‬

Don’t be disillusioned by good lighting and poses, my body changes constantly and it’s OKAY. Be safe, be healthy with your choices, but don’t beat yourself up either when you have a difficult spot. Just pick yourself up and keep moving forward. 💪🏼❤️ You CAN do this.

Expandir

#autumn ivy

#cosplayer

#autumnivy

#the bone collector

#narrator

#actor

#amazon

#costumer

#alternative

#cosplay

#fitness routine

#fit girls

#fitness

#girls with muscle

#muscle girls

#muscle

#positive

#work hard

#diet

… Ver todas

240 notas

gotta-be-skinny-for-me

Seguir

gotta-be-skinny-for-me.tumblr.com/

Fonte:

gotta-be-skinny-for-me

#skinny

#fit

#fitness

#healthy

#fitspo

134 notas

gotta-be-skinny-for-me

Seguir

gotta-be-skinny-for-me.tumblr.com/

Fonte:

gotta-be-skinny-for-me

#skinny

#fit

#fitness

#healthy

#fitspo

79 notas

gotta-be-skinny-for-me

Seguir

gotta-be-skinny-for-me.tumblr.com/

Fonte:

gotta-be-skinny-for-me

#skinny

#fit

#fitness

#healthy

#fitspo

61 notas

drukhari

Seguiranónimo perguntou:

This might sound silly but you're kind of a referent here and I need some guidance. How do I get stronger? Like I really want to start getting buff but I don't know where should I begin. I'm not overweight but I'm definitely not fit or athletic, especially after spending so many days at home being sedentary. I want to focus on my back and upper body but I can't do a single pull-up/chin-up nor a push-up. So what exercises should I start with? Can you give me some advice? Thank you so much 💜

None of these questions sound silly at all anon, happy to help however I can 💙

So first off, the disclaimer that since I'm not a physical trainer (or have any formal education when it comes to strength training) I'll be supplementing any information described here with links to more knowledgeable resources who can dig deeper into the details.

Here's a good link to start with for some strength training basic info:

https://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/strength-training-101/

You can start building up muscle right at home using bodyweight exercises, and in fact bodyweight workouts are usually recommended as a great place for beginners to start because it allows you to build a base strength level and focus on form, which will reduce the chance of injuries in the future when you might choose to start incorporating equipment like dumbbells or barbells.

With these exercises, your body provides the resistance needed - so you don't have to order any equipment to cycle them into a workout routine. I'd recommend checking out the below links for some good bodyweight exercises to start with, but if you want to check out others as well try Google searching "bodyweight exercises for beginners"!

https://kettlebellsworkouts.com/bodyweight-exercises-for-beginners/

https://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/beginner-body-weight-workout-burn-fat-build-muscle/

Don't worry too much if you're not able to hit all the reps that some online resources recommend right from the start - that's perfectly normal and even the strongest body builders started out at that point once. What's important is to simply try and challenge yourself a little bit more incrementally over time, what that looks like in your own routine can vary. If during one workout you're able to do 5 lunges, and then the next time you try again you get to 6? That's forward progress, and you deserve to celebrate that.

The actual MOST important piece of the equation when trying to build muscle isn't even in the gym - it's nutrition and recovery. People can spend years training like a beast in the gym but if their diet is bad then they just straight up will not see the results, and that can be super frustrating especially when you're trying to really build up strength for the first time. It's important to make sure you're getting plenty of protein in your diet so that your body has the fuel it needs to build up those new muscles as you go - and don't buy into anything out there that recommends just completely dropping carbs from your diet. Carbs are a key part of a balanced diet just like proteins and fats are, and your body will require a healthy amount of all three to properly build itself up. Some good sources of each group that I tend to use in my own diet are below, but you're by no means restricted to these - and of course if you have any dietary restrictions that would prevent you from eating certain foods, then you can always do some Google searches for some ideas for substitutes.

Carbs: Oatmeal, whole grain bread, brown rice, whole grain pasta, fresh fruits like apples, bananas and pineapple (tropical fruits in particular can be part of a great recovery snack post-workout)

Protein: Chicken, tuna, turkey, egg whites, Greek yogurt, low fat string cheese, cottage cheese, whey protein powder

Fats: Nuts like almonds or cashews, olive oil, peanut butter (which could also be counted in the protein category!), salad dressings, avocados

This is not by any means an exhaustive list of options, there are a TON out there so I'd definitely recommend checking out at least a few sources to get a feel for what will work best for you. And of course, if you're in a situation where you don't really have that much control over the grocery list or some items just aren't an option, don't sweat it. With nutrition obviously you want to aim for a strong balance, and maximizing protein however you can, but even just working at cutting out excess sugar sources and junk food from your diet in general will go a long way to helping fitness goals.

https://www.verywellfit.com/meal-timing-for-weight-training-3498426

Aside from nutrition, recovery after a workout is crucial. Pre and post-workout stretches will help prevent injuries, and getting a good night's sleep at the end of the day will be super important to help those muscles you worked out during the day to properly recover and grow. When coming up with a workout schedule, you'll want to also make sure that you're not working the same muscle groups on consecutive days because then you're not giving those muscles enough time to recover and you'll inhibit their growth as a result (also risking injury!)

For just starting out, try to aim for doing some exercises 2-3 days out of the week for 20 minutes (though it's ok if you're not able to train for that long early on, it's something to aim for then!), so this way even if you're doing a full body workout (meaning you're doing exercises that target all the different muscle groups instead of just picking one or two groups per day) then you will still have at least 1 down time day between workouts for those muscles to recover.

Now that I've just dropped that huge wall of text (including links with even more text haha) I think I'll wrap things up. Again, I'm by no means an expert and part of the reason I tend to ramble a bit when it comes to fitness advice is because I made a TON of mistakes early on when I was starting my own fitness journey, some that cost literally years of progress, and I don't want other people to encounter those same pitfalls. It can be tough sometimes, especially when you're getting started and you're looking for those gains in the mirror after the first couple of weeks, but don't give up on yourself - as long as you stick with it and keep making moves forward towards where you wanna be, even if those moves are just baby steps some days, then I guarantee you'll get there.

Wishing you the best of luck in your own fitness journey, anon. You've got this! 👍

Expandir

#food mention

#fitness

#also if any followers who do strength training want to add links or resources - feel free

28 notas

dailyfitnessgirls

Seguir

#Lingerie

#fitness

#workout

#bodybuilding

#gym

47 notas

gotta-be-skinny-for-me

Seguir

gotta-be-skinny-for-me.tumblr.com/

Fonte:

gotta-be-skinny-for-me

#skinny

#fit

#fitness

#healthy

#fitspo

27 notas

thatveganfitblr

Seguir

10k for my virtual Fiesta Fenzy run!

#fitblr

#exercise

#runner

#running

#runblr

#runblog

#10k

#10krun

#10k run

#10kmrun

#10km run

#run

#fitness

#no gym

#cardio

#strava

#fitbit

#nrc

#virtual run

… Ver todas

9 notas

gymbunnyamber

Seguir

#Girl

#Fit

#Fitness

#Exercise

#Workout

#Fitspo

#Fitblr

279 notas

women-of-steel

Seguir

Thea Renee Schuler

#thea renee schuler

#fitness

#fitness motivation

#workout

#bodybuilding

#gym

#girlswithmuscle

#girlswholift

47 notas

jaidspo

Seguir

thinking about how vulnerable this time has made me and how many big topics i wish to discuss with all 20K of u. hope u will let me open up the conversation soon ✨ let's get open n real with each other ok?

#me

#personal

#fitblr

#fitspo

#fit girls

#fitfam

#girls who lift

#plant based

#fit

#gym motivation

#fitness

#thin

#vegan

#bath time

#self care

#self love

… Ver todas

109 notas

gabriel294posts

Seguir

#alice matos

#bikini

#fit babe

#fitness

#fitmotivation

18 notas

gymbunnyamber

Seguir

#Lateral Sprint

#Girl

#Gym

#Agility

#Fit

#Fitness

#Exercise

#Workout

#Fitspo

#Fitblr

60 notas

geneticallymodifiednerd

Seguir

Today's workout brought to you by my cute hamster shirt!

2 miles walked on the VACANT Greenway this morning. 🎉 Shout out to the rain and chill for scaring all the people away! 😂

Then got in my core workout and some yoga!

(I even applied for a job today 😬)

Expandir

#fitblr

#fitness journey

#fitness

#health & fitness

#runblr

#core day

#core workout

#core work

#core

#yoga

#namaste

#wheel pose

… Ver todas

9 notas

gotta-be-skinny-for-me

Seguir

gotta-be-skinny-for-me.tumblr.com/

Fonte:

gotta-be-skinny-for-me

#skinny

#fit

#fitness

#healthy

#fitspo

38 notas

fit-avocados

Seguir

Missing family time during this quarantine🤍

#me

#personal

#fitblr

#fit

#motivation

#inspiration

#love

#selfie

#healthy

#workout

#family

#fitness

#smile

30 notas

dovecameron-updates

Seguir

#dove cameron

#style

#fashion

#beauty

#fitness

28 notas

majesticfit

Seguir

#fitness

#Tommy Hilfiger

#Under Armour

#cute boys

#rear view

64 notas

majesticfit

Seguir

#cute boys

#fitness

31 notas

gotta-be-skinny-for-me

Seguir

gotta-be-skinny-for-me.tumblr.com/

Fonte:

gotta-be-skinny-for-me

#skinny

#fit

#fitness

#healthy

#fitspo

91 notas

gymbunnyamber

Seguir

#Bicycle Crunch

#Girl

#Gym

#Fit

#Fitness

#Exercise

#Workout

#Fitspo

#Fitblr

#Ponytail

73 notas

gotta-be-skinny-for-me

Seguir

gotta-be-skinny-for-me.tumblr.com/

Fonte:

gotta-be-skinny-for-me

#skinny

#fit

#fitness

#healthy

#fitspo

59 notas

gymbunnyamber

Seguir

#Running

#Fitness

#Exercise

#Girl

#Outdoors

#Workout

29 notas

thatbrownsolution

Seguir

Training Accessories and PR. Mga huling araw bago nag close yung gym namin.

Isang buwan na din akong home workout ngayon pero kahit papano kaya naman i-maintain ng weighted push ups at pull ups. Hindi din advisable sakin mag calorie deficit lalo na at walang training na maayos. Kaya calorie maintenance para ma preserve kahit papano ang pinaghirapan hehe. On point din ang macro nutrition.

ExpandirFonte:

thatbrownsolution

#fitness

#asian

23 notas

gotta-be-skinny-for-me

Seguir

gotta-be-skinny-for-me.tumblr.com/

Fonte:

gotta-be-skinny-for-me

#skinny

#fit

#fitness

#healthy

#fitspo

31 notas

fitaleeex

Seguir

Tagged by @one-day-at-a-time365 !! ❤️ it’s only 3pm, but I’m working until 10pm from home so basically my day is over 😂 but this morning I woke up early and went for a walk by the ocean with my boyfriend. We went for a nice drive as well. Got Starbucks. I recently got a meal plan and workout plan made for me so I did my first workout from that. I played a little bit of animal crossing and then started work!

I feel like today was relatively productive. It was nice getting exercise early in the morning, especially because my walk was beside the ocean 😌

I nominate @callmenic0 and @suvisfitness !

What have you been up to today? 💕

Expandir

#sds

#me

#health

#fitness

#motivation

#fitspo

#ocean

13 notas

dailyfitnessgirls

Seguir

#fitness

#workout

#bodybuilding

#gym

#girlswithmuscle

161 notas

regularninjafit

Seguir

IG taneth.fit

Sexy and Fit

#taneth.fit

#fitness

57 notas

majesticfit

Seguir

#cute boys

#fitness

#beach

28 notas

transboyz

Seguir

here's a fun thing i do every morning before i shower, i find it really helps my dysphoria

I stretch, and do a couple yoga poses like the downward dog, the cat and the side plank. Then I do some weightlifting. Currently 1kg an arm, doing 120 reps each arm. Then I do around 50 sit-ups. After that I'll shower, get dressed, and put leg weights on which I walk around in for about half an hour.

I really feel like it's really helping me get more muscley, even more so on testosterone. Knowing I have that muscle and feeling it makes me feel way more masc and as though I pass as male. It affirms this in my head. Then I feel really good about myself for the whole day :-)

#workout

#advice

#fitness

#dysphoria

#trans man

#trans boy

#transition

#trans

#transgender

#trans guy

#trans ftm

#ftm hrt

#ftm transman

#ftm

#trans masc

#trans mlm

#trans male

#trans lgbt

#lgbt

#lgbtq

#lgbtqa

… Ver todas

72 notas

1 note · View note

nikolacvna-archive · 4 years

Text

𝐋𝐀𝐘𝐄𝐑𝐒.

TAGGED BY : @cognoscente ( aka a babe ) TAGGING : @peridans @wantlonger @russicnrat @timejvmped @theywillnotfade

LAYER ONE : THE OUTSIDE .

NAME. Tatiana Nikolaevna Romanova / Татьяна Николаевна Романова EYE COLOUR. a stormy grey-blue, quite dark HAIR STYLE / COLOUR. a rich chestnut brown, which naturally grows in loose curls, though she keeps it tamed in an updo most of the time. after an illness during her teenage years, she was required to shave her head, and it grew back in a bit thicker and a bit straighter ; in modernverse, she prefers to wear her hair cut to her shoulders, because it’s more practical. HEIGHT. 5′7″ / 170cm CLOTHING STYLE. a very elegant style of dress --- tatiana is very good at keeping up with the latest fashions and picking out clothes that flatter her. she is fond of light-colored / pastel dresses, practical but fashionable clothing such as blouses and skirts, and quite enjoys her hat collection. BEST PHYSICAL FEATURE. she has wide-set eyes, almost catlike in their structure ; ocasionally her gaze can get very intense. upon looking at her, it’s hard not to notice her eyes first. she also has, like, really great bone structure.

LAYER TWO : THE INSIDE .

FEARS. very afraid of failure --- namely, of letting the people who believe / rely on her down. she also doesn’t like it when situations are out of her control ; it leaves her feeling helpless, groping for any shred of control she can find. she is very afraid of being alone, though this is the one she won’t admit to herself ; tatiana’s worst-case-scenario would be to be left without her family, or anyone who loves her. GUILTY PLEASURE. she doesn’t have many... but she is fond of romance stories, a bit of escapist fiction. it’s something she beats herself up for, more than anything else, because she knows fantasizing about love and adventure isn’t practical... but she’s a young woman, she has to daydream sometimes. BIGGEST PET PEEVE. people who take nothing seriously. people who boss her around. mosquitoes. sour lemon water. AMBITIONS FOR THE FUTURE. honestly, tatiana doesn’t have many plans for the future. she’s very focused on the here-and-now, on doing what she can in the moment... but her ideal future would be one surrounded by her family, with everyone happy and in good health. she doesn’t focus on herself in this hypothetical situation... but, ideally, tatiana would like to stand right beside them, as essential and loved as ever. maybe she’d have her own family, her own love story --- she’d really like that. ( the one ambition she won’t allow herself to dwell on is pursuing medicine after the war, becoming a nurse, or even a doctor like princess gedroits... she pushes this away because it’s impossible. )

LAYER THREE : THOUGHTS .

FIRST THOUGHTS UPON WAKING UP. what time is it? is anyone ( ortino, olga ) still asleep in the room with me? then, she’ll usually lie still for a few moments, waking herself up by going over her schedule for the day. WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT MOST. juggling her busy schedule, the latest operations / patients at the hospital, family matters, religion, ‘why are my sisters shrieking at each other today’ WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT BEFORE BED. she usually lets her thoughts wander until they turn to syrup --- this is the only time she really allows herself to daydream. WHAT YOUR BEST QUALITY IS. when she commits herself to a person or thing, she is endlessly devoted to it. tatiana works herself much too hard, but she’s devoted ; when she resolves on doing something, she does it, and never leaves anything halfway finished. she also has a very cool head under pressure, and is able to assert herself when necessary.

LAYER FOUR : WHAT’S BETTER ?

SINGLE OR GROUP DATES. preferably a single date, just to get to know the other person better... but she’s not above dragging a sister or two along as back-up. ( anastasia the chaos demon is never invited on her group dates. ) TO BE LOVED OR RESPECTED. she would definitely rather be respected... but for her accomplishments, and what she has done to help others, rather than just her status as grand duchess. respect must be earned, or else it means nothing. BEAUTY OR BRAINS. oh gosh. she wants to say brains, but it would be a lie to claim looks don’t mean anything to her. they certainly do. DOGS OR CATS. ... like. as a person, she’s a cat, but she personally prefers dogs.

LAYER FIVE : DO YOU …

LIE. ‘of course not,’ she declares, very indignantly, while l y i n g . BELIEVE IN YOURSELF. she has a very quiet self-confidence which carries her through most challenging situations. BELIEVE IN LOVE. absolutely! a part of her is frightened to admit it, because she knows she may not ever get to be in love --- royal marriages are often arranged, and she doubts she’ll ever have a love story like her parents --- but tatiana super believes in it. WANT SOMEONE. ... very much so, yes. tatiana really wants to fall in love and be loved back, even if she’d not holding her breath for it.

LAYER SIX : EVER BEEN …

BEEN ON STAGE. never. not even to give a speech. a giant theatre, thousands of eyes all focused on her? she would die. DONE DRUGS. never. she’s much too responsible. CHANGED WHO YOU WERE TO FIT IN. not... not really. tatiana has always been herself, but she was very much shaped by her unique upbringing. she became the woman her family needed her to be ( at least, that’s the way she saw it ) and would gladly change herself, suppressing any negative emotion, were it what was necessary to ensure her family’s happiness.

LAYER SEVEN : FAVORITES .

FAVOURITE COLOR. lavender FAVOURITE ANIMAL. can she literally say her own dog? tatiana loves dogs ( and most animals, honestly ) but no one can beat ortino. FAVOURITE FOOD. raspberries, blackberries... any food featuring those two is 10/10 in her books. pastries? yogurts? in modern verse, she’s probably a real fan of greek yogurt. FAVOURITE GAME. she’s fond of board games with her siblings.

LAYER EIGHT : AGE .

DAY YOUR NEXT BIRTHDAY WILL BE. June 10 HOW OLD WILL YOU BE. mmm... historically, she doesn’t live past 21, so... DOES AGE MATTER. yes, it really does to her. as a teenager, she had crushes on men in their twenties, but as she approaches that age herself, she could never see her falling for someone too young, or too old. emotional maturity matters more to her than age, but it does matter.

LAYER NINE : IN A PERSON .

BEST PERSONALITY. someone reliable, with a sharp mind and pleasant manners. someone thoughtful, who keeps their promises. she’s naturally drawn to people who make her laugh, even if she doesn’t realize it. BEST EYE COLOUR. she has a fondness for blue, but has always found brown eyes beautiful. BEST HAIR COLOUR. darker, a rich brown or black shade. BEST THING TO DO WITH A PARTNER. talk to them. find a confidante in them, and understand each other soul to soul.

LAYER TEN : FINISH THE SENTENCE .

I LOVE. my family, more than anything else. I FEEL. as though there aren’t enough hours in the day. I HIDE. the feelings I am not sure how to understand I MISS. the happy moments, as soon as they have flown away. I WISH. to one day live a life without pain, without fear, where I and the people I love can be happy.

#v. ' the nuanced expression of interior revelation ' ( headcanons )

5 notes · View notes

bladesofyuri · 6 years

Text

My Excess Weight is Falling Off: How, Why, and What’s Different

This is a different kind of post for this blog, but I think it’s worth sharing.

If you’ve been following me for a few months, you may have seen a post I made asking for fitness/healthy lifestyle/accountability buddies. My weight is something that has always fluctuated and that I’ve always had a hard time with, even when I was dancing all the time and trying all sorts of “diets.” Over the past two years I found myself in a really dark place, and the weight started piling on for a number of reasons. No, I’m not telling you that as an excuse--it isn’t one. I simply wasn’t taking care of myself like I should’ve been. I was eating fairly well but not well enough, skipping meals I just felt too tired to eat (and sometimes, I’d go an entire day without one), and when I’d go to the gym, I wouldn’t do much more than the elliptical for an hour or a half hour plus some resistance training that really wasn’t challenging me. I knew I needed to work differently, but I had no motivation and my heart just wasn’t in it at all. The combination of graduate school and work was, to be frank, kicking my ass. On top of that, my social life had become nonexistent, I had no boyfriend, and didn’t really feel like I had anyone aside from two close friends who no longer even live in the same city to talk to.

I’d even for the first time in my life grown very uncomfortable at the gym, despite knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt from my own experiences on the other side that nobody cares about what you’re doing or is even paying attention to you there. Still, I felt like a big, bloated puff waddling around it in comparison to everyone else and more importantly, compared to how I used to feel in it: strong, confident, and calm.

Needless to say, I wasn’t exactly the epitome of health at the time.

There was something else too that’d been bothering me: more than anything, I wanted to get back into dance, despite having been out of it so long. I just needed that familiarity, that something, even if I wasn’t really in good enough shape in my mind to be doing it. One evening, I saw an advertisement, and I decided to try a class.

That in itself was a little jarring: I suppose in the 7 years I’d been out of dance, I’d forgotten how tiny dancers really were. I’d always been thicker for a dancer, at my fittest usually being mistaken for a cheerleader or gymnast. This was also the time when I was extremely involved with martial arts, which literally shredded my fat in those tougher spots right off. I’d gone from literal fighting shape with a six-pack to fat, and on my kind of build (which is average height and very curvy), even being a little chubby shows.

So here I was, in this dance class for a style I’d never tried before feeling very much like a potato among shorter, more toned versions of Victoria’s Secret models. It was a bit overwhelming to say the least, though it was fun.

That said, there were a ton of concerns going through my head. This class happened to be one where you’re partnered by men the whole time, and I began to wonder what effect my weight may have on them. There were no lifts at least--but moves that involved leaning, dips, etc. were common. Not to mention, I imagined my larger body must be much harder to lead.

So, I worked out a little more, still doing the same types of thing. Elliptical, treadmill, occasional resistance. I tried cutting carbs (more on that later), had a brief and desperate stint of limiting myself to one small meal a day (unhealthy and disastrous--I gained weight), and several other things that were so ineffective they aren’t worth mentioning. I thought that maybe despite my age my metabolism had already begun slowing down rapidly.

Not knowing what else to do, I decided to see a nutritionist.

We started meeting regularly, and she worked to figure out what exactly was going on. On paper, I wasn’t eating particularly badly: I had a few off days here and there, but combined with the amount of exercise I was getting daily (from walking back and forth to work and class, those 3-4x a week gym sessions, plus the new dance class additions), she had a little trouble deciphering what was wrong at first. I was particularly frustrated--I’d lost weight before, dropped my body fat percentage to a staggeringly low but still healthy amount for a female, and yet nothing I was doing now seemed to be working. My weight just fluctuated naturally as it always had. I had my resting metabolic rates checked, and some other tests run too.

Well, I thought when everything checked out to be within normal range, at least I was finally having some fun. I loved my dance classes and each made me feel quite a bit better on a daily basis even if I did still have those occasional nights when depression and anxiety really decided to kick in. Though the styles were different, I was doing something I loved again and meeting new people who were kind, informative, and encouraging, and that was more than I’d had in some time.

It still wasn’t enough for me, though. Not really. I’d dance around my apartment, listening to the kinds of music I used to dance to--hip-hop in particular. It always had been my strongest style, and I decided to try out the studio’s advanced class. I had, after all, done it for many years, and was still pretty confident I could move like I used to if my probably hilarious apartment dancing was any indication.

I took a class.

I realized they filmed everything.

And I watched those videos back. Sure, I still had it and had somehow managed not to lose much of my skill, even if I had been out of it for so long. No doubt this is thanks to the physical activity I’d maintained, even if it wasn’t up to par with what I’d done in my dance and martial arts days. Seeing that first video generated two thoughts in my mind:

1. I was still good. Very good.

2. I was still good, even keeping up with the pros in my class, but the person dancing in that video wasn’t me.

People have different opinions when it comes to being on camera. Some think it’s unhealthy to use it as a motivator, believing that it can develop an obsession. But I’m not that type, and in my mind, using videos to hold myself accountable is no less unhealthy than sitting on Tumblr feeling sorry for myself and eating myself into a blob, which is exactly what I felt I was. Nobody was “shaming” me. It wasn’t society or beauty standards or anything of the sort. I simply wasn’t happy with myself, and this video proved it.

I kicked it into high gear. As much as I may not often admit it I’m a highly competitive person. I see either someone who’s better than me at something and what to get to their level or surpass them, or I see myself and want to overcome that current self and transform it into something better. This, for better or worse, was exactly the blend of both I needed. I could dance like the people around me, and where I was a little rusty I knew I could get back, but I didn’t look as strong as them just because of my body.

I made small changes to my diet. I’ve always had a running joke about having the appetite of a lineman, and to this day that’s true. I like my food, and I like to eat. A lot. But I changed what I ate and when. I eat no breads or rice after lunch, instead loading up on lean meats and veggies. I don’t snack on things like yogurt at night anymore, either. Instead, I whip up some egg beaters (I highly recommend the southwestern flavor, by the way) and throw some lean, deli-cut turkey breast in with it. That’s my current go-to late-night snack. Other snacks are usually hard-boiled eggs or something along the lines of raw vegetables, fruits with a light dusting of Stevia over the top for those sweet tooth days, and carrot fries with a light ranch. I also make good use of frozen fruits that keep forever and that I can throw into a blender with some Greek yogurt. Breakfast is often something like a grilled chicken breast with eggs (my ultimate weaknesses is Chick-fil-A’s egg white grill when I need a speedy breakfast on the go), a poached egg with half an avocado and a slice of wheat toast, or something along those lines. I’ve also tried the toast + peanut butter + banana thing, though it was a bit sweet for my taste. Lunch is a bit broader: I enjoy salads but not enough to have them daily, and lunch admittedly tends to be my least healthy meal of the day. I had a cheeseburger today for example, which I do not recommend, but if you’re going to do something like that, just make sure you’re opting for a side salad or something similar instead of fries. My aim for lunch tends to be a light salad or a something like a burrito bowl with very little to no rice. I focus on lean meats and vegetables for both lunch and dinner, so depending on what I’ve prepped or am planning to make/have, I make the according adjustments to my lunch.

One thing I cut out completely--and a cut that pains me as it will my fellow Southerners--is sweet tea. I love sweet tea. I grew up on sweet tea and it’s quite literally the taste of home. This is something I had to ween myself off of over the course of a couple weeks on the days I ate out, ordering 1/2 sweet, 1/2 unsweet drinks. I’m happy to say I’ve already broken the habit, and it’s already become natural for me to order or make unsweet tea and either drink it as is or add just a pinch of natural sweetener in. Likewise, I cut back on sugary coffee drinks, though that wasn’t as difficult for me. I don’t mind the taste of black coffee, so that’s all well and good.

Once I did all of these things, I started noticing little things. Those leggings that had been too tight suddenly started to fit perfectly. My workout pants that I’d gone a size up on because of my chubbier areas started falling off--literally, to the point where I constantly have started having to pull them back up. My stomach and waist area--which is the one and only area I always have lost weight quickly in--has already gone from being jiggly to flat. My lovely (yes, this is sarcasm) Viking arms I inherited from my dad and my thick cyclist legs I inherited from my mom are already slimming down and toning. I started bodyweight circut classes and free weights again, though I definitely still enjoy my resistance days. It turns out I don’t need any additional cardio now that I’m dancing again, and I really only do short stints of it for stamina purposes.

And suddenly, it’s all been put into perspective.

My biggest block was settling for not enough.

I was eating in a more healthy way than the average person, but it wasn’t enough. I was working out regularly, but not in a way that was enough. I had no real routine or regulation for what I was eating beyond just staying under a certain calorie count, and not a good enough routine in the gym.

I’m not saying don’t go get on that elliptical or treadmill if that’s something that makes you feel good and helps you. Everybody’s different. Some people really can drop weight as long as they’re up and moving, and it really doesn’t matter what they do during that time. Others, like myself, need more specific exercise, and from experience I know mine is a combination of dance or martial arts and weights/bodyweight. Running does nothing. Ellipticals do nothing. Cycling does nothing. I have to do weights, and I have to have workouts that engage my entire body.

I’m happy to say within the past month of really hitting it this hard, not only have I lost weight, but I’m nearly down a size in everything (the latter of which is more over the course of two months). It really was just making the right changes and remembering what works for me, along with figuring out the new things that work for me since I obviously no longer live under my parents’ roof like I’d done the first time I’d really gotten fit. I had to figure out a way to cook for myself and make the right decisions when I do get fast food. I had to really start putting in the right work at the gym.

And you know what? It’s worth it.

I’ve even developed something of a social life through my classes again, and I’m loving every minute of it. It’s worth it to go into those classes and meet people, encourage them while they encourage you, and let them help to make you the best you can be through their sheer dedication and skill.

As for the darker mental side of it all, depression and anxiety don’t go away, but you can train yourself to push through them again, and you might just find those spells starting to dwindle a bit when you do. For me in every way, shape, or form, these changes have all been worth it.

Find what works for you and go for it not halfway, but all out.

#personal #bladesofyuribabbles #health and fitness #fitness #progress #update #unrelated #real-life #truths

75 notes · View notes

romancevsreality-blog · 6 years

Text

the bachelorette, season fourteen, episode one: i have opinions on greek yogurt

So they had to go and start this season by salting the wound of Becca and Arby’s breakup, didn’t they?

Welcome back to Romance vs. Reality, I’m your lead and only blogger, Amanda. Kill me now, we’re here for the fourteenth go-around of La Bachelorette, a carousel made up of social media participants and erectile dysfunction specialists. Our princess this season is Becca Kufrin, a last name I struggle with for no specific reason other than I just feel like I’m emphasizing the wrong syllable. Coming after Rachel, The First Black Bachelorette and Resident Queen Regnant of this blog1, and her, well, disaster of a season, I’m terrified.

I’m going to do a full analysis of our Mantestants later on, but I’ll put it frankly: I am not excited. I am newly single, and man. Pickings are slim out there. It’s dangerous waters, y’all. And I live in a city of like, seven million people. I can understand now why people find the first person they can in high school and piss on their legs for forty years2. Becca, however, dodged a bullet in this case, because Arby remains and always will be human trash. Oscar the Grouch literally lives in a trash can and is looking to get rehomed because of the association, maybe somewhere not on Sesame Street.

Arby’s legacy has impacted Sesame Street. And Oscar the Grouch is notorious for loving trash. I mean... same? But I do not love Arby. Arby is the human embodiment of Garbage Island, the island that is floating in the Pacific Ocean, collecting all of our plastic bottles and general other garbage and polluting our waters. Honestly to call Arby garbage isn’t ruthless enough. It doesn’t get the point across. Even calling him Arby, a restaurant that probably doesn’t deserve such a harsh association, feels cruel.

Arby is rubbish.

I mean, I know a lot of things about myself, but:

And Arby is the Standard of Trash To Which I Now Hold All Men. I will be ranking the men this season on the Rubbish Arby Scale.

Note: I am not even a full minute into the episodea, and I have a lot of feelings.

We have to relive the torturous final moments of Becca and Rubbish Arby’s relationship again, because ABC is basically going to milk this moment for everything it’s worth. We see Becca walking through some snow, searching for her future or whatever metaphor the powers that be are going after this season. She thought she had found her future, but nope! That future is off getting married to the human embodiment of an unflavored Fage Yogurt3. Becca is ready to find love because her parents were in love until her dad’s untimely death and guess what? It’s her turn now.

My favorite part of every season is the girls who are like, “I can’t believe I’m The Bachelorette? All I had to do was unleash a ton of my personal trauma on national television and ABC will pay me to wear sequin dresses and shank dudes’ hearts now!” I do love that Arby is actually banned from Minnesota, though. I mean, I don’t think he’s running to go to Minnesota any time soon, but the fewer options Arby has to spread his rubbish sludge, the better. We see Becca go through her Bachelorette Photoshoot4 and show how she’s a Strong Woman in both demeanor and physical strength at a acrobatic silks class.

I’m tentative.

Becca arrives at The Bachelor Mansion, where our three past Bachelorettes, all engaged but none married, are waiting for her with mimosas. Honestly, I would like to hang out with these three girls. Rachel and I could just... you know, be black together and I would ask Joelle about home design and Kaitlyn and I could dance. Tag me in, Becca. TAG ME IN. Rachel tells Arby to go fuck himself and basically is a queen the entire time. They all rave about the experience and how great it was for all of them - take away the fantasy and really consider real life. Rachel and Joelle talk about the fact that the women have a better track record on The Bachelorette (true) because they approach the situation with more nuance than the men do. And that’s true. To me, the men of The Bachelor are looking for someone to project their dreams onto, and the women are approaching it with a real sense of opportunity.

Rachel proceeds to sage the entire mansion, Becca’s ring finger, her vagina, and they’re never going to get rid of the stench of toxic masculinity, Axe body spray, and desperation. That’ll be there forever. That's in the fibers of the couches.

Okay, let’s talk about Becca’s first night dress. I know people are divided on it, but I think it’s a banger, okay? I mean, I wish it wasn’t ivory, but the all overbeadwork and the art-deco style is gorgeous. I also love the neckline, because Becca has great shoulders. The pairing of that with those dramatic teardrop earrings was stunning. It sparkles in the light, it’s a dress meant to be on television, not caught in a still shot.

LET’S MEET THE MEAT, SHALL WE?

First up is Clay, who is 30, and is a pro football player. Great, because now I have to worry about you getting CTE and argue with you about standing for the national anthem? Oh, Clay played for Detroit, though. I can’t be mad at him. Also, CLAY IS A DREAMBOAT. We see him at dinner with his family and his cute grandma. Clay is there For Becca, for sure.

We met Garrett, who starts with a Chris Farley impression. In 2018. A Chris. Farley. Impression. Chris Farley’s corpse is turning over and over and over in his grave. Oh my god, of course Garrett is from Reno. Reno gives me such Second City vibes. Not like the improv group, but like, the city you go to when you don’t have anywhere else to go, like Cincinnati or Tallahassee. Garrett is active because of course, but he wants a companion to do outsidey things with.

Oh god, we meet Jordan, who is 26, and a professional model. I already am going to safely call him this season’s Robb(ie). Jordan is the kind of guy who’s hot in certain lights but then other times you’re like “man, give some chin to other people!” He has a lot of chin, and his meticuliously carved “scruff” isn’t helping matters much. Oh god. Jordan starts out talking about his Brand, a phrase I only say ironically. I am literally shaking with rage. Jordan’s an unironic Derek Zoolander. He considers having to be tan and using salt spray to be “taxing”. He’s excited for once to finally be focusing on someone else for a change, and all he wants to do is sit on a couch with a box of chocolates with Becca in sweatpants and watch a chick flick. Jordan claims a lot of models don’t do that.

Someone want to notify Jordan that a good number of male models are gay men who would definitely do that? Anyone?

Next up is Lincoln, who we’ve already met on After The Final Rose. Lincoln is from Nigeria and he’s #blessed to be in the United States. He’s ready to get married and ready to settle down. That’s all. Boring. Joe From Chicago owns a grocery store, and as soon as this comes out of his mouth I’m in love with him. My full on Type is Man from Chicago Who Owns A Grocery Store. Joe’s ready to settle down and knows when he finds the right one, he’ll know.

Jean-Blanc comes on screen and I can hear my mom yelling “THIS IS YOUR HUSBAND AMANDA” from the six-hundred-something miles away that she is. Jean-Blanc collects “accoutrements”, and oh my god, my mom might be right. Jean-Blanc likes stuff. Watches, ties, cologne, all the extra shit no one really needs but it’s nice to have. I mean, I hate wearing perfume, but if a man can find a blend that works for him and isn’t overpowering? Great. Dope. Totally down. We see him opening Viktor & Rolf’s Spice Bomb, a Curve cologne??? And others from the Checkout Aisle From Marshalls and TJMaxx Collection. He’s going to “blow her nose away”, a phrase I’m shocked Jordan didn’t use because you knnnnnnoooow Jordan loves a little nose candy. Sorry, it’s true.

Colton is another football player so this season is full of men with experience getting concussions. Also, can we stop making men named Colton football players? Colton got injured in his last season, so he decided to give up football forever and now runs a charity to change the lives of cystic fibrosis sufferers. Okay, I can’t even talk shit. Damn charity.

Becca heads in the limo to meet Chris Harrison and the 29 other garbage men that will create the Advent Calendar of Regret that is The Bachelorette. Chris Harrison is on screen for the perfect amunt of time - like, thirty seconds, before our first limo full of mediocrity arrives. First out? Charitable Colton, who is firmly placed in the top two, officially. He wants to celebrate Becca being bachelorette and brought confetti poppers, which is actually not the worst initial interaction for these two people to have. It’s actually... cute?

God, help me.

We meet Grant, who both tells Becca he respects her for what she’s gone through but also wants her to forget all of it - way to help with THAT, Grrrrrant. Clay comes out and talks about football and makes a football pun and is cute and everything. Jean Blanc has a French name and teaches Becca some French, which is a mess. Of course, he has her translate “Let’s do the damn thing”, and god I hope it’s the last time we hear that this season, but that’s not true. Connor is a fitness coach and gets down on one knee in front of Becca. Don’t retrigger the girl.

Oh god, not even two mintes after I said I never wanted to hear “let’s do the damn thing”, here comes Connor with it all over again. God damn this show.

Another limo arrives and out comes Joe From Chicago Who Owns A Grocery. He immediately forgets what he has to say as soon as he sees Becca and JOE I WILL TAKE YOU. John walks the wrong way into the house, and Leo arrives looking like he was trying to do a Miss Geist from Clueless costume and forgot to do his hair before leaving the house. It is not a good look, I literally slid to the ground and cackled when he came out5. He proceeds to take his hair down and swish it around like he’s fucking Fabio.

Jordan comes out of the limo and Becca says hi, and he doesn’t respond. Because that is the kind of person Jordan is. He’s the kind of man who wants to say hello first. Jordan wasn’t expecting Becca to be wearing ivory, which is just a weird thing to say. His shoes are loud as fuck, too. Jordan spent six hours on his outfit and is like, “I’m wearing a grey suit, it’s daring.”

No, Obama wearing a khaki suit is daring. Klein Epstein and & Parker Suits are daring. A heather grey suit with a blue tie is like putting a jalapeno in your guacamole. You’re not exactly living on the edge.

Nick arrives dressed like a racecar driver because only assholes wear outfits like that. Nick is... god, I can’t figure out if Nick is hot or not. I do appreciate Leo being ike, “yeah, reminding this girl of her ex? NOT A GOOD LOOK.”

So of course Mike, the other long-haired dude with a fucking man bun in god damn 2018, comes in with a cardboard cut-out of Becca’s ex. STOP TRIGGERING THIS WOMAN. That isn’t charming, that’s weird. I didn’t look up my ex-boyfriend’s ex-girlfriends until like, a solid year into our relationship. I mean, it wasn’t the same way on his end6 but I think if I were to lead this show I’d specifically ask them NOT to mention my ex, if possible. Like, at all.

Garrett arrives in a minivan, and it’s full of soccer balls and a baby bag and he’s just trying to set the correct tone. I literally sat grimacing the entire time he was on screen. I hate Garrett already.

My second favorite part of the season premiere is the men being like “wow, there’s a lot of dudes here”. What did y’all expect?

Blake arrives on an... ox? After already meeting Becca with a horse at After The Final Rose? Becca’s right in wondering where he’s getting all of these animals from. I feel bad for the poor intern that needs to take care of Blake’s animals. Lincoln, the other guy who met Becca at After the Final Rose, and he brought Becca cake. Lincoln and Blake are both feeling confident because they’ve already met her before. We see a bunch of other dudes we’ve met before - Darius, Chase, Banjoist Ryan. The 24 other guys are intimidated because clearly they have some sort of leg up in the competition because they’ve been with her for ten seconds four months ago. I’m sure Darva Conger would agree with them that this is a solid grounding to form bonds over. It ended so well for her.

They basically show all the black guys back to back and a bunch of other nonfactors meeting Becca.

And then there’s Kamil, who is wearing sneakers with his suit and his job is “social media participant” which is effectively like putting “Air Breather” as your job in 2018. He only walks halfway to Becca and makes her come the other half to meet him, and then moves back further and is like “yeah, what about 60/40?” And honestly, this is the best depiction of heterosexual dating in 2018 I’ve ever seen and Kamil is literally telling Becca Who He Is in their initial interaction. 60/40, my ass. Becca is unamused by this and tries to turn it around on him, and he won’t engage.

Ya donzo, Social Media Participant.

Jake shows up, and Becca knows who he is. He’s an acquaintance and she’s confused because... Oh, okay? That’s super weird. I totally get why that’s weird. Production comes in with morbid music as a hearse drives up. Trent pops out and says he literally died when he found out Becca was Bachelorette, and I cackled. I can’t help it. It’s one of the worst things I’ve ever witnessed.

Jordan is here to show off his sartorial choices and doesn’t understand the other shlubs who showed up. I hate that I kind of agree with him? But then again, I intend my wedding attire to be Elevated Black Tie. I want the men to show up in basically butler’s uniforms and the women to look like Lady Gaga. Just put a little more effort in - Becca’s standing there in a backless beaded gown, the least you can do is put on a god damn tie.

Oh, of course someone comes in in a chicken suit. David is both a chicken and a venture capitalist, which is my least favorite thing. He has to wear that suit all night long. Jordan is #unamused, which is hilarious. I do appreciate the “bekaw/Becca” wordplay. Chris arrives with a fucking choir who sings about getting a rose, and I’m just... Okay. This would be teeeeewwwww much for me.

Okay, we’ve got twenty-eight men. And none of them are winners. Good LUCK, Becca. Becca makes her first toast, and immediately Connor is the first one to whisk her away. The guys are genuinely shocked but y’all, that’s how the game is PLAYED. He opens a bottle of champagne with a kitchen knife, and it’s impressive, but not a saber like is to be expected or standard. Color me unimpressed, Connor.7 Clay and Becca play with Clay, and I love that. I mean, who doesn’t love adults playing with play-doh? Clay is from a small town and talks about his values and how they grew from growing up where he did. He talks about how excited he was to meet her, and I smile. Clay is too good for this show.

ONE OF THE DUDES MADE THE APP FOR VENMO AND WHAT IS HE DOING HERE? DAMN, ABC.

Chris uses the fact that his grandparents got married after two months and have been together almost 60 years to get Becca to believe that Chris is all about this. Chris looks far too much like Perez Hilton for my liking and just for that, I hate him with a firey passion.8 Christon is a former Harlem Globetrotter and so he’s gonna show her how he can dunk a ball from her own hands. He DUNKED Becca, jumping OVER her head, and it...

It’s actually marvelous. Like, damn. I mean, he’s a Harlem Globetrotter. He better be able to dunk on command.

Blake and Becca are on the same page, which is shocking because Blake is basically dressed like Hugh Hefner. Chris Harrison comes in, drops off the First Impression Rose, and walks out to go put his pajamas back on. All the guys are immediately shooketh by it.

Lincoln brought Becca a bracelet from Nigeria, and we get a montage of the stunts these guys are pulling to impress Becca. David the Chicken Venture Capitalist leads Becca in the chicken dance and we’re supposed to be impressed by him becuase he’s literally in a chicken suit but he has a Serious Career.

We get to watch the Anxiety Set In for the men who haven’t had a chance to talk to Becca yet, especially Jordan. He pretends like it doesn’t bother him, he’s just playing it cool, but come on. Garrett shows Becca how to fish, and if a dude did this to me, I’d yawn. Garrett reminds Becca of home, of her dad, and she thinks he’d totally fit in with her family. Oh no.

Chris / Perez Hilton / Ben Stiller in Dodgeball has realized someone is There For the Wrong Reasons. Chase, who met Becca on After the Final Rose, is suspected by Chris. I’m suspicious of both of them simply because they’re both from Orlando, Florida unapologetically. Chris knows Chase’s ex-girlfriend and apparently she told Chris that he’s just there for publicity. They all think Chris needs to confront Chase. I can’t tell you who told him this because we’re still at the point of the season where all the men kind of look the same. I think it’s Christon and Blake, but I’m not sure.

The drama has already begun. I'm sad it's not someone getting black out drunk like it usually is.

Chris takes Chase aside to tell him what the deal is, and Chase of course denies all of this. I mean, what’s he going to do, stand there and admit do it? He confirms he’s there for the Right Reasons, and he’s there for Becca. My favorite is that he admits to have been watching this show for years with his mom, so of COURSE he’s NOT THERE FOR FAME. I don’t understand this thought process as a defense.

Chase immediately runs to Becca to tattle on Chris for being skeptical. Chase, who looks perpetually constipated, never found out what this girl told Chris, but he’s vehemently denying whatever it is and isn’t That Guy, whatever guy his ex he only dated for a month told Chris he was. Like damn, Chase. You musta done something. Becca doesn’t really know what to do with any of that information because Chase is leaving out the part where he’s the asshole.

Chase goes and grabs Chris (????) because they’re settling the drama right then and there. Chase denies ever dating this girl with any kind of seriousness and they’re both... gross. Becca clearly doesn’t know what to do because the story doesn’t add up. If it was two years ago and someone he only a dated a month, what’s the issue at hand? It’s so weird. Becca is as turned off as I am, and this mostly reminds her of someone she met earlier that she was turned off by initially.

She comes to get Jake, because his intentions are watery at best. They have the same group of friends back in Minnesota but have never interacted, and so it’s super weird that he showed up here trying to date her. Like, dude, you actually had a chance before to at least try to. Becca doesn’t think he showed her any interest in the previous times they’ve met, and Jake doesn’t remember meeting her more than one time. He remembers one time they met, but not... multiple times.

I scoffed so hard a little bit of phlegm came out. TMI, I know. But still.

Jake is excited to be there and get to know her, but Becca isn’t on board, and rightfully so. I’ve had people meet me multiple times and have zero recollection and I’m offended. Here comes Jake, having met Becca multiple times and admittingly having no recollection of doing so, coming onto this show to try to date her? Really? When in real life he never tried to in the first place? Most people aren’t as transparent as Jake is with their intentions, but it’s so clear that Jake thought he’d be able to parlay the fact that they knew each other before into a relationship.

But if we’ve met before and you didn’t show any interest then, how am I expected to take you seriously now that we’re on TV? Becca all but says as much but tells him she knows what it feels like to have someone question her relationship with them and she’s not going to do that again. Jake tries to be like “but what about meEEEEEEE and MY FEELINGS” and Becca shuts that shit right down because she is not here for his whataboutism. Neither of them did anything when they met before, and it’s not about who did what in this scenario. She’s holding the god damn key and him coming on this show in the first place was fucked up. She doesn’t want to waste his time and knows she doesn’t see a future with him. She’s sending him home ASAP.

He tells her that he’s not the same person she met at some mysterious Christmas Party and has had a “transformative year” - uh you’re telling this to the woman who got dumped on national television, your transformation is nothing compared to hers - and he’s a different person. He thinks if they met again, it would have a different result. I’m sure it would, Jake, but you lost your chance. Sorry. He says he respects how she feels and he’s going home.

Jake was one of the most attractive men there, but man, this was G R O S S.

Becca announces to the men that Jake is going home first, and they’re all terrified.

There is a grown ass man with an “expecto patronus” Harry Potter tattoo, and yeah, he’s got some nonsense “it’s different in Latin” translation, but I’m just happy the black guy doesn’t have a Death Eater tattoo8. Colton talks about his charity, and the First Impression Rose is still there.

But not for long, because here comes Becca to grab it and offer it to...

Garrett.

All the guys are visibly gutted. I don’t know why, the best thing about Garrett is his tie. I love a pink and blue tie. He gets the first kiss of the season, too. Garrett’s thrilled.

Back inside, Chris Harrison has changed back into his suit for about ten minutes to gather Becca before the first Rose Ceremony. At this point, I also see a guy who I haven’t seen thus far, and went “PHOARRRRRRRR” because he was so hot. WHO ARE YOU, ANONYMOUS HOTTIE? I love that Jordan’s like, “It wouldn’t be fair to Becca if I didn’t get a rose tonight.” I’m on my third season of saying this, but I love when the contestants think their feelings matter at all in this scenario.

The Rose Ceremony begins.

Lincoln, Blake, Rickey, Jean-Blanc, Christon, Clay, Wills, Connor, Jason, John, Ryan9, Alex, Nick, Trent, Colton, David The Chicken Venture Capitalist, Jordan, Leo, Mike, and Chris all accept roses.

That means Chris’s plan to get rid of Chase worked. Which it never does. On The Bachelorette, The Messenger usually gets shot.

Bye to Chase, Christian, Darius, Grant, Joe, and Kamil, all to face the cold light of day. Y’all stayed up all night for this.

BUT NOOOOOOOO, NOT GROCERY STORE JOE, NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. I’ll keep you warm in those Chicago winters, Joe. Now that My (ex)-boyfriend Wells is dating someone far more famous than I am, I’m in the market. Call me.

This Season, on The Bachelorette: This season isn’t the most dramatic ever, according to Chris Harrison. This time, it’s an adventure. Lots of beach kissing! All the guys are like “Arby’s dumb for losing this girl.” Colton, Jean Blanc, and Nick all tell Becca they’re in love with her. And then - TEARS. LOTS OF THEM. Someone did to Becca what Arby did, and whoever it is, I AM COMING FOR YOUR EDGES. Lincoln is a liar and a manipulator? Jordan, who is clearly there to boost his modeling career, takes it very personally for people to attack his character on television. That… doesn’t help with people thinking you’re just there to boost your modeling career, Jordan. Colton, of course, is a virgin, and apparently this may or may not be a lie? Who lies about something like that? Becca’s pissed. She just wants honesty from these fuckboys, and girl, you better have stocked up in fuckboy repellent. All she wants is their honesty from here on out. And then someone’s getting taken off in an ambulance. But it’s all going to end in an engagement that has allegedly already been spoiled by TMZ/the Powers that Be at ABC trying to scoop Reality Steve, so that’s what we have to look forward to.

See you next week! It’s great to be back.

Random Assessments from the Desk of Amanda:

Becca is only a year older than I am, and this is really sending me spiraling. I know we’ve had girls younger than I am on this show, but I never really contextualized that until I saw 1990 next to Becca’s name. I am so OLD.

This season’s batch of men makes me never want to be The Second Black Bachelorette™. If these are the best options, I’ll barf.

I know she’ll be on Paradise because come on no brainer, but man - I am so happy The Bachelorette is not Tia. Oh man, am I happy it’s not Tia.

I know everyone talks about how amazing Joelle’s hair is, but Becca. Gorgeous hair.

How tall is Becca? She looks like she’s my height.

Jordan is going to be this season’s Chad. At least we’re going back to the Douchebag Villain and not the Racist Villain again.

I really loved that all the guys were like “if the guy in a chicken suit gets a rose over me, life means nothing.” Oh, to have never struggled a day in your life.

Jordan, are you really a fashion model if you’re from Crystal Ocean Spray, Florida?

All of these men look like 90s Teen Film Villains. Like, this is a cast of Andrew Keegans and Paul Walkers.

Elizabeth who? ↩︎

I mean, kind of? No, I don’t. I really don’t. Can someone explain this to me? I feel like that’s resigning yourself to a lifetime of mediocre sex because you haven’t experienced anything else. ↩︎

I went with Fage because Bobby Flay, the whitest man I can think of, was their brand representative for a moment. Why is Bobby Flay the whitest man I can think of? He has a show where he literally competes with people to prove he’s good. I don’t need that, I literally have MY LIFE. ↩︎

Things that are interesting to only me: after two years of having the lead on a white background in a red dress (Joelle and Rachel), they’re back to the metallic-colored sequin dress (Kaitlyn and Andi), but Becca’s on a grey background. Both Emily and Desiree had what honestly looks like satin prom dresses from JCPenney. This matters to literally no one else. ↩︎

The least surprising thing about Leo is that he’s a stuntman. Of course he is. Stuntmen either look like him or look like... well, what I imagine Joe From Chicago Who Owns A Grocery Store’s uncles probably look like. ↩︎

boundaries.

↩︎

Some other guy who is a real estate agent is like, “you never buy the first house,” which reminds us this show is doing really good things for gender progress in America. (/s) ↩︎

Seriously, has anyone with a Death Eater tattoo realized they’re just telling the entire world they’d be a proud racist wizard? ↩︎ ↩︎

RYAN IS MY SECRET MYSTERY HOTTIE, OMG. I forgive his banjo playing, it’s not like he’s in Mumford & Sons. ↩︎

#the bachelorette #the bachelorette recap #reality tv #feels so goooood to be back #all of these men are trash #i mean has this show ever been full of winners?#i'm really terrified maggie actually submitted me for this #what if i get picked and i have to date one of these men #oh my god #kill me now #kill me

5 notes · View notes

soon2bthinn2 · 3 years

Text

May 8, 2021

Goal: <1,200 cal. ❌

1 Dannon Light + Fit Boston cream pie Greek yogurt (80 cal.) + 1 Sparkling Ice+ Caffeine (5 cal.)

1 Protein One peanut butter chocolate bar (90 cal.)

1 Dannon Light + Fit strawberry cheesecake Greek yogurt (80 cal.) + 1 pink lady apple (117 cal.) + 300g watermelon (90 cal.) + 1 100-calorie pack cashews (100 cal.)

3 oz grilled chicken strips (110 cal.) + 1 bag steamed sliced carrots (100 cal.) + 100g watermelon (30 cal.) + 1 red delicious apple (80 cal.) + 1 pink lady apple (114 cal.) + 1 Dannon Light + Fit toasted coconut vanilla Greek yogurt (80 cal.) + 1 100-calorie pack cashews (100 cal.) + 1 Fiber One cinnamon coffee cake bar (70 cal.)

Total: 1,246 cal.

I went over my total but it was an accident, not a binge, so I'm not going to count today as a failure in that regard. I added my calories up wrong before supper and thought I was going to be 100 calories less than what it ended up being. My fault for not triple-checking my calorie math. 🤦‍♀️ It feels like it doesn't matter anyways at this point, because I don't feel like I'm losing, even though I can still SEE a difference in my body day-to-day. My waist measurement hasn't gone down to what it was at my LW, and until then I can't weigh in. So I'm stuck just trying to stick to my super-high calorie limit (How it feels to me), and hoping that I'm still losing weight.

I did order myself one of those reusable water bottles to use on weekends, partly to save money from buying so much bottled water, but also because I'm not drinking enough at all on weekends and it's causing me to have mega fiber-bloat. :( Hopefully drinking more water throughout the weekend will speed my weight loss up.

I also managed a short workout today, but I have to start doing more at the gym. I think I'm going to start using the elliptical as well as walk for longer. Anything to get to my UGW by August...

#soon2bthinn

12 notes · View notes

meditating-dog-lover · 3 years

Text

Plan for the next 6-7 weeks.

So overall I got the hang of regular exercise and healthy eating. I have slimmed down from that.

I'm still continuing my health and fitness journey. My goal for the next 6-7 weeks is to continue eating healthy and to exercise every week. However I want to be more mindful of the fat content of the foods I eat so I don't end up eating a small portion that's worth several calories.

I don't believe in fat-free diets, those are dangerous. However I can always substitute fat products for other products like almond milk, Greek yogurt and apple sauce when baking. In other instances, I can reduce my portion size so I don't go overboard.

Foods (mostly healthy) that are high in fats:

Olive oil - use small quantities (do NOT cut out)

Coconut oil - use small quantities (do NOT cut out)

Almonds and nuts - I'm not a huge fan of nuts in general but I do like to add some walnuts to my favorite dessert. Use in small quantities.

Peanut butter - Use in measured quantities

Butter - Use in measured quantities or replace with Greek yogurt, almond milk or apple sauce

Cheese - I already consume cheese in measured quantities

Cream cheese -

Cream -

Milk -

Avocados - 1/4 of an avocado is a good single portion size

Dark chocolate

Non-lean meats

Fish

Chia seeds - These are good, do not cut out

Eggs

Nut butters

Many store-bought sauces and condiments (e.g. mayo)

Flaxseed oil

Coconut milk/creams

Fried foods

Processed foods

Cheesecake and other creamy desserts

Ice cream

Salad dressings

Now a lot of these are healthy and cutting them out is a very bad idea. But I'll use them in healthy recommended amounts. Olive oil, peanut butter, eggs, cheese, coconut milk and chia seeds are very good and shouldn't be cut out. Peanut butter, eggs and cheese are also high in protein which is great, and chia seeds have a lot of fiber. But quantity control is key.

After my 6-7 weeks are up, I'll see how far I went with my progress. I am now pretty slim but I want to tone up and I want to slim my calves at the same time. To tone up, I need to lift. To reduce muscle, I need to not lift. I'll figure out what the best workout routine to meet my goals are. I'll juggle my thoughts and goals between weights or going back to light resistance. I know the importance of strength training, HIIT and LISS (walking). I just need to figure a good plan out.

~HEALTH IS WEALTH~

#personal #mine #health and fitness #health is wealth #fitness goals #eating healthy

0 notes

cutsliceddiced · 4 years

Text

New top story from Time: A Guide to Expert-Tested Cooking and Baking Substitutes if You Can’t Find Your Usual Ingredients Anywhere

As we enter the second month of stay-at-home orders across the U.S., the strain on the home kitchen is already clear; stores and vendors are adjusting to changing food demands and the supply chain has been impacted.

Certain ingredient shortages we encounter while managing with limited grocery shopping runs make cooking dinner — and breakfast, and lunch, and snacktime, and dessert, and midnight snack — all the more difficult.

For those battling food insecurity, school meal services and food banks are working overtime to help provide necessary meals and supplies. But for those looking at empty pantry shelves while delaying a grocery trip to stock up further on in-demand items like beans and oat milk, a few innovative swaps can mean that a missing ingredient here or there won’t throw off your meal planning. For advice, TIME turned to Alissa Wagner, chef and co-founder of the popular downtown New York City restaurant Dimes and co-author of the recently published cookbook Emotional Eating, as well as baker and Great American Baking Show winner Vallery Lomas, who’s popular on social media as the “Foodie in New York,” and pastry chef and Milk Bar founder Christina Tosi, who has been teaching fans with daily live Instagram tutorials.

Wagner called from her restaurant’s associated market, which is still serving prepared foods — and remains busy and well-stocked. “Start simply and play around with things,” Wagner says. “You really can look at cookbooks and recipes and try not to be intimidated and enjoy it.” Lomas, meanwhile, has been testing out simplified recipes from her studio apartment in Harlem that are “fuss free” and work for smaller crowds — or even portioned just for one. “Don’t let fear of failure stop you,” she said. Tosi keeps things interesting by playing music themed to match her culinary pursuits (like a “queens of pop” playlist while making popovers) — and sharing what she makes, as much as she safely can. “Kitchen time never feels like a chore when you approach it with a generosity of spirit mentality,” she says. “Now is the time to spread the love more than ever.”

Here, Wagner, Lomas and Tosi share their suggestions for what to do when you run out of some of the basics. And while this guide doesn’t cover everything you might need to make your preferred dish of the evening to the recipe’s exact specifications, it might help you come up with some creative solutions. “I like to look at my pantry with a sense of imagination,” Tosi says. “Approach every ingredient with a ‘What does this typically bring to the dish or snack I use it in?’ Write it down and come back to it when you put your apron on.”

Egg Substitutes

Lon Tweeten

Eggs are a refrigerator staple, but once you’ve worked through your regular dozen, you may find yourself uncertain of what to use as a replacement. If it’s a breakfast protein you’re in the mood for, Wagner recommends turning to tofu, which can be prepared as a scramble and lasts a long time in the fridge.

Although eggs are hard to match in taste as a standalone food — and Tosi cautions against trying to replace them in a recipe if it calls for more than a few — there are a number of workable stand-ins. If you’re baking, do as the vegans do: consider swapping in apple sauce or another fruit you can cook or puree, which provides the same binding properties in baked goods as eggs. (Mashed bananas are a common option, too, and very cost-effective if you buy bunches in bulk. They can also be frozen for later use.) Tosi says a neutral-flavored oil could also help provide structure and moisture.

Lomas and Tosi also recommend the “flax egg” — letting a tablespoon of flaxseed meal soak in a few tablespoons of water for a few minutes. The resulting jelly-like concoction will work in lieu of real eggs, and is “every vegan’s favorite trick,” Tosi says.

If you’re looking for egg whites, the water in a can of chickpeas, called aquafaba, will suffice. Meringues, mayonnaise and cocktails like a pisco sour can use aquafaba instead of real egg whites. Vegans have been using the replacement source for years.

Milk Substitutes

Lon Tweeten

When dairy supplies run low, fortunately there are plenty of milk substitutes that are more shelf-stable than perishable dairy. Wagner particularly likes coconut milk, which you can keep in your pantry and will work as a replacement for regular milk when thinned with some water. (“It’s a lot fattier than regular milk,” Wagner explained.)

“Match your milk sub with the flavor profile of what you are baking,” Tosi says. So for bundt and loaf cakes, for instance, she sometimes turns to sour cream and Greek yogurt.

If you have nuts lying around, making your own nut milk is also a possibility: Wagner recommends a three-part water to one-part nut ratio, soaked overnight and blended. A clean t-shirt will do as a strainer, she says. Wagner likes cashew milk, which has a “really nice sweetness — and it’s a little cheaper than almonds,” making it a more cost-effective option. Almonds and oats also work, and Tosi says nut milks are a good option for pancakes, crepes and bar cookies. “I’m not above melting down vanilla ice cream to sub in for milk, either,” she adds. “Embrace all the milky things,” she said. Yes, even whipped cream.

If you don’t have milk, Lomas suggests simply using water instead of milk for a substitute in baking. “And when all else fails,” Tosi notes, “don’t underestimate the power of milk powder,” which you can mix with water, too.

Cheese Substitutes

Lon Tweeten

There is an almost infinite variety of cheeses on the market. But when it comes to the cheese that we use most often, it’s generally as an additive on other dishes for that umami kick. Nutritional yeast will work as a substitute in many pasta dishes, Wagner says. Or for saltiness, you can try out capers and olives, which last in the pantry and fridge and bring in the “salty brininess” you might be missing when you run out of parmesan, notes Wagner.

For Tosi, the pantry or snack cabinet could also hold answers. “I’ll take the flavor packet from my mac and cheese to make my own Cheez-Its, or use a box of cake mix and some cream cheese for a gooey butter cake,” she says.

Butter Substitutes

Lon Tweeten

For cooking, oil — olive, canola or even grapeseed or avocado — can generally be used as a butter substitute, provided you select an oil with a flavor that complements the rest of your ingredients. “It depends on the recipe as to how well this swap will work,” Lomas says. Coconut oil, for instance, has a flavor all its own. Used in a cookie recipe, canola and vegetable oil will result in a “sandier textured cookie,” Tosi says. The conversion is also not a direct one-to-one swap between butter and oil, since butter also has milk fats that an oil may lack; you might need a few tablespoons fewer of oil than butter for a cake, for instance.

Then there’s old school shortening, which Tosi says is a “best bet” for matching butter’s flavor and structure; margarine is another option, although not as flavorful. If the butter is being used as an especially creamy component, like in a risotto, you could try a heavy cream.

Bread Substitutes

Lon Tweeten

If you’re craving homemade carbs — perhaps inspired by the proliferation of amateur baking projects you’re seeing on social media — there’s plenty to choose from. Amid flour and yeast shortages, there are still breads you can make that don’t require yeast.

Cornbread, Wagner says, should fit the bill — provided you can find cornmeal. Simpler bread recipes like focaccia are another option, as it is made without yeast. Tosi turns to her “fool-proof beer bread,” since beer already has yeast in it. (Her recipe: 1 beer, 3 cups flour, 4 teaspoons baking powder, 1 teaspoon salt, ½ cup butter melted.) She also recommends adapting bread recipes by cutting “all but one tablespoon sugar out” and throwing spices and seed in, like za’atar or curry powder, for a more aromatic loaf.

Lomas has been baking basics like wheat bread from scratch using whole wheat flour. Other alternative flours, like rice or chickpea, are common in gluten-free recipes and can be used widely. Wagner likes chickpea flour which is less “gummy” than rice flour and makes “really good savory pancakes.” Tosi suggests cake flour, which has a lower protein content. Nut flours — nuts ground up in a food processor until they are “sandy,” with a few tablespoons of cornstarch to encourage the binding — are her recommendation for cookies. Oat flour (ground up oats) also can work: 1 ⅓ cups oat flour for 1 cup all purpose flour, says Tosi. Lomas is also a proponent of oat flour, which works well in her cookies and is a decently affordable option.

Even beyond the expected flour alternatives, Tosi suggests turning to other dry ingredients that can grind down into a flour-like consistency, like popcorn and pretzels. (“Popcorn flour is fire!” she says, but keep an eye on the overall salt content if you use pretzel flour.)

Sugar Substitutes

Lon Tweeten

When running low on sugar, look to other sweeteners you have at hand: maple syrup and honey, both of which are actually lower on the glycemic index than regular processed sugar, Wagner says. Plus, both maple syrup and honey last a long time without going bad. Lomas even uses honey in her homemade whole wheat bread recipe. Agave is another natural sweetener option.

Tosi suggests thinking even further beyond the basics when it comes to bringing sweetness to a recipe. “Most things you crave late at night can work, too: marshmallows, chocolate, white chocolate chips, peanut butter, sorbet melted down, and candy.”

Brown sugars can also be whipped up at home if need be: light brown sugar can be concocted by adding a splash of maple syrup to granulated sugar, while to mix your own dark brown sugar you can add molasses. And powdered sugar, to top things off? Blend granulated sugar with a pinch of cornstarch. “In the baking world it’s called 10x, in reference to it being ground down 10 times,” Tosi says of powdered sugar’s origins.

You can also look beyond sugar for flavor in your baking. “If you like a salty-sweet combo, throw potato chips, pretzels, butterscotch chips — you name it — in your cookie dough or loaf or pancake batter,” Tosi says.

Keep up to date with our daily coronavirus newsletter by clicking here.

Meat Substitutes

Lon Tweeten

Alternatives to meat — like plant-based brands Beyond Meat or the Impossible Burger — are buzzy, but can get pricy. To fulfill the central protein portion of a meal, Wagner looks farther afield to vegetarian staples like tofu, which can be bought in bulk for a more cost-conscious solution, or chickpeas. “They’re very filling and versatile; they take to spice and herbs very well,” she says, suggesting a simple preparation with olive oil, fresh lemon juice, sea salt, chopped cilantro and red pepper flakes (or Aleppo pepper if you have it).

Or turn to canned goods. Canned fish — like sardines, anchovies and tuna — is shelf-stable and stores well, and works as a meal centerpiece. Wagner suggests a spin on the classic French Niçoise salad, featuring a canned fish and “any vegetable” you have on hand, or you can serve the fish on toast.

Greens and Vegetable Substitutes

Lon Tweeten

By the end of two weeks without restocking at a grocery, vegetables may have wilted. But Wagner reminds us that “any kind of soft herb” or the green part of a vegetable can be used as a base for a salad or a green addition to a meal, including parsley, basil, cilantro, kale or chard. “Carrot tops, beet greens, even fennel fronds — anything like that you can use, instead of throwing it out,” she says.

And don’t overlook your onions. “One thing people always have lying around that can upgrade anything are onions. You can pickle them easily and throw them into a salad; you can fry them and throw them in with beans, or sauté them into your eggs. It adds a ton of flavor in a really easy way,” she says.

Pickling is a helpful way of extending the lifespan of leftover vegetables, too. “All you really need is vinegar, salt and sugar. Everything else is a bonus,” Wagner says of the pickling process.

Please send any tips, leads, and stories to [email protected].

via https://cutslicedanddiced.wordpress.com/2018/01/24/how-to-prevent-food-from-going-to-waste

#Time #top stories #IFTTT #news

0 notes

ommil · 4 years

Text

How to Burn Fat While Your Appetite Drops: What Foods Increase Satiety?

Trying to find diet that fits your meal preferences and lose weight yet still not to be always hungry? Carb loaded foods at deficit make you always hungry. Eating according to keto principles decreases appetite and makes you stay within your calories needs way easier. I’ll explain in this article what types of foods tend to score high on a satiety scale? How do you choose you daily meals to sustain your calorie needs? Fats make you feel full, carbs cause insulin spikes which cause you to feel hunger to get your blood sugar levels back up.

Eat foods that fill you up to satiety

Eating high-carb at a relevant deficit makes you feel terribly miserable, and I say this from experience. You're eating foods that don't fill you up, and the blood sugar and insulin swings mean you get even hungrier between meals. Being hungry all the time is not mentally sustainable and that is why people fail on those diets all the time. Recognizing that satiation and diet sustainability is immensely important. I can eat at a massive deficit casually on keto, doing the same high-carb and I would be hangry every hour I am awake. Meat and fat-based foods known as basic keto food help to control insulin secretion in a body. Yet insulin is a hormone fundamentally involved in metabolism of carbo hydrates and indirectly lipids. How? Well by taking insulin under basal levels for a prolonged time body shifts to metabolism of fatty acids which are product of fat / lipid breakdown. So, it heals metabolic issues. It is also more satiating, a natural appetite suppressant. It still requires a calorie deficit if weight loss is the goal.

Foods that are incredibly filling

The main benefit of being in a ketosis is that feeling of satiety between meals. Most people report they do not need snacks in between. So how could you be fine eating so little? Once you Stop eating carbs, insulin drops, and your body switches to using the energy stored in your fat tissue. Once you are mobilizing all that energy stored in your fat, it makes eating at calorie deficit so much easier, and sustainable without feeling always hungry. In other words, you reverse the cart and horse. Instead of starving yourself and hoping to burn fat, you burn fat and your appetite drops to the point where eating at deficit is easier. Keto is very low carb diet, and have been shown to suppress the hunger hormone ghrelin. That makes it easier to stay the course, as well as muting the hunger pangs that tend to sabotage diets.

With Keto nutrition there are no sugar spikes

In carb metabolism, your system can slow down a bit to try to not switch to ketosis when it runs out of sugar. But when you are fat adapted, it just keeps on. Protein and fat leave you satiated longer than a steady stream of carbs. Especially the refined carbs in a modern, Standard American Diet (SAD). Keto doesn't matter for weight loss. It's the caloric deficit that ensures you lose weight. The difference is that once you become fat-adapted, which happens as a result of ketosis, you will not be hungry and consequently it's easier to be consistent. Some people report increased energy and clarity. A period of what seems to be increased energy, but it wasn't an on-going state.

Keto decreases appetite too?

With Keto you’re not battling massive fluctuations in blood sugar/insulin levels which in turn keeps your hunger at a stable level throughout the day. The reduction of appetite is not just a minor bonus! The reason most people fail at a "traditional" calorie-restricted diet is because they feel miserable with hunger trying to sustain it. Calorie deficit is still the key component to any fat loss. Even on keto, you must eat at a caloric deficit. Ketosis does not equal fat loss. Even more enjoyable benefit of keto, is the mental benefit many people have experienced: getting much less anxiety and much less temperamental.

Most filling foods to prevent hunger

If you want to prolong satiety you want higher fat meals in your diet. If you are eating low-carb, you should focus on protein and veggies for the bulk of your meals. healthy fats are important! Eggs To help you feel less hungry my best bet is to eat some eggs! Maybe for breakfast have 2 or 3 with some avocado for healthy fats. Grilled chicken You need to add protein to your salad, maybe some grilled chicken or stir-fry some beef? Then you should add some veggies to the chicken breast... maybe some steamed frozen broccoli or veggie mix? Nuts Snack on nuts of all kinds put in a few dark chocolate chips for a treat, greek yogurt with berries, nut butters (peanut/almond butter) on rice cakes. Make some lower carb treats to have on hand for when you crave sweets/chocolate. The key is to plan ahead. Quick oats are full of sugar, change them for rolled oats or steel cut oats. Make them with water or skimmed milk. Lunch you need some protein with it, chicken or tuna (light mayo if you need it) Dinner Chicken/fish with steamed veggies are cool. You need a couple of snacks too. Morning have an apple and a few plain nuts. Afternoon a banana or carrot sticks and hummus. You can eat fatty foods until satiety. Satiety has this magical effect where all cravings just vanishes. I find sugar cravings will also happen when I'm pulling too much of a deficit and I am hungry. After a few weeks with this strategy your sugar cravings should disappear completely.

My favorite foods that fill up for a long time

Breakfast: if fruit is ok, apple with peanut butter, or if fruit not ok, nonfat Greek yogurt with nuts and a touch of honey and vanilla Lunch: add protein to your salad and add stuff like seeds and nuts, make sure you're eating a good green like spinach versus iceberg Dinner: so many options, make sure it has protein. Soups, curries (you can use cauliflower rice if you want), roasted meat and veg, lettuce wraps, stir fry. The leftovers can also become lunch. For varying foods during the week, you can choose from boiled eggs red beets beet juice apples pumpkin seed. Omelets and veggies is a perfect meal one day a week. Read the full article

#caloriescouting #hungercontrol #satiety

0 notes

averagecal · 4 years

Photo

Yesterday I meal prepped breakfast and lunch for four days. I made kale, sausage, and sweet potato hash with hard-boiled eggs, strawberries, and blackberries. For lunch, I made a Nicoise inspired salad with seasoned tuna, green beans, tomatoes, eggs, and olives on a bed of arugula and butter lettuce.

Both recipes are inspired by the Damn Delicious meal prep cookbook (altered slightly to lessen calories). I’ll be eating both meals Mon-Thurs this week and making other plans for Fri-Sun.

Both recipes were both very tasty and very filling! That salad during lunch held me over until almost dinner time. I highly recommend both.

The calorie “quick-adds” were for the hash and the tuna part of the salad. The hash came out to about 280 cals/portion and the tuna came out to around 161 cals/portion (give or take around 10 calories depending on the portion. I weighed everything as close as I can to each other, but I’d rather track every calorie I can, even if it’s just a few difference.)

For dinner, we had some lemon pepper marinated chicken drumsticks in the freezer. I thawed and roasted those in the oven for 25 minutes at 425 degrees Fahrenheit.

We served it with some buttermilk mashed potatoes (236g yukon gold potatoes, 1 Tbsp butter, 2 Tbsp low-fat buttermilk, salt & pepper) a bagged salad, and my low-calorie ranch dressing (14 cals per Tbsp.) You’ll notice that the count on the potatoes is different. I made my plate with the 236g but didn’t eat all of them, so I weighed the leftover portion and round the difference, which ended up being 103g (which was about half the original amount). I halved the butter to .5 Tbsp but left the amount of buttermilk alone since it was already so low in calories.

For dessert, I enjoyed a Strawberry Cheesecake Dannon Light & Fit Greek yogurt, which should help me keep full until tomorrow.

I also enjoyed coffee with both breakfast and lunch. Since plain coffee has almost no calories, and I use stevia as my 0 calorie sweetener, I just tracked the 2 Tbsp of whole milk I added to each.

Another note is that I have a pedometer app synced with MyFitnessPal. It tracks my steps throughout the day and automatically adds any additional, available calories to my total. I currently aim for 5000 steps a day, which is more realistic for my current life situations than the industry imposed standard of 10,000 steps. I have a coworker who is very excited to go on walks with me throughout the workday which definitely helps me be active as well as helps improve my mood. :)

#mealprep

0 notes

coughdontfeelwellcough · 7 years

Text

Uncertain (Ocs sickfic part 2)

Thank you everyone who’s read the first part, I hope you enjoy this one :) You can check out part 1 here

Sleep came in dribs and drabs, Jamie waking her with various times as he moaned and whimpered. She tried to sooth him best she could but he continued to be restless, the medicine hadn’t been enough to get his fever down to a reasonable level. Her mind wandered to the future, something she tried so hard not to even think about; everything with Jamie was just too uncertain and for that very reason those three words had never been spoken, like speaking them would break a bond and make everything real in a way they both knew it couldn’t be.

The sun had risen, shining through the open windows when Anna woke for the last time. She rolled over to Jamie still asleep, he looked so pale in the light the only colour being his chapped nose and fever stained cheeks. She ran her hand over his forehead feeling the heat still radiating from his skin. His lips were cracked from breathing through his mouth and she wished she could just take it all away from him, his pain and hardships because he didn’t deserve them, not any of them. She continued to generally stroke his hair waiting for him wake and in that moment she didn’t care if her parents walked through the door because right then she was happy and nothing could spoil that.

He woke a few minutes later, a mixture of her cool fingers against his skin and the rattling in his lungs. His eyes were glassy and still tried despite the hours of sleep but he still smiled when he saw her.

“Good morning sleepyhead, how are you feeling?” she asked softly, her voice barely above a whisper.

He groaned which turned into a painful coughing fit, he buried his face in the pillow to try and muffle the sound. Anna rubbed his back and went to fetch his a glass of water, she was still wearing the clothes she’d worn to the forest having not found time to change. She was in need of a hot shower and the grumbling stomach told her some food wouldn’t be a bad idea either. She returned to him sitting up in bed, leaning against the pillows as he breathed heavily, she’d never been him look so weak that she felt physical pain in her chest, her own breath catching much like his own.

“I don’t think I’ve ever felt this ill in my life,” he said as she placed the glass in his shaking hands.

Anna frowned “You poor thing, I wish there was something I could do.”

“You’re already doing it, you’re here with me,” his voice was low and rasping but it could still send a shiver down her spine.

She would have kissed him right then if her stomach haddn’t grumbled loudly and they both laughed, his more of a wheeze than a laugh but at it was better than nothing.

“Suppose I better get some breakfast and I know you’re probably not hungry but you need you strength, so you can beat whatever this,” she said softly.

“Just whatever you’re having, it’s going to taste like snot anyway.”

Anna smiled at his dumb joke, he could always lighten her mood and in all her life he was the only one that could calm her anxiety prone brain.

“Okay, well I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

“What if your parents come up why you’re gone?”

“They won’t, they hardly ever come to my room and plus they don’t get up before 9am ever so we should be safe,” Anna replied.

“Are you sure?”

“Very.” She leant over and kissed his forehead, it was still burning but it was worth it just to kiss him.

It was quiet downstairs just like Anna had said, her parents yet to rise and with no siblings left in the house there was no one else. Though they did have both a cook and a housekeeper they didn’t live on the property so were easy to avoid when necessary. She went into the kitchen and started gathering up various breakfast things, she wasn’t sure what Jamie would actually want to eat as he didn’t have any kind of appetite but it was God’s guess when he would have last had a proper meal. It hadn’t quite sunk in that he was actually in her home, in her bedroom and it wasn’t all some weird dream. She knew the circumstances of the whole thing where far from perfect but it was the closest to normal they’d ever had. Anna returned with a tray of various breakfast things, buttered toast with jam for her, greek yogurt for him as she thought it would be soothing on his throat and a bowl of fresh fruit to help boost his immune system.

“I wasn’t sure what to get so…” Anna trailed off and Jamie laughed weakly, desperately trying not to set off another round of coughing.

“Wow, thank you.”

She smiled and they sat together on the bed, the tray of food resting between them. As well as the food she’d brought up some tea with lemon, something to help Jamie’s poor wrecked throat. He sipped at the hot drink, leaning back against the headboard and Anna found herself at a loss for what to say, she’d not felt out of place beside Jamie for a long time but sat there on her bed it felt weird. She wasn’t even sure she’d ever seen him in daylight, the sun picking out the gold in his otherwise brown hair. Normally their conversations were based around ranting about life, finally able to let everything go as the words they said could only be said to each other, the only ones to understand.

Jamie sneezed with such force that he snapped forward, it such quick succession that Anna couldn’t keep count.

“Bless you,” she said, kind of thankful for something to say.

“Urgh,” Jamie moaned, reaching toilet paper Anna had left on the bedside table. Even in a house as big as hers there was still no tissues when you needed them.

“How are you doing?” she asked.

He’d barely eaten and had started shaking so hard he’d had to lay down.

“I’m okay.”

She sighed, resting on her hand on his forehead, he was still on fire but the medicine she had just wasn’t strong enough. She needed a plan to get out of the house to buy some more without her parents finding out. Jamie had closed his eyes, already drifting off again as she removed the leftover breakfast things. In all the times she’d imagined what it would be like having Jamie in her home, in her bed she never imagined it like this, there was also more passion, more love and less awkwardness, it was like she didn’t know how to act around him anymore and she kind of hated herself for it. For so long she’d had to keep herself at home and herself in the forest seperate, never letting them cross over and now everything was a big mess and she’d gotten lost somewhere in the middle.

After changing in clean pyjamas she joined Jamie in the bed, wrapping an arm around his waist. She didn’t regret the action she took in bringing Jamie home, it had to be done, she just wished she’d been strong enough to do it better. Jamie coughed and rolled over in his sleep, Anna rested her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes.

For awhile they both slept soundly, the morning light bringing more rest than the night. They became so tangled it was no longer possible to tell who’s lim was who’s, both their heads on one pillow, so close together the heat was nearly unbearable but not enough to wake them. The sound that woke Anna was so small, so nearly insignificant that she might not have heard it at all but the moment the floorboard squeaked she was up like a shot.

“Someone’s coming!” she hissed, shaking Jamie by the shoulder.

“What?” he replied, still half asleep.

“My parents are coming,” she whispered.

Her brain was working a mile a minute trying to think of what to do, she had to hide Jamie and she only had about thirty seconds to do it. Her first thought was the wardrobe, the typical film clique but it was too small, Jamie wasn’t exactly short and she didn’t trust him on his feet for any length of time. Twenty seconds, the bathroom was their only real reason, they’d just have to pray no would go in.

“I need you get up okay? It’ll only be for a moment,” she was still whispering, the words coming out in a hushed rush.

Jamie nodded and moved to stand, his body was aching, he felt like he was made of lead and his vision swam and he got to his feet. Anna was there just as he thought his knees would give way beneath him, clinging onto his arm and guiding him toward the door at the far side of the room. 10 seconds and Anna had just got Jamie through the door, she sat on the closed toilet just as he started coughing, his fist pressed to his mouth to try and muffle the sound. 5 seconds and she panted his back trying to help him clear his lungs but time was running out. 3 seconds, 2.. Anna ran, the bathroom door swinging closed behind her and jumping into bed in the same moment that her bedroom door open and her mother appeared.

“Still in bed I see? Don’t you remember we’re suppose to be at the Montagu’s at eleven,” said Anna’s mother.

Mrs Violet James was as fierce as her demeanor suggested, thin lipped, straight backed, never without 5 inch heels, always ready to look down on people. Her dark brown hair didn’t show a single grey hair despite her age, going grey is for those who can’t afford the proper care she always said.

“I…” Anna started, no idea what she was going to say. She’d completely forgotten she was due at some social engagement, she hadn’t had a clear thought since she first caught sight of Jamie in the forest.

“Good God Anna, you look terrible! Are you unwell?” her mother criticized.

It seemed the panic and the struggle of hiding Jamie had paid off, her cheeks were red, sweat beaded on her forehead and hands still shaking with nerves.

“I’m afraid I don’t feel well,” she said, forcing a weak cough from her lungs.

“Poor Humphrey, he was so looking forward to seeing you,” her mother said, fake sympathy in her voice.

Anna forced out another cough and shivered, trying to make herself look as pathetic as Jamie felt.

Humphrey was the God awful son of one of their ‘friends’ who they’d been trying to set her up with years, forcing them together at every available opportunity. The idea of even seeing them made her shudder.

“I’m sorry, just one of those things,” Anna replied.

Her mother frowned, lines appearing the corners of her mouth but she didn’t comment.

“I’ll get Mary to bring up that soup, you really do look awful.”

“Hmm thanks, oh and mum? Could you ask Mary to get some medicine, I’m afraid I’ve run out.”

Mrs James bristled, she hated being called mum not that Anna cared.

“Alright but I’ve told you time and time again to get a bell in your room,” she said.

Anna resisted rolling her eyes, she’d always refused getting a call bell in her room it would be like going back to the days of scullery maids and footmen but she figured that’s what her parents wanted, to be the Lord and Lady of a manor long forgotten.

“Thank you,”

“We’ll see you later then darling, feel better.”

Anna’s mum blow a kiss from the door and let left back down the squeaky stairs, not having ever stepping into the room. Where most mother’s would tend to their ill child, feel for a temperature or have some soothing words Anna’s never had, she felt closer bonds to nanny’s that she did do to her own mother.

She wanted thirty seconds, just to be sure before dashing off the bed to Jamie. He startled awake from where he’d been asleep sat on the toilet seat but still mustered up a weak smile.

“Are we safe?” he asked, his voice groggy and yet adorable.

“It’s all fine, mum took one look at me and declared me too unhealthy looking to be going anywhere. She’s even sending Mary up with food and medicine, so we’ll finally have something for that fever of yours,” she said, her hand coming to rest on his cheek.

“Wait, who’s Mary?”

“She’s kind of like our housekeeper.”

“You have a housekeep…”

He was interrupted by a series of violent coughs, his whole body was shaking with the force of them and in that moment he’d never looked so small, so young. It was like seeing him as a child and Anna’s heart tumbled toward her stomach. When it was finally over and his wheezing lungs were able to get in enough air he lent over the sink to sit out whatever it was that making breathing so difficult.

“Can we go back to bed now?” he asked, his voice barely a squeak.

“Of course we can.”

She took his arm and helped his stand, his weight falling on her as she wrapped an arm around his waist. She got him to the edge of the bed where he sat panting despite the few steps they’d taken, he was out of breath so easily. He was still wearing his grumpy t shirt that was sticking to his skin with sweat, there was no way he could be comfortable and she had to try and get his fever down somehow.

“Hey, I need you to take this off, is that okay?” she asked, her hands on his shirt.

Jamie nodded and slowly raised his arms, letting her pull the sweaty fabric over his head. Anna had to try not to gasp at the sight of Jamie’s bare chest, he was almost littered with scars. There were some of all shapes and sizes but by far the most worrying was the one that ran along his left size, it looked like someone had stabbed him.

“Is everything okay?” Jamie asked.

He was looking at her with fever bright blue eyes and it took all her strength not to cry, he wasn’t going to see her cry over this not now when he needed her.

“Everything’s fine, everything’s going to be fine.”

He laid down again and she joined him, his fever so high she could no longer have the duvet near her. He was asleep in minutes, his head against her shoulder and she found her hand tracing the scar along his side. Who could have stabbed him? And for why? It brought up a question she couldn’t afford to think about… Did she really know Jamie at all?

Part 3 coming soon!!

#sickfic #A&J #fever #coughing #sneezefic

13 notes · View notes

thepakistanimarthastewart-blog · 5 years

Text

What is the difference between salad oil and vegetable oil?

There are different types of "oils" that are used in the kitchen. And by now, I am pretty confident that each of you knows a couple of them.

Moreover, we have an inkling of assumption as to where these oils are derived based on their names. For instance, corn oil is extracted from corn, while the sunflower oil is from those delectable sunflower seeds.

If this is the given way of naming these oils, can it be stated that the salad oil came from salads? Of course, that's a pretty ambiguous thing to answer, and that's entirely understandable.

So what is salad oil, and how does it differ from other oils out there? Well, you should read on to discover the answer to these intriguing questions.

What Is Salad Oil?

The term "salad oil" has been a subject of confusion. Specifically, there are old recipes out there that simply indicated "salad oil" and nothing else.

Of course, you have to realize that there are no oils out there that are derived from salads. Therefore, you have to end any conception in your head that salad oil is equated to salads.

Instead, you need to know that salad oil is actually any type of vegetable oil that is used in dressing salads. Furthermore, it could also refer to peanut, canola, or corn oil or any oil that are light in texture and flavor. As a tip, make sure that when you are making salads, you need to avoid using those oils that have strong or overpowering flavors. They can alter the taste of the salad--and not in the way that you want.

Salad Oil vs Vegetable Oil

Now, what's the difference between these two? At some point, some of you have already thought of this question.

Honestly, the best answer to this curious query is "barely." Almost no bare difference can be spotted in these two oils. Well, at least for those who are know how these oils are produced.

Keep in mind that a salad oil can also be vegetable oil. Specifically, it is formed from various vegetable oils through the process of degumming, bleaching, refining, and deodorization. I will not elaborate any more on all the things that happen within these steps. They involve a lot of chemistry, which is something that I don't want to delve in too much. What you need to know here is that the resulting product of all these procedures combined is called "salad oil."

You also need to notice that even a salad oil is taken from vegetable oils, the procedures involved in making it is quite different. In fact, salad oils can even go further enhancement to expand its functionality. This procedure is called fractioning, which refers to the separation of medium and short triglycerides from the longer and shorter ones.

Now, a salad oil is not a culinary oil or any variant of oils that have been mixed with spices, herbs, and other additives. The characteristic of a salad oil is definitely different from sesame oil, olive oil, avocado oil, and walnut oil.

Furthermore, it is important that you understand that salad oils have extremely low viscosity. In layman's term, it runs smoothly when poured. It almost has no stickiness to its texture. Also, it is devoided from odor and flavor, which makes it a neutral enhancer. Because of these given characteristics of salad oil, it became a perfect choice for dressing, coating, and other similar food preparation techniques.

Overall, I can say that salad oil is technically a vegetable oil. However, vegetable oil is not necessarily a salad oil unless it has been processed to become one. In fact, the previous statement is the perfect answer to the question "what is considered as salad oil."

Notable Characteristics Of Salad Oil

Salad oil is different from other oils because of its unique traits.

One should know that it has a limited shelf life. Perhaps, its lifespan of the shelf is considerable the shortest among all the oils that you have in the kitchen.

The salad oil is extremely prone to rancidity, especially when it is placed on environments where there is too much oxygen or heat. You also need to store it compartments or containers that have abundant nitrogen so that it won't oxidize.

Certainly, the salad oil should not be used in baking, frying, or any food preparation methods that involve heat and extreme temperatures. It should only be used in room temperatures so that its quality won't be compromised.

For those people that are asking the question "what is salad oil for baking," there's no such thing as that. As I said, the salad oil is not usable for such an application. Baking requires a different type of oil.

Needless to say, any salad oils are considered healthy oils for salad.

Salad Oil Substitute For Salad Dressing

It is quite difficult to find substitutes for salad oil, given its characteristics. However, if you are just looking for alternatives for salad dressing purposes, then I can give you several options.

Yogurt - The yogurt is definitely a good choice if the salad perfectly fits mayonnaise. Instead of using oil, use Greek yogurt. Trust me. It works really great! Any variant can do by the whole milk can provide the creaminess and wholeness that you want.

Avocado - The avocado vinaigrette is an excellent substitute for salad oil, especially if the salad you made became watery. But before you can use it as a dressing, you should put it on a food processor first so that it becomes smooth and silky--just like the good old salad oil.

Conclusion

At this point, I hope that you have learned all the necessary things that you want to know about the salad oil. Based on the explanations that I've given, the salad oil is quite different from the oils that you use in baking and cooking. It has even some slight nuances when compared to vegetable oils. To be on the safe side of things, you should only use salad oil for dressing purposes. Unless you know what you are doing, you should only stick to its intended application.

That's it for now. If you have other questions about food, ingredients, and any matter that is related to cooking, you can freely ask me here!

#oil #salad oil #vegitable oil

0 notes