Weights and Measure - May 2006 It's hard to believe that 4 weeks have passed so quickly! As I watch myself and edit the footage together, I have to confess, it's a very different perspective on myself. That's the main reason I wanted to film this process, so that I could really SEE myself. Being overweight has just become such a part of my identity, I try not to let my weight determine my lifestyle. Frankly, there has been a HUGE disconnect between what I think and perceive myself looking and the reality of the size of my body. There are no video clips from my therapy sessions (of course) but I am breaking new ground discussing my body image each week. For the first time, I really feel myself.

The Training Loop This ride is roughly 17 miles and full of long steady climbs, a few speedy downhills. I've been doing this ride a few times a week because I feel it is pretty similiar to the Danskin course.

Swim Lesson #1 Met the girls at the pool for swimming, and had a quick lesson from Andy. Key points, BREATHE, if you start to panic, roll onto your back, breathe with your belly button. I admit this last tip is a little strange, but the concept enforces your body going from side to side and enhancing the aerodynamic position in the water. In the old days (insert any day before today) I was swimming with my belly always pointed at the bottom, Andy says this is similiar to plowing through the water like a barge. Breathing through your belly button allows me to be more aerodynamic and efficient with my stroke.

Quinoa

SUPER GRAIN! Quinoacomes from South America, where it has been an important food for 6,000 years. The Incas, who held the crop to be sacred, referred to quinoa as "mother of all grains", and it was the Inca emperor who would traditionally sow the first seeds of the season using 'golden implements'. The United Nations has classified it as a supercrop for its very high protein content (13%). Unlike wheat or rice (which are low in lysine), quinoa contains a balanced set of essential amino acids for humans, making it an unusually complete foodstuff. This means it takes less quinoa protein to meet one's needs than wheat protein. It is a good source of dietary fiber and phosphorus and is high in magnesium and iron. Quinoa is gluten free and considered easy to digest.

Weigh In - March 31, 2006

Nervous and anxious to begin and start recording everything, I head over to see Dr. Decker for a weigh in, and then to the gym where Shannon does my starting measurements.

BOOT to the HEAD.. enjoy!

Body Shots

Special Thanks to Eric Brown for posing for me yesterday. I am exploring self assignments outside of my "normal" realm. I've known Eric for several years, he's a personal trainer at Mountain's Edge. My vision for this project is to showcase different bodies, and body types all having their own aspects of strength and beauty. Eric spoke very passionatly about his training philosophy and how he "feels like an artist, a sculptor" when lifting. I certainly felt like an artist photographing him. THANKS ERIC!

Open Water.. Perhaps this post should be accompanied by the theme music from "Jaws", no, "Chariots of Fire" seems much more accurate. Today we took a quick ride (in the car) out to the Boulder Reservoir. Ok, it's SO different that swimming in the POOL! Since the Danskin is 2 weeks away, I'm focusing on swimming in the Res, and not in the pool. What is the best way to describe it. Well, I know that I can swim, just like I know that I can ride a bike. However, it's like getting used to riding a road bike, then suddenly you're given an old mountain bike with knobby tires. Yes, you can still ride, but it feels different.

RAW. NAKED. food

Increase my raw food intake (salad) not something I've often enjoyed. Now don't get me wrong, I love a good salad, but not preparing it! So I've found the secret... buy the prepared Salad in a Bag! It makes having a salad for lunch, dinner, snack.. whatever, so darn easy!

Today's salad.. Spring Salad Mix, Spinich, Chicken, Craisins, Almonds, and 1/2 Apple.... YUMMY!