The Great Valentine’s Day Debate of 2013

January 29, 2013 by 5 Comments

A couple of weeks ago The Fella and I were out to dinner with one of his childhood friends (from Israel, who also ended up in NYC—don’t ever let anyone tell you it’s not a small world) and his girlfriend (who later that week became his fiancée), and the boys went off on some tangent about how unfair it is that men have to “perform” on Valentine’s Day and that all the pressure is on the guys for date planning, proposals, and yearly V-Day showings of love and affection.

I think that’s bullsh-t.

Just sayin’.

I have never IN MY LIFE expected a man to do anything for me that I didn’t expect myself to do for him. I have always paid my own way on dates, pulled my own weight in regard to romantic gestures, and been generally low maintenance on the expectation front. I’ll take a night on the couch cuddling in front of a movie over overpriced drinks any day.

TF says I’m an exception to the rule, but I don’t think so. I think men just like to feel put upon and sorry for themselves, but secretly enjoy when a romantic gesture works out—because who doesn’t? The generations have changed and, in my humble opinion, women take on just as much relationship responsibility (fiscal and otherwise) as men. I know this, not just from my own personal stance, but from looking around at my friends. I know very few women who expect to be paid for by their guy—perhaps that has to do with who I like to hang out with, but I don’t think so. On the flip-side many of my guy friends take on far more domestic duties than the generations before them. Basically, we’re all evolving and creating partnerships that are actually equal. Go figure!

Meanwhile, after hearing this testosterone fueled rant I told The Fella that he was hereby ordered to take this Valentine’s Day off, and I would show him how it’s done.

Since he reads my blog I won’t tell you all the juicy details yet, but it’s a good one. Let’s just say I have raised the bar.

I even offered to propose to The Fella, but he said he wants to be the one to do it. This brings me back to my theory that guys like to complain, but they secretly love it.

Coupled or no, do you expect your partner to take the lead in romantic gestures? Pay for dates? Or are you Even Stevens?

Male readers (I know you’re out there) what are your thoughts on romantic responsibility?

Breakfast


Kashi with banana and almond milk

Lunch


Scrambled egg whites with broccoli and tomatoes
TJ’s reduced carb tortillas

Dinner


Inspired by an article I read in the New York Times YEARS ago, I decided to make dinner in my rice cooker. I started by cooking the rice, and when it was almost done I sprinkled in some sesame oil, then added eggs to poach in the rice. On the stove I sautéed some spinach. When all was done I topped with soy sauce and TJ’s Wasabi Seaweed Snacks. Yum!

Exercise: Training run (not sure about the mileage, but it was about an hour). Tonight’s focus was hills, so I’m pretty sure my quads and calves are going to hate me tomorrow.

Kim

Filed Under: Daily Confessional Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Final Touches

January 28, 2013 by 18 Comments

   Today marks the end of era. As most of you know, much of my life during the past year (actually this week marks exactly a year) has been spent working on my memoir. I sent the entire manuscript to my editor back in August, and since then we’ve made changes and tweaks until we felt it was a just right. About a month ago my manuscript was sent to a copyeditor for fact checking and grammatical spiffying, and I lived in a sort of non-writing bliss. Last Tuesday my break from authoring ended, when my editor sent me the corrected version of my book with the instructions to approve or deny the changes.

Well, I spent the last week pouring over each word very slowly. I will admit that I am not the most methodical of proofreaders, but I knew that this was important. This homework assignment was the last time I’d be able to change my book. It was also the first time I read my book after taking a break from it for a while, which definitely helped with the objectivity quotient. Today, around 4pm I finished. I finished my book. All the writing, all the edits, all the acknowledgements. My book is done. And, well, I actually like it.

I’m going to take a couple of days off from it, read it one last time, and then send it off so that it can be designed and printed and sent out into the world for reading.

This process has been the absolute hardest thing I’ve ever done, and now that it’s over I know that it was worth it. Even if no one reads it, even if everyone in the world hates it. I did something hard, something that scared me, and I’m prouder of myself than I ever thought I could be.

Now, remember I wrote that, and remind me this summer when the book comes out and I freak out and refuse to leave my bathroom.

Now, time to figure out the rest of my life.

What are you most proud of yourself for?

Just a reminder that I’ll be announcing the winner of the Coach Bag Raffle on Saturday. So far there are 139 entries and you have to be in it to win it! To refresh your memory, You can win the bag for as little as $5.00, or you can up your chances by buying multiple entries. A donation of $25 will get you 6 entries; $50 will get you 15 entries.

        Breakfast


Scrambled egg whites and savory oats. Nothing like a healthy dose of garlic powder in the morning! Keeps the vampires away.

Lunch


Fake franks and beans. Every once in a while I have a craving for something I stopped eating in elementary school. Once upon a time I ate franks and beans on a regular basis, but in the last 20-years I can’t think of a single time the idea of hot dogs and beans seemed like a delicious idea. Cut to today when I cut up some veggie dogs and cooked them up in Trader Joe’s Fat-Free Baked Beans. Expect another craving like this around the time I turn 50.

Dinner


Please forgive me as I try to figure out good picture lighting at our dining table in the PM. To end the day we had some brightly lit shakshoukah and salad.

Exercise: Accidental rest day. I opted for a 20-minute catnap and slept right through my scheduled Zumba class two hours later. Hrmph.

 

Kim

Filed Under: Daily Confessional Tagged With: , , ,

Cheat Days: Sanity or Sabotage?

January 25, 2013 by 4 Comments

To cheat? Or not to cheat?

Shakespeare was the first to ask that…I think.

If you’re trying to lose weight should you ever give in to your not-so-healthy cravings?

In my ideal world I eat a healthy, well-rounded diet every day; one that leaves me neither stuffed to the gills nor starving for more. The truth is that more often than not I’m trying to watch what I eat while maintaining some semblance of a normal social life (food is fun, it is, it always will be…and no one likes eating celery when other people are scarfing down cupcakes).

It is my need for a normal social life that makes me a big fan of the oft abashed “cheat day.”

I understand cheat day critics. For starters it’s pretty easy to go overboard when food is concerned, and when calories are being counted it is very easy to ride that slippery slope to dietary downfall.

But, here’s my argument for cheating. For the most part I don’t have a problem keeping my food choices healthy and my exercise regular, but without a regularly scheduled indulgence the egg white omelets and salads with dinner that I often crave would feel like punishment and not a healthy choice. Honestly, it’s all psychological.

I have, for years and years and years, tracked my caloric intake on Livestrong.com/thedailyplate (I know that Lance Armstrong is considered evil and all, but I still think his site has the best calorie counting tool out there—and it’s totally free!), but once a week usually a weekend day, I don’t think about how much protein I’m getting, I don’t check nutrition labels or think about fat grams. I just eat whatever it is that I want, and then the next day I go back to maintaining a system in of checks and balances. For some therapist-only-knows-why reason, this one day a week keeps me sated for the other 6-days of the week.

There are some arguments that having a cheat day tricks your metabolism into burning more, but I’m not entirely sure I buy that. I do, however, believe in the advice of the late, great Oscar Wilde: “Everything in moderation, including moderation.”

Do you believe in cheat days? Or, do you steer clear of temptation?

 

Kim

Filed Under: Daily Confessional Tagged With: , , , ,

The Biggest Loser, a Tirade

January 21, 2013 by 6 Comments

Can we talk about The Biggest Loser?

Okay, good, because I’m not sure how I feel about it.

I know it’s been on since the beginning of time and I should have a solidly formed opinion about it, but I don’t. I’m wishy-washy.

First of all, weight loss is an insanely hard thing, because it isn’t just about calories in versus calories out like TV trainers make it out to be; weight loss includes feeling awkward a lot of the time because you don’t want other people to know you’re uncomfortable with your weight, it’s about life and fitting in, it’s emotional, and scary when you feel awkward in your own body because it’s not the shape you are used to it being, and overwhelming when you realize that the world will treat you differently (that’s a dirty secret no one likes to tell)—whether that’s because of how you look or how you feel about yourself. For most people, weight loss needs to happen in the real world, not a controlled environment where everyone around you supports your mission to overhaul your life.

Other things that make me uncomfortable about The Biggest Loser: the fact that they force people who have very little experience with exercise into multiple hour a day training sessions right off the bat. I’m seriously amazed no one has died on this show yet. Next, they hawk oodles of processed diet foods. If I see one more contestant talk about what a great choice Subway/Pudding Cups/Reconstituted Meat-like Products are I’m going to reach through the TV and slap them around a bit. But the most important thing is that they reduce people to a number, which is exactly what people who obsess over their weight need to overcome (We are not numbers, we are people!), and yet every episode at the end of a week of puking, crying, and dramatic revelations the contestants have to take their clothes off in front of television cameras and wish for some astronomically high number that isn’t even healthy to lose in one week.

But there are a few good things about the show. For starters: Dolvett. He’s pretty. I’d like one for Chrismukkah, please. Second, watching people achieve their dreams never ceases to be an emotional and inspiring experience. And thirdly, based on the fact that no one has died yet, and they have them do some seriously insane stuff, I leave each episode knowing that the voice in my head telling me that my workout is “too hard” is just a voice, and I’m capable of so much more than I’m comfortable with.

Every few seasons I tune in and want to be super inspired by the hard work and dedication by the people on TV. My dedication to the show usually lasts four or five episodes, then when the contestants, who all seemed like really sweet people in the beginning, start getting all vicious about voting their former friends off, I lose interest.

I like people to be nice. In fact, when movies or television shows get too suspenseful I usually start cleaning…or change the channel. I’m the least suspense-tolerant person ever.

Considering we’re three episodes into this season I only have one or two left in me.

Love it or Hate it? How do you feel about The Biggest Loser?

 

Breakfast


French toast made with egg whites, cinnamon, almond milk, vanilla, and topped with banana and syrup

Lunch



This little combo came from The Fella, and it’s pure genius. Tofurky with spicy seaweed snacks. I wrap them up in Trader Joe’s reduced carb tortillas. I like the reduced carb ones because they don’t dry out like regular tortillas and don’t make a crumbly mess.
Side of hummus with bell pepper and carrots

Dinner





Garden vegetable frittata made with ¼ whole eggs, ¾ egg whites
Salad, dressed with olive oil and lemon juice

Exercise: Rest Day!

Kim

Filed Under: Daily Confessional Tagged With: , , , , , ,

A Lesson in Sexy

January 17, 2013 by 3 Comments

True Story: When I was in first grade I watched a movie-of-the-week about a nude model (although in retrospect I’m thinking she was probably a bit more than a model) who by the end of the movie died of a drug overdose and was abused by boatloads of misogynistic men with halfway unbuttoned shirts and flowy chest hair. I don’t think I quite grasped the moral of the story, what I left that particular movie-of-the-week watching experience sure of was that the nude model was pretty and I wanted to be just like her.

Look, I was six, okay. My priorities weren’t all that evolved.

After that, and much to my parents chagrin, I proceeded to tell anyone who would listen that I wanted to be a nude model when I grew up. My grandparents were especially excited to hear this revelation.

That phase lasted about a year, and then I went back to wanting to mother seven children, be a veterinarian/actress, and Miss America.

Fast-forward 24 years and cleavage is still a topic of regular conversation in my life. The Fella would like to see more of it, I think turtlenecks are hot.

See, people do evolve.

Anyhoo, a few months ago I decided that my 6-year old self might have been on to something. Being sexy might be fun—and I like fun, and am on a constant quest to create more of it in my life. On a whim I decided to book myself a boudoir photo shoot. Then Hurricane Sandy happened, then I had a whole bunch of book re-writes to do, and I kept postponing my shoot until my schedule finally opened up enough for me to not feel guilty about spending an entire day traipsing around in my undies in front of strangers.

As the shoot day approached I started to feel slightly less confident about my decision. I am not the kind of girl who feels sexy in lingerie, I am the kind of girl who puts lingerie on and laughs at the impracticality of tiny clothes. But, as soon as I walked through the door and met the amazing team at Yellow Brick Collective I was immediately set at ease. The team consists of Agnes, the photographer; Ary, the stylist; and Natalia, the makeup artist. It was really like hanging out with a bunch of friends I’d known forever.

I’m pretty sure I’ve never, in the entirety of my life, felt soooo sexy. And, so comfortable in that sexuality. I’ve always considered myself more of the cute girl next door type, but I have to admit playing the vixen feels pretty good.

I spent the afternoon getting the full celebrity treatment, with hair, makeup, and wardrobe changes. When it came to the actual shooting, Agnes did an amazing job of directing each shot in a way that set a mood for the shots to come, so that I could just do what felt naturally. When it came to clothes, Ary chose things that were sexy, but not crazy revealing because that’s not my style. AND, I cannot tell you how important the hair and makeup Natalia did was. When I was acting regularly, I always felt like I never quite got in character until I had a costume. Same thing with makeup, there’s something about looking the part that really brings it all together.

When I left I realized that photo shoot makeup and 4pm on a normal day makeup are not one and the same. The waitress who served me lunch couldn’t even look at me with my fake eyelashes, smoky eyes, and pouty lips. At one point ran back to the other servers to talk about me—there were stares and pointing. I’m pretty sure they were deciding whether or not I was a “nude model.”

Yes, there are sexier pics than this. No, I will not be putting body shots of me wearing lingerie on the Internet. I do have a father and I would like for his heart to remain beating.

But even after being mocked by the waitstaff, I’m glad I didn’t wash my face before heading home because The Fella was psyched when he got home.

I highly recommend this experience to anyone. I think that we all deserve to feel like sex kittens every once in a while. I really think this was an experience I needed to have, because you know, I’m not a girl next door anymore…I’m a grown woman.

Boudoir photography is becoming really popular, and if you live near a major city you probably have quite a few choices (of course I would definitely check reviews before heading somewhere to hang out in your skivvies). If you’re in the NYC area I definitely recommend Yellow Brick Collective. They’re total pros, while also being wholly warm and inviting. This post wasn’t sponsored by YBC, I paid for my shoot, but I think they provide a great service and I like to pass these things on. I know they’re currently having a Valentine’s Day Sale (which you can get details for on their Facebook Page)—which could be quite the present for yourself or your honey.

And now for your regularly schedule healthy living blogging.

I ate stuff today, here’s what it was:

Breakfast


English muffin with scrambled eggs, tahini, and s’chug (hot chili paste)

Lunch


Veggie burger with Portobello mushroom and side salad
And coffee…because coffee makes up 78% of my body.

Dinner



I like to press my tofu with a wee bit of culture. Art and language books really boost the flavor.

Brocolli and tofu “baked” stir fry over brown rice

Exercise: 6-mile run, 1 hour on the spin bike in front of the TV.

 

 

Kim

Filed Under: Daily Confessional Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

In the Beginning…there was beginning

January 15, 2013 by 2 Comments

I’ve been thinking a lot about being a beginner lately.

You see, I live a pretty conflicted life in this regard. For starters, I hate sucking at things, which is often my lot as a perennial beginner. That, of course, doesn’t work too well with my somewhat incessant drive to be starting something new. If I’m not taking a class in something, anything, sewing, running, improv, painting, moon-waling, anusara yoga, table dancing (not true, Mom, not true), writing and the list goes on, I generally feel like something is missing in my day-to-day.

I love learning new things, and in this sense I am proudly a dilettante. But, I spend a good portion of every class I take being a beginner…and beginning always sucks. Beginning means being self-conscious most of the time, afraid that I will be doomed to re-live some long ago playground horror. Will the woman standing next to me in Zumba pants me?

Probably not,

But the fear is still there.

As scary as it is, being a beginner is really important, because it’s in those first few classes/lessons/jaunts (or in the case of me and yoga—years) that our minds are rife to learn all the little nuance-y things that make up a skill set. It is in the beginning that my eyes turn to my instructor all big and scared and doe-eyed in search of help and maybe a little reassurance that one day I will not suck at whatever I am doing. And being a beginner is great because you have carte blanche to really fuddle things up, and still get an encouraging pat on the back.

Once that phase is over, you can bet that my generational ADD sets in; I stop paying all that much attention, and head into the task at hand with a cocky “I’ve got this.” I have nothing against cocky, cocky can be fun, and sometimes well deserved, but it takes a lot more effort to progress to a better level at this point, and so perhaps this is why I’m constantly beginning at something.

I am, currently, a beginner long-distance runner. I go to every running session I can, I stare at the pro marathoners with a longing that is probably a bit creepy. I don’t want their bodies, or fancy running clothes, I want their long strides and ability to be able to hold a conversation after mile one. I listen for running advice and find myself correcting my stride mid run, and remembering to re-fuel after mile five because that’s what my coaches told me to do. I take this all very, very seriously. Too seriously. I look forward to the day I feel like “I’ve got this,” but I need to be where I am first, huffing and puffing, and looking to escape after mile four. But that’s the beauty of it, everyone is still so excited that I finished my long runs. You can bet those pro-marathoners aren’t getting quite the parade of accolades at the end of their six/seven/eight miles runs.

Being a beginner is scary, but it’s also a really wonderful place to be.

Are you a beginner in anything? What’s your newest addition?

Breakfast


Raisin bran with banana

Lunch


Shakshukah (and salad that I forgot to photograph)

Dinner

Baked tofu with rice noodles and bok choy. I cooked the lot of them in mushroom broth and teriyaki sauce and ditched the oil.

Exercise: 60-minute yoga class, 60-minute spinning

Kim

Filed Under: Daily Confessional Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Oh, Balls!

January 9, 2013 by Leave a Comment

This video has nothing to do with eating or exercise, it’s just a really sweet video that totally made me cry because of its sheer awesomeness…and because I’m a big cry baby who cries like a baby.


Now that we’re all feeling that lovin’ feeling, how about some falafel.

While scouring the confines of my pantry I was  faced with the fact that the only source of protein we have in the house currently is a half-dozen bags of dried beans, I decided to dust off my baked falafel recipe. I haven’t made it in years!

Let me start this recipe with the warning that there’s a bit of give-and-take that goes into making not-so-healthy faves healthy. Falafel is usually fried, locking in that oil-y moisture. These falafel balls are a wee bit drier, but I don’t necessarily think that’s a bad thing. Personally, I still think they have the same flavor and they’re easier to crumble in the pita for more falafel per bite.

Okay, so now, here’s how to make ‘em:

2 cups of fresh or a 15-oz. can of chickpeas
1/4 cup onion
2 cloves of garlic
2 tbsp. cumin
1 tsp. ground coriander
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 cup cilantro
1/2 cup parsley
1/4 cup shredded carrot
1 tbsp. olive oil

Sauce:
1/2 cup tahini
water to thickness preference
1/2 lemon squeezed

Throw all the falafel ingredients in a food processor and process until green and smooth. Form mixture into 1 1/2 inch balls and place on a greased baking sheet. Bake at 425 for 40 minutes, turning once. Place on a whole grain flat bread (warmed is great) or pita with salad, tahini sauce and hot sauce to taste.

 

That was dinner, here’s what I ate the rest of the day…

 

Breakfast


Oatmeal with banana, almond milk, and walnuts
Coffee

My mom got me this mug for the holidays. I wonder if she was trying to hint at something.

Lunch


I hit up my favorite working lunch spot, Aroma Espresso Bar.
Middle Eastern Salad and White Bean Soup Combo

Exercise: In-home spinning and an exercise video (review to come this weekend)

Kim

Filed Under: Daily Confessional, Recipes Tagged With: , , , ,

I did it all for the cookies

January 7, 2013 by 2 Comments

I did it all for the cookie
C’mon
The cookie
C’mon
So you can take that (err) Wookie (?!?)
And stick it up your, yeah!!
Stick it up your, yeah!!
Stick it up your, yeah!!

Okay, I didn’t do it for the cookies, but the cookies were a definite a bonus. Oh, and the apple juice. That was nice too!

Today was my very first blood donation of the year. Hoorah for easily accomplishable New Year’s Resolutions!

I mean, it wasn’t that easy. I spent the week sodium-loading (what? It’s a thing. No it’s not, but it is now) to make sure my blood pressure would be high enough to donate. I have crazy low blood pressure, which has meant being turned away by blood banks in the past. Today I came in at 98/60 which was high enough to donate. It sucks to have to eat savory deliciousness all week. My life is soooooo hard.

How are your New Year’s Resolutions kicking off?

 

Breakfast


AB & P, otherwise known as almond butter and preserves on a whole wheat English muffin

Lunch


Leftover lentil soup and salad

Dinner


Brown rice with tofu, string beans and mushroom gravy

Exercise: I skipped Zumba tonight on phlebotomist’s orders. I’ll be back in spandex tomorrow.

Kim

Filed Under: Daily Confessional Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Yoga, hold the Profundity

January 3, 2013 by Leave a Comment

There are people in this world who look amazing contorting their bodies while donning skin-tight leggings and tank tops, and for whom remembering to breathe in through ones nose while stretching is not an epic feat worthy of the highest accolades. I’m not one of those people. I don’t aspire to be. I show up to yoga class well aware that I am not bendy. I am not graceful. Bow pose is akin to waterboarding on my list of things I love doing. But, in the end, I show up, tuck myself into the most corneriest of corners, and fight with my muscles to get them to unfurl themselves.

I’ve found that yoga has become more important than ever to my fitness regime since starting my half-marathon training. There’s something about the combination of cold and running that tightens my body up in a way that only a yoga class, as spastic and pained as I look doing it, can help me loosen to functional levels again.

There was a time when I went to a regular Monday night yoga class at a super-duper pricy yoga studio. In those days I clad myself in head-to-toe Lululemon, listened for nuggets of meaning in the stories my instructor would tell about the meaning of each pose, and practiced the lengthy chant recited at the beginning and end of class while I was at home so I looked like I had been a yogi for years when new people popped into class. These days I’m going to yoga classes at my gym, because $20 a class is a wee bit inexcusable for my budget. I’m still wearing my Lululemon pants, but they’re pilled from years of washing (I can’t believe I thought it was a good idea to spend $90 on spandex!). The yoga studio at my gym is separated from the baby-sitting area by a thin glass wall, and a shabby curtain. In a strange way, this makeshift style yoga kind of fits where my life is right now. I now see yoga as a functional practice to keep me on track in other endeavors. I’ve stopped trying to impress anyone, or pretend I’m anyone I’m not. I’m not bendy. I’m not graceful. And, oh lord do I hate bow pose…but it really does stretch out my quads after my long run days. Plus, I kinda think it’s funny hearing kids screaming during Savasana.

Breakfast


Whole wheat English muffin with tofu cream cheese and strawberry preserves
Pear

Lunch

The Fella and I met up with my cousins who were in town to see a show. We ate at Junior’s Cheesecake, where everything is super-sized.

When Roy and I ordered the potato pancakes we thought they would be normal sized potato pancakes—you know, like the size of a palm. These guys were the size of the plate. Not that I’m complaining. I do love me some carbs.


Followed by a salad chaser

Dinner


Trader Joe’s has a pretty tasty tofurky in a box with stuffing and mushroom gravy.

Exercise: Obviously tonight was a yoga night.


Kim

Filed Under: Daily Confessional Tagged With: , , , , ,

Winter Blend-Eating Highlights from the Holidays

December 29, 2012 by 2 Comments

I guess there’s no denying it, winter really is here. As evidenced by the white thingamajigs falling from the sky.

I am not what some might call a “winter person.” But there are a few things about the season that I can appreciate. Snow is pretty before it turns to black sludge (that takes about 30 seconds in New York), and Trader Joe’s starts selling their Winter Blend coffee.

This stuff is as good a reason as any to put up with the cold.

The Fella and I have spent the past few days on Long Island visiting my family (hence the lack of blogging), where we did what all good Cashews (Catholic-Jews; both of my parents are different religions so I grew up celebrating EVERYTHING) do on Christmas: opened presents under the tree, then went out for Chinese food and a movie.

I saw this on Facebook, I don’t know who to credit for it, but it pretty much sums it all up.

Tofu and vegetable soup (I’m going to have to try and remake the ginger broth at home—delicious!)

General Tso’s Tofu

Since I’ve been back in the city I’ve been trying to be healthier. Roy and I had salad with dinner last night.

He did the serving. Roy’s portion.

My portion.
At least he likes his veggies.

Lucky for me, I’d had a big lunch. A friend and I tried out the relatively new Candle Café West, a vegan restaurant close to my apartment.

I had porcini crusted tofu. Who said vegan food was healthy?

I for one am looking forward to the new resolve that comes with January 1!

What are you eating to end the year?

 

Kim

Filed Under: Daily Confessional Tagged With: , , , , ,
«Older Posts
Newer Posts»