Muffin Top(ple) Monday

Operation Muffin Top(ple) has come to an end.. and while I didn't win the prize, I still feel like I've come out of this a winner. I've learned so much about my health, my body, food, exercise and what it takes for me to get where I need to be weight/health wise. Most importantly, I've learned that I CAN do it.

And I can do it without killing myself at the gym or starving half to death.

I won't tell you what my beginning weight was, maybe once I've reached my final goal I'll reveal that number but until then I will say that since Matthew and I started our 30 Day Challenge on June 1st, I have lost 12lbs. We've slacked off the last week so I haven't been losing like I was but I've not gained any either, so I know that what we're doing works.

To find out who won you can head on over to Catherinette's blog and congratulate the girls on a job well done.

They've decided to go another round, as there are girls who didn't quite meet their goal, and most everyone has signed up for round two, but I think I'm going to go it alone from now on - well just me and Matthew. The girls are great and it was awesome to read the witty and sometimes snarky comments back and forth as they pushed and prodded each other to put down that twinkie and get to the gym. But not winning kind of put a dent in my cap so to speak. I know it wasn't about the prize, but knowing I have 2 medical conditions that make me have to work twice as hard as everyone else to lose just one pound, and having lost 12lbs in spite of that then not even making 2nd or 3rd place.. well it deflated the joy I had from working so hard and sucessfully losing weight.

However, if you want to sign up for the 2nd go around head over here

With Matthew as my main support I don't expect anything from him, so when I don't 'win', I won't feel like all my hard work has been for nada. It will be just about losing the weight and getting healthy, which for me personally is just a better plan.

I have decided though to continue the Muffin Top(ple) Monday posts to keep you updated on my journey to health and fitness.

In other news - Biggest Loser is holding an open casting call here in Mobile on July 11th and I think I'm going to try out. I've talked to Matthew about it quite a bit to see what he thinks, and yes I know I'd be doing it for ME, but if I did get picked I'd be away for 4 months filming and that would effect HIM as well. Four months without being able to see and quite possibly talk to each other. Four months of him taking over making sure our rent and utilities get paid, which is something I've always done, as they're all in my name. Four months of him going grocery shopping and fending for himself in the kitchen rather than having a home cooked meal, which will more than likely result in a nightly cuisine of corn dogs and spaghetti-o's.

The general consensus is - we would miss each other madly, but this would be one hella fantastic opportunity for me and I should go for it. It would also give me the platform I've been looking for to talk about PCOS and Hypothyroidism - and how hard losing weight can be for women who have not just one, but both of those conditions. There are just not enough resources or information out there for women with PCOS, and nearly none on how to manage weight loss with PCOS and Hypothyroidism combined.

My doctor basically told me 'You just have a big body type' and will always be large. Huh? Seriously?!

Well needless to say I wasn't happy with that answer and the last few weeks have shown me that there are things that work, and it doesn't have to be a huge struggle to get off the weight these conditions put on.

As the date for the casting comes closer I'll blog more about it and will definitely keep you updated on the casting process itself. Wish me luck!!

It's a blu blufrog world

BluFrog, the "crazy good, mad healthy" energy drink is currently giving away crazy good, mad cool prizes and I want to win!

Ever heard of lollapalooza? Unless you just hate music and live under a rock of course you have. Well how does airfare, hotel, transporation and 2 tickets to one of if not the biggest concert of the year sound?

Not your scene?

How about counting down the clock while watching the ball drop on New Year's Eve in New York City? 3 nights in a luxury hotel and a helicopter ride over the city sound like one heck of a good way to bring in the new year!

Then again if you're more like my boyfriend a ultimate gaming system package may be more up your alley. Xbox 360 Elite System (includes 1 controller & Xbox LIVE Headset), Rock Band 2 Bundle, Call of Duty: World at War Complete Package, Xbox Wireless Networking Adapter, Complimentary X-Shot, and 2 Cases of Blu Frog Energy


Of course if you're a sports enthusiest there is a prize for you too! Take a ride on the wild side in the Richard Petty Experience. Suit up and hop behind the wheel for a night of speed that you won't soon forget! Or if that's not dangerous enough for you, bundle up in your warmest gear and head over to Aspen for front row seats to the Winter X Games.

Personally, I'm all about the helicopter ride over New York.


There are three (3) ways to enter and you can use all of them to increase your shot at winning.

You can enter up to three times per person via these three methods:

Blog Comment:
Leave a comment on this page telling us which experience you want to win and why.

Twitter Tweet:
Spread the word about our contest. Tell your friends why you entered to win and which experience you would choose if you won. Be sure to include #bluword and http://bit.ly/UiiJy in your tweet."

Blog Post:
Write a blog post about our contest and which experience you would choose if you won. Be sure to leave a comment on this page with the URL if the trackback doesn't appear.


Now go register to win! Or don't... that way I have a better chance!

Hearing everything yet not listening to a word

Forward to 2:10 on the clip.



Lee: Do you understand the words that are a-coming out of my mouth?
Carter: Don't nobody understand the words that are comin' out of your mouth.

The clip is from Rush Hour 2. Jackie Chan's character Lee, is trying to explain something to Chris Rock's character Carter, and Carter is having a hard time understanding it. Lee thinks he is speaking clearly. He understands what he's trying to say, but his partner - even though he's hearing the words just doesn't understand what the message is.

I first titled the post Listening to Everything but not Hearing a Word but as I was planning what to write out in my head I realized that was a little backwards. Hearing is the primary function of the ear. Unless you are deaf you cannot help but to 'hear'. Listening on the other hand is a conscious action. It requires focus and intent.

Parents and children are prime examples. When we were kids, my sister and I took to calling our mom by her first name because when we called her mom she wouldn't answer. She'd be watching TV, or reading a book and we'd be like 'mom, mom, momm, MOMMM!' and nothing. But we could say her name one time and she'd answer. She 'heard' us say mom every time we said it, but it was just background noise. Like being at a ballgame and hearing that everyone around you is talking but not listening to what it is they are saying.

Last weekend Matthew and I got in a pretty big fight. I honestly don't remember how it started but the primary content was that at times we both feel like the other doesn't 'listen'. The next day we sat and talked about it and we're better and stronger than ever, but we realized that even though we can sit and talk for hours about nearly any topic under the sun, when it comes to feelings we both have a bit of trouble in the communication department.

He has a habit of not telling me when something bothers him and then when we argue about it he'll think he's mentioned it before, although I have no recollection of him talking to me about it. Sometimes I honestly just forget, but sometimes he'll think ' I need to tell Mollie such and such', and because he remembers thinking he needed to tell me he gets to thinking he actually did tell me even if he never actually got around to it. My sister does the same thing all the time. Didn't I text you about so and so? No? Oh.. well I must have just been thinking I Needed to text you, but never actually got around to it.

My problem is a bit more complicated. When it comes to feelings I can write all day and all night and express how I feel with ease. I can spout romantic, I can wax poetic, I can rant aggressiveness, you name it. If it comes to putting pen to paper, or type to screen as the case may be, I can talk about my feelings with my eyes closed and get my point across clearly and concisely.

But when it comes to actually verbalizing how I feel, the skill I seem to have with writing just doesn't transfer over. I can have what I want to say all planned out in my head. I'm going to tell him this, and how I feel about that, and how when he does this it makes me feel like so and so. Yet when I open my mouth the words rarely come out as intended. And the main problem with this is I think the words I speak match up perfectly with the thoughts in my head even though that is rarely the case. So when he says 'Mollie, you didn't say anything about that you said this' I get frustrated because I just know that I told him what I was thinking.

It's something we've realized is a problem and we're working on it, but it brings up some questions I'd like your thoughts on..


What do you do when you don't feel like someone is really 'listening' to you even though they truly believe they are and vice verse.

I make it a point to focus on Matthew when we're discussing something so I'm not only hearing the words he's speaking but I'm actively listening to what it is he's trying to say. And if I find myself distracted, which usually only happens on the phone, I'll tell him - Honey, I'm hearing what you're saying but it's just not sticking, can we talk about this another time so I can give you the attention you deserve?. This has proven to be a very successful way of making sure we really pay attention to each other when we need to talk about something important.

Feelings seems to be the only area of conversation where it isn't quite working.

Is it that neither of us are clearly expressing our 'feelings' or is it that both of us have preconceived ideas of what the other is going to say and that's what we really 'hear' instead of what is actually being said?

Matthew says I have a bad habit of assuming I know what he's going to say so when I answer him - I answer what I thought he said instead of what he actually did say. I totally concede that this is a possibility. He also concedes that he may actually think he's told me something but never actually got around to it. So we both know we have short comings, and we're working together to iron those out so we can better communicate when it comes to emotions. But I honestly doubt we're the only couple with these same issues. So...

What types of issues have you had with communicating with your partner/husband/wife/loved on?

Do you feel they don't really listen to you?

Do they feel you don't really listen to them?

Are you thinking one thing but really saying another?

And if you've overcome these problems how did you do it?

One thing we've decided to do is use a talking stick. They have one similar to the picture at Michael's that you can put together as a craft, but we'll most likely just use a wooden spoon from the kitchen. *The talking stick has been used for centuries by many American Indian tribes as a means of just and impartial hearing. It was commonly used in council circles to designate who had the right to speak. When matters of great concern came before the council, the leading elder would hold the talking stick and begin the discussion. When he finished what he had to say he would hold out the talking stick, and whoever wished to speak after him would take it. In this manner the stick was passed from one individual to another until all who wished to speak had done so. * Info courtecy of http://www.acaciart.com/

In other words - he who holds the stick gets to talk - he who doesn't needs to shut up and wait their turn. For two very intelligent verbally articulate people who love to make their point, it may turn out to be the most important use for a kitchen spoon ever.

Think this seer needs some glasses...

I've been trying to catch up on my blog reading today. I'm horribly terribly behind, but there are just entirely too damn many good blogs out there.

Anyway 15 Minute Lunch has always been one of my favorites. He has a post about a 1977 JC Penny's catalog that had me crying and trying not to pee myself from laughing so hard.

Needless to say he's done it again - had me laughing until I couldn't breath and I just had to share the post with you. You can click above to go directly to his blog after reading and I suggest you do. It is a never fail source of laughter!

The Post

They say 24% of California's air pollution comes from overseas.

A friend of mine sent me this article today. It's a story from India, so needless to say, it's very effed up. Also, I have questions.

Indian dad avoids washing
for 35 years

NEW DELHI (AFP) - - An Indian man who fathered seven daughters has not washed for 35 years in an apparent attempt to ensure his next child is a boy, newspapers reported.

Kailash "Kalau" Singh replaces bathing and brushing his teeth with a "fire bath" every evening when he stands on one leg beside a bonfire, smokes marijuana and says prayers to Lord Shiva, according to the Hindustan Times.

"It's just like using water to take a bath," Kalau was reported as saying. "A fire bath helps kill germs and infection in the body."

Kalau, 63, from a village outside the holy city of Varanasi, outraged his family by refusing to take a ritual dip in the river Ganges even after his brother died five years ago.

"I still don't remember how it all began," he said in Saturday's edition of the paper. "I just know it started about 35 years ago."

Kalau's hygiene regime has taken its toll on his professional life.

The grocery store that he used to own closed when customers stopped shopping there due to his "unhealthy personality" and he now tills fields near Varanasi airport.

Kalau, who wears two pullovers all through the Indian summer, said his pledge not to wash was a commitment to the "national interest."

"I'll end this vow only when all problems confronting the nation end," he said.

But his neighbours in the village of Chatav said there was another reason for Kalau's washing boycott.

"A seer once told Kalau that if he does not take a bath, he would be blessed with a male child," a man called Madhusudan told the paper.

Most Indians prefer sons, who are typically regarded as breadwinners, while girls are seen as a burden because of the matrimonial dowry demanded by a groom's family and the fact that their earnings go to their husband's family.

Where to begin? The first sentence is probably a good place. Not washing for 35 years is supposed to guarantee him a male child? First off, I think that for the last 34 years, 11 months he has not been able to get within yelling distance of another living thing, let alone an actual woman. I am guessing that does little to help the whole procreation process. Also, I feel bad for his daughters. Can you imagine? I thought my dad was embarrassing to me when I was a kid.

"It's just like using water to take a bath." No, it is not just like using water to take a bath. In fact, it's just about the direct opposite of using water to take a bath. One, it's not a bath, unless stewing in your own sweat counts, which it does not. Two, how exactly do you brush your teeth with a bonfire? That's like saying you can comb your hair with a car. Three, while I can understand you smoking weed in an attempt to dull your senses to the point where your own putrefaction doesn't make you vomit, wtf does standing on one foot have to do with anything?

And here's a news flash -- people didn't stop shopping at your store because of your unhealthy "personality." They stopped shopping at your store because you sell food and also have small chitinous creatures living off your body. They probably couldn't bring themselves to breathe in the same
air you just exhaled. If you're going to do this kind of thing, move to Bombay. The air smells like raw sewage there most of the time anyway.

And as for ending your stank-ass protest when "all the problems confronting the nation end" -- know this:

You, my crusty, malodorous friend, ARE one of your nation's problems.

And Shiva? I am betting he is glad he has those extra arms. That way he can cover his eyes, plug his nose, and still have two hands left over to smack the shit out of you. I would also bet my paycheck that your neighbors and your family are also wishing for some extra arms right now.

Here's some unsolicited advice. Take a fucking shower and find a new seer. After 35 years, I think it's safe to assume that the old one isn't working out for you. Or for anyone else.

Why yes I'd love cancer today - thank you!

Last week I lost an online friend because she, a smoker, didn't like what I had to say about smoking.

She tweeted "All I want to do is smoke lately. I could stand outside and chain smoke right now, I swear. No lectures please."

I replied - "we only lecture you because we love you - and because smoking is farking disgusting! =)"

She went on to tell me that my statement counted as a lecture and I could love her and refrain from lecturing - the same way another tweeter had done. I answered that I guess it was a good thing I wasn't that other tweeter then wasn't it - all with a smile and good natured intentions. Apparently she didn't think so because after a few more tweets back and forth she told me my opinion wasn't appreciated.

I let it go with her but tweeted a few statements about how I really just didn't understand why anyone would smoke - citing some of the most foul aspects of the habit. I even made sure to let her know that my statements were not directed at her, rather at my inability to understand smokers in general. She called me passive aggressive, self-righteous and said she didn't have any desire to talk to me further.

If you know anything about me, then you know that passive is not a word likely to be used when describing me. I've never shied from speaking my mind or expressing my feelings to anyone about anything. If I have a problem or issue then I'm much more likely to address it head on then whine about it and do nothing - which is a characteristic of someone who is passive-aggressive.

There are those in my family might agree with the self-righteous part, but I honestly do not think I as a person am better than anyone else. I do feel that I, for the most part, make better choices than some. But it's not because I'm smarter, or better than anyone. It's because I've made my wrong choices years ago and learned from them. I simply do my best to live a clean life and I choose to not participate in certain activities others do and not to surround myself with people who do things I don't.

If you're not ok with being nude, you're not going to hang out at a nudist colony. If you don't like rap music you're not going to go to a club that only plays rap. I don't smoke, drink or do drugs so I don't hang around with people who do those things. Yet more often than not, I find those people to be the ones pointing fingers and calling me names for separating myself from them.

Why is that people who do things that are bad for them are so quick to judge those who don't and call it ok, but when the suggestion is made that what they're doing isn't in their best interest it's being judgmental and self-righteous?

A therapist once told me that people who live lives doing things that are bad for themselves don't like hanging around people who don't because it makes them feel guilty. Being around a person who is perfectly happy not drinking, smoking or what have you emphasises to people who do those things that they are making less than ideal choices and they don't like it.

I have never, even one time smoked a cigarette. I have never been drunk. I have never tried any type of drug what-so-ever. I am also the ONLY person in my immediate and mostly extended family who can make any and/or all of those statements.

Growing up a child of smokers had a strong and lasting effect on me that didn't seem to carry over to my brother and sister. They both smoke. I remember as a young girl wishing for new clothes, or to be able to go to events my friends did but not being able to because we didn't have the money. I wasn't able to get a letter jacket, or a class ring, or go to prom because there wasn't money for those things, yet somehow my mom managed to afford 2 cartons of cigarettes a week and my dad two 5-packs of skoal.

~Each day 3,000 children smoke their first cigarette.

~At least 3 million adolescents are smokers.

~Tobacco use primarily begins in early adolescence, typically by age 16.

~Almost all first use occurs before high school graduation.

~20 percent of American teens smoke.

~Roughly 6 million teens in the US today smoke despite the knowledge that it is addictive and leads to disease.

~Of the 3,000 teens who started smoking today, nearly 1,000 will eventually die as a result from smoking.

Now the gal above doesn't have children so she might say her habit isn't hurting anyone. Chain smoking doesn't take away from anything or anyone in her life. I say she's wrong. Science and medicine agree.

~3,000 nonsmoking adults die of diseases caused by exposure to second hand smoke every year.

~Secondhand smoke causes coughing, phlegm, chest discomfort and reduced lung function in nonsmokers.

~Some 2 to 5 million US children suffer from asthma; of these, about 20 percent experience more asthma attacks and more severe attacks than their fellow young asthmatics, due to secondhand smoke.

~Secondhand smoke contains more than 4,000 chemical compounds, including carbon monoxide ( which poisons the human body), ammonia, formaldehyde, and other poisons. 4 of the chemicals – benzene, 2-naphthylamine, 4-aminobiphenyl, and polonium-210 are classified by the EPA as known carcinogens—cancer causing agents.

~The EPA has classified secondhand smoke as a carcinogen since 1992.

~A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that nonsmokers exposed to secondhand smoke were 25 percent more likely to have coronary heart diseases compared to nonsmokers not exposed to smoke.

Smoking, like alcoholism and drug addiction is a horribly selfish habit. If you want to spend all your money on toxins and spend your time smoking it up in your own home that's one thing. But when you take your habit outside, where people who have no desire to fill their lungs with tar are, it's another.

Since most restaurants and business have adopted a smoke-free policy, smokers have had to take their habit outdoors. Now they crowd around the doorways creating a cloud of toxins that non-smokers have to walk through to get in.

They take extra breaks at work that non-smokers do not get leaving others to fill in and cover the load while they're outside killing themselves and the planet.

They pollute the air at ball-games and events with no regard or care that the person next to them might not want to go home smelling like an ashtray.

And one of my biggest pet peeves is the litter. If I had a nickle for every cigarette butt I saw on the side of the road and littering the grassy medians I could retire now a rich woman.

When you participate in an action that causes you to be oblivious to the health and well-being of others it is a problem. When you know that your habit harms others and you choose to do it anyway - it's reprehensible.

So yea I'm going to tell you that smoking is bad. I'm going to point out that it stains your teeth and fingers, that it makes your hair and clothes stink. I'm going to remind you that you're not only killing yourself but those around you. And if that makes me self-righteous or passive aggressive then I'm ok with that.

Because this is my planet too damn it. This is my air, and my streets and my restaurant that I'm having dinner at with my boyfriend. And we shouldn't have to walk through your cloud of smoke or see the trash of your habit in our park because you're to selfish to care about the people you're hurting.

Muffin Top(ple) Monday

Well it's been one week since starting my self issued 30 day challenge.

To recap - Matthew and I challenged ourselves to 30 days of No soda, no fast food and no sweets. We also set up a schedule that has us working out 6 days a week.

I am happy to report that I since last Monday I have lost 5.6 pounds. I've also lost an inch off my waist and half an inch off of my hips.

I won't lie and say it's easy. I mean it sort of has been, but there are definitely times when I'd gladly rip off my right arm for a piece of chocolate, or a bowl of ice cream. Thankfully Matthew is there every step of the way supporting me and reminding me that this whole 30 day challenge thing was my idea and come hell or high water we're going to stick to it.

Sometimes ripping off his arm seems like a better idea. Just kidding. Sort of.

Honestly though, it has been really awesome to have someone there supporting me so much. He believes in me even when I don't believe in myself and always lets me know that I CAN do this. The best thing is that even though I really do need to drop some of this weight, he never fails to remind me that he loves me and thinks I'm beautiful just as I am.

I've decided to up the activity level a bit this week and I'm going to start taking the stairs at work. My office is on the second floor and normally I take the elevator up and the stairs down. Although recently I heard that going down stairs is actually not so great on the knees and hip joints, so I'm going to reverse that. I took the stairs this morning and was amazed at the immediate burn I felt in my thighs. I doubt taking stairs up one flight is going to have any dramatic effect on burning calories but every little extra bit helps.

Check back in next Monday for my next 30 Day Challenge update!

Muffin Top(ple) Monday

Happy Monday friends.

I'd love to say I've dropped dozens of pounds since beginning Operation Muffin Top(ple) but that would be a lie and I'm going to take a cue from Honest Abe and tell the truth.

Matthew and I saw Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian Friday night - hence the Honest Abe reference.

Anyhoo. When I started this about 6 weeks ago I weighed x number of pounds. I normally fluctuate 3-5 pounds on any given day but had managed to lose a steady 5 pounds as of the beginning of last week. As of today I've gained back those 5 pounds plus 2.

To be honest for all my talk about motivation and determination I've pretty much half-assed this thing. I'll either eat really well and not exercise at all, or exercise my butt off and eat junk. Well last week I combined eating junk (read Wendy's & McDonald's) 3 days and not working out at all the entire week. And I feel like doo doo.

So I've decided (again) to do something about it. Only this time I'm taking a slightly different approach.

Matthew and I - he doesn't really need to lose weight but wants to get in better shape and is such a fantastic support to me - have issued a challenge to ourselves.

A 30 Day Challenge.

Starting today, June 1st.
For the next 30 days we are going to do the following:

Diet:

~No pop (soda, coke)
~No fast food - that includes pizza & Subway
~No sweets - that means ice cream, candy, cake/brownies/cookies etc

Sweet tea is something that Matthew just can't go without so we're limiting consumption to one glass a day and only with dinner.

Exercise:

~Mon-Fri 6am - I will walk 2-3 miles with Leslie Sansone on OnDemand
~Mon-Fri 6pm - I will do 20 push ups & 'The 100'.

I'm currently doing wall push-ups but don't let anyone tell you they're not hard or don't work. They do!

Wall Push ups


Pilates 100 (3 different levels of ab torture!)


Matthew has his set of exercises he is going to do morning and evening as well.

I have a dry erase calendar/message board in the kitchen and we've written down everything that we've pledged to do, and each day that we complete the challenge we will X out that day.

We've both recorded our weight for today and each Monday will weigh in and write in the new weight on the board.

I'm one of those people that the quickest way to get me to do something is tell me I can't do it. Why? Because that issues a challenge and while I may not care if I prove myself to anyone else - proving something to myself is entirely different and Matthew is much the same way.

Which is why we've made it a challenge. Every day for 30 days we're challenging ourselves to do the things listed above. We're both pretty excited too. I don't know if it's because we wrote down a specific plan or what but this time it's something that we're both sure we will stick with.

Studies show it takes 21 consecutive days of doing something in order for it to become a habit. So at the end of 30 days not eating junk, not drinking pop and exercising will have become a regular part of our lives!

What do you need to challenge yourself to do??