Friday, May 1, 2009

And Then What? Delusions of Kirstie Alley

Mark and I were watching Oprah yesterday and Kirstie Alley was one of the guests talking about, what else but, her recent "fall off the wagon" and weight gain....or should I say weight re-gain? Sure she was light hearted about of it, poking fun at certain aspects of it, but still so delusional about what it really takes to not be fat, and/or to never be fat again. I missed the first part of the show, but I conclude that she had recently lost 20lbs (in the last month), was bragging about it, and was talking as if she's going to lose the weight again, but this time she wasn't going to lose her focus and not only get the weight off, but keep it off......like we all think we'll do when we're feeling motivated, lol. But then what?

The part where she expresses delusions is when Oprah asked her what her goal was and her reply was......ready? "To be ripped by November!" Are you kidding? Do you know what it's like to be "ripped", much less what it takes to get "ripped"? Now I know she was half joking, but was she really? Good Lord! For two years I knew what it's like to have 17% bodyfat, after weighing over 250lbs, so I've lived the comparison.....and let me tell you, it's nothing short of a miracle! And although I've maintained my weightloss, I haven't maintained a 17% bodyfat level! Why? Because I'm not sure I want to live that way......what "way" is that? The way of restriction, the way of judgement, the way of "diet deathwatch", lol ("diet deathwatch" is a term Mark used to describe what it was like to live me last year.....not fun, lol!)

Kirstie Alley can get get ripped.....I believe that. I can get ripped.....I not only believe that, but I know it to be true. But then what? That's the part she screwed up last time! that's the part we all screw up when we think there's and end point. There's no end point.

All this talk about changing your "lifestyle".....good Lord I'm almost sick of hearing that phrase....but there's no better way of putting it. If you cannot change and adopt a healthy life, permanently, then there will be no permanent change.....period. I don't want to "maintain", I want to permanently be healthy and fit. I want to be permanently free of physical restrictions and food restrictions also! Life is supposed to be good.

I can't take credit for the title of this blogpost "And then what?" that credit belongs to Mark, because that's the he question he had after hearing Kirstie's answer about what her goal was. And I thought those words and the question were brilliant! Because the answer to that question is what will set us all free from this craziness of dieting, this craziness of thinking we can change our lives without truly changing our lives! I had a best friend once, Linda, and I remeber her saying to me one time, and I still think about these words....."How can you expect your life to change if YOU don't change?"

You can change some things for a while......and then what?

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Pressure Cooking Pasta?




As I mentioned breifly, in a previous blogpost, I've been pressure cooking pasta, but only in my soups and stews....so far, lol! I love, love, love using shell shaped dry pastas in soups that have beans and small veggies bits that get cradled in the pasta! (I puposely cut veggies in a smaller dice just for this reason. One of my favorites is a Lamb stew w/orrechietti and garbanzo beans).









Since it only take 1-2 minutes to cook dry pasta in a pressure cooker (once it comes to full pressure) I usually "quick release" the pressure once my soup or stew is done, add 1/2 box (1/2lb.) of dry pasta, lock lid, bring pressure back up to high, cook for 1-2 min., and then let the pressure come down naturally. Make sure you soup or stew is highly seasoned with salt before adding pasta (the pasta will absorb much of it), and also that you have enough liquid for the pasta to cook in (see above photo compared to photo at left).

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Excellent post! Mark and you really hit the nail on the head. I love what your friend said as well - so true. I think I'll print this post and hang it somewhere that I will read it often.

Trixie said...

I watched it too..funny..kind of made me mad. She won't take responsibility for her actions. When you want something bad enough,you MAKE it happen..

Anonymous said...

This has nothing to do with Kirstie Alley. I just had to let you know that for the first time in my life, I have muscle definition in my arms.

That probably doesn't sound like a big deal, but I'm 39 years old, have been exercising regularly (cardio, weights, and yoga) for 20 years, and have never IN MY LIFE had definition in my arms.

I've been swinging kettlebells since November and I moved my arm a certain way today and caught the definition of not only my bicep, but my deltoid as well. WOW. I'm so glad I took your advice. You were completely right when you told me that if I wasn't swinging kettlebells I was wasting my time.

So thank you! I love my new muscles.

Tracy Reifkind said...

wonbeach,

So often people want to eat the same way, act the same way, think the same way, but yet expect their lives to change around them....

When I hear someone complain about having the same "issues" over and over again I'm quick to remind them that THEY are the "common denominator" in the situation.....maybe they're the problem, lol!

Tracy Reifkind said...

Trixie,

I think she was taking responsiblity for gaining weight, I just think she's not yet figured out, or is denial of, what it's going to take to lose and maintain a healthy bodyweight, AND she's completely delusion of how to get and KEEP a lean and "toned" body.

In fact, she admitted on the show that her "problem area" was her lower half, her hips and thighs.....she's already conceeded that that will never be the way she really wants it to be....because that's beyond her control....it's genetics afterall!

(but I know better, lol)

Tracy Reifkind said...

Beth,

Ironically it has everything to do with Kirstie as I touched on in my reply to Trixie's comment and in this blogpost, which is....

I believe Kirstie can get ripped, just like I did, and just like you changed your body! But know what it takes!

I mentioned in a comment a few weeks (or months) ago that I could get Oprah down to 160lbs, no problem.....I could get Kirstie there too!

Change the foods and the amount of food that you eat and TRAIN the KETTLEBELL SWING, ladies!

And....I know what a big deal it is to have muscle tone in your shoulders and arms when you've never had it before in your life....believe me, I do! That's why I''m so passionate about my training. Why do you think I've NEVER missed a KB workout in over 3 years? I'm not giving up my shoulders and arms for nothing, lol!

Anonymous said...

Tracy, you were able to get me to eat anchovies. There is nothing you can't do!!

all kidding aside, this was a great post and i made your shrimp asparagus risotto... fabulous!

Hope you are doing well.
Regina