An Exercise in Concern

January 16, 2010

I am addicted to news. I’ve been watching CNN all day today on the continuing coverage of the earthquake recovery efforts in Haiti. I keep hoping that they will find someone alive under the rubble. After a while the news cycle starts repeating itself but somehow I feel like am I am helping by staying with them and watching. So that means I’ve been sitting on the couch all day.

I was multitasking though because I also read the entire February issue of Oprah that contains tons of information on health and nutrition. As a bonus it had a special supplement entitled “The Best of Dr. Oz,” with “effective tips for a stronger, happier, healthier life.” I read it cover to cover. I know this doesn’t count as exercise but I feel it is a step in the right direction. If I am nothing else I am very well read on all of the most popular diet and nutrition advise available. I have a not so small collection of nutrition and diet books that share space on the same bookshelf as my collection of cookbooks. Did I mention I have two gym memberships?

The good news is that I was home today so I had a much higher degree of control over what I ate. I am working my way towards a 1500 a day calorie diet but for the past two weeks I’ve been averaging about 800 calories a day. I know, my metabolism is going to slow down, my body will go into starvation mode, etc. but after what happened over the holidays I had to take drastic measures. It was challenging last week because I had three business lunches. I tried to make smart choices like ordering a half sandwich and soup combination. I tried to make lunch my main meal of the day keeping it under 500 calories. This wasn’t too hard because my husband wasn’t home and my daughter had rehearsals all week for a play she is in this weekend.

So my goal for the coming week is to work in 90 minutes of aerobic exercise. I also feel like I have repented for any holiday sins and now I am back to my normal overweight self and I can afford to take on conventional dieting advise. Wish me luck.