Like Lazarus Resurected

I don't know why, but that title makes me think automatically of Amy Winehouse's dedication at the Grammy's: "To my Blake, incarcerated." Serving jail time is no laughing matter, but ok, it sort of is when ridiculous celebrities are involved.

Sometimes I envy the thin, pretty girls you see in the tabloids and on TV. But then you find out about their twisted lives and various disorders, and it isn't quite so glamorous anymore.

We're all trying to lose weight, but I don't think anyone wants to get as thin as Amy Winehouse or Mary-Kate Olsen. Even Keira Knightley or Natalie Portman. If I could have the same body as any star, it'd be someone like Scarlett Johansen or Jessica Biel, Scarlett because she's a healthy weight and curvy (naturally), and Jessica because her body is rock-hard and strong, not stick-thin. Or maybe Madonna when I'm older, although I doubt I'll ever be able to dedicate as much of my life to healthy eating and exercise as she apparently does. (Did everyone hear how she bought the mansion next to hers in London and converted it into her private gym?)

Anyway, enough with the goss. In NSSL news, it's true. I'm back to trying to eat less, exercise more, and lose weight. And why?

Because of terrible news. As of yesterday's meeting with the home scale, I apparently weigh 167 pounds. My "resting" weight, if you will, is generally at 160, but during the holiday season, I gained about five pounds, and they haven't gone away. In fact, they've picked up a few friends to come along.

It's not just the scale. My shirts feel tighter. My pants are getting harder to button (I hate that!). I was getting out of breath more when walking up long flights of stairs or during the trek to and from class.

So as of last week, I'm back on the wagon. So far, it's not much. I just do some basic calisthenics (maybe 20-30 min) most nights, and I went to the gym twice last week, although both for long sessions. Went home for the weekend, overate a bit, but not as much as I could have, so it's a wash there.

For exercise, I've been doing a combination of cardio machines and classes. For cardio, I still love the rowing machine. It's my favorite since it's not hard on the knees and you get a more full-body workout. I usually do a few minutes on the stairmaster, but that always kills me. Sometimes I do the elliptical, sometimes treadmill, but to be honest, I don't enjoy running. I enjoy exercise, but I guess I'm a bit lazy with it, as I don't like to be physically on my feet the whole time. I also get bored easily, which is why I love the row of bikes in the front of the gym. Each have their own personal TV with cable, and the two upright ones are almost never taken. I can do an hour or more on those easy, just flipping through channels or reading a book.

Machine workouts are great, but I have to be honest, I'm not the most motivated or disciplined person in the world. (Evidence: 7 extra pounds!) Classes force me to work out, if only not too look stupid in front of the other people in the class. I've done the basic aerobics classes and they're fine, if a little unexciting. I've been trying hip hop the past month and it's...all right. I have learned that I have pretty much no kinetic memory. The class is huge, so it's not noticeable when I fall a little behind, so it's still fun.

My favorite new discovery this month, though, has been TAE BO! I love, love, love this class! It's fast-paced and you keep moving and doing different things, so you don't get the chance to be bored. The moves are fun to do, and I like to channel my aggression in the punches and kicks to "imaginary targets." Yes, I get pretty tired by the end, but I almost don't notice the time as it passes by, it's that fun.

I'm glad I tried something new, and I'm glad I'm back to the old grind. I've come to realize that maybe I will never be really "thin," whatever that means. But I can be healthy. That's easily doable, and there's no reason not to start now.