FAQs

How did you begin?

Read Getting Started GH 101. For entertainment and hopefully some inspiration you can also read my favorite posts.

In my chubby days. Like the fanny pack?

Fanny pack by day. Opera gloves by night. I love playing dress up. Dh took this b4 going out New Years Eve a year ago.

What do you eat?
Again read GH 101. If you are wondering about my macronutrients again it varies but I sort of stick to salad ratios. A lot of veggies, a good amount of fruit, a fair amount of protein, some grains topped off with a healthy serving of fat. My macros percentages range greatly. My thighs and I LOVE carbs (especially refined ones) unfortunately my pants and my state of mind don’t. I am NOT anti-carb. However, I do believe there are bad carbs (processed food), better carbs (whole grains), and great carbs (sprouted grains). Based on experience, I really believe some people are more “carb sensitive” than others. I feel better emotionally and physically when I limit (not eliminate) grains and get my the majority carbs from veggies and fruit. However, other people feel terrible. You need to experiment and find what works for you.

How I used to eat. Lots of wine. Lots of white bread. Lots of white pasta. Obscene amounts of white sugar.

What are your staples?
Seasonal vegetables of all kinds (we belong to a CSA), fruits, herbs, coconut oil, olive oil, tahini, almond butter, walnuts, almonds, brown rice, quinoa, organic popcorn (not microwave), Ezekiel bread, wheat flour, a variety of dried and canned beans, sun-dried tomatoes, canned artichokes, Kalamata olives, raw honey, maple syrup, Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, goat cheese, shredded cheese, salsa, a variety of vinegars, eggs, canned wild salmon and tuna, Kosher ground turkey, wild salmon, bison burger patties, chicken, grass-fed ground beef.

Do you eat organic?
As much as possible but I no longer stress over it. You can read more about it here. Like I said, I have a tendency to get really stressed over chemicals and such. To the point where I want to move off the grid, wear a bonnet, and raise goats. This is not good. Nothing wrong when moving off the grid to raise goats (or bonnets) if that’s your thing. For me it’s rooted in stress and fear. I believe those two things are just as bad (or worse) than pesticides and what not. This is what I mean by “as much as possible”. I buy as much as we can afford and LIVE leaving the rest of the equation up to God. As much as I want to, I can’t control everything.

Is there anything you don’t eat?
I RARELY eat shellfish, pork, catfish, and other scavengers. I rarely drink soda even on my sane days. For the most part, I avoid artificial sweeteners and refined sugar.

Do you drink coffee?
Yes and don’t plan on stopping anytime soon. I’ve learned to LOVE it black. It tastes like rich dark chocolate to me.

Do you count calories?
I’ve never been a chronic calorie counter. I go through phases. The same with weighing and measuring my food. I’m not “for” or “against” counting calories. I have found that it really helped me learn portion control and develop more discipline when I was trying to lose weight. After a few months I was really good at “eyeballing” correct portions. However, when I notice my pants are getting a little snug I have no problem going back to counting for a while until I get back on track.

What is your weekly fitness regime?
It varies. Currently, I use (mostly) kettlebells, dumbbells, barbells, and body weight exercises for metabolic circuits. That’s one way to say I do a variety of compound movements (like squats, kb swings, pull ups, dead lifts, ect) with short rests between sets. I like it because it develops strength, endurance, and flexibility in less time. I also do taekwondo a 2-3 nights a week. Occasionally, I go for hikes, runs, play tennis, or hop on my lonely old rowing machine for rowing intervals. You can see some of the types of workouts I do under Fitness.

Mechanical bulls give a good cardio workout.

Did you have a trainer for your competition?
No, I researched and researched to the point of insanity and finally just went with my intuition and hoped for the best. It worked out alright. I think a good trainer is a GREAT idea. Just make sure you go with someone who is not going to have you subsisting on asparagus and chicken for 12 weeks while spending 2 hours a day on the treadmill.

Are your photos photoshopped?
No but thanks for the generous compliment. I still have saddlebags and some cellulite. Notice I didn’t show the back side. There’s a reason for that. Baby’s got back and baby’s still a little insecure about it. (Note: the picture on this page in the top hat is photoshopped in the sense hubby used a filter.) I’m am not as lean as I was when I was competing.

How much do you weigh?
I used to talk about my weight but then decided it really doesn’t matter. I don’t share how much I weigh because I don’t want anyone to compare my height and weight to someone else’s. I think women do too much comparing as it is. I’m at a healthy weight right now. Truthfully, I like being slightly leaner (4-pack lean) but it takes SO MUCH discipline (in the kitchen) and right now I just don’t want to work that hard.

How did you give up sugar? Any advice? Will you ever eat sugar again?
Read here and here and here.

How did you get six pack abs?
They were more like a four pack (those lower ones are stubborn) and just so you know (if you even care) they are not that defined everyday. If you are referring to these pictures they are from my first competition. (Normally, I make casper look tan.) I subscribe to the belief that “abs are made in the kitchen.” I ate a ton of veggies, lean protein, fruit, nuts, and some whole grains. I ate VERY LITTLE processed food, dairy, and extras like condiments. Yeah it was sort of boring but it worked. I did NOT do hours of crunches. In fact, the only time I do crunches is in taekwondo class when I have too. Truth be told, genetics help too. Too bad they don’t help my thighs. ;-)

Did you know you have a typo….?
I know it’s annoying. I’m a horrible proofreader and in dire need of an editor. If you feel so inclined, please send me an email so I can fix it.

If I subscribed to your blog will you share my email?
No way!!! Unless you write something terribly mean and nasty about me then I’ll make sure every Viagra spammer in the world has it.

Can I unsubscribed to your blog once I’ve subscribed.
Yes, if you find I offend, anger, or just generally get on your nerves feel free to unsubscribe. What’s one more rejection? I already have low self-esteem. It’s easy to unsubscribe. At the bottom of every email is a link to unsubscribe. No hard feelings included.