So I’m Actually Doing This Workout Thing

I’ve always had trouble motivating myself to exercise. I don’t know, I guess I’ve just always been more of an artistic/intellectual type of person rather than someone who didn’t mind sliding into the mud in order to score that goal. When I was a kid, I was so nonathletic it was almost laughable. I’d be that poor kid scored low on the “pacer test” because they’d be huffing and puffing for air, struggled with swinging a ball off of their bat, and didn’t know what to do with a soccer ball once I had it. By the third grade, it became pretty evident to me that my legs belonged to a snail in a past life. Fortunately, I did not remain a hopeless athlete for ever as a little thing called gymnastics saved my physical sanity. However, after I stopped doing gymnastics at age thirteen, I unfortunately stopped exercising all together. I learned how to become a pretty decent ice skater when I was a freshman in high school so that I could eventually learn how to play ice hockey (my Dad really wanted me to play the sport because he loved it so much). While I was pretty good at ice skating, there were a few problems.

A.) You had to bend at the knees to keep balance for ice hockey which absolutley KILLED my back.

B.) The puck didn’t really like me.

C.) This is probably the number one reason I was bad at ice hockey – I didn’t want to voluntarily crash into someone (a.k.a. I was not the aggressive type – good thing I’m not living in the caveman era)

So therefore, I quit. Ice hockey was just not going to happen. Ever.  While I really enjoyed ice skating, I’d always find excuses not to go to the rink (it’s too cold out, I’d rather do something else today, blah, blah, blah) which in turn kept me from exercising.

I was always telling myself that I would get around to doing it, tomorrow would be the start of a new exercise era, etc. But dude, I just did not want to move my body; I was happy being a couch potato.

Recently though, I’ve decided that I am done with excuses. No more Alex, no more! I’m throwing them inside of an invisible trash can right now **gleefully watches them plummet**.

You might be wondering, what inspired me to start working out more and kick this bad habit to the curb? This lovely lady from YouTube named Cassey Ho.

Lots of you have probably have heard of her before, but if you haven’t, she is best known for her YouTube channel Blogilates. Basically, she teaches various Pilate exercises, each of them targeting different areas of the body (some of them total body though). Recently, I decided to follow her beginner’s workout calender to shed some pounds, tone my body, hopefully develop some muscle (I don’t know how effective Pilates is at doing this though), and de-stress.

I have currently completed four days of the calender and haven’t noticed any huge changes yet, but the one thing I did notice is that my lower spine felt less curved (its called lordosis – it’s like scoliosis, except only your lower spine is curved and no brace can fix it 😦 ). And it makes me look bloated and hurts my back sometimes) and after the second workout, I was actually able to press my lower back into the ground. I do know that one of the benefits of Pilates and exercise in general is that you can align your spine better because it can strengthen the muscles. I really hope that Pilates can continue to do this for me :). In addition to this, Pilates has a whole host of other benefits such as improving your flexibility, posture, balance, and can treat back pain. I always try to think of these benefits whenever my thighs or abs are burning, ha-ha :P.

So far I’m really enjoying the workouts and I especially love Cassey’s fun personality. Her energy is just so contagious! Honestly, I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone so enthusiastic about exercising in my life.  She has inspired me to make exercise apart of the healthy lifestyle that I currently live. In fact, I’m pretty amazed that I’ve been able to maintain the weight and shape I have thus far, because when I think about it, we were born to move, our ancestors were moving around constantly, and the fact that I have been barely moving at all is pretty scary.

I’m going to continue to blog about my experiences with blogilates and other exercises I might do in the future. I wonder what I’ll be writing six months from now about this??? :O

Have any of you guys done Blogilates before and if not, what exercises do you currently do to stay in shape?

-Alexandra Spund

Sh*t Never To Say To Someone With Food Allergies

You want to know what amazes me? When people think that they are experts on things that they’ve never experienced first hand. Seriously dude, it’s like saying stay away from Indian food or don’t read Divergent because it’s just a rip off of the Hunger Games if you’ve never read/tried it before. Ludicrous! And do you want to know what really gets on my nerves? When people try to give me medical advice about my diet and what I should be eating, even though they are not a certified doctor or nutritionist. I have gotten this from people that are and are not related to (sans my immediate family of course) and it bugs me so much! Honestly, unless I seem unhealthy or unhappy, should you really be trying to toy with something that doesn’t even effect you? Do your research first before passing judgments. Since I’m in a ranting mood today, I’ve decided to compile a list of sh*it never to say to someone with food allergies:

Drum roll please…………………………..

🙂

SH*T YOU SHOULD JUST KEEP TO YA SELF!

1.) Don’t people go on the gluten-free diet to lose weight? You’re in such good shape!

While many people go on a gluten-free diet to lose weight, I did not eliminate gluten from my diet in order to lose weight. Throughout my teen years, I’ve never been slim, but I’ve most certainly never been overweight. I went gluten-free/dairy-free because my doctor discovered that I had an allergy after having medical problems that were chronic and would not go away. The long and the short of things is that it helped me and I’ve never been healthier than I’ve been now! Besides, if someone decides that they want to shed some pounds and think that going gluten-free might help, should you really be harassing them for eating a certain way that effects no one but themselves? As long as their diet is not turning into some type of eating disorder, is that really your business? Nope! 

2.) Those types of foods are expensive! Why would you spend so much money on that?

Yes, I am well aware that eating foods free of allergens is terrifyingly more expensive than the food you’d get at your grocery store and this is a problem that bothers me, but I can’t control it. Unfortunately, it’s the highly processed , pesticide infested crap-ola that is the cheapest because they are the least expensive to produce. But it’s costing us our health and environment, which affects our future and planet greatly! I could go on and on about this topic, but I will save this for another day. Anyways, I’m aware that my foods are more expensive, and yes, I hate that, but don’t imply that my family is being irresponsible for taking care of our health. We are not wealthy, like a lot of people who think that citizens who eat healthy are. Since we are middle class, we have to make certain cutbacks in order to afford to eat this way, but it’s totally worth it! Why? Because I’m feeling good y’all :). Oh and by the way, going natural and eating healthy doesn’t have to be ALL expensive. We do a lot of our shopping at Trader Joe’s, who’s prices are comparable with larger chain food markets. 

4.) What can you eat?

I eat dirt and grass. So pure and healthy! Just kidding, just kidding. But when people ask me this question in an insulting manner, that’s what it feel likes they’re implying at times. I eat lots of amazing foods! Ever tried quinoa? It is seriously the best thing ever, you can pretty much put anything in it (berries, nuts, etc.) and BAM, you have yourself a meal! It’s loaded with protein too! :P. In addition to using several different grain substitutes, I like to advantage of foods that are naturally gluten-free such as vegetables, fruit, and meat. There is more to food than just gluten and dairy peoplez!

5.) Your diet is such an inconvenience!

Well that makes me feel good! If my diet is such an inconvenience for you than don’t hang or eat out with me! Thanks! Also, if my diet is SUCH an inconvenience to you for one night, than I’d sure as hell love to put you in my shoes and see how inconvenienced you feel now!

6.) Gluten/Dairy-Free, your food must taste disgusting!

Yeah, I just love consuming gross food! The highlight of my day is when I get to eat my crumbly, cardboard tasting sandwich for lunch. Bland really is better! Nah dude, do you really think I’d put up with deplorable food 24/7? No way! Like I said before, gluten and dairy are not the only foods that taste palatable on this planet. Gosh!

7.) That looks disgusting!

Well you’re very rude Miss/Mr! Didn’t your mother ever teach you manners? But besides the obvious, do you want to know what I think is disgusting? The chemically drenched, genetically engineered meals you’re consuming that barely legally qualifies as food. 

8.) Weren’t you supposed to outgrow your food allergies?

Apparently, but I was not one of the lucky ones that suddenly discovered they could eat Mike’s Pastries again. Boo :(. I still have a reaction to when I eat gluten and/or dairy (especially dairy, the reaction is EXTREMELY STRONG), so yes I’m still an allergic person.

9.) Are you sure that you’re allergic to gluten and dairy?

Yes……why would I say that I have allergies when I don’t? And why do you care so much about me “double checking” when no one is shoving gluten-free/dairy-free foods down your throat? I’d like to know!

While not everyone is like this and don’t always mean to be rude, it can get soooo annoying and I’d appreciate if people would ask me about my diet in a more of an inquisitive manner rather than a judgmental one. Thanks y’all!

For all of you allergic folks out there, what is the most annoying sh*t you’ve gotten from someone about the foods you eat?

xoxo

Alexandra Spund