This Article Makes me REALLY Mad: The Myth About Exercise May be That it Doesn't Work

"The Myth About Exercise May be That it Doesn't Work".. seriously Yahoo! Shine? You're going to promote not exercising to a country that is 2/3rds obese? It's really about healthy eating? I think NOT.

I have gotten to my ideal size two ways in my life: one was through stress (bad) and the other was through exercise and eating mostly healthy (good). But I have always been healthier when I exercise and keep my body in shape. There are so many benefits to exercise besides shaping up and losing weight:

- Reduce the risk of premature death
- Reduce the risk of developing and/or dying from heart disease
- Reduce high blood pressure or the risk of developing high blood pressure
- Reduce high cholesterol or the risk of developing high cholesterol
- Reduce the risk of developing colon cancer and breast cancer
- Reduce the risk of developing diabetes
- Reduce or maintain body weight or body fat
- Build and maintain healthy muscles, bones, and joints
- Reduce depression and anxiety
- Improve psychological well-being
- Enhanced work, recreation, and sport performance (http://www2.gsu.edu/~wwwfit/benefits.html)

I am an advocate of exercise and (mostly) healthy eating. Don't listen to these weird studies that don't survey their overall health! They just surveyed the overall weight loss, and found there wasn't a huge difference between those that ate well and those that ate well and worked out with a personal trainer. I guess they forgot that muscle weighs more than fat.

EXERCISE! RUN! SWIM! GET OUT THERE and DO something with your life! You have at least 30 minutes every day to do SOMETHING. Instead of watching TV, go outside for a walk. Don't carry cash or your debit or credit card with you if you know you will be tempted to go eat fast food (if it's a daily habit). Spend your money from fast food on a $30 a month gym pass. I PROMISE you have the money. Go, go, go! You don't have an excuse.

"Those who think they have not time for bodily exercise will sooner or later have to find time for illness." ~Edward Stanley

"Lack of activity destroys the good condition of every human being, while movement and methodical physical exercise save it and preserve it." ~Plato

No Make up = Happy Face, Happy Bank Account, Happy Fiance

I'm trying this new thing out. Well, it's not really new. I was a lifeguard for 4 years, so I had an excuse during the summers not to wear make up. My face was super tan and healthy looking and make up would have been wasted in the chlorine-infested water of the Provo, UT and Bakersfield, CA public swimming pools. (Which I shouldn't complain about too much because the chemicals in those pools did wonders to clear up my face)

But now, I just don't want to wear make up because I don't want to keep buying new stuff every month. If I only wear it on Sundays for church, it lasts a lot longer. Now, mascara, as a general rule, should be replaced every month. That is okay, since I use the green/pink Maybelline one in Blackest Black and it's only 4 bucks. But I don't want to spend $50-100 every month on face make up.

I think my face is starting to forgive me already from years of MAC make up abuse.

Maybe this will also help me have a healthy wedding-day glow.

P.S. Everyone should put on SPF 45 sunscreen EVERYDAY even if you are outside for just a total of 5 minutes. I got the continuous-spray sunscreen because I like it best. Go spend $7 at Target and save your life. And the lives of your unborn children.

Pre-Wedding Day Meltdown-- In T-Minus 5 seconds...

Weddings are STRESSFUL. S-T-R-E-S-S-F-U-L. Sometimes I wish I could just go to the courthouse. No flowers, no food, no cake, no stress. I guess I shouldn't really be complaining since my aunt and my favorite Diane are planning the reception for me. I got my dress, I got my hair appt, and my trial hair appt, I got my fiance... now I need shoes, a veil, an awesome bakery that isn't too expensive, and who knows what else.

All I think about is that I get to spend a week in paradise following this major stress enhancer. I've never been to Mexico, and Cancun is GORGEOUS. I can't wait!!! Plus, by the time the next 53 days are over, I will be GRADUATED!!! G-R-A-D-U-A-T-E-D!! From COLLEGE.

But then I have to find a grown-up job.

Yuck.

Or do I got back to school for web design? So many choices, so, so many choices...

11 Reasons Why My Summer is Stressful:

11 Reasons Why my Summer is Stressful, or,

11 Reasons Why I can't wait 'til September 5th!

1. I work 10-14 hour days.

2. I have one job to pay the bills.

3. I have my internship go to after the paying-job.

4. I have to work out 5 times a week.

5. My church calling keeps me super busy.

6. I have to plan a wedding.

7. I am making my own invitations.

8. Wedding dresses are ridiculous.

9. Engagement photos are ridiculous.

10. I have to complete one online religion class by the end of August.

11. I don't have time to watch The Bachelorette or So, You Think You Can Dance?

Genetically Engineered Foods and Stuff

I've become somewhat of pescatarian in the past year--- I really only like to eat fish. And fish that is uncooked, as well (Sushi, anyone?). I have major issues with the United States Department of Agriculture and the food company conglomerates that are controlling the marketplace (Sources: Fast Food Nation, The Way We Eat, Documentary: Super Size Me, Documentary: The Future of Food, The Fatland of America)

I have the information available to make a smart decision when it comes to what I eat, yet I still buy my groceries at Albertson's or Smith's, and I still eat out at *gasp* fast food restaurants. And all these stores and restaurants are full of foods that have been genetically modified. U.S. food regulation agencies turn their head the other way for the right price, and so far, there has only been ONE human study of G.E. food effects. These scientists and laboratories are creating seeds that can only grow when certain pesticides are sprayed on them. Ironically, the pesticide industry has bought out the seed industry. So farmers who grow G.E. corn MUST also use the company's pesticide.

I am taking a stand against this evil and corrupt industry. I hereby promise to only eat Organic Consumers Association Organic-Certified products. I will not eat out unless I know the food is organic. I will not eat meat unless I know the farms have grass-fed their animals and let them roam free in a pasture instead of piled on top of each other on a stock farm. Seriously you guys... this is for real! I already know which grocery stores I can shop at. Take a stand with me and vote with your dollar! Don't buy fast food or non-organic products! Your health (and your future/current children's health) is at risk.

P.S. I really don't care if YOU buy organic. So we can still be friends.

P.P.S. I'm not trying to attack any of my friend-moms.

I think eating breakfast makes me hungrier during the day.

I think I'm stuck in a food rut. I have this mental block that prevents me from preparing and eating healthy foods because I think it's too difficult/long/hard/ toilsome/irritating/painful. And I'm too hungry at the time to wait longer than 1 minute to satisfy my famishment. So here comes the fast food, which provides a fleeting moment of tangible ecstasy, only to be followed by hours of internal distress as my organs try to digest the many-times processed "food". And fast food also goes against EVERY moral I hold dear in regards to eating unprocessed foods. So now I'm a hypocrite. That has also gained 8 pounds since January. Gross, gross, gross.

Oh, The Eternal Ravenousness Desires of My Abominable Abdomen. Which is aided by my big breakfast habits, which is SUPPOSED to be healthy! Yes, I know, breakfast is the most important meal of the day. But it leaves me starving at 10 a.m., starving at 12 p.m.,. starving at 2 p.m., starving at 4 p.m., starving at 6 p.m., and so on. And when I DON'T eat breakfast, I only get hungry at about 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. at night. Which is the lesser of the two evils?

So I'm finally breaking this late night Papa Johns-ish habit by finding easy-to-make healthy recipes that don't take longer than 30 minutes to make (Thank you, Yahoo! Foods). There are bounteous amounts of recipes out there that fit my particular demands. BOTTOM LINE: my (future) kids are NOT going eat Happy Meals three times a week. I refuse. It's fresh chicken or die (... of processed foods and chemicals and toxins)!! (Organic and non-caged chicken ONLY. After all, I'm a member of Omnivores for the Ethical Treatment and Humane Slaughter of Animals, better known as OETHSA).

[organic] Chicken or die!!

[organic] CHICKEN OR DIE!!!!

2 Word/ Phrases that Irk Me

1. "lol". I cannot STAND this. Can't you just say, "That makes me laugh?". Or, "Haha". Or, "Funny!". Or "Hmmm". Or something other than "lol" which reminds me of a lollipop which reminds me not to take you more seriously than a 13 year old on AOL Instant Messenger circa 2000 A.D.

2. Saying or typing "Your" when you mean "You're". This is probably the most used grammatic error in the entire world. I see it all the time on facebook and twitter. Just today, Miley Cyrus tweeted "If your not already my friend then add me!". I was not amused. Get it in your head: YOUR does not = YOU'RE. Use the freaking apostrophe!

Anything I missed?

GLEE: Don't Stop Believin'

I think I just found !!My new favorite show!!, most favorite out of anything I have ever watched in my entire life, inlcuding seasons 1 and 2 of The O.C., seasons 1, 2, and 5 of Desperate Housewives, season 4 of 24, and ANY of my reality TV or crime TV shows.

Its called "Glee". Don't prejudge this based on YOUR prejudices of Glee Club Geeks. Please watch this show. It will leave you feeling happy, ecstatic, elated, on cloud nine, sparkling, sunny, and jubilant. Excellent cast, excellent music, excellent writing... can you really ask for more?



Or, if the video doesn't work, go here.

Day 1 of Life Without Preservatives

Dear World/Blog/Journal/Followers:

It's been less than 24 hours since I have let a trans fat pass through my lips. Wait... I take that back. I went 14 hours without eating anything containing preservatives. However, after a minor mouth incident involving grapefruit and water, I had to eat something that would get the gross grapefruit aftertaste out of my mouth. And what is available at my workplace? Chex Mix Bars. I partook of the forbidden fruit at approximately 4:23 p.m. MST. And now I have a rumbly in my tumbly as my body tries to process the artificially made chemicals found in partially hydrogenated soybean oil.

In conclusion, I will stick to my fruit and veggie and homemade bread and sushi way of life from this hour forward.

xoxo - tracie girl

Am I Doomed to Endless Misery and Woe? (At least for 4 months)

It's only been a week since E left. And already I am BORED out of my FREAKING MIND.

I work from 10-1 and 2-8 every day except Wednesdays when I have the afternoon off. I come home exhausted at night. One job I enjoy-- the other is mindless work I do to pay the bills. My 2 p.m. resolve to hit the gym after work dramatically dwindles to little more than a fleeting thought by 8:00 p.m that sounds hilarious to my now crazed mind. Answering phone calls for 6 hours can do that do a person.

Even the thought of dragging myself to the grocery store sounds worse than the eternal doom of Sisyphus.

Where did all my energy go? Why can't I get up at 6 every morning and go for a 3 mile run? Why can't I cook dinner every night without tiring myself out at merely the thought?

All I want to do when I come home is sit on my bed, have the Lakers/ESPN/House on in the background, and Skype with E, which is slightly better than just a phone call.

Ugh. Any suggestions for getting some semblance of an invidious life?? Can I just move to Texas now??