Big Girl On Board!

A sea plane is a hostile place for a big girl.

Have you ever faced the shame of a steward asking you if you need a seat belt extension? Well I have. Granted I didn't need it and I did manage to fasten the belt around my bulging bulge. However my delicate cotton Wild Fox t-shirt (thank goodness they make them oversized) didn't fair so well after the 40 minute flight. It was wrinkled within an inch of its life. There was nothing I could do to salvage it for the rest of the day. Maybe it's about time someone invented an 'on the go' iron or steamer, without the heat and in the form of a lint brush. It definitely is about damn time to trim off some inches from the two tiered muffin top I got baking! Ay yay ay.

Dear Hessa

WOW.

I just went back to read some of the stuff you've been writing during October and November.

You was so motivated.

SHIT!!!!!!!

But I'll tell you one thing, stupid girl. 2010 is not over yet! You can still redeem yourself!!

There is a little more than 6 months left in the year. Push yourself. Make that change you want to see for yourself.

Don't lament over stupid shit then quit all together. Pick up the pieces and run! Fucking run!!

Oh, right and that marathon you want to run...you better start shaping up now missy!!!

Don't hide from me. This blog is gonna get you. Write write write. Vent. Then run, bike, spin, whatever!!!

Get out there and do it.

then come back in December and we'll talk.

Sincerely,

Your Blog.

Remorse, is it true?

I dont know how to start this.

I just ate a cheeseburger. yes a cheeseburger, that has been sitting in the fridge for 5 hours.

i just came back from a brutal work out at the gym around 10:30pm and decided not to eat it.

by 2:31am i had already chosen to consume this monstrosity and did so successfully.

i feel like the total opposite of success. I feel like i failed.

I go in and out of this cycle of torture.

I AM BATTLING AN ADDICTION!!

When i wanted that burger, I WANTED IT!!

I was blind. I just needed to have it.

Forget that i just sweated the equivalent of a 1/34th second of the entire Niagra Falls.

No. Just like the true carnivore that I am, opened that fridge and bit into it.

I smelled it first. It smelled so good. But i also thought of the repercussions. and i said "fuck it".

so i popped it in the microwave...





I really hate myself right now...

I'm gonna do this again soon. Please help me.



I'm a recovering foodahoic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lethargy

Lately I haven't been feeling so well. I just don't do much of anything.

Yes I joined this awesome new gym but I only did it to secure my place. It's been 4 days and I didn't go work out yet. I'm feeling listless and gross. Like I always have trouble sleeping and then I don't want to wake up. I think it's because I have two assignments that I have to hand in but I'm so scared I just don't even want to finish either. I find any excuse to go online and discover anything else rather than focusing on this task.

I hate this me.

I want to be able to wake up refreshed and welcome the day! Not hide under the covers after a bazillion snoozes! I want to take early morning walks and breathe in the dew. I want everything to be alright and I want myself to believe that. I want to fold all the clothes in my dresser and organize my desk. I want to pick cherry blossoms out of a tree (ok that one i just saw in my dream) But most of all I want to be fit and healthy!! These symptoms are obviously coming from someone who isn't taking care of their body. Bottom line...

___________________________________

I NEED TO GO TO THE GYM!!!!!!!!!

Falafel Day

One spring day, my good friend Nina took me to a falafel joint in Paris's 4th arrondissement. Right off Rue de Temple (yeah, that's the Jewish quarter) So anyway, besides the fact that the place was cramped and the waiters were h-o-t, I managed to scarf down an eggplant salad AND a falafel the size of both my hands. Life changing moment.

However, I hadn't tried a falafel sandwich since, fearing that I only liked it at the famed place with a line snaking down the street. So when my roomie walked in today with a bag from Zahrat Lebnan asking, "Who is hungry?" I leapt at the chance to eat cuz I hadn't had anything all day (tsk tsk I know). Lo and behold, she bought falafel. "Too late to change your mind", I thought, "Shouldn't have gotten over-excited." We sat down as we both unraveled the beige paper containing our vegetarian grub. The minute I saw a pickle inside the bread I knew it couldn't be that bad.

It wasn't.

It was delicious. Mouth-watering. Spicy. Tangy. Creamy. Crunchy. Smooth. Good to the last bite.

I thanked her tremendously and confessed to her my former apprehension at the announcement of our lunch. The tabouleh was o.k.

Around 7pm I find myself at the local mall scouring the food court, hoping a Subway would appear. Note to self: Abu Dhabi Mall has the only Subway. Not Khalidiyah. I descend to the Starbucks on the ground floor hoping to get a Venti decaf soy toffee nut latte, cuz afterall, 'tis the season to be jolly. I wanted a sandwich too, but the healthy selection was disappointing. It was a toss up between the wraps: Ceaser Chicken or yup you guessed it Falafel!!

Needless to say I bravely opted for the latter. And it didn't disappoint either.

Ladies and gentlemen, I LOVE Falafel. :)

Hi my name is...

...and I'm the Biggest Loser!!!

I've had my iPod touch for about 2 years now. However, I never really utilized it's full potential up until this week. You see, I bought the entire season 7 of the Biggest Loser off of iTunes and have been watching it...in the gym!!! Yeah, so basically I'm on the treadmill for 1h:23m and by the end of it I'd lose 750 calories without even thinking!! This plan is so awesome, I'd love to see it go wrong! Love to! But it won't inshalla!

Even if their weight loss on the ranch is so grand, I know this is not typical. So I've lost 11 pounds in two weeks and I'm satisfied. I just hope my upcoming trip won't ruin all the work I've done. Let's see of I can resist the Pizzas and Pastas of Italy...

a tout!! xx.

Working out

So it's been 2 days since I renewed my gym membership. I sleep better, I walk taller, but I ache, oh how I ache!! My body hurts all over but I know that this is all part of revving up the engine.

I am still finding ways to sit in front of my computer and type away when really, I should be heading out for another episode of the 'dreadmill'!

I wish for progress. I want to progress. I want to see good results by the end of this week.

I can not afford to slow down, or worse quit. I can not and will not let myself down.

This is a promise.

Now I will kick off my D&G sneakers, put on my Nike shoes, change my Lacoste shirt for a ho drum Disney one with holes in it (yes i over use shirts i love), re-work a playlist, update the i-pod, buy a bottle of water....and start heading to the gymnasium!!! Dum dum dummmm...

You know you are drinking a lot of H2O when...

...you subconsciously run to the bathroom at 5 in the morning!!

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Back where I need to be

Yes folks it's about that time again...the Fall.

While designers are churning out their designs on the catwalks of Paris, I sit in my dorm room trying to churn my engines in the right direction!

This has been a tough year, one I like to call: unsuccessful.

But it's all about to change and I'll tell you (and especially myself) WHY?

1. This (being fat and lazy) has made me the saddest I've ever been. And there's been some eff'ed up shit in my life but it's never made me this unhappy. So now I KNOW it's time for change.

2. Mom is investing in me. The way I see it is that the cash she is forking over to the gym, the diet and whatever else will help me make it work, is going to then (hopefully) roll over to shopping $$!!! So it's a long road to the win-win scenario but I'm willing to drive.

I just really need to do this. Last year was a sham. It's the real deal this time!!

Road to Louis '10 starts now!

or maybe Hermes?? I'm kind of fond of the scarves :p

This Is Bad, Real Bad MJ

I've been gone for a while. The reason? No surprise here, a weight gain and my lame attempt to ignore what was clearly within my hands to control!

Re-cap: July was spent pigging out and refusing to move. All my gym planning in June just didn't happen. I felt like a fat stupid walrus.

August: Went on vay-cay to Greece. Started moving around, swimming, biking (once, more on this later), and stuff. But it wasn't till I got to Athens that I started feeling the results!
* I caught myself off guard in the mirror the other day! My neck is starting to come into view! yay! Take that double chin!
* Clothes are a little looser and I'm feeling more energetic.
* I've been eating breakfast too! That's rare!
* Discovered my love for Greek yogurt! (tzatziki and yogurt w/ honey are my new love affairs :p)

Let's hope Ramadan is a good month for me both spiritually and food-wise! :) Here's to a smart futoor! No gaymat! :p

Ramadan Kareem!

I heart marshmallows!

Been Munching on this all day <3>

...and the livin' is easy

Well, it's already the 10th of JUNE!!
I LOVE June! but my goodness this year! it just seems to fly by!!
June is all about being home, doing nothing til 4am then sleeping a nice sound sleep.
Waking to the afternoon sun then heading to the pool or just chilling with the girls...
But this year it's different...
I decided to rejoin the academic institutions of the world and they are keeping me hostage til the 19th!!

So until then I've just been a lazy bum! I didn't go to a single course this week!!
I'm suffering from a serious case of lethargy! At the base is a prolonged state of ennui directly caused by the never ending academic year! Our class skipping antics have even led us to the nearest Starbucks shamelessly playing our Nintendo DS's like elementary kids! :-P (their carrot cake has been named "Perfection")

Foodwise: I've been eating whatever I want! WRONG I know!

But I am happy to report a 1.2 kg. loss, which proves my theory; DO NOT pressure me

and I'll do it on my own!!

I am also very very happy to report that the Harvey-meter (as in Harvey Nichols) is in full working order, and the needle has moved an inch in the right direction!! Yes ladies, I have finally purchased clothing from the London based department store!!

A lovely two piece Manoush dress! :-D

As the Girshwin's say; "Summertime...and the livin' is easy!"

Here's to a fat-gaining-free summer!!! 

Fingers X-ed!!!

Not diet related but...

  MANCHESTER LOST!!!!!!!  2-0!!!

  this brings joy to my cold cold heart!!

 C'mon Rafa bring home the bacon!! (or beef (halal version) :p!)

 :D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:DD:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

   Annoying muthee3 on ART sport 4: (adnan hamad)

  - manshester la shay2! manshester la shay2!

  -min huwa gadik ya Guardiola??!!

  - al '3azal il asmar (his fav nick for T.Henry)

  - 3ain 3ala al yameen wa 3ain 3ala el yasar!

   and my personal fav comment of the night:

 

  - lam ta3ud 7amy al deyar ya Edwin van der Saar!!

  you may call me a sadist; but revenge is sweet! 

  Here's to the Gunners!!! xoxo!

   

That Temptress: Saralee

The crime scene...

                       

Victim: 

a sad 1/6th slice of Saralee chocolate pound cake

Criminal:

Moi...

Crime:

Unlawful entry with intent

Theft...(it wasn't my leftovers)

Weapon of choice:

A fork...found @ the scene of the crime.

  DAMN THAT TEMPTRESS who goes by the name of SARALEE!!!!!

 And it wasn't even that good! I really could've waited for better cakes to come around like something from Cafe Lilou or Coldstone brownies even!! But I had to silence that craving with something containing cocoa and that was the only thing available! 

 BUT I walked to the mall instead of taking the car (mainly cuz i had no choice; my little baby is in the garage). I should get a few points for that right? Oh and I had dinner @ Dome. I didn't order their diviiiiine burger this time, nope, it's grilled prawns for me! And they didn't disappoint! :)

Where is this motivation coming from?

No seriously!! Where is this motivation coming from??

I just spent 2 hours and a half at the gym!!! Voluntarily might I add. >:P

This is what my workout consisted of; (in order)

50 minutes walking on an incline 400 cals 4 km

15 minutes abs 30-ish

10 minutes rowing 70 cals

50 minutes biking 209 cals 10 km

Total = 709 cals!!! 14 km!!

BRING ON THE BIG MACS!!!!!! No I'm kidding I'm kidding!! :p

But I think I can pinpoint the exact moment where a sudden burst of determination came over me!
It was right after the 50 minute walk on the treadmill. I had just stepped down when this guy I usually see at the gym (a friend of a friend) stopped for a little chat. Let's call him Mr. Feel Good, cuz I always feel good after talking to him.
He's not a crush or anything; he's just someone who takes the time to tell me I looked better than before and to tell me stories of when he was fat once upon a time. Makes a difference, that's all I'm saying. Plus, it doesn't hurt that he is easy on the eyes :p

That was the good news....The bad news is I came home to a nice dinner from Lebanese Flower (Zahrat Lebnan). And this is where I eat all those calories back. 2 shawarmas, 2 warak enabs, and a couple-a tablespoons of tabouleh! But considering that I only had Strawberry juice and a side of corn all day, I didn't do much damage. Except with the horrible timing which is 2 hours before bed!! And the horrible eating habits starting with the fact that I don't eat breakfast on a regular basis. OK FIIIINE! I had two mini pizzas and a galaxy in the cafeteria!! UGH! Down with honesty!!!

I don't think Mr.Feel Good would like that too much. Oh well...and so the guilt trip begins...yipee.

Lackadaisical

I really forgot why I'm doing this.

HELLOOOO!!!! FASHION!!!!!!!

But I honestly don't think that's working anymore. The Harvey-Meter is broken!

What's the Harvey-Meter you say?

Oh its the scale by which I measure my success or failure in the realm of body image.
And almost every time I fail miserably! Always ending up in the Beauty or Shoe sections...alas..
It started not to matter anymore!! And I CANT have that! That's why I'm back here writing because I don't
want to sink further in this hole that I've created.

Btw I'm supposed to be at the GYM right now. I have my pants on and everything...except I'm still in my flip flops :s

"OK OK FIiiiiiiiiiiNE! I'm Going I'm going!! Jeeeeeez!!!" Says the Voice in my head to the other one that spurs it on!

the other one is mean i tell you...

Ferngully

  Yes, Ferngully!

      That cartoon from my childhood. Just stayed up all night waiting for it to load and watched it all on youtube! Ahh nostalgia...Next up...Rock-a-Doodle!

I forgot these cartoon movies that we're not produced by Disney in the early nineties! They're actually pretty darn entertaining. Btw: Robin Williams is in it as Batty. And the villain Hexxus, is just darn creepy and gross!! Sad message though, I can't believe we're destroying the rainforests!! 

   Really need to sleep. This was just another excuse to snack. I forget the guilt right after snacking after midnight. Not worth it. :s Even if Cadbury Clusters tempt me again, I shan't participate in this nocturnal malnourishment! 

Un marichère sans lard; s.v.p!

   Crêperie Josselin, my oh my!

  I couldn't believe it took me 7 months to find this hidden gem right down my street in Paris!

Well it was on the insistence of my food buddy that we go there, and then I was just as hooked as she was! 

This is our usual order:

- Un marichère sans lard; (spinach, cream, and cheese...simple combo, BIG on taste)

- a diet Coke for me and a carafe d'eau for her;

- Finishing off with 2 nutella crêpes or if i feel like it; caramel au beurre salé!

There were many things I did not consume before Paris, but something about the way the 

food is prepared there, gosh, well it's just amazing what you wouldn't eat!! (fois gras, still and forever)

Fried egg was one of my BIG no-no's, just like fish and tomato, but I credit the marichere for

helping me get over that! When my buddy told me to poke the yoke (yes, i did) and spread the

goo on the crispy outer edge of the crepe I thought, "ew!"

"Just do it!", she said

And so I complied.

Needless to say, by the time I reached the end, the slightly burned smokiness of the edge of a

real Brittany crêpe with the saltiness of the yoke was; divine!

The actual crêpe is a fattening masterpiece of cream and cheese. The spinach is the only

"healthy" thing about it! :p

What kept us going to Josselin at least three times a week, was not just the crêpes...

It's a family business; the mom greets us like her kids, and her son (the owner) is half italian

and we all had a little crush on him! LOL

This is my favourite crêperie in Paris, and many other's as well, if you aren't on time

a que forms outside! I miss Josselin!!

67, rue de Montparnasse Paris 75014 France

The Devil

I don't think it shows, but these jars are bigger than my hands!

Found @ le bon marché