Motivation

I am the world's best consumer. I am easily influenced, love bright and sparkly things and when I see a movie I like, I want to be like the main character. And no, I'm not 13... although sometimes I wish I was. This weakness goes hand in hand with my never-ending quest to get in shape. Since I'm easily influenced by what I see, I often watch movies that will motivate me to get my workout on, eat well and look fierce.

When Into The Blue came out in 2005, I went to see it with one of my girlfriends on opening day. We went to see the 7:00 p.m. show and immediately after I dropped her off at home, I grabbed my running shoes and headed straight for the gym. I worked out religiously (for about a week or so) with Jessica Alba in a bikini always in the back of my mind... after 90 minutes of watching her prance around carelessly in a bikini sporting the most perfect tan would make anyone feel the need to hit the gym pronto.

I often find myslef renting beach flicks for motivation and I think it works really well - for me at least. The unfortunate thing being that I get bored easily and find other things to do. Anyhoo, another one I enjoy (and watch at least once a week) is Blue Crush. After watching it for the first time, I found myself buying mis-matched bikinis and running every other day.

So overall, although my obsession with beach flicks is usually somehow linked to spending money, I do make it a point to start a workout plan everytime.

I watched Into The Blue 2: The Reef this morning (wait until it's on the telly, in the meantime, rent Blue Crush) and I am back on the workout train. But now that I own a house and am on a budget, instead of spending money on a new gym membership or different colour bikinis, I'm making a new playlist for my MP3 player and starting my own circuit training. Running, lunges, squats, crunches and pushups. Along with a healthy diet - you wait and see...

PS South Beach is over. I quit.

And on the sixth day, the Smurf said...

Will somebody PLEASE pass me some bloody chicken wings?!

It's day six of this South Beach diet business and I am slowly starting to question the sanity of the diet creators. The South Beach book comes complete with recipes and a meal plan for all 14 days of the first phase. As a reminder, the first phases requires the dieter to exclude sugar, carbs and fruit from their daily food intake. So the meal plans and recipes are super and actually look very delicious - if you have four hours a day to spend on cooking, steaming and shopping for rabbit food. Personally, I'd rather spend four hours a day watching HGTV or Slice, not worrying about what I can or cannot eat.

The past week has been quite an adjustment for me, as until now I have been a strict follower of an all-carb diet. Granola bar for breakfast, pizza or sandwich for lunch and cheese bread or something equally as fatty and satisfying for dinner, with an ice cold brew to wash it down. Now my diet is limited to eggs, almonds, salads, fish and chicken or turkey breast, with a hot tea sans sugar to wash it down. I am also free to enjoy water and vegetable juice.

This has been such a change that I even found myself dreaming about real food! The other night I dreamt that I was in my high school cafeteria eating chicken soup trying to convince anyone around me that would listen that noodles are actually not carbs if they are part of a soup dish. If only...

But all of this hard work has been worth it. As of yesterday around 7:00 p.m. I have lost 3 lbs! My theory is that the dramatic weight loss will come during the second week of phase one. That's my motivation.

But who are we kidding... I had a slice of pizza last night. Actually two.

My wobbly bits

I am part of the 99 per cent of the female population that is unsatisfied about their weight and notoriously complain about it without even a smidgen of intent of doing something to fix it. As of tomorrow - all this will change.

Just to give you some background information about me: I weigh roughly a few tonnes and am way taller than what is considered the norm. I have this fantastic two piece bathing suit I got at American Eagle a while back, that I proudly wore in the summertime. I had no problem ignoring the numerous amounts of rolls peeking out here and there. My wobbly bits were on full display all summer (all wobblies EXCEPT for my boobies, of course, because when everything else has miraculously expanded, THOSE never seem to grow!) I had no problem ignoring them, because I see them everyday, but I pity all those innocent individuals that were exposed to my extreme hotness...

This summer the two piece is coming out again! Xnay the wobbly bits!! You see, I have two problems... one: I get bored fairly easy with workouts, so I need an incredible variety, or I just choose to sleep instead; and two: I just freakin love food! I mean, french fries! Bacon double cheese burgers! Chicken wings! Just roll me around in a tub of grease and I'll be happy! oh and BEER!! Sweet Jesus! this is why my bikinis go through so much... all the stretching and all the pinching.

Since I have given up on my dream of being a professional beach volleyball player, a latin dancer and a surfer (ideally all at the same time) - as of tomorrow, I will be on South Beach. The diet, of course. Say good bye to freshly baked bread, to devouring six granola bars at my desk - all before my noon cigarette break. And to my new friend, the hot dog vendor at Bloor and Spadina. From now on, I will eat vegetables, think of vegetables and smell like vegetables.

And of course you, my lucky readers, will get to read all about my never-ending quest to lose that last five (OK 20) lbs. And I would like to apologize ahead of time for all the bitching, whining and complaining, because why would someone in their right mind give up all the world's goodness that is junk food?

All in the name of that itsy bitsy two-piece that is waiting for me at the bottom of my dresser drawer. Now excuse me, I have to go make a beet and lettuce smoothie.

Every girl's guilty pleasure (and I don't mean shopping)

I recently moved out of my parents' house. I fled the nest to a new adult world of freedom, only to realize that now... I have to feed myself. I've never been incredibly talented in the kitchen. I can make scrambled eggs, french fries and a mean grilled cheese sandwich. My mom is an amazing cook and we would always have seven course meals for dinner. At the least.

Since I moved out, I've received numerous cook books for Christmas (none of which have been cracked open). But there is only so much Delicio pizza and Kraft dinner my body (and waist line)can handle.

After scouring the cook book isles of Winners and Home Sense, I stocked up on more recipes. I thought I'd start with the easy stuff - desserts. I made a trip to our local department store and picked up mixing bowls, baking sheets and other glorious home ec. supplies and I dove in. Made my first batch of white chocolate and pecan brownies.

By chance, I have found a new hobby and am now addicted to baking. I have officially unleashed my inner domestic goddess!

Here's the recipe below. I wouldn't dare to be selfish, dish about the amazing treats I've baked and not share with my dedicated readers!

What you need:

225g white chocolate

85g or 3/4 cup walnut pieces (also amazing if you use pecans instead)

115g unsalted butter, plus extra for greasing

2 eggs

115g soft brown sugar

100g self-rising flour (I didn't even know there was such a thing!)

What you do:

1. Coarsely chop 175g of white chocolate and all the walnuts (slash pecans). Put the remaining chocolate and the butter in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of gently simmering water. When melted, stir together, then set aside to cool slightly.

2. Whisk the eggs and sugar together, then beat in the cooled chocolate mixture until well mixed. Fold in the flour, chopped chocolate, and the walnuts. Turn the mixture into a lightly greased 7-inch/18 cm square cake pan and smooth the surface.

3. Transfer the pan to a pre-heated oven, 350F/180C, and bake for 30 minutes, or until just set. The mixture should still be a little soft in the centre. Remove from the oven and let cool in the pan, then cut into nine squares before serving.

You (and your love handles) can thank me later.

ENJOY!