Rantings of a Creole Princess

Pull-Ups

No no...not the toddler kind.  

The REAL DEAL HOLYFIELD.  

Can you do them?  Do you do them regularly?  Do you do them with your hands facing forward or backward?

How often do YOU poop?

A family member's doctor is trying to get them on schedule to poop daily.

Best Heart Rate Monitors

UP by Jawbone

I'm in the market for a heart rate monitor.  Any recommendations?  Which one do you use?  Why do you like it?  What DON'T you like about it.  If money wasn't an issue...which one would YOU purchase?

Question for the Tribe

With apologies to the menfolk, but does anyone else have pain in their thighs and hips during Midol week? I mean like bent over shuffling like an old woman pain? I've never had this before and it's insane.

Housework and Working Out!

If you work out in the morning...do you make your bed before or after you work out?

Did you work out this morning?

Did you make your bed?

Angelina's Boobies

What do YOU think about Angelina cutting off her boobies to prevent possible cancer in her future?  If you had the money for the genetic testing and your results were the same...would YOU have cut off YOUR boobies?

My Medical Choice

Easy Chicken Piccata - Gluten Free

A friend told me that she's pays attention to what I eat when we're together and eating.  She said it was an eye opener that there are so many healthy choices that taste good and that she's been shaking up her weekly menu at home in her weight loss journey.  

She made me wonder about some of the other conversations I've had with friends about how we all have regular rotation menus during busy work weeks and I thought...hmmmmm...maybe that's it.  Maybe people kinda get stuck with making what they make weekly and never change up.

During the week I go for quick dishes but still healthy and flavorful.  You know...fast food at home.  Everything in moderation.

So I'm going to make a quick video (shooting for under two minutes) of some of the foods we eat all week.

Do you find that YOU stick with the same menu during the week?  Or do you mix it up too?  

This is Chicken Piccata.  It takes a full 20 minutes to make and it's delicious.  

Any dishes you'd like to see made into a quick video? 

Mo'Nique Weight Loss 2013

Mo'Nique has lost a lot of weight through exercise and healthy eating.  GET.IT.MO'NIQUE!

Check it out:  Monique World

SIP:  Wonder if she still thinks skinny chicks are evil?

Weight Training for Women

When you hit 40, you're encouraged to make sure you are doing weight training with your work out schedule because the older we get, the more muscle strength we lose for one.

Do YOU do weight train as well?  In YOUR opinion...would you go as far as these ladies did?

Zuzka Light Butt Workout

 

Zuzka is NOT playing.

Them STANKIN' Plankings for Abs!

Last weekend I was showing a couple of girlfriends how to do a proper plank.  One of them scrunched her face up and was like..."That looks like it's hard to do.  What else ya got?"  

And I told her that this is why she is not allowed to workout with me because I'd spend too much time side eyeing her instead of my hit it quick strength training.

Yall know I'm 43 years old and I'm vain as hell.  I go out of my way to try and keep my stride as STANK as possible, MY WAY.

I LURVE planks.  I love how hard it makes my abs feel.  Like...I can seriously feel my personal strength in the direct center of me.  SO HOT!  Working out for me is my mediation.  You know...my quiet time.  I like to do it alone and get it out of the way quickly.

I have a friend that I made at the gym who has been trying to get me to "train" her for a minute now.  I constantly tell her that I don't have any initials behind my name so I can't train nobody for nothing and I'm not trying to get sued.  LOL!  She says she'd never sue me and I stick with it cuz the only body I'm confident I know well enough to keep in shape is MINE.  Oh...and once you leave the gym...you're on your own.  I can't control what you're eating so there is no telling how you're stacking up the odds AGAINST keeping your stride STANK with your diet.

Too many factors.  TOO.MANY.FACTORS.  I can't train nobody nuttin.  Hell...I can't even train Jaru and Lucy to sit.  

SIP:  Unruly azz dogs.

Do you do planks?  Do you understand that strength feeling I'm talking about?  Those of you who workout regularly...do you prefer working out with friends or solo? Would you be comfortable training someone?

Nature Made Fish Oil Gummies

Every single day I look forward to taking my Fish Oil vitamins.  Seriously.  It's like a party in my mouth.  LOL!  I feel like a kid when I'm chewing up my mango/pineapple/orange/peach candy.  LOL!  I am SUCH a kid!

Nature Made Fish Oil Adult Gummies

I got happy when I found these because The Robinator can't take his vitamins without breaking them up and you can't break up the fish oil ones because well...um...erra...they are capsules with oil in them.  LOL!  So yeah...I solved that problem when I found these.  I buy mine at Target but heck...it's $2 cheaper on Amazon so yeah...Amazon it shall be from now on!

GO ME!

Do you take fish oil supplements?  Do you take any supplements in gummy form?

How to lose 5 pounds in 48 hours!

1.  Go places where there are lots of other kids you don't know.

2.  Breathe normally.

3.  Lay on your sofa feeling a bit warm.

4.  Go to the bathroom every 15 - 20 minutes as a bug slowly makes it's way through your system and forces every.single.thing not attached inside of your body OUT of your body.

5.  When the things being forced OUT of your body resemble clearish water...you've lost 5 pounds and can barely walk.

Namaste.

 

SIP:  You're not going to tell them what Boobie said?

Me:  No...that dude is cray.

What would YOU do?

It's 11:00 am and you realize you're hungry.

You had breakfast and lunch isn't for another hour or so.

What would YOU do/eat?

Would YOU use?

~ MMingo

PartySmart

Water Intake

I drink two of these a day.  40 ounces each.  I start drinking after breakfast and usually finish my second bottle around 7 or 8ish at night.  

The earlier the better.

I take the bottle with me everywhere.

The only thing is...I have to get up at least twice per night out of the bed to use the bathroom.  Robby doesn't think it's normal to wake up to use the bathroom.  

What say you?  Given the amount of water I drink...do you think it's normal?

Do YOU use the bathroom in the middle of the night?  

AWESOME Snack!

Drizzled with this:

Equals this:

QUESTION:  When you buy yogurt do you buy whole, 2% or 0%?

Question...

When do you take  your vitamins?

And so it begins...Night Sweats

 

 

I woke up last night sweating.  It's been happening before Midol Week and after ovulation for a few months now and, of course, I ask Mr. Google about it whenever it happens.

It's not a drenching sweat and I haven't had to get up and change or anything but yes...it's there, I'm hot and I kick the covers off and then I'm immediatly freezing.

I'm sure, at age 43, it's time for my body to start acting out and I have my annual appointment coming up so I'll make sure I ask all the appropriate questions.

Anybody else dealt with this yet?  Any advice?  What questions do I need to ask?  Other than the night sweats...I don't have any other symptoms but hey...night sweats are enough right?  I'm thinking so.

Talking to Grown Folks About Weight Loss

Yes...I said coversating.  Leemelone.  

SIP:  She also said "leemelone."

I was on the phone conversating with someone I don't speak to often recently.  She'd watch "The Coalition" and called to tell me how much she enjoyed it.  We're friends on Facebook so she'd taken an opportunity to look through some of my pictures and commented on how I look at age 43.  Basically...she thinks I look really good for my age and stated she wished she could look the same.

Her:  But I can't be eating bird seeds like you do. *Giggle.Giggle*

Gym Rat Duo!

Do you workout with your S/O?

Why or why not?

 

Scenario from real life...

A woman has had issues with her weight for most of her adult life.

She starts running and finds that it energizes her.

She tells her mother, who is also overweight,  all about how much she's enjoying running and that maybe she should start walking so she can feel the same way.

Her mother says, "I see you running, now when are you going to start losing weight?"

The woman leaves hurt.

She's scheduled to go running the next day but doesn't.

She doesn't the next week either.

She tells you, her runnnig buddy, what her mother said.

What do YOU tell her to get her back motivated and block out what her own mother said to her?  

Question From My Inbox:

What's the difference between depression and feeling like you need a change in your life for an extended time?

Elderly Parents

I broke down last night and started crying thinking about my mommy and daddy.  Living way up where we live...I know that if they were alive...I'd be of the mind to be to start thinking about moving back down South in order to be there with and for them as they age or figuring out how to get them up here with us.  

Robby and I are of the same mind and we're thinking the same way way about his parents as well.  Yeah...we're of the age where these are the types of things we're thinking about.  Taking care of our parents as they age and their bodies start showing the affects of aging.

What about you?  Have you started thinking about your aging parents?  Do you have a plan?  Do you live in another state from them?  Are you considering moving closer?  Moving them closer to you?

How are YOU dealing with your parents aging?  Do you feel obligated to care for them?

 

Flu Shot

I'm seriously considering getting a flu shot today.  The one time I got the flu shot years ago...I got the flu...but I've had the flu twice since then so I figure I'm 50/50.  I hear this new flu strain takes longer to bounce back from and I'm kinda concerned about that. Also...there is a flu epidemic in our area apparently.

*sigh*

Have any of you had it yet this season?  How long were you out of commission?

What do YALL think?  Are you getting one this year?  Did your kids?  Elders in your family?

Oh yeah...

Tell the truth and shame the devil!

Do you know any obese vegetarians? Do you ever wonder about it?

What vitamins should I buy? - Monnie & Robby...Healthy

Robby (Age 43, healthy, training for marathon, weight training): GNC MEGA MEN SPORT

Monnie (Age 43, healthy, active): GNC Womens Ultra Mega Active

Monnie AND Robby (Age 43...non-milk drinkers): GNC Wellbeing® Be Balanced - Dulce De Leche

We take two vitamins per day.  One with breakfast, one with lunch.  We chew one calcium chew per day.  

Omission Beer

The Robinator is pretty serious about this beer.  As supportive as he normally is...it was determined that he could NOT go Gluten-free with me early on because of his love of drinking beer while watching a game.  

Convo at 13700

Oh...and dude is a SERIOUS beer snob.  None of that beer commercial stuff for him.  He's all bourgie with his beer choices.  So when we found out about Omission beer...he decided to try it out.  Omission Beer

Here is what the company says about their beer:  

According to federal guidelines, we aren’t legally allowed to claim that Omission beer is gluten-free outside of Oregon because the beer is brewed with malted barley. While the FDA proposed to define the term “gluten-free,” that definition has not been formally adopted by the organization.

Part of the definition proposed in 2007, and again in 2011, states that a product may not be labeled as gluten-free if it contains “an ingredient that is derived from a prohibited grain that has been processed to remove gluten, if the use of that ingredient results in the presence of 20 parts per million (ppm) or more gluten in the food.” 

While Omission beer does contain barley, one of the “prohibited grains” in this definition, all batches are tested by an independent lab using the R5 Competitive ELISA to ensure that gluten levels meet our standards.  Although scientific evidence supports the testing, the evidence is not conclusive.  All Omission beer test results can be viewed at: www.omissiontests.com

Cool huh?  Would YOU ever try?

 

 

From Shelly: The Burpee Workout

The Burpee Workout

This is the kind of stuff they had me doing in Crossfit.  I walked out all cool cuz they could see me and collapsed in my truck calling Robby telling him he might have to come get me.

Have YOU ever rocked either?

20 Year Breast Cancer Survivor!

I was having breakfast with friends recently and someone asked me how long ago was it that I was diagnosed with breast cancer.  I casually said, I was 23 and now I'm 43 so yeah...20 years.

And it hit all of us at the same time.  I'm a 20 year survivor and hey...that's MAJOR.

Like...MAJOR.

Early detection is 100% CERTAINLY the reason I'm still here and I find myself sharing my story more and more with women so they know how important it is to make sure they go to doctor for physicals annually.  I was blessed that I had really good insurance but I worry about those who don't so yeah...this is also the main reason I'm glad Planned Parenthood exists so women in economically poor areas have access to early detection too.

Well...that's kinda all I want to say.  

Twenty years.  WOW.

Passion...from a Cancer Survivor

GO ME!

Beauty Tips from the Elders

I was talking to an elder and sharing that I'm having some issues with my skin due to allergic reactions to something the doctors can't really figure out.  The elder asked what kinda issues and I shared that I was getting tiny bumps all over my face which were red and on fire.  I told her I was using three different medications from my dermatologist and that two of them were really expensive and I was frustrated as hell.

Elder:  Get you some zank soap and some apple cider vinegar.  Wash your face with the zank soap twice a day and mix 1 part of the vinegar and 1 part of the water and wipe your face down good with the vinegar mix after.  Then put your face cream on and nothing else for a few weeks.  You'll be aiight.

Me:  Zank soap?

Elder:  Yes.  Zank soap.

Me:  I'm writing it down so I don't forget.  How do you spell it?

Elder:  *DEEP.SIGH*  (Like she's speaking to a plum fool.)  Z-I-N-C.

Me:  Okay!  Zinc soap!  

Elder:  Mmmmhmmmmm...

Me:  Love you!

Elder:  Mmmmmhmmmm...don't use no stuff to wash anything that's going to be next to your face  with color in it either.  None of that Downey or nothing.  Specially on your sheets and pillowcases.  They put all kindsa stuff in there that can mess you up.  Love you too.  Bye.  *CLICK*

So...I went to Amazon and bought some ZANK soap:  Zinc Soap

Then I went to my basement storage and got a fresh bottle of apple cider vinegar and did me up a mix as I was instructed.  I've been using it for two weeks now and yup...it's working.  I had to reduce the amount of apple cider vinegar because it was way too strong and dried me out too much.

I also started washing my sheets with All Free Clear.

Have you ever heard of Zinc soap?  You got any old school remedies beauty tips to share?

 

Agua

"According to the Aging-Parents-and-Elder-Care.com, it can be easy to mistakenly identify long-term dehydration symptoms as those of other conditions that normally strike the elderly. Long-term dehydration carries many of the same symptoms as the onset of aging dementia, or even the beginning stages of Alzheimer's Disease."

Read more: Symptoms of Long-Term Dehydration | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/about_5037945_symptoms-longterm-dehydration.html#ixzz280tCrnIT

RunKeeper App

The Robinator also uses this app while training for his marathon:  RunKeeper

I downloaded it too to see what it was all about.  When I was setting it up, I noticed that it has different training programs built in to help you train for different runs or walks.  I have a girlfriend who has a goal of doing a 5k in the near future so I sent it to her.  The training program seems pretty reasonable and nothing that will kill you.  LOL!

How many of you runners use RunKeeper?  Do you like it?  

Instant Heart Rate App

The Robinator shared this app with me last night and it's pretty cool!  Check it out!  Instant Heart Rate

If you download it...share your resting rate with us!  Mine was 64.  Robby's was 51.  I need to ramp up my cardio so I can beat him.  LOL!  Yes...it's all about competition at 13700!  

What's a normal resting heart rate?

 

Cool.

Losing 160 Pounds, One Photo At A Time

FoWare Water

TOTALLY HOT!  FoWare Water Your Body

Per Tracy Anderson

Tracy Anderson was on my television this morning defending something she said.

“A lot of women use pregnancy as an excuse to let their bodies go, and that’s the worst thing.”

I started laughing to myself KNOWING the mommies against anything were going to go after her.

Then...they started showing clips of Tracy working out when she was pregnant and she told her story of how she let herself go with her first pregnancy and how it was so hard to get back in shape after the baby and because she was so out of shape she didn't have a lot of energy and it wasn't a particularly joyous time.  So...for her second baby...she worked out the entire time and was shocked at how much energy she always had.  Oh...and she said it was easy to get back into shape after baby two.

So basically...she was telling her truth.

What do YOU think about what she said?  Should the mommies-against-every.single.thing-in-the-world-other-than-couponing be mad?  

My Fitness Pal

A friend of mine was over for dinner and complained that she was working out and doing what she knew she needed to do and yet...didn't seem to be losing any weight.

Robby...in his ever so blunt way said something like..."Sounds like you eat too much."

LOL!

He then told her about this app that he's been using that he RAVES about called My Fitness Pal.  He shared that the app is super simple in showing you exactly how much, many, etc. of everything fitness related thing you're doing.

Then SHE started raving about it and I side eye them every.single.time they whip out their phones and plug in something.  LOL!  But it works because it straight up makes you figure it all out logically based on the exercise you're doing plus the foods you're eating and factoring in your fitness goals.

Whatever works ya know?

Have YOU used My Fitness Pal?  Do you use something similar?  Have you ever been frustrated that you're working out harder but don't seem to be losing any weight?  What got you over that hump?

Going Gluten Free Without Killing Anyone

So I have to go gluten free as you guys know and it was kinda hard wrapping my brain around it at first.  Basically I can't have any wheat and wheat is in a lot of stuff that I eat and...ENJOY.

At first I went to the store and bought a lot of gluten free stuff and then tried them at home.

HATED.IT!

Everything was just...ew to me.  Hey...I'm Creole...savory is in my blood.  

Most of the gluten free stuff tasted like pure dee nothing and man...it was hard to choke down.

So I didn't eat that crap and couldn't eat what I normally eat so yeah...the kid shed 3 pounds without even trying and three pounds on me is decidedly NOT  a good thing.

AND I'M VAIN AS HELL!!!!!!!!

The Robinator was making fun of me sucking down his gluten full beers and smearing Smart Balance over his toast talking some..."Mmmmmmmmmm...gluten..." and he 'bout got cut.

WHO DOES THAT TO THEIR BELOVED WIFE?????????

So...I started thinking about it differently.  I started planning the same meals I'd always have and then just replace the gluten part with something else so I was still getting enough calories to maintain.

Take my breakfast.

Normally I have a big glass of water with lemon, some coffee,  three slices of Canadian bacon, two boiled eggs, a piece of whole grain toast and some kinda fruit (tomato included).  Well...the toast is now a no-no so I replaced it with this:  LivWell Gluten Free Crumpets

Yall...these are DEELICIOUS!  I don't put butter on mine though.  I just eat them lightly toasted and it makes me happy as hell.  Like...I HUM and rock while eating them.  LOL!  GO ME!

Now...take pasta.  We eat pasta at least once a week.  I was researching pasta and guess what?  The pasta I use is already gluten free!  It's an organic spinach pasta I get at the Amish Market and I can eat it!  But the pasta sauce was a challenge and I got frustrated with Whole Foods because they put the gluten free pasta sauce all the way on the bottom row so I missed it for like ten minutes.  

I made bunless turkey burgers and simply didn't put any bread crumbs in mine.  It was okay but I'll start trying different bread crumbs soon to find one I can get down with.

The great thing about going gluten free for me?  I feel GREAT!  Like...I got up this morning feeling seriously awesome!  Like me again...but better!  No pains in my tummy.  No issues in the bathroom.  Just all awesome and shit.  My doctor did tell me that I'll start feeling better almost immediately once I cut out the wheat and that I've most likely been misdiagnosed for my entire life about digestive issues and I'll be darned if she wasn't correct.

So...I'm happy.  I'm so happy...I think I deserve a new pair of jeans!

GO ME!

What to expect for a colonoscopy and an endoscopy!

ALTERNATE TITLE OF THIS POST COMES FROM AN EVIL, EVIL FRAMILY MEMBER:  Fifty Shades of Brown

*sigh*  It's a wonder I have issues I'm not working on.  

Welp...it's official...I hate broth and jello and will probably hate them both for the rest of my life.

So...the procedures they needed to do to get to the bottom of my health issues were a colonoscopy and an endoscopy.  I had both of them this morning.  Needless to say I was scared shitless (literally AND figuratively) and now that it's all over...I'm feeling like finding a few of the people who posted online about the procedures and whupping them for causing me seriously undue angst cuz it wasn't as bad as folks had me thinking.

Seriously.

I picked up my butt box (Suprep Bowel Prep Kit), as The Robinator affectionately labeled it (*sigh*), on Tuesday and kept side eyeing the hell out of it every single time I passed it where it was sitting on the dining room table.

SIP:  No...seriously...she'd look at the damn box like it was a terrorist she'd been forced to take in and given an oath to not harm in any way.

Regarding Krispy Kreme

I've noticed a lot of people on Facebook yesterday and today talking about this offer.  

Many of the people posting it can be found to complain about their weight loss challenges often on Facebook and Twitter.

SIP PSA:  Unless you are buying donuts as a treat for your office or a group of people...there is no reason you need 2 dozen Krispy Kreme donuts.

That is all.

Robin Roberts - Bone Marrow Transplant

Yall know I love me some Robin Roberts and I was so sad to hear about her ongoing medical struggles this morning.  *sigh*  

Robin Roberts MDS: 'GMA' Co-Host Announces She Has Bone Marrow Disease, Will Undergo Transplant

 

Question...

Lack of sleep increases stroke risk

 

How much sleep did you get last night?

Question...

What is YOUR normal meal before working out?

Proof!

'Fit2Fat2Fit' Author Drew Manning's Top 5 Weight Loss Mistakes to Avoid

 

Question...Baking Soda Soak

Any of yall ever take a baking soda bath for sore muscles?  I remembered it from back home and took one this morning.  1 cup of a new box of baking soda in warm water and soak for 20 minutes.

It really helped.

Workout Slump

I realized pretty quickly that I can't work with a personal trainer. See...I'm a child of abuse.  Yelling at me will get you the absolute opposite reaction you thought you'd get.

*HARD.STARE*

I've been bored with my workout routine.  Sure...it helped me maintain but I was soooooooooo bored.

So ya girl decided to amp it up by 100 notches.

Yeah...um...no...

So yesterday I had to do a stretching class so I could work out the kinks from the Crossfit'in.  When I walked in...I found it was filled with senior citizens.  Senior citizens who all looked at me with a serious damn side eye.  As I unrolled my mat I looked at each of them like..."FEELING FROGGY?"

Folks don't know I'll cut an old person.

Or a kid.  

Yup...I'll cut a kid.

So I'm still sore as hell but I seriously think I must be going crazy cuz yeah...I'll do it again.

I'm vain as hell so there is no way I WON'T workout but yeah...I need to figure something out quickly in order to make it continue to do what it do.  

I was talking to a friend and she shared that, while she has the time, she's in a major work out slump and needs to desperately get out of it because her middle just ain't what it used to be.

I'm actually thinking about doing a boot camp so I wanted to ask how many of you have done one too.  Would you recommend?

CrossFit!

I did some crossfit training today for the first time.

That ish had my azz trembling.

I'm SO confused.

This was like...WHOA!  The only thing that kept me going is that I ain't no punk.

And now I'm sitting here in my pj's trembling with a plan to move around as little as possible for the rest of the day. 

Have you ever tried it?

Mat-tastic

Do you bring  your own mat to the gym or do you use their mats?

Yoga Direct Extra Long Yoga Mat, Purple