Monday, May 2, 2011

South Beach Meets Midtown East

Please excuse me for one day as I go a little off topic.

I work in an office that is primarily female. This has been a big adjustment for me over the past six months because for the previous six years, I had worked in a male dominated industry. There are a lot of differences between the two environments, socially and professionally. The office also skews very young, so I'm actually a little older the the average person in my group, when I had always been one of the youngest. I think I've adjusted pretty well, but I have found a few things quite interesting/crazy.

Like the fact that at least 10 women I work with are now on the South Beach diet. Three started today. I hear about it quite a few times throughout the day and I just find it a little odd that they're all going for this fad diet. These are such intelligent women.

If you've read my blog much, you know that I love fruit. Right now, in our fridge, we have fresh pineapple, mango, strawberries, apples, pears and grapefruit plus bananas on the counter. Never mind the frozen fruit ready for smoothies. If you know anything about the SB diet, then you've heard fruit is banished for the first two weeks. The thought of this makes me feel ill.

I've long moved past my days of thinking that a fad or quick diet will solve any weight issues I have. And I completely subscribe to the idea that a balanced diet and a healthy dose of exercise will keep weight in check (even though I'm a few lbs higher than I'd prefer).

Not trying to say here that I'm better than these women I work with, because I definitely do not think that, just saying here that it really is so much healthier to eat a balanced diet and get exercise. Sometimes it can be really difficult to fit exercise into our busy schedules, with work, family, friends, and other commitments. Sometimes, like when you're on crutches, it's hard to shop for and prepare healthy meals. And it's always best to have support when trying to lose some weight or start a new fitness routine.

And that's what they want: support. And guidance. In several of these conversations, I've heard at least one person say "I just need someone to tell me what to do." And I think that's so key to this! We all know the basics: eat fruits, veggies and whole grains. Don't fill your diet with fast food and packaged snacks. But it's the details that get people hung up, including me.

The most important thing is to be healthy. And eating well and exercising is the best health insurance money can buy.

Speaking of eating well, Sunday night I cooked for the first time in a while. I like creating rice bowls, as they're super easy to do and if done right, really healthy, too. I put a little twist on it last night and instead of using rice, quinoa was the base.

On top of the quinoa I piled: raw carrots, zucchini, onion, red and orange pepper. I also cut up some tiny red potatoes and baked them wrapped in foil till they were soft and browned. We topped it off with a little hummus.



It was a really simple and healthy meal, just what I needed after eating out TWICE the day before!
  • Do you work with mostly men or women?
  • Have you tried quinoa yet? Love it or not so much?
  • Have you seen The Voice yet? It's great!!
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Today's workout -
20min elliptical
2x20 front arm raise
2x20 lateral arm raise
200 crunches
1x10 front, side, back versa-loop kicks (left leg only)
2x15 leg extension
3x12 back extension
foam roller
stretching

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

great point, Lisa! I totally agree that people just need to be told what to do, and are REALLY quick to buy into quick fixes, fads and all kinds of crap like that. being so entrenched in the nutrition world, sometimes I forget how much people don't know (or don't care to know). I work with a lot of women too, and this kind of stuff drives me a little bananas!

Barbara said...

Diets never work. It has to be a life style change . I lost over 55 lbs 9 years ago using Weight Watchers and for the most part have kept it off. I'm not a fan of the new changes. They make sense , but too much fussing with calculators for me. I know after all these years what works for me. I do still go to the meetings as good friends I've made there are a good support system. I can eat anything reasonably. In fact , I'm really looking forward to Mother's Day Brunch at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn. I'm seeing shrimp ,fresh fruit grilled asparagus and other veggies ahead !

Connie said...

I work in a historically female career fiel (nursing) but as part of a hospital systm admin team i work closely with men. I am surprised at how men worry about weight. The team i work with all diet. The diet craze clnow is the Hcg diet. This diet limots you to 700 calaries a day -not healthy. For me, i am trying to get back.on track with a running program.