Define: Ironic

Sitrep: 1x Abs Beginner workout

So I'm watching TV last night, and this commercial comes on with 2 models talking about their new clothing line (or lines) at Target. I think they were models, they said their names like the viewer should recognize them. They described the clothes as inspired by 1930's florals, but more 1970's, and "flirty", "fun", "ironic"...

Did I miss something? Is it those girl-genes I was born without? How can clothing be ironic? I understand flirty. (Sometimes). I understand fun. But ironic?

ironic
adjective
1. humorously sarcastic or mocking; "dry humor"; "an ironic remark often conveys an intended meaning obliquely"; "an ironic novel"; "an ironical smile"; "with a wry Scottish wit" [syn: dry]
2. characterized by often poignant difference or incongruity between what is expected and what actually is; "madness, an ironic fate for such a clear thinker"; "it was ironical that the well-planned scheme failed so completely"

Are they saying if I'm wearing the "flirty, fun, ironic" dress, I'm actually not flirty or fun? I'm confused.

I think it's more ironic that that SOB Mark got back on the Biggest Loser last night. Or that Ali (a girl!!!) BEAT HIM to be the Biggest Loser of the night. :) That made my evening. Although there wasn't far to go for it to get better, because it ticked me off when he got back on the show. It's more ironic that every Tuesday this year I stuff my face while watching the Biggest Loser. Now that's ironic. I think. Like I said. I'm confused.

However, I did realize something last night. I've been bemoaning the fact that I can't seem to get myself exercising again. All told, I've spent hours over the last 2 months thinking about why I can't seem to get moving again. Is is the fact that Alden no longer posts? Is is the slow down in Gator Patrols? Is it that it seems no one else is still working out? Well, Alden's posts weren't supposed to go on forever. Really. The man has a buiness, family, a life. And the Gator Patrol? I could start some of those myself, but I don't. No one else working out? Not true. I get glimpses of it now and then, in a post or two on the BB. What it really comes down to is this:

I've got to be able to sustain this myself, in the long run. That is the only way this will become a life-long habit. I've shifted tracks, moved onto a new phase in this journey of self-improvement and better health, mental & physical. I need to do this for me, because of me. Oh, that's not to say that having support from others isn't good. It is. It just can no longer be the only motivator to keep me going. I am the motivator. Me, and only me. Just like I am the only reason I've stopped. I am the only one being disappointed or hurt by my lack of action.

It hasn't just been lack of exercise either. There's been significant backward action in these areas:

1) Daily water consumption (some days are negative!)
2) Morning & afternoon snacks (amazing the difference that made!)
3) Controlling portion sizes
4) Choosing healthier ingredients/foods
5) Lack of journaling/tracking food & activity (on here, on SparkPeople)

All these tools I've thrown away. Well, no more. Isn't it ironic (stop singing, please) that my biggest stay-sitting-down-don't-move addiction, television, has given me such a big eye opener? It was Ali, on The Biggest Loser, that made me sit up and go "oh" last night. She was voted off in week 4, yet came back in week 11, having lost more (% of weight loss) than all the other eliminated females. Frankly, she's lost more than the women that made it through to week 11. She lost more than them, even though she was on her own for the last 6 weeks! 6 weeks in the real world, without Bob or Jillian, without her whole day at the campus focused on exercise and eating right. How ironic is that?

Modern Language Association (MLA):
"ironic." WordNet® 3.0. Princeton University. 12 Mar. 2008. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/ironic>.

REVing Up

So I had an interesting light bulb moment last night. While eating the pancakes I made for my, umm, second dinner. Sigh.

I've been trying to get this whole exercising and eating back on track. Not doing too shabby on the exercising. Better than I was for awhile. Especially now that we have the BodyRev group on Sparkpeople.

Last week was murder on the exercise/BodyRev front, not because I didn't want to, but because of getting that nasty sinus/allergy attack while helping with JT's wedding. I even took my BodyRev & DVD with me for my overnight stay at my little sis's (her mom wants to try it) but that was the worst night for the sinus attack and I could not do it the next morning. It was hard enough to get to the wedding rehearsal to take the photographs and help set up for the wedding & reception. (MB and I were the photographers. Gulp.)

By the weekend I was exhausted! Although I did rake the back lawn (thatch issues) Friday evening. And mowed on Sunday. With an old-fashioned push reel mower, thank you very much. Okay, it's a small lawn and was done in about 30-40 minutes. But still. :) On Monday I didn't exercise. Can give a hundred excuses. But did QiGong on Tues and Wed, and this A.M. I did BodyRev Legs and Abs#1. I want to do the QiGong tonight because I've noticed I sleep better the nights I practice QiGong in the evening.

But I digress. As usual.

My Revelation: I'm becoming compulsive over food again.

Not sure when it picked up. I think over the last two weeks. It's not PMS related (sorry if that's TMI.) It is totally stress/anxiety related. Not sure why...I can't pinpoint any one thing I'm anxious about right now. Maybe it's another stage of grief from Grandma's death? Part of it is the whole water thing as Alden pointed out. But that's not all of it. Hopefully by posting here and being honest, it'll make me STOP. It's just compulsive. I'm not hungry. I'm eating simply because it tastes good. For the pleasure of it. I'm trying to make myself eat healthy stuff, apples and carrots. But overeating is overeating! And the pancakes last night, an hour after I'd eaten a perfectly substantial dinner.

I also noticed through tracking on Sparkpeople, that my food intake is skewed in a way I'd've never guessed. If you had asked me, I would have said I was doing great on protein, a little high on fats, too high on carbs, okay on calories (maybe a few hundred over occasionally.) At least, that's where I thought I was for the last 10 months since starting REVing. Because I had totally revamped my eating habits. Portions, ingredients, no fast food, etc. But the reality is:

PROTEIN is on the low side on a daily basis.

Who'd've thought? Carbs, fats, calories are within my "range". Usually the middle or top. (Lately I've had days where I totally blew it. Like today when I got a Grande Mocha, non-fat milk, with whipped cream. Blew my fat and calorie count sky high. Eeeeek.)

So how do I get more protein? I can't do a lot of nuts due to food allergies. Migraines, body aches, etc. I guess I'll be researching that!

Anyway. I'm a little bummed about this, but not giving up. I'm looking at it this way:

a) I've had the portion sizes under control for most of the last 10 months, I can do it again. I just need to be a wee bit more vigilant right now.

b) I practically eliminated fast food from my diet, and when I do hit the drive through, I'm getting salads, etc.

c) I've conquered my cravings for tomato. A seriously big deal for me! It could almost have been called an addiction, and something I've struggled with for years. Yet the BodyRev helped me with that. Because I felt GOOD when I revved, and somehow that made me want to skip the tomato because as good as it tastes, it makes me feel BAD. And I think I was confusing my cravings for tomato with a need/desire for WATER. [Thank you Alden!!!]

Focusing now on getting the right balance of proteins, carbs, fats, calories, etc, is simply the next step. It's something I'd've had to do anyway!

So to everyone out there that's REVing, or working on any other type of exercise or eating or self-improvement plan, I'm sitting here cheering you on! I know it's hard. Some days it just plain sucks. But it is worth it. Keep it up, and I'll keep it up too. Deal?