March 2008 archives

So I'm not the only one who is flipping out mad about Random House and its decision to not only continue with the preposterous use of a clothing size as a character descriptor in the Sweet Valley High series of young adult books being re-released by the behemoth book publisher, but also to lower that number.

The perfect size, it seems, is actually a four, not a six, as it was twenty years ago.

I know my previous post was riddled with more f-bombs than you can shake a stick at. My family is, no doubt, sighing deeply. My reaction was visceral, especially considering that it's been a tough winter, one that's found me struggling with my own body as it continues to adjust to thyroid medication. Five-to-seven pounds may not sound like a big deal to be gaining in three months, but when you work out as much as I do, and adhere to a pretty healthy, moderate diet, it's tough not to have all of your old body image issues surface when all of that effort produces, well, nothing because of the little blue pill you take every morning.

But all that said, I'm still angry about the language in the books. And by the emails and Twitters I received, I'm not the only one out there. Some of you sent emails last night to Noreen Marchisi and Kathy Dunn, and obviously, now, you can too if the spirit moves you.

I'm sure as much as anything that the SVH series isn't the only YA book out there that elects to use something such as a clothing size to describe its main characters. There is nothing inherently wrong with it, and there is nothing wrong with describing the body type of a main character in a book, fat or thin. What irks me is how that size, and therefore that body type, is quantified. In the canon of the series itself, I've never understood the importance of pointing out their clothing size, if only to forcibly hammer home the point that the Wakefield twins are conventionally attractive girls. But the idea of calling it "perfect?"

Really? Do we have to keep using such irresponsible language?

The fact that they've set that standard of perfection to an even lower size, one many girls simply can't fit into, is just cruel. And unnecessary. And as far as I'm concerned, if it is one more contribution to the cacophony of messages that serve to distort and destroy a young girl's self-esteem, no matter how seemingly innocuous, it's one contribution too many. I'm sure there are other books that use similar language, but this is the one that I grew up reading, one that I consider an influence in how I viewed myself. And it's the one whose publicist and publicity manager issued a press release touting the offensive phrase itself.

C'mon, Random House. Drop the the three little words and live with yourself a bit longer and more peacefully. Don't be such simple-minded assholes.

Posted by Erin at 09:21 AM | | filed under: Random

Especially the folks at Knopf Delacorte Dell?

FUCK YOU. Seriously. FUCK YOU.

And especially a HUGE Lose The Buddha FUCK YOU to both Noreen Marchisi and Kathy Dunn, two women who oughta know the fuck better. I don't know any woman who, no matter her size, hasn't been impacted by arbitrary standards of beauty, set by narrow-minded, fascist ignorants. So that the following is being lead by two women just adds insult to injury.

There is not a woman of my generation alive who didn't read the Sweet Valley High series of books and NOT recall the stigma of NOT being a "perfect size six," which, you might recall, was the size of the Wakefield twins, the main characters of the series. My boyfriend just took an informal poll at his office and EVERY woman he spoke to remembers and can recount that little fact as there wasn't a SVH book that didn't include that little factoid.

And now Random House is re-releasing the series, with some modern updates to "appeal to today's reader."

Which apparently includes LOWERING what constitutes a "perfect" size from the aforementioned six to a SIZE FOUR.

Look, I don't blame Sweet Valley High for a lifetime of body image issues, but subtle influences like reading "perfect size six" in book after book after book of a series I read in my formative years was just one more contributing factor. And to think that the people who publish these books would reissue the series with such damaging language angers me to no end. I don't agree with how it was used then, but culturally speaking, the idea of assigning perfection to a clothing size was certainly more pervasive in the 80s.

We're supposed to have evolved and communicated the dangers of perpetuating such ideas! We're supposed to care more for our girls! Hell, we're supposed to care more about our society in general that we stop allowing a select few to do such things.

I take responsibility for the fact that I'm an educated, knowledgeable person who has a choice whether or not to continue to be victimized by these sorts of people. I don't say this because a book publisher has decided to assign a value to a clothing size and now I'm feeling bad about being a size 10. But I'm a grown woman and I know better and I've fought long and hard to overcome "lessons" I learned as a young girl that taught me to hate my body and be critical of its shape at all times.

But it's the young girls who are going to read these books and think they don't measure up because the tag on their skirt doesn't read "4." That's what I'm mad about.

You should be too.

Posted by Erin at 03:10 PM | | filed under: Random

Pretty much the same things that have been going on for, well, forever now.

Some pieces of good news:

1) I have some personal training sessions owed to me at my old gym. I think about three or four. My current gym finally got back to me about the package I bought in December. This means I'll be able to work with a personal trainer for the next six weeks. Which rules.
2) I have the Shamrock Shuffle this weekend, which is the annual 8K race here in Chicago that marks the start of the running season. I love it. I'm running it in the morning and then heading off to Las Vegas for work that afternoon.
3) Vegas = Running The Strip in the mornings. Holy Moses. Just knowing that I will be running, for four days in a row, in 70-degree heat makes me giddy.
4) Yesterday I ran three, 10-minute miles.
5) Tuesday night I popped in a Turbo Jam DVD - Punch, Kick and Jam - and oh my God. Things on me hurt that hadn't hurt in a long time. Ow. I don't think I've done that in about four months and it was clear what muscles I've been using and not using.

Lastly, I'm worried about my thyroid medication and whether it's having an effect on my body. I had my dosage switched up in January and ever since then, I've had some serious issues with my weight. I haven't stepped on a scale in a while but things feel a little off. My pants are a smidge tighter, mostly my jeans, and it's just ... yeah. Off. It's incredibly frustrating considering how hard I've been working out, and all of the weight lifting I've been doing, all of the clean eating ...

I've not necessarily looking to lose weight - save for the few pounds I seem to have gained - as much as I've been looking to at least maintain where I'm at. I've been frustrated by the gain for some time and I finally figured out what may be to blame. There's no other possible explanation. Like I said, it's not a huge gain, but enough that something is amiss. And I wouldn't lose sleep over it if it weren't for the fact that it stands to reason that not only should I not have gained weight (not muscle mass here, people, as that wouldn't cause my waistband to be tight) but also shouldn't be struggling so much to lose it.

Anyway, after this month my prescription runs out and I do more follow up tests with my doctor. This whole thing irritates me to no end because the new prescription HAS helped me with the whole exhaustion issue, which has been nice. I can't remember the last time I got home and sat on the couch only to fall asleep. But this is what happens - you tinker and play and fix until something works better. Part of it rests with me - eating well, getting plenty of sleep, exercise, vitamins - and part of it rests with the medication. I'll figure out a decent combo eventually.

Anyone else have this problem with their thyroid medication? I'd really thought that I wasn't going to be hit with this after the lower dosage did so much in terms of dropping the weight with me not doing anything differently than I'd done before - it was after three months on the medication that my weight slipped into the 130s with, again, no huge changes in my lifestyle.

I'm opening the comments. Let me know your thoughts thyroid folks!

Posted by Erin at 11:26 AM | Comments (7) | filed under: Random

It took me a full week to recover from that cold. And then I had to go and eat corned beef and drink Guinness yesterday.

I had to. I don't screw around with shitty substitutes on the major holidays.

My stomach is in a bit of an uproar over it all, however, and despite a day of clean, light eating, my body is still adjusting. Plus I worked late tonight and didn't make it to the gym before work, so I don't know that skipping a work out helped things much. Ah well. Things happen.

Tomorrow I'm going to be in the gym by 5:30 a.m. so I can run my three miles and do some heavy-duty lifting. I've been doing the same routine for a month now and it's time to kick it up a notch. I certainly feel stronger, and I though I can't see much of a difference in my clothes, mostly because my body is still very much under wraps, I can see muscles defined where they weren't before. Which is good.

Next weekend is the Shamrock Shuffle and then I'm off to Las Vegas for nearly a week. Lots of running on The Strip is planned, if nothing else. Mostly I'm just praying for winter to finally make its exit stage left because I'm really not kidding when I say this winter is getting the best of me.

Posted by Erin at 09:47 PM | | filed under: Random

Could this week have been any bigger of a PITA?

I'm rather thankful that the wretched cold I picked up on Sunday managed to make it's way outta my system today - though I'm still sniffling and blowing my nose and all gorgeously nasally - but it does such a number on me. So, no work outs since Sunday's six-mile run. I did take the dog for a long walk last night, and am planning to do the same today, but I'm not planning on anything until spinning at 9 a.m. tomorrow.

Hopefully one more night of sleep and rest will knock it out of me.

In other news, I have to share with you all this fantastic recipe for a veggie burrito that I ganked out of Oxygen. Maybe it's because I've - God forbid - really gotten into weight lifting, but I love that magazine. What I love the absolute most are the recipes. They're a little janky - simple steps are usually missing, and I invariably have to tinker with the measurements the next go-round in order for a recipe to turn out right - but so good and so healthy. I just had this for lunch and it rules.

Energy Veggie Burrito

1 large burrito tortilla - I use a low-carb wheat version
1/2 cup of avocado
1/4 cup of mache - Or any like-lettuce, this is the one I like
1/4 cup of chopped red onion - I use a little less since a little goes a long way
1/4 cup of chopped red pepper
1/4 cup shredded carrots
2 Tbsp of plain hummus

1) Heat the tortilla in the microwave for 30 seconds.
2) Spread the hummus evenly on the tortilla.
3) Add the rest.
4) Fold, roll, cut in half.

I added a little spray of lime juice and a tiny pinch of kosher salt after I assembled the veggies this morning to take to work. Kept the avocado fresher and gave the veggies a little kick. Don't ask me about calorie or carb counts because I don't have a clue, but it was so tasty and delicious, and perfect for a day like today, which is Springy and light and pretty.

Posted by Erin at 02:17 PM | | filed under: Recipes

... I'm sick. Gah.

No working out till I've recovered and am breathing normally again.

Posted by Erin at 12:41 PM | | filed under: Ouch

Running in 30 degree weather, while it's snowing, for six miles is way easier than running three miles on a treadmill in a heated gym.

It was awesome, and while I'm a little achy, it was nice to run that distance outside again. I think I might have exacerbated a cold bug - I do not want to catch this thing everyone seems to have but I can feel it coming on - but it was well worth it. I've since pumped cold medicine, vitamin c and enchinacea tea and I'm off to bed. Tomorrow is a rest day on my schedule, and I intend to use it. I want to make it to Wednesday so I can break out my new bike and ride to work!

My training schedule for the week is as follows:

Tuesday - Thursday: 3-mile runs, each day, weight lifting prior to each run. Upper and lower body.
Friday: Cardio kickboxing (optional)
Saturday: Spinning, weights
Sunday: 6-mile run

Of course when I make plans like these for myself I end up setting sick and not able to stick with any of them. So sad, really.

Anyway, that's the agenda. I'm off to bed.

Posted by Erin at 11:43 PM | | filed under: Random

OK. I'm just not responsible enough to update every day.

Here is the rundown: I missed my work out on Thursday, and on Friday all I could do was lower body lifting because the treadmills were all used up. So I missed my 3rd three-miler this week. I made it to a great spinning class yesterday morning, and did some lifting before class. And now I'm off for a six-mile run. Outside.

And I know it's cold - it's about 30 degrees here in Chicago - but I cannot even get my brain around running six miles on a treadmill. Three has been my limit. It is more boring than watching paint dry.

Posted by Erin at 12:24 PM | | filed under: Random

Training March 6
Run: 3 miles
Weights: Lower body

I am dreading lower body work and am glad that Friday is a rest day. Also, I'm supposed to do a long run on Saturday and cross train on Sunday but I'm switching that up. I want to take kickboxing for my cross train, and that's on Saturday mornings. Sunday is just an easier day to get in a run, as opposed to a class. I'm only lifting three days a week for now.

Posted by Erin at 12:17 AM | | filed under: Ouch

All of you lovely, larger-breasted ladies and your Enell love! I should have mentioned that I am a 34B. They fine folks don't make a bra small enough for my boobs.

Which makes me sad because it's as though some companies don't believe the smaller-chested of us don't deserve some support. My boobs are small but they do all of the requisite boobie things ... like bounce uncomfortably when I run! So we're stuck double-bra-ing it. I am so jealous because those bras look like they'd do the trick if they came in a smaller size.

As you were.

Posted by Erin at 03:48 PM | | filed under: Random

Training March 5
Run: 3 miles
Weights: Upper Body, Pull day

Thanks for all of the helpful suggestions you guys! My mission this weekend is at least two new bras.

So I realized I probably oughta explain my whole lifting "push day/pull day" thing. If you're a reader of Oxygen magazine, you probably know what I'm talking about, but if not, here goes.

In their February issue, they featured a training program that isolated not only certain muscles, but also the manner in which you perform the exercises. So on a push day, I perform upper body moves that have me pushing the weight away from me - chest presses, flys, tricep kickbacks, etc. - and on a pull day, it's moves that have me pulling the weight towards me - rows, bicep curls, dead lifts, etc. - and you do each on separate days. There also is a lower body section - squats, lunges, other horrible things - that is responsible for all of the hobbling I've been doing as of late.

Each move is done with a heavier weight, 15 reps, two times. I don't know - really, I don't - if it's helping that much yet but I really am hoping that I'll start seeing some results soon. When you're buried underneath all of this clothing day in, day out, stupid winter, it's tough to get a gauge.

I know there are probably more intense, more ideal programs but this has kept me lifting this season, which is more than I could have said before. After next week, I plan on kicking it up a bit, perhaps going back to an old routine I used and loved. For now, this is working in that it has me picking up weights.

Baby steps. Baby steps.

Posted by Erin at 12:35 PM | | filed under: Random

Training March 4
Run: 3 miles
Weights: Upper body, push

I literally grabbed my breasts this morning when I started out on the treadmill they hurt so much. Clearly a sign that I need a new sports bra.

Anyone got any recommendations? I've opened up the comments on this one ...

Last night I took Scott to Kuma's for his birthday and managed to not only order one of their burgers all veggie-style, but also avoided eating their awesome pretzel bun, which is hard because it's amazing. On Sunday I had a turkey sub from Subway and there was no way my body was going to be happy digesting two days worth of white sugars like that. No way, no how.

Sometimes being healthy is not as tasty as Dr. Oz would have you believe.

Today's run was good - I'm pushing myself pretty hard these days. I'm really trying to get better where my time is concerned. I have to admit that last year I never pushed myself as hard as I needed to in order to improve my time. I'm giving it a more concerted effort this year.

I'd really like to be in the 10:30-, 11-minute mile mark by year's end!

*Thanks to everyone for their great suggestions!

Posted by Erin at 01:12 PM | Comments (19) | filed under: Random

Training March 3:
Run: None
Lift: Upper body, push day

... are we in the middle of some sort of constipation epidemic? Because yesterday I made my way down the dairy aisle at a Super Target in the south suburbs of Chicago and I'm so not kidding you when I say that as far as the eye could see were products to make you poop.

Seriously. EVERYTHING. It's as though the dairy industry has commandeered our digestive systems, and if in fact we hope to partake of their delicious cheeses and yogurts, we'd better be ready to get regular.

In light of all of my issues last week, I tend to welcome such things with open arms. Besides, it's like a little built-in excuse to eat yummy cheese.

So I'm going back and forth with keeping some sort of training log now that the official running season is upon us. Well, it's coming up in a few short weeks. I don't really have anything I feel as though I need to be keeping track of, there's nothing I'm actually training for, but I'd like to start tracking how much I actually run. Plus, it might give me a good excuse to write here more every day.

At the top of each entry will be the projected work out for the day. It'll be in italics before I run/lift/whatever and then bolded upon completion. On Sunday's, I'll tally it all. Since I'm following Hal Higdon's guide to marathon training, I'll hot link to it, too. I'm game to at least give a crack at trying to run farther distances; it seems ridiculous that someone who runs as much and for as long as I have shouldn't at least take a stab at it. If I hate it again, it's not like the training is a waste of my time, you know?

This is why I need the weather to improve. I'm bored.

Posted by Erin at 02:23 PM | | filed under: Random