Weight Watchers: 3 Weeks In

Hello lovely readers! 

I have been working the Weight Watchers point plus program and I am happy to report that I have lost 11.4 pounds in 3 weeks! Cue WW commercial playing "Another One Bites the Dust"!

The photo above shows my face. The left is the day before I began WW, the right I took last Friday when I was playing around with my new phone. I had no idea how big of a difference I could see in my face already. 

The program has been fairly easy to follow. I love cooking the recipes and tracking my portions. Apparently I had been eating 2-4 times more than I needed. That was an eye opener.

This was the first meal I prepared, a cider glazed pork with fall veggies. That's a 3.5 ounce serving of pork. When I looked at the size I had been eating I was wondering if I would ever be full again! But I have learned much over the last three weeks, and now I eat more fruit during the day and a nice salad before each meal. I have stopped drinking as much wine, and I have increased my physical activity. I also have started wearing my activity tracker I received before I got pregnant to see what I am doing all day long.

My next milestone is to hit the weight I was when I began IVF. I have 9 pounds to go!!! It was very amazing to be at 5% of my goal weight this morning.

I will keep on keeping on and keep you posted!

Getting Some Outside Help

Being a stay-at-home mom has been amazing but also a rude awakening. In my imagination, before I left my job, I thought I would have plenty of time to workout AND my house would look like Martha Stewart's AND I would be raising a thoughtful and talented child.

All my time has really been on the latter.

I love this child with every fiber of my being, but lately I've become frustrated because I haven't been able to get the traction I desire losing weight. It's not Gemma's fault. Clearly, I needed a mind shift.

I thought back to how I lost my 60 pounds 13 years ago. What was different?

I was 26. I was single. I only had myself to worry about.

Fast forward to now and I am married and I have a baby. I've lost 7 pounds in 3 months but I had to fight way too hard. My priorities are different but I still need to find time to take care of myself. Plus, if I ever want to train clients I need to look like I train myself. Books get judged by their covers all the time.

So, I made a big decision yesterday. I joined Weight Watchers!

I lost my weight by counting calories and exercising. I've been trying to count calories since I've had Gemma and it is so time consuming I just stop because I don't have the energy.

Weight Watchers uses points instead of calories. Each food has a point value and you are allowed a certain amount of points a day. No guessing. No counting. No research.

I'm anxious to see how my experience will be on this program!!!

If you are going through your own struggles, it's okay to ask for help. Support is how we get through this life journey. I'll share my progress with you, and if you've been on the program before I would love to hear about it!

LA County Fair Food!

We went to the LA County Fair this weekend and I just had to share some of the culinary delights you can digest.

We tried the deep fried peanut butter pickles:

It's just as you would imagine. It sounded tasty- I like sweet and savory. It was a crispy pickle slathered in peanut butter and deep fried. It wasn't nearly as good as I wanted it to be! But worth the culinary adventure.

Check out these other offerings!

If anyone tried something exceptional, please share!!!

What would Beyoncé do?

https://www.livenation.com.au/artists/luisa-omielan

Today's funny!!!!

What I'm F'd Up About: FitVine Wines

I LIKE WINE.

I don't like wine, that's a lie.

I LOVE WINE.

It's delicious, it makes me look like a grownup, and it's healthy.

Right?

We've all heard the benefits of a glass of vino, and I'm happy to report a new wine company that has harnessed the goodness of the grape one step further: FitVine Wines.

I asked (begged) FitVine for a sample of their health wine so I could report on it for you, my loyal readers who I know enjoy a tasty glass (bottle) of wine on a regular basis.

According to co-founder of FitVine Wines Mark R. Warren, "We biohacked our wine to have higher antioxidants, no residual sugar yielding less carbohydrates and calories, and about half the sulfites. We've accomplished these things a few ways, sourcing grapes from higher elevations, taking our time in our extended fermentation process and being sure to balance out the pH levels of the wine to present a high quality, clean tasting wine for athletes and the health conscious. We did it without lowering the alcohol content as well."

It's true, the wine I sampled was at 13.5% alcohol content. This isn't  a Skinny Girl wine, people. It's real!!!

But how does it taste, Alison?

FitVine Wine sent me a bottle of red and a bottle of white, as if I was Billy Joel. The two varietals they currently offer are Cabernet and Chardonnay. 

Since I was a waitress for 13 years, I will use my wine adjectives here.  The Cabernet is warm and fruit forward, jammy, and smooth. There was a slightly bitter aftertaste, but nothing too lingering. I feel it would pair well with foods that aren't too strongly spiced. Or alone in a glass in front of the TV.  The Chardonnay was clean and fresh, no oakiness (maybe aged in steel instead of wood?) with a slight sweet note. It had some notes of tropical fruits and no lingering finish.  It could be an appertif or after dinner wine as well.

Bottom line, I would totally buy and drink this.

The label didn't list the calorie content, but a typical glass of red is 100 calories for a 4 oz pour and a typical glass of white is 120 calories for a 4 oz pour. Or, to think in more realistic terms, a typical bottle is 780 calories. So if FitVine Wine is less than that, that would be awesomesauce.

Alison, how can we start drinking like Iron Man athletes and Cross Fit Champions?

Per Mark, "Currently we are selling direct to consumer via our website offering free shipping on all case orders, 12 bottles. We will begin entering stores later this year in certain regions and expanding on that throughout 2016."

To enjoy and learn more about this fit vino, please check out www.fitvinewines.com. And save me a glass!!!

Soul Cycle at The Point- Thanks Club MomMe!

For those of you not in the know, Soul Cycle is a boutique spin studio that has a cult like following. 

I needed to know why! Is it just the cute clothes they sell and their disciples wear with such ferver? Or was there more than just an average class happening?

My questions were answered when I happened to catch a free pass through Club MomMe at Soul Cycle's new location in El Segundo at The Point.

It's a tight sweaty squeeze through the lobby/locker room to the studio. And an even tighter squeeze to get to your bike! But once I was on my bike with the help of manager Ben, I was good to go!

This was my view before they took my phone. I forgot to read rule number one in the lobby. My bad!

Good thing I didn't have my phone, because I didn't need the distractions. Our awesome instructor, Chris Layda, put us through our paces and was a champ at taking a room of mostly Soul Cycle virgins and making us sweat.

Something to know about me- I do not like spin class. I've been to about 6 in my lifetime, and have participated in Cycle for Survival, but that's it. It's not my jam! I DID like Soul Cycle, and it was the emphasis on the soul. The powerful phrases used throughout the class made me feel uplifted and empowered. I was really surprised that I liked it so much. 

If you are interested in trying a spin class with a little more substance, I recommend Soul Cycle. It was a motivating butt kicker! And I walked away with a little silver tote bag as a momento to show off to the other disciples. ;)

Thanks to Club MomMe and instructor Chris!

Weighing in: the Bugaboo Stroller Issue

I may be a little late to the party, but I do have a 7 month old. 😒

Have you seen this story?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/model-runs-with-bugaboo-stroller-in-bikini-cause-dont-all-moms_55b694c9e4b0a13f9d19a880?cps=gravity_5034_-6055823644082739700

Long story short, this model was chosen to run and model a Bugaboo stroller with her 2 year old. She is super thin and fit. People were upset about it.

To be honest, I hope that after 2 years I can look fit after having a baby. This isn't 2 months later. I don't know what all the kerffufle is. Clearly this woman is genetically made this way. You can't be a hater.

Who else has an opinion on this?

Operation Alison or Where the f@$k have you been!??

Oh, blogosphere! Is that what you are still called?

So, I said in 2013 I was going to blog MORE. Then I didn't write at all and now it's 2015. So much has happened! But, long story short. . .

I was a manager for Equinox West LA for two years and I got to conceive a baby via IVF. If you are familiar with any of those things you will know that those are time suckers. But I never forgot about my love of writing and all things fitness and pop culture.

This year, something amazing happened.

This kid! This is my daughter, Gemma. She was born in January. She is seriously awesome and my husband and I are so in love with her. 

She RUINED my body. Correction: IVF medications plus pregnancy ruined my body.

I've some weight to lose. Like the same amount that I lost when I became a fitness enthusiast. Like the weight I was for 10 years. 

Come on the journey with me! And let's have some fun along the way. And now I can talk about mummy stuff too!

With love and science,

Alison

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

Only 85 calories a glass!!!

Hello readers!  Lord, have I been the worst blogger ever?

2012 was quite the journey.  I was personal training like a mad woman, I got married in May, and I just switched from the East Coast to the West Coast and am settling down in sunny Los Angeles.

MY RESOLUTION:  Start teaching intenSati and Zumba!  My resolution last year was to become a group fitness leader.  Mission accomplished.  Now I just need a class to teach!

HOW TO MAKE IT HAPPEN:  Start classes here in my new 'hood, Playa Vista.  Teach classes to the personal trainers at my new Equinox, Sports Club WEST LA.  Just be brave and get out there!

I also resolve to be a better blogger and tweeter, so I am getting back on The Biggest Loser bandwagon and starting live tweeting again this Sunday live on the West Coast.  If you are out here and want to play along, follow my twitter handle, @fosterfitness.

Let's make 2013 the best year yet!  Wishing you love and health and everything you culd ever hope or dream of!

STOP ZOMBIE MOUTH!!!

The toothbrush goes IN your mouth, Mr. Zombie.

Halloween is this Wednesday (can you believe it? Where has October gone to?!?) and if you participate in trick or treating or any gaming, you are going to want to read this!

One of my favorite online games, Plants vs Zombies, is pairing up with The American Dental Association to give away free games INSTEAD of teeth rotting candy.

With the children's obesity epidemic on the rise, wouldn't it be nice to give something fun and calorie free?  Pop Cap, makers of the game, are allowing you to download as many coupons as you wish to pass out to all the ghouls and boos out there.  The game is normally $20, so you would be the coolest house on the block.  And the game is super awesome- I happen to have it on my iPhone, my lap top, and for the XBox 360.  It's kind of a big deal.

For further incentive, watch this clever little music video.  And Happy Halloween!

Another Reason to LOVE Richard Simmons. . .

Jessica Simpson says "It's working!". . .

. . .but you can't see it.  Jessica Simpson is the new spokeswoman for Weight Watchers.  If you follow the tabloids, Jessica allegedly is under contract to lose a certain amount of weight because she is getting paid to be a spokes model for the product.  But is it working?  I've never seen a more tightly shot ad.  It's actually comical.




Can you imagine being in her shoes?  There is A LOT OF PRESSURE!  I hope she succeeds!!!

MAY CAUSE MIRACLES!

Watch my hero Patricia Moreno discuss intenSati and the POWER of the I AM presence with fellow Sati leader Gabby Bernstein.  Warning:  this may cause miracles!

Drop it like it's hot: Why I am for the SODA "BAN"

Sugar Pyramids!

I love being an American.  I love the freedom to choose whatever I want to eat, whenever I want to eat it, wherever I want to eat it.  It's awesome.

HOWEVER.

And it's a big however.  (see how I did that?)

I also know what it's like to spiral out of control with my choices.  I feel like my willpower is not a common trait.  If others willpower were as strong as mine, they could take on the daunting task of trying to lose weight and succeed and actually keep it off.  But as a personal trainer, I know this isn't so.  My job is 90% motivation ALONE.  10% the workout.  The mental game is the one most people lose when they set out to get themselves healthy, or face any challenge, really.

Sometimes we need a little extra help.

I see these dietary "restrictions" as just that kind of help.  The proof is out there.  Just this week I read two articles:  the first article was how New Yorkers now ingest less trans fats because trans fats have been banned in restaurants and the second was that children in California are eating healthier in schools because the school menus have been revamped.  There is also plenty of evidence linked to calorie counts being posted on menus so people can see how much they are ingesting is helping people consume less.

These changes seem small, but the long term benefits are so HUGE.  Can we even imagine how obesity may be slowed because people don't have to drink a 44 ounce Big Gulp?  And if you really want that much soda, order two sodas.  It's not like they are banning Coke or Pepsi.  Even though it's not the worst idea on the planet. . .

Put Your Boobies In This!

I am chesty.  Sports bras have always been an issue for me- either too loose and I am smacking myself in the face, or so tight I can't even breathe!  There is chaffing, there is tube boob- boob issues, am I right ladies?

I was very excited when Under Armour Women asked me to try out their revolutionary new sports bra, the Armour Bra.  The bra is not one sized fits all or small, medium, and large.  It is sized like a regular bra for a custom fit.  I am a 34 DD, so I received a snazzy purple and black design, the colors for my size.  The bra has lightly padded shoulder straps, removable pads, and sturdy hooks in the back for an adjustable fit.

Yes, the bra is pretty.  Can it stand up to the jiggliest conditions?  I had to try it out in Zumba class, the one class where you only want to shake your ta ta's when you want them to shake.  I felt cool and comfortable the entire class AND there wasn't any wiggle unless I wanted it.  Since I received the bra, I have washed it three times and worn it for weight lifting and yoga class, and I have been completely happy.  Other bras I have used rub me the wrong way, but I haven't felt an ounce of chafe.  

I HIGHLY recommend the Armour bra for any activity, not just for the high impact activities.  It's cool looking, comfortable, and reasonably priced for being far superior to other expensive bras I have tried.  It's a tits up winner!