Entertain me Vegas...

I'm leaving for Vegas in a couple days and sadly this might likely be my only winter "vacation" this season if you call Friday to Sunday a "vacation", never mind that Vegas is freezing ass currently. (I already live in the North Pole and now I'm traveling 1031 miles/1659 kilometers straight south for more cold weather? Srsly weather gods?)

I'll be fine, I'll just console myself with fabulous retail shopping and massive portions of food while dining out.

Ha! God bless America. 

So as you can tell the 10 lb. rapid weight loss plan didn't really come together since I'm already talking about Vegas food binges, though I have been trying to eat well for the last few days. Honestly!

We're going again because Husband is on business at the huge CES Consumer Electronics show. So basically Vegas will be a techie-geek-mecca while we're there. And since I only pretend to be interested in the tech show (for Husbands benefit) I'll be spending my time in Nordstrom or the outlet malls. 

I've been to Vegas plenty of times but I can't help but feel I might be missing out on something while shopping the whole time. We always try to maximize our time there by getting tickets to a show, dinner in a great restaurant or two and always a night out at a club but what else is there to do? (I realize that sounds like a ridic question...) And we only ever seem to go for around 3 days so I suppose the tour of the Hoover Dam/Grand Canyon is a no go (as much fun as that sounds...)

I'm NOT a gambling woman so the casino is out. Money should only be spent on a sure thing like shoes! I cannot handle losing things. Especially money. 

{boring?}

So tell me lovely readers, what do you recommend doing in Vegas?

 I only have a weekend, and I'll likely be by myself most of the time (sounds like a blast right?)

 Lay your ideas on me, what do you like to do while in Vegas? What's fun, interesting, exciting,,,even if it's all a bit cheesy. It is Vegas after all. 

I'm up for anything (minus male strippers, that's no fun going to alone. So I hear.) 

{not this time thanks}

Eat nothing...

Christmas is winding down around here and things are finally getting back to normal after an über busy December. Normally I'd be kinda lamenting the fact that Christmas is over but I'm still looking forward to a few more family get togethers after New Years.  Yes more food and wine.

Question: how is one supposed to lose 10 lbs by January 6th when the fattening food won't go away?

  (Why the seasonally inappropriate quest for rapid weight loss you ask, we haven't even hit New Years yet?)
 Its because Mama and Husband are off to Vegas the first week of January and while we're there my plan is to find some serious dealz shopping for clothes, clothes and more clothes. 

 However I've apparently (over the last month) managed to eat a third of my total body weight in Ferrero Rocher, cheese and red wine. 

Obviously one solution is to maintain the December status quo and just continue eating, but then walk the Vegas Strip and shop till my legs fall off, thus burning off the extra el-bees that have recently decided to call my muffin top "home." 

Or I could pull a Bethenny Frankel and "Taste everything, Eat Nothing."

{What does that mean? Like literally eat nothing at all?  Well she did shed all her baby weight in 3 weeks...}

Let's keep it real here. I shall continue to eat, and I'll in all likelihood not drop 10 pounds by January 6th. However the elliptical trainer and me are gonna be on a first name basis. Hopefully?

What is your plan for the post holiday slim-down?

Just like Olivia Newton John, let's get Physical....ok?

I haven't spent much time talking about the ongoing "Massive Weight Loss 2010."  As always, "massive" is a huge misnomer but I'd like to think that big titles will equal big results?!  I got my starve on before we left for Greece this summer but after that I've kinda been in a holding pattern as far as working out and eating really "clean" are concerned. Well no more friends. It's time to get crack-a-lackin' (again) and get my derriere back to the gym (consistently, no, once a week isn't good enough.)
 Turkey fest Thanksgiving, and candy binge Halloween are behind us and there's honestly not a lot going on in November so what better time then now to work on my fitness? My pre-New Years resolution is to do my darnedest to not gain a mountain of el-bees over the Christmas season.  And if anything, by creating a buffer of sorts now (fitness and weight-wise) then I can deal with the inevitable indulgences (read: chocolate, cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, egg-nog) that are coming my way next month while still fitting into any dresses I may want to wear to Christmas parties. (Currently my calendar is open and I'm accepting party invites, feel free to send them my way...)

Lets talk strategy...

{80's aerobics? No, no leotards necessary. I'm talking about working out at the gym 3+ times a week}

+

{Salads salads and more salads. Insert fork here}

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{No devil foods}

=

{Things I'd like to wear for the many many parties I'll be attending. Cuz I'm popular like that...?}

What are your plans/stategy for handling the deliciousness and  indulgence that comes with the Holiday season??

Jennifer Hudson is looking fierce

Can we take a minute to discuss how fantastic Jennifer Hudson looks since she's shed the el-bees on Weight Watchers? (Yes, she's just another in a long line of celebs who are being paid to endorse a weight-loss program.)

 Actually more than anything I'm really loving her style. I saw her latest WW ad last night on TV and she is looking amazing (pics aren't available of it yet).  But here's a clip from her new campaign to fight hunger for children in the US.  I am lurving her look...jeans and heels, fresh natural makeup and a gorgeous lip colour. She's looking divine!

I'm not that hungry...for now.

So I posted some of our holiday pics on Facebook the other day and got a lot of great comments from friends and family about how enjoyable our holiday looked. True enough. But then I also got a few comments about how much food/eating/drinking there was in our pics. I guess I hadn't really realized it but it looks like our entire vacation revolved around food and eating. Pictures don't lie. Apparently we spent the whole 5 weeks chowing down in restaruants, tavernas, at our home or at friends homes.  Is that so bad?...only for those who don't enjoy gaining massive amounts of weight I suppose.....

{Out for dinner with the family at a Taverna, that's my Mama beside me}

{Husband and his brother}

{ With sister-in-law out for dinner with the whole family at another Taverna}

{Cousins from Canada enjoying the wine a bit too much!}

{Another day another dinner out}

{Eating at my Mother-in-law's village. Rustic setting but some seriously tasty food!}

{Seafood pasta with Lobster and Octopus}

{At Husbands mom's village, Petravouni}

{Another Taverna with friends from Canada}

{ Husband, a cousin and Kid #2's second birthday party bonanza at our house}

{ 40 people anxious for cake-time}

{My mother in law would kill me if we didn't feed our guests "properly"}

{Cake time!  2 cakes to celebrate 3 birthdays. Apparently you can get a birthday cake with your fave soccer team's logo, and fake leaves, and ribbons, and soccer trophies?! Only in Greece...}

{Out for drinks with my sister-in-laws BFF's}

{Friends over for coffee on the patio}

{My SIL cooks up a mean Octopus (well he's not mean anymore...)}

{Our last dinner at our house, BBQ for 15 people}

 Needless to say that the diet is back on like Donkey Kong. I honestly didn't gain that much weight due to running around after the kids, housework, and sweating profusely in 40 degree celcius weather.
The food in Greece is fabulous and when my mother-in-law is cooking if you don't eat everything on your plate she'll give you the guilt/stink-eye combo. Reason enough to eat up! And honestly, it's not really that hard...

Operation Starvation

Operation Starvation v. 2.0 has commenced. We're leaving for the motherland in 2 weeks and the beach has been whispering to me, "Mammaaa, I'm sunny, hot and invitinggggg, but don't you dare even think about planting your rear on my fine white sand unless you look good in that bathing suittttttttttttt...."  

Very eery, as you can imagine. That beach is a bitch. 

So since I don't need the beach talking smack to me, the only answer is to get this booty in shape, double-time. I'm at the gym 3 times/week and if the stoopid weather would cooperate I'd be out walking with the boys in the evening. But since this is Canada and I live near the mountains it's freezing a$$, like 13 degrees celsius right now. I'd rather stay inside and eat cheese, thank you very much!

That aside after 2 years of points counting, calorie counting, reduced fat/carb/taste I'm running out of ideas and need to pull out all the stops. No, Kim Kardashians' Quick trim devil products will NOT be involved in this operation. But I will take a little help from my friends....

Instead of my beloved breakfast cereal I'm moving onto eggs in the morning. I find eggs a bit hard to choke down in the a.m. but whatevs, I've got no time for sugary carbs in my world. 

Salads from McDonalds. Ok before you go asking, "why don't you make your own dang salad Mama?" I'm buying them because I've made 104 742 salads in my lifetime. YES that many, no I'm not exaggerating. I'm sick of making salads so it's time to buy some from McDicks or even Wendy's.  They're cheap and easy and tasty. Does that sound bad?

Laughing Cow cheese. It's creamy, portion controlled and low-cal. Yum.

And here is a run down of the ENEMY.  The food that I will be avoiding like harem pants, cluster diamond rings and Carrot Top's stand-up act, etc. etc....

{Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc. I love you baby. Mama says good bye for now. But we'll be together again soon...real soon...}

{Pasta with Seafood. You be good too while Mama's gone. Sniff. }

{Mexican. You know how much you mean to me. Don't be sad guacamole, I'm not gone forever. Just a few months weeks. And Taco Bell, I'll miss you too lots and lots...}

Whatever it takes to successfully complete Operation Starvation v. 2.0.  If you know me you know that there won't actually be any starvation happening. But it sounds good in theory. Please PLEASE share your rapid weight loss tricks/ideas/voodoo magic...

We are fam-i-ly......

{Yee-haw, it's a family reunion round-up!}

...reunited and it feels so go-od!!  It's a long weekend in Canada and I'm going "home" to the city I grew up in for a family reunion. They're actually calling it a "Wine-Reunion"...what does that say about my family?... that apparently we're a bunch of Winoholics!   Nothing wrong with that I say, at least we're like-minded!

I'm not looking forward to driving with my 2 kids for 3 hours without Husband and I'm definitely not looking forward to sharing a hotel room with my parents who are also coming down. Just the 5 of us in a hotel room for 3 days.  Some more wine you say? yes. please.

That aside it should be fun, I'm looking forward to catching up with family I haven't seen in years and if it weren't for my pesky kids I'd be enjoying a whole lotta wine. But instead I'll be running around after Kid #2 since he insists on climbing up on chairs, tables, walls, etc.  We have dinners on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at family members homes and are any of the houses baby-proofed? Unlikely, so I'm praying the damage done will be minimal. No one wants their nick-nacks destroyed by a toddler. I'm going to be run ragged trying to keep my aunt's homes intact!

In the meantime in preparation for this upcoming weekend I've desperately aggressively tried to lose the last 5 lbs that have been dogging me.

I've tried everything lately, intense workouts, low carb, 48 hour liquid fast/cleanse (for reals) and just about everything else out there. And has it worked? No.  I swear my body has had enough of dieting. After losing 60lbs (on Weight Watchers) its pretty much said "no more weight loss for you Mama."  No matter what I do I can't seem to shake these last lbs to get back to my pre-second baby weight.  Maybe it's time to throw up the white flag and give up??!  Is it too much to ask to look decent in front of relatives I haven't seen in years?!? Apparently. Is 5 lbs really going to make a difference one way or another. No.
Now to figure out what to wear....

To spin or not to spin....???

So I've been mighty tempted to try out one of the Spin classes that are offered at my gym.
But I'll honestly admit that I'm a bit scared because I'm pretty sure it will kick my butt into next Thursday. I totally enjoy getting a good sweat on, and I'm all for pushing myself but spinning takes it to a whole new level.

I dunno what it is that I find intimidating...the fast whirly buzz of the silver spin wheel,  the urber-fit Tammy the drill sargeant instructor barking "take it up to level 10 bitches!" from the front of the class, or the fact that my rear will be numb for a month afterwards. And do I need to buy padded spin shorts (like my butt needs to look any wider) or special spin bike shoes? (Really, am I that person?)

  

But the pay-off is supposed to be soooo great. Burning 500 calories in class you say? Yes please.

And can it be any worse that subjecting myself to another bootcamp class? (I'm sooo over bootcamp BTW...)

Well it's either spinning or Zumba and since Mama's dancing skills are rusty maybe I should just suck it up buttercup and take the dang spin class....