I say that with 10+ years of learning to love myself inside and out. However, as I have watched my darling father struggle with health issues (heart disease, cancer, diabetes, among others), I have finally reached the point where I can clearly see that I am on the same path. I don’t want that.

In the past, I’ve always said to myself, “I’m only a little bit overweight… I haven’t even hit ___ lbs.” The number kept going up until a few months ago when I finally hit a rather-depressing 250lbs, which weighs heavily (haha) on my 5’4″ frame and has caused a fairly significant amount of stress on my joints. (I even had to walk with a cane for 6 months after a knee injury caused primarily by my weight… ridiculous!)

I’m 28 years old and I am so out of shape it’s embarrassing. I travel extensively, and I find it increasingly frustrating that I can’t keep up with my friends on walking tours and other such adventures. It’s finally time for me to get serious and make a real change.

I’ve lost significant amounts of weight in the past (over 40lbs on Weight Watchers), but my lifestyle over the past 7 years (living overseas with limited food choices) has made weight loss difficult and my weight has steadily risen to this all-time high. Now that I am living in America again, I feel like I have many more choices for weight loss help, even just in the variety of foods available.

So, I’m gonna do it. I’m going to lose 90lbs.

My strategy this time is to use MFP as a nutrition tracker with the SlimQuick fat burner supplement as a jump start (I only plan on using it for a month) to spur me on to healthier eating habits.

The main battle I see ahead of me is exercise: not only do I loathe it, but my joint pain (especially in my knees) makes intense cardio workouts painful and frustrating. I know that right now I can’t do those muscle-shredding-infomercial-type workouts, so I’m going to start with something I love: bowling! And, depending on my budget, I’m hoping to join a Curves gym. (I’ve done Curves in the past and it was surprisingly fun!) I know that I have to exercise in order to lose the weight and get healthy.

My amazing parents are taking this journey with me and already we are eating and feeling so much better. Living with someone else who is “dieting” is certainly motivating!

I will be occasionally tracking my progress here, but I will also be posting my daily nutrition diary on MFP if you care to check it out.

By this time next year, I’m going shopping! ;)

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I can’t help it that my life is so awesome.

“There is probably no more obnoxious class of citizen, taken end for end, than the returning vacationist.” ~Robert Benchley

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The situation in Bangkok is getting worse as the anti-government protesters clashed with police yesterday, ending in casualties on both sides.

The Red Shirts have succeeded in closing down most of the city, including public transportation and shopping areas, but they have not succeeded in making any political headway.

True democracy doesn’t work this way.

True democracy doesn’t blow the other side up when it doesn’t get its way.

True democracy doesn’t bribe and pay the uneducated masses to protest something that most of them don’t even understand.

The Thai people claim they want democracy, but this isn’t the way to go about it. Until the corruption ends on both sides of the line, these sorts of violent reactions will continue, bringing absolutely no peace to Thailand.

See all of my Red Shirt pictures here.

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The Movie

Green Zone

Director: Paul Greengrass

Cast: Matt Damon (Roy Miller), Brendan Gleeson (Martin Brown), Amy Ryan (Lawrie Dayne), Greg Kinnear (Clark Poundstone), Khalid Abdalla (Freddy), Yigal Naor (Al Rawi), Jason Isaacs (Briggs)

Plot Summary: A rogue U.S. Army officer searches for weapons of mass destruction in the Green Zone of Baghdad. Based on the book Imperial Life in the Emerald City by Rajiv Chandrasekaran.

The Good

» Matt Damon. I went into this movie expecting a mixture of Bourne and The Hurt Locker, and that’s exactly what I got from Damon’s performance. His character was gritty and interesting without being over-the-top impossible.

» The casting. In addition to Matt Damon, the rest of the Green Zone cast was phenomenal, and their stunning performances really carried the film. I was especially impressed by Khalid Abdalla’s emotionally charged performance as Freddy; I hope this proves to be a real breakout role for him.

The Bad

» The cinematography. Don’t get me wrong – the effects were great – but the overuse of the shaky cam technique had me fighting nausea for most of the movie. I’m not opposed to the occasional rocky scene to convey a “realistic” tone, but I don’t think it helped Green Zone at all; if anything, it detracted from the viewing experience.

» The agenda. I don’t go to a movie like this to have Hollywood’s political beliefs shoved down my throat; I want to see action and plot, nothing more. I would have been able to brush it aside had it been more subtle, but the blatant anti-war “message” of this film hits you like a steamroller.

Overall Impression

Even while fighting nausea and politics, I enjoyed this movie immensely. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time thanks to the fantastic performances and special effects. Green Zone is definitely worth the watch.

Overall Rating

★ Hated it.
★★ Disliked it.
★★★ Liked it.
★★★★ Really liked it.
★★★★★ LOVED it.

Trailer

Read more of my movie reviews here!

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• [Movie Review] When In Rome
• [Movie Review] Alice in Wonderland
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The Movie

Alice in Wonderland

Director: Tim Burton

Cast: Mia Wasikowska (Alice), Johnny Depp (Mad Hatter), Helena Bonham Carter (Red Queen), Anne Hathaway (White Queen), Crispin Glover (Knave of Hearts), Stephen Fry (Cheshire Cat), Michael Sheen (White Rabbit), Alan Rickman (Blue Caterpillar)

Plot Summary: Nineteen-year-old Alice Lidell tumbles down a rabbit hole and finds herself in a fantasy world filled with magic and madness. A war is raging between the Red Queen and the White Queen, and Alice is pulled into the fight.

The Good

» Johnny Depp. Did we expect anything less? His turn as the Mad Hatter was nothing short of brilliant. I must confess that he was 90% of the reason why I went to the movie (Alan Rickman being the other 10%), and I was not disappointed. He made the Hatter creepy and loveable at the same time, and I daresay that this will be a performance that audiences won’t soon forget.

» Helena Bonham Carter. Always amazing, she really outdid herself this time. She completely fit my imagination’s characterization of the Red Queen, and her interactions with the Knave of Hearts (Crispin Glover – also amazing) were absolutely wonderful.

» The effects. Tim Burton is known for his visually stunning films and unique style; Alice certainly fits the bill. He made Wonderland come alive in a way that was exciting for both children and adults.

The Bad

» The 3D. While the hype for Alice‘s 3D experience was high, the delivery of it was low. I found the 3D to actually be more distracting than anything else, and there were several points in the film where I actually took off my 3D glasses just to get away from it. When done well, 3D can be amazing (as evidenced by Avatar), but I fear that many directors may be hopping onto a bandwagon that not everyone belongs on, including Tim Burton.

» Mia Wasikowska. I know some reviewers have been raving about her performance, but I fail to see why. I found her dull and unemotional for the majority of the film. Perhaps that was her interpretation of a young Victorian girl, but if so, she missed the mark on the fanciful and adventurous Alice we all know and love. However, this is the first film I’ve seen her in, so I’d like to give her the benefit of the doubt and assume that her other acting roles are much better.

» Anne Hathaway. Don’t get me wrong, I adore Anne Hathaway and have seen every single one of her films, but her portrayal of the White Queen was excruciatingly annoying. I cringed every time she came on screen. Perhaps I should blame the screenwriters for giving the White Queen such a grating personality, but unfortunately Hathaway will take most of the heat for this performance. The only thing that made it bearable was the 8-year-old boy behind me who reverently whispered, “She’s so beautiful!” every few minutes. At least he’s got good taste.

Overall Impression

I quite enjoyed this particular movie-going experience, as did the dozens of children in my theater who laughed and gasped at all the right places. Tim Burton has created yet another fantasy land where the audience can lose themselves for a short while and then bemoan coming back to reality. For those who haven’t yet had the opportunity to see it, I recommend skipping the 3D and going back to basics (and saving a few bucks).

Overall Rating

★ Hated it.
★★ Disliked it.
★★★ Liked it.
★★★★ Really liked it.
★★★★★ LOVED it.

Trailer

Read more of my movie reviews here!

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• [Movie Review] Green Zone
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• [Movie Review] When In Rome

The Movie

When In Rome

Director: Mark Steven Johnson

Cast: Kristen Bell (Beth), Josh Duhamel (Nick), Anjelica Huston (Celeste), Dax Shepard (Gale), Will Arnett (Antonio), Jon Heder (Lance), Danny DeVito, Alexis Dziena (Joan), Kate Micucci (Stacy), Bobby Moynihan (Puck), Lee Pace (Brady), Don Johnson (Beth’s dad)

Plot Summary: A career-driven woman who is unlucky in love steals some coins from the Fountain of Love while in Rome. As a result, a spell is cast on the owners of the coins, causing them to fall in love with her.

The Good

» Kristen Bell. I have been a fan of Bell since her work on Veronica Mars, a stunning show that was cancelled before the tiny blonde fireball was able to really be “discovered” by Hollywood. While this film will probably not be the star vehicle for Bell that her fans were hoping for, she still gives a solid performance. Her character was delightful and witty without being overly stereotypical for a romantic lead.

» Josh Duhamel. He has a great mix of the awkward and the charming, exactly what one expects from a romantic comedy. Plus, Duhamel and Bell had believable on-screen chemistry that made me want to keep watching even though the script was lacking.

» The supporting cast. I have to say that the entire cast gave wonderful performances that allowed the two leads to shine while providing a few chuckles along the way. It was great to see talent like Anjelica Huston and Danny DeVito together on screen.

» Napoleon and Pedro. The movie may be worth seeing just for them.

The Bad

» The script. It went beyond bad and into abysmal territory right off the bat. It’s unfortunate that the screenwriters (David Weissman and David Diamond) couldn’t come up with better jokes. The laughs leaned toward slapstick far too many times, and many scenes just felt forced.

» The “stalkers” (aka the guys who fall in love with Beth). While the actors themselves were enjoyable, the complete mess of characters paraded across the screen had me hoping that Bell’s character would pull a Veronica Mars and tase one of them. A few of them had me laughing, most had me cringing at the creep factor.

Overall Impression

In spite of the poor script and predictable plot, I found the movie enjoyable if only because of the cast. Kristen Bell and Josh Duhamel were adorable and enchanting; I only wish they had better material to work with.

Overall Rating

★ Hated it.
★★ Disliked it.
★★★ Liked it.
★★★★ Really liked it.
★★★★★ LOVED it.

Trailer

Disclaimer: The trailer is funnier than the movie.

Read more of my movie reviews here!

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• [Movie Review] Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief
• [Movie Review] Green Zone
• [Movie Review] Alice in Wonderland

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• The day I see a leaf is a marvel of a day

+++

Dear Lion,
Please don’t eat me. No, you’re my enemy, I will eat you! Please, if you don’t eat me I will tell the staff to give you extra meat. Ok. Thank you.
Your Friend Zebra

+++

Dear Predator,
I am already dead. You are too late. I am already in a bear’s body.
Your disgusting prey, Fish.

+++

Dear Worm,
Will you come to my house for dinner? Because I want to eat you. You taste so good. You taste so good my mouth is watering. Please come. Please.
Your really nice friend, Bird.

Dear Bird,
I will not come. Because you are going to eat me. Do not eat me. Please.
Worm

+++

Dear Wolf,
I heard your letter and that makes me crazy. So do not write that letter again. And do not eat us, eat others like cows.
From, Skunk

+++

Dear Constrictor,
What things do you like to eat? I don’t mean like squirrels or moles, I mean like seasoning. Do you like squirrels that ate chestnuts or birds that ate seeds? Pelase make a list of the animals you eat and what you want them to eat. Send the list to me.
Your meal, Rabbit

Dear Rabbit,
You tasted horrible, what in the world did you eat? You tasted like apples with salt and spinach. I wish I hadn’t given in to you. Tell me how to get this taste off my tongue.
Your friend, Constrictor

+++

Dear Tiger,
Please do not eat me. Please take the energy from somewhere else. I know you don’t always eat monkeys, so instead can you please eat that other animal. Please help.
Monkey

Dear Monkey,
Thank you for existing. You are very yummy in my tummy. Thank you for the energy you give me, it helps me run.
Your enemy, Tiger

+++

Dear Anteater,
Please don’t eat me. If you eat me I will bite on your mouth.
Your prey, Ant

+++

Dear Penguin,
I am coming to eat you. I am hungry to eat a penguin. I’m coming at midnight to eat you. P.S. You should be ready before I am there.
Your predator, Seal

Dear Seal,
Please do not eat me . I want to live on the earth. I like the earth a lot, please. Let me live on the earth. P.S. I am not going to be here at midnight.
Your prey, Penguin

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• I’ll Let You Eat My Friends

Only the misspellings have been fixed for ease of reading. The rest is 100% kid.

+++

Dear Moose,
I ate you for breakfast because I need your protein and breakfast is the most important meal of the day and that’s the way the food chain goes.
Love, Alligator

+++

Dear Fox,
Thank you very much Fox for letting me eat you. You have a very good taste. But the only thing is you have so much fur and your bones are so hard.
Love, Cheetah

+++

Dear Lion,
Please don’t eat me. I just want to live like you. Animals have lives too you know. If I was the lion and you were the zebra how would you feel?
Love, Zebra

+++

Dear Moose,
I am sorry that I need to eat you. I know that you still want to live with your family, and I hope you will go to heaven.
From, Tiger

Dear Tiger,
Thank you for sending this. I hope you go to heaven when you die too.
From, Moose

+++

Dear Alligator,
I was so scared when you were going to eat me. I almost fainted but I did not and you almost got a bite of me. So I made up my mind because you had to live so I let you eat me.
Sincerely, Deer

Dear Deer,
Thank you for letting me eat you. You were so tasty.
Sincerely, Aligator

+++

Dear Tiger,
Please don’t eat me! I’ll let you eat my friends. My friends are very fat and nice. They are up on the hill.
Love, Deer

+++

Dear Rat,
I wanted to eat you today because you look plump, fat, and juicy. To remember you I coughed out your pellet. I can see you far away at night with my greedy eyes.
Love, Owl

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