Guest Post: Nadia & Her Weight-Loss Mission

Hey guys! Please welcome Nadia’s 13th and 14th guest post! She’s a regular fixture here in Cranky Land
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Hello Cranky Ones! I’m sorry I was out last week – you’ll read why in this new post!

September is a time of change – autumn leaves turn (well, at least they do in other parts of the country), the NFL comes back in full force, and students of all ages head back to school. I am, as they say in the movies, a “giant nerd,” and I enjoy school and learning. In fact, I love it – there’s a reason I insist on continuing my comedy education through classwork. As a result, I’m currently enrolled in FOUR improv classes. And each of those classes comes with responsibilities to watch performances, not to mention practice groups formed outside of class to sharpen your skills and get to know the other players in your class better. So it’s no wonder that I’ve been feeling a bit bedraggled!

On top of that, I started a new temp job! Hooray for money! It’s a beautiful office located in downtown LA with friendly people and an office supply closet to die for. Best of all, it has a massive kitchen stocked with – get this – FREE FOOD! OMG FREE FOOD! OMG OMG OMG FREE FOOD!

And that’s where problems start.

On closer inspection, I realized that the free breakfast foods, snacks and drinks provided are all terrible for you.

Doritos, Cheetos, Fritos – you name an “-itos” food, it’s in the cabinet. General Mills cereal, plain white bagels, full fat cream cheese – it’s all there. Coke, Diet Coke, Coke Zero – take your pick! Don’t worry, there’s apple, orange and grapefruit juice for the health conscious.

No wonder America is so fucking fat! (I’m sure many of you disapprove of the word “fat” but frankly, I don’t care. We ARE fat.) Seriously, how could someone believe that Rice Krispie treats and potato chips are good pick-me-ups for the afternoon dip?

What’s worse is that it’s free – and I indulged!

I know. You’re thinking, “Nadia! How could you? You just ranted about how this stuff makes you fat!” It’s true. But when it’s free, it’s hard to resist, especially when your sad, pathetic cup of applesauce just can’t compete with a bag of Famous Amos cookies.

Now, I’m going to be at this job for a bit, and I believe I’ve gotten the “free food” thing out of my system. Still, it feels like a warning sign should be placed in that kitchen, along with kitchens all over corporate America. WARNING: ENTERING THIS KITCHEN AND EATING THE FREE FOOD WE PROVIDE YOU WILL RESULT IN HEART FAILURE, OBESITY AND TYPE 2 DIABETES.

Perhaps the change in the seasons and the feeling of going back-to-school is the perfect time to reevaluate one’s eating habits. If you’re wearing a shiny new backpack, you should have a shiny new outlook on eating to go along with it! So from now on, no free food from the kitchen, except for the possibility of the occasional juice or coffee in the morning.

They do, however, have free lunch Fridays. That I will not be giving up – but I will be wiser with my choices.

Does your work offer free food? How do you deal with situations where you are faced with the prospect of free food?

Best Meal:
[photo property of Lemonade Cafe]
Lemonade in Downtown LA/Venice: This cafeteria-style joint offers tons of fresh vegetable combos to choose from, as well as the choice to add “Land or Sea” to your salad or veggies. Choose half or full portions of delicious items like edamame and snap peas with sea salt, sweet potato and pistachios, and cauliflower curry. And for the price – around $10 – I got a TON of food that lasted through dinner!

Worst Meal:

Donuts: I’m not entirely sure why this came about, but for some reason, over the past two weeks I’ve had major donut cravings. I ended up eating 3 or 4 over the course of two weeks. Tsk tsk, self.

How I Worked Out:

Some swimming, some running, some weights. I also partook in a night hike up near Griffith Park. Night hiking is wonderful during the summer, although I highly recommend being more geared up than my band of merry folk were. Bring a flashlight and lots of water, plus a jacket for when the temperature cools down.

What Did We Learn?:

With the weather cooling down and my work and school life heating up, I cannot stray towards temptation! Stay vigilant, Crankies, and you won’t have to worry about what happens when you eat a treat now and then. You can enjoy it and still feel good about yourself!

This Week’s Goal:

The Cranky One proclaimed that I would not eat fast food for a week, and I did not. However, there was no goal last week, so nothing to report there.

Give me a new goal people!

Start Weight According to Crappy Target Scale: 141.6

End Weight According to Crappy Target Scale: 140.8

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Any tips for Nia on dealing with work-related food situations? I used to work at a place that also had cabinets stocked with junk, including full-size candy bars, peanut butter, and trail mix…all for free. I guess I ended up realizing: free is not free. Ya know what I mean? My body definitely pays for it! Any new goals you think Nia should strive for?

To see Nadia’s first update, click here; her second, click here; her third, click here; her fourth, click here ; her fifth, click here; her sixth, click here; her seventh, click here; her eighth, click here;  her ninth, click here;  her tenth, click here; her eleventh, click here; her twelfth, click here.

<3,

The Cranky One