Old Habits Diet Hard: An Introduction

I love the new year. Gyms are overcrowded, grocery stores stock up on diet soda and other fake healthy items, and absolutely everyone is obsessing about their weight. Well, I never stop obsessing about my weight, but I suppose the hype gets to me a little more in January than the other months of the year. It surrounds us all. My family is a little bit more health-obsessed than usual right now; there's this little event coming up that we're all wanting to look our best for. Now, I know everyone in my family reads this so I'm not gunna go into their specific reasons and concerns, but suffice to say that we all want to look marvelous.

Last night I was looking through old pictures with my sister to find adorable baby pictures of her for the Rehearsal Dinner Slideshow, and I realized something about myself. I have had this tummy since the day I was born, and it's never gone away. I have struggled with my weight my entire life. Now, I've never been obese, and I don't claim to know what it's like to be unhealthfully heavy or feel mocked when I enter a room. But I certainly know what it's like to feel self-conscious in a bathing suit or worried that my summer clothes won't fit every year. I've wanted to lose 20 pounds for as long as I can remember... and I did, one summer, when I was really ill, and of course the minute I got better and stopped living solely on Rice Krispies, the weight came back. 

This year is going to be different. No more empty promises. I'm starting a new feature on this blog. I am going to hold myself publicly accountable for my weight loss. Today is Wednesday, January 5th, 2011 and I weigh 141 pounds. This is the year I'm going to get down to my goal weight, which has always been 125 pounds. By April 2nd, 2011 (my sister's wedding date), I will weigh 130 pounds. This is my year. Welcome to my new blog series.

I have a couple tools of the trade. This morning I downloaded the MyFitnessPal iPhone app. Now, I've tried calorie counting before, and I always fail within a week. But with this app, I not only have access to all of this nutritional information on the Internet but on my phone... which is on me at all times.

Source

I know there are a million calorie counting apps and websites out there. Here's why I picked MFP:

• It starts by asking you your current weight, goal weight, and how many pounds you want to lose per week. Based on this information, it gives you a daily calorie budget.
• It has a ton of brand name and restaurant food items stores in its system.
• It allows you to input new brand name, restaurant or home made food items into your personal food library.
• It tracks not only your calories, fat and protein, but also your other things like vitamins, iron and sodium... and the amount of water you drink! Hydration is magic.
• You can create customized meals so that if you eat something often, you don't have to add each ingredient individually
• You input exercise in addition to food - it even gives you credit for simple daily things, like carrying household items and slow walking. No one burns 0 calories a day!
• It's FREE! And comes highly recommended on the App Store.

I know it's only been a day, but so far I really like it! Got any weight loss tools that have really worked for you?

I'll Buy the Popcorn, Okay?

I have a confession to make. I only saw 13 movies in theatres in 2010. And I only caught up on three 2010 releases on DVD. For those who don't know, my boyfriend makes movies... and blogs about them. So at this risk of stepping on his toes (or him disowning me because I haven't kept up!), I have ranked all of the movies I saw this year. This is the first time I've ever been able to do this... since usually I have well over 20 and just get confused. So... yay?

Also... there's some spoilers. So just beware.

16. Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief

Directed by Chris Columbus, Written by Craig Titley

Starring a bunch of kids you've never heard of, with cameos by a bunch of famous actors that didn't know what they were getting themselves into.

Although I have my complaints about the book series, I generally think they're fun, easy reads that please my inner Greek mythology nerd. I hate to be one of those "THE MOVIE WASN'T ANYTHING LIKE THE BOOK" people, but this movie must not be based on the same book I read. They make up all of these rules that don't exist, yet they completely neglect the rules that DO exist in the Percy Jackson book universe. Also, this film completely changes the ending to the point where the whole plot of the series is gone. Imagine if at the end of the first Harry Potter book, it all turned out to be Prof Quirrell's doing and Voldemort had nothing to do with it. Yeah. F

15. Iron Man 2

Directed by Jon Favreau, Written by Justin Theroux

Starring Robert Downey, Jr., Mickey Rourke, Gwenyth Paltrow & Scarlett Johansson

This movie sets the women's movement back two generations. Also, the superhero doesn't deal the final blow. I just don't even want to talk about it. D

14. Predators

Directed by Nimrod Antal, Written by Alex Litvak and Michael Finch

Starring Adrien Brody, Topher Grace & Lawrence Fishbourne

I forgot I saw this movie until today. D

13. Valentine's Day

Directed by Garry Marshall, Written by Katherine Fugate

Starring EVERYONE.

"Holy crap look at all of those celebrities!" It was cute. It was a nice, bubbly double-date movie. It was the most predictable thing I've ever seen in my entire life. Why are they making a sequel. What is wrong with Hollywood. C

12. Alice in Wonderland

Directed by Tim Burton, Written by Tim Woolverton

Starring Mia Wasikowska, Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter & Anne Hathaway

This movie was beautiful. The costumes were stunning. Every time Alice got a new dress I wanted it. And I didn't hate it nearly as much as my boyfriend did. But Johnny Depp was awful. And Mia Wasikowska looked like a dead fish the whole time. And the plot was just ridiculous. But Helena Bonham Carter was absurd in a good way. C+

11. The Other Guys

Directed by Adam McKay, Written by Adam McKay & Chris Henchy

Starring Will Ferrell & Mark Wahlberg

I love both of these actors. And I love Adam McKay. And I love peacocks. And I expected to really love this movie. But I've found myself pretending to like it a lot more than I actually did. Maybe it's because the theatre we saw it in was completely empty and I need a crowd to laugh out loud. Maybe it's because I wasn't in the right mindset for a buddy cop comedy. Or maybe it just wasn't their best work. B-

10. TRON: Legacy

Directed by Joseph Kosinski, Written by Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz

Starring Jeff Bridges, Garrett Hedlund, Olivia Wilde & Creepy CG Jeff Bridges

I paid $15 to see this movie, which began with a warning that some scenes were not filmed in 3D. Hey Disney, when you warn your audience, your audience becomes alert. If I pay for a 3D movie, I expect more than half of the movie to be filmed in 3D, and that did not seem to be the case with TRON... I felt kinda ripped off. The plot was kinda silly, the technology made no sense (it's not the 80s anymore guys, maybe it's time to come up with some new explanations for how computers work), and Creepy CG Jeff Bridges still haunts my dreams. But Wilde and Hedlund were solid, the costumes were fun, and the action was good. And holy crap Michael Sheen. B-

9. Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time

Directed by Mike Newell, Written by Boaz Yakin, Doug Miro & Carlo Bernard

Starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Gemma Arterton & Ben Kingsley

I. Love. Jake. Gyllenhaal. And in this movie, he looks like this:

I really don't need to give more reasons than that. This movie is ridiculous but it knows it's ridiculous. It is, without a doubt, the most fun I've ever had at a movie, and I'm sure that colors my interpretation of it. It's good fun. And Jake was good I guess. I wasn't really listening to him. B+

*Note: I loved the rest of the movies I saw. They all get A's. Deal with it.*

8. Get Him to the Greek

Written and Directed by Nicolas Stoller

Starring Jonah Hill, Russell Brand, Elisabeth Moss & Sean Combs

Before I saw this movie, I really didn't like Russell Brand. I thought he was a one-note actor who just kind of played the same obnoxious dude. In this movie, he plays the same character as in Forgetting Sarah Marshall (where I first saw and disliked him), but he's so much more dimensional. Jonah Hill is at his least annoying as well. And I always enjoy Elisabeth Moss. And Diddy was hilarious. Anyway, it rocks. And now I like Russell Brand! A

7. Inception

Written and Directed by Christopher Nolan

Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ellen Page, Marion Cotillard & Cillian Murphy

Holy crap Christopher Nolan is a genius. If you haven't seen this movie yet, you may have been living in a cave all year. Joseph Gordon-Levitt is a ballerina. Ellen Page is awesome, as always. And Leo struts. I mean he doesn't in the movie but he struts around the internet because of this movie, so that's good. A

6. Scott Pilgrim vs the World

Directed by Edgar Wright, Written by Michael Bacall & Edgar Wright

Starring Michael Cera, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, and a slew of awesome people that I love

This movie has a niche market, and I am totally in it. Sci-fi, comic book, video game, angry nerd rockers rejoice, because you have found your film. We all know I would marry Michael Cera, so it goes without saying that I loved him. All of the evil exes were great - and it was nice to see George Michael and Ann reunited. A

5. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1

Directed by David Yates, Written by Steve Kloves, Based on the novel by J.K. Rowling

Starring Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson & Rupert Grint, along with all your other faves.

Perfectly done. The right stopping point, the right touches added in. I have no complaints. And that scene - that beautiful, beautiful animated vignette about the Deathly Hallows - BRILLIANT. Every casting choice is perfect. Everything is perfect. I flove Harry Potter. Accio July 15. A+

4. The Social Network

Directed by David Fincher, Written by Aaron Sorkin, Based on the book by Ben Mezrich

Starring Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield & Justin Timberlake

I protested seeing this movie from the minute I started seeing trailers. "But you love David Fincher! You have Aaron Sorkin! You love nerdy Jewish boys AND suave British ones!" I know. But I basically got my undergraduate degree in "Facebook is the Savior of Marketing and It's Up to Your Generation to Tell Us Old Farts How to Utilize It." I should've trusted my boyfriend's excitement from the beginning, but it wasn't until everyone I know started telling me how wonderful it was that I knew I had to see it. Y'all, this movie is straight up funny. And edgy. And not boring for people who know everything about Facebook (hi Kayla!). And Andrew Garfield rocks... and is pretty sexy. A+

3. Easy A

Directed by Will Gluck, Written by Bert V. Royal

Starring Emma Stone, Amanda Bynes & Penn Badgley

Brilliantly Featuring Patricia Clarkson & Stanley Tucci

Let's be honest here. Emma Stone is hot. And if you don't think Emma Stone is hot, there is something wrong with you. Also, she's hilarious. This movie is witty and fun, and there wasn't a single cast member that wasn't perfect. Also, Stanley Tucci and Patty Clarkson are the world's greatest parents. Obsessed. A+

2. Tangled

Directed by Nathan Greno & Byron Howard, Written by Dan Fogelman

Starring Mandy Moore, Zachary Levi & Donna Murphy

When my good friend Ben saw this movie, he Tweeted that it was classic Disney, and I wasn't sure if I should believe him. I was excited about it when it was called Rapunzel and Kristin Chenoweth was the voice of the princess and the style was based on French Rococo paintings, but based on the trailers, I wasn't sure they had stuck to that. Disney is CONVINCED that princesses don't make money and no one wants to see 2D animation (which is wrong but whatever), so this was supposed to be an edgy-yet-pretty 3D tale. You did done good, Disney. Rapunzel is a kick-ass modern princess who uses a household tool as a weapon (symbolism!). Flinn Ryder is a devil-may-care anti-hero who learns a lesson in the end (after school special!). The sidekick animals don't talk but have more personality than some animated speaking characters (Dreamworks!). Everything is beautiful! Also I cried like a baby. I could write a whole blog about how much I love this movie. Suffice to say, if you didn't see this movie or don't plan to see this movie, I no longer want to know you. A++

1. Toy Story 3

Directed by Lee Unkrich, Written by Michael Arndt

Starring Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Ned Beatty & my favorite toys

Unlike the last few movies, I KNEW I was going to love this all along. I grew up with Buzz & Woody. And I loved the new characters introduced in the sequel... but the threequel, oh man. Pixar has outdone themselves. The villains are villainous. The heros are heroic. The stuffed animals are cuddly. The dinosaurs are dinoriffic. This movie is perfect. Thanks for teaching us how to end a series, Pixar. It's a shame you won't really be making a movie next year since I refuse to acknowledge Cars as a part of your magnificent body of work. (I'm assuming I don't need to tell you more about TS3 because you've all seen this movie. If not, proceed directly to Redbox.) A+++

What were your favorite movies of the year? Any disagreement? Because if so you're WRONG. Just kidding. Kind of.

A New Dawn, A New Day

Every year, I write out an extensive list of New Year's Resolutions. Sometimes, I even write them for new school years or the Jewish new year. Usually this laundry list has a theme, like "unity" or "balance" or "strength". And every year, I print out this list and tell myself I will look at it frequently and monitor my progress. And every year, I do that sometimes... but most of the time, I just keep on keeping on.

Lately I've been thinking. There are a lot of things in my life that I'm unsatisfied with, and a lot of things in my life that are better than they've ever been. If I were to type out a list of measurable action items a la marketing plan, it would be about 15 pages long. And I can really only see as far as May. After that, who can say? My roles change every year. Who can anticipate where an entire year will go?

Maybe that's why we're meant to make A new year's resolution, not SEVERAL new year's resolutions. Maybe for some people making one resolution is easy; maybe some people don't change roles as often as a graduate student or entry level worker or newlywed. But as far down the line as I can see, I'm going to be in this crazy dynamic lifestyle where I'm juggling the student hat, the teacher hat, the girlfriend hat, the daughter hat, the sister hat and the friend hat, all while trying not to lose sight of the ME hat. How do you sum up all of the directions you want all of those people to go in one sentence?

In 2011, I will be the best me I can be.

In every role, in every way, I will do my damnedest. I will learn my limits for each individual task and when I am approaching them. I will balance all of them with poise and grace. I will never forget that among all of these, I need to find time for being a better ME for the sake of ME and doing the things that I love selfishly - yoga on Fridays, baking cupcakes, and looking in the mirror and actually liking what I see.