Fat Chef in Cleveland - Hometown Pride!

We all know there are many chefs with a weight problem. The poster child for this right now is, of course, Paula Deen. Too much butter, sugar, and deep-frying usually make for extra pounds, unless you have major willpower. Most people do not have the kind of willpower to avoid those foods if they are constantly making them or are surrounded by them.

Enter Food Network's Fat Chef. The timing couldn't be better on this series, where trainers teach chefs to deal with their surroundings and find the time to exercise. The idea is to co-exist with food at a healthy weight - sometimes easier said than done.

I missed the first episode last week, but there was no way I was going to miss last night's show.

Fat Chef hit me right where I live - literally. Trainer Brett Hoebel, who was on Season 11 of Biggest Loser, came to Cleveland to help two chefs get healthy. Rocco is in charge at Fahrenheit, and Kim owns her own catering company and sells her own line of food products. Both of them juggle multiple aspects of the food service business.

The show is part Biggest Loser, where people deal with the demons that helped get them to an unhealthy weight, and part Extreme Makeover Weight Loss Edition, in which the trainer comes right to where each person lives and teaches them in their own environment. This is crucial for a chef, who is in the ultimate profession of being constantly assaulted with food every time they turn around.

Rocco had more weight to lose and dove right into the program. Brett taught him how to give his all working out, and some anger management skills as well. (Although I admit, I would certainly have fired the employee who kept screwing up!) He hit his goal for the show, and is working on being even fitter while helping his brother get there as well. From what I've heard, he is incorporating a lite menu into his restaurant, which I am looking forward to sampling!

Kim had a little more trouble. She fell into the same trap many of us do, following the exercise plan but not being able to do the same with the food. I know I've been there, thinking that working out would solve the problem even though I was still eating the same stuff. It was even more difficult for her, because she is always tasting her foods to make sure they are right - plus being offered samples by other chefs, where she doesn't want to appear rude by not accepting. She also had personal demons from childhood to deal with. She finally got in line with the program and lost about half of her goal. Now that she's gotten this far, I know she will continue and meet her full goal too.

It was a treat for me to see so many great places featured around my city, like the Fabulous Food Show at the I-X Center and the markets. I hope Brett continues to come to Cleveland to help those of us who are working on our health, chefs or not. (I know I'm far from being a chef myself!) I also look foward to seeing how the chefs in other cities do on the show each week. if they can conquer their food issues, I know we all can.

And I hope that more positive shows come to Cleveland to film...our city really does rock, and is filled with wonderful people from all walks of life. Time to show our Cleveland pride!

Spring Has Sprung!!!

Happy Spring!!! I'm so psyched that we are closer to warmer weather and more sunshine. Here in Cleveland, spring can sometimes be an iffy proposition...we have been known to still get some snow and have pretty chilly days, but they are mixed with much nicer weather.

One thing I really love is being able to finally have some outdoor workouts. When the nice days pop up it gets me out of cabin fever mode, feeling the freedom of walking or sprinting without the treadmill. More sun also improves my mood, and helps me get more of the much needed Vitamin D into my system. Winter is one of those seasons that I like at Christmas and during January, but after that I get itchy for a nicer climate.

My scale showed progress today...I lost .6 pounds. Still moving in the right direction, and working hard toward my birthday goal. Pretty soon it will also be time to break out my tennis racquet, which ALWAYS makes my happy! Here's to a successful spring for all of us!

Weathering The Storm

Finally...there's school today! I enjoyed having my son home the past couple of days, but he was starting to get bored and ready to go back. And now I can catch up on work that needs to be done!

Most of the country has been dealing with the big winter storm. Some of you may still be dealing with it. Here in Cleveland we had a little bit (actually, A LOT!) of everything...snow, rain, sleet, freezing rain, ice, more snow. Forget outdoor exercise; thank God for my treadmill and workout DVDs! We made it through and today I'm looking through my office window at the beautiful sunshine over the sparkling snow. The sun was always there...we just couldn't see it for a while.

Inside each of us is our own personal winter storm, which most likely has a little bit (or a lot) of everything...weight issues, addictions, stress, depression, financial problems, fears. Even though we can't see Him, the Son is always there to help us through our storms. It may take a while to get through it and dig out from under, but God is there through it all. We just need to call on Him when we can't see through the blinding snow. We WILL come out on the other side of it stronger and happier...as long as we let Him lead the way.

Hope you are all safe and warm in this winter weather!

Beating The Heat...In My House!!!

No, I'm not wishing for it to snow yet...there will be plenty of that here in Cleveland when winter comes around! I'm staring at this picture and trying to stay cool. The temperatures have been in the high 80's and low 90's the past few days, and our air conditioner has gone on strike. We found out that we need to get a whole new unit, because there are several leaks in this system...and they aren't making the parts for this cheapo brand that the builder used when this house was constructed. (Gee...I wonder why our builder is no longer in business???)

We're trying to get several estimates for a new unit, because we're still catching up on bills from when my husband was laid off. It's been a rough year and a half, but things are looking up. The first few days without air were fine, because the daytime temps were in the low 70's and it was around 60 at night. But the past few days have been miserable, especially for sleeping. I've been doing my walking in the upstairs hallway in the evenings, when it's a little cooler and there's a nice cross-breeze flowing from the bedrooms. There is no way I'm using the heat as an excuse not to work out...I'm through with excuses!

We are drinking a lot of ice water, and we even went to the mall on Monday to get cool. I got a good workout walking the mall, and since I can't really shop yet I didn't stop that often to look at stuff. Well, except for a really cool pair of running shoes that I saw, which will be going on my wish list for Christmas...or sooner if we can. Eating lighter foods really helps in the heat as well, and using the stove and oven as little as possible. Lots of nice, cold fruits and veggies for me!

Right now God just sent a gorgeous breeze through my home office window...thank you God!!! I will also look at that picture of Squaw Valley some more...and let it remind me that I want to be in shape for ski season. Stay cool everyone!