Photo courtesy of VH1

I’ve seen Adele perform in an intimate setting. She’s not thin, but she’s definitely thinner than when she first came out with her debut album ’19.’ She’s even taken steps to become healthier. 

Adele in the “Chasing Pavements”

Adele at a performance for ’21′

Photo credit: Christopher Polk/Getty Images

And Christina…I love Christina. She’s been ridiculed for being too thin and then too big. She’s yo-yo-ed like the rest of us. I’ve never met her. But I know she’s really tiny, as in short. When you’re short, gaining two pounds looks like you’ve gained five.

Here’s Christina with Etta James in June 2006

Here’s Christina at Etta James’ funeral

As someone who works in the music business and has seen what celebrities look like in person and in photos pre-retouching, I’m telling you- Do Not be fooled by photos and videos. No one looks exactly like their official publicity image or a magazine cover. (I even have to remind myself of this when I find myself comparing me and JLo ) I can’t tell you how often I hear “she’s so much smaller than I thought. ” In the last year, I was working with a male singer. We did a great photo shoot with a famous photographer and the photos were amazing. As soon as the album cover was released on Facebook, fans immediately commented “you look fat” and “damn, he’s gained weight” or “I guess you took time off to eat.” The reality was he did gain weight, but he put on muscle and lots of it. But his getting “bigger” was not getting “fatter.”

So who are we to judge? Who hasn’t yo-yo-ed +/- five to ten pounds. I’m sure if someone went through my Facebook timeline and reviewed all my photos, they’d think I was fat too! The key is to not listen to “dem haters” but to listen to yourself and consult a health professional. I don’t think Adele, Kelly or Christina are on the border of being unhealthy. And like the rest of us, their weight issues aren’t over. It’s an every day battle. I guess it really ain’t over until the fat lady sings.

10. When people come to the gym with makeup that’s been freshly reapplied or pour on the perfume/cologne. If you’re coming from work, we get it. But don’t put on a coat of mascara right before that Zumba class!

9. When people DO NOT wipe down the with disinfectant.

8. When people come to the gym sick. Please refer back to #9.

7. When people hog multiple sets of weights.

6. When people DO NOT return weights or any other equipment to their original location. Please refer also to #7.

5. When the fitness instructor or trainer has no idea what they’re doing and has worse form than you.

4. When people who are using the machine you need, sit there texting, watching TV, or rest for a really really really long time.

3. When people drop weights after a set. There’s usually a sign that says “please do not drop weights”.

2. When you are the only one doing cardio and then some other person comes up and uses the machine right next to you.  It’s like bathroom etiquette – occupy every other until it’s full!

1. When people walk around the locker room completely naked and have no intention of dressing.

There are too many to list. What did I miss? What’s your gym pet peeve? Leave a comment or tweet me @gracekelle with #gympetpeeve #leangirlsclub.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup plain oats
• 1 cup whole grain pancake mix
• 1/3 cup raisins
• 3/4 cup almond milk (or you can use regular milk)
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• 2 tbsp. brown sugar
• non-stick cooking spray

Directions:

1. Organize all your ingredients.

2. Combine all food ingredients in a large mixing bowl and stir.

3. Heat pan over medium heat and spray with non-stick cooking spray. Scoop and form 3″ diameter-pancakes and cook on medium heat. Cook until golden brown on each side. You shouldn’t need to cook longer than 2 minutes per side.

4. Serve hot with little maple syrup or agave nectar. Marcus Samuelsson even suggests trying it with peanut butter.

The one thing I would have done differently is make the pancakes thinner. Mine were pretty thick and almost cookie-like. But then again, I guess that’s not such a bad thing If you do make them thicker like I did, you really don’t need syrup or any sweetener. It really does taste like a cookie without all the sugar!

Last year was the year I vowed to get down to 145 pounds and “take back my body.” I’ve always been a prisoner of the scale and worked against my body but today I feel free! 2011 was focused on my work outs and getting stronger in order to “take back my body” and working WITH it. Exercising is no longer about burning calories or losing weight but rather feeling strong. I love my body for all its imperfections and know that if I work hard and take care of it, it will love me back. I didn’t achieve my goal weight, but I’m not sweating it! Instead, I’m celebrating the fact that I  reached my goal body fat percentage. I no longer beat myself up about the scale or what I eat. A year of training with Justin has made me stronger, leaner, and faster. I do in fact weight less and my body has a different shape. It’s a great feeling celebrating these things, rather than sulking about how I don’t weigh x amount.

This year will be the year of nutrition. Just as I make exercising a priority, I will put in as much effort into what I put IN my body. I know my nutrition is what is keeping me from getting where I want to be. So for the next year, you’re going to see me blog a lot about my food and nutrition journey (in addition to the exercising). I’m actually going to have to eat out less and start cooking in my pathetic NYC kitchen. This is going to be quite the challenge! How have I resolved to focus on nutrition this year?

1. Coffee will not be purchased from Starbucks or any other grab-n-go coffee establishment for one year. All money that would’ve been spent on coffee will go into savings. (Getting my finances in order is another resolution this year). Oof.

2. Every Saturday or Sunday, I will prep food for the upcoming week. I will chop vegetables, make a big batch of brown rice, go grocery shopping, and try a new recipe. I will plan out my week’s meals ahead of time just like I planned my week’s workouts.

3. Eat whole foods and no “finished” foods that comes from a bag, box, container…. I want to fill my plate with foods that come from the ground or from nature.  Nothing is off limits, but if I want a cookie I’ll have to make it myself.

I already know these resolutions are going to be time consuming (and I won’t be perfect), but so what? I need to treat myself as a priority. And even if I’m 50% successful, it’s 50% closer to where I want to be.

What Lean Girl resolutions did you set for yourself? How do you plan to achieve them?

If you want to know about my other resolutions….

1. Read through the Bible in 2012
2. Take one entire week off for vacation and go somewhere (I’ve never done this before)
3. Learn enough French to be able to communicate when I travel.
4. Run the NYC Marathon in under five hours.
5. Put $2000 into savings.
6. Pay off my credit card debt.

Saturday I qualified for my second NYC Marathon by completing the nine races required.  Woohoo! But it didn’t come easy. Not just because it was a 15k. Let me back up a bit.

After spending  two weeks following an artist around the country promoting an album, I flew to LA for a few important meetings. I flew in Thursday morning from NYC and flew out Friday night, landing in NYC at 6 am on Saturday morning. That’s right. Yours truly took a red-eye and then headed straight to the Ted Corbitt 15k (about 9+ miles) race to qualify for the 2012 NYC Marathon.

Everyone and their mother told me I was crazy.  While I automatically responded that I’d be fine, I was wrong. I WAS crazy. I lacked sleep, had no fuel, and my legs were killing me from being on a plane for six hours. I went to Central Park lacking the confidence to run the 9+ miles and almost gave up on my marathon dream. But instead, I sucked it up convinced myself that I’d at least try. If I ran three miles and really felt like I couldn’t finish, then I would allow myself to go home. But I finished. The race absolutely sucked and my time reflects it, but I finished. But having been so painful, I will carry these lessons learned with me for the rest of my life:

1. Don’t wait ’til the last minute. I had to do this race because there were very few qualifiers left in 2011. Sure, I could have run another race, but the last qualifier is NYE night at midnight in Central Park. :/ I have a tendency to procrastinate in all that do. It’s probably because I’ve always made it work somehow. But as I get older, I’m learning that procrastinating has its own unique consequences. Whether in life or wellness, never prolong what can be done now. It may be too late!

2. Fuel properly. I had oatmeal for breakfast. That’s what I always eat. But eating the same oatmeal before a 15k was probably not smart. Why would I think that eating the same amount of food would carry me through an almost-half-marathon?

3. Lower the bar…a bit. The idea of running 15k Saturday morning was daunting. But telling myself to run three miles and having an exit strategy ready, put my mind at ease. So the next time you don’t feel like working out, tell yourself to go to the gym for 20 minutes. Chances are once you’re there, you’ll want to do more. If you don’t, then it’s probably your body telling you that it needs rest.

4. Love what you do. My boyfriend asked me if I enjoy getting up early to run races? The answer is hell no. I am a sleeper. I fear becoming a parent not because of the huge responsibilities, but rather the lack of sleep that follows. I may not love waking up before the sun rises, but I love WHY I do. Waking up early is a circumstance  of wanting to qualify for a marathon. Racing makes me feel good. It empowers me. I love the strangers who surround me. We all have to do crappy things in life, but make sure there’s a “love” reason for enduring them. Otherwise, it’s not worth it.

5. Believe in yourself, always. Plain and simple. Everyone else thought I was crazy. Sure, I was but I didn’t let others get to me. I knew I could do it. Had I doubted myself from the beginning, I probably would’ve gone home that morning.

Saturday I was feeling inspired and went for a six mile run outside. It was 50+ degrees so I thought I’d take advantage of the remaining warm days in 2011. The sun set halfway through my run so on the way back, I made sure to run in well lit areas.

Long story short, a man followed me for a few blocks. He was walking and I passed him. As I passed him he said hello, which I ignored as most women do in NYC, and then shortly began to run. Not just run, but run right behind me. Step by step with me. I could his his step in sync with mine. His shadow was right next to mine.

I didn’t confront him. What did I do instead? I ran into traffic and stood in front of a car and waited for him to pass. If this guy was going to do something, I was going to make him do it in front of countless others. He ended up cutting through a few other cars and ran into obscurity.

Whether this guy really was following me or intending to scare me, it got my thinking about safety precautions when one is exercising outdoors. NYC is not a dangerous place. Any New Yorker will tell you they feel safer on the streets of NY than when walking a dog in the suburbs. Wherever you live, here are a few tips I’ve picked up over the years.

• No Headphones – I realize that it’s painful running in silence for many of you, but it’s also quite peaceful not having noise constantly in my ears. You can hear yourself breathe, the pounding of your feet, the wind blowing, etc. There’s a rhythm to running. Discover yours! Actually, I would strongly encourage you to stay from anything that obstructs your hearing.
• Cell phone – pretty self explanatory but learn to not be dependent on the cell phone. In a really emergency, you may or may not have a chance to call anyone.
• Have a game plan – tell someone beforehand where you’ll be going, how far you’ll be running, and how long you expect it will take. If you’re out longer, have him or her check in on you. If you run the same route each time, mark “Safe Zones” where you know you can turn to for help. Perhaps it’s a cafe or deli, or a friend’s apartment you run by each time.
• No shortcuts – Stay on the path, always.
• Identification – I  wouldn’t suggest carrying your license or passport with you, but carry something that identifies you. I’m a big fan of the company Road Id. They offer plenty of products that’ll give you some peace of mind when hitting the pavement alone.
• Buddy Up – it’s hard finding a work out buddy who is at the exact same fitness level. But it’s better to be with someone you know, rather than finding yourself with someone you don’t know.
• Wear Proper Gear – When working out in the dark, don reflective gear. Really loving this Nike Vapor Flash Jacket but wish it wasn’t so expensive!
• Response Required Words – In a self defense class, I learned that screaming “HELP” or just plain screaming is not always effective. Opt to yell “Fire!” or “Call 911, I’m being attacked.” Don’t hesitate to be descriptive: “I’m being attacked by a tall man with brown hair, wearing a blue t-shirt.”  It will help whoever is making the call to 911.
• Safety Device – I prefer a noise maker over  mace. Why? I’m a person that believes that any weapon you carry can be used against you. But I won’t lie, I do own mace…just never have carried it.

How do you stay safe when working out? Leave a comment and share your tips!

While I’d like to blame the little calorie monsters for my weight gain in the past, let’s be honest…it’s not entirely their fault. I also didn’t exercise, and I chose the wrong things to eat. Lesson learned: it’s better to eat 2000 calories per day of vegetables, lean proteins, grains, and other things that come from the earth than 1200 calories of cotton candy, chocolate, and cake. It’s the quality of those calories that matters just as much.

So what are you afraid of?

I know what organic oatmeal made with water tastes like. And this kind from BBaCC tastes nothing like what I make at home. So I began to question.

On my first investigative trip, I asked what kind of oatmeal they use and how they make it.

“Steel-cut organic oats with water. It’s on the sign.”

“What’s the brand?”

“I don’t know. Just regular oatmeal.”

I went back a week later and asked the same questions.

“They’re organic oats made with water.”

“Really? You don’t put anything else in it? I just want to know how you make it so much better than I do at home. It’s just oats and water? Nothing else? No cinnamon? No nutmeg?”

“Yes. It’s just organic steel-cut oatmeal. Made with water…………………and a little bit of…….butter.”

(gasp)

That day, I gave my large cup of oatmeal with blueberries and strawberries to the homeless man on the subway and have never walked into Brooklyn Bagel & Co again.

I don’t think butter is the enemy. I love butter and I don’t think it’ll kill me if I have it within moderation. The reason I was so upset was because I was lied to and sold something that was not true. What if I had been vegan? Or lactose intolerant? I once ordered a blueberry milkshake and my boyfriend and the waitress thought I was crazy because I said it didn’t taste like a blueberry shake. I was right. She came back and told me the kitchen had made it with blackberries because the blueberry extract tasted awful and they’d been doing this all season. (Since then, this restaurant has removed this item from their menu).

I don’t mention this to you to tell you how great my palate is. Because it’s not. But never hesitate to ask questions about your food. Not only did you pay for it with your hard-earned money, but it’s something that’s going IN your body. If both of these restaurants had easily hidden these small additions or switches, what else have they hidden from us?

We Americans trust our food handlers way too much when in fact, we should be most suspicious of them. Remember the saying, “when you assume, you make an ass out of you and me?” Well actually in this case, when you assume you just make an ass out of yourself If you’re at a restaurant, don’t hesitate to ask if the chicken is grilled or fried. No one is judging you for asking as long as you ask politely. And if they do, so what? They don’t have the same goals as you do.

Here’s a challenge for you this week: think of one item you eat/drink all the time that you think is healthy or not-so-bad-for-you. Ask the preparer how they make it. Is it with canned tomatoes? How many shots of pumpkin spice do you actually put into the pumpkin spice latte? Do you grill the chicken with olive oil, butter, lard, what? Is that actually fruit or fruit compote? Is that 100% whole wheat? How many sticks of butter do you use? Prepare yourselves for some shockers. You may not like the answers. Even if the answer isn’t what you expected to hear, at least you know and will make better decisions in the future. Please report back and email me at leangirlsclub (at) gmail (dot) com. I’d love to hear/feature your story!

Behold Sweet Talk – A Ladies’ Night of Cocktails, Conversations & Confections. My super creative friend Liz and I designed this event to create a positive atmosphere for NYC women to connect with amazing women doing amazing things, encourage each other, get dressed up and have a great time. That’s what I also want LeanGirlsClub to be. While women have a reputation for being catty and bitchy, especially in NYC, I know deep down we are not. We all speak of those women, but it’s never us. But the truth is, we are part of the problem. I’m sure that I have been rude, have been unsupportive, jealous and passive aggressive. (To those ladies, my sincerest apologies.)

I don’t mention this to plug my event…although, I would be more than delighted if you purchased a ticket and attended. I wanted to address the dress code: “please wear your favorite, sexiest pair of shoes.”

This isn’t a request to wear heals and make women uncomfortable all night.  Being that this is a night for empowering women, we wanted women to dress in a way that makes them feel good. A good pair of shoes does wonders for self-esteem. I don’t know a single woman who puts on a fresh pair of sneakers or a rockin’ pair of heels and doesn’t feel more confident, sexy, powerful, intelligent. A good shoe can do that for you.

A good pair of shoes is a girl’s best friend. While pants sizes may go up and down and judge us for gaining a bit of weight, a good pair of shoes is always on your side. It’s the good friend that tells you that you look great, no matter what size. A good shoe makes you feel like you can take on the world. A good shoe tells you that your value comes from something beyond the scale or your dress size. A good shoe goes the extra mile with you.

I hope you have a good pair of shoes in your life.

Mine? These Nike Free.

And then maybe one day, these Louboutins