As we’ve mentioned before, we love love hearing from the community. We love it even more when you decide to share your story.

I’m proud to present the following insightful and encouraging story by one of my dearest friends, Lisa. I’ve known her since undergrad and have always been thankful for her kind support and generous words. Did I mention she’s a badass on the dance floor? We also share the same “I’m not the tiny asian” syndrome.

The @fatroll girls LOVE this story and hope you do too! Enjoy

Quick Stats About Me

Lisa:

• Height: 5’4”
• Start Weight/BMI: 175/30 (Obese: 30+)
• Current Weight: 169
• Goal Weight: 125-130/22 (Normal: 18.5-29.9)
• Time Line: 20-25# by November 21st (my birthday) or December 8th (a wedding)

What finally gave me the final push to actively lose weight? My upcoming 27th birthday in November, tired of feeling “big” compared to my standard-Asian size girlfriends (standard Asian girl size = 00, JK…but sadly close to that size), noticing that I was shying away from social gatherings because I was just uncomfortable in my own skin, and that feeling when your heart sinks to your stomach when you realize that even black ain’t slimming down the back-fat.

I got myself to this size, and I was the only one that can make the decision to become healthier. I’m realistic about my goal; I’ll never be stick-thin nor is that my intention; I know this will take time and patience on my part.

I started this weight loss goal with my friend Grace on July 5th, 2010. We both can’t remember ever feeling good in our own skin especially being surrounded by a whole bunch of standard-Asian sized chicks; so it has been great doing this with someone.

Grace has been a great motivator when I don’t’ feel like exercising, and she has slapped a chicken tender out of my hand before =X partially because I was eating someone else’s meal after I finished mine… But I think the most helpful part about having a friend to lose weight is that you both can relate to each other’s struggle, and you don’t feel so alone in what feels like an uphill battle.

My plan is to lose about 1-1.5#/week in the most healthy and least agonizing way: choosing healthier options, calorie counting, portion controlling, and exercising. I know what you’re going to say, DUH! Less In, More Out = Weight Loss; I knew this, I just chose not to, but I’m choosing to do it now.

Grace and I started doing P90X, like everyone else and their mama, but we adjusted the regimen to make it more do-able/realistic for us to stick to. Grace and I use P90X for the weight training every other day,and cardio the other days. Grace and I joined Brian O’Neils Running Club: where we run 3 miles on Tuesdays, and after our 10th run we get a running shirt that allows us to get 10%OFF at Fleet Feet (similar to Run Tex/Rogue) and discounted beer at BON; hey, dieting doesn’t mean depriving ALL things… moderation/portion control.

Grace likes to do Insanity, I prefer to interval train on a treadmill. As far as calorie counting, I’ve found a great tool I use religiously now: LiveStrong.This site is one of the most thorough sites I’ve used, from its extensive food/nutrition directory to custom loops/routes you create via Google Map that will calculate distance and caloric expenditure according to your MPH.

Being a science kid; I can appreciate a pie chart of my daily protein/carb/fat intake! The chart don’t lie.

The key thing to sticking to a diet is preparation and routine. The less you have to think about what you’re going to eat, the more likely you’ll succeed. I plan on what I will be eating the day before to make sure it’swithin my calorie allotment.

I prepare my breakfast, lunch, and dinner for the week in Tupperware, so I just grab-and-go in the mornings. For example, I crack 6 egg whites into Tupperware, add seasoning, and cheese the night before, so I can just wake up, turn the stove on medium heat, and throw the egg whites into the pan while I get ready for work (I check on it in between). I don’t mind eating the same thing a few days in a row. So far, I’ve lost 6# even with some FAILS. I can’t wait to be lighter, fitter, and healthier. No one can stand in my way, but me.

Thanks, FailBlog! I think it’s a great reminder of who the aliens will go after when they take over Earth

I would take this seriously...

I think everyone that reads this blog realizes there is no “easy” way to lose weight. And even if you are lucky enough to lose all the weight you could ever want, I’m the first to admit that no matter what people say, it’s an everyday challenge to keep off the weight.

And that’s not to say that I haven’t tried quick fixes before. South Beach Diet (no carbs for two weeks) and the Hollywood Diet (a liquid diet for two days) immediately come to mind. And not shockingly, within a matter of weeks, any weight that was lost on those diets was quickly re-gained. Ugh, but why is keeping off the weight so difficult?!

In thinking about this, I was shocked to learn that a former colleague of mine was one, a fan of @fatroll and two, had an interesting story to share about her recent weight-loss. In order to protect the innocent, I’m not using her name.

In my own struggle to keep the lbs off, I finally acknowledged that my real problem is my relationship with food (I’ve tried many, many diets and they work until I fall off the wagon…)  For me, food was comfort, solace, entertainment, etc.  So, I went looking for a therapist who could help me ditch my dysfunctional “friend” food.  What I found was a hypnotist (though I told my husband I was going to see a therapist – too embarrassing to tell him I was spending our money on a hypnotist. Once I got over my fear of being swindled by a snake-charming-crackpot (though I’m sure there are plenty of those folks out there) I hired her to help me and feel like I found the fricking golden ticket to a healthy size and shape of my body.  I started seeing her at the end of last September, and in 6 months, I’d lost about 25 lbs, and I swear to god, it’s not a diet.  I can stop eating when I want to.  I can have one single cookie, and not go bananas until I can finally dive into the whole bag.  I work out more regularly.  I eat a lot more vegetables – because I want to, not because I have to.  I do not struggle with my food choices anymore.  It’s amazing. I don’t know why Oprah hasn’t done this already and saved the rest of us a lot of trouble.  If you blog about this, could you please keep me as an “anonymous friend” – it’s still a bit embarrassing to admit that I tried something so new-age/hippy/Hollywood/crazy, but I am very glad that it worked

There are a few items I want to note about this story:

• Does that line about food being “comfort, solace, entertainment” not ring true to every person reading this blog?! It’s like my friend was in my head…
• At the end of the day, isn’t the struggle each of us deals with simply the ability to make proper food choices and knowing when to stop? So then why can’t we?
• And to my friend’s point, why the heck hasn’t Oprah tried this?!

Googling Austin Hypnosis gets you a lot of choices, and I’m sure — like my friend describes — there are a lot of wackos out there. So, question for you — have you tried a non-traditional method to weight loss, and has it worked for you?

After reading Jenni’s post and trying on new clothes, I’ve decided that I too need to kick it back into gear. I was so close to having that flat tummy earlier this month…then I moved to D.C.

Sure a move can be stressful. Yes, D.C. is a city of happy hours, brunch and bbq. Yes, there is a high density of yummy restaurants in the area. But, those are all excuses. We’ve decided as a @fatroll to postpone the end of the 3rd round til I return to Austin in August. But, I surely can’t pile on the pounds until then and expect to lose all of it magically.

Therefore as I settle into the new city, I’ve decided to do mini-challenges to keep things in check. Here’s my plan for the next 30-days.

• No more caffeine (especially coffee). It’s amazing how much more coffee I consume being back in an office setting. It’s kind of the “thing” to do. But, the additional creamer and sugar eventually catches up with you; usually in my thighs.
• Manage my diet. I’m guilty of becoming super lax on my diet and avoiding gluten based items. I’ve used the “it’s night, and I’ll just sleep it off” way too many times in the last three weeks. So, eat more greens!
• Alcohol only on the weekends. Happy hours are great! It’s the ideal way to network; but I really shouldn’t drink every night of the week. That’s the easiest way to gain additional empty pounds. Also, no more binge drinking. I’m not in college anymore.
• Up the workouts. This has happened naturally. I walk a ton and still continue running (though, I’m nursing a massive shin splint right now). I just need to find alternatives. I definitely did yoga in my living room yesterday. YouTube FTW.

• Wear nicer clothing. Here’s a great way to remind yourself of what clothes you must wear. Plus, the heels definitely do help with posture which helps with your core.

At this point, I’ve worked too hard for too long to just let it all go down the drain. Plus, did I mention that there are quite a bit of good looking people here? Sounds like a challenge to me!

I’m not dreaming a six-pack of beer (fact: I can’t drink beer thanks to the gluten). I’m dreaming of that flat sexy ab type.

We have officially less than two months left til the masochistic bikini shot for round three, and I’m no where close to my goal. In fact, I feel further than ever. I can blame Chicago or SXSW, but those are just lame excuses. The past couple of weeks were just ridiculous. And, I’m really the only one to blame.

So it’s finally time to channel that crazy from earlier this year. Looking forward to kicking up the exercise routine and being super picky about food/portion control.Because crazy is how bitches lose weight..j/k

I am now armed with several new ideas for food and workouts thanks to Self Magazine and Fitness. Apparently, you CAN have that body by May 1. I’m amping up the activity level with bootcamps, runs, dance and yoga. Who’s with me?!

I prefer to have workout buddies whenever possible, so let me know if you’re hitting the trail or going to yoga..I’d love to tag along.

If there is one thing I’ve learned so far from Kirstie Alley’s Big Life (the actress’ new reality show on A&E chronicling her weight loss journey) it’s that fabulous hair (big, blonde extensions with loads of curls) and impeccable makeup make you look really attractive and hide the vag-arms with ease. Seriously, notice how her hair hides the vag arms in EVERY publicity shot. Genius. This is mental note #1 for the bikini shoot in June.

Note the placement of the hair over the vag-arms. Genius!

Let’s be frank – Kirstie Alley is the one who made the “I’m going to pose in a bikini to force myself to get skinny” weight loss trick that @fatroll employs chic. Unfortunately, she only posed once in said bikini, which is probably one of the reasons why she gained all the weight back. So, even though the weekly weigh-ins and ultimate weigh-in cruelty for us @fatroll girls is painful, it’s better than gaining the weight all back. Complacency is the #1 killer of weight loss programs!

So I’ve watched the first episode of Big Life (you can watch it by clicking here) and it was a “scripted” recap of her weight journey and her “Tipping Point” to losing weight – not fitting into a New Year’s Eve dress and being photographed by the paps at an unflattering angle. Although, one would argue that the real Tipping Point was when she signed a deal to have cameras in her home to record her “scripted” tipping points. Clearly, that part wasn’t total reality, but instead sets a bad precedent for the rest of the series – and highlights the problem with reality shows in general.

So here is my pros and cons list on why you should watch the show, and a few storytelling tactics to be aware of as you go along:

Pros:

*Her story appeals to so many of us that have had a life-long battle with losing the weight and then keeping it off. “It’s comes back a hella of a lot faster than it comes off.” I also learned that she used to do cocaine to keep off the weight. Apparently when she was trying to quit the cocaine and smoking, she replaced those drugs with food. Point being, there is a fine line with food – sustenance vs. addiction.

*Starting any type of nutrition/exercise program sucks for the first several weeks until you get the hang of it. She was worn out after only working out for seven minutes. Ugh, we’ve all been there.

*Kirstie’s witty one-offs making fun of her weight keep the show from being too depressing about having to lose 6.4 stones (the British way of measuring weight, which I loved! Divide your weight by 14 pounds and you get how much you weigh in “stones.” Yay – I only weigh 10 stones! I want to weigh only nine though) The show is almost like a visual version of @fatroll — having a good time while trying to lose weight.

Cons:

*Blaming the paparazzi for chronicling your weight gain/loss is no different than becoming a spokesperson for Jenny Craig or doing your own television show. What came first – the chicken or the egg? Both do taste good She put herself in a position to be constantly monitored no matter what. Yes, the tabloids are jerks, but don’t live in LA or go to restaurants that aren’t infested with paps.

*The first few episodes are clearly setting up her own weight loss program called Organic Liaison. Here’s my issue (and no, it has nothing to do with its reported ties to Scientology that Kirstie strongly denied late last week): the program isn’t proven yet. I am beyond hesitant to try something when I haven’t been shown that program participants both LOST the weight and then KEPT it off for a few years. Right now, the company’s only testimonials are of employees, friends and family who tested the products during the developmental phase. Not to be mean, Kirstie, but your children acting as testimonials to your product don’t count. But hey, you have to start somewhere, right? And organic food is such a smarter way to eat AND you can do it on the cheap if you play your cards right.

That said I wish her the best of luck with her weight loss and her new weight loss program. If the method is healthy and helps Kristie and others lose weight AND keep it off, rock on. Because at the end of the day, helping others achieve a healthy lifestyle through Kristie’s own journey is what matters the most.

You can watch the show on Sundays at 10/9c on A&E.

Photo courtesy of A&E.

Just wanted to share some useful tips (courtesy of Cosmo) to help minimize the dreaded belly pudge. Some of them are no brainers (i.e. don’t skip meals), but there are others that I plan to implement right away, such as drinking a glass of red wine, which research has shown will help fight belly fat. Hallelujah!

Special thanks to Jenni for alerting me to this particular finding. You know me too well.

1. You Skip Meals

This tactic always backfires. You end up so hungry later on that you can’t help but overeat. And when you do, more fat will inevitably find its way to your midsection. Eating small- to medium-size meals every three to four hours, however, fills you up without resulting in a layer of flab.

2. You Go Vegetarian

Women will often avoid foods from the meat, fish, and dairy groups because they think they are packed with calories and fat. But remember, these foods are protein superstars that help boost your metabolism so you can fend off tummy pudge. Opt for low-calorie, low-fat choices, like cottage cheese or tuna (one 6-ounce can fulfills three-quarters of your daily protein requirement).

3. You Think Bread Is Bad

White bread, yes, but whole-grain breads and cereals? No way. These allow insulin levels to rise more gradually, reducing the chance that you’ll add fat to your belly. Wild rice, oatmeal, or whole-wheat tortillas once a day can make a difference.

4. You’re Crunch-Crazed

Sit-ups tone muscle, true, but they don’t have any effect on the layer of fat covering them. So doing 50, 100, or even 500 crunches won’t make your jeans feel any looser. What does work? Cardio. Instead of wasting all your time on crunches, spend an extra 10 minutes on the treadmill.

5. You Booze a Lot, but Infrequently

Alcohol has lots of calories yet doesn’t fill you up at all. So when you binge-drink, nutritionists say, you’re basically inviting flab to settle on your midsection. If you crave a drink, make it red wine; research suggests it may actually help fight pooch.

6. You Eat “Lite” Products

You may think you are doing your body a favor by opting for sugar-free yogurt, diet soda, or any other snack labeled low-fat or low-cal. But those versions are often loaded with artificial sweeteners, which some nutritionists believe may trigger your metabolism to increase fat storage.

7. You Think Fatty Foods Are the Enemy

As counterintuitive as it may sound, foods high in monounsaturated fats help burn off belly fat and lead you to consume less. Nutritionists recommend slicing one-quarter of an avocado onto a sandwich or drizzling olive oil and vinegar on your salad.

And I thought our weight loss was impressive. You guys win. Congrats!

Okay, some of you may be a little shocked/miffed to learn that both Ashley and I lost weight over the Thanksgiving break (cough, *Kelly*). Frankly, we were both shocked. AND, to try and explain the phenomenon, I tried Google-ing “lost weight but ate a lot” and only came up with crazy, whacked out diet plans and pills.

But this morning I chatted with Kim, my BAD ASS trainer over at 24 Fitness on William Cannon in Austin. She read about my Thanksgiving fail-a-plenty (and subsequently paid for it dearly during my session this A.M.) and wasn’t that shocked by both Ashley and my weight loss during the week.

Fact of the matter is, we lost muscle mass. Both of us avidly use weights — and typically use MUCH higher poundage than the 5 lb. dumbbells most women use when working out. I “think” that Mere and Kristine don’t regularly do weight lifting as part of their normal routines, which could explain their small gains.

Personally, the one thing I don’t want to do is lose muscle mass, because that is what helps you burn more calories throughout the day. So, there you have it. The official explanation (as best we can find) on why Ashley and I lost weight during Thanksgiving. I fully anticipate Christmas will not treat us as kindly

(And I also won’t mention the fact that I started my period less than 24 hours before yesterday’s weigh-in, which completely negates everything that I posted above because I’m rocking the main-bloat right now; however it does explain why I was so ravenous during Thanksgiving. Stupid pre-bloat.)

It’s been a while since I’ve posted a new gadget and this was too funny not to blog about. So OoCFR readers, I give you the dumbbell phone. That’s right – you can tone your arms during phone calls at the office!   

I’m not sure these are/were actually ever for sale. From the looks of this picture, it seems as though they likely went out of production around 1989.

This awesome gadget comes to you from the world of Chindogu, a term for useless Japanese inventions. It was the first I’ve heard of it, but moving forward, you better believe I’ll be on the lookout for weight loss/diet tips in this realm.