Have you had an Aha! health moment?

I have. Sorta. It was after I read Bethenny Frankel's book, Naturally Thin, that I realized it takes a lot of hard work to get the bod you want. Even skinny beeotches like Bethenny have to work for it. I mean, I already knew this, but I never wanted to accept it. It took me until just recently to get used to the idea that there won't be many days that I'm not thinking about what I'm putting into my mouth or how I'm going to squeeze in a workout even though I'm busy and exhausted. I'm in this for life--unless I decide one day that I just don't give a damn! I don't want that day to come though. As much as I think it would be sweet to eat anything my heart desires without thinking twice about it, I know it would make me feel and look like shit. No thank you.

I used to constantly resent the fact that I have a slower metabolism and that I have to exercise at least five times a week just to be "normal." And I certainly resented my skinny bitch friends who could eat whatever the hell they wanted without gaining an ounce. Me? I can gain weight just by thinking about having a second slice of pizza. I've gotten a lot better about not comparing myself to other people, but it's still a struggle.

So, while I used to feel sorry for myself that I had to work so hard to be a size six (sometimes an eight depending on the item of clothing), I've realized I'm actually not working hard enough. I don't need to clock in more hours at the gym, but I certainly could push myself to the limits more often. My shirt should look like this when I'm done on the treadmill, but more times than not, it's just a little damp around the neck. Not cool. (My parents didn't raise a wimp!)

It feels good to be more at peace with my body. I still have a ways to go--it's gonna take something BIG to make me finally realize that late-night pizza is just so not worth it. (Well, most of the time). I can't wait for that day to come! Have you ever experienced an Aha! health moment? How has it changed you?

Eco-friendly jewelry and healthy margaritas

You may remember my new friend Arielle from this post (aka the peacock from Halloween). After she lost her job when the recession hit, she took the opportunity to start her own business in NYC, Be Well with Arielle, Health Counseling and JeWELLry. Last night I went to her launch party, and it was amazing. She is now officially a business woman--I love the sound of THAT!

Ok, so once again my little camera didn't quite capture everything as clearly as I would have liked, however someone put a bug in my ear that I'm getting a new one for my birthday next week, so that will solve my blurry picture problem soon! (I promise birthday fairy, I will take better care of this one!!!)

Arielle was swarmed with people every time I looked in her direction, but when I finally caught her eye, she came over and said a big friendly hello. She seemed so excited and appreciative for the wonderful turn out, it was so cute.

It took me forever to fight my way up to the jewelry display. Everyone was going crazy for these necklaces, and I can't say I blame them. They are so cool!

Isn't this bright blue one pretty? It would be the perfect touch to any cocktail dress. Helllo, holiday season! All the pieces are made from recycled metals, vintage chains and reclaimed crystals, so not only will you look fabulous wearing them, but you'll feel great, too!

The food was provided by Chelsea Catering, and it was de-lish. Seriously, y'all. Anyone who saw Jenn and I standing by the food table most likely assumed we were having a guac eating contest. We couldn't get enough! The margs were tasty too, and "healthy." I believe they were mixed with some sort of organic juices, but now I can't recall the name. Oops. (Um yeah, I had a few too many!)

I'm not sure what was in that dip, but it made the fresh veggies taste even better. For dessert, cookies from This Chic Bakes were passed out. These healthy treats are yummy, and surprisingly, the green tea/lemon cookie was my favorite!

Now this is just a hunch, but I don't think ponytail guy and his buddy were actually invited to the party or had intentions of buying any jewelry for their girlfriends. They seemed pretty into the free food and booze!

I thought this sign was pretty funny. Just as Jenn walked out of the restroom, her name was being called out over a microphone to announce that she won a pretty ring from Arielle's line!

Jenn doesn't like to be in the spotlight, (which is why, of course, I put her on my blog so much) so it was funny watching her walk up to collect her gift.

Check out Arielle's website here. I love that she's combining fashion with wellness! She's taking me on a grocery shopping tour soon to help me make healthier choices, and I absolutely cannot WAIT!

What food shopping questions should I ask her? What would YOU want to know?

What little health-conscious things do you do that make a big difference?

I just discovered the other day that my gym is a block away from work (I have a "golden" membership, so I can go to any NYSC in the city). I was excited to try it out just to switch things up a bit. Now you know from this post that I am all for taking the stairs, but when I saw this never-ending staircase in front of me, I contemplated taking the elevator. I was exhausted just looking at it. But, since I'm really trying to squeeze in extra exercise any way I can these days, I decided to go for it.

About a third of the way up, I heard someone behind me. She kept getting closer and closer. There is no way I'm letting her pass me, I thought, so I picked up the pace to what felt like a sprint. (Yes, I am competitive--even on the stairwell). I was breathing pretty heavily by the time I got to the top--What is this, a workout before my workout? I thought. But I felt good. It's just like any time you exercise--you're not ever going to regret doing it.

So I'd say this is the number one thing I do to go that extra mile. I walk as much as possible (which isn't hard to do in NYC), and take the stairs whenever I can. The other thing I do on a daily basis is drink water. TONS of it. TMI WARNING: By the end of the day my pee looks like water. It keeps me hydrated and feeling full--I love it.

And yesterday, I followed Bethenny Frankel's advice and tried to make my lunch more visually appealing. Usually, I just eat my 6" turkey sub on top of the plastic Subway wrapper it comes in, but look how much prettier it looks on this bright plate. Even though I had eaten this same meal for dinner the night before, I was so excited to eat it on this watermelon-colored plate, that I was practically skipping back to my desk with it. This just confirms what I said in this post: Bethenny Frankel, you are a genuis.

Last week, the guy behind me in line at the grocery store started doing bicep curls with a jug of water. He's going to have to do a lot more than THAT to impress me, I thought. But then his super-hot, skinny bitch of a girlfriend came up and gave him a big smooch on the lips. Boy did I feel dumb.

So tell me: Whether it's taking the stairs or doing bicep curls in the grocery store--what are the little health-conscious things you do that make a big difference?