I get upset easily. I am a crier. I do not have a thick skin. This is a flaw. I don’t like it about myself and I don’t recommend you try this at home.

It is because of this flaw that I feel the need to defend myself to idiots on the internet.

I left a totally innocuous comment on one of my favorite blogs, Melissa Nibbles. She was talking about people jumping on the gluten-free/sugar-free/whatever else-free bandwagon and explained that she eats all those foods and her stomach feels fine. I commented and said:

I’m still waiting for people to join me on the “I’m giving up salad bandwagon.” Talk about making my stomach hurt.

What I did not say:

• No one should eat salad! It is bad for you.
• I hate vegetables and I won’t eat them!
• My body feels better when I eat crappy foods than vegetables, so I will eat crappy foods!

Nope, said none of those things. All I said was that salad (not vegetables; salad) makes MY stomach hurt. “Hurt,” by the way, was a euphemism for “be rushed to the emergency room while screaming in pain.”

A commenter by the name of Cat felt the need to respond to my comment, since she was able, by use of her extremely advanced brain power, to know exactly what I meant when I said salad makes my stomach hurt:

Dori I’ll join you on that no-salad bandwagon. My insides feel waaaay better when all I’m consuming is bread, beer and meat compared to when I’m eating vegetables at every meal.

I immediately went back to my own comment, because I had no recollection of saying I eat meat. As a vegetarian, it doesn’t sound like something I would say — but Cat seems to know all, so she must be right! I also don’t drink beer. While I never liked the taste, now I physically cannot drink it because it is a bloating agent as I am sure many of you know. And about those vegetables. Last I heard, vegetables — especially cooked vegetables (which I CAN eat!) — are not the same thing as salad. When I say salad, the first thing that comes to mind is a bowl with a good amount of raw lettuce or spinach — the foods that would completely debilitate me. I cannot eat raw vegetables.

I know I should have just let it go. Who cares, right? It’s the internet and people are jerks and can hide behind the cloak of anonymity.

But I couldn’t help myself. I can’t explain it, but I feel this need to defend myself on the internet. I don’t want people thinking incorrect things about me and I felt frustrated at the complete misreading of my comment. Ask any of my friends or family — they will tell you I am one of the cleanest eaters they know. People come to me for nutrition advice! I write a health blog! So the insinuation that I eat crap foods — all because “salad makes my stomach hurt” — offended me. Cat falls into the category of “What is wrong with EVERYONE?!”

Listen, I am all for dissenting comments. I don’t want anyone to be scared to say what they are thinking in my own comments section. If you call me a self-entitled c*nt (Hi John!) I might call you out on it, but you don’t need to agree with whatever I am saying. I welcome and encourage all types of comments as long as you’re not an ass about it.

But I can only appreciate dissenting comments when there is some sort of basis. Some facts or knowledge. And if you don’t know what you are talking about, either research it or simply ask! Cat could have said “Dori, why does salad make your stomach hurt? Do all vegetables do that? What do you eat?” Instead, she assumed that I meant I hate vegetables and love meat and beer, and she attacked. And since when is it OK to judge someone else’s pain?

So I replied.

Cat — That sounds like an exciting diet but as as a vegetarian and non-beer drinker (chronic stomach illnesses destroy all the fun!) I won’t be able to join.

I expressed my point concisely, although I could have been less abrasive. I generally try not to be passive aggressive and I think I failed here, but at least I said what I needed to say.

I doubt Cat clicked through to my blog, but if she did she might have seen that my most recent post at the time linked to this article about my ordeal with a chronic illness that keeps me from eating some of the healthy foods I love. But my guess is that Cat is not someone who does much reading.

And by the way, there are other people in my no-salad bandwagon. I know this because they have contacted me after reading my blog to commiserate. And guess what? They are all people with digestive illnesses. And none of them are happy with this restriction.

It kills me every day that “salad makes my stomach hurt.” I want so much to be able to eat this food that I loved before I got sick. I wasn’t denying that salad is healthy; the fact it is so healthy makes me SAD that I can’t enjoy its health benefits! Which is why I drink green juice instead. Which is sort of like beer and meat.

The next time you’re about to click that submit button on a comment, think for a second about whether you are being an uninformed jerk. Read this great Hollaback Health post on leaving dissenting comments. And then, if your comment is still ignorant and this is truly who you are, go ahead and click submit.

—

Happier News:

Man toys!

New NBC NY post!

Now you know about Part 1 and Part 2 of My Hip Injury. While physical therapy seems to be helping (the swelling went down! finally!) and cortisone took the pain away (at least for now), who am I to turn down something I have always wanted to try when it was offered to me — acupuncture.

From their website:

Exhale incorporates the 5,000-year-old system of healing known as acupuncture and oriental medicine into its everyday environment. Both safe and effective, acupuncture excels at integrating the body, mind and spirit to promote health and balance. Throughout its history, this complete system of healing has addressed the medical needs of large parts of the world’s population. The focus of this medicine has always been the prevention of disease by establishing and maintaining the balance and harmony of all aspects of the individual’s health.

At exhale, all of our acupuncture practitioners are master healers, achieving the highest level of training and exceeding national standards for the profession. All are Nationally Board Certified by the NCCAOM (California State boards) and are State licensed health care providers. They hold a Masters of Science in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. More than that, each acupuncturist at exhale was hand-selected for their unique healing skills. They bring to exhale the deepest level of empathy, compassion, and care combined with skill and knowledge.

I went to exhale spa for my appointment last week and met my acupuncturist, Jordana Allen. I actually heard about Jordana before this visit because one of my Core Fusion teachers told me that there is an acupuncturist who also has a torn labrum. How ironic coincidental (a little pet peeve of mine, kids — learn it).

After changing into a comfy robe and lounging with a warm neck pillow, Jordana took me into a massage room and instructed me to sit in a chair so we could talk. I actually expected to hop right onto the table and get right down to business, but now I realize how important this initial evaluation is.

When Jordana asked me why I was there, I told her about my hip.

Then she asked to see my tongue for her . . . tongue diagnosis? Clearly I did not do my research beforehand because I would have learned that this is an important part of any acupuncture evaluation. According to Sacred Lotus, “the tongue has many relationships and connections in the body, both to the meridians and the internal organs. It is therefore very useful and important during inspection for confirming TCM diagnosis. It can present strong visual indicators of a person’s overall harmony or disharmony.”

[Source: Sacred Lotus]

Apparently my tongue did not reveal the fact that I am always freezing, although many external factors can influence how my tongue looks on any given day, so it is not 100% accurate. Also, Jordana explained that tongue diagnosis can change from session to session and every acupuncturist will have a different opinion of you and your diagnosis.

Jordana asked me if I have any other issues she should know about, and I didn’t really think of anything until she gave anxiety as one of her examples. I’ve actually battled anxiety for many years. She said that the acupuncture treatment would help with this problem.

Then, as an afterthought, I casually mentioned that I suffer from a chronic gastrointestinal illness.

I could tell by Jordana’s face that I probably should have disclosed this sooner. I honestly thought I was there only for my hip! And while I had considered acupuncture for my GI illness in the past, I never did go through with it due to the inordinate amount of money I spend weekly on other treatments.

“We will work on your stomach too,” Jordana told me after I gave her the details of my problems. WOW. I did not expect this. Wow. Wow. How did I get this lucky?

As I lay on the heated table with a heat lamp over me (I could have done just that and been happy with my hour!), Jordana told me she saw a tinge of blue in my stomach channel along my legs. She said this is not normal, and that it indicates cold.

[Source: ITM Online]

She also revealed that my tongue showed some stagnation in my stomach (meaning things are not moving). That reminded me of the time I was getting a pedicure and during the foot massage, the woman was pressing on this one point on my foot that felt strange. She asked me if it hurt and I said yes and she jumped up and came back with a big book. She opened to a page about the colon and pointed to that, and then pointed to my foot, explaining as best she can with our language barrier that the foot issue indicated colon problems.

Obviously I was shocked that the pedicure was so completely on the mark. She could have said that strange sensation on my foot meant anything, but she got it exactly right.

And so I went to this acupuncture appointment aware that my body reveals the underlying issues I have.

Discovery Health explains the two thoughts on how acupuncture works by explaining:

Approximately 2,000 different acupuncture points lie along the body’s meridians. The idea behind acupuncture is that stimulating these points with acupuncture needles or pressure relieves obstructions in the flow of energy, enabling the body to heal.

In the Western view, acupuncture likely works by stimulating the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord) to release chemicals called neurotransmitters and hormones. These chemicals dull pain, boost the immune system and regulate various body functions.

Jordana put about nine needles in different parts of my body to target my hip and my stomach (I say stomach as a general term to mean my overall digestive issues). One needle went in the top of my head.

Let’s talk needles. I was not at all afraid of them going into this session. From everything I’ve heard about acupuncture, you do not feel the needles at all and they don’t hurt. Before the session, Jordana showed me a needle, and flinged the sharp part to show me how light and bendable it is.  Because of this, I had no apprehension whatsoever about the needles.

But you know what? Yes, they’re small but they are still NEEDLES. They are still sharp and you do feel them. Each one pinched as it went in. While they were in they didn’t hurt, but I could certainly feel that they were there. They’re needles! And after the session, when Jordana pulled them out, I felt the little sting again.

It wasn’t pain and it wasn’t bad. But come on.  Let’s call a spade a spade.

[Source: Discovery Health: How Stuff Works]

Once Jordana had the needles in place and made sure I felt no discomfort, she asked me if I wanted a foot massage.

Um, does Santana love tummy rubs?

YES of course I wanted a foot massage!

In addition to being an acupuncturist, Jordana is also a licensed massage therapist. The foot massage was the most amazing added benefit and really took my experience from great to incredible. I want to go back just for more foot massage. Mmmmmmm….

The entire time, we chatted. Those who know me know I can be uncomfortable and awkward with new people, unless vodka and tequila are involved. But Jordana made me feel completely at ease, and she was so knowledgeable and sweet. Also, SHE LOVES CORE FUSION! Yes, it was a match made in exhale heaven. The only thing I love more than extolling the virtues of Core Fusion with anyone who will listen is chatting all about them with someone who understands!

It was especially helpful to tell her I felt the pain get worse during the pretzel because she knew exactly what I meant when I said pretzel, a Core Fusion exercise.  Going to acupuncture in the same place I work out is a huge plus.

I did want to mention that I found an old email I wrote to a friend in September, a month before my hip hurt during Core Fusion, about a 10 mile training run I did. For 5 of those miles, my hip was bothering me. So it turns out the problem was getting bad before I even realized when I wrote my Hip Injury posts.

As we discussed my stomach problems, Jordana advises against eating fiber, which I already know is my #1 enemy. I haven’t eaten salad in years and I miss it every day. However, she gave me some advice I hadn’t heard before: avoid cold foods, like ice cream. She also suggested I put a heating pad on my stomach and lower back every day. So this visit was beneficial for more than just the needles.

According to Jordana, the benefits of acupuncture vary, and the effectiveness varies also. It depends on what the condition is and how long it has been going on. She always suggests that acupuncture be done at least once a week because each treatment builds on the last one, and you get better results that way.

Because I already had a cortisone injection and haven’t exactly been in hip pain, it might be difficult to know the effects of the acupuncture. It would have been a lot more cut-and-dry if I didn’t have the steroid injection, was in pain, went to acupuncturist and then could tell you all “the pain is gone!” or “ugh I still feel pain.” Instead, I am just going for overall healing and long-term health. As for my stomach, I should be able to tell you about any overall improvements by the end of these sessions.

I will write a full review of my entire acupuncture experience at the end of these four sessions. Given that it will be over a month after my first visit, I will be able to describe my entire experience along with any results. I actually noticed some improvements since this session but because it could be chance, I will wait to go into detail until the end of these sessions. I will also determine at that time if I want to continue with acupuncture treatments.

Have you ever tried acupuncture? How many times did you go? Did you feel or see any improvements?

I received this acupuncture treatment (the first of four) from exhale spa at no charge. While I am obligated to write a review, the opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Update:  I no longer take barre classes religiously. Here’s why.

—

I cannot believe we are almost midway through March. 2010 is really flying by, huh? It’s time for my recap of my Core Fusion Challenge!

What started as a 30 day challenge — and an amazing opportunity made possible by the generosity of Fred DeVito — turned into 2 months of an experience that totally changed my life in so many ways. Back in December, Fred asked me if I’d like to take Core Fusion classes 4-5 times a week and document my experience on my blog and on the exhale website. Of course I said yes. I was struggling with my weight and body image in November and December, having actually gained a bit of weight from October to that time. I felt uncomfortable, I couldn’t fit into my clothing and I was having a hard time making any substantial changes.

Additionally, I was suffering from a chronic gastrointestinal illness that kept me feeling in pain, bloated, uncomfortable and pretty miserable most of the time. I knew things needed to change and this was my opportunity to make these changes.

I had taken Core Fusion a bunch of times, but never with any regularity. The classes are pricey at $35 a class (made less expensive with class/monthly packages and specials on sites like Rue La La) and a monthly membership is more expensive than a regular gym membership. For that reason, I never seriously considered joining. If I had to choose one thing, I figured I’d choose a gym that costs less and offers a great variety (or so I thought).

So in January I began to take Core Fusion classes regularly. But at the same time, a few other changes occurred. My boyfriend and I ended our relationship, which was stressful because I had to move a lot of stuff into a very tiny apartment – but it was like a breath of fresh air at the same time. I had more time to evaluate my goals and priorities. I took better control of my stomach problems by eating smaller portions which really seemed to help my general discomfort.

I was writing more, as per the requirement for this challenge. As a writer, this was the nudge I needed to get back into practice. I was feeling happier and more positive about everything in my life. And, the most important changes from this time:

I was doing Core Fusion almost every day — finding and learning new things about myself, my strength, my capabilities. At the same time, I was networking with a group of amazing women who were participating in the challenge with me — many from home using the Core Fusion DVDs

I know it was a combination of those things that contributed to my feeling so much better, but I do attribute Core Fusion for helping the rest fall into place. Through these classes, I found my real love for treating my body well — for treating mySELF well, really. I never “loved” exercise other than running before. I did it because I felt like I had to. And I never did any strength training. I knew it was important, but I didn’t really know it was important, you know? I knew it because people said it but it never got through to me enough to put it to practice.

So there I was in January, my life drastically different than just a few weeks before. I was pushing myself through Core Fusion classes, struggling with soreness and bad knees. It was hard but I always felt great at the end of class and I was generally enjoying myself. Then I started taking Core Fusion Yoga and found a yoga love there, which I needed in my life. And I continued to attend Core Fusion and each day continued to love it more.

The results started showing quickly. After just two weeks, a friend of mine noticed muscle definition in my glutes and thighs. After a month, I met with Catherine, the health counselor and Core Fusion teacher I’ve been working with, for measurements and photos. We took measurements at the beginning of the challenge, and I was excited to see what the numbers showed.

And oh how the numbers showed! I lost about .5 inch all over and about 4% of my total body fat in just one month. After posting these results, it came to our attention that at least one person was concerned about these numbers. What I failed to explain in my measurements post was the fact that machines like the body fat/BMI machine include a 4% margin of error. I assumed it was understood, but it appears I was wrong. Additionally, food eaten, hydration and other factors can affect this number.

That said, even if the numbers of the body fat percentage were not my specific numbers, the fact that the number decreased after one month is still valid. The margin of error is the same; the only difference is me. However, to address this issue, Catherine and I met again to do all measurements and photos a third time. The numbers were still incredible. It reported a 3% body fat loss from the beginning of the challenge — still an amazing thing for a month and a half! (In the interest of full disclosure, we did these measurements at the end of the day rather than the beginning like the 4% result). My BMI went down by .2, and I lost about 2 pounds from the first day Catherine weighed me.

However, NONE of those numbers mattered at all to me. What mattered to me was the way I felt. Jeans that I could barely get past my thighs in December, much less close the button on, were now comfortable. Beyond comfortable, in fact. I was suddenly able to wear an entire wardrobe I didn’t have access to previously. One pair of jeans, I wore it all day, through breakfast, lunch and dinner — dinner OUT. And I didn’t feel like I was going to suffocate. I felt great!

In addition to how I felt in clothes, there’s also the matter of how I felt health wise. And the answer is that I felt better than I had in two and a half years, since I first got sick. As I said, I started eating smaller portions which of course contributed. But that’s not such a constant, as the amount I eat changes every day. What stayed the same was the fact that I was taking Core Fusion. I don’t believe I would be feeling as good as I am today if not for taking Core Fusion regularly. I was considering having major surgery in April and now I am not. I’m going to ride this whole “feeling good” wave as long as I can, by continuing to do everything I have been doing that seems to be working — and that includes lots of Core Fusion.

I also have mirrors in my home. I look in these mirrors. I can SEE the differences in my body. I can feel the differences as well. I’ve got muscle definition and tone all over. For those of you who are scared of getting bulky, I’ve got none of that. Just tone and definition. I love making a muscle in my arm and seeing my bicep! And I see it when I don’t plan to, like when I’m in the curl position, holding onto my outer thighs, and I look down at my arms and — HELLO MUSCLE!

I am stronger. Much stronger! I can now do long form pushups (!!!!!!!). I can use a heavier weight for upper body than when I started. I can hold planks for a really long time!! My knees don’t hurt when I run anymore — and I just ran 11 miles on Saturday! My legs don’t shake as much when we do thigh work at the bar. I can get much deeper into the curl position during abs and feel my abs burning more. And of course, there is the issue of my flexibility — being that now, I HAVE SOME! My new favorite part of class is round back against the wall, just because it means I get to show off my newfound flexibility to everyone in the room. Yes, my legs shake the entire time. No, I can’t let go of my calves and put my hands under the bar if that is what the rest of the class is doing. But I CAN DO IT. I can get my legs straight up and stretch them in a new way and look in the mirror and admire how straight they are and feel like I made amazing progress. And I have no doubt in my mind that after a couple months of stretching like this (maybe less?) I will be able to lift my hands off my calves and keep my legs straight up without holding on. It will happen.

In the second month of this challenge, I reaped even many more benefits than the first. This is when I noticed my body begin to reshape, which is something exhale boasts but I needed to see for myself. My body truly is a different shape. For the first time in a long time, I don’t hate my body. I hate to sound so negative, but I have struggled with body image issues for a very long time. Now, I look in the mirror and see all the hard work over the last 2 months. Am I as “thin” as I was a few years ago? No. Do I feel even more confident and happy in how I look and feel than I did a few years ago? YES. I don’t go on the scale because I don’t want it to ever be about the scale again. It is about how I look and feel. I look and feel strong. I look and feel great. My confidence has improved greatly.

And, another friend noticed that my arms are muscular and complimented me a couple weeks ago. Validation is always nice.

One more thing I wanted to cover in this very long recap (sorry!) is the social network support I’ve received throughout this time. When I started the Core Fusion Challenge, I opened it up to anyone who wanted to take part, at class or with the DVDs. I expected some people to follow along but I didn’t expect anything like what I got. I met so many amazing women, all striving to be their best, to work hard, to achieve results. They gave me so much support, encouragement and motivation throughout this time. And they still do now, as I remain in touch with most of them! I even made friends through this! I’ve taken Core Fusion classes with some new people as a result of my challenge who I now hang out with and talk to regularly. How amazing! And I know that every time I write a post or need an opinion, I have a support group ready to hear about my Core Fusion experiences and willing to offer their advice and guidance.

And of course, there is Fred, Catherine and the wonderful teachers at exhale spa who I got to work with this entire time. I was so lucky to have Fred to offer support and answer any questions I had. If something hurt, he gave me expert advice and within a couple days I was as good as new. Catherine has been a rock for me throughout this time as well. I went through some very tough times during the last 2 months — a close friend passed away, I had to adjust to moving back to my tiny apartment after a breakup, another friend betrayed me in a horrible way — and Catherine has been there for me every step of the way, doing all she could to make sure I was okay. If anyone ever needs a health counselor (or to take a great Core Fusion class), I cannot recommend Catherine enough.

The other teachers at exhale have also been incredible. I tried taking as many different teachers as possible during this tim. Every one was fantastic and they all have something special to offer. Exhale does a spectacular job at training these teachers (16 week training program!) and as a result, we get teachers who know how to teach well, correct our form, push us harder and make us want to be better with each class.

I tried taking as many different types of classes as possible. Core Fusion was the main goal here, to be supplemented with the other class offerings at exhale.  As a result, I tried Core Fusion Yoga, Music Yoga Flow, Yoga – Level 1 and Core Fusion Cardio. I continue to take Core Fusion Yoga and Core Fusion Cardio about once a week each, as well as Core Fusion a few times a week, and I just love every class. I crave them. As soon as one class ends, I want to go back for more. It is addicting but not in an unhealthy way. It is simply fun. I’m not trying to lose weight, I am trying to be the best version of me I can be. This challenge helped me realize how I can go about this and gave me an amazing starting point.

While my Core Fusion Challenge has officially ended, my Core Fusion experience is far from over as I continue to take class just as much as I have been. The results, the positivity I feel, the calmness and peace at the end of each class — I am not willing to give any of this up. I can tell you with certainty that Core Fusion simply works. It is worth the price because a gym membership won’t get you these results – especially if you are like me and don’t bother with strength training. I brought a few friends to try Core Fusion and they are all hooked. The experience is much more enjoyable than what a gym could give you. It is hard to motivate yourself but the teachers at Core Fusion do the job quite well!

I hope you try it out if you haven’t yet. If you are a brand new student, you can try a week of unlimited classes for just $40. The DVDs are all affordably priced as well on Amazon as well. The brand new DVD which is more like a real Core Fusion class is called Lean & Toned and comes out in May. I will be reviewing it here closer to then and I am very excited about it.

Thanks for keeping up my entire challenge! The Core Fusion Challenge came into my life at the perfect time. I am so happy you got to share it with me.