Thought for Food

Three-year Tracyversary

This month marks three years since I gave myself over to Tracy Anderson, mind, body, and soul (ok, just body — though I’m the first to admit that I talk about it enough you’d think she’d taken over my brain, too).

In February 2009, I bought her (original) DVDs, cancelled my gym membership, and never looked back.

One of the main benefits I’ve found with her approach is that even when I slack off for awhile, my body keeps itself together. I do this thing where I check out my abs quickly in a mirror (I’m waiting for someone to catch me at work). I do it when I’ve been working out a lot (to gloat) and I do it when I’ve been working out a little (to assure myself no, I’m not fat). And, even if I’ve been pigging out for a week, they’re still there. Now granted, I’m not ab-centric (in Tracy parlance) — it’s my thighs that are my real bugaboos — but a little softness around the tummy is the first sign that I’m slipping, so I like to keep an eye on it.

The point is, my body continues looking pretty much the same even if I’ve only worked out a few times in two weeks (we’re not talking super-duper-fit, mind you, but we ARE talking feel-good-naked). And my endurance remains high.

People criticized Gwyneth Paltrow because she claimed she “gained weight” for Country Strong, and there’s a scene in it where she’s in nothing but jeans and a bra and … uh … what?? She’s as thin as ever. (I’m convinced the rumor actually came from her PR people who, god bless them, thought they could nudge her to an Oscar since the Academy with that gain-weight talk.) I read her clarification somewhere: she didn’t set out to gain weight per se, she just didn’t want to look like someone who was working out all the time. So she significantly slowed down her Tracy routine for the 6 weeks or so she was filming. I think she just did a few sessions of cardio dance. And she said that her body pretty much stayed the way it was — despite eating fattening Nashville food — until a week or so before the end of filming.

That, my friends, is the Tracy touch. Once you’ve done it for a year or so, your body maintains progress. Tracy would never say this — she doesn’t want you skipping any workouts — but it’s the truth.

Another thing is that I know I can get in fighting form in two weeks. Give me 14 days, and with discipline, I can get back to my thinnest and fittest. That’s nothing to shake a stick at — and it’s not something I experienced with other workouts. But the thing they always say about Tracy is true: you put in the work, she will give you the results (and when you’ve been at it for awhile, results come FAST). I see far too many overweight people huffing away at the gym. If you’re going to spend time working out, why not make it worth something?

Now, I am not nearly as “teeny-tiny” as true Tracy devotees. I honestly don’t have an interest in being thinner than a true size 6. So I’m not nearly as strict about maintaining discipline, especially where it comes to food. But that’s the beauty. I’ve found my ideal equilibrium, and that involves workouts (with all their immediate benefits, namely sweating out toxins and stress) and some of the best food this world has to offer. 

I am never giving this workout up. Never. For as long as there is a Method, I will be doing it. Here’s to sticking with what works.

PS: Just as an FYI, and update on this post, for the past 9 months I’ve been doing her Metamorphosis program. $35 a month for workouts that change every 10 days. And let me tell you — I thought I’d seen it all but that woman has found ever more insane ways to kick my ass. Holy crap. 

PPS: Shout-outs to my fellow Tracy devotees Julie, Mastering the Method, and A Notebook of Trivialities. They help keep me motivated.

andthenigotadog asked: i must know more about this crazy spicy baby food...what do you put in it and what are the best flavors to use? i eat baby food desserts like they're going out of style, so i'm pretty into your whole operation here.

My “whole operation” — ha! I like your style. That one is edamame and carrot with cayenne for the all-important kick. It’s a great snack for a grazer such as myself. Combined with a bowl of (salt-free) gazpacho or a salad, it’s lunch.

The recipe, from Tracy Anderson’s 30 Day Method, for one 8-ounce serving (obviously you should make more than one serving at a time):

3/4 cup shelled edamame (I use frozen)
1 carrot, chopped
handful of spinach
pinch of cayenne (or more!)

Steam edamame and carrot, then puree in a blender with raw spinach and cayenne.

Also, if you love baby food desserts, try this vegan chocolate cocounut pudding. Three bites and you’re satisfied. 

Okay … maybe five.