33 days... Nothing tastes as good as this feels!

A comment by a friend got me thinking today. We were at Subway and I was being careful to stick to my diet leading up to being She-Hulk. I'm actually eating more food than normal as I build muscle, but far less fat, sugar and other junk. Clean eating is definitely not cheap, nor is it always easy to follow at restaurants, but this was actually pretty easy. I got my 6 inch oven-roasted chicken in a whole wheat wrap and loaded it with veggies instead of cheese and sauce. Add a bottle of water and it made a truly healthy choice. My friend was quite surprised that I didn't feel deprived and commented that "Nothing is worth giving up if you really like it!"

She has a point in a way. The whole time I was losing the 42 pounds I took off, I still included chocolate. Today I did indulge in a cookie, but not the pop and chips or the other goodies offered later.

I think there is a difference when you have your eyes set on a goal that means a lot to you. Being careful right now about what I eat isn't so much about dieting (certainly not when I am eating MORE than I usually do) but about wanting to get the results I need in a healthy way that doesn't resort to chemicals or extreme measures. There simply isn't a food out there right now that tastes better than this crazy dream I am aiming for!

I got out The Sensational She-Hulk graphic novel again today after an awesome leg workout at the gym that still has me whimpering a bit as I go up and down stairs. I love the pose that she is striking on the cover because she is sleek and panther-like instead of masculinely muscular. I discovered Richard Avedon's photos of bodybuilder Rachel McGlish around the same time as this comic came out and both of them were defined, cut but still incredibly feminine... She-Hulk was just more on my scale! With arms and legs as long as mine, I doubt I could ever put on the sheer mass that a smaller torso could bulk up with, but I am feeling incredibly proud of how the muscles I have are getting more and more defined during this countdown.

Now that we're in the gym almost every day (3 days on, 1 day off) instead of our usual 2 or 3 times a week, people are starting to notice and ask about why Nick and I are training so hard. When I explain what I am going to be doing on Labour Day weekend, it is fun to watch people's reactions. Most of them are puzzled but supportive. It sure is a lot less risky than taking up skydiving!!