Author: maryhelenc

My name is MHC. I am a single mom of three, a freelance writer, a blogger and awesome.

Discouragement

by maryhelenc, posted in Fitnesslicious

It’s one of the hardest things to overcome. That feeling of failure, like you’re not getting anywhere.

I felt that way during my exercise regime this week. I just keep working hard & getting nowhere & it’s frustrating. So, instead of figuring out WHY, I drowned my sorrows in a bag of Doritos.

Now that we’ve moved past that, its time to focus. Obviously I am smaller, my size 14 pants can attest. So, now it’s time to step up my efforts.

First order of business: buy a scale. The scale is going to make me accountable. Are the Doritos worth it, knowing the scale in the morning has the power to make me feel awful? Likely not. The next step is to add Wii Fit back into my workout regime. Every other day just won’t cut it anymore. I need to get serious if I want to succeed.

Fortunately, I have a strong support system. I can’t imagine having people who just spew the same “love yourself for you” or “think of your kids”. Uh, I’m doing all of this to learn to love myself AND to set a good example for my kids. I’m going to teach them a healthy lifestyle and how to accomplish their goals through hard work.

So, I’ve learned that discouragement is a good thing. It allows you to rethink your strategy…and Doritos are not good strategy.

No Kenneth Tong, I won’t aim for size 0

by maryhelenc, posted in Fitnesslicious, Seriously WTF?

As week two of my weight loss challenge begins, I was pleased with myself and horrified with the world around me.

My first week of burn produced a six pound loss, thanks in part to the flu haha. Either way, it’s a positive step. I’ve taken to drinking more water & I’ve cut out almost all caffeine. Not to mention that the burn program is hard, so the feeling of accomplishment is worth the shin splints & the sweat.

Enter Kenneth Tong, the “self help” guru who has earned the ire of Gordon Ramsay & Simon Cowell for his size zero campaign. Tong claims that the tiny size is the standard for beauty & self control. Except that not everyone can be a size zero. Some body types are just not built to be a size zero and pushing these women may just kill them.

The problem with these idiots is that even though we know they’re idiots, the seed has been planted in the minds of women everywhere. They’ll mock him publically but then loathe in private because they aren’t the elusive size zero.

We can preach that women need to discover real beauty, regardless of weight but let’s be frank; no one’s listening. Everyone still wants to be thin. So, let’s promote realistic goals; no shakes, no fads, just a combination of smarter food choices, excercise and accountability. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to be in the best shape for your body type, as long as you do it safely & aim for a realistic goal.

Weight Loss Challenge!

by maryhelenc, posted in Fitnesslicious

With the new year comes new changes. For some, it’s a new chance to fix an old problem.

For the last nine years, I have struggled with my weight. I have cried in stores, binged, purged, starved, crash dieted & cried again only to find I’m still struggling. Only in the last year with the help of my lose it! app and my personal trainer Melissa Jones (I strongly recommend any lady in Windsor go see her @ Goodlife on Ouellette ave) that I’ve started to learn how to try & lose weight in a healthy way.

Keep reading this post

My status brings change!

by maryhelenc, posted in Seriously WTF?

A recent Facebook status change has prompted controversy & no, this time it’s not about bras or purses.

A request to “end violence against children” by changing your display picture to a cartoon character has prompted all sorts of controversy, ranging from rumors that it was started by pedophiles to people speaking out against the idea that a FB status will bring social change.

Keep reading this post

Dear Vampire Diary: Should’ve Said There Was Another Witch

by maryhelenc, posted in Vampire Diaries

Dear Vampire Diary:

This week was full of twists and turns and werewolves oh my!

(Spoiler alert! Don’t read if you haven’t watched)

The Salvatore brothers have had enough of Katherine and are determined to finally be rid of her. Teaming up with Jeremy Gilbert, Alaric, Caroline and Bonnie, the Scooby gang team up to take on the psychotic vamp.

The plan nearly falls flat when Kat kills a random drunk who picked the wrong time to tell “Elena” that she looked sensational. Kat showed her dark side once again by killing the girl. Stefan wavered in his resolve to kill Katherine, but Damon helped keep Stefan focused.

Meanwhile, Katherine’s plan to get a werewolf worked, as Tyler inadvertently killed a drunk girl (compelled by Katherine to get the job done if Matt couldn’t) after Caroline saved Matt from destruction. Tyler was horrified at what he would become, Caroline reached out with understanding, showing him her black eyes after his turned werewolf amber.

Jeremy & Bonnie played their parts well, with the former serving as a pawn and the latter casting a spell keeping Katherine caged. Caroline managed to fool Katherine and lure her into what should have been her demise. As the Savatores attacked their former lover, Elena (who snuck out from the not so watchful eye of Alaric. Seriously, worst babysitter ever) suffered every blow, thanks to Lucy, Katherine’s witch friend Stefan, unable to strike Katherine knowing his beloved Elena would suffer, interrogated Katherine, who taunted him comically. Damon had finally had enough of Katherine’s antics & vowed to stake her once Elena was safe.

However, Lucy had grown annoyed that Katherine had misled her; she failed to mention to her that there would be another witch. After winning Bonnie’s trust, Lucy gave Katherine the moonstone, which had now been tainted with magic. With Katherine subdued & Elena free from harm, the Salvatores were free to dispose of her by putting her in the place they thought she was all along: the Fell’s Church tomb. As Katherine explained that the Salvatores needed her to protect the doppleganger (Elena), Damon closed the door on Katherine, hesitated, & walked away.

With Katherine gone, Stefan rushed to Elena in hopes to be with her once more. Elena however, wasn’t ready to return to Stefan’s arms…yet. Deciding to take some time alone, Elena declined her brother’s offer to drive her home & was abducted by a masked man, leaving us on a cliffhanger.

Will our heroes save their beloved or will death finally claim Elena? Will Jeremy’s awkward advances on Bonnie work? We won’t know until next week!

Dear Vampire Diary: I don’t Think I’ll Like Plan C

by maryhelenc, posted in Vampire Diaries

Dear Vampire Diary,

Love hurts so much it can rip your heart out, especially in Mystic Falls.

(spoiler alert! Don’t read on if you haven’t watched)

The episode started off promising, as Elena and her vampire soulmate forgot they were supposed to pretend to fight & made love. Werehottie Mason Lockwood enjoyed his morning as well, with Katherine sharing his bed. Katherine wants the moonstone and Mason plans on giving it to her…later.

New vamp Caroline is having family drama (I’m sure we can all relate to the problems that come from locking your mom in a basement when she finds out you’re the walking undead). After spending the day educating her mom on the vampire way of life, Sheriff Forbes agreed to keep her daughter’s secret & admitted how proud she is of her daughter. Caroline knew her mother would never protect her makers (the Salvatores) in the same manner, so she compelled the moment away & set her mother free. Things are just going to get worse for Caroline, as Katherine has a plan for her beloved ex boyfriend Matt, but more on that later.

The romantic entanglements came to a head when Bonnie bumped into Mason and got a vision of him kissing “Elena”. Stefan put two and two together and along with Bonnie and Damon, set out to “talk” to Mason and get the moonstone.

Stefan’s leap into a an old well to get the moonstone nearly proved fatal as it wad full of vervain. The ladies worked as a team to save him & Elena let him feed from her in order to revive him (LOVE Bonnie, Caroline, & Elena working together again, let’s see more of this in future eppies). Meanwhile, Damon’s playtime with Mason ended with the tortured vampire ripping out the werewolf’s heart in a jealous rage. Damon’s mocking call to his former vamp lover put Katherine in revenge mode, compelling Elena’s Aunt Jenna to attempt suicide and Matt to sacrifice himself so Katherine can have a werewolf.

Elena, racked with guilt left Stefan, claiming Katherine won. Damon humbly apologized, but Elena was gone. The Salvatores know that to win the woman they love back, they need to kill Katherine. With Alaric (he wants to defend his beloved Jenna and her niece), Jeremy and Bonnie also wanting Kat dead, she best have nine lives.

How can it be pedophilia if all the kids are grown?

by maryhelenc, posted in Celebrity Fluff, Seriously WTF?

GQ Magazine’s Glee-ful cover had tongues wagging this week as fans were treated to cast members dressed scandalously. The Parent Teacher Council claimed the shots were “borderline pedophilia” as stars Corey Monteith, Lea Michelle and Diana Aragon play teenagers on the Fox dramedy. The PTC says the men’s magazine is promoting the sexualization of young people.

While one can applaud the PTC for speaking out against the objectification of children, Monteith, Michelle and Aragon are all adults (Monteith is 19 and his ladies are both 24). Rolling Stone featured an equally as salacious Glee cover earlier this year where a draft swept up Michelle’s skirt, exposing her panties. The cover was met with rave reviews & no PTC complaints.

While the actors do play teenagers, they aren’t teenagers themselves. This isn’t the first time an adult playing a teen has posed provocatively for a magazine. Jessica Biel famously posed topless for Gear magazine in an attempt to get fired from 7th Heaven. Another 7th Heaven alum Ashlee Simpson posed in Maxim’s Blender Magazine promoting her first album (while still playing virginal Celia). Neither spread received flack. Not to mention that GQ is a men’s magazine. It’s not like these shots made their way into Teen Beat.

I’m surprised the PTC hasnt spoken out about nine year old Willow Smith, who has recently released her first music video. Surely that violates child labour laws. Either way, more people are talking about Glee, which makes Ryan Murphy very gleeful indeed.

Till Death Do Us Part, Or Until We’re Like Really Bored

by maryhelenc, posted in Celebrity Fluff, Relationships

Hollywood supercouple Courteney Cox & David Arquette announced their separation after 11 years of marriage, an announcement that blindsided the gossip rags.

Cox & Arquette were one of the few Hollywood marriages that actually seemed to work, despite ups and downs & his craptastic attempt to start a pro wrestling career. After 11 years, what could tear them apart?

I guess it saddens me because I’m a huge believer of the idea of “Death do us part” & hate that it’s just so easy to walk away. It’s funny that this news came on the heels of a horrid argument between myself & my own husband. Voices were raised, tears were shed & friends were called for comfort. It was a particularly crappy day for my marriage, but I still wouldn’t want to throw in the towel.

I’m not saying stick it out if you’re living a nightmarish life with adultery and domestic violence, but the idea that you “grew apart” seems strange to me. Of course you’re not the same exact person you were when you said “I do” but a true marriage means you evolve together.

My parents told me that a successful marriage means knowing you won’t always love (or even like) your partner, but you love them enough to learn to fall in love with them again so the good times outweigh the crappy ones. Too many people find it too easy to just walk away.

I think the reason that so many marriages end is that we don’t take the time to get to know ourselves well enough to know what we need in a partner. We get so caught up in the idea that we need anyone beside us that we don’t look for our other half. Because we haven’t found that person who makes us feel complete, it’s easy to just leave.

I hope for the sake of the Arquette/Cox & Aguilera/Bratman marriages, this is a separation that comes with a reconciliation. Sometimes you need to be away from someone to realize how much you need them. If not, may they continue to coparent their children in a healthy manner. In the meantime, we can all wonder how Will Smith & Jada Pinkett-Smith keep it together.

Who’s Thankful For What?

by maryhelenc, posted in Relationships

I have a love/hate relationship with Thanksgiving.

While I do so love making tonnes and tonnes of food for my family and friends, the idea of sitting around with relatives we barely see (or make any attempt to contact otherwise) and talk about how we’re all thankful for each other is kind of weird. I guess it’s because (as I’ve mentioned in previous posts) that I’ve never really had strong extended family ties so the whole idea of it is strange.

I make it a point to get together with family and dear friends and make a huge meal but I never ask what we’re thankful for. I think we should make it a point to be thankful for things all year long, not just while Aunt Ann is passing the sweet potatoes. By the time pie is served, we’ve all forgotten what we’re thankful for and by the next day, we’ve reverted back to the bitter bees who don’t appreciate the life we’ve been given or those we have to share it with.

There are alot of things we should be thankful for but aren’t, things like oppurtunities and chances. So many of us waste oppurtunities because of momentary distractions or because we’re straight up afraid to fail. The world would be alot better if we saw the chance to succeed as a victory of it’s own. Many people don’t even have the chance to try and yet so many of us throw away a chance thinking we can revisit it once we’re done playing around. However, oppurtunity rarely knocks again and NEVER leaves a voicemail. We should be thankful for each step we take in the journey and not focus on the end result. I know I used to be terrible for making excuses for why I didn’t just take steps because it was a long shot or because what if I wasn’t good enough. Now I know that I wasted alot of time that could have been spent succeeding. People should be thankful for the chance to try, instead of afraid to fail.

Family is another thing we take for granted. Family doesn’t necessarily mean blood ties, but the people in your life who make your life better. So many people don’t appreciate their children until they’ve grown and have lives of their own or their spouses until they’ve left. We don’t appreciate the friends who held our hands until you forgot to hold theirs and they moved on. Why wait until Thanksgiving to tell people that you love and appreciate them?  We live in a generation of self-absorption, why not pull yourself back a bit and take a moment to reflect on the people who have helped you get where you want to be?

I am guilty of this myself. I tend to be unappreciative of my job, despite it providing me financial security and focusing on how much it sucks. I have other goals, but I let things get in the way and I don’t think I show my family and friends enough love, so I need to take my own advice. I think we’d be a society of happy people if we took chances for ourselves while choosing to surround ourselves with the people who truly have our back. Then we could be thankful for the food on Thanksgiving instead of reciting the same old greeting card sentiment around the table.  After all, family, friends, and life are every day, but we can only enjoy stuffing three times a year at the most. So, let’s take the oppurtunity to enjoy it.