California baby!
- Thread starter Cowgirl
- Start date
- Status
Curvie Girlie
New member
Hey! I'm in Santa Cruz County, been here since 2002, but in August I just moved out of SC proper and into Soquel (which is pretty close anyway). Santa Cruz is a great area for weight loss; there are so many trails and beaches and gyms and health food stores 
Curvie Girlie
New member
My Auntie Leaka works at Fredericks of Hollywood. She was nice and sent me a bunch of my favorite panties for Xmas! Good thing, those suckers are 3 for $24!
Curvie Girlie
New member
LOL I know! She sent me SIX panties, so I was nice and gave my girl friend 2 pairs (I hate pink, I kept the red, black, turquoise, and blue ones)
Curvie Girlie
New member
Ah! Wine Country all around, babe! Santa Cruz Mountains are excellent for Pinto Noir and Chardonnay! (although not as great as the Santa Lucia Highlands, though)
Cowgirl
New member
LOL I know! She sent me SIX panties, so I was nice and gave my girl friend 2 pairs (I hate pink, I kept the red, black, turquoise, and blue ones)
... I like pink undies. :O)
Curvie Girlie
New member
I dislike pink, but I DO like RED undies.
HEY what are we supposed to talk about here? Weight loss? Here, I'll go with what I had in mind:
SO Santa Cruz area is great because if I want to run on the beach, I can. I can run in a meadow if I want (Arana Gulch). I can run in Felton, I can run in Big Basin, I can run in the Forest of Nisene Marks in Aptos, I can run WESTCLIFF DR in Santa Cruz but I never do because every Westsider does that and I prefer solitude when I run.
I'm one of those health food freaks. I prefer all my food to be organic but I won't throw a hissy fit if it isn't. The stores out here that are natty are New Leaf chain, Staff of Life, Food Bin, Aptos Natural Foods, and Shoppers' Corner. Most of the big chain stores have an organic and health food freezer section. There are lots of farmers' markets and healthy, organic restaurants.
There is a Raw Food restaurant called Cafe La Vie and is owned by the Cafe Gratitude in San Francisco and Berkeley. I just started a raw food diet (not vegan, I'm eating raw fish and raw cheese) nine days ago and I have dropped weight more quickly than thermodynamically possible, but I'm waiting to see if it's because I'm just dehydrated as the raw bars I eat, or I'm actually burning fat at a rate higher than the caloric deficits I'm racking up. We'll see. In 2004-2005 I managed a raw diet for 3 months and lost 25 lbs. It was incredible and great. But I eventually gain weight back (after quitting raw) because I LOVE beer and bread, but beer and bread loves me so much it hangs around as bunny chub on my body long after I've indulged.
The air on the Central Coast is excellent, and the best in the redwood forest where I prefer to run. My gym is local and has excellent classes. WHen I vacation, I always work out. In San Luis Obispo I hike up Mount Madonna and I romp around the beach in Avila or Morro Bay. In Nevada City I worked out with my buddy as a guest to her gym, and in Auburn I hiked around with some buddies with a beautiful view. Even in Oakland, visiting friends, I got up early and went running around Lake Merritt. It was fun, but very stinky.
I want to see the rest of the USA someday but can't afford it now. Oh well, I LOVE living in SC County
Cowgirl
New member
I've always wanted to start a raw food diet. It looks very interesting, but knowing me, I probably will just go raw every so often during the week. I live by balancing bad and the good... naughty and the nice.
I started this thread because there were already other threads of other states, so I was like.. how about Cali. *Waves to all CA locals*
I enjoy jogging and running, but it completely kills my joints. I go out for a stroll when my body allows me to and when time permits. Besides the tennis courts, I hit the gym, swim, sauna, exercise at home with free weights, the band and do miscellaneous workouts off youtube and on demand T.V. I occasionally jump rope and run around with me cat. I really, I mean.. really need to change my eating habits in order for me to rip the benefits of exercising. Ever since late Dec 2007 when I joined this forum, I practically exercised four to six times a week and only have lost five pounds. I'm proud, but I think I can do better.
I started this thread because there were already other threads of other states, so I was like.. how about Cali. *Waves to all CA locals*
I enjoy jogging and running, but it completely kills my joints. I go out for a stroll when my body allows me to and when time permits. Besides the tennis courts, I hit the gym, swim, sauna, exercise at home with free weights, the band and do miscellaneous workouts off youtube and on demand T.V. I occasionally jump rope and run around with me cat. I really, I mean.. really need to change my eating habits in order for me to rip the benefits of exercising. Ever since late Dec 2007 when I joined this forum, I practically exercised four to six times a week and only have lost five pounds. I'm proud, but I think I can do better.
Curvie Girlie
New member
*nods* yeah, a while back I was a MACHINE but I ate like a 300 lb man.
And drank beer like one! The Santa Cruz Mountain Brewery was and still is one of my favorite places to hang out. I only run on forest floor usually, which may be why I don't have joint issues. I had 2 weeks where I had taken off exercise for 10 days, then ran twice in a row in the trails for over an hour each time and my right knee was sore for 2 weeks; other than that, nothin'.The raw thing is keeping me in deficits. I tried dieting with eating whatever healthy foods I liked, but found myself sabotaging it with excess beer and bread.
Cowgirl
New member
*nods* yeah, a while back I was a MACHINE but I ate like a 300 lb man.
Lol. You're funny. I'm glad I found this forum. The more I post, the better I feel about myself.
Hmm, would running trails like the ones at high schools and/or college be better than the hard treadmill? I know running without a machine gives you a better workout but which one would be better for your joints?
Cowgirl
New member
I have to get out more. I would love to play and get bruised by the snow. How is snowboarding like?
Haha, starting my bucket list: Must do before I turn 30, go snow boarding.
Curvie Girlie
New member
IMO, there are a variety of factors that play important parts to the whole. To answer your question, it depends!
Factor 1: genetics. Some peoples' bodies just are more fragile, that's all there is to it!
Factor 2: diet. There are a LOT of anti-inflammatory foods that I choose to eat over acid-forming foods. Salmon, healthy fats from fruits, nuts, seeds...these foods have properties that lube your joints. Eating crappy white bread and sugar and fried foods and excessive amounts of red meat can be irritable to joints for lots of people (not everybody, it goes back to genetics).
Factor 3: body work. I lift free weights and do lots of squats and lunges. This forces a lot of tiny stabilizer muscles on my ankles, knees, and hips to be fit and in form. They help a LOT to keep me from tripping and rolling ankles (although I HAVE before). There are certain running ailments that are caused by weak hamstrings versus strong quads--if you're running, it's extremely beneficial to lift weight and do strengthening exercises regularly. And especially to have a strong abdomen, or you could fuck up your back.
Factor 4: proper form. If you're hunched over and flipping your feet or not picking them up properly, it's going to have an adverse affect. When I run, I'm constantly readjusting my form.
Factor 5: adaptation. I started small, and my body got more and more used to trails until I can run up and down hills, jump over pits and roots, and hop out of the way of bikers and fend off mountain lions (ok I'm exaggerating) without injury. I hardly get sore and my joints never hurt. It's cause my body has adapted to the high impact. Your bones get thicker, you know, with high impact. But you have to work your way up carefully and rest when you need it!
I HATE the treadmill because I get hot and sweaty and hate not breathing fresh air and having nothing to look at. I like being outside, it helps me mentally and perhaps spiritually as well. I derive mucho joy from my runs. I can't run in the street because I get shin splints and that sucks, plus I hate the exhaust fumes from the cars in my face. The redwood forest is the most desirable place I've ever run, and the air is a delight to breathe. I have a thing about the air I breathe--which is why I could never live in L.A. proper.
Last edited:
- Status