Why I chose the name of my blog and exciting opportunities

Those of you who are Jewish or have been around Jewish people probably know what a Shayna Punim is. For those of you who don't, it means pretty face in Yiddish. I am sure that it is no surprise to anyone who knows me that I could stand to lose a few pounds. Call it chubby, zaftig, cuddly, or any other synonym for fat but any way you slice it, it is still me! In general, people always tend to tell those of us who are overweight that we have a "pretty face". Apparently it is the only compliment that people feel is appropriate. I have heard this compliment on many occasions, but I feel that it is a backhanded compliment. On one hand it is nice to hear that you have a pretty face, but on the other hand I feel that it is a way to say that I am fat. This is why I have chosen to call my blog such a Shayna Punim. One of my favorite authors, Jen Lancaster, has written a book about her struggles with weight loss. The book is called Such a Pretty Fat and it is AMAZING! Now I do not claim to be a writer by any means, but I hope to channel some of her humor into my writing.




For those of you who aren't aware, I am starting a new challenge in my life. I am participating in something called the "Low-car challenge". This is something that is being presented by Berry Chill and Zip Car. The main idea is that I am giving up the use of my car for a month and also incorporating other changes into my lifestyle. You can find out more information and follow my blog at www.zipcar.com/lowcardiet I will be updating this blog with similar or even the same posts for the next month or so. After a month this is the only blog that I will be using. Below you will find the post that I have sent in to zip car before it is posted on the website! I need all the support that I can get so please encourage me along the way, if you are able :)




Low-Car Diet Entry #1


So tonight was the kickoff event. I got to meet the other contestants and find out more about what I got myself into. I was quite nervous because I had no idea what to expect. When I got there I started talking to some of the other participants and everyone seemed so nice. Some of us even We were all in the same boat of not knowing what to expect. I left the event so excited for the road ahead of me. I can’t wait to start going to the gym and eating healthier. A new me starts tomorrow!

Zip Car is something that I have always been interested in, but I have never gone the step of actually looking into using the service. I guess I never needed to because I have a car already. My mother has been bugging me to sell my car for quite some time. Part of me treats my car as a safety blanket and worries what I would do without it. The other part of me realizes what an expense it really is and how infrequently I actually use it. This month will be a huge test and at the end maybe I will feel more comfortable being car free.

This diet is going to be a huge lifestyle change for me. I will admit that prior to all of this I have been pretty lazy. I don’t work out and don’t really watch what I eat. This is the kick in the rear that I really need to jump start my new lifestyle. Currently my mood is optimistic and I hope that lasts the whole month. I am off of work for the next few days which will make going to the gym easier. I already plan on taking a dance class from 8-9am tomorrow. Equinox here I come! I also plan on getting a zip car and going to the DMV to replace the drivers license I can’t seem to find and then stopping by Berry Chill for a snack. I don’t know about all of you in cyber world, but it sounds like the perfect day to me! I plan on keeping the blog updated with all of my stories both good and bad. Also, since I think that writing is therapeutic, I will be starting a separate blog that I plan on continuing once this challenge is over. You can read it at http://www.suchashaynapunim.blogspot.com/ Wish me luck!








Here are some pictures that I took:

This is me next to the new bike I am going to get when I win the competition. I need to go into this with a winning attitude!






Here are Jen and I sitting at the Sheffield Skybox rooftop. It was such a perfect night!

This is Dave Grotto. He wrote a book called "101 Foods That Could Save Your Life". He will be giving each of us our own diet plans and checking in with us to see how we are doing.