Sounds harsh, eh? I know, I am feeling a little harsh. The Loser is me... And not because I "lost" a whole bunch of weight, or shed pounds, or dropped fat like crazy.... It's because I feel like a loser. I tried really hard last year to stay on track and lose weight and I 'lost' the fight to keep it off and stay motivated.
I know that so many people battle weight issues, but I hate the fact that I have to be one of them. I have friends who can eat and eat and eat and never gain a pound. Others who can work out casually, run once in a while and look totally fit all the time. Weight loss and management is a full time job for me! I did the best when I was working out in the mornings and the afternoons with no rest days in between and sticking, to a tee, to the Weight Watchers schedule, no teetering... But that is NOT sustainable... And I felt very alone when I was doing that. I didn't have much of a social life and I did not have a good relationship that I wanted to commit my time to. Now I do!
I lost 50lbs and have gained back 35lbs. And no, it's not muscle, it's fat... I am a fat girl, I seem to have always been a fat girl and it appears that I will always be a fat girl. I don't even want to be skinny, I would be happy being where I was last year, maybe with a bit more muscle, because I felt like I looked good, even if others didn't think so, I was happy in my skin. But I did want I didn't want to do, I got complacent and lazy and "satisfied" and it was a bad thing for me. I didn't do any of the events I wanted to do, I let me cardio go to shit, I developed issues with food again and here I am, New Years Eve 2013, hating how I look and feel. So yes, I am going to say, this year, I was a loser, who clearly did not live up to my own expectations or keep my own promises to myself. I let myself down and others around me down.... And although this year was a happy year, I am sad and disappointed that I have let me health slide.
What can I do? I can continue going to Crossfit five days a week.... I can continue with Weight Watchers and do as much clean eating / paleo as possible to ensure I am getting the purest form of nutrition possible... I can continue having green / dairy free smoothies for breakfast and lunch and a healthy dinner every day.... I can work on my cardio at the gym between work outs at Crossfit.... I can continue to track my eating, activity and successes.... I can try to stay positive and change how I look at food... I think these things are all possible, if I can improve my attitude and outlook. So, instead of making a resolution for this year, I'm just going to to the above items and maybe do a few runs and obstacle courses. I'm also going to get outside more, head back over to Sunnidale to do some trail running.... I actually enjoy trail running. I am going to try to use as many possible avenues to remain positive and inspired this year and continuously thrive in positive re-enforcement. Anyone who doubts the Crossfit movement clearly doesn't understand that aspect of it! The community / family spirit that comes with each workout acts as a very influence on you... Inspiring you to do more, to lift more, to do one more rep, to push harder and I can't even put a price on that now!
Finally, in 2014, I am going to stop allowing shitty people into my life! I got rid of one poisonous friend this year who is anything but missed and I vow to not let people like that in my life ever again. So, yeah, that is my one resolution. I am going to write a year in review next! Enjoy.
Ashley - Challenge
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
Sunday, December 15, 2013
282 Days Absent!
What was I thinking? Last time I blog, I say I am going to review my new gym, then NOTHING, literally nothing, for 9 months.
To any loyal fan I may have gotten in the 2 months of blogging that I did, I sincerely apologize for my absence. I confess, I have been bad! I have lost my motivation and I am finding it very, very difficult to keep up. Just like this blog, my gym attendance dropped significantly... I haven't been a total failure, but I haven't been great either. I completed a few events, so I will go over all of those.
First off, in May, I went to Vancouver for a week, the trip was AMAZING!!! Although not an official event, while I was there, my dearest former Guelph friends and I completed the Grouse Grind on Grouse mountain, rated amongst the 10 most dangerous hikes in the world. It was ridiculously difficult. 2,830 stairs to the top, 2.9 kms vertical, and as the air thins, breathing becomes so difficult. I honestly thought I was going to die a few times, but I managed to make it to the top. It took a few minutes over 2 hours and I'm pretty sure my far more fit friends were ready to kill me, but the view at the top was so worth it. There were bears and crazy birds at the top to look at and such, but wow, the view was amazing. It was May when we were up there, but at the top of the mountain, it was a crisp 10 degrees and there was still TONNES of snow. We took a gondola back down to the bottom, thank god, and I slept like you wouldn't believe that night, but it was a great experience.
On Canada Day, I took to the waterfront to complete the Canada Day 5K. I didn't do too bad, cut 10 minutes off my NYE 5K time. Completed in 37 minutes... I know that isn't great, but I am not a very good runner AT ALL so for me, it was an accomplishment.
Further to that, on the 20th of July, I completed the Warrior Dash for a second year in a row, well, just barely, this year it was far more difficult. They reversed the course and, not even kidding, a guy dropped dead within the first few hundred feet... However, he apparently had heart issues prior, but that just shows how much more difficult the race was, from start to finish.
So, those were the 3 of the 4 events I did complete this year, even though I had planned to do 6 or 7, it is ok I think. On August 11th, after realizing that I really need more guidence to pull myself out of the rut I got into, I started doing Crossfit. I don't go to a big expensive Crossfit gym, I do Crossfit with a small group of people who have a full Crossfit gym set up in their basement. I love it... Even though I suck. Crossfit it a lot of pull ups, push ups, sit ups, lifting, skipping, rowing and fast paced movements. I am good at most of the lifting, carrying around all this weight all my life has actually given me some muscle. Skipping, or double unders as they go in Crossfit, are tough for me... again, because I have higher body weight and gravity is a bitch, but I am getting better. Sit ups I do well at... Push ups and pull ups suck big time, but there are band assisted pull ups that are allowing me to build up some more strength and complete the exercises and Work outs (WOD's). The Crossfit group that I work out with is truly amazing. They motivate me, they support me and they are all so patient with me.... And I try my hardest to do the same for them. I really hate letting people down, so that is a positive motivator for me. I owe them soooo much!!
I find that I am finding some improvements in strength, but I am so discouraged lately as I have put on so much more weight. I haven't gained back everything... and I know some is muscle... but it is the wrong direction.
When I first started out with working out and Weight Watchers I was miserable, I hated myself, I was in a negative relationship and I had zero confidence. I worked my ass of and lost almost 50 lbs... I ended the relationship that brought me down... I gained independence... I built confidence... I learned to love myself and I felt sexy! I believe that the way I felt about myself and the fact that I began to put myself out there instead of hiding is the reason I met Jason, who is truly the love of my life. I am so happy and so comfortable. Yes, that is a good thing, but in the beginning, my need to want to impress and keep him interested kept me strong and motivated. But once I realized he genuinely loved me like no one ever has for who I am, not what I look like, I got too comfortable.... I stopped working out so much, I stopped tracking with Weight Watchers and going to meetings. I'm not blaming, but I know that I got complacent and, with that, I am vowing to change. I want to be Jason's motivation like I was before and I want my motivation to be feeling as I did about myself when we first met, sexy and confident, so I can enjoy our relationship the way I am supposed to so I don't disappoint him anymore.
That being said, I don't know if this is so much a Fitness Self-Challenge, but just a Personal Self-Challenge. The steps I am taking to fight back to where I was are as follows:
1. Keep blogging, I need to stay accountable and remind myself of why I'm doing this.
2. Track all my meals and food, attend my Weight Watchers meetings and follow the program.
3. Continue cutting grains and dairy. Replace bad stuff with fruit and veggies.
4. Crossfit 5 times per week: Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday.
5. Work on Cardio in the mornings. Attend Cardio classes to rebuild my metabolism
6. Stay Motivated. Remember why I am doing this. Learn to love myself again.
7. Get back into the few items of clothes that don't fit me anymore.... Normal sized clothing is so much cheaper!
No one is to blame for weight issues.... Maybe genetics... But mostly, we are all responsible for ourselves.
I own what I am, what I've done and what I have become. I want to be a better, fitter, healthy version of me, FOR ME and I start today. I am going to plan meals and exercise and motivation. Yes, it's a few days before Christmas, but I am using that as motivation to earn my Christmas treats.
Thank you if you read this. Please wish me luck. I promise I will be back soon (I think instead of daily, I am going to work toward weekly posts).
Remember...."obesity doesn't run in your family... The issue is that NO ONE runs is your family"!
To any loyal fan I may have gotten in the 2 months of blogging that I did, I sincerely apologize for my absence. I confess, I have been bad! I have lost my motivation and I am finding it very, very difficult to keep up. Just like this blog, my gym attendance dropped significantly... I haven't been a total failure, but I haven't been great either. I completed a few events, so I will go over all of those.
First off, in May, I went to Vancouver for a week, the trip was AMAZING!!! Although not an official event, while I was there, my dearest former Guelph friends and I completed the Grouse Grind on Grouse mountain, rated amongst the 10 most dangerous hikes in the world. It was ridiculously difficult. 2,830 stairs to the top, 2.9 kms vertical, and as the air thins, breathing becomes so difficult. I honestly thought I was going to die a few times, but I managed to make it to the top. It took a few minutes over 2 hours and I'm pretty sure my far more fit friends were ready to kill me, but the view at the top was so worth it. There were bears and crazy birds at the top to look at and such, but wow, the view was amazing. It was May when we were up there, but at the top of the mountain, it was a crisp 10 degrees and there was still TONNES of snow. We took a gondola back down to the bottom, thank god, and I slept like you wouldn't believe that night, but it was a great experience.
On Canada Day, I took to the waterfront to complete the Canada Day 5K. I didn't do too bad, cut 10 minutes off my NYE 5K time. Completed in 37 minutes... I know that isn't great, but I am not a very good runner AT ALL so for me, it was an accomplishment.
Further to that, on the 20th of July, I completed the Warrior Dash for a second year in a row, well, just barely, this year it was far more difficult. They reversed the course and, not even kidding, a guy dropped dead within the first few hundred feet... However, he apparently had heart issues prior, but that just shows how much more difficult the race was, from start to finish.
So, those were the 3 of the 4 events I did complete this year, even though I had planned to do 6 or 7, it is ok I think. On August 11th, after realizing that I really need more guidence to pull myself out of the rut I got into, I started doing Crossfit. I don't go to a big expensive Crossfit gym, I do Crossfit with a small group of people who have a full Crossfit gym set up in their basement. I love it... Even though I suck. Crossfit it a lot of pull ups, push ups, sit ups, lifting, skipping, rowing and fast paced movements. I am good at most of the lifting, carrying around all this weight all my life has actually given me some muscle. Skipping, or double unders as they go in Crossfit, are tough for me... again, because I have higher body weight and gravity is a bitch, but I am getting better. Sit ups I do well at... Push ups and pull ups suck big time, but there are band assisted pull ups that are allowing me to build up some more strength and complete the exercises and Work outs (WOD's). The Crossfit group that I work out with is truly amazing. They motivate me, they support me and they are all so patient with me.... And I try my hardest to do the same for them. I really hate letting people down, so that is a positive motivator for me. I owe them soooo much!!
I find that I am finding some improvements in strength, but I am so discouraged lately as I have put on so much more weight. I haven't gained back everything... and I know some is muscle... but it is the wrong direction.
When I first started out with working out and Weight Watchers I was miserable, I hated myself, I was in a negative relationship and I had zero confidence. I worked my ass of and lost almost 50 lbs... I ended the relationship that brought me down... I gained independence... I built confidence... I learned to love myself and I felt sexy! I believe that the way I felt about myself and the fact that I began to put myself out there instead of hiding is the reason I met Jason, who is truly the love of my life. I am so happy and so comfortable. Yes, that is a good thing, but in the beginning, my need to want to impress and keep him interested kept me strong and motivated. But once I realized he genuinely loved me like no one ever has for who I am, not what I look like, I got too comfortable.... I stopped working out so much, I stopped tracking with Weight Watchers and going to meetings. I'm not blaming, but I know that I got complacent and, with that, I am vowing to change. I want to be Jason's motivation like I was before and I want my motivation to be feeling as I did about myself when we first met, sexy and confident, so I can enjoy our relationship the way I am supposed to so I don't disappoint him anymore.
That being said, I don't know if this is so much a Fitness Self-Challenge, but just a Personal Self-Challenge. The steps I am taking to fight back to where I was are as follows:
1. Keep blogging, I need to stay accountable and remind myself of why I'm doing this.
2. Track all my meals and food, attend my Weight Watchers meetings and follow the program.
3. Continue cutting grains and dairy. Replace bad stuff with fruit and veggies.
4. Crossfit 5 times per week: Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday.
5. Work on Cardio in the mornings. Attend Cardio classes to rebuild my metabolism
6. Stay Motivated. Remember why I am doing this. Learn to love myself again.
7. Get back into the few items of clothes that don't fit me anymore.... Normal sized clothing is so much cheaper!
No one is to blame for weight issues.... Maybe genetics... But mostly, we are all responsible for ourselves.
I own what I am, what I've done and what I have become. I want to be a better, fitter, healthy version of me, FOR ME and I start today. I am going to plan meals and exercise and motivation. Yes, it's a few days before Christmas, but I am using that as motivation to earn my Christmas treats.
Thank you if you read this. Please wish me luck. I promise I will be back soon (I think instead of daily, I am going to work toward weekly posts).
Remember...."obesity doesn't run in your family... The issue is that NO ONE runs is your family"!
Friday, March 8, 2013
Marching toward Change!!!
2013... 13... Unlucky 13.... It's going to be the year in which NOTHING happens because people are superstiticious! There is never a 13th floor in a tall building, there were 13 people at the Last Supper, some people actually suffer from Triskaidekaphobia, the fear of the number 13 and Friday the 13th is, apparently, always bad news. But there are good things too... You become at teenage at the age of 13, many athletes wear the number 13, Apollo 13 had technical failure but was able to return home safely and if you get a 'baker's dozen' when you buy cookies, it means you get one more cookie! YAY!
What am I getting at here? Well, they say that there won't be a lot of weddings this year because 13 is an unlucky number (as if THAT is the only reason marriages fail, the 'year' in which you tie the knot, sure) and that many people won't plan to have babies this year (they expect people to start trying beginning in April so they are sure to have a 2014 baby) and they also say that new car sales will be down this year! I mean, REALLY? Are people that superstitious that they will really write off a full year of potential happiness because there is a hair sized chance that it could be cursed with bad luck? Well, I am going to say "F THAT!" Why do I say that? Because, so far 2013 is the best year of my life... I don't fear 2013, I am not one of those rare people who chose 13 as their lucky number, nor am I as superstiticious as I once was. 2013 is, 3 months in and I have never been happier... and that's because I made the choice to change my life last year and they are slowly, but surely, rolling into this year.
Lets start off with the fact that I met Jason. I met him last year and, late December, we decided that we only wanted to be with each other... It's now mid-March and I now realize that I have never felt so good about a relationship in my entire life. He and I relate to each other in so many ways that it is actually easier being with him than not being with him. He actually makes me a better person because he makes me think about how I react and what bothers me in a way I haven't before and he inspires me to do and be better! He encourages me to be what I wanna be and do what I wanna do and to not be ashamed of who I am and I love him for it! I decided last year that I needed to do what made me happy and, although things were difficult, I feel that was a very good decision. A decision that is slowly shaping 2013 for me... A year I know is going to be so exciting and filled with many exciting events that I can't wait to share with him.
Also, in 2012, I decided I needed to become more fit and healthy and, 2013 is well underway and I am still in the process of doing so. I read earlier, it's not motivation, its momentum! So once you take the first step, which I did last year, the ball will keep rolling if you continue to push it! I am doing so by competing in events and trying new things. When Weight Watchers alone wasn't helping me anymore, I went gluten free as you may have read, that is still continuing and is helping me a lot with my eating habits. I completed my 6 Hour Spin a thon and I will be registering for Warrior Dash and Spartan Race soon.... I'd like to complete a few 5km races this year and I want to learn to do Crossfit, again, all changes that I am making as the year progresses. I recently joined the Barrie Athletic Club which will allow me to begin learning the basics of Crossfit before moving into classes and more difficult, demanding moves. I needed more push and harder routines than what I was giving, so I went out and found it. Momentum.... Keeping myself interested to continue with progress!
Finally, although the contest was in 2012, my trip to LA and my make-over was a tonne of fun! I would say that one of the best days of my life is now biking the 5 mile boardwalk stretch from Palisades Beach in Santa Monica to Marina Del Ray.... It was perfect weather, amazing beach and I got to do it with my sister (pretty much my best friend and my rock) and I couldn't have been happier! It was so liberating, I felt like a million bucks! My make over was amazing too... The crew was great, the clothing was amazing and I felt like a movie star and I felt good about myself, which is something that is coming very new to me. Check out the pics below of my new looks:
We also go to see Hollywood, we bought amazingly priced shoes and we had dinner at Mr. Chow's! It was the best first vacation I think I ever could have had and I thank Jenn and Mary Kay for it. Meeting the other winners and their family members was a lot of fun as well...
I guess what I am saying is... Life is exactly what you want or need it to be if you make is so! Don't let the fear of change prevent you from happiness.... If that were the case for me, I would still be unhappy, psuedo-alone and hating myself. All I want to do is help people and inspire others and, in order to do so, I have to help myself and remain inspired to be better!
Tonight I am venturing to the new gym to try it out, will report back tomorrow!!
What am I getting at here? Well, they say that there won't be a lot of weddings this year because 13 is an unlucky number (as if THAT is the only reason marriages fail, the 'year' in which you tie the knot, sure) and that many people won't plan to have babies this year (they expect people to start trying beginning in April so they are sure to have a 2014 baby) and they also say that new car sales will be down this year! I mean, REALLY? Are people that superstitious that they will really write off a full year of potential happiness because there is a hair sized chance that it could be cursed with bad luck? Well, I am going to say "F THAT!" Why do I say that? Because, so far 2013 is the best year of my life... I don't fear 2013, I am not one of those rare people who chose 13 as their lucky number, nor am I as superstiticious as I once was. 2013 is, 3 months in and I have never been happier... and that's because I made the choice to change my life last year and they are slowly, but surely, rolling into this year.
Lets start off with the fact that I met Jason. I met him last year and, late December, we decided that we only wanted to be with each other... It's now mid-March and I now realize that I have never felt so good about a relationship in my entire life. He and I relate to each other in so many ways that it is actually easier being with him than not being with him. He actually makes me a better person because he makes me think about how I react and what bothers me in a way I haven't before and he inspires me to do and be better! He encourages me to be what I wanna be and do what I wanna do and to not be ashamed of who I am and I love him for it! I decided last year that I needed to do what made me happy and, although things were difficult, I feel that was a very good decision. A decision that is slowly shaping 2013 for me... A year I know is going to be so exciting and filled with many exciting events that I can't wait to share with him.
Also, in 2012, I decided I needed to become more fit and healthy and, 2013 is well underway and I am still in the process of doing so. I read earlier, it's not motivation, its momentum! So once you take the first step, which I did last year, the ball will keep rolling if you continue to push it! I am doing so by competing in events and trying new things. When Weight Watchers alone wasn't helping me anymore, I went gluten free as you may have read, that is still continuing and is helping me a lot with my eating habits. I completed my 6 Hour Spin a thon and I will be registering for Warrior Dash and Spartan Race soon.... I'd like to complete a few 5km races this year and I want to learn to do Crossfit, again, all changes that I am making as the year progresses. I recently joined the Barrie Athletic Club which will allow me to begin learning the basics of Crossfit before moving into classes and more difficult, demanding moves. I needed more push and harder routines than what I was giving, so I went out and found it. Momentum.... Keeping myself interested to continue with progress!
Finally, although the contest was in 2012, my trip to LA and my make-over was a tonne of fun! I would say that one of the best days of my life is now biking the 5 mile boardwalk stretch from Palisades Beach in Santa Monica to Marina Del Ray.... It was perfect weather, amazing beach and I got to do it with my sister (pretty much my best friend and my rock) and I couldn't have been happier! It was so liberating, I felt like a million bucks! My make over was amazing too... The crew was great, the clothing was amazing and I felt like a movie star and I felt good about myself, which is something that is coming very new to me. Check out the pics below of my new looks:
We also go to see Hollywood, we bought amazingly priced shoes and we had dinner at Mr. Chow's! It was the best first vacation I think I ever could have had and I thank Jenn and Mary Kay for it. Meeting the other winners and their family members was a lot of fun as well...
I guess what I am saying is... Life is exactly what you want or need it to be if you make is so! Don't let the fear of change prevent you from happiness.... If that were the case for me, I would still be unhappy, psuedo-alone and hating myself. All I want to do is help people and inspire others and, in order to do so, I have to help myself and remain inspired to be better!
Tonight I am venturing to the new gym to try it out, will report back tomorrow!!
Thursday, February 28, 2013
GF - Day #28: SUCCESS!!!
Holy Crap... I leave on holidays in one sleep... as kids would put it! 6 hours and I will be getting up to go on holidays! Tomorrow morning, I am heading to HOLLYWOOD for 4 days, 3 nights and I am so excited. My first holiday.... Thank god my sister is coming with me because I would be a nervous wreck the entire trip... Likely sitting in the hotel too overwhelmed to do anything and too indecisive to figure out what to do. Yup, that's me... A Giant Ball of Anxiety! Who would have thought, eh?? But I am getting excited. Nervous. But excited. I hope I meet some hot celebrities while I'm there! :-) I'll post some pics!!
On a side note, I have not blogged for several days, but I have 2 very valid excuses. The first one is that I was exhausted after my 6 hour Spin-a-thon that I completed on Saturday afternoon... Yes, 6 hours, a total of 300 minutes after breaks for fluid, potty and some snacks. I raised a total of $1,000.00 and donated my Mary Kay prize of $2,000.00 to the Strong Kids Foundation, I think an overall successful day!
Then, reason number two, I got food poisoning! NEVER trust potato salad with only a few days left on the expiry date. BAD news. So Saturday & Sunday, I slept... Monday and Tuesday, I was recoving... Wednesday I was packing and, Thursday, here I am... blogging and heading to bed. First of all, best food poisoning cure, eat a cup on plain, cooked white rice! It absorbs all the ickiness in your stomach and pulls it through... I felt better within a few hours! AND... stay hydrated, I got dehydrated and I felt even sicker!
Today is the last day of February, Gluten-Free February! Challenge #2 of 2013 is complete and A HUGE SUCCESS! I am now one of those people with a dietary restriction (sorry Mom), but I am remaining gluten-free! Both Jason and I have found that we both feel better, are less bloated and are losing weight (him way faster than me) and we are both happy. We have found excellent alternatives and realized that eating clean and healthy is how we want to live, along with actively and that if going to continue for the next 10 months of 2013 and beyond.
Although I have only lost 5 lbs while during the month of February, I am happy with that amount, but I have decided that the month of March, I am going to make my challenge to be to lose 10 lbs by March 31st, 2013! Starting March in LA, I think, is going to be a great motivator and, likely, the best place on earth to find reasonable healthy clean food! My scale at home broke, so I am not obsessing about my daily weigh in's, but my weekly weigh-in's at Weight Watchers are far more exciting and I have to be good or feel healthy and successful. Thank you for staying with me for the month of February. I promise to blog more when I get back and post pictures and keep you up to date with my March Challenge!
Off to bed, early morning flight!
Much love.
On a side note, I have not blogged for several days, but I have 2 very valid excuses. The first one is that I was exhausted after my 6 hour Spin-a-thon that I completed on Saturday afternoon... Yes, 6 hours, a total of 300 minutes after breaks for fluid, potty and some snacks. I raised a total of $1,000.00 and donated my Mary Kay prize of $2,000.00 to the Strong Kids Foundation, I think an overall successful day!
Then, reason number two, I got food poisoning! NEVER trust potato salad with only a few days left on the expiry date. BAD news. So Saturday & Sunday, I slept... Monday and Tuesday, I was recoving... Wednesday I was packing and, Thursday, here I am... blogging and heading to bed. First of all, best food poisoning cure, eat a cup on plain, cooked white rice! It absorbs all the ickiness in your stomach and pulls it through... I felt better within a few hours! AND... stay hydrated, I got dehydrated and I felt even sicker!
Today is the last day of February, Gluten-Free February! Challenge #2 of 2013 is complete and A HUGE SUCCESS! I am now one of those people with a dietary restriction (sorry Mom), but I am remaining gluten-free! Both Jason and I have found that we both feel better, are less bloated and are losing weight (him way faster than me) and we are both happy. We have found excellent alternatives and realized that eating clean and healthy is how we want to live, along with actively and that if going to continue for the next 10 months of 2013 and beyond.
Although I have only lost 5 lbs while during the month of February, I am happy with that amount, but I have decided that the month of March, I am going to make my challenge to be to lose 10 lbs by March 31st, 2013! Starting March in LA, I think, is going to be a great motivator and, likely, the best place on earth to find reasonable healthy clean food! My scale at home broke, so I am not obsessing about my daily weigh in's, but my weekly weigh-in's at Weight Watchers are far more exciting and I have to be good or feel healthy and successful. Thank you for staying with me for the month of February. I promise to blog more when I get back and post pictures and keep you up to date with my March Challenge!
Off to bed, early morning flight!
Much love.
Thursday, February 21, 2013
GF - Day #20: Partners for Success
So this morning, while getting my ass handed to me in boot camp, I realized something... I work out so much harder with a friend. I brought along my friend Amanda to her first fitness class and, although I know she is just starting where I was a year ago, I felt obligated to work my hardest. I didn't want to a) look like a hypocrite (spouting the vurtues of a working out, but then not put in effort while there) and b) slack on form and effort and teach her an incorrect way of doing something.
That being said, I also got uber competitive. Ian knows what I can and cannot do, so he called me out right away to do better and work harder, but there was a girl there who was doing extra as well, so immediately, I wanted to be the best. Even though I wasn't the best, I worked pretty hard and I didn't even start bitching until the end. I mean, mind you, it was 6:45am and I am pretty sure I didn't even wake up until sometime after 7:00am, but I think I did fairly well. Next time, I will continue to act like I am the best there, just like in the boot camps before at the Y, until I am the best one... I got better because I WANTED better.
Speaking of better, from personal experience, I think bringing Amanda really helped... Even though I think she might hate me, I know she will appreciate it later. I needed someone a year ago to be accountable to and to meet up with and to inspire me. Sherri was that person for me and although Sherri is still my favourite work out partner and a great friend, I want to be that same inspiration for Amanda as Sherri was for me. I know Sherri worked harder because she wanted to be better and always showed up when we made arrangements to do so and didn't want to disappoint. I aspired to be the same and I got pretty good. I know that Sherri hasn't had the best few months and isn't quite back to where she was nor have the energy yet, but I hope when she does come back, I can help get her back to where she got me... And hopefully with Amanda being around, we can all be each others inspirations. Amanda needs someone to help her and I would love to be that person. Who doesn't love making new friends, anyway, especially ones with similar goals!?!?!
Helping others, even though I am not in my best shape YET, really helps me with my goals. I find that, even if I'm just helping people get started like I did a year ago, I have a reputation to maintain and people looking up to me makes me even more accountable. The gluten-free challenge is very much like this as well! I tried it before and I failed, miserably, but now that Jason is doing it with me, I feel that I need to stay strong and too my word in and remain gluten-free, resist temptations and continue to be creative and healthy, for the both of us, with my cooking and shopping. He is doing amazingly well, I am so proud of him as I know he is of me!
Well, this is all for now. Work out with friends, be each others inspiration. Set up friendly competitions and work toward beating them, together!
Much love!
xoxo
That being said, I also got uber competitive. Ian knows what I can and cannot do, so he called me out right away to do better and work harder, but there was a girl there who was doing extra as well, so immediately, I wanted to be the best. Even though I wasn't the best, I worked pretty hard and I didn't even start bitching until the end. I mean, mind you, it was 6:45am and I am pretty sure I didn't even wake up until sometime after 7:00am, but I think I did fairly well. Next time, I will continue to act like I am the best there, just like in the boot camps before at the Y, until I am the best one... I got better because I WANTED better.
Speaking of better, from personal experience, I think bringing Amanda really helped... Even though I think she might hate me, I know she will appreciate it later. I needed someone a year ago to be accountable to and to meet up with and to inspire me. Sherri was that person for me and although Sherri is still my favourite work out partner and a great friend, I want to be that same inspiration for Amanda as Sherri was for me. I know Sherri worked harder because she wanted to be better and always showed up when we made arrangements to do so and didn't want to disappoint. I aspired to be the same and I got pretty good. I know that Sherri hasn't had the best few months and isn't quite back to where she was nor have the energy yet, but I hope when she does come back, I can help get her back to where she got me... And hopefully with Amanda being around, we can all be each others inspirations. Amanda needs someone to help her and I would love to be that person. Who doesn't love making new friends, anyway, especially ones with similar goals!?!?!
Helping others, even though I am not in my best shape YET, really helps me with my goals. I find that, even if I'm just helping people get started like I did a year ago, I have a reputation to maintain and people looking up to me makes me even more accountable. The gluten-free challenge is very much like this as well! I tried it before and I failed, miserably, but now that Jason is doing it with me, I feel that I need to stay strong and too my word in and remain gluten-free, resist temptations and continue to be creative and healthy, for the both of us, with my cooking and shopping. He is doing amazingly well, I am so proud of him as I know he is of me!
Well, this is all for now. Work out with friends, be each others inspiration. Set up friendly competitions and work toward beating them, together!
Much love!
xoxo
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
GF - Day #19: Trying New Things
Well, duh, obviously if I am going to be gluten-free, I've clearly been forced to try new things, but I am not talking about food today... I am talking about life, in general!
I have tried MANY new things in the past year... Gluten free is one of them (including things like quinoa, kale, dragon fruit and many other items), but I also did spin class (which is amazing), I took up Tabata Training, I ran obstacle courses, Caveman Boot Camp, etc etc etc. All things these things are connected as one lead into the other and the next bumped into the next one. I wanted to lose weight, then I needed to exercise, but I got bored of exercising, so I signed up for races that I needed to train for, which lead to getting a trainer and eating better and so on and so forth!
The main "new" thing I tried this year was believing in MYSELF and what I was worth. I began to realize that there were so many areas of my life that I was just 'settling' with less than I deserved. I was too content... I didn't strive for better, I didn't strive to make myself happy, which, in reality, should always be your first priority, above everything else. So I began to try new things, I got involved with Politics as it has always been an interest of mine... I joined the gym and started taking classes which helped me begin to feel better about myself, I joined Weight Watchers to help me lose weight and feel accountable for my own actions and join in with other people who are struggling the same way I am. I also realized that the relationship I was in wasn't making me happy anymore... It was making me sad. And although it was extremely difficult to do, I had to be open and honest and let him know it was time for me to find something new in my life.
That being said, I don't regret anything. I do wish that I worked harder over the winter months to stay active, but if you live in Barrie you know that winter here is a total wasteland and getting out of my cozy pajama's and bed when it's -30 C is a feat in itself. I also tried much harder to meet new people. I approached my trainer to start an outdoor boot camp class and I invited people and he invited people and a lot of them I am still good friends with! This year, I plan to become a good runner. I know I started the C25K a few weeks back, but its not a smart thing to try to begin in the winter months. Running outside is a hugely important part of the C25K and doing it on a treadmill is just not a great idea, it kills the knees and doesn't give you the real feel for running. However, I have not given up totally, I have been running on the track at the YMCA on a regular basis to ensure the work I have already done doesn't go to waste.
It's funny how even the little changes can make you feel so good. For example, I got a new Windows 8 phone, instead of my usual, comfortable, familiar Blackberry... I love it and even just this little change seems sooooo huge. Also, I met a great guy who is so encouraging and respectful and sweet. He makes me smile about everything and, even when I am annoyed or aggitated, he is so diplomatic and centred that he makes me see things so much differently. Not over reacting and thinking sensibly about things is a very new things to me! Irrational used to be my middle name. But overall, the BIGGEST change is realizing that I deserve to be happy. Setting goals, being with the most amazing guy ever, being in shape, working out and being fit because I love it, not because I have to... All changes that I am thankful for just because I decided to try something new.
So, take a moment, examine your comfort zone... Now.... Figure out a way OUT of it! You won't regret it, I promise you! A year from now, you will look back at old you and be so happy you made the change!
I have tried MANY new things in the past year... Gluten free is one of them (including things like quinoa, kale, dragon fruit and many other items), but I also did spin class (which is amazing), I took up Tabata Training, I ran obstacle courses, Caveman Boot Camp, etc etc etc. All things these things are connected as one lead into the other and the next bumped into the next one. I wanted to lose weight, then I needed to exercise, but I got bored of exercising, so I signed up for races that I needed to train for, which lead to getting a trainer and eating better and so on and so forth!
The main "new" thing I tried this year was believing in MYSELF and what I was worth. I began to realize that there were so many areas of my life that I was just 'settling' with less than I deserved. I was too content... I didn't strive for better, I didn't strive to make myself happy, which, in reality, should always be your first priority, above everything else. So I began to try new things, I got involved with Politics as it has always been an interest of mine... I joined the gym and started taking classes which helped me begin to feel better about myself, I joined Weight Watchers to help me lose weight and feel accountable for my own actions and join in with other people who are struggling the same way I am. I also realized that the relationship I was in wasn't making me happy anymore... It was making me sad. And although it was extremely difficult to do, I had to be open and honest and let him know it was time for me to find something new in my life.
That being said, I don't regret anything. I do wish that I worked harder over the winter months to stay active, but if you live in Barrie you know that winter here is a total wasteland and getting out of my cozy pajama's and bed when it's -30 C is a feat in itself. I also tried much harder to meet new people. I approached my trainer to start an outdoor boot camp class and I invited people and he invited people and a lot of them I am still good friends with! This year, I plan to become a good runner. I know I started the C25K a few weeks back, but its not a smart thing to try to begin in the winter months. Running outside is a hugely important part of the C25K and doing it on a treadmill is just not a great idea, it kills the knees and doesn't give you the real feel for running. However, I have not given up totally, I have been running on the track at the YMCA on a regular basis to ensure the work I have already done doesn't go to waste.
It's funny how even the little changes can make you feel so good. For example, I got a new Windows 8 phone, instead of my usual, comfortable, familiar Blackberry... I love it and even just this little change seems sooooo huge. Also, I met a great guy who is so encouraging and respectful and sweet. He makes me smile about everything and, even when I am annoyed or aggitated, he is so diplomatic and centred that he makes me see things so much differently. Not over reacting and thinking sensibly about things is a very new things to me! Irrational used to be my middle name. But overall, the BIGGEST change is realizing that I deserve to be happy. Setting goals, being with the most amazing guy ever, being in shape, working out and being fit because I love it, not because I have to... All changes that I am thankful for just because I decided to try something new.
So, take a moment, examine your comfort zone... Now.... Figure out a way OUT of it! You won't regret it, I promise you! A year from now, you will look back at old you and be so happy you made the change!
Monday, February 18, 2013
GF - Day #18: Extra Holes in my Belt
So its been almost 3 weeks gluten free and for anyone who doubts it, I will happily be an example for you. I haven't been following Weight Watchers are closely as I used to... I am still measuring and weighing my foods and eating as much fresh veggies and fruit as possible instead of junk food, but I am enjoying the art of cooking and creating recipes far more than I used to. With a gluten free lifestyle you have to think and it is paying off.
Yesterday when getting dressed, jeans that I bought on clearance after Christmas seem to be falling off of me and I had to move to the next whole, inward, on my belt in order to keep them up. My bra is too big and even my underwear seem to be falling off. Brand new dress pants I got for my birthday in October, well, I'm swimming in them. I am losing my midsection fat quickly... And I'm not the only one. I have lost about 5 lbs since I went gluten-free, my boyfriend has lost, easily, 10 lbs. I can actually see the difference. So if you are able to do this for a few weeks, you will see a difference. However, I recently learned that you can't get tested for a gluten intolerance if you are already living gluten free... So if you want to try it and get tested, you need to do one or the other, you can't do both or the test won't pick up the intolerance or allergy.
Anyway, moving on. I am vowing that, beginning tomorrow, I will not miss a day of blogging. My alarm is set on my phone for 10pm to write a new post. I am feeling very good lately, so there is no excuse, whether I am lacking motivation or not. This Saturday is my Spin-a-thon... The 6 hour spin class to raise money for the Strong Kids Campaign at the YMCA Simcoe Muskoka... I'm just over half way to my goal of $1,000.00 and could really used your help. Please help by taking a moment to donate to my cause. Your help is very appreciated as this is a very important ride for me and my friends.
As I vow to be better, I will be writing to you tomorrow about daily goals and scheduling. I have calendars for March and April will steadily increasing daily activities that you can follow along with me!
Dedication is important. Perseverance is key. Anything is possible as long as you take the first step.
xoxo
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
GF - Day #13: Slacking!!!!
Ok, I admit it.... I have been a slacker lately.
Why is it that I can write and tell everyone else how to stay motivated and on track and to be positive, but I am having such a hard time myself!!! I am finding that I have so many good intentions, but so little energy, very frustrating. I wanted to talk about fitness today, but, I think I need to talk about my general frame of mind!
Anyway, I have been, for the most part, keeping up with my work outs, averaging 4 per week. This past Monday at Fit Camp, we did a pretty intense cardio kick boxing session and I was ready to die by the end of it... However, I think I would take it again, it was good! It runs on Tuesday evenings at 6:15pm and I think I am going to join. Routine seems to work for me. Monday night is Fit Camp and I never miss it, Wednesday nights I generally work at my part-time jobs, Thursdays, when I'm available, I should be alternating being Gravity, Spin and Work Outs... I think I need to buy a GIANT desk calender to keep track of all this stuff. I need to have obligated classes so I feel like a jerk waud if I don't go to them.
My boyfriend got up this morning at 4:30 to drive to Kingston for 9:00am, so I went to the gym this morning and I did a brisk "low-intensity" (ie Fat Burning) cardio work out and an abs work out (50 sit-ups, 30 push ups and a 1 minute plank). I truly hate the weather right now, when I get up and it's cold and dreary out, I don't want to go to the gym, but I love the habit of doing so, so once I get back from Hollywood, it begins, 3 times a week, minimum, Tuesday, Wednesdays and Thursday! No excuses! If anyone is wondering where I go and would like to join me, I currently work out and attend classes at the YMCA and their Program Schedule is very busy, with lots of variety and options. Have a peak, it is worth the look.
As for gluten-free, it is going well. I saw my dermatologist today and he can't get over the difference with my eczema and dermatitis. I don't think I will be going back to gluten when all of this is over. I am finding plenty of stores are offering lots of Gluten-free options now, which is great. Last night at Costco, we got Quinoa Chocolate Chip cookies, Nut & Seed Granola Bars and I got a new cook book that is all gluten-free dinners, breads and desserts. I'd like to try as many of them as possible. Clearly, a lot of people have issues with gluten, it is the up and coming discovery of what GMO's can do to your body. GMO, or Genetically Modified Organisms, are becoming to far away from what nature intended, stripping food staples that were once nurishing and healthy down to the bare minimums, full of chemicals and, well, ickiness. If I made more money, I would go totally organic... Fruits, Veggies, Meat, Dairy... However, studies have shown that even those market organic can still still some of the same pesticides, anti-biotics and issues as regular groceries. I guess its wisest to just eat clean and ensure each item is as minimally processed as possible.
I guess my mindset right now is satisfaction. A new relationship is making me comfortable and since I am going out and doing things in the evenings, I am not getting to sleep early enough to get up at 6am. I am happy though. But I am refusing to get so comfortable that work outs and dieting go by the way side. They are important to me, I want to be fit and run races and obstacles and be strong! I need to put on my "Strong is the New Skinny" tank top and rock that motherf**ker like it's no one's business! Sure, I am a big girl, and I can be a big girl as long as I am strong, fit and healthy! Over the summer, I had a few people who counted on me and who I could count on to ensure I was working out, those people aren't as available anymore so it's up to be to do the best I can do! I KNOW THIS!
So, I am going to put this on my fridge and look at it EVERY morning to ensure complacency stays far far away from me!!
Why is it that I can write and tell everyone else how to stay motivated and on track and to be positive, but I am having such a hard time myself!!! I am finding that I have so many good intentions, but so little energy, very frustrating. I wanted to talk about fitness today, but, I think I need to talk about my general frame of mind!
Anyway, I have been, for the most part, keeping up with my work outs, averaging 4 per week. This past Monday at Fit Camp, we did a pretty intense cardio kick boxing session and I was ready to die by the end of it... However, I think I would take it again, it was good! It runs on Tuesday evenings at 6:15pm and I think I am going to join. Routine seems to work for me. Monday night is Fit Camp and I never miss it, Wednesday nights I generally work at my part-time jobs, Thursdays, when I'm available, I should be alternating being Gravity, Spin and Work Outs... I think I need to buy a GIANT desk calender to keep track of all this stuff. I need to have obligated classes so I feel like a jerk waud if I don't go to them.
My boyfriend got up this morning at 4:30 to drive to Kingston for 9:00am, so I went to the gym this morning and I did a brisk "low-intensity" (ie Fat Burning) cardio work out and an abs work out (50 sit-ups, 30 push ups and a 1 minute plank). I truly hate the weather right now, when I get up and it's cold and dreary out, I don't want to go to the gym, but I love the habit of doing so, so once I get back from Hollywood, it begins, 3 times a week, minimum, Tuesday, Wednesdays and Thursday! No excuses! If anyone is wondering where I go and would like to join me, I currently work out and attend classes at the YMCA and their Program Schedule is very busy, with lots of variety and options. Have a peak, it is worth the look.
As for gluten-free, it is going well. I saw my dermatologist today and he can't get over the difference with my eczema and dermatitis. I don't think I will be going back to gluten when all of this is over. I am finding plenty of stores are offering lots of Gluten-free options now, which is great. Last night at Costco, we got Quinoa Chocolate Chip cookies, Nut & Seed Granola Bars and I got a new cook book that is all gluten-free dinners, breads and desserts. I'd like to try as many of them as possible. Clearly, a lot of people have issues with gluten, it is the up and coming discovery of what GMO's can do to your body. GMO, or Genetically Modified Organisms, are becoming to far away from what nature intended, stripping food staples that were once nurishing and healthy down to the bare minimums, full of chemicals and, well, ickiness. If I made more money, I would go totally organic... Fruits, Veggies, Meat, Dairy... However, studies have shown that even those market organic can still still some of the same pesticides, anti-biotics and issues as regular groceries. I guess its wisest to just eat clean and ensure each item is as minimally processed as possible.
I guess my mindset right now is satisfaction. A new relationship is making me comfortable and since I am going out and doing things in the evenings, I am not getting to sleep early enough to get up at 6am. I am happy though. But I am refusing to get so comfortable that work outs and dieting go by the way side. They are important to me, I want to be fit and run races and obstacles and be strong! I need to put on my "Strong is the New Skinny" tank top and rock that motherf**ker like it's no one's business! Sure, I am a big girl, and I can be a big girl as long as I am strong, fit and healthy! Over the summer, I had a few people who counted on me and who I could count on to ensure I was working out, those people aren't as available anymore so it's up to be to do the best I can do! I KNOW THIS!
So, I am going to put this on my fridge and look at it EVERY morning to ensure complacency stays far far away from me!!
Well, I am off for today! I am going to get back on this train, big time, and continue to push and motivate you all! In the mean time, I am a former research analyst and if you have any topics you'd like me to discuss and research for you, please let me know. If you have any words of encouragement for me, then share! Please! Anything will help!
Friday, February 8, 2013
GF - Day #8: Shopping
It's amazing the information that is out there relating to Gluten-Free living. Today I read the entire Prevention "Lose the Wheat, Lose the Weight" book from Shopper's Drug Mart and it had tonnes of information. It talked about Superfoods, which includes Seeds & Nuts, Healthy Fats, Leafy Greens, Legumes, Lean Proteins and Berries, all of which will help you remain satisfied and lose the weight from your belly, but also ensure you receive all necessary nutrients. There were plenty of recipes as well that seemed to be very interesting that I am looking forward to making. One interesting thing I found out today that I did not know was that, by law, ingredients must be listed in order by volume on a package. Interesting! When shopping, the healthy foods generally have less than 5 ingredients or are in the closest form to their natural form. The best choices are generally come from the outside aisles in a grocery store. These all seem like pretty simple tips, but they are things were don't often think about!
I have been doing a LOT of meal planning lately as my boyfriend and I are trying to ensure we stay on plan as much as possible. Last weekend, we made a detox salad and a veggie soup, as I mentioned. This weekend, I will be making a Sausage/Lentil/Potato soup and a chili for lunches for the week. We also picked up some rice chips, pecans and walnuts, rice cakes, popcorn, granola, fruits and veggies and some nut crackers. I find that my cravings are definitely a lot less than they used to be since I cut out gluten and I feel more satisfied throughout the day. Meal planning has many benefits, including saving money. If you sit down and design your menu for the week and a grocery list to go with it and head to the grocery store on a slow evening, generally Wednesday nights, with a pen and list in hand, you will stay on budget and shop more effectively, limiting the chance that you will buy junk food and give you more time to properly evaluate every choice you make. Also, never go on an empty stomach (reduces impulse buying) and be sure to shop the upper and lower shelves as the richest, less healthy foods are generally placed directly at eye level in the middle racks.
There are many options when it comes to dieting. Often, even the way you talk about your diet can prove effective. If you say you "Can't" eat something, it signifies deprivation and often triggers you to cave. If you say you "Don't" eat something, it should determination and will power, increasing your chances of successes. Case in point, often a diet doesn't have to be a 'diet' per se. Now that I am not eating gluten-free, I am generally just 'thinking' more carefully about every item I put in my mouth and reading the packages on everything I buy that isn't fresh. Dieting can be fun and easy and quickly become a lifestyle just be making it work within your life, instead of making your life evolve around you diet. I realized this week that, as I am vowing to stay gluten-free, there is a very little chance that I will be stopping for a quick fast-food meal as there are next to no items on any restaurant menu that is gluten-free, maybe just a chili or baked potato. Because I know the effects of eating gluten and I am feeling the changes of not having it in my system, it is easy for me to say "I don't eat gluten" or "I don't eat fast food" because I simply don't need it and don't want to have the same issues as before.
Change your view on dieting... Instead of being on a diet, decide that you are eating clean or healthy or well.... Shop like an informed consumer, not blindly, not while hungry and not on impulse. It is amazing what you learn by just reading the label. Next time you shop, plan your meals for the week, bring a list and a pen to cross off each item, go after a good dinner so you aren't starving and go on a slow evening, like Wednesday, when you won't be rushed, bothered or frustrated by those around you. I bet you will feel a lot better about your decisions later, as well as your spending, if you follow these rules. And be sure to stock up on your Superfoods! :-)
Tomorrow I will be writing about Accidental Exercise. Hope you enjoy.
I have been doing a LOT of meal planning lately as my boyfriend and I are trying to ensure we stay on plan as much as possible. Last weekend, we made a detox salad and a veggie soup, as I mentioned. This weekend, I will be making a Sausage/Lentil/Potato soup and a chili for lunches for the week. We also picked up some rice chips, pecans and walnuts, rice cakes, popcorn, granola, fruits and veggies and some nut crackers. I find that my cravings are definitely a lot less than they used to be since I cut out gluten and I feel more satisfied throughout the day. Meal planning has many benefits, including saving money. If you sit down and design your menu for the week and a grocery list to go with it and head to the grocery store on a slow evening, generally Wednesday nights, with a pen and list in hand, you will stay on budget and shop more effectively, limiting the chance that you will buy junk food and give you more time to properly evaluate every choice you make. Also, never go on an empty stomach (reduces impulse buying) and be sure to shop the upper and lower shelves as the richest, less healthy foods are generally placed directly at eye level in the middle racks.
There are many options when it comes to dieting. Often, even the way you talk about your diet can prove effective. If you say you "Can't" eat something, it signifies deprivation and often triggers you to cave. If you say you "Don't" eat something, it should determination and will power, increasing your chances of successes. Case in point, often a diet doesn't have to be a 'diet' per se. Now that I am not eating gluten-free, I am generally just 'thinking' more carefully about every item I put in my mouth and reading the packages on everything I buy that isn't fresh. Dieting can be fun and easy and quickly become a lifestyle just be making it work within your life, instead of making your life evolve around you diet. I realized this week that, as I am vowing to stay gluten-free, there is a very little chance that I will be stopping for a quick fast-food meal as there are next to no items on any restaurant menu that is gluten-free, maybe just a chili or baked potato. Because I know the effects of eating gluten and I am feeling the changes of not having it in my system, it is easy for me to say "I don't eat gluten" or "I don't eat fast food" because I simply don't need it and don't want to have the same issues as before.
Change your view on dieting... Instead of being on a diet, decide that you are eating clean or healthy or well.... Shop like an informed consumer, not blindly, not while hungry and not on impulse. It is amazing what you learn by just reading the label. Next time you shop, plan your meals for the week, bring a list and a pen to cross off each item, go after a good dinner so you aren't starving and go on a slow evening, like Wednesday, when you won't be rushed, bothered or frustrated by those around you. I bet you will feel a lot better about your decisions later, as well as your spending, if you follow these rules. And be sure to stock up on your Superfoods! :-)
Tomorrow I will be writing about Accidental Exercise. Hope you enjoy.
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
GF - Day #5: Differences...
Gluten-free is a good thing... So far. I had a very busy weekend away, so I didn't get to blog! But on the plus side, I got a new phone, the Samsung Ativ S with Windows 8 (Strongly Recommend) and I can now blog while on the go if I want to, so no more missed days.
So, back to Gluten-free! First off... Both mine and my boyfriends eczema have began to improve... as my Dermatologist suspected it might... And the bloaty feeling is starting to go away. I am eating less food, but better food, and not feeling hungry. On the weekend, I made a slow cooker soup with a tonne of veggies (celery, carrots, turnips, leeks, onion, tomato, snap peas and green beans), beans (mixed and red kidney) as well as a can of sliced up stewed tomatoes, 2 litres of low sodium vegetable broth and seasoning. The recipe called for kale as well near the end of the cooking process, but I didn't put it in because, well, I forgot.
Also, I made a food processor salad (or a slaw) with cabbage, broccoli, carrots, swiss chard, sunflower seeds, slivered almonds, lemon juice, balsamic vinegar and oil oil. It is mean to be a detox salad as it is high in fibre and it cleans you out, which is great. We have been taking these for lunches and they are great. We have also been filling up on fruits and veggies. For snack, we have had some nuts and seeds, popcorn, rice cakes, veggie straws, rice/nut crackers with cheese, Popchips, Pickles & Beats, Rice Works, turkey pepperoni sticks, Lucy's gluten-free Sugar cookies, fresh made granola and, last but not least, smoothies.... Green Smoothies, Chocolate Smoothies, Vanilla & Fruit Smooties, you name it, I'll try it!
I am disappointed that I still have a full box of my favourite biscotti from Costco that I didn't even tough. And muffins in my freezer, but at least I have snacks for company. The major benefit is that I have to truly think about and evaluate every food decision I make. I know what to look for and I am finding that it is very difficult to eat on the run if you don't have a snack packed. Fast food (McDonald's, Wendy's Tim Horton's) are all out of the question, unless you get a salad, but even then the dressings usually have gluten in them. So it really is an eye opener.
I am enjoying staying away from alternatives as well... I am finding exploring the basics very exciting and it is nice to feel good about what I am eating again. Hopefully this week of goodness shows on the scales at Weight Watchers this week. I have also been doing Fab Ab February, which is a graduating series of Sit-Ups, Push Ups and Planks that progressively get more diffult. The last day is the day I leave for Hollywood, which I'd like to point out is now 24 days away! I am so excited. Hopefully I can keep up all theses things until then.
Must run.
Good night all.
xoxo
Ashley
So, back to Gluten-free! First off... Both mine and my boyfriends eczema have began to improve... as my Dermatologist suspected it might... And the bloaty feeling is starting to go away. I am eating less food, but better food, and not feeling hungry. On the weekend, I made a slow cooker soup with a tonne of veggies (celery, carrots, turnips, leeks, onion, tomato, snap peas and green beans), beans (mixed and red kidney) as well as a can of sliced up stewed tomatoes, 2 litres of low sodium vegetable broth and seasoning. The recipe called for kale as well near the end of the cooking process, but I didn't put it in because, well, I forgot.
Also, I made a food processor salad (or a slaw) with cabbage, broccoli, carrots, swiss chard, sunflower seeds, slivered almonds, lemon juice, balsamic vinegar and oil oil. It is mean to be a detox salad as it is high in fibre and it cleans you out, which is great. We have been taking these for lunches and they are great. We have also been filling up on fruits and veggies. For snack, we have had some nuts and seeds, popcorn, rice cakes, veggie straws, rice/nut crackers with cheese, Popchips, Pickles & Beats, Rice Works, turkey pepperoni sticks, Lucy's gluten-free Sugar cookies, fresh made granola and, last but not least, smoothies.... Green Smoothies, Chocolate Smoothies, Vanilla & Fruit Smooties, you name it, I'll try it!
I am disappointed that I still have a full box of my favourite biscotti from Costco that I didn't even tough. And muffins in my freezer, but at least I have snacks for company. The major benefit is that I have to truly think about and evaluate every food decision I make. I know what to look for and I am finding that it is very difficult to eat on the run if you don't have a snack packed. Fast food (McDonald's, Wendy's Tim Horton's) are all out of the question, unless you get a salad, but even then the dressings usually have gluten in them. So it really is an eye opener.
I am enjoying staying away from alternatives as well... I am finding exploring the basics very exciting and it is nice to feel good about what I am eating again. Hopefully this week of goodness shows on the scales at Weight Watchers this week. I have also been doing Fab Ab February, which is a graduating series of Sit-Ups, Push Ups and Planks that progressively get more diffult. The last day is the day I leave for Hollywood, which I'd like to point out is now 24 days away! I am so excited. Hopefully I can keep up all theses things until then.
Must run.
Good night all.
xoxo
Ashley
Saturday, February 2, 2013
GF - Day #1: Not missing anything yet
Day one was interesting. I feel good and I don't feel like this is going to be very difficult, so far.
I woke up and made a green smoothie. This consisted of:
1/2 avocado
handful of both spinach and kale
1 banana
1/4 cup fat free vanilla yogurt
1/2 cup vanilla almond milk
2 tsp ground flax seed.
This was surprisingly yummy. You don't taste the leafy items and it went down quite smoothly. I was pretty hungry by lunch time, I think I need to add some whey protein powder to tie me over just a little longer. Or have a good snack... I did have a light Baby Bell mid-morning, but it wasn't quite enough.
For lunch, I had brought 1.5 cups of Thai Coconut Curry soup (pick it up at Costco... SOOOO good) with a hand ful of carrots, a turkey pepperoni, an apple and an orange. That made me quite full.
For dinner, I had some potato salad, a bit of cheese and 1/2 a navel orange. For some reason, however, I was horribly craving chocolate, which is odd for me. So, I did the total college thing to do and had a tablespoon of Nutella. It was sooo yummy, and gluten-less, but it had a not so great affect on my stomach.
Other bonus, I ran for 30 minutes at the gym and did some heavy weight lifting. So far, I am feeling good and I'm not 'missing' anything as of yet. I lost a full pound this week at WW and I am looking forward to reporting more later about day #2!
xoxo
A
I woke up and made a green smoothie. This consisted of:
1/2 avocado
handful of both spinach and kale
1 banana
1/4 cup fat free vanilla yogurt
1/2 cup vanilla almond milk
2 tsp ground flax seed.
This was surprisingly yummy. You don't taste the leafy items and it went down quite smoothly. I was pretty hungry by lunch time, I think I need to add some whey protein powder to tie me over just a little longer. Or have a good snack... I did have a light Baby Bell mid-morning, but it wasn't quite enough.
For lunch, I had brought 1.5 cups of Thai Coconut Curry soup (pick it up at Costco... SOOOO good) with a hand ful of carrots, a turkey pepperoni, an apple and an orange. That made me quite full.
For dinner, I had some potato salad, a bit of cheese and 1/2 a navel orange. For some reason, however, I was horribly craving chocolate, which is odd for me. So, I did the total college thing to do and had a tablespoon of Nutella. It was sooo yummy, and gluten-less, but it had a not so great affect on my stomach.
Other bonus, I ran for 30 minutes at the gym and did some heavy weight lifting. So far, I am feeling good and I'm not 'missing' anything as of yet. I lost a full pound this week at WW and I am looking forward to reporting more later about day #2!
xoxo
A
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Challenge #2: Gluten-Free
Tomorrow is the first day of my second challenge. Not sure if it should be the 'second' on theoretically because, as I mentioned last post, I would say it was only partially successful... I didn't get to post yesterday as my man was updating his phone and for some reason, it kept turning the Internet off. Was a total mystery. However, this next one is going to be a genuine 'challenge' as its going to be a total lifestyle change. Tomorrow, I go gluten-free. For the month of February, to begin, but if I see significant positive change, I may keep it up forever. There are ample gluten-free products on the market, many very good.
While at Home Sense the other day (yes, Home Sense) I found some great gluten-free products. I picked up a box of baking / pancake and waffle mix, red velvet cupcake mix and pizza dough mix. There are a lot of products there, mostly dry mixes and cookies / crackers types of things, but still, plenty of options. I was also able to ground flax seed which will be great for smoothies. The Zehrs markets has lots of bakery items available (muffins, breads, bagels, pizza shells, etc) and down town, there is the Local Foods Mart that also carries plenty of fresh, local gluten-free options.
Potentially, to see the most benefit of a 'gluten-free' lifestyle, you need to not replace all the wheat products with synthetic substitutes. Gluten has a very high glycemic index and, often, the reason 'low-carb' diets are beneficial is not only because your body stores and burns fat more effectively, but mainly because it controls your appetite and you don't experience high spikes in your blood sugar. A Gluten-free diet can have the same effect if you don't replace them with substitutes like bread made with tapioca flour, which has an even higher GI. There are, however, far less preservatives and enzymes added to these substitutes if you are really craving.
My dermatologist first recommended a gluten-free diet as it has proven to help with different skin issues. I have also read that it can reduce irritability, muscles and joint aches, headaches and can help those dietings lose difficult belly fat. All of these things would be helpful for me. I remember when I was carb free before, I lost so much weight off my belly. So, ideally, I hope that being gluten-free will help flatten my belly (along with dieting and exercise) and also help with my eczema. If you'd like more information, you can get it here. The article in read from the National Post outlined one girls experience with gluten-free... She tried it out, tried all the baking from the Wheat Belly cookbook and it wasn't all that good, but they don't advertise being tasty, they advertise being healthy and gluten-free. But then again, she didn't necessary need to go gluten free and she didn't see any effects, so essentially as she didn't have an intolerance or sensitivity. It's an experiment for everyone. I have had several people recommend that I read Wheat Belly and I think I will, it is at Costco and will likely make my reading list shortly, especially as I get more into this diet.
There are a LOT of changes that need to be made though. I am planning on doing the following 'switches'...
First off, Costco has Thai Coconut Curry soup and it is soooo good and gluten free. I plan to take that for lunches, along with salads rich in nuts, kale, spinach, cheese and veggies. I have lots of items to make smoothies in the mornings that are healthy and gluten free as well. I am very much looking forward to smoothie making!!
I have rice cakes and nutella when I need a sweet snack. Popcorn or Turkey Bites when I want something salty. Fruits and veggies when I am just wanting to munch. Quinoa, sweet potatoes and rice to go along with my protein and veggies for dinners. Then, if I am really craving a bread type of item, I have my mixes, as well as gluten free bread and pizza shells in my freeze.
This weekend is going to be the transition period, I will be making a detox gluten-free soup as well as a detox salad to help clean out anything that has been attached to my insides for the past little while. Pinterest isgoing to be a good resource for gluten free recipes and snack ideas. I will report tomorrow on day #1.
Wish me plenty of luck, I am going to need it!
While at Home Sense the other day (yes, Home Sense) I found some great gluten-free products. I picked up a box of baking / pancake and waffle mix, red velvet cupcake mix and pizza dough mix. There are a lot of products there, mostly dry mixes and cookies / crackers types of things, but still, plenty of options. I was also able to ground flax seed which will be great for smoothies. The Zehrs markets has lots of bakery items available (muffins, breads, bagels, pizza shells, etc) and down town, there is the Local Foods Mart that also carries plenty of fresh, local gluten-free options.
Potentially, to see the most benefit of a 'gluten-free' lifestyle, you need to not replace all the wheat products with synthetic substitutes. Gluten has a very high glycemic index and, often, the reason 'low-carb' diets are beneficial is not only because your body stores and burns fat more effectively, but mainly because it controls your appetite and you don't experience high spikes in your blood sugar. A Gluten-free diet can have the same effect if you don't replace them with substitutes like bread made with tapioca flour, which has an even higher GI. There are, however, far less preservatives and enzymes added to these substitutes if you are really craving.
My dermatologist first recommended a gluten-free diet as it has proven to help with different skin issues. I have also read that it can reduce irritability, muscles and joint aches, headaches and can help those dietings lose difficult belly fat. All of these things would be helpful for me. I remember when I was carb free before, I lost so much weight off my belly. So, ideally, I hope that being gluten-free will help flatten my belly (along with dieting and exercise) and also help with my eczema. If you'd like more information, you can get it here. The article in read from the National Post outlined one girls experience with gluten-free... She tried it out, tried all the baking from the Wheat Belly cookbook and it wasn't all that good, but they don't advertise being tasty, they advertise being healthy and gluten-free. But then again, she didn't necessary need to go gluten free and she didn't see any effects, so essentially as she didn't have an intolerance or sensitivity. It's an experiment for everyone. I have had several people recommend that I read Wheat Belly and I think I will, it is at Costco and will likely make my reading list shortly, especially as I get more into this diet.
There are a LOT of changes that need to be made though. I am planning on doing the following 'switches'...
First off, Costco has Thai Coconut Curry soup and it is soooo good and gluten free. I plan to take that for lunches, along with salads rich in nuts, kale, spinach, cheese and veggies. I have lots of items to make smoothies in the mornings that are healthy and gluten free as well. I am very much looking forward to smoothie making!!
I have rice cakes and nutella when I need a sweet snack. Popcorn or Turkey Bites when I want something salty. Fruits and veggies when I am just wanting to munch. Quinoa, sweet potatoes and rice to go along with my protein and veggies for dinners. Then, if I am really craving a bread type of item, I have my mixes, as well as gluten free bread and pizza shells in my freeze.
This weekend is going to be the transition period, I will be making a detox gluten-free soup as well as a detox salad to help clean out anything that has been attached to my insides for the past little while. Pinterest isgoing to be a good resource for gluten free recipes and snack ideas. I will report tomorrow on day #1.
Wish me plenty of luck, I am going to need it!
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Day #21: In conclusion...
Well, it is Day 21... How would I sum up Challenge #1? I think I would, first of all, call it a great learning experience. While gathering information to write this blog, I have found such amazing sources of information on such things as diet, good health, work outs, clean eating, proper handling of foods, hydration, sleep, etc. There have been sooooo many ideas came from Pinterest and I pinned on my boards, which you can view if you'd like. A lot of ideas came from general researching and wanting to know more.
Further, I have learned that I can be accountable, to both myself and others, and that tracking food and work outs is very important. I tried a new work out, my Tabata style Fit Camp, and I also tried a new PowerFood, Quinoa, which I actually loved, glad that I gave it a second chance. Over all, I feel like I am turning over a new leaf.
Now, my challenge was to get up early every day and go to the gym... Did I do that? No, I would have to say I did not. But, in all honesty with myself, so much was going on, I couldn't settle sometimes and didn't go to bed soon enough. In my defence, there was plenty of mornings when the weather was horrible, it was -20 degrees celcius and the roads were next to impassable. Some of those days I got out of bed, said "F-that" and went back to bed. However, I did go to the gym at least 5 days per week each week and I did stay within my Weight Watchers points pretty well, so as this goal was to get myself back into a fitness regime, I would say I am half way there. I am feeling a bit better about where I will be on March 1st when I get on the plane to go to HOLLYWOOD! I am going to tan a bit (shush, I know that it's not good for me) and as I have been running... WHICH, by the way, I ran for 10 minutes today and 7 minutes of that was actually running, not walking, VAST improvement since the fall... and I am feeling myself get more toned.
As I am starting Gluten-Free on Friday February 1st as well as a Fab-Ab February Core training challenge, I feel I will have trimmed my tummy and core enough to be comfortable wearing whatever I find when in the US. Also, I will be, for sure, as it warms up, doing more morning work outs... Good weather wake up means work out... Doesn't have to be warm, the roads just have to be driveable.
So as I continue on my year of Self-Challenges, I ask you to come along for the ride. And as I work out for Hollywood, I will also be training for this years Strong Kids Spin-a-Thon. I ask that you at least read my story and, if you can spare a few dollars, please sponsor this very worthy cause.
Please click here to do so.
I shall see you all tomorrow when I discuss "Cleanses". Thank you for your support and, please, wish me luck for Challenge #2!
xoxo
Ashley
Further, I have learned that I can be accountable, to both myself and others, and that tracking food and work outs is very important. I tried a new work out, my Tabata style Fit Camp, and I also tried a new PowerFood, Quinoa, which I actually loved, glad that I gave it a second chance. Over all, I feel like I am turning over a new leaf.
Now, my challenge was to get up early every day and go to the gym... Did I do that? No, I would have to say I did not. But, in all honesty with myself, so much was going on, I couldn't settle sometimes and didn't go to bed soon enough. In my defence, there was plenty of mornings when the weather was horrible, it was -20 degrees celcius and the roads were next to impassable. Some of those days I got out of bed, said "F-that" and went back to bed. However, I did go to the gym at least 5 days per week each week and I did stay within my Weight Watchers points pretty well, so as this goal was to get myself back into a fitness regime, I would say I am half way there. I am feeling a bit better about where I will be on March 1st when I get on the plane to go to HOLLYWOOD! I am going to tan a bit (shush, I know that it's not good for me) and as I have been running... WHICH, by the way, I ran for 10 minutes today and 7 minutes of that was actually running, not walking, VAST improvement since the fall... and I am feeling myself get more toned.
As I am starting Gluten-Free on Friday February 1st as well as a Fab-Ab February Core training challenge, I feel I will have trimmed my tummy and core enough to be comfortable wearing whatever I find when in the US. Also, I will be, for sure, as it warms up, doing more morning work outs... Good weather wake up means work out... Doesn't have to be warm, the roads just have to be driveable.
So as I continue on my year of Self-Challenges, I ask you to come along for the ride. And as I work out for Hollywood, I will also be training for this years Strong Kids Spin-a-Thon. I ask that you at least read my story and, if you can spare a few dollars, please sponsor this very worthy cause.
Please click here to do so.
I shall see you all tomorrow when I discuss "Cleanses". Thank you for your support and, please, wish me luck for Challenge #2!
xoxo
Ashley
Monday, January 28, 2013
Day #20: Cravings
It is day #20 of my first self challenge... I feel, honestly, I could have done better.
Yes, I have been doing my blogs for the most part (life sometimes gets in the way) and I have been tracking all my food through Weight Watchers, I have been doing fairly well with my work outs as well... But I wouldn't be here if I wasn't looking for ways to improve. I am going to go strong for the 4 days before I start my next self-challenge, Gluten-Free February!
One thing that ALWAYS crashes my diet success is cravings. For me, I crave sugar and lots of it... Specifically, CHOCOLATE! However, did you know that a lot of cravings we have are often the result of something missing from our diets. If you review the picture below, you will see that being deficient in one mineral or vitamin will cause you body to crave different foods.... For example, Chromium or Sulfur if you are craving sweets, or calcium if you are craving carbonated beverages. Often, many cravings can be satisfied by simply drinking water. I often want to nibble on foods when I am thirsty or dehydrated. There are other alternatives to the most common food cravings, provided here in case you are every suffering. If you are like me, a Weight Watchers follower, remember that ever "BLT" counts towards your calories... BLT's, or "Bites, Licks and Tastes" have calories and can add up quickly... So be sure you know what you body might be missing and why, to ensure you stay healthy, nurished and satisfied.
Tomorrow I will be wrapping up my 21 Day Challenge and outlining my goals for 2013!
Thanks all
A
Yes, I have been doing my blogs for the most part (life sometimes gets in the way) and I have been tracking all my food through Weight Watchers, I have been doing fairly well with my work outs as well... But I wouldn't be here if I wasn't looking for ways to improve. I am going to go strong for the 4 days before I start my next self-challenge, Gluten-Free February!
One thing that ALWAYS crashes my diet success is cravings. For me, I crave sugar and lots of it... Specifically, CHOCOLATE! However, did you know that a lot of cravings we have are often the result of something missing from our diets. If you review the picture below, you will see that being deficient in one mineral or vitamin will cause you body to crave different foods.... For example, Chromium or Sulfur if you are craving sweets, or calcium if you are craving carbonated beverages. Often, many cravings can be satisfied by simply drinking water. I often want to nibble on foods when I am thirsty or dehydrated. There are other alternatives to the most common food cravings, provided here in case you are every suffering. If you are like me, a Weight Watchers follower, remember that ever "BLT" counts towards your calories... BLT's, or "Bites, Licks and Tastes" have calories and can add up quickly... So be sure you know what you body might be missing and why, to ensure you stay healthy, nurished and satisfied.
Tomorrow I will be wrapping up my 21 Day Challenge and outlining my goals for 2013!
Thanks all
A
Friday, January 25, 2013
Day #17: Habits
Each day, every single one of us gets up, makes our coffee or breakfast, has a shower, gets dressed, does our hair or make up and then continues on with our day. Some of us go to work, others work from home, some of us go to the gym before we start our routines, others work out from home... The point is that these are all habits we have formed from routine... They were taught to us by our parents, whom formed the habit themselves from creating a routine that their parents taught to them.
Along the way, we have created other habits, some of them good, some of the bad. Some people smoke, others drinks, some diet, others binge. Some people bite their nails, other people work out. Which ever it is, habits can be good or bad, but they are all formed from contantly doing the same routine over and over again. In some cases, it can take over your life... Such as drug addiction, drinking, eating disorders and, even, such things as lying or gossiping. Some cane be so severe that they become a psychological issue... Eating disorders often stem from extremely low levels of self-esteem or bullying or self-loathing. Drinking is often used as a way to deal with very difficult problems in your life. Smoking from wanting to fit, etc. The list continues, however, if we have bad habits, we are, no matter how hopeless or difficult it may see, we can break free from them and, even better, turn them into good habits.
I am a former smoker... I smoked for 10 years, in the later years, I often smoked a pack a day. I decided, finally, that I wanted to quit. I was always broke (at $12.00 per pack, it was adding up quickly), I had no taste, my clothing smelled bad and, worst of all, I was coughing a lot, was always congested and my cardio-vascular sucked. I got a prescription from the doctor for Champix and I quit. On November 1st, 2010, I woke up and never smoked another cigarette in my life. From there, which did build up a lot of confidence in myself, I then moved into concentrating on exercise, dieting (through Weight Watchers), politics locally and sporting events.
The point is, no matter how difficult things may seem, there is a way to get where you want to go. I want to lose weight, I want to be healthy and I want to compete in events regularly and I will do those things. I am going to slowly turn my bad habits into good habits. I have already started being more active. I am working on getting up earlier in the morning. I am trying to ensure every food choice I make is a good one. I am trying to be nicer and slower to anger.
Make the things that are good for you, your friends, your family, etc. habits and you will become addicted. Exercise has been proven to be addicting and in a good way. However, if you don't make time to work out, you won't create this habit. Same as eating... Filling up on good, healthy foods creates a feeling of satisfaction, which, in turn, will create a sensation in your brain that you will want again and again... These habits become a lifestyle change, a positive one. It allows you to be the best possible you and you will thank yourself for it.
So why not write down all your bad habits, then write down all the good habits you like to form and, one at a time, figure out which bad habit you will replace with a good habit....
For example, if your bad habit it biting your nails... Cut your nails off as short as possible (so they don't hurt though) and every time you feel the urge bite your nails, get down and do 15 push ups, 15 crunches and 15 jumping jacks. You will re-program your brain after a long enough time and you'll be burning calories while doing it. I know that sounds silly, but why not give it a try. It worked for me.
I leave you today with this... Don't judge anyone because they are different or suffering or whatever. You never know what demons they might be fighting and what made them who they are!
Much love.
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Day #15: Motivation, Ideas & Hollywood Update.
So, recently, I was introduced to the wonderful world of Pinterest. If you haven't heard of it, get on it, it's mad addicting. Don't, however, let it distract you from your work outs. One thing I have been finding is that there are a lot of different work outs posted on there. I have created a Work Out board and I am re-pinning all the cool, fast and easy ones so on days where time is limited, as I have mentioned before, running 5 companies full time and bookkeeping for two others on a part time basis allows for limited time in evenings. There are several on there that can be completed in less than an hour and many others that help you schedule your work outs for a whole week. As I mentioned before, there are plenty of resources available if you are willing to work. I have 5 different calendars, schedules and programs for different aspects of my life, one solely for work outs and scratching everything off of it is invigorating, but yes, the same thing over and over again gets boring. So do what will keep you motivated, even downloading motivating pictures (ie bathing suits you want to buy) and posting them on your fridge or on your work out clothing drawer can help motivate.
Last night, I did a great work out. I have officially completed week one of C25K and moving on to week two tomorrow. It's much harder to get motivated when it is minus 30 degrees celcius, but it is possible. One idea I have for my next challenge is to go Gluten-Free for the month of February. I have been researching the "Wheat Belly" study and looking up plenty of recipes and products... In Barrie, HomeSense sells a lot of specialty items that are very reasonably priced. I had already had Gluten-Free suggested to me by my dermatologist, but it was quite difficult when so many yummy, tasty foods are full of Gluten... But nothing taste better than being slimmer feels, so I am using that as my motivation. I will continue to blog along with recipes and such as I go. My fabulous guy is going to go along with me and I think the support will be amazing.
Finally, I have an update. I will be going to Hollywood on March 1st... so the diet and work out is REALLY on now. My sister and I are going to stay an extra day to explore, she has already made dinner reservations, what a crazy kid she is.... but she is far more brave than I am, I can be scared of my own shadow at times. One thing I am going to try out is a whole new hair style when I'm down there... I am thinking short, a-line with bangs... in a fun colour, only time will tell, but I am using this trip to be more brave and confident in myself. So if you have any ideas for me, please, let me know. Tanning is starting this weekend so I am not totally pasty before I leave!
Finally, one thing I am failing on is not drinking enough water. I have been getting sore very quickly during my work outs, my joints have been creaking and cracking and I just feel tired. As soon as I get my hydration up, I feel a lot better. As my dear friend Laura always tells me, DRINK YOUR WATER, you need it!
Much love all.
xoxo
Last night, I did a great work out. I have officially completed week one of C25K and moving on to week two tomorrow. It's much harder to get motivated when it is minus 30 degrees celcius, but it is possible. One idea I have for my next challenge is to go Gluten-Free for the month of February. I have been researching the "Wheat Belly" study and looking up plenty of recipes and products... In Barrie, HomeSense sells a lot of specialty items that are very reasonably priced. I had already had Gluten-Free suggested to me by my dermatologist, but it was quite difficult when so many yummy, tasty foods are full of Gluten... But nothing taste better than being slimmer feels, so I am using that as my motivation. I will continue to blog along with recipes and such as I go. My fabulous guy is going to go along with me and I think the support will be amazing.
Finally, I have an update. I will be going to Hollywood on March 1st... so the diet and work out is REALLY on now. My sister and I are going to stay an extra day to explore, she has already made dinner reservations, what a crazy kid she is.... but she is far more brave than I am, I can be scared of my own shadow at times. One thing I am going to try out is a whole new hair style when I'm down there... I am thinking short, a-line with bangs... in a fun colour, only time will tell, but I am using this trip to be more brave and confident in myself. So if you have any ideas for me, please, let me know. Tanning is starting this weekend so I am not totally pasty before I leave!
Finally, one thing I am failing on is not drinking enough water. I have been getting sore very quickly during my work outs, my joints have been creaking and cracking and I just feel tired. As soon as I get my hydration up, I feel a lot better. As my dear friend Laura always tells me, DRINK YOUR WATER, you need it!
Much love all.
xoxo
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Day #14: Fit Camp and Hard Work
First off, ERMERGERD, so I have been taking Monday night "Fit Camp" at the YMCA and it is proving to be very intense. "Fit Camp" is Tabata style High Intensity Interval Training. Generally speaking, it is 20 seconds of high intensity, 10 seconds of rest, repeated 8 times. It has proven to be one of the most effective forms of training with ample positive benefits for both aerobic (cardio) and anaerobic (muscles) results.
For more information, you can read about it here.
I would like to point out, again, that I am not a trainer (maybe one day)... That I am not an athlete (as of yet)... But one thing I am in a young person with plenty of time ahead of me and plenty of dreams and goals. Although I have yet to make the best decisions in my life, I have learned that it is imperative to take every lesson in stride and try not to let any go to waste.
I have already had 2 days of this challenge that I forgot to blog... I have also had days like today when I was dehydrated and not motivated and I didn't eat properly... But I now know the consequences of making those decisions. Every day is a challenge and a lesson. You wake up in the morning with the best intentions... to eat well, to excerise, to be nice and remember that I am not better than anyone else I might meet, even if you are surrounded by people who don't have the same mindset. The point is... Shit happens. You fall off the horse. You get discouraged. You lose motivation. Whether it is life or school or career or family or whatever. But don't give up. If you always seek the fastest, cheapest, easiest route to your destination, there is a good chance that you will never get there... The fastest is not always the steadiest. The cheapest is not always the best quality. The easiest won't let you learn anything.
I find that so many people I meet lately have this huge sense of entitlement. That things should just come easy for them. That they shouldn't have to pay for things. That they don't need to work hard and, if you are one of those people, smarten the hell up. This country was created by people who worked hard and if people had continued to do so and hadn't gotten greedy and dishonest, this world would be a different place. You need to work hard to stay in shape. You need to work hard to advance in your career. You need to work hard to pay off your debt and mortgage. You need to work hard to get ahead, period. Life is hard work and if you are the type who is going to complain and say it's too hard or you don't want to or everyone else is the problem, then you deserve to be stuck where you are.
If you want further proof that EVERYONE needs to work hard and you aren't just born with it, this pic worked for me today.
Ok, there is my rant! Work hard and you will get results.
Night all.
For more information, you can read about it here.
I would like to point out, again, that I am not a trainer (maybe one day)... That I am not an athlete (as of yet)... But one thing I am in a young person with plenty of time ahead of me and plenty of dreams and goals. Although I have yet to make the best decisions in my life, I have learned that it is imperative to take every lesson in stride and try not to let any go to waste.
I have already had 2 days of this challenge that I forgot to blog... I have also had days like today when I was dehydrated and not motivated and I didn't eat properly... But I now know the consequences of making those decisions. Every day is a challenge and a lesson. You wake up in the morning with the best intentions... to eat well, to excerise, to be nice and remember that I am not better than anyone else I might meet, even if you are surrounded by people who don't have the same mindset. The point is... Shit happens. You fall off the horse. You get discouraged. You lose motivation. Whether it is life or school or career or family or whatever. But don't give up. If you always seek the fastest, cheapest, easiest route to your destination, there is a good chance that you will never get there... The fastest is not always the steadiest. The cheapest is not always the best quality. The easiest won't let you learn anything.
I find that so many people I meet lately have this huge sense of entitlement. That things should just come easy for them. That they shouldn't have to pay for things. That they don't need to work hard and, if you are one of those people, smarten the hell up. This country was created by people who worked hard and if people had continued to do so and hadn't gotten greedy and dishonest, this world would be a different place. You need to work hard to stay in shape. You need to work hard to advance in your career. You need to work hard to pay off your debt and mortgage. You need to work hard to get ahead, period. Life is hard work and if you are the type who is going to complain and say it's too hard or you don't want to or everyone else is the problem, then you deserve to be stuck where you are.
If you want further proof that EVERYONE needs to work hard and you aren't just born with it, this pic worked for me today.
Ok, there is my rant! Work hard and you will get results.
Night all.
Sunday, January 20, 2013
Day #12: Lots of Sleep
Good Evening Everyone,
I missed my blog writing yesterday because I was exhausted and went to be at 10:00pm, I was out like a light, so I apologize.
After a very good spin class yesterday morning, I ended up having a great protein rich breakfast with a good work out friend of mine and then donated blood. I am not sure if it is normal to be tired after doing so, but I was... It may have been the result of only 6 hours sleep the night before, but I was comatose. It felt great to donate and I plan do to so every 56 days as they allow. Next appointment is March 16th!!!
One thing that you read, time and again, other than drink lots of fluid, is to get lots of rest. According to many studies over the past several years, lack of sleep is almost always related to weight gain and stagnant weight loss. Many experts believe it is a factor in the growing obesity epidemic. An active adult should get 7 to 8 hours of sleep per night. How many times, in the past week, can you say you have actually gotten your required amount of sleep? I know I am guilty of this, but I do try my best to get as much as possible. When going to the gym in the morning, it is next to impossible to get out of bed at 6am if I haven't gotten at least 6 hours of sleep, let alone perform while I am there. Sleep allows your body to full recharge and recover.
Generally, symptoms of Sleep Deprivation include:
-Aching Muscles
-Confusion, Memory lapses or less
-Depression
-Hallucinations
-Headaches
-Sensitivity to Cold
-Increased blood pressure
-Increased risk of diabetes
-Irritability
-Obesity due to increased appetite and lack of energy for exercise...
So, as you can see, there are reasons other than fitness and weight loss to get lots of shut eye!
The main goal of my 21 Day Challenge is to generally get healthy and to form healthy habits again, so, beginning tonight, I am going to ensure that I get at least 7 hours sleep per night from here on in and I challenge each of you to do that same. I bet each one of you will see the difference... Both with any weight loss you are trying to achieve and also with your fitness routines. As I have Fit Camp tomorrow, I think it is imperative that I head to bed now.
Have a great night and wish me luck...
Thank you for reading.
I missed my blog writing yesterday because I was exhausted and went to be at 10:00pm, I was out like a light, so I apologize.
After a very good spin class yesterday morning, I ended up having a great protein rich breakfast with a good work out friend of mine and then donated blood. I am not sure if it is normal to be tired after doing so, but I was... It may have been the result of only 6 hours sleep the night before, but I was comatose. It felt great to donate and I plan do to so every 56 days as they allow. Next appointment is March 16th!!!
One thing that you read, time and again, other than drink lots of fluid, is to get lots of rest. According to many studies over the past several years, lack of sleep is almost always related to weight gain and stagnant weight loss. Many experts believe it is a factor in the growing obesity epidemic. An active adult should get 7 to 8 hours of sleep per night. How many times, in the past week, can you say you have actually gotten your required amount of sleep? I know I am guilty of this, but I do try my best to get as much as possible. When going to the gym in the morning, it is next to impossible to get out of bed at 6am if I haven't gotten at least 6 hours of sleep, let alone perform while I am there. Sleep allows your body to full recharge and recover.
Generally, symptoms of Sleep Deprivation include:
-Aching Muscles
-Confusion, Memory lapses or less
-Depression
-Hallucinations
-Headaches
-Sensitivity to Cold
-Increased blood pressure
-Increased risk of diabetes
-Irritability
-Obesity due to increased appetite and lack of energy for exercise...
So, as you can see, there are reasons other than fitness and weight loss to get lots of shut eye!
The main goal of my 21 Day Challenge is to generally get healthy and to form healthy habits again, so, beginning tonight, I am going to ensure that I get at least 7 hours sleep per night from here on in and I challenge each of you to do that same. I bet each one of you will see the difference... Both with any weight loss you are trying to achieve and also with your fitness routines. As I have Fit Camp tomorrow, I think it is imperative that I head to bed now.
Have a great night and wish me luck...
Thank you for reading.
Friday, January 18, 2013
Day #10: Short Post
I am just taking a quick moment to let you know that today was a very busy day, but a very good day.
I got up early, made a healthy breakfast, did low impact work out at home and lost 1.5lbs at Weight Watchers. This weeks hard work as paid off for me. YAY for that.
I am heading to bed now as have Spin in the morning followed by breakfast with a friend then I'm scheduled to donate blood... Pay it forward everyone, donations are always needed and if you ever, heaven forbid, need blood, you'll be thankful someone donated. Contact 1-888-2-DONATE to set up an appointment.
Today was a little stressful, but I felt much better after having a much needed drink (yes, I had a drink because, even though I am on a diet, I can have the occasional calorie rich alcoholic beverage) with a friend I have missed a lot. It was great catching up and seeing that she is looking and doing much better while going through a very difficult period in her life. It really makes me see the bigger picture and take stock of everything. I am thankful for the people in my life... My friends... My family... Everyone! I am also thankful that I have had the opportunity to meet such supportive people this year and I want to help everyone one of them just as they have helped me.
I must admit, my blogs won't always be about working out and diet... I want them to matter and I want anyone following to be able to relate to my story and see that, yes, you can stay committed and work on yourself while also dealing with the trials of every day life. At Weight Watchers today a lady reported that after a very miserable upset, she went out and bought 2 family sized bags of chips and ate every last one of them in one sitting! Life happens, but it is really about training yourself to deal with things in a healthy manner and cope in what can be a very difficult world without destroying yourself. There are always resources out there to help you... If you aren't sure, find someone who you care about and ask for help! There is no shame in it.
So, being off topic, again, as I can never concentrate on one thing at a time... Please try to relate my issues and situations to your own and document how you handle them in your own way. If you feel I haven't dealt with something correctly, tell me... It's all about growing and growing together just makes us all stronger!
Anyway, I'm off! Much love, always!
Today was a little stressful, but I felt much better after having a much needed drink (yes, I had a drink because, even though I am on a diet, I can have the occasional calorie rich alcoholic beverage) with a friend I have missed a lot. It was great catching up and seeing that she is looking and doing much better while going through a very difficult period in her life. It really makes me see the bigger picture and take stock of everything. I am thankful for the people in my life... My friends... My family... Everyone! I am also thankful that I have had the opportunity to meet such supportive people this year and I want to help everyone one of them just as they have helped me.
I must admit, my blogs won't always be about working out and diet... I want them to matter and I want anyone following to be able to relate to my story and see that, yes, you can stay committed and work on yourself while also dealing with the trials of every day life. At Weight Watchers today a lady reported that after a very miserable upset, she went out and bought 2 family sized bags of chips and ate every last one of them in one sitting! Life happens, but it is really about training yourself to deal with things in a healthy manner and cope in what can be a very difficult world without destroying yourself. There are always resources out there to help you... If you aren't sure, find someone who you care about and ask for help! There is no shame in it.
So, being off topic, again, as I can never concentrate on one thing at a time... Please try to relate my issues and situations to your own and document how you handle them in your own way. If you feel I haven't dealt with something correctly, tell me... It's all about growing and growing together just makes us all stronger!
Anyway, I'm off! Much love, always!
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Day #9: Mind Set
A lot of people ask me what I think about when I'm working out and how I stay interested. I know a lot of people get bored while at the gym and having the right mindset while working out helps a lot. Cardio can get boring, even when listening to music... Some gyms have TV's that help the time go faster, but, if you are like me and going to the gym at 6am, there isn't much on TV, so I tend to listen to my Ipod.
Lately, my cardio has consisted of Running and Spin Class. Since I am following the C25K plan, it is easy to keep my mind occupied as there is timing I need to follow and I use Nike+ App that talks to me and tells me the time and such. I think, however, that once I am done the running plan at which time, I am hoping I will be a super awesome runner, I will use running time to sort out my thoughts. If you know me, you'd know that my mind is always going. I can't concentrate often on just one topic, so exercise often lets me compartmentalize different things that are on my mind. For example, when I get to the gym and get on the treadmill or stairmaster or eliptical and get my Ipod all ready to go... I often tend to pull whatever is most prominently on my mind and I start to analyze... Whether it is a problem at work or with a friend or with some of the stuff I volunteer with or family or whatever it is, I just start to think about things. I find that passes the time very quickly. This is the reason I cannot do Yoga very well as I cannot clear my mind and concentrate on my breathing... Breathing is the very least of my worries on a regular basis. Haha. And finally, sometimes when I go early I am not quite awake and de-caffeinated, I just watch people around me and that makes the time go quickly! The crowds at the gym that early are an interesting bunch and it's easy to be amused just observing... I am never judging these people, just wondering what their stories are and what makes them who they are, I would never judge someone for their reason for wanting to work out and the way they do it! You'd have to see what I mean to understand.
When I lift weights, it is easy to stay occupied... Or it should be easy... as there are so many factors involved. I am generally concentrating on working a certain muscle group in the right order and ensure I keep my form in line. With weight lifting, especially when you get into heavy lifting, it is important to concentrate, one small slip and you could be hurt by a dropped or slipping weight!
Spin Class, however, is more of a "training" session for me! I like to push as I am actually preparing myself for the 2013 Y Ride (a 6 hours Spin-a-Thon) raising money for the Strong Kids Campaign. This year it is extra special as I am dedicating my ride to Tina Espey, my friends daughter, who passed away in December due to an overdose. While I'm doing Spin Class right now, I am finding myself thinking about Sherri and her daughter... and it makes me work even harder because I definitely wanna kick butt for the 6 hour class and raise as much money as possible. If it weren't for Sherri, I wouldn't be where I am today. The work she did to lose weight and get in shape inspired me and she became the best work out partner ever... as well as my friend. Now when I'm spinning, I am just thinking about how much I want to raise for the Strong Kids Campaign to help to keep our youth occupied and involved and away from the opportunities from making deadly mistakes and hopefully saving another family from the pain that they have felt this year. Such amazing people that my heart is aching for. I miss my work out friend, but I know I will never understand her pain. I want to keep going strong at the gym so when she is ready to come back, I can help her and inspire her to get back to where I know she wants to be physically and, Sherri, if you are reading this, whenever you are ready, I am waiting!!!
I guess this is another issue that my brain tends to gravitate to and analyze while doing cardio. On the plus side, the money I raise from the Spin-a-thon as well as the money Mary Kay is donating from my make over contest prize, will be donated in Tina's honour and the Y plans to do something nice to ensure her memory is preserved and to recognize just how increasingly important youth programs are in this ever changing society.
The point of the paragraph above is that, with you goals are properly aligned, you can use this time to concentrate and bring yourself back to why that goal is important to you and use it to centre yourself and bring yourself back to you work! It doesn't have to be boring in the grand scheme of things!
Well, as you can see, I am a little off topic now as my mind wondered, just as it does while doing cardio or any other time. It is important to try to keep your change in lifestyle aligned with the goals you are hoping to achieve. I like to help people whenever I can... It is hard for me to help people without first helping myself. I can't make anyone else happy if I am not happy with my own life. Feeling good about yourself makes you want to do more and continue on your journey. Eventually, the reason you are doing what you are doing overtakes any doubt or boredom your mind may create for you!
Finally, going to the gym over tired can very much negatively affect your workout... So if you haven't slept enough or are dehydrated or sick(which can cause fatigue), have a nap first or take the day off. However, if you are stressed or angry or sad... Go!!! Crank your music and kick some butt! Run as hard as you can run... Lift as much as you can lift... Because, as I mentioned in my last post, the increase in endorphins can naturally improve your mood and settle you when you are upset! However, don't work out when you are so upset for whatever reason that you risk hurting yourself because you can't concentrate on what you are doing!! That isn't good either.
Also, make sure you are doing your work outs for YOU and no one else!
And if you are the type to just really enjoy working out to music and can clear your head and not have to worry about getting bored or distracted, here is some fun, upbeat work out tunes that you may enjoy!
Night All!
Lately, my cardio has consisted of Running and Spin Class. Since I am following the C25K plan, it is easy to keep my mind occupied as there is timing I need to follow and I use Nike+ App that talks to me and tells me the time and such. I think, however, that once I am done the running plan at which time, I am hoping I will be a super awesome runner, I will use running time to sort out my thoughts. If you know me, you'd know that my mind is always going. I can't concentrate often on just one topic, so exercise often lets me compartmentalize different things that are on my mind. For example, when I get to the gym and get on the treadmill or stairmaster or eliptical and get my Ipod all ready to go... I often tend to pull whatever is most prominently on my mind and I start to analyze... Whether it is a problem at work or with a friend or with some of the stuff I volunteer with or family or whatever it is, I just start to think about things. I find that passes the time very quickly. This is the reason I cannot do Yoga very well as I cannot clear my mind and concentrate on my breathing... Breathing is the very least of my worries on a regular basis. Haha. And finally, sometimes when I go early I am not quite awake and de-caffeinated, I just watch people around me and that makes the time go quickly! The crowds at the gym that early are an interesting bunch and it's easy to be amused just observing... I am never judging these people, just wondering what their stories are and what makes them who they are, I would never judge someone for their reason for wanting to work out and the way they do it! You'd have to see what I mean to understand.
When I lift weights, it is easy to stay occupied... Or it should be easy... as there are so many factors involved. I am generally concentrating on working a certain muscle group in the right order and ensure I keep my form in line. With weight lifting, especially when you get into heavy lifting, it is important to concentrate, one small slip and you could be hurt by a dropped or slipping weight!
Spin Class, however, is more of a "training" session for me! I like to push as I am actually preparing myself for the 2013 Y Ride (a 6 hours Spin-a-Thon) raising money for the Strong Kids Campaign. This year it is extra special as I am dedicating my ride to Tina Espey, my friends daughter, who passed away in December due to an overdose. While I'm doing Spin Class right now, I am finding myself thinking about Sherri and her daughter... and it makes me work even harder because I definitely wanna kick butt for the 6 hour class and raise as much money as possible. If it weren't for Sherri, I wouldn't be where I am today. The work she did to lose weight and get in shape inspired me and she became the best work out partner ever... as well as my friend. Now when I'm spinning, I am just thinking about how much I want to raise for the Strong Kids Campaign to help to keep our youth occupied and involved and away from the opportunities from making deadly mistakes and hopefully saving another family from the pain that they have felt this year. Such amazing people that my heart is aching for. I miss my work out friend, but I know I will never understand her pain. I want to keep going strong at the gym so when she is ready to come back, I can help her and inspire her to get back to where I know she wants to be physically and, Sherri, if you are reading this, whenever you are ready, I am waiting!!!
I guess this is another issue that my brain tends to gravitate to and analyze while doing cardio. On the plus side, the money I raise from the Spin-a-thon as well as the money Mary Kay is donating from my make over contest prize, will be donated in Tina's honour and the Y plans to do something nice to ensure her memory is preserved and to recognize just how increasingly important youth programs are in this ever changing society.
The point of the paragraph above is that, with you goals are properly aligned, you can use this time to concentrate and bring yourself back to why that goal is important to you and use it to centre yourself and bring yourself back to you work! It doesn't have to be boring in the grand scheme of things!
Well, as you can see, I am a little off topic now as my mind wondered, just as it does while doing cardio or any other time. It is important to try to keep your change in lifestyle aligned with the goals you are hoping to achieve. I like to help people whenever I can... It is hard for me to help people without first helping myself. I can't make anyone else happy if I am not happy with my own life. Feeling good about yourself makes you want to do more and continue on your journey. Eventually, the reason you are doing what you are doing overtakes any doubt or boredom your mind may create for you!
Finally, going to the gym over tired can very much negatively affect your workout... So if you haven't slept enough or are dehydrated or sick(which can cause fatigue), have a nap first or take the day off. However, if you are stressed or angry or sad... Go!!! Crank your music and kick some butt! Run as hard as you can run... Lift as much as you can lift... Because, as I mentioned in my last post, the increase in endorphins can naturally improve your mood and settle you when you are upset! However, don't work out when you are so upset for whatever reason that you risk hurting yourself because you can't concentrate on what you are doing!! That isn't good either.
Also, make sure you are doing your work outs for YOU and no one else!
And if you are the type to just really enjoy working out to music and can clear your head and not have to worry about getting bored or distracted, here is some fun, upbeat work out tunes that you may enjoy!
Night All!
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Day #8: Rest and a Few Tips
As we all become active and begin a work out routine, there are usually 3 possible things that happen to you after you get a week or so into it... Those things are: 1) you are already bored of it or have lost your motivation and have already given up... 2) You are enjoying being active and are finding a healthy way to fit fitness into your schedule or 3) you are addicted.
As it's January 16th, some of us will just be finishing up week two of your newly acquired gym membership, some of you may already be seeing these changes and here is my advice to you as I have literally experienced all three. First off, if you are bored of it or have given up already, stop yourself. Boredom can be overcome with a change in routine such as different classes or places to work out. If you have given up, come back to the gym... You can't expect results overnight and you will improve, I promise. There was a reason you felt the need to join, FIND IT.
If you are finding it fun and incorporating it into your schedule and making it a lifestyle, good for you! It's a great feeling, even just in the increase in energy should help you keep returning and stay motivated.
Finally, if you are like me... You may get addicted to the feel good endorphins that you get from working out and that is great, but overtraining can be dangerous. Pushing yourself is the most important part of working out as your muscles begin to adapt to what they anticipate your next work out to be, they need to be pushed out of their comfort zone in order to get better and stronger. But second only to pushing yourself is resting. You should be resting every couple of days and drinking plenty of fluids when doing so. I recently, after being off heavy lifting and high intensity cardio for 10 weeks, started to push myself hard. I worked out 6 days straight for a total of over 12 hours in those 6 days. I ended up not being able to sleep yesterday as my shoulders and hips hurt so bad, way past the normal, good "weight training" burn that you get from a good work out. I decided I had to take today off as I didn't want to cause damage to my muscles.
If you become addicted to working out, and yes, it can be an addiction, be sure that you have a strong regime and review it with a professional trainer. If you feel the need to work out every day, ensure that you are not doing the same muscle groups daily. Maybe do arms and shoulders one day, legs and lower body the next followed by core and back the next day. Section of your body into different days to allow for full rest and recovery.
Further, ensure you are following your work outs with plenty of water, proteins for recovery and lots of sleep. When you are tired, you form begins to falter and that is when you get hurt, which, believe me, can set you back even further.
Today was my rest day.
Here are a few tips that may help you on your journey at the gym or at home to ensure you are comfortable and committed!
Until tomorrow, good night!!!
Gym Advice for People With New Years Resolutions
10 Tips For Sticking To Your Weight Loss Plan
As it's January 16th, some of us will just be finishing up week two of your newly acquired gym membership, some of you may already be seeing these changes and here is my advice to you as I have literally experienced all three. First off, if you are bored of it or have given up already, stop yourself. Boredom can be overcome with a change in routine such as different classes or places to work out. If you have given up, come back to the gym... You can't expect results overnight and you will improve, I promise. There was a reason you felt the need to join, FIND IT.
If you are finding it fun and incorporating it into your schedule and making it a lifestyle, good for you! It's a great feeling, even just in the increase in energy should help you keep returning and stay motivated.
Finally, if you are like me... You may get addicted to the feel good endorphins that you get from working out and that is great, but overtraining can be dangerous. Pushing yourself is the most important part of working out as your muscles begin to adapt to what they anticipate your next work out to be, they need to be pushed out of their comfort zone in order to get better and stronger. But second only to pushing yourself is resting. You should be resting every couple of days and drinking plenty of fluids when doing so. I recently, after being off heavy lifting and high intensity cardio for 10 weeks, started to push myself hard. I worked out 6 days straight for a total of over 12 hours in those 6 days. I ended up not being able to sleep yesterday as my shoulders and hips hurt so bad, way past the normal, good "weight training" burn that you get from a good work out. I decided I had to take today off as I didn't want to cause damage to my muscles.
If you become addicted to working out, and yes, it can be an addiction, be sure that you have a strong regime and review it with a professional trainer. If you feel the need to work out every day, ensure that you are not doing the same muscle groups daily. Maybe do arms and shoulders one day, legs and lower body the next followed by core and back the next day. Section of your body into different days to allow for full rest and recovery.
Further, ensure you are following your work outs with plenty of water, proteins for recovery and lots of sleep. When you are tired, you form begins to falter and that is when you get hurt, which, believe me, can set you back even further.
Today was my rest day.
Here are a few tips that may help you on your journey at the gym or at home to ensure you are comfortable and committed!
Until tomorrow, good night!!!
Gym Advice for People With New Years Resolutions
10 Tips For Sticking To Your Weight Loss Plan
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Day #7: Routines and Work Outs
I have written about a few things now... Diet, Goal Setting, Programs, Commitment, My Story, etc.... and I hope at this point, I have inspired you to maybe start your own wellness regime. First off, today was a good day, I got up at 6am, got to the gym by 6:30pm, continued working on C25K (and I would like to say that I am very excited about completing the program) and I ate well for most of the day, I did have lunch out, but I was careful with my selections and I had a nice hearty salad for dinner. I took in all my recommended water and I feel good and ready to get up tomorrow at 6am and continue.
As I have had lots of personal training in the past as taken a lot of classes, I know where my strengths and weaknesses fall, I do recommend if you are just starting to get into a gym / fitness regime, I recommend starting slow and learning about your body. When I began, I started with a good cardio routine... Spin class, Treadmill, Stair Master and I joined a boot camp that used light barbells and body weight to help me figure out what I was good at. I had a leg injury many years ago and favoured that side for many years and now have much more muscle and strength on one side and not the other. My trainer and I worked on dynamic balance to try to even things out for completing events.
If you are unsure what to try, see if your gym offers lessons or feedback sessions. The YMCA that I am a part of offers Wellness Sessions that helps you co-ordinate the different machines and teaches you to use each piece correctly. If you feel more comfortable using hand weights and bar bells, Google different exercise regiments. For example, I entered "Weight Training" into Google and got the following (just a sample):
Power Muscle
Muscle-Munch Training
Exercises that Boost Your Metabolism
YouTube is also a very excellent resource as it will show you proper form machine settings. Make notes and take that notebook with you. Write down your weights and reps and try to beat it the next time, even just slightly.
I am not, by any means, a trainer, but I don't want you to feel discouraged when you arrive at the gym, nervous, self-conscious and not wanting to ask for help quite yet... So start small, do some research and take your time... We all know that you won't be competing in the Olympics tomorrow, but using the vast information on the internet will help you to get started. It is only 2 weeks into January and you have a lot of different weight groups to learn yet.
When first starting, it is important to remember this: If it hurts, and I mean HURTS, not just 'burns', stop what you are doing and get some help. Even the slightest improper form can cause damage. If you don't know what you are doing, use low weights with a lot of reps, as opposed to high weights that can hurt you if they fall! And if you cramp up a little bit (we all know that feeling), slow down a smidge and keep going... You can walk off a cramp, it's your bodies way of telling you that it is aware you are doing something different and isn't quite sure if it likes it, but I assure you, it will get better and you will enjoy this pain one day.
Anyway, to conclude for today as I need to hit the hay to ensure I get up at 6am... I am not a trainer, I am simply letting you know that I have been there... Well over 200 lbs and starting brand new at the gym to try to get healthy and in better shape. Part of this 21 Day Challenge is to get me back to where I felt optimal and then kick the crap out of that until my most recent memory of Optimal is nothing but a laugh!
Use the ample resources around you and keep checking back! Tomorrow, tips to keep you motivated!
Take care,
A
As I have had lots of personal training in the past as taken a lot of classes, I know where my strengths and weaknesses fall, I do recommend if you are just starting to get into a gym / fitness regime, I recommend starting slow and learning about your body. When I began, I started with a good cardio routine... Spin class, Treadmill, Stair Master and I joined a boot camp that used light barbells and body weight to help me figure out what I was good at. I had a leg injury many years ago and favoured that side for many years and now have much more muscle and strength on one side and not the other. My trainer and I worked on dynamic balance to try to even things out for completing events.
If you are unsure what to try, see if your gym offers lessons or feedback sessions. The YMCA that I am a part of offers Wellness Sessions that helps you co-ordinate the different machines and teaches you to use each piece correctly. If you feel more comfortable using hand weights and bar bells, Google different exercise regiments. For example, I entered "Weight Training" into Google and got the following (just a sample):
Power Muscle
Muscle-Munch Training
Exercises that Boost Your Metabolism
YouTube is also a very excellent resource as it will show you proper form machine settings. Make notes and take that notebook with you. Write down your weights and reps and try to beat it the next time, even just slightly.
I am not, by any means, a trainer, but I don't want you to feel discouraged when you arrive at the gym, nervous, self-conscious and not wanting to ask for help quite yet... So start small, do some research and take your time... We all know that you won't be competing in the Olympics tomorrow, but using the vast information on the internet will help you to get started. It is only 2 weeks into January and you have a lot of different weight groups to learn yet.
When first starting, it is important to remember this: If it hurts, and I mean HURTS, not just 'burns', stop what you are doing and get some help. Even the slightest improper form can cause damage. If you don't know what you are doing, use low weights with a lot of reps, as opposed to high weights that can hurt you if they fall! And if you cramp up a little bit (we all know that feeling), slow down a smidge and keep going... You can walk off a cramp, it's your bodies way of telling you that it is aware you are doing something different and isn't quite sure if it likes it, but I assure you, it will get better and you will enjoy this pain one day.
Anyway, to conclude for today as I need to hit the hay to ensure I get up at 6am... I am not a trainer, I am simply letting you know that I have been there... Well over 200 lbs and starting brand new at the gym to try to get healthy and in better shape. Part of this 21 Day Challenge is to get me back to where I felt optimal and then kick the crap out of that until my most recent memory of Optimal is nothing but a laugh!
Use the ample resources around you and keep checking back! Tomorrow, tips to keep you motivated!
Take care,
A
Monday, January 14, 2013
Day #6: Diet & Weight Watchers
As you may have noticed, I write a lot of these blogs later in the evening... I am finding them to be a very good way to put my day in perspective and ensure I am in line with my goals for that day. Ideally, I start every day with a good intention... I plan to work out, eat well and, one of my resolutions for this year, to be nice to everyone I meet. Also, I am trying to pay it forward as much as possible... I want karma in my corner this year as I have a lot I want to complete. This blog allows me to review my day and decide whether or not I would consider it a success or not. Today was one... I did Fit Camp that is an amazing HIIT (Tabata) work out (will elaborate more on that later)... I had a healthy breakfast, salad for lunch and, since I had a meeting after work and then went straight to Fit Camp, I grabbed a quick bite from Subway on the way home. I snacked on fresh fruits and veggies and got in all my recommended water. Last but not least, I kept a smile on my face and was nice to everyone I came across so, yes, today was a success for me.
Speaking of eating well, one thing I mentioned before that I promised would be the topic of my blog is Weight Watchers. I have been a WW member since April of 2011 and I am a huge fan. I know there are many schools of thought out there for what the best diet regime is, but the truth is, the best diet is the one you can commit to, that fits into your life and that allows you to either lose weight or keep you at a steady weight and well nurished. My issue has always been portion control. I ate too much each time I ate and, because of that, my stomach was stretched and often I felt hungry far sooner than I actually needed to eat. I gained a significant amount of weight and, just as it didn't go on overnight, I know I won't lose it over night.
When I was in university, I did a total No Carb diet and I lost a lot of weight very quickly. It included getting up early, making protein's only for breakfast, preparing salads for lunch, mixing the two for dinner and always craving sugar to the point I had a headache. As I had a pretty easy class schedule, I often worked out twice a day. I had no fruits, no breads, no rice, no potatos, no carbs whatsoever. Although I lost the weight quickly, I always felt hungry. Eventually, my body became accustom to this and it became easier.... Until I graduated at joined the real world. I had less money, less time and less options... Or so it seemed at a very overwhelming time in my life. So that diet quickly failed.
Not only did I go off this diet, I rapidly, almost as fast as I took it off, gained it all back. I attempted to do this diet again in November of 2010, but it just didn't work for me anymore as I knew it wasn't the correct way to go about eating. When I finally made the step to join Weight Watchers, I had gained all but 3 lbs back of the 55lbs I had lost, I posted this as my new starting weight and I committed myself to Weight Watchers. My Meeting Leader was great, she was spirited, she had great ideas and, most importantly, she had been there and done that! Weight Watchers gives you a Daily Points target that will allow you to remain nurished, have enough calories to work effectively and also lose weight. When I started, I had 46 daily points, which is a lot of points it seems now, but when I got into it, I realized just how much I was over-eating. So I began tracking, measuring and weighing my food. Portion sizes were very important and, as OCD as I am, I tracked every little thing that I even thought about eating. Weight Watchers also allows you to "cheat"... so to speak. Each week, you are given 49 Allowance Points in case you have a big event, or a bad day, or fall off the band wagon... It allows you to live your normal life and diet in a way that fits your lifestyle until it becomes your new lifestyle. Another fun thing about Weight Watchers, and I know I mentioned this when referring to activity in my last blog post, is that you can earn yourself Activity Points by working out. You can earn as many as you'd like and they are interchangable with food... However, to ensure you aren't rewarding your hard work by gorging yourself... You can only use up to 6 activity points per day. What works for me is not using any of the 49 "extra" Allowance Points and only using earned Activity Points as I tend to use a few extra each day and this way, it stops me from cheating.
Finally, Weight Watchers keeps you accountable. You MUST go and get weighed in at least once per week or it will cost you to re-register and you can attend the meetings with people who are going through the same battle as you are and share tips and ideas and successes. With the right leader, I now have a young man who has been through the program and he has a great sense of humour and a fabulous attitude, it really increases your chances of success. Personally, Weight Watchers is the diet that works for me. If you can eat correctly, carefully and cleanly, it can assist you in achieving your goals. And, yes, our body requires certain things to remain healthy and we should ensure we get those things every day... even the smallest change to begin after years of overeating and incorrectly eating can cause you to see positive changes in your body. For me, first of all, a lot of my stomach issues went away and I felt like I had more energy when I cut out a lot of the crap food I had been eating for so long. I recommend this program to anyone interested in trying. It is worth the money as it helps you a lot more with gaining accountability and control. You don't always pay, either, when you reach your goal weight and sustain it for a certain period of time, you become a Life Time member and don't ever have to pay again as long as you stay within your goal range. If you attend the one in Barrie, let them know I sent you so I can get a referral key chain! :-)
Dieting is totally in your hands... Whether you choice Atkins, Paleo, Gluten-Free, Vegan, Vegetarian, Weight Watchers, Herbal Magic, etc... they will all work as long as you stay committed... However, to change your LIFE, you have to find a diet that works for you and makes sense to you. Spending $500 a month on pills or injections may be sustainable at the beginning, but highly unreasonable later... So find one that works for you and collaborate it into your fitness regime and commit! Don't expect to lose weight overnight because you didn't put it all on over night! Lose it slowly, allow your skin to shrink back as you work out and stay positive. Dieting will help you and it will work for you, as long as you make it part of your life, not your entire life! I have lost 40 lbs and can rhyme off the points in most food items now without even looking... I have formed habits that I now don't even think about... Weight Watchers is a way of life for me and I continue to love it!
To sign off today, here is a laugh from Jenna Marbles about How Diets Work and I'm sure anyone who has battled dieting will crack a smile, I always do!
Night all! :-)
Speaking of eating well, one thing I mentioned before that I promised would be the topic of my blog is Weight Watchers. I have been a WW member since April of 2011 and I am a huge fan. I know there are many schools of thought out there for what the best diet regime is, but the truth is, the best diet is the one you can commit to, that fits into your life and that allows you to either lose weight or keep you at a steady weight and well nurished. My issue has always been portion control. I ate too much each time I ate and, because of that, my stomach was stretched and often I felt hungry far sooner than I actually needed to eat. I gained a significant amount of weight and, just as it didn't go on overnight, I know I won't lose it over night.
When I was in university, I did a total No Carb diet and I lost a lot of weight very quickly. It included getting up early, making protein's only for breakfast, preparing salads for lunch, mixing the two for dinner and always craving sugar to the point I had a headache. As I had a pretty easy class schedule, I often worked out twice a day. I had no fruits, no breads, no rice, no potatos, no carbs whatsoever. Although I lost the weight quickly, I always felt hungry. Eventually, my body became accustom to this and it became easier.... Until I graduated at joined the real world. I had less money, less time and less options... Or so it seemed at a very overwhelming time in my life. So that diet quickly failed.
Not only did I go off this diet, I rapidly, almost as fast as I took it off, gained it all back. I attempted to do this diet again in November of 2010, but it just didn't work for me anymore as I knew it wasn't the correct way to go about eating. When I finally made the step to join Weight Watchers, I had gained all but 3 lbs back of the 55lbs I had lost, I posted this as my new starting weight and I committed myself to Weight Watchers. My Meeting Leader was great, she was spirited, she had great ideas and, most importantly, she had been there and done that! Weight Watchers gives you a Daily Points target that will allow you to remain nurished, have enough calories to work effectively and also lose weight. When I started, I had 46 daily points, which is a lot of points it seems now, but when I got into it, I realized just how much I was over-eating. So I began tracking, measuring and weighing my food. Portion sizes were very important and, as OCD as I am, I tracked every little thing that I even thought about eating. Weight Watchers also allows you to "cheat"... so to speak. Each week, you are given 49 Allowance Points in case you have a big event, or a bad day, or fall off the band wagon... It allows you to live your normal life and diet in a way that fits your lifestyle until it becomes your new lifestyle. Another fun thing about Weight Watchers, and I know I mentioned this when referring to activity in my last blog post, is that you can earn yourself Activity Points by working out. You can earn as many as you'd like and they are interchangable with food... However, to ensure you aren't rewarding your hard work by gorging yourself... You can only use up to 6 activity points per day. What works for me is not using any of the 49 "extra" Allowance Points and only using earned Activity Points as I tend to use a few extra each day and this way, it stops me from cheating.
Finally, Weight Watchers keeps you accountable. You MUST go and get weighed in at least once per week or it will cost you to re-register and you can attend the meetings with people who are going through the same battle as you are and share tips and ideas and successes. With the right leader, I now have a young man who has been through the program and he has a great sense of humour and a fabulous attitude, it really increases your chances of success. Personally, Weight Watchers is the diet that works for me. If you can eat correctly, carefully and cleanly, it can assist you in achieving your goals. And, yes, our body requires certain things to remain healthy and we should ensure we get those things every day... even the smallest change to begin after years of overeating and incorrectly eating can cause you to see positive changes in your body. For me, first of all, a lot of my stomach issues went away and I felt like I had more energy when I cut out a lot of the crap food I had been eating for so long. I recommend this program to anyone interested in trying. It is worth the money as it helps you a lot more with gaining accountability and control. You don't always pay, either, when you reach your goal weight and sustain it for a certain period of time, you become a Life Time member and don't ever have to pay again as long as you stay within your goal range. If you attend the one in Barrie, let them know I sent you so I can get a referral key chain! :-)
Dieting is totally in your hands... Whether you choice Atkins, Paleo, Gluten-Free, Vegan, Vegetarian, Weight Watchers, Herbal Magic, etc... they will all work as long as you stay committed... However, to change your LIFE, you have to find a diet that works for you and makes sense to you. Spending $500 a month on pills or injections may be sustainable at the beginning, but highly unreasonable later... So find one that works for you and collaborate it into your fitness regime and commit! Don't expect to lose weight overnight because you didn't put it all on over night! Lose it slowly, allow your skin to shrink back as you work out and stay positive. Dieting will help you and it will work for you, as long as you make it part of your life, not your entire life! I have lost 40 lbs and can rhyme off the points in most food items now without even looking... I have formed habits that I now don't even think about... Weight Watchers is a way of life for me and I continue to love it!
To sign off today, here is a laugh from Jenna Marbles about How Diets Work and I'm sure anyone who has battled dieting will crack a smile, I always do!
Night all! :-)
Sunday, January 13, 2013
Day #5: Hollywood
In light of the Golden Globes being on tonight, it reminded me about something that I feel is very important with success in fitness and that is "Goal Setting!"
In September last year, my fabulous friend Jenn, a local Mary Kay consultant asked me if I would be willing to particiapate in the Mary Kay Hollywood Dreams Make Over Contest (link no longer works, sorry).... I agreed as I truly love having my make-up done and learning new techniques and, thus, we set a date. Well, my makeover was CLEARLY very good because I ended up winning the contest.
I will be jetted off to Hollywood and I will receive a full on Hollywood make over including make-up, hair and clothing! $500 in clothing, to be exact, that I get to keep. I will also get to go to a show, a red carpet event and hang out in Hollywood!
If this isn't a reason to set a goal for the next few months, I don't know what is. My first goal, that I hope will be reached through all my personal challenges, is to lose 15 lbs between now and Hollywood as I'd like to look good, feel good, wear dresses, maybe even a bathing suit (GASP) and be able to pick out nice clothes. I am being extremely careful with my food intake in order to do so and ensuring I track my exercise. I am the type of person who loses muscle tone and gains weight almost the next day after missing a work out so I know that there is work to be done. Goal setting helps with success. If I were just starting, I wouldn't select "15 lbs" as a first goal, I would likely go with something smaller, like 5 or 10 lbs... Until you know how your body will react to the changes in your lifestyle, its easier to start with baby steps. Yes, you do lose weight faster after extreme changes, but that will level off. If you set your goals too high though, you will be disappointed when you don't achieve them which will help you decide to give up on the whole plan. I have already lost 40 lbs and how my body reacts. I know that 15 lbs in 2 months is more than attainable for me and this blog is my journal of everything I need to do to get to that goal AND to Hollywood without the guilt of all the work out's I didn't do and all the chocolate that I did eat!!! Last year, I used events as my Goals in order to achieve success and I did. I will post on different events on a later day.
When I set out to do my 21 Day Challenge, it was mostly about getting up early and working out in the morning, but I am feeling like I need to make many more changes in my life along with that and there are days that getting up early just isn't going to happen. I am not going to toss this challenge to the curb, but change it just a smidge now that I am seeing how, as I mentioned above, my body reacts to the changes. As I was sick for quite a while, my work outs, that are pretty intense, are requiring a bit more recovery than it was a while ago when I was in better shape. Ifeel like I could over train if I'm doing a work out in the morning as well as high intensity classes in the evenings, so I feel this is a safe change. Right now, my plan is to get to the gym early Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday mornings, those would be the days I need to be up at 6am. On the other days, I am committing to waking up at 7am and eating well before work. Monday nights I am going to Fit Camp... Tuesday evenings Spin Class... Thursday nights Spin and a weight training session and weekends a mix of everything!
Yesterday, I confess, I missed a blog post... When I realized it, it was too late. Even though I did not write it, yesterday was a great day. I woke up at 7am, made breakfast, got ready and headed to the Y for Spin Class. After a great 45 minutes Spin, I then stayed for a 45 minute Boot Camp class which was mostly interval weight training and I really enjoyed it. Silly me, I then stayed for an hour long Yoga class which I ended up being too sore for half way through, but it was too crowded to leave. Later in the afternoon, I went on a 3km walk which half was uphill. Overall, that was a very good day. In terms of Weight Watchers Activity Points (which I promise I will talk about tomorrow, I know I said I would already).... I earned 30 points. The weekly recommendation is 42 points so I am doing very well.
I slept in this morning, had a hearty breakfast but ended the day with a light dinner (kale salad and baked pork chop) followed by a 30 minute cardio work out and a 90 minute weight training session with my trainer that was mostly core, balance and legs. I feel great.
So I will end this with asking you.... Even though I missed a few 6 am mornings, mainly to accommodate a larger variety of activity, and have stuck to my Weight Watchers programs, do you think changing my challenge slightly is a failure? I don't think it is. I think that it's being smart and listening to my body. However, I will continue this 21 Day Challenge of getting up early and continue to report on the different items I find and will post those that are interesting. Weight Watchers will be worth the read... I have so many ideas... It's hard to decide each day what to write. I am very excited for my next challenge, that I will have a partner for and it is based around a very popular, up and coming topic! Stay tuned.
In conclusion for today, set a goal that is reachable. Don't set your first goal as Lose 100 lbs because you will end up discouraged when it doesn't happen right away. Choose small goals and, when you get to that goal, reward yourself with something nice (lip gloss, clothing, etc. NOT FOOD, YOU ARE NOT A DOG) and set your next goal. Your body will thank you!
Thanks again
A
In September last year, my fabulous friend Jenn, a local Mary Kay consultant asked me if I would be willing to particiapate in the Mary Kay Hollywood Dreams Make Over Contest (link no longer works, sorry).... I agreed as I truly love having my make-up done and learning new techniques and, thus, we set a date. Well, my makeover was CLEARLY very good because I ended up winning the contest.
I will be jetted off to Hollywood and I will receive a full on Hollywood make over including make-up, hair and clothing! $500 in clothing, to be exact, that I get to keep. I will also get to go to a show, a red carpet event and hang out in Hollywood!
If this isn't a reason to set a goal for the next few months, I don't know what is. My first goal, that I hope will be reached through all my personal challenges, is to lose 15 lbs between now and Hollywood as I'd like to look good, feel good, wear dresses, maybe even a bathing suit (GASP) and be able to pick out nice clothes. I am being extremely careful with my food intake in order to do so and ensuring I track my exercise. I am the type of person who loses muscle tone and gains weight almost the next day after missing a work out so I know that there is work to be done. Goal setting helps with success. If I were just starting, I wouldn't select "15 lbs" as a first goal, I would likely go with something smaller, like 5 or 10 lbs... Until you know how your body will react to the changes in your lifestyle, its easier to start with baby steps. Yes, you do lose weight faster after extreme changes, but that will level off. If you set your goals too high though, you will be disappointed when you don't achieve them which will help you decide to give up on the whole plan. I have already lost 40 lbs and how my body reacts. I know that 15 lbs in 2 months is more than attainable for me and this blog is my journal of everything I need to do to get to that goal AND to Hollywood without the guilt of all the work out's I didn't do and all the chocolate that I did eat!!! Last year, I used events as my Goals in order to achieve success and I did. I will post on different events on a later day.
When I set out to do my 21 Day Challenge, it was mostly about getting up early and working out in the morning, but I am feeling like I need to make many more changes in my life along with that and there are days that getting up early just isn't going to happen. I am not going to toss this challenge to the curb, but change it just a smidge now that I am seeing how, as I mentioned above, my body reacts to the changes. As I was sick for quite a while, my work outs, that are pretty intense, are requiring a bit more recovery than it was a while ago when I was in better shape. Ifeel like I could over train if I'm doing a work out in the morning as well as high intensity classes in the evenings, so I feel this is a safe change. Right now, my plan is to get to the gym early Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday mornings, those would be the days I need to be up at 6am. On the other days, I am committing to waking up at 7am and eating well before work. Monday nights I am going to Fit Camp... Tuesday evenings Spin Class... Thursday nights Spin and a weight training session and weekends a mix of everything!
Yesterday, I confess, I missed a blog post... When I realized it, it was too late. Even though I did not write it, yesterday was a great day. I woke up at 7am, made breakfast, got ready and headed to the Y for Spin Class. After a great 45 minutes Spin, I then stayed for a 45 minute Boot Camp class which was mostly interval weight training and I really enjoyed it. Silly me, I then stayed for an hour long Yoga class which I ended up being too sore for half way through, but it was too crowded to leave. Later in the afternoon, I went on a 3km walk which half was uphill. Overall, that was a very good day. In terms of Weight Watchers Activity Points (which I promise I will talk about tomorrow, I know I said I would already).... I earned 30 points. The weekly recommendation is 42 points so I am doing very well.
I slept in this morning, had a hearty breakfast but ended the day with a light dinner (kale salad and baked pork chop) followed by a 30 minute cardio work out and a 90 minute weight training session with my trainer that was mostly core, balance and legs. I feel great.
So I will end this with asking you.... Even though I missed a few 6 am mornings, mainly to accommodate a larger variety of activity, and have stuck to my Weight Watchers programs, do you think changing my challenge slightly is a failure? I don't think it is. I think that it's being smart and listening to my body. However, I will continue this 21 Day Challenge of getting up early and continue to report on the different items I find and will post those that are interesting. Weight Watchers will be worth the read... I have so many ideas... It's hard to decide each day what to write. I am very excited for my next challenge, that I will have a partner for and it is based around a very popular, up and coming topic! Stay tuned.
In conclusion for today, set a goal that is reachable. Don't set your first goal as Lose 100 lbs because you will end up discouraged when it doesn't happen right away. Choose small goals and, when you get to that goal, reward yourself with something nice (lip gloss, clothing, etc. NOT FOOD, YOU ARE NOT A DOG) and set your next goal. Your body will thank you!
Thanks again
A
Friday, January 11, 2013
Day #3: It's 10 degrees in January
For those of you that don't know, today in Barrie, Ontario the tempurature hit 10 degrees, which is ridiculous in Canada in January, especially in the snow belt. (For anyone not using the metric system, thats 59 degrees fehrenheit, our igloos are clearly going to start melting, stupid global warming)! Anyway, 10 degrees is very warm... Although it rained, it is supposed to stay warm until tomorrow and then drop down to seasonal tempuratures. I have had, since I woke up this morning, a pressure headache that is killing my sinuses and forehead and pain meds just are not touching it this time, so, I own the fact that I did not complete my work out today. When the temperature changes almost 20 degrees in a few hours, it is common to suffer from the change. I WILL make it up tomorrow.
I am going to do so by completing day one of C25K out doors!
C25K is a "Learn to Run" program that stands for "Couch to 5km"... As you can see on the image, I did not invent this, nor do I claim to, but from what I am reading, it is a very well thought out program that works. As I mentioned in my first blog, I want to learn to be a runner. Running is fast, convenient and tones your body all over, from your shoulders, arms, obliques, abs, butt, thighs straight down to your toes. As I also mentioned before, I have run different events before, but after being sick for 10 weeks, my cardio can use some work. For those of you whom may like to try it, I will be doing my 21 Day Challenge in collaboration with the C25K... It can be done on a treadmill and outside and since I am already using the treadmill at the gym, it will be interesting to see how it goes. Feel free to comment on my blog your experiences with any program you may be following as well.
Although I am not doing the greatest on the 21 Day Challenge this far, I am improving... I am not going to let the fact that I missed a morning and a work out stop me... Many people do that, if you don't get back on the horse when you fall off, you will never get there. I am going to attend Spin Class tomorrow, followed by Boot Camp and in the afternoon, Day 1 of C25K.
One success I'd like to point out this week, even though I did not make it to the gym, is that I lost 3 lbs at Weight Watchers... Yes, I attend Weight Watchers, I am coming up to 2 years on the program and I am very happy with it. Tracking, Measuring and Assessing your food intake is very important and a skill I was not good at it before. Committing to Weight Watchers has been a total lifestyle change for me and I plan do to a blog post about it tomorrow.
In the mean time, I am going to make up for lost sleep! Todays tip is to drink PLENTY of water! You need to be hydrated to be successful!
Take Care
A
I am going to do so by completing day one of C25K out doors!
C25K is a "Learn to Run" program that stands for "Couch to 5km"... As you can see on the image, I did not invent this, nor do I claim to, but from what I am reading, it is a very well thought out program that works. As I mentioned in my first blog, I want to learn to be a runner. Running is fast, convenient and tones your body all over, from your shoulders, arms, obliques, abs, butt, thighs straight down to your toes. As I also mentioned before, I have run different events before, but after being sick for 10 weeks, my cardio can use some work. For those of you whom may like to try it, I will be doing my 21 Day Challenge in collaboration with the C25K... It can be done on a treadmill and outside and since I am already using the treadmill at the gym, it will be interesting to see how it goes. Feel free to comment on my blog your experiences with any program you may be following as well.
Although I am not doing the greatest on the 21 Day Challenge this far, I am improving... I am not going to let the fact that I missed a morning and a work out stop me... Many people do that, if you don't get back on the horse when you fall off, you will never get there. I am going to attend Spin Class tomorrow, followed by Boot Camp and in the afternoon, Day 1 of C25K.
One success I'd like to point out this week, even though I did not make it to the gym, is that I lost 3 lbs at Weight Watchers... Yes, I attend Weight Watchers, I am coming up to 2 years on the program and I am very happy with it. Tracking, Measuring and Assessing your food intake is very important and a skill I was not good at it before. Committing to Weight Watchers has been a total lifestyle change for me and I plan do to a blog post about it tomorrow.
In the mean time, I am going to make up for lost sleep! Todays tip is to drink PLENTY of water! You need to be hydrated to be successful!
Take Care
A
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)