Ahh, finally the last of the 'pig out' holidays are behind us...well except New Year's Eve but that one shouldn't be too bad. Truth be told, I didn't really do so bad on Christmas Day. I had my Shakeology, I did my Insanity, and with the exception of the key lime cheesecake and a few cookies and snack items, I made good choices and didn't overdo it. Then came yesterday....I started off with a veggie omelet and a tangerine but it was all downhill from there. I somehow got on a mission to eat any and all leftovers from Christmas -- the cookies, the cheesecake, the cheese and crackers, the chips and dip, the lasagna...um yeah, it was not pretty. Worst of all I didn't workout and I even missed my Shakeology! I woke up this morning at 5 a.m. feeling really ill. :( The good news in all of this -- there's nothing bad left to eat today! Hehe
Seriously though, I'm not worried about what I did yesterday. Sure, it was bad but it was one day! This one day is not going to cause the 80 lbs I lost to magically tack back onto me! I'm learning to break that all or nothing mentality I've had for the last few months because I'm tired of feeling guilty every time I eat something I know is not good for me. No one can eat perfectly all the time! What fun would that be? I'm not saying we should all go out and order everything off the McDonald's value menu but once in a while it is OKAY to have a cookie or a piece of cake or both... ;-D I know I will never let the one bad day turn into a week or a month or a year. I am always able to get right back to the healthy choices and exercise because I enjoy it and want to do it! It's not a chore to me, it's a lifestyle. This is what works for me. I have goals and plans and I will keep working toward them! You will never see me throw in the towel...I'm too stubborn for that! ;-D
So, it's on to my plans for 2011! I'm ready to start out strong with a Shakeology cleanse and a new program - TurboFire!! I've surrounded myself with a ton of accountability partners who are doing the cleanse and TurboFire with me so I will not fail! I'm going to reach my goal weight and I am going to get rid of the rest of the goo on my belly and see that six-pack once and for all! I'm going to take my beachbody business to the next level! I've got my eye on becoming diamond and I'm not taking no for an answer!! These are my goals and I'm not letting anything stop me! I didn't pick the name 'determinedlady' for nothing! :-D
P90X
Monday, December 27, 2010
Monday, December 13, 2010
Some people just have all the luck...or do they?
Why is it some people have all the 'luck' and success with losing weight and some people 'try' over and over and never seem to get anywhere? I was pondering this last night while trying to get to sleep at 1 a.m.! I used to be in the latter category. I would cut calories and force myself on the elliptical a few times a week and yes, I would typically lose about 10-15 lbs but it would never stick! I always reasoned that I was just one of those people who wasn't meant to be thin; my metabolism was slow; I don't know how to exercise; I liked food too much...blah blah blah, excuse after excuse! So what changed? Why after all the failed attempts did I finally succeed this time? Obviously there are multiple factors but the key to all of it was my attitude! In the past I always went into trying to lose weight thinking it wouldn't work or that I would never get past my 'wall' of 185-190 lbs. I was setting myself up for failure before I even started! Why? I think it's a defense mechanism we all put into play - expecting the worst so we'll be less disappointed when our fears are confirmed. This time I decided that I wasn't going to think that way. I went into it thinking "I will" instead of "I can't." Once I had made this decision, I realized I couldn't go into it blindly just hoping it would work. I knew I had to take the time to learn and do things right!
So what are the biggest factors in weight loss aside from having the right attitude? Well, duh! Exercise and diet! Everyone knows that but if it were really that easy, 2/3 of America wouldn't be overweight or obese now would they? Here's one thing I've noticed in a lot of people - they think of exercise as torture! Now I'm not saying exercise is the most fun thing in the world but you should enjoy it when you do it! It should make you feel ALIVE! All your endorphins start flowing and you feel like you could take on the world! All of these feelings are what keep you coming back for more, kind of like an addiction. If this does not sound like how you feel about exercise then you should ask yourself these two things - is my exercise exciting and is it challenging? If you are dragging yourself onto the elliptical or treadmill everyday or you do the same 20 sit-ups and push-ups everyday, you are going to get bored and you're not going to feel challenged. This was my first 'A-ha' moment when I was figuring out why my previous attempts never worked. The first few days, I looked forward to getting on the elliptical or treadmill but as the days progressed I started to dread it more and more. It was BORING! Not to mention, my body was getting used to the movements making the exercise less and less effective. This led to my plateau; my 'wall,' and is where I would give up.
So now I know, I've got to change it up! Okay great, but what do I do? I don't know about you but I have trouble just randomly coming up with exercises to do or figuring out how to maximize my time on individual muscle groups. I knew I needed some guidance - basically to be told what to do and when to do it! Lol I started Jillian Michaels online program for just that reason. She broke it down by exercise, day by day, and I didn't have to think -- just get up and do it! Every day was different and I looked forward to seeing what was in store each day. It was great and I loved it but after about a year, I was starting to get a little bored. I had to change it up, find a new challenge and get excited about fitness again -- but what should I do? Flipping through the channels one day, I saw the P90X informercial. I had my usual skeptical feelings about it - most of the 'miracle' exercise things advertised are nonsense! The thing about P90X, though, was that they weren't advertising some crazy gadget. Instead it was about hard work getting you great results. Based on what I had just done with Jillian the last year, I knew this was legit and the idea of working with a live video rather than pictures on a computer screen was definitely more appealing. I was all set to get it until an Insanity infomercial came on right after that! After I picked my jaw up off the floor, I thought "now that looks like a challenge!" P90X would have to wait because Insanity was MINE!! I did Insanity and loved it but after awhile I, again, wanted something new. I went on to P90X for a new challenge and will be going onto TurboFire for the same reason. To summarize my entire crazy story, you have to keep your exercise interesting. Find something that challenges you and go for it! When it starts to get old, do something different! It's kind of like everything else in life -- you wouldn't read the same book over and over or eat the same meal night after night. Your body and mind crave something new and different, so change it up!
The other factor I mentioned is diet. I could write an entire book about this! Fortunately, other people have already done this! In fact, I just read through a great book that basically took all the things I've learned over the last year or two and put it all in one place! Go figure! The book is called The Eat-Clean Diet Recharged by Tosca Reno. If you are serious about getting your eating under control and understanding how different foods affect your weight loss, get this book! Here's a couple of the basic principles -- you have to eat to lose weight and you have to pick foods that are going to fuel your body. When I was cutting calories so many times in the past, I would skip meals and eat a lot of empty calories that didn't keep me full. I had the mentality that skipping meals would save me calories, not realizing that I was instead lowering my metabolism and making the calorie cutting pointless. I also fell victim to all the 'low calorie' snacks that had little nutritional value and always left me hungrier than when I started. When I changed over to eating meals every few hours and picking foods that were nutrient dense (i.e. fruits, veggies, whole grains, lean meats, and healthy fats) I felt satisfied, energized, and the weight was flying off! This was my second 'A-ha' moment!
Now I know, there are no secrets to this weight loss thing. It's not that some people are 'lucky' and others aren't. It's just a matter of educating yourself and doing the work. All of those excuses that I used to have about not being meant to be thin, having a slow metabolism, not knowing how to exercise, not being able to resist food...that was just me not wanting to really try because it was easier that way. When has taking the easy way ever really led to anything great? With that in mind, I challenge you to start challenging yourself and take the time to learn!! I assure you it will be worth it -- it definitely has been for me! :-D
So what are the biggest factors in weight loss aside from having the right attitude? Well, duh! Exercise and diet! Everyone knows that but if it were really that easy, 2/3 of America wouldn't be overweight or obese now would they? Here's one thing I've noticed in a lot of people - they think of exercise as torture! Now I'm not saying exercise is the most fun thing in the world but you should enjoy it when you do it! It should make you feel ALIVE! All your endorphins start flowing and you feel like you could take on the world! All of these feelings are what keep you coming back for more, kind of like an addiction. If this does not sound like how you feel about exercise then you should ask yourself these two things - is my exercise exciting and is it challenging? If you are dragging yourself onto the elliptical or treadmill everyday or you do the same 20 sit-ups and push-ups everyday, you are going to get bored and you're not going to feel challenged. This was my first 'A-ha' moment when I was figuring out why my previous attempts never worked. The first few days, I looked forward to getting on the elliptical or treadmill but as the days progressed I started to dread it more and more. It was BORING! Not to mention, my body was getting used to the movements making the exercise less and less effective. This led to my plateau; my 'wall,' and is where I would give up.
So now I know, I've got to change it up! Okay great, but what do I do? I don't know about you but I have trouble just randomly coming up with exercises to do or figuring out how to maximize my time on individual muscle groups. I knew I needed some guidance - basically to be told what to do and when to do it! Lol I started Jillian Michaels online program for just that reason. She broke it down by exercise, day by day, and I didn't have to think -- just get up and do it! Every day was different and I looked forward to seeing what was in store each day. It was great and I loved it but after about a year, I was starting to get a little bored. I had to change it up, find a new challenge and get excited about fitness again -- but what should I do? Flipping through the channels one day, I saw the P90X informercial. I had my usual skeptical feelings about it - most of the 'miracle' exercise things advertised are nonsense! The thing about P90X, though, was that they weren't advertising some crazy gadget. Instead it was about hard work getting you great results. Based on what I had just done with Jillian the last year, I knew this was legit and the idea of working with a live video rather than pictures on a computer screen was definitely more appealing. I was all set to get it until an Insanity infomercial came on right after that! After I picked my jaw up off the floor, I thought "now that looks like a challenge!" P90X would have to wait because Insanity was MINE!! I did Insanity and loved it but after awhile I, again, wanted something new. I went on to P90X for a new challenge and will be going onto TurboFire for the same reason. To summarize my entire crazy story, you have to keep your exercise interesting. Find something that challenges you and go for it! When it starts to get old, do something different! It's kind of like everything else in life -- you wouldn't read the same book over and over or eat the same meal night after night. Your body and mind crave something new and different, so change it up!
The other factor I mentioned is diet. I could write an entire book about this! Fortunately, other people have already done this! In fact, I just read through a great book that basically took all the things I've learned over the last year or two and put it all in one place! Go figure! The book is called The Eat-Clean Diet Recharged by Tosca Reno. If you are serious about getting your eating under control and understanding how different foods affect your weight loss, get this book! Here's a couple of the basic principles -- you have to eat to lose weight and you have to pick foods that are going to fuel your body. When I was cutting calories so many times in the past, I would skip meals and eat a lot of empty calories that didn't keep me full. I had the mentality that skipping meals would save me calories, not realizing that I was instead lowering my metabolism and making the calorie cutting pointless. I also fell victim to all the 'low calorie' snacks that had little nutritional value and always left me hungrier than when I started. When I changed over to eating meals every few hours and picking foods that were nutrient dense (i.e. fruits, veggies, whole grains, lean meats, and healthy fats) I felt satisfied, energized, and the weight was flying off! This was my second 'A-ha' moment!
Now I know, there are no secrets to this weight loss thing. It's not that some people are 'lucky' and others aren't. It's just a matter of educating yourself and doing the work. All of those excuses that I used to have about not being meant to be thin, having a slow metabolism, not knowing how to exercise, not being able to resist food...that was just me not wanting to really try because it was easier that way. When has taking the easy way ever really led to anything great? With that in mind, I challenge you to start challenging yourself and take the time to learn!! I assure you it will be worth it -- it definitely has been for me! :-D
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Will stress make you or break you?
STRESS! I've had my fair share of it lately and it's definitely taken me for a ride. After months of trying everything we could to prevent it, our house is going into foreclosure. Me being the worrier that I am, I am left to wonder what will happen now? I've never not paid a bill. I've never been in trouble. If you know anything about me, then you know I am very much a 'goody two shoes.' I keep quiet and I follow the rules to avoid confrontation at all costs. This situation is waaaay out of my comfort zone. So now I ask myself, how will I deal with this stress? How will I let it affect me?
I know I am not the only one with stresses in my life. How many of you have something that plagues you? Something that you have no control over that you just have to ride out? Does it define everything else in your life? Do you put everything else on hold because of this issue or do you focus on the things you can control? Here's what I know I can always control - myself! I value myself and the body I've been given. I want to make the most of my time here. I want to be healthy and strong and fit. I could let this stress overtake me. It would be sooo easy to sit on the couch and sulk and eat myself into oblivion. That's what the old me would have done with this stress. Instead, I make the choice every day to get off my butt and exercise. I make the choice to pick the foods that will fuel my body rather than destroy it. Is it always easy? Absolutely not! I slip up just like everyone else but I don't let that be the end. I get right back on the wagon and start again and again. Quitting and giving up is not, and never will be, an option! I've put too much work and too much research into this. I've learned, and felt, all the benefits of exercise and healthy clean eating to just give it all up now. I want the best! I want the best workout programs I can get and I want the best nutrition I can get! For me that means programs like Insanity, P90X, and Turbo Fire. It means I will find a way, come hell or high water, to afford Shakeology every single month! So many people say it's too expensive, how can you afford it? I say, how can you NOT afford it? What value do you place on your health? Are you really not willing to take 30 days out of your life to try something that could greatly improve your health and the health of your family? What's the worst that will happen? You won't like it or you won't get what you want out of it and you'll get your money back? That doesn't sound bad to me. What's the best that will happen? You'll be healthier, lose weight, maybe even get off that cholesterol or blood pressure medication that you've been stuck taking? You'll tell your mom, your dad, your cousin, your next door neighbor and they'll get the benefits too? That would be cool.
Long story short, I'm done with being reactive about everything in my life - my health is one area in my life where I can be proactive and as a Beachbody coach, my finances is the next area where I will be proactive! I challenge everyone to do the same -- be proactive! DO NOT let the stresses of life control you and make excuses for you! You have the power to make your life what you want it to be! Whatever it is in your life that you are letting hold you back, STOP! Take control, take action! Decide, commit, succeed! That is all!
I know I am not the only one with stresses in my life. How many of you have something that plagues you? Something that you have no control over that you just have to ride out? Does it define everything else in your life? Do you put everything else on hold because of this issue or do you focus on the things you can control? Here's what I know I can always control - myself! I value myself and the body I've been given. I want to make the most of my time here. I want to be healthy and strong and fit. I could let this stress overtake me. It would be sooo easy to sit on the couch and sulk and eat myself into oblivion. That's what the old me would have done with this stress. Instead, I make the choice every day to get off my butt and exercise. I make the choice to pick the foods that will fuel my body rather than destroy it. Is it always easy? Absolutely not! I slip up just like everyone else but I don't let that be the end. I get right back on the wagon and start again and again. Quitting and giving up is not, and never will be, an option! I've put too much work and too much research into this. I've learned, and felt, all the benefits of exercise and healthy clean eating to just give it all up now. I want the best! I want the best workout programs I can get and I want the best nutrition I can get! For me that means programs like Insanity, P90X, and Turbo Fire. It means I will find a way, come hell or high water, to afford Shakeology every single month! So many people say it's too expensive, how can you afford it? I say, how can you NOT afford it? What value do you place on your health? Are you really not willing to take 30 days out of your life to try something that could greatly improve your health and the health of your family? What's the worst that will happen? You won't like it or you won't get what you want out of it and you'll get your money back? That doesn't sound bad to me. What's the best that will happen? You'll be healthier, lose weight, maybe even get off that cholesterol or blood pressure medication that you've been stuck taking? You'll tell your mom, your dad, your cousin, your next door neighbor and they'll get the benefits too? That would be cool.
Long story short, I'm done with being reactive about everything in my life - my health is one area in my life where I can be proactive and as a Beachbody coach, my finances is the next area where I will be proactive! I challenge everyone to do the same -- be proactive! DO NOT let the stresses of life control you and make excuses for you! You have the power to make your life what you want it to be! Whatever it is in your life that you are letting hold you back, STOP! Take control, take action! Decide, commit, succeed! That is all!
Monday, November 29, 2010
Choices and plans
So another weekend has passed and although it wasn't perfect by any means, it was certainly a lot better than the weekend before. Considering it was the mother of all weekends -- Thanksgiving, I feel a lot better about the way I handled things. Did I indulge? Did I eat things I shouldn't have? Yes and yes, but I planned for it this time. I didn't miss any of my workouts and I even added in some extra time on the treadmill in addition to my P90X schedule. The thing I've had to learn about health and fitness and just living my life is that it is not all or nothing. It's not a race to the results or if it is, it's a marathon, not a sprint. Every day, you make the choice - are you going to work out? Are you going to pick the foods that will benefit your health? If most days the answer to those questions is 'yes', then the days when it is 'no' won't really matter in the long run. Sure there will be setbacks and failures but I think if you can pick yourself up and learn from those mistakes, your success will be that much greater!
All that being said, I've decided I am not going to try and outdo myself these next few weeks by adding in a bunch of extra workouts. I'm going to stick with my P90X schedule and possibly a few runs on the treadmill and pay close attention to my nutrition by eating clean. I'm going to enjoy the rest of the holiday season in moderation (as much as possible) and then I am going to do the Shakeology 3-day cleanse in January so I can start Turbo Fire with a clean slate. Many people are doing the cleanse this week to make up for Thanksgiving but I know I will benefit more if I save it until all of the holidays are done! I broke a 2 month plateau the first time I did it and lost 3.5 lbs so I am really looking forward to it! That's my plan for December and I intend to stick with it! As one of my favorite fitness trainers, Jillian Michaels, says, "If you fail to plan, you plan to fail!" Not me, no way! :-D
All that being said, I've decided I am not going to try and outdo myself these next few weeks by adding in a bunch of extra workouts. I'm going to stick with my P90X schedule and possibly a few runs on the treadmill and pay close attention to my nutrition by eating clean. I'm going to enjoy the rest of the holiday season in moderation (as much as possible) and then I am going to do the Shakeology 3-day cleanse in January so I can start Turbo Fire with a clean slate. Many people are doing the cleanse this week to make up for Thanksgiving but I know I will benefit more if I save it until all of the holidays are done! I broke a 2 month plateau the first time I did it and lost 3.5 lbs so I am really looking forward to it! That's my plan for December and I intend to stick with it! As one of my favorite fitness trainers, Jillian Michaels, says, "If you fail to plan, you plan to fail!" Not me, no way! :-D
Monday, November 22, 2010
Two steps forward, two steps back!
This weekend was bad, REALLY bad. I don't know why or how I've let it come to this but lately I can't seem to stop. I ate and ate and then I ate even more. All the things I know about food and how to eat and when and what just went completely out the window. I found ways to reason with myself that it was okay to have the burger and the ice cream and the chinese food and the pizza...it was complete self sabotage and now I sit here this Monday afternoon wondering what the hell I was thinking?! I know I'm not the only one who does this. I think so many of us have that mentality that the weekend is a free for all -- anything goes and come Monday, it's time to pay. It's a never-ending cycle of accomplishment followed by regret. I'm writing this now in the hopes that when the next weekend starts, I can look back and read this and remember that it doesn't have to be that way!
As I was doing Insanity this morning (the first of many workouts for the day) I was on the verge of tears. I thought about all the hard work I have put in over the last 22 months, everything I have gone through to lose all this weight and to get healthy for the first time in my life -- the workouts, the food journals, learning about protein and carbs, drinking enough water, and on and on...why, lately, have I been so quick to throw it all away? It's not just been this last weekend but every weekend for the last two months or so. Now I'm a big believer in having a cheat meal here and there, maybe once a week, but it's been spreading through the whole weekend! I know this is a problem and if I don't get to the bottom of it, it very well could take control of me! I don't want to make excuses but I know stress is playing a huge factor. The biggest stress of it all - finances! I hate that money or the lack of it has such a death grip over me right now. I am almost constantly crunching numbers in my head. It's exhausting and depressing and it eats at me because it is a problem I can't seem to fix. What makes it even worse is that it seems to be pushing me even more toward these bad choices with food. I know we really can't afford to eat out and for some reason the fact that it is somewhat forbidden makes it that much more enticing. Add in the holiday season with all the goodies to eat plus the extra money needed for Christmas presents and I am just foreseeing a recipe for disaster -- a perfect storm of stress induced sabotage.
Now, I am not going to whine about my problems -- everyone has something going on that can be used to reason why things aren't going right whether it be finances, injuries, relationships, or whatever. I am simply laying all of mine on the table so I can recognize what they are, how they are affecting me, and how I can get past them. I've been letting them get the best of me lately but enough is enough! No more excuses, no more two steps forward, two steps back. It's time I reevaluate my goals and start remembering why I started on this journey in the first place. Sure, the numbers on the scale played a huge part in my original goal but it became so much more than that. Exercise didn't start out easy for me but the more I do it, the more I enjoy the way I feel because of it -- strong, energized, HEALTHY! Eating has became a way to fuel my body with the healthiest and surprisingly tastiest meals I have ever had. I don't know how I lost touch with all of this but I am ready to get back on board and fight! I am ready to put all the nonsense of the last few months behind me and move on! This is one battle I refuse to lose!
As I was doing Insanity this morning (the first of many workouts for the day) I was on the verge of tears. I thought about all the hard work I have put in over the last 22 months, everything I have gone through to lose all this weight and to get healthy for the first time in my life -- the workouts, the food journals, learning about protein and carbs, drinking enough water, and on and on...why, lately, have I been so quick to throw it all away? It's not just been this last weekend but every weekend for the last two months or so. Now I'm a big believer in having a cheat meal here and there, maybe once a week, but it's been spreading through the whole weekend! I know this is a problem and if I don't get to the bottom of it, it very well could take control of me! I don't want to make excuses but I know stress is playing a huge factor. The biggest stress of it all - finances! I hate that money or the lack of it has such a death grip over me right now. I am almost constantly crunching numbers in my head. It's exhausting and depressing and it eats at me because it is a problem I can't seem to fix. What makes it even worse is that it seems to be pushing me even more toward these bad choices with food. I know we really can't afford to eat out and for some reason the fact that it is somewhat forbidden makes it that much more enticing. Add in the holiday season with all the goodies to eat plus the extra money needed for Christmas presents and I am just foreseeing a recipe for disaster -- a perfect storm of stress induced sabotage.
Now, I am not going to whine about my problems -- everyone has something going on that can be used to reason why things aren't going right whether it be finances, injuries, relationships, or whatever. I am simply laying all of mine on the table so I can recognize what they are, how they are affecting me, and how I can get past them. I've been letting them get the best of me lately but enough is enough! No more excuses, no more two steps forward, two steps back. It's time I reevaluate my goals and start remembering why I started on this journey in the first place. Sure, the numbers on the scale played a huge part in my original goal but it became so much more than that. Exercise didn't start out easy for me but the more I do it, the more I enjoy the way I feel because of it -- strong, energized, HEALTHY! Eating has became a way to fuel my body with the healthiest and surprisingly tastiest meals I have ever had. I don't know how I lost touch with all of this but I am ready to get back on board and fight! I am ready to put all the nonsense of the last few months behind me and move on! This is one battle I refuse to lose!
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