The last two weeks I've tried to uptick my physical fitness. I was going to classes a couple times of week but my workout buddy convinced me to get a personal trainer. Now I've never done this before and it's something I've always wanted to do. So I thought, "WHY NOT!?!?". It'll be a good early birthday present. I'm hoping that the PT sessions will be exactly what I need to kick my physically fit self into gear. I also signed up for my first 10K. I am starting a training program for that as well that will help me not die on the day of the race.
I really struggle because I was never an athletic type growing up. I always preferred to play with my dolls than play sports. I did sports in middle school but I didn't continue it year over year. When I started to care about being healthy is when I started exercising more. It's always been hard for me to find motivation to exercise consistently.
Two things about me that I've learned that will help me stay in gear:
1. I follow a plan well. If someone says, okay, we will meet at 7am on MWF to work out, I will be there, no DOUBT! If I'm left to my own devices to get there and do it myself chances are that it won't happen. I'll come up with every excuse in the book as to why I can't be there. Lame, I know but it's something I know about myself.
2. I respond well to goals. The best I've ever looked in my life was on my wedding day. I worked my butt off to look fantastic for my husband-to-be, photos, dress, etc. I knew I had a deadline for when I had to look great. I accomplished that goal. Once the wedding was over it was hard to stay focused and continue working on my physique. I kept telling myself that it was important to stay fit for when I have a baby. That it would help me get my body back after the baby was born. That goal didn't work b/c I really have no idea when I will have a baby. I wasn't having luck finding any other goals or timelines for myself. So what I'm doing now is focusing on smaller goals. So right now my goal is to complete the 10K training program.
I'm feeling completely tired from all the exercising but I know this is my bodies way of breaking down and getting back into shape. I'm looking forward to seeing the changes now! :)
Monday, March 21, 2011
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Preventive Health/Medicine
It seems to me that science doesn't really care much about finding cures these days. We've put a man on the moon, we carry around tiny computers in our pockets (smart phones) and we have so many conveniences in our day to day life we barely have to do anything. What we don't have are cures to cancer, aids, MS, diabetes, etc...
To me, it's simple. Why develop cures for diseases that are multi-billion dollar industries? It's smarter for business to keep people sick then to cure them. The average yearly costs for a cancer patient range around $400K! If a cure was found and the drug companies could charge $50K a pop it still does not add up for them. It's really sad that big business control our health!
Now... I'm not a scientist nor do I know the complexities involved in finding cures but it seems a bit ridiculous to me. I'm shocked at the statistics and saddened. I know there are things like genes and actions that can cause the diseases but I'm also a strong supporter of preventive health or medicine.
Preventive health or medicine is done by us each day in many ways. Whenever you wash your hands after using the restroom that's preventive medicine. You are avoiding germs that can give you the common cold, infection, etc.
What most of us don't realize is that preventive health can be applied to our diet. Anytime you eat something your body processes the food and breaks it down into something usable. For every un-natural thing you digest the more you confuse your body. Products that you purchase in a package like cereal, cookies, fruit roll ups are food created in a lab. Your body is confused by these foods. Any "natural" or "healthy" items boasted by the packaging are no longer valid because they've been cooked out of them or pumped full of preservatives. Our bodies do not understand how to turn this food into quality life. Life meaning blood, hair, skin, tissue, etc.
The only foods are bodies know how to break down are natural, plant based foods. Fruits and vegetables are the cleansing foods that allow our bodies to perform at our optimal levels. Most people barely eat 1 full serving of fruit or vegetables of a day. Most people are ignorant to these facts. Our country has the highest statistics for obesity, osteoporosis and other awful diseases and I honestly believe it's due to our diet.
I encourage you to double your fresh food consumption. Its your way of helping your body cleanse and regenerate. You will benefit immediately from the change. This change has long term benefits that will keep your body healthy and strong.
I know for me personally I've seen a huge increase in my overall energy levels. I have increased my fresh food diet drastically.
To me, it's simple. Why develop cures for diseases that are multi-billion dollar industries? It's smarter for business to keep people sick then to cure them. The average yearly costs for a cancer patient range around $400K! If a cure was found and the drug companies could charge $50K a pop it still does not add up for them. It's really sad that big business control our health!
Now... I'm not a scientist nor do I know the complexities involved in finding cures but it seems a bit ridiculous to me. I'm shocked at the statistics and saddened. I know there are things like genes and actions that can cause the diseases but I'm also a strong supporter of preventive health or medicine.
Preventive health or medicine is done by us each day in many ways. Whenever you wash your hands after using the restroom that's preventive medicine. You are avoiding germs that can give you the common cold, infection, etc.
What most of us don't realize is that preventive health can be applied to our diet. Anytime you eat something your body processes the food and breaks it down into something usable. For every un-natural thing you digest the more you confuse your body. Products that you purchase in a package like cereal, cookies, fruit roll ups are food created in a lab. Your body is confused by these foods. Any "natural" or "healthy" items boasted by the packaging are no longer valid because they've been cooked out of them or pumped full of preservatives. Our bodies do not understand how to turn this food into quality life. Life meaning blood, hair, skin, tissue, etc.
The only foods are bodies know how to break down are natural, plant based foods. Fruits and vegetables are the cleansing foods that allow our bodies to perform at our optimal levels. Most people barely eat 1 full serving of fruit or vegetables of a day. Most people are ignorant to these facts. Our country has the highest statistics for obesity, osteoporosis and other awful diseases and I honestly believe it's due to our diet.
I encourage you to double your fresh food consumption. Its your way of helping your body cleanse and regenerate. You will benefit immediately from the change. This change has long term benefits that will keep your body healthy and strong.
I know for me personally I've seen a huge increase in my overall energy levels. I have increased my fresh food diet drastically.
Monday, March 14, 2011
Updated Goals
I realized yesterday as I re-read my blog posts that my goals have changed it. While I do want to be a fitter, healthier me, I don't want to spend my time focusing on a an actual weight. I am going to focus on looking better (my personal opinion of myself) and feeling comfortable in my clothes (not bulging out at the seams, ie muffin top).
One thing I've realized about this journey is that I need to spend my time understanding my body. I need to feel understand when I'm full, when I'm overindulging and look for the proof in the subtleties. Like are my clothes too tight or do I feel sick?
Your weight is just a number. It can be dependent on a lot of things and can change from day to day. When I used to weigh in every week at a Weight Watchers meeting I used to feel an emotional roller coaster. Like my whole personal opinion of myself is based on the number on the scale which is dumb. So if I was up .2 pounds that meant I was a failure or I failed that week. This is not reality. The gain may be from drinking too much water before weighing in or wearing heavy clothes.
I need to make sure that the changes I'm making are sustainable and making a difference in how I feel. I need to not make these changes because I'm worried about some number on a scale.
One thing I've realized about this journey is that I need to spend my time understanding my body. I need to feel understand when I'm full, when I'm overindulging and look for the proof in the subtleties. Like are my clothes too tight or do I feel sick?
Your weight is just a number. It can be dependent on a lot of things and can change from day to day. When I used to weigh in every week at a Weight Watchers meeting I used to feel an emotional roller coaster. Like my whole personal opinion of myself is based on the number on the scale which is dumb. So if I was up .2 pounds that meant I was a failure or I failed that week. This is not reality. The gain may be from drinking too much water before weighing in or wearing heavy clothes.
I need to make sure that the changes I'm making are sustainable and making a difference in how I feel. I need to not make these changes because I'm worried about some number on a scale.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Back on track
SO it's taken me forever to post again. I didn't feel right posting when I wasn't doing anything positive. I've finally gotten a hold of myself and set up some positive changes for myself.
1. Buh-bye fake sugar: splenda and powdered creamer. Once a staple in my morning cup of Joe I have left it behind for a splash of soy milk. Soy milk is sweet as it is and it makes my coffee takes creamy and sweet without fake stuff. So I'm glad about that.
2. I read "Fit for life, not fat for life." Book changed my life and my diet. I'm focusing on a primarily raw food diet and taking natural enzymes whenever I eat something cooked. I feel fantastic. I started doing it since February 24th. I have tons of energy. I feel really positive. I've even got my hubby doing it too.
3. I got a workout buddy!! My friend, Carmen is eager to get fit too. So three times a week we shuffle our way to the gym and workout together. We're taking a bunch of classes including spin, cardio kickboxing, step and yoga. We started going together on March 1st. YAY!
4. Stop the boozing! I gave up drinking after Jason & I returned from NOLA. I officially stopped on March 1st and am challenging myself to four weeks without any alcohol. It hasn't been that difficult to be without it. I decided to do it because I drank so much in NOLA and was feeling a bit tired of it. I also did it because I feel like I'm in a lot of social settings where I'm offered alcohol and I just say yes without thinking if I really want it. I have to admit I can now tell when I really want a drink or I just do it b/c it's the "thing to do."
On a whole I'm feeling really positive and energetic. The changes I'm making are pretty big but they seem manageable. I've done other diets before and they've felt like band aids not solutions. I feel like what I'm doing it sustainable and exciting. I have to admit I haven't noticed any changes yet but I'm barely two weeks into it. I hope that at the end of this month there will be some change in the physical me. I definitely feel different and in control of my appetite, cravings and mood. It makes me feel like I'm starting to take care of myself in a way I haven't ever done.
1. Buh-bye fake sugar: splenda and powdered creamer. Once a staple in my morning cup of Joe I have left it behind for a splash of soy milk. Soy milk is sweet as it is and it makes my coffee takes creamy and sweet without fake stuff. So I'm glad about that.
2. I read "Fit for life, not fat for life." Book changed my life and my diet. I'm focusing on a primarily raw food diet and taking natural enzymes whenever I eat something cooked. I feel fantastic. I started doing it since February 24th. I have tons of energy. I feel really positive. I've even got my hubby doing it too.
3. I got a workout buddy!! My friend, Carmen is eager to get fit too. So three times a week we shuffle our way to the gym and workout together. We're taking a bunch of classes including spin, cardio kickboxing, step and yoga. We started going together on March 1st. YAY!
4. Stop the boozing! I gave up drinking after Jason & I returned from NOLA. I officially stopped on March 1st and am challenging myself to four weeks without any alcohol. It hasn't been that difficult to be without it. I decided to do it because I drank so much in NOLA and was feeling a bit tired of it. I also did it because I feel like I'm in a lot of social settings where I'm offered alcohol and I just say yes without thinking if I really want it. I have to admit I can now tell when I really want a drink or I just do it b/c it's the "thing to do."
On a whole I'm feeling really positive and energetic. The changes I'm making are pretty big but they seem manageable. I've done other diets before and they've felt like band aids not solutions. I feel like what I'm doing it sustainable and exciting. I have to admit I haven't noticed any changes yet but I'm barely two weeks into it. I hope that at the end of this month there will be some change in the physical me. I definitely feel different and in control of my appetite, cravings and mood. It makes me feel like I'm starting to take care of myself in a way I haven't ever done.
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