Saturday, July 23, 2011

Keeping it Real!


As this journey continues, I am, expectedly, driving through ups and downs.  I use the phrase driving through because even though I do face difficult and frustrating moments, I intend to keep moving forward.  I’d like to be honest with a few of those thoughts that have travelled my mind lately.  I’ll start with the negative so I can end this entry on a positive note.

Downs:
1.  I am a foodie.  I enjoy flavors, a vast variety of food, good restaurants and sweet desserts.  When I am invited to a party and a plethora of decadent goodies are sprawled out on the table, this is overwhelming.  I faced this recently.  Knowing I was going to a party, I ate very light during the day and planned on selecting my food with a healthy perspective.  However, most of the options included some type of dip, cheese, sauce, chocolate, and so on.  Could I have navigated the waters better than I did, yes.  What did I do?  I ate a little bit of almost everything.  Then, the homemade chocolate chip cookies beckoned me and I ate two!  This was the first real “cheat” in three weeks.  Then, when I got home, it was tricky figuring out exactly what I ate and how to count it. 

2.  The physical, biological, chemical process involved in weight loss evades me at times.  I understand, on the basic level, that I eat less and move more to drop pounds.  I realize that the type of food I eat (nutrients, fiber, protein) and the exercises I pick can affect how I lose weight.  Here’s what I fail to comprehend: how can someone drastically change their eating habits and add in regular exercise to what was a fairly leisurely lifestyle and ONLY lose a pound or two on average per week?  And, here’s what’s worse- indulge a little here and there or have one bad night and risk not seeing any loss.  This just doesn’t add up.  I’ve read some research on cortisol levels and metabolism, but bottom line, those conditions really only impact, from what I understand, a small portion of the population.  What’s the deal?  I hate working so hard and fearing that the smallest detour might stall the scale or bump me up a bit. 

3.  Weekly weigh-ins are difficult for two reasons.  One, as I mentioned above, it is the moment of truth for a week’s worth of work.  I also have a difficult time weighing only once a week.  In fact, when I do weigh in more often, I realize just how crazy the scale can be.  I can be working just as hard each day and yet the scale will rise and fall in weird ways.  Is this water?  Does the time of day I exercise matter?  I could ask, and get trapped, in so many questions.  Again, I don’t always get why and how the body works the way it does. 

Ups:
1.  While those weekly weigh-ins can be frustrating, I strangely like this competition I’m involved in with my friends.  Each Thursday morning we text each other to share our results. This provides needed accountability and support.  We congratulate successes, encourage through the difficult moments, and offer suggestions when needed.  I put this on par with keeping a food journal.  For me, both are a necessity for endurance.  It gives me gas (or should I say steam).  

2.  Lately I’ve been working on being truly present while working out.  I concentrate on breathing, form, squeezing my parts, and feeling each movement.  Because of this, I know for a fact that I am gaining strength and endurance.  Just this morning I held a plank longer, completed football runs (as Bob Harper calls them) without walking instead, and boxed with more force for two minutes more than on Thursday.  These little accomplishments are important and I need to celebrate those.  I want to be aware of how I’m changing. 

3.  My constant craving for sweets is diminishing (yes, I am saying this after confessing to two chocolate chips cookies the other night).  Admittedly, I have a sweet tooth.  I think I’m circumventing this in a few ways.   First of all, I make healthy treats now more than ever.  Secondly, with the help of my “skinny chick treats” I do not allow myself to reach ultimate hunger.  Instead, I consume more, healthier choices, throughout the day.   I know I can still enjoy the “real deal” now and then but I want to plan, if possible, and not waste it on cheap thrills.  If this girl is going to indulge, I’m going to do it sparingly and consciously…while savoring every last bit. 

In the past two and half years I have lost between 45 and 50 pounds.  I’ve started and stopped for many reasons (some valid and some not).  Even though this is not a huge amount considering the time frame, I’ve kept it off.  Am I proud of this, yes.  Do I wish it was more noticeable, yes.  Maybe the tortoise had it right, slow and steady wins the race.  Let’s hope for fewer stops and more miles!   I'm down eight pounds since the end of June and unlike the hare, no naps for me.  

To getting fitter, healthier and keeping it real! 



Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Lean on me- to get STRONG!


The past two weeks have been positive.  I’ve worked out several times a week, written down and accounted for everything eaten, and tried out new healthy recipes.  For example, when on vacation in Charleston, I stumbled upon the blended frappe.  Yummy!  While I enjoyed a few of these coffee drinks on my trip, I knew I needed to find a healthier option at home.  Lucky for me, via the Hungry Girl website, I found several recipes for my frozen espresso treat.  Mocha and caramel are my specialties; with way less calories and way less sugar, these drinks are lovely!  I’m also a fan of frozen lemonade and I’ve been experimenting with a version using Crystal Light Lemonade packs, frozen fruit, ice and water.  So good and refreshing.  What would I do without my little blender machine?  It makes perfect, individual servings.  Luckily, I am blessed to have a good friend that is working on this journey with me and loves to share recipes, to talk tasty treats, and to keep me accountable. 

I also did some research on boxing as exercise.  With help from sites likes Ross Boxing and Expert Boxing, I’ve gained insight and practical examples to incorporate boxing for weight loss.  Why box?  Pounding my bag gets out frustrations, pumps up my heart rate, engages a plethora of muscles, and brings out the sweat.  Within two minutes, I am out of breath and feeling tough.  Regardless of the numbers on the scale, I truly believe that MOVING is key to getting fitter and healthier.  My workouts often involve a video, usually a Biggest Loser video with Bob Harper (he’s much nicer than Jillian), weight training, and boxing.  The medicine ball and swiss ball are thrown in there to shake things up now and then.  It’s also easier for me to do crunches at this point with the swiss ball.  Luckily, I am blessed with another good friend who works out with me and challenges me to keep a “fitness” schedule. 

My husband has also been encouraging and supportive.  He eats well with me, discusses healthier restaurant options with me, helps me plan grocery lists, and listens to my whining when I don’t lose weight, don’t feel like working out, and don’t want to be good.  This fitter journey is definitely that, a journey.  This process will not happen overnight and if I want to keep going, I have to continue to read, learn, try, move and most importantly, lean on others for assistance and inspiration. 

So, let me put this out there, if anyone wants to talk or share, let me know.  Growing into a healthier individual (mentally, spiritually, emotionally and physically) cannot be achieved alone.  To change is to desire, to develop discipline, to have an open heart and mind, and to lean on others.  My desire is growing and I’m open to others and myself; discipline is my major enemy.  One day and one punch at a time…for now.