Look at the picture above. How many times has this been you...or similar to you anyway. I realize some of you reading this may be guys and well, we know you're not women...but you know what I mean. How many times have you stepped onto that evil monstrosity we call a scale and felt like crap because the number it gave you was higher than what you have been told you should weigh? Get off the damn scale! Stop weighing yourself. I'll tell you why in a minute.
Let's talk about the word "diet" for a minute. Diet can be either a verb or a noun: "to diet" means to restrict your caloric intake in an effort to lose weight, right? We say things like "I can't have that piece of cake because I am dieting." The word diet can also be a noun, like when we say something like "I am eating a healthy diet of lean proteins, fruits and vegetables." See the difference? You will never "be on a diet" again...you will "eat a healthy diet".
You see, dieting (the verb) is dangerous, unhealthy, and frankly doesn't work. Sure, you can go on all sorts of diets: The Adkins Diet, The South Beach Diet, The 17 Day Diet, The Cabbage Soup Diet...there's a million of them out there. But what these diets don't do is teach you how to make permanent changes in your life. These are nothing more than band-aid, temporary, quick-fix crap that should be avoided at all cost. You may lose weight on these diets but as soon as you go back to your normal eating habits you will, I repeat will gain the weight back. These are not long-term ways of life. Now I'm sure you can go out there on the internet and find a bunch of people who will say "This diet changed my life...blah, blah, blah"...these people are the exception. They are not the majority.
So here's what I purpose, I say why don't we throw out the damn scale and go back to basics. Start with a food journal and write down every single thing you eat and drink every day for one week. Just eat like you normally would, but write everything down. Then, go onto a nifty website like MyFitnessPal.com and calculate the calories in everything in your journal and come up with an average caloric intake for each day. If you take a look at that number, you will see where you need to start. If you take a look at your journal and subtract the calories from everything that was unhealthy that you put into your body, you will see a decrease in your caloric intake...probably a significant enough decrease where you could possibly lose a few pounds by just changing what you eat. Not "going" on a diet but "changing" your diet. See the difference? Take out the crap and replace it with lean proteins and fresh fruits and vegetables. This is a much better and healthier way to start your journey to weight loss.
One more thing, something else the scale doesn't tell you when it blurts out that number of his is that you need to take body composition into account; fat weight vs muscle weight. Many times people will change what they are eating and start working out...lifting weights perhaps...and they get frustrated because the scale is telling them their weight is only decreasing very slowly. That is most likely because you are burning the fat but building muscle and muscle weighs more than fat. Let me make one thing clear though. A common misconception is that you are turning fat into muscle. That is about 8 different kinds of wrong. It is impossible to turn fat into muscle, you are sort of making a trade...burning fat and building muscle at the same time. So your body composition is changing but just weighing yourself on a scale will not tell you that. It's a better idea to take your measurements (upper arm, chest, waist, hips, thigh, and calf) with a tape measure before you start your weight loss journey and then measure your progress more by how your clothes fit rather than a number on a scale. That number does not define you; YOU define you! Your goal is not to be skinny, it is to be HEALTHY. There is a big difference!
If you found this post helpful, please leave me a comment below. I would also love to hear any questions you may have so I can address them in future posts. Thanks so much for spending time with me. Stay healthy!
"You're not any greater when people praise you,
Nor any worse when they criticize you.
Who you are is how you see yourself.
Nothing more. Nothing less.
Simply priceless!" Something occurred to me on my walk this morning and I wanted to share it with y'all. I often times take a moment to reevaluate my purpose...why am I working out? Who is all of this really for anyway? This is what I came up with: - work out to relieve stress.
- I work out to set a good, healthy example for my kids.
- I work out to set a good example for my AdvoCare clients.
- I work out so I can have more energy, be stronger and leaner...and to work on my ninja skills at kickboxing.
- I work out because I see that others who also work out are positive influences in my life and I enjoy surrounding myself with them.
- I work out because I am old and have 8 pregnancies worth of baby weight to lose.
- I work out to get away from my kids...I may be old but they can't keep up with me.
- Mainly...I work out for ME! It is a gift I give to myself every day because I am worth it and I treasure the gift of health that God has given me. I intend to use it for good and not evil...unless said ninja skills should need to come into play.
I spent many years worrying about the number on the scale...comparing my number to the number that was on the chart for my weight and age. Am I a failure because my number is too big? Is there any hope for me to get to my charted number? And then I told myself to shut up because I realized a few things: - I am more than a number on a scale.
- I don't work out to be skinny...I work out to be healthy.
- Any amount of exercise I do is better than nothing at all.
- Every time I choose the apple over the brownie...I WIN!
- Once in a while when I choose the brownie...I STILL WIN!
- The scale sucks. I will now gauge my level of health and fitness on how I feel and how my clothes fit.
- I am more than a number on a scale.
My advice to all of you who are struggling with your weight...those of you who are self conscious about working out in front of people because your "number" is too big...is this: You don't have to be an Olympic athlete, you just have to try. If you get tired, stop...catch your breath and start again but don't you dare quit. Quitting's for losers and you're no loser. Keep moving, even a little bit. Wiggle if you have to, just keep moving. And most of all surround yourself with loving, caring, supportive people. I am more than a number on a scale...and so are you!
Hey y'all! Well, it's been quite a while since I've last posted here and so much has happened! I need to share all of my exciting news with you...so here goes! I've posted here about my never-ending struggle to lose weight and reach my health and fitness goals for a while now. Little by little I'm being presented with options that will help me reach these goals. First it was AdvoCare, which has made all the difference not only in my life, but in the lives of many of my friends as well. I feel so much better on the products, have more energy than I ever remember having before, and I know my metabolism is in full force because I'M LOSING INCHES AND POUNDS WEEKLY! I started with a 24 Day Challenge and lost 15 pounds...you can read about my AdvoCare story on the other part of this site...but ever since my first Spark I knew these products were for me. Use of the products lead into an awesome business opportunity that I have been incredibly blessed to have in my life. I have been given such an opportunity to help others physically and financially and for that I am so grateful! Secondly, I joined a gym. I know, I know...I have always said "I'm not the gym type", but this is no ordinary gym. This is THE gym. Here's the short version: A number of my friends go to Florida Get Fit and swear that it is the best gym around. I went to their Facebook page, liked it, and a few days later saw a post for a Biggest Loser competition they were having. I contacted Sarah Farmer who owns the gym and told her I was interested and that was that. A group of us started our fitness quest on October 1st with insane workouts and meal plans. We are all shaping up and looking good...and becoming fast friends in the process. Like they say, misery loves company right? LOL! (Just kidding Sarah!) We have met for kickboxing at 4:50 a.m. and bootcamp at 7:30 p.m. Seems like all we do is workout! But the results speak for themselves...in fact, that picture of me you see at the top of this post makes me incredibly proud. I am wearing a shirt I haven't been able to wear since COLLEGE! College, people! That was circa...yeah, like I was going to tell you when I graduated! Ha! Nice try! Let's just say it's been a while. I am so thrilled to finally have found a system that works for me. I am the strongest I've been since my ROTC days in college! I don't shun push-ups anymore, although burpees can still kiss my butt! It is an absolutely amazing feeling. So much of my life has been spent feeling crappy about my body...feeling tired and miserable and just fat...and telling myself I was just going to have to resign myself to the fact that I was "too busy" to make the necessary changes. I do believe that God puts people in our lives as He sees fit...He knows what (and who) we need and when we need them. I have an amazing support system now in my friends from the gym, my friends, family and neighbors, as well as my AdvoCare family. I have never felt to supported and loved before when trying to reach a goal and make a life change! And I want to share it with you! If you are feeling the same way I have felt...if you are sick and tired of being sick and tired...and are ready to make the big changes in your life that are necessary to help you reach your goals, please leave me a comment with this post and I will get in touch with you and share a little more about my journey and what has inspired me to "keep on keeping on"! For those of you who are personal friends of mine, you can message me on Facebook or send me a text or email as well. I'm a tech junkie so I'm never out of the loop for more than the amount of time it takes for me to switch from my lap top to my cell phone! LOL! I feel so blessed to have been able to get to where I am right now and would love nothing more than to help others get here too. Nothing is impossible. Nothing is unattainable. YOU ARE WORTH IT! Love and hugs to each and every one of you...and never, NEVER give up your dreams! God Bless!
 I used to love running. I ran all through middle school and high school. I ran all through college. After college I started running after kids...I know, not quite the same thing...but running none-the-less.
I've had this dream of running a half marathon forever. I don't know why, it's just been something that I know would be really, really difficult for me to do...but not impossible. Why then am I finding it so hard to motivate myself to get out there and train? I feel guilty going out for a run when I know there are dishes to be done, laundry to fold and work that needs to be done for clients. I find excuses to not train..."It's going to take too long...but then I'll have to shower again...I have so much to do...It's too hot..." I seem to be my own worst enemy. If I don't reach this goal it's going to be my own fault. And that makes me sad.
While I was looking for an awesome clip art for this post, I came across some photos of other runners; runners who, like myself, made a goal and were working hard and doing their best to reach those goals. This one was my favorite:
Matt Woodrum, 11 years old. Toledo, Ohio Running with cerebral palsy.
This young man is 11 year old Matt Woodrum. He is from my alma mater, Toledo, Ohio. I found his story in the Toledo Blade. Matt was struggling through his 400 meter race when his gym teacher checked on him. He said, "Matt, you're not going to stop are you?" Matt's reply? "No way!" Immediately dozens of Matt's classmates rushed the track and finished the race with him. This was Matt's forth race of the day...and one many other kids were afraid to try.I have a cousin with cerebral palsy and I remember growing up with Pam and all of the great times we had. Pammy never took any crap from anyone...and still doesn't! She has had a very difficult life, yet still manages to hold down a job, listen to her favorite music on her iPod, spends time with friends and family...but most of all Pam is happy, truly happy. As a matter of fact, the only time I remember seeing Pam not happy was when my Aunt Laurie told her she couldn't have something or when she was in pain after one of her many surgeries. Pam was always one of my favorite people to hang with at family gatherings when we were little.It amazes me how children don't see the boundaries and walls in life that adults do. And that, I think, is because in their world boundaries don't exist. They depend on us to set boundaries for them, right? It reminds me of that country song that says something about how a man's son is fishing in a mud puddle but he doesn't have the heart to tell him there are no fish there...he just lets him keep fishing...don't tell him it can't be done! I love that concept. I think more of us adults need to adopt it and incorporate it into our lives.So enough whining about my training. I am going to print this picture of Matt Woodrum, age 11 from Toledo, Ohio and put in on the mirror in my bathroom...and every morning I'm going to let Matt motivate me to reach my goals. Am I going to stop? No way!Here is the link to the video of Matt's run: http://youtu.be/hmaDtbQ1nuAI cried all the way through it.
Today was my first day of training for a half marathon I would like to run in the Fall. I haven't run in a long time unless you count running away from the kids, so today was rough for me. But as I was running (and sucking wind!) I realized that the main thing holding me back wasn't my physical ability it was my mental state. My body was weak today, being my first day of training, but my will was strong. I am doing a run/walk marathon my first time so I was running 3 minutes and walking 1. I would tell myself "It's only 3 minutes...only 2 more minutes...you can do 1 more minute..." and by the time I knew it I was at my minute walk. Taking it a little at a time and encouraging myself little by little before I knew it I was done with my run/walk and doing my recovery. I couldn't believe it. It was done...already? And I ran/walked the entire way! I didn't give up! My body was hurting but I wanted to finish badly enough that I kept going. Mind over matter...I believe in that so much, especially after today.
Today, take some time to set a goal. Set just one goal. And then do whatever you have to do to reach that goal. Maybe your goal is to get a closet cleaned out. Put everything aside and start cleaning. When you finish cleaning that closet and take a step back and look at what you've accomplished, you will feel so amazing! Do it today...what are you waiting for?
These are my new shoes. They are going to take me to the finish line of my first half marathon...or at least through the training that will then lead to the marathon. I'll probably need a new pair by race day!
I never buy anything for myself. A new book once in a while maybe, but even those I usually get off of paperbackswap.com so I don't have to spend money on them. I'm not cheap, just thrifty. Truth is I feel guilty spending money on myself when there are so many other people in my family needing things. New shoes...I can do just fine in my old ones right? No.
I have a goal. I am a woman with a mission. And for the longest time I have given to everyone else and ignored my goals because...well, out of guilt I guess. Or maybe fear...maybe I'm using the guilt excuse to mask my fear of reaching my goal...or worse yet, of NOT reaching it. Maybe I'm really afraid of failure. Whatever it is, I've put off my goal of running a half marathon for years now and I decided it's time to get this off my Bucket List so I can make room for better things like roasting marshmallows at a bon fire on the beach or living in Ireland for a year...maybe two. First thing's first though...
So I bit the bullet and bought the shoes. Great deal on zappos.com by the way (thank you Wendy Fielding for that little nugget!). I'm going to do this and I need to hurry because I want it done before I'm 40 and I ain't gettin' any younger! So my goal is to be able to run my first "practice" half sometime this fall so I can have a qualifying time in order to run my first "official" half at Disney in January 2013. Realistic I think. We'll see how it goes. I have horrible knees...thank you high school volleyball and ROTC in college...but if it's meant to be it will all work out for the best, right? I'm hoping to hit a number of 5K's along the way as well. I'll keep this site updated as I go. Wish me luck...this is going to be quite the adventure!
Ok, so I'm doing this cleanse right? And I have no problem following along with the plan BUT...I just cannot motivate myself to exercise right now. My life is such that, in order to make time to exercise, something else must suffer. I'd love for that "something else" to be doing the dishes or laundry or vacuuming...or grocery shopping...ugh! Unfortunately with a house full of kids none of those things can fall by the wayside. Then there's work. I love my business and I absolutely LOVE my clients (oh, and I do need to get paid) so I don't want to short change my work day either.
Can y'all do me a favor? Could you please leave me a comment here and let me know how you make time to exercise in your day? What do you "give up". What do you reorganize to make time for a workout? What goes through your head to motivate you to work out? I'd be interested in hearing how the rest of you do it!
Thanks!
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