Easter is a great time for renewal! I am going to use this as a time to renew my approach to nutrition. Starting tomorrow morning, I am going to eliminate sugar from my diet and see how my body reacts. So no processed sugar or fruit sugar. I will concentrate on lean proteins, lots of vegetables and occasional whole grain. I will include natural fats like avocado and olive oil.
Now, I do not eat much sugar, except for around holiday celebrations. But I am addicted to the flavor of sweet. So I will also eliminate the use of stevia, which I use in my coffee, tea and iced tea every day. I just want to see if I can do without "sweet".
Wish me luck...I will let you know how it goes!
Desire to eliminate an addiction to sweet. Dedication to my health. Discipline to at least try the experiment.
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Trying New Things!
I heard from Sarah who asked me if I had heard of Mark Bitten and his book, Food Matters. Yes, I have! He advocates that we can change the planet if we are more mindful of what we eat. He is a vegetarian until dinner time. That cracks me up!
A label I have heard used is "flexitarian", someone who has a "Meatless Monday" or eliminates animal products part of the time.
Of course, Jamie Oliver and his Food Revolution is making a big impact in the U.S. I enjoy watching his approach to trying to get people to try a new way of approaching food and nutrition.
I just had my lunch and had falafel chips with my lunch today They are like a crispy flat falafel. I found them at Jimbo's and they are delicious! Give 'em a try!
So, this morning I had my ass handed to me during my workout with my trainer. One legged burpees alternating with trunk rotations. Walking lunges with side ball bounce. Pull ups (ok-mine were assisted, I still can't do a full body pull up alone yet!) Jumping jack burpees. Bosu push-ups and move. Triple load on the triceps. Need I go on???? Talk about trying something new! My trainer and I decided to add a bigger calorie burn to our sessions to impact how I am burning calories. I will let you know how it goes!
Desire to lead with an open mind. Dedication to make yourself do the final set of one legged burpees. Discipline to know when to flex!
A label I have heard used is "flexitarian", someone who has a "Meatless Monday" or eliminates animal products part of the time.
Of course, Jamie Oliver and his Food Revolution is making a big impact in the U.S. I enjoy watching his approach to trying to get people to try a new way of approaching food and nutrition.
I just had my lunch and had falafel chips with my lunch today They are like a crispy flat falafel. I found them at Jimbo's and they are delicious! Give 'em a try!
So, this morning I had my ass handed to me during my workout with my trainer. One legged burpees alternating with trunk rotations. Walking lunges with side ball bounce. Pull ups (ok-mine were assisted, I still can't do a full body pull up alone yet!) Jumping jack burpees. Bosu push-ups and move. Triple load on the triceps. Need I go on???? Talk about trying something new! My trainer and I decided to add a bigger calorie burn to our sessions to impact how I am burning calories. I will let you know how it goes!
Desire to lead with an open mind. Dedication to make yourself do the final set of one legged burpees. Discipline to know when to flex!
Sunday, April 10, 2011
A Fun Get-a-way
Allen and I went away for a weekend at the Laguna Cliffs Resort in Dana Point. We had a blast! I took Friday off and did my 2 hour workout on Friday morning. Then on Saturday we took a nice relaxing walk around the harbor. Then Sunday morning, after sleeping in, we hiked up the back side of the harbor, then out onto the headlands, then up another very steep set of stairs, then around the harbor, then did 3 more sets of stairs just for fun! It was a great workout! It was a nice balance to the treats we had at the bar last night!
I have been listening to a lot of women who have been talking about the diets they have been on. One friend is doing Weight Watchers. One friend is on Slim Fast shakes. One friend is on Medifast. One friend described something called HCG plus 500 calories a day.....wasn't sure I even understood that one. One friend had to give up gluten and dairy for the health of her gut and is giving up animal protein too. I asked her - does that make you a vegan? She declined the label, but had to agree.
One thing I am sure of is that we are all working on finding a healthier version of ourselves. Feel free to let me know what is working for you. I am always interested in learning new and better ways to find a healthier version of me.
Desire to break free from the routine and have fun! Dedication to staying true to workouts while having fun! Discipline to keep learning by seeking wisdom with fresh eyes!
I have been listening to a lot of women who have been talking about the diets they have been on. One friend is doing Weight Watchers. One friend is on Slim Fast shakes. One friend is on Medifast. One friend described something called HCG plus 500 calories a day.....wasn't sure I even understood that one. One friend had to give up gluten and dairy for the health of her gut and is giving up animal protein too. I asked her - does that make you a vegan? She declined the label, but had to agree.
One thing I am sure of is that we are all working on finding a healthier version of ourselves. Feel free to let me know what is working for you. I am always interested in learning new and better ways to find a healthier version of me.
Desire to break free from the routine and have fun! Dedication to staying true to workouts while having fun! Discipline to keep learning by seeking wisdom with fresh eyes!
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Celebrating 100 Today!
I think I look amazing for 100......100 posts, that is! :-) This is my 100th post and I want to thank you for being part of my journey! THANK YOU!
I am so grateful for so many things in my life. My healthy journey blog began as a way to help me navigate weight loss and a return to a healthier me. This journey has turned out to be so much richer and filled with so much more meaning. THANK YOU!
I am blessed beyond anything I could have imagined, including having the energy and positive will to succeed on my healthy journey. Every day I encounter opportunities to reflect on the blessings of my journey. Every day I am humbled by other people and what their journey includes. Every day I thank God for the chance to continue striving to make good choices, to include healthy activities and to practice learning the lessons that are placed in my path.
A co-worker of mine competed in his first half Ironman competition yesterday. He finished in a VERY respectable 5 1/2 hours! Go Ryan! On Friday, he shared with me his motivation. He has started a foundation to raise money to find a cure for multiple myeloma. He races to raise money for his foundation. Then he shared with me that his beloved Mom is battling the disease, was diagnosed 4 years ago when she turned 50. I could not have been more humbled.
When God opens a window to a lesson like that, it causes me to pause, reflect, be grateful for my blessings and also to think....what more can I be doing to help others.
I hope anyone reading this will do the same. Find a reason to give. Find a vehicle to share. Find a way to pay it forward. All of this matters.
So, happy 100th! THANK YOU for sharing and caring and being a part of my healthy journey!
Desire to contribute. Dedication to gratitude. Discipline to pay it forward to others.
I am so grateful for so many things in my life. My healthy journey blog began as a way to help me navigate weight loss and a return to a healthier me. This journey has turned out to be so much richer and filled with so much more meaning. THANK YOU!
I am blessed beyond anything I could have imagined, including having the energy and positive will to succeed on my healthy journey. Every day I encounter opportunities to reflect on the blessings of my journey. Every day I am humbled by other people and what their journey includes. Every day I thank God for the chance to continue striving to make good choices, to include healthy activities and to practice learning the lessons that are placed in my path.
A co-worker of mine competed in his first half Ironman competition yesterday. He finished in a VERY respectable 5 1/2 hours! Go Ryan! On Friday, he shared with me his motivation. He has started a foundation to raise money to find a cure for multiple myeloma. He races to raise money for his foundation. Then he shared with me that his beloved Mom is battling the disease, was diagnosed 4 years ago when she turned 50. I could not have been more humbled.
When God opens a window to a lesson like that, it causes me to pause, reflect, be grateful for my blessings and also to think....what more can I be doing to help others.
I hope anyone reading this will do the same. Find a reason to give. Find a vehicle to share. Find a way to pay it forward. All of this matters.
So, happy 100th! THANK YOU for sharing and caring and being a part of my healthy journey!
Desire to contribute. Dedication to gratitude. Discipline to pay it forward to others.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Yep - It's Saturday!
8am: cardio - check
9am:get butt kicked by trainer - check
10:15am: hair appointment - check
12:15 - 90 minutes of yin yoga - check
2:30pm: mani/pedi - check
It's 4:30 and I'm back at home relaxing after a packed Saturday. I am struck by how structured my Saturday's are and how much I treasure my unscheduled Sundays, when I get them. I have read many articles about how important it is to have down time in order for your body to repair and process everything it needs to do. So no matter how busy and scheduled you are, please be sure to find time for yourself to relax.
So I am off to enjoy a quiet evening leading into a a relaxed unstructured Sunday.
Yay for the weekend!!!
9am:get butt kicked by trainer - check
10:15am: hair appointment - check
12:15 - 90 minutes of yin yoga - check
2:30pm: mani/pedi - check
It's 4:30 and I'm back at home relaxing after a packed Saturday. I am struck by how structured my Saturday's are and how much I treasure my unscheduled Sundays, when I get them. I have read many articles about how important it is to have down time in order for your body to repair and process everything it needs to do. So no matter how busy and scheduled you are, please be sure to find time for yourself to relax.
So I am off to enjoy a quiet evening leading into a a relaxed unstructured Sunday.
Yay for the weekend!!!
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Oh Happy Day!
Yesterday I was thrilled to find pumpkin fat free frozen yogurt at my local Golden Spoon store. YAY! My favorite flavor! Such a fun treat and if consumed in a small portion....quite legal too!!
I am composing this post on a new LG tablet that will soon be available through T-Mobile. I have to admit it is pretty cool. It is really small, light and runs on available Wi-fi or the T-Mobile 4G network. So I can take it anywhere and be connected. Since I am having to learn how to use a new electronic device, I consider it to be an important part of my healthy journey....flexing and developing my mental muscle! You can teach an old dog new tricks, the dog simply has to want to learn- woof woof!
So watch out I-pad cuz this thing is way cooler!
Later today I will make onion rings ala Hungry Girl recipe: 12 crispy rings only 150 calories, 3 grams of fat, 9 grams of fiber and 5 grams of protein......looking forward to trying something new!
Desire to flex and build mental muscle. Dedication to finding a satisfying new crunch. Discipline to stick to the recipe.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
The Temptation of Birthday Cake
Last night we celebrated 2 family birthdays, my nephew and my brother. They both ordered a chocolate cake for their birthday. The good news is that I resisted having any cake. Even though I like chocolate occassionally, it is one of the few cakes I can easily resist! I did have 2 bites of pistachio ice cream, though. That is much harder to resist!
What are your temptations? And how do you say no?
I am struggling to figure out a way to shed more weight. I am considsering all sorts of options. My workouts are going well. I am thinking about taking some new classes to create a different burn for my body. Research tells us that our bodies grow accostomed to whatever exercise we do and we need to change it up to increase the burn!
I just read that, at rest, a pound of fat burns 2 calories an hour and a pound of muscle burns 32 calories an hour....what more evidence do we need to convince us that weight training is the way to go! It is so important to include weight training in your regime! Not only will creating more lean muscle mass burn more calories at rest, but you will be proactively combating future problems with osteoporosis by having more muscle tissue!
Please send me a message and let me know what you are doing that is working for you!
Desire to learn from other's success. Dedication to build lean muscle. Discipline to find a way to shed more weight!
What are your temptations? And how do you say no?
I am struggling to figure out a way to shed more weight. I am considsering all sorts of options. My workouts are going well. I am thinking about taking some new classes to create a different burn for my body. Research tells us that our bodies grow accostomed to whatever exercise we do and we need to change it up to increase the burn!
I just read that, at rest, a pound of fat burns 2 calories an hour and a pound of muscle burns 32 calories an hour....what more evidence do we need to convince us that weight training is the way to go! It is so important to include weight training in your regime! Not only will creating more lean muscle mass burn more calories at rest, but you will be proactively combating future problems with osteoporosis by having more muscle tissue!
Please send me a message and let me know what you are doing that is working for you!
Desire to learn from other's success. Dedication to build lean muscle. Discipline to find a way to shed more weight!
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