I realize I can, and will push myself as far as I want to when it comes to my fitness goals. Some days are very easy and I bound through them without issue, but others are harder, much harder. Some days it takes everything in me to not eat the carb loaded pasta, or pick up a candy bar and ravage through it. So, I decided a little more accountability could never hurt.
I already have Ted, my trainer, pushing me hard and motivating me to stay strong, and a great boyfriend who is driven toward fitness and staying in shape. I have a great friend who is training to compete in her first figure competition come April (Go Lacey!), and family members steadily rooting for my success. But sometimes, I still need a little more. Well, I found it.
A few of the ladies and I at work have decided to track our progress as we all move forward with our weight loss and fitness goals. Some want to lose 15-20 pounds and some want to lose a lot more. My personal goal has nothing to do with the weight lost, but instead revolves around staying healthy and promoting positive changes. This group is motivating me to stay on track more than ever, and makes me want to help others attain their goals as well. I couldn't ask for a better way to keep myself on track! Week one weigh in was Tuesday, and I can't wait to see how everyone does when we weigh in again next week. I have a feeling this is going to help tremendously!
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Friday, January 7, 2011
Next Goal = Fitness Competition!
Over the past month or so I've been trying to decide what my next goal should be. I could see my initial goal so close in the horizon, and knew it was just a matter of time before i needed to press the reset button. Should my goal revolve around a certain weight again? Should it be a certain body fat percentage? Should it be an 8 minute mile...? I wasn't quite sure where I wanted to be. And then it hit me.
For months now, I have been religiously reading magazines with a focal point on fitness. I would look at the hard-bodies and think, those women are strong, amazing and absolutely stunning. Borderline obsessing, I'd read about their diet, their exercise program, and their supplements. So as I pondered my new goal, it hit me. I am going to train for and compete in a fitness competition.
Spokane typically holds two each year; usually, one in April, and then another in September. Obviously April is approaching very quickly, and I'm not willing to set this goal up to fail, so September it is. Granted, September is a ways out, but it gives me time to properly bring my body to that level of fitness. Weight loss and training aren't instant gratification type things, so time is something that needs to be given a bit of credence.
After my training session last night (which was the most difficult yet), I decided to ask Ted what his thoughts were on me competing in the future. He completely agreed I would not be ready by April, but has no doubt we can get there by September. And, he was excited for me to begin immediately.
We discussed my diet and will be tweaking my fat-carb-protein ratio yet again. The fat content I'm consuming is already very low, so now it's time to bring down the carbs (again) and push up the protein to fill the calories I'm reducing in carbs. I also will begin double days again (every other day). First thing in the morning, before I eat, shower or caffeine up, I'll hit the treadmill and get in 45 minutes of cardio. Later that afternoon I'll head back to the gym for lifting, abs and some additional cardio. I know this program is going to be intense, but to be honest, I'm super excited!
I am very proud to say I have hit my initial weight goal I set a year and a half ago, so now is the time to move to my next goal! For the first time in my life, I have seen true results and have achieved something bigger than I ever thought I would. I am so excited about this next phase. Fitness competition training, here I come!
For months now, I have been religiously reading magazines with a focal point on fitness. I would look at the hard-bodies and think, those women are strong, amazing and absolutely stunning. Borderline obsessing, I'd read about their diet, their exercise program, and their supplements. So as I pondered my new goal, it hit me. I am going to train for and compete in a fitness competition.
Spokane typically holds two each year; usually, one in April, and then another in September. Obviously April is approaching very quickly, and I'm not willing to set this goal up to fail, so September it is. Granted, September is a ways out, but it gives me time to properly bring my body to that level of fitness. Weight loss and training aren't instant gratification type things, so time is something that needs to be given a bit of credence.
After my training session last night (which was the most difficult yet), I decided to ask Ted what his thoughts were on me competing in the future. He completely agreed I would not be ready by April, but has no doubt we can get there by September. And, he was excited for me to begin immediately.
We discussed my diet and will be tweaking my fat-carb-protein ratio yet again. The fat content I'm consuming is already very low, so now it's time to bring down the carbs (again) and push up the protein to fill the calories I'm reducing in carbs. I also will begin double days again (every other day). First thing in the morning, before I eat, shower or caffeine up, I'll hit the treadmill and get in 45 minutes of cardio. Later that afternoon I'll head back to the gym for lifting, abs and some additional cardio. I know this program is going to be intense, but to be honest, I'm super excited!
I am very proud to say I have hit my initial weight goal I set a year and a half ago, so now is the time to move to my next goal! For the first time in my life, I have seen true results and have achieved something bigger than I ever thought I would. I am so excited about this next phase. Fitness competition training, here I come!
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Holy Smokes
Today was another amazing day at the gym with my trainer, Ted. He pushed me harder then I ever would have pushed myself, and I felt exhausted, yet fabulous at the end of my session. As I work out, he makes me focus on the good about my body - my strength...my endurance...my drive to succeed and push farther then my mind wants me to push. This is not something I am accustom to doing. Throughout my life I have always found my imperfections, my weaknesses, and my shortcomings. So, identifying what's great about me is something completely new.
After I got home, I jumped on the scale (like always). I happened to glance up at the mirror and for the first time ever, I saw a "fit" woman staring back at me. Now, in no way have I reached my total goal, but I actually saw someone staring back at me who truly is an athlete. So...I snapped some pictures and decided to do a little comparison to see how far I have actually come.
It's not like me to take any sort of revealing pictures and post them anywhere, but I am amazed to look at where I've come from and compare it to where I am now. And, after looking through the past few years, I can see that I truly have accomplished a TON and I am very proud of myself (another new experience). After taking a stroll down memory lane, I have realized how much I really have done and how when I set my mind to attaining a certain goal, I can, and will reach it.
After I got home, I jumped on the scale (like always). I happened to glance up at the mirror and for the first time ever, I saw a "fit" woman staring back at me. Now, in no way have I reached my total goal, but I actually saw someone staring back at me who truly is an athlete. So...I snapped some pictures and decided to do a little comparison to see how far I have actually come.
It's not like me to take any sort of revealing pictures and post them anywhere, but I am amazed to look at where I've come from and compare it to where I am now. And, after looking through the past few years, I can see that I truly have accomplished a TON and I am very proud of myself (another new experience). After taking a stroll down memory lane, I have realized how much I really have done and how when I set my mind to attaining a certain goal, I can, and will reach it.
December 2007
December 2009
December 24, 2010
December 28, 2010
Monday, December 20, 2010
Gym Time = My Sanity, My Sanctuary
Today was one of those days... One of those days where it took everything in me to eat healthy and go to the gym. I struggled through work; Christmas cookies and candy were on every table in every single office and I was so busy I didn't even have time to catch my breath. And, to top if off, it was just one of those days where I felt like even though I was busy all day, nothing got accomplished. So, when it was finally time for me to head out, all I really wanted was to be lazy.
Even though I really just wanted to go home, do some cleaning and wrap the pile of presents in my living room, I decided to keep going straight, and not turn on my road when I was almost home. I drug myself into the gym, forced myself to get changed, and decided I was going to hit it hard even though I really didn't want to.
My five minute warm up dragged on forever, but when the timer on the stair stepper beeped at me, I walked to the free weights and decided to make it count. I pushed out my full workout, plus a little more, and even did a full abdominal workout after my lift. And I felt better. Still not 100%, but much better. And then, I pushed out my cardio - and felt even better.
Driving home I realized (yet again... I seem to be a bit stubborn on this sometimes) the gym is my happy place. If I can just get myself there, it will help make me feel better about my place in the world. Even when I don't initially want to go, as soon as I start my lift, the gym becomes my most favorite place in the world. I feel stronger, and more capable to take on whatever comes at me, and I walk away feeling a sense of accomplishment. The gym really is my sanctuary, and at this point, I couldn't give it up for anything.
Even though I really just wanted to go home, do some cleaning and wrap the pile of presents in my living room, I decided to keep going straight, and not turn on my road when I was almost home. I drug myself into the gym, forced myself to get changed, and decided I was going to hit it hard even though I really didn't want to.
My five minute warm up dragged on forever, but when the timer on the stair stepper beeped at me, I walked to the free weights and decided to make it count. I pushed out my full workout, plus a little more, and even did a full abdominal workout after my lift. And I felt better. Still not 100%, but much better. And then, I pushed out my cardio - and felt even better.
Driving home I realized (yet again... I seem to be a bit stubborn on this sometimes) the gym is my happy place. If I can just get myself there, it will help make me feel better about my place in the world. Even when I don't initially want to go, as soon as I start my lift, the gym becomes my most favorite place in the world. I feel stronger, and more capable to take on whatever comes at me, and I walk away feeling a sense of accomplishment. The gym really is my sanctuary, and at this point, I couldn't give it up for anything.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
10 More Seconds
Finally, I have found the missing piece of my workout plan.... A great trainer! For the past year, one day a month, I have been working out with a trainer at Gold's Gym North. We would get together, run through the workouts she had written, and I would take them to do on my own for the following four weeks. To give her some credit, I gained some muscle and lost a little weight; and I felt and looked better than I had in a long time. But she never really motivated me. I took the workouts and went on my way - always having to stay on myself to keep up my schedule and heart rate.
Now, things have really changed. Last night was my second workout with my new trainer and he pushed me harder than I ever thought possible. Fifteen minutes in, I was beyond exhausted and my arms were burning. Twenty minutes in, I was sweating worse than the man next to me, and at twenty-five... well, I'm sure you get the point. So when it came to core for the last five minutes, I really wasn't sure if I'd even be able to hold up my body weight in plank position. But Ted pushed me to get in position, and then to make it even more difficult. "Flex your calves, your hamstrings, your quads, pull the bellybutton to the spine, bend your elbows just a little." OMG, by the third one I really thought I was going to fall on my face. But he kept saying, "ten more seconds....ten more seconds....ten more seconds," and I did just that. Ten more, and then ten more, and more and more... I made it a minute longer than I ever have before and I felt a sense of accomplishment that I haven't known in a very long time.
At the end of my workout, there was a puddle of sweat on my mat, my whole body was shaking, and I basically wanted to puke; but I felt fabulous! And, just for good measure, I made sure to go do my extra half hour of cardio on the treadmill and stair stepper.
Now, things have really changed. Last night was my second workout with my new trainer and he pushed me harder than I ever thought possible. Fifteen minutes in, I was beyond exhausted and my arms were burning. Twenty minutes in, I was sweating worse than the man next to me, and at twenty-five... well, I'm sure you get the point. So when it came to core for the last five minutes, I really wasn't sure if I'd even be able to hold up my body weight in plank position. But Ted pushed me to get in position, and then to make it even more difficult. "Flex your calves, your hamstrings, your quads, pull the bellybutton to the spine, bend your elbows just a little." OMG, by the third one I really thought I was going to fall on my face. But he kept saying, "ten more seconds....ten more seconds....ten more seconds," and I did just that. Ten more, and then ten more, and more and more... I made it a minute longer than I ever have before and I felt a sense of accomplishment that I haven't known in a very long time.
At the end of my workout, there was a puddle of sweat on my mat, my whole body was shaking, and I basically wanted to puke; but I felt fabulous! And, just for good measure, I made sure to go do my extra half hour of cardio on the treadmill and stair stepper.
Friday, December 10, 2010
Success - Comes with Small Steps
I haven't been blogging a whole lot lately, but thought I'd throw up my most recent progress. Because for me, it's huge. Over the past 6 weeks, I have buckled down on my diet and pushed my workouts a little bit harder. And believe it or not, it actually is providing me with results.
I am very proud to say, in six weeks, I have lost 10 pounds and 5% body fat! I had been stuck at my plateau for so long I was really starting to lose hope. That feeling prompted me to meet with a new trainer at the gym I occasionally use. He set my diet up and away I went. I also decided it was really time to find some peace with the treadmill and add a lot more running to my cardio mix. I tended to gravitate toward the stair stepper or elliptical and I knew the treadmill is what I really needed. So, with those two changes, I went on my way.
I have logged almost every day since October 27th - both food and exercise. And, when I went in to meet with the trainer again and set up my new schedule it was time to update the numbers. I knew the weight was dropping because I am addicted to the scale and have been religiously watching it move, but I was honestly flabbergasted at how much I dropped in my body fat percentage. And all I can think now is - I've got this; it's time to buckle down and knock it out of the park. So, we set some new goals...
In the next three months I will be meeting with my new trainer, Ted, twice a week (Tuesday & Thursday) for an intense full body workout. I will do a body pump class Monday nights (Ted instructs them at my gym), and will lift one additional day. I will make sure to get in good cardio (at least an hour) and abs the other two days, and make sure to include a rest day one day a week. If I can maintain my diet and continue to push myself to new levels at the gym, I really think my goals are attainable. For the first time in my entire life, I feel like I really can be fit and healthy (and look great in a tight pair of jeans). Talk about an amazing and uplifting feeling!
Goals: Drop 8 more pounds; Drop 5% additional body fat
** Reassess on March 3, 2010
I am very proud to say, in six weeks, I have lost 10 pounds and 5% body fat! I had been stuck at my plateau for so long I was really starting to lose hope. That feeling prompted me to meet with a new trainer at the gym I occasionally use. He set my diet up and away I went. I also decided it was really time to find some peace with the treadmill and add a lot more running to my cardio mix. I tended to gravitate toward the stair stepper or elliptical and I knew the treadmill is what I really needed. So, with those two changes, I went on my way.
I have logged almost every day since October 27th - both food and exercise. And, when I went in to meet with the trainer again and set up my new schedule it was time to update the numbers. I knew the weight was dropping because I am addicted to the scale and have been religiously watching it move, but I was honestly flabbergasted at how much I dropped in my body fat percentage. And all I can think now is - I've got this; it's time to buckle down and knock it out of the park. So, we set some new goals...
In the next three months I will be meeting with my new trainer, Ted, twice a week (Tuesday & Thursday) for an intense full body workout. I will do a body pump class Monday nights (Ted instructs them at my gym), and will lift one additional day. I will make sure to get in good cardio (at least an hour) and abs the other two days, and make sure to include a rest day one day a week. If I can maintain my diet and continue to push myself to new levels at the gym, I really think my goals are attainable. For the first time in my entire life, I feel like I really can be fit and healthy (and look great in a tight pair of jeans). Talk about an amazing and uplifting feeling!
Goals: Drop 8 more pounds; Drop 5% additional body fat
** Reassess on March 3, 2010
Thursday, October 14, 2010
"You're So Skinny"
In the past three days I have heard this exact phrase directed at me twice: "You're so skinny." It's a great thing to hear, but really has forced me to take a step back and think about what they are saying.
"You're so skinny." Why in the world don't I see that...? I still deal with body issues every single day. I guess I just don't see the change anymore, and I question that phrase. I know I'm stronger, and healthier... but skinny? How can I be skinny when I still have some pudge around my middle, the bat wings are still there and I definitely still have some side-ass goin' on. In my wildest dreams "skinny" was never something I imagined someone saying about me. And, to top it off, I'm still 9-13 pounds (depending on the day) away from my goal weight. So now I wonder, what does "skinny" really look like.
My goal weight something I know I want, but it seems so out of reach. I have been sitting in the same place for a while now, and I know it is directly linked to my eating habits. But, I just can't seem to get to the place where I want to eat only healthy foods and not drink some wine on the weekends. I can't seem to find that place of discipline that I know I need to accomplish this last piece. I care enough to hit the gym regularly and work myself to exhaustion, but just can't seem to care about eating and drinking healthy as well. And, when I hear I'm "skinny" that discipline part of me really says, "F-it! Eat what you want." But, if I ever want to get to my initial goal weight, or drop my body fat to "athletic" ranges, I need to buckle down and find the strength to walk the walk completely, rather than putting in half the effort. With that being said, I need to find a way to say no to food. And, I know this is going to be my toughest battle yet.
With that being said - If anyone knows of any amazing cook books that are healthy, but still have good flavor recipes, I'd love some suggestions. I have to find a happy medium between taste, portion size and health. Ugh - Good luck to me!
"You're so skinny." Why in the world don't I see that...? I still deal with body issues every single day. I guess I just don't see the change anymore, and I question that phrase. I know I'm stronger, and healthier... but skinny? How can I be skinny when I still have some pudge around my middle, the bat wings are still there and I definitely still have some side-ass goin' on. In my wildest dreams "skinny" was never something I imagined someone saying about me. And, to top it off, I'm still 9-13 pounds (depending on the day) away from my goal weight. So now I wonder, what does "skinny" really look like.
My goal weight something I know I want, but it seems so out of reach. I have been sitting in the same place for a while now, and I know it is directly linked to my eating habits. But, I just can't seem to get to the place where I want to eat only healthy foods and not drink some wine on the weekends. I can't seem to find that place of discipline that I know I need to accomplish this last piece. I care enough to hit the gym regularly and work myself to exhaustion, but just can't seem to care about eating and drinking healthy as well. And, when I hear I'm "skinny" that discipline part of me really says, "F-it! Eat what you want." But, if I ever want to get to my initial goal weight, or drop my body fat to "athletic" ranges, I need to buckle down and find the strength to walk the walk completely, rather than putting in half the effort. With that being said, I need to find a way to say no to food. And, I know this is going to be my toughest battle yet.
With that being said - If anyone knows of any amazing cook books that are healthy, but still have good flavor recipes, I'd love some suggestions. I have to find a happy medium between taste, portion size and health. Ugh - Good luck to me!
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