Thursday, April 21, 2011
So I am totally technology inept I swear! It took me 5 minutes to figure out how to get back to this blog post thing!! I need to bite the bullet and click on how to use this page, but I keep thinking I'll figure it out on my own. Slowly. :o) I was so nervous to teach tonight! I felt like a newby at the gym again. I have had a whole week off (except for a light walk yesterday) from exercise with my flu/gallbladder sitch. I was worried I wouldn't be able to keep up with my class, worried I would not be able to be motivating to my peeps... worry worry worry. It's my middle name!! Anyway, class went well, I had three new people that I haven't seen before and 9 oldies. I love my bootcampers! They really make it worth the time and energy I put into planning when I see them there, sweating with me. Plus, tonight if they hadn't been there I totally would have bagged my workout. I could have been lazy and used being sick as an excuse again today, but thankfully I have people to show up for. And I love them!!! I feel the constant struggle with my inner self to eat clean and get more fit. I feel like as the instructor I need to be the most motivating person in my room. I want for people to be able to look at me and say "I want to come to her class, because I want to look like her." I have some work to do still, especially and mostly on my midsection... but the best thing I can always remind myself and everyone else is that health and fitness goals are a journey, they are constantly evolving and we are constantly improving as long as we keep on MOVIN!!! It was a good workout. I feel stronger and healthier already and I know as I stick to my clean eating and muscle building workouts my layer of fat will shrink and my muscle will be able to SHINe on through!!! It's a great day to be healthy. Oh, and thank you SPARKPEOPLE!! I went and did my easter basket shopping tonight (After gym, before I had time to eat dinner) and as I was trying to talk myself into eating just one reeses egg, I remembered I didn't have the calories to spare today... so guess what?! I didn't eat it. Wow, kinda crazy for me!! Plus I really need to get back on my protein/veggie/ low carb plan with the April Challenge too, now that I don't want to throw up or have horrid stomach pains. Anyway, thank you calorie counter!!!! Love me some sparkpeople

Wednesday, April 20, 2011
So I have been doing so freaking good for the past three weeks on my new building muscle plan. I thought things were coming along so nicely and then I woke up Friday and have been having these crazy flu like symptoms and gall bladder symptoms. My stomach is so bloated. It has been crazy pain. I have gas like disgusting crazy!!! I can't stand this. I haven't worked out since Thursday last week. This is the longest workout hiatus I have had since my surgery in November, and before that since 2009. This is crazy horrible. I even had to cancel my boot camp class last night. I am going nuts in my own skin. I just want to feel normal again and eat my normal routine food, but they say high protein and eggs aggravate the gallbladder. Everyone is telling me to eat a bland diet. I do not have health insurance for 3o days so I just need to make it through the next month. I am so worried my before and after pics from the April Fools Challenge are going to show no progress or worse... the bloating which looks worse!! I am bummed. In other news, I decided to quit posting on my poundpinching2010.blogspot.com blog. I have had it for 16 months and a big part of me feels sad. I just decided to quit. It seems like people were reading, but never commenting. I just weirdly felt like no one was relating to me. I don't think they were judging me. But they weren't giving me feedback. Which wasn't encouraging. I thought my readers would develop a loyalty to me. They didn't. I wonder if they were embarrassed they were reading. I wonder if they thought I was insane? I think this is a better avenue for me for now. People can comment, I can see other peoples stuff and gain motivation from them. I am ready to feel strong and healthy again!! Please health come my way!!

seeya poundpinchers

After some encouragement and some thought I have decided to cease posting on poundpinching2010.

This blog has been such a big part of my life for the last 16 months, and I really was hoping I was touching people, inspiring them and showing them that it isn't always easy to do the healthy choice, but that it is worth it in the long run.

I haven't really connected with anyone through this. I haven't touched anyone's life that I know of. I haven't felt what I needed to feel to keep going.

My weight and my journey has been so public, but is still such a personal thing for me and I think the best thing to do is sign off and keep my health journey close to my heart and in another place for now.

Good luck to you as you continue your journeys. I wish you the best and health and happiness.

holy sick moly

omgosh. i woke up friday feeling nauseas, and the scale went up 2 lbs from the day before after a perfect day of eating to 134.4 and my stomach has been killin me ever since. every time i eat i look as if I am 5 months prego. I am starting to worry. I have never felt like this before, and I am definitly not pregnant. So, I am worried why my stomach is killing me and bloated out like a balloon. Oh ya, and my hubby has a big ceremony tomorow to be sworn in as an officer in our town. Great day to have bloating crazy stomach. I hope this goes away!!!!

Had to think about it

So, I have been thinking about this post since Monday night when I sorta had a bit of a panic attack. I have been so real and open on this blog, so I have wondered if I would be doing anyone justice by posting my freak out session. I don't want to be a downer. I want to build people up. I want to say that I am 100% on to being a healthy fitness junky but that isn't the truth. I decided to go ahead and let myself post because maybe it will help someone realize they aren't alone. That it isn't always easy and that it is ok. Being healthy and fit is about a collection of choices. Not one here or one there. It is a lifestyle, and the truth is that life is chaotic and stressful and no body can be on all the time. I had been doing so awesome following my clean eating guidelines. It had been over a week of consistent clean eating. I love this clean eating and the schedule that I follow with it because I am able to eat so many more calories than I used to limit myself to. I am trying to lean out, gain muscle so I am focusing on eating whole grain carbs in moderation and lots of protein and vegetables. Friday night came and I thought I could afford a small cheat. So I had some frozen yogurt. I had another almost perfect day Saturday, but decided to go out for Mexican food and have chips and salsa with blue corn tacos. The problem with that is I really like that, and I don't stick to portion sizes. Then Sunday I had another little cheat, and Monday again. I tried to go to sleep Monday but I could not shut my freaking brain off. I was like a crazy pin ball inside my own body going and going and going. I was freaking out about all the chocolate chips I had just eaten. Freaking out I couldn't just stick to my guidelines. Freaking out my after picture will look the same as my before. Freaking out that I am saying one thing and doing another. Freaking out that I can't cheat once, that I can't just stop once I start. That I just keep going. Freaking out that I just want to freaking eat crap food. Freaking out that I just don't ever want to enter the freaking gym or freaking run ever, again. That was a whole lot of freaking out. I re read my written goals, I scoured the internet for motivation. Have to find my motivation. My mind would not stop. I almost felt like throwing up I was such a mess. Then I was starting to freak out that I was freaking out so much, what is this.. the beginning of an ugly disorder I don't want to go down. I am a mom, a role model, I am not even super skinny so it can't be that, why can't I stop freaking out? Well what the hell is wrong with me then? I am freaking out typing this. I feel my heart starting to race again. I sent an email to my getinshapegirl.com friend. I asked her how she does it. She is training for a fitness competition and is teeny tiny. How does she do it all the time? And she is eating way less choices than I am right now. And how does she motivate everyone else all the time for a living? Why is this all of a sudden so hard for me? Why after all this time am I freaking out? Maybe because I feel like I am on the verge of really transforming? Maybe because I am scared I will fail and my body just isn't the type that can look like those fit girls? Maybe because I am scared I really am destined to be the chunky girl for the rest of my life? Maybe because I am just sick of worrying about how everyone feels all the time? I finally settled down enough to rest through the night. I got ready (I start that process at nap time for the kids about 2pm, class is at 6pm) to teach my class Tuesday night. I had the windows open all day, the blinds up and as much light in my house as would allow. I took the kids outside FOREVER to play. I needed the light. I felt dark and yucky inside and things weren't feeling good. I didn't even want to teach. That has never happened. I wanted to cancel the class because I was freaking out for 1, and #2 last week I only had 6 people in my class. Why teach if people aren't going to come. I needed motivation. Have to find MY motivation. I even went for a run outside before class to try and clear my freaking cluttered head. It worked a little but I just felt so bleh. So exhausted,even one of the girls came up and said "you look tired, do you need a break?" And then the people started filing in. I had 21 peeps show up and I found SOME motivation. They were there. More than 21 do not fit into that class room. We were working hard and I was finding my old peppy self coming out. I thanked them for being there, if they really only knew what they did for me be being there that night. I got an email back from the getinshapegirl.com she told me how she feels the same way. It's a roller coaster of emotions. Share my story, it might help inspire someone to keep pushing through. Give myself credit, I am eating cleaner than I ever have and I am cheating less than I ever have. I mean really, check this out. I haven't eaten chips in a month I am pretty sure. Minus the Cafe Ole ones. I used to eat corn tortilla chips everyday. I loved them. I don't miss them too much. I'd rather fill up on more nutritious food like a whole greek yogurt, that makes me full, than 10 tortilla chips. The worst thing someone could ever say about me is that I am a hypocrite. I would hate it, from any aspect of my life if someone said that about me. I know that if I went back to the old Teri, the one from this picture that eats all the candy, fast food, and chips she wants I would feel dark and yucky inside in a whole different way than I ever have. I didn't know the difference before. I didn't know what my body was capable of. I do know that that is a place I never want to go back to. I do know that I enjoy being a healthy, fit person... and it makes me happy for people to look at me and know those things about me. Not in a jealous or envious sort of way. But in a partnership kind of way. I am not perfect all the time in my healthy lifestyle. I want to be more perfect in it. I want to be better and choose better. I want to help other people find the person they were meant to be. I want to find a balance. Now, is here is to finding my balance.

Yummiest Lunch in a long time!!!

You will not regret stepping out of your box of usual foods to try this recipe !! It was so good, it looks like goo in the mixing bowl but I assure you it tastes like a dream. I got it out of the Oxygen magazine so it is healthy rest assured. But so good!!!! Try it and tell me what you think Spicy Feta Turkey Burgers 8oz extra lean ground turkey ¼ c dried bread crumbs 1 egg 2-3 tbsp milk 1 tsp olive oil 1 tbsp worcestershire sauce ¼ c chopped onion 1 tsp oregano 1 crushed garlic clove 1 tsp chili flakes 1 tbsp chopped parsley ¼ c (light) feta cheese crumbled 2 whole grain sandwich thins 2 tbsp light tzatziki sauce 4 tomato slices Small handfull sprouts Mix first 11 ingredietns by hand in bowl, add feta. Form into 1 inch thick patties (this is for 2 servings so 2 patties) grill for 6 minutes on each side. Place patties in bun, top with tsatziki sauce, tomato and sprouts. I didn’t use the sauce just a dab of ketchup, added avocado for my healthy fat with lettuce, tomato and onion.

131.6

Holla!!! I was happy to see 131.6 on the scale today but even more estatic to see the way my stomach is flattening out. I know it seems kinda weird but I have strictly been following clean eating guidelines for the past 2 weeks and have been lifting heavy weights. I can't believe the changes that are coming. I wanted to make a post today about how funny it is the cycles of a healthy lifestyle. Ironic really. I remember when I first did my weight loss competition last January of 2010. I had a contestant nagging at me to do posts on eating whole foods, fruits, veggies, whole grains, and protein. I thought she had good intentions, but that type of lifestyle wasn't consistent with what I was ready to accomplish at the time. I needed a 100 calorie pack everyday for a snack, even if that meant I wasn't filled up or nourished, I just needed it. And ice cream. I needed it. I was willing to put in the 2 hours at the gym but I wasn't willing to clean up my eating. I wasn't ready for her wealth of knowledge I just needed to do it the weight watcher way, which made things consistent and comfortable to me. And then I ran into Take Shape for Life. I still had 10 or 15 lbs to lose. It wasn't coming off as quickly as I wanted and I researched the crap out of it. I thought if I could be succesful with the program, I could look into helping other people hop into the fast lane and get rid of unwanted weight fast. It worked, and I really believe in the program. I think it is a healthy way to drop lbs fast, but following it you have to be ready to keep making the right healthy food choices to maintain your loss. A diet does not work. I have said it a million times and I will say it again. You do not get rid of extra weight on a diet, you lose weight on a diet. And then you gain it back, if you are not willing to make the sacrifices it takes to maintain your new loss. Here I am almost 15 months later in my total health journey. Optimal health is my goal and I can truly say that I feel like I have arrived. I feel like I am capable of coaching you, you, or you... because I have been there. I know how hard it is to take this journey and I know that if I can be successful, then you can be too. If I can do it, trust me dear reader... anyone can do it. Anyway, my point is this. It is a journey. What you are ready to sacrifice today is small in comparison to what you will be able to in 6 months. Today it might be hard to get to the gym for 30 minutes 5 days a week-- but in 6 months you will have mastered that and you will more than likely be ready to stay at the gym for 45 minutes or an hour. Or to try a new class. And 6 months from then you might be ready to give up ice cream or 100 calorie packs. Our goals change over time. We can not give up because of a bad choice. We did not gain unwanted weight in one meal, one day, or one week. We gained it because of a lifestyle of bad choices that did not include healthy eating and exercise. We have to keep moving foward towards optimal health. I have had several people consulting with me in the past two weeks. I have received multiple emails asking for help on fitness routines or on nutrition plans. I am a health coach for Take Shape for Life and I love that avenue of my life. I love helping people drop weight fast using meal replacements. I am a fitness instructor and I love helping people reach fitness goals. I am those things as well as a partner to anyone and everyone in health. I would love to help you in any way that I can. And when I say that, I don't mean I want you to feel even one bit like you would ever need to pay me. I don't want your money. I want you to be your healthiest, best self ever and I want to have the satisfaction of being able to say... I helped him or her get there... to optimal health. If you ever have a question, comment or concern. I would love to hear from you. I'd love to help you get started or help you push over a helacious hill of a plateau. Let me know! And rememeber, anything worth having (like a healthy, hott body) is worth the work it takes to make it happen. You can do it!

Get In Shape Girl

So I am trying to help a fellow sista in fitness out. I have hooked up with her in the past month and feel so lucky! I really feel like I was just on the verge of being able to accomplish better goals fitness wise for myself, but didn't have all the right information. Through Oxygen magazine (i heart that mag) I found thegetinshapegirl.com and she has been helping me with some new fabulous workouts and keeping me focused on healthy, clean eating. She is located in Massachusetts and is getting ready to launch a virtual training website. This is a new phenomenon to me, and if I wasn't basically using her as a virtual trainer this month and loving it... I would have thought it wasn't for me. But it IS for me, and it could be for YOU too. IF you take this 3 minute survey, she will send you a free breakfast plan (she has some goooood recipes on her site), she is trying to compile info from people of all different levels of fitness and health so please help her out!! Go to this site, and take the quick survey! She will send you the breakfast plan! And if you post on your status of facebook, tell her at thegetinshapegirl on facebook and she will send you a lunch and dinner plan too. You wont regret getting this info I promise! Take this survey http://bit.ly/dYFmKL Personal Training Survey

Victory

I ran around like a crazy chicken with my head cut off today. Happens every Wednesday. I do it like clock work. I had to feed the kids out today, no way around it. We invited some friends to Mickey D's after story time. I wondered to myself if this was going to be a challenge to eat clean. To stick with the commitment to eat clean and avoid high calorie crap food, especially in a place that used to melt my little diets in half! I felt like a million bucks as I got to that order line, ordered one kids meal to share for the kids. (I know I shouldn't be feeding them that either, but that's a story for another day) One salad for me, all the veggies, grilled chicken, light dressing. It tastted good. It fit in with my protein, veggie, and fat meal. And I wasn't even the tiniest bit tempted to steal a nugget or a fry (like I would have in my weight watcher days, there are only 1 pt in a nugget.. how bad can it be?!). Because I have changed the way I think, the way I say things in my head, and aloud... they have gotten so much easier. I didn't tell myself I couldn't have McDonalds, I told myself I just don't eat that kind of food. It's a choice. A matter of preferance. I choose to have my pants fall off my bum, I like my pants loose more than I like to eat chicken nuggets and french fries. And that made me feel really strong, like I had something to celebrate today. What do you have to celebrate today? Celebrate everything good, big or small!! Let's hear it!

So you might think...

I am getting a little vain here...
But I wanted to see the muscle definition that I have, and what my progress looks like on May 1. My husband is sorta thinking I have gone of the deep end, since I keep asking him to take more pics. :o) I have been really working on my back for the past two months and I am happy with the progress. I think if I can lower my body fat with this clean eating and more heavy workout the definition is gonna p-o-p!!

More PIcs

August 2010 August 2010 April 1 2011April 1 2011 So ever since I found my new friend and inspiration in Boston(thegetinshapegirl.com) I have been changing things up in my personal healthy lifestyle. For one I started eating clean almost all the time. I am eating a lot of protein, few starches (but only healthy ones), a little fruit and a lot of veggies. For two, I have started lifting heavy weights and have stopped doing 500 of every lift at the gym. I lift heavy for shorter reps and am seeing some changes coming quickly. I have rededicated myself to my healthy lifestyle and have gotten excited about seeing muscle definition come through. I want more muscle! I guess I have said that a few times now. Anyway, these are my April 1st pics, and I can't waite to take my May 1st ones. Seriously I really think this is going to be a big month for Teri!! Yay!

More food ideas

So I have been keeping the most detailed health journal lately and I have to say I am in love with it. I have made a consistant effort to banish those BLT's from my diet (bites licks and tastes) and have been doing amazingly well eating clean. I can't believe how much more food I get to put in my mouth and chew when I choose whole foods!!! It is so fun planning my meals (6 in a day) because I have so many options. I stopped worrying about the grocery bill so much, I spend a little more these days at the store, but I spend less overall because we aren't eating out at all. I don't even want to eat out. I had the opportunity today and turned it down to come home for a homemade chicken wrap, and it was sooo good for the record.

Each day my journal looks like this
Date Weight workout for the day

protein vveggie starch fruit healthy fat


p v s fru fat



p v s fru fat



p v fat




p v fat

I record the time that I eat (because rememebr to eat every 2-3 hours)
at the bottom I record crazy things that may have happened like if I start my t.o.m (he he is that tmi? or extra little walk with the kids, or slept well last night. etc.
I highly reccomend a food journal or utilizing one of the websites out there to track your caloric intake. I have seen sparkpeople.com and it seems pretty neat. It is hard to remember everything we eat, and we are more accountable when we WRITE it down.

Now I will give you ideas for these catergorys

Protein: turkey, chicken, fish, eggs, tofu, pork tenderloin, flank steak, grrek yogurt( so good, if you don't like it today, try it a few more times it grows on you and it is delish now) cottage cheese

startch: whole grains (mueseli, quinoa, old fashioned oats, steel cut oats( sweet potato, squash, wheat

Fat oils, nuts, nut butters

here are some snack ideas, I will add some meal ideas later in the week

kettle korn (weight watchers kind)
cottage cheese with cinnamon
banana with almond butter on whole wheat tortilla
slice of whole grain bread, little shred cheese, avocado. warm the cheese soo good!!
MEDIFAST BAR... I can help you with those. Smore is my fave!! 100 cals and 14 grams of protein. I can't find a better bar out there!!
mango
special k crackers with laughing cow cheese
grapes, 12 raw almonds, greek yogurt
mixed dried fruit with walnuts and raw almonds
greek yogurt with kashi honey sunshine cereal
celery with cheese or penut butter
apple with penut butter or almond butter
3 egg whites 1/4 scoop choc protein powder blended in blender with 1 c spinach. pour into pan and cook both sides add almond butter and 1/2 banana to top. Looks disgusting but tastes great... got it today off facebook!!

Anyway there are a few ideas of what I have been eating lately and what I was eating before changing to my higher protein to try and build build up some muscle!!!

A little inspiration

One of my client's has come to mind more than once over the past week or so as I am eating clean and avoiding sugary processed foods....

like the chocolate cake tonight,

and the Starburst jelly beans that were right next to my till all day yesterday.

"It's only food, we know what it tastes like."

And that has carried me through folks!! I know what that cake tastes like, and what any and every candy tastes like... and I don't need to eat it right now while I am in this mode, in this phase of my life. I would rather store up all my progress at the gym and snub a few treats to see definition in my arms and a piece of cellulite vanish.

I hope those words might be able to help you resist a temptation like they have for me!! Do you have a motto? Something that pushes you through when the going gets rough? I also like "I am strong, I am capable, work it!" That pushes me over a hill or through the last repition in a set of bicep curls.

133.6

my eating is cleaner than ever,
my workouts are going well,
I am gaining speed on my runs.

I will take 133.6 and silently pray the number goes down, but externally be happy with the progress my body is making.

Starting Amy's three weeks bust today, (weighing in every Friday for the next 3 weeks.)

Starting April fitness challenge with my new friend in Massachusetts Kyra.

Registered for the Race for the Cure last night, if you want to join... it isn't too late. And you can search for team D & B Supply, and join their team to save $5 on your entry fee, (20 instead of $25) I really believe in this cause, the efforts to cure Breast Cancer. Come join the fun and see what a 5k looks like. Set goals for yourself!! They are so empowering!

It is an exciting month to be me!!

SuNsHiNe!

It was so gorgeous here today! It was sunny and clear with just a cool breeze. I had the opportunity to run outside for the first time since last year! It felt soo good! I normally run 2 or 3 miles on the treddymill... (no that isn't a typo, my friend and I have nick named the treddymill-- teddy the treddy.)before I teach on Tuesday and Thursday, so I thought I would try it out today and get a feel for my outside pace.
I was pleasantly STOKED!!! I ran 2.3 miles in 20:43. If my math is correct that is aprozimately a pace of 8:15 per mile. By far faster than I have ever ran more than one mile at a time. I am really trying to increase my speed over the next month to prepare for the Race for the Cure May 7th. I want to finish in under 25 minutes, but really I would be in l.o.v.e if I could manage 24 minutes.
These two races coming up are compleltly different sets of goals and I really hope that I can accomplish what I am setting out to do. My half marathon time I want to beat by almost 10 minutes, I want to finish in under 2 hours. And I want to run like "my" wind in May between 24-25 minutes to finsh the 5k.
Had to report my progress because I am still so excited with my time!!

Food For Thought

Have you ever wondered what I eat? Ha, well probably not what I personally eat. But have you ever wondered what other people eat? I wonder all the time. I follow the getinshapegirls blog and I thought it was interesting to read what she ate for a day, or maybe it was a week I can't remember. She is training for a bikini fitness competition so she is lean and mean. I am just trying to build up muscle tone and minimize my fat. So we definitly eat differently. And for someone who is just focusing on losing weight, they too eat differently.

I have been keeping a food journal and I will record what I ate yesterday for you, as an example. I have been reading SO much information on health and fitness lately and one statistic that I just keep on seeing and seeing is this

Your weight is 80% nutrition, 10% working out, and 10% genetics.

So that means, we all really need to quit taking the weekends off. Me especially. I think there are 100 some days that equal the weekend per year, so 1/3rd of the year is spent taking a break from healthy eating. That does not do well for the weight loss/maintenance perspective. So I am trying, trying, trying (like I have been for the past year) to break for a meal not a day, and definitly not for a weekend! Because I am not dieting anymore, I am just living my new healthy life.

For a typical Wednesday my day look liked this!
We run errands on this day, grocery shopping, fill of with gas, story time, ballet for my princess in the evening, nap time is 2:00 ish for my little Bubba boy. So Wednesday's are my run run run day. Kids are up at 8 am, in time for me to make it to step class for the first time in a month.
I was ready for a fun workout so I rushed around and had a 8:15 am Medifast protien bar in the car on the way to the gym. home from gym, refuel 10:00 am 1/2 c old fashioned oats, 6 whole walnuts, 1/4 banana, cinnamon, packet of stevia, half glass skim milk (this is seriously my favorite meal ever right now!!) 1:15 Slice of whole grain bread with reduced fat shredd cheese and avocado (yumm so good too) and a protein shake on the way out the door to story time. 4:30 time to eat again, on the way to the bank.... I am going to be starving by time dinner so I eat another Medifast protein bar. I normally only eat these on the way to the gym, but I knew if I didn't get something quick and easy now.... I was going to be like a fat kid in a candy store when I got home to start dinner. 6pm chicken salad sandwich on whole wheat bread, sweet potato fries, raw veggies with a dallop of ranch, and few slices of mango (mangos sooo good right now, ripe and delicious!!!) and a chocolate covered pretzel. I have been limiting my sugars (ha remember when I was eliminating them? Ya, well that didn't work out so good for me, so limiting was a better idea) and that has been going really well. I have eliminated BLT's from my diet. Those bite licks and tastes add up for real yo!!
Had some friends over to watch a movie so I was up later than my 10pm usual, so when they left I had 5 whole grain crackers, 3 walnuts, and 5 or 6 dried cherries. I normally wouldnt eat that late but I knew I would never fall asleep with out it. Anyway, that is a typical busy day for me. I am not sure the calorie, protein, carb number... and I am entirely too lazy to figure it out. But I hit my major food groups, balanced whole grains with protein and felt satisfied all day long.

What is your typical day? What do you eat? What is your favorite healthy treat? 6

My Body is Like a Canvas

motivation is my brush I control every curve and make no excuses I turn heads and hold my head high I have no bad angles I am confident in every light I break limitations quitting is not an option. Now that is a serious piece of greatness there. It is an advertisment from Oxygen mag for some pre workout supplement --Super Pump Max. And whoever thought and wrote that little riddle definitly deserves a promotion. Those words are powerful. And while I, myself do not fit this riddle to the T. (I do not feel confident in every light, I prolly don't turn many heads- but I do control every curve, I do hold my head high, I have broken limitations and quitting is definitly not an option. I feel that this is really a piece of greatness. And it is a good reminder of what I am striving to be. Confident in the person I see in the mirror. Not because of my "looks" but because of the way I feel inside. Strong, powerful, and inspired to be my best. It is a good reminder of how I control what my body looks like too, by the food I eat. I can choose to feed it crap (processed, high calorie, high fat foods that make it fat) or I can feed it nourishing healthy foods that make it firm and healthy. I can not blame anyone or any one thing for the curves or any of the jiggle. It is purely based on how I nourish it, and how I work it.

What's Your Goal?

Do you have it written on paper? Somewhere you can see it?

Here is a little food for thought....

"If it doesn't take you closer to your goal, it takes you further away."

How's that for black and white baby?! Sometimes the truth hurts.... and this my friends is the truth.

That little piece of geniusness has my wheels in my head turning. What does it make you think about? What does it make you willing to change?

Oxygen Staff Blog: Tell me about your success!

Oxygen Staff Blog: Tell me about your success!: "One of the perks of my job here at Oxygen involves connecting with readers who have made healthy lifestyle transformations and bringing you ..."

Workin it with the Hubs

My hubby and I hit the gym this morning together for the first time in a while. We always workout at my class together I guess... but that has a little different feel than actually lifting weights on our own and not teaching or showing others how to do it.

We didn't really work out together that much, but in the same area and I followed his moves quite a bit. I thought it was pretty fun. And he is incredibly sexy... especially when he is doing pull ups. I mean the man can pull all 215 pounds of himself up and down for what seems like hours. I have never seen anyone, ever, do pull ups like him. Perfect form. He is a picture for a workout video I tell you. And then he helped me to some military presses, and I don't know why but I thought it was pretty hot. He is a handsome husband that's for sure.

I lifted heavy weights today. For the first time, like ever I think. I have always been a bit intimitated by heavy. I always do a bearable weight for like 50 reps of everything. I have been scared of building up, looking like a man. Have you ever worried about that? Well, rest assured-- you wont. I was just reading several articles about why women need to stop worrying about that and lift weights. We don't have enough testosterone in our bodies (like men do) do bulk up. That was enough for me. I believe it, it makes sense. And I do know that the more muscle I have, the more calories I burn through out the day at just a resting rate. So I have always loved lifting, just the heavy weights is new to me. I found a new blog of a girl in Boston. She is training for a bikini competition and is super knowledgeable. Check it out if you want. I think it thegetinshapegirl.wordpress.com. Or google it, it is something like that. I have corresponded with her a couple times and she seems very cool, very knowledgeable and is motivating me to push a little harder.

In other news, I am ready to sign up for the Race for the Cure May 7th. I want to run it. Not like jog it, but RuN it. Like as in push myself to run this the fastest I have ever run. I think my goal today is for the 5k is 25 minutes. That is about an 8 minute mile and that is going to be booking it for me. I am excited. I feel extreme pride in this cause, for breast cancer awareness. I do not know why specifically, but I definitly feel my heart gravitate to events that promote awareness and finding a cure. I feel like I need to do even a tiny part (a 25$ entry fee, and pushing myself to achieve a goal) to support finding a cure for a disease that has taken way too many women; too many moms, grandmas, sisters, aunts, cousins-- much too soon. My heart goes out to people affected by this ugly disease. I want them to feel my love and support for their cause.

I had a whole epiphany on a post in regards to this cause, while I was running 6 miles of course. How it is going to make me famous because I am going to write my deep thoughts and feelings and compose it into a small piece of geniusness to include in a Sunday news paper, or a pamphlet to promote the Race for the Cure. It probably wont happen, but like I have said before I get pretty "Deep" while I am running, and right now it is a fire in the back of my brain... time will tell if the flame burns out or turns into a crazy bonfire in the next few months. Who knows what I am really capable of? Who really knows what we are all capable of.

132.3

Oxygen Magazine's Trainer Talk with Kim Lyons: Do you treat your car better then your body?

Oxygen Magazine's Trainer Talk with Kim Lyons: Do you treat your car better then your body?: "Hi Everyone! I'm on the hunt for a new car! I'm not giving up my super fun Porsche, but Gunter and I need a 'family' car so we are looking..."

132.1

Runner's Mind

So I got on the scale last night before bed and it said 133.1 after a whole day of eating. I was estatic! You know what I did yesterday, different than what I have been doing everyday since about.... oh, January ish?

I ran a long run. I ran 6.2 miles in 60 minutes.

I got my new Runners World magazine yesterday and felt the itch to run again. To really run. Not just dabble with 3 milers here and there... but run for distance, run for time. I decided I'd head to the gym and run for 60 minutes. I told myself I didn't care how far or how fast, but I would not stop running for 60 minutes. And then my adreneline kicked in, endorphins flew and I started going faster, faster and faster.

I miss running. I miss the way my head feels, the way my heart feels. I absolutly love the way I think about how far I have come, things I can do. I truly feel empowered when I run. Because it is hard for me. Because once upon a time I was the kid who cried on track day in elementary, middle and junior high. Because I was the chubby girl who could not run, at all, let alone fast. I was humiliated. I wanted to die those days.

I am a new person, not because of the way I look on the outside, but because of the goals I have achieved. Because of the hard things I have accomplished. Because of the way I feel inside, I am a new person, a beautiful person.

I watched an inspiring video yesterday about a dad who ran 2 marathons and the iron man triathalon with his son. His son who can not move on his own. That father pushed his son in a wheel chair, swam with a boat strapped behind him, and cycled with a seat in front of him. I was inspired. I was speechless. As I ran I thought to myself, that we as living, able bodied people have no excuse for not pushing out bodies to do the hard things in life. I remember when I was pregnant with my first baby and literally could do nothing more than walk a short distance. I couldn't waite to run again. I couldn't waite to become a runner. I think about the people who will never be capable of having a child, of watching their little one go to preschool, or a school dance, or get married. Who am I to take advantage of the fact that I can. To feel entitled to not eat healthy to not exercise... which I know increases my odds of getting cancer, or heart disease, or whatever else is out there.

I owe it to these people who have passed before me. Who can not walk, who can not run. I owe it to them to push my body and to cease the moment of being capable of raising my family and being the best person I can be, the most beautiful person I can be... inside and out.

300 calories

As I was logging a quick 3 miles last night before I went into teach Bootcamp I was thinking about the food I eat. The choices I make.

I burn roughly 300 calories running 3 miles. And I burnt around 500 teaching last night. That is sorta a hard core workout for me. I mean, it's a lot.

How quickly do you eat the calories you burn?

An apple has 90 calories
Most healthy Subway sandwiches have 300
330 in one slice of pizza (who eats one?)
200 in a original glazed doughnut
110 in plain ol oatmeal
540 in a big Mac
380 in a medium french fry
600 in a small blizzard
230 in a cup of avocado
200 in a plain cupcake (which means that my two bites of cake last night were prolly like 100 calories... for 2 bite!?! holy crap prolly not worth it!!!)

anyways, just some random thoughts on how I refuel my body after I workout. Is one slice of pizza really worth having to run another friggin 3 miles? Or is a blizzard worth 6 miles?!

I guess it depends on the day.

What is it worth it to you?

6 out of 8

I have cheated twice now on my no sugar monthly escapade.

and I will prolly cheat again on Saturday. It's food day at our crazy one day sale. And I prolly wont be able to leave for lunch and I will prolly eat a few sugary things.

I feel ok about it.

I can cheat a little. A few times out of the month shouldn't throw me off too far.

Just thought I'd fess up in advance this time.

I used to be Catholic...

and I think that is where I learned to be afraid of not confessing.

so sorry

i had some angel food cake last night. with whipped cream and berries. if i was gonna cheat that seems like a pretty ok way to do it.

just so ya know. i fell off the bandwagon for a minute or two last night, but was back up and running today.

i even resisted those darned ol girl scout cookies. stupid girlscouts. makin america fatter one delightful cookie at a time. i could buy a box and save em til april. but i highly doubt i would actually do that so i better just stay away from those naughty little girls.

131.7

boring gym workout this morning at 430.

that scale needed a little more time to reccoperate from last night's workout because my eating has been ON FIRE.

I forgive you scale. You will do better for me next time. :o)

I am a little bored with my workouts... i really want to get back to step class on Mon Wed and Friday. It is the one workout besides my boot camp of course that is fun. I need some step action monday morning.

in other news. I went to the dmv yesterday to renew my drivers license. and when the little man asked me my weight, i said 130, 5 pounds lighter than it said 5 years ago. and this time it was even true... well almost... i guess i lied by 1.7 lbs but i feel good about it. next week i shall weigh 130 and i will for the first time in my life not be called a liar by a police man who may or may not be hot sexy and pull me over for speeding. which i have stopped doing by the way. I am a law abiding citizen to the T these days, promise :o)

pump it!!!

Rockin boot camp class tonight!!!!! I love my bootcampers!! They just keep on comin back for more and I l.o.v.e it!!!


Wooohooo I was drenched in sweat. In the words of a famous coach I had... "Whoever said girls glisten did not know me." Amen sista!! My shirt was soaked.

Isn't that funny how at one point in life I was embarrassed if I sweat. And now, I am genuinely irritated if I have left the gym and my clothes aren't soaking?!

Ya, times sure do change.

I Love Freddy

Freddy Meyers that is!!

Ok, so really I don't like it. It is too expensive for most things. Unless you really know your price comparisons I would not recommend shopping there for normal stuff. But they have these amazing isles in the back of the produce called natural/whole grain/organic funness.

I got a few new things to try this week for my clean eating/take shape situation. Quinoa, fresh almond butter (ohhhhhh soooo delightful), whole wheat crackers, whole wheat english muffins, hummus, and some feta cheese. I have a recipe for some Mediterranean pasta and the feta is for that. But it seems like a lot of clean recipes call for it.

I figure I can try a few new things each week.

Today is day 2 of my not eating sugar. So, to clarify. I am eating fruit, or sweetened flavored things like a blueberry rice cake. But I am not eating cake, cookies, or candy (holy crap this is a test for me cuz I really like me some candy!!!) Even though I only eat those things in moderation typically, I feel like I owe it to my abdominal muscles to try and cut them out for 30 days. The month of March. Combine Take Shape (the method that is true and tested for my body) combined with cleaner eating and working out like I love... and I think I can make things happen for this body of mine.

I owe myself inside and outside the pleasure of making the sacrifices I need to, to get to the next level in my atheltic abilities. I am ready to make the commitment. Today is day 2 and I know this is going to work. I can't waite to see the progress.