Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Whole Truth and Nothing But the Truth Wednesdays

Last night, after cooking some chicken till about 10:30pm and tying up some loose ends, I realized that it was almost midnight when I was going to bed. I had to be up at 5:30... just 5.5 short hours away. See getting up that early and getting a workout in isn't a big deal if you get to bed early enough. However, if you don't.... torture. But thankfully, the thing that helped me get up?

Commitment.
Not to myself, but to a friend. I knew that she was going to be there, so I better get my behind there as well. I can't stress how important it is to have supporters along the way.
I have been doing this for (pause while I count on my fingers) 9 months now and have had a few different partners in crime (besides my awesome Trainer). Jill, my sister-in-law to get me started. It helps to have someone who really cares about you while your on the first leg of your journey. This way, when you look like a fool (which is really inevitable), you'll be loved no matter what. Then my friend Stephanie took over for Jill (who became pregnant! :)...) and that was just the thing I needed to keep it fresh. It was great being able to be the one to encourage someone else. And now I've picked up a few more friends along the way, Amy, Desha... You see, fitness, though generally individual, is that much more enjoyable when you have someone to endure the ups and downs with. Just sayin'.

And now for highs and lows:

High: Again I'm going to have to default to clothes shopping. I purchased a size Small in a top on Saturday. Crazy.

Low: That freakin' chocolate chip cookie that seems to find me. I swear they have radar or something. (It was one of the goodies at the conference I went to last weekend) Lately, I just have a really hard time saying "No" to them.

And here is where I say, that even though you may do everything right (I stayed good with the eating (ok well minus the cookie), got my miles in)... you can gain. I did. At one point this week I was 153.7. The final result of the week: 154.5. (a gain of .8) I am attributing it to a changed food plan and a gain in muscle mass. (Or at least that's what my trainer says and I believe him) So it looks like the 100lb. mark is just a little further away. So in reality, I lost 1.1 from last Wednesday... and I'm ok with that.

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Tip Tuesday

Since I had the pleasure of doing legs today, today's tip will be on how to do a few simple leg exercises. Most people think that you have to go to the gym to get a good leg workout. Leg press, leg extensions, etc... truth is, all you need is... just you and your legs!

1. Squat: Stand with your feet shoulder width apart. Slowly bend at the knees until your knees reach 90 degrees. Then bring yourself back up. Make sure that as you bend you're keeping your butt out (so attractive) and your back flat. When you're bending, you're going to bring your arms up and out in front of you. Do NOT rest them on your legs. To get more of a burn, you can get into the squat position and hold it there for as long as you can, arms out. To get even more of a burn, you can "pulse" while you are in the squat position. Pulsing means that you squat and bring yourself up but not fully out out of the squat position, and then repeat.

2. Lunge: Stand with one foot in front of you and the other foot about 2 feet behind the other. You should look like a pair of scissors. Then you're going to bring your back knee down to almost touch the ground and then bring it up. Your front knee should not pass the plane of your toes. If you have trouble balancing, feel free to hold on to the end of a couch or something else you have handy. Once you get comfortable, you can increase the difficulty by holding a weight in each hand. If you're really brave, you can try doing walking lunges. It's basically one right after the other. Works best in a long hallway :)

I am beginning to realize the difficulty of describing exercises in words. If you have difficulty, you can probably go to Google images and look up what these should actually look like :) And with that good-night! 5:30 is going to come early!

Monday, March 29, 2010

Early to rise...

Today I became an early bird. The alarm went off at 5:30am and I managed to get up and get to the gym for 6. I prepared everything the night before (although I managed to forget an apple) to make the transition easier. I was a bit unsure that I would be able to run again so soon after the night before, but not too bad! A little bit on the decline towards the end, but I say it's allowed. I will say though that if you aren't interested in the news, you may want to bring your iPod or other music player. Not too much to choose from by way of TV programs.

Today's lesson, though short, is don't be afraid to switch up your routine, even if the one you're currently doing is working. You never know what could work better.

Sunday, March 28, 2010

You know you've lost weight when...

A funny thing happened to me today. I saw a little girl at church today that I used to babysit. I went up to her and I said hello. She said to me, "You're a different Becky." I said, "No, I'm the same Becky." She looked at me a little funny and said, "Where's the other Becky?" I said, "I'm the same one, just skinnier." She said, "Oh." (She totally still didn't believe me)

This is the same little girl that when I did babysit (at my heaviest) would ask me, "Are you fat?" I of course said no because who wants to admit that. Then another time, I was going to sit down on the couch and she said, "Your butt is big." Now I don't know if it was a small lack of manners, but we do know that kids often don't have that "oh maybe I shouldn't say this" filter. To them, what what they see, is what's real. Now what do you say to that?

Denial. I had a major case of denial. I mean once I got to my heaviest, I could no longer deny it. However, there was that point, just past 200 that I said, oh I'm still athletic, I can still play sports, etc. Clearly, I was a heart attack waiting to happen.

So my dear friends, may you be honest with yourselves and take a step towards change. Maybe it's diet, maybe it's exercise, or something else, but don't let another day go by. Today, my friends, today.

Saturday, March 27, 2010

Strangers

Competition. I know that many of us thrive on that word, and yet for some, it can be crushing. There are those that feel the need to constantly measure themselves up to some thresh-hold or standard that has been set (sometimes unknowingly) by others; and then there are those that could give a rat's behind what other people thought. There's also the other kind of competition that is governed by goals and outcomes. These are things like sports, a marathon run, etc. where there are clear winners and losers. Combining the two can have some drastic results.

You see, I went to this conference this weekend where one of the speakers talked about how people, especially women, can play a game with themselves in this: They walk into a crowded room, decide everyone else is size 0, and then feel fatter than they did when they walked out the door in the morning. You see, that woman has set a standard (size 0) that's not even true, has realized that she does not measure up to that standard, which then in turn... she considers herself a loser. That's not ok!

At this same conference, they served lunch. I was following a friend and we were headed to a table that had two empty chairs. However, one of the chairs had barely enough room to pull out. There were two women on the other side of the table. One said, "Oh, maybe we can move the table." The other said, "Oh that's ok, she's skinny." She was talking about me! I was taken aback for a moment, but then realized, oh yeah... I AM!

Now what does all that have to do with competition?

Ok well that particular instance didn't really have any... except for if my butt was going to be able to fit in that chair... which it did. But the comment from that stranger... has actually stuck with me all day. I mean it's even made a blog entry. :) My point is that people and competition can be good... buuuut they can also be that un-attainable goal that you'll always lose to... because it's not real!

In fitness, it's important to set goals, but not the winner or loser kind. If you're doing something about your health, you're already a winner and always will be. (Sounds corny, I know, but it's true). Some days you'll feel skinny, some days fat, but know that you are on your way to a healthy lifestyle and that's all that matters.

Friday, March 26, 2010

If You Have 8 Minutes...

Upon a recent trip to Borders, I realized that you can get almost any body part, fit, in less than 15 minutes. You have 8-minute Arms, Abs, Buns, and Legs. 10-minute Workouts. 12-minute Makeover- 3 minute Interval Training Workout. I mean COME ON! Am I seriously supposed to think that if I do 8, 10, or 12 minutes of a specialized workout, that I'm going to get amazing results? Without changing my eating? (notice I said eating and not diet... there's a reason) Who knows, maybe one of you guys is a workout phenomenon and would get ripped, but for me... I have my doubts.

However, if it gets you to think... "Hey, I've got 8-minutes between kids, shopping, laundry, etc. I can do SOMETHING"... then that's good. The problem I have with that system though, is that there's no real investment of time into a good workout. When I'm taking my time to go to the gym and get my 1-hour run on, it doesn't only help my physical body. It helps clear my mind and get the adrenaline going. It can also be a time to just think and maybe get that million dollar idea you've always been looking for. 8-minutes would barely allow me time to get my thoughts off of what's gone on that day! I don't know about you, but work can be stressful and a good run may be just what the doctor ordered.

As promised I did try the protein shake and.... it's good! The brand is Tokkyo... it's in a blue clear-ish bottle.. and the flavor I tried was chocolate (obviously). I do have a vanilla to try as well, so I'll keep you posted on that too.

The short of it is, take time for yourself. You'll thank you.

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Be Prepared

Today was a fairly decent day.... well except for the fact that I fell asleep with my laptop in my lap last night and didn't really sleep all that well. Woke up before my alarm... never happens. Left me a LITTLE bit tired for the day. But I think it's in preparation for my switch to working out in the AM. Yep, I'm going to try and be an early bird. I was, at one point in my life, able to get up before work and go to the gym. Hopefully I can replicate this :)

Today actually ended up being a trainer day. I was very thankful to work out earlier in the day, rather than later. But half the reason I was able to do that, is because I had my gym bag in the car packed with fresh clothes. I had also packed my full day's worth of food before leaving for work. Crazy? Well, not really (although sometimes I'm amazed that my whole day's worth of food fits in a regular sized gift bag.) The best way to stay on track, is to be prepared for whatever the day could bring you. One of my major downfalls was (and sometimes still is) substituting protein bars for my meals. While it is good that I at least had something, I wasn't getting the amount of calories that I needed. Then the next day, I was STARVING. It's not a good combination when you're on a restricted meal plan. So save yourself the trouble and take a few more minutes in the morning to prepare for your day, the right way.

It does help to have a few healthy snacks on hand. This will save you money and calories from the trip through the nearest drive-thru. Plain almonds or cashews(portioned before-hand) are a good on hand snack you can stash in your purse or glove compartment (for you guys). And an occasional protein bar or shake isn't going to break the bank.

I'll leave you with this quote from my good friend Alexander Graham Bell: "Before anything else, preparation is the key to success."

Side note: Today I bought some new protein powder... I'll let you know how it tastes.

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Whole Truth and Nothing But the Truth Wednesdays

For me, Wednesday is my day of rest... although I hardly feel rested after a full day of work, cooking, grocery shopping, and band practice. As I was thinking of what to write in today's entry I remembered something that I used to do with the kids at my old job. We had this thing called "highs and lows." It's a discussion time where you talk about the highs and lows of your day, or in the case here, week. I encourage you to do the same because it helps you to think about what accomplishments you have made and maybe those things that could use a little "tweak."

I am going to "cheat" because I had two really great high's this week. And if you're going to cheat in anything, this should be it.
1) I ran my first 8:30 minute mile. I felt like I had conquered the world and could run forever... ok maybe not forever, but close.
2) I bought a size 8. Yep, the last thing that I ever remember buying in a size 8, was my shoes. I have lost 16 sizes. Now I know you're all going... 8 plus 16... equals... 24. Yep. I was a 24. BUT! Not any more :) So really, it doesn't matter where you come from, but where you're headed.

My low would have to be this weekend. I made some poor eating choices based on the emotions that I was feeling at the time. I would have hoped that I would know better by now, but it just goes to show you that we're all human and things happen. But, since then, I have put on my big girl pants and have moved on.

In an effort to be as transparent as possible, the last thing about "Whole truth and nothing but the truth Wednesday" is weigh in. I've decided that I'm sick of the social stigma that society puts on weight... those with too much, and those with too little. Too much? Fat (Ugly). To little? Tiny (Gross). How about we just stick both those categories in the trash, and call it unhealthy? Well anyway, I don't know how I'm going to change society on that one, but this week I'm at 155.6... 5.6 more till 100 :)

We'll see what next week brings.

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Tip Tuesday

Abs... or should I say ab muscles. We've all got 'em... some are more hidden then others. I've only recently begun to discover mine.

How?

You'd be surprised that almost everything you do can involve your abs. Walking while contracting your abs is a great exercise. But, for those of you looking for a little more in depth ab workout here are a few exercises to get you started.

1. Sit-ups! Yep that's right. Good ol' fashioned sit-ups. There are many variations on these, but the two that I'll address are straight-legged and bent-legged.
A. Straight legged. Lie flat with your back on the ground. While keeping your legs on the ground, sit-up. To add difficulty, cross your arms over your chest.
B. Bent legged. Lie flat with your back on the ground. Bring your legs up so that the soles of your feet are touching the ground. Sit-up. This one is easier if you have a partner to help hold your feet down. If not, you can try hooking them under the couch or a coffee table. Again you can increase the difficulty by folding your arms over your chest.

2. Planks. Planks are like a push-up, but with out moving. You may also feel this in your shoulders and lower back, but you should feel the majority of it in your abs especially if you are contracting them. To do a plank you are going to get into the position of a male push-up, arms straight palms on the floor. Then bend your arms so that your elbows are touching the floor. Make sure you don't have your hips too high, otherwise you won't get the most out of the exercise. Also if your hips are too low, you may feel it more in your back. Hold the position for as long as you can.

These should get you started. If you have a sensitive tailbone, pick up one of those yoga mats. It will work wonders. Happy ab-ing!

Monday, March 22, 2010

Today I conquered the art of.... walking.

I had the best of intentions. I got to the gym, stretched, and started the one to two minute warm-up. Then I lowered the treadmill (yes they make ones that have a decline)... and pushed the shiny plus symbol (I swear they make it that way to seem more appealing) up to 7.0. And that's when I realized, today, 7.0 meant nothing more than my shoe size.... My zeal from the day before caught up with me. My abs killed, my shin was screaming at me in all sorts of languages, and I felt that I just might be that person that trips on the treadmill. I quickly pressed the minus symbol to a jog and did that for a mile. Then, walked.

Yes that's right, I walked. I took it a little easy, chose 3.2 and upped the incline. I decided I would make the most of it. And you know what? I made 4 miles. Which brings me to today's jewel.

You don't need to "run a marathon" every day. Though my miles were short and my speed sloth-like, I still went. Don't be afraid to rock the walk.

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Real Life Happens

Yesterday... was a bad day. On my day to sleep in, I woke up at 8:30am. I decided to make the most of it and I brought my car in to get an oil change and inspection. The oil change guy told me that I should get new shocks yadda, yadda, yadda. Then I had it inspected. Fail. Needed new rear brakes and rotors. A few hundred dollars later, I was feeling pretty crappy. After that, I went to get a pedicure with some friends, something every girl/woman should do. There's nothing like looking down at your toes and seeing some fantastic shade of bright pink :) Plus the foot/leg massage feels great after putting in your miles at the gym!

Though I felt a bit better from that, I was still feeling a bit emotional. Now emotional and hungry don't fare well together at all. I don't know about you, but the things that I crave when I'm emotional and hungry include: burgers, ice cream, cookies, fries, etc. Question is, how do you deal with that? Best suggestion: drink some water and call someone while going to get food that will fuel you, not give you a temporary high. I've learned that as much as I love a burger, burgers don't talk back, neither does ice cream... or any other food for that matter. By calling a friend, you get the chance to strengthen a relationship all the while distracting you from (name your craving). And that my friends is another life lesson. Food is fuel, not fun. I wish I could say that I made the right choice yesterday, but my emotions got the best of me.

But you know what? Tomorrow is another day. Heck, if you blow breakfast... start over at lunch. The worst thing to do is say, "Oh well I've blown it already, so I might as well..." NO! Never "might as well." You are in control and you are stronger than you think.

So today, because of the choice I made yesterday, my body did not want to get on that treadmill. I did not feel like driving to the gym. But, I did. And by doing so... I made another accomplishment. I ran 2 miles at 7.0 making 8:31 minute miles. The remaining 4 weren't as fast, but that doesn't matter. What matters is, I got right back into it.

Real life happens.

Introduction

Welcome!

Due to numerous comments on my Facebook statuses, I have decided to start a blog about my fitness woes and triumphs. I have actually been wanting to do something like this for quite some time, but never really got around to it (and never really thought anyone would be interested in it). I hope that through my experiences, others may find comfort, inspiration, or maybe even a good laugh... even if it is at my expense.

My only regret for both this site and my endeavor is that I wish I would have started it sooner. One of the many things that I have learned, is that it's a journey. It's not going to happen overnight. There is no "quick fix." I didn't get to 250lbs. by consuming one giant hamburger (thank God), and so I'm not going to get to 125lbs. by taking a stroll around the block. It takes work, dedication, the ability to say "NO", a sense of humor, and a support system. I have been blessed with an amazing support system. I want to take a second to thank them: 1)My sister-in-law Jill for calling me and asking me to do it (and all the support you've given over these last months) 2) My Trainer Aaron (www.inner-fit.com) for believing in me and pushing me to get to where I am today... "If you're not cryin', you're not tryin'." :) 3) My mom and dad for their support and love through "thick and thin" (and help with supplying the ever changing wardrobe) :) 4) Friends- You guys are great and I thank you for all your complements and wish you the best of luck on your journey as well.

I will say that this site is not meant to be a "do-what-I-do" site. Each of us is different. I may run 6 miles, but that doesn't mean that you should "go ye therefore and do likewise." If you're looking to get in shape, start with a walk, find some stairs and go up and down them (several hundred times), take a bike ride... the main thing is, find what works for you... because guess what, if it doesn't work for you, YOU WON'T DO IT!

With that said, I hope you enjoy!

Becky