Tuesday, July 28, 2009

How badly do you want to reach your goals?

Sorry for the delay in writing, I haven't been feeling myself lately, so I needed to take a moment for myself. Sort of a mini-sabbatical to help realign my energies I suppose. Oh and I was having terrible allergy problems, but that is neither here nor there.

I have to confess, I really haven't felt like exercising lately. Actually, the thought of tossing it all had crossed my mind, but I decided my health was too important to waste like that.

So I'm realigning my focus. It isn't about the numbers anymore. It isn't about the calories, or the grams, or the time spent sweating. Its about me becoming one, mind and body fusing together to make me a happier, healthier individual.

I am sure I have spoken on this before, but it is important for you to decide to exercise because you want to do it, not because someone else (unless its a doctor)telling you to. YOU must make that conscious decision, or else, you're setting yourself up to fail. Most people who diet and exercise because of some external force-be it a loved one, a family member, an upcoming event, whatever-will find that they don't stick to their plans, because it isn't what THEY want. It has to be what YOU want.

You have to want it to receive it.

That's what I've spent the last two weeks thinking about. How badly do I want this? How badly do I want to be fit, lose weight, eat better, get healthy?

How badly?

It took me a while to finally answer that. I really had to search deep to find it, but the answer was there.

So how badly do you want it?

This goes with all goals. You achieving your dreams is dependent on how much you want it. If your entire spirit is not completely sold on the idea, you may have modest success, but you won't achieve everything you could. But if you are fully committed, if you fully believe, you will achieve everything. You will receive everything.

So how badly do you want to be fit?

How badly do you want to get healthy?

How badly do you want to lose weight?


When you answer those questions, I have one left: how can I help you achieve those goals?

Having a friend to help keep you on track, help keep you accountable will help you attain your goals. A great way to do this is join an online forum where you can meet online work out buddies. Beachbody has a great forum where you can log in work outs, keep a blog of your food diary, and meet others who can become work out buddies with you. Check it out!

I'm happy to be your work out buddy (after all, I need help too!)

And if I can help in anyway, please let me know!!

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Double your weight loss? You can with a food journal.

I'm sure you have heard it before. Keep
a food journal. Keep track of everything
that you eat, everything you drink, and
you will see just what exactly is going
into your body. And it is true.

By keeping track of everything you eat,
including everything you drink, you can
see where you are "cheating." So often
we forget to include that piece of candy
there, or that disregard that cup of
coffee this morning, that had three scoops
of sugar and some creamer put into it, but
those calories can really add up. If you
are on a 1,600 calorie a day diet, and have
one soda, that is 150 calories gone with no
nutritional value to your body.

PLUS, it's 40 grams of sugar in your diet.
We are only suppose to have around 42 grams
a day, so there goes your recommended daily
allowance. One soda! Anything else you eat
during the day, if it has naturally occurring
sugar, will mean you are in sugar overload.
Which means, that excess sugar is being
converted into starch, so it can be stored as
fat!

That's right. All because of one soda. But you
don't think about one soda, because its a drink.
And you're not keeping track of your food.

This is why a food journal is necessary to diet
success. You have to account for everything,
including those cups of coffee or sodas.

Everything.

Keep a food journal is easy. You can blog about
your intake. You can keep a journal that you can
carry around in your purse or pocket, to record
items as you eat. Stores now have small pocket size
notebooks available that are perfect for journaling
about food.

You can also go to My Diet Diary and get a free online journal.

Its completely up to you, but if you want to lose
weight, adding a journal to your fitness program
will help. Most individuals end up losing twice
as much weight as they intended, just because they
became aware of the junk they were ingesting.

Honestly, have you ever stopped to think about what
you haven't had to eat during an average day?

This is a great way to become aware of how you may be
sabotaging your diet without even realizing it.

Monday, July 13, 2009

Exercise ADD?

I admit it, I have an extreme case of exercise ADD.
I cannot stick with one program for very long. My
attention to the program wanes very quickly. If you
are anything like me, you need variety.

But here's the thing, variety is a good thing.

Varying your work outs can keep you from plateauing
out. A plateau is when you hit that brick wall in
diet and exercise, where you are not seeing any
results, nothing is changing. By frequently changing
your work outs, you can see better and more results.

If you decide to change up your work outs, try doing
it every three or four weeks. This is the premise
behind several of the Beachbody fitness programs.
Repeating the same program or work out every single
day can not only stop you from seeing results after
a while, but will create boredom and possibly cause
you to stop working out altogether.


P90X uses a frequent change in workouts. Each day is
a different program on a different DVD. After three
weeks, you change DVDs again. The new fitness program,
Insanity with Shaun T, is the same way. Other programs,
like Turbo Jam, Slim in 6 and Yoga Booty Ballet, all
offer different programs to be done on different days.

If you are going to the gym every day, doing 30 minutes
on the tread mill and 30 minutes in the weight room, most
likely, you are not going to see much difference after
you reach your plateau. You are just spinning your wheels
after a while. Changing your program every day means you
will see results and continue to see results.

And again, if you have exercise ADD like I do, you'll
stick with the programs.

But you'll thank yourself if you bring it and change it up!!

Join the Beachbody Revolution!

Friday, July 10, 2009

My own worst enemy

I had a bit of a breakdown last night. Yes,
it's true. I almost gave up. I almost caved.
I took photos of myself after two weeks of
P90X, because someone asked if I had any
before and after shots. I hate the before I
have, and the current isn't much better. I
was so ashamed to even post it, because to me
it doesn't look like I have done anything. Yes,
maybe my stomach is a bit flatter, but when I
looked at the photo I saw nothing but a fat girl.

Yes, a fat girl.

I got so upset, thought to myself: how can I be
a fitness coach when I don't even look like I
work out?

How am I supposed to inspire anyone?

I blogged on another site, just to vent and get it
out of me. My lovely friends there supported me,
pointed out that is what makes me a good coach,
because I can relate to people's struggles. I
hadn't thought of it that way. I can relate.

I know what it is like to struggle with weight loss. I
know what it is like to exercise every day, and sweat.
Sweat like nothing before, and see no weight loss at all.

The great thing is, my friends also pointed out that it
looked like my programs were working for me. That is
what killed me. She could see the transformation, but
I couldn't.

So, remember, please be kind to yourself. You may not see
what others see, but your work will pay off. I promise.
We are our own worst enemy, so when you look at yourself,
when you weight yourself, when you work out, be kind and
remember you are doing this to enhance a person who is
already beautiful inside and out.

Regardless, you are a beautiful person. I can see it,
even now. I see it.

I hope you do too.

Thursday, July 9, 2009

It's been hard being motivated lately.

I'll admit it.

Motivation is something that takes
well, motivation. And right now, I
just don't have any sort of motivation.

Period.

I'm having a crisis of faith, my friends.
I am having doubts that I can even be
effective as a blogger.

Yes, I'm even doubting my blogging skills.

Why have I suddenly been plagued by this
self-doubt and lack of motivation? It is
very simple.....

I lack the support system.

Yes, it's true. I lack the support system
I need to get my booty out on the dance
floor and shaking my groove thang to the
shamefully quiet background music of my
beloved P90X (did you know you can actually
turn the sound OFF on these dvds? Unheard of).

I don't have really anyone here to say get
off your bum, lazy, and do the workout. I
can't believe you still haven't worked out,
what is wrong with you?

I need a drill sargent.

Do you?

I think this is why so many of us do tend to
let go of our programs, because there really
isn't a need to.

When no one is watching, they can't see us
goof off....

So what is a girl to do?

Well, you can help me, and I can help you.

How about that?

We can keep each other honest and motivated.
We can keep each other inspired to continue.
We can keep each other from goofing off.

How does that sound?

And I know exactly how we can do it too. You
see, there is this forum on Team Beachbody that
actually *allows* you schedule work outs
together
and keep in contact with your work out buddies
to make sure that they are exercising and being
good.

PLUS

With every work out you register in real time in the
Super Gym, you get entered into that day's contest to
win great prizes and cash rewards, up to $1,000.

Could you use a $1,000? I could.

PLUS

Team Beachbody members can save 10% on all purchases at
Beachbody.

How cool is that?

So here's the link to Team Beachbody.

I hope that you will join my work out buddies, because
seriously,
I need help. I can't get motivated.

Can you please help me?