Learning How To Balance

So this AM I decide to weigh myself.... (first time in a while) and I have to admit...I was SHOCKED!!!!  "Udderly" Shocked!!! And I'm going to post it here: 156.2  Looks like Christmas, a business trip to Las Vegas, drinking "good beer", FREEZING COLD WEATHER and other excuses have caught up to me!!!   So I MUST get back on the wagon... this was a true test that I cannot stray from my exercise schedule and logging my food!!  (With a few exceptions of course)  I can tell that I haven't been working out to my normal level nor have I been watching what I eat.   What's ironic about this is - I watch fitness videos, read articles, etc. all the time "to keep myself motivated"... Ahhhh, I guess I've been putting that "motivation" in my pocket b/c until now... I haven't done much with it.  But we are back to it and ready to see some progress!!   To get started here are a few things to remember: Be kind to yourself  ...

#SparkTheSeason - Lights Dec. 1-6 Goals:  1) 64oz H2O Daily 2) Stay w/in daily calories 3) Exrcse 5 x a week. 

It's important to keep yourself motivated and to reward yourself for sticking with it and reaching your goals!! Here are some non-food reward ideas! First - Here’s how to set up a good rewards system: * Choose some benchmarks and reward levels. (small rewards, milestones, and BIG GOALS) * Make the reward meaningful to you. * Small rewards can be used for meeting smaller goals. (maybe for tracking each day) * Don’t use food as a reward. * Plan to celebrate. Sparkers Ideas: * Buy yourself some flowers * A pretty candle or bath stuff. * New make up * Start a reward jar…put in strips of paper each with a small reward and pull one out each     time you reach a goal. Or you can put in $ for each goal you reach and then have     money saved for a bigger reward when you reach a bigger goal. * A new book * New nail polish * New jewelry, earrings * A movie * Going on a day trip somewhere cool * Have a spa weekend at home just relax for a full weekend take the kids ...

Assignment #1: Post Exercise Plan (9/29/13) Strength Training - Mon/Wed/Fri 30 minutes  Cardio -  Mon-Fri 30-50 minutes -  (5-6 days each week)  (will plan schedule on personal spreadsheet)  * Walk on trail at lake   * You Tube (Jessica Smith, Pop Sugar, Fitness Blender)  * Turbo Fire  * Turbo Jam  ********************************************************* Assignment #2: Post Eating plan (9/30/13) I will be following something similar to what @STEPBYSTEP1955 is doing:  1. Eat between 1200 and 1550 calories daily - tracking on SP  2. Eat protein with every meal  3. Eat starchy/simple carbs earlier in the day; only fibrous carbs after 5pm. (this one peaked my interest so I'm hoping to learn more and master this one)  4. Eat the recommended fruits and veggies daily  5. Practice portion control - Stop when I'm satisfied!  6. Limit my sweets - already a goal of mine  ********************...

I found this article that really hit home with my last post so I thought I would do a "Goals - Part #2" just to keep that thought going.... This list is more geared towards weight loss goals but that may not be your goal at all...your goals may not have anything to do with weight but this will get your gears turning for ideas to set goals and (see image below) !! This article was from the blog Delightfully Fit - 50 ways to stay motivated to lose weight . I LOVE IT! It was written by one of my FAVORITE fitness writers, wellness coach and trainer - Jessica Smith.  I'm not going to list all 50 but here are a few that I wanted to touch on: 1) Think wellness not weight loss. Do you only make good food choices when you are trying to lose weight? This could lead to rebound weight gain if you go back to your old habits once you’ve reached your goal. You have to eat every day, so why not eat better every day? 2) Set reasonable goals. Ask yourself...

You will never regret working out... can you say that about not working out?   Weight loss:   3,500 calories = 1 pound That sounds SO overwhelming but that doesn't mean you have to burn 3,500 calories. That means to lose 1 lbs in a week you have to create a deficiency of 3,500 calories. So you could burn some and cut back on some foods. Exercise: Everyone is different so it's hard to put a "overall" rule out there but studies have shown that If you're trying to lose weight, 50 minutes of cardio exercise along with regular strength training might be what it takes to see the results you're hoping for.  If I've learned anything - it's that you can't treat exercise like a convenience - it has to be treated no different than brushing your teeth everyday or like a lunch date with your bestie. Hence #2 below... MAKE A SCHEDULE - what workout on what day... done.  Now you don't have to think about it! Here are a few rules from the Huffi...

I don't know about you but by the time Friday gets here... I'm ready to ditch the logging (of food) and have a few bevies with a big piece of pizza. Then I beat myself up about it and do it again Saturday night. WHY CAN'T I STOP THE INSANITY??!! By Sunday I've come down off my craziness and get back on the "healthier choices" train! While this isn't going to help my "bailing on healthy choice weekend" - one of my goals this week is to prepare my lunches the night BEFORE - so at 8:30pm I'm going to head to the kitchen and get my lunch stuff together. This is going to help me have more time to workout in the AM and get out the door easier! One step at a time - it's a process! I ♥ this post (below) from Pieces in Progress (tumblr) - She has some great recipes, posts, At-Home workouts, motivational posts, etc. I'm constantly reading and looking for ways to jump start my brain for the weekend but I haven't found that switch yet! ...