Learning How To Balance

With the time falling back this coming weekend it's going to get dark earlier and earlier - which in our house brings on the urge to hibernate!  BUT... I keep telling myself that a 30-45 min workout is less than 4% of my day!!  And with all the resources I have there are NO EXCUSES!!   I really struggle with motivation in the winter months... but I've joined some challenges and I WILL stay on track!  I found a great article on Body & Soul with a few tips on how to stay motivated during the winter months:  Set a goal! - keep them simple and small Focus on the benefits - how great you feel! REWARD YOURSELF - when you reach one of the goals you've set - celebrate!   Another article from FITBIE gave readers tips - “I mark my daily Outlook calendar with my workouts as if they were actual appointments. It helps me make sure I plan around them and don’t bail at the last minute.” – Jesse Y., Phoenix, AZ   “This may sound silly, but I k...

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  ********************...

How many times have you "started over"/"today's a new day and a fresh start"?  I'm so annoyed with the motivational quote " if you're tired of starting over stop giving up " - It's not that I give up... because I do keep going too!  I find the "wagon" and get back on track!  I guess I'm starting to realize this really is a lifestyle change that is going to have speed bumps, rough patches, times where I'm not focused, etc.  The point is I do get back on track - I'm tired of feeling guilty for my weekend indulgence & for losing focus!! I was reading a blog post of a SparkPeople user that was really eye-opening! Everyone has bad days, everyone loses sight of their goals, it's part of life!  Life can and will always get in the way!  It's what you do after the stumble, set back, (whatever you call it) that matters. *******************************************************************************************...

It's time to put some goals down on paper - I've gotten into a rut of .....blah, logging food..... blah, logging exercise.... forgetting what I ate... so I eat dinner then look back on My Fitness Pal and HOLY MOLY... Well, that day is shot!  So I've started a a written journal too. (I looked up FitBook pages - those are great journals but I didn't want to spend $30 just yet.)  I'm still gonna do my phone app but this will let me journal a little more too.   So how does writing down your goals help? Well they won't help if they aren't realistic!  Take baby steps when first setting goals.  You shouldn't expect to lose 10 lbs. in a month.... so be realistic with what you set out to accomplish.  If you make it too hard on yourself - you won't stick with it.  Think LIFESTYLE CHANGE not - I'll do this until I lose 20 lbs. then I'm done with it. Keep your fitness fun and different.... BUT make a plan, make a schedule, know what you are going...

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...

"Started over" today b/c I felt off kilter! I got off track w/ my schedule and then everything else got off track. So tonight I did  #TURBOFIRE  - #FIRE45  "new to class" and 72 mins later w/ 603 cals burned - I'm feeling WORKED! 

Boy have I been a blogging slacker!  Ha!!  I haven't been an exercising slacker though!!  WHOOP!  WHOOP!  I will say - with the weather we have been having here - It's been awesome to walk to the lake and trails and a boost for my calorie burn too!  So far I've done my first EVER HIIT WORKOUT!!  I have to admit - I could've given more to my very FIRST "HIIT" workout but I thought it might kill me! "HIIT WORKOUT" - just the name sounds intimidating so I was nervous. But since it didn't kill me - I'm looking forward to doing it again! :): Thursday (8/15) Friday (8/16) Got my CARDIO PARTY on that morning!! Saturday (8/17) Core 20 / Stretch 40 I loved the Core workout - the stretch started out with more yoga than stretch - I just can't get into yoga.  I need to SWEAT to feel the workout - and with yoga I know it works, I know it builds muscle - I'm just not into that right now.  I WANT PUMPED UP WORKOUTS!! ...

I did my FIRST TURBO FIRE WORKOUT this AM!! The "New to Class" was a huge help!! LOVE IT ALREADY!  I can tell when I start the actual "class" (instead of the "new to class") I will be POURING SWEAT but I ♥ the program.  High Energy ~ Motivating ~ GETS U FIRED UP!!! I have to admit... when the first "Fire Drill" came up - I got a lil nervous but it ROCKED!!! Then the second one came up and my legs said "oh dear"...but it ROCKED too!  Now I'm not doing them at the "class" level yet... the "sumo burpee" thing is crazy hard - by the 4th one I'm needing a crane to get my butt up off the floor ...BUT I'm sure when I get thru one whole fire drill - keeping up with the class...I'll probably cry from "HOLY CRAP I DID IT!!!!!"  Ha!!  More to come..... - Get Movin' - Get Heatlhy! -

As I find myself a little nervous about starting the Turbo Fire program, I read this: You are stronger than you think!  I know it will be hard, I will sweat like a pig .... but I'm looking forward to the challenge and completing the program.  I've never completed anything like this, I did a few of the P90X DVDs when I was in a church weight loss group about 3 years ago....and I lost 17 lbs!  And let me tell ya.... Those workouts were H*A*R*D!  But as the saying goes... "If it was easy.... Everyone would be doing it"!  It's all about: MIND OVER MATTER IT'S YOUR WILL AND DETERMINATION THAT WILL GET YOU THRU BELIEVING IN YOURSELF IS HALF THE BATTLE PUSH YOURSELF-NO ONE WILL DO IT FOR YOU IT ISN'T SWEAT - IT'S LIQUID AWESOME (I ♥ that one!!) So I will begin this program with all of these inspirational quotes and move forward with one of my all time favorite quotes in mind ...

Looking forward to getting started on the program....

Got back from SUMMER MARKET in Las Vegas on  Wed. AM (like 2:00 AM) - UGH!   Had a good time but I ate waaayyyy too much - didn't exercise enough - and considering how dry it was ~ didn't drink enough water either.  The time difference is brutal coming home so here I SIT on Saturday watching the movie "CLUELESS".   I should go out and walk to get my body moving!  I'm learning that LAZINESS perpetuates LAZINESS!!  That's a bad habit to start!!   So my next big "deal" is to determine which to purchase - FOCUS T25 or TURBO FIRE!!!   One minute I lean one way.... then I go the other way!  Walking will help clear my mind and then I will purchase!  Stay tuned...

Got a great workout in this evening!! Did a few things a lil different this evening - I jogged/walked around the lake, did bench step-ups (20 each leg), then did lunges up Windmill hill! That got the heart rate up!!! I love this town's park, lake and walking trails - it's so peaceful and pretty!   I'm still motivated to get into better shape!! There are so many benefits of exercise - other than the "high" you get from the exercise itself -  helps controls weight as odd as it sounds it boosts energy (so weird that by DOING more  you feel better and have MORE energy) helps you sleep reduces stress/anxiety boosts confidence sharpens your focus get more done need I go on..... probably not.   It has so many benefits - why don't we all exercise more?  I know it's hard...if it were easy everyone would be doing it!  The hardest part is getting started - as Nike says "JUST DO IT".  Don't think about - JUST DO IT!  If you think ab...