Side Effects?

I shared a couple of weeks ago about my wake up call regarding my health. I knew it was time to do something, but I also know myself well enough not to dive in head-first. I knew that I needed to work my way in slowly. So I started with a couple of simple changes.

I got a great book on Kindle a few weeks ago called 42 Days to Fit and decided to start the challenge.  Honestly, when I read the first food challenge, I thought, "No way - I can't do this." (In case you're wondering, the first challenge was giving up extra sugar, including desserts and sugary coffee creamer, and even - gasp - diet drinks.) I was terrified as I bought only sweets that I don't like (for my husband and kids) and picked up ingredients for paleo coffee creamer from Pinterest. Around that same time, @TufMotherRunner posted a Twitter challenge to #DumpDietCoke. I knew I'd need the extra encouragement, so I joined in.

It hasn't been perfect. The first day, I hated the paleo creamer because I was used to such sugary coffee. I added a little bit of sweet cream to make it bearable. The next day, I actually loved it. I'm still adding a little cream, but I'm working my way down to just the paleo creamer. I've had Coke or Diet Dr. Pepper four days in the last week and a half - not perfect, but better than my 2-3 a day habit just a couple of weeks ago. Saturday I had a piece of cake at a birthday party, and yesterday I had a small piece of pie. I'm doing better and making progress, though, and as I shared on Monday, being imperfect shouldn't keep me from being better.

This week, I'm finally starting the fitness challenge, thanks to an extra nudge from Run Like a Mother and their 5K Finish It plan. I'm not sure what my final fitness routine will look like. I have to balance finishing school with the specific fitness needs my soon-to-be career as a dental hygienist requires. (I did a research paper on the effects of repetitive stress in the field and the workouts RDH's should do - fascinating stuff, but I digress.)

I'm already noticing side effects from this challenge. I'm sleeping better. I feel better. My blood pressure is better. I could get used to these side effects. I really like the way I feel. What's really exciting is knowing that as the book builds on itself, I'll feel even better. More small changes will have more positive side effects.   I can't wait to find out what the rest of the side effects are!

 

Time To Refocus

Last week was a wake-up call for me. The woman who prides herself on not going to the doctor until she's half-dead, was there twice. Two days in a row, to be exact. It wasn't pretty. I saw my weight, which was horrifyingly high. My blood pressure was spiking. I had a bad case of vertigo. I felt horrible. I found myself sitting in the office, talking to the nurse practicioner, and I thought, "What am I doing to myself?" My health has gotten totally out of hand. Something has to change. Everything has to change.

I saw this on Pinterest not long after those appointments, and I thought it was the perfect inspiration:

I've treated my body as a trash can for too long now, and I'm paying the price for it. It's time to make some major changes. I know that change won't happen overnight. I know it's going to take some time to repair the damage, lose the weight, change my eating habits, and feel better. I also know that I have to start somewhere. So once again, I'm starting where I am.

I'm doing Claire's febYOUary challenge at Peak 313 fitness. I'm tracking my eating habits again on My Fitness Pal. (I'm here if you want to add me as a friend: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/graceinourmoments ). I'm reassessing my goals and what I need to be focusing on.

It's time for change. This time next year, I want a lot of things in my life to look different. It's time to make a plan, then make it happen.

My New Workout Motto

Need I say more?  This is my new motto.  5K here I come!

Running Toward My Goal: Week 4

Let the countdown begin: 80 days until I run my first ever 5K with my team, the Dental Divas!  My workouts for this week:

Happy training!



Changing My Perspective

Last week, I shared about starting my fitness journal.  I'm almost three weeks into my journey now.  If I had known what a difference keeping a fitness journal would make, I would have started one a long time ago! 

I jot down notes throughout the day and do a summary at night.  I'm noticing trends and patterns in my behavior that I had never noticed before journaling.  I find myself stopping to check my motives before I grab a snack and pushing myself a little harder with my workouts.  I'm seeing the patterns of how everything fits together - emotions, fitness, sleep, eating habits, and more.

Even though this hasn't been a great week for me fitness wise (I haven't felt too great and have taken it easy the past two days), I know I'm gaining better control of my eating habits.  I'm being more mindful of everything I put in my mouth.  The results (as of Monday) are 1 1/2 pounds that are now GONE.  It's a small victory, but a victory nonetheless.  

It's all tying together for me - emotional, physical, mental and spiritual health.  If one is out of balance, everything is out of balance.  With God's help, I'm changing each aspect and striving for a healthier, stronger life.

Fitness Journaling

It's time to get serious.  A few days ago I was looking at myself in the mirror as I was getting ready for work, and I wanted to cry.  I'm flirting with my highest weight ever.  I don't feel good.  I'm not even close to hitting my fitness goals.  I need a new push, a new challenge, a new direction.

My friend Kristi sent me a couple of great ideas last week.  We were chatting about fitness, our goals, and our need for accountability.  She shared this awesome idea from Pinterest (where all good ideas seem to come from!) for a fitness journal.  It looked like exactly what I needed, so I decided to make my own.  I pulled out a few scrapbook supplies, printed out some of my favorite quotes and Bible verses from Pinterest, and came up with this:

It was so easy to make!  I made it small enough to fit in my purse so I can carry it to work, to the gym, etc.  After just a few days, I can tell that tracking my workouts, how I feel, and my daily calorie intake all in one place will help me see the big picture of my health and fitness.  I can't wait to share my progress and how my journal is helping me along the way.

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Simple Goals and Big Changes

Several weeks ago, I snagged a copy of Candace Cameron Bure's book Reshaping It All for my Kindle Fire.  (On sale - I love a good bargin.)  I grew up watching Candace on "Full House" and her brother on "Growing Pains," so I was super excited about getting a copy.  As soon as I finished my last final for the semester, I started reading it. 

My life has been all about changes lately.  I finished a brutal semester of college, during which I had to make huge sacrifices just to pass.  We lost our beloved 13 year old Yorkie, and a month after her death, we got a new puppy.  Major changes at my job of 4 1/2 years forced me to start looking for a new job, which I just started this week.  I worked at a gym, so leaving also meant starting a whole new workout routine at a different gym.  My life looks very different now than it did in January.
A lot of things are being reshaped in my life right now, so I decided that this is the perfect time to read Candace's book.  I've been fighting the same 10-15 pounds for too long, and I'm ready to finally hit my goal weight and stay there.
In chapter four, Candace talks about goals and counting the cost.  I'm setting four simple goals for myself, with the ultimate goal of losing 15 pounds.  I know (from experience) that if I set too many goals or make my goals too complicated, I'll get overwhelmed and give up.  So I'm keeping it simple:

1. Daily quiet time.  Why am I starting with daily quiet time?  Because I realize that my health is so much more than just the physical - my health is a spiritual thing, too.
2. Move more.  Establish a regular workout routine that includes running, Pilates, and Praise Moves, with swimming and biking with my boys thrown in for fun and variety.
3. Drink more water.  I am a major diet Dr. Pepper and coffee adict.  I love them, and there is no way I'm cutting them out - but I am cutting back.  I'm going to limit myself to one each per day.  I need more water, and I plan to make it my main beverage.
4. Eat clean(er).  I've done some reading lately on "clean eating."  Some things I like, some things I don't, and some things will just never work for our family.  So I'm modifying it a bit, and we're going to clean up our diet - more whole grains, no white (rice, pasta, etc.), less meat/more beans, less prcessed foods.  I'm not totally cutting processed foods and sugar, but I want to cut back drastically on them. 

They are simple goals, but I think these will make big changes in my health and well-being.  I know it's going to be worth the cost.

Major Stress = Epic Fail

It's been a stressful few days, and I have the empty box of Little Debbie cakes in the pantry to prove it.  Its time for this fitness trainer (who knows better) to come clean - yes, I'm a stress eater, and I know my Lean Cuisine meals and Diet Dr. Pepper's aren't doing doing any good if I have a Swiss roll for desert.  I didn't work out this past week either - between my busy schedule and my hubby and kids all being sick, it just didn't happen.
That's not my only failure of the past two weeks.  The first round of major tests and assignments came around last week st school - the same week we opened our gym in its new location and had tons of new members coming in.  It was an extremely successful week, but it left me exhausted and cranky.  Last night found me yelling at the dog after she had an accident on the rug, and at the kids, who defended her.  (Mitsy is about to turn 13 and is almost totally deaf, so she probably didn't even hear me.)
Let's tack on one last thing...I only read my Bible one day last week.  I'm now desperately playing catch-up on my one year Bible reading plan. 
So, in many ways, last week was great, but in many ways, it was an epic fail.  I need grace.  I need it desperately.  I need to make major changes this week.  Here are my goals:
1. Keep a food journal and stick to 1,600 calories a day.
2. Read my Bible daily.  If I don't have time to read much, I'll grab my copy of "Jesus Calling."
3. Have more patience at home.

Count Me Accountable!

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I started the new year, like so many others, determined to refocus on my health.  After losing 12 pounds over about a three month time span, I put it all in reverse and gained back 5 pounds during Thanksgiving and Christmas.  Now I'm ready to get back on track.  I love Claire's simple way of breaking things down at Peak 313...

1.  Eat Clean  2. Move More  3. Refresh Daily 

...and I'm so thankful for the accountability link-up at Must Love God!  Knowing that I have support and accountability from friends gives me a huge boost!

Eat Clean: My main goal right now is just to get my calories and portion sizes back under control.  I did better last week, but I need to do much, much more.  Being back in school actually helps me control my eating habits.  It forces me to plan ahead, pack my lunch, and make better choices.  This weekend, I stocked my fridge and freezer with yogurt, Lean Cuisine meals, salad mixes, and bottled water (and a six pack of Diet Dr. Pepper).  I'm ready for a much better week this week.

Move More: I got a couple of workouts in last week, but I have to do a lot better.  I was exhausted from school and felt bad a couple of days, but this week should be better.  My goal is to get off the ellipitcal and back to running, to run three times this week, and to start doing five minutes of PraiseMoves a few mornings.

Refresh Daily: Out of everything, this is the one I'm strongest in right now.  My husband and I are keeping each other accountable in our reading - we're using the M'Cheyne plan to read through the Old Testament once and the New Testaments and Psalms twice this year.  This week, I plan to start structured nightly quiet time with my boys, too - something we've been lacking.