Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Why, Hello there :)

Wow.... sorry it's been so long! In my last post I mentioned life not turning out how we plan. Anyway, earlier that day I took a pregnancy test. Sooo.... life has totally changed. So much for getting my BF% to a 15 :P at least for now. The first trimester for me is always hard with puking, dry heaving, being completely exhausted and the like, but now I'm 20 weeks, well into my second trimester and I'm feeling great as far as the pregnancy goes. I had a hard time working out much the first three months, but now I'm back at it getting in at least three days a week. Not quite what I want, but I'll get back to five, this week in fact :) I'm still not wearing maternity pants so that's good :) I've gained about 9 pounds so far and my goal is to keep it under 15. I have gone with a midwife for my past two babies and plan to do the same this time around and I discussed it with her and she said that was a good goal and to just be sure and get adequate protein, calcium, etc. I'm thinking I should print a profile picture of myself from August 2009, after I had my second baby, and put it somewhere that I can see it everyday to keep me motivated to eat right and workout. I do not want to look like that again!
I plan to start blogging here regularly to help me be accountable to my goals. I've been doing my own mix of ChaLean Extream and TurboFire with a goal of lifting weights two days a week, cardio three days, and yoga/stretching one day. So let it be written; so let it be done!

At first I had a really hard time with the fact that I was pregnant. It was NOT in my plans. I wanted to wait another year but God knows best. I'm excited about it now, still nervous, but excited. We plan to find out what's cook'n in there here in about two weeks and I look forward to that. I'm almost positive it's a boy but I guess that could be wishful thinking. I'll let you know :)

Thursday, September 9, 2010

It's amazing how little control we really do have in our lives and how quickly our plans can change. I need to find my faith and better trust in Gods will.

So we're off to Hawaii tomorrow! It's crazy how fast it came and I hope that I can let go of all of this emotional junk and just enjoy myself and my husband. I'm sure as soon as I step off the plane, I'll be fine. I've dreamed of going to Hawaii for years and I'm not going ruin it for myself!
I must say that I am happy with my body. I have found so much appreciation for the blessing I have of good health and the oportunity I have had to learn so much about myself in my quest to "find my abs." Just because my trip will be over does not mean that I'm done working out. Now I will find new motivation and press forward. I'll let you know how the trip goes!! :)

Saturday, September 4, 2010

Doing Better

So I'm still not back to normal... I'm fighting off a sore throat and eye issues still. What is with this?! I've never been sick this long before! I did work out five days this week though and I ate quite well. It's easier for me to eat healthy when I'm sick because I know that sugar prolongs the illness. In fact it's the first thing I cut out when I start feeling off.
TurboFire has been great! I've been a little sore even and I love that feeling. There's been a few days when I do the HIIT (high intensity interval training) workouts and I get done with a fire drill and I'm so out of breath and sweat is dripping down my face and tears come to my eyes. It's such a high! It's awesome to finish those things!
So five full days until we leave for Hawaii! I'm so stink'n excited I'm already losing sleep. I lay in bed and think about what I'm going to pack, what I need to get done before I leave, what the girls need packed, what I'm going to see while I'm there, what I'm going to do, and how much I'm going to love it! Then when I sleep I have crazy dreams about missing my flight and such. My husband told me I need to be careful or I'll be exhausted before we even leave! Haha.... He's right :) We got our snorkel gear in the mail yesterday so I dressed up in my swimsuit and gear just to get in the mood. (Like I needed help with that :)
In terms of my fitness goals though I didn't quite get where I was hopeing to be before I left but when I look in the mirror, I'm happy with what I see. I have issues with my digestive system though and it makes my stomach look more out of shape then it is so I recently started taking some digestive enzymes and it seems to be helping. Hopefully it helps even more in the next five days.

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Great....


Now I'm sick. What is up with that?! My three year old had an eye infection and then my husband got it and this morning... Me and my one year old woke up to it. Grr.... I've been fighting off a sore throat, stuffy nose and swollen glands for a few days too. I feel miserable. I would like to remove my head from my body. Would that work? Probably not... Darn.

Monday, August 23, 2010

Bust

So Friday Saturday and Sunday were pretty much a bust for me... I won't even go into the things that I ate... or how much. I'm trying not to be too hard on myself and just move on. It's Monday, right? A new week to try again.
I swear I will never be one of those mom's that forces her kids to finish their plate. I think it's unhealthy. I grew up like that though and I think it could have something to do with my inability to leave food uneaten. I was around it all day Saturday and Sunday and I just couldn't seem to make myself stop. I couldn't find my full button and now I feel miserable.

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Still going....

Maybe I'm not going strong... but I'm still going. :) I had whole wheat pancakes and pure maple syrup for breakfast. That's considered healthy, right? I also ate a hamburger for dinner last night. It was extra lean, grilled in my backyard and on a skinny bun... Ok, so I'm not doing quite as good as I could be, but I'm proud of myself so far. I had a friend get married on Tuesday and you should have seen the food table... *sigh* I had fruit, and some spinach artichoke dip on black bread and a whole wheat cracker. I'll admit, I had the tinyest bite of cheesecake and it wasn't very good and then a small bite of a chocolate and caramel covered pretzel rod. It doesn't count if you spit it out, right? :) I just had to confess a few things. Thanks for listening....
I finished my 5 day inferno program and I went super strong for that. It was hard the first 2 days but after that I felt great. I didn't even really have a "cheat" meal that week. I ate two pieces of banana bread and one bite of chocolate zucchini cake on sat and that was it. :) I think it was easier than this week because I had a written plan for my diet. Now I'm just eating healthy but without the direction. I lost two pounds in five days and a couple of inches. My husband did my BF% reading again and it was only 15%. I kept thinking it had to be a mistake and then I figured out he did my tricep pinch wrong so I've got to get it redone before I really know where I'm at there. Also, my workouts haven't been so great this week... I haven't been feeling too good and there's been a lot going on for me. I know my emotional state plays a role in my physical well being too and I'm a little off right now. It's all about where we're going right? Right!


Stay strong!!

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Day 3

I have just finished out day three and I'm ready to turn out the lights. It should be Friday... Why isn't it Friday? This Inferno program is kicking my trash. I feel tired and grumpy today and I'm having some serious sweet tooth issues. Chocolate usually makes everything better but I refuse to give up. I've got three weeks baby and I'm going all the way. I will not crack! (I do get a cheat meal though and I'm looking forward to that!)
My husband and three year old have had awful stomach pains and bathroom issues for the past two days and that has not been any fun. It makes me appreciate our general good health. I really don't deal very well with things like this. It's hard for me to keep a smile on my face and stay positive... I'm really not the most compassionate person by nature and it's something I have to work on.
I'm also missing a "best friend." You know, one of those girls that you just feel super close to and can call and talk to about anything, show up at their house unannounced with kids in tow and just chill all afternoon, someone that will take your kids at a moments notice and not even care, someone to watch sappy movies with and go out to lunch with you just because... I miss my old city and my old friends.... I had a few of those there. I have yet to establish one of those relationships back here in my hometown. Most of my friends from high school have moved on and aren't around here anymore or else we're just not close anymore. I do have some great family relationships though for which I am truly thankful, but friends have always been very important to me and I'm not sure why I feel I'm lacking. I need to make a better effort I guess. My best friend from my youth moved to Pennsylvania a while back and is coming for a month long visit... I'm so stink'n excited I could cry! She is like a favorite old pair of shoes you haven't worn in forever, and then when you put them on... it's like home. We may not see each other or talk to each other in months, but when we do... I love it! I seriously can't wait.

Jaimee

Sunday, August 8, 2010

So It Starts!

After a few days of camping, junk food, and feeling pretty crappy, (I currently have an awful tummy ache) tomorrow is Day 1 of my TurboFire journey... Woohoo!! I'm kicking it off with the 5-Day Inferno Plan and going from there. I've also joined a Clean Eating Challenge that I'm going to be a part of that lasts 3 weeks though I plan to keep going up until Hawaii and even then I plan to keep it pretty clean :) Wish me luck, cause I think I'm going to need it.

Current status-

Weight - 131
BF% - 20.04

Measurements -

Hips - 35.5
Waist - 28.5
Below Belly Button - 31.5 (my trouble spot)
R. Thigh - 21
R. Arm - 10.75
Chest - 35

-Goals -

Weight - 125
BF% - 18%

Monday, August 2, 2010

Slacking...

So the past 2 1/2 weeks I have been slacking for sure. I can feel my butt sagging just a little (more than usual anyway.) I've been water skiing quite a bit though so that's my excuse for not working out much... I'm going to go water skiing :) Good news though! I finally ordered TurboFire from beachbody.com and I'm super duper excited! It's supposed to come in the mail tomorrow though I wish it was yesterday so I could have started today. I'm all about starting things on Mondays. It's a fresh start to a new week :) But we're actually going camping Thursday - Saturday so I don't really want to start until next Monday because I have a few yummy camping things I'm going to be eating like S'mores and dutch oven cobbler :)
Our Hawaii trip is only 39 days away! and I'm beyond excited! So that's going to be 32 days of squeaky clean eating and working out like crazy. I've been working hard for this for a whole year (yesterday in fact!) now and I'm going to have to find a new reason to keep going after our trip. I was talking to my bro-in-law the other days and he was telling me that I shouldn't push myself so hard because I'll just lose it all when I have another baby and stop working out. I told him that's not going to happen because this is my lifestyle. I won't let it happen!
I'll let you know what I think if the new program when it comes :)

Monday, July 5, 2010

Milk Does NOT Do A Body Good

I took a break from my healthy eating this weekend (Happy 4th!) to enjoy a few of my favorites: Cinnamon rolls, (Hot out of the oven. They're never the same after they cool :) Ice cream, 1 bacon and 2 sausage, (I consider pork an unhealthy food), and Krustez pancakes with butter sauce, (Yum!) and that was it really from Friday night until the present time and I feel satisfied and done. (In fact I think the pork is causing an issue. I've got a stomach ache.)
I was chatting with my husband last night about how I haven't had any cravings for things that I normally do. The only thing on that list that I REALLY wanted was the cinnamon rolls and other then that, I just chose to indulge because I wanted to not because I felt I NEEDED to. I would contribute that to the increase of fruits and veggies that I have added to my diet and I have to thank our traveling co-op for that. I have loved it!
I mentioned earlier that I was reading a book called 'Natural Cures "They" Don't Want You to Know About' by Kevin Trudeau. I've learned so much and there are so many things that I want to change in my families lifestyle and diet. My wish is that I had a much larger food budget each month so that I could purchase all organic and fresh foods. I would love to buy organic and kosher meats and dairy products. One switch that we are going to make is with our milk. I don't think I can give up dairy entirely so we'll take it one step at a time. I've tried some rice and almond milk in the past and I love almond milk! It's really good! In fact I didn't drink or use any milk during my pregnancy with Kaylee except in cooking.
I never really knew how bad homogenization was for our bodies. Here's an article that I found that explains what happens when milk is homogenized. It's amazing how hard the Dairy Industry has pushed the idea on the public that you need dairy to be healthy. They've done a great job with all their campaigning and such to get people to eat and drink dairy products at the expense of their own health. Here's another article that's a good read. I have never wanted to own a dairy cow before in my life... in fact when I finished my last year of 4-H I swore that I never would, but now I do. I want to be able to make my own yogurt, butter and cheese and have fresh whole milk in my fridge that hasn't been messed up by the greed of the dairy industry. You should read that book, seriously. There are things that he suggests that I either don't agree with, don't want to do, or simply can't afford to do but as with any book, I just take what I can use and leave the rest. It's been quite informative and educational and I recommend it. That man has gotten so much opposition for the industries that he's fighting it's amazing he continues to do what he is. You can get a copy of it for as little as $2 on-line. My health is so important to me but making some of these changes has been hard and I know it's not going to all happen for me over night but it will get easier if I just keep on going.

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Keeping on Track

I've decided this is a little harder then I was hoping it would be. I have never even tried to "diet" before in my life and it's proving to be a little difficult. My weakness is cookies. Sounds lame right? For Father's Day, we had dinner with my In-laws and she made chocolate chip cookies. Yum! I ate about 6 of them at about 100 calories per cookie... ouch! Then for our family night on Monday I made these super yummy sugar cookies. Again, about 100 calories each.... and I ate 5 of them on Monday and probably about 7 on Tuesday and then gave the rest away. (They were still super yummy on the second day :) I just can't make cookies. It doesn't work for me. I turn into this guy...

There's this nasty little conversation that goes on in my head: "Just eat one." "But I can't only have one so I shouldn't eat any." "Oh, come on. You can do it." "Okay.... Crap that was good. I need another one." "No, don't eat another one." "Just one more." "Okay. Just one more." "What the heck... You've already blown it. Just eat all you want." And then I feel like crap in between cookies and need to eat another one to help me feel better. It's crazy!
I just found this great article about keeping it together when you're trying to eat right. There are some awesome tips in there that I'm going to have to incorporate, especially with summer BBQ's and party's and stuff. I'm out!

Monday, June 14, 2010

Produce Co-op


I'm am super excited about a new (new to me anyway) option that my little town has for those of us looking to add to our crisper without adding to our expenses. There's a traveling food co-op called Bountiful Baskets. You log in on Monday night, order your basket with your credit/debit card and then on Saturday you have a 20 min. pick up window where you go to the pick-up location and get your basket full of fresh produce. This past week was my first week participating and it definitely won't be my last. After your first basket it's only $16.50 for a ton of produce. 50% fruit and 50% veggies. It's quite fun because you don't really know what your getting so it makes it a little bit like Christmas :) and then I get to work all this great produce into my meal plan for the week. This past week we got things like broccoli, lettuce, tomatoes, green beans, bananas, cantaloupe, coconut (which I never would have bought on my own, but I love!) grapes, red potatoes, apples... and a few other things I can't think of. Amazing, hu?! My husband and I had just recently been talking (well, I was kinna complaining) about the cost of produce and how hard it was to get enough into our diet without costing an arm and a leg and then this opened up to us. Thank You, Thank You!

Saturday, June 12, 2010

Things Are Looking Up!

This week has been a good week! I took a shopping trip on Tuesday to Costco and Winco and stopped in to see my favorite Aunt Kaye. (She's officially my husband's aunt, but I very much claim her as mine.) She is an inspiration to me! She is one of the healthiest people that I know and she looks and is amazing. She has recently become a certified Hydro therapist, is also working on her certification as a reflexologist and she's almost a Master Herbalist. She has a wealth of knowledge and I love to chat with her for hours on end and pick her brain. :) We talked about some of my goals with fitness and also some frustrations that I have in trying to change my lifestyle. She told me that she never counts calories. Her theory is that if you are eating whole foods, listening to your body, and not eating in excess your body will naturally find it's balance. She said that she has weighed the same amount for the past 18 years and has never once counted calories. She occasionally has a few bites of desert and eats a little chocolate every now and then but she has reached a point that she doesn't have cravings for things that she knows are not good for her body and craves things like fruit and veggies. In fact I had to ask her to move her giant candy bowl that she keeps on the counter. It was full of peanut butter M&M's and starbursts! I just can't have stuff like that in plain sight or I will eat it all!
I believe that with knowledge comes power. Kaye said that the more she has learned, the easier it has been to make healthy lifestyle choices. She loaned me this book by Kevin Trudeau called "Natural Cures "They" Don't Want You To Know About." It's been fascinating! He talks about ways to prevent becoming sick and the importance of what we put into our bodies. I'm not very far into the book, mostly because my husband stole it from me :) so I'll be interested to learn more.
I think this week has been better because I haven't been strict about calorie counting or food logging. I also read that it's a great idea to do that for a month or so just so you can really get a feel for portion sizes and what the regular things you eat would amount to and then from there it's easy to know what's right for you. I haven't told myself that I can't eat this or that but I just ask myself if I really need it and if I really do (haha) then I only eat a few bites. The hardest place for me to just hang out is my in-laws. Our favorite thing to do there is eat, seriously. Food is love and the kitchen is the center of the home. Though Jared's family is in great health and his Mom is a lot like Aunt Kaye (they're sisters) and she can have tons of goodies in her house and not eat them. I don't know how they do it, seriously! I have a habit of going to the pantry or the "treat cupboard" and eating whatever looks good and it's a habit I'm working to break. I'm trying to make better choices and eat things like popcorn or fruits and veggies and I really have to have those talks with myself about "needing" food and I'll just keep on keep'n on! :)

Sunday, June 6, 2010

Refocusing....

Tomorrow I am back on board! I had to take a little reprieve from my healthy lifestyle :) and regroup. This week has been nice not having to count calories or argue with myself over whether or not I should eat that treat. I still exercised of course and ate generally well but I didn't deny myself the goodies if I wanted them and in fact I did a really good job ignoring that "I'm full" sensation. So now that I'm tired of feeling like I'm not firing on all cylinders, I'm ready to get back at it!

My cleanse kit came in the mail and I'm excited to give it a go for the month and eat well, drink lots of water and see how it goes. I would say my biggest complaint as far as my health is concerned is my digestive system. It's never worked that great and I want to get things in working order. I have an appointment with my Cranial Therapist in Treemonton Utah tomorrow and that always helps me feel better, emotionally and physically and I am ready for a boost in both areas of my life.

Friday, May 28, 2010

Struggle Inside My Head

I've had a rough week this week. It started Sunday when I very stupidly made a 1/2 batch of my very favorite cookies... oatmeal raisin. They are the best ever! I had given myself one day to have a small treat and it worked great until I let that get the best of me. I do so much better if I make something that is a one-serving-and-it's-gone kinda thing... anyway, I ended up eating 7 cookies in only 1 hour. I couldn't seem to help myself. Then Monday I only had one (which was good) and ended up giving the rest away or else my husband ate them/took them to work. I haven't been recording my food intake very well this week either. I found a website called livestrong.com where you can record everything you eat and it will figure all the numbers for you and give you the % if things like fats, proteins, carbs, etc. and if you go over the recommended daily allowance the numbers turn this really ugly bright shade of red. It totally messes with my mind. Take sugar for example... the program has told me every day that I'm over the RDA but I didn't even eat any refined sugar. It was things like apples, honey, banana's etc. so it doesn't take into consideration what kind of sugar it was which to me is the most important part. I don't know why it got me down so much but it really did. I've still been eating pretty well for the most part but I feel like I'm constantly thinking about food and having to battle with myself to not eat it or make it or buy it. It's really been frustrating.
So I've been thinking about why this week has been so hard and I think that it's because we finished our workout program, Chalean Extreme, on Sat. and since then I don't feel like I have a goal in mind. (I've still been working out though :)I need to just take a breather and find a new program that I want to do and get some real goals pinned down. Chalean Johnson has a new program coming out next month (I think) called Turbo Fire that I want to do. I think that would make it much easier to feel there is a purpose in what I'm doing and have some goals to work toward. I'm not even sure what my Body Fat% is. I think if I find that out I can get a number to work toward. I don't want to lose any more weight so that's not something I can gauge and inches lost really don't work very well either.
I haven't felt a whole lot of support lately either. My husband has cut back on his treat consumption but not as much as I think he should so he really isn't that helpful in talking me out of making or eating treats. Like tonight I suggested making rice crispy treats and he encouraged me and helped me make them... then I had a small piece and said that wasn't satisfying at all so he told me I should make a smore... and I had been wanting to all along. So I did. Blah... He should read my post about Support :) Love that man! Then I've also have several people tell me that I look really thin and that I need to be careful, like I'm not... "So how much do you think you need to lose? What do you weight now? 115?" Me: "No, I'm still in a healthy weight range." Them: "Are you sure? You are pretty tall you know." I think too many people don't understand the concept of becoming leaner and tighter. Muscle weighs more than fat and it takes up a lot less space. Also, I had the thought- How many people would come up to an over-weight individual and say, "So how much do you think you need to gain?" What are you now? 300? You really should stop eating so much and be careful." Right... Like any sensitive person is going to say that. So why is it okay to say that to someone who is working toward a goal of being physically fit.
*sigh* It's been a rough week. Here's to getting it back together and being mentally strong.

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Three Ways Not to Overeat

I got these tips from my awesome beachbody coach Rochelle. She posted them on her blog and I just wanted to share them here.



1. Wait. When you decide you're hungry, make yourself wait at least 15 minutes before you eat. This will help you determine whether your hunger is habitual or your body is craving nutrients.

2. Drink. A tall glass of water 30 minutes prior to a meal will reduce your tendency to overeat.

3. Exercise. The perfect scenario is to have a glass of water followed by some exercise, like a walk, a jog, or some stretching. This will take your mind off of food, and you'll be far more likely to only crave the foods your body needs.

Friday, May 21, 2010

Show Some Support!

I found this article on MSN and loved it! I've noticed that it's hard to support people who are trying to live a healthier lifestyle than ourselves and I've also experienced a little discouragement myself as I've been changing my own habits. Let's get behind people who are putting forth an effort and help make life easier for them! It never hurts to be healthy!

How can you be encouraging to someone who's trying to lose weight? Avoid putting your foot in your mouth by not saying the following:

1. "Sorry, no seconds for you."

Variations: "Don't eat that!" "Your doctor says you shouldn't eat fat/simple carbs/sugar/etc." "You don't really want that."

Why it's unhelpful: Playing "food police" by depriving someone, hiding food, shaming, or otherwise monitoring his or her diet is controlling. Just as nobody can put food in someones mouth, nobody but the eater can put the fork down, Roth says. The desire to lose weight has to come from that person.

Better: Address the stress, or the other source of the eating, not the eating itself. Instead of telling the eater what to do (or, more typically, what not to do), Roth suggests asking what you can do to help: "What can I do that would support you?"

Don't make it food-specific. For example, to an overwhelmed "sandwich generation" caregiver looking after children and aging parents, you might offer respite care so she can go shopping or take a walk.

2. "But I made it just for you."

Variations: "Just taste it." "Come on, a little won't hurt you." "What? You don't like it?"

Why it's unhelpful: "Food pushers" who guilt others into eating tend to be insecure about their own weight or eating habits, or they feel threatened by a dieter's self-improvement efforts, says Beth Reardon, Caring.com senior food and nutrition editor and director of integrative nutrition at Duke Integrative Medicine. "The person trying to lose weight shines a light on the food pusher's unhealthy body."

It's true that we cook for others out of love—but when we goad them to eat the results, we're doing it for ourselves.

Better: Offer food without editorializing, either beforehand or when it's refused. If you're the dieter, practice the art of "no." "Instead of making excuses or explaining why you don't want to eat something, just say, 'No thank you,'" Reardon says. "At a party, take it and toss it a few steps later."

3. "Are you sure your diet allows that?"

Variations: "I can't believe you're eating that." "Isn't that fattening?" "Why did you eat that?"

Why it's unhelpful: Questioning every bite your friend or loved one attempts is another form of control—one that dishes up heaping helpings of guilt and shame.

Better: Be a silent good example, not a nag. Keep healthful food choices in the house and minimize junk without pointing it out. In restaurants, order what you'd like without commenting on the dieter's plate. If you're the eater, stand up for your choices. Reardon suggests comebacks such as, "Sure I can have it—my diet is about moderation, not deprivation."

4. "You look great just the way you are."

Variations: "Oh, you don't need to lose weight." "I think you've lost enough." "Just think how great you'll look if you just lose 10 pounds."

Why it's unhelpful: Judging the size of someone's else's body is never our business, Roth says. "You may love them, adore them, or be concerned about their health, but what they put in their mouth is not your business."

Better: Respect boundaries. Whether you feel a loved one or friend is too heavy or too thin, your opinion has no bearing on what she chooses to do about her body—that's the individual's call. Let the person and her doctor decide what's a healthy weight and what to do about it.

5. "Let's go get ice cream."

Variations: "This celebration calls for dessert." "Just this once."

Why it's unhelpful: Tempting the person with foods you know she's trying to steer clear of is the opposite of offering support, Reardon says, even if you mean it as a harmless suggestion and even if it's for a "good excuse."

Better: Make an activity, rather than a food, the focus of a social outing or celebration. Propose a toast. Buy a gift (one that's not related to food). Invite your friend or loved one out for coffee or for a bike ride. Say, "Let's meet at the dog park" or, "Let's go have tea."

6. "I hate to see you depriving yourself."

Variation: "It must be so hard." "You're so brave to do this."

Why it's unhelpful: Reminding a dieter of his daily struggle doesn't tell him anything he doesn't already know.

Better: Skip the empathy altogether. People often fall into these conversations at big events, like weddings or parties, where guests tend to indulge, because they transfer their own guilt or worry to the dieter. Resist the temptation to talk about the food. Stick to discussing the weather or the bride.

7. "You're no fun anymore."

Variation: "Nobody likes to eat with you now." "Your diet is ruining my appetite."

Why it's unhelpful: Criticism of any kind undermines progress. And when commentary on diet becomes a commentary on personality, too, it's just plain rude.

Better: Remember that the comments we make to others about their weight-loss efforts tend to highlight our own insecurities, says Reardon. Ask yourself why you think the person is "no fun." Is it because you feel guilty about your own food choices or lack of willpower? Because food was central to your friendship, and your friend or loved one has moved past that?

8. "You look skinny today!"

Variations: "You look thinner than last week." "That dress is very slimming."

Why it's unhelpful: What seems like praise (and indeed may be meant that way) laser-points an emphasis on appearance that can make the dieter feel self-conscious—and judged.

Better: Instead of placing an unnecessary emphasis on looks, acknowledge weight-loss efforts by focusing on the health benefits, Reardon suggests. For example: "Wow, I bet you feel fabulous!" "You seem so vibrant these days."

9. "You should join a gym."

Variations: "You should walk more." "You'll never lose weight by exercise alone."

Why it's unhelpful: "You should" comments come across like criticism, even when you mean them constructively, and even though it's true that the key to losing weight is to manage exercise as well as diet.

Better: To help the person who's losing weight get more exercise, make a string-free offer that sounds like help, not an attack: "Do you want to join the Y with me?" "I'm walking the dog; do you want to come?"

10. "This book will help you lose weight."

Variations: "Have you tried Weight Watchers?" "I read about this new diet."

Why it's unhelpful: Even concrete weight-loss advice can sound like meddling and judging. "It's tricky," Roth says. "You can't say 'Here, read these books,' because the person perceives it as you trying to control them. And here I'm an author saying this!"

Better: It's usually best not to discuss food and diet even indirectly. "It's never about the food," says Roth. "If you focus on the food, the person will have her antennae out. She'll think, 'What you're really saying is I shouldn't have so many mashed potatoes.'"

Instead, support a loved one's efforts to change her life for the better by helping her manage stress or loneliness, not tempting her, and by doing what you can to improve your own health. "People respond to love and caring, not judging and shame," Roth says.

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Physical and Emotional Cleanup





Yesterday I ordered a cleanse system by Renew Life from vitacost.com called Renew Life CleanseSMART™ Advanced Cleanse Kit. It's a 30 day cleanse that still allows you to eat healthy, which is what I'm doing anyway so I can handle that. It had some really good reviews so I thought I would give it a try. I decided to try this rather than do something that requires going without food for even a few days. I don't want to risk losing muscle mass... that would be sad.
My husband found this great website called exercisetv.com that has some great full length workouts available for free. There a few good yoga practices that we've done on our "days off" with the ChaLean program. I went through one yesterday that was about 45 min. long. It was challenging but it was easier than I thought it would be. When we lived in Boise we had a gym membership at Gold's and we took yoga about twice a week for almost a year. We had the most amazing yoga instructor and I was so sad to leave her. I remember doing some of the same poses that I did yesterday but they were so much easier than I remembered. I love feeling stronger!
Going through the practice though I started thinking about how I need to put a focus on developing my spiritual and emotional self as I'm working on the physical aspects. Yoga meditation was an excellent time for me to take about 5 to 10 minutes doing body scans and going through some positive mental thought processes. It helped a ton in leaving my emotional baggage on the mat and moving on with my day, starting with a new day and a better outlook on life. It's a practice I need to work into my mornings and that will require getting out of bed a little earlier before my girls wake up. Sounds like a plan!

Monday, May 17, 2010

Detox Cleanse

I'm on my last week of the ChaLean Extreme program by Beachbody and I'm pretty sure that I want to repeat the program again. I've loved it! It's been a great program that includes lots of lower and upper body work at the same time and I feel like I've gotten better results for my lower body than I did with P90X. My thighs and butt have really trimmed down with this program. So I've been thinking that I'm going to take a little time off of the weight lifting and do some kind of a master cleanse and flush out my body before I start the program again. I found this website called justcleansing.com and there's tons of different cleanses available and the website walks you through them. I'm not sure how I feel about going 10 days on nothing but lemon juice and maple syrup water though. Growing up I did several cleanses. My mom was pretty big into them :o) But I want to continue to be active in the process where most of the cleanses really do take a lot out of you. There's tons of them on the market that you can buy that are simply a bunch of pills you can take but still continue to eat normally. I don't think I agree with that idea though. How can you clean out your body if you're still putting stuff into it? There is a three day cleanse that I've done before that I'm pretty sure I'll use. It's one that was developed by Dr. Christopher, a master herbalist, that has written tons of programs and developed a large line of herbal remedies and since I'm quite into natural medicine and was raised this way, I've used a lot of his stuff. The cleanse can be found here. I'm a believer that our bodies store tons of junk and toxins and the toxins are the main cause for illness and disease so by eliminating those toxins we can create an environment in our bodies that will not allow for disease and also pave the way for optimal health. I'll keep you posted on what I decide to do.

Friday, May 14, 2010

Diet Overhaul

As of May 1st my baby girl was officially weaned! Woohoo! The only thing that I miss about it is the convenience of not having to fix her a meal. It was instant :o)
When I decided to start my "diet" I chose to use a supplement called Slimmetry made by Nutrilite and distributed through Amway. (You can get it from our business here.) It's one that can't be taken while nursing... which is why the push to wean before I took any action... also an excuse to put off something that I knew would be hard for me to do. So starting May 3rd my husband and I started our diet. I really don't like to call it that. To me, a diet is something that is not meant to last. It's one of those things that you start with every intention of doing well and then when it gets hard.... you quit. That is not my intention here. I know my goal at this point is two months, but I'm already feeling the desire to take it further. I've already made working out a part of my life. It's been nine months of 5 to 6 days a week (unless I'm sick) and I really can't see myself letting that go any time soon. I love it! I'm determined to work out through any future pregnancies also. I really don't want to let that set me back.
Thus far, I'm doing about 1600 calories a day with around 60-80 grams of protein. I drink a chocolate protein shake three days a week (which tastes great by the way) after my weight lifting sessions and that helps a ton in minimizing soreness and helping with recovery time. I eat a lot of whole grains, fruits and veggies, lean meats like chicken, tilapia, and a little bit of steak. I'm one of those people that does best when things are spelled out for me. Tell me what to do, and I'll do it. Give me a grocery list and a menu for my week and I would love it. My husband on the other hand is a rather picky eater and he could eat the same three things over and over again. I get so bored with it! So far we've done quite a bit of stir-fry over brown rice, grilled chicken, fish and veggies, and chicken sandwiches. My mom-in-law found these fantastic skinny buns that are only 100 calories, whole wheat and no high fructose corn syrup so we use those for hamburgers, sandwiches and other stuff like that.
I would say my main points for changing the way you eat are:
1. Track everything that goes in your mouth! If you're writing it down and reading labels, you'll pay attention to what you're eating.
2. Clean out the cupboards. If it's in my house, I'll eat it. I don't have things in my fridge, freezer or cupboards that I know I shouldn't eat. (unless it's for my 3 year old and I know I don't even like it.)
3. Plan your meals! Have things on hand that can make a healthy meal in a hurry. We have loved canned chicken around here. Tons of protein and you can do tons with it. Make a sandwich or a wrap, add taco seasoning and have a chicken taco or just eat it out of the can.
4. Portion control! Learn portion sizes and stick to it. A serving of meat it about 3 oz. which is equal to a deck of cards. Crazy hu? When it comes to your weaknesses, don't completely eliminate them. That's when it's easy to give up and tell yourself that you have failed just because you ate that piece of cake. It's better to have a little then to have an anxiety attack over wishing you could eat it. Just ask yourself how you will feel after you eat it and then stick to your decision.
5. Carry a water bottle at all times! Most of the time when we think we are hungry, our bodies are often trying to tell us it's thirsty. Drink a bunch of water first and if you still think you're hungry, eat something healthy.


I'm sure there are others but I'll just start with those. It's really been a great week and a half. My biggest disappointment was last Sunday (my treat day) when I made molten lava cakes and they did not turn out. What a waste of calories and anticipation! I was really surprised by how upset I was over it. I didn't eat much of it and still needed something to reward myself for a good week of eating well so I turned on the hot plate and made a smore. Wow... that was good! I've been out and about with friends a few times this past week and actually did quite well considering the fact that eating is my favorite thing to do on girls nights, besides tons of talking and laughing till I cry :o) I just learned that I have to plan for that and bring things that I know I can eat and not feel guilty about.

The most pleasant surprise I had this week came yesterday when I did my cardio workout. I had missed all cardio last week because I had a nasty sore throat and then female issues so I hadn't done my cardio in almost 1 1/2 weeks and during that time I had changed my diet. My routine was fantastic! I had a lot more energy and made it through it without feeling wasted and I was able to push myself harder then I ever have. I knew I was missing an important component to my fitness and I think that I've found it!
I've got to take some pictures of my progress and take my measurements. The last time I did that was March 1st and I think I've made some progress since then, at least I sure hope so!

Thursday, May 13, 2010

I Am Strong

The following is a blog post from my family blog and it really got me to thinking that I should start a separate blog, specifically for my fitness journey. This way those of you that want to know what's going on for our family but don't really care about what I ate, how my work out went, how crappy I feel about myself, or don't want to hear my brag, then you don't have to read it. :o) I think I'm going to love this! I often feel alone in my efforts and I need a place to write how I'm feeling and what's going on in my head. So here's to my new way of life!


Why do I sometimes feel like this?! (Thanks for the pic. Ashley H. Great post by the way!)


I've been thinking about writing this post for some time now, feeling a little unsure about it because it's something I know I shouldn't struggle with, but I do.
I'm positive that all women struggle with their body image at some point in their life and I'm no exception to that. Growing up I don't ever remember my mom not going through some kind of a diet or trying to lose weight and I know that my dad would sometimes complain about how heavy she was. It was mean of him, I must say, and it really hurt her and her self worth. She never has felt attractive or small enough though my mom is the smallest of all her sisters and in better shape then most of her brothers. Obesity runs in her family and it's a huge issue that is plaguing our whole society. I swore as a young girl that I would never be fat and thus far, I've stuck with that. When my Dad passed away he weighed less at 42 then he did his senior year in High school and his family are all pretty thin so maybe I have his genes :o) Besides having babies, I've never had a lot of weight to lose and even then it was only around 15 lbs. which for me was a lot and I felt so unattractive and huge. I've been working out at least five days a week now for about eight months and I am in better shape then I have ever been in my entire life. I love working out now and I love the burn and the sore muscles as a result and I hate to miss a day. It's taken me a while to get here though. I used to think I needed a gym membership and a personal trainer to work out and reach my fitness goals, but now I know that all I need is a good workout program, some free weights, a support system and determination to get through those first few months.
I have been thinner before, but that was during a rough time for me and I wasn't eating anywhere near enough to support my activity level. I was 17 and hating life and how I looked and who I was. I weighed 115 pounds at 5'8 inches tall. I competed in Miss Mini-Cassia that year and obsessed about looking good in a swimsuit and I though that I was almost there. Months later I looked back at pictures of me in that swimming suit and I looked 2 pounds away from anorexic. My hip bones poked out like nothing else and I still felt I wasn't thin enough. There's this unrealistic image that the media has portrayed that tells women how we should look and "if we can just lose those last twenty pounds, we'll have it all—the perfect marriage, loving children, great sex, and a rewarding career." (read full article here. Great article.)

I just stepped outside to get the mail and there was a VS catalog. No wonder I have issues! I regularly have to remind myself that most, if not all, of those photographs have been digitally altered in some way. They've been given a few extra inches to the length of their torso, their facial features have been "perfected," their thighs and butts have been trimmed, their breasts have been enhanced, and they have a team of makeup artists and hair stylists at their disposal. How am I supposed to compete with that?! That's just it... I'm not!
I will say that I know that I look pretty good and I'm not trying to be conceited, but I'm still not where I want to be. I have yet to take control of my food intake and I plan to do just that. I'm going to wean Kaylee soon (she'll be a year on April 28th) and then give it two months of good effort with eating healthy and getting a very balanced diet. I'm going to cut out white flour and refined sugar (except on weekends :) and see where it takes me. It's been exciting to see my body change and to look pretty good in a size 5 or 2 or '26... depending on the brand, which is a whole other complaint that I have! I've battled in my head wondering if I'm taking things too far, but I will say I'm eating more than I think I ever have. I'm always hungry and I'm not one to ignore my hunger pains so it's not like I've gone crazy with anorexia, diet pills or laxatives so I really feel good about where I'm taking this and I'm excited to see where I can go. We're planning a trip to Hawaii for our 5th wedding anniversary in Sep. and it's been great motivation. I told my husband he should take me somewhere swimsuit related after every baby :)
I've been debating about posting pics. of my progress but I'm not sure I'm quite ready yet. I'll do it in June, maybe the first of July depending on when Kaylee's done nursing :) Thanks so much to those of you who have been supportive of my efforts thus far and for all the encouragement. It's helped me get my butt out of bed in the morning and get through some of those tough days.
To those of you on the road to better health and a smaller jean size... Keep it up and be strong!