Busy, Busy, Busy!!

Well, it has been a few weeks since I have written. This is a very busy time in my life. I keep thinking that life should be slowing down but I am finding that life is just speeding up. When I am running from activity to activity I throw my great eating habits out the window. I live on protein bars and yogurt. Now those are not bad choices but the problem is that is all I eat. There are five food groups and to eat from only two everyday for a week or so is not healthy. My body needs more than a chocolate pecan pie protein bars and plain yogurt. Fruit would be nice and maybe some rice with vegetables. I know some might not eat meat and that is ok for you as long as you are getting protein from other sources, but I need fish or chicken once in a while. So what to do when I am so busy I think I can’t stop and eat. Change my thinking … that’s right I have to make the time to eat and not only make the time to eat but sit down and eat slowly.

Victory

It is bedtime. The holiday is just about over. I made it. I didn't eat the entire chocolate fountain. I had only eight strawberries and two marshmallows with chocolate. We all had a great time at the big buffet of chocolate. I think my second son ate only chocolate but he can afford to, being almost 17, he burns more calories sleeping then I do exercising. I have never had that advantage. Even in high school I worried about weight, now being in my forties I think once in awhile that I like my body enough not to worry about what I weigh. I am glad I am conscience about health and I will always be so I can live long for my family.

Easter Sunday Morning

It is Easter Sunday morning and with the sun shining in my kitchen window the day holds an anticipation. Eating! Today is the annual day of the big buffet of chocolate! (In fact I first thought the movie, "Chocolat" was about Easter) I count today as a free day and I will eat everything and I will plan not to overeat. But I will see if my willpower will be the victor. I must admit that chocolate is my biggest temptation. I now can say chocolate is good for me since it contains so many antioxidants. Hey, I wonder, does the Easter bunny work for the FDA the rest of the year?

Enjoy today and eat everything in moderation. Tonight when you lie in bed think about how you feel especially if you overeat. Remember that feeling... Maybe the memory will help you not to be tempted to overeat the next time.

One more thing ... Jesus (the real reason for the day) died for you on Friday and rose today as the victor over sin, death and hell. You can too be the victor by placing your trust in him.

Holiday Time

Life is a funny thing. We do things that we want don't want to do even though we don't want to do them. Does that make sense? Here let me give you an example. I think healthy living is important but I don't always live healthy. I eat junk food and ice cream. I can only be so disciplined. The hardest time is Holiday time. It takes me away from my normal eating habits. I go to family parties and I find so much food. Why? Because we never think we will have enough food and so we make more then we need. How does someone who wants to live healthy but falls to temptation live disciplined? You take everyday one day at a time, one party at a time or one holiday at a time. I start each day new and try to forget about the past but not enough that I might do it again. One thing I have decided to do this Easter is to only have one plate of food. I will be careful not to overload it and will allow myself a small desert. On Easter Sunday when we go to the buffet I will load up on salad, with a lite dressing. I believe that planning this before hand may help me not to overeat. But I guess we will see ... cause I have never made these plans before. I'll let you know if planning for healthy eating works!

Acting Lesson

Have you ever said, "I'm throwing in the towel." Have you ever just sat on the couch and watch fitness tv? When I get up I would just rather sit and surf the net or read a good book. I don't want to go and exercise, especially if it is raining. Since I'm the instructor I can't stay home. So exercise becomes a priority. It is my work. You would never think of missing a day of work or skipping one of your kids special programs at school. That is the way you should look at exercise. Look at your daily workout as a job or a special appointment that you can't miss. We have a dentist that charges us for the appointment if we miss the appointment. Well, we missed once and never again. Change you thinking about working out and make it a priority. Now here is where the drama comes in; there is a technique in acting called, "the magic if." You ask yourself the question, "What if I were in those circumstances?" So now ask yourself this question; "What if I was the instructor?" OR "What if my instructor charged me if I didn't show up?" Now pretend that it is true. Guess what you are acting!

Staying in Limits

Life is a funny thing. You know as the Fitness Drama Queen I feel I should be disciplined in all areas of my life but I'm not. I went to the grocery tonight to have a prescription filled and they said that it would take 30 minutes. I thought I could walk around and look at all the food I can't eat or shouldn't but that would only make me want to eat it. So I will go to the department store in the strip mall and see if they have any bargains ... I won't buy anything just look. $47.94 later I picked up my prescription. I can always return it but then that wouldn't be as fun.
Sometimes you just need to let go but stay within limits ... I saw five others things I could have bought ... I stayed in my limits although I don't think my husband will think so when the bill comes in. Oh well, tomorrow is another day!

Heating up your Metabolism

Metabolism is defined as the chemical changes in living cells by which energy is provided for vital processes and activities and new material is assimilated; WOW what a mouth full! In other words it is your energy level and they way you burn stored fat.

Changing your diet for life is one of the things you need to do heat up the metabolism. Try for a week to eliminate all sugars, including high fructose corn syrup. Also hydrogenated fats, junk food, alcohol and caffeine should be taken out of your diet for a week. Now you won't feel great at first; headaches and irritability will become part of your life till your body no longer depends on these false energy givers. Be patient! And ask your family to do the same. I don't recommend that husband and wife do this the same week.
Replace them by drinking green tea, more water (half your body weight in ounces) and eating plain yogurt. Load up on fruits, vegetables and lean meats like fish and chicken. Try ground flaxseed in your yogurt. Try rice pasta instead of the regular Semolina. If you do this for a full 7 days then by day 8 you will begin to feel higher level of energy. If you choose you can begin to add some of those bad things back into your diet. Don't do it all in one day unless you want to feel terrible the next day. It takes a full 30 days to completely detoxify. Then think moderation when you ingest caffeine and alcohol.

Soaked

Wow! What a workout! Cardio today and lots of sweating. Now you need lots of water. Class this morning was a cardio class and we never stopped moving. By the end of class I was dripping wet. Worked on some imagery this morning, I wanted the ladies to run the race (even it was for only 4 counts of 8) to the finish line. Cardio is so important cause it will burn the fat all over the body during the whole work out.

Tips and Helpful Hints to the Drama of Weight Loss

Tips and Helpful Hints to the Drama of Weight Loss

What a great day to be alive. Snow in April! A usual occurrence in the Burgh. People don't know how to eat. It seems that everyone thinks if I eat breakfast then I will be hungry all day! Not true. When you eat breakfast you start you motor going and so you burn more calories. When you don't eat breakfast your body shuts down and thinks ..."I must conserve energy" (Actually that is why you don't feel hungry) This habit of not eating breakfast leads to weight gain because your metabolism slows. The best thing to eat for breakfast is protein. It is the food of muscles.

Tales of the Drama Queen

Yes I'm a drama queen ... and I love exercise! Why? Cause I love to sweat and I love how I feel after I exercise. I don't feel great during exercise but I know it is only a small part of my day. So get out and walk ... you don't always need the closest parking place at the mall or the grocery, even if it is raining. You are not a witch so you won't melt and that little extra walking will be a start to get you moving.