My Challenge "re-start"....

That's right....I'm going to pull out the Mulligan card....and "restart" my Challenge!!

The start of my week  was fan-freaking-tastic.....and then cupcakes showed their face in my house....and it all went downhill......luckily, I still managed to do a workout on Friday to minimize my bad eating habits....I was all over the 20% portion of my week (I do an 80-20 rule....80% of the week is clean eating and workouts, while 20% of the week I'm not so strict with what I eat, and I still workout)

But...on Sunday I sat down...got out my planner....and SCHEDULED the next 3 months. Done.

Today was my Day 4 in my TurboFire schedule (I wanted Sundays to be my day off, as I usually grocery shop and take the boys skating)....I stick Day 1 and Day 2 at the end of the schedule...it all works out!

So..........drumroll........I am pleased to announce........that I completed my workout this morning!!
Fire 30 and Stretch 10! Here's a little preview of what I did this morning:

Phew!

This is what I'm up to today....

 

 What about you?! In the first 6 weeks I was/am losing 1lb a week, and only doing 30 minute workouts a day.......it's as easy as pushing play everyday!

This month I'm dedicating my time to the WHOLE workout (for the days that I can!) scheduled!

As the saying goes "you are one workout away from feeling good!" (or something like that!)

(PS....I'm now OUT of the 200lb range and into the MID 190's.....haven't been there in 4+ years!)

WHAT?!?! I have to PLAN to be healthy!!???

Yup...you sure do!

No different then organizing your kids' hockey schedule, or completing your grocery list (you DO make a grocery list before going to the store.... right??) and when you have a plan...there's usually a goal/end result that comes along with it...and it's pretty good, isn't it?





I recently became "friends" with my schedule...and I'll tell ya...my days are a lot easier and I (physically) feel a lot better WHEN I stick to my "plan"....the old saying  "failing to plan is a plan to fail"...totally rings true. There is a lot that everyone squeezes into a day......right now I'm carving out 30 minutes/6 days a week to working out.... I have a schedule for my workouts that I follow...and man..when I do it I feel awesome and my days are great!! (long, but great!)

I just read a great article in the Harvard Business Review by Peter Bregman about managing time effectively.
Though this is about being "at the office"....but really, it can be applied to any/everyone.

He says that managing time needs to become ritual and not vague (or else you are just floating thru the day) with ongoing/regular things that we can/will follow no matter what, as that is what keeps us focused (ever lost 3 or more hours just "sitting at the computer"? Those are precious minutes that you'll never get back)


Here is how I have set MY schedule....and maybe this can give you some thoughts about how YOU can give yourself 30 mins for your HEALTH!!

What I USED to do: Make lunches the night before (and squish them into the fridge) and then I would stay UP LATE and watch my "shows"...going to bed maybe by midnight or so...the next morning I would hope that my husband remembered to grab his lunch from the fridge (and grab the right lunch...) and make his coffee and maybe a piece of toast or a bagel......50% of the time I ended up being too tired to make lunches at the end of the day (and so then, they weren't made...meaning my husband had to BUY his breakfast and lunch...cha ching!) and I still stayed up late, because I was just floating thru the day...getting little things here and there done, but really not making a dent in the real "work" I should have been doing.


What I do NOW: I get UP at 5am...make breakfast and lunch for my husband, grab a pre-workout snack, drink a big thing of water(to rehydrate my body from sleeping...and it seems to wake me up)...change into my workout clothes (which I keep all together in one place) DO my workout....by Pressing Play.....have a shower, and then I'm ready to start my day as my first daycare kids arrive at 7am.
 Yes...it's early. But...now I have the REST of the DAY to get everything else done!! Even a 20 or 30 min power nap (yes...you heard me...I nap...something I never could do, but now because I'm up so early...I have to)....now that my workout is OUT of the way....I get laundry done, dishes, and plan for dinner....AND I do/try to get into bed by 9:30/10pm the LATEST....luckily, most of my "shows" I can watch on the computer if I want, or On Demand, but most of the time it just doesn't bother me if I don't watch them.....I find it's very easy to get SUCKED in to sitting and watching TV all night....my husband is a PRIME example of that......but, hopefully I will get working on his workout schedule and carving out some time for him in the next few weeks....poor bugger...but at least he'll be fit;)

I know I'm lucky because I get to work from home...but trust me, there are some days where the time just gets away from me....

Does your schedule need to be more organized? Take some time to put your "regular" schedule down on paper...I bet you'll be able to find 30 minutes...if not...send ME your schedule and I can find it for you;)

Gobble, Gobble, Gobble.....Gulp!

For anyone reading this that ISN'T in Canada.....it's Thanksgiving Weekend here. And what does that mean for most families....FOOD. And Lots of it!

My family has 2 events this weekend.....currently we are up at my parents house and then we head to my husband's family gathering.......for me this is the start of SO many temptations!! And with my Biggest Loser weigh in on Wednesday...ugh!

But...I'll be honest....it's been so far so good....except for the last few days when I ended up getting NO workouts in:(.....some mornings I have an amazing amount of energy, and some I have NONE (that and a few new business things have come along my way and they have monopolized my time in the mornings....but not starting Monday....it's back to the grind!)

So back to the "feasts" that I will be exposed to......first....visiting my parents. Where my parents live, the community comes out to support everyone and everything......whenever an event/fundraiser is held, you know pretty much the community and surrounding areas are attending...so you need to get there FAST and early! We had to(my mom wanted to) leave the house at 10:30..now mind you the event didn't start until 11 and the Community Centre is only a 2 minute drive away......BUT there was a LINE UP to get IN!!

This weekend at my parents, the area Church holds their annual Thanksgiving Fundraiser....which comprises of a bake sale, crafts, and other goods that people in the church have decided to make and sell (all $$ is donated back to the Church)....there  is also a large donation table, where large businesses have donated amazing items, and for $1.00, you get 5 tickets to place infront of the item you'd like to win and then cross the fingers and hope to get a call.....we didn't get a call.......nuts.

Usually my mom does all her own baking...cookies, etc....but lately she's been backing off (which isn't a bad thing......then she has more time to take care of herself and do what she wants to do)....and purchasing pies, cookies and chocolate treats at this fundraiser.....so not only is she STILL supplying us with yummy treats....she's supporting her community.

So...after fighting (nicely) the crowds to get the pies...I took them to the car and then went back inside....met my mom at the chocolate table.....oh my....my mouth was watering!!! But...I resisted temptation and only got my boys a treat....well, I knew that whatever my mom got, some of it was coming home with us anyhow....
then later on, we had an amazing Thanksgiving Dinner....turkey, turnip, squash, peas, potatoes and my mom's yummy, irresistible crock pot stuffing....oh, and did I mention Cherry Pie and ice cream for dessert?
Needless to say...I ate. And ate. I even had a few extra bites of stuffing FROM the crock pot....at this point, my husband ``reminded`` me of the progress I`ve made in the last 4 weeks (thanks for being nice about it dear!:).......AND because we get to do it all over again Sunday, he didn`t want to see me spiral out of control (which would usually happen!)......so my game plan was to ``indulge`` some at my parents, and keep it in check at his family dinner......so I will REALLY need my strength for this one....that and I think I`ll take a veggie platter....that way I can just munch on veggies through the day.....then I`m back to the workout schedule and regular daily routine.

For me...Thanksgiving is the start of my busy time.....first, Thanksgiving, then Halloween (I know it`s not a holiday, but there is candy involved)....then my son`s birthday and party, and then 6 weeks after that...Christmas and New Year!! Phew....I`m already tired just thinking about it!!

But, in the end, it`s nice to be able to get together with family and friends and celebrate holidays and events. Unfortunately my brother wasn`t able to join us this weekend, but my parents are going to have Thanksgiving dinner and visit with him on Sunday....some times plans work, and sometimes they don`t...luckily I can talk to or see my brother whenever, so missing one family meal together isn`t the end..

but back to the grind Monday....
happy health

October...October....how did we get here so fast!!

 

So, a week or so has passed since my last post....sorry about that!

I have been taking some time to "educate" myself on having a good blog, AND on being healthy, happy and balanced....I was finding that I was posting the same things, just different days, and now I'm trying to organize my thoughts and make sure this isn't a "diary", but more of an inspiration/reminder to myself as well as to anyone else that stumbles upon this little blog!

so....please bear with me as it may be a few days or so between posts....it comes down to time management, and I can either manage my time to learn things on the computer OR I can complete a post....(and I still need to fit time in for those pesky things, like cleaning, kids and such;)

So....to throw a question out there...how do you get yourself balanced, happy and healthy??

Do you just jump right into it and start no matter what, or do you wait until "the next Monday", or wait until you have an eating plan/schedule in place??

All about my 2 day "bender"....:(

Well....things were SO on track...working out every day (or early morning) eating great, feeling great.......

then.......I made a terrible mistake......

I decided to make the kids I look after during the day.....PANCAKES.......and that's all I remember



I think there was pudding (yum), pizza,chips and hamburgers mixed in there too over the 2 day blur.....

AND ZERO EXERCISE!

Usually, my "benders" last a few days longer....luckily this time it was only 2 days and I was starting to feel yucky, tired and gross....so...this morning I got UP (at my usual 5am) and did a 30 min Turbo Fire workout and started breakfast with a healthy It Works shake!!

And I feel.......FANTABULOUS!

Also on my "schedule" for today...cleaning out my fridge and freezer and maybe(?) my cupboards....I start "grocery shopping" at home and then I'm able to compile my grocery list.....with the fall coming I'm more partial to soups, chili and pasta....but this winter I will be replacing MY pasta with spagetti squash and using butternut squash instead of french fries/potatoes.

 (looks good, doesn't it!)

In the end....it's all up to ME to eat and exercise properly in order to see the changes I really want....I can sit around and continue to "binge" and have no energy, OR I can TELL myself that I just need to DO IT!!

Right now with my schedule, I have decided on 30 minutes a day minimum of exercise......that's it. And if I happen to get more in...then that's just an added bonus....baby steps are what works for me I think.

Hope everyone has a fun and Healthy Friday!!

happy health

My new found LOVE for CARBS!....

...that's right!

This weekend was amazing weather wise...so much so that Friday, Saturday AND Sunday I was able to get out my rollerblades and blast some major calories! What did you do this weekend for activites?

I also managed to log pretty much my whole week last week on MyFitnessPal...something that I think makes a big difference for me, because if I'm really wanting to eat something and I put it into my schedule....it really makes you make wise decisions when it comes to food choices!

The biggest difference for me (and what I think is making the process easier) is that I'm adding CARBS back into my food menus!! Yes....carbs in the form of brown rice, brown rice pasta, whole grain/whole wheat bread and last night I had baby red potatoes...yum.



The following is taken from dummies.com...it explains what carbs are for and WHY they are important in our diet!

Carbohydrates Do More Than Make Energy for Your Body

Making energy isn’t the only thing your body does with the carbohydrate nutrients in your diet. Carbohydrates also protect your muscles. When you need energy, your body looks for glucose from carbohydrates first.

If no glucose is available, because you’re on a carbohydrate-restricted diet or have a medical condition that prevents you from using the carbohydrate foods you consume, your body begins to pull energy out of fatty tissue. Your body's next move is to burn its own protein tissue (muscles). If this use of proteins for energy continues long enough, you run out of fuel and die.

A diet that provides sufficient amounts of carbohydrates keeps your body from eating its own muscles. That’s why a carbohydrate-rich diet is sometimes described as protein sparing.

What else do carbohydrates do?

• Regulate the amount of sugar circulating in your blood so that all your cells get the energy they need.
• Provide nutrients for the friendly bacteria in your intestinal tract that help digest food.
• Assist in your body’s absorption of calcium.
• May help lower cholesterol levels and regulate blood pressure (these effects are special benefits of dietary fiber).

So carbs are good, right? So how does pasta ends up on your hips when too many carbs pass your lips? Your cells budget energy very carefully. They do not store more than they need right now. Any glucose the cell does not need for its daily work is converted to glycogen (animal starch) and tucked away as stored energy in your liver and muscles.
Your body can pack about 400 grams (14 ounces) of glycogen into liver and muscle cells. A gram of carbohydrates — including glucose — has four calories. If you add up all the glucose stored in glycogen to the small amount of glucose in your cells and blood, it equals about 1,800 calories of energy.
If your diet provides more carbohydrates than you need to produce this amount of stored calories in the form of glucose and glycogen in your cells, blood, muscles, and liver, the excess will be converted to fat. And that’s how your pasta ends up on your hips.


So...when I said I've added CARBS back into my foods...I don't eat it at every meal...AND I'm selective WITH what carbs I'm eating!

Since adding carbs BACK into my life, I've had less "headaches", less grouchy, and have had less cravings then when I only kept my "carbs" in veggie form (yes, there are carbs in veggies)

Our bodies are pretty much fine-tuned machines that work well on their own....we are the ones choosing what "fuels" to put in it...imagine having a diesel car, and you go and put regular gas into it.....do you know what will happen??!
(hint: it won't work and will wreck the car!)...imagine that being the same for our bodies....our "cars" need to have the RIGHT fuel to work well and the tanks need to be filled often (our metabolism doesn't get the best mileage!)

I hope with this blog to get a bit more organized and post some recipes of things I've done, tried , hits and misses, as well...feel free to follow my food journal on MyFitnessPal...

happy monday! I'm off to make myself a whole wheat turkey, lettuce and cheese sandwich to have for lunch:))

happy health