Insanity Day 1

So, I finished Day 1 of Insanity-Plyometric Cardio Circuit and it really kicked my behind. By the time I was through, I was dripping with sweat like I never, ever have. I pushed myself; I am so happy that I did not press pause and I didn't take any long breaks. My endurance was terrible and my form was not the greatest. I will keep working on my form and I know that I will get better.

I was not able to do the floor exercises with the push-ups and the legs. I did a few of those. I realize that it was because I was already so beat down tired that I couldn't get down on the floor and work it and get up and get down and get up. So when the floor exercises came up I did something else like run in place, basketball drills or I simply just walked in place. I kept moving and moving. No, I wasn't moving fast and my form was terrible especially for the last six minutes. BUT I WAS MOVING!!!

I will press play tomorrow too!!!

The Year is Almost Over

This year is about to come to an end in a few weeks and I am still on this weight loss journey. While I have not been blogging I have been staying focused on creating a new healthier lifestyle. Over the past month and a half I have been watching the foods that I'm eating, cooking, eating more veggies, whole grains and lean meats and fish. I don't drink any soda, drink about 64 ounces of water a day, drink tea daily and have been focusing more on my exercise. I'm pleased with my results. I'm down nine pounds and I feel much better-- physically and mentally.

Yesterday was thanksgiving and I indulged but I did not over indulge. I didn't drink any soda and traveled to my family's house with my water bottle. I made sure that I hit the gym before I went to eat dinner and I followed-up with a nice workout today. I feel good about myself and I am confident that I will stay focused and achieve my desired results.

I decided to kick up my exercise routine a little. I began the Insanity workout today and I know that I am too out of shape to complete the exercise circuits but I a going to press play for the next 60 days. In addition to the workout I am also going to get a two or three mile walk in daily. I'll blog about my progress when time permits. Oh, I also have a vlog on you- tube where I am chronicling my journey; all of these "tools" will help me on my journey. My short term goal is to lose 20 pounds by my birthday which is 12 weeks away. I should achieve this goal with no problem if I stick to my plan. I just need to take it one step at a time and I will be where I want to be.

I Kept My Word!!!

Okay, I haven't updated this blog since Friday or it may have been Thursday. Just to recap, I had my oral surgery on Friday morning, so I woke up very early and made sure I did my workout routine-- walk, weight lifting and meditation. I took Tylenol with codine for the pain so I was totally out of it Friday night and Saturday for most of the day. I woke up late but I got my Saturday workout in, later than usual but I did it all. I was feeling good about my progress so far. I was two days in and so far so good. I was keeping my word-- I would work out 20 days, the same workout-- because 20 days makes a habit. Then Sunday came.

So, I can say that I was still on medication-- amoxicillian and ibuprofen pm. Plus, I had two or maybe three glasses of wine on Saturday night. That combination of drugs and alcohol added to the fact that I went to bed at about 2:00 am really knocked me out. When I finally woke up at 12:00 pm on Sunday afternoon I was immediately OFF TRACK! I had planned a beautiful Sunday. I was going to hit Flushing Meadows Park-Hall of Science for the farmers market before 11:00 am, then 11:15 am service at New Life followed by my knitting meet up at Knit Cupcake in Brooklyn. Oh, I was also going to get to the bank before they cosed at 3:00 pm and I was going to pay the dog sitter for Alfreda. That means I planned on visiting my baby, Alfreda; I only saw her once over the whole summer and I really wanted to see my baby. I actually wanted to bring her home. BUT-- I was OFF TRACK!!! So I thought about all I planned to do including my workout and I realized I needed to make some quick decisions.

I am usually pretty reliable when others are counting on me, however when I am relying on myself, I don't always come through. I make all kinds of promises to myself -- workout more, eat better, get Alfreda, visit my grandmother, read my bible more, pray more, get a hobby, go out more, enjoy life-- the list goes on and on. Well, I decided that it was time for me to keep my words and promises to myself. I thought about the day I had planned and decided to do as much as I had scheduled. That meant that I would need to cancel my workout. BAD NEWS!! I decided that I would double up by doing my workout routine one morning and one evening within the next few days. This means I would not be sticking to my 20 days but I would be doing 20 workouts in 20 days. This made perfect sense to me and enabled me to GO LIVE LIFE.

So, instead of working out I got up, made my brunch, went to the bank, drove to Brooklyn and learned to knit, went to 6:00 pm service at New Life, went to Trader Joe's (not exactly Farmer's Market), went to pay Sandra the dog sitter and was able to visit my baby Alfreda, then I went to Stop and Shop and my last stop was home. I got home and ate dinner-- tuna steak with a huge butter and bib salad. I then tried my hand a knitting again-- let's just say I need a lot of practice. Which I plan on getting every Wednesday and Sunday.

Today, I woke up at minutes to 3:00 pm. I still got it together in here and worked it out! The routine I'm sticking to for the next few weeks. When I finished, I got myself ready to get my dog and bring her home. First, I had to go get Alfreda a new collar because she got so fat she could not fit her old one. Then I went and got my baby. It's been a year since she's been home but she is home tonight. She will stay here for two nights and then go back to the dog sitter on Wednesday before I go back to work. I will get her on Friday evening and she'll stay home this weekend. Eventually, this will be her home again.

I feel GREAT!!! I kept my word to myself and I kept my word to Sandra. I told her I would pick Alfreda up and I did. Alfreda is home!!! I am BACK ON TRACK and I plan to stay ON TRACK!!! I plan to keep my word to myself first at all times. If I don't start doing that consistently I can just hang it all up. I plan to be a better me all around and the only way I can do that is by being a woman of my word AT ALL TIMES!!!

19 to go...

Day one was a huge success!!! I wwork up at 8:00am and immediately climbed out of bed and readied myself for my ten minutes of meditation. I found a nice spot in the hallway (perfect lighting), sat with my legs crossed and my back against the wall and began to breathe and clear my mind. I thought about the day before me and promised myself that the day would be a success. My ten minutes went faster than I expected. I followed up with 30 minutes of walking with Leslie Sansome and a 10- minute upperbody routine. I was rushing to get everything, eat breakfast, get dressed and get the the dentist for my oral surgery by 10:00.

Keep it Simple Sister !!!

I decided that I would stick to one simple workout routine for 20 days. They say 20 days makes a habit. I selected a very simple, moderate impact routine that could be done right here in my living room. I'm going to do Leslie Sansone's Walk Away The Pounds- 2-Mile. I did it yesterday, but I didn't do it today. In my defense, I just decided to embark on the 20 days makes a habit challenge a few minutes ago. Tomorrow, will be my day one. In addition to the walk away, I plan to do a 20 minute upper body weight training routine three days a week. Tomorrow is my day one for that too. Each day I will begin the day with 10 minutes of yoga or meditation.

I have been having trouble sleeping lately and I think my exercising had something to do with it--- that coupled with the stress of unemployment. Well, I'm not unemployed anymore so that stress is gone; if I still can't sleep, it may be the exercise. Working out anytime after 3pm has always been a problem for me. I get so amped up that I can't bring it back down enough to really get sleep when I work out late in the day. I plan to begin as soon as I open my eyes in the morning. First-- morning meditation, or yoga and then my walk and 20 minute routine if applicable.

I am excited about this journey but I know that the only way this is going to truly work for me is if I change the way I live--- not go on a diet. I've been watching Dr. Oz and researching some things. I decided to make some small changes but I figured the easiest way to ensure that I stick to them was going to be by looking at what I enjoy eating and drinking and finding healthier alternatives. Some examples include:

----I love hot drinks-- coffee/chai tea/ STARBUCKS!!!!-- these drinks are either full of caffeine, sugar and/or fat-- NO GOOD FOR ME. They are fine if consumed in moderation but that is not the way I was consuming them. I started drinking tea with every meal. First I just got some Celestial Seasonings and had a cup of tea with or after each meal. Then I saw Dr. Oz talk about the benefits of Japanese diets and they mentioned a green tea powder, Matcha that is loaded with antioxidants, fights cancer and helps improve moods-- depression. I decided to trade my Celestial Seasonings for Matcha and so far so good. I drink a cup with every meal.

----Another example is Fiber. Everything says if I increase my fiber intake I will have greater success with my weight loss so I decided to begin buying foods that were either naturally fiber rich or fortified with fiber. This was easy-- they have bread, Splenda, and pasta that is fortified with fiber. I am also eating more veggies and fruit.

I've made a few more changes that I'll update everyone up on some other time but right now I'm adopting a KISS strategy to my final weight loss journey-- Keep it Simple Sister!!! Small simple changes to my daily routines and diet that will become total lifestyle changes in no time. I am concentrating on these changes, becoming mindful of them and holding myself accountable to them.

I am totally geeked up about this new life I'm carving out for myself. My goals are to be healthier, happier, thinner and improve self awareness. This is a great time for me!!! I am believing that my new life is going to be my best one yet!!!

Over a Year Later

Okay, so it's over a year later and I am the same weight. While, I'm the same weight my health is not the same. Every year that I walk around with this extra weight places me a greater risk for heart disease, diabetes (I am pre-diabetes now), high blood pressure, various cancers and a host of other life threatening issues. Plus, I'm not a mother yet and the weight and my current physical condition do not support my desire to one day have children of my own. There are many many many reasons for me to change the way I've been living my life. I am starting over once again and while I am not at all happy to be in this place once again the blessing is that I am able to go at it again for a second, no third, nah fourth... well you know what I'm saying. The blessing is that it is not too late to reposition myself. I am excited once again and eager to get deep into this journey.

I've been working out for over a week and eating more fruit, veggies and fiber for that same time. I've been cooking and tonight I went and got myself a magic bullet smoothie machine. I am so geeked up about this purchase. I plan to become a smoothie making monster in here. I used to make them all the time when I was running and living in Georgia.

The ability to reposition and start anew is great gift; if we were not able to recreate, renew, reposition, rebuild, rejuvenate, renovate, rehabilitate then surely we would die. We would kill our physical and spiritual selves, this I am certain of. While I appreciate this gift I am confident that I do not want to be here again. A year from now I do not want to be in this same place, writing about the same thing (starting over again). I will succeed this time.

I've made this promise to myself. " I am going to succeed. I am going to achieve all of my diet, lifestyle and exercise goals. They are going to become a permanent part of me and my life."