Motivation

Its been a while since I've gone to the gym alone to get a workout in. I'm usually with a group of friends or in a group class. I went tonight-by myself. I forgot what good therapy it is. I was 100% focused, got to clear my mind. No phone. Just Me, the machine, and my Ipod. While on the elliptical the song "I've been changed" by William McDowell came on:

This song made me realize how much God truly has changed me. The way I think, the way I look at things, the way I handle things. In the past 2 years that I've had a solid relationship with him. He has changed my entire life. And sweating my butt off on the elliptical, legs burning... This song made my workout even more worth it. I pushed myself harder just when I wanted to give up. The burning in my legs was nothing compared to how motivated I felt! My weight loss has a lot (everything) to do with God. I could have NOT done it without him. This song pushed me and was my motivation for the rest of my workout. And clearly-I'm still inspired. I was nearly in tears working out. Its moments like that, that make you Thank Him, instead of asking for something. 

Needless to say. I had a great workout. Did 2 miles plus on the elliptical and did weights targeting different zones. 

I truly do owe God everything. He's always been there-even when I didn't know :-)

Oh-and this new gym bag helps get me motivated!!!!

Birthday Month!

There was a time where I went out to eat several times a week. I was also a member of every club or gimmick they had going on at each restaurant. Most places give you a free meal, appetizer or dessert during your birthday month. I would always look forward to the beginning of June because that's when all the emails would start flooding in with the "free" coupons. I MADE SURE that I used them all. I LOVED eating out. And trust me-it was NEVER anything healthy. It was normally chicken tenders and fries or a hamburger and fries... At Red Robin-it was multiple baskets of fries. Everything was also loaded with Ketchup. I'd get an appetizer AND a meal AND usually a dessert-oh, and lets not forget the Pop.

That was the old Vitty...

New Vitty: Isn't a member of any restaurant club. Can't even really eat at a restaurant, and even when I do and try to stay healthy. I end up sick because they add this and that, its not organic/natural, my body isn't used to it! Some days I look back and think "Dang, I could really go for [real] food". But honestly, I wouldn't go back. After learning how certain things (foods) affect your body. I should honestly be either dead right now or have major health problems. I have NOTHING. Other than being overweight, I am 100% healthy! Although eating healthy is a TON of work, way expensive and involves planning. I wouldn't go back to the "Old Vitty" habits.

I'll be 24 next week and ALMOST 100 (98 to be exact, unless I can pull off 2 more pounds in a week) pounds lighter! There is no greater gift than that!

Here's to a healthy Birthday Month!

Paul's Zumba

Thursday nights are known at lifetime as "Paul's Zumba". Paul may also be one of my biggest blog fans too :-) (Thanks Paul!)

  Paul's class is not like your ordinary class of Zumba, seeing as though Paul's Zumba is mostly hip hop. Well, Paul has decided to take a break from it making today his last Thursday night :-( This has caused me to go into a mild depression (only kidding-kinda ;-)) His class was so popular people would line up 45 minutes to an hour before class started to make sure they got into class-and most weeks he was telling people "Sorry, class is full!" If that's not enough to tell you how awesome his class was, I'm not sure what is!

I get the best work out in his class without it feeling like "I'm working out".

Zumba has been a huge part of my weight loss-and will continue to be. BUT be assured there is no Zumba like Paul's! Zumba has been a confidence booster for myself and I've met a ton of great friends and people. 

Thank you for everything Paul!!! And don't forget to.....

"WORK IT!!!" 

 (Dont mind the way I look-this is post workout!)

Off-week

I'm normally excited to work out, go to the gym, etc. Not this week! For what ever reason-this week, I have no enthusiasm to work out. 

Monday-got to the gym, sat in my car for about 10 minutes, walked into the gym, stood around and talked with some trainers for about 30 minutes. Walked into Zumba, did about 25 minutes (not pushing myself at all!), move to machines-do about 3 leg curl things-I'm done! I wasted about an hour at the gym. I just wasn't motivated, it wasn't working. 

Tuesday-did an hour of Zumba, didn't push myself.

I do feel like crap when I just cant find the motivation when at the gym. I also have a hard time telling myself "It's okay to give yourself a night off" without feeling guilty. On those un-motivated days its like a lose-lose. I either go to the gym and feel crappy about it because I didn't push myself, or don't go at all and feel crappy because I simply didn't go. It gets tiring when I work full time, try to go to the gym every week night (except Wednesdays which is church nights). I feel like I'm never home. AND I cook all my meals, its hard to fit everything in. Worth it? Yes, I'm sure. Just gets old and tiring sometimes. (Not complaining-just saying its not always easy!)

When I slack or don't go to the gym I am extra aware of what I am putting into my body on those days/weeks...

Not sure of my intent in this posting, just sort of putting my thoughts out there :-) And I know I'm not the only one with struggles with this. Sometimes we just have those "off" weeks. I'll get my "groove" back!

People have been asking what I eat exactly-so my weekly shopping list is coming soon!!

Primal

I had text-ed my doctor one day asking her what I was doing wrong because it had been a couple weeks where I had been at the same weight and was getting discouraged. She told me to read a book called "Primal Blueprint". Now, I trust her 100% and know she has my best interest. BUT I'm not a reader. I've started MANY books, and never end them. I just don't like to read! But I know if she's telling me to read this-there must be a reason... So I order it on amazon.com. I'm interested in it, just not looking forward to the reading aspect of it all! I then start to do a little research on what it is. So I get the definition of primal and it reads:

"first; original; primeval: primal eras before the appearance of life on earth." I google the book and get some reviews on it, seems interesting. I'm learning that the book is about eating like the primal  people (caveman-ish people)?!?! I'm not sooo sure about this! 

I get the book in the mail and open it up just to read a few things from it, check it out, etc. One of the first pages compares Conventional Wisdom vs. The Primal Blueprint. Very interesting and very valid points on the Primal views. I don't have much time to read at that moment, but now, I'm getting interested. 

The book from the get go is saying no grains-NONE! I'm thinking, there's no wayyy I can do this. Does my Doctor seriously eat primal?!?! The answer is YES!

I read part of the 1st chapter-and its very interesting, however, I'm not sure I can live this way. I know I've changed a lot, but going primal? Not sure its my thing... 

The book sat for a week or two and again I text my doctor asking what I'm doing wrong and give her a break down or what I'm eating. She says nothing, I'm doing perfect... However, I still pick at things I'm not suppose to, still eating some carbs (brown rice, chipotle (sodium) carbs (natural chips, etc...). Since I'm not losing how I want I decide no carbs for 2 weeks along with no fruit, except berries and an apple after 3 pm. I also decide to jump back into the book. Not sure what happened this time around, but I got a huge liking to the idea of primal eating (no grains, sugars or legumes.) It was interesting to read how food effects what happens in the body, to your insulin and blood glucose. I instantly became addicted to this book and what it was teaching me! It broke everything down!

I got rid all my grains, sugars and legumes-I had brown rice, black beans and corn in the house. There aren't too many changes I have to make to my eating lifestyle, but there are still changes that are definitely challenges. NO grains at all! I'm already down two pounds though since starting :-) So we'll see how this goes! There is obviously a lot more to living a primal lifestyle, and I'm not done with the book yet-so I'm still learning :-)

 My primal skills were put to the test when we had a birthday party this weekend! Its very hard to be surrounded by hamburgers and hot dogs, cake and ice cream. Luckily they had a lot of fruit and veggies which I ate! After about 5 hours of a hamburger staring at me. I caved. Hamburger isn't bad according to the primal lifestyle-however they prefer organic. And I, on my own have cut out red meat, and do only organic meats. But I ate the hamburger anyway (no bun, only mustard). It was good for the 60 seconds it took me to eat it, until I got sick from it. My body has gotten so used to organic white meats (Chicken, turkey, ground turkey) that when I stray away from that, I tend to not feel well :-( Other than the 1 hamburger, I feel great about what I ate :-)

The book is on amazon.com (Primal Blueprint) if any of you are interested. If you have any questions, feel free to ask!

Push

It's no secret that Zumba is my main form of workout. I was in Zumba tonight and went to the same instructors class that I had when I first did Zumba. For whatever reason as I was doing ZumbaZumba experience. Let me tell you-It was one of the hardest things I had ever done physically! I modified EVERYTHING so that I could today I was thinking about my very first half keep up. I was ALWAYS in the back of the class. Dying, sweating to death (while modifying everything!) Legs were burning, like burning burning where I'd have to stop for a minute to get feeling back!

Today-I'm in the front of the class (I HATE when I cant see myself in the mirror!). I go on stage. I still modify, however the modify I do now, is to get a more intense workout and find ways to make me sweat more!, I've met a TON of awesome new people/friends, and have fun while working out. Its cool to look back and see how far I've come. I'm not perfect still-and its still hard and challenging, but that's what makes it fun! There is honestly no better feeling than leaving the gym in sweat! I get a high from it!

(I do get guest passes, so if anyone would like to join sometime, let me know-I'd love to have you!)

Challenge yourself

I've repeatedly told myself "I can't". And honestly, I'm still guilty of saying the words "I can't". One of the biggest lessons I've learned is I CAN. My posture may not look like the person next to me, I may not be able to do it as long as the next person, or as many reps. But none the less, I've been able to do it. My biggest excuse was and still is "I can't do that! I'm too fat to do that." One of the best feelings is proving myself wrong. When you challenge yourself you realize just how strong you are. Physically or Mentally. So I challenge YOU to challenge yourself, in ANY area of your life. 

I never thought I could/would...

• Go to the Gym
• Be in the front of the class at Gym
• Go on Stage
• Get through 10 minutes on the stair climber
• Run
• Do certain workouts
• Change my eating habits
• And MANY MANY more....

I've conquered ALL of these. 

My challenge for the next 2 weeks is:

• No carbs
• No Chipotle (Sodium)
• No fruit after 3PM except berries and AN apple if NEEDED.  

I've been tested with ALL of these already (and I'm only 2 days in!)-It's NOT easy-but that's what is so rewarding!

Pick something and stick with it. It doesn't need to be 2 weeks, but start somewhere. Prove to YOURSELF that you CAN do it :-)