Begining.... again :)

  Isn't it funny that no matter how hard you work for how long if you take a break it is a little hard to get started again.  I took the month of December off from working out and watching anything I ate.  Not my best choice but it is what it is and I'm ready to get started again.
   My hardest thing in getting back on track is going off eating sugar.  Our bodies like to keep us regulated.  This doesn't mean it pushes us to the healthy choice but our body sees what we are putting in and try to keep itself at a chemical normal with the nutrients it is given.  So, if you eat a lot of sugar you will crave sugar.  This is because your insulin levels are pushed way up with over eating sugar. When there isn't that amount in your blood anymore it sends out chemicals that make you feel hungry so you can get more sugar to bring you back up to that level again.  Is eating sugar your best health choice? NO.  But, when we try to cut back we are uncomfortable and think that sugar is what makes us feel better.  Have you ever thought "I would give up soda but I get headaches when I don't have one" or "when I try to eat better I just don't feel good"  This is because your body is trying to figure out a new normal.  We have all heard of people on drugs going through a withdrawal.  The same happens when you cut the processed foods and sugar out of your diet.  Not because you are sick but because the body's chemical balance is being changed.  And, lets be honest, processed foods are mostly chemically altered remnance of what might have been considered food at one time.:)  Makes sense doesn't it.  The truth of the matter is if we cut back on the junk we eat yes we will feel uncomfortable for a little while but it is not permanent.  After a week or so our bodies determine a new normal without the sugar and chemicals the discomfort and hunger from lack of them goes away.  It takes time and you have to be willing to work through it but you can do it.  I'm one of those people that like to know how long something will take and then I can mentally prepare myself for it.  So now you know.  So many people give up because of this "withdrawal" phase but you can do this.  Say it.......I can do this!

Weigh in day

Friday is our "weigh in day" but we are going to change this up a  bit depending on what your goals are.  This might be different for everyone.  You will "REPORT" on how you are doing.  For me, I gained 8lbs since November so my first goal is to lose that and my other goal is to workout at least 3 times a week.  "Work out" can be relative.  I started by stretching and strengthening today.  Taking the month off from working out has put my knee back to hurting so I don't want to hurt myself by starting out too fast because I know where that leads.  Other goals I'm working on is to start drinking more water and cut my calories back to my normal intake.  NO MORE OVER EATIN!!!!!!  Just by changing eating habits it is easy to see weight loss, energy boost and over all feeling better.  What are your goal?  If you need help determining where to start let me know.  Everyone is different.  Good luck and lets get this year started right!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

Well, 2014 is gone and we are ready to start fresh with 2015.  Before we move on I want you to take a few minutes and write down a few positive things that happened in 2014.  What goals did you reach?  What habits did you master or bad habits broken?  What were you able to accomplish that was positive?!!!  Give yourself a pat on the back!  Sometimes we dwell on the goals not reached when we really have made good progress.  Find the positive.  Find the good.  Let this energy fuel you for 2015.  We did great things in 2014 what can we do to build on that in 2015.  Where can we work a little harder?  I know we have already talked about goal but let’s do a refresher.  We should have long term goals and mid goals and short term goals.  When we think long term think 5 years.. 10 years.. 20 years.  Where do you want to be at each of those times?  These goals should be building on each other.   Sometimes these goals change a bit as we go but without a goal to shoot for in the present we tend to wonder aimlessly.   I want you to think of all aspects of your life.  This blog focuses on health but there are many things we can think of when making life changes and goals for.  So often our other goals depend on our health and the ability to function at our physical best. 

Now while thinking about these long term goals let’s make some goals for this year.  What do you want to accomplish?  Where would you like to be mentally, emotionally, physically, spiritually?  How can you get there?  I often see people make a goal such as “I want to run a 5k” When in fact they hate running and really just want to lose weight.  If you don’t really want to run a 5k don’t make that your goal.  You might do that to reach the weight loss goal but those are 2 different goals.  You can train for a 5 k without losing a pound and you can lose weight without running a 5k.  So decide what your REAL goals are.  If you love to run or race make that a goal but if not what is your real goal?  As we decide what our real goals are we can make smaller goals each month or 2 to reach them.  If a race is what you want to do, how do you get there? If being able to play with your kids is a goal, how do you get there?  If being the best “you” is your goal what does that look like and how can you get there?  I’m here to help you with the question of “how do I get there?”, but I need to know your real goals.  This might take some intense thinking time.  Take that time, brainstorm, talk it out and write things down.  Don’t just write down something because everyone else is doing it.  What do YOU want?  It has to be what you want if you truly are going to be successful at reaching the goal.  If your husband really wishes you would run a 5 k with him…..ok, but what do you want?  What are YOU willing to work HARD for?  Where are YOUR desires?  Take time and make your goals this year real.