Lead a Fit and Healthy Life
Archive for January, 2010
Enjoy your Sunday!
01 year ago
One of the great things about workin so hard on your fitness, is that your body changes. Or at least you hope that your body changes! Well for me, I have gone down about 3 clothing sizes. A few weeks back I went through my entire closet and purged bags and bags full of clothes. – The bags are actually sitting in my guest room, waiting for me to figure out what to do with them -. So I obviously need new clothes. Wearing ill fitting clothing no matter what your size is really the wrong way to go!
I received this coupon in the mail last week, from Anthropologie. They sent it as a birthday card and it is actually a candle necklace and a coupon to use during my birthday month. You better believe I will be wasting no time “celebrating” my birthday with that discount.
This morning I went out early and shoveled for the 3rd time and got some serious exercise once again. I remember before I had starting working out, shoveling and being so weak and out of breath after just a few minutes. Now it’s a breeze. Just another benefit to being in good physical shape – household chores are made easier!
Enjoy your Sunday!
hibernation of my self-control
01 year ago
Are there some foods that you eat that you just start to realize that you must never eat again. They are those foods that you can’t stop eating once you start? I am sure for a lot of people it’s potato chips. For me, at least this past week, its the cereal Cracklin Oat Bran. I thought I would buy it as a good snack in a bag sort of things for my daughter’s lunch. I had her try one and she scrunched her face up with disdain. I on the other hand was like Oh, man now these are good! And good they were — Every chance I got, I stuck my hand in that box and took a handful to munch on. Before I knew it, over the course of 3 days, the box was gone. No milk needed.
So I realize there are just some foods that I can not buy unless I want to eat the entire contents in no time flat. That crunchy, sweet, oven-baked oat cereal is like a drug to me.
What are some of the foods that you know trigger hibernation of your self-control?
Saturday and Snow
01 year ago
Snow on the ground and it’s crisp outside. I love it!!
I headed out to Gold’s Gym when it started it’s light dusting and came out 1 hr 15 later to about an inch and it’s still coming down.
34 mi treadmill
50lb OH squats
50lb back squats
40lb iso lats
25lb push presses
50 Push-ups
I feel great! Energized and ready to take on the day. Scotty is still sick and mopey so this should make for an interesting day. I will probably head out side in a bit to shovel and then also do some elliptical since I didn’t finish that workout from Thursday night.
I just enjoyed some almond butter on whole wheat toast with half a banana! What’s your plan for Saturday?
50 bench jumps
Good Morning Friday!
11 year ago
Good Morning Friday!
Last night I did indeed do some cardio on the Elliptical but after 20 minutes I started shaking and profusely sweating and took that as a sign that I should stop. So I did and went back upstairs into my kitchen and had some whole wheat toast with some Almond Butter.
I have been tracking my food and exercise on myfitnesspal.com and it told me that I was not eating enough calories during the day. I have been told time and time again about this starvation mode your body goes into and for me apparently it’s if I don’t eat at least 1200 calories a day and then add in exercise, it is actually a bit more than that. I am not really sure how that all works because all I hear is calories in/calories out theory.
Anyway, I couldn’t finish the 30 minute workout because of the shaking, so I went ahead and decided to add the snack. I love Almond Butter! If you haven’t tried it, you should. I used Trader Joe’s Variety but you can find it at your local grocery store. Speaking of Almond Butter, I also read a blog called Heather Eats Almond Butter and she uses it a ton in her eating! Well it did definitely help me get over the shakes, so I made one for Scotty too. He’s been under the weather with a bad cold so I figured he could use a yummy snack too.
I have been using myfitnesspal.com to track my eating. I find these types of sites really help you see where your calories are going and they add an element of fun to the whole process. There are a ton of sites and apps out there that you can use. Some track your food, food and exercise, or some help you create an exercise plan. There really is an app for everything including the IPhone.
Here are just a few that I know about -
Sparkpeople
thedailyplate.com
Livestrong.com
Myfooddiary.com
realbeauty.com
Activity Based:
Nikeplus
active.com
beginnertriathlete.com
Runnersworld
yogaworks.com
mapmyrun.com
Iphone Apps
“iFitness”, “RunKeeper, Lose it!
Which ones do you use and why? Or do you not use one? Why not?
News to Note
01 year ago
People Considered Average Weight May Still Be ‘Normal Weight Obese’ – ABC News.
I often think about this. I see thin people everywhere that don’t work out. They are naturally thin but they aren’t in shape. This article talks about overall body fat% vs #s on a scale. We got our body fat checked every 4 weeks during group sessions so I know my number. Do you?
With women making up a significant portion of the labor force, policies that support flexibility in the workplace and that engage talent are increasingly relevant for the business community.
More and more, people are coming to understand that workplace flexibility policies are more than a benefit to workers– they are a new way the business community can get the most out of an increasingly changing labor market.
I am sure everyone has heard the issues raised by both sides of the fence. I have my opinion being a mom who is trying to raise my family and have balance between my career goals and my family life. It’s tough, plain and simple and in many ways those that don’t have those responsibilities have an advantage. I think an entire culture shift has to happen for any real change to come. The “job” of parenting needs to be seen as vital to the success of the country and business world.
More Moms Becoming the Family Breadwinner – ParentDish.
Well this doesn’t surprise me now a days. People are getting laid off and moms have to step up.
Americans Overdosing on Laundry Detergent, Other Cleaners – AOL News.
I went to Spain when I was 19 and I remember a guy there telling me that American’s are like disinfectants. They want everything sparkling clean. Germophobes. I do think things have gotten carried away hence the increase in allergies and sensitivities. I live by the 5 second rule for my family!
Boredom Can Be Good For You – Stepcase Lifehack.
I am a big fan of not having too many planned activities. My kids aren’t scheduled to the max not only because its not good for them, but I personally hate having to schlep them everywhere. It’s good for kids to have to use their imagination for down time. We are losing our ability to see the fun in the simple things.
schmaltz
01 year ago
by Stephy
in General Reflections
I like to take time every day to think about things in my life that are really great. We all have hard times so its those things, big or little, that uplift me. I am not all schmaltzy or anything, but if you just take a minute in your day to acknowledge those things that make you stop and smile, it does help.
This morning as I was driving to boot camp, the moon was huge and beautiful. It’s still dark out at that hour, so the moon just looked extra gorgeous. It had a wonderful glow.
My son Nate. He is just growing up so nicely. It’s the little things that I have noticed. How he responds to me when I ask him a question or how he looks at me. This morning as I was driving him to school, he started singing to a song that was on my Ipod – Sittin’ on the Dock of the Bay by Otis Redding. It just made me smile. He was bobbing his head and singing the words in his raspy voice. Then he stopped and asked me if this was a famous song and told me that he had heard it before and then continued singing. He’s such a fun guy. I can’t wait to see what’s next whenever I hang out with him…
What a difference a week makes
01 year ago
by Stephy
in Fitness/Exercise
Calisthenics Warm-up: backwards lunges, high knees, tuck jumps, leg lifts
50 pushups – I am still not able to do 50 full on push-ups consecutively, but I keep plugging away!
Core: crunches, 6 inch flutters, V-ups
3 -1 min rounds,- AMRepsAP
ring dips with 25lb vests
double rope waves with lunges – my coordination needs work in general, so having to swing 2 ropes and then do lunges at the same time with both legs!! Talk about a challenge. I brought it down to one rope to get the hang of it, and then on the 2nd round added the other rope. This station looks like it’s not that bad, but man, your arms are like spaghetti at the end of it.
25lb db split jerks
Trifecta station: Power Clean, Push Press, Back Squat (65lbs)
Double box jumps
What a difference a week makes! Last Thursday, I needed a pep talk. Today, I feel great. I am still sore – but it’s a good sore! One thing I want to work on in the month’s to come is to really push myself. I have noticed that when it starts to hurt or my breathing starts to get to a point where I am not comfortable, then I stop and rest. I want to push on but I stop. I have asthma so I think the breathing scares me, so I stop to catch my breath. Breathing is important right? I am going to try next week to just push it a bit with both aspects to see if I can work through it.
I also did another 30 mins last night on our new Elliptical trainer. As I mentioned yesterday, I want to see what adding more cardio to my overall fitness plan does with the scale. The scale seems to be stuck.
What is your plan for fitness today?
News to Note
01 year ago
Ban on Food and Fluids in Labor Has No Benefit, Review Finds – NYTimes.com.
I remember being so hungry in labor, and was never really sure why we couldn’t eat. I know they say its because in case you need a c-section, but I didn’t and I was hungry. After I gave birth, I could have eaten a horse! I was starving and it had been HOURS since I had eaten. I was exhausted and hungry and let me tell you, that’s not a good combo.
Burned Out? So Are Your Kids – Well Blog – NYTimes.com.
Burnout defined as feeling exhausted and overwhelmed by work and school demands, feelings of cynicism about job and school work or feeling inadequate and powerless.
Sometimes I read studies like this and I go, yeah no duh.
Video Games No Substitute For Real Sport | Fitness Health Zone.com.
This is no surprise to me. Nothing beats the real thing! So while it again is better than not being active at all, it doesn’t hold a candle to just getting out there and doing the real thing.
I must be hungry today because here are a lot of articles below that deal with food.
20 Super Foods You Need to Build Muscle & Lose Fat | StrongLifts.com.
Some great suggestions of foods to start eating to lose fat and build muscle. The only one I dont eat regularly is this one: 13. Quinoa. South American “king of grains”. Quinoa is higher in fiber & protein than rice or oats, tastes a lot better and is gluten free. Buy the whiter grain, it’s better quality. Eat it post workout with meat & spinach.
Why portion control matters – CNN.com.
…portion awareness is the key to making sure that more of the 200 food choices we make each day are closer to what our thinking brain.
When it comes to portion control, you can count on your brain not being very interested and your body not being very well calibrated…
The Ultimate How to Get Lean Guide.
Some great advice for those that are already active but looking to lose those last few lbs or lean up.
Get Physical: The Busy Body 20-Minute Work Out.
I’m all for quick workouts if you don’t have time to really do a long, focused on. Any sort of exercise is better than none at all for your mind and body. So, find 20 mins and try this one out.
I told you I liked Pull-ups!
11 year ago
I told you I liked Pull-ups. I think the Run DMC shirt really adds a lot to the mix too. Don’t you think?
This was probably impossible for me to do a year ago – working hard at something is the key!
*photo by Plumbline Training
Body Scans show the difference
01 year ago
A friend of mine shared this with me and I do not know the origin of it or the specifics of when/why it was taken, but I do think it definitely drives home the point that not being at your healthy weight takes a toll on the body. You do not need to have any sort of advanced degree to be able to look at this image and see that all that extra weight can just not be good for your body. That is not to say that everyone should be 120lbs either – as body types differ. Healthy weight and fitness is what we are all aiming for, or what we all should aim for. Reading one of the comments at Bored Panda it mentions that there may even be fat within the brain.
*photo from: Bored Panda
What are your thoughts on this pic?
