I'm laying on the couch resisting my heavy eyes as the clock reads midnight. I always know when I've stayed up too late when the tv shows have been replaced with hyper sale pitched infomercials.
This night was actually going to be worth it for once.
I stay tuned to this one in particular and my eyes are glued to these great bodies and defined abs. (Isn't that how they all start out anyway.) It's too late. I can't look away now. The girls look nice and slender while the guys look muscular and tone. It's that moment where I look down at my own body and question why I wasn't just born with some nice tight buns or sharp sculpted arms. Yes, it was one of those fitness infomercials, but one that caught my attention.
Shaun T's Insanity workout is what it was called. I liked what I saw, I liked what I was hearing, and I liked to imagine I could achieve those same results as those people on that commercial. Now two weeks later here I am with the collection in my possession.
Wow. This thing is no joke. I thought P90x was hard. Phew, that is nothing compared to this. Who would of thought that doing some cherry pickers and mountain climbers, things that I had once learned in elementary school, got me down a pant size in just under 2 weeks.
I sweat so much with this high intensity cardio workout that in the end my throat is burning from me gasping for air.
So far so good. It's rewarding knowing that I actually achieved something productive (health wise) and can actually feel the results.
Here's a preview of the high interval workouts. It's not easy, I'll tell you that. When I did the first video, The Fit Test, I started sweating after 4 minutes. I don't think I even made it past the 15 minute mark. That's okay though. Where ever I leave off I just pick up right up from there the next day.
Burn, baby, burn.
Monday, January 30, 2012
Sunday, January 29, 2012
New year-New Inspirations
I feel like my body's going through a major exhaustion and physical extortion. Why? Because I've been squeezing in some quality time with Ms. Cardio. Yes. I decided to give 'er a whirl once again and our relationship has been going steady. I must give thanks to this new year's inspiration.
You see, I hate cardio. Actually, let me rephrase that. I hate the boredom that seems to follow with doing cardio. And by cardio I'm referring to those long hours on the treadmill, endless runs that lead to no where, and speed walks that seem easy enough for me to barely break out a sweat.
As you may have seen from my last post I took on yoga. That's been going pretty well I'll say. But there's something else that's been really pushing me to my limit. This is what's been keeping my spark with Ms. Cardio alive for a good 2 weeks now. I'm so glad I discovered it....I'll share it with you on my next post. (I'm too hungry to continue writing and we all know how grouchy we can be when we're on an empty stomach. This is to be continued, don't worry.)
You see, I hate cardio. Actually, let me rephrase that. I hate the boredom that seems to follow with doing cardio. And by cardio I'm referring to those long hours on the treadmill, endless runs that lead to no where, and speed walks that seem easy enough for me to barely break out a sweat.
As you may have seen from my last post I took on yoga. That's been going pretty well I'll say. But there's something else that's been really pushing me to my limit. This is what's been keeping my spark with Ms. Cardio alive for a good 2 weeks now. I'm so glad I discovered it....I'll share it with you on my next post. (I'm too hungry to continue writing and we all know how grouchy we can be when we're on an empty stomach. This is to be continued, don't worry.)
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Yoga
I started Yoga for the first time yesterday.
All these years I would hear just how great yoga was and how beneficial it is to one's health. I always brushed that "opinion" off to the side and continued on with my life.
Yoga just looked, well, like easy stretching for adults. How could this popular workout fad help you lose weight and add to with core training?
Yes, I was so ignorant back then. I obviously didn't know anything about health and certainly wasn't aware on just how out of shape I had become over the last couple of years.
Although I didn't make an official new year's resolution, I promised myself that I would at least stay active 5 times out of the week. Be it gym, neighborhood walking, or home workout videos, I needed to do some type of physical activity.
Today I was too lazy to go to the gym (and I hate driving anywhere during rush hour.) So, I turned to my handy dandy Netflix and resumed back to this yoga video I found yesterday. I figured, hey, it's free. Why not see what this whole yoga thing is all about. Will this really give me a workout and leave me with a sense of challenge?
Thirty minutes later and I was feeling pretty good. The exercises actually targeted muscles I forgot I even had. I learned how to control and focus on my breathing while still feeling relaxed. I must say, I'm pretty hooked now. It's my second day and I'm somewhat sore already.
If you have Netflix, I recommend checking out Healing Yoga- For Common Conditions by Lisa and Charles Matkin. In my opinion, it's a good beginners video with a steady pace making it easy to follow along.
All these years I would hear just how great yoga was and how beneficial it is to one's health. I always brushed that "opinion" off to the side and continued on with my life.
Yoga just looked, well, like easy stretching for adults. How could this popular workout fad help you lose weight and add to with core training?
Yes, I was so ignorant back then. I obviously didn't know anything about health and certainly wasn't aware on just how out of shape I had become over the last couple of years.
Although I didn't make an official new year's resolution, I promised myself that I would at least stay active 5 times out of the week. Be it gym, neighborhood walking, or home workout videos, I needed to do some type of physical activity.
Today I was too lazy to go to the gym (and I hate driving anywhere during rush hour.) So, I turned to my handy dandy Netflix and resumed back to this yoga video I found yesterday. I figured, hey, it's free. Why not see what this whole yoga thing is all about. Will this really give me a workout and leave me with a sense of challenge?
Thirty minutes later and I was feeling pretty good. The exercises actually targeted muscles I forgot I even had. I learned how to control and focus on my breathing while still feeling relaxed. I must say, I'm pretty hooked now. It's my second day and I'm somewhat sore already.
If you have Netflix, I recommend checking out Healing Yoga- For Common Conditions by Lisa and Charles Matkin. In my opinion, it's a good beginners video with a steady pace making it easy to follow along.
Have you tried yoga? How was your experience and what are your favorite videos or exercises?
Monday, January 9, 2012
Breakfast Lover
Breakfast is my absolute favorite meal of the day. Nourishing my mornings on a start of good food gets me ready to conquer whatever may come my way. Today was a 1 egg-2 egg white mini omelet topped with spicy chunky salsa from Trader Joe's. I added a handful of spinach for some healthy greens with buttered whole grain toast on the side. Beverage choice of the morning- just plain hot water.
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Sweet Temptations
I walk into work today and I see this lying on top of my desk-
A nice belated holiday gift from a coworker.
Must. Be. Strong.
It's been a year and 1 month exactly since I last had these. (I know this because the last time was valentine's Day and I finished the box in 2 days.) I did sneak in a piece or two, no lies there. Was it good? Yes. Was it worth it. Yes. Will I be working it off later today. Not really.
Every now and then it just feels good to be rewarded. I like to enjoy the sweeter things in life without having to worry about the consequences. (Although, this is what lead me to my weight loss journey.) With my overall smarter eating habits, it's okay to indulge every once in a while. I mean, how can you resist something that's you're absolute favorite? I just make sure my "rewards" are consumed in reasonable moderation.
Monday, January 2, 2012
A Happy and Fresh New Year!
Well, it's here. The new year has arrived along with our expectations to follow through with our ever predictable resolution-to lose weight. While some may disregard the yearly tradition to get back into shape, it's actually helped me get back into it.
It wasn't until my last year's resolution where I found the umpf to jump start my new healthy lifestyle. Reflecting back on the year 2011, I've actually accomplished a lot to get me on the right path.
Of course, I didn't achieve these all at once. Everything takes time and so did my new eating habits. It also helps when you have support on your side be it friends, family, partner, or even coworkers. Just them knowing about your goals help motivate the continuation of your process and pushes you to prove to them that you can achieve them.
It's more rewarding when others see how strong and determined you are about your weight loss journey. Encouragement is a big factor that plays in the struggling path of weight loss. You need all the help and support you can get. Whether it's books, blogs, websites, social communities, neighbors, etc, try to surround yourself with positive people and energy and you'll be able to succeed in your new resolution. Believe in yourself and this journey will lead to a better sense of well being along with physical and mental strength.
It wasn't until my last year's resolution where I found the umpf to jump start my new healthy lifestyle. Reflecting back on the year 2011, I've actually accomplished a lot to get me on the right path.
- started going to the gym on a daily basis (4-5 times a week)
- cut out fast food completely
- avoided buying unhealthy snacks to beat temptation
- started juicing and eating more vegetables
- gained knowledge of healthy eating habits
- cut down my eating portions (This rule of thumb came in handy for me- Eat like a king for breakfast, a prince for lunch, and a pauper for dinner.)
- replaced morning coffee with green tea
- started taking fish oil and multivitamin pills everyday
- became familiar with workout and weight machines at the gym
- drank water 90% of the time
- bought less processed and microwavable foods
- started buying organic meat and produce (and yes, I notice a taste and quality difference, especially in chicken and beef. Cleaner is better)
- replaced the little sweets that I had left with fruits
- avoided foods that contained high fructose corn syrup (although some I just couldn't, such as ketchup and what not. Yum.)
- cut down consumption of enriched flour and opt for whole wheat/grain as alternatives
Of course, I didn't achieve these all at once. Everything takes time and so did my new eating habits. It also helps when you have support on your side be it friends, family, partner, or even coworkers. Just them knowing about your goals help motivate the continuation of your process and pushes you to prove to them that you can achieve them.
It's more rewarding when others see how strong and determined you are about your weight loss journey. Encouragement is a big factor that plays in the struggling path of weight loss. You need all the help and support you can get. Whether it's books, blogs, websites, social communities, neighbors, etc, try to surround yourself with positive people and energy and you'll be able to succeed in your new resolution. Believe in yourself and this journey will lead to a better sense of well being along with physical and mental strength.
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