Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Don't you just love yourself when...

You're all, "Self! You've lost two pounds! You're so awesome! That means you get to eat movie popcorn and not do cardio OR yoga today because you're a f******g weight loss MACHINE!"

Can we say *DELUSIONAL*?

This train of thought makes NO sense. Just because it's cold out doesn't mean I can hibernate like a 500lb bear.

So...I just finished up some studying, I have to be at work at 3pm. I am going to make myself a sensible lunch and go workout for a 1/2 hour before going to the hospital. This plan will allow me to refrain from kicking my own ass tomorrow morning when I reflect on my laziness.

Good Day.

Monday, January 28, 2008

The Best Life

Okay, I know it seems like I'm an obsessed yoga maniac after all of these posts about yoga. And maybe I am. I just L-O-V-E YOGA!! Yoga & I are in the first phase of our relationship....we want to be together everyday...we call each other on the phone each night...and we never get tired of each other! I promise the yoga talk will subside...at some point...please bare with me. On another note....

In my first post I wrote about starting the Best Life Diet in addition to doing 3 days/week of cardio and 4-6 days/ week of yoga. The Best Life Diet isn't REALLY a diet...at least, that's not the way I look at it. It's a gradual lifestyle change. I have tried a few diets before...mostly Weight Watchers..and while they work for awhile, they don't stick with me because they teach you to become hyper-focused on your food consumption from day 1. This gets to be a real pain-in-the-ass, un-natural process for me. In fact, sometimes I feel brainwashed by Weight Watchers because even to this day I think of how many points something is! Not that I'm dogging on WW....because it truly is a great program that works for MANY people....my Mom lost 45lbs on WW. It's just not for me.

The BL Diet has three phases. Currently I am in week two of Phase One which lasts one month (or longer if you are still seeing results by the end of the month), you're only supposed to weigh yourself at the beginning and at the end...but since I am brainwashed by WW (see above) I will weigh in every Saturday.

The focus is to increase your activity level and change your meal PATTERNS, not what you eat. You do this by stopping eating two hours before bedtime, eating three meals with one snack, drinking six 8oz glasses of water per day, eliminate alcohol (for the month) and take a multi-vitamin and omega-3 supplement. The supplements change depending on the person. As far as the activity goes, you establish your activity using the "activity scale" of six levels. 0 is sedentary, 5 is aerobic activity 6x/week and full body strength training 3x/week. When you establish your activity level then you just increase to the next level by doing more cardio or strength training.

This is where you stay for a month and then you move on to Phase Two, when you really amp it up by modifying your diet thru eliminating 6 foods that inhibit weight loss. You begin to explore reasons WHY you get hungry (physical & emotional) and use the hunger scale. Also, increase your activity to the next level (optional). This is the BIG RESULTS phase and you may want to stay until you are at or close to goal weight.

Phase Three helps you transition into a lifestyle that will truly stick and help you maintain your weight loss.

These three phases seem natural. You are slowly integrating your new healthy lifestyle in with your old habits. I love that I'm not asked to change everything dramatically right off the bat. Actually, I think this program requires you to practice some restraint when it comes to that "new diet" rush. I think we get caught up in the excitinment and possibility of change...not really knowing what is required of us. With this diet you're asked to NOT jump in feet first, but rather ease yourself in and get used to what you are asking YOURSELF to do.

I leave you with the Yoga quote of the day:

"Life always gives up exactly the teacher we need at every moment. This includes every mosquito, every misfortune, every red light, every traffic jam, every obnoxious supervisor (or employee), every illness, every loss, every moment of joy or depression, every addiction, every piece of garbage, every Breath." -Charlotte Joko Beck

Saturday, January 26, 2008

Weigh In - Week One ( can I get a w00t, w00t! )

STARTING WEIGHT: 186.9

Current Weight: 184.9
Pounds lost this week: 2lbs
Pounds to Goal Weight (150): 35
Total Weight Loss: 2 lbs

On my way! Slow and steady wins the race!

A look into Nirvana

This Thursday I took a few pictures of my yoga studio to share with you. It's a small space on the second floor...with bright green walls, beautiful light, & warm floors. This space makes me feel quieted each time I enter. I am in love yoga. I hope yoga loves me too!

 

 

 

 
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The only things is....this silly blog won't let me upload more pictures in this post! Grrrh. I guess I AM new at this...I'll figure it out for the next photo post. Hope you're having a great Saturday!

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

If you think you're stupid, love yourself for it!

Each week my yoga instructor gives the class a new quote to mull over.

This week it was, "No matter what you're feeling, the only way to get a difficult feeling to go away is to simply love yourself for it. If you think you're stupid, then love yourself for feeling that way. It's a paradoax, but it works. To heal, you must be the first one to shine the light of compassion on any area within you that feel are unacceptable." - Christiane Northrup

I enjoy this quote because it's nurturing but also, kind of funny....sometimes quotes are so over the top and make me feel like grumbling "oh, brother" & roll my eyes.

This speaks to the everyday me...the me that yells at a hanger for getting tangled with other hangers in the closet.

Sunday, January 20, 2008

The Before...

Here are the dreaded before pictures...although, when I look at them, they aren't SOOO dreadful. The only one that really makes me cringe is the rear end shot. But, whatever....it is what it is...and I never have to look at it anyway.

These pictures were taken this morning before going to my yoga class at Nirvana Yoga in Barrington. The form of yoga that this studio practices is primarily Vinyasa, which I love.


Yoga has been a great way to kick-start my fitness quest. When I finished nursing school in December, my brain had melted into goo....and my body was a heap of exhaustion. I WANTED to go to the gym and start into a regular schedule, but I could not muster up the strength. That's when I decided to start yoga. Nirvana is one of two studios in Barrington, I chose it simply because I know someone who used to teach there and figured if it was good enough for her...surely it would be good enough for me. I went to a class...loved the instructor...and bought an unlimited monthly pass. The pass was costly but I used some of my graduation money to pay for the first month and will use a bit more to pay for a second when the time comes. I think after two months of daily (or 4-5 x/ week) yoga, I should have a good handle on it and from there I'll pay for individual classes or get a package of 10 to use as needed.

Many times the instructor will ask us to set an intention for class. 9 times of 10, I focus on finding strength in my body and peace in my heart (a phrase I picked up on my first day that I can't seem to shake). After I left the first class I sat in my car and tried to make a call on my cell phone...and the piece of crap wouldn't work. I got ready to curse and throw it when I remembered.....*peace in my heart*. So instead of committing an act of violence, I looked at my phone and said, "thank you cell phone, for allowing me to make important calls wherever I want....whenever I want....mostly".

Namaste :-)



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Saturday, January 19, 2008

Today Is The Day!

So, today is the day. The day I begin writing on a blog. My first blog.

My motivation to get this party started was plain and simple.
Weight Loss.

My best friend has found so much support through her blog, during hard times, celebrations, job changes, & her first pregnancy. I thought that I might reap the rewards of such support as well as find enjoyment, motivation, and satisfaction in sharing my weight loss journey with you.

The reason I want and need to lose weight is because:

A) I miss my "old self", the self from my outdoor education days....the daily mountain bike rides self....and marathon runner self.

B) I want to have a BABY. I want my body to be healthy during pregnancy for myself and for the baby. And, I want my body to be able to "bounce back" after pregnancy (I'm sure mothers out there are laughing at me right now...but just let me pretend this is true in my delusional world).

C) Dude, I am 26 and have HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE. WTF!?!?


I haven't always been overweight....but I've never been "skinny". The body I am comfortable in is an athletic one. I like the feeling of having endurance for outdoor activities, playing with my niece and nephew, and life in general...and I find that I am at my best (physically & emotionally) when in a solid and consistent exercise program.

In the last 4 years I've gained about 30lbs. The majority of the weight gain happened in the last 2 years during Nursing School....AKA the HELL YEARS. I am totally an emotional eater....my body SCREAMS for carbs and mochas and chocolate and cupcakes when I am stressed. Now that the HELL YEARS are over...the time is right. I am ready to lose weight and be healthy.

So, my goal is to lose weight through exercise & diet...specifically: yoga, running, hiking, biking, strength training and the "Best Life Diet". I think it's important to have a well rounded approach to lifestyle changes and I have the experience behind me through nursing school, a personal training course with the American College of Sports Medicine, and years of working at fitness facilities. These experiences all together create a pretty awesome foundation for me to start this process the RIGHT WAY. As far as "The Best Life Diet" being my diet of choice.... I have come to really appreciate how Bob (yeah, Oprah's Bob) approaches weight loss and dietary changes. I'll write more about that in days to come.

Now to the rough part...the MOMENT OF TRUTH.....my weight now and my goal weight. You ready? Here goes nothing..............

CURRENT WEIGHT: 186.9 lbs
GOAL WEIGHT: 150lbs

*whew* that wasn't so bad.