It's a big deal to me!

This year instead of setting new year's resolutions on losing weight, I set my sights on developing healthy habits for both nutrition and fitness. If you have healthy habits then it will result in a healthier body and thus a smaller size. That's my new philosophy anyways.

So four weeks into the new year and I am doing well. I have not, and will not, weigh myself. The scale and I have never been friends. I did take measurements in December and I plan on doing that monthly. My biggest gauge is my pants and they are getting looser so that's good.

My nutrition has been really good. I am eating 5 - 6 times a day...clean and balanced. I do have a cheat meal once a week. Weekends are more of a challenge because we usually have something social going on but I am doing my best. This weekend we went to my husband's cousin's daughter's birthday party at Chuck E Cheese...a child's dream place and an adult's nightmare...LOL! When it came time for cake, I knew what was going to happen. Why is it a sin to refuse cake? Especially if it's cake that I don't even like. If I'm going to waste calories, it's not going to be on something I don't like. Yes, I am becoming a calorie snob. Especially on a treat. So my husband's family is pushing cake and I'm using all of the excuses "I'm full!" "Maybe later". Geesh! Why do folks get insulted if you don't have the cake? I stuck to my guns...no cake!

Now the good part. It's no big deal but I'm just happy! I am working on my push-ups! Not on the knees but real push-ups. I train upper body twice a week and lower body twice a week. On upper body days, I'm working on three sets of push-ups. I am currently reading "The New Rules Of Lifting for Women" and it suggests doing push-ups at all levels: wall, step, ball, floor. So I started doing them on my stairs. First I got up to 3 set of 15 on the fourth stair from the bottom, then worked to 3 set of 15 on third stair and last week I did three sets of 8 on the second stair! Yes! I am getting stronger and that makes me feel so good to see even the smallest progress. So I will work on these until I can do 15 and then start mixing in push-ups on the first stair and soon I'll be doing them on the floor! Baby steps but I am lifting heavier weights than I ever have and my HIIT cardio is improving as well.

Building healthy habits one step (yes, a pun!) at a time!

These pictures are stunning

These pictures sum this week's inaugural the best:
http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/01/the_inauguration_of_president.html

A new Blog is coming

I am so exciting to be starting a new blog with one of my friends. It's going to be a cooking blog. I love to cook, I love to eat so this is very exciting for me.

I will be keeping this blog and doing more updating for my fitness and life stuff. I will not be starting a private blog at this time as I simply do not have the time. I miss the private posts (on JS) where I can vent about stuff. I can't do that here as this is public and my picture is on here....too many eyes can see. Sigh! If the mood strikes me I can always to a private post on Facebook as there is a note feature that you can specify who can read it.

I'm not too sure what I will be doing over at the new JS. I am not complaining but it's just too much for me and I feel guilty enough for not keeping up with the rest of my online networks. At this point I have this blog, Facebook, a Sparkpage, Linked-in and now the start of a cooking blog. I dabbled in Twitter a bit but I have to stop somewhere or my family is going to have to call "social networking" anonymous. LOL!

Happy Friday! My day has begun and I have much to do!

On this Historic Day

I was so looking forward to today. It was truly a historic moment...not just because we have our first African-American/Black President...he's half white too, ya know? But because what we have is a people's president. We have not had a president like that in a long time...or as far as I have lived...ever. I call him a touchable President because even when taking the oath, you did not see some staunch person armed with his golden spoon up his butt ready to relay the affects of the previous domination. No, you did not see that. You saw a real person...a man who has walked the shoes not only of the "have-not's" and as a man of color who has endured and overcome all of the obstacles that those before him have witnessed.

I also saw "the doubters"and "the haters" today and I felt sorry for them. Not because they don't like Obama or don't get Obama because they could NOT, for one moment, witness the glory of this moment. A moment of hope...could you not see that hope in the faces of the people in that crowd? What is wrong with that? Why are we not allowed to have hope? In these past years with for all that we have endured under the Bush administration, today we are hopeful...er, at least I am. We are not naive. We are not stupid. We believe that this man, our new President, can lead our nation in a new direction. We need a new direction. Our country is ready for a new direction. And I believe that President Obama (and I get chills when I say this out loud) can deliver what he promised.

We needed something different, people! The old school politics do not work anymore, not that they ever have...at least not now! Look at us! Look at what we can be! He did not proclaim to do it alone. He commissioned all of us to help and we should. Why would we think one man could fix the evils of the past?

We have elected the right man for the right time. I am happy and all of you sulkers will NOT take that away for me.

TODAY I watched all of the new coverage from this morning until the President took his oath. TODAY I cried with pride. TODAY I picked up my son from school watching all of the students in a buzz of excitement as they were allowed to watch the inauguration at school. TODAY I made a special inauguration dinner for my family....fillet, garlic scallops, mushroom risotto, champagne and blueberry lemon pound cake. I served it in style and even gave the kiddies lemonade mixed with club soda in a champagne flute so they could feel the significance of the moment. And I really didn't need to push the agenda. My five-year-old son came to dinner in a tie. Yes, he gets it.

The lessons I have learned - Part 1

I am a big fan of the Biggest Loser. I like the fact that it shows that with proper nutrition and exercise, you can lose weight. No magic pills..no quick fix. Well obviously the show is an exaggerated version of fitness. You, too, would be successful if you trained for 6 hours a day and had someone prepare your meals...micro nutrient perfection. BUT it is indeed a testimony as to what can be done.

This season really hits home. These contestants are the heaviest in the show's history with the heaviest woman weighing in at 379. The significance is that it is a snapshot of our country's population and our country's obesity problem...or shall I say epidemic? It is epidemic in that the obesity epidemic is slowly lowering our life expectancy rate. We as adults may live longer than our children and there is something very disturbing and wrong about that.

I have a fought my weight my entire life. I am finally coming to terms with where I have failed. Not in failing to to lose weight but for failing to make my health my number one priority. Never before has it become more clear that it's never been about food but the lack of balance in my life. That is Lesson #1...find your balance! Not to quote Oprah but I could totally relate to what she's said on her show last week and in her webcast.

What bothers me about Oprah's new quest for health is the the marketing ploy that comes with the message. I applaud her efforts to take care of herself and her honesty about "falling off the wagon". I think she has a good plan..both for fitness and for nutrition BUT there is no one-size-fits all diet or workout plan for anyone. That is lesson #2...find what works for you! They will sell many of Bob's (her trainer) books because people look up to Oprah and take her advice to the "T". Maybe that is a good thing BUT you have to find what works for you.

It is trial and error to find out how many calories you need to eat, how much protein you need, how many calories you need to burn, etc. I'm still learning and I need to re-evaluate every month such as changing my weight training routine every 4 weeks or seeing where I can improve my nutrition.

That brings me to Lesson #3..be consistent. When I took a shot at this last year I got some good advice. Give it some time! Don't quit even if you fall...get back up! It took 4 weeks to see some real results but it was working. I did lose weight abut then I got stuck.

These are my lessons but I share them because I had read other people's lessons and it really helped me find my own. I'm here, I'm doing this and I am in this for life. Even if I just lose a pound a month there will be no turning back. Which brings me to Lesson #4 Reward progress not perfection!

To be continued.....

Validation

So a new JournalSpace was born this morning. WOW! It's a bit different but there is a Home page and some cool features. If they offer up a fav's only feature, I will be way happy. For now, I am keeping this blog for health and fitness stuff and I will use JS for life and stuff that I used to. I was not planning on having two blogs but I am keeping my options open.

I did got othat holiday party yesterday and I DID NOT have any alcohol. Yes, I did indulge in some party fare but in moderation. I was so proud of myself and I even worked out in the morning. I still had fun..LOL! and when I was leaving, the host and my dear friend, pulled me to the side and told me" You look really great! What every you are doing, keep doing it."

Validation! YES1

The weekend is upon us...and a dry one

It's Friday afternoon. It's been a good week. I worked out 6 days. Not like a crazy person. Good intense workouts...25 minutes of HIIT cardio or 40 minutes of weight training...75 minute yoga class. Tomorrow is a rest day. The nutrition was on target..clean, good proteins, lots of veggies. Feeling good. Feeling focused.

Now the weekend is here and this is where I usually screw up...and it's usually not from eating...it's drinking. Yes, this girl loves her wine, and her beer, a margarita, a sassy martini. BUT these are empty calories and I know it...plus I just know it screws with my metabolism and makes me retain water. Ugh! I wish it were not true but it is. I believe it's the one thing that has thwarted my efforts to get into shape and sabotage all of my hard work.

And I am working hard...planning my meals and workouts...working up a daily sweat. So why would I want to mess up my week by throwing back a few stiff drinks...because I like it...LOL! But I won't...at least not today and not tomorrow.
On Sunday we are supposed to go to a friend's annual post-holiday party. At this writing, I am not planning any alcohol consumption. The plan is club soda..it's a good plan.

It's supposed to snow 4 - 8 inches and then turn bitter cold. That means we might be stuck at home...me, hubby, my mom ( who lives with me) and my two sons...age 4 and 5. UGH! I know, I know...I need to find another fix for stress besides generous libations. I SHOULD jump on the
treadmill for a nice run...I know! {{{{deep breath}}}

One day at a time...or in my case, it will be evaluated hourly...LOL!

No excuses when you have this!

This is a panoramic view of my home gym...weight set (a gift from my hubby on the left, elliptical and treadmill
This is the weight bench set...it is sweet! It barely clears the ceiling.

I have a complete gym so I have no excuses not to work out. Up until about June last year, I was working out here about 5 times a week. The best streak I had was when I was getting up early, before the kiddies woke up, and getting my workout done first thing. For some reason, summer is harder for me to hit the weights. Then in July I discovered Power Yoga! Love it...it's a full body workout...intense and in a heated room...a good sweat. Throughout the summer, I was going to yoga about 3 times a week, biking and keeping up with the kiddies.

I'm still going to yoga about twice a week. And last month I got my ass back in gear and back in to my weight training routine. I really have no excuses. Any excuse I can come up with will now be deemed "LAME". Even If I just have 20 minutes, I can get so much done.

My January routine:
weight training 3x per week - Push day/ Pull day/ Leg day
Cardio HIIT training on treadmill or elliptical - 3x per week
Power yoga - 2 x per week

I'm back to clean eating again and I feel so much better. It's a good start!

It wasn't so bad

2008 is over and for the first time, in a long time, I can honestly say that it was a good year. While the previous year's had their trials, challenges and stresses, I still do not call them bad years. Yes, they were hard...I was so stressed, but who doesn't have THAT kind of period in your life when it all seems so hard...and even hopeless. When you feel like everything in out of control so you try even harder to control it only to exhaust yourself...feeling totally burned out.

I'm not saying that last year did not have its moments but somehow I felt more equip to handle them. Is that what goes with getting older? Maybe. I think much had to do with the fact that I started taking better care of myself and putting some of my own needs first.

This was the first year that I kept up with my fitness and nutrition stuff. It's such a HUGE part of my life right now...finally. I've finally learned that it will never be perfect...I will never be perfect BUT everything I do is one step to taking better care of me.

I still have a long way to go and I like that. I want to keep learning and to keep progressing. I am excited about this year...not just for the health stuff, but for my marriage, my children, my family and friends, my business...my whole life.

I don't know how long this feeling will last but I am going to revel in it for as long as I can.

Sometime a girl needs her privacy

When I first started JournalSpace, I blogged anonymously. I needed my own space where I could write freely and semi-privately. I used no names or pictures so that I could talk about whatever I felt like writing about. It was therapeutic, really. And when my life went on a roller coaster of stress and problems, I could freely write about the stuff in my head and heart. For some reason, I found comfort in the arms of strangers. Sometimes the feedback and comments I got really helped me sort through my thoughts and sometimes they served as validation that someone out there was listening to me. Not that my real life friends don't give me that. However there was a different type of objectively given to me by those who didn't know me.

If I had a deep or personal issue, I enjoyed be able to post a "fav's only" entry and not worry about friends or family seeing it...especially if it was about them...LOL!I reserved pictures of me and my family to "fav's only" as well. It wasn't until late this year that I actually showed my face publicly. I noticed that when I did that, my writing changed and I was reluctant to get into the deep stuff. Aside from family, I feared that my clients could find my blog and read about my personal life and that's just not good for business.

So now I'm in an open journal with my mug clearly for all to see. I'm keeping it this way for now as I hope to find more of my JS friends but it will only be a matter of time before I will either need to go "private" for only fav's to see or set up an anonymous journal for my deep stuff. I really don't want two journals and I WISH that Blogger had fav's only posting capabilities.

Take for instance that right now I have some stuff that I would love to rant about but I can't. Everything I would say is based on facts but if it were read by certain people, feelings would be hurt and drama would begin.

Damn you, JS, for shutting down! I need my private entries! AND I paid for ProAcess for a year. I'm not counting on a refund but the administrators could have at least sent us an email and apologized and explained. Not very professional. Okay, rant over.

What day is it?

I woke up today not knowing what day it was...Saturday, Sunday...no, it's Friday. The holidays have thrown me off. With Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve falling on Wednesday, the weekend feels like it's 8 days long. It's thrown me off...with eating and working out..sleep and everything.

I look forward to Monday and I can get back into my routine. I crave routine for getting my stuff done. It was nice to have a break from the monotony...I got to sleep in, I got to spend time with the kiddies and I had some fabulous celebrations. But now that it is all over, I am looking forward to getting back to normal.

I know that so many people are counting on a great 2009...there is some strong optimism for this year. I don't know where it is coming from but I feel it too. Maybe if we all feel this way we will throw some positive energy into the universe and it will indeed be a good year. It's better than the alternative...feeling sucky and then having a sucky year. I'm done with that. Make it happen!

A New Year, A New Blog

Happy New Year!~

We had a great evening with friends here at the house. There was so much food....yummy! I made paella and a few appetizers and my friends brought more yummy food, desserts and lots of wine. I got to bust out my new karaoke system which was a huge hit with everyone. The kiddies love it and the adults loved it even more. How could you not have fun singing Blondie "Heart of Glass" or the Police "Message in a Bottle" or B52's "Love Shack"? Tons of fun.

I am OH so happy that I've found some of my JournalSpace friends...thanks to Westy for having her forum where we can post our new locations. Somehow most of us will be able to reconnect and rebuild our online connections. Still it will never be like JS. I'm going to miss not be able to post "fav's only" entries when the mood strikes me. Now I can't bitch about personal stuff as I am no longer annoymous...hmm...maybe a second private, friends only journal. Well...not right now, I can barely keep up with one journal. And although my life is far from drama-free, I hope that this year I can become less reactive about it. Yeah, right! LOL!

At the same time, there a few things about JS that I will not miss...the few, but true, assholes who's mission was to spread hate and anger in the most cowardly way...behind a computer screen. These are the same jerks who formed clicks banding together to pick on the nice people. Good riddance! I'm glad that is part is over.

If I had the technical knowledge, I would be rebuild JS myself but I do not so this is my blog home for now and it will all be okay.

I have many things that I WILL accomplish this year. I'm working on a lists...you know how I love lists...not resolutions...I don't do those. I am goal-oriented so a list of new goals is always a good way to start my year right....fitness, professional, family, house stuff and "me stuff" a brand new category.