REST DAY!!

So this week has been really good. I'm really starting to feel some changes in my body and just mentally as well. That is exciting.

I went for a session of structural integration today. I love that stuff. It does wonders for my body and just how I feel on my bones. Crazy.

Today was a rest day. My meals were as follows:

Meal 1: egg whites, yam, almonds
2: yam muffins, blueberries, almond butter
3: pork, wild rice, brown rice, green beans
4: egg whites with salsa, avocado
5: chicken, green beans
6: salad with shrimp, cucumbers & ginger sesame dressing (see recipe below)
7: chicory tea with protein powder & flax oil

Ginger Sesame Dressing
2-3 T rice vinegar
1 1/2 - 2 T lime juice
1 T sesame oil
1 t chopped jalapeno
 1/2 T grated frozen ginger
2 cloves garlic, minced
6-10 drops stevia

Sooo tasty! Yummy!

I made some Lemon Protein Muffins tonight and I'm going to have them tomorrow. Can't wait!!!

Bedtime for me because tomorrow I'm going to be up and doing my cardio bright and early. Woohoo!

“To establish true self-esteem we must concentrate on our successes and forget about the failures and the negatives in our lives.” ~ Denis Waitley, American motivational speaker and author of self-help books

Back on track!!

So, I've been missing in action. I think I got overwhelmed and exhausted trying to do my new program. Props to all you figure girls. I will get there but I think it was too much too soon with 2-a-days!

My coach has changed my schedule a bit and also added in a refuel meal. Both of these things have helped me tremendously over this past week and I'm in a much, much, much better place than I was last week at this time.

I cooked up a storm today. I made chicken, yams, brown and wild rice, steak, and salad stuff. Yep. And I have a kitchen to show for it. I'm off to clean that, floss and brush and then it's off to bed to read and relax because Monday's coming. I will be more consistent on writing here so stay tuned. My goal for this week is to have at least 4 posts by next Sunday!


“Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.” ~Epicurus, (Greek philosopher, BC 341-270)

Circuit workout

Today was sooooooo much better than yesterday, the day I thought I was going to just die of exhaustion.

I got up early and felt fairly rested, did my cardio, ate my zucchini protein muffins on the way home, took my vitamins and EFA's. Then it was off to work. I had more zucchini protein muffins, then shrimp with some veggies, then a protein shake with oatmeal, then salmon and green beans, then off to the gym for a lower body circuit. That was fun after I got my bearings and realized that no one is going to understand what I'm doing and will be thoroughly confused when I get on a cardio machine for 3 minutes and then leave to go do something else or when I only do one set of any exercise and then leave. LOL! It was interesting and challenging because that gym is just soooo packed! :-(

I returned home and ate my big ol' salad with shrimp on it and mushrooms, red peppers and cucumbers, took my BCAA's and also my glutamine. Then I talked on the phone, made some yam muffins, cooked some pork and boiled some eggs for tomorrow. Can't wait to eat again.

Oddly today I got hungry before both meals 5 and 6. It was crazy. I thought, how can I be eating all this food and still be hungry? I must be a nut!

It was a good day, good food day, and good workout day. Work was another story but no use complaining about that. I'm headed where I need to be now and I know I won't be there forever! In the meantime it's usually a fairly enjoyable environment.

“No one saves us but ourselves. No one can and no one may. We ourselves must walk the path.” ~Buddha

3rd day...

Today is much better than yesterday. I already feel better. Got up at 5:30 and felt more rested than the past 2 days. I went off to the gym for my morning fasted cardio which I thought would kill me when I found out I was going to have to do that. But, guess what? It has not killed me. It's all right. I'm not crazy about it but it's not all that bad. I had some zucchini muffins after and now it's off to the shower.

Hope you all have a great day. I'll keep you posted!

“On a long journey of human life, faith is the best of companions; it is the best refreshment on the journey; and it is the greatest property.” ~Buddha

And so it begins...

Today is actually the second day of my new program with my coach/trainer/nutritionist. Yesterday was good and all seemed to go well. Today was quite a different story. Got up and did my fasted cardio but could only do 30 minutes instead of 40 since I literally felt like I was going to pass out. I then came home, showered and took a nap! At 6:45 in the morning! Really...who does that?!? Apparently really tired people. Then again I had to take a nap at lunch. But then somehow this afternoon after my second nap I felt totally fine but I did have my doubts there for a while. I really thought I was going to die. I don't remember a time when I was that tired for any other reason than sheer lack of sleep. Apparently this was the time!

I'm off to bed as it is already way later than I wanted to go to sleep but it's okay. I can sleep a little later tomorrow if the need be or again take a nap in the morning. Luckily Wednesdays are a little slack at the office so I usually go in a little later.

Diet is going well as are my workouts. Feeling pretty good generally speaking. Don't really have time for anything else but that's okay. I know it's not a forever thing and it's nice to have something to really focus on and dig my heels into.

Goodnight and hopefully I'll keep you updated more as I get used to my new schedule!! I must persevere!

“Life is not easy for any of us. But what of that? We must have perseverance and above all confidence in ourselves. We must believe that we are gifted for something, and that this thing, at whatever cost, must be attained.” ~Marie Curie

And here we go...

So I still feel like I'm getting in the swing of things. Today I just kind of floated along, got some things done and left others undone. Somehow I still don't quite feel up to par. Better but not quite there. I will be going to bed fairly early again and sleeping till I feel rested. Last night I slept 10 hours and felt okay when I awoke but then after a couple of hours felt a little drowsy and slightly sick again. We'll see. I have to be ready for Monday since you know I have BIG plans starting Monday.

I did find a new food scale today. Yes, I know, most people can measure with their eyes. I, for one, cannot! I've tried but I can't. I can't look at someone and think I might even hazard a guess at what they weigh, figure out how many jelly beans are in a jar, or figure out which size container to put leftovers in. Yes, I definitely lack that skill - what is it? Spacial relations? Yep, don't have it. Although the odd thing is that in IQ tests I've taken my spatial relations skills are high. Go figure! I don't understand.

I didn't really try to eat right today. I didn't eat wrong but definitely not right. I'm just trying to get back in the swing of things. I also bought some fine bamboo utensils so I can replace my wooden ones that are just too old! Look at me go. I'm well on my way.

My fridge is loaded with lots of veggies since I will be eating my fair share (and possibly some of yours too) of those in the next week and pretty much the whole year and the rest of my life. Bring it!

I'm off to relax, possibly watch a movie and meditate. One more day tomorrow and it's back to work. New me, new attitude! Life is fantastic!!

“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” ~Howard Thurman

“Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.” ~Oscar Wilde

Happy New Year! Welcome 2010!

Here comes another year. Are you ready for it? Did you make your goals? I have made several, some that I will write here and some that I will keep to myself.

• First of all, as you know, I'm going to compete in my first ever figure competition! It will be happening in September of this year. I can't wait. It should be a challenge and interesting journey.
• Get into a very healthy and maintainable lifestyle – maintain body fat somewhere between 15 and 20%
• Travel someplace I’ve never been before – this may even be just someplace local 
• Get personal training certification – probably this will happen at the end of the year, after my competition! 
• Meditate daily 
• Watch less TV – at most 1 hour per day! I never used to watch much TV at all but I have started watching more and more. Not healthy! 
• Spend less time on the computer – limit to 1 hour per day 
• Unplug electronically 15 minutes per day and increasing that to 1 hour by end of year – I mean EVERYTHING, including my phone, turned off! 
• Read more – 2 books per month 
• Clean out and minimalize my home – Goodwill, get ready for my donations! 
• Farmers Market once per week I used to do this religiously and then I fell off. I will do it again because it’s so enjoyable and interesting to see what different fruits and veggies are available at different times of the year 
• Journal at least 4 times per week 
• Go to sleep earlier (eventually 9pm) and sleep more (increase from 6/7 to 8 hours per night)
  

So as you can see I have my work cut out for me. I feel all of these goals are attainable and can be done in this year. I think it's going to be a really great year since I have so much to focus on and so much progress to be made.

I start my new diet and training program on Monday with the goal to increase my metabolism. I will be eating 7 meals! Wow! That seems like a lot but I'm sure with the increase in activity that it won't be that much at all once my metabolism figures out what's going on.

The hard thing for me is going to be doing fasted morning cardio. That will be kind of difficult. It's all a mental game though so it will be a learning and growing experience and I'm so psyched for it! Woohoo!!!!!

Today I took it easy since I just returned from vacation and am still not up to par. Took a nap and am going to sleep early.

Here's to 2010! Make it a great year!

“If you want to live a happy life, tie it to a goal, not to people or things.” ~ Albert Einstein

"Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending." ~Maria Robinson