So many times in our lives, we fall prey to the thoughts of others. What does this person, or that person, think of me and how I look. We constantly look at others, wishing we had her legs, or her arms, or her abs. While it is great to have goals, and something to work toward, we sometimes get lost in all of it that we forget just how special we truly are, and what wonderful attributes we have without all the wishing.
I have done many posts on how to get leaner thighs, tighter arms, or how to work your obliques. I've shared recipes and words of wisdom to keep you motivated and wanting to achieve the goals that you have set for yourself. This week, instead of giving you pointers to help change your outward appearance, I would like you to focus on what is within. The character within a person is much more valuable than the appearance on the outside. We can sculpt our bodies into perfection, but the character inside is what will truly make us shine. I have met many people that are absolutely gorgeous on the outside, and what was on the inside completely disgusted me and turned me away. You have to believe in yourself. You have to do the things that will make YOU happy, never what will make others happy.
It is this obsession with perfection, and what society believes is perfect, that is taking over our children. This is what is causing stupid Facebook and Myspace wars between teens. Telling each other that their fat slobs and worthless. If we could only focus on teaching our children, and learning for ourselves, that each of us are perfect in our own ways, maybe there would be more positive people out there in the world.
Whatever your reason is that you want to lose weight and get in shape, I applaud you for taking the time to change the things about you that YOU want to change. If there is any part of you that is doing this for someone else, STOP!! That is no way to live.
I am a huge fan of Pink. Her songs tell stories of real "adult" heartbreak and life lessons. A lot of her songs deal with things she thought about herself as a child and teen. In a sense, like it is with most artists, her music is her therapy. I am grateful for the things Pink chooses to sing about and her honest way of portraying real life. Listen to this song, all the way through. And then think about it. We have all had those moments where we have felt less than perfect. But each of us, in our own little ways, are absolutely perfect and today is the day for us to shine.
Thank you, DownVilla, for the music video. **THIS IS NOT THE EDITED VERSION!**
Click HERE to watch the video and here the song.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Friday, January 7, 2011
Bound and Determined
Yep, this is the year. I've been putting it off for too long, and I'm bound and determined to make a significant difference this year. I have tried everything. I did the Atkins Diet, Mayo Clinic Diet, Cabbage Soup Diet, Slim Fast, you name it, I have done it. I have lost weight to gain it all back, and sometimes, I gained more than I lost. The only diet that kept me consistently losing and doing well was a protein shake twice a day with a balanced meal for dinner and three snacks a day. The problem? I enjoy food too much to drink my meals all the time. :)
About a year ago, after having watched many seasons of The Biggest Loser, I bought Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred. I figured I would give it a shot, since I was about out of options and things to try. As promised, having done the workout for 30 days, I lost 15 lbs. I could not have been any happier. Of course, life after that got busy, and my excuses to not workout followed, and the dvd got pushed to the side.
So this year, as I was planning my strategy to losing weight and keeping things fresh as far as workouts go, I decided to buy some games for my Wii to keep me active and enjoying my workouts. I bought Jillian Michaels Fitness Ultimatum 2011 and The Biggest Loser Challenge. I am still awaiting the arrival of The Biggest Loser Challenge, but when I opened the JMFU 2011, I found an invitation to join Jillian's program on her website for FREE for 30 days, and if I don't like it, I can cancel it before the trial period is over. It has officially been three days since I've become a member, and I am nothing less than super impressed. Logging your food, figuring out your calories in and calories out, how much you need to burn, all the math that you used to do for yourself is completely done for you. Your workouts are outlined for you. You can even change to easier exercises if you feel the one given is too advanced for you.
I have logged my calories for two full days, and completed two whole circuit workouts. I cannot express how fantastic I feel, despite me cursing about halfway through the workout. You work up a sweat, you do it in the comfort of your own home, and you get a great workout that literally works every inch of your body.
In the coming weeks, I will be sharing bits and pieces of information that I am learning from my program. Some of the information is a repeat of things I have been saying for years, and some of it will be new information to copy down and keep with you. Whether it's old or new, it's information that you will want as you strive to build a better, more healthy you. So stay tuned, keep burning those calories, and stick to finding healthier ways to eat. The new, healthier you is right around the corner!
About a year ago, after having watched many seasons of The Biggest Loser, I bought Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred. I figured I would give it a shot, since I was about out of options and things to try. As promised, having done the workout for 30 days, I lost 15 lbs. I could not have been any happier. Of course, life after that got busy, and my excuses to not workout followed, and the dvd got pushed to the side.
So this year, as I was planning my strategy to losing weight and keeping things fresh as far as workouts go, I decided to buy some games for my Wii to keep me active and enjoying my workouts. I bought Jillian Michaels Fitness Ultimatum 2011 and The Biggest Loser Challenge. I am still awaiting the arrival of The Biggest Loser Challenge, but when I opened the JMFU 2011, I found an invitation to join Jillian's program on her website for FREE for 30 days, and if I don't like it, I can cancel it before the trial period is over. It has officially been three days since I've become a member, and I am nothing less than super impressed. Logging your food, figuring out your calories in and calories out, how much you need to burn, all the math that you used to do for yourself is completely done for you. Your workouts are outlined for you. You can even change to easier exercises if you feel the one given is too advanced for you.
I have logged my calories for two full days, and completed two whole circuit workouts. I cannot express how fantastic I feel, despite me cursing about halfway through the workout. You work up a sweat, you do it in the comfort of your own home, and you get a great workout that literally works every inch of your body.
In the coming weeks, I will be sharing bits and pieces of information that I am learning from my program. Some of the information is a repeat of things I have been saying for years, and some of it will be new information to copy down and keep with you. Whether it's old or new, it's information that you will want as you strive to build a better, more healthy you. So stay tuned, keep burning those calories, and stick to finding healthier ways to eat. The new, healthier you is right around the corner!
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Happy New Year! Good Luck in 2011!
The first day of the New Year, and for me, it's nearly over. Weighing in for the last time of the year yesterday, I was shocked to see that the 7 pounds that I lost had stayed lost for the past month. Looking forward into 2011, I have new goals and new strategies to making myself a better me.
It's no surprise that with the New Year brings many resolutions to lose weight. Have you ever noticed how packed gyms are in January? It's also no surprise to see how many people fade away from their efforts after about the first month or so. The reasons for this are numerous, but I would guess that high up on that list would be that people get tired of starving themselves, tired of exercising every minute of their free time, and get tired of working so hard to lose 2 pounds one week, just to have it crawl back regardless of what they're doing.
The key? Know your body, and know yourself. At this time of year, many people will try anything to lose weight. Many fad diets are put into place to lose the weight you want, but the minute you jump off that fad diet, the pounds come crawling back on. What you must understand is that you need to balance out a healthy eating lifestyle with a healthy exercise lifestyle.
Here are some things to think about as you begin to make your New Year's Resolutions concerning your health for the year to come:
~ Keep it simple! The more complex your plan, the more you have to keep track of, and the easier it is to get overwhelmed and give up.
~ Take it slow! Losing weight, getting in shape, changing your lifestyle, these things don't happen overnight! It takes time, patience, a plan, and motivation.
~ Make reasonable goals! Sure, your ultimate weight loss goal may be 50 pounds, but sometimes it is easier to look at that ultimate goal 5 pounds at a time.
~ Don't beat yourself up! Many diets restrict what you are "supposed" to eat and how often you "should" exercise and what exercises you should be doing. Changing to a healthier lifestyle will not cut out all of your favorite foods for life, and it won't be a change you can make in a snap. Switching to eating healthier things will take some time to incorporate. Finding healthier or less fatty ways to make those secret indulgences you can't live without will take practice. So on those occasional days where you "slip" and you eat that piece of cake for dessert, don't beat yourself up! An occasional piece of cake is not going to pack on the 10 pounds you just lost. Enjoy it, and carry on the next day.
~ Drink water! Water, water, water! Many people don't know that when they are feeling hungry, sometimes they are just dehydrated, and those pains from dehydration come off as pains of hunger. So if you just finished that yummy cobb salad for lunch, and you start to feel a bit hungry an hour later, drink a couple of tall glasses of water, and see if you are still tempted to have a snack. If you are, make it a healthy one, like an apple, that will improve your mental acuity for the latter part of your day.
Those are just a few things to keep in mind as you set out for a better you this year. You can do ANYTHING you put your mind to, I truly do believe that. And, when all else fails, remember this quote I found, not sure of the author, but the message is great:
"Nothing is impossible. The word itself says, 'I'm Possible.'"
Good luck with your goals for 2011!
It's no surprise that with the New Year brings many resolutions to lose weight. Have you ever noticed how packed gyms are in January? It's also no surprise to see how many people fade away from their efforts after about the first month or so. The reasons for this are numerous, but I would guess that high up on that list would be that people get tired of starving themselves, tired of exercising every minute of their free time, and get tired of working so hard to lose 2 pounds one week, just to have it crawl back regardless of what they're doing.
The key? Know your body, and know yourself. At this time of year, many people will try anything to lose weight. Many fad diets are put into place to lose the weight you want, but the minute you jump off that fad diet, the pounds come crawling back on. What you must understand is that you need to balance out a healthy eating lifestyle with a healthy exercise lifestyle.
Here are some things to think about as you begin to make your New Year's Resolutions concerning your health for the year to come:
~ Keep it simple! The more complex your plan, the more you have to keep track of, and the easier it is to get overwhelmed and give up.
~ Take it slow! Losing weight, getting in shape, changing your lifestyle, these things don't happen overnight! It takes time, patience, a plan, and motivation.
~ Make reasonable goals! Sure, your ultimate weight loss goal may be 50 pounds, but sometimes it is easier to look at that ultimate goal 5 pounds at a time.
~ Don't beat yourself up! Many diets restrict what you are "supposed" to eat and how often you "should" exercise and what exercises you should be doing. Changing to a healthier lifestyle will not cut out all of your favorite foods for life, and it won't be a change you can make in a snap. Switching to eating healthier things will take some time to incorporate. Finding healthier or less fatty ways to make those secret indulgences you can't live without will take practice. So on those occasional days where you "slip" and you eat that piece of cake for dessert, don't beat yourself up! An occasional piece of cake is not going to pack on the 10 pounds you just lost. Enjoy it, and carry on the next day.
~ Drink water! Water, water, water! Many people don't know that when they are feeling hungry, sometimes they are just dehydrated, and those pains from dehydration come off as pains of hunger. So if you just finished that yummy cobb salad for lunch, and you start to feel a bit hungry an hour later, drink a couple of tall glasses of water, and see if you are still tempted to have a snack. If you are, make it a healthy one, like an apple, that will improve your mental acuity for the latter part of your day.
Those are just a few things to keep in mind as you set out for a better you this year. You can do ANYTHING you put your mind to, I truly do believe that. And, when all else fails, remember this quote I found, not sure of the author, but the message is great:
"Nothing is impossible. The word itself says, 'I'm Possible.'"
Good luck with your goals for 2011!
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