Workout 49 of 2011 (Elliptical, abs, arms)

I took my own advice and squeezed in a workout before beginning the weekend festivities!  I did 20 minutes on the elliptical while reading the most recent issue of Shape on my Nook Color.

Then I did my favorite ab circuit from No More Trouble Zones,  some dead lifts with hammer curls and static lunges with tricep kickbacks.

XOXO,

Tip of the Week ~ Indulge the holidays!

As it is a holiday weekend, I know we are all thinking about BBQs and pool parties.  My advice?  ENJOY it!  Eat what you want, just don't go overboard.  Anticipate that you are going to eat unhealthy and maybe squeeze in a workout beforehand.  Rather than going into it thinking, "I can't have..." go into in thinking, "I can have..."  Give yourself the freedom to indulge.  It's a holiday!  As long as you don't eat like this all the time, you won't have to worry about becoming unhealthy or gaining weight.

I do not agree with diets that tell you to bring your own food to the holiday dinner.  Unless your doctor tells you it's a health risk to eat something, what is the harm of indulging on the holidays?  If you deprive yourself all the time, without an occasional treat, you may develop an unhealthy relationship with food.

So enjoy this weekend, eat some BBQ and don't feel guilty!  Then on Tuesday, stay away from the scale--because it probably won't be the number you want it to be--and get back on track with your diet and exercise.

XOXO,

Workout 48 of 2011 (elliptical and some ab moves)

Despite wrist pains from what I'm guessing is carpal tunnel, the fact that it's late, and that I had no motivation, I managed to get in a workout, and a good one at that!

I did 20 minutes on the elliptical--20 minutes, that flew by as I read 13 Little Blue Envelopes--and my favorite ab circuit from No More Trouble Zones (minus the pushups).  I'm glad I worked out and hope to get over this spring slump ASAP.  I just have to push through!

Today, I worried I'd struggle once again to feel motivated to exercise but two wonderful colleagues--Diana and Debi, if you are reading this, I'm talking about you--mentioned that they are committed to be fit with me and remembering our exchange is what really helped me to get on track and workout tonight!  So thank you!  Even committed people like myself need some external motivation sometimes too, and definitely some accountability--the number one reason I began sharing this blog.

XOXO,

Diabetes Tip ~ Just a spoonful of Sugar

Since I'm a type 1 diabetic, I have decided to throw in some diabetes tips in my blog as well.  I have 23 years of experience with the disease, so I will share what I've found to be helpful over the years.

My first tip deals with low bloodsugar.  There are obvious options like glucose tabs and juice but sometimes--like the middle of the night--I need a quick fix.  When in need, I remember Mary Poppin's. 

Just a spoonful of...

honey

jelly

jam

chocolate syrup

pancake syrup

frosting/icing

If you don't already know, your gums can easily and quickly absorb sugar.  So when I take a spoonful of these things, I squish and swish it around in my mouth to help my gums absorb faster.  I do the same with juice.

Unfortunately my ideas are not particularly healthy but they are quick and convenient, and when dealing with low bloodsugar, it's more important to raise the bloodsugar level than to be healthy.  I discovered each of these fixes in the middle of the night at someone else's house  over the years when I came unprepared for low bloodsugar to homes that were not used to accommodating diabetics beyond providing diet beverages.  Necessity is the mother of invention my friends!

XOXO,

Workout 47 of 2011 (Cardio and my favorite Jillian Ab circuit)

Kailee on our walk

This week, I was LAZY.  I did not feel inspired to workout and so I didn't.  Today I wanted to exercise but did not feel like doing my normal videos or like spending time on the elliptical (I do have plans for the elliptical on Tuesday night while watching the Biggest Loser Finale!).

So Kailee and I hit the neighborhood.  Baby girl would live outside if we let her so she LOVED being pushed around the neighborhood on her "bike" for 40 minutes.  We listened to some fun tunes along the way--including Kailee and Gavin's 2 faves, Justin Bieber's Baby and Jason Aldean's Don't you wanna stay.  It was hot and humid--making me leery of the summer to come.

After our lovely power-walk, I did half of my favorite ab circuit from Jillian Michaels' No More Trouble Zones.  Circuit 2 makes my abs burn for days--and it's only 6 minutes long!  However, today I only did each move once instead of repeating the circuit; my abs were too worn out from lack of use.

Workout quote of the week: "Tough times don't last. Tough people do." – Unknown

XOXO,

Tip of the Week ~ Toss out the Scale

I know, I know, I have a section on weigh-ins so this may seem hypocritical but for years I did not have a scale.  The scale was--and sometimes still is--stressful.  It can be an all-consuming source of anxiety during weight loss and maintenance.  I went through a period of time where I weighed at least 10 times a day just "to see."  I don't do that anymore, THANK GOODNESS, and I don't weigh very often.  I was weighing often during my weight loss journey, but often meant once a week.  Now that I'm on maintenance, I'm down to once a month, if even that often.  There's NO need to weigh all the time.  So consider removing the stressor.  I have even closed my eyes at the doctor and requested that they not tell me my weight.

After all, there really is only one magic number to each and every girl and if it's not that magic number, our day can be ruined by the 2 seconds we spend on the scale.

XOXO,

Tip of the Week ~ Avoid the mirror!

Okay, that sounds CRAZY!  But it works!  If you constantly pick at your flaws when you look in the mirror or you find yourself drawn to the mirror to double-check that your muffin-top isn't showing or your jeans are still holding your tummy flat, then give up the mirrors!

When my husband and I first got together, I was at a time in my life where I was OBSESSIVE about my figure.  I would make comments about my flaws ALL THE TIME and not even in the girl-looking-for-a-compliment way.  I was just stating what I saw.  My wonderful husband got mad at me and made it clear that he loved my body and would not stick around to hear me berate myself on a regular basis.  He told me I could think whatever I wanted as long as I didn't tell him about it.

I really took it to heart and realized that the source of the problem was my meticulous scrutiny every time I encountered a mirror.  I finally decided to give up the mirror.  I'd use it to make sure my clothes matched, to put on makeup, to check if anything was in my teeth, and that was it.  It took awhile to get used to avoiding mirrors (and reflections in windows, cabinets, the TV, etc) but I noticed how much happier I was by not focusing on the negative.

So if you find you only see your flaws, give my theory a try.  It can't hurt, right?

XOXO,

Workout 46 of 2011 (Ripped in 30 Level 1)

After more than a week hiatus from working out--had 3 low bloodsugar weeknights--I was nervous for my workout.  I knew it would be harder than if I had been on track all week so I decided to go with an "easier" option.  It felt GREAT to workout even with Gavin interrupting every few minutes to ask if he looked like Indiana Jones or Captain So-and-So from Star Wars and with Kailee waking up during circuit 2.

Hopefully my bloodsugar will cooperate more often this week as I feel so much more energized if I can fit in at least 1 midweek workout.

Workout quote of the week: "It's never too late to become what you might have been". -George Elliot

XOXO,

Workout 45 of 2011 (3 circuits of No More Trouble Zones)

Tonight I went back to one of my old favorites and am proud to say I branched out from my favorite 3 circuits and did 3 I don't normally do.  I would have done a 4th but I went low at the end.  Oh the joys of type 1 diabetes!

XOXO,

Workout 44 of 2011 (Cardio and Abs)

Today has been a crazy day!  It started out bad, got worse, provided an unexpected opportunity and ended with a lot of family fun.  All of these things caused a large amount of adrenaline to pump through my body, making for an EXCELLENT workout!

Tonight I decided to hop on the elliptical--because despite the adrenaline, I again was too lazy to put on my sneakers--and had an AMAZING cardio session while watching the Biggest Loser.  It was my fastest 20 minutes on the elliptical since finishing The Hunger Games.  I felt so pumped throughout and now feel unbelievably relaxed.  This was exactly what I needed!  The adrenaline then carried on as I went through the moves of No More Trouble Zones Circuit 2 (all about the abs).  I was on fire!

Adrenaline is definitely the best natural energy booster and now I'm pleasantly enjoying my endorphins!

XOXO,

Tip of the Week ~ Take Before Pictures

If you are unhappy with your body and plan to lose weight, take before pictures!  I know that may sound crazy--I mean, you've been avoiding cameras, hiding behind people in photos, offering to take the pictures--but it's hard to see the changes to our own bodies without evidence of where we began.

It will suck.  You will not like what you see, but nothing says you have to look at them when you first take them.  Just take them and file them away.  Then get started on your weight loss journey.  After losing some weight, take some in the middle pics and if you are brave, compare them to the starting pics.  If not, file those away as you continue on your journey.  When you reach your goal, you will appreciate being able to compare the beginning shots and the ending shots.

Workout 43 of 2011

Tonight I was feeling lazy after eating yummy food all day--chocolate waffles (which in all fairness is my usual breakfast), donut holes, sausage rolls, chicken nuggets, hamburger, pasta salad.  So lazy that I could not muster up the energy to put on my sneakers.  Thus, barefoot, I did various Jillian Michaels' moves for 10 minutes and then hopped on the elliptical (in flipflops) for 15 minutes.  It's not bad reading on my Nook Color on the elliptical.  I am going to try to make myself dedicate one workout day to cardio so that I can get my money's worth.

Workout Quote of the week: Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there.  ~Will Rogers