Healthy Jumpstart
Have you ever look in the mirror and wonder who the person is staring back at you? Have you stepped on the scale and knew that it had to be broken or turned around to see who was standing there with you? Isn't it a shame how the dryer has caused your pants to shrink? I know, I know. It has happened to me too.
Ladies, let's face it. The reflection in the mirror is real. The scale is not broken and it is not the pants that have changed in size. The question, however, is not, "what happened?" It is, "what are you going to do about it?"
Like you, I know I need to do something. Like you, I have tried everything. At least that's what I tell myself. Exercise, eating right, not eating at all, this fad, that one...is there something that can get me on the right path? Well, I have found it and I am going to share my journey with you. Join me as I take control of my health.
Why Now
It seems that somehow over the years, my body has been replaced by one that is somewhat unfamiliar and quite uncomfortable. I know that I am in here somewhere, but the me that I really am is trapped under the residual pounds of a hectic schedule, life issues, pregnancies and an unwitting disregard for my health. I realize that unless I take initiative and grasp the reigns of responsibility for my well-being, my life will not be as fulfilling and rewarding as I know it can be. We are only given one body and I can no longer neglect mine. I want to enjoy each and every day of my life, and I want that life to be long and fruitful. That means doing my part and taking care of me. My WHYS
My family is very important to me and they are my biggest WHY, second only to my desire to be the best ME I can possibly be - the ME I was created to be. If I do not take care of me, how can I take care of them? If I do not take care of my temple, how long will it stand?
- I want to feel energetic instead of tired and sluggish most of the time. This energy will be as a result of a happy, healthy, fit, less stressed and well rested ME!
- It is such a pain when you go shopping and can only go to certain stores or a particular section of other stores. Trying on clothes is even worse. This summer, I will shop wherever I want and will have no difficulty finding clothes that are flattering.
- Instead of just watching the children run and play, I will join them and get out there and run and play, also.
- In all the years I have been married and all the family vacations we have taken, I have never gone swimming with my family. The children ask me about it, and sadly, the only reason is because I do not want to put on a bathing suit. This summer I will.
- I have been blessed not to have been diagnosed with any major health issues such as diabetes, heart disease or hypertension which have affected my family for generations. I want to ensure that I do my part to avoid them in the future.
- I want to live a life of joy and peace. I was put here for great things. I want to look back over my life and know that I lived my life fully and completely. I do not want to look back and regret that I did not do eveything in my power to ensure that my life was all it could be. I cannot do anything about yesterday, but I can certainly make wise choices today leading to a favorable tomorrow.
What is Your "WHY"
In order to achieve success in anything, you must know why you are doing it. The "how" doesn't matter as much as the "why" because when you know what you want and why you want it, the how will come.Start by getting a clear image of what you want. Now, think of why you want it. Ask yourself questions such as:
How will I feel when I achieve this?
What will I gain?
What will this help me to release?
What impact will this make on my life?
How will this postively affect those around me?
What are the overall benefits of reaching this goal?
Be very specific and write down your thoughts. See the end result clearly and keep it in the forefront of your mind. This is your why. No matter what you do or how you feel, stay focused on your why. This will drive you to keep going when you feel like giving up. This will push you that extra step towards your goal.
Visual Humor
What will happen if we do not start now....
This is what happens when we get out of control. This will not be me. How about you?
Day One
Let's Get It Started
Today is the first day of the program. I am actually following it quite well and I feel great.
I successfully completed Day One and I am confident that I can keep going. I keep seeing the end result in my mind. I keep reminding myself why I am doing this. Aside from the "whys" I listed above, I am just so tired of being unhealthy.
Everyone was not meant to be a size 2 or 8, and some people can be healthy at 14 or 16. We all have different body types and should be comfortable in our own skin. However, we must ask ourselves if we are really at our optimal weight and health. If you are a person who exercises regularly, makes wise eating choices and are a size 12, good for you. On the other hand, if your only exercise is pushing buttons on the remote or the only walking you do is from the door to your car and your daily menu includes a lot of fried food, fast food, sugar, starch or mammoth proportions with few fruits and vegetables, then you might want to really look deep inside and question whether you are being fair to yourself and your body.
Are you truly happy the way you are now? When was the last time you went to the doctor to have your blood pressure or cholesterol checked? Were they normal? Can you walk up a flight of stairs without getting winded? How do you really feel after eating that drive thru meal? Do you really know what you are putting in your body? Do you read the nutrition label on the back of packages to see the calorie, sugar and fat content that you intake? Are you getting enough sleep? Do you have the energy that you would like to have? How is your stress level?
These are questions that I have asked myself. Now, ask yourself the same questions and truthfully answer them.
The race is on and I am off to a great start. I'm looking forward to Day Two. This is exciting!!!
I successfully completed Day One and I am confident that I can keep going. I keep seeing the end result in my mind. I keep reminding myself why I am doing this. Aside from the "whys" I listed above, I am just so tired of being unhealthy.
Everyone was not meant to be a size 2 or 8, and some people can be healthy at 14 or 16. We all have different body types and should be comfortable in our own skin. However, we must ask ourselves if we are really at our optimal weight and health. If you are a person who exercises regularly, makes wise eating choices and are a size 12, good for you. On the other hand, if your only exercise is pushing buttons on the remote or the only walking you do is from the door to your car and your daily menu includes a lot of fried food, fast food, sugar, starch or mammoth proportions with few fruits and vegetables, then you might want to really look deep inside and question whether you are being fair to yourself and your body.
Are you truly happy the way you are now? When was the last time you went to the doctor to have your blood pressure or cholesterol checked? Were they normal? Can you walk up a flight of stairs without getting winded? How do you really feel after eating that drive thru meal? Do you really know what you are putting in your body? Do you read the nutrition label on the back of packages to see the calorie, sugar and fat content that you intake? Are you getting enough sleep? Do you have the energy that you would like to have? How is your stress level?
These are questions that I have asked myself. Now, ask yourself the same questions and truthfully answer them.
The race is on and I am off to a great start. I'm looking forward to Day Two. This is exciting!!!
Day Two
Off and Running
Yeah!!! I completed Day Two. I must admit, it required a little discipline. I saw so many restaurant commercials on TV, including one for Chili's which has my favorite dessert. I still had a little junk in the pantry, such as chips, that I would typically just walk by and grab, but I did not. The kids went to an all you can eat pizza buffet and I decided to stay home, which was fine because it gave me a little time to myself.
I realize that we not only eat to survive, but food plays an intergal part of our daily lives. We have comfort foods, quick foods, foods we crave and some foods that we know aren't good for us, but they are just so good to us. This is where we have to gather our perspective and find a balance.
We start by making small changes and trying new things. Refrain from keeping lots of unhealthy "snack" foods on hand. Make healthier snacks available such as fruits and vegetables. Try putting grapes, baby carrots or nuts in a ziploc bag so that when you are on the run, you can grab a bag and go. Apples and bananas are also easily portable and they offer the crunch that we sometimes want when snacking. If you just have to have chips occasionally, try baked chips.
Some of this may require a tweeking of the tastebuds and a paradigm shift, but the benefits are worth it. We can still enjoy our favorite foods, in moderation. The object is not to deprive ourselves, but to adjust. Before you say you do not like something, try it. Do not have your mind made up before you do. When you find yourself saying, "Ugh, I do not like that", as yourself "Oh, do I like being unhealthy." Before you say, "I cannot do that" ask yourself if you can live the life you ultimately want to live in the state that you are in now.
I ended Day Two refreshed and ready for tomorrow. I am so happy that I have decided to take control of my health. If I just take one step...
I realize that we not only eat to survive, but food plays an intergal part of our daily lives. We have comfort foods, quick foods, foods we crave and some foods that we know aren't good for us, but they are just so good to us. This is where we have to gather our perspective and find a balance.
We start by making small changes and trying new things. Refrain from keeping lots of unhealthy "snack" foods on hand. Make healthier snacks available such as fruits and vegetables. Try putting grapes, baby carrots or nuts in a ziploc bag so that when you are on the run, you can grab a bag and go. Apples and bananas are also easily portable and they offer the crunch that we sometimes want when snacking. If you just have to have chips occasionally, try baked chips.
Some of this may require a tweeking of the tastebuds and a paradigm shift, but the benefits are worth it. We can still enjoy our favorite foods, in moderation. The object is not to deprive ourselves, but to adjust. Before you say you do not like something, try it. Do not have your mind made up before you do. When you find yourself saying, "Ugh, I do not like that", as yourself "Oh, do I like being unhealthy." Before you say, "I cannot do that" ask yourself if you can live the life you ultimately want to live in the state that you are in now.
I ended Day Two refreshed and ready for tomorrow. I am so happy that I have decided to take control of my health. If I just take one step...
Day Three
Practice What You Preach
An additional benefit to this program is that it will help to alleviate cravings. This is wonderful because I LOVE sweets - practically anything baked and I frequently crave a "sugar rush". Today was grocery day and this came in handy because I was able to shop without grabbing the sweet treats that I normally would. Instead, I loaded up on fruits and vegetables and instead of regular chips, I got baked chips for the kids' lunches. If I start them now making healthier choices, it will be much easier for them later in life to continue a heathier lifestyle.
I must confess, that I did have lasagna for dinner, but it was so good. However, you must remember not to deprive yourself and anything in moderation. My portion was very reasonable, much smaller than I would typically have and I had a green salad on the side with light dressing. I did have a slice of garlic bread which I could have done without. I must also tell you that the lasagna was made with turkey and not beef, which makes it a little better. Other changes could include whole wheat pasta, which I have started to use, and low fat cheese. This is one of the things I have to work on. I would rather have no cheese than low fat cheese and I often pass on the cheese now. But in dishes such as lasagna or others, low fat cheese is a great alternative and since it is mixed with other ingredients, you really would not be able to tell the difference.
Eating better is great, but our bodies need movement. Now that I am getting the eating down, it is time to add exercise. I am going to start by walking, then maybe add in some group classes. The classes work better for me because I refuse to walk out while everyone else is still going. I don't want to bulk up, but I would like some definition. Who knows, before long, I may be adding some weights which will help to tone and build lean muscle that helps to burn fat.
I feel good!
I must confess, that I did have lasagna for dinner, but it was so good. However, you must remember not to deprive yourself and anything in moderation. My portion was very reasonable, much smaller than I would typically have and I had a green salad on the side with light dressing. I did have a slice of garlic bread which I could have done without. I must also tell you that the lasagna was made with turkey and not beef, which makes it a little better. Other changes could include whole wheat pasta, which I have started to use, and low fat cheese. This is one of the things I have to work on. I would rather have no cheese than low fat cheese and I often pass on the cheese now. But in dishes such as lasagna or others, low fat cheese is a great alternative and since it is mixed with other ingredients, you really would not be able to tell the difference.
Eating better is great, but our bodies need movement. Now that I am getting the eating down, it is time to add exercise. I am going to start by walking, then maybe add in some group classes. The classes work better for me because I refuse to walk out while everyone else is still going. I don't want to bulk up, but I would like some definition. Who knows, before long, I may be adding some weights which will help to tone and build lean muscle that helps to burn fat.
I feel good!
Cheer Me On!!! Join Me!!!
Your Comments are Welcome
I am focused and motivated and your encouragement will help to keep me going. Feel free to leave a message or ask a question.
Lensmaster
Christie wrote
Candace, keep up the good work. I think that you are doing an excellent job. We are going to be fine girl!!!!!!!!!
Posted April 16, 2007
Nine Day Cleanse
Day by Day Details
This will give an general overview of the plan that I am following. Days one, two, eight and nine are cleanse day. Days three - seven are called shake days.
- Day One
Today included four cleanse drinks, with intermittent snacks and water throughout the day.
The purpose of today and tomorrow are to rid my body of toxins and impurities. - Day Two
Today also included four cleanse drinks, with intermittent snacks and water throughout the day.
I can honestly say that I feel a difference. I am not tired and I have energy. While my "menu" was "limited" the past two days, it really did not feel like much of a sacrifice. - Day Three
Today included two shakes and a sensible meal with lots of water.
My appetite is so under control. Each day seems to get easier. My meal today was not as sensible as it should have been, but my portion was and I did not get seconds. I was full for the rest of the night.
